Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Hazy Shade of Winter ❯ Will You Go to Bed with Me? ( Chapter 3 )

Scapegoat: Sorry this took so long, guys. Drum Major camp made me want to kill myself.

 

Woah, snap. Over one hundred reviews ALREADY? O_O LET'S SHOOT FOR TWO HUNDRED!

 

Rock Lee: YOSH!

 

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Outside, it was beginning to snow.

 

Ten-Ten pressed her face close to the window, and smiled. Snow on Christmas Eve… how cliché. She slid down from the bed, and walked out into the kitchen, her long brown hair swinging around her shoulders. It was almost noon.

 

“Mom?” she said. “Mom… are you home?” She glanced around the small room, and shrugged. Apparently not. That was when she spied the note sitting on top of the morning paper.

 

Ten-Ten-

 

Lenny called and asked me to pick up an extra shift. Double-over time. I couldn't resist! I'll be home before dinner… You wanted an iPod for Christmas, right?

 

Love,

 

Mom

 

“Oh, hell yes,” Ten-Ten whispered, punching the air happily. “Life is good.” Ten-Ten's mother worked at the nearby Safeway. Normally that would barely support a family of two, but they also received monthly alimony from Ten-Ten's father,

 

(ten-ten, sweetheart, I have to tell you something)

 

who was a doctor, and lived on the other side of town.

 

Ten-Ten frowned, and wondered vaguely if he was going to call. It was almost Christmas already, and it had been a while since the last time they had talked…

 

She shook her thoughts away, and skipped over to the refrigerator. She pulled it open and said, “Okay. Breakfast! What to have for breakfast?” Mmmm… old mustard…

 

She opted for the cereal in the cupboard instead.

 

But after she had eaten and showered, there was nothing to do. She wanted to go see Tayuya, but Tay had informed her ever so bluntly that she was wrapping Christmas presents today, and would beat her senseless if she came within ten feet of her house.

 

She could go bother Sunshine and Mr. Stick-up-his-Ass, but they were too far away, and Ten-Ten was without her driver's license for a few more months.

 

She could go see the Kazes, but Kankuro had been in such a bitchy mood before school got out…

 

“Who can I bother?” she mumbled.

 

At that moment, it hit her like a ton of bricks.

 

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Sai was dying.

 

Not literally, of course. Figuratively speaking.

 

“Oh my God…” he hissed, examining his bruised manhood with a grimace. It was horrible, covered in blue splotches. Thankfully, it hadn't swollen up. But it still hurt like a bitch, and how it throbbed.

 

He pulled his boxers on, then a pair of sweatpants. No jeans today.

 

He limped out of his bedroom, and into the living room of his new apartment. The move had been fast… he only had a few things, and the furniture was light. He already told Dad that the rent was doubled now, even though that was a lie. But Dad hardly cared; he had so much fucking money, it wasn't like it was a problem.

 

At that moment, the phone rang.

 

Not the apartment phone. His cell phone. He eyed it curiously, and picked it up.

 

The ID read: House.

 

He flipped it open.

 

“What do you want?” he snapped, easing himself down onto the dark blue sofa.

 

“Merry Christmas to you, too, Bro,” said the voice over the phone. Sai's eyes widened.

 

“T-Tai?” he choked, his hand unconsciously gripping the sofa material like a lifeline. “Wh-What are you doing home already?”

 

“They let me come home for Christmas. Isn't that great?” Tai said, his voice sounding weak. “I have to go back in two days, though. They said they didn't get the entire tumor out yet. There's still a little bit left. I…” He paused. “I wish you would come home too, Sai.”

 

“You said `would,' Tai,” Sai hissed. “I'd like nothing more than to come home. But he's the one who kicked me out. Don't you dare forget that.”

 

“… I'm sorry, Sai.”

 

“Don't be,” Sai spat, hating every single word he was saying, Tai just called to talk to you, dumbass, will you calm down?

 

Tai was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Hey, I saw the payments Dad's making on your apartment.” He laughed suddenly, sharply, falsely, or was it? “Where the fuck are you livin'? The Ritz?”

 

“Not quite,” Sai said, attempting to garner back some optimism. “It's just a nice apartment, is all, in Konohaton. I'm going to start school here after break.”

 

“Sophomore, right?”

 

“Yes,” Sai said. “Hey, maybe after your surgery, you can come see it.”

 

“Yeah,” Tai murmured. “Maybe.”

 

(possibly terminal)

 

“Uh…” Sai groped for more words. “I… I think I made some friends.”

 

Tai paused. “Wow. That's… wow. Really?”

 

“You don't have to sound so surprised, you know,” Sai mumbled sheepishly.

 

“Sorry. I'm just… uh… in shock.”

 

“Thank you. My self-confidence needed that.”

 

“Well… tell me! Who are they?” Tai said, sounding genuinely interested.

 

“W-Well…” Sai stammered. “There's Ten-Ten… she plays the trumpet in the band. And then there's Tayuya, she's Ten-Ten's girlfriend, if you can believe it.”

“Oooh! Lesbians! Think they'll let me watch?”

 

“You're sick, Tai,” Sai laughed.

 

“So… don't tell me you only made friends with the lesbians.”

 

“No. I met an Uchiha,” Sai said. “Sasuke Uchiha. I do believe he is gayer than I am.”

 

“Really? I didn't think that was possible. Fascinating.”

 

Sai ignored him. “I met… someone else.”

 

“… Someone else as in… someone else?”

 

“Well, no, not quite,” Sai said resignedly. “He's in a relationship. And he's not really my type… he reminds me too much of you.”

 

“He sounds like a damn fine man, if I do say so myself.”

 

“Oh, believe-you-me, you do,” Sai said, rolling his eyes. “So, what-“

 

“Oh, hang on, Sai,” Tai said suddenly. There was the sound of voices in the background. Then Tai spoke again. “Uh… Dad wants to talk to you.”

 

Sai's heart stopped.

 

“No, no, no, Tai, don't put him on-“

 

“Hello, Sai.”

 

Sai bit his lip.

 

“Wh-What is it?” he said, trying not to sound like a scared little kid.

 

“I've noticed a large rise in the amount of money you're asking for, Sai,” the man said, his voice calm. “I'd like to know why that is.”

 

“Because I moved, you bastard,” Sai hissed. “I got a nice place with a nice school, not like that little shit hole you put me up in.”

 

“Now listen to me, young man, you-“

 

“Oh, don't give me that shit!” Sai cried. “You kicked me out when I was fourteen, you fucking bastard! Don't even try to speak to me like that!” He took a deep breath, and said, “Send me the money, or I'll see you in court. How's that, Daddy? How many strings do you think you can pull to get out of that?”

 

There was silence one the other line. Then, “All right. Fine. I'll send the money right away. Will that make you happy?”

 

Sai took another shuddering breath. “You want to know what would make me happy, Dad?” he asked. “If you would let me come home!”

 

His father was silent again. When he finally spoke, his voice was icy, like Sai had heard it so many times.

 

“You brought this on yourself, you little whore. Fucking someone… a boy… practically in public! You little shit… you're lucky I didn't kill you!”

 

“You… you… you…” Sai was already choking back tears. “You b-bastard! How many times have I told you already? I wasn't fucking him! We… we were just…”

 

“Yes, I've heard your side of the story many times. I'll send the fucking money, you freeloading little faggot.”

 

“I hate you,” Sai screamed. “I hate you I hate you I HATE YOU!”

 

Then all he could hear was the dial tone.

 

He threw the phone into a nearby chair, and dropped his face into his hands, determined not to cry.

 

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Ten-Ten had thanked the doorman when he let her in, because she was just that kind of person. She believed firmly in the phrases “Please, sir,” and “Thank you, ma'am.”

 

We shall ignore how seldom Ten-Ten uses said phrases.

 

She was glad, in a sense, that Sai had been injured the night before, or she would never have known where his apartment was. He had needed some assistance to get into the building. The poor guy…

 

Ten-Ten was still very surprised by the measures the three older boys had taken against Sai at the party. It was very disturbing to her to see something like that happen. She was also very, very glad that she had messed around with the military- in the band room.

 

She stepped on to the elevator, and rode it to the tenth floor.

 

“Okay… what was his apartment number again…?” she muttered, thinking out loud. 10G? 10F? “10G,” she said. She was sure of it. She walked down the hall, which was made of pale yellow carpet and off-white walls, and stopped at the seventh white door. The brass characters shone in the bright lights; 10G. She hefted her messenger bag off of her shoulder, and raised her hand to knock. But when the sound of an angry voice filtered through, she paused.

 

“Oh, don't give me that shit! You kicked me out when I was fourteen, you fucking bastard! Don't even try to speak to me like that!” It was Sai. He took a shuddering breath, and said, “Send me the money, or I'll see you in court. How's that, Daddy? How many strings do you think you can pull to get out of that?”

 

There was a long pause. Was he on the phone? She thought so.

 

He was talking again.

 

“You want to know what would make me happy, Dad?” he said. “If you would let me come home!”

 

Ten-Ten's eyes widened.

 

Sai was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, it sounded like he was holding back sobs.

 

“You… you… you… You b-bastard! How many times have I told you already? I wasn't fucking him! We… we were just…”

 

His breathing was harsh as he paused again.

 

“I hate you,” Sai screamed suddenly, with such intensity that Ten-Ten stepped away from the door. “I hate you I hate you I HATE YOU!”

 

Ten-Ten stared at the door for almost a minute, wondering what she should do. Should she walk away, and pretend like this never happened? Or should she stay… and still pretend it never happened?

 

The options were heavy. But one all-knowing fact weighed down on her mind, like a dentist's lead-lined coat.

 

She should have called first.

 

Ten-Ten turned, and started to leave. But then, she thought of something.

 

`He's spending Christmas alone,' she thought, biting her lip. `No one should have to spend Christmas alone.'

 

KNOCK KNOCK.

 

Her knuckles made an empty sound against the practically fluorescent wood. “Sai? Helloooo… Sai Baby, you awake in there?”

 

There was silence for a moment, then the sound of shuffling. The door was pulled open, and Sai's smiling face appeared.

 

“Excuse me, ma'am,” he said. “Do I know you?”

 

Ten-Ten stared at him for a moment. His face was red, and his eyes were a bit bloodshot, but other than that, he seemed normal. Had she imagined the entire thing?

 

“It's me, you dumbass!” she said. “The Lesbian Trumpeter, remember?”

 

Sai's eyes widened.

 

“Ten-Ten?” he managed to get out. “You… have… hair?”

 

Ten-Ten felt her face turn red. She reached up to touch her shoulder-length brown hair, and snapped, “You idiot, of course I have hair! I just keep it up!”

 

Sai watched her for a moment, and then stepped aside, opening the door wide. “Would you like to come in, Ten-Ten?”

 

“Yes, I would, thanks,” Ten-Ten said, smiling, picking up her bag, and skipping into the apartment. But as she glanced around, her jaw dropped. “Oh… sweet baby Jesus.”

 

The apartment was quite large. The walls were tall and gleaming white, and the widows on the end were big and open. There was a television off to one side, sitting next to a cardboard box. There were several empty boxes sitting around the apartment, some half-filled with Styrofoam peanuts.

 

But this was not what caught her gaze.

 

It was his CD rack.

 

“Oh… my… goodness,” she breathed. It was a huge, metal contraption that resembled a gate of sorts. There were CD cases shoved into the slots, sparkling like the noon day sun. She reached up, and gently touched her fingertips to one. “Coltrane… Ray Charles… Renee Olstead…” She turned to him, smiling. “My friend, you have very good taste.” She glanced back at the CDs, and almost screamed. “The Seatbelts?” She pulled the CD down, and stared at it. “It's not even the Cowboy Bebop album!” She turned, and stared at him. “How did you get this? Internet? Tell me your secrets!”

 

Sai blinked.

 

“I spent a year in Japan with my parents,” he said, with a small shrug. “No need to have an aneurism over it, my sweet.”

 

“Where are your parents, anyway?” Ten-Ten said tactlessly, before she had time to think. She immediately winced, and bit her lips together. Sai looked at the ground.

 

“I don't… live with my parents anymore,” he said quietly. Ten-Ten turned, her face heated.

 

“S-Sorry… touchy subject,” she mumbled.

 

When he looked up again, he was smiling.

 

“Oh, no,” he said. “It's just a bit awkward.” He was quiet a moment. “So! As you can see, I can't walk very well today, so-“

 

“No worries, love,” Ten-Ten said, dropping her bag on the navy blue sofa. “I have a plan.” She pulled open the Velcro flap, and turned the bag upside down. Several DVDs fell out, and splayed across the cushions. With them were a deck of cards, and two bags of microwave popcorn.

 

She grinned.

 

“I believe it is time that we christened this friendship with a Movie Fest. You know, popcorn, bad movies, take-out… I've got my Mom's credit card number if necessary.” She smirked. “My other friends and I do it all the time. And, seeing as neither of us has anything to do on this fine Christmas Eve…” She glanced up at Sai, waiting for a reply.

 

He grinned. “That sounds great.”

 

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Kankuro was just getting in from work when the phone rang.

 

It was a normal occurrence, but whenever Gaara disappeared, it was something that he would kill to avoid. This wasn't the first time Gaara had gone missing.

 

“Hello?” he practically shrieked, tearing the phone off of its stand.

 

“Kankuro…?”

 

“Gaara! Oh my God… are you okay?” Kankuro demanded, feeling relief, utter, sweet relief sweep through his system. “Where are you? What happened?”

 

“Kankuro… uh…”

 

“Okay, okay, I'm sorry.” Kankuro took a deep breath, and sank into the couch. “Are you all right?”

 

“Y-Yeah… I'm in a hospital,” Gaara said, his voice shaky and uneven. “Th-they got me the right meds this time… I had my bracelet on and didn't even know it.” Kankuro could have danced with joy.

 

“A hospital! Oh, thank God…” Kankuro said, bringing a hand to his forehead. “Okay. Where are you? I'll come get you right now.”

 

“Uh…” Gaara trailed off, sounding so much like a lost little kid that Kankuro almost felt like bawling.

 

“You don't know,” Kankuro moaned. “Do you?”

 

“No, no! I know where I am, I just… don't know how I got here, or what I did, or…” He was crying now. “Shit, Kankuro, I'm so sorry…”

 

“Just tell me where you are, Gaara,” Kankuro said tightly.

 

There was a long pause.

 

“…Iwa City…”

 

“Fuck! Are you fucking kidding me?” Kankuro choked, his eyes widening. “Iwa… Iwa City? Oh my… Jesus fucking Christ! How did you get all the way down there?”

 

Iwa City was a three hour drive away. It was a huge city, much bigger than Konohaton. It was also a very dangerous city.

 

“I don't know, Kankuro… I really don't! I don't remember anything! H-How long have I been gone?”

 

“Almost a week,” Kankuro said, rubbing his eyes. Great. That was just fucking perfect. This was the first blackout Gaara had had in almost two years, and it had to be on Christmas Eve. Kankuro glanced at the clock; it was four o'clock in the morning. He had worked the night shift, picking up some extra money, and spending the day at home, waiting.

 

“A w-week? Holy fuck…” Gaara was quiet for a minute. “Is Dad home?”

 

“No,” Kankuro said. “He called two days ago and said he wasn't going to be able to make it home for Christmas.”

 

“Oh, darn.”

 

Kankuro sighed. “Okay. Iwa City. I should be there before next week.”

 

“Okay. Bye, Kankuro.”

 

“Bye.”

 

Kankuro dropped the phone back onto the cradle, and rubbed his eyes. Damn, he was tired. He dragged himself up from the couch, and rubbed his eyes.

 

“Wake up, wake up, wake up,” he mumbled, dragging himself up the stairs. He pounded on Temari's door, and said, “'Ri… `Ri, wake up!”

 

“What is it?” Temari breathed, pulling the door open. “What do you want?” She was bleary eyed, wearing a pink tank-top and sweatpants.

 

“I… Gaara, he's in a hospital. In Iwa City. I have to go get him,” he grumbled dutifully.

 

It took Temari several moments to process this information.

 

“What… what… what?” she stammered, blinking several times. “Gaara… he's okay?”

 

Kankuro nodded. “H-He had his medical bracelet on… whoever found him got him to a hospital, thank God.”

 

Temari slumped against the doorway, her hand at her eyes. “Oh… thank you, Jesus…” she murmured. Then she looked up. “But, wait a sec… he's all the way down in Iwa? That's… Kankuro, that's almost two hundred miles away!”

 

Kankuro nodded weakly. “No kidding. So I'd better get going, huh?”

 

Temari shook her head furiously. “No way in hell. There's no way you can drive like that, Kankuro! You're exhausted!”

 

“Yeah, so?” Kankuro snapped. “I can't just leave him all the way out there, Temari! He's alone, and he's probably really freaked out!” He realized he was yelling, and took a deep breath. “He told me he doesn't remember any of the last week, Temari. He had a blackout.”

 

Temari bit her lip.

 

“That doesn't mean you can just go get him! It's be really great to find out he's okay just have you kill yourself by falling asleep at the wheel, Kankuro.”

 

Kankuro glared at her for a moment, and then conceded. “All right. All right. Fine. Who do you propose we have drive? Hm?”

 

Temari frowned.

 

“I have someone in mind,” she mumbled. “But I don't think you're going to be very happy about it.”

 

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When Yashamaru burst awake, he lay quietly in bed, wondering what that noise was. He sat up, and listened.

 

Beeeep… beeeep… beeeep…

 

He frowned, and then gasped.

 

“Oh, my phone…” he breathed, clambering out of bed and over to the dresser, where his cell phone was currently screaming at him from. He picked it up, and pressed the “Accept” button. “Hello?”

 

“Uncle Yashamaru! Hey! What's up? It's Temari!”

 

Yashamaru rubbed his eyes, and glanced at the clock, his jaw dropping in horror.

 

“Temari… do you have any idea what time it is?”

 

“Uh… well, Yashamaru… I know. I just need some help.”

 

Yashamaru blinked. “What's wrong, Temari?”

 

“I, uh… need a ride.”

 

Instantly suspicious, Yashamaru said, “Where to?”

 

“…Iwa City…?”

 

“Iwa… Iwa City?” Yashamaru cried. “What in God's name do you need to go to Iwa City for?”

“We… that is, Kankuro and I… need to pick up Gaara.”

 

“Dare I ask what Gaara is doing in Iwa City?” Yashamaru hissed through clenched teeth.

 

“He, uh… kinda went off his meds for a few days and disappeared and had a blackout.”

 

Yashamaru felt the sudden need to sit down. Which he did. On the floor.

 

“B-But don't worry! He's all right, he's in a hospital, and he had his medical bracelet on, and-“

 

“I'll be right there,” Yashamaru mumbled, before closing the phone.

 

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- Military- It's kind of a like a giant baton. Some drum majors use them to conduct the band during parades.

 

Scapegoat: And with that, I depart!

 

Hey, people! Want to help me? Tell me what you THINK is going to happen in this story next. See, I've already got a plot, but I want to see what the general vibe is among the populous. You can tell me whatever you think: pairings, plot lines, anything!

 

I'm weird, I know.

 

-bows-