Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ From Here to Eternity ❯ Bridges, Phone Calls, and Traitors ( Chapter 41 )

October tenth was Naruto's birthday, y'all! Happy b-day, Naruto! WE didn't forget! -glares at Gaara-

 

O. M. F. G.

 

I just got…like… a BAJILLION reviews… for the fortieth chapter.

 

HO'SHIT! THAT'S SO OMG COOL!

 

I love you all. I really do. Frankly, my love can't be put into words. Everyone kicks so much ass.

 

Anyway…

 

I decided I wouldn't reply to everyone personally, because, honestly, it gets kind of repetitive. So, I'll reply to everyone as a majority. With a few exceptions.

 

To the people who wondered what Shisui was talking about when he said he had something planned: I'm working on it! Jeez! XD Well, just to give you a teaser, it has to do with something that will make you all send me angry letters. It won't happen for a few chapters, though.

 

To the people who were all like, “OMFG TEMARI IS PREGNANT!!!!111222six”: Ahem. A lot of people seemed to be pretty freaked out by this. … I love writing this fic, I really do. XD

 

To the people who were all like, “WHERE TEH OROSASU SMEX???!!”: Jeez! You pervs! It's coming, it's coming! Hold your horses! Good golly, Miss Molly…

 

To the people who were all like, “Omg SasuGaa FINALLY so cute!” and/or “Omg SasuGaa in teh bathroom how cliché”: Cheh. You can't tell me you didn't see it coming! XD

 

To the people who were all like, “OMFGBBQ GAARA FORGOT NARUTO'S BIRTHDAY??”: Uh… eh heh? Forgive me, but I felt that I needed to add even MORE angst. Okay, that was terrible sarcasm. Hey, don't blame me for the plot twists! Oh, wait… yeah, go ahead and blame me. - -

 

Augh… I think that's the gist of it. Okay! Now for a few personal replies:

 

yurusanai: Hey-ho, New Reader! What is up in the hizzouse, yo? …Don't hate me `cuz I'm white! I'm glad you like the pairings. Yeah, Lee's a little out of it, but he isn't a really serious character in this fic, so… that's okay. - -x Ahem. Yeah! Keep reading! You rock!

 

ashyrose: Dude, you e-mail me those doujinshis, and I will officially dedicate the next three chapters to you. XD I think your review got cut off, though. I e-mailed you. E-MAIL ME, DAMMIT! -claws at the screen-

 

whiteviper111: XD Dude, I loved your review. Kept me entertained for all of six and a half minutes.

 

TheFutureFreaksMeOut: Yeah, I know! Everyone sucks for not remember Naru-chan's birthday… poor Naruto… -pets-

 

Bitenshi: -cackles- An angel… FROM HELL! -dun dun dun- Just kidding… XD …I'm NOT TELLING YOU! HAW HAW HAW!

 

nesssachiel: Dude… they aren't going to delete `M' fics… What logic is there behind that? I mean… that's just stupid! Okay. If they DO, for some reason, this fic is still up at MediaMiner.org, and on my website. I wouldn't worry about it, though.

 

Fantastical Queen Ebony Black: Wow. `teh Emo of Emo,' eh? I'd best check it out. I love the song `Vindicated', though. XD THAT is teh Emo of all Emo songs. -laughs- I love Ten-Ten! I know too many people who hate her! I love her to pieces! She's one of the only female characters I like… Notice I said ONE OF, not the ONLY. - - Oh, pffft. One hour isn't that much… -dies- Clams kick ass. Don't be dissin' teh clams. XD Just kidding. Ha. Ha ha. I love you. Keep reading. XD

 

Katie: Dude, get her to update, and you get the next three chapters dedicated to YOU, too! Yeah! XD Chya, Haku and Itachi made up! They're, like, the BESTEST FRIENDS EVAH! XD That sounded better in my head. Heh. Heh. Keep reading!

 

BHS: Omg. I suck. I haven't e-mailed you in years. I suck so bad. So very bad. You're allowed to bitch-slap me, now. …Maybe if you updated TDOK… I'd be more… INCLINED to e-mail you… -coughhack- Happy belated birthday!

 

itachi-uchiha17: You get a reply because you rock. Yeah… this is the second-longest fic I've ever written. The longest one had 63 chapters (and it wasn't even half-done!) before it got deleted… long story. But they were really short chapters, back when I was a whiny twelve-year-old who sucked. Agh du lieber! Loves!

 

Junsui Kegasu: Why, thank you! -smile- Please don't kill me.

 

Meemei: Uh… thanks?

 

To all the other new readers: Wow! I got a lot of new readers for this chapter! I wonder why…? -shrugs- Love you all! Keep reading!

 

I want to reply to everyone, but… well… it's so much! Man! I can only type so much without DYING! -cries-

 

Hey, for some reason, a few people are worried that this fic will get deleted because the Mods of the site are going to go through and take out all the M-rated fics. This is a rumor, and I seriously doubt that it is true. But if it is, this fic will still be available at MediaMiner (dot) org, and my website. All the URLs are in my profile.

 

Just felt like I had to say that. Just in case.

 

It's not true, though. I mean… what kind of an idiot would be dumb enough to delete all the M-rated stuff? It just isn't logical.

 

This chapter is dedicated to BHS, because I'm a bitch. XD

 

BTW, my muses took a hike on me, so I'm all alone for this chapter. OMG woe.

 

Again, BTW, school and volleyball have been kicking my ass the last few weeks, which is why this chapter is so late. Meow.

 

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Blue.

 

That's how Neji Hyuga was feeling as he walked down the main road of Konohaton, his hands jammed in his pockets, and his head down. Well, he wasn't really feeling blue. He was upset. He had called Naruto's apartment three times, with no answer. He hadn't seen the blonde at the beginning of the day, end of the day, or at lunch.

 

This was really starting to bug him.

 

The sky had cleared up twenty minutes earlier, springing Neji into the notion that he should take a walk. A WALK, of all things. Neji Hyuga did NOT walk. He took a limousine, thank-you-very-much.

 

But for whatever reason, he had decided to take a walk. And it wasn't so bad, after all. The shops and buildings on the sides of the road were closed for the night, their insides dark and gloomy. The houses had lighted windows, and bright porch lights, offering Neji guidance through the darkened street. Half of the streetlights in this town needed to be replaced.

 

The looming clouds had disappeared for the most part, revealing the black-velvet, diamond-spotted sky. Neji smiled. It was almost… pretty.

 

He was close to the bridge that crossed the Mizuville River, now. Mizuville was a small, poor town twenty miles east of Konohaton, built right on the ocean. Haku's family had come from there ten years ago. At least, Neji THOUGHT it was ten years ago. Haku had told him last year.

 

The bridge was just a stretch of road supported by cement. Nothing special, no big rope supports or control towers, like on a drawbridge. Just the road, the concrete, and… was that… Naruto?

 

The blonde was seated cross-legged on the waist-high, concrete barrier of the bridge. His hands were gripping his ankles, and his eyes were staring blankly up into space. Neji couldn't quite tell, but judging by the way the faint moon and starlight was glancing off of his body, the teen was dripping wet.

 

His tennis shoes slipping dangerously on the wet pavement, Neji sprinted over to Naruto, immediately worried for the blonde's condition.

 

“Naruto!!” he said breathlessly, skidding to a stop. There was no response from the boy. Neji frowned, his brow creasing, and gently laid a hand on Naruto's arm, and almost jerked it back in shock. “Christ, Uzumaki! You're soaked!”

 

Naruto finally seemed to notice his boyfriend standing beside him. He lethargically turned his head, rainwater sprinkling down from his now limp hair.

 

“…Neji?” he said quietly, blinking slowly. Neji rolled his pale eyes.

 

“No, it's the POPE,” he snapped sarcastically. “Now get down before you fall and die.”

 

Naruto went back to staring at the water, but now he was shaking.

 

“Naruto?” Neji said nervously, squeezing his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

 

“N-No one ruh-remembered, Neji,” Naruto said, his voice cracking with sobs. “N-Not a suh-single person…”

 

“What? No one remembered what?” Neji demanded, shivering as a blast of cold wind slapped his face. Dark clouds were rolling back in, and he knew it would start storming again soon. Naruto must have been freezing, but he wasn't showing it.

 

“Not Iruka… n-not Gaara…” Naruto sniffed, and furiously rubbed his eyes, before he began sobbing harshly. Then, suddenly, his sobbing ceased. He turned his face up so that it was illuminated in the dim light, his eyes dull. “It's my birthday today. Did you know that?” he said, his voice low.

 

Neji was more than a little freaked out by Naruto's behavior. He closed his eyes, and shook his head.

 

“No,” he admitted, feeling a small twinge of guilt. “I didn't know that.”

 

Naruto turned his head, and looked Neji in the eye.

 

“But,” Neji continued. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry no one remembered, Naruto.”

 

Naruto showed the barest hint of a smile. “No… it's okay… it wasn't your fault,” he said bitterly, sniffing. Another jet stream of cold air blasted Neji and Naruto where they stood. Or, where Neji stood, and Naruto sat.

 

“Oh, it's going to rain again soon,” Neji noted, glancing up at the sky. The moon and stars were now completely covered by the swirling mass of storm clouds. “Here… come on down from there. I'll walk you home.”

 

Naruto nodded, and rubbed his eyes once more, before swinging one leg over the side of the barrier. But suddenly, his weight shifted, and half of his body disappeared over the side of the barrier.

 

“AAAAAHHHH!”

 

“NARUTO!” Neji screamed, grabbing

 

(neji its okay your mommy and daddy will be fine don't cry don't worry)

 

at the blonde's leg as he slid. His mind blanked as he groped

 

(it wasn't your fault)

 

lamely for Naruto's body, his arms and legs numb.

 

But then, all he could hear was the sharp sound of someone… giggling.

 

That's right.

 

Giggling.

 

“Hee hee hee…” Naruto laughed, swinging his waist up over the barrier, and sliding his other leg over the wall. “Gotcha.”

 

Neji stood, gaping like a fish for a full half-minute, before he snapped.

 

“YOU… YOU… YOU BASTARD!” he screeched, grabbing Naruto by the shoulders, and shaking him furiously. “YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH! HOW COULD YOU?”

 

Naruto kept laughing, his eyes tearing again. Neji wasn't sure whether they were left over from earlier, or new tears of joy.

 

“I'm s-sorry, Neji. I'm sorry. It was just… the opportunity was so THERE,” Naruto said, wiping his eyes, and sniffing. “I'm sorry,” he said again.

 

Neji's hands formed into claws.

 

“You… you… ugh.” Neji threw his hands into the air in submission, and shook his head. “I can't believe you, Uzumaki. Here I am, trying to be sympathetic, and you go and pull a stunt like THAT.” He sighed, and started to walk away. “I just don't understand you at all.”

 

Naruto paled. “N-Neji! I'm sorry, really! I don't know why I did it… it was dumb… and I apologize!” He bit his lip. “Please don't leave me alone…”

 

Neji halted, and took a deep, calming breath. He turned.

 

“Come on… you've got to take your clothes off,” he said, motioning with his hands. Naruto's pale skin turned red.

 

“Say WHAT?” he hissed. Then his eyes widened with realization. “Ooohhh,” he said, nodding.

 

Neji rolled his eyes.

 

“But Neji,” Naruto said, glancing around. “We're in public…”

 

Neji choked on his tongue.

 

“NO!” he protested, bringing his hand up to his forehead. “I mean your jacket! And your shirt! Do you WANT to get hypothermia?”

 

Naruto frowned.

 

“Hypi-thermo-a?” he said, blinking. “Uh… whatever that is, I don't like the sound of it.” He reached up, and pulled down the zipper of his jacket, peeling the sodden material off of his skin. Then he tugged his shirt up over his head. “Now what do I do?” he asked, wrapping his arms around his shivering frame.

 

“Here,” Neji said, offering the pale tan sweatshirt that he had just taken off. “Put this on.”

 

“That's yours, though!” Naruto said, taking the sweatshirt, and holding it delicately in his hands. Neji rolled his eyes again.

 

“Just put it on, Blondie.”

 

Naruto pulled the sweatshirt on, his cheeks turning pink.

 

“Warm,” he said. Neji smiled, and put one arm around the blonde's shoulder.

 

“Let's go,” he said, casting another nervous glance at the sky.

 

“All right, all right. God, you're so pushy,” Naruto grumbled, but smiling anyway

 

The walk to Naruto's apartment was short, which pleased Neji quite a bit, as he didn't want to be caught out in the rain.

 

“I'll see you later, Naruto,” he said, giving Naruto a quick kiss on the cheek, before turning to walk off.

 

“Oh, wait, Neji, you need your sweatshirt!” Naruto exclaimed, reaching down to pull the fabric up over his head.

 

“Nah, I've got others. You keep it. Consider it part one of your birthday present,” Neji said with a smile. Then, without another word, he disappeared off into the night.

 

Naruto flushed with pleasure, pulling open the door, and stepping inside.

 

He had never even TOUCHED a sweatshirt this expensive before in his life.

 

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Haku winced as he pulled the long, white bandage strips off of his hand, revealing the oozing remains of his week-old burn. The deep purple half-circle had faded from violet to red, then back again to purple. It had swelled up with fluid, then finally burst.

 

And all this was accompanied with a rather frenzied pain. Needless to say, Haku was not in a good mood.

 

“God. Damn. It,” he hissed, quite uncharacteristically, running his hand under cold water, sending a stinging pain up through his arm. “Ah!”

 

The house was empty, as it usually was on Fridays. And Saturdays. And… just about every other day of the week. The house was large, too large for a family of three, and so incredibly neat and tidy that one was fearful to wear shoes or even dirty socks inside. Not a speck of dust or dirt anointed the walls, floor, or matching furniture. The stainless steel refrigerator stood defensively in the corner of the kitchen, humming its defiant little tune, and grumbling as ice was added to the ice machine in its door. There was an electric fireplace, a flat-screen television, five bedrooms, and a high-tech temperature control device in every room.

 

Haku couldn't stand it.

 

He was so bored and

 

(lonely)

 

irked that he would have talked to the dog.

 

If he had a dog.

 

He would have given anything to have Kankuro or Itachi… or Zabi… or, hell, even Lee… to talk to at that moment.

 

With a resigned sigh, he re-wrapped his hand and prepared for another boring Saturday night, when…

 

RING RING. RING RING.

 

The phone rang.

 

“Thank God,” he breathed, straightening up, and hurrying into the living room, where a cordless phone was sitting on the leather couch. He reached down, and turned it over to read the caller I.D.

 

“Come on, come on,” he whispered.

 

No such luck. It was Mom. He rolled his eyes, and turned on the phone.

 

“Hi, Mom,” he said, sitting down on the couch, and reaching for the remote.

 

“Hello, darling,” Mrs. Mizukiri said, her voice all sugar and honey. One of her co-worked must be around. “Just calling to tell you that I won't be in until at least ten again.”

 

Haku turned, and glanced at the clock on the wall. Seven o'clock sharp. He sighed.

 

“What about Dad?” he asked, drawing his legs up to his chest, hopeful…

 

“You know your father is much to busy to be home before eleven! Don't as stupid questions!”

 

Haku flinched. Denied.

 

“Sorry,” he said softly. “I'll see you at ten, then.”

 

“Good-bye, Darling.”

 

Dial tone.

 

Haku turned off the phone, and turned on the television. He slid onto his side, half of his face pressed against the expensive throw pillow, his knees still up at his chest, and prepared for another night of Pay-Per-View, when, to his surprise, the phone rang again.

 

Not bothering to see whom it was, he turned it on, and pressed it to his ear. “Yeah, what?” he grumbled, knowing that if it was Mom or Dad, he'd probably get in trouble, but not caring anyway.

 

“Oh, now that's not a tone to address your boyfriend with,” came the gruff voice over the speakers. Haku immediately sat up.

 

“Zabi!” he cried. “Hi! What's up?”

 

“Oh, not much. Just wanted to call and say hi.”

 

“Oh, you wanted to say hi to little old me?” Haku said, smiling, even though he knew no one could see. Shame. It felt like a nice smile. “Aren't you just the sweetest thing?”

 

“Mm. Anything you want to talk about?”

 

“Oh, loads!”

 

Haku then started his nonsensical babble that always seemed to pop up whenever Zabuza called. He told him everything he could, even the things that Zabuza already knew.

 

Zabuza, meanwhile, was ready to listen to Haku chat for as long as it took. This was the routine; Haku would talk, and Zabuza would listen. And Zabuza liked it that way. No irritating people snapping at him to give an opinion; Haku provided one for him. And that was just fine by his standards.

 

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It wasn't until Mackenzie Mizukiri walked in the door that Haku realized he'd been on the phone for three solid hours.

 

“Oh, Zabuza, I need to go,” Haku said glancing up as his mother, one hand holding her purse, one hand pressing a cell phone up to her ear, strutted in through the door, and closed it with her foot. “Love you.”

 

“Love you too.”

 

Haku pushed the `Off' button on the phone, and dropped it onto the coffee table. He stood up, and walked over to Mackenzie.

 

“Hi, Mo-“

 

“Shh-hh-h,” Mackenzie hissed, setting her purse on the table, and holding up one elegantly manicured finger, her eyes going past Haku's face as she listened to the voice on the phone. “Yes… Oh, yes, of course! All right, all right. Wonderful. I'll see you tomorrow!” Then she closed the phone, and smiled. “Hello, darling.”

 

“Hi, Mom,” Haku said. Mackenzie kissed him on the cheek, then kicked off her high-heeled shoes, and pulled her hair out of its tight bun.

 

“Sorry I'm so late, darling. Work was madness,” she said, shaking out her long black hair so that it hung down on her business suit, and walking into the kitchen, her feet making almost no sound on the spotless linoleum. “I hope you've eaten, I don't plan on cooking anything this late.”

 

“Yeah, I ate,” Haku lied, following Mackenzie into the kitchen. “How was work?”

 

“Oh, the usual. Idiots who can't even use a fax machine.” Mackenzie opened one of the cupboards, pulled out a clear glass cup, and shoved it into the water machine built in the refrigerator. She waited until it had filled up completely, before taking a long sip.

 

“That's too bad,” Haku said, nodding. “I got an `A' on that science test I was worried about… But I'm not doing so well in math. I was wondering if you-“

 

Suddenly, a high-pitched beeping sound filled the air. Mackenzie slammed the cup down onto the counter, and pulled her cell phone out of her suit pocket.

 

“This is Mackenzie Mizukiri,” she said in her business-tone, her graceful carved features taking on a firm expression. “Oh, hold on, Jackie.” She looked up at Haku. “Why don't you make yourself useful and do your homework or something? Why are you even still awake? Don't you have school in the morning?”

 

“No,” Haku said. “Uh… that's okay… I'll just go to bed. Good night,” he said, pausing. Mackenzie waved her hand, and went back to her phone.

 

“No, Jackie, just my son. Now, about those contracts…”

 

Haku didn't need another dismissal. He sighed, and left the kitchen, his feet dragging, and his hand still throbbing.

 

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Ten-Ten stared down at the pregnancy test, her face a mix of anguish and dismay. She shook her head, and sighed.

 

Blue.

 

It was blue.

 

It was fucking blue.

 

She turned, and looked at Tayuya. The redhead's eyes were vacant, and there was an unreadable expression on her face. She slowly crossed the bathroom, and sat down on the edge of the bathtub. Ten-Ten wasn't sure what to say.

 

“Tay…” she began, trying to keep her voice low and soft.

 

But suddenly, Tayuya burst into hysterical sobbing. Ten-Ten stepped back, surprised, but then dropped down to her knees, and put her hands on Tayuya's shoulders.

 

“Tayuya, calm down!”

 

Tayuya shook her head, her shoulders shaking, and her sobs coming in strangled gasps.

 

“I cah-han't! Oh shit oh shit oh shit I can't I can't be oh shit!” Tayuya gulped down a few breaths, still sobbing frigidly. “I cah-han't oh oh oh…!” She resumed her hysterics.

 

Ten-Ten then proceeded to use the only cure for hysterics that she knew. She slapped Tayuya smartly across the face.

 

“TAYUYA! CALM DOWN!” she mandated, tears of frustration springing to her own eyes. Tayuya's head snapped to the side with the blow, her eyes wide with shock.

 

“Wha…? What was THAT for?” she demanded, still sniffling, cupping her stinging cheek with one hand.

 

“Listen to me, Tayuya,” Ten-Ten said. “Calm. Down.”

 

Tayuya nodded. “I a-am.”

 

“Are you? Really?”

 

“Y-yes.” Tayuya sniffed, swallowed, and nodded. Then she let her head drop forward into her hands. “Oh my God, Ten-Ten! What am I going to do? I can't have this baby! I can't! I've gotta… I…” She coughed several times, and wiped her eyes. “What am I supposed to do?”

 

“You're asking ME?” Ten-Ten said in disbelief. “I don't know! What… Oh my God, Tay, how could you DO THIS?” she asked, sinking down into a crouched position, her forehead brushing the wall. “Fuck!”

 

Tayuya sniffed. “Ten-Ten, I'm sorry. I didn't think something like this would happen,” she whimpered, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

 

“No, Tay, you're NOT sorry,” Ten-Ten snapped. “If you WERE, you would never have done something like this in the first place!”

 

Tayuya stood up, her hands clenched into shaking fists. Ten-Ten also stood, and locked eyes with the redhead.

 

“Ten-Ten,” Tayuya said. “I AM sorry. I'm sorry I had to put you through this. I'll leave now.” She swallowed, and strode past the sophomore with as much dignity as she could muster, and slammed the door as she left the apartment.

 

Ten-Ten stood there, looking at her own red-faced complexion in the mirror. She clenched both her fists until she felt her nails break the skin.

 

With an outraged cry, she picked up the bowl that had hidden the used pregnancy test, and hurled it at the wall. It shattered with a satisfying `CRASH', and it's porcelain chips scattered throughout the bathroom. Suddenly feeling exhausted, she dropped her hands down onto her knees, unable to draw breath. When she finally regained control of her bodily functions, she straightened, and brushed the pregnancy test, along with its wrapper, into the toilet. Then she flushed it once, twice, three times, and washed her hands.

 

Destroying the evidence.

 

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Kat: Ugh. I'm so freaking tired, I'm almost tipping forward onto my keyboard. We had the volleyball team sleepover in the school gym last night… it was so much fun, but we were up until four in the morning, and our coach got us up at nine. -dies- Anyway, blame my muses for ditching me. Loves!

 

By the way, next chapter will definitely be loner. It's conference week this week, and I'll have two hours in between school and volleyball. And our volleyball season's over on Thursday, sooo… More time for updates!

 

ALSO! I'm rewriting `Flipside', because I hate it so. Expect the newly edited chapter to be up today or tomorrow, or perhaps on Wednesday. We have a game in Hoquiam (quite a ways from Tenino), so I won't get back until ten, at least. -death-