Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Heart no Kuni no Naruto ❯ Chapter 5

Heart no Kuni no Naruto

by Sakura (aka L-sama no Miko)

Chapter 5

“You won't give up on Naru-chan?” The silver haired rabbit brought out his oversized pocket watch and it started to glow angrily, mimicking its master's mood, “Fine with me. You've just given me a reason to make you disappear,” he said, aiming his pistol.

“Oh dear,” the Knight of Hearts said rather nonchalantly, “it looks I've made Kakashi-san angry. Kowai! (scary!)” The raven haired teen pulled Naruto close to him, putting the blond between him and the White Rabbit. “You know how stubborn we both are Kakashi-san,” he said clutching the boy tightly, while drawing his sword, “and besides, I have a rather nasty habit of using force to get what I want.”

The tension continued to increase as the two stared each other down. “Not going to shoot?” the knight egged.

“Not when you're using Naru-chan as a shield,” said the rather uffish rabbit man.

“You've found me out,” beamed Sai.

“Not funny,” snapped Kakashi.

“Get your paws off me you grabby jerk!” Naruto shouted, shoving the slightly taller teen's arm away. “There's no way you're gonna use me as a shield!”

“You heard him you scum, back away from Naru-chan!” The raven haired teen refused to obey the older man, instead continued to smile that cheesy smile of his. There was a loud bang as Kakashi's gun went off.

“Sai!” the blond cried, fearing for the knight's safety. Yes, he was furious at him for planning to use him as a shield, but that didn't mean he wanted him dead.

“I'd better be careful,” Sai said, holding his sword across his chest, the bullet lodged in the metal. “Kakashi-san's getting frumious.” He then shoved the blond behind him. Sai then lunged at the rabbit man and slashed at him with the sword. Snicker-snack it went and the White Rabbit hopped out of the way before the deadly metal stick got any closer. “I can't believe there'd be anyone you'd refuse to shoot, Kakashi-san,” jeered the teen, “You've gotten soft.”

“Unlike you,” snarled the silver haired rabbit man, “My intentions toward the boy are honorable.”

“Even so,” retorted the Knight of Hearts, “it's hard for me to back off when I find something that intrigues me. It is you who needs to stay from Naru-kun, it's obvious you two aren't lovers.”

“I'm the one who wants to make him happy,” Kakashi said, glaring at him.

“Well, if I make Naru-kun happy, you'll stop shooting me then?”

“As if you'd ever manage that,” huffed the White Rabbit uffishly. “I'm not going to leave Naru-chan with one such as you!”

“Go ahead and try to stop me then.” Sai started to lunge at Kakashi again.

“STOP SAI!!!” Naruto pleaded. “That's enough already! You've gotta come with me!”

“But Naru-kun, I read that it's rather romantic to have two people fighting over another. Don't you find it to be so?”

“Are ya nuts?! I don't like having you guys fighting over me!”

“If you want to stay alive,” drawled the tallest of the three, “You'd better start paying attention.” The White Rabbit's gun went off again. As with before, Sai's lightning quick reflexes allowed him dodge off toward the side, the deadly bit of metal crashing into the hedge wall behind them.

“Will ya two quit it already?!” demanded the blond, “Sasori sent me to get ya!!!”

“Oh,” the raven haired teen said, pausing in mid slash, “Why didn't you say so Naru-kun? So that's why you were here.”

`Great. Some secret keeper I am,' the blond grumbled, feeling very sheepish at the moment, `Now that pery stalker rabbit knows about Sai and Sasori.'

“Sasori Akasuna?” Kakashi parroted, raising his eyebrow.

“Yes, well it appears that Sasori-san wants me to help him with something,” Sai said sheathing his sword, all the while smiling his patented smile.

“It doesn't matter to me who you choose to mingle with or where you go. But if it concerns or involves, Naru-chan, I will kill you.” The rabbit man's finger began to squeeze the pistol's trigger.

“Don't you dare!” commanded Naruto, placing himself in front of the knight and protecting him much like he did the card soldier during his first trip to the castle. “You kill the teme right now, and I'll stop talking to you! EVER! Believe it!”

“B-But Naru-chan!” the rabbit man pleaded.

“I mean it Kakashi! Put that gun, pocket watch or whatever it is away!!!” The White Rabbit looked completely and utterly shocked at the irate blond, his long ears drooping slightly. He reluctantly turned his pistol back into a pocket watch and shoved it back into its pocket. “We're leaving Sai!” Naruto huffed and started dragging the slightly taller teen away before either of them started fighting again.

***************************************************************** ************

“Just talking to that stupid pery stalker rabbit makes me tired!” the blond griped when they were finally in the Tulgey Wood. “And every time I do, it just doesn't get any easier!”

“Not easy?” echoed Sai in genuine awe, “You were able to stop him with just one sentence. How can that not be easy? Not even her majesty can get him to obey her commands.”

“Yea, I guess. But all I did was, threaten him with not talking to him.”

“He may not look it, but Kakashi-san's rather romantic in his own way. He's determined and frank so he doesn't bother himself with a lot of moral ambiguity. In way I rather envy him for that.”

`Sai…he's got that freaky look in his eyes like when he showed up at Sasori's. What are you thinking Sai? What's up to make you look like that?' the blond wondered.

“Man, I can't believe we wasted all that time!” Naruto complained, “I told Sasori I'd bring ya back in a flash and now we're so late!”

“Oh that's no problem,” chirped Sai, the strange look gone from his dark eyes in an instant, “I happen to know a short cut.”

“Really?!” Naruto beamed.

“Yes. Allow me to lead the way.”

***************************************************************** ********

“It would seem that we're lost,” Sai crowed as if he'd accomplished a rather difficult task.

`Arrgh!!!' Naruto screamed inwardly, `I was so freaked out from that fight at the castle, that I totally forgot about Sai's total lack of direction sense!!! And now it's night time!!! Why the hell did I let him do this to me?!!'

“I better set this up,” the Knight of Hearts said cheerfully as he began pitching up a tent that he seemingly brought out of nowhere. “You must be tired from all that walking, Naru-chan.”

“W-W-W-What?!!!” sputtered the blond, totally flabbergasted now. “Why do you have a tent?!”

“This?” replied the knight as if they were discussing nothing but the weather, “I never leave without it.”

“Can't we just keep looking for the tower? I know it's night and all but…”

“We can do that if you like,” Sai interrupted, smiling that smile again. “Though, I am rather tired. And we'll have to do with the wild animals that like to come out at night.”

“W-What kind of animals?” Naruto asked nervously.

“Let's see, there's the Jubjub birds and I've heard rumors of a frumious bandersnatch roaming about. Oh yes, and there's a few snarks as well.” None of them were sounding any good to Naruto even if he didn't know what the heck they were.

“O-O-On second thought, I'll take the tent!” he stammered dashing over to help the knight.

“If you say so, Naru-kun,” Sai beamed.

***************************************************************** *

“This'll help you to sleep,” chirped Sai, handing the shorter blond a steaming mug of tea.

“Thanks,” said blond replied gratefully, “So um, do ya always camp out when ya get lost like this?”

“Yes, it happens quite a lot actually,” the other boy answered cheerfully, “I think it's rather fun, don't you? I find traveling fascinating so that's why I do it.”

“That's not traveling!” scolded Naruto, “You're just plain lost!”

“You know,” Sai started, “I've been wondering why you're not so worried, Naru-kun.”

“Worried?” the shorter of the two parroted.

“Yes, doesn't bother you that you're stuck here with someone who's rather interested in you?”

`Now that he's mentioned it, this tent is kinda cramped,' Naruto noted. In spite the two teens being able to stand up straight in the tent, there wasn't much room to move about or for both of them to sleep comfortably. `And Sai's kinda iffy - not that anyone here isn't - so…Ok now I'm worried!'

The blond blushed profusely as the slightly taller teen started removing his clothes. “Going to watch me, Naru-kun?” he asked teasingly as he folded his red jacket, causing the blond's blush to increase.

“Hey!” Naruto snapped, “You're the one who's acting like I'm not here! I'm not the type of guy who likes to check out other guys!”

“Oh? Is that so? I wouldn't mind if you did `check me out', Naru-kun. But I was only taking my jacket off.”

“Well make sure that's the only thing that comes off!” shot the shorter boy, “or else I'm leaving, animals or no animals! Believe it!”

“You're worried aren't you?” Sai queried, smiling. “If I did take off more than just my jacket, would you be able to leave I wonder. Did you think I'd try to stop you?” he mused, grabbing the boy's wrist.

“Let go, Sai!”

“Or if I don't want you to leave me? Who knows, I could be in love with you, Naru-kun.” He leaned in closer to Naruto, their faces mere inches away.

“Y-You don't!”

“Hm?”

“You don't love me!” Naruto said, shoving the taller teen back. He then quick grabbed a pillow and clutched it to him as if it could serve as a makeshift shield of sorts.

“Of course I love you, Naru-kun.”

“Yeah right! If ya did love me, you wouldn't try to use me as target practice for that pervy rabbit!!”

“You got me there,” the Knight of Hearts replied, backing off finally, “You're so lucky Naru-kun. I wish I were an outsider like you.”

“Why do you say that Sai? What's the big deal with being an outsider anyway?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Sai asked, snatching the pillow away, “How can you not get it when the answer is right under your nose?” He then sprung forward and knocked the blond back onto one of the sleeping bags. The brunet's head was lying on Naruto's chest, exactly over his heart.

“S-S-S-Sai!!!” the blond stammered, blushing once more, “What do ya think you're doing?! Get off!!” He struggled to get lose but the other teen had him in a vise like grip.

“I envy you, Naru-kun,” he said enjoying the increased beating of the blond's heart, “because of this sound.”

“W-W-W-W-What the heck do ya mean? It's just a heartbeat!”

“Exactly,” the knight replied, getting off of the boy, but not letting him go. “I want you to listen to what's in here.” He carefully cupped the back of Naruto's head and pressed it against his own chest.

Naruto had no choice but to listen to the other's heart since Sai still wasn't going to let go.

TICK TOCK

TICK TOCK

TICK TOCK

Sapphire orbs widened in shock. “T-That's your heart?!” Naruto stammered.

The Knight of Hearts didn't answer right away, an unreadable expression on his face. “We of this world can't change, no matter how we may want to,” he began solemnly, “But you have a sound within you that isn't to be found anywhere in Wonderland. It makes me want to hope that I could change if I stayed with you, Naru-kun. Maybe my love for you isn't the kind you were thinking of right now, but I do love you, Naru-kun.”

`Sai…'

“It's time for bed I think,” the brunet announced in a more cheery tone and yawning, “You can have the other bag,” he said, lying down. “Oyasumi nasai (Good night), Naru-kun.”

The blond lay down on the other sleeping bag, but sleep refused to come as quickly as it did for the other teen. `That sound I heard coming from Sai was a clock wasn't it?' he pondered, `If people in this messed up world have clocks for hearts, then Sasori's…' He shivered at that thought. `So that's what he meant about not wanting me to get tainted.'

***************************************************************** *

“Hmph! About time,” Sasori spat as a strangely silent Naruto entered the Clock Tower with a smiling Sai. “I knew it was a waste to send you. You didn't save me anytime at all.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Sasori-san,” Sai replied, not fazed by the redhead's foul mood.

“Just get to work already,” he snapped.

“Hai, hai,” the knight said, grabbing his tattered cape and mask from the tallest of the three. “Later, Naru-kun.”

“What?” Sasori asked, noticing Naruto wasn't about to stop staring at him any time soon. “You've got something to say obviously so out with it already. You know I don't like waiting.”

“I heard Sai's heartbeat,” the blond replied seriously, “and it sounded like a clock. You fix clocks so…”

Sasori said nothing, instead turned his head away. He couldn't bear to look at the blond he'd come to care for. His job was the loneliest and most despised in all of Wonderland. Now that Naruto had learnt the truth, he was certain the blond would want nothing to do with him ever again, like all the others. Sai was the only one who not only tolerated the redhead, but was willing to help with certain parts of his occupation.

“Say something damn it!” the shorter boy demanded.

“You don't have to be so angry,” scolded Sasori, “but you do deserve to have your question answered. Yes we have clocks for hearts and it is my job to fix those hearts. You remember the after images you saw, right?”

“Yeah.” Naruto shivered, those things seriously creeped him out. “They look like ghosts. I don't like ghosts.”

“They're not ghosts,” Sasori began, “They help me with my work, like Sai. They are what is left of those who die in this world. They are just waiting for their turn to be brought back to life.”

“So you…”

“Yes, I repair the clocks Sai and the after images retrieve them for me,” Sasori replied, “Those are lives I handle each and every day. One who deals with the repair of clocks is more commonly known as a Mortician.”

“Mortician?” the blond echoed.

“You must be disgusted to know you've been sharing a roof with such a person, Naruto. Why did you think I lived alone or have such few visitors? The majority of the population here despises my work.”

“Yeah, I have to admit your job's kinda creepy,” Naruto said, “but I don't hate ya Sasori. You're the only one who can do it, right? So no one's got the right to judge ya like that. It's not your fault it's gotta be you who does it, right?”

“Brave words, Naruto,” jeered the taller redhead, “but deep down you're scared and filled with disgust just like all the others aren't you?”

The blond had wanted to deny that, but the Mortician's harsh words did have a ring of truth to them. Despite knowing that the older teen was truly a kind and gentle person, Naruto couldn't get rid of the horror he felt whenever he began to think about all those clocks he'd watch Sasori work so diligently on. Unable to bear the guilt and shame he was currently feeling, Naruto whirled on his heels and dashed from the Clock Tower, the door slamming in his wake.

“Ch,” Sasori muttered, before turning and heading back to his workshop.

***************************************************************** ***

`It's not that I'm scared of him,' Naruto thought as he stood against a tree, huffing and panting, `I'm not even that freaked out that everyone here has a clock for a heart. But to really, really hear one of those hearts is really creepy. And those after image thingies aren't exactly any less creepy either.'

The blond was about to head back to the Tower and apologize to Sasori for running out on him like that when he spied a familiar gate. `That's the Hatters place! I really should start paying attention to where I run off too,' he chided. `Might as well pay Itachi a visit since I'm here. He did say I could come back.'

“Well, if it isn't Naru-kun, un!” the March Hare called approaching the gate.

“Hey, Deidara!” greeted the blond in return.

“Let me guess, un,” piped the blond rabbit man, “Ya wanna check out Ita's books, ne? See I remembered, un! I'll take ya to him!” Before the shorter blond could get a word in edgewise, the taller one immediately ushered him past the gate and into the large building. “You're just in time too, un,” Deidara continued, “Ita's finally done with work for now so he should be in his room, un.”

The two walked down the many tastefully decorated halls in comfortable silence for a few moments. The March Hare's cheerfulness soothing the boy's previously frazzled nerves. “Ya know Naru-kun,” Deidara said, breaking the silence, “if ya live here with us, you could read those books all the time, un.”

“Yeah,” replied Naruto, “but I'm still gonna stay at Sasori's. It's kinda comfy over there.”

“Comfy?!” the taller blond parroted in disbelief, “The Mortitcian's place, un?! I just don't get ya sometimes un! How can ya say stuff like that about a guy who had me locked up once, hmm?!”

“What do you mean locked up? There's no way Sasori would do something like that!”

“It weren't him, un,” spat the rabbit man, “It was that sneaky henchman of his, un! If ya see a guy in a cape and mask, run as far as you can, un. He's pretty strong.”

`I bet the look on his face'd be pretty hilarious if he ever found out that was Sai,' Naruto mused mischievously.

“Well you are in the yakuza, right Dei-dei?” the shorter blond asked, “So maybe it's Sasori's job to act like the police or something.”

“Hmph. I guess it was something like that,” huffed the March Hare, “I did commit a real serious crime, un.”

“W-What did ya do?” Naruto pressed nervously.

“I had a friend who died, un,” the rabbit man replied, all cheerfulness pushed aside, “I made sure he'd stay dead.”

“Eh?”

“When my pal turned into a clock right in front of me, I blew it up good, un. No one could repair it, not even that clock fixer of yours, un. But it's what he would have wanted. But people here are real testy if ya totally destroy a clock, so I got thrown in jail, un.” Naruto didn't know what to say to that. “Sure people can come back if their clocks get fixed, un. But when they do, it's as someone different. A whole new person, un.”

`That must be why Sasori said most people here hated him,' Naruto pondered.

“Stay here with us, un!” pleaded Deidara, “You don't have to stay with a guy like that Mortician, un!”

Naruto was about decline again when one of the servants came over to them. “Pardon me, sir,” the faceless man interjected, “But the boss wants you to fill out this paperwork and file it.”

The March Hare groaned. “Fine fork it over, un!” he spat grabbing the stack of paper from the servant.

“We have paperwork for you as well, sir,” more servants called. Turning around, the shorter blond couldn't believe his eyes. Before them stood what appeared to be an army of faceless servants, each one bearing a thick stack of paper.

“Yeah, yeah,” Deidara grumbled, “Just let me finish escorting Naru-kun, un! Man, this always happens when I get home, un! Lazy ass, Uchiha,” he moaned, adding the last part under his breath.

“I'm sorry for bothering ya, Dei-dei,” the boy apologized, as the taller rabbit man continued to lead him down the halls, “I didn't know you were busy.”

“Nah, it's okay, kiddo,” he replied, “I may complain `bout him being so lazy, but Ita's my hero so I do his paperwork anyway, un.”

“How the heck could a yakuza boss be anyone's hero?!” the shorter of the two asked incredulously.

“It was that tricky bastard who sprung me outta that jail, un,” was the March Hare's answer. “Me `n' him have a deal, ya know. I do his paperwork or whatever he don't feel like doin', un. And he'll be the one to make sure I don't come back when I die, un. You'd do anything for a guy who's got your back like that, un.”

`That's one weird friendship,' the boy silently quipped, `But I guess I can't blame him. I don't think I'd want to come back as someone else either. I may not be the smartest bunch in my family or the most popular guy back home, but I like who I am.'

“Oi, Ita!” Deidara called as he pushed open a set of heavy double doors. Inside were bookshelves that reached the ceiling on two of the walls, opposite each other. Near the far wall that had a few more bookshelves stood a heavy looking desk. A rather comfy looking couch of red velvet and black feet stood a few feet in front of one of the ceiling high bookshelves. A pair of matching overstuffed chairs sat opposite the couch across from a large carved coffee table. The room looked like it was a nice place to curl up and read a few books in.

“Hmm. I was sure Ita'd be in here,” Deidara remarked.

“Pardon me, sir,” another faceless servant started upon spying them in the Hatter's private study. “But you're needed for negotiations at the amusement park. Mr. Uchiha told me to tell you as soon as you got back from patrol.”

“Gotcha, un,” the taller of the blonds grumbled, “Anyway, do you know where the boss is, hmm?”

“I do believe I saw him heading out back, but…” the servant started.

“Good, take Naru-kun to him will ya, un?”

“N-No need to go through all this trouble,” Naruto stammered, “I can go by myself, `sides I'd uh… kinda like to look around.”

“You sure, un?” the rabbit man queried. The boy nodded. “Ok, just don't touch anything, ok? Ita's really touchy when it comes to his stuff, un.”

“Thanks Dei-dei,” chirped Naruto, “it's really nice of ya to help me out like this when you're so busy.”

“No problem, kiddo,” replied the March Hare, “Well, I'd better get over to Lee's. See ya around Naru-kun, un!”

***************************************************************** ***

After nosing around the enormous mansion, the boy finally made his way to the rear yard where he had the tea party the last time he was there. `This place sure is huuuuuuuuuuge!!' he mused in awe, `Wonder where Itachi is. Tho' I'm not in such a hurry to find him actually. I mean, I barely know the guy so what could I say to him, especially after what Dei-dei told me.'

As he wandered aimlessly about, Naruto found himself amongst a rather large garden that consisted primarily of roses. `Who knew a yakuza boss would keep roses?' he mused, stopping to admire a few of the blooms. Movement from the corner of his eye caught the blond's attention and he turned to see what it was.

Off in the distance, the head of the Hatter yakuza was strolling through the rose bushes. It appeared to the boy that he was moving as if he had some kind of important purpose. Curious, Naruto silently followed the man, grateful for once that he was so short that the bushes hid him from the taller man's sight.

Itachi stopped a minute or so later and greeted a figure standing at one of the far paths. Naruto watched as he handed whoever it was the reddest rose the boy had ever seen. He inched closer for a good look and quickly swallowed the gasp that almost escaped his lips.

`That's Queen Sakura!' he silently shouted in complete disbelief, `What's she doing here?! And why's Itachi smiling like that?!' Indeed the yakuza head had the most genuine of smiles on his handsome face. It was nowhere near like the sly and crafty ones he gave the blond the few times they were together, `I thought they were enemies!' The Queen of Hearts' smile mirrored the Hatter's as she accepted the rose and brought it to her nose. Itachi was still smiling as she allowed him to escort her further into the distance.

***********************************************************

~TBC~

Sakura: Ooooo looks like someone's got a secret love affair going on!!

Naru: Itaaaaaaaaa!!! How could you do that to me?!

Sakura: There, there Naru-chan I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for this. Right Ita? -_^

Ita: Hn.