Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ I'll Cover You ❯ Nightmare ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

tsukiraven: This is my pitiful attempt to update on time! Yay!

Kakashi: What is this world coming to...?

Iruka: Are Kakashi and I going to be in this chapter, Miss Raven?

tsukiraven: --listening to Loveless-- Huh? Oh sure Iruka! I'll make sure to pick up your dry-cleaning.

Sakura: He didn't mention dry-cleaning Raven-san....

tsukiraven: Sure Sasuke, I'll get Naruto to fix that lamp soon!

Sakura: I'm not Sasuke!

Sasuke: --grabs tsukiraven by the shirt-- Listen here, you perverted authoress. You are going to finish this chapter in a timely fashion and you will STOP being so incredibly air-headed and stupid. You are going to decide the end of this story and you. Will. Like. It. Do it or I'll rip off your ears and tail, got it? --points to tsukiraven's cat ears and tail--

tsukiraven: Hey! Listen here you! --pushes Sasuke away-- I happen to like my ears and tail! I hold the power here, in keyboard form! Just try anything and I'll turn you into something cute! (all angsty characters detest cute things, right?) Like a kitty! Just to spite you, it will be a fluffy orange kitty! A fluffy orange kitty that can only say the word Naruto!

Iruka: Please don't think she's crazy, she has a three hour math exam tomorrow and she's a little on edge.

Kakashi: She owns none of it. Thank your chosen diety.

I'll Cover You: Chappie 13
Kakashi... I want to be with you, more than anything.

Iruka, I've never felt this way about anyone else before. Let me have you tonight.

Naruto ran. He ran and ran, until he couldn't see the light from their camp in the fading sky anymore. Chocking back a sob, he forced himself to run faster into the darkening night.

Sakura chose Sasuke. Sakura-chan wanted to be with Sasuke, more than him. Why though?

He, Naruto, had always been there for her; always protected her, always supported, praised and loved her. So why now? Why turn her back on him and go to the man who had spurned and hurt her, kicked her away in a crusade for power.

Physical attraction? Was Sasuke just more appealing to her than Naruto?

Mental wants? Sasuke was definitely smarter...

Emotional needs? Sasuke was a regular stoic prince.

Did Sasuke have everything that Naruto didn't?

No, Naruto had something that no one, not even Sasuke, had.

Uzumaki Naruto had Kyuubi.
---
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted. "Naruto, where are you?" She could also hear Sasuke yelling, mere meters behind her.

"Sakura," Sasuke panted, "I can't find him, not even with my sharingan. It's like he vanished."

Sakura looked down momentarily, then flicked her gaze back to Sasuke, her green eyes filled with a steely resolve. "No! I won't except that! We have to find him!"

Sasuke sighed dejectedly. "Sakura is this about the ki... what I did?"

Sakura flushed. "Sasuke-kun, it's not but... we'll talk about it later okay? Please, right now just help me find Naruto!"

Sasuke nodded, straightening up and re-activating his sharingan. "Right. I'll find him. Watch your back." And with that, Sasuke was gone in a swirl of desert dust.

Sakura paused, watching some clouds fly off in the distance. She was torn.

'I don't know what to think.... Sasuke... Naruto, I don't know.' A beat. 'I wish that I was still friends with Ino. She always was good at handling this kind of thing.'

A flicker of energy grazed across Sakura's subconscious, arousing her mind and sharpening her senses. She lifted her face to the mild breeze and exhaled, willing her weary mind to follow the trail left by the evanescent chakra. A patch of it seemed to grow to her far left.

Solemn attitude replaced by nervousness, Sakura sped off to her left, excitement fueling the movement of her limbs.
---
There he was... sitting in the mild shelter offered by a sand dune. His face was buried in his knees. It's luck that Sasuke happened to spot him- the orange of his outfit was weather stained and faded, a perfect camouflage for the dessert sands.

Naruto growled; a low, animalistic sound that seemed to convey his hurts and wounds. It came from the depths of his throat and made the hairs on Sasuke's neck prickle.

"Naruto."

The name itself came out harsher than Sasuke had wanted it to, a low guttural command. Not the friendly, warm gesture that he knew Sakura would've given the boy.

Cerulean eyes glared up over orange knees. "Sasuke-teme." The bright orbs were red rimmed; most likely the result of crying. "What do you want?"

"Sakura wanted me to take you back."

Naruto chuckled roughly. "I'm surprised that she knew I was gone."

"Dobe, we've been looking for you for hours! The sun's already gone down."

"I don't care!" Naruto yelled.

That was it for Sasuke. He walked forward, three brisk paces, stopped in front of Naruto and wrenched him up by the front of his shirt. "You're coming back with me."

"No!" Naruto broke free of Sasuke's grip and stepped back, facing Sasuke with a horrible fury in his eyes. Than he mumbled something Sasuke didn't quite catch.

The Uchiha perked his ears. "Sorry?"

"What the hell does she see in you?" Naruto yelled. "You're rude, you're uppity, you're a snob, you're a cold hearted, ice prick of a bastard! I don't even know how she can stand you!"

Sasuke grit his teeth. "We're going back," he said, in a voice filled with determined calm. "Now."

"I said no."

Sasuke growled, low and even. "You just don't get it, do you Dead Last?"

Naruto shouted his fury out and, with astonishing speed, rammed his fist into Sasuke's cheek.

Sasuke felt the flesh over the bone of his cheek split, stinging painfully. Wincing, he flew backward several yards. He grimaced slightly, letting the blood dibble down his cheek, leaving a trail of red in its wake.

"This is for you own good, Naruto." 'Yours and Sakura's.'

Naruto yelled again, throwing his body at the young Uchiha's. Sasuke braced himself at the impact, ducking and dodging as best he could while the Kyuubi tamer threw blow after blow at him.

Naruto grabbed Sasuke by the shoulders and shook him forcibly. "Why?" He screamed, spit hitting the other's face. "Why do they all like you? You're a horrible bastard! Kakashi-sensei... Sakura-chan... Why am I the only one who sees this? Why?"

Sasuke's hand caught Naruto's in mid punch, covering the smaller hand with a larger one. "Naruto. Let's go back. Sakura's waiting for us."

"I saw you kiss her."

Sasuke flushed. "Yeah. I don't think she appreciated it though." Naruto chuckled raspily, bringing his free hand up to his face and scrubbing.

Upon Sasuke's curious remark, he answered with "Stupid desert sand. Always getting in my eyes."

He looked up, Sasuke looked down. Cerulean eyes met Obsidian eyes. Iced fire met flaming ice. Both beings smiled, the shadow a flicker of a smirk and the sun a large, vulpine grin.

Sasuke scoffed, letting Naruto's hand drop from his own. "Ready to go back, dobe?"

Naruto's grin vanished, leaving a scowl in it's place. "Not yet, teme. We're going to settle this now."

"Whatever."

Both parties settled into a fighting stance. They observed each other warily as the last rays of the sun dimmed and settled over the horizon. Naruto attacked first.

"Get ready teme!" Naruto pulled a handful of needles out of his jacket. "I'll shove these senbon up your ass!"

Sasuke dodged the projectiles with apparent ease. "You're attacks will not reach me." He stated, his voice icy and calm. He gently flipped open his thigh holster, freeing three shuriken, holding them between the fingers of his right hand. In the other, he gripped a kunai.

Naruto jumped and ducked low to avoid the shuraiken, but he wasn't quite so prepared for the kunai. It grazed his left shin.

He let out a hiss of pain. Blood soaked into the thick, gaudy material of his pants. Naruto hissed, jumping back a meter. 'Damn that bastard! He's going for the psychological warfare too! Grr... Freakin' teme! I'll make him kiss my sandals!'

Naruto threw off his orange jacket, letting it crumble in the sand. He reached both hands behind his head and tightened the knot securing his headband to his head. Then, he re-settled into his fighting stance.

"C'mon teme! Is that all you've got?" Sasuke smirked, throwing back his head and allowing his hair to obscure his face. When he righted himself, he eyes were crimson. Involuntarily, Naruto shivered. 'Sharingan...'

"This and much, much more, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, throwing himself mercilessly at the demon-container. "Prepare yourself!"
---
By the time Sakura managed to once again lock her mind around the chakra, night had fallen. She was more than a little worried; now both Sasuke and Naruto were missing. She shivered as the cold nighttime winds hit her burned shoulders. Desert nights were so cold!

Inner Sakura rampaged: How can a place so hot in the daytime be so freaking cold in the nighttime?

Shaking her head to clear her mind, Sakura drove on, pumping as much spare chakra as she could into her legs.

It wasn't long before the chakra raged again. But this time, it was cooler, more content. There was another burst, and the chakra became recognizable at one. 'Naruto!' Another chakra explosion. 'Sa-Sasuke-kun?'

Sakura willed her tired limbs to move her faster. She leapt over sand dunes as quickly as she could, wondering if both of her teammates were alright.

When she was within earshot, she could hear the shouting.

"Sasuke.... Sasuke-bastard! No! Ack! Not there--"

"What's wrong, dobe? Don't like this?"

"No, you teme! Don't do tha- ah ahh!"

"Oh Naruto, you're awfully vocal..."

Sakura almost died. Inner Sakura, in all of her yaoi fangirl-ness, cheered in victory.

'Yes,' Inner Sakura wept. Now, if only she could--

Did she just... Yup. Good thought? Maybe... Future investigation needed. Also, therapy. In so, so many ways.

When she heard Naruto's whine's reach a frantic pitch, she decided to make her presence know. Clearing her throat, she stepped out from behind a large dune, flushing red and slightly embarrassed.

What she saw made her choke.

Naruto was sprawled out over Sasuke, struggling in vain to get free. Sasuke had on hand on the blonde's left knee, the other on his stomach. Tickling him. Naruto was laughing and screaming and sputtering, attempting in every way possible to be free. Sasuke was barely grinning, however a smile showed in his dark eyes.

Sakura laughed. It was just that funny. They weren't killing each other. They weren't doing God knows what to each other. Yay!

At the moment of her laugh, both boy looked up, instantly mortified for life. Sasuke shoved Naruto off of him and stood up, brushing off his clothing. "So... I found Naruto." Sasuke said dumbly.

Naruto snorted.

Sakura giggled. "I can see that." The smile on Naruto's face died.

"It's not what you think, Sakura-chan! Sasuke-teme came onto me! I tried screaming for help, but he was obviously too overpowered by my charismatic charms that he couldn’t stop! He forced himself on me and forcibly made me his!" Naruto sobbed. "He... That bastard stole my innocence!" More sobs.

"Sasuke-kun... you..." Sakura looked at Sasuke sadly.

"Ah, Sakura it wasn't--"

"I always knew you were gay."

Blink. "Pardon me?" Sasuke Uchiha was most certainly not gay! Thank you very much!

"C'mon it's obvious! All those girls throwing themselves at you! And you never once cared! It's sooo right there, if you look for it!" Hey, Sakura liked her pranks too.

Naruto cackled. Sakura waved it off with a glittering smile. "I'm only joking, Sasuke-kun. You know that, right?"

Sasuke nodded rather stiffly.

Sakura sat down next to Naruto, motioning for Sasuke to join her. "You know," she said after a few moments. "I like this." Neither boy was sure of how to respond. "Being with you. Both of you. It's like..." Sakura struggled to find a phrase that would describe it.

"A package."

Sasuke blinked. "What?"

"Y'know!" Sakura threw her hands around wildly to illustrate her point. "A package! A combination deal! I can't have one of you without the other! So let's..." Sakura took a deep breath. "Let's all stay together." She looked beseechingly from one boy to the other. "Please?"

Sasuke and Naruto exchanged looks. They grinned. "Of course, Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed, throwing his arms around the girl. "That's what Sasuke-teme came up with!"

Sasuke nodded, wrapping his arms around both of his teammates in turn. Naruto laughed again, yanking Sasuke into a group hug.

Sakura smiled widely, and without words, leaned over and kissed each boy once on the lips. Naruto gaped for a moment. Then, he pulled Sakura towards him and crushed his lips against hers, moaning hungrily and absorbing every bit of the kiss. Sakura didn't hesitate on bit to kiss him back.

When she turned around, Sasuke was smiling at her. She kissed him too, again. This was it. This was the way it should be.

Naruto shook Sakura roughly by the shoulder. "Sakura-chan..."

Begrudgingly, Sasuke gently pulled Sakura away from him. "Can't you wait your turn, Dobe?" Naruto scowled.

"I can! Naruto Uzumaki has enough patience for 10 men! Believe it! But," he pointed off into the distance. "What's that dark line?"

"What dark--" Sakura and Sasuke both looked towards where Naruto was pointing. Indeed, there was a dark smear on the horizon. The jagged outlines of buildings and towers were revealed in the steadily rising sun. All three ninjas held their breath, realizing where they were.

They had finally arrived at Sunagakure.

-_-_-_-

Warm, golden sunlight filtered through the blinds of an onsen hotel room. Iruka woke up happily, stifling a yawn. His smile melted off his face almost instantly, however.

'Where... Where am I?'

Iruka looked around in a panic. He couldn't recall going to the hot springs, he could never afford it on a teacher's salary! Mizuki often talked about wanting to take him... Maybe that was why he was here! Iruka blushed. He was naked too. Had Mizuki finally convinced him to--

No! He told Mizuki no before, and the man had never pestered him! Iruka wanted to take things at a slow pace and Mizuki had always seemed fine with that. Then why in all of the hells was he here?

The door at the end of the room creaked open and Iruka dove back into the small bed, wrapping a blanket around himself to preserve his modesty. There was no pain... If he had indeed had sex, there would be hurting, right?

A tall, lean man walked into the room, and Iruka held his breath. The man had silver hair and one deep blue eye, the other was hidden behind a thin strip of black cloth. Not the headband as he normally wore. The usually masked face Iruka was used to seeing around the mission room was exposed, and Iruka flushed at the sight of it.

"Kakashi-sensei?" However, Iruka was also genuinely confused. "Why are you here?"

Kakashi blinked, setting down the two mugs of coffee that he had been carrying. "Iruka? Why am I here? That's a funny question, I suppose you'd just have to ask my parents." Kakashi's smile faded. "You haven't called me 'sensei' in a long time, Iruka. What's going on?"

So, Iruka yelled out the first thing he could think of. "Why you?" Kakashi looked taken aback at that. He crossed the room swiftly and pulled Iruka into his arms, forcing eye contact.

"Iruka," he whispered softly. "What is going on?"

"Don't you touch me!" Iruka yelled, shoving Kakashi away. The man was being so openly forward and it scared him. "Why are you here? Where's Mizuki?"

Kakashi gaped at him for a moment, before recovering himself. "Mizuki? Iruka... Mizuki's been gone from Konoha for years. What's wrong, Ruka--"

"Don't call me Ruka!" Iruka stood up swiftly, and regretted it the moment he did. Nausea and fatigue caught up with him and he registered a strong pain in the back of his head. He staggered, and fell back to the bed.

And a plastic seal seemed to pop in the back of his mind. "Ka...Kashi?"

Instantly, Kakashi was at his side, propping him against one of the pillows that lay on the bed. "Iruka, what is it? Iruka! Iruka!"

"Kashi, my head hurts..."

"It's alright, Ruka. I'll get you to the hospital right away." Kakashi picked up Iruka in his arms and was off instantly. There was a nurse he needed to see.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

tsukiraven: Ta-da! A cliffie!

What is happening to dearest Iruka-sensei?

Will Team 7 make it back with the antidote in time?

What will happen next?

All are intriguing questions that I'll have to be sure to answer soon! Oh yeah!

Sasuke: --hits Raven-- Do you have any idea how long it takes a authoress to update? Not nearly this long!

tsukiraven: That's it! You're a kitty-cat! --chases Sasuke around in an attempt to make him 'cuter'--

Sasuke: Stay the hell away from me!

tsukiraven: I'll get the fangirls, I swear it!

--to readers-- So anyway, we come to the end of the SasuSakuNaru arc in this ficcy of mine. And it has ended in the pairing of... SasuSakuNaru. Weird. Who’d a seen that one comin'?

Naruto: Yay! I win! You're awesome Tsuki-san!

tsukiraven: Yes, yes! But... by the time I finish this chappie, I have both taken my math exam and received the results! They... eheh, weren’t so great. I passed though!

So, three cheers for passing, reviewing so I write faster, and me updating faster next time! Hip, hip hooray!

Peace, and leave a review on your way out! Ja!