Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Taking Your Life Back ❯ Hold My Hand So I Know You're Here ( Chapter 21 )

All eyes met him in a flash of hate, one which he cowered away from on instinct, on memories, on bad experiences. I would have liked, loved, to run away, but his hand invited me to stay, and I could not refuse, should I break his heart. His hand was gripping so tightly, it was clammy with sweat, and trembling in foreboding essence. He was so frightened; his eyes trembled along with the rest of him, cerulean dancing in the white sclera, black pupils following the tune. My fingers, resting absently across his pulsing wrists, jumped up and down rapidly with his heartbeat. What was the meaning of this fright? I thought it to be loosely thought of nervousness, and this would go away in a few days, as the rumors died down along with the girls. But this was just overdone, the way his eyes shifted, the way his knees buckled lightly under him, and the way his grip grew tighter every second that passed silently, deadly quiet was the crowd. I glanced over at him quickly before staring down at the students. Their eyes held anger for him, and none for me. They didn't even look at me; they looked at him. For a second, I was glad for the ignorance upon me, but quickly returned to the horror being placed on the shoulders of the poor boy to have the misfortune of falling in love with me. To tell the truth, this was all my fault. I let him love me, and now he's paying the price. Knowing this would happen, I was unconsciously setting up a trap for him to fall into, and a trap he could never get out of. Even if I loved him for the rest of my life, he'd still be falling, falling fast with no hope of savior. This was my fault.

 

“Naruto,” I whispered to him. He jerked lightly to me, looking at me with such eyes in desperation. He was asking to be saved, and I told myself I'd save him, but now...Now I couldn't. He questioned me silently, blonde eyebrows furrowed tragically, blue still dancing like banshees. I looked back at the crowd, as they had not moved, not spoken, since we arrived.

 

“...Calm down,” I said as he squeezed my hand again. I was afraid I had lost circulation to it, but then again, I'd gladly lose it to aid in his sickening torment. He choked out a breath that sounded as it does when he sobs, and his lips trembled.

 

“...Trying,” he uttered out through a mumbling breathlessness. I finally moved, taking a step forward, but he didn't follow. Our hands stayed connected, and as I looked back at him, I realized he was frozen in place, his eyes widening to say `Don't make me do this!' I comforted.

 

“...It's okay,” I whispered. It took him quite a moment to comply, shakily taking a step with his buckling legs. Walking down the small set of stairs, we finished in the center of the crowd. Their eyes held so many emotions; it was beyond anything I could comprehend. There were ones of contempt, more often then others, content, seeing no reason to be effected, angry, as the people against such a relation, confusion, as they couldn't understand what we were, and finally, those of sadness, the girls who knew they couldn't be Naruto, or ones who were disappointed in my choice as a mate. All silence came to a crashing halt as the girls burst into tears, and as some ran off sobbing. I scowled at the ones eyeing me with disappointment and wonder, as to why the fuck did I choose this scumbag over them, and as to the ones who thought I would finally settle down with a nice girl. This time, I squeezed his hand in reassurance. He jerked his head back to me, to wonder my reasoning. I wouldn't tell him what bothered me, because he wouldn't understand; No one would. Not even my brother, the man closest to me, not only in genetics, but relations as well. How could no one understand? It was just so simple, but whenever I explain, they always laugh in ignorance. They would never know what I live through every day of my life, let it be with Naruto or not. They'll never understand. Another squeeze to my hand led me back to my current situation.

 

“...Sasuke,” he whispered hoarsely. I feared him to be crying, as it would not only lead to him doing something reckless, but someone doing something reckless to him. I parted my lips to shush him quietly, the hissing sound comforting him as well as I could. His shoulders lowered from their raised state, and another quiet choke issued, but I only led him further, another step, and another step. The crowd of persecutors allowed a large path for us, and I took it without hesitation. While he did, I pulled him along without tripping him, or making him upset with my domineering. I kept an eye on Naruto, as anyone touched him, they'd be in a world of hurt. But they all knew better than to hurt him in front of me. Being brought up in a family that's never around, they had to find something for me to do. Karate was just such a simple answer; I took it up immediately with Itachi by my side. I was a black belt, and everyone knew that, and if they forgot, I would just need to demonstrate on anyone daring to lay a finger on him. We walked hurriedly now, the path closing behind us with angry audiences. I didn't look back, and I told him not to either. We just made our way out of the sea of people, and out into a secluded hall. We leaned against the wall, as Naruto tried to regulate his breathing. As seconds ticked by, chatter started, and as it got louder and louder with every moment, we heard the worst of them scream out protests and laugh at the hurtful words prior. Tears trickled out of Naruto's eyes, and his choking started up even worse than before, as he slid down the wall and to the ground to lie in a miserable heap. I stood, watching as he cried painful tears at my feet, fists at his eyes to rub them away fruitlessly. They rioted, behind the wall that kept us separated, letting me listen to the horrid words they spouted thoughtlessly. Soon, Naruto's fists had moved to his ears, trying to block out the vicious language as best he could. The volume only increased, and so did his sobs. I leaned down to hold his hand, and for a moment, he tried to jerk it away to hide the noise, but he soon let it go, realizing he couldn't get it back. He leaned his face to my knee, sobbing against me while using it as a sound muffler, squeezing my hand all the same.

 

...Hurts, doesn't it?

 

---

 

Being late for school has its kicks. I didn't have to put up with first period or second, as I didn't have Naruto to bother anymore (Stupid Uchiha, losing my best friend). I didn't have to put up with the early morning rituals of students, the chatter before class, or the crowding into first period. I had barely made it to lunch.

 

Thinking about Kiba, I immediately went in search. I didn't even know if he was at school, but I still went searching: Bathrooms, empty classrooms, regular eating spots, and lastly, the roof, where he dangled over the side sullenly. I walked over to him, and I seem to remember another moment just like this, but with Naruto in my place.

 

“...Kiba,” I uttered out loudly. He glanced lightly before turning back to watching the clouds...Ironically.

 

“...What do you want?” he asked quietly. I came up behind him to lean over the side as well, staring at the nothingness below. I would have wondered where everyone was, but I left it for better reasoning. I huffed.

 

“...I'm sorry, man.”

 

“Yeah, I'm sure you are,” he growled. I turned to him.

 

“You don't want me to apologize?” I asked angrily.

 

“Apologize, for what? I'm the one who should be sorry for trying to help.”

 

I gripped the side of the railing as I glared at him.

 

“Will you stop being full of yourself for just one second? I'm trying to apologize!”

 

“You aren't doing a very good job, jerk! I try to do something nice, and you throw it all back at me! God, I wish I hadn't even bothered!”

 

I grabbed his shoulder to force him to turn to me, and it shut him up.

 

“I SAID I WAS SORRY, so shut UP!”

 

His lips twitched shut, and I calmed down with a low exhale.

 

“...So what was this about a dance?”

 

He jerked out of my hold to turn away completely.

 

“...I went up to that girl Temari and asked her if she wanted to go to the dance with you. She said yes, and she wanted me to tell you she liked your note.”

 

I felt my cheeks heat up immediately, and I tried to blink it away. I was relieved beyond anything when his lips upturned into a calm smile at me.

 

“...She wants you to pick her up at five.”

 

“When's the dance?” I asked with a gulp. He smiled wider.

 

“...Tomorrow.”

 

---

 

Never in my life have I heard the word “fag” used so many times in a sentence.

 

Sasuke had done his job, and he'd done it well. Every class I had with him, he'd sit by me. And even the classes I didn't have with him, he'd be at the door at the end of class to escort me to my next. At first, I was unbelievably thankful, as I didn't want to get beat up. But then I realized I was making Sasuke's day tedious. I told him I was okay now, still knowing I wasn't, but he didn't take no for an answer. I was even more thankful afterwards, and grateful for loving me as much as he does.

 

The problem started after school. We both didn't have 7th hour, so it was perfect timing for Kakashi to ask Sasuke something privately. I was forced to stand in the halls to wait for him, and I had never been so nervous in my life. At any moment, all the doors could open and reveal all the students at once, all the students who wish to tear me to bits, so they can all take advantage of my unguarded state. My bag lay at my feet, and my shifting eyes took in any movement. I could see the two silhouettes though the black glass of the classroom door, the way their heads moved as they talked: Of what, I'm not sure. All I knew was that I had to fend for myself. I thought it wouldn't be hard, if Kakashi finished up before school got out. I had hoped to god he would, but I remembered, those prayers are never answered. I jerked to reality as all the doors flung open, and single-file, all the bloodthirsty students appeared before me. I leaned back against the wall in horror as they saw me, and slowly made their way towards me. My legs were shaking again as they crowded to stare and laugh. I didn't catch any of the chatter, just the hateful words thrown in the middle, hateful words I don't want to repeat. Hands shot out to slam me back on the wall as they yelled. My shoulders throbbed at the abuse, but not badly. One decided that that wasn't enough, so he brought his leg up to knee me in the stomach. I leaned over it as I wheezed and coughed and hacked. I would have thrown up, as I was dry heaving, but I hadn't had anything to eat since I ran away 3 days ago. My stomach was released from its hold, and I clutched at it as I coughed. I didn't need to look at them to know they all had smiles playing across their faces. I was slowly getting down to my knees to heave against the floor, but someone grabbed me by the bicep and tossed me up and into the crowd. A circle immediately grew around me, a big circle that held amusement in my horrific situation. Someone would grab me as I stumbled in the circle, scream something in my ear, and toss me to another to repeat the process. The things they said, albeit loud and almost non-coherent, were painful and dirty. There were so many variations of the single word to describe me, as they did, and each one held a different flare. I noticed that the circle was only men, and the girls were cheering them on the sidelines. It was apparent to me that girls played differently. I then noted that the men played rough, and the girls played dirty. Both made me queasy to think about, and as I was tossed around some more, I got the feeling that this bit of violence wasn't the only thing they intended. As my abusing became slower, one put me in a full headlock, and I struggled and kicked to be freed. It didn't help, and the circle became tighter as they crowded. A tall one, a senior, I believed it, stood out in front of me. He pulled back his sleeve in a gesture of strength, and stood in a stance that held no lies as to what he was about to do. I kicked and cried and squirmed as hard as I could, and for a moment, my cries overpowered the cheering. His fist poised for my stomach, I clenched my eyes shut tightly, my efforts of escape futile.

 

A crash was heard, and an anguished cry was emitted, followed by squeals from the girls. I opened my eyes to see the ruckus, and it was as I hoped, yet regretted.

 

Sasuke held himself in a stance one would consider a high class of martial arts, one hand clasped in a fist behind his back and the other forward to intimidate. His ebony eyes stared at me, though his head remained attentive to the tall senior, who he had sent flying to the floor with a kick to the head. Sasuke straightened to stand casually, a stance one besides me would consider extremely dangerous. And they found it so, as the one boy released me from the headlock and backed off along with all the rest of them. Sasuke was in the big circle now, centered to watch them all with narrow angry eyes. They took it the way they were meant to and quickly ran away from the scene, leaving us with the screaming girls, now afraid of the devilish Uchiha before them. They ran screaming as well, skirts flailing and tears falling. The halls were empty and silent, save us and the heavy breathing of me. He turned slowly to me, and I tried to find something to say.

 

“I'm sorry,” I said quietly. His mouth remained a fine clenched line, and I didn't expect him to answer me. I bowed lightly.

 

“...Sorry,” I uttered again.

 

He ran quickly to me, embracing me tightly around the hips. I stood frozen against him, his mouth at the juncture of my neck, inhaling sharply. We didn't say anything, as he desperately held me against him. And after a short moment, I held him back softly, an act which he was fully grateful to.

 

We didn't need to say anything.

 

Too many things had already been said that day.

 

---

 

HEY I just totally thought of an ending. It will be lame, but sorry, my brain is lacking these days. No, this isn't Kiba X Shikamaru XD Later!