Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Art of The Business ❯ Bloody Gateway ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The night had come fairly quick. In fact Naruto found these past few days flying by much quicker than the rest he had ever recorded. The sun was setting and he was stuck behind a irritatingly noisy washing machine. As was normal, he was upholding his promise to Iruka and was going to make sure Sasuke left his home the way he had come: clean and bitchy. After shoving Sasuke's as well as his clothes away into the machine, Naruto headed back to his room. Despite what the little red demon on his shoulder said, he didn't want to have Sasuke sitting around in his home naked the entire time.

"No complaining about my clothes." Naruto grumbled as he stepped back into the living room. He wasn't use to lending out his clothing to others, but it was the least he could do after trashing Sasuke like before. Naruto casually handed the raven sitting on his couch with nothing but a throw rug to cover his naked rear, an enlarged bright orange T-shirt and green boxers. He didn’t worry too much about the size seeing as him and Sasuke were of about the same build except for height, much to Naruto's dislike.

Jet black orbs glowered at the blinding articles of clothing for a moment before directing to the blond. "Whatever dobe." Sasuke retorted, grabbing the clothes without much convincing. "Your just lucky I'm not making you pay dry cleaning. I'm already going against my instinct by staying here. Just being in the same room with you makes me irritable." He huffed in a low voice. Despite his rude words, Sasuke knew they held no truth what so ever. In fact he had never felt so at peace or comfortable in a long time. Being around someone like Naruto, who had no standards and expectations one must live up to, made it relatively easy to be yourself.

"How so teme?" Naruto questioned with a bland look.

His answer was a indecisive shrug. "You're like bad luck waiting to happen. And after hearing your 'oh so great plan' I'm even more sure of that. I hate the plan already since it consist of me staying here for the night; at least that’s what you claim is needed for the plan." Sasuke taunted, giving Naruto a suspicious look.

"what are you trying to say teme?!" Naruto burst out. He grabbed a pillow from the couch and slapped Sasuke eagerly in the head. "Why the hell would I 'want' you to stay any longer than what is necessary?! You're nothing more than a pain in the ass."

At this Sasuke couldn't help but smirk. He stood up quickly with sudden elegance and was mere centimeters from Naruto. "If you want...I'll show you just how big a pain in the ass I can be..." He whispered in a suave voice that made every nerve in Naruto's body tingle with fear and excitement at once. Sasuke took great pleasure in how sudden the teen's face brightened with red.

"Ah! Teme, stop being such a pervert!" Naruto shouted, instantly shoving Sasuke back onto the couch. Sasuke laughed amusingly at how flustered Naruto was. "Just get dressed and go to bed already!" The blond growled, marching to the closet and tossing a blanket and pillow over toward Sasuke without care if it hit him. In fact Naruto was hoping it hit him, but he didn't stay to see before he marched down to his room and slammed the door.

"Stupid dobe..." Sasuke chuckled. This was going to be great fun. With a satisfied sigh, Sasuke stood back up. It didn't take him long to slip away into Naruto's clothes and set up his temporary bed on the couch.

The night would be long, Sasuke was sure. Naruto haven't hesitated to tell him the plan he had concocted so conveniently for him. Personally Sasuke thought it was ridiculous and wouldn't fool Itachi for a moment, but he would give the blond a chance to get it out of his system. At least let him think he was helping. A softness set in the Uchiha's eyes as he laid down. What if, just if...Itachi actually did worry about him once they went through with this? It was unlikely, but he couldn't help feel a pinch of excitement out of it. It had been so long since he had extracted any emotions from Itachi anyway. It couldn't hurt to try. Sasuke felt a sudden pain in his heart at these thoughts. They were foolish in themselves. Why would he want any concern from a guy like Itachi? Why would he want to be acknowledged by a person like that...especially after what he did...?

"I'm an idiot..." Sasuke sucked his teeth and leaned over to turn off the lights of the lamp by the couch. "Hell would freeze over before Itachi ever gave a damn about anyone." He mumbled to himself as he slipped into sleep.

……..
"Father! I did it! I finally did!" He ran actually toward the large home painted in white. He thrust open the front door, not recognizing the fact it was already unlocked. "Father, I told you I would and I did!" The young boy cried anxiously as he scaled up the long stair way. His breath came in short pants and huffs. Perhaps it was his excitement that made him heedless to the cold and eerie atmosphere. He raced to the office he had known his father to lock himself away in for hours at a time. But this time when he entered a soul could not be found. "Father?" Sasuke questioned.

Worry began to set in. "Mother?" He started, racing back toward the kitchen downstairs. If he could not be there to finally give him the long await approval he had been wanting, his mother would never turn him down. "Mother!" He came to the kitchen only to find it just as empty and desolate as the room upstairs. Dishes were left in place as if being arranged for a meal. Vegetables were set out among the counter to be cleaned. The feeling he felt at that moment was indescribable; an incredible loneliness almost.

"Mother?" He chirped once more. His small feet hesitated before taking a step toward the back door. He could always find her there in her garden. Where the flowers and the fruits made their home, she was always among them. He walked out; his heading doubled, quadrupled as every blade of grass crumpled beneath his weight. A bomb lowered into the pit of his stomach as he stood before a single white rose bush. The beautiful flowers with once a pure shine to them were splattered with blood, and now had a new fertilizer to feed them.

"Mother?" can his cracking voice. Sasuke kneeled and reached for the pale, motionless form on the ground. She would nourish this garden as she always had, but not only with her heart...her entire being. "M-Mother...please...wake up..." he found himself saying as he placed his hands at her soft side and pushed gently. Her elegant neck that made the perfect cradle for his young tears in times of crisis was reddened with a thick layer of blood. It kept flowing from the slash across. "Mother!" He cried, bowing to hug her quickly. Her body was limp in his arms yet so warm as if Satan had just left after the kill.

"Sasuke..." a soft whisper came.

The frail body jumped up in a shock, his head turning quickly around. His eyes were mere beads as they stared back into empty orbs. A minute had gone by before he could absorb the scene. Itachi, his older brother, was covered in blood. His cheeks smeared with it and his hands. Oh my god his hands... "I-itachi...what did you do?" Sasuke hated to ask when all he could see was a dripping red cooking knife in his brother's right hand.

"He wouldn't stop Sasuke...he wouldn't stop..." Itachi whispered. His eyes focused on nothing and he looked so dazed, which only added to the suspicion Sasuke had. But instead the boy turned in the direct his brother faced. Just a few feet away laid his father. His mouth wide open and a poodle forming from behind.

"Itachi?" Sasuke rose and faced his brother. "What did you do?!" He yelled hysterically. He needed to know. He had to know. Why?

Itachi lowed his head and stared fascinatingly at his hands now sainted in crimson. "It was easy Sasuke...it was easy to kill him. I only had to stick it in once." He murmured. "I only wanted him to stop, but he wouldn't." Sasuke reframed from yelling when he saw a smile grace his brothers lips. "She cried Sasuke, she cried for him to stop. He wouldn't. I couldn't let him get away...not after what he did to her. I had to do something." The knife slipped from his hands. "It was just so easy Sasuke. It only took one try...and he stopped..."


"Sasuke?"

Darkness appeared suddenly. And before Sasuke knew it he was staring up at a ceiling. All of a sudden his setting adjusted. He realized his breathing had quickened and for some reason the pillow just at his neck and side were soaked with a coldness. He didn't believe it at first, but he sat up slowly and wiped the tears that had lingered there.

"Was is a bad dream?"

Sasuke shuddered hearing the question so suddenly and jerked to the side. His eyes widened to find Naruto kneeling close beside the couch as if he had been staring at him intensely in his sleep. "What are you doing here dobe?!" Sasuke asked harshly, scooting back into a comfortable position.

Honestly Naruto didn't take offense to the rudeness this time as his eyes were downcast to the floor and he held his hands tightly together. "Well...I couldn't sleep...your were screaming in your sleep..." Naruto confessed, feeling more shame for the Uchiha than he had felt for himself. "I can only imagine it was really terrifying...you were calling out for your parents."

Sasuke looked on edge for a moment as if he wanted to straggle Naruto for simply mentioning it, but the feeling faded as he noticed more concern than pity in the other's eyes. "I'm fine. it was nothing more than a dream...so go back to bed." He sighed. He jerked the covers up to his shoulder and laid back down with his back to Naruto.

"Sasuke...I don't blame you..."

In a second Sasuke was sitting up again and glaring at the blond. "What are you talking about now dobe? I told you nothing was wrong. I'm fine. Dreams are dreams."

Naruto's smile was weak but meaningful. He stood up and shook his head. "I guess you are right...but it's pretty hard to hide the pain of loss from one who is familiar with it himself."

"What are you talking about?! I haven't lost anything. Maybe you should mind your own business dobe!" Sasuke hissed. Naruto didn't counter and merely walked away. He had a feeling Sasuke never got along with others well enough to be comfortable with telling the truth. And even though he was harshly rejected for his concern, he couldn't help but feel appeased with knowing...he wasn't alone. Sasuke knew how it felt he was sure. The tone of his voice just now, it was so familiar. Naruto could allow himself to favor someone he was similar to. Sasuke would certainly be a worthy enough rival for him.

"That idiot." Sasuke grumbled, glaring daggers at the blonde's retreating form. "Who does he think he is, acting like he knew me?" He laid back down, pressing his head into the pillow. "I'm no charity case. I'm not a weakling..."

…….

Smoldering black eyes stared at the stream as ribbons of red flowed along its once clear banks. The water splashed softly as hands and legs cleansed themselves. Sasuke could only watch as he sat on the outer bank. He was captivated by Itachi's strong silence. Even though he looked so steadfast as he washed away the blood Sasuke could only find his brother's eyes saddening. "Itachi..." he murmured softly, cupping his knees close to his chest, "you had to right?"

Itachi paused, straightening to face the boy. He could only imagine how terrifying a sight it was for a boy of the young age of nine. "We do what we can to protect something important to us." Itachi spoke clearly and sternly. He watched the boy's expression of quiet surprise.

"But didn't you want to protect him too? You could have found a way to save them both, right? I'm sure he didn't mean it. Father would ne-"

"Don't excuse him!" Itachi yelled suddenly, breaking the boy's spirit. "I wish I would have killed him sooner! Don't you get it Sasuke? He deserved to die! All he ever did was hurt us!"

"B-but..."

"Until you realize how fragile a life is you will never be strong enough to accept it!" Itachi accused. "It was his life for hers, simple as that." He stumped forward, thrashing the water with his legs as he came toward Sasuke. "You want to forgive him for what he did?!" Itachi asked, jerking Sasuke by the head. The boy whimpered in pain as he kneeled forward. "Your weak with pity for the low beast of the earth Sasuke. What would you have done if you saw him? If you had to watch him her hurt would you just stand by or give that bloody bastard what he deserved?!" Itachi pressed on.

Tears fled to the boy's eyes. "I don't know!" He answered only to be released quickly with disgust. "He...was our father Itachi...family..." He cried. "You can't ask me to kill family for family!"

"Pathetic..." Itachi hissed. He stepped back. "A weakling like you would never make any sacrifices for another if it meant tarnishing your own life." The sixteen year old growled viciously and marched off, leaving his brother dead for all he cared.

"Itachi..." Sasuke sighed, turning over onto his back to stare at the ceiling. "Is that when you stopped caring...about everything?" Perhaps, he thought, he would find out soon enough. Itachi had to still have a heart even after all he went through.

"No! Please stop! No!"

A wicked smirk graced the reddened lips. Eyes like pools of blood shown brightly in the near darkness as they held great amusement. He couldn't help but admire his handy work. "What is one less meaningless life in this world?" He taunted. He let the bloody pipe slip from his gloved hand. His bare fingers of the opposite hand lightly caressed the crimson face of his victim as he gathered droplets of blood. Recoiling, his tongue ran along the red finger tips and he chuckled lowly.

To Be Continued...

A/N: sorry for the wait, but I finally got it in. I had a great time at the anime convention so now I'm refreshed and ready to write more. Please review, I look forward to them. See you soon.