Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Art of The Business ❯ This Deadly Attraction ( Chapter 21 )

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

Naruto sat uneasily in the back seat of Itachi’s black mustang. He tugged lightly at his dress shirt, trying to cover himself unsuccessfully thanks to Itachi’s eagerness to flee the scene before grabbing his pants. He was both grateful and cursed to have Itachi around to help. But he could not help but feel that this was all Itachi’s fault to begin with. If he hadn’t even come to the opera with Itachi in the first place, he would have never met Itachi’s business associate. He hoped that guy would get raped in jail.
Itachi glanced briefly back through the mirror to catch a glimpse of Naruto’s dismal expression. “What are you pouting about? You hardly even took it up the ass. I’m sure there would have been a lot worse to complain about” Itachi retorted.
Naruto fumed quickly, his hair almost seeming to spike out like his temper. “There wouldn’t be anything to complain about if you hadn’t introduced me to that scumbag! Are all your business partners this creepy or do you just choose those ones to be around” Naruto grumbled out.
Itachi rolled his eyes and shrugged. It was unfortunate Naruto only got to meet his targets; so of course they would come off as the most rotten apples in the bunch. Truthfully, Itachi knew so little about his more decent co-workers he would never associate with them outside of the office.
“To think I lied to Sasuke to come here with you tonight. Big mistake…I should have known” Naruto hissed, sliding further back in the seat though it only provided him with an uncomfortable rubbing from the leather seats. “Get me some pants!” he yelled out quickly.
Itachi smirked lightly, a part of him wanting to chuckle at the situation. “Why? I get more enjoyment out of seeing you this way. Or do you not want to risk being seen by Sasuke with me like this?” he countered. It was all confirmed with the look of guilt Naruto portrayed.
“…He’ll be so angry” Naruto murmured. “We only just started…”
Itachi flicked his eyes back on the blond a moment at hearing his softened tone. So they were really a couple now? He didn’t think Sasuke was stupid enough to make a commitment with anyone. Any relationship an Uchiha made was bound for trouble the moment it was initiated. Naruto would be in the crossfire of war in no time. If he was not injured yet by these small misfires, he would be when he officially associated himself with the Uchiha name.
Naruto kept quiet for a little longer; peering only occasionally back up at Itachi to make sure the other wasn’t dead. He was sure even a corpse made more noise than Itachi. His chest tightened as he noticed the reddening of Itachi’s knuckles, besides the blood there, they were starting to swell. He must have really hit Mizuki that hard.
As soon as Itachi parked outside of Naruto’s apartment, the blond reached over to Itachi’s door in the front and pulled on the handle to open it. Itachi had tensed quickly when the boy ended up leaning over him from the back seat to do so. He could have easily snapped Naruto’s neck if he really startled him but he made sure to always be aware of his company. Naruto was no threat…physically at least.
“Come inside” Naruto demanded before slipping back out through the backdoor of the vehicle. He rushed up the front steps to his door, hoping to let himself inside before any of his neighbors caught view of his tan ass. Thank goodness he kept a spare key under a stone frog on the lawn. He shifted his form behind the safety of the door and glared back at Itachi still sitting stoically with the car door open. He waved the other over furiously, making sure to emphasize the action of standing up.
The older Uchiha sighed and left his car, locking it behind him as he followed Naruto into his home. It was the first time he had been to someone’s home repeatedly, with the exception of Kisame’s place, on the account he need a place to hang low after some assignments. He passed through to the threshold that smelled of stale laundry and day old noodles. It was still a wonder how Naruto didn’t come off as a hobo with the way he lived. He smirked darkly, watching the tan cheeks wander down the hall to his bedroom.
“I believe we will have to make plans for this sort of meeting between you and me” Itachi taunted. “Should you start keeping an extra pair of clothes in my car?”
“Ha, ha, as if I’d let something like this happen…again” Naruto grumbled, coming back down the hall now in a pair of pajama pants. Itachi withheld a snicker at Naruto’s ridiculous appearance as he still had on his suit coat and dress shirt over the leisurely bottoms.
Itachi moved to the couch and sat down casually, moving a goofy looking yellow pillow from behind him. Were all the things in this apartment pertaining to obnoxiously loud colors or foolish looking characters? It was clear Naruto had a phase to grow out of. He eyed the blond as he hurried went to the kitchen and came back with a pack of frozen peas.
“Does it hurt?” Naruto asked, directing his concerned gaze to Itachi’s reddened knuckles. Itachi shook his head nonchalantly.
“I’ve lost feeling in them a long time ago” he retorted plain as day. None the less Naruto came over to the couch beside him and grabbed one of his hands. Itachi didn’t twitch as the cold pack was placed over his hand. He absently noticed the “use by” date on the peas had expired. No doubt a highly avoided vegetable in the teen’s diet; Itachi had observed.
“Thanks…for what you did today…and the kidnapping...” Naruto mumbled. His eyes rolled gracefully to the side with more thought. “And the first night too…”
“Do you always thank people for acknowledging you as an after thought?” Itachi questioned only to have Naruto return a confused look. “I don’t help you because I think of you. It benefits me mostly…your safety is just an unexpected bonus.”
“Well whatever the reason…you still help me. So stop being an ass and say you’re welcome!”
“You’re welcome.”
Naruto flushed at the words. It felt so strange coming from Itachi’s lips. He had the impression he was one of very few that ever received them and that made him feel special. Itachi didn’t even say it with sarcasm this time.
He returned his attention back to Itachi’s swollen knuckles, lightly rubbing his thumb over the other where the blood had dried over.
“Doesn’t that bother you? It’s gross.”
Itachi shook his head. “It’s beautiful…”
Naruto jerked his head up at the words, staring wide eyed at Itachi with disbelief. Did he hear him correctly? The aura about Itachi seemed to change almost instantly and his eyes glazed over with an odd amount of pleasure that Naruto had never seem before.
“Blood, it’s the only thing that proves we are all equal…It evens out the playing field” Itachi remarked with a cool smile. Naruto uneasily started to pull his hands away from Itachi’s only to have them pulled back quickly to him. Naruto gasped with shock as Itachi pulled his hand close to his lips. “You wouldn’t know anything about that…You’re so damn clean Naruto…” Itachi whispered. “I almost feel bad you’re mixing with bad blood…Uchiha blood…almost.”
Naruto felt a chill run down his spine at the words. Itachi was freaking him out more than usual. He tugged at his hand again, hoping to free it. What the hell was getting into everyone today? What was he even talking about?
He broke free finally, standing up quickly. “You look tired. I can call you a cab if you don’t want to drive back home” Naruto offered.
Itachi frowned lightly, darkness in him starting to lighten. He stood up, letting the ice pack fall to the floor. He could sense his welcome had been receded. “I’m fine to drive back…just don’t let anything else happen to you” Itachi warned. “You have a magnet for trouble.”
“You would know…it happens when you’re around too” Naruto huffed back, moving to the door to let Itachi out. Itachi took his time heading for the door and it wasn’t until he was safely in his car and backing out that Naruto closed the door. He signed heavily, feeling the thrashing of his heart in his chest. He had never felt so much tension in one spot before. He wondered if it would be rude to call Sasuke just to tell him his big brother was weird…probably so.
Naruto yelled almost instantly as he suddenly heard his phone ring. “Oh my god!” he cried out, turning around to the kitchen where the loud talking device demanded his attention. He remained in his spot for at least a few seconds, not sure he wanted to find out who would ironically be calling him. He had great fear it would be the young Uchiha himself calling like he had ESP for Naruto’s thoughts. But it kept ringing despite his delay. Reluctantly he rushed ahead and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Naruto, what took you so long” Iruka huffed. “I was getting worried!”
Naruto felt his chest lighten as he heard Iruka’s usual overprotective tone. How he loved it compared to the raven’s furious scolding. He smiled lightly and leaned casually back against the wall.
“Sorry Iruka, I was distracted. Is everything all right? It’s rather late in the night for you to be calling” Naruto pointed out. He knew this question was rather stupid. Iruka had a tendency of calling late in the night because it was about the only time he had free time thanks to Iruka and Kakashi’s job at the police station. Kakashi was rarely any help when it came to paper work which meant Iruka was often times the one doing it all into the late hours.
“You hadn’t said anything in a little while so I was thinking there was nothing much for you to tell me about” Iruka pointed out. His voice suddenly took on a hurt pitch. “Then I saw the papers tonight…you didn’t want to tell me anything?” Iruka asked.
Naruto blanked out, straightening up and trying to think about what Iruka was talking about. “What’s in the papers?”
Iruka was quite for a moment. “…Congratulations…I’m really proud of you. Hopefully you will become more responsible with a new job” Iruka mentioned softly, clearly insulted by Naruto’s lack of aware.
“What? I’m in the paper…about the modeling job?” Naruto exclaimed loudly. His eyes widened and he felt his jaw drop.
“Yeah…well the ones meant for tomorrow that is. They’ve already passed out the stacks tonight at a few places. I picked one up a few minutes ago” Iruka pointed out.
Naruto was suddenly bouncing in his spot, with his wide goofy grin. “I’ll call you back Iruka! Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, I was just so busy! But I’ll definitely call you back!” Naruto exclaimed before anxiously hanging up.
Iruka gasped softly as the phone went dead at the other end. He pulled it gently from his cheek and stared at the call time blinking violently on the screen “01min10sec”. That had to be the shortest call he ever had. “Too busy?” Iruka muttered.
“They grow up so fast don’t you think?” Kakashi threw in thoughtfully. He smiled, moving over in the bed to wrap and arm around Iruka’s waist loosely. “You can’t expect him to call you everyday” Kakashi pointed out.
“But over something so important? I thought there could be an exception” Iruka muttered with a sigh. “He doesn’t tell me things anymore. Like when did he make friends with that Itachi person or how close he is getting to Sasuke? He hasn’t even mentioned the fact that…the anniversary is in a few days. He never keeps quite like this for so long” Iruka admitted.
“You just have to trust him. He tells us all about it when he’s ready. As for the anniversary…maybe it’s finally the time when he can move on. He can only hold onto the pain for so long. The Uzumaki’s would be happy if he did…” Kakashi confessed.
Iruka nodded with reluctance. He slid further back into the sheets moving the newspaper down to the floor and rolled over to face Kakashi fully. He smiled lightly looking at his husband’s well sculpted face. He rarely got to see it at work since Kakashi had an odd love for disguises when he was on investigations. It was only when they were home that he could to see Kakashi without his normal barrier. He leaned his head up and kissed the other’s lips and slipping an arm around Kakashi’s neck.

Creamy hands twitched uneasily as they clasped tightly to the white medicine bottle. His reddened finger strolled lightly under the word ‘Thorazine’, as he read through the warnings and directions for usage. His jade colored eyes hardened with deep thought and reached for another container. He turns slowly from the aisle and starts for the counter. But before he could make it he heard a loud banging of the bell as a customer rushed in without concern. He was awestruck by the sudden flash of yellow that appeared in head of him.
A tan male had jumped ahead of him at the counter, kneeling anxiously be the newspapers kept in the bottom. The red head glanced over him with disbelief, noting the baggy orange pajama bottoms and the dress shirt and suit coat. He wasn’t sure if this was a normal occurrence for the guy or not. But it was enough to turn up the very tip of his lips into a miniscule smile. It was funny looking, and rare did he ever find something funny.
Naruto looked panicked as he flipped through the different Newspaper companies until he finally found the one. He yelled out boisterously, causing the red head behind him to jump a bit. “Holy cow! He wasn’t lying!” Naruto exclaimed, holding up a paper and staring wide eyed at his own face on the cover. He held a look of pure joy and pride as he ogled the picture from his welcoming party. In bold letters the article read; “Beauty’s Venom takes on a New Pretty Face”. The red head stepped back with discomfort as the blond suddenly stared to jump up and down, clutching the paper in his hands. He had to take another step because Naruto was moving further and further into his personal bubble.
He suddenly grunted as Naruto accidentally stepped on his foot. The teen spun around instantly, coming face to face with the other customer. He was speechless for the first second, taking in the god-heavy bags and black eyeliner in attempt to cover his eyes. Despite this, the beautiful jade colored gems that stared back at him looked scared.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Naruto exclaimed, stepping back after having popped the invisible bubble of safety. The red head merely sneered, moving his hands to his side and directing his gaze to the counter as if demanding Naruto make a purchase or move the hell out of his way. It took Naruto a slow moment to grasp that silent request. “Oh! Sorry again!” he chirped. He anxiously turned back around and grabbed two more papers and placed them all on the counter. “I’ll take these!” he demanded eagerly.
He stared at Naruto with wonder. Three of the same paper? It had to be pretty important. His frown deepened instantly as he noticed the blond suddenly starting to pad his pajama pants when given the total cost. Even the redhead had noticed there were no pockets on him so his wallet was not on hand. His irritation grew as Naruto suddenly looked to him with pleading eyes. Oh hell no!
“….I’m rrrrrreally sorry….but I left my wallet at home….do you think you could help me out here?” he asked. Naruto was so glad Sasuke wasn’t here. The teme would never let him live it down that he came running down the street from his apartment without proper mode of dress or a wallet just to buy papers with his picture in it. He could see the reluctance flicker across the other’s face as he thought it over. Naruto was sure he was going to say no by the violent glare he was giving him but to his surprise the redhead shoved pass him to the counter.
Naruto eyed the two bottles of sleeping pills suddenly put on the counter as the guy started to search his own pockets. He pulled out a crisp ten dollar bill and slid it to the cashier. Naruto smiled lightly.
“Thanks a lot! I owe you one!” He exclaimed. Looking at the medicine again, he spoke again. “Can’t sleep huh? What color is your bedroom? I hear the color of your walls can affect the activity of your eyes even when you sleep” Naruto pointed out. He ignored the pissed off look he received in response. “Have you ever closed your eyes when the light was on and felt that tingly sensation?” Naruto asked with a chuckle as he did so to support his point. “The light is still getting through your lids” he pointed out. “Light can always make it through the dark. So bright and loud colors make it difficult to sleep; puts a strain on your eyes you know?”
He received no reply from the other. The red head turned from him as Naruto opened his eyes and pushed his medicine further toward the clerk.
“Not getting your usual prescription of hypnovel midazolam, Mr. Gaara?” the clerk asked. “This over the counter stuff isn’t nearly as strong as your prescription” he mentioned.
The male, apparently named Gaara, made a small ‘hnnn’ sound and glared at the man.
The clerk shrugged and rung up the two bottles of medicine with the newspapers. “That will be 11.53” he said and looked at the ten dollar bill. “Do you have the tax?”
Naruto flushed in humiliation as Gaara remained still for a long moment, not even checking his pockets as if he knew already that was the only money on him. Naruto gritted his teeth and rubbed the back of his head as the other removed one of the bottles of medicine from the counter.
“You don’t have to do that! I’ll just get my things later!” Naruto exclaimed. But before his words could be considered, Gaara paid the remaining total that he could now afford. He grabbed the papers roughly and shoved them into Naruto’s grasp. “Uh…thank you…Gaara right?” He received no reply again. Naruto shamefully moved for the door. “Well…good night” he chuckled with a wave and left.
Gaara groaned lightly, looking at the medicine bottle he had to put back now because of that odd sunspot. He had only two dollars left. He looked back at the newspapers on the bottom shelf. He grabbed one and put it on the counter. Bewildered by the late addition after checkout, the clerk rung it up again. He watched quietly as Gaara walked out of the store in his usual dismal aura.
It was a short walk back to the house. Gaara ad entered quietly, not managing a word and trying not to draw attention to the other members of his house. He headed straight for his room and locked the door. He paused there, looking around, slowly taking in the room. The walls…were painted completely black. The blinders of his window were outrageously thick and wide, not letting a slice of city lights slip through.
“Light can always make it through the dark” Gaara mumbled softly in a mocking tone. “Yeah right” he replied. He moved over to his desk and flipped on the light. After shuffling through the top drawer of his desk he pulled out a pair of bulky scissors. He took out the newspaper and filled through the pages. He stopped as he came to a page with the other boy’s picture. The blond looked so happy there in a party among all his new co-workers. Gaara stared long and hard and finally started to ride the article.
“Naruto Uzumaki?” he read the name aloud. He frowned looking at the picture again and seeing the shoulder of a raven haired male touching Naruto’s shoulder rather closely. He had seen that face before. Yeah that raven haired guy was pretty popular. He got a lot of editorials and commercials. Gaara was never one for social media but he could ignore a face when it was thrust in front of him. He grabbed the scissors and started to cut around the lively sunspot at the party. With one swift slice, he separated Naruto’s shoulder from the raven haired male. He had trimmed away all the other space until only Naruto remained, perfectly outlined. He grabbed a role of tape from his desk and proceeded to hang the cut out right above his desk.
Gaara scooted back in his seat when he was done and stared at the picture in silence. That smile, it was the same one Naruto gave him a short while ago. Gaara looked to his bottle of medicine and picked it up. “Good night Naruto…” he muttered before taking the entire contents of the container in several dry gulps.

To Be Continued….

A/N: I have risen from the ashes, muhahah. I know it has literally been forever since my last update but I’m back with vengeance and determination to give you all a wonderful continuation of this fic! I hope you have enjoyed the chapter. Some very creepy things are going on here, hope you stay to find out more. Remember leave replies! If you don’t reply, I don’t know if you like it. And if I don’t know you like it then I don’t feel like writing. That’s just how it works lol. Next update with probably be Thursday or Friday (12/13-14)