Fox Magic Chapter 18: Relations (Part 1)

[akaitsume]

F o x M a g i c

by akaitsume

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Genre: AU(ish)/Drama/Action/Adventure/Romance/Mystery
Pairings: NaruSasuNaru
Rating: R (for the moment)
Warnings: Fantasy-esque, Zoomorphism, AU, a liberal dose of Japanese mythology, violence, strong language, references to abuse/torture in later chapters, and (eventually) limes and lemons.

Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns with the characters, but I think I'm having more fun with them at this point than he is. No profit is made from tinkering with them.

Summary: A decision made in the heat of the moment leaves Sasuke questioning his past, his future, and his convictions, all while dealing with an ancient, all-powerful fox demon whose grudge transcends both time and space. NaruSasuNaru, canonish AU

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Previous Chapters:
Chapter 1: In The Beginning
Chapter 2: Useless
Chapter 3: Adjustments
Chapter 4: What's In A Name
Chapter 5: Pain
Chapter 6: Idiocy
Chapter 7: The Spotless Mind
Chapter 8: Interference
Chapter 9: History
Chapter 10: In The Beginning
Chapter 11: Heat
Chapter 12: Legends
Chapter 13: Identity
Chapter 14: He Had It Coming
Chapter 15: Foxy
Chapter 16: Possession
Chapter 17: Closer


Naruto watched the first beams of sunlight slip over the windowsill, and the smile that hadn’t left his lips all night widened in turn. He stretched happily, folding his left arm under his head. Of their own accord, the knuckles of his right hand began to stroke the impossibly smooth skin of Sasuke’s back. The younger man, sprawled along Naruto’s side with his head pillowed on the demon’s chest, twitched, but he didn’t wake. Naruto’s grin widened.

I am the luckiest unlucky son of a bitch in the world, he mused triumphantly. Even though he’d more or less come to terms with his unexpected feelings for Sasuke, he never would’ve imagined that coming clean with them would spark the reaction it did. Who knew that Sasuke had a kink for being respected?

The young man in question frowned against Naruto’s chest and murmured something incoherent against his skin. Naruto rubbed his back soothingly until Sasuke settled. As the sunlight painted both gold and shadows over Sasuke’s skin, Naruto found his grin softening into something that was most likely embarrassingly sappy, but he decided that so long as Sasuke himself never saw it, he wouldn’t have to put himself out of his own misery. Besides, it wasn’t his fault that he was so happy. Who wouldn’t be with a creature as gorgeous as Sasuke sprawled all over him after a dry spell that had lasted for a thousand years? With his smile upgrading back to a grin, Naruto let out a small chuckle.

Man, it’s clearly been too long. I’d forgotten how good it felt to get a little action. He closed his eyes at the warmth coursing through him. It feels better than good, actually. When his extremities began to tingle, Naruto frowned and pulled his hand out from under his head to glance at it. His chakra immediately surged, forming sparks directly above his fingertips. The demon’s eyebrows nearly flew into his hairline.

“Well, that’s new…” he muttered under his breath. With a snap of his fingers, the sparks turned into a small ball of flame that danced in the air. Naruto stared at it in amazement.

I’ve managed to power up without draining anything? Effortlessly, he made the flame stretch and shrink, then molded it into a tiny replica of Sasuke. The fire version crossed its arms and visibly glowered at him. Naruto grinned. I haven’t had this much control over my power since…

His smile faded, and he slowly lowered his eyes to the young man in his arms. Unconsciously, he dispelled the flame as he stared at Sasuke in wonder.

I haven’t had this much access to my power since I was enslaved. I’ve never had a bond this deep with a master. Ever. Naruto moved his left hand, gently carding his fingers through Sasuke’s black hair. I must mean something to him, too. Grumpy bastard that he is, though, I doubt he’ll admit it.

Shaking his head fondly, Naruto ruffled Sasuke’s hair and received a sleepy swat. The Uchiha heir grumbled, squeezing his eyes shut and pressing his face into Naruto’s chest. Naruto chuckled, but his mirth didn’t last for long. As happy as the thought that he wasn’t alone in this horrible infatuation made him, he was still going to have to face the truth. If he held this much power in his hands, if his bond with Sasuke was deep enough to allow him this much access, there was no way that he could be freed without Sasuke being forced to give up something astronomical.

“For each bond broken, a sacrifice of equal worth shall be required.”

Rage rose up within him at those smug, remembered words, forcing Naruto to clench his fists as sparks began to rise from his fingertips. He could still see that arrogant bastard towering over him and his defeated comrades, and he could still feel the mud and blood beneath his hands and knees as he was forced to hear the ludicrous, humiliating rules that were passed down upon them. The moon god had known that with human nature, there would be no chance that any mortal’s selflessness could reach that kind of height. The more they cared, the more they might have to give up. Would it be their homes? Their health? Their children? Their lives? It was impossible.

No master would ever love him that much.

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut and tried vainly not to focus on the sensation of Sasuke’s breath skating across his skin. If I’d known that being physical with my master would make our bond this deep… He winced. I have to be freed. I can’t leave Shukaku and the others to this fate. But for Sasuke to do it, what will he have to sacrifice? What will happen if he can’t free me, assuming he’s even thinking about it?

Sighing, he opened his eyes and gazed wistfully down at his companion. He’s my last chance. Even if he does manage to have children, I can’t handle being handed down another series of generations, just waiting for someone to come along who kind of likes me, but not enough to be asked to give up anything more than a quality rug. And if he doesn’t have kids, I’ll get stuck back in that box for good. He grimaced. And I can’t even fucking talk to him about it.

The fox demon spent the next several minutes staring at the ceiling. After a while, he took a deep breath and carefully released it.

I’ll just have to try to have a little faith in him, he eventually decided, glancing down uneasily. Sasuke’s proven capable of pulling solutions out of his ass. After a moment’s thought, Naruto found himself beginning to smirk. And so have I.

The rising sun managed to splash light directly into his eyes for a split second. Blinking away the sudden sting, Naruto inexplicably felt his hopes rising. Maybe, just maybe, he had himself a winning team here. Sasuke was smart, Naruto prided himself on being devious, and Shukaku was the best damn tactician he’d ever known. They’d figure something out.

As his worries eased, his stomach decided to loudly make its emptiness known. Grinning, Naruto gingerly slid out from under Sasuke by lifting him up a few centimeters and slipping a pillow into the empty slot. The Uchiha heir scowled immediately, but Naruto hurriedly infused the pillow with his chakra. As the familiar heat reached Sasuke’s skin, the younger man let out a quiet grumble and settled down again. Crouched on his knees above the sleeping man, Naruto had to fight the sudden and intense urge to flop on top of Sasuke and get to work continuing the sexy times they’d started last night. Another petulant growl from his stomach, however, made him sigh and promise his libido that he’d follow up on it later.

The demon fox carefully slid off the bed, then wiggled his fingers gleefully. His chakra was nearly spitting out of him, eager to be used for the first time in centuries. He chuckled.

“First order of business,” he declared to himself. “Let’s see what we can do about breakfast.”

*    *    *

The smell of cooking meat wafted into Sasuke’s nose, causing the man to groan heavily. He buried his face in his pillow, curling around it petulantly. After the day he’d had yesterday, it couldn’t possibly be morning already, could it? He felt like he’d only gotten an hour’s worth of sleep, for fuck’s sake. His body hurt everywhere, his eyelids felt like they were glued together, and he felt grimy. The bed dipped beside him, and the smell of meat got significantly stronger.

“Saaaasukeeee. Soup’s on, sleeping beauty,” Naruto’s voice crooned from above. Sasuke scowled.

“Fuck. Off.”

“Oh, come on, don’t talk that way. It’s a beautiful morning, birds are singing, and I’m sitting here ready and willing to serve you breakfast in bed. You wouldn’t want to treat the man who handled you so…gently last night with nasty remarks, would you?”

Sasuke’s eyes snapped open. Instantly indignant, he released the pillow he’d been curled around and rolled onto his back, rising up onto his elbows to glare at the chipper demon. Heat immediately suffused his face at the sight of the mostly naked man, memories assaulting him ruthlessly: hands stroking and caressing, lips and tongues travelling over skin, and demonic chakra-so thick that it felt like a dozen hands-slipping into places he never considered that it could go. Scowling at his rising embarrassment and the far-too-smug grin on those whiskered cheeks, Sasuke fingered the edge of his boxers in a reminder that they were still there.

“Don’t you dare start treating me like some delicate maiden, usuratonkachi,” he intoned darkly. “I can and will kick your ass for it.”

Naruto chuckled, lifting a piece of some dark meat from a wide, golden platter that rested upon his lap. Sizzling meats of at least five varieties, heaps of fruit, and four small cups full of what seemed to be dipping sauces graced the extravagant plate. While Sasuke frowned at the arrangement, Naruto brought the meat to the younger man’s lips.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Sasuke. Now say, ‘aaaah’…”

Eyes narrowed dangerously, Sasuke opened his mouth to tell the other man off, but the incorrigible bastard took the opportunity to slip the meat into Sasuke’s mouth. When the sweet and savory flavor of duck splashed onto the Uchiha heir’s tongue, the younger man glowered and chewed petulantly.

Naruto’s grin widened. “Is it good? It’s good, isn’t it?” he asked happily, reaching for another piece. Sasuke frowned at him.

“You are way too fucking chipper for a man who didn’t actually have sex last night,” he grumbled. Swatting Naruto’s hand away from his mouth, he plucked the next piece of meat from the demon’s fingers and bit into it. This one was less sweet, but no less tasty. Rabbit?

“Didn’t we?” Naruto returned innocently, selecting a morsel for himself and dipping it in sauce. “I remember a lot of interesting shenanigans that we got up to last night.”

So do I. Cheeks flaming, Sasuke pointed firmly at his boxers. “I’m not naked. Neither are you.” He paused, eyeing the platter distrustfully. “Or at least, you weren’t. Therefore, we didn’t have sex.”

Naruto sent him a distinctly worrying smile and winked. “Well, we have the whole day off. I’m sure we can resolve this issue to our mutual satisfaction.”

Sasuke rubbed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. “Naruto, damn it…”

“You know, I was wondering,” the blond soldiered on. “This whole thing is kind of new to you. You’re not…”

When the demon hesitated, Sasuke warily raised his eyes, but Naruto was staring at the food in his lap. Grudgingly, Sasuke replied, “I’m not what?”

One tanned shoulder awkwardly lifted in a shrug. “You’re not regretting it, are you? Getting together with me, I mean.”

Sasuke paused. Even though he hadn’t allowed them to progress to actual penetrative sex the night before, it didn’t make the things that they had done any less homosexual. He’d allowed Naruto to touch him and kiss him all over, he’d taken the chance to explore the other man’s body the way he couldn’t admit that he’d been dying to, and they’d both-his cheeks burned-made messes that were the direct cause of his current discomfort. But even though he’d desperately wanted to hate the experience, he couldn’t help but enjoy it. He’d loved being touched by Naruto, even though he’d never allowed anyone else that kind of leeway-and that was a fact that he still hadn’t and hoped never to reveal to the other man-and he’d never been as turned on as he was when Naruto fell apart under his own ministrations, cursing at Sasuke and growling with arousal. The entire experience had been…extraordinary.

Sasuke glowered grumpily, then firmed his lips decisively. Fuck it. I’m not gay. I’m just gay for him. Although a large part of his ego hissed angrily at the thought of accepting that word in any sense, Sasuke defiantly tipped his chin up.

“No, I don’t regret it.” When Naruto’s eyes shot up to meet his gaze, Sasuke averted his own. “And I don’t intend to start.”

Even without looking, he could feel Naruto’s smile beaming at him.

“Great!” Without warning, the blond scooped a hand behind Sasuke’s head and pulled him into an abrupt kiss. Shocked, Sasuke held still until Naruto pulled away. The demon nipped at his lips, and then continued in a low voice, “Because I don’t intend to let you go.”

Those words sent a shiver down Sasuke’s spine that he fervently ignored. Clearing his throat, he nodded at the plate and changed the subject.

“So where did the food come from, anyway? This doesn’t look like the standard fare for visitors.”

Naruto eyed him knowingly, but he obligingly answered the question. “Ah, no, it isn’t. I made it.”

Sasuke frowned. There were dead animals and fruits on this plate that weren’t even native to the Wind Country.

“What the hell do you mean, ‘you made it’? How?”

Naruto chuckled weakly, lifting one hand to rub at the back of his neck. “Well, I just kind of thought of what I wanted to eat, and I pulled it all here and cooked it.”

Sasuke’s eyes snapped away from the food to stare at the demon. Naruto “pulled” it all here? He managed to snatch animals from the Fire Country and fruits from the tropics without even breaking a sweat? Since when was he that powerful??

As if reading his mind, Naruto’s smile took on a hint of smugness. “It seems that our, ah, activities last night gave me a little extra juice this morning. I had to do something with it, so I…made breakfast.”

“Right,” Sasuke intoned dryly. “Because anyone, when faced with extra power, would use it to satisfy his belly.”

The demon stuck out his tongue. “Well, somebody wasn’t willing to let me go get dinner last night, so I was hungry.” Naruto grinned. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

Sasuke scowled and picked up a mango and a sharp knife. While peeling it with efficient strokes, he glared at Naruto.

“If you know what’s good for you, you won’t tease me about being enthusiastic. Don’t fucking expect it to happen often.” At the dismay that immediately crossed Naruto’s face, Sasuke gave him a smirk and bit into the mango. Juice began to dribble down his chin, but a quick swipe of his tongue took care of it. Blue eyes zeroed in on his lips, causing Sasuke’s smirk to grow. He took another slow, deliberate bite, this time ignoring the juice that escaped his lips. When Naruto’s pupils contracted into slits in response, Sasuke let out a low chuckle and swallowed. “After all, I’m not the one with the legendary libido. I could probably hold out forev-”

In the blink of an eye, the platter disappeared and Sasuke found himself flat on his back on the bed with a demon crawling over him. Before he could protest, Naruto’s lips found his, and he felt clawed fingertips sinking into his hair. Sasuke’s hand involuntarily clenched around the mango, crushing it. Exhaling, he lifted his free hand and trailed it along Naruto’s side as he opened into the kiss. Naruto’s tongue eagerly surged into his mouth to tangle with his own, and the demon’s weight settled over him. Sasuke dropped the ruined mango over the side of the bed and placed the sticky hand on Naruto’s back, raising one knee to give himself enough leverage to press upwards. Naruto shivered against him, and demonic chakra rose up to skate over Sasuke’s sides and wrap around his legs. Aches and pains forgotten, Sasuke couldn’t contain the small moan that escaped into the demon’s mouth.

Fuck, it was moments like this that made him so fucking glad he gave in. Between Naruto’s roving hands and chakra, he felt like he was being caressed everywhere. Digging his fingers into the demon’s back, Sasuke thrust upwards and ground his erection against Naruto’s. Panting, Naruto pulled back just enough to murmur against Sasuke’s lips.

“No more teasing about enthusiasm, no more, I promise.” He gave him another hard kiss, hooking a hand underneath Sasuke’s raised knee to pull them closer together. “Fuck, you’re so hot…”

Sasuke groaned. He managed to maneuver his other leg to the outside of Naruto’s, cradling the man’s hips within his own. Locking his arms tight around the blond’s chest, he thrust upward rhythmically. The Uchiha heir tore his lips away from Naruto’s in favor of panting into his shoulder; the demon took advantage by trailing his tongue up the right side of Sasuke’s neck and biting down at the base of his jaw. Grunting, Sasuke slammed his eyes shut and bit his lip. He was already so fucking close…

“Sasuke, Sasuke, fuck yes…” Naruto kept up a steady litany of curses, interspersing them with bites and kisses. “So fucking gorgeous. So fucking lucky.”

Sasuke had no intention of replying, focused as he was on the sensations washing over him. Without warning, a tendril of chakra snaked up between their bodies and wrapped around his erection, tightening and squeezing in a series of rapid pulses. The shock was too much-Sasuke threw his head back and choked out a cry as he came. His chest slammed into Naruto’s as he involuntarily arched his back, knocking the wind out of himself. As he gasped for air, he felt Naruto’s thrusts speed up and heard the demon growl something in a guttural language. Teeth bit down hard on his neck, most likely drawing blood. Sasuke groaned with what little air he’d managed to pull into his lungs.

Naruto let out a low whine, his hips stuttering. “Sas-” was all he managed before his entire body shuddered. He stilled, chakra retreating from Sasuke’s skin, and panted into the younger man’s ear. Sasuke let his head sink down into the pillow and breathed heavily, wordlessly grateful that the demon hadn’t rested all of his weight upon him. As he caught his breath, he relaxed his grip on the man’s back and slowly trailed his fingers down Naruto’s spine. The demon huffed a short laugh, then turned his face to brush his nose against Sasuke’s cheek.

“Don’t do that unless you want to get me going again,” he warned in a deep voice, his smile pressing briefly into Sasuke’s skin.

The younger man snorted ruefully. “You would, too. As if it isn’t bad enough that you made me come twice last night before you bothered to let yourself go.” He shifted his head just enough to give Naruto a half-hearted glare. “You do know how to cripple a guy’s ego.”

Naruto laughed, pushing himself up from the bed. His hand darted forward and gave Sasuke’s spent dick a quick squeeze, eliciting a gasp from the brunet.

“Trust me, Sasuke, your ego doesn’t have anything to worry about. When you have more than a thousand years of experience, you’ll be a stamina king, too.”

Sasuke slapped the man’s hand away and rolled his eyes. “Right. Because that’s likely to happen.” He shifted, then grimaced at the stickiness in his boxers. “Dammit. Now I really need a bath.” When Naruto’s eyes lit up, Sasuke scowled. “Not that kind of bath.”

He finally sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and stretching. Naruto watched him with a smile.

“But Sasuke-kun, don’t you want me to wash your back for you?” he crooned, moving closer. Sasuke placed a hand on Naruto’s face and pushed it away.

“No. I want to get clean, and I know you’re not going to behave yourself.”

“I can behave myself!”

“You can, but you won’t.” Sasuke glared at him, watching the demon open his mouth to protest, fail to come up with anything, and settle for a lecherous grin. The brunet rolled his eyes. “I knew it. Besides, the baths are public, and we’re supposed to be cousins. We can’t get caught fooling around.”

Naruto snorted and waved a hand dismissively. “I can make sure that nobody sees us. We could have sex in the Kazekage’s office without anybody noticing.”

Sasuke pointed a stern finger at him. “I said no. You’ve gotten all you’re going to get from me this morning. Now be good, bring your breakfast back from the edge of beyond, and eat while I go wash up.”

“But Sasukeeee!” he whined. At Sasuke’s uncompromising glower, Naruto gave in and frowned. “Fine, but you can’t go out there looking like that.”

With a snap of the man’s fingers, Sasuke’s boxers disappeared and were replaced with a clean, black yukata. Crisp, white bandages appeared on his hands as well. Sasuke stared at them with a raised eyebrow.

“Good thinking,” he acknowledged. Since his hands were supposed to be injured from yesterday, it wouldn’t do for word to get out that he was fine. Flexing his palms confirmed that, although painless, his skin underneath felt rough and torn. He gave Naruto a sharp nod. “Stay here. I don’t want any more complaints about you being hungry.”

The demon rolled his eyes. “All right, all right, I get it. I’ll eat. Go get wet and naked and soapy without me, see if I care.”

With a slow, predatory grin, Sasuke ran his eyes down Naruto’s body, lingering pointedly at the tented boxers. “Clearly you do.”

Before Naruto could reply, Sasuke quickly opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. As the door closed, Naruto’s disgruntled voice followed him.

“Son of a bitch.”

Smug in his triumph, Sasuke made his way towards the baths.

Part 2