Fox Magic 17: Closer (Part 2)
Naruto was kneeling in front of the window, his chin propped up on the windowsill as he glumly watched several cheerful birds circling about in the sky. His breath repeatedly fogged up the windowpane that was centimeters from his nose, but the little cloud did nothing to obscure his view of the city, nor of Sasuke disappearing into it merely twenty minutes after he’d left their bedroom. Naruto’s glower grew more pronounced.
He was on his own for the first time since he’d been enslaved, free of pain or requirements. He didn’t have to do anything in particular while Sasuke was gone aside from doing some snooping, and that was pretty much a request, not an order, since Sasuke could have probably done it on his own anyway. Essentially, Naruto was a free agent for the day. He should be fucking ecstatic.
Instead, he felt like putting his fist through a wall. Sasuke, that smug, pompous, overly confident little bastard, had wandered out into a dangerous situation on his own, and he didn’t seem to give a damn. Never mind that Naruto actually wanted to watch his back, and that he probably could’ve gone along invisibly-and it pissed him off that the idea had just occurred to him, now that the jerk was gone-or something, oh no, Sasuke was perfectly capable of minding himself, thanks but no thanks. Nope, Kyuubi no fucking Kitsune, your help’s not necessary, go fuck yourself for the day.
With a growl, Naruto clenched his fists as his chakra abruptly spiked upwards and blasted the window open. Stomping to his feet, he began pacing back and forth in the room, mumbling to himself. It wasn’t like Sasuke hadn’t seen what Naruto was capable of over their time together. He was just a mortal; he had to be impressed by that, right? Sasuke should’ve been begging Naruto to come along with him, just because he was that fucking awesome! What was wrong with that bastard?
Scowling, Naruto came to a halt and stared at his feet. It’s because of his damn pride, I know. He hates getting help, and he wants to do everything himself. He sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Truthfully, that’s one of the things I like about him. If he were the kind of weak-willed idiot that wanted me to do everything for him, I’d hate his guts. He kicked at the bedpost nearest him. Wouldn’t kill him to ask me for something every once in a while, though.
Naruto exhaled loudly, abruptly spinning around to flop backwards onto the bed. He stared up at the ceiling, lips pursed. This whole situation was fucking bizarre. If it had been anyone else, any other master, even the more tolerable ones, Naruto wouldn’t have given it another thought. But when it came to Sasuke, the stubborn, proud, condescending asshole who had the audacity to refer to Kyuubi as a rodent when they first met… Naruto couldn’t just walk away. Sasuke was incredible: he picked up difficult techniques like he’d been born doing them; he was tenacious as hell; he continued to have the nerve to treat a powerful demon like a regular person, despite being shown just how far-reaching said power was; and despite his traumatic past, he still found it within himself to care. The Uchiha heir didn’t like to admit it, of course, but that didn’t change what Naruto had felt through their bond and what he’d seen with his own two eyes. Sasuke had a laundry list of faults, but…he was a good person. And extremely easy on the eyes.
Grimacing, Naruto threw an arm over his eyes. Who wouldn’t want to be important to someone like that? To someone who was so confident, and yet so endearingly insecure? And what the hell was going on in Sasuke’s head that he could dismiss Naruto so casually?
Maybe he wants to impress me, as well? The demon considered this idea for a moment, then shrugged wearily. If that’s the case, he doesn’t really have to. After all, he’s already important to me.
That thought drew him up short, a tiny kernel of panic lodging itself in his throat. Just how important was Sasuke to him, anyway? True, Naruto kind of wanted to stay by Sasuke’s side and all, but…he couldn’t possibly be thinking of an actual commitment, could he? He had a job to do, a duty towards the comrades he’d gotten enslaved, never mind his duty towards himself, and hell, if Sasuke didn’t free him, it was pretty much the end of the road for him and-
A series of short raps on the door had Naruto leaping to his feet, gratefully shoving his increasingly disturbing line of thought to the back of his mind. At this point, he thought exasperatedly, I’ll take any distractions! Pasting a chipper smile on his face, he threw open the door.
Gaara stood on the other side, the faint shimmer of an illusion hovering over his skin. His chakra levels were incredibly low, so low in fact that he couldn’t possibly be the real thing. Eyebrows rising, Naruto waved a hand at Gaara’s body.
“A bunshin?” he asked curiously.
The tanuki demon nodded shortly. “I cannot be separated from Temari-sama for very long, so this seemed to be an acceptable alternative. I thought that I might give you a tour of this…illustrious city.”
Still has issues with anger management, I see. Naruto grinned. “Won’t the Kazekage think it odd that his ‘son’ and I went for a walkabout?”
There was a quick flash of amusement and defiance in those pale blue eyes. “The Kazekage will never know. To everyone in the building, I appear to be a guard.”
“And when we’re outside?” Naruto leaned in conspiratorially, his grin growing.
Gaara smirked. “As I said, the Kazekage will never know about it.”
The fox demon tipped his head back, barking out a laugh. “Of course. Well then, since you have this all planned out, I humbly accept you as my chaperone.” He gave the smaller man a rueful smile, rubbing the back of his head. “I desperately need to get out of here, too.”
“Mm. I can imagine,” was the dry reply. Naruto snickered. He stepped into the hallway, shutting the door forcefully behind him. As they began walking down the hall, Naruto stuffed his hands into his pockets and slanted a look at the shorter man.
“So, how are things going with Temari? Has she been treating you alright?”
“To my surprise, she has. Not as well as your beloved Sasuke treats you, obviously, but her abject terror may have something to do with that.”
To his unending dismay, Naruto felt his cheeks turning red. “Beloved? What do you mean, beloved? I’m not in love with him.”
Gaara shot him a sardonic glance. “One does not have to be ‘in love’ for their companion to be beloved. You could cherish him as a friend for all I know. At any rate, I was being sarcastic.”
“Oh.” Naruto’s blush deepened, and he gave his long-time friend a weak grin. “I knew that.”
The flat look in Gaara’s eyes told Naruto that the other demon obviously wasn’t falling for it, but Gaara graciously returned to their previous subject anyway.
“Temari-sama seems to be more of an enigma than I originally thought. She never stood up to me or to her father, so I assumed that she was weak. My assessment is apparently incorrect.”
Naruto hummed thoughtfully, pushing open a door at the end of the hallway that revealed a stone stairwell. He waited for Gaara to precede him down, then followed.
“What makes you think that?” he asked curiously.
Uncharacteristically, Gaara hesitated before replying. “She knows what you are.”
Naruto came to an abrupt halt, his last, startled footstep echoing in the narrow stairwell. “She what?” His heart started pounding. Fuck, fuck, fuck, I blew it! The Kazekage’s going to find out, and he’s going to send someone to assassinate Sasuke, and oh crap I have to find him!
“She also informed me that she will not do anything with this information, least of all reveal it to her father.”
Naruto stared uncomprehendingly at his friend. “She knows I’m a demon, and she’s not going to tell anyone? How scared of you is she?”
Gaara snorted, shaking his head. “Actually, this was not my doing. She seems to blame her father for the death of her brother at my hands, and she sees no reason to reveal your true nature to him unless you prove to be a threat to the city.”
“So, basically, you killed him, and she blames Daddy?” Naruto’s shoulders slowly relaxed, and he chuckled dryly. “Looks like we both got a pair of remarkably understanding masters this time.”
“So it would seem,” Gaara agreed, finally reaching the bottom of the stairwell. He shoved the exit door open, letting in a blast of hot air and sunshine. His lips twitched in an aborted smile. “After you, Kyuubi-sama.”
“Why thank you, Shukaku,” Naruto replied with a grand, sweeping bow. As he stepped out into the hot sunlight, he took a deep, satisfying breath. It felt so good to be outside on his own terms. And with his friend beside him, maybe he could even take his mind off-
“So, tell me more about this Sasuke.”
Naruto sighed.
* * *
Tsukuyomi touched down gently upon the bright green grass, masking his displeasure at the dirt that was going to soil his finery. For this very reason, he rarely descended to the world of the mortals, for all that his influence had yielded a less savage world than it had been a mere millennium ago. Why his younger brother felt such delight in walking amongst mortals, he would never understand.
Before him, at the end of a long, flat plain, rose the snow-capped Mt. Fuji. On the far side of it, after several smaller mountains and giant forests, rested the city of Konoha. Tsukuyomi eyed the dormant volcano with distaste.
All of my work almost came to nothing because of this mountain, he mused irritably. Preventing Kyuubi from reaching it had been troublesome during their war, and the demon had come far closer to his goal than the god liked to admit. With the lax grip on the monster that the younger Uchiha brother was content to maintain, Tsukuyomi’s victory was once again in jeopardy. If Kyuubi managed to get his hands on the magma at this mountain’s core, the moon god’s meticulously crafted, orderly world would disappear. He allowed himself a small, dignified frown.
He will not reach it, he assured himself. And to that end… His eyes alighted upon the elder Uchiha brother, who was laboriously making his way across the plain. Even from this distance, the singed edges of his cloak were clearly visible. The evidence of Kyuubi’s impertinent disobedience sent a wave of frustrated anger through the god. Even after one thousand years of servitude, that idiotic monster still refused to learn his place in this world! It was disgraceful!
After a long, calming breath, Tsukuyomi glided across the sunlight field, placing himself directly in the elder Uchiha’s path. Itachi paused, blinking at Tsukuyomi in surprise. Although the man’s expression remained the same, his instant discomfort was clearly visible. Tsukuyomi smiled.
“Greetings, Uchiha Itachi. I trust that you are well?” Tsukuyomi asked companionably. Color drained from the other man’s already pale face. Itachi seemed almost frozen in place. Taking a step closer, Tsukuyomi continued, “I wonder if you have time to do me a small favor. I assure you that the rewards will be-”
“Sorry, brother-dearest, but you’ll have to keep your hands off this one,” interrupted a gratingly cheerful voice. Expression closing down, Tsukuyomi turned to face his younger brother, who was grinning at him. Storm clouds began to gather atop the volcano.
“Susanoo.” His curt tone did nothing to lessen the glee in his sibling’s eyes. “Stay out of this.”
The storm god ran a hand along his beard, tilting his head. “I’m afraid I can’t, brother. I’ve already laid claim to Uchiha Itachi as my champion. I can’t just loan him out to you.” His teeth flashed. “Sorry, though.”
Fury began to rise within the moon god’s chest, and he pinned his sibling with a harsh glare. “Uchiha Itachi is far more suited to my intentions than yours. Release him to me.”
Susanoo had the gall to laugh. “Sorry, but this is one case in which I don’t have to bow down to your desires, older brother. I chose him, therefore he’s mine. You’ll have to find someone else.”
As his rage swelled, a katana appeared at Tsukuyomi’s side. His hand moved to rest lightly upon the hilt as he evenly stated, “I grow weary of the constant insubordination that has been shown to me.”
Susanoo stopped smiling. He eyed the sword warily. “Now, now, let’s not be so hasty to fight. You know the rules, dear brother, and they do say that any god is allowed to choose and keep his own champion.”
The storm clouds in the distance grew larger and darker, rumbling threateningly. Tsukuyomi paid them no mind, tightening his grip upon his sword.
“I will have what I want.”
“Yeah, you usually do,” Susanoo muttered under his breath. “How come I can’t get what I want every once in a while?”
Tsukuyomi’s eyes narrowed. “Because what you want is never beneficial for anyone but yourself.”
Lightning struck the mountain. “That’s not true! I saved that girl from the Yamata no Orochi, didn’t I? I’ve done other good deeds, too!”
“And you are claiming this as a good deed? Freeing that monster?”
Susanoo paused, frowned, and finally opened his mouth. “Considering what you’ve done to him, actually, yes.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from Itachi, but neither god paid him any attention. Tsukuyomi prepared to draw his sword, his eyes and voice cold.
“You will stop interfering.” He drew his blade, letting the moon-white metal glint in the sunlight. Susanoo stiffened, but he stood his ground, even as the moon god brandished the blade at him. “Stand aside.”
The storm god stared at the sword, then raised his eyes to his sibling’s. Surprisingly, he didn’t waver.
“No,” Susanoo replied, a thunderclap punctuating his stance. His normally clear eyes had darkened to a stormy black. The air between the gods grew heavy, charged with electricity.
Tsukuyomi clenched his teeth. “So be it.”
As soon as he placed a foot in the storm god’s direction, however, a piercing beam of light struck the ground in front of him. A second later, a golden arrow flashed by, sinking into the dirt next to his shoe. The quivering shaft of the arrow was pressed smartly against the inside of his foot. Both gods stared at the arrow for a long, tense moment.
Eventually, Susanoo let out a dry chuckle. “It seems that it’s two against one, dear brother. Our sister appears to be on my side this time.”
Rage swelled within him again, but this time, the moon god quashed it. Grudgingly, he sheathed his sword. Although he could have taken the storm god in a one-on-one fight, as the other man typically did not wage battle, adding Amaterasu to the mix put the tide heavily against Tsukuyomi. He glowered, straightening his robes.
“Then it seems I will have to find my champion elsewhere,” he stated darkly. He turned scornful eyes to Itachi, who had wisely remained silent throughout the entire exchange. “Be glad that you are a mortal. This level of altercation shall always be beyond you. Thanks to this one-” He nodded towards Susanoo. “-Your actions shall be overlooked. Such a simple life you must lead.”
Itachi glanced between the two gods with black-rimmed, bloodshot eyes. After a long moment of silence, he quietly replied, “Actually, it seems that the phenomenon of the ‘annoying little brother’ is a universal constant. Sasuke has given me at least this much trouble.”
Both gods stared at him incredulously, but Itachi just shifted his gaze to the ground and remained silent. With a sudden start, Susanoo began laughing.
“Indeed, indeed! You really shouldn’t be so condescending, brother. Just because he’s mortal doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have problems. After all, most of his problems are indirectly your fault,” the storm god affirmed, heartily slapping the stiff Uchiha’s shoulder. At the incensed look on Tsukuyomi’s face, Susanoo waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, give the boy some slack. He’s had a rough couple of days.”
Tsukuyomi continued to glare at the pair. Susanoo had left a hand upon the elder Uchiha’s shoulder, wordlessly protecting him while Itachi continued to stare at the ground. Insubordinate. The whole lot of them. His lip curled unpleasantly. Disgusting.
Straightening his back, Tsukuyomi arrogantly looked down his nose at his sibling. “Have your champion, little brother. I clearly overestimated him.” A sneer appeared on his lips. “I shall simply have to find a champion as offensive to you as this one is to me.”
Susanoo’s grin disappeared, leaving a highly satisfying frown in its wake. “An offensive champion? Wait, whom are you referring to?”
Tsukuyomi simply allowed himself a small smile and rose up into the heavens. He already had someone in mind, as a matter of fact.
Susanoo had practically told him who to pick.
* * *
Part 3