My Lover's Keeper

Orochimaru's heart ached as he held onto Naruto's meagre body.
He carried the teen inside.
"Go get Kabuto. Now!"

He laid down the blond on the bed and moved the strands of damp blond hairs to look at the face of his lover. The bruises had somewhat healed.

When Kabuto was done checking on him, he couldn't think of anything to say. He'd never seen the fifty year old so broken before. Still he opened his mouth in hopes words would find their way
"Orochimaru-sama..."

"He'll be okay, right? He'll get better..." Desperation was evident in his voice and on his face. It was repulsive to Kabuto to see the man he looked up to like this.

"I...don't know, sir" Kabuto took a deep breath gathering his strength to speak. "You're a really pitiful sight to behold. You've lived your whole life being a predator and you falter at him? He's not even your type. He's not even-..."

The sound of a slap echoed off the walls.
"You're fired....I want you out of here in an hour" Orochimaru went out of the room calling his guards to escort Kabuto.

That was only the beginning of Orochimaru's mental downfall.

After he hired another doctor who told him that Naruto's case was hopeless, Orochimaru started thinking back of his life, the decisions he had made and of the person he had become.

He had never wanted to be a man, he had never really wanted to be a predator. If Mitsuki were alive, his son would be ashamed of him. S

So in the dead of night and unannounced; Orochimaru went to the Harem lodging and turned the lights on.
"You're all free to go. You're to leave wherever you want. Take whatever you want. Just leave" he said almost in a monotone.

It was as if he had lost everything all over again.

But none of them took his words seriously and they stayed until the following morning where he had a full on mental breakdown breaking things and shouting at them to leave.

His slave empire crashed down suddenly and unexpectedly. He wanted no hand in it anymore. He fired his bodyguards and maids.

The mansion was eerily silent, he thought it was just him and Naruto until later that night when Youhei walked in.
"I'll....leave once Naruto is better" he said quickly before Orochimaru got angry.

The man said nothing as he focused his attention back on the blond.

Orochimaru had stayed by Naruto's side for three consecutive days. This was no different than what happened with his own son. How could someone so innocent, so loving and so caring deserve such cruelty?

Yashamaru didn't eat despite Youhei's efforts. He couldn't bring himself to eat or drink. It was painful having to relive the loss of his son.

"Yasha-san" Naruto woke up seeing the man was a mess. His once perfectly combed black hair was in a messy bun. His eyes were puffy red with dark circles under from tears and lack of sleep.

But the weak voice was not registered as Orochimaru only blankly stared ahead reliving that horrible time of his life. It wasn't until Naruto touched his hand that he somewhat snapped out of it.

"Mitsuki, you're awake" he forced himself to smile. "Are you hungry? Kaasan will make you whatever you want" he lovingly caressed Naruto's cheek the way a mother would.

"Yasha-san, I'm not Mitsuki" Naruto sat up looking at the man who was on the verge of losing what little sanity he had left.

The adult's face was blank before everything got to him at once. He cried for his losses, for his life of crime and pain. He wept for all the lives he in return ruined to make himself feel better.

Setting everyone free was only the beginning of his redemption journey. A journey he wasn't willing to take alone.

Naruto held the man's hand who threw himself in the blond's arms. "Naruto-...please don't leave-...me" he cried.

When Youhei walked in to the view of Orochimaru crying over Naruto, he thought the inevitable had happened.
"The doctor is here" he felt a lump in his throat hoping to god they're not late.

The doctor had rushed there with a quick step, seeing the blond teen was awake. "Orochimaru-san, I need you to give me some time alone to check on him."

The man couldn't bring himself to let go of Naruto. He hadn't seen his loving blue eyes in days.
"It's okay" Naruto small smiled "it won't take long." He reassured him.

"Don't fall asleep" Orochimaru begged. "Don't leave me"

"I'll be here, I promise" he watched as Youhei helped the man out.

The doctor went on with a routine check up, he gave Naruto an IV and went out to talk with Orochimaru.

At that point Youhei had prepared breakfast for the teen.
He went in leaving the two adults talking outside the room.
"Hey, blondie" Youhei smiled biting in a few tears "how are you feeling?"

"Like I got ran over by a bus" Naruto attempted to sit up but failed, so Youhei helped him after he sat the bed table down. "I'm sorry for all the trouble"

"It's not much trouble" Youhei stated knowing Naruto was unaware of all the changes that occurred. "You think you can eat?"

"Mhm...I'm a bit hungry" he expressed, a soft smile lingered on his face as Youhei fed him. "So why the new doctor?"

"He fired Kabuto." He shortly replied and kept quiet when he heard the door open.

Soon Orochimaru was in view.
"I'm going out to buy some meds. Youhei will look after you okay?" A kiss was planted on Naruto's still feverish head.

The two teens were left alone in the estate. Youhei had watched from the window for half an hour just to make sure he truly was gone.
"We can leave" Youhei brought out one of the car keys.

"No no no...what about the others?"

"Everyone is gone... He fired everyone and he pretty much kicked us out. It's just you and me in here." He put the tray away and got some clothes for Naruto.

"And the ones he sells?" The blond wondered.

"I don't know..." He stopped noticing the sick teen was uncooperative. "You need medical attention, staying here is unwise."

"You can-..."

"I'm not leaving you alone!" he interrupted knowing what the young Konoha resident would have said.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, dattebayo?" Naruto rested his eyes but seemlessly fell back to sleep.
He was tended to by the only other person in the mansion.

Youhei despite saying he wanted to leave multiple times, despite having everything ready, didn't really want to leave. He had no one on the outside world. He had nothing waiting for him. And the thought of leaving Orochimaru's side was foreign to him.

It was an unforgivable sin.

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Orochimaru's drive was torturous. He was not even certain if he'd find Naruto home still. But he walked in that estate, his heart in his throat as he opened the door in anticipation.

They were surprisingly still there. Youhei was sleeping on his arms on the bed from exhaustion and Naruto was evidently awake.
"Yasha-san" he small smiled.

The man's eyes involuntarily teared as he made his way next to Naruto. He pulled the teen closer. The doctor that very morning had told him to not be fooled by the teen's sudden bettered state. He was told that judging by Naruto's weak heartbeats the boy didn't have more than a day or so to live.
"Save your strength"

"I wanted to ask, Yasha-san" Naruto closed his eyes feeling a motherly touch from his kidnapper. This was different from the implied inappropriate touches he received before.

"What is it?"

"Do you miss being female? You said you were forced"

Then the master bedroom basked in a long silence before the snake spoke.
"Sometimes I do. Other times I think it doesn't even matter. I lost myself when I lost Mitsuki" he confessed. "Life is cruel isn't it?"

"Life is life" Naruto vaguely stated and then nothing but silence for what seemed to be hours.

"I've given your question some thought. If I knew I was going to die soon. I'd want to spend every second with you"

The soft talking voice woke Youhei from sleep, it was their captor talking to himself as he held an unconscious Naruto.

Youhei couldn't make any chest movements that would suggest the teen was asleep. He moved to check if the blond was alive but even the slightest attempt to reach Naruto was met with extreme hostility.

"Leave! Leave and never come back!" Orochimaru shouted holding a gun out at Youhei.

The dark haired teen fled the mansion in fear. He got in the car and didn't even know how to turn it on.
He was worried he was being chased by the man who lost his marbles.
But he flinched at the sound of the gunshot. The mountains surrounding the estate carried the bang far and wide.

Youhei sat in fear, his whole body was trembling. His eyes welled up with tears and his breathing was broken. He couldn't think straight.

He remained in the car frozen from fear. Only when the sun rose did he manage to force himself out of the vehicle. He climbed the stairs, his legs wobbled terrified of what he might encounter there.

He opened the door falling on his knees. Blood was spattered everywhere. The man who spent eight years abusing him was dead.

On the bed, Naruto laid down asleep, Orochimaru's head was on the teen's chest. His black strands of hair covered the missing part of his face. His left hand still held on to the gun and his right was holding to his lover.

Youhei, as frightened as he was, walked to the bodies. Orochimaru's hand was as cold as snow. He was dead, if not by the head shot then from shock or excessive bleeding.

He touched Naruto's hand finding it warm. He struggled to push away Orochimaru's body as rigor mortis had set in. But he managed to and he held the bloodied blond in his arms.
"Naruto, wake up! Wake up!" He tapped the boy's cheek in hopes of getting a response but nothing.

He heard glass breaking, smoke filled the bedroom and movements could be heard inside the house. He didn't know who it could be. Orochimaru had many enemies, so he carried Naruto on his back and took the gun from Orochimaru's dead hands.

The only place that was safe from the suffocating gas was the bathroom. He laid Naruto down in the bathtub.
Everytime a door was kicked open, Youhei felt his heart race more. Until finally they were in the bedroom.

He couldn't make out what they were saying but their voices got closer until the bathroom door was the only thing separating them.

They kicked in the door.
"Leave! I...I have a gun...I-..I-ll shoot" he threatened but his stuttering voice betrayed his fake display of courage.

"It's the Interpol. Open up" the woman sternly ordered. "Don't make this any harder on yourself."

He looked back at Naruto, he wondered if opening the door was the best option. They were both locked in a bathroom, it's not like they had any other escape route. So he clicked the bathroom lock open and only relaxed when he saw police outfits.

The grey haired officer's eyes opened in recognition as the unconscious bloodied blond in the bathtub was none other than his own missing son.
"Naruto!" He blindly rushed in and held him afraid from the sight of blood that he was injured, the bruises on his face weren't reassuring either.

"He's been sick-..." Youhei's words weren't cared for. He was handcuffed and only watched as Naruto was taken away in a chopper while he was lead to the car.

He spent eight years in a prison with a pedophile and now he was sure he will be sent to prison with more twisted characters.

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When Naruto woke up it was in a hospital about a week and a half later. The brunet, who was sleeping by his side, was his own mother. He woke up at the softest touch.
"Baby, you're awake" he kissed his forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay, how's Sasuke? He wasn't hurt right? He told you my message," the blond squinted, bothered by the sharpness of the light.

"Yes sweetie he told us about Orion's belt...Raiku gave us the bank account number but it was harder to trace it down to the owner. we're sorry we couldn't get there sooner. We couldn't get the proper clearance any faster" Kakashi sat down at the edge of the bed. "I know you, you could've managed to get out with Sasuke."

"There were other kids there. Youhei, Tomoyo, Dai, many more. I couldn't leave them there..."

"You're in big trouble, Naruto...." Iruka didn't even care about all of that as he was just crying. "You're grounded! You're grounded for all of eternity! Do you have any idea how-...it was-... irresponsible-...downright crazy!".

"Eternity is a long time dattebayo?" He softly pouted "I'm sorry, Kaasan."

"Naruto, you got yourself kidnapped by a pedophile. You meant well but you can't put yourself in danger..." Kakashi wanted to clarify his stance on the issue.

"I know....you were supposed to track down my GPS chip."

"Yeah well things go wrong. Really bad stunt Naruto." The ex-special tactics officer crossed his arms "that better be the first and last of its kind"

"I promise" Naruto gave in. It wasn't like he was ecstatic to throw himself in the arms of another predator. He only initially did so to save Sasuke. "Tou-san, what happened to Ya-..Orochinaru?"

"He committed suicide a few hours before we mobilised"

Naruto tensed at those words "Youhei is alright?"

"Yeah, he is." Kakashi reassured him and leaned in to kiss his forehead "he comes visiting in the evening with Raiku."

The boy relaxed but the fact Orochimaru offed himself didn't sit well with him. That was not how he wanted that life story to end.

He wanted Yasha-san to make up for all the things he had done wrong in his life with actions.
"What's wrong?" Iruka was able to read the sadness on his face. But Naruto just forced a smile for them.

The following few days were him giving his statements to the police, seeing a psychiatrist to deal with the repercussions of his actions.

Youhei was under the care of Raiku, who volunteered to take the teen, after the orphanage refused to since he turned eighteen some time last week.

He went to see Naruto after he knew the teen was out of the hospital. Judging by Raiku's Condo; he thought Naruto would be living in a mansion bigger than that of the late Orochimaru.
But he was surprised when they came to a halt in front of a rather normal two storey house.

He watched as the woman opened the door with her spare key.
"Okaeri, Naruto-sama" she bowed as she saw him in the hallway.

"Ah, Raiku-san." He small smiled "Tadaima" he saw the silhouette behind her "Youhei, come on in"

The dark haired teen was going to step in without removing his shoes when Raiku stopped him.
"Manners" she used a threatening tone. He did the same thing at her place. He seemed to not use the step to remove his shoes. But if she understood correctly, where he was staying there was no Genkan and it's possible that Otogakure didn't have those in their culture.

She effortlessly got out of her own shoes and stepped in the distinctly pink slippers that were hers.
"Youhei-kun, those are Sasuke's...so...uhm you can use mine" Naruto informed pointing at the white ones.

He knew Sasuke was obsessive about anyone touching anything that belonged to him.
Youhei didn't care much and just used Naruto's going inside to him. "So the guy you paid for lives here?"

"For the time being." He softly replied heading to the living room.
Raiku went to the kitchen making them tea, she kept an eye on the two of them.

"It's nice here. I kind of expected a big castle sort of....ya know with the amount of money you paid for that raven kid"

The blond softly chuckled "It's a bit of a secret, dattebayo? Besides, I'm not one for extravagant living. How do you like it here so far?"

"It's nice. I've never been to the city. It's a bit weird but Raiku-san is being really kind and she's helping me figure out what to do with my life."

"My pleasure" the woman gracefully placed their tea cups. "I have come to find out that Youhei is good at cooking. There are some courses open to the public with no degree..we'll see how that works out."

"Thank you, Raiku-san" Naruto pressed on his eyes again but she stopped him. "Sorry, I keep forgetting."

"Your glasses will be ready in a couple of days. Do they hurt a lot?" She wondered.

"No, just a bit uncomfortable. Kind of like they're about to fall out of their place"

"It's just your mind" she reassured him. He knew that already but it didn't make his new developed habit go away.

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When Sasuke was home that afternoon, he was fully aware that Naruto was back. He hadn't really spoken to him since that day in the stranger's home.

Sasuke wanted to forget it had ever happened. Although compared to Naruto, he was neither harassed nor forced to do anything. They hosted him adequately when they knew he was an Uchiha. A name which, despite its disappearance, still had an oomph to it. Even more so, the fact that he was gravely ill played into it as well and he was spared to be sold to someone who did not care much about dead bodies.

Fortunately for him, the someone who bought him turned out to be Naruto. Sasuke wondered how his housemate ended up in that auction. From the way Naruto was beaten that night and the way he spoke to him, he figured the blond too was a hostage.

He knocked on the bedroom door of the blond to check on him. But he found no one in that bedroom, not in the mysterious bedroom either. Naruto was not home.

The blond was in the cemetery where he had taken time to visit his parents, grandmother and even Orochimaru.
He sat at his grave. There were no words carved on his headstone, not even his name. An unmarked gravestone was a way to further shame and disgrace criminals.

"You were right to be careful....I turned out to be a poisonous toad. I just didn't know I was one. Forgive me, Yasha-san, it's not how I wanted things to go. I hope you find the peace you failed to find here"