Challenging darkness
They stayed in London another two weeks, and then returned to Konohagakure.
Naruto felt a growing sense of anticipation as the carriage climbed the long, fog shrouded hill to the castle. Once, the fortress had loomed cold and forbidding; now it was home.
Sasuke helped him from the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the grounds. He had taken residence in a great many lands in the last four centuries; of them all, Fire Mountain and its stark castle had always been his favourite abode, and yet he had never thought of Castle Uchiha as home until now. Until Naruto.
Swinging Naruto into his arms, he opened the front door and carried the blond into the hall. "Welcome home, darling sweet Naruto."
Naruto laughed softly as Sasuke carried him down the corridor into the study.
The weeks they had spent in London had been wonderful. It had, he thought, been the best time of his entire life. He had slept at Sasuke's side during the day, toured the theatres and concert halls with him in the evening.
Twice he had talked Sasuke into taking his blood, not just a sip, but enough to soothe his hunger.
He had not wanted to, had argued against it, but, in the end, Naruto had convinced him it was something the blond needed to do, wanted to do. And because he hated to deny his sweet anything in his power, he had relented. The experience had left Naruto feeling weak as a newborn babe, but the stubborn blond had found a deep satisfaction in nourishing him with his life's essence.
Setting Naruto on his feet, Sasuke dropped a kiss on his forehead; then, with a glance, he lit the lamps and started a fire in the hearth.
He could hear Iruka moving through the house, carrying their trunk and then Naruto's bags into the tower room, making another trip to the carriage to unload the things Naruto had purchased for his family.
Naruto stood in front of the fireplace, shivering against the chill in the room, until Sasuke put his arms around him, drawing him into the deep silken folds of his cloak. With a sigh of contentment, he rested his head against Sasuke’s chest and closed his eyes. This was where he wanted to be, where he belonged.
"Tired?" Sasuke asked.
"Not really." Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke, wanting to be closer, wishing he could climb inside Sasuke’s heart and soul and discover the secrets he refused to share.
"Hungry?" Sasuke stroked blond hair lightly, all his senses vibrantly attuned to his nearness.
"No." Naruto drew back a little so he could see Sasuke’s face. "Are you?" Sasuke smiled, midnight orbs filled with such love that it made Naruto’s heart skip a beat.
"No." He had taken Naruto’s blood twice in the last two weeks. He dared not take more so soon, nor was there any need. At first, he had refused to drink from the blond. It was one thing to savour Naruto’s sweetness in the throes of passion, another to take enough of his precious blood to still the hunger that burned within him.
In the end, because he found it impossible to deny Naruto anything within his power, he had done as asked. Savouring the sweetness of the blond’s blood had made him realise anew just how much he had loathed the blood of sheep.
It was difficult now to remember that he had bought Naruto for the sole purpose of satisfying his hunger. Miraculously, a few sips of his precious blood pacified his hunger far more effectively than had the blood of countless other men and women, whose names and faces he could no longer recall.
"Will you be needing anything else tonight?" Iruka asked.
Sasuke shook his head.
"Would you mind if I..." Iruka cleared his throat. "Would you mind if I took the carriage this evening?"
"Of course not," Sasuke said, then frowned. "Where are you going?"
"I..." Iruka cleared his throat. "I thought I'd go look in on the orphanage."
Naruto glanced over his shoulder, a smirk on his lips. "You're going to see Kakashi?"
"If you've no objection, my lord?" He tried to hide the blush forming on his cheeks.
"No, of course not," Naruto said with a large smile.
"I, uh ..." Iruka ran a finger around the inside of his collar. "I just thought perhaps check on the children, let them know you're well."
"Of course," Naruto said. "Tell them I'll be by to see them all soon."
"I'll do that," Iruka said. "Good night, my lord. Lord Naruto." With a slight bow to each, he left the room.
"Well," Naruto said, "what do you make of that?"
Sasuke shook his head. For the first time, it occurred to him that he had thoughtlessly condemned Iruka to endure the same lonely life he himself had lived.
"It was never my intention to rob Iruka of a normal life," the dark lord remarked. "And yet that is what I've done. I spent so much time worrying about protecting my own existence, I never gave any thought to how lonely he must have been all these years."
"You had good reason to worry, my lord," Naruto added.
Sasuke shook his head. "It was wrong of me. Why did I not realise it sooner?"
.
.
.
Kakashi blinked in surprise when he saw Iruka standing at the door. His first thought was that something had happened to Naruto.
"What is it?" he asked anxiously. "Has something happened to Naruto?"
"Lord Naruto is quite well," Iruka said with a bow.
"Well that's good news." Kakashi peered over Iruka's shoulder. "Did he come with you?"
"No, no Kakashi-san. I, uh, I just wanted to come by and assure you that Naruto is well, and..." He tugged at his collar, then cleared his throat. "Quite well."
"Would you care to come in and sit a spell, Iruka-kun?" Kakashi asked, grinning when he saw the sudden flush in his cheeks.
"Yes, thank you, Kakashi-san."
"Come along, then. And Kakashi is just fine," the grey haired man said with a warm smile.
Iruka followed the man into the kitchen, sat down at the table at his invitation. "Would you care for a cup of tea, Iruka-kun?"
"Yes, thank you." Iruka scratched the back of his neck. “And, and Iruka is just fine.”
Lifting a pot from the fire, Kakashi filled two cups while nodding his head in agreement. He placed one cup in front of Iruka, then sat down across from him. "Milk or sugar?" Kakashi asked.
"No, thank you." Iruka nervously shuffled in this seat.
"Now, then, what brings you here at this late hour? Not that I don’t mind.” Kakashi grinned with a wink.
"I was wondering if I might have permission to, uh…” Iruka bit his lip, his eyes looking down at his cup of tea.
"To what?" Kakashi raised a brow.
"I should very much like to call on you."
"Call on me?" Kakashi held his eyes on the smaller male, with a slight smirk. He had to admit he was impressed and surprised at the courage Iruka was presenting. It had been many a years that someone had asked to court him, and normally he was the one asking.
"Uh, yes."
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, watching the blush creep up on Iruka’s cheeks in embarrassment, the nervousness in the man’s voice. Cute, he thought. "I don't know what to say."
"I see." Iruka shook his head, his face suddenly showing disappointment. “I should—” He began to get up from the table.
“I’m really flattered Iruka,” Kakashi said suddenly with a chuckle. “And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested.” Iruka just stared. Kakashi pursed his lips in thought before continuing. "I have suspicions for the man who employs you. I don't fully trust him."
Iruka shook his head. "Kakashi, I assure you that the rumours you've heard about my master are false."
Kakashi shook his head. "I know not what it is, but I know he's not like other men." Kakashi raised his brows to the smaller man, a silent question.
Iruka let out a sigh of resignation. "My lord's ways may seem strange to you, Kakashi, but he is a good man."
"I'll be honest, I haven’t heard of any goodness."
"The stories told in the village are lies," Iruka said, wondering how to steer the subject away about his master.
"They can't all be lies," Kakashi urged. "And even if they are, it's been my experience that most lies are based on an element of truth. There's something odd about him, I'm thinking, something that doesn't ring true. I see a man who has no friends, who I haven’t seen during the day in all my years being in Konohagakure." Kakashi then stared at his tea cup, confusion in his face. "At times I find myself worrying for Naruto."
Iruka fidgeted in his chair. "Kakashi, my Lord Sasuke may not live like other men, but he loves Naruto, and while Naruto lives with that, no harm will befall him. I can promise you.”
"You're very loyal." Kakashi snorted.
"He saved my life many years ago," Iruka explained quietly.
"Indeed?"
"Yes." Iruka bowed. "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Kakashi-san." Iruka started toward the door, then turned back, knowing if he didn't speak now, he would never have the courage to do so again.
"Kakashi-san, I came here tonight because…" He took a deep breath and finished in a rush, "Because I'm lonely, and I thought maybe, if you were lonely, too, you wouldn't mind my company. I know you don't approve of my master, but can you not look past that and judge me on my own merits?”
Kakashi blinked up at him, somewhat taken aback by Iruka’s impassioned declaration but at the same time, aroused.
"I should be getting back," Iruka said, his courage deserting him as quickly as it had come. "My lord Naruto said to tell you he will be coming to visit you very soon."
"Thank you," Kakashi managed to say. Rising, he followed Iruka out of the kitchen to the front door of the cottage. "Give Naruto my love."
"Yes, I will," Iruka whispered.
"Iruka?"
"Yes?" The brunette man stopped, not looking at the other.
Kakashi placed a hand on Iruka’s arm, gently turning the smaller man to look at him. He grinned warmly, looking at worried brown eyes. "I should be honoured to have you call on me."
Iruka’s eyes widened before his cheeks heated. Finding his voice, he quickly bowed and said, "it will be my pleasure."
.
.
.
"He's home," Sasuke said.
Naruto glanced up from the book in his lap, blue eyes filled with curiosity. "I didn't hear anything.”
Sasuke smiled; a moment later, Iruka entered the study.
"Yes, my lord?"
"I believe Naruto wishes to talk to you." Sasuke smirked and glanced at the blond.
Iruka turned to bow towards Naruto. "Yes, my lord?”
Naruto looked at his husband. Sasuke was watching him, his dark eyes alight with mischief. Naruto feigned a scowl at the dark lord before turning to Iruka. "I was just wondering if all is well at home."
Iruka nodded. "Quite well, my lord."
"Won't you sit down, Iruka?" Naruto asked, gesturing at the chair across from Sasuke.
"No, thank you, my lord."
"Did you have a nice visit with Kakashi?"
“Yes my lord. Kakashi said…” Iruka cleared his throat. “Kakashi said I can call on him again.”
Naruto met Sasuke’s amused glance.
"That is, if you have no objection, my lords," Iruka quickly stammered.
"No, of course not." Naruto smiled at Iruka.
"I think you and Kakashi suit rather well."
"Thank you, my lord,” Iruka smiled with a blush on his cheeks. “Will either of you be needing anything further this evening?"
"No," Sasuke said, answering for them both. "You may retire."
"Thank you, my lord." Iruka bowed towards each of them, then left the room.
"Is he always so formal?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"The two of you have been together so long, it just seems strange, that's all. I'd think you'd be friends by now."
"I made it clear from the beginning that I would not welcome his friendship."
"Oh? why?"
"I've let no one close to me since I became vampire," he replied quietly. "No one, but you." A black brow rose.
Rising from his chair, Naruto went to sit on Sasuke’s lap. "I wish I could make you forget the past," he whispered, caressing his cheek. "I wish I could make you happy."
"You make me happy, beloved," Sasuke replied. "Never doubt that for a moment."
"How can I help it, when you always look so sad?"
Sasuke smiled faintly. "Do I?"
Naruto nodded. "You try to hide it from me, but I can see it in your eyes, even now. What is it that troubles you so, my lord husband?"
With a sigh, Sasuke wrapped his arms around the blond and drew him close, his face pressing against the crook of the blond’s shoulder and neck. What hurt more? he wondered. The thought that he would soon have to release Naruto from his vows? The certainty that he would one day marry another? Or the knowledge that Naruto would grow old and die while he stayed forever as he was?
"My lord?" Naruto whispered, concern in his voice.
He took a deep breath, his nostrils filling with the warm sweet scent of everything Naruto. His scent, hair, skin, the blood that was the very essence of his being. Hunger and need stirred to life within him.
"Naruto?" His name whispered past his lips, soft as a sigh.
Naruto pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "Yes, my lord?"
His hands slid down smooth skin on Naruto’s back as he cursed the darkness within him, the hunger that made him weak. He wondered how Naruto could love him when he asked so much of him and gave so little in return.
Naruto drew back a little so he could see his face. "Sasuke?"
“I need you,” Sasuke breathed.
Smiling, Naruto tilted his head to the side, pulling his hair back, baring his throat. "Then take what you need, my lord." Sasuke rose from the chair in one smooth, effortless motion, carrying Naruto with him as if he weighed less than nothing at all.
"I need more than that, my sweet Naruto," Sasuke replied, his voice rough with emotion.
He brushed his lips over plump pink, then carried the blond swiftly up the dark winding staircase, his cloak billowing out behind him like the devil's breath.
Naruto tucked his nose into Sasuke’s neck, inhaling his cool scent, and shivers rushed through his body as Sasuke laid him upon their bed. Cool lips and tongue invaded his mouth immediately, fingers were everywhere upon him until they were both skin on skin.
Sasuke growled as his tongue trailed around perky nipples, suckling at the buds, Naruto’s hands fisting his hair and releasing arousing moans and whimpers.
“Sas… oh Sasuke,” Naruto whispered, pushing his loves head to his swollen desire. Sasuke complied eagerly, planting kisses on heated tanned skin, until lips found the swollen mushroom head of the blond’s cock. Lewd moans filled the room as Sasuke tongued precome from the slit, and following each curve and ridge. Naruto’s back arched when Sasuke’s fingers found his slickened hole and began to probe and stretch.
Taking a bold initiative, Naruto pulled Sasuke’s heated mouth off his cock, black orbs hooded, pools brimming with lust, Naruto licked his lips and flipped himself over. Blue eyes looked over his shoulder, biting his bottom lip, he wiggled his back end at the vampire.
Sasuke ran his fingers over the smooth tanned lines presented to him. He raised a brow at the seductive look Naruto was giving him. “Feeling brave my sweet?” he smirked. Naruto’s skin quivered as Sasuke’s hands blazed trails across his supple flesh. He slipped his fingers into the awaiting hole, his cock swelling heatedly when Naurto keened and dropped his head into a pillow. “You’re so ready for me,” Sasuke purred, his eyes not moving from his fingers stretching and thrusting.
“I belong to you my lord,” Naruto whispered between breaths, his fingers clenching into the linens. “Please Sasuke, don’t tease…”
Who was Sasuke to deny his love whatever he wished for. He thrust swiftly, but gently, until he was fully seated, savouring the quivering heat squeezing around his cock. “Naruto…Naruto… my sweet Naruto,” Sasuke whispered, while kissing the smooth tanned skin on the blond’s back, along his neck where his hair reached his shoulder, loving the heat that was seeping into him. Hugging the blond in close, he began the long deep thrusts, pulling sensual moans from plump pink lips.
Pulling Naruto up against him, sweat glistened skin and tanned heated back against his chest, his hands traced and squeezed muscular pecs, fingers rolled pink nipples, while Naruto rotated his hips to meet every thrust.
Naruto shivered, feeling Sasuke’s breath on his throat and the familiar pinch of a bite. Convulsions of ecstasy pulsed through his body, enhanced with each thrust deep within. He sighed and relaxed into the passionate waves washing over him.
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It was obvious early on that Iruka had fallen in love with Kakashi. His step was lighter, and he smiled frequently for no apparent reason. And every Friday evening he asked Sasuke if he might borrow the carriage on Saturday.
“Perhaps we'll have another wedding soon," Sasuke mused as they lingered at the dinner table.
“Maybe," Naruto replied dubiously. Iruka had been seeing Kakashi once a week for over three months now.
"You don't think so?"
Naruto made a vague gesture with his hand. "I think... That is, it doesn't seem as though..." He shook his head, not certain how to say what he was thinking.
"Go on."
"What if Kakashi’s using him?"
Sasuke frowned. "Using Iruka? To what end?"
"Never mind."
"Tell me, Naruto."
There was no way to ignore that tone or voice, or the look in his eye.
"Well, Kakashi’s always been suspicious of you. He's probably heard all the gossip. I think he's seeing Iruka because he's hoping Iruka might say something." He glanced at the delicate crystal goblet in Sasuke's hand.
"I see," Sasuke remarked, and wondered why the possibility had not occurred to him sooner. He placed the glass on the table, then leaned back, his elbows braced on the arms of the chair, his chin resting on his folded hands. He regarded Naruto thoughtfully for a long moment. "What do you think I should do about it?"
"I don't know. Perhaps we should leave here."
"Do you want to leave?"
Naruto shook his head. "No." His family was here, the only family he had. The only family he would ever have should Sasuke let him stay on when their year was ended.
"And if Iruka should betray my trust, do you think Kakashi would believe him?"
A slight smile played over Naruto's lips. "Hard to say, it could be possible that Kakashi would believe you were the very Devil himself, my lord husband."
"And what do you think, my sweet?"
The smile faded from Naruto's lips. "What do you mean?"
Sasuke hated himself for asking, hated the doubts that continued to plague him. "You have lived with me here now for six months. I have taken your innocence, the very essence of your life. If I were to give you leave to go, would you take it?"
Slowly, Naruto shook his head. "Do you still doubt me, my lord? Why can you not believe in my love, in me?”
A fleeting image of Naruto and Hyuuga dancing together flashed through Sasuke's mind, two mortals, vibrant with life, radiating health and youth and strength.
He lowered his arms, his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap as he imagined his bride and the viscount together, hating the idea even as he admitted that they looked as though they belonged together. Hyuuga loved Naruto. He could give him everything he wanted and needed, everything the blond deserved. A home, a family, and a title all wrapped up in wealth and respectability.
Naruto watched the emotions that flickered over Sasuke's usually impassive face. He saw the doubts that continued to plague the dark lord. He had loved Sasuke without reservation, had offered his heart and soul, the very blood that flowed through his veins, and it still wasn't enough! How could they ever have a life together if he refused to accept the love he offered?
Rising, Naruto tossed his napkin on the table and ran out of the room, out of the castle. Outside, he stared into the darkness, then ran down the garden path that led to the maze.
Sasuke would never believe he loved him, never believe that the dark lord was worthy of his affection. When the time came, Sasuke would send him away. He had hoped to make Sasuke love him so deeply that he would want Naruto to stay for as long as he lived.
Only now did he realise how foolish that hope was: Why would Sasuke want to watch him grow old and bent? His skin would wrinkle, his hair would turn grey or worse, fall out, yet Sasuke would remain forever as he was, young and virile, with a young man's desires.
Naruto was breathless when he reached the heart of the maze. There was a burning ache in his side. Gasping for air, he dropped down onto the stone bench and buried his face in his hands.
"Naruto."
His head jerked up, startled to find Sasuke standing before him, a tall silhouette clad in the darkness of the night. "How... how did you... get here so... fast?"
One dark brow rose in amusement. "How indeed?"
Of course, Naruto thought. He was a vampire. A child of the night. Able to travel with preternatural speed.
Sasuke knelt before the blond, his cloak fluttering as it settled gracefully around him. "I love you, Naruto," he said, taking his hands. "With every fibre of my being, every breath in my body, I love you."
"But you don't believe that I love you in return."
"I don't deserve your love."
"But you have it just the same."
"I know." Sasuke smiled, a sad smile touched with bitterness. "It's a heavy burden to bear."
"A burden?"
The hurt in blue eyes ripped his heart to shreds. Sasuke nodded. "I should never have brought you here, never have touched you." He stroked a tan cheek, let his fingertips slide down the graceful curve of his throat. "It pains me to love you, to know that I will soon have to let you go." Sasuke took a deep breath. "To know that someday you will marry one worthy of your love and raise children."
Naruto shook his head. "It doesn't have to be that way."
"Ah, but it does, my sweet. Your nearness sorely tempts me. It's wrong for me to keep you here, to make you live in shadows. You need to live as you were meant to live, and I..." He stared at the pulse throbbing in the hollow of Naruto’s throat. "For too long I have denied what I am."
"Sasuke, don't." He clasped Sasuke’s hands tightly, frightened by the hopelessness he saw in those dark eyes, by the resignation in his voice.
He's mortal. Take him. Take what you want. What you need.
Sasuke drew back, fighting the hunger rising within him, fighting the longing to drink and drink and drink, until he was drunk with the taste of Naruto, admitting, for the first time, that he had been playing a dangerous game. He had fooled himself into thinking he had conquered the hunger.
He had consumed the blood of sheep and told himself all was well.
He had bought young men and women, kept them in the castle, drinking from them while they slept, sending them away when he had taken all they could spare.
He had taken frugal sips of Naruto's blood and applauded himself for his self control.
And all the while he had been lying to himself, telling himself that he was no longer a monster because he no longer killed to survive.
He looked at Naruto, burning like a flame in the darkness of his mind. Need and hunger rose up within him, hot and swift as lava exploding from a volcano. He tried to fight it, and knew that, this time, he was not strong enough. Knew if he took Naruto now, he would destroy him and in so doing, destroying himself as well.
"My lord? Sasuke? Are you well?" Blue eyes widened in worry.
"I need Iruka."
"My lord, are you ill?" Naruto gazed into his face, alarmed by the feverish brightness of his eyes, the harsh rasp of his breathing, the taut line of his jaw.
"Iruka." Grimacing with pain, he rocked back on his heels, his fists tightly clenched. "Iruka!"
Naruto stared at him, his heart pounding with fear. His cloak wrapped tightly around him, a cocoon of thick black velvet and silk. In the pale light cast by the moon, he could see that the material rippled gently over his back and shoulders, as though trying to comfort him.
Frightened by what he was seeing, he stood up. He whirled around at the sound of footsteps, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Iruka running toward them.
"What's happened?" he asked.
Naruto shook his head. "I don't know."
Iruka took one look at Sasuke, then dropped to his knees beside him. "Go back to the house my lord," he called back to Naruto as he rolled up his sleeve. "Go. Now."
"No." Naruto shook his head. "I want to help."
Iruka looked up and met his worried gaze. "It's what he wants," Iruka said quietly.
Naruto wanted to argue, to beg Sasuke to turn to him for help. If he needed nourishment, Naruto wanted to be the one to provide it. He wanted to cry out at the unfairness of it all, at what he was.
"Nar... uto. Go." Sasuke’s voice was raw, stretched thin with the pain knifing through him. "Please go.”
"Yes, my lord." Naruto turned away, his vision blurred by tears he had not realised he was shedding.
Iruka waited until Naruto was out of sight, then he thrust his arm in front of Sasuke, grimaced as he felt the sharp bite of the vampire's fangs pierce the tender skin along his wrist. He clenched his fist, wondering, as he always did when the madness came on his master, if Sasuke would be able to stop feeding before it was too late.
Catching a glimpse of the blood lust burning like perdition's flames in the vampire's eyes, Iruka turned away, knowing his master did not like him to watch, did not like anyone to see him when the hunger was fast upon him, when the thin veneer of humanity shattered beneath a need too great to ignore, a craving too powerful to resist.
It was a look Iruka had seen before, when he lay dying in a dark alley over fifty years before. A look, once seen, was never to be forgotten.