So many questions
Naruto woke slowly, a wondrous sense of wellbeing rising up within him when he opened his eyes and saw Sasuke lying beside him. Once, the sight of him lying there, as still as death, had frightened him a little. But no more. Sasuke was not dead, only sleeping.
A smile warmed his heart as, ever so tenderly, he trailed his fingertips across Sasuke’s cheek, then bent and brushed his lips with his. He was here, and that was all that mattered.
Naruto studied the dark lord for a long pleasurable time, the sight of him filling him with inexpressible joy. He smoothed a lock of raven hued hair from his forehead, traced the straight line of his brows, let his fingertip follow the faint white scars on his shoulder.
Sasuke didn't stir, yet, in his heart, he knew he was aware of his touch, his presence.
"Sleep well, my lord husband," he whispered.
Rising, he pulled a robe over his sleeping attire and left the room, pausing to lock the outer door before he left the tower.
He found Iruka downstairs, sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea.
"Lord Naruto!" Startled at being caught unaware, Iruka lurched to his feet. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were up. Shall I draw your bath?"
"Later. Please, sit down, Iruka. Do you mind if I join you?"
Iruka frowned. "It's not fitting, my lord."
"Oh." Shoulders drooping, he turned away.
"My lord, wait!" Iruka pulled out a chair. “Please join me. Would you care for a cup of tea? Some scones, perhaps?”
“Yes, thank you." Naruto smiled as Iruka poured a cup of tea, added milk and sugar. "Tell me, Iruka, is all this formality between us really necessary?"
"I beg your pardon, my lord?"
"Can't you just call me Naruto?"
"I'm afraid it wouldn't be proper," Iruka replied, taking a seat across from him. "Lord Sasuke..." He picked up his cup and stared into the contents. "I'm very much afraid he would not like it."
"Maybe you could call me Naruto when we’re alone?”
"I think not, my lord."
"All right, Iruka. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable." Naruto finished his tea, then stood up. “Would you mind drawing my bath?”
“My pleasure, my lord. Will you be wanting breakfast later?”
"Yes, thank you."
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Later that day, Naruto asked Iruka to take him to see Kakashi and siblings. Kakashi met them at the door of the cottage.
"Naruto, how well you look," he said. Kakashi gave Naruto a hug, smiled warmly at Iruka. "Come in, come in."
Naruto looked at Iruka and frowned, mystified by Kakashi’s lighthearted mood.
Kakashi led them into the parlour. "Sit down, both of you. Can I get you something to drink? Some lemonade, perhaps, or a cup of tea?"
"Lemonade would be nice. Where are the children?"
"They've gone into the village to visit with Hinata. They'll be sorry they missed you. Iruka-kun, can I get you something to drink?"
"Yes, thank you, Kakashi-san. Lemonade would be fine.”
"Can I help?" Naruto asked.
"No, no.” Kakashi shook his head with a smile. “It won't take but a minute."
Naruto looked at Iruka and shook his head. "I thought Kakashi would be upset."
Iruka nodded. It was obvious that something strange was going on. And whenever there were strange happenings, Lord Sasuke was usually behind them.
They spent an hour with Kakashi, chatting about the weather, Hinata's pregnancy, Akari's new beau. Kakashi asked after Sasuke, expressing his regret that Sasuke had been unable to accompany Naruto, urging him to bring him along next time.
"I don't understand it," Naruto remarked to Iruka as they left for home. "Kakashi's never made any secret of the fact that he is suspicious of Sasuke. What do you make of it?"
"I'm not sure, my lord," Iruka replied. "Perhaps Lord Sasuke will know."
"Why would he know?"
"Perhaps you should ask him."
"You've being very evasive, Iruka." Naruto raised a fine blond bow at the other.
"Yes, my lord."
"What aren't you telling me?"
A pained expression crossed the man's face. "My lord, please."
"Oh, very well," Naruto muttered, and then he cast Iruka a sharp look. "Sasuke's done something to Kakashi, hasn't he?"
Iruka blew out a deep breath. "He has the power, my lord."
"The power to do what?"
"I think perhaps Lord Sasuke has erased certain things from Kakashi’s memory."
Naruto sat back, a little stunned. "He can do that?"
Iruka nodded. "Please don't tell him that I told you."
"I won't. Does he do that kind of thing often?"
"I'm sure I couldn't say, my lord."
Naruto sat back, lost in thought, until they reached home.
He changed into a dark blue and black velvet suit for supper. Going down to his own room, he stood in front of the mirror, studying his reflection. His eyes sparkled in anticipation of seeing Sasuke, his cheeks rosy with a blush of excitement. Turning away from the looking glass, he hurried out of the room and up the tower stairs. Sasuke would be awakening in a moment, and he wanted to be there.
He practically flew into the room. Sasuke was still asleep. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he took Sasuke’s hand in his. His heartbeat quickened as the sun went down and he felt the life force flow through the dark lord, strong and sure as a river at flood tide. A moment later, his eyelids fluttered open.
Naruto smiled at him. "Good evening, my lord husband," he murmured softly, and bent down to kiss him.
Sasuke’s hand curled around the blond’s nape, drawing him closer as he deepened their kiss. With a sigh, Naruto melted against him, his hands sliding over smooth cool skin on Sasuke’s bare chest, down his belly, moving ever so slowly downward.
Sasuke gasped when Naruto’s hand stroked him and then, without him quite knowing how the dark lord had managed it so quickly, Naruto was now lying naked beneath Sasuke, the sheets cool beneath him, warm breath fanned his cheek.
"Naruto... Naruto..." Sasuke repeated his name over and over again, unable to stop, unable to resist the urge to bury himself deep within his silken flesh, to make the blond his. The scent of the blond’s blood called to him, igniting his hunger. Grasping long blond legs firmly, he pushed them gently against Naruto’s chest, his eyes gleaming at the winking hole, as if pleading with him to come forth.
Unable to resist the siren calls coming from Naruto’s lips, the flushed tanned skin, Sasuke dove down, lathering his tongue and lips between Naruto’s thighs, savouring the taste of his love. Naruto mewled and shivered as his tongue speared his opening, gently coaxing it to receive him, at the same time rubbing the pad of thumb along the muscled entrance.
“S-Sas–nngghh!” Naruto’s legs trembled from the onslaught of heated pleasure. He gripped the back of knees, certain that his fingers would leave prints on his skin. The way Sasuke could deliver his tongue, his fingers, created uncontrollable muscle spasms throughout his body that almost – almost – had him hiding his eyes in embarrassment. But no more, this dark lord was his husband, and Naruto vowed never to hide the pleasure that was bestowed upon him again.
Sasuke sat back briefly, eyeing the work he had completed. His salvia marked Naruto’s entrance like a beacon, calling out to him, with several red marks on tanned thighs – and Sasuke beamed proudly at the love markings, knowing that only he would see them and his bride allowed it. Naruto’s head was pushed back, his lips parted slightly, panting, his body blushing beautifully from the pleasure that he induced upon him. The tiny fair hairs all over the blond’s body stood tall while Naruto shivered sporadically still from the sensations.
Glossy blue eyes then caught his attention, half lidded and swimming with a seduction that Sasuke could not ignore. The tip of a pink tongue moistened those lips more and the dark lord leaned over to taste those lips again. His cock brushed against the other, causing them both to release a thick moan of desire. Naruto’s mouth welcomed him, as if he had always belonged, and two tongues danced together with love.
“Mmm— my lord husband, how I’ve missed this,” Naruto murmured between breaths. “Make love to me now, or fear I shall wither away without feeling you within me.” He dragged his nails up Sasuke’s back, savouring the shivers that followed. He felt an abundance of pride knowing that it was he, that had Sasuke respond heatedly to his touch, his kiss, his words, and now — he hooked his ankles around Sasuke’s waist, squeezing their bodies together with their cocks — he would pull his husband in tightly, ensure his dark lord experienced as much pleasure as he was given.
A growl rose from Sasuke’s chest. The heat emanating from his bride, the scent of the desire he had for him, heated up his inner core. His cock was heavy with need, nearly pulsing painfully as it desired to join with his blond bride. He swiftly dragged his tongue around perky nipples, smiling when Naruto gasped from the sudden sensations. His lips suckled those nubs and ever so gently nipped at them causing Naruto to shiver and muffle a moan.
Dragging his hands up tanned thighs, once more pushing them to reveal his love's readied and slickened opening, he lined up his cock, and slowly pushed his swollen member into the inviting heat. Naruto’s head arched back, moans of ecstacy releasing from pink pouty lips. Sasuke bit his lip, feeling the squeeze of the heated silken glove of his love, dragging him in deep and slowly. When he was completely sheathed, he hovered over Naruto’s body, taking his lips greedily with each thrust.
Naruto hummed into the kiss, dragging his fingernails over his lover’s back and shoulders as Sasuke rocked his thick shaft within him. Sasuke’s tongue danced within his mouth, demanding dominance and he willingly gave it. Sasuke released an approved growl when his silent battle was won, thrusting his hips with vigour, creating stars behind Naruto’s eyes. He then felt Sasuke’s lips kissing the skin on his shoulders, up and up until he felt the sharp prick of Sasuke’s teeth at his throat.
Naruto shuddered, and gasped as he experienced a rush of sensual pleasure and then, when Sasuke didn't stop, but drank and drank again, he went cold with fear.
"Sasuke…” he whispered.
His voice was but a small beacon of light pulsing through the fog of Sasuke’s mind. But he found the strength to pull back, cold fear raging through his mind. "Naruto, Naruto help me — tell me to stop!" Sasuke stared down at his blond, seeing Naruto through a hazy red mist as hunger and desire melded into one across his vision, roaring through him like a raging inferno, threatening to devour everything in its path.
Naruto looked back at him, helpless, vulnerable. Sasuke’s eyes, as black as midnight, burned into his and he knew, in that moment, that he was looking death in the face.
"Naruto!"
He heard the fear in Sasuke’s voice, his body trembling violently above him, the underlying pain as the hunger raged within the dark lord, threatening to consume them both. Fear for his own life receded in the face of his agony.
"Naruto... h-help me!" He was breathing heavily now, terrified that the hunger would overcome him and that he would destroy his love who still lay weakened beneath him.
"I love you, I love you..." Naruto whispered the words over and over again, knowing he had never meant them more. Knowing Sasuke had never needed to hear them, to believe them, more than he did now.
With a hoarse cry and a sudden rush of strength, Sasuke pushed Naruto from him, grabbed his cloak, and bolted from the room.
"Sasuke! No! S-Sasuke!" Naruto managed to call out, his voice nothing but a harsh whisper.
The sound of Naruto’s voice followed him down the stairs, out of the castle. He paused to drape his cloak around his shoulders, and then he was running, faster than mortal eyes could see, running away from the only person he had ever loved, from the scent of his blood, from the trust in blue eyes.
"Fool You fool!" He screamed the word, over and over, into the wind that chased him through the night.
A fool to think he could have the blond, that he could take his blood, give Naruto his in return, and forever deny what he was. What idiocy, to think he could live like a mortal man, that he could keep the hunger forever at bay. He was not a man, had not been a man for over four hundred years! He was a vampire, and all the wishing in the world could not change that.
He knew now what he had to do. There was only one way to keep Naruto safe from the monster that lived within the walls and dared to call himself a husband. Only one way to protect the blond from what he was, the plan was the best way to keep Naruto safe, forever.
He would rise early tomorrow night. He would feed well so that Naruto's sweetness would not tempt him. He would erase his memory completely and fully from Naruto’s mind, and then he would go out to meet the sun. With nothing left to live for, he would welcome death with open arms.
He sought shelter in a cave cut deep into the side of Fire Mountain. Shrouded in his cloak, he stared at nothingness. At dusk, he would seek out Naruto. He would spend one last night in his bride’s presence, hold him in his arms one last time and then, while Naruto slept, he would blot all memories of him from the blond’s mind. Hyuuga would provide Naruto with all the comforts money could buy. Neji would cherish Naruto and love him; in time, he would give Naruto a family. The thought of Hyuuga caressing Naruto sent a hot spike of pain searing through his heart, causing him to gasp. But it was the only way to ensure that he did not destroy the blond. He no longer trusted himself to keep Naruto safe, no longer believed himself strong enough to keep from forcing the Dark Gift upon the other.
With the coming of dawn, he curled up on the damp earth, drew his cloak over his head, and waited for the darkness to overtake him one last time.
"Orochimaru," he murmured as he slipped over the edge into his death sleep, "how did you survive so long without going mad?"
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He woke an hour after the setting of the sun and knew immediately that he wasn't alone in the cave.
"I had not thought you to be a late riser."
The voice, so long unheard, so familiar, drifted over him. "Orochimaru? Is that you?"
Soft laughter filled the cave. "Sasuke, my friend, it has been too long."
Sasuke sat up and drew his cloak over his nakedness. He could see the other vampire now, leaning negligently against the wall of the cave, his arms crossed over his chest. "What brings you here?"
"You, of course. What else would bring me to this dreary place?"
"I don't understand," Sasuke whispered, shaking his head.
"You called for me, did you not?"
Sasuke frowned, then nodded.
"I would have been here sooner, but..." Orochimaru shrugged emphatically. "I had been at rest when I heard your call." He smiled. "You understand, it took me some time to replenish my strength."
Sasuke nodded. It was the way of the Old Ones, to go underground every hundred years or so.
"So, my friend, tell me what it is that troubles you."
In short crisp sentences, Sasuke told Orochimaru about Naruto, about his fears for the blond’s safety, the growing need to make Naruto what he was, the sure knowledge that Naruto would hate him for it.
"It is no longer safe for him to be with me." Sasuke turned tormented eyes on his friend. "And I have no desire to go on without him."
"So you intend to destroy yourself?"
"It is the only way." Sasuke dropped his head.
"No," Orochimaru replied softly. "There is another."