Chapter 14

They sat in silence. The second Itachi said let's talk, everyone clamped up. Gaara and Naruto weren't sure to begin. Hinata and Kiba weren't much in the loop and didn't know what questions to ask. Itachi felt it best that Sasuke or Neji ask first since they were dating the demons. Sasuke's questions made himself afraid of the answer and Neji?

Neji refuse to talk, especially to Gaara.

"Okay," said Itachi finally. "I'll start." He saw his cousin and brother having difficulty and they weren't going to get anywhere if he didn't interfere. Without the meds, the awkwardness was killing him. "One of you dated our ancestor, correct?"

Dated wasn't the exact word for it. It wouldn't be the word to describe what they were doing back in the old days, but Itachi felt weird saying the word lover.

Naruto crosses his arms and legs and glance at Gaara. The red head did not say anything to the question. To make it more obvious, Naruto gesture towards Gaara, giving an understanding that it was Gaara who "dated" their ancestor.

Sasuke look at Neji to see if he was okay, but his cousin was the same statue he was five seconds ago. He knew better.

Sighing, Gaara explained what happened centuries ago; his love for a man who was eventually murdered by a maniacal best friend. That moment had scarred him, a powerful demon, and to protect future generations until he found the love's reincarnation, he casted a bloodline spell that gifted every child with magical abilities. The spell went a little haywire and gifted every male child, for one reason or another. The spell had been a difficult one to place, but somehow every male child so far had not lived past the age of eighteen and it became known as a curse.

Naruto jumped in at this part of the explanation to say that he had no part in such curses.

Gaara ignored the comment and continued. He has been trying to find a way to lift said curse when later today he was informed that there wasn't any curse placed on this family. Sakura, the pink hair lady, had given them a hint that it most likely was one of the two of them (himself and Naruto) and that is when Gaara decided to kill Naruto.

"Kill first and ask questions later are kind of our thing," explained Naruto when he saw the shock looks from every human in the room.

Naruto's explanation was much shorter. He's been living a normal demonic life, coming to earth every once in a while until he finally met Sasuke. Last night, he called upon Sakura to heal the worst of his injuries and to possibly cause some damage towards her after she was done. But then he came up with a theory of the curse and he needed Sakura to help him solve it.

"You've solved it?" asked Itachi. He only has a few days left to live. One or two, at the most.

"You're not going to like it," said Naruto. He pauses just so everyone can prepare their emotions. "The only explanation to why you're all dying and why we haven't been able to find any solution to the curse is because…there is no curse."

"WHAT?"

"I told you you weren't going to like it. All of you."

"But that makes no sense!"

"We've all been dying!"

"Before eighteen!"

"What does this all mean?"

Naruto wasn't sure who said what since they were all yelling at him. He was able to interrupt them when a flash of lightening bang through the room and more than a dozen of paper works appeared on the desk. He picked one up with Itachi's name and began skimming through it.

"What is that?" asked Hinata.

"The reason I didn't kill Sakura."

Being the smart demon that she was, Sakura prepared a file of the Uchiha and Hyuuga family back to the time when the curse began to be used as a bargaining chip for her life when one of them, or both, came to her in anger.

"Just like I suspected. Your family has a history of high blood pressure."

"High blood pressure? We're dying from high blood pressure?" Sasuke couldn't contain his composure from shock.

"You guys have no medical records, correct?"

They all nodded.

"Because you thought you were all dying from the curse? Thus you never had a flu shot, no vaccinations and no check up." Naruto almost rolled his eyes at the stupidity of humanity, if Sasuke wasn't a part of it too. "It was not uncommon for people to die early, back in the days, but with new diseases and such springing up and you guys never going in for regular check-ups; also adding in high blood pressure, extreme stress from the "curse" and living in a world where they would dissect you upon finding out your magical powers, I guarantee early death."

Naruto stop for a bit to let everyone absorb this in before continuing any further. "I've had Sakura do a scan of every one of your family, regardless of their state of decomposition and found similar symptoms between all of you. I'm no doctor, but I do recommend plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise and possibly get an update on your vaccinations just to be safe."

To say awkward would be loaded. An intense silence settled in the room. No one knew what to say nor did they want to be the first one to say it.

Then Itachi laughed. His hands were cradling his head in a position of defeat as his laughter rang throughout the room. Somewhere in the middle, he started to cry. The laughing didn't stop. He felt a numb flying through his body; the trembling came from angry and adrenaline. "Stupid," he muttered. "They were so….stupid." Itachi wasn't sure if he was directing it at his parents or anyone in particular.

Sasuke kneel before him, but does not face his brother. He took both of his hands and held them. His brother clung to him while muttering stupid, repeatedly.

Hinata approach Neji and lead him by the hand to Itachi. She knew her brother wouldn't go, otherwise. Kiba was beside her.

"How's your brother?"

Sasuke didn't look up from where he was sitting. He heard Naruto's voice enough to remember it. "Hinata and Kiba are with him. He'll be fine after some time."

"What about you?" Naruto took a seat close to Sasuke, but not too close.

Sasuke shrugged and stayed quiet for a minute before he asked Naruto, "My parents…?" When he started it, he intended to ask the whole thing, but his mouth clamped up.

Naruto sensed what the other was asking. It was one of the few things he checked to ease Sasuke, in case the question ever popped up. "They're not in hell nor are they in purgatory, or earth. Other jurisdictions is beyond me," Naruto looked up when he saw this.

"…thanks."

He sighed softly. "If you're still mad at me for—."

"I'm not mad," Sasuke gave him a strange look. "Why would you think that?"

"I didn't tell you I was a demon." Naruto presented this fact again slowly. Perhaps the shock had forestall Sasuke's brain from processing this information. Maybe this was the last bit that will drive Sasuke to homicide.

"I was surprised. Besides, I didn't tell you about my power either."

"I kinda figured that out on my own."

"You did?"

"Yeah, when you use it, it feels very invading. So you know."

Sasuke laughed shortly before turning his gaze downward. "I am, afterall."

"What?"

"Angry." Sasuke punch Naruto in the arm, laughing.

Naruto lean heavily against Sasuke, laughing along, before holding him. He felt the other shaking and held on tightly.

Hinata closed the door slowly. Kiba stayed with Itachi to make sure nothing happens. She sees her brother walking towards her. From his strained eyes and tense movement, she can tell what he was going to ask and intents.

"How is he?" Neji asked.

"He's okay, for now. What about you?"

Neji gave her a quick look before turning away.

She took him by the arm and sat down with him on a seat nearby. Her brother has always been this way, she supposes. Nothing bothers him, because he never let, or shows it. "Why aren't you downstairs?"

"Later."

She sighed. That red head guy was sitting alone by himself downstairs and she knew he was waiting for Neji. He was going to wait a long time. "You remember when I came home one day from elementary? My knees were scrapped and one of my shoes was missing."

"Yeah. Those bullies never messed with you again after I punched one of them."

She grabbed his hand in comfort and remembrance of those times her brother protected her. "I didn't want to tell you and I was smiling when I told you I fell."

"Liar," he joked.

"But you held me and you told me that when it hurts, it's okay to cry because..."

"Because you're still a kid," Neji finished.

She patted his hand affectionately before scooting him off downstairs. He showed his disapproval, but gave her a thank you kiss before allowing her to scoot him off. She watched him leave with a light heart. The idea of her brother mixing in with a demon wasn't terrifying. It could be worse. Arms wrapped around her and shook her out of her thoughts. "Hey you."

"You okay?"

Hinata laughed at how many times that questions been repeated today and nodded her head. "How's ani-sama?"

"That crazy lady from before is in there with him. Should be fine."

She scrunched up her eyebrows. 'Crazy lady?'

Eight years later…

"Why not?"

Naruto resisted rolling his eyes. That move always ended up him sleeping on the couch, regardless of his winning argument. They have been over this same one regularly for the past month and it was tiring when the answer remained the same. "I've told you, Sasuke, you can't go to hell."

"I repeat the question, why not?"

"The air is toxic to humans and not to mention all the demons that would be fighting to eat your flesh."

"Excuses, excuses." Sasuke fold his arms and took a stand. "Isn't there a suit that would let me breath in hell? And aren't you a great, powerful demon? Or was that declaration out of bullshit?"

"Look, I can't be having demons out there planning to kill me and eat you. And regardless of my title, I can't kill thousands of armies of demons."

"They're going to be coming after me whether you like it or not. I'm human, Naruto. One day, I will die and when I get to hell, I would like to know what I'm dealing with."

Naruto saw his love was not budging. He didn't deny Sasuke's choice to go to hell. That discussion was finalized several months back and involved lots of comforting from Sasuke. Naruto did enjoy being comforted. He would've fought heaven to keep Sasuke, but he had also decided hell wasn't a choice he would let Sasuke make. Though it was finalized, Naruto had his own plans to join Sasuke in heaven and thus he didn't want Sasuke to take a vacation to the fire below. It'll be hard and will probably take him a long time, but Naruto has seen souls reach the light from hell. It wasn't impossible. Naruto found it a good time to bring it up, if only to end the argument.

"Stop following me!"

Naruto growled at the interruption. When he saw it was Itachi, his hand twitched for a fireball. Oh no, not at Itachi.

"Itachi-sama, wait for meeee!"

That. That pink hair woman from hell.

Sakura attempted to cling to Itachi's arm, but he swatted her away. She continued smiling as if nothing happened. "Sasuke, Naruto, how are you?"

"I thought I told you never to barge into my house," warned Naruto.

She batted her eyelashes at him and somewhere in that batting; she tasted Sasuke with one of her looks. "Itachi has way too many symptoms remaining. You wouldn't want him to suddenly croak, do you? I'm way more skillful than any human doctor."

Naruto didn't comment on how her being here wasn't helping Itachi. He was sure Itachi's blood levels would raise a couple inches every time she screeched herself into his life.

Itachi hit Sakura's hands as she reach for him again. "Come on, Sasuke. We still have to meet Hinata and Kiba."

"Oh, did they decide on a date for the wedding already?"

"Yeah," he said while battling Sakura's clingy hands. "I'll wait for you in the car."

"I'll follow you!" exclaimed Sakura.

"Oh god, go back to hell!" he screamed as he ran back to the car, intending to lock himself inside and crank up the music. For one reason or another, Sakura had taken a liking to him after their treatments together. She told him it was because she sampled one of the Petri dish containing his blood and fell in love with the taste. Attacking him would bring Naruto and Gaara's wrath down on her so she opts to annoy him until he surrenders.

"Poor Itachi."

"I'm not done with our discussion," informed Sasuke.

Naruto didn't worry himself too much over Sasuke's anger. That would be resolve later and so he told Sasuke the discussion can continue later on tonight. Sasuke agreed to it, though reluctantly. The blond pull him close and kiss him on the forehead before moving on to his lips. He thoroughly punished it for calling him an idiot before. Naruto move down to the curve of Sauske's neck. The place he regularly took blood from, which Sasuke regularly curse him for, but the blond knew he secretly likes it. A demon's bite isn't meant to hurt. Otherwise, people wouldn't give up their souls for them.

"I-I have to go."

Naruto let him go and walk him to the door. "See you later." Once Sasuke was out of sight, he returned to his study where Sasuke had interrupted him. He had spells laid out to undo curses he casted upon people. It was a start towards good. Maybe he can talk Gaara into helping him, but the man is on his honeymoon with Neji. Best not disturb them, least he gets a hole in his chest. That was not fun.

He lean back in his chair, relaxed and sighing with happiness. He never thought a demon could feel happy if they weren't digging through someone's guts as said person scream to deaf ears, but this is nice. This is better than nice, actually. And he's going to work to keep it that way.

But how would Sasuke react when he finds out Naruto's heavenly plans?

Naruto shrugs. It's heaven. What's the argument?

A/N:

T.T Ah, it's done. It's always sad to end a story. Anyone ever feel that? Also sad when you finish a story. Anyway, I think this is my last year. Not ending my writing, just not here, I suppose.

And yeah, I started a cell phone novel! It's kind of hard to write since there's a limit of words you can use. And you guys should totally watch Burn Notice. That show is genius. It brings so many emotions out of me, like how come that person can't just die? Why is that possible? And what is the deal with the yogurt? Hello, diarrhea. Ah, almost forgot about True Blood. So much blood and nakedness. Boobs, man, boobs. Lol Ok, in all serious, thank you for following this story this far. Honestly, I thought it fell a little after the first chapter, but hey.

Happy Easter, everyone! Bye-bye! Lots of kisses for everyone!