とみ

Fic Recs

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:35:51 GMT

I'm feeling lazy tonight, so no summaries. Just read. ♥

[Gravitation]

Twelve Million Japanese Women Can't Be Wrong by mousapelli: T [PG13]. Yuki/Shuichi. And the first line: "Writing Japan's first mainstream hit homoerotic novel had been disturbingly easy." It's... terribly amusing--and touching--but mostly amusing. Yes. Actually, this is a sequel to her other fic Quite the Effect.

[LOVELESS]

Munchausen's Shadow by _arrhythmic: M [R]. Soubi/Ritsuka. "People with Munchausen’s Syndrome have the tendency to hurt people under their care." Also read Folie et déraison.

[Hikago]

Things Shindou Hikaru Never Had to Deal with Before Living with Touya Akira by moonythestrals: T [PG13]. Akihika, obviously. "Finding pink argyle in his laundry basket. When his mother, wringing her hands and sounding rueful, holds out a heinous purple sweater shrunk to the size of a glove, though, Hikaru nearly cries with happiness. He knows a blessing when he sees one."

And I am in Arcadia by Mirabella: T [PG13]. Different and disturbing and incredibly fascinating. Akihika, featuring serial-killer!Hikaru and detective!Akira. "Touya closes his eyes. Outside his eyelids, the moonlight is still bright, ascetic white. He wonders what color Shindou is looking up at. 'How many did you kill, Shindou? 17-6.'" Can be read as a standalone, but there are other parts: Part 2 [M/R], Part 3 [T/PG13], and the WIP Part 4 [T/PG13].

[Prince of Tennis]

Chiaroscuro by scoradh: M [R]. Thrill pair. "Syuusuke is fifteen years old. He's never been in love before."

wait and see by two_if_by_sea: T [PG13]. The mandatory boy-band!fic. Thrill pair. "'I just want you to sing for us.' For me, Fuji adds in his head, but doesn't say that part out loud." There's a prequel Bystander by sesame_seed, but I recommend reading "wait and see" first. The prequel deals mostly with Tezuka in all this (i.e., Tezuka+Fuji).

[Naruto]

If by gelfling8604: T [PG13]. I love the way in which Neji and Naruto converse. NejiNaru. "They’d been there close to 2 hours. During which, he’d only had 30 minutes of absolute, pure silence, and 25 of those minutes had been while Naruto went looking for a toilet to ‘sneeze the 20 buffalo wings’ he’d consumed earlier. Which Neji didn’t need to know. And now would know forever."

[FIC] Fly me to the moon.

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:26:46 GMT

I haven't completed anything but drabbles in so long, my gosh.

For owai because I love her and I always feel like I never do enough for her D: Anyway, prompt from Spiffy--but I didn't follow it exactly.

Summary: Neji can only watch. A love story. Neji. Naruto. With Art.

---

i.

You know.

You will always be in last place. Even though you were born first; even though you are the most talented—clearly the one suited to be heir, but you are not.

And unable to be.

…

Does it matter anymore?

ii.

There is a stable boy with wild blond hair and a perpetual look of confusion on his face. He only works during the mornings to late afternoons. Sometimes you watch him from the window of your tower. Your tower is far, far from the stables, but your eyes see him clearly. He cannot see you. If he does raise his eyes up, it is only towards the sun. When he does this, you do too, and the sun burns your eyes, makes you want to retreat farther into the shadows of your tower. Still you look because he does. What does this confused boy see?

More importantly, what does Hinata see in this boy, you wonder. Sometimes you see her too from your tower. Like you, she quietly watches the stable boy from afar. Even at a distance you can tell she is completely besotted, and you do not know why. A peasant can never be a prince.

She is a foolish girl.

iii.

Your cousins are both foolish girls. You will never tell them so to their faces; it is not your place. To bluntly speak your thoughts is not a luxury you have. But your eyes say all that your mouth will not. They are disobedient things—

And perhaps you take some small pleasure in that.

Hinata, at least, acknowledges her foolishness (helplessness, now), but Hanabi's ego and youth keeps her in stubborn denial.

Don't leave me, please, Hinata's wide, trembling eyes say. "Tell me," her small, trembling mouth asks.

Don't you dare leave, Hanabi's sharp eyes warn. "Tell me," her thin lips demand.

"Of course, Highnesses," your damned obedient mouth says even now, and you mean I cannot, release me.

They do not hear you, and you think: selfish, both of them.

You are not sure which cousin you hate more.

It doesn't matter. Not anymore, you remember, and pain links the broken pieces of your heart together. You try to gasp, breathe—and you cannot.

iv.

One day, you see the stable boy flirting with a girl you have never seen before. She is a pretty thing, you suppose, with green-hazel eyes and hair the color of cherry blossoms. Her beauty is only enhanced by the scowl on her face as the stable boy leans into her personal space. The scowl is fierce, but her eyes are reluctantly warm. She does not mind his intrusion at all; in fact, she seems to lean towards him in return.

The stable boy gives her something. It is too small for you to see, but when she turns the object in her hand, it glints in the sunlight.

A crystal, possibly necklace, you think and then derisively add stolen to your thoughts because you do not know why you are so eager to find out what the object is (—and you cannot help but think the shiny object would fit him more than it does her).

The stable boy leans in again and whispers into the girl's ear. Whatever it is, it sets her off and she slaps him about the head. You watch as the boy merely laughs, tan lips spread over surprisingly white teeth. You imagine the laugh is husky, warm and as spirited as the sun.

Alive.

The stable boy dances around her attempts to hit him again, and then waves her away after a quick pacifying hug, still grinning brightly. Then he laughs again and looks up. You blink. For one quick moment, you almost think he just winked up at you.

Impossible.

v.

You see the girl again when she comes into your room and hangs a crystal wind chime up by your window.

"Stupid, Naruto," she mutters, but not to you. "Why do I even bother?"

You do not answer. You do not say anything because you are still surprised at seeing someone besides Hinata or Hanabi in your room.

When she leaves, you approach the wind chime.

"Naruto," you say.

"For me," you say.

As the sun sets, its rays hit the crystal perfectly and suddenly the room is filled with scattered spots of light—stars. The spots are twilight stars, you think. And you, standing there in white, feel like the moon.

There was a time when you used to dream—of being far from here, of slow forbidden waltzes spanning many millennia, and stars.

You do not dream anymore, but you're doing something much better.

You're remembering.

vi.

The next time you get a visitor you're familiar with: Hinata.

She seats herself carefully in your chair as you watch her from your position by the window.

She is wearing one of those dark, velvet gowns she has taken to recently, and though she is lovely, the deep color only emphasizes how frail she looks, all skin and bones, solemn and sad.

"The garden," she says, "the cherry blossom trees have bloomed. I wish you could see them."

There is a moment of silence. (There always is.)

"Brother Neji," she murmurs, "please, please."

You close your eyes and tilt your head.

"Please, speak to me," she continues.

"I'm listening," she says.

You open your mouth and pause. You can't bring yourself to laugh at her.

She looks at you and she doesn't see.

Her eyes never were as good as yours.

vii.

The king has never been in your room. When he comes to see you, he stands outside the door and waits. On days when you are feeling particularly hostile, he doesn't even make it past the tower's entrance. It is all he can do; you will never let him in completely, even if he is king and was uncle and you owed him your everything.

You have done your duty by him.

You hate him and you can't even think how much. But even in your hate, you know he is only human; you know he feels remorse, and he keeps your tower safe and in place.

This tower is your only indulgence, after all.

This tower is as close as you can get to flying to the moon.

And oh, now that you are remembering, how you long to finally be free again.

viii.

"Finally," Naruto breathes when your memories are completely restored. He is sitting at your window, touching the chime gently, fondly. Twilight stars dance slowly inside his room. "Do you like it?"

Finally they are able to meet.

"Naruto," you say haltingly.

"You remember," he teases wickedly. He holds out his hand to you. "Ready?"

You snort, reach out and—hesitate. What if you can't touch him?

"It's all right now," Naruto says, and his smile is gentle, the warmth of the sun.

You take his hand.

"If you hadn't found me," you say, "I would have found you."

"Of course."

Unlike your memory, your heart is still fragmented, but you think it's okay, I'm home, he's here and that's all that matters. Everything feels a little more solid as the stars become real and the world fades away and the two of you waltz into space—

Till eternity.

-End-

Disclaimer: Naruto and Co. belong to their respective parties, not limited to Kishimoto Masashi, and Shueisha Inc.

Warnings for the Story: AU. Slash. Highlight to see this spoiler: Character Death. Word count: 1,339.

Rating for the Story: T

Epilogue.

"Brother Neji," Hinata says, stepping into the room. Then—"Oh."

The ghost is gone.

For a moment, she feels lost without the familiar presence of her cousin.

The stable boy is gone, too, she thinks faintly.

Finally, taking a deep, shuddering breath, she walks over to the window and looks out over the castle. The rows and rows of cherry blossoms are cheerfully waving at the sky, she sees. She glances up then and—waves, too, for there the Sun and Moon hang together in broad daylight, a rare sight.

Not so rare anymore, she thinks and whispers goodbye.

As she leaves the room, she thinks: tomorrow, perhaps, she will wear a lavender gown.

Fic Recs+

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:44:06 GMT

Last part of the spam, I swear.

[Manga]

Katekyou Hitman Reborn by Amano Akira. A series about a boy being trained against his will by a one-year-old baby to become the next Mafia leader. This series is hilarious and nearly filled to the brim with crack. I had heard of it ages ago, but it didn't sound appealing--honestly? because of the baby. But I gave the series a try again a few months ago and now I am hooked. The first few chapters are so-so, but funny, and it just gets dramatically better (and so does the art). There's also something like a time jump later in the series, but unlike Naruto, the time jump only makes the series better instead of killing it. Do try it.

[Naruto]

It's been a while since I've read good Naruto fanfiction, so here goes.

Let Nothing You Dismay by ronsard: M [R]. NejiNaru. Neji, before and after Naruto. Neji, now. Spoilers for the latest chapters involving Naruto's parentage. ronsard is great. Check out her other stuff. My favorite among them is a SaiNaru called No Bed of Roses.

Wavelengths 1 & 2 by questofdreams: M[R]. SaiNaru. Naruto wakes up with Sai in his bed, and everything spirals out of his control from there. Naruto is most ~~dis~~pleased. In the end. Mostly. Well, no. questofdreams is already a prominent writer in the Naruto fandom, so do I really have to tell you to check out her other works? :)

Roses, Raindrops, and Roaches by spunbymidnight: M [R]. SasuNaru. Naruto returns home to a situation that is all too familiar. Stuff like this makes my heart hurt. spunbymidnight is someone whom I consider an expert Sasuke-writer, and her specialty is bastard!Sasuke. Very angsty, and not at all happy. Check out her stuff at her writing journal at konohas_cain.

[Hikago]

Shattered Illusions by owari: K [PG]. Yongha/Hikaru. Hikaru discovers newspapers dedicated solely to gossip and is most displeased to find them gossiping about his and Yongha's "secret" relationship. Yongha is wickedly hilarious; he's so full of himself, and he knows it. Of course, Hikaru's character can only despair, and I love their relationship for it. There is a sequel called Entertaining Possibilities, which is equally comical. owari is a great writer, who's involved in a lot of fandoms. Check out her other stuff (included another Yongha/Hikaru fic called Separation, and angsty Sai/Hikaru fic called Overture). She also writes AkiHika.

[Katekyou Hitman Reborn]

Vulgar by dualshine: T [PG13]. GokuTsuna or 5927. So, you've just given away your virginity to a stranger with beautiful eyes and vulgar lips and the prettiest ass you've ever seen on a guy, ever. What's a boy to do. dualshine is someone who is already popular in the Kingdom Hearts fandom (She's known as Dualism on FF.Net, and she writes mostly Riku/Sora and Zemyx), meaning she's got to be pretty damn good right? Right. And she is. This pretty thing is fun, fun, fun--especially if you're knowledgeable in the KHR series. Then it's a blast. Do read this and her other stuff too.

PS: New layout! Kinda. XD

Art; Naruto, Eva, KH, KHR & Original

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:09:30 GMT

Neji; The Longing Moon

Neji; The Moon and His Lantern

Naruto & Neji; The Sun & Moon Meet Again

Neji; Inner Universe

SasuNaru and the "Kids"

Sasuke & Naruto; I'll Catch You

Sakura; Married

Sakura; Stretching

Neji eating noodles

Sandsibs & Chouji; Say Cheese

Shikamaru; Grumpy Bunny Santa

Deidara & Sasuke; Child's Play

Roxas in the Morning

Rei; First Child

6927; Xmas

Together -The Wind-

Tea Party Princess

Fic Recs+

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:03:21 GMT

And now, for something a little different... keep trying. To read the Naruto manga and actually enjoy it. Besides scoffing and laughing in disbelief, I just cannot enjoy it at all. I'm not the only one. owai has basically sworn off the manga. Who can blame her, really? Kishimoto's logic is whack. Light element over earth element? UM. WHAT. Hailing Sasuke as the Gary Stu God King of the Naruto World? UH. NO. Plus, I like the Akatsuki and they're probably all going to get killed D: AND KARIN POSSIBLY BEING NARUTO'S MOMMY AND/OR SISTER? EW. NO. Plus, if she's Naruto's mom and she's hitting on Sasuke? >> No, thank you. Anyway, excuse the mini-rant. The point is, for me and I'm pretty sure for most of you, Naruto is not fun anymore. :D But worry not, there are other great fandoms to discover and join!! Such as:

Eyeshield21 by Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata. This is the GREATEST American football manga ever [and I hate American football] and it has some of the GREATEST, funniest characters ever. You will fall in love with the Deimon High School football team. You will become their fangirl/boy. It will be the greatest moment of your life. Reading about their matches--it'll just be like being there in the stands at a real game. You will jump out of your seat and cheer--or jump and cuss the heck out of the rival teams. And the summary from onemanga: Kobayakawa Sena is a freshman in highschool. Despite his previous decisions to change his life, he finds himself in the exactly same place he was in during elementary school and junior high: a push over and an errand boy. However, this changes when Hiruma, the most feared person in his school and president of the American Football Club, notices Sena and forces him to join the Football Team. Now Sena will become Eyeshield 21, a mysterious running back with lighting fast speed. Don't let the summary fool you. Sena works his ass off and so does everyone else in the team. God, I love them [and their crack] so much.

Yakitate!! Japan by Takashi Hashiguchi. This is the GREATEST manga about BREAD. Yes, bread. I really wish I could really taste all of the bread here. They look so good. How could anyone not want to read about bread?? Besides that, this manga is also completely full of crack. It's hilarious. Anyway, here is the summary from onemanga: There's French Bread, there's German Bread, there's English bread. But there is no Japan (pan is Japanese for bread), Japanese Bread. The genius teenage baker, Azuma Kazuma sets his goal as creating the ultimate Japan, a bread that Japan would be famous for. With the natural warm hands Azuma possess (Solar hands), he sets off to become a baker for Japan's largest bakery chain, Pantasia. Let's not forget the crackheads he befriends along the way.

There's also Nodame Cantabile, D.Gray-Man, Death Note, and Bleach. But I rec those two up there the most and maybe Nodame Cantabile. Notice how Nodame Cantabile is the only shoujo manga there... *cough*

[Harry Potter]

For those of you who have fallen in love with Maya/sarahtales [Underwater Light, Drop Dead Gorgeous] and were unsatisfied with JKR's epilogue of Harry Potter, Maya has written this little baby to ease the pain. It's set after the epilogue of Deadly Hallows. Coda to an Epilogue: Twenty Years Later, Or The Kids Are All Right. I won't bother with a summary because it's Maya and it's bound to be good.

[Kingdom Hearts]

Smoke and Mirrors by lewdness: T [PG13]. This is because I like Roxas/Sora and no one else seems too. Bah. Set after Kingdom Hearts II when Sora and Roxas share a body. Summary: Sora hates the prison Roxas is trapped in inside their head and he'll do anything to make things better.

[xxxHOLiC]

Small pleasures.

ribbon of fate by meretricula: T [PG13]. Donuts. If Yuuko is amused, it has to be bad for Watanuki. Maybe for Doumeki, too.

With by evherie: M [R]. Donuts. Life with Watanuki teaches Doumeki many things.

Fic Recs+

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 05:03:51 GMT

[Original]

HERO by Hwei: T [PG13]. This is not a fic, but an online manga. The story is beautiful, magical. The art is even more so. It compliments the story well. HERO is a story about a perfectly ordinary boy with no memory of past. His wish is to travel and find cities, which he has never seen before. He meets a man named Valentine and his sort-of-not-really motorcycle named Duck, and his journey of discovery begins from there.

I saw the site and instantly fell in love with it. I'm unsure whether it's slash or not, but hey, when has that ever stopped anyone from reading something wonderful? I thought so. It's a WIP, updated every Monday and it looks as though the artist already has the story planned out till its end.

[Harry Potter]

The Rules Of Being A Godson by copperbadge: T [PG13]. The first DH fic I've read yet, and, of course, it's wonderful. It's written by the author who wrote the Stealing Harry series--which I also loved, but never got a chance to finish. From the author's site: Teddy Lupin never gets too close or feels too much; his godfather's son never does anything else. TL/JP, eventually. TL/JP, as in Teddy Lupin and James Potter [the second XD]. I love copperbadge's version of Teddy Lupin. Honestly, I wish we had gotten to see a bit more of the children in JKR's epilogue, but well, what else is fandom for?

[Smallville]

Conflicts of Interest by rageprufrock: M [R]. Okay, truthfully, I only know as much about Superman as the average American, which is to say, Clark Kent, alien who became a farmboy in Smallville and later reporter in Metropolis = Superman, Lois Lane = love interest, Lex Luthor = bad guy, and Lex Luthor = son of bad guy Lex Luthor, and the kyptonite stuff and the Metropolis setting. I've seen some of Smallville and some of the cartoons, but nothing to make me a fan of the series. BUT, the great thing is, you don't really need to be a fan to read this because it's just that great. Maybe my little list of what I know up there will even help you out with the story. Or just treat it as an original fic. In an case, just read it. It's very cute and funny and touching, starring Conner, a nine-year-old boy whose identity right now will remain a secret.

Here is the summary: In which Clark is a not-so-mild-mannered reporter, Lex is a biological fugitive, and someone is mold. And the series continues with Visiting Hours [NC17] and another WIP sequel. Oh, and here is a one-shot [M/R; everything on her LJ is now private, so you'll have to wait until she uploads this onto her site] of the series to read when you're done with everything else and longing for more.

rageprufrock dabbles in a ton of fandoms, so check out her site. I particularly like her Hikago series The Relative Value of Things [Ogata/Shindou] and her xxxHolic fic, Eat Your Heart Out [Donuts].

Art; Naruto & KH

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:54:13 GMT

Just because we need more crack, really.

Crack: Neji is The Pretty One.

Baby!Sandsibs playing.

Crack: How the Hyuuga cousins really train.

Crack: Tenten and Gaara playing with bubbles, but unfortunately not naked.

Riku and Sora, summer tease.

Don't forget Roxas ;_;

Crack: Cheerleader Kanda in a skirt.

Namine and Kairi; Nobody and Somebody.

Okay, I'll stop spamming now.

Fic Recs

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:45:16 GMT

Yay, it's been a while~

First pimping sesshiyuki's site because you can find great recs there as well. One of which I will rec now. Here we go...

[Original]

The 7th Swan by ladyjaida: M [R]. Based on a whole lot of fairy tales (including The Tinder Box and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, as well as the tale from which the title is taken). A tale of two brothers trying to fix a curse. This is beautiful. I can't explain it. You just have to read it.

Jaida is a published poet, and soon, she will be a publish novelist. She's signed and her debut is due next summer. Gay-theme fantasy. You know you want to buy it.

[Harry Potter]

Underwater Light by sarahtales: M [R]. HarryDraco. Featuring an extremely depressed Harry, in a war-torn wizarding world, about to get the shock of his life when he discovers that Draco Malfoy is slightly more important to him than he would have ever guessed. Including a very odd friendship, lots of angst, suspicions, conflicted loyalties, clueless Ron, on-the-warpath Hermione and two very messed-up boys. It's entertaining. Very amusing. Her Draco is not [and never is] the Draco in the novels, but he's amazing. And hilarious. So much that Maya has made him into a legend.

One of her newer fics that I am totally in love with although it is a WIP is Drop Dead Gorgeous, featuring Veela!Harry. So far, it consists of five long chapters and a long, long side-fic.

Well, that's it for now, I guess.

Art; Naruto

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:27:56 GMT

Art. Full view please, or else they look a bit funky.

Kitty Naruto by ~blck-hyacinth on deviant ART

Neji at the Festival by ~blck-hyacinth on deviant ART

Fic Recs

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:18:00 GMT

I didn't want to rec something that's a WIP, but these are my personal favorites so... Btw, I... LOVE fairy tale reworks. XD

[Original]

Upon A Time Undone by Raz Nic an t-Saoir: M [R]. Basically, it's a Cinderella story with a very orginal twist. So Cinderella's got her prince, but it isn't a Happily Ever After ending that's in sight just yet. And some very wise people know that the Ever After laws are just plain bull. So, what do the heroes have to do? Destroy this sham of a fairy tale, that's what! Oh, and of course, it's slash. Thirteen very long, brilliant chapters. In progress.

And if you like that, maderr is known for her slash fairy tales, all of which can be found here. I personally love Main Gauche, which is another Cinderella rewrite that has handsome gentlemen and swords [as if the title didn't give it away] instead of damsels and glass slippers. All of her fairy tales are complete.

[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing]

Bridlewood Manor by Mitsugi: M [R]. Okay, first, let me say that this fic is severely underappreciated. I'm not savvy with the Gundam Fandom much, but I do hope that this is considered a classic there because, by all means, it should be. Anyway, the basic [oh-so basic]summary: [1-2-1, or Heero/Duo/Heero] The ongoing saga of a Japanese spy and an American waif, thrown together in a tapestry of espionage, romance and murder in London of the early 1900s, with the fabulous Peacecraft estate as a backdrop for their adventures. Be prepared to spend hours on hours reading this. It's LONG, but unfortunately not done. Over 90 wonderfully long, long chapters of gold.

Fic Recs

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:25:18 GMT

Fool is an amazing writer and she just finished an amazing SasuNaru fic.

The bridge I crossed by Fool: T [PG13]. Sasuke hires Naruto to be his secretary. And then fires and re-hires him. And re-fires and re-re-hires him, again. And then Naruto quits. And they fall in love. Not necessarily in that order. Somewhere in between all that Sasuke is engaged and Naruto is a bridge burner. There's a one-shot that goes after the main story. Oh, and a sequel in progress.

Read her other stuff because she's great.

Fic Recs

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:33:44 GMT

More distractions.

[Hikago]

LONELY ROLLING STAR by zoesque: T [PG13]. It's the best ever, really. Hikaru and Akira play a game. Check out her other AkiHika fics too.

[×××HOLiC]

measure for measure by hydr0phobia: T [PG13]. He’s only, like, the most popular guy in school. (AKA: Doumeki would not make a good celebrity. Because of his poor management skills, Watanuki suffers in a very roundabout way.) Check out her other Donuts stuff.

[Naruto]

Article of Doubt by frodolass: K [PG]. A morning after scenerio and a confrontation in a bathroom. Post Akatsuki kidnapping. NejiNaru.

touch the parade by ceresi: T [PG13]. The only thing left for him now -- and maybe the only thing he'd ever had -- was to crawl his way through this darkness, somehow, this deep unending darkness, towards the only light he could see. SasuNaru. Ceresi has written other wonderful SasuNaru fics too.

[Menkui!]

Fledglings by vissy: NC17. Lemon. Kotori and Akaiwa finally manage to get together without interruptions.

They put me to shame, really.

Fic Recs

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:35:45 GMT

~~As an excuse to post more because I am an icon-whore...~~

I finally finished the Kyou Kara Maou anime, so right now I am full of love for the series - in a KKM fix, so to say. xD Thus I went on a ConYuu rampage. Sadly, I only found a few good one-shots... But hey, better than nothing. And these are good. That's all I have to say ~~besides it's too much to say more when I don't particularly trust my own opinion~~. So some recs...

Shadows with Which to See by devikun: T [PG13]. Set the night after the events on Bandalbia Island (ep50). Yuri has a minor existential crisis, Conrad and Yozak have words, Murata is sage, and somewhere along the line, two souls become one - in a round about, figurative sort of way. Response to the prompt: I would love something with a furtive confession of love from Conrad, one he does not expect Yuri to ever learn of. But of course, he does learn of it somehow.

Four Men, in Pursuit of Excellence by somewhatdeluded: R [M]. According to Ex-Maou Cecilie von Spitzberg, if a thing was worth doing, it was worth doing well. Her sons comply - with varied results. And everyone is a little happier.

Going Home by somewhatdeluded: NC17. Lemon. Plans that go awry among drunkenness and confessions. In a good, guilty sort of way.

Naive by shayheyred: K [PG]. In which Conrad does something rather out of character… he panics.

And that's it :D Of course, you can look up these authors for more of their wonderful stuff. They dabble in different fandoms, so see if they suit you.

More various recs to come!

All links can be found in the memories section.

[FIC] Schizophrenic Boy, Pt 1

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:05:59 GMT

First half.

Summary: Itachi's the only one who can help Naruto. Itachi. Naruto. A one-shot told in moments. WIP. Warning/s so far: Profanity; Implied Sexual Content.

Beta reader: oracle259

It is a dreary day when Naruto meets Itachi. The overcastting clouds of doom and gloom have transformed the colorful city of L.A. into a black-and-white moving picture. The umbrella Kakashi holds blocks the rain from turning his golden hair into a dirty blond, but, really, Naruto prefers to be a little bit dirty and wet. The weather reflects his mood; he’s sulking, round face pinched and blue eyes stormy. For once he regrets wearing his orange hoodie because it makes him stick out like a sore thumb next to their grayscale background. Even Kakashi seems like wallpaper next to him.

He wishes badly for Kakashi to act like wallpaper, too, only today is the Worst Day of Naruto’s Life because everything is out to get him, so, of course, his wish does not come true. Kakashi is alive and kicking and keeping a very firm hand on his shoulder, preventing him from escape. Naruto scowls and glares at the offending hand, trying to burn it away with the secret laser powers he just knows he was born with, even if they have never actually worked.

Kakashi and Itachi are talking adult stuff—blahblahbladdeeblahstupid piece of monkey shit—and Naruto randomly thinks that is a brilliant idea. He wants to be a monkey. The thought of pooping crap into his hands and throwing them at the so-called “adults” sounds delicious. His lips twitch in something of a smirk. Just like that, Kakashi the Psychic turns his attention to him.

“Introduce yourself,” he orders dully.

“Eat shit,” he hisses.

“I’ll tell Iruka.”

They have a short staring contest, which Kakshi wins because the ass has that threat dangling in the air. Naruto admits defeat with a long suffering sigh and presents him with the bird before turning to the dark man standing a few feet away.

He puts on a sarcastic smile and says, overly perky: “Hey, hey! I’m Naruto Uzumaki, and I’m a bloodthirsty schizo!”

He doesn’t really have schizophrenia.

The proper term? Dissociative Identity Disorder.

-

Naruto is still sullen a week later. This time it is Iruka and Jiraiya by his side. Itachi is there, too, waiting a short distance away to give them false privacy in this overly crowded L.A. airport (which he knows is a redundant description). Their luggage has already been stored on the plane.

He stares at the ground, eyes dark and shining. Naruto is stubborn, so the tears will not fall, not if he has anything to do with it. He knows Iruka is in the same position. They are a lot alike: emotional and hardheaded.

They both don’t want to say good-bye.

Iruka eventually gives in and pulls him into a suffocating hug. He has to be the one because the last call for Naruto’s flight is echoing over their heads, and while Naruto thinks it is in his best interest to miss it, Iruka knows better. His voice is only slightly shaky when he says, “Be good, Naruto. I’ll visit as often as I can.”

Which won’t be often at all, Naruto knows. They have already overstretched their budget for him, for this—for Itachi. Trips overseas are out of the question.

“Whatever,” Naruto mutters bitterly, hugging his surrogate brother tightly despite his tone.

“Don’t do anything stupid, brat,” the old fart adds in Japanese; he doesn’t like speaking English because he claims his thick accent scares off the ladies. Naruto vehemently glares at him from between Iruka’s neck and shoulder. His vision is blurry. “SHUT UP, you stupid pervert!” People turn to stare at the white boy shouting in Japanese. He pushes away from Iruka and runs over to Itachi, calling back over his shoulder, “Watch me, Iruka-nii, I’m gonna beat this shit!”

Later, as he and Itachi walk through the gate to board their plane, he wipes at the unshed tears. He knows the man is silently watching his every move, silently dissecting him with his sharp, sharp eyes.

It is his job, after all.

-

Sitting so close to Itachi unnerves Naruto. This is what Itachi has intended, he’s sure. He’s trapped between the window and the older man. He wants to get away, but there’s nothing he can do except press himself closer to the window. Every miniscule bit of distance between him and Itachi counts.

For the first time in his life, he hates the window seat.

He shifts a millimeter farther away and his butt sighs happily. The only good thing about this is the super, comfy seats. Nothing like the firm, butt-numbing ones they have in economy class, which is something Naruto can say he is well acquainted with because economy class seats were all that Iruka, stingy with money, would let them have when they traveled by plane. By contrast, Itachi seems as though he has never experienced the horrors of the economy class. Probably filthy rich, he guesses.

Out of the corner of his eye he can see Itachi, who looks busy reading some reports. They’re probably about him, he realizes. It sends his stomach into a frenzy of butterflies. He scowls, berating himself for feeling nervous over this. He has been through this a million times--he should be used to it by now. However, there is something different about Itachi. Like how he can ignore Naruto’s existence right next to him in favor of those dumb, inaccurate reports. Naruto has always believed that he is the definition of ‘un-ignorable’. No one can ignore Naruto when he wants attention. He huffs loudly, deliberately, and waits.

It doesn't work. By now he’s glaring ulcers into Itachi’s stoic face. I hate this guy, he thinks. The ass is ignoring him, and it irritates him that he cannot do the same. He’s just being a boring grown-up, reading stupid reports, but Naruto is so aware of his every movement, so unnerved by them.

He lets out a grunt of frustration and decides he needs to take the initiative. Uzumaki Naruto is going to make the bastard notice him.

He roughly jerks the armrest that divides the two of them out of the way. Naruto doesn’t realize the irony of the situation when he shifts closer to Itachi, positioning himself Indian-style so that his back is pressed firmly against the older man’s side. His face is a sulky mask of determination and irritation all at once, a thin frown running across it.

NOTICE ME, his mind screams.

Itachi flips a page of the report and continues reading.

-

He jerks awake hours later, realizing belatedly that he had fallen asleep in that monkey position. It was probably from the constant lull of the plane’s engines, he thinks. He is still pressed comfortably against Itachi and what’s more, his back seems to be used to it. Despite his cool disposition, Itachi is quite warm, so Naruto doesn’t move away.

“Yes,” Itachi says, making Naruto start. Then he realizes that Itachi is talking on the phone in Japanese. “I am on the flight home now, Mother.”

He’s talking with his Mom, Naruto thinks, getting excited.

“Tell her you’re bringing a wife home,” Naruto butts in loudly in English. “Tell her!”

Of course, Itachi ignores him. The conversation progresses with Mama Itachi asking the usual questions and Itachi himself giving yes/no answers. Fed up—he swears this boring conversation is literally killing him—Naruto turns and grabs for the phone, and though he doesn’t manage to snatch it from Itachi’s sure grip, it’s close enough that he can say quite clearly in Japanese, “Hi, I’m Itachi’s new wife, Uzumaki Naruto! Pleased to meet you, Mother! Take care of me when I get there, okay?” He doesn’t make any effort to disguise his cracking, boyish voice. The whole plane, coincidentally full of Japanese people going to Japan, is staring at him. Good. With a satisfied smirk, he generously lets Itachi have the phone again.

He’s still pressed against Itachi, and he can hear her confusion. She’s asking him if Naruto’s words are true—and was that a boy?

Naruto knows Itachi will give her one of his yes/no answers.

He’s right, but it’s not the one he expects.

“Yes,” the man answers without any hesitation to both questions. He gazes at Naruto with calm, firm black eyes.

Naruto knows the bastard has won yet another round.

Fucker.

-

The first thing Mama Itachi says when she sees him is, “Oh my, Itachi-san, don’t you think he is a bit too young to be your… wife?” There is hesitancy, worry, and confusion in her voice and gaze. Though Itachi’s already confirmed to her that, yes, his “wife” is indeed male, she can’t seem to grasp it. The fact that her first son is gay and married befuddles her. It further mystifies her that it is this young—couldn’t be more than 15 years old—white boy who has stolen her precious son’s heart.

Naruto pities her as she stands there and stares at them. Finally she musters a careful smile, gracefully apologizes for keeping them out in the cold, and ushers them in.

“Your return was on such short notice—everyone is still out… Your father is out at work,” she tells Itachi. “Sasuke-san is at school.” She pauses when hesitancy rears its shy head again.

“… Since you and Naruto-san are married…” —here she discreetly tugs at her apron; the only sign of her discomfort— “… I assumed that you would be sharing a room...” She tilts her head in question.

Naruto always forgets how polite Japanese people are, what with him being raised in America. His hand flexes. The little joke is suddenly not so funny anymore. Share a room with Itachi—willingly? The plane was already bad enough. He’d go insane. No, no, he couldn’t. But, he realizes, that he will lose this game (what game?) if he doesn’t do this. Itachi is looking at him, for sure. The bastard won’t say anything… He’ll leave it all up to Naruto.

I won’t lose, he thinks.

Forcing a brilliantly fake smile onto his face, he chirps lamely, “You assumed right, hah hah.”

She is visibly relieved, tension melting.

“Good,” she answers, “I rearranged Itachi-san’s room a little to accommodate you, Naruto-san.” When they arrive there, she slides open the shoji doors to show them the rather plain room.

“You are probably very tired right now, so I will leave you two alone. Please rest up for dinner. It was nice meeting you, Naruto-san.” She is about to turn and leave, but something compels her to stop. She looks down at her slipper-covered feet and then up at Naruto.

“How old are you, Naruto-san?” she asks carefully.

“17!” he answers brightly, every inch of his grin still false.

He can tell she does not know whether to be relieved that he is older than she thought or worried that he is not as old as he should be.

“Then you’re underage?” The underlying question about the legality of their marriage is blatant.

“Ah,” he scratches his cheek sheepishly, “in some states, 15 is the legal age.” He neglects to mention that in California the legal age is 18. “Heh. And Itachi and me—we’re just so in love, y’know?” It’s a bullshit answer, but she seems to buy it in her confusion.

Gracing them with another small smile, still careful, but warm, she bows slightly and leaves.

Watching her walk away, Naruto feels like scum.

-

Eleven years ago, back in the times of baby slides and swings, he used to take Japanese classes in one of the more ghetto areas of L.A. That was back when the old fart was still an unknown novelist (Naruto secretly calls this The Time Before Jiraiya Started Using His Pervert-cism To Good Use. FOR ONCE.), and Iruka was still only a Sophomore or something in high school, and, oh yeah, they were dirt poor. It didn’t cost much for the classes, but it was still a strain. Even back then, they were always stretching it for him.

Anyway, Naruto remembers the details quite clearly.

It happened at noon, about half past lunch time. He saw it during a trip to the trashcan across the playground to throw away his mostly-finished lunch. The sun was hot, shining directly above his messy blond head, making the trek to the trash can a real trial. That was okay, because right next to the trash can was the ball wall. He was small enough to fit in the tiny space of shade it had. And if that didn’t work, there was also the soccer field, which had a huge wind-sculpted tree to hide under, with thick branches so low, they grazed the grass.

He was three-quarters of the way there when he saw it. The playground bully Gatou and his stupid friends were picking on Choobie by the wall. Well, the kid’s real name was Chouji, but Naruto called him Choobie secretly since he was chubby. Even if Chouji was the chubby one, the real pig here was Gatou, who thought he owned the whole playground just because he had the most candy—and maybe because his parents were rich and involved in Bad Things.

So there he was, picking on poor Chouji, with his gang of friends while Choobie had no one. No one would help him either. The rule of the playground was survival of the fittest. You helped out someone Gatou picked on and you became a victim for the rest of your days. Besides, Choobie was chubby, and if that wasn’t bad enough, he was only half Japanese.

“Stop it!” the plump halfie squeaked, clutching his bag of chips tighter to his chest. “Lemme alone!” Brown eyes frantically searched around for help as Gatou and Co. laughed and advanced on him. They caught Naruto’s.

Now, Naruto knew that Gatou was actually made of a load of dog poop. He was only brave and so full of himself now because he had his friends with him. Alone, he was just another fat kid.

Gatou wasn’t his friend. Then again, Chouji wasn’t his friend, either. When Gatou picked on Naruto—who committed the worst crime of the playground by being a full Caucasian—Chouji and the others never helped him.

Not that he needed their help anyway.

And if Chouji was a Big Kid like Naruto, he would understand and feel the same.

Naruto was about to look away when a lazy voice called out, “Hey, sheesh… Leave him alone…”

Everyone in the playground froze and watched as the unheard of happened. Lazy Kid Shikamaru appeared from behind the ball wall, slouched and half-alive physically, though his eyes were sharp, irritated, and focused.

“Leave Chouji alone,” he repeated when Gatou only gaped stupidly at him. Chouji was doing the same.

Gatou sputtered incoherently as his brain struggled to put together the pieces. Then he became angry. “Oh yeah, who’s gonna make me?! Wanna fight, stupid?!”

Shikamaru sighed and muttered to himself how this was so troublesome and what had he been thinking before staring Gatou down firmly. “If I must,” he drawled. “Chouji’s my friend.”

Naruto didn’t know how this could be true as he had only seen Chouji and Shikamaru interact a handful of times before. Why was Shikamaru doing this? he wondered.

Nevertheless, Shikamaru’s response prompted something in Chouji.

This is the part Naruto remembers most vividly: Chouji was staring at Shikamaru with this look on his face and Naruto knew that, at that moment, Choobie Chouji was—honest to God—the happiest kid in the world.

Naruto stood there, his lunch still in hand, and watched as two kids—way too different to be friends—tried to hold their own against the bullies. They were fighting hard, trying to protect each other and themselves.

The scene was almost too surreal to watch, and he felt something stir in his chest. Maybe he was touched. Maybe he was jealous. He didn't know. But like Shikamaru’s words prompted something in Chouji, this prompted something in him.

With a fierce war cry, he tossed his half-full carton of chocolate milk and brown bag of apple core and sandwich leftovers at Gatou’s head and joined in the brawl.

He came home that day with a black eye, a split lip, and a sprained ankle, and even as Iruka scolded him for fighting, he had to admit that Naruto’s reasons and thoughts were in the right place.

And at the root of it all, Naruto is a punk. He is a punk, who is bratty and a little brain-dead, but it's just his nature because, really, Iruka can't imagine him otherwise; in fact, it's even scary to think about Naruto as a Good Boy, he often says. Besides manners and whatnot, Iruka’s taught him that whatever he does in life, overall, he should do his best to be a good person. He tries. Even if he's not a Grade A "Good Boy," he's still a good person. It’s a simple lesson that’s easy to forget when he’s in-the-moment and impossibly hard to achieve if he aims for perfection. Consequently, he aims for the middle and when he forgets, this memory pops up to help him find his way again.

He has to tell Mama Itachi the truth.

-

Dinnertime is tense. Despite the suffocating atmosphere, Naruto’s brain can’t help but be a little distracted because this is so strange. He’s not focused on the people surrounding him. Instead, his eyes are attracted to the dinner table. It is a plain and round thing, almost black. However, upon closer inspection, the material turns out to be a rich and deep blackwood with a beautiful bird’s eye pattern. For a dinner table!

They really are rich bastards, he notes silently, as if seeing the Uchiha Compound wasn’t enough to convince him.

He gaze flickers to everyone. Itachi is, surprise surprise, still in Robot Mode. Mama Itachi, who has not taken a seat nor served dinner yet, gazes at everyone in her family with soft motherly sadness. She is even more nervous and worried with her husband and youngest son around. He can see why. Itachi Senior is unhappy, angry, furious and he contains it all within a permanent-looking frown, severe wrinkles, and stone eyes. He graces Naruto with a minute, disapproving glance and nothing more as the blond unceremoniously sits down between Itachi and an empty chair.

Itachi Junior, on the other hand, is a fireball. He’s almost the splitting image of Itachi and as young as Naruto. Itachi Junior is not yet up to par with either of the elder Uchihas’ ability to mask their feelings. His anger radiates off him in waves and makes Naruto want to grin. He has to hold down the urge to provoke him. With adults around, he can’t do anything. Not in front of the in-laws, he thinks foolishly.

Besides, he can already tell that this situation will become very ugly.

“Itachi. Explain yourself.”

Itachi looks at his father and says nothing as the older man waits. It is an act of defiance, a fearless challenge of power. Looking at Itachi out of the corner of his eyes, he thinks this person is the personification of control. The fire in him stirs and wants to break it, though he isn’t sure which the “it” is: the control, or the confidence. For all he knows and understands, it could be both. I’ll find out soon, he thinks, as his insides turn. For a split second, he feels sick.

There is a slam of flesh on wood and Naruto jumps—he’s the only one—back to attention. Traces of rage are starting to make themselves known on the Uchiha Senior’s face.

“Answer me. What is the meaning of this—” he searches for the word and Naruto thinks “abomination” like he’s heard so many times on TV “—pedophilic relationship between you and this… white boy?”

Oh-ho. Naruto’s senses instantly lock onto that bit of racism. It’s not just about same-sex relationships anymore. It’s about same-sex relationships with a white boy. This is the playground all over again.

It’s not like I’m really dating him anyway, bastard, so you can just shove your racism up your goddamn Asian ass, he thinks bitterly and does not say. He’s angry, hand-clenching-fingers-digging-into-skin angry, but—this is where Iruka’s many million lectures come in.

—Your fault because you lied, Naruto.

The only way to stop this is to tell the truth. He thinks of Chouji and Shikamaru and Iruka and how Itachi won’t tell the truth and knows he has to do it himself.

Naruto opens his mouth.

“I will not allow this. Tell this boy to go back home.” Itachi Senior gets up and stalks for the door.

Itachi Junior also gets up, eager to trail his father. His beautiful face is just the slightest bit ugly with scorn. “Don’t bring anymore white trash into the house,” he sneers.

He takes in a sharp breath. Oh, you son of a bitch. It’s on.

It’s decided. He’s no longer planning on telling the truth. Screw them. He’s not leaving. He’s staying here. And now he’s hell-bent on making them miserable.

Besides, Itachi won’t let him get kicked out because he has a job to do.

-

“Hey, hey, Itachi, you’re not gonna let me get kicked out, right?” Naruto demands later in Itachi’s bedroom. He’s pitching camp in the corner to the far right of the screen door, across the room from Itachi’s bed. It’s the corner where the trash can used to be—until Naruto kicked it carelessly off to the side and made room for himself.

“What gender is this,” Itachi asks, holding up a card with the number five on it. It's a strange question, but he's read from the reports that Naruto's mind, strange thing that it is, labels numbers with gender. What this really has to do with his mental state, he doesn’t know.

“Boy,” Naruto replies instantly and continues nagging him, “Right? Right?”

“Nineteen.”

“Girl. Wha—wait, NO! Answer my question! Itachi!”

“And this.” He holds up the number thirteen this time.

“BOY!” the blond answers with irritation. He jumps up to his feet, crosses the room, and slaps the cards out of his hand. “Forget the stupid numbers and answer my question!”

“Do you associate color with numbers, too, or is it only limited to gender?”

“ARGH! SHUT UP WITH THE NUMBERS ALREADY, YOU FUCKER!” Naturally, he lifts his hand to aim a punch at the bastard’s face. The punch is caught, and, somehow, Itachi has him twisted in an awkwardly painful position. “GAH! LEGGO!” he whines, only to be twisted further into a pretzel. Fucking, sadistic bastard. Fucker, fucker.

“FUCKER!”

There is a pounding on the screen door and Uchiha Senior demands, “Itachi! Why is that white boy still here?”

Naruto makes a strangled sound, though he’s not sure if it’s from his position or the fact that it has only been a few hours since dinner time and you’d think the old geezer would give him a night at least before all the door-pounding and but no, cruddy conservative Asian ASSWIPE!

“KISS MY ASS, OLD MAN,” he roars in English. There is silence. He knows Uchiha Senior doesn’t understand a word of the insult and a sense of satisfaction rolls over him.

Then Itachi twists again and all he feels is pain.

“You have until tomorrow morning, boy,” Uchiha Senior mutters with a final knock.

Naruto is in too much pain to notice him leave. His instincts tell him to snarl and bite—to fight—and he would if he could, but he can’t. Instead, he’s pathetic, trying to blink away tears.

“I would,” Itachi murmurs, somehow able to make his inflectionless voice dangerous, “toss you into the trash and leave you to rot. There is nothing stopping me.”

“Fucker,” his voice is tight. “We already paid you—”

“No,” the Uchiha replies, confusing him. “I took this case because Hatake promised it would be different. You are apparently quite a unique boy, Naruto-kun.”

He ruthlessly continues his torture, forcing Naruto’s arm into a position that’s just wrong. His teeth clench to stop the sound, but his throat makes it anyway: a high, broken whine of pain. It’s gonna break, he thinks frantically as his control breaks and the tears come. It’s gonna break gonnabreakitmyarmmyarm.

“However, I have seen nothing impressive.” He pauses, almost casual in his cruelty. “You are worthless.”

Fuckerfuckerfucker

“I hate you,” he complains, sobbing, “Lemme go! I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I HATE YOU!”

“And?” Itachi asks idly, roughly letting him go at last.

He doesn’t even care, Naruto thinks angrily, sprawled out on the ground. He’s supposed to help me, but he doesn’t even care. We paid so much, and he doesn’t even care. What the hell! It’s only been a few hours and already he’s bored. I’m not a fucking toy. I’ll show him. I hate him, hate him so much, hate him, hate himwanttokillhimkillhimkillhim

The thought excites and angers him, causing his heart to pound; pulse to accelerate; adrenaline to rush. He’s sick again, breathing quickly in short, heavy instances. Already, he’s a little afraid of himself, getting so high on this fury, these thoughts. But he can’t stop it.

In a flurry of motion, Kyuubi has Itachi on his back and by the neck.

His clear blue eyes are now dark and wild, dilated, mouth stretching to deepen the impressions of his whisker-scars and bare sharp canines. He’s wearing a savage grin. This is Kyuubi excited.

This is why he needs help.

Nails dig into Itachi’s constricted throat, and Kyuubi can see the older man’s minute surprise in the way his eyes widen just a fraction of a bit. Itachi is not weak—but neither is Kyuubi, who is not as pathetic as his human counterpart.

Itachi’s efforts at calm (easy, graceful) attempts to restrain the monster are in vain.

He is too wild, too out of control—Itachi’s control.

Kyuubi is surprised to find the man struggling only slightly as he fights back. Movements are now rough, relentless. It is a breathless, but silent struggle. He can tell—Itachi’s feeling the exhilaration, too, despite his careful mask. After a few moments, he has the demon at his mercy. He straddles him, holding him down by his hands.

They both breathe heavily, both stare. Itachi’s eyes are a bit wild now, too. The animal knows this well because he starts laughing, cackling. His laugh is high-pitched and nearly half-broken. He raises a thigh and brushes it insistently between his straddling legs.

Itachi is excited.

And so is the mass of insanity beneath him.

-TBC-

Thoughts?