Hello to you! Well this story has been floating around in my head for as long as I can remember...and I just gotta post it. I haven't posted it on my other site...so view this as just a little preview. I don't when I'll post up the next chapter. I suppose if I get a positive response I'll post it up...
WARNINGS: Everything with anyone is in here. So, if you dislike SasuNaru, SasuSaku, NaruSaku, NaruSasu, SakuSasu, SakuNaru, SasuSakuNaru, NaruSakuSasu, SasuNaruSaku...then you better leave right now. Because there is gonna be a LOT of that. Sakura haters should leave too...I understand why you hate her, I do. I just interpret hate mail about Sakura as hate mail for my story (sweatdrop) so I feel sad afterwards...
And if you dislike Yaoi...Why are you even here? Go away! You've been warned. There is gonna be hot, steamy, sweaty, sexy, guyxguy smex here! So if that's not your thing...Sorry. Oh, and maybe I'll get up the courage to write some Het. If not, then I'll either pass it up (not very likely) or get someone else to write it for me! (very likely)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...Why do you even ask? Kishimoto-sama hasn't got time to write all of this! This is only for us lonely little people with unsolved fantasies about fictional best friends doing each other! So there!
I hope you enjoy it! You better...
BE MINE
He really did love them. Both of them, equally. It's just the thought of having to choose that's kept him from saying those things out loud for so long. That, and he didn't want to be judged for falling in love with two people, two separate, unique souls.
One beautiful, stunning, cute, and smart.
The other, strong, handsome, adorable--in his own stupid way-- and idiotic.
Both he loved to the ends of the earth. Both he wanted to keep safe.
But he ran before he could realize his feelings. Ran from them to have his own selfish goal achieved.
In his selfish attempt to do that, he hurt both. Breaking the heart of one, and almost killing the other.
It's those things in life that he will never be able to forgive himself for. He will never be able or allow himself to forget.
Because he wasn't going to let either of them go.
CHAPTER ONE
Sasuke Uchiha stood a the border of Konoha, reminiscing on the few things that had happened in the past year.
One year he had been back. He now stood, a man of twenty-one, calmly looking over the city he banished himself from almost eight years ago. Nothing had changed in the village, all except the stone faces that now equaled five in total. Everything was the same, the school, the Hokage tower, the buildings, the trees, the paths...nothing changed. Even the time he had spent living for nothing but power, blocking out every image of his past, he remembered the picture of his home and the people that were massacred within it's walls. They were the only things he wanted to remember, the only things he allowed himself to. Everything else he blocked out for his gain.
But now, he needed to remember why he stayed here for so long. The things that kept him tied to his sanity.
Naruto.
Sakura.
His two sins. His two wholes.
When he came back, Sakura had welcomed him with open arms, something that he was grateful for. The bright smiling face was something he needed to see, even though it was that same expression he loathed when he was younger.
Naruto on the other hand...hadn't been too bright. He was still angry with him when he came back. The blonde was happy, but there was still some dark part of him that didn't trust Sasuke as much as he used to. They weren't around each other as much. There was always some distance between them.
He didn't want that...
--X--
Sasuke walked down the street nonchalantly, hands stuffed in his pockets and stoic expression in place. He scratched the bridge of his nose and headed toward the head of Konoha to get the details of the mission he was supposed to depart for twenty minutes ago.
Maybe training with Kakashi had finally rubbed off on him.
He craned his neck too see the looming Hokage tower above him. He began walking up the side of it. Sasuke dreaded and loved going to this place. He hated going on missions, because it meant being away from his home longer, but he loved it because...
"You're late, bastard!" Came the all to familiar insult.
"Haven't you been taught manners in all the years you've been alive?" he remarked back.
"That's no way to speak to me. Now apologize!" the huffy blonde crossed his arms and mock pouted.
Sasuke sighed while closing his eyes. Weren't they too old for this? "Oh, forgive me, Hokage-sama. I was wrong for trying to teach you to be civilized." He couldn't help the involuntary twitch of his lips when he seen the blonde's face redden from anger.
"What kind of half-ass apology is that, anyway?!" he yelled.
"Naruto, Sasuke, please. We need to get to the mission!"
Sasuke looked toward the door. Standing with all of her feminine beauty was Sakura. She glared at both of them and marched her way into the young Hokage's office. She placed a large stack of papers onto the desk and whapped Naruto in the head when he cursed.
The blonde laughed nervously and rubbed his head. "Right Sakura-chan, sorry." He cleared his throat and prepared to speak.
Sasuke interrupted the blonde. "You needed me for a mission, right? Why isn't anyone else here?"
Naruto scowled at being interrupted, but then smirked evilly after he finished his question. Sasuke felt unnerved by the wicked smile. "You, Sasuke, will be doing this mission alone."
Sasuke raised a brow. "I will, will I?"
"Yes." That smirk was still in place. "It'll be right here in the village, buddy! Now go get your shovel and head to that crazy woman with the evil cat!" he clapped Sasuke hard on the back, his robes swishing with the movement. Sasuke wondered how he managed to fit that hideous jumpsuit under there and not overheat.
"What?" he said incredulously at the blonde.
"Yup! Now go do your job!" he grinned and tried to shove the stoic man out the door. Sakura looked on with amusement, her green eyes gleamed.
"Ah! Hey, wait a minute!" Sasuke caught the door frame with both hands just before being shoved out of it. "What the hell do you mean by this! That's genin work!" he shouted back at Naruto, who was still trying to push him out.
"Yeah! And that's what you are! A genin!" he huffed through pushes. "No arguing with the Hokage! Out!" he pushed one final time and managed to get the bigger man out. He closed the door quickly and leaned against it, panting hardly.
"Naruto, don't you think that was a bit mean? You know that Sasuke's way above doing genin work." she scrutinized him. Her face scrunched up.
"Well, the bastard deserved it for being late! I had to send the others out already! I couldn't wait for him. How would that make me look?" he regained his breath and went to sit down. He smiled at Sakura. "So, Sakura, have any plans tonight?" he smirked suggestively.
She frowned. "No, Naruto. And I don't plan on making any." she turned and walked out, making no room for argument, as Naruto sagged in his chair.
"Damn. Gotta try harder!" he pulled back his sleeves dramatically and went to work on his paperwork, chicken scratching his way through the day's papers.
By the time he was done, the sun was setting and he was exhausted. He slumped back in his chair and sighed loudly, breaking the fragile silence. He fiddled with his pen and twisted it through his fingers, suddenly, he put pressure on it and it snapped in half. Naruto frowned.
The blonde stood and trudged his way to his bedroom. When he got there he opened the door roughly and slammed it with a heavy 'bang'.
Naruto stripped himself of his robes and stepped into his nightwear, jumping under the covers when he was done. He didn't bother taking a shower, he was too tired and too lazy at the moment. All he wanted to do was slip away into a dreamless sleep.
A knock at his window kept him from doing so.
"Argh! Go away, damn it!" he pulled his pillow over his ears and turned over, hoping to drown out the sound.
"Let me in you loser!"
Naruto shot up from his bed and went to the large window. "Sasuke?" he pulled back the drapes and let the man in. "What are you doing here?"
Sasuke leapt in and looked around. "Can I use your shower?" he asked out of nowhere.
Naruto looked at him strangely. "Use your own shower!"
Sasuke looked at him for the first time, and glared. "It's on the other side of the village and I don't want to walk in my house like this." he pointed to his muddy shoes and dirty clothes.
"And so you come to my house!" Naruto threw his arms up in exasperation and turned. "Dick. Bathroom's on the right." he scowled with his back turned and shoved his thumb in the right direction
Sasuke smirked. "I'm surprised you know where it is." And he left.
The blonde took a moment to process the thought. "Hey! Get back here! You're not using my shower now you asshole!" he was replied by the sound of running water. He glared, hoping to burn a hole through the walls and kill the bastard. When his attempt to burn his rival failed, he gave up and decided that cursing his pillow to hell was a better idea. After several minutes of damning Sasuke, he finally got the peaceful sleep he wanted.
--X--
Sasuke stepped into the cold air of Naruto's apartment while drying his hair, after finally completing his shower. He shivered as he walked into the blonde's room and was surprised when he wasn't met by a pillow to the face or something of the sorts. He quirked a brow when he heard the evened out breathing of the younger man.
Walking up to the side of the man's bed, he saw that Naruto was in a dreamless sleep. He stopped drying his hair and watched the peaceful expression on the boy's face. He'd never seen Naruto this calm before, it was a bit unnerving.
His fingers twitched, and his body pleaded with him to reach out and touch the boy, but his mind protested against his wishes. He cursed and balled his hands into fists, the damp towel fluttering to the floor. Damn him and his untamable libido. But curse Naruto too, for being this venerable and not letting Sasuke into his life. Oh, the things he wanted to do.
He leaned in closer and observed the blonde more closely. No snoring, no drooling, no twitching...
Sasuke flicked Naruto on the nose.
The blonde man jolted upward and cupped his abused area. "Ow! What was that for?" he glared at Sasuke with venom lacing his words.
"For faking and trying to trick me." he turned and started to walk towards the window.
"Hmph, you were the one staring. How was I supposed to sleep with you doing that?!"
Sasuke stopped and turned his head. "I was not staring."
"Like heck you weren't! I could practically feel you breathing over me!" Naruto paused and thought. He continued with a mischievous grin, blue eyes glinting. "And don't pretend you didn't like what you saw."
The raven snorted and continued on, jumping out into the night a little too quickly than he should have. Naruto was sure to notice. He mentally smacked himself.
XXXBEMINEXXX
He never liked Sakura before. In fact, he loathed her to the ends of the world a few years ago. The reason for that was still unknown to him. But it was only recently that began to like and respect her. The way she treated and looked at him was different than it was when she was younger, it was no longer obsessive and foolish to him like it was before. Her emerald gaze was somewhat wise and calm in his presence now, no longer searching for what he thought of her. She wasn't a girl anymore, always following him like some kind of freak.
The Sakura he knew now treated him like any other person. She didn't swoon or miss a beat when he talked to her, never tried in vain to lace her words with honey. She was calm and collected.
And that was Sasuke's downfall. Now that he wasn't trying to avoid her like the plague, he noticed things about her he never would have before. The way she walked, swaying her hips and taunting him all the while. The way she spoke, a graceful yet commanding edge to her tone always. And the way she smelled, yes smelled, like her name suggested, cherry blossoms. But it held a musty scent to it too. Womanly and alluring.
He was always trying to contain himself around her now. He didn't want her to turn back into the fangirl she was before. So he kept up the charade that he wasn't interested at all. He needed to wait until the right time. To make it so fast and unpredictable, when she wouldn't be trying to impress him.
The yearly Sakura blossom festival.
This was exactly what he needed. And even better...
"This year, you two will be helping guard the area around the Hokage tower, together."
"Yes, milady."
"Hn."
Sasuke looked away, trying to look completely uninterested while he balled his fists at his sides in suppressed anticipation . From the corner of his eye he saw Sakura look at him, sadly. This was either going to be the easiest thing he ever did...or the most difficult night of his life.
"Have fun you two." Tsunade looked at Sasuke with a glint in her eyes. Sakura looked between the two of them.
Sasuke glared. 'She planned this!' He glared even harder. Tsunade just smirked back at him, that evil glint never leaving. 'But...I guess I should be grateful...'
"Um...Milady...May I ask...What are you doing in Naruto's desk?" Sakura looked at her confusedly. Her question did make sense. What was the former Hokage doing in the new one's desk?
"Good question, and the answer to that is--"
At the moment she was answering Sakura, Naruto burst in the door, panting harder than a dog in heat. "Hag!!" he shouted at her, jabbing a finger in her direction.
"Uh...Hi brat..." she sweat dropped.
"Get the hell out of my desk!" he commanded. Naruto walked up to the large wooden desk and slammed his right palm on it. He slumped and tried to regain his breath. "Right...Now." The blonde lifted his head and gave her a death glare.
Tsunade glared right back, lifting her glass of sake and taking a huge gulp. "Huh, I thought you were at the ninja academy." she drawled.
"Because you told me there was an emergency!" he screamed back at her.
Tsunade edged back in her chair a little. "...And...there wasn't?"
"No, there wasn't. Wanna tell me why you old hag?"
Sasuke watched with amusement. How was it possible that someone could pout and glare at the same time? Naruto was the only one he knew that could pull it off and not look like an idiot...Well, not a complete one anyway. He followed the blonde man intently. Naruto was fuming.
"Yes, there was an emergency going on."
"Like what?!"
"They were out of juice for their lunch break." Tsunade stated, completely serious.
Naruto just stared at her, a dumbfounded expression in place. "And that's why you said I needed to rush there...'Immediately'?" he glared again. "You really are getting senile!" he deflated and muttered under his breath. "Unnnhh...Just get outta my desk." he whined to her.
She frowned at him. "Nice way to treat your elders, brat. Maybe I shouldn't have chosen you to take my place. A Hokage has to be--"
"--Strong, wise, respectful, able to protect his village, and courageous." Naruto finished for her. "I got it."
Sasuke was surprised. When had he been able to memorize things that accurately?
"Ah, that's very good. You know it, but can you fulfill it?" Tsunade stood and walked over to Naruto, placing both hands on his shoulders. "I'm sure you'll be a great leader for this village. I'm proud...but remember what you have to do. You've become a fine man, now become an even greater Hokage."
Naruto smiled up at her. "Thanks...I will..."
Sakura smiled and giggled. "You two are like a mother and son, I swear." she shook her head and continued to smile.
Naruto turned his head stare at her. "Ah! Sakura-chan! Why are you here?" he pointed at her, just noticing she was there. "Come to visit me, huh? Change your mind about my invitation?" he waggled his eyebrows.
"Tch. I'm here too, stupid. Tsunade had us summoned." Sasuke didn't look at Naruto. He was jealous for both of them. While he liked Naruto, the blonde still liked Sakura and thought of Sasuke as his rival. Sasuke didn't like the fact that Naruto didn't like him and that he was trying to get Sakura. He wanted them both...but he didn't want them to fall for each other. Good thing Sakura didn't like Naruto.
"Hey! Don't call me stupid!" Naruto glared. "And I wasn't talking to you!"
"Sorry, Naruto. I have to guard the Hokage tower tonight." Sakura piped up. "Though I wouldn't have said 'yes' anyway, you know that." she waged a finger at him. "Don't ask every day."
"Aw...Why not? I'd treat you to ramen!" he grinned.
"Naruto! Just...Oh, never mind. It's useless trying to convince you." she gave him a half smile. "Always the same old Naruto..."
Sasuke watched the two interact. 'Or maybe...She does like him...' he glared and walked out of the room. "I'll see you later Sakura. Don't be late." he slammed the door behind him.
Naruto looked at the door, confused. "What's his problem?" he crossed his arms behind him. He tilted his head. "And what..." a realization dawned on him. He pointed at Sakura "You're going on a date with him, aren't you, Sakura-chan!"
"Baka."(1) Tsunade whapped him on the head. "Don't make accusations. She's guarding the tower with him tonight."
"And then you're going on a date!" he shouted at her.
He got hit on the head again. "No, you idiot!" Sakura shouted. "We're guarding the tower, that's it!" she couldn't help the heat that rose to her cheeks. Though she got over Sasuke a great deal, she still had some feelings for him. She cupped her face in her hands and turned away, having every intention of leaving that second.
"Sakura," Tsunade called to her. "Be careful when you're guarding the place."
Naruto and Sakura both looked at her with weird expressions. Sakura tried to ask a question, but Tsunade walked out of the room before she could utter a word. "Oh, that's strange, why would Tsunade-sama warn me...?" Sakura wondered aloud. She seen Naruto shrug beside her.
"Who knows? She's always got something weird to say. Old people do that a lot, ya know?" he sighed and walked over to his desk, plopping down in the chair. "Say, why don't you ever want to go on a date with me? Don't you want a chance being with the Hokage?" he smirked and cracked open one of his eyes. He was met with something hitting in the face, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Cha! Yeah right! Quit begin perverted and do your work!" she shook an angry fist at him and slammed the door in a somewhat similar fashion that Sasuke had. She walked down the hallway in a flurry. Her face was beat red. "Stupid, perverted baka..."
In the Hokage office, Naruto was on the floor...Knocked out. "Eh...Sa-Sakura...chan..." little orange swirls were in the place of his eyes. "Ouch..."
XXXBEMINEXXX
Sasuke leaned on the comforting support of the wall, watching his counterpart from the corner of his peripheral vision. She was watching the night sky calmly, leaning up against the wall like he was. The moon was out and bright, just days away form being completely full, stars danced in the black blanket like a painted canvas, looking like fireflies the way they shone to their fullest.
The festival was going beautifully. People dressed in traditional attire, kimonos and fake blades for the non-shonobi's, masks, sandals, the whole charade. Shop keepers sold extra things just for the festival, flower shops sold Sakura blossoms, and the volunteers--mostly coming form the ninja academy--set up small booths for the night and to make some extra money. The bustle from the high point of the town was reaching Sasuke's ears in a dull hum.
Sakura and Sasuke looked on, almost completely oblivious to the noise of the city. They were both too caught up in their own thoughts. Sakura, thinking about how much she wanted to see this years fireworks. And Sasuke, thinking of what he could do at this point to make his subtle approach.
He fingered the lint in his pocket as he wondered what he could do. As he closed his eyes and tried to block everything out Sakura's scent wafted to him, making his thoughts blurred. He snapped his eyes open and tried to concentrate harder. He shifted for a better position and regained his trail of thought.
He could just take her right now, but that wouldn't do too much for his cause. He wanted to make her fall for him, make the feelings mutual but not obsessive. That was going to be hard to do, but if he waited...
"Sasuke, don't you think the fireworks will be beautiful tonight? I always love seeing them every year..." Sakura looked up at the sky. She knew the fireworks would be lit up soon. The anticipation that she endured throughout the week was all going to be worth it to see this.
Sasuke didn't reply, instead, he gazed at Sakura. Her hair framed her face perfectly, swaying in the wind like reeds. 'Fireworks...'
Suddenly, the air lit up in blazing glory as the first firework was presented. The crowd below 'ooh-ed' in amazement. Soon after, more of the same loud 'booming' of the nights show was heard. The sky lit up with the explosives, making Sakura's eyes shine. Sasuke found the lighting pleasant.
The raven-haired teen formed a plan in his head. "Sakura, want to go to the roof. You'll be able to see them better." he began walking up the steep incline of the building, chakra shining from the soles of his feet. The sentence sounded more like a statement than a question.
Sakura watched him get farther away a little panicked. She wasn't sure if that was an order or a request...But it had her cheeks flared up in no time at all. She followed with a little more hesitation. She got to the top of the roof a bit after him, amazed at how high up it was. The sky blared up again. Sakura gaped at the beauty. She watched the sky as she walked to Sasuke's side, a light smile creeping to her face. 'It was nice of him to suggest this...'
Sasuke looked over at Sakura. With swift fingers, he grabbed her by the jaw and turned her head towards him. He looked deep into her eyes, trying to send an unreadable message. His eyes became soft, reassuring, and he leaned in closer.
Just as he was about to close the distance between them...
"AAAHHHH!!"
Sakura connected her fist to his jaw, making his head snap to the left.
He stared in mild shock at the ground. 'Did Sakura just...' he turned his head to look at her. 'Hit me?!'
She looked just as shocked as he was, standing there holding her fist to her chest. Sakura looked like a deer in the headlights. "Ah..." she hesitated. Her green eyes shifted and she started. "Oh! You're bleeding! I'm so sorry!" she came closer to the man, inspecting his cheek by twisting and turning it in her grasp. "Oh, Sasuke! I'm so so so sorry!" she fretted over him like a mother hen. Her brows furrowed in agitation.
Sasuke smiled lightly at her reaction, wincing as she held his abused cheek. He grabbed her wrist and brought it to his mouth. He kissed it gently. "It's fine..." He was happy with her reaction, very happy. It was more than he could have asked.
He smiled at her and let her out of his grasp. "Let's get back to guarding this place." he started to walk down the side of the building, his smile still in place. He heard Sakura agree and her soft footfalls following behind him.
'One down...'
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There! Hope you liked it! And as for the Yaoi...It's coming. Oh, you better believe it's comin'. (laughs)(unintended pun)
Ahaha. I have NO experience in writing SasuSaku...or any Het pairing for that matter...Yaoi is my forte. On my other site, All twenty+ stories are based on SasuNaru...So, anyone in for helping out the noob? It'd be greatly appreciated.
Reviews would be appreciated too! Just because I love to write, doesn't mean that I don't love to hear people's opinions and views! Criticism is welcome too, anything to help!
Thanks for reading!