Baby when I heard you

For the first time, I knew

We were meant to be as one

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Or Kylie Minogue.

"Crack Sunset: The Drabbles"

1. AbuRamen (Shibi and Teuchi)

The sun was setting on this cool summer night as Teuchi the ramenguy watched the streets come alive. Every so often someone would stop to wave to him, then continuing on their merry way. Teuchi was a well-liked guy around the village, and the mere sight of him would light up the lives of the passerbys. But nobody really seemed to care about the man behind the counter. All they saw was the happy-go-lucky façade he put up.

Deep down, Teuchi was lonely. His wife had died from tuberculosis almost two decades ago, and their only daughter Ayame had ran off to get married to some black guy from the Hidden Cloud Village. He was left alone to live and die without anyone by his side.

"Hey old man!" A familiar blonde sauntered over and sat at the counter. "Oi hey, Naruto. The usual?" Naruto nodded and Teuchi turned his back to work on the order. There was a brief moment of silence before Naruto spoke up. "So how've you been lately, old man?"

"Oh uhm," he replied, back still turned, "I've been doing okay I guess." He did his best to save face. He could not and would not let a customer see him suffer.

"Well that's good" replied the blonde, oblivious to the man's suffering. Everyone was oblivious. He turned to serve the fox boy with a forced a smile. "Here you go Naruto, a bowl of-" his sentence fizzled out as he saw who was sitting at the end of the counter. Aburame Shibi, the secret object of Teuchi's affection and the last person he would've thought he'd see tonight was sitting at his counter.

He felt a small warmth in his stomach, as if someone had struck a match in there. There he was, Aburame frick frackin Shibi, man. The dark messy hair, the eyes hidden behind sunglasses, the mysterious aura; it was like a dream, and Teuchi didn't want to wake up.

"Oh hey Shibi." Teuchi served Naruto the ramen while doing his best to keep his cool. Naruto, being the ignorant mo fo he usually is, just tuned out the tension and dug into his meal. "Good evening Teuchi."

GAH! The way Shibi spoke his name drove the ramen guy insane and it took an indescribable amount of self-control not to fuck the guy right there. "So, what'll ya have?" To be honest, Shibi didn't really know much about ramen. He was there for... other reasons. "I'll have what he's having." The Aburame pointed to Naruto who was slurping away merrily. Whatever flavor it was, Shibi knew it had to be delicious. Hell it was made by Teuchi. "Of course. Coming right up!"

Teuchi turned away to work on the order and was glad to have an excuse to hide the light pink blush that tinted his cheeks. He had never felt so ecstatic. His admiration was about to eat his great creation and it was making him giddier than an Itachi fangirl.

He collected his cool and turned to serve the Aburame. "So Shibi, how've you been?" The bug man took his chopsticks in silence, casting a solem look behind his sunglassed eyes. "Honestly it's been a little rough lately, especially for Shino. Kiba broke up with him for the sand village puppet kid."

Naruto, who was only a few stools away from Shibi, gagged on his noodles. "No way, why would Kiba date Kankuro?" Teuchi chuckled. "Who knows? I mean, why would you date Sasuke?" A look of intense panic suddenly washed over the boy's whiskered face. "Shit! I forgot I was supposed to have dinner with Sasuke! He's gonna kill me! Well, he'd probably fuck me first, but he'll still kill me!" Naruto slurped the rest of his broth before dashing off towards the Uchiha ghetto.

"Man that kid..." Teuchi trailed off as he heard an uncharacteristic laugh leave Shibi's lips. "You have to admit, he's entertaining." Teuchi watched the Aburame resume eating, mesmerized by his sheer grace. He tried his best not to reach out and feed the man in fear of rejection.

Rejection was the only thing keeping Teuchi from making a move. What would a great shinobi such as him see in a mere chef? Little did Teuchi know how the bug man really felt about him, the man who put a smile on everyone's face after the reconstruction of the village.

The man who kept everyone's spirits up.

The man who stole his heart.

Shibi slilently wished that he wasn't so socially awkward. He had finally gotten the courage to face the man, but what to say to him? "So what do you think of the weather lately?" Shit! Why Shibi, why the weather? Teuchi chuckled at the man's awkwardness. "Ehh it's been good."

Shibi nodded and drank up the rest of his broth. This ramen was absolute soul food, and now he understood why Teuchi was so successful. The bug man smiled in satisfaction. "Thank you Teuchi, this was very good." Teuchi tried and failed to hide his blush as he took the empty bowl from Shibi's hands. "Why thank you... oh no you don't have to pay. It's on the house." Shibi couldn't deny the man's offer and stowed away his coin purse. "Could I at least help you with the dishes?"

The white cloth dangling in the entryway fluttered as Iruka entered. He heard water running and pots clanging from somewhere in the back, signaling closing time. "Teuchi I know it's kinda late, but I just got back from a mission. Could you make me a bowl just this once?"

The water was still running when he heard footsteps draw closer to the counter. "Ah Shibi, what're you doing here?"

"I'm just helping Teuchi close up. He asked me to serve you." Iruka was caught off guard by the Aburame. "Er no thanks. I'd rather not have a fly in my soup." The brunette hopped off the stool and took his leave. Teuchi finished with the dishes and entered the kitchen, finding a dumbfounded and insulted Shibi standing in silence.

"Teuchi are my bugs... gross?" The ramen man stood in silence as he thought of something to say. Unfortunately he couldn't come up with anything. He honestly was grossed out by the bugs, but wouldn't outright admit that.

"They are, aren't they?" Oh no, this is it, the game's over. Teuchi shuffled his feet feeling defeated. "Maybe they are," he mumbled, deciding to change his tune, and looking up with determination, "but you aren't." Teuchi was fed up with being a coward. Now was the time to make a move.

Shibi's heart skipped a beat as the man drew closer and lightly cupped his cheek. "Shibi, I-" His words were cut off when the Aburame placed a firm yet caring kiss on his lips. The game was over and they were both winners. Teuchi pulled away to catch his breath. "Shibi, I-" The bug man placed a slender finger on his lips to shoosh him before pulling him into another kiss.

Those words never needed to be said.