This is set in my home country, England, so if you don't get some of the stuff I'm talking about tell me and I'll explain.

The characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

I scream into the night for you
Don't make it true
Don't jump
The lights will not guide you through
They're deceiving you
Don't jump
Don't let memories go
Of me and you
The world is down there out of view
Please don't jump – Don't jump, Tokio Hotel

19th December 2008 14:51

"I don't hear anything!" Kiba hissed. Ino scowled and whispered back

"Shove over, your foot is poking me in the kidney!!"

"No way, you nosy airhead!"

"Both of you shut up! I can't hear!!" Shikamaru snapped pressing his ear against the door just like the other two were doing.

The three made an odd sight with their ears firmly pressed against a bleached wooden door, desperately listening for sound. Ino was kneeling on the floor despite the fact that her black skirt was gathering dust and dirt and her long blonde hair was tied casually into a high ponytail. Diamonds shimmered at her ears...or at the one that wasn't pressed against cold, hard wood anyway.

Kiba was standing next to Ino, Akamaru as always by his side, the small white dog sitting patiently by his master. Shikamaru was on the other side of Kiba, face intently concentrating on hearing what – or who – ever was behind the door.

"What on Earth are you doing?" Neji had just rounded the corner, closely followed by Tenten, their faces matching pictures of surprise and curiosity.

All three listeners immediately shushed them. "Sasuke and Naruto are in there!" Ino hissed, pointing unnecessarily at the door which lead to the boys changing room.

"And you feel the need to eavesdrop because?" Neji sighed, crossing his arms and giving them a look that signified that yes, actually, they were all idiots. Tenten nodded and chimed in "They're probably just fighting again. They do that every day. In public."

"No, they're not! They went in there about ten minutes ago and they're just talking!"

"What have they been saying?" Tenten asked.

"Well, we're not sure exactly because we've just been talking to you," Kiba said sarcastically.

"Hey, watch where you're putting your feet, dog boy," hissed Ino. Akamaru growled at her warningly as she swatted at the air by Kiba.

"What the hell...?" Shikamaru muttered as Neji shoved him over to listen at the door as well. Ino moved over to make room for Tenten. "Why are you still here? I thought you were against eavesdropping."

"This is an exception," Neji told him. "What did you hear before we came along?"

Ino shrugged. "Not much. A few random words, that's all. They're being really quiet."

"It is Naruto and Sasuke, right?" asked Tenten. "In a room together and not fighting? That's abnormal."

"We know Naruto's in there. The bathrooms connected to the changing rooms are the ones closest to where the fair is. And Kiba and Ino saw Sasuke go in there after him a short while after."

Shikamaru who had kept his ear pressed against the door during this exchange hurriedly gestured for them to be quiet. The voices inside had increased in volume and it were easier to make out.

"...nothing's changed..." Ino stiffened and her eyes grew wider as she recognised the voice. "That's Sasuke speaking!" She was shushed simultaneously by four people.

From their positions disjointed sentences and random words filtered through the door. Hated. Rivals. Why?

"'Why?' What did he mean by 'why?'" murmured Tenten. Nobody answered her because they had as much idea of what Sasuke had meant as she did.

"You're childish. You're loud. You're everything I hate..." everyone froze as a complete sentence came through.

"Why isn't Naruto saying anything?" whispered Kiba. "I'd thought he'd be screaming and yelling at that chicken hair bastard already."

Once again no one answered. What was going on?

Sasuke had lowered his voice again, meaning that they couldn't hear anything other than an incoherent mumbling. Then...nothing.

"What happened?"

"Like we know, considering we're on the same side of the door as you!" Shikamaru told Kiba sarcastically.

"What I want to know is what's on the other side of the door that is so interesting that you're eavesdropping."

"Duh, it's Sasuke and Naruto, we told..." Ino suddenly stopped, realising.

Kakashi smiled. "No, I don't believe you did. Ino, don't you belong on the DDR game? And the rest of you have places to be as well."

Kiba protested "Yeah but..."

"No buts," Kakashi said, his eye seeming to stare at all of them at once. "You're meant to be back at the Winter Fair helping out at your respective stalls. Go. Now. Before I set the Headmistress on you."

Seeing that there was no way out Ino caved in first, pulling herself to her feet and brushing off her skirt. The others slowly followed her, reluctant to leave. Behind the door everything was silent.

Neji stalked off down the hall followed by Tenten and Shikamaru. Kiba, Akamaru and Ino turned left and disappeared in the direction in the main hall.

Unfortunately for them just as Ino's long pale hair vanished around the corner the changing room's door opened. The new arrival's dark eyes widened slightly at the sight of Kakashi. "What do you want?"

Kakashi tutted. "That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who just rescued you, is it? Were you aware that five of your friends were shamelessly eavesdropping on you in there?"

Sasuke scowled. At one point he had heard a noise from outside the door that sounded like voices but he'd dismissed it, more concerned on what he had been trying to say. "Should have known they'd pull something like that. Did they hear?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Nothing of any importance I don't think. Was there anything of any importance, eh, Sasuke?" Sasuke neatly sidestepped him and stalked away down the hall, hands in pockets.

Kakashi looked at the still door leading to the silent room and wondered about the other occupant. What had happened?

The boy sitting inside, hunched up on an uncomfortable wooden bench was thinking a different question entirely. His back was pressed into the wall, fingers clutching tightly at his knees and his usual tan skin was pale. His cheeks, however, were flushed like he was blushing or had been running. Naruto shakily pressed a hand to his chest and felt the strangely fast heartbeat beneath.

What should I do?

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

Two weeks earlier, 2008-12-05

"Detention."

Naruto's blue eyes widened in surprise and rage. "But Iruka...!"

Iruka cut him off. "No buts! And the headmistress will agree with me. Naruto, this is the third time this month you've been involved in a fight!"

Naruto's normally smiling mouth turned down into a vicious scowl. His blonde hair was the same wild, untamed mess it had been even back in Yr. 1. He wore a black blazer, black trousers and a rumpled white shirt and tie. He was sitting in a tidy, bleak classroom, in an uncomfortable plastic chair, bruised and bloodied, unhappy and outraged.

Iruka stood opposite him, mouth set in a firm line. Naruto knew he could argue all he wanted but there was no way out of it. He gently fingered the growing bruise at the side of his mouth.

"So for a whole week..."

Naruto stood upright, knocking over his chair. "A week?! What the hell, Iruka?!" Iruka's glare became more intense and he carefully enunciated his next sentence.

"For the next week you will be in here serving detention with me. Understood? And there will be no complaints," he added, catching sight of Naruto's open mouth. "Or there will be suspension. We have a no tolerance policy here but...there are certain circumstances."

Naruto snorted in derision. "You mean because of that guy," he spat, jabbing a thumb in the direction of the boy sitting next to him.

Iruka's hesitation meant that as this was the absolute truth he had no idea how to answer that question.

Sasuke sighed and watched Naruto rage. On his cheekbone a violently purple bruise was starting to show and the cut on his lip was still sore even if it wasn't bleeding anymore. Sasuke briskly readjusted his tie, recalling how Naruto had tried to strangle him with it. God, how immature.

Holding Naruto in a headlock had been much more effective.

"Iruka!" Naruto wailed. Iruka silenced him.

"It's final. Detention starting Monday. End of discussion."

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

Naruto stormed outside, having blanked both Iruka and Sasuke and picked up his bag so abruptly it had hit Sasuke's knee.

Good, Naruto viciously thought. He can burn in hell. He started it!

"Yo, Naruto!" Standing just outside the school gates his two best friends waited for him.

Naruto ran to meet them. "Dude, how bad was it?" Kiba asked, seeing the black look on Naruto's face.

"Detention. For a week! That's 5 hours of being trapped in a room with Sasuke!" spat Naruto. Kiba and Shikamaru winced slightly at the venom in his voice.

"Iruka finally reached his limit, huh?" Kiba said as they started on the walk they took every day to and from school. "At least he didn't suspend you. This must be the..."

"Third time this month," Naruto finished grumpily. "He told me. And said we deserved to get suspended. But of course golden boy Uchiha gets special treatment. I've known that old bat for years and yet he's the one to get special treatment? Give me a break!"

Kiba and Shikamaru were struggling to keep up with Naruto's furious pace.

"Naruto, it's just a week!" Kiba panted.

"Ha!" Naruto barked. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one doing detention with that stuck up, perfect, prissy, pretty boy..." Kiba grabbed hold of Naruto's blazer and pulled him to a halt.

"Look," Kiba said seriously. "Don't go getting into any more fights. I know you hate the guy but if you don't want to spend any more time with him, please, please use a bit of common sense and just ignore him?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah. I mean five hours. You spend almost as much time in Maths every week. Big deal."

Naruto sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Jesus but why does it have to be him?"

Kiba slapped him on the back. "Because life is cruel. Now suck it up."

"What a big help you are," Naruto grumbled as they kept walking.

"We help you with your homework. We do our best to keep your big mouth from getting you into jail. We even go to extreme measures to stop Sakura kicking your face in," Shikamaru commented dryly. "Yep, we should be fired."

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

"Don't do anything stupid." Naruto struggled to balance the phone between his shoulder and his ear.

"Duh," he said moodily as he tipped a nest of noodles into the boiling water. "I've heard that already."

"It could have been much worse. You could have been suspended!"

"I've heard that too. Can we drop it? The more I think about my imprisonment the sicker I feel. And I'm about to eat."

Gaara snorted and Naruto could picture the look on his face. "If you've been told this a million times before why don't you listen?"

"I don't know. I see that guy and I just get so mad."

"I hate Sasuke as much as you do but have you heard of self preservation? Tsunade's your aunt but there's only so much she can do to save your big mouth when you constantly get into trouble."

"I can take care of myself without that old hag," Naruto said grumpily.

"Whatever. As your best friend, I'm looking out for you."

Naruto switched off the gas ring and removed the pan. "I have Kiba and Shikamaru too, y'know," Naruto said with a grin.

"They're both idiots," Gaara said bluntly. Naruto laughed at his matter-of-fact tone.

"Gaara, you've never met them."

"I've heard enough," Gaara replied. "I'm glad you have people to look out for you, Naruto, but..."

"But...?" Naruto said teasingly.

"But..." Gaara's voice softened. "Neither of them knows you like I do."

Naruto smiled. "I know. Sorry. Man, I wish you were here."

"Sunagakure sucks. It's so boring. And dry."

"It's been pissing it down here."

"No snow?"

"Nu-uh," Naruto said through a mouthful of noodles. "You'd think there would be this close to Christmas."

"Please tell me you're not talking to me and eating." Naruto hastily swallowed.

"No."

"Naruto, haven't we been over this? That's gross. Don't do it. And don't lie to me!" Naruto sheepishly laughed.

"Sorry dude. Hey, is there any chance you could come up and see me sometime? School finishes soon!"

Gaara sighed. "Look, I didn't even want to mention it because you'll get your hopes up...and it's not even really a possibility, just something that's floating in the air...

"Gaara? You're babbling. What's going on?" Naruto asked excitedly and cursing as he dropped a noodle on his lap.

"Well...we may be moving back to Konohakagure." Naruto dropped his fork in his bowl and let out a yelp of excitement.

"What? Why? No, I don't care! Oh my God, that would be so awesome if you did! We could be in 6th form together and..."

"That's why I didn't tell you," muttered Gaara. "Look, it's only a possibility, alright? Mom never liked it down here and Dad mentioned a few weeks ago that if things get any worse we'll move back."

"Worse? What do you mean 'worse'?"

"Not sure," Gaara admitted. "But I don't like the sound of it."

"Me either. But it would be so great if you moved back here! I've missed you."

"Me too. But please Naruto...don't get too excited. It may never happen. Be realistic."

"I will." Naruto tried to hide any excitement bubbling up inside of him.

"No, you're not. Naruto, I know you. Better than you do. Please?"

"Ok. Fine. For you."

"And don't get in any more trouble."

"Ok!" Naruto heard a click at the front door.

"Your dad's back?" asked Gaara who had heard it too and understood that Naruto was going to have to explain why he would be an hour home late from school for the next week.

"Yeah. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"See you, Naruto." Naruto pressed the off button and went back to his noodles. Wow. The possibility of Gaara returning was insane.

Let it happen. I won't fight with Sasuke for the rest of time if you make it happen...

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

On Monday morning Naruto's resolve had weakened a little bit.

Think of Gaara, think of Gaara, think of Gaara, he chanted.

"Staring at the door won't make it open you know," Sasuke commented from behind him.

"I know that!" Naruto said angrily before opening the door.

"Where's Iruka?" Naruto wondered as he put his bag down on a desk.

"You shouldn't be so informal with a teacher," Sasuke said, sitting at the desk next to him. Naruto ignored him, determinedly thinking 'Gaara, Gaara, Gaara...'

Five minutes ticked by. Then ten. Finally a whole fifteen minutes later someone slid the door open and shut.

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic."

"Why are you here?"

"What do you mean 'traffic'? You've been here since this morning! Don't make lame excuses!" Sasuke and Naruto spoke at the same time.

"Iruka got called to an important meeting," Kakashi explained.

Naruto knew what this meant. It meant Iruka had chickened out of an hour in a cold room with two boys who hated each other. Teachers never meant what they said. Actually adults in general rarely meant what they said.

"So, stick around for another 45 minutes and don't fight. Alright?"

Wait, what? "Where are you going?" blurted Naruto.

"Me? Important meeting. I just told you."

Sasuke sighed. He knew perfectly well what he meant by that. Poor Iruka. Glancing to his right Naruto's mouth was hanging open.

And he didn't even know what 'meeting' really meant.

Kakashi waved cheerfully at them and left. Naruto snapped his mouth shut and snorted. "We should leave too."

"Then we'll get in more trouble," Sasuke said calmly. "Sit."

Naruto glared at him. "Look, we don't have to be here. They've pissed off and I sure as hell don't want to stay in here with you for another 40 minutes."

Sasuke sighed. "Look, Kakashi isn't as stupid as he looks and Iruka won't let us get away with it even if he has skived off. Someone will notice if we leave."

Naruto stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over his chair. "Then we don't get caught. Look, I don't want to stay in here with you. You can stay here but I'm going." Sasuke stood up too.

"I'm trying to keep you out of trouble," he snarled. "Can't you see that, idiot?"

"Why? I don't need your help. I can take care of myself. And if I wanted help I wouldn't ask you for it." Sasuke's rage was bubbling up, something that only happened around Naruto. He grabbed a handful of Naruto's shirt and pulled him closer.

"How stupid are you? There's only so many times you can get in trouble and people bail you out!"

Naruto grabbed hold of Sasuke's wrist with one hand and Sasuke's collar with the other. "I've been told. But the difference is I don't want to listen to you."

Sasuke smirked. "So other people tell you and you still don't listen? God, have you considered that they tell you that over and over because they care about you and don't want you to get hurt?"

Naruto continued struggling to get loose but Sasuke's grip remained tight. "Shut the fuck up!" he spat. "Why would you be trying to keep me out of trouble? You hate me!"

"I don't hate you." The fire in Sasuke's eyes had died, making them unreadable.

Naruto became still. "What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion. "We hate each other. We always have. Ever since primary. We're rivals."

"Yes but that doesn't mean I hate you." Sasuke sounded odd, Naruto decided. Very odd. His face was paler than usual and his voice had this robotic tone to it.

"So what does it mean? You like me?" Naruto asked incredulously.

Sasuke's mouth was suddenly very dry. "I..."

Naruto cocked his head to the side and gave him a weird look. "Sasuke? You do or you don't. Which is it?"

Sasuke's grip loosened a little bit. "I...I like...you."

Naruto's eyes widened a fraction. "What? You want us to be friends, is that it? Why would you like me? We've done nothing but aggravate each other for years! I mean if you like me then why the hell didn't you..."

Sasuke gave Naruto the full on ice prince glare. "You don't get it, do you?" he asked coldly. Naruto shook his head, suddenly even more confused, questions running through his head.

None of those questions were answered even when Sasuke pulled on the front of his shirt and kissed him full-on on the mouth.