A/N: I don't have a Beta so read at your own risk. I wasn't planning on posting this but I'm in a weird place and frankly with the current fic on my mind. I don't know if I'll find time for this, properly. So obviously, late updates. [Credits to original creator for cover image art.]

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any relative characters. They're property of Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning: Slash. I'm not decisive on any pairings for now except for pre-established SasuNaru. Heheh, Geek Naruto. You no Like, You No Read!

Chapter 1 ~ Lunar Eclipse.

It was a typical Saturday night. People were generally hung over from Friday nights but not this blond. Naruto Uzumaki was fiddling with the phone in his hand. Silently debating if he should text his boyfriend or not. He was lying quite leisurely on his cozy couch, alone in his quaint apartment.

Empty bowls of cup ramen were strewn carelessly on the table. He took off his red rimmed eye glasses, setting them on the crowded coffee table. His laptop was propped on his lap, where he had tried to track his mobile through GPS but decided against it. As much as he was worried of his safety and whereabouts there were some lines he won't cross. That would be too stalker-ish and he didn't want to act clingier than usual. They were drifting apart as it is. It never ceased to thrust shards in his heart with every reminder.

But he was still trudging barefoot on this path, somehow holding on. After all, he knew, in the end, it was him that Sasuke loved and no one else. He would never do anything to hurt the blond, not too much anyway. Being the bastard he is, this was to be expected. Late nights, no texts, this wasn't anything to be worried over. He would text or call Naruto eventually, like he does… when he wants to hang out. A slow smile curved his lips, stretching the whisker like marks on his cheeks and he curled his toes in anticipation of seeing him again. He yawned and stretched his arms like a cat in his baggy orange hoodie covering his lean yet fit frame. Well, he had already texted him so there was no need to fuss over it.

Minutes later, he was humming in the shower, re-thinking his thoughts. It's not like he didn't notice the little things. The little things that were wrenching them apart, pulling and straining the stitches he had sewn together so carefully overtime, one-by-one. A thought – Doesn't that mean that the thread or bond binding them isn't strong enough then? He shook that thought. He just didn't want to over assume things and cause unnecessary trouble.

Besides, everything has a reason. He was lucky enough to have a lover like Sasuke Uchiha. They'd known each other since even before middle school. Naruto prided himself in being one of the few people who could see through his over appealing charms and withstand his intimidation. He was the first guy who asked out the blond after they accidentally kissed, for the second time. He chuckled remembering the accident with the water cooler. Who knew Sasuke actually had a thing for him? With all the girls following him around, Naruto would've never thought he'd go out with someone so out of his league. But it was great, in its entirety he was thankful that someone so shut-in like him got to have someone like Uchiha.

Sasuke was an ice prince, cold and known for his sheer genius and indifference to others. With his raven hair styled spiky in the back and the bangs framing his face so eloquently. They contrasted beautifully with his pale ivory skin making his genes outshine even more. It was only natural that he was the most sought after love interest in their high school. And they were just first-years, but, he was already a member of the school council. He was also part of the debate club and there were countless achievements to add to it.

On the other hand, Naruto was clumsy and stumbling on his steps. On the surface, he was not someone as striking as his boyfriend. The untimely death of his parents had led him to the path of a life in solitude but he still yearned for fun and friendship. When his parents were still alive, through most of Elementary school and Middle school, he was a ball of sunshine and bursting energy. He was still all of those things; he just didn't overexpress his happiness as usually as before. He kept to himself as he had grown too shy and aware of what people thought of him. His Godfather supported him but the previous drive of ambition was replaced with all the responsibilities that he now faced by himself. Nevertheless, at his core, Naruto was still the same person. He wore glasses that weren't really needed, he excelled in computers, he went for jogging each day at daybreak and bought groceries on his way back, fed the dog that waited for him each day. Sometimes he forgot and avoided social events but he remembered everything taught by his mom, so he tried to be on a healthy diet but sometimes it couldn't be helped because of his favourite food; Ramen. He was a heap of things that didn't really count, probably underappreciated but his best trait was his optimism. When life kicked him to the curb he had learnt the ability to get back up, brush off the dust and kick back. Within, he was still the sun, slowly emerging from his solar eclipse.

The stark difference in their behaviour was what really made him wonder about their compatibility. Sasuke knew the struggles he shared because he was orphaned at an early age as well. But, he had a big brother to help him. So they had their differences despite their understandings. Well, maybe it was better put the opposite way.

…

Naruto shut off the shower and stepped out with a fluffy orange towel around his waist. He strapped his beloved blue crystal neck lace back around his neck and stood next to the table fan drying off his spiky blond hair. He shot a cursory glance to his phone, in hopes of seeing it light up with a message alert. But there was no such light.

He blinked owlishly at the time display on his phone before it struck him. 6:30 A.M., he was late. Super late according to his schedule, he needed to hurry. Forgetting all about his half dried, dripping wet hair he hurried past the small hallway. Snatching his orange sweatshirt from the couch on his way, he didn't realize until he was the door that he still had to put on his pants. And laundry day was today. He'd probably have to take a shower again but this was frustrating. What was he thinking earlier? He searched through his hamper and found a pair of grey baggy sweatpants that he pushed his legs through and ran off faster than the wind. Grabbing his wallet and necessary things from the counter adjacent to the hallway, he hurried out locking his door.

In a flurry of steps, he was outside his apartment building. He broke into a light jog making it to Community Park. He didn't always go inside but the premises surrounding the park were enough for him. There were few people around at this time. Naruto decided to enjoy the light chill of autumn and enjoy himself as he jogged on his normal route. It was refreshing and gave him time to clear his head. Now he remembered he forgot his IPod, the one he extra slaved for at his part-time job to earn himself. He cursed silently and continued jogging for another half hour.

In between his random musings and nature sight-seeing he caught sight of familiar shaggy fur. He jogged up next to him. It was indeed the dog he often fed on his morning treks. He petted his head, running one hand through his soft white fur as the dog wagged his tail at him. He noticed something unusual; there was a collar around his neck. 'That's strange', he was the same dog. 'Did somebody—'. He sneezed just as a lone figure neared them. "Allergies?" He mumbled quietly crouched near the dog, as the white furred creature tilted his head.

"Oh no, must be the cold." Naruto looked up and noticed someone standing beside them. He ran one hand through his hair flimsily while standing up, it was still pretty damp. 'Damn.' He laughed nevertheless.

"Nah, I'm sure someone is just thinking of me…" He smiled back, and coaxed the dog to play with him who went along woofing in appreciation.

"He seems to know you."

Naruto looked back smilingly. "Yeah, I used to see him quite often and.." He met brown eyes and an angular jaw that held a toothy grin. The guy had untamed chocolate brown hair and…"Are those…" He pointed to his cheeks that adorned identical red-painted asymmetrical triangles.

"Yep, they're tattoos."

"Oh, that's pretty bold." He sounded impressed. Then the guy looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, right." He felt the gaze on his cheeks that grew flushed with embarrassment. "They're more or less birthmarks", 'definitely not a freakish accident…' His eyes keeled over to a random spot in the distance.

"Looks fierce, anyway…I'm Kiba. I saw this playful pooch a couple of weeks back and I thought of adopting him."

"Ohh, well that explains the collar. I'm Naruto." He shook hands and they talked for a short while of how he used to meet the dog which he had given the name 'Akamaru'. They both saw it fitting and chatted animatedly while the dog ran around their legs, chasing squirrels and enjoying himself.

Naruto shook his head, smiling as he jogged down the dirt walkway. He made a nice friend today and wasn't too awkward about it. He decided to treat himself to extra ramen for that accomplishment. It did help the fact that Kiba had moved in recently but it was sheer coincidence that he went to the same high school as him. He tried to keep his pace after that breather he took. Pretty soon, his footsteps led him to his next direction.

Then Naruto traced his steps to the neighbouring grocery store as per routine, he strolled through the aisles with the basket handle around his arm. He was busy piling his basket with surplus amounts of instant ramen when – a quiet but stern voice rang out.

"That's not very healthy Naruto-kun." Itachi was smiling at him from the nearby aisle that kept all the vegetables. Seems, he was doing his usual shopping rounds as well.

"Ehehe…I don't really cook that much so..." One hand unconsciously went behind his head; lightly scratching the nape of his neck bristled with fine blond hair. Not that Itachi was noticing, 'just an observation.'

"Hm, you don't even come to our house anymore. You're always welcome to a nice, hot meal."

"Oh it's nothing I got caught up with a few things...it was nothing." The blond sheepishly replied, sneaking another pack inside his basket. 'He really was thankful for the generous invitation but truth was, Sasuke seldom invited him to his home anymore.'

"Well, I hope you don't spoil yourself with your habits…" He narrowed eyes at his sneaking attempt and Naruto huffed, puffing his cheeks. He grumbled much to his amusement and put most of them back, save for 5 packets to which he simply raised an eyebrow. The blond shrugged and tossed a few vegetables into his basket as well. He bid a quick farewell and stepped out.

Itachi was Sasuke's elder brother. Naruto found him very kind and helping. He was one of the few people who smiled genuinely at him, and not just out of pity. But what was with the atmosphere in there? He sighed and trudged with weary footsteps to his apartment. Nevertheless, he strode pulling a smile, grocery bag swinging in one hand. Maybe he was getting a bit sluggish.

…

A cell phone buzzed on the nightstand of his bed. Brown eyes blinked awake. Sasuke swiped his bangs from his sweaty forehead and turned to look beside him. There was an alien presence in the sanctuary of his house. Locks of pink hair peeked out from under the cover. 'Oh, right…' He hated when they overstayed. He wasn't making coffee for anyone but he was still modest so he left her clothes at the foot of the bed. They were neatly piled, so she might get the message, and leave, promptly.

He looked again at his phone; the screen was lit up signifying a message from his blond. He sighed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and texted a response.

He walked downstairs and found his brother entering their house with a grocery bag in hand. He was appraising him with his silent eyes. Sasuke rolled his eyes, hoping the girl would leave soon and avoid him being subject to even more unnecessary condescending looks.

"When do you even sleep?" Sasuke spoke more to himself while brewing coffee for himself.

"You shouldn't become a caffeine addict, little brother." Itachi ruffled his bed-hair earning a scowl from him. "At least not on my watch…" He whispered lowly in a dangerous tone before bustling about in the kitchen preparing breakfast for them.

That sentence held a silent threat to it and Sasuke knew it full well. He just chose to ignore it, that's all.

A/N: No hate, but tell me what you think. *sigh* Give me suggestions where to lead this and I might go by them. Have a Nice Day! :]