Ah, hello again everybody! 8D I'm back...again...with another SasuNaru ficcie! Yay :) Actually, I'm not sure if you would really call this a SasuNaru/NaruSasu (which ever you want) but at the end, you tell me. 'Kay? XP However, this is only the first chappie, so it doesn't matter much right now.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Naruto characters.
Important A/N: For those of you who read my story "I Caught Fire" you know it may be best to read these. Anyway, this story starts off when Sasuke was seven--a year before Itachi massacured the clan. I don't think I got the schooling time right, but for the sake of the story, go along with it. O-o Anywho, um, I do use some Japanese in this fic, but of course at the end I'll let you know what it says. Well, I guess that's all for now. I hope you enjoy:
.::. When We Were Young .::.
.::. Chapter One .::.
"Have fun at school honey!"
"'Kay Mom!"
The small dark head bounced its way out of the dojo and down the street.
"Good morning Auntie!"
The child's aunt smiled and waved, going back to work. Hitching his pack onto his back, the boy ran faster towards the Academy and his first day of school for the second year. He couldn't wait.
Making it into his seat just in time, he breathed and took out his books, listening intently to the new teacher.
Lunch came and went, as did the ending classes of the day. Excited to get home and tell his mother about his day, the child was the first out the door and onto the lawn.
He thought.
A cry of pain penetrated his excited thoughts, despite the noisy babble of the other students. Black eyes blinked and traveled towards the sound. Where had it come from?
Forgetting his enthusiasm, he ran off in pursuit for the injured…thing. After all, his mother had always taught him to care for the weaker, hadn't she?
Bursting into the woods, he stopped and looked around.
The cry came again, north of him. He took off for it, trying hard to be as quiet, but as fast, as possible.
"Ow! Help!…Oof—!" the sound of coughing and gagging reached the young one's ears, as well as cruel sneers of, "Demon, you should die!", "Let's put him out of his misery, neh?", and "Probably should, 'fore someone else a lot meaner than he thinks we're bein' comes along."
Picking up a stone, the boy threw it precisely and soon one boy fell to the ground, unconscious. The other two yelped and he stepped out from behind the trees.
"Get away from him." He snarled, black eyes flashing. The boys gasped and picked up their friend, running off with him as fast as they could. The seven-year-old sniffed and went to the boy they'd been beating up on.
The boy had blonde hair and brilliant sky-blue eyes that stared at him in amazement and fear. He winced as he tried to back away, clutching his wrist.
"I—I—" he stuttered then stopped, looking down as though expecting to be hit. Instead a pale hand was placed before him. He stared in disbelief.
"I'm Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke. You?"
The blue eyes flickered to meet onyx almost shyly. "N-Naruto." "Naruto who?" "U-Uzumaki Naruto." Sasuke smiled. "Well then, Uzumaki Naruto, are you going to get up or stay on the ground all night long?"
Naruto opened his mouth to respond but found he couldn't. So he simply took Sasuke's hand and the child Uchiha pulled him to his feet. Almost instantly his legs gave out and the blonde tumbled to the ground. He clutched his ankle.
"Ow. I-I must've twisted it running."
Sasuke giggled in that little boyish way and said, "That's okay. Where do you live?" "Well, um…" "Never mind. I'll take you home with me. My Mom can fix your ankle. Okay?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"B-But—" he gasped as Sasuke crouched before him and said, "Climb on my back, I can carry you. That way you don't injure your foot anymore." "A-Are you sure?" "'Course. C'mon."
Uncertainly, Naruto climbed onto the taller boy's back. Sasuke handed him his backpack to put on his own back, then stood and hitched him into a more comfortable position, then began walking.
"You're awful light Naru-chan. My grandma's two-month old puppy feels like it weighs more than you do." Naruto's cheeks flushed at both, the comment itself and the name Sasuke had called him.
"I-I don't get much to eat I guess." He murmured. He saw the boy's dark eyes widen a little.
"Gomen, Naru-chan. I didn't mean to embarrass you." he apologized. "I'm not embarrassed!" Naruto defended himself instantly, his cheeks still pink. Sasuke smirked and didn't answer.
They traveled in silence a while. Then Naruto couldn't help but ask, "Um…S-Sasuke?" "Hm?" "Why did you help me? Everyone hates me, but I don't know why. Still…" Sasuke frowned in thought.
"It was the right thing to do. Those guys had no right to hurt you." Naruto's eyes flashed. "So you pitied me?!" he growled angrily. Sasuke laughed, cutting off his rant before it started. "No, I didn't pity you. I just did what I would have hoped someone else would've done for me."
Naruto stared at Sasuke in surprise. He'd never met someone like him.
With a small smile playing on his lips, Sasuke glanced at the boy on his back.
"You can stay with me." "Huh?!" "Well, you're an orphan aren't you? It must get lonely at night." "H-How did you…?" Sasuke shrugged, hitching him higher. "Lucky guess."
Naruto was silent a moment then gave his new friend a wide smile and a hug around the neck. "I'd like that. Thanks Sasuke." Sasuke chuckled.
"No problem Naruto."
.::. N/S .::.
"Sasuke, I was worried! Where were yo—oh, who's this?" Sasuke's mother, Mikoto (1) asked, spotting Naruto on her child's back.
"Gomen nasai Okaa-chan. (2)" Sasuke apologized. "But I had to help Naru-chan." "Oh? Tell me." "Okay, but can you check his foot and wrist?" Mikoto smiled. "Of course. Come, put him on the couch."
Sasuke did as his mother instructed and explained what had happened while she inspected Naruto's wounds.
Mikoto smiled and cupped Naruto's whiskered cheek in her hand, making eye contact with him.
"You stay here as long as you like Naruto-chan. Even so, you must until your foot heals. It's a bit swollen, so I think it may be a bad twist. Will you stay?"
Naruto hesitated before bowing his head respectfully. "Thank you. I'm deeply grateful, um…" Mikoto laughed lightly and gave him a hug, then stood, smiling brightly. "You may call me Okaa-chan if you like. If not, Mikoto will be fine." Naruto smiled and nodded.
"I'll stay. Thank you…Okaa-chan." Mikoto practically beamed and walked out, calling, "Show him your room Sasuke-kun. He'll stay there, alright?" "Hai!" he called, grinning at Naruto. Naruto couldn't help but grin back.
"C'mon, I'll show you my room." Sasuke said excitedly, taking his hand and pulling him out of the room.
Mm-kay, so there is the first chapter. 8P I hope you liked it so far...reviews are loved deeply! Lol.
(1) Uchiha Mikoto is Sasuke's mother's real name, at least in the anime.
(2) I'm so sorry Mother--I'm sure a lot of people already knew this one. XD
-- Miah-Chan