D I S C L A I M E R
I, JouVal, DO NOT own Naruto Shippuuden, or any of the characters! I only write for my own enjoyment.

Sai x Naruto Shonen-ai

Sorry if anyone seems OOC.
The idea to write this spontaneously hit me this morning.

C h a p t e r 1 : Do You?

Warm wind gently caressed golden locks of hair. A smile twitched on the face of the sun child and his pink haired companion as they enjoyed the patch of warmth. A third person watched passively from the shadows, he didn't want to dampen their mood, as they didn't get to relax often.

The other boy relaxed slightly, and leaned back against the tall oak he was currently sitting under. He blinked, looking away from the scene before him. Although his eyes didn't stray far before they were drawn back to his comrades, or rather, one of them.

The blond, Naruto, never ceased to amaze him. Every time he thought he had figured him out, he was proven wrong. There was always something new to learn about the boy. 'He is so…' The raven haired, dark eyed teen paused in speculation. What was Naruto, anyways? Confusing? Oh, yes, definitely. He was also irrational. Not that it was entirely a bad thing of course; he somehow used the trait to his advantage. There was something else, though… what was it?

He shifted slightly when he became aware of a pair of eyes boring into his skull. He glanced slightly to the blonde's right to meet a pair of spring-green eyes. Sakura, the medic ninja on their team, stared back at him with a calculating look on her face.

The boy blinked, 'how long has she been staring?' he wondered. He offered her what he hoped would be a reassuring smile. She frowned slightly, blinked, and turned away. He dropped his fake smile. Her reaction bothered him a little. Why had the kunoichi been looking at him that way? He sighed and dismissed the thought.

His coal-black eyes darted to the ground in front of him. Blades of grass. How uninteresting, unlike…

He looked up, stealing a glance at his normally chaotic teammate. Sakura was whispering to the golden haired boy. 'What is she saying?' He thought frantically. Eyes widened when they met with endless blue, a blue deeper than the sky, or even the ocean.

Naruto's frame was rigid as he stared at the dark haired ANBU. He was obviously startled by the pink haired girl's words. The raven haired boy swallowed, trying to calm his nerves.

Sakura gave him a soft smile.

"Sai, you like him, don't you?"

His hands twitched, but he managed to keep his face composed. He forced an innocent-looking smile.

"Hm? Why would you say a thing like that?"

Despite his calm exterior, Sai felt conflicted. Did he? No, he didn't like Naruto. He just…couldn't. But why was it so hard to say?

Sakura blinked. Her smile fell, but she was not deterred.

"You could have just said no," She explained bluntly.

Sai's mouth opened, then closed. He clenched his fist.

"We should probably find Yamato-taisho. It's about time to move on," He stated.

The boy rose and turned away from his team, walking in the direction of the designated meeting point.

Sakura stood and took an uneasy step forward. She called out to him.

"Sai!"

He made no indication of hearing her. Their short conversation was over.

She sighed and glanced over at her blond friend. He had been strangely quiet through the entire confrontation.

"Naruto?" She hesitated. He seemed wrapped in his own thoughts. The rare expression on his face made her giggle despite herself.

"So you can think!" She teased him fondly, as she ruffled his spiky hair. He groaned in response.

"Sakura-chan!" He whined. His arms crossed as he pouted at her.

"Come on; let's go before Yamato-taisho gets upset." She offered.

Sakura turned and began tailing their more aloof teammate, knowing that despite Naruto's complaints he would soon follow.

Her smile faded at the thought of Sai. They had been working with him for well over a month now and still neither knew what to make of him. Did he like Naruto, as she had expected, or was there a different reason for his nearly constant staring? A more sinister reason?

She shook her head to clear it of such thoughts. Still…

'Do you, Sai? Are you…afraid of that?'