Complicated
The sunlight was shining brightly into the window of one house. It was shining straight onto the bed near the window and in the eyes of Uchiha Sasuke, who was lying on that bed. The boy turned around irritated, but then he noticed that something was off. 'Normally the sun doesn't shine on my eyes in the morning', he thought. The window just wasn't positioned so that the sunlight could possibly reflect on his face. Faster than lightning Sasuke was out of his bed and in a fighting stance. He waited a little while in case someone would burst into his room. When nothing happened Sasuke decided to figure out why the sun was shining straight into his bed.
The black haired boy jumped in front of his window with a kunai in his hand, but then bended in the same second when he reached his destination. But no one tried to throw a shuriken or kunai or anything else through his head. And neither did anyone try to punch or kick through the window in purpose of hitting Sasuke. Sasuke stood up and prepared for getting attacked, but still no one did that. He sighed in an almost disappointed way and opened the window and stuck his head out. He looked from left to right until his dark eyes noticed a shiny thing. Kunai. It was thrown or placed precisely in a way it would reflect the sunlight on Sasuke's room in general and his face in particular. Sasuke snorted. Kind of clever. But what was the purpose of it? Then he noticed a small piece of paper that was bind on the weapon. At first he startled a bit when he thought it was an exploding note, but he soon figured out it wasn't. Sasuke stretched his hand and took the note and the kunai.
Absent minded he closed the window and went back to his room. He released the note from the weapon and read it.
"Hey Sasuke! What's taking so long? Just look at the time! Even Kakashi-sensei is already here! Wake up and get your lazybones over here! Naruto." Sasuke startled. Say what? He read the note again and looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand. It said 12.30. How come he had slept so long? How come he hadn't woken up?
The dark haired boy threw both kunai and Naruto's note on his bed. He jumped to his wardrobe and took a pair of black shorts and a black shirt out of it and quickly put them on. He was already running out of his bedroom when he suddenly stopped and took couple of steps back. He grabbed Naruto's note from his bed and read it couple of times. For a moment he wondered how he was even able to read those scrawls. For another moment he smiled at the thought that Naruto had written the note and gone through all the troubles of getting the kunai on his window frame just for Sasuke. Naruto had been near his house while he was still sleeping. The thought was both nice and disturbing at the same time. Sasuke felt his cheeks warm up a little.
He shook his head and walked to his nightstand. He took a key from beneath his alarm clock and opened the locked drawer. He took camera from there and put it on the table. Then he dug the thing he was searching for from the very rear of the box: his scrapbook. He opened it from the random place. In that particular double-page spread was a picture of Naruto eating ramen and next to it were used eating sticks. On the other page was a drawing of Naruto. Sasuke browsed the book forward until he found an empty page, which also started new double-page spread. The boy smiled and took tape from drawer. He tore a piece of it and taped up Naruto's message to his scrapbook. Then he took another piece and used it to secure the note better. He nodded contently and looked at his book another time before closing it and putting it back to the drawer with all the other stuff. Lastly he locked the drawer and put the key back under the alarm clock. Now he was ready to go.
Or after he had fixed his hair of course.
ooooo
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura squealed as Sasuke jogged to the bridge, where Team 7 usually met.
"Sasukeee!" Naruto yelled with funny voice. The voice was funny because it was annoyed and happy in the same time. Sasuke liked Naruto's voice, no matter what kind of tone it had. Kakashi looked up from his Icha Icha Paradise-book and smiled at Sasuke. If one didn't know Kakashi, then one probably wouldn't be able to tell that he smiled, since it was not very easy to see expressions behind the mask.
"You finally came", Kakashi-sensei said and put his book into his pocket.
"Well, today we have got an easy mission", Kakashi started, "We just have to escort one young couple to another village and that's it."
Sasuke and Naruto glanced at each other. They had had bad experiences from this kind of mission. Usually they did sound easy, but then behind the curtains were all kinds of troubles that should have made the mission to A-rank. Naruto turned his look to the sky and sighed. Sasuke looked at Naruto for a while instead, but then stopped ogling when he remembered that there were others around too.
With no more talk they walked up to Hokage and got their clients. For the beginning of the trip Sasuke was ready for enemies and anything else too all the time, but after a while he just dismissed the whole thing and began to daydream. He recalled where he had left his thoughts yesterday. Hmm… It was when Naruto had brought him to hospital.
ooooo
Young Sasuke woke up again after many hours. The first thing he saw was Tsunade-sama's face above him.
"Finally you're awake! I was almost worried", Hokage said with a smile on her face. Sasuke didn't reply.
"Your wounds were kinda bad and you have been unconscious for two whole days and little over actually", the blond woman continued her rant. Two days… That long? What about Naruto? Sasuke didn't bother to ask about it. He didn't want to show anyone that he was interested in Naruto's wellbeing. Neither was he so sure about what he thought about Naruto right now either. Everything was confusing.
"But you're at least in better shape than Naruto. You're awake for example, Naruto's still unconscious though his wounds are almost healed already", Tsunade told. Sasuke gasped. Naruto was still unconscious? Tsunade-sama turned her face towards Sasuke with confused look on it. Sasuke turned his own face away.
"By the way, there are couple of people who have been visiting you many times already. Should I ask them to come here now that you're conscious?" Tsunade asked in a friendly manner. Sasuke was pretty sure he knew who those people were. On the other hand it didn't matter who they were, because he didn't want to see anyone at all. He shook his head. Hokage shrugged.
"Alright. I'll still ask nurses to bring you something to eat, you must be starving", Tsunade walked to the door and glanced at the black haired boy in the bed once more. Sasuke was staring at the ceiling and didn't even listen. Hokage shook her head worriedly and got out of the room.
ooooo
The next couple of days Sasuke only lied on his bed and said nothing to anybody. Ino and Sakura came to visit him on the fifth day.
"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura's voice came from the door. Sasuke didn't even turn to look.
"Hi, Sasuke-kun", Ino's a bit more lively voice said. Sasuke still didn't react in any way.
"We brought you flowers", Sakura said and tried to make an eye contact with Sasuke. Sasuke ignored it but took a look at the daffodils in Sakura's hand and buttercups in Ino's hand. He still stayed quiet and turned to stare at the ceiling.
"Sasuke-kun... I heard you haven't said anything in all this time..." Sakura said with a bit questioning voice. No reaction.
Girls sat on the side of Sasuke's bed and tried to make him talk. No results. They also told him all the news and happenings of the village. Not any reaction. But finally:
"Naruto got out of the hospital today", Sakura mentioned. Sasuke's expression changed a smallest bit. He almost turned to look at the girls and almost considered asking more about the subject. Almost. Ino noticed the little change.
"Naruto regained consciousness yesterday and Hokage-sama let him out today. Naruto seems to be okay, almost as if nothing happened at all", Ino chatted and stared at Sasuke. Sakura too looked at the black haired boy after understanding Ino's implied hint. Sasuke really reacted at Naruto's name. His eyebrows moved and he made a thoughtful face.
Naruto… He was the only thing that interested Sasuke. He had no interest whatsoever in the happenings in the village or what they thought or talked about him or what would happen to him or what others were doing. Only Naruto's things interested him. Naruto, who had saved him from the darkness. Prevented him from giving himself to Orochimaru. Showed him the power of friendship. Naruto... Sasuke had hardly thought about anything else while he was awake. He had only wondered if Naruto was okay. And what did he think about Sasuke? Did Naruto hate him? Or was everything like it was before? Or had something changed? And if it had, then how?
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura's voice made Sasuke come back to present and blink several times.
"Are you worried about Naruto?" Sakura asked. Sasuke didn't answer. He still didn't want to talk to anyone, especially about Naruto. He wanted Ino and Sakura to go away now. He wanted to be alone. But he had to wait a long time before that kind of luxury. Finally Sakura and Ino had to leave, they couldn't spend the whole day with Sasuke, even if they wanted to. They promised to come back tomorrow, which was something Sasuke really didn't wish for.
ooooo
After three days Sasuke was let out of the hospital. Luckily it was without Sakura or Ino knowing, so they weren't waiting for him outside. Sasuke still hadn't spoken a word to anyone. He walked on the streets of Konoha towards his home, but suddenly came to a halt. He wasn't sure if he wanted to take the longer path and walk past Naruto's house or not. He wanted to see Naruto, but on the other hand he didn't want to face him yet. After a minute of hesitation he chose the longer path.
Passer-by's stared at him oddly the whole way. After he had passed them they immediately started to whisper to each other. It was like buzzing in Sasuke's ears. What they were talking about? Or precisely what kind of rumours had already started to spread through the city? Sasuke stuffed his hands deeper in his pockets and turned his eyes towards the ground. Finally the crowd started to dwindle the closer he got to Naruto's apartment. There was hardly anyone around ever. Good.
Sasuke could see the whole street from where he stood. At least by the time Naruto was nowhere in sight. The dark haired boy walked straight to Naruto's door. He couldn't bring himself to knock and he didn't actually want to either. So he just stood there. Then he got better idea and he jumped next to Naruto's window. He peeked inside. Naruto was there. He sat on the side of his bed, his back towards the window. His position was hunched up and somehow… miserable. Was it because of Sasuke?
Suddenly Sasuke heard steps inside Naruto's house. He hid better so he wouldn't be seen from inside. The steps stopped and it sounded as if someone had sat on Naruto's bed. There was someone else too? Sasuke peeked inside and saw Iruka-sensei sitting next to Naruto. Sasuke pressed his ear to the joint of window and wall so he could hear their conversation better.
"Sasuke got out of the hospital today", Iruka-sensei told Naruto, who immediately lifted his head.
"He did? Did he leave already? Where is he?" the blond haired boy started asking. Iruka smiled.
"He left a while ago, little before I arrived here. I don't know where he is, probably in his home." Sasuke snorted quietly. He was closer than Naruto could imagine.
"Iruka-sensei…" Naruto said quietly. Both Iruka and Sasuke listened closely.
"I heard that Sasuke hadn't spoken a word since his arrival... Is it true?" Naruto's voice sounded a bit sad. Silence. Iruka nodded.
"No one knows what he is thinking. He had been like a rock all the time: he hadn't shown any clue about his thoughts. He didn't talk, didn't made expressions and hardly even moved in his time in the hospital…"
"You're not scheming, are you?" unexpected voice said behind Sasuke. Quietly gasping Sasuke jumped a little and then turned around. Kakashi-sensei. He was standing right in front of Sasuke with expression that revealed nothing.
"Come with me, we don't want Naruto or Iruka seeing us, now do we?" Kakashi said and flashed something like a smile. Or as much as you can flash anything behind the mask. Sasuke took one last glance towards the window. Naruto and Iruka were still chatting and probably hadn't noticed anything. Sasuke turned back to Kakashi and nodded. They started to walk away.
They walked in total silence on the side streets towards Sasuke's home. Finally Kakashi opened his mouth.
"Well, Sasuke, what exactly were you doing behind Naruto's window? Spying?" Sasuke didn't answer anything and didn't even look at his sensei. Silence.
"I see. Sigh. You weren't up to no good, no?" Sasuke still didn't answer, but he looked at the one side. Then to another. Then he shook his head slowly. Kakashi smiled a little to himself.
"That's good. And how long are you about to give us the silent treatment?" sensei continued and stuffed his hand to his silver hair making it more messy than it already was. Sasuke turned his stare and finally looked the other one in the eye. He didn't say anything, but gave a clear message saying, that he would speak when he feels like it. Kakashi had an understanding look in his face and that pissed Sasuke off to no end. Kakashi-sensei just couldn't understand!
Luckily they were soon at Sasuke's house.
"Well, take care, Sasuke. Tomorrow we'll have training, come if you feel like it", Kakashi-sensei said smiling and then took off. Sasuke was sure that he saw him digging his Icha Icha Paradise from his pocket while he jumped away.
Sasuke turned his face towards his door. Home. He never thought he'd ever return to this place. He had expected himself to be staying with Orochimaru for a while and then going after his brother. And then... he actually hadn't planned what to do after it. The black haired boy laid his hand on the doorknob and pressed it down. The door opened. He hadn't locked it when he left, because what had it really mattered to him back then? He stepped inside his house and noticed that nobody had been in there since he left. Or if someone had been there, at least they hadn't touched anything.
ooooo
The next week Sasuke hold the silent treatment alone in his home. He only went outside when he had to do the grocery shopping… or spy on Naruto at evenings. Kakashi-sensei knew that he spied on Naruto. Sasuke had seen him in the corner of his eye time by time. It seemed that Kakashi kept an eye on Sasuke all the time. On the other hand Sasuke had been expecting some sort of watching after him. And he couldn't care less.
After his own spying he had figured out at least some things. Naruto didn't hate him, but things weren't like they had been. Well no shit? It would have been impossible anyway, because they hadn't seen each other yet after the incident. Or at least Naruto hadn't seen Sasuke. It seemed like Iruka or Kakashi had told Naruto to not disturb Sasuke. Perhaps it was fine like that.
Sasuke had also figured out that he didn't hate Naruto. He rather wanted to strengthen their friendship. He didn't want to lose Naruto. He wanted to be closer with him. He wanted to show him that he was important to him. He would say his first words to Naruto and nobody else.
Sasuke smiled at the ceiling. It was already night and he was in his bed thinking about these things. Tomorrow he'd go training with his team. And perhaps he'd talk to Naruto.
ooooo
"Saasuukee! Earth to Uchiha, is he listening?" Naruto's voice rang straight to his ear and boy's hand was waving in front of his face. Sasuke came back to present and took a look at his surroundings. They were already in their destination and the mission was accomplished. The young couple was safely escorted to the village and the mission had been as easy as it should have been. Nobody had attacked them while Sasuke was daydreaming.
"What is he thinking?" Naruto asked and shoved his face near Sasuke's face and grinned. Sasuke gulped. Naruto's face was so close. His lips were right in front of him and screamed him to kiss them. Sasuke shoved those thoughts away; it wasn't time for it yet.
"Just something, nothing important", Sasuke said and smiled a little. Naruto smiled shrugging and went to irritate Kakashi-sensei. Sasuke glanced after Naruto and smiled. He shook his head. Oh Naruto. How little you do know.
