Author Notes:
Thanks to all of you out there who have reviewed, I was really happy to get them. And would be glad if you continued to support me. And a special thanks to my great Beta, Missbip0lar, for her amazing work in beta'ng this story. Enjoy everyone; the next chapter is only a few days away.
It had all happened too fast for Naruto's mind to catch up. One moment he was jumping to catch the ball, the next he was laying on a white bed with the members of the basketball team surrounding him. He blinked at the teacher who cooped the boys out, leaving only Neji since he was responsible for the members and came to examine him.
"Hmm….we'll have to contact his parents."
"Why? Is it something serious?"
The brown haired teacher frowned. "I don't have the right equipments here to do the check up, but from what I'm seeing, he needs an X-ray."
"X-ray? He only fell down on his arm."
"Yes, and seems to have broken it. But, we can't make sure 'till he goes to the hospital,"
Neji heaved a big sigh and looked at the blinking blond, noticing how the other was obviously still in a state of shock. "I guess there is no other way then. I have his parents' contact information in the club room; I'll go contact them. Sensei, should I call an ambulance or would it be fine to have one of my players drive him there?"
"It would be best if his parents were to take him, I believe."
"Alright then, excuse me."
The green eyed teacher watched Neji step out with a bow, oh how she loved polite students. At the groan that left the blond's mouth, her attention was drawn to her patient, she hurried to his side making him lay down as not to damage her first aid.
"Ouch!"
"It's not wise to be moving right now, Uzumaki-kun. Your arm," She tightened the wrap around his neck since it loosened a little, "appears to be broken. You don't have to worry we'll get you to the hospital in no time and I've sent a person to contact your parents already."
"My parents? You mean Iruka…" At the strange look in her eyes, he clarified. "He is my guardian. I don't think you'll be able to find him, since he went to a meeting this morning, and won't be back till tomorrow evening."
"Oh, then I think we'd better get an ambulance to take you."
Before Naruto could release another word, the door slid open revealing an obviously troubled Neji.
"Sensei, no one picked up the phone when I called. I don't think his parents are home."
"That's fine, Uzumaki-kun said that his guardian was out and won't be back till tomorrow, just call an ambulance."
"It would take time for it to get here, just let Kankuro, my player, drive him there. He is already eighteen and has a driving permit,"
The brunette teacher scowled not liking this answer. "I can't allow two students to get off school campus to a hospital without a relative or a sensei. It's against school policy."
"Then would it be fine if our club adviser, Gai-sensei, were to come?"
"Oh, that would be alright. Contact him."
Neji nodded and flickered his cell to call Lee to get their teacher and Kankuro so that they can take Naruto to the hospital as soon as possible and get this whole thing over with. Naruto's fall came at the worst possible time for them. The Interhigh was starting next week, and with this, they were down one amazing player. Neji bit the inside of his mouth and tried not to show his stress around the other, because he knew that amongst all the first years that attended the primary tryouts, Naruto was really looking forward into playing on this Interhigh….and with this, it would be damn impossible for him to.
Naruto had to grin and bear with it not to trouble his upperclassmen and his sensei anymore, but the cast that was placed on his right arm was itchy, and however he wanted to scratch, he couldn't reach the inside. At the hospital, the doctor told him that it was a minor fraction, luckily, and will need approximately two and a half weeks to heal completely. He had felt really down at the moment, and complained because that way he was forbidden to play any basketball, which was really unfair since he busted his ass to prove himself this tournament. Neji had forced him to calm down with a reminder that they'll continue winning till Naruto heals upright and then is able to play with them.
Even though that should have made him feel a little bit better, it didn't. Because he wanted to play from the beginning, to be with the team from the first whistle. Not just come strolling in when they neared the finishing line! Naruto sighed and closed the door behind him after saying goodbye and thanks to his Senpai. Kankuro was kind enough to deliver him home after the examination in the hospital had ended. He was reminded again that he needed to pay back Kankuro the money he gave at the hospital as soon as he sees Iruka.
He walked inside and switched the lights on, groaning at the empty house before him. He had lied to his sensei and Kankuro when they asked if there was someone who could take care of him at home, but he didn't want them to go out of their way and nurse him through the night. He wasn't a little kid anymore and was able to look after his own ass perfectly fine. Even if his dominant right arm was of no use, he would train his other arm to be useful.
Making his way to the kitchen, Naruto opened the fridge's door and got a bottle of water to cool his thirsting throat. He put it on the table, tried to steady it with his casted palm –which was a very hard task to pull through– so he could open the lid with his left one. But his left hand couldn't open the tightly closed bottle and every time he tried, it would either slip from his right palm, or his left one. After many failed attempts, an aggravated Naruto threw the bottle on the floor hard, causing it to break and start leaking water.
Frustration was so easily taking over him, he slumped on the ground behind the counter with his two arms lying uselessly beside him. Why? Why did this have to happen to him? He was so close to achieving his goal and stealing Rock's position, why at this crucial time? When everything was going right with his sport-life. Now, he wouldn't even be able to properly dribble a basketball ball. A stray tear fell down his cheek.
Naruto pulled his legs close and silently let his frustration get washed with his tears. If only he didn't make that failed jump to get the ball, if only he didn't land on his hand, if only he had paid much attention to the angle. This wouldn't have happened. And he wouldn't have to sit back watching his teammates fight without him.
Lost in his own darkness, the sound of the front doorbell going off was like a tiny little twinkle aiming to get his attention. Naruto ignored it. This wasn't time for guests to come; he didn't have any energy to pretend he was alright. This was his time to collect himself, not to force a smile on his face when he obviously couldn't for a mere guest. A drifting thought that it might be Iruka ringing, flashed momentarily inside his head. But it was dismissed a second later, Iruka had his own keys; he would've just unlocked the door and came inside.
But even though it was an unlikely possibility, his legs stood taking him to the door. Maybe Iruka had lost his keys somewhere on his way rushing home, or maybe he forgot them at the meeting place or maybe he didn't even take them out of the house. His mind tried to come up with any possibility to have the one ringing the doorbell be Iruka, 'cause he wanted Iruka to be here and comfort him like he'd always done. Still, it won't be a good idea to let Iruka see his tears, for the last time he was caught crying alone; Iruka had refused any work for a period of two weeks and was giving extra attention to Naruto. Yes, a really not good idea.
Naruto wiped his eyes with the shirt he was wearing, ignoring the little voice that told him that Iruka wouldn't be very happy about that either and made his way towards the front door.
He calmly opened the door, anticipating to meet his guardian. But the surprise at seeing the Uchiha child staring back at him with cold black orbs instead of those tender ones his guardian had, fell down on him like a prick of hard stones.
"W-What are you doing here?"
Naruto forced his voice to steady and lose the shaking. For the last thing he needed right now was for his rival to catch him in a weak and vulnerable situation.
Sasuke chose not to comment on the shaking hand holding the door to a crack instead of a welcoming opening and calmly replied. "I came to return this," He pushed the dish he was carrying in Naruto's face, forcing him to open the door completely, and now it was his turn to be surprised at the casted arm.
"What happened?"
Recovering from his startle just now, Naruto gave a short and sufficient answer. "A jump gone wrong."
"I see."
He tried not to show how deeply affected he was by his arm, so he took the dish that was briefly forgotten, gave a smile and started closing the door. "I'll tell Iruka you stopped by."
Before he could close the door completely, Sasuke used his foot to stop it and pushed the door open again with his hand. Naruto looked with puzzled eyes at him.
"Was there anything else you needed?"
"You mean you're here alone?"
Naruto avoided those sharp eyes and darted his to the side. "….not...really….Iruka will be here soon, so no…"
And he wasn't lying, just his 'soon' stretched to a few more hours than the normal 'soon'.
"How soon?"
"Er….just soon. Now go away."
Again, he tried to force the door shut, but Sasuke refused to give in.
"Uzumaki, there is nothing in this world I hate more than lying. And you're obviously doing it, so it would be better for you to stop it."
For a brief second, Naruto felt his heart drop at the silly thought that he'd be hated. But he recovered quickly and wiped that ridiculous idea from his mind. Quickly, his mood switched to anger 'cause the other had no right to speak to him that way, and the last time he checked, they weren't exactly friends!
"What does it matter if I'm lying? You don't care!"
"It's true I don't care, but whether I like it or not, you did me a favor the other day. And I don't like owing people stuff, so I'll have to repay you, and this seems like a hell of a good time to do so."
Naruto felt his anger heat more at the words. "Don't worry; you don't need to repay me a fucking thing! I did it out of the kindness of my own heart, not a debt to your sorry ass!"
He pushed the door to close so hard this time that he felt a bit of guilt at the wince that left Sasuke's mouth since he was using his feet to stop the door from closing.
"Dammit Dobe! Would you cut it out already! If I said I'll repay it, means I'll repay it! Your opinion doesn't matter here!"
Naruto accidently tripped thus released his hold on the door and with the reverse force Sasuke was using, it flickered open hitting him hard on the head then sending him back on the ground, and if that wasn't enough, Sasuke's heavy body came stumbling over his. Naruto bit his lips at the pain that shot at every muscle in his body.
Recognizing the pain he'd caused, Sasuke quickly lifted himself off the other and closed the door.
"Are you alright?"
Naruto slapped the hand that was stretched to lift him up, and nursed the bulb that was already showing on his forehead. God, who did he hurt in his previous life to be cursed like this!
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, suddenly feeling something cool being put on his forehead. Naruto opened his eyes to see the handsome stoic face of his rival unfold before his eyes. He wanted to say something nasty and let the other get out of his house, but…feeling that cold handkerchief on his forehead and that calm darkness looking only at him was comforting in a weird way. So he decided to allow the raven to stay with him till he gets enough.
"Help me up."
Naruto raised his left hand so he could be hauled up with. But when he was lifted bridal style off the ground, his mouth was too shocked to decipher words.
"We don't know if you were harmed any where else with that fall, and I don't want to have to care for you till you heal from something I did, so stay still till I reach the living room. Your ass isn't exactly feathery light."
Naruto was lectured before he could open his mouth to object. He relaxed into the strong arms and let himself enjoy the short ride, if Sasuke was offering, he wouldn't be refusing.
Close to fifteen seconds later, he was dropped on the sofa.
"Stay here; I'll just go close my car and park it in a place that won't have me pay." Before he made his way to the front door, Sasuke raised his index finger warningly. "And don't go getting any funny ideas about locking me out either. I'll only find another way to get in."
Naruto stuck his tongue at the taller teen and laid back on the sofa as Sasuke disappeared from his sight. His ears picked the sound of car wheels getting closer to his house, and he snorted. Why did the ass who was only about seventeen years old have a car? Weren't there like rules to stop that from happening? He rolled his eyes at his own thoughts, rich people obviously played by different rules than them normal ones. And God how annoying that was.
The front door was opened and Naruto heard the steps of the black haired player as he returned to his sight again. He shot him an irritated look. Ignoring it, Sasuke sat on the opposite chair across from him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like shit."
Sasuke put one leg over the other and crossed his hands. "I won't apologize; it's your stubbornness that caused this."
"And I didn't ask you to!"
"Then, where is Iruka-san and when is he coming back?"
Naruto sighed and flipped the handkerchief on the other side since it started to catch his body's temperature. "He had a meeting with three other writers, outta town. He went to discuss his next project with them. And should be back by tomorrow evening, that's why I said there is no need for you to stay."
"No, you said he'd come soon, tomorrow's evening isn't soon. Plus, I don't believe you'd be able to care for yourself in this condition. But, how did you get that cast anyway?"
Naruto snorted at the tone he was being addressed with but answered. "There is nothing more than I told you earlier, I was practicing a new jump I came up with today, and I misread the angle in which the ball should come down in, therefore, my body landed in the wrong manner and I fell on my right arm. Breaking it."
"Why would you want to develop a new jump?"
"I needed to get better, the Interhigh is coming and I didn't want to stay on the bench."
"Well now, you're staying on the bench."
"You don't have to rub it in my face; I'm already feeling bad about it."
Sasuke stood up. "Feeling bad is good, since it will make you think twice before doing stupid things."
"At least I make the time to come up with a stupid thing! Not like some other people who miss practice as much as they want without giving a damn about how that would affect other members!"
A deathly glare was given to Naruto making him gulp the air in his mouth.
"That's none of your business."
"You're right, it's none of my business where you vanish to, but don't skip practices!"
"Hn."
Naruto watched as he was calmly disregarded, and walked away from. He scowled at himself and brought the handkerchief that was cooling the bulb on his forehead to his sight. He kind of felt bad about wetting such a beautiful blue handkerchief and twirled it around to get a good look at it, three red roses were knit on the lower side of it and under them, the initials 'U.M.' were knitted with golden threads. As his fingers felt the smoothness of the silk, Naruto wondered who this 'U.M.' was. But it was Sasuke's, right? Shouldn't it then be 'U.S.' instead?
Leaving the wonder to later, his ears picked on a rustle that came from his right side, and his fascination turned to a frown. From where he was laying, he couldn't see where Sasuke had wandered off to, and not feeling like leaving a bastard to ruffle through his house, he slowly tried to get up. Pain shot through his system, forcing him to return back to his laying position the next second.
"Fuck! Now I can't even sit!"
"What are you cursing about?"
Sasuke came from behind him holding a wet towel and a bucket. Naruto raised a brow.
"What are you doing with those?"
"A stupid Dobe left a bottle of water to seep into the floor; I had to clean it up before it ruins the wood."
Sasuke went to the bathroom to dispose of the things he had in hand and returned to the living room, seeing Naruto try to get up and fail miserably, a smirk formed on his lips alongside the thought of how enthralling the Dobe looked vulnerable. Sasuke unbuttoned his thick jacket and placed it on the chair, thinking to get familiar later with Naruto's clothes hanger.
He went to the now pouting blond and helped him to a sitting position.
"You shouldn't be moving right now, since you fell hard on your back and you bumped your head. I'm not sure what happened."
"I'm not going to the hospital."
"And I'm not taking you, we'll wait till tomorrow, if you're not better by then, I'll take you. Screaming and kicking, I'll take you!"
Naruto blushed at the word that had a double meaning and kicked himself mentally at the nasty head he's got. It was all thanks to Iruka's perverted ex-lovers and the things they said at night. Damn them!
"ANYWAYS," Sasuke raised his voice to get the dazed attention back to him, once surprised blue orbs came to rest on his face, he continued. "You need to take a bath right now since you stink. But how can I get you out of these clothes with that cast on?"
Naruto's eyes widened when Sasuke's hand stretched to grasp the scissor on the table, he grabbed at his shirt trying to protect it.
"Don't even dare! This is my lucky T-shirt! I'd die before I let you cut it!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Sasuke crossed his arms at the silliness. "It obviously won't fit out of your hand 'cause the cast is blocking the way and I don't think it will magically enlarge so it can fit,"
"We…we'll find away."
"Find it soon because I'm not planning on spending the rest of the night with your stinking ass! You'll be taking the bath, even with your worn-out T-shirt on!"
Saying that Sasuke walked to the telephone not interested in what the blond had to say next. Naruto tried to eavesdrop on the conversation happening a few meters from where he sat, but he couldn't hear a thing. Believing it was best to cut on this bad habit that seemed to grow on him any time he would meet up with Sasuke, he tried to come up with a good way to get his T-shirt out without the need to cut it.
Sasuke came from the phone with a pissed off look on his face, and Naruto made the grave mistake of asking about it.
"Didn't your parents agree to you staying over?"
He felt his body freeze and cold chills run down his spine at the dark empty eyes. The air was tense for a while and Naruto knew that he'd stepped on a landmine without intending it. But what was wrong with the little question he was asking?
The sound of something being cut pulled his attention from spacing out and startled he pushed Sasuke away. Suddenly, he felt his body getting bare and the piece separating his warm skin from the cold fall on his stomach.
"W-Wha?"
"I told you to figure out away to remove it, and since you didn't." Sasuke shrugged and threw the scissor back to the table it was left on.
"You…..you…YOU FUCK! I'm soo killing you!"
Sasuke watched the pathetic fight Naruto was making with his body in order to get up and kill him as he so claimed.
"Oh relax; it was an old T-shirt, nothing with any real worth, I'll buy you another."
"Who are you to say it had no worth! It was my fucking lucky shirt!"
"As I said, I'll get you another, it's no big deal."
Making sure Naruto was worn-out with no energy left to fight; Sasuke made his way to him, and pulled the left arm on his shoulder. He held it steady with his right while his left arm circled Naruto's hip to get him out of the sofa and into the bathroom.
Naruto wanted to fight and push against the ass who had so swiftly cut the shirt he cherished for a long time and was always giving him the luck he needed, but the fragrance Sasuke wore was making him dizzy and all the energy in him seemed to evaporate with it.
"Sasuke….I think…am…"
Suddenly Naruto's feet that were helping Sasuke hold the body's weight stopped moving.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"…...passing out."
Sasuke had to hold the blond so he didn't fall flat on his face, and slid the sudden weight softly to the ground. His eyes widened in fear but he calmed himself not to panic and to see what was going on with Naruto. His pale hand felt Naruto's forehead and found it already on fire. He released a loud sigh.
"Why did I have to come here today?"
Thinking not to dwell too much on his destiny, Sasuke lifted himself and the Dobe up then made his way up to Naruto's room. The bath just had to postpone.
"Yes, he fainted….can we not look into why I'm here and tell me what the fucking doctor told you! I'm calm!...okay, hmm…I don't see any bag here. Wait a sec," Sasuke hurried downstairs and began the search for the tablet's bag Neji spoke of. With a little more time than needed, Sasuke found it squashed between the TV and the wall. He raised a brow as to how it had gotten there but decided to ask Naruto about it later. "Yes, I found it. Ahaa….oh, so the doctor said that? Yes, he does have a fever….alright then, I'll talk to you later when he wakes up….no, he didn't….why don't you just get this shit outta him when he's awake!"
Sasuke cut the line on Neji's face and made another dash to the kitchen to get a glass of water for Naruto, then rushed back to his room. He didn't know why he was doing all of this, but that defenseless look Naruto gave him just before he passed out, was haunting his mind right now and no matter what, he couldn't shake it off. He went just in time to see Naruto gripping at the sheets with his left hand while his right lay helplessly at his other side.
Sasuke walked and sat on the bed beside him; he took two pills out and tried to force Naruto's mouth open so he could take them. But the blond shook his head the other way and slammed Sasuke's pill-filled hand away.
Reminding himself that Naruto was unconscious and this way just a way his body was protecting itself from the external world, Sasuke's nerves calmed. He decided to wait till Naruto's body stopped shivering to be able to give him the pills normally. But while he waited, he feared that the fever would get worse and Neji did say to give him the medicine as soon as possible. Sasuke bit his lips and swore at what he was going to do next; taking a little comfort in the fact that he was the only one watching.
He popped the two pills into his mouth, gave them a little water, and then started chewing. Their bitter taste made him cringe but he continued chewing. Once he made sure they had all been crushed, he pulled Naruto gently up and steadied his neck. Thinking that he was only doing this to repay his debt, Sasuke pulled those rosy lips apart and delivered a soft kiss to them.
He used his tongue to force the medication down Naruto's throat and didn't let go till he was sure Naruto had swallowed it all. Finished, he rushed to the bathroom to clean his mouth of what was left of the bitter medicine, but then remembered that Naruto was sweating like crazy in his clothes. So, searching the bathroom for towels to wipe Naruto's body with, Sasuke came out with three wet towels and a clean bucket. He sighed and rolled up his sleeves. Even though this was in fact his first time taking care of a sick person, he wondered why he knew how to do it so well. Maybe those health shows that he'd taken care in watching had finally paid off.
"I'm sorry…..please….forgive me….Papa….I'm sorry."
Sasuke's ears perked at the voice, thinking that Naruto had finally woken up, he hurried to the room. But when he entered he found the teen thrashing in his sleep with tears coming down his red feverish cheeks, Sasuke sighed at the still sleeping teen.
"I…didn't mean to…..please, don't go…..Mama!"
Putting the towels and the bucket aside, Sasuke took a good look at the obviously devastated blond. He brought a chair close and sat on it, watching keenly what was on Naruto's inner soul.
"Don't leave…..I'll be a good boy…so please…stay."
Naruto's body started sweating; Sasuke bent to take a towel and began wiping the sweat off Naruto's forehead, making sure not to drip water on the pillow. But God, the trashing Naruto was doing made that little task very hard to get done. Sasuke tried to steady him, because if he continued down this path, the cast wouldn't hold long.
"I don't want to be alone….please….don't leave me alone."
Sasuke's eyes widened at the words and an old flashback of a young boy holding onto his mother's casket refusing to let her go burned inside his head. Softly, he took Naruto's hand in his, surprised as to how cold it was. His emotionless eyes returned to Naruto and with his other hand he pushed the soft golden locks away from his face.
"You're not alone."
Sasuke whispered into the hot ear, hoping that that gave Naruto some tranquility in his unconscious war.
Tearing blue orbs looked hazily at him. "Papa?"
"Who's your Papa, Dobe?"
The fluttering eyes closed shut again and just when Sasuke was starting to worry, the rhythmic breathing sounded to his ears and he released a comfortable sigh that he didn't notice he was holding.
Sasuke tried to wriggle his hand free so he could continue wiping Naruto's body, but the unexpectedly strong grip forbade him, and so, he went about wiping Naruto's body with only one hand. Cursing the blond for the fatigue that was sure to carry over his body the next morning.
Naruto blinked his eyes to get used to the sunrays that came beaming from the curtains, he tried to get up but his two hands were tied. He looked to his right remembering the dreadful events of yesterday, then looked at his left and slowly his eyes widened in surprise.
Sasuke Uchiha was sleeping soundly hunched on the bed with his pale hand entwined with his. Naruto felt his cheeks heat. Just what exactly had happened last night? Did he do something stupid in his sleep or what? He didn't know and for the love of him couldn't recall. The last thing he remembered was Sasuke cutting his favorite T-shirt and forcing him to go to the bathroom, and then…black. Nothing emerged, not even when he tried hard to remember.
Still, their position was a bit…um…intimate for their relationship. Naruto looked around his room to at least get some clues. He was again surprised to see the towels with the dirty bucket of water and the tablet's bag thrown on the floor; it all indicated how hard Sasuke must've tried to take care of him. He looked with soft eyes at the handsome raven laying with an uncomfortable position on his bed, not meaning to, his fingers clutched tenderly on Sasuke's, making the raven quiver his eyes awake.
"Hey there."
Naruto's smile was so bright it could blind. Sasuke quickly straightened up on the chair then pulled his hand free from the warm fingers, forcing a hurt expression to show momentarily on Naruto's face, then disappear the next minute.
"How are you now?"
"I'm good; my right arm still hurts, but…" Naruto shrugged. "I don't feel any pain when I sit up, so, it's good."
Sasuke's hand stretched to Naruto's forehead, he nodded to himself. "Seems like your fever is down, that's very good. What time is it?"
Naruto looked at his alarm clock and announced. "It's eleven thirty….sorry; I made you skip school with me."
"No need, I wasn't planning on going to school today anyway."
Sasuke stood from the small chair feeling his bones crack with each movement he made, so he started stretching his sleepy muscles.
"Umm….Sasuke,"
"Yeah?"
Naruto tried not to blush at those beautiful eyes and let the word out of his mouth without stuttering but it was a bit tough act to follow.
"Umm…..thank you."
The reaction he got though had him looking at the raven in a new light, for as soon as those words left his mouth, Sasuke's face turned beet red. Naruto gave the other an amused smile. Sasuke turned around quickly, trying to hide the embarrassment that suddenly flared in his face. It wasn't his first time being thanked. But Naruto's face when he thanked him was just too hypnotic for words.
"You don't need to thank me; I was just returning your favor. Anyhow, I'm going to wash up now."
Naruto, smiling, watched Sasuke run to the bathroom, he was getting giddy at seeing a different side of the bastard, and he liked this side more than the normal stuck up one. Hearing the shower flick on, Naruto's mind went out of his little Happy Land to thinking of getting some of the clothes that were extra large on him for Sasuke to wear, because as far as he knew, Sasuke didn't bring a change of clothes with him.
As he made his way out of bed, his eyes noticed again the towels lying in the forgotten bucket. And blushing he wondered just how much of his body did the other wipe with these.
Naruto was in awe to say the least, he knew that the raven was superior in almost every sport, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he was so good at cooking, as well. Naruto felt his mouth drool at the luscious meal placed before him and happily, he voiced his thoughts.
"Sasuke….this looks too delicious to eat!"
Sparkling eyes met him, and Sasuke nodded. He noticed by now how Naruto would turn into a kid on Christmas each time he was met with a food he liked, and that sparkling expression was growing on him.
"Although I feel complimented by your words, they are silly, regardless of how neat a meal looks; if it's not eaten it would lose all its charm, so eat up."
Naruto nodded like crazy and started digging in. "Wonderful!"
Sasuke let a tiny smile rest on his lips as he sipped his coffee. "Better than Iruka-san's?"
The blue eyed teen blinked with the spoon in his mouth and his brows knotted as he started seriously comparing the two.
Upon the serious mixtures of emotions running on Naruto's face, Sasuke sighed. "Relax; I'm just pulling your leg."
"Oh then good, 'cause it would be very hard to compare. Iruka's dishes are amazing, but yours…they are wonderful."
"I don't see the comparison here. Do you mean you like mine better?"
Naruto shook his head. "No, I mean, they are all very delicious! You have your touch and Iruka has his. But they are all A-class dishes."
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the indecisive blond before him. "Stop exaggerating, Dobe."
"I'm not."
"Hn."
Sasuke continued eating with the occasional sipping of his coffee every now and then. He had suggested he pour the blond some, but Naruto declared he hated the substance and wanted juice instead. Really, he didn't know how such an amazing beverage would come to be hated. But then again, children always liked sweet stuff.
When he was in the shower, he'd forgotten that he didn't bring a change of clothes and was in a bit of a pinch as to what to do. But then Naruto opened the door and quickly slipped him some clothes and then closed it. Sasuke didn't know the reason for the rush since they both were guys, but he left the blond to what was making him comfortable. Still, as he got out all dressed and clean, a different problem faced him, how would Naruto take a bath with his arm? He came up with the solution to tie a plastic bag over the cast, and the trick was to find the right size for Naruto's arm amongst the many bags Iruka left in the kitchen. Luckily, he didn't have to search long.
After, he left Naruto in the warm shower water and went to start making breakfast. Just when he began peeling onions, a loud thud came from above him. Startled as to what may have happened; Sasuke left the onions and ran upstairs.
He found Naruto lying in the bathtub with water pouring all over him. Sasuke felt a headache forming at the pained expression on Naruto's face. Walking in with the thought of saving time, Sasuke helped the blushing idiot bathe and get dressed. They went with a low cut T-shirt that wouldn't hurt Naruto when he tried to take it off and a pair of black baggy pants.
Sasuke sighed into his coffee and tried not to recall anymore of the problems that faced him this morning.
"Sasukeeeeeeeeeee!"
He blinked at the shouting blond. "What?"
Naruto pouted and put his undamaged hand on the table protesting. "What were you thinking about! I've been calling for ages now!"
Sasuke smirked. "I was thinking of the idiot who slipped in the bathtub and hurt his balls."
Naruto's face started getting red. He knew that when Sasuke had opened that door and found him in that embarrassing position, he'd come to tease him about it sooner or later, but he wanted to think it would be later. Damn him for believing that Sasuke would cut him some slack –since he was injured– and forget about the whole incident.
Naruto avoided those ridiculing eyes at all costs and tried to explain himself. "I didn't slip on my own, you know! It was because I used too much soap."
"And who told you to use too much soap?"
Naruto fumbled with the food in his plate. "I just wanted to finish shower fast enough and help you make breakfast."
At the cute explanation, Sasuke decided to hold off the line of his teasing, a bit. "Well, we established one thing today,"
"Which is?"
His smirk turned sinister. "Even when you're trying to be thoughtful, you're hopeless."
Naruto puffed his cheeks at the tease. "Ass, see if I intend to help you again!"
"You know that your decision to not help me is in fact helping me?"
"No, I don't! Now, shut up and let me finish my food in peace." Pouting Naruto finished.
"Fine by me, it was you who started the conversation in the first place."
At this, Naruto remembered the reason he had screamed for the other's attention. Brushing the teasing that had taken place a few seconds ago aside, he said, "Say, how long will you stay here today?"
Sasuke put the empty mug of coffee down and stood up, holding his empty dish. "Till Iruka-san comes back. Once he comes and takes you off my shoulders, my debt will be cleared."
Getting reminded again that this was something to just repay a debt, had a sad expression befell Naruto face. It was fine before to not be friends because he didn't know Sasuke too well, but now, coming to see different sides of the stoic bastard had him wishing for them to really become close friends. But he knew that that was close to impossible, so, he didn't want to lose this little thing that was going on between them.
Naruto's face twisted with a bit of a hope as he came to the conclusion that it was fine to not be friends with Sasuke, as long as the raven maintained the same amount of contact they have now and not drift further away from him.
Sasuke raised a brow at the sudden gloominess that fell on the human opposite him. Not wishing for this to stretch any longer, he flicked Naruto on the forehead.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop it."
"Huh..."Stunned at being caught, Naruto quickly switched to a smile."I wasn't thinking about anything."
Sasuke exhaled the toxic air out of his lungs then sat down. "I'm not forcing you tell, so don't lie. And finish your food; I need to wash the dishes."
The blond felt his heart thump and his fake smile drop. "Yeah….sorry."
"It's good as long as it doesn't happen again. Finish so I can wash."
"You don't have to really; Iruka will do them once he gets back."
"I bet he'll be too tired to move, let alone clean the dishes." Sasuke took a deep inhale of his cigarette then huffed it out.
Naruto frowned at the polluted air that was blown on his face every passing minute and waved it away with his hand.
"Sasuke, if you want me to finish eating, then throw that thing away! It's kinda hard to eat with it blocking my nostrils,"
"How the hell is it blocking your nostrils?"
"It is! I can't breath right with it, so throw it away!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes at swift-moods-changing-irrational blond and stood up. "I'll go smoke outside, then. You'd better be finished when I get back."
Naruto watched the retreating back of his Senpai, sighing at the raging emotions inside him that he couldn't name till now, he continued eating.
Naruto had to brace himself not to collapse at the pink haired girl that came falling on him. He winced at her tight hug and tried to wriggle his way out of her death grip, which was done in vain.
Noticing that she was in fact hurting her best friend instead of helping him, Sakura stepped away with a worried look on her face.
"Sorry…."
Getting his breathing straight once again, he waved her off. "It's nothing, I'm good."
"Oh Naruto! I just heard about the news. How are you feeling so far?"
Naruto smiled at her and stepped away so she could make her away inside the house. "I'm good, but my arm is still itching every now and then."
"I see." She sighed. "When Lee-san told me you've been injured I flew here. Why didn't you tell me? Iruka has been away, right? So you had no one to take care of you last night. I would have come to help!"
Sakura told herself not to get angry at the foolish blond, because it was his habit not to trouble others with his problems, but she was hurt, because she thought that she was a bit special to him, not like everyone else. She'd thought that Naruto didn't need to hide stuff like this from her anymore, but it seemed like she was gravely mistaken.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. It all happened too fast for me to tell anyone."
"You did call Iruka, right?"
"Yes. The hospital insisted on contacting my guardian, since they needed him for the paperwork."
"I bet if they didn't, you would have just waited till he got here and found out about it himself."
Sheepishly, Naruto scratched the back of his head. "There was no need to trouble him, since I'm already okay. And you know how Iruka gets when he's worried. I just didn't want him to freak out over nothing."
Sakura placed her backpack on the chair beside her and took a seat close to Naruto.
"It's not nothing, Naruto! You broke your freaking arm!"
"A minor fraction, in fact. And it will heal in less than half a month." He lied to assure her.
"That's not the point. You may think that you are saving troubles for people when you don't say anything, but truthfully, you're just hurting them. I have known you long enough, Naruto, and you don't even bother to tell me something like this, letting me find out from a stranger! Even if it wasn't a big deal it affects you, my best friend! I should be the first person you call!"
Naruto looked at the girl apologetically and put his healthy hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but it really did happen too fast, I wasn't aware most of the time but it's still no excuse, I'm very sorry…I'll make sure to tell you ahead of time, next time."
She looked with serious eyes at him. "You promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
The aching look in her eyes started to disappear and she gave a smile. "I'm really glad it wasn't something serious."
"Yeah, me too. And by the way, you said that Thick Eyebrows told you where I am, how do you know him?"
"Oh, yesterday after I finished my club activities, I decide to go check on yours. But there were only three players, a beautiful Bishie, Gaara, and Lee-san….I wanted to ask Gaara but he seemed to be in an intense practice with the Bishie, so...I asked Lee-san, he introduced himself and told me about what had happened to you."
"Ahaa….Did you see how weird he talks! His weirdness exceeds mine!"
Sakura rolled her jade eyes. "He isn't all that bad, just extra enthusiastic about life and youth, nothing wrong with that."
"Say what you want, but that dude is weird!"
"Alright, enough speaking ill about people, I'm going to make you something to eat 'cause I know you haven't eaten since yesterday."
Naruto stopped her with a shy smile. "In fact, I did eat."
Sakura's eyes turned horrific and the color drained from her face. "Naruto…you….you….you cooked!"
At the reaction, he puffed his cheeks, just because the last time he cooked the kitchen caught on fire and they needed to redo their dinning room didn't mean that every time he cooks something will burn!
"No, I didn't…"
Sakura released a loud sigh. "Thank God~ my heart was going to stop there for a sec."
"You don't have to be so relieved."
"But I'm, I don't want to enter into another firefighter episode starring you, the arsonist! But," Her brows knotted. "If you didn't cook, who did?"
Naruto grinned up at her. "Sasuke."
Sakura looked to the smiling idiot with blank eyes for a while. She blinked, three times then the knot on her brows deepened causing her to decide on checking again because she might have heard wrong.
"Who?"
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"The Ice Prince?"
"Yep!"
Sakura took a deep breath then sat down. "Naruto….are you sure the medicine they gave you doesn't make you hallucinate? 'Cause it would be very realistic since you've been agonizing about him for a while now."
He rolled his eyes at her explanation. "Sakura, I'm not hallucinating. He came yesterday to return Iruka's dish and well, he just decided to take care of me on his own."
"Why would Uchiha Sasuke, the Basketball star and the dream of every girl, be wanting to take care of you?"
"He isn't God, you know. And what is that supposed to mean? Am I not good enough for him to take care of me!"
"No, that wasn't what I meant. But as I've gathered, you two weren't exactly the warmest of friends there are, and in fact, he doesn't even like you as you've said. Why would he be willing to go out of his way and start caring for you when he doesn't even like to be around people? It's just a bit of an odd possibility to me, Naruto."
"Oh God, Sakura!" Naruto stood up dragging his best friend to the yard. "Come!"
Not wanting to yank her hand thus casing Naruto to fall and harm himself further, Sakura let him drag her to see the end of his hallucinations. But, as the image of her Prince Charming was revealed to her, standing beside Iruka's beautiful garden and letting the sun bask him with its bright light, her eyes widened to Naruto's hallucination.
"I'm….dreaming."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "No, you're not! Sasuke, I need you to meet someone!"
The raven threw the dead cigarette under his feet then killed it; he released the smoke out of his lungs and turned to the blond calling. Seeing a foreign pink haired hazy looking girl beside Naruto with her hand inside Naruto's palm sent something to jolt inside him, he didn't know what it was, but it pissed him off.
"What?"
Naruto walked out holding Sakura's hand. "This is my best friend, Haruno Sakura."
At the attentive eyes studying her every curve, Sakura blushed heavenly. She didn't think she'd ever have a chance to meet the magnificent Uchiha Sasuke, but now, here she was being introduced to him by her best friend, oh how much she thanked God that she befriended Naruto that day.
"N-Nice to meet you…"
Forcing her hand to stop shaking, she extended it.
"Humph…" Sasuke ignored the hand and walked opposite from them inside the house. "There is no pleasure knowing a C-Cupped chick."
Naruto send an apologetic look to the petrified girl standing beside him hoping that it would help her, he knew that Sasuke was an ass, but come on! There was no need to shut Sakura out like that! He marched behind the retreating raven. Catching him when he was taking Naruto's dishes to the sink with another cigarette already lit on his lips
"Hey! That wasn't a way to treat her!"
"I have no interest of being the escort for her love fantasies."
Naruto tailed behind him to the kitchen. "Escort for her love fantasies?"
Sasuke puffed the smoke and started washing the dishes. "Her eyes were getting dreamy; I bet she had already played our love story in her head and how the bells will ring in our wedding. Girls like that are just a pain in the ass."
Naruto felt his anger flare at the way this jerk was speaking about his best friend. "Oh stop flattering yourself already! Not every female on earth is after your ass!"
"That one is."
"No she isn't! Sakura would never stoop so low as to think of someone like you!"
Sasuke felt that pissed off feeling increase with Naruto's sentence. He turned off the running water, dried his hands and gave his full attention to the idiot blond.
"Too bad she goes for the lowlives, what are you going to do about it?"
At the sharp eyes watching him, Naruto found himself suddenly turning very weary. "I'll stop her! Sakura is far superior than to think of dating you!"
"Oooh," Sasuke came closer to the blond, he made sure Naruto had no way out and trapped him between the fridge and his body. "Am I detecting some unresolved feelings here?"
Naruto used his left hand to push the firm chest away. "What feelings are you talking about? Move away!"
"It's no good trying to hide. I can smell it!" He lowered his head to whisper inside Naruto's ears. "The longing, the want, the desire. You want to rip her clothes off and violate her, thrust deep inside her while she cries for you to do it harder."
"What the hell! "
"You can deny it as much as you want, but I know….you're not as much of a saint as you want her to think."
"S-Stay away." The lazy push did nothing to make the other move.
Sasuke lowered his left hand and cupped Naruto's crotch. "You're already getting excited. What a slutty body. And you call me lowlife."
When his blood rushed to northern regions at the faint fumble, Naruto woke up from the trace the hand fondling his growing erection was giving and pushed with all his might on Sasuke's chest sending the raven to stumble three steps backwards.
"I said to stay the fuck away!"
Sasuke gave him a hard look then turned on his heels heading to the door.
"I will, but don't regret this action of yours later on."
Naruto watched the raven walk away from him and unconsciously slid down to the ground, feeling as if something he wasn't familiar with had finally started.
Naruto lay on his bed and buried his head in his pillow; Sakura had accompanied him for three hours after Sasuke left. It was a bit awkward at the beginning, and he sensed something off with his friend. But he didn't say anything about it. If she wanted him to know, she would tell him. He left her be. It was in fact three very hard hours, because Sakura had brought him her notes and the homework that he needed to do, then forced him to do it. Naruto was able to use both of his hands in writing, but his right one was better than his left. And so, most of the words he wrote seemed as if a sixth grader had done them.
He snorted at himself and turned to his right. Sasuke had done a good job in cleaning his room. Naruto wondered where the raven knew how to do chores so well. The last time he checked, Sasuke was supposed to be some rich spoiled kid who couldn't even fend for himself if needed….
"But he isn't."
Naruto closed his eyes and swiftly his mind started replaying the events this shocking afternoon had held, he blushed. Why did he have to react that way? There were better ways to control that situation. But when Sasuke was about to unzip his pants, he was sent to panic. Yes, he'd seen his guardian jerk off with his boyfriends many times and had a solid idea how sex between two guys was to happen but, why would Sasuke be wanting to give him a hand-job?
Which led him to thinking about the stuff that came out of Sasuke mouth. His deep crush on Sakura. He bit the inside of his gum. Naruto had buried that emotion long ago, deep inside his soul and swore never to confess to her. Because he knew she didn't view him that way, and he didn't want to lose the beautiful friendship they had going on. But dammit! How could the ass dig something that he made sure not to show so easily and speak about it as if Sakura was nothing more than a sex whore!
"Aghhh…he makes me soo frigging mad!"
Fast footsteps made their way to Naruto's ears, he was about to get out of bed to check what was happening when the door to his room suddenly swung open revealing a panicked Iruka.
"Naruto! Oh my God, Naruto! You're alright, right? Tell me you're alright! Oh please, Lord!"
Getting jolted from his inner thoughts to the brunet, Naruto waved his hands to calm him down. "Relax, Iruka. Nothing's wrong. I'm perfectly fine. It's a small fraction, I'm fine, I'm fine!"
Naruto had to repeat those sentences a few more times 'till Iruka's brain finally calmed down enough to decipher them.
"I tried to take a flight back here but there weren't any, so, I had to drive. Gosh, I knew I should have called this meeting off for a few more days!"
"Nah, even if you've pushed it back, you'd still have to leave me with a broken arm. Just relax Iruka. I wasn't alone when it happened, and didn't stay the night alone either."
Iruka made his way beside Naruto and released a big sigh after inspecting the cast.
"Did Sakura-chan come?"
"Not Sakura, Sasuke."
"Oh, I knew that boy was good the minute I laid eyes on him. But thank God you're well."
Naruto was taken into a tender hug as those warm arms circled him from all the misfortune that came his way. He smiled into the embrace. Since he was little, his favorite thing about Iruka was his hug. The way he would always pet him tenderly on the back and let him rest his head on the warm chest, the warmest he'd ever experienced. They stayed a few minutes then Iruka moved away.
"When the hospital called, I saw only black…I thought I'd lost you a second time. My heart almost stopped beating."
Naruto's eyes turned soft, he tried to give his father the most comfortable smile he could ever come up with and said, "I was freaked out in the beginning myself, even went into shock for fifteen minutes, but when I got to the hospital and the doctor explained to me what was really wrong, I calmed down then."
"Yeah, what did the doctor say?"
"He said that I fractured my Ulna, it will need two and a half weeks to heal right. But besides that, I'm perfectly fine."
Iruka sighed again, and Naruto gave him a smile.
"You sure nothing else is wrong?"
"Well, I did develop a fever, but the doctor said that it would happen, since my body is trying to heal."
"And Sasuke was the one tending to you?"
"Seems like it."
"Then I really need to thank him properly. Is he still around?"
Naruto shook his head. "He left this afternoon once Sakura came to visit."
"You know, I called Kakashi to come here and not leave you alone, but he was visiting a friend and wasn't able to come, so I was extra worried about you being alone."
A chill run down Naruto spine. "Eww….I prefer to die of fever than having that pig take care of me!"
Iruka slapped him on the hand, and with serious eyes, he warned, "I don't ever want to hear you say that again!"
Naruto knew that he'd gone a bit too far this time at the distant tears that were threatening to fall down his guardian's eyes. He beat himself mentally, how could he be so stupid to wish for himself to die around Iruka. The brunet had always placed his health above all others and Naruto knew how hard he'd fought with the ghosts of the past to keep him safe all these years.
"I'm sorry, won't happen again."
Iruka pulled his son into another hug, but this time, he made sure the air inside Naruto's lungs was squashed out perfectly.
Done~ what do you think? =3 Review & Review. I'll be waiting your opinions.
