Still not Kishi.
Man, I'm pissed. I wrote out the entire chapter, then I clicked "save" and it all deleted. So I needed to rewrite it! Not fun. At all. Especially, since this is kind of a transition chapter, so to speak. So, hopefully it is still good and you enjoy it! :)

I am officially incapable of writting a long chapter...

Er, no theme song for this chapter, either, but I was listening to The Sharpest Lives by MCR while writting this, so yeah...

BEEPBEEPBEEP! the alarm went at 9 AM the next morning. Naruto never did free himself from Sasuke's grasp, his lover's hand underneath his heavy jacket he never was able to take off and on his warm chest. He slowly opened his eyes. The Saturday morning sun peeked through the window warming his face, but irritating his eyes, making him want to close them again. But he willed them open as he reached and turned off the alarm clock--not an easy task, as Sasuke was holding him down.

"Sasuke, seriously," Naruto groaned, "It's time to get up. Please don't do this." Sasuke replied with an incoherent whine/groan.

"I said I'm serious."

"But it's Saturday," Sasuke whined, "We never have time to just lay together in the morning." However, he loosened his grasp on Naruto, letting him sit up.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Naruto answered back, half empathetic, half annoyed, "But I have to be somewhere in three hours, remember? And then, later, we have a double date with Bushy

Brows and Sakura-chan. It'll be fun."

"Liar," Sasuke groaned, sitting up tiredly with a yawn, "it'll be hell, and you know it. Do we really have to go with them?"

"Sakura-chan is our friend...and Bushy Brows...Well, we're going, okay?"

"You don't want to go, either," Sasuke replied, matter of factly.

"Look, if you go with a semi-good mood--for you, at least--we can do whatever tonight, okay? Please, we really owe it to Sakura-chan."

"Well...fine..." Sasuke finally gave in. He really did owe Sakura a million.

You see, when Naruto first came out about his sexuality late freshman year, everyone naturally assumed that Sasuke was gay, too. The were right, obviously, but Sasuke was too proud to come out. He was in denial, so to speak. So he tried his best to convince everyone--including himself, that he was heterosexual. He knew deep down that he'd lose to his inner self eventually, that he's always loved Naruto, but he was too stubborn. So he decided to try going out with Sakura. It was obvious that she really liked him, and Sasuke found her to be...standable. He figured that he could go around with her on his arm, then part ways when out of the public eye.

Well, only, it turned out Sakura didn't really love Sasuke...it was 100% lust. Strong lust. The whole relationship basically only consisted of Sakura trying to get in his pants, with Sasuke refusing her. Which was not an easy task, with a girl as vicious as her. It was amazed him that he managed to save himself for Naruto. But, he had to hand it to her, if it weren't for her, he probably would have pretended to be straight for the rest of his life, and never ended up with the love of his life. Yeah, he was really pushed to his limits with Sakura.

"God damn it, I really can't do this anymore! Sakura--I'm gay, okay? So for the love of God, get your damn hand off my dick!" Sasuke said that to her. In public. In the middle of the school caffeteria, junior year, no less. Naruto was about five feet away--bursting out laughing. Needless to say, Sakura was pissed, yet mortified. Well, she had it comming to her after all that she tried to practically rape him on various occasions. It wasn't Sasuke's fault that he had his breaking point where everyone could hear. Why the hell did she do things like that to him in a place like that, anyway?

It is also needless to say that everyone else suddenly had their attention directed to him. Gawking. About half of the girls looked at him as if their beloved puppy just died. The other half, however, looked really...pleased. Yaoi fangirls, no doubt. Sasuke suddenly felt scared, something rare for him. Naruto, the bastard, was laughing so hard that tears rolled down his he have to look so damn happy? Beyond that, however, the rest of the caff was hushed, with whispering. Kabuto, leader of the school's Gay Support Group, (that Naruto and Sasuke both blatantly refussed to join,) stood up and put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, wearing a very understanding face. Kill me now.

Several months went by before Sakura would even look at Naruto or Sasuke again. However, one day, she went up to them as if nothing had ever happened, Lee by her side. Apparently, they were a couple now. How the hell that ever happened is still a mystery. They were just so awkward together. Sure, Sakura seemed really tolerant of Lee, but that was the end of it. And it was long since known that Lee fancied Sakura, but she always turned him down hard. It was obvious that Lee was miserable, with Sakura dragging him down his potential youthfullness and all, but he wasn't the type of guy who had the ability to break up with a girl. They had been a couple ever since.

"Screw it, I take it back, I don't want to go," Sasuke huffed, returning back from his flashback, "We can mess around any night."

"She's our friend, Sasuke!" Naruto practically pleaded.

"Friends don't try and rape friends, dobe."

"Hypocrite," Naruto chuckled, stepping out of bed. He stretched his arms above his head, his shirt going up, revealing his lower stomach. Sasuke was distracted for a second.

"...Well," he started distractedly, then quickly snapping back, "Hey! You're my lover, I live with you, I own this place! I have a right to do that stuff."

"Sure you do," Naruto teased, continuing his morning streatches.

"Oh please, you end up damaging me more than I you," a smirk suddenly appeared on his face.

"I'm aware," Naruto laughed, "what, with all your bitching and moaning every single time I work on you." Sasuke knew he was joking, so he had to let out a chuckle, despite himself. Plus,he knew Naruto was right.

Sasuke's smirk turned evil, "Yeah, and one day, I'm going to top. Then you'll see! You'll complain much more than I ever do!"

"I'm sure I would. Which is why you bottom. Plus, telling me how much you'd hurt me doesn't exactly make the idea any more appealing, you know."

"Oh, go eat ramen with that goth boy."

"I will," Naruto relplied promply.

"Hn!"

"Jealous, much?"

"Go to hell."

"I love you too, Teme."

It was an hour before midnight. But, like always, Gaara couldn't sleep. He knew that he should be in his room, not wondering the city he didn't even know. He didn't know how safe Konoha would at this time of night, either, but he didn't care. He had never been so far from Suna. He had finally left that hell hole. However, being three days away from Hell didn't stop his insomnia, so he wondered out to a local park and sat on a bench.

Gaara's life had been far from easy. His mother died giving birth do him and, in Suna, a very supersticious city, believed that it meant that he was a cursed and demonic. So, all his life, everyone avoided him like they would dodge a monster. His own uncle, his guaridian, tried to blow him up. It was sheer luck that it backfired, causing Yashamaru to be the only casualty. However, this tormented him so much, that he was never able to sleep well again--not that he wasn't already an insomniac. Sure, over time, his brother and sister, although they remaned distant, seemed to really ginuinely care for him, deep down. It was them who set Gaara up to get away for a few months, out of that mess. Still, no matter where you go, you're troubles always follow you. He could lie and say that the rings around his eyes were just make-up, he could say that his mother was alive and well, he could say that he had plenty of friends back home, but that didn't help the hurt go away.

Gaara sighed, still on the bench, curling his legs up to his chest. The Konoha air was much more fresh with the dense forest, unlike Suna's desert. He liked it that way. Being able to take in the freshness and crisp cool air. It made it less hard for him to be alone.

"Ga-Gaara?" a familiar voice called out softly, with a shocked tone, "Wha-what are you doing here this late?" Naruto.

Gaara's face shot up, looking at the boy he had only known for a month or so, yet felt like he knew his whole life. "I could ask the same for you..."

"Late night ramen run!" Naruto said with a smile. The street light shone just enough for Gaara to see Naruto's big, childish grin.

"I see..."

"You?"

"Er...I just--I just...Need to--" he stammered. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to let Naruto in, but he most definately didn't want Naruto to look down on him. He felt himself turning red. His eyes felt watery, fighting tears. He didn't understand why. He never cries.

Naruto's tone went serious. "If it's personal, you don't have to tell me." He sat down on the opposite side of the bench, "But if you want to, I can sit here all night." He scooted in closer, put his arm around Gaara's shoulder. It felt as if a million--no, a billion, butterflies were fluttering in his stomach. He felt a tear run down his cheek. Naruto's warm hand wiped it off. Although it seemed like nothing, it was easily the nicest act someone ever did to him.

It was like Naruto turned on a faucet. He broke down, sobbing, telling Naruto everything. He went on and on about every last detail, probably taking over an hour. Naruto silently listened, paying full attention. His face turned paler and paler as Gaara's horror story that was his life continued.

"That's horrible," Naruto finally said after he was finished. He sounded like he was in shock. He didn't understand how people could isolate a little boy so much. His mother, too, had died in childbirth, and although it did make him feel lonely, no one ever treated him like it was ever his fault. He looked at Gaara with new eyes, more understanding, more sympathetic. Gaara simply gave a sad smile.

"Shit, and I thought Sasuke had it bad." Gaara's smile faded.

"Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke? You mean that friend of yours who is going out with that pink-haired girl?"

"Yeah."

"…"

"What?"

"You love him, don't you?"

"…"

"You do."

"No, he's my friend, that's all," Naruto replied steadily, with a stifled yawn, "He was the first friend I ever had…And after what happened to him…" Gaara knew that he was trying to change the topic, but he decided not to point that out.

"Hey, did you all in Suna ever hear about the collapse of the that freeway about three years ago?"

"Er…yeah. It was a real shock, right? In the middle of the night or something? There weren't that many people on the road at the time, so there weren't too many overall casualties. But the big deal was that the richest family on Earth were all right below it in their limos, coming home from some big party or something, right? I heard that it was so bad that they couldn't even tell whose body belonged to who until they looked into dental records or something. Yeah, the Uchiha fami--Oh, my God."

"Yup. They were returning from the Uchiha Family Annual Ball. The family all live near to each other, so the limos were all in a line."

"I…Dear God, I--I knew that Sasuke's last name was 'Uchiha', but it never dawned on me…"

"Yeah, Sasuke had developed a case of the stomach flu earlier that day, and Itachi volunteered to stay behind and take care of him. I remember that Sasuke was all bitchy about not being able to go…But, if he did, he'd be--he'd be…" Naruto trailed off.

Gaara couldn't think of a reply, so Naruto just continued, "You see…Sasuke has this thing, so when he's sick, he always goes in his old play house. By the time the police came by, Sasuke and Itachi were both dead asleep, not even stirred by the sirens or Itachi's cell phone ringing. It was a very big party, so although none of the other people who attended the Ball saw Sasuke or Itachi, they just as easily could have been simply lost in the crowd. Their house was went through, just in case--they didn't think to look in Sasuke's play house--and they naturally assumed that they were…

"I thought I lost him. I really did. He and Itachi, along with the rest of the Uchihas, were listed dead in the newspaper. Sasuke and Itachi didn't wake up until about noon when the play house was finally raided. I feel so sorry for them, waking up to find their mansion surrounded by yellow police tape and mourning crowds surrounding…Many mourning for the them.

"I guess it was bittersweet. I really thought my best friend had left me forever. I didn't leave my room, I thought I never would again. When Shikamaru burst in my room to tell me that he was alive, I broke down. It really was a miracle."

"You really do love him," Gaara swallowed.

"Like you said, he's going out with Sakura. He says he's one hundred percent straight. I've accepted that he'd never…"

"You still love him, regardless." It felt like someone punched Gaara in the gut.

"Yes."

"Oh, okay," Gaara started to get up, but Naruto grabbed his arm before he could.

"But like I said, I've accepted that we won't be together, him and I. I decided about a month ago that I am going to move on," he looked Gaara in the face, barely visible through the blanket of darkness covering them.

"Why?" Gaara answered nearly emotionlessly, "If you really love him, then you can't just--"

"Because I love you more--"

Naruto kissed him. It was just a simple kiss. Innocent, but full of emotion. A first for both of them. Naruto then pulled away, cupping Gaara's face in his hands.

"--and I always will."

Gaara arose that morning from another near-sleepless night. The memories of that night preoccupied his mind, playing over in his brief dream.

He had to get Naruto back.

And that's it...
And about the whole Kabuto thing--yes. I had to. I considered making it Sai, but Kabuto just seemed better. I'm trying not to be too ooc, but sometimes you have to stretch their personalities to make them more fun to mess with. ;)

A/N For those who alert this story--Sorry for all the false alarms for this chapter! My computer is weird