Warning: NaruSasu pairing, AU/AH, slash, yaoi, romance, mature, hurt/comfort -

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters; they belong to the brilliant Kishimoto Masashi.

Chapter Three

Sunday, June 5, 2005 – 10:51AM

Sasuke woke up, disoriented. He was...that's right. He was at Naruto's place. He put his head in his hands and groaned, mortified. Of all things, Naruto had had to see him act like that last night. He was beyond embarrassed. He sat up, and noticed that there was a pair of faded blue jeans and a dark blue t-shirt folded neatly on the end of the bed. Picking them up to take them to the en suite so he could shower and change, he noticed something drop and felt his cheeks flaming as he realised it was a pair of black boxer shorts.

There was a note pinned to the boxers, reading simply: Don't worry, they are brand new – in the top draw of the dresser in your room are a stack of unused male boxers and briefs in case friends unexpectedly stay the night. –Naruto. He crossed the room to check, and sure enough the drawer was entirely filled with men's underwear. Curiosity struck, and he pulled open the second draw. For the second time in as many minutes, his face flamed as he looked at a drawer full of women's undergarments.

Fifteen minutes later, Sasuke walked tentatively into the kitchen. Naruto, who was already sitting at the table with a bowl of food and the newspaper, looked up and smiled. He gestured towards the stove with his spoon and said, "There's warm porridge in that pot if you want some, or there's toast and cereal in the pantry. Bowls and plates are in the left cupboard above the stove, cups in the right and cutlery's in the top drawer to the right of the oven."

Sasuke grabbed a bowl and served himself before sitting opposite Naruto at the table. He suddenly felt very shy, keeping his head down as he ate. Naruto hid a smile as he noticed the youth's sudden discomfort.

Awkwardly, Sasuke started, "Do...do you have work today...or something...?"

"Nah, I called in earlier and swapped to do Monday's day shift instead, that way we have plenty of time to go shopping and so on," Naruto replied easily.

"Oh," Sasuke said, unsure of how to respond. He kept eating his breakfast silently for a few minutes before speaking again. "What time are...we...going shopping?"

"As soon as you're done with breakfast, we'll head off...but there's no rush," he said smiling kindly.

A few hours later they arrived back at Naruto's place. Sasuke was surprised. Without stopping to look at prices or anything, Naruto had bought him eight full bags of clothes. He bought anything that Sasuke had indicated he liked. When he asked Sasuke about school books, Sasuke had gone quiet, not wanting to go back home just yet. Then, with the same level of understanding as he had displayed so far, Naruto asked him to scribble down a list of books he needed, offering to pick them up on his way home from work on Monday.

At eight-thirty, Naruto and Sasuke had a late dinner, with a more relaxed attitude than that morning's breakfast, though Sasuke had become quieter over the day, obviously mourning his brother's death. "So...what are your plans for tomorrow, Sasuke? I leave for work at about 6:30am and I probably won't be home until sometime around 7:30pm," Naruto asked. Sasuke looked away, considering the question.

"I...I'm definitely not going to school tomorrow," he said. "Everyone will have questions and opinions and I don't really want to hear about it all. In fact...I think I might take the whole week off."

"I expected as much," Naruto said gently. "But that still leaves the question of what you're planning to do with yourself tomorrow...do you want me to take you to DVD Palace so you have something to watch tomorrow? Or...you know, anything like that...?"

Watching Naruto out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke tried to gauge his reaction when he said, "Well...I thought...I might go to HQ with you?" He saw Naruto's eyebrows go up, and quickly added, "It's just...I don't want to be alone and...you wouldn't have to take care of me or anything...I could just sit in the tea room like last night and...maybe read one of the books you bought me today? I..I really wouldn't cause you any trouble..."

Naruto looked thoughtful. "I guess that's fine," he finally said. "I'll pick up some of your school books on the way to HQ though...you can at least keep up with your studies then. Yeah. That'll work out fine. Anyway, go on and head off to bed. Early start tomorrow."

Arriving at work that morning with Sasuke in tow had achieved some astonished stares. After settling Sasuke in the back corner of the tea room, Naruto made to go to his office. Before he could even put down his briefcase, Chouji called out to him, "Hey...hey, Naruto. Chief wants you in her office, like...five seconds ago."

"Got it, Chouji. I'm on my way," replied Naruto, already shedding his jacket and moving towards the door. He strode over to the chief's office, one of very few in the building that actually had a nice view, shutting the door behind him.

"Ma'am, you wanted to see me?"

"Naruto, sit down and for god's sake, don't be so formal. We've known each other for five years now. Hell, you were my partner for a short stint when you were a rookie, back before I got my promotion," she said smiling. Naruto grinned back.

"Fine, fine, Shizune. Now, why am I here?" he asked. Shizune sighed.

"Like you don't already know," she stared at him, then sighed and continued. "You are here to answer the question...why is he here? It's the brother from yesterday's suicide victim, correct? I know you took him in...but why is he here?"

"Look, he just couldn't bear to be alone at home – my, a stranger's, home – by himself. And you know as well as I do, he's not ready to go back to school and face all of his friends," suddenly Naruto grinned. "Besides, yesterday he plucked up the courage to ask to come in with me. How could I say no after that?"

"Mph. Well, I guess it's okay for now – but just for this week. Next week he either goes back to school or finds something else to do with his time, right?" Shizune said, watching Naruto's face relax.

"Thanks heaps, Shizu-chan," Naruto said, smiling.

"By the way, Naruto, I noticed on the emergency housing form, you listed him as an indefinite housemate. And," she said, staring at him hard. "I know he's your type...but he's seventeen. A minor. I hope you aren't thinking of doing anything...inappropriate...with him. Because, as your superior, I would be forced to take action. Regardless of whether you are my friend or not."

"Come on, give me a little more credit than that. What kind of a guy do you think I am?" he said, pretending to look hurt, before grinning once more. " First off, I listed him as a indefinite housemate so that he doesn't get forced to leave when he turns eighteen because he's no longer a minor. And...I promise I won't do anything...at least not until he's eighteen."

He ducked out of Shizune's office before she could say anything else and headed over to his desk, chuckling at the glare she had given him. But she had been right, and he had meant what he said. Sasuke was his type. But he wasn't about to take advantage of a grieving seventeen-year-old boy. He would wait until Sasuke turned eighteen, and even then nothing would happen unless Sasuke was willing.

He then noticed Chouji pointing him towards the central phone and computer room. He nodded, and headed across to see Shikamaru. He had known Shikamaru and Chouji since seventh grade, with all of them enrolling in the police force together when they finished high school. Shikamaru looked up briefly when he entered. He indicated for Naruto to wait a moment while he switched between radio frequencies and directed various police personal to where they were needed. After about five minutes, Shikamaru finally took off the headset as a couple of rookies took over to practice.

"So...what can I do for you, Shika?" asked Naruto, leaning against the door frame.

"Everything going alright with the kid?" he replied, ignoring Naruto's question.

"Yeah, he's quiet, but well behaved and polite, so no trouble at all really. He had some nightmares last night, but it's not like that's a surprise. And no, I'm not doing anything inappropriate with him. Yet. So," said Naruto rolling his eyes, "if you aren't just checking up on me, and don't think I don't know that you'll report this to Chouji later on, freaking lovebirds that you are...what can I do for you, Shika?" Shikamaru laughed at Naruto's good-humoured jabs before getting on with his main point.

"Okay, okay. Anyway, Shino's checking up on parolees today, but since most of them have a violent past, you know it's policy to send at least two personnel. He requested you partner him today, and I didn't think you'd mind."

"Ah, I see. Yeah, that's fine. Will ya do me a favour though? Keep an eye on Sasuke and make sure you or Chouji spends a bit of time with him when you have breaks. I don't want him to over-think things...he's already trying his best not to show his grief. It's tough to pretend your life isn't falling apart."

Naruto looked away, and Shikamaru knew he was thinking about his adoptive father's murder two years ago, which occurred only three months after his adoptive mother had passed away after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. It had been a tough time for Naruto, but Chouji and Shika had been there for him and helped him pull through. Snapping out of the glum air settling around the conversation, Naruto smiled and said, "I'm off. See ya later, Shika."

A/N: Whoa...chapter three finally complete - hopefully my proofing was okay ^_^' So these were the completed chapters I had done - now I have to write and proof some new ones, which means there will be a bit of a delay (plus I have a criminology exam next week so...yeah. When I update depends on how much sleep I cut out, and how much study I complete.)

Hope your enjoying so far, comments welcome ^_^
~dusk.