This is how the story goes when Naruto says "No" to Sasuke.

Sasuke puts his phone down on the mattress next to himself and looks at me.

"Naruto?" He asks hesitatingly.

"Yeah?" He doesn't sound as cold as yesterday, he seems more unsure right now. I wonder why. I wonder who he talked to, and what that person said. It seems like the other person wants Sasuke to do something he doesn't want to do. I wonder why he doesn't just refuse to do it. How hard can it be?

"Uhm, this might seem like a bit of a weird question. Or maybe not weird, but a bit sudden? I don't know… Do you like me?" He asks and I frown. Of course I like him, but in what way does he mean? Maybe I should just go with the safe answer.

"Of course I like you Sasuke, you're really cool." I say sheepishly, grinning at him. I see his face fall slightly before he stiffens up again; it was clearly not the type of answer he wanted.

"I mean, do you like me? As in like-like… as in… do you love me?" He asks. There is something in his eyes, in the way he is looking at me… It's as if he's silently pleading for the right answer, but what is the right answer? I feel a growing feeling of discomfort in the bottom of my stomach; something doesn't feel right.

Of course I love Sasuke, that should be obvious by now, so why is he asking? Is he unsure? Is he insecure like me? Or does he not want me to love him? Maybe he just has a small crush on me, and wants it to go away? Maybe he thinks that if I reject him he'll get over me and can go back to being his completely straight, popular self again? Or maybe there is something else entirely?

That's it isn't it? That's what the person on the phone wants him to do right?

Suddenly I feel numb. It has all been a trick. I draw a deep breath, forcing my voice not to crack when I answer.

"What? No! Of course not, sorry if I have mislead you, but you aren't really my type. I don't do skin and bones." I say, not feeling the slightest bit apologetic; I even feel satisfied with the insult I managed to sneak in there.

I can't tell from his expression whether or not the answer I gave him is the one he wanted, because as soon as I start speaking his pleading look disappears, and once again his expression becomes completely stoic.

He sits completely still for a few seconds before he picks up his phone again.

"Well, there you have it. I guess you were wrong Sakura." He says monotonously, and my heart drop. I was right… He hangs up and puts the phone down without looking at me.

I'm not sure if I want to cry or yell at him, but somehow he looks so… pitiful. Like I just broke his heart. But that can't be it right? He is the one who just broke my heart, even though he may not know it.

I stand up and stay there for a moment, on the floor, facing Sasuke, trying to figure out something to say. In the end I come up with nothing reasonable.

"Well. I think I should leave." I say awkwardly, then I start walking towards the door. I know I am supposed to feel a myriad of conflicting emotions right now, and in a way I do, they just feel so distant. It feels like nothing really matters. I open the door slowly. Before I have opened the door fully Sasuke's hand shoots forward over my shoulder, pushing the door shut again with more force than I would have guessed he was capable of. I didn't hear when he got out of the bed and caught up with me, but don't really feel impressed either.

"What?" I say. I had intended for my voice to come out neutral, like Sasuke's perfected stoic façade, however I ended up spitting the word out with more than just a little malice.

"What? I could ask you the same. Are you just going to leave?" He seems mad too. What the heck is he mad about? I have done nothing wrong.

"Why the fuck would I stay?!" I turn around to look Sasuke in the eyes, wanting to make it very clear that I have nothing more to do here. I have, however, not taken into account how close he must be standing to reach the door from behind me, and thus I am quite taken aback as my face suddenly is only inches away from his.

"Because you haven't let me explain yet." He says, suddenly his voice and stance seem guarded, as if ready to defend himself. What does he think of me? Does he really expect me to attack him?

"Don't bother, I get it. Just let me leave." I say. I don't want to fight Sasuke, I just want to get away from him.

"No." He says stubbornly, taking a forceful step towards me, forcing me to back up until I hit the door. He lifts his other hand and places it on the other side of my head, effectively pinning me in place.

"I don't feel like listening to your poor excuses." I say acridly. Does he really think I am going to forgive him?

"Really? Then what about this?" I don't have time to react, let alone realise what he is doing before he presses his lips against mine in a forceful kiss. His movements are harsh and challenging, daring me to push him off. And I do.

I gather my strength and shove his chest. I watch him stagger back a few steps, feeling a slight satisfaction as I walk after him. This time I am forcing him back, towards the bed. You asked for it.

"You want to kiss me? Fine. I'll fucking kiss you." I say aggressively. I push him down onto the bed. I grab his wrists with one hand and pull them over his head. Sasuke starts struggling against my hold, but he is not nearly strong enough to push me off himself in this position. I look at him without actually seeing him, I am too blinded by my emotions to think straight, if I weren't I would probably have left long ago. Instead I kiss him. I pour all my anger and disappointment into the kiss. I run my free hand down his body and up again. I grab his hair tightly, only to release it again. I run my fingertips down the back of his head towards his neck, over his shoulder and across his collarbone. I bite his lip harshly. The salty taste of blood tells me that I broke the skin on his lip. I pull slightly back and begin biting his neck, leaving angry red teeth-marks. I move back to his mouth and kiss him again. I force my tongue into his mouth, exploring every little crevice I can reach.

When Sasuke finally stops struggling and relaxes into my kiss, I stop. I release him and get up from the bed. I spare a moment to look at him as he lay there, his eyes half-closed, breathing heavily.

"Had a nice dream?" I say mockingly. Something deep inside me is screaming at me not to treat the person I love so badly, but my anger took over long ago, and it clearly doesn't care about love.

"It wasn't really a dream." Sasuke says, sitting up in the bed. The way he looks at me, like he is pleading me not to go, makes my anger fade away just a little bit. Enough for me to think more rationally again.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I say, I can't really make my voice sound as apologetic as I would like, but I decide that in the current situation I don't really have to be kind to him anyway, so it's ok.

"I didn't mind it." Sasuke say, his voice slightly breathless. Wait, what?

"You seemed pretty keen on getting away to me." I say sceptically.

"I like it when you kiss me." He says. Lying back down on the bed again, hugging his own torso. Has he officially gone mad? What is he playing at?

"I am trying really hard to be mad at you, but you are making me so confused I'm honestly not sure how to react." I say, trying to wrap my head around Sasuke's actions.

"It's not really that hard to understand." He says, looking at me. His voice and expression seem sincere, but I already know that he is an excellent actor.

"Ok hold on; let me get this straight, unless I misunderstood something, you seriously expect me to believe that you have some sort of feelings for me? Is that it? If so then what the hell was those phone calls about?" I say, crossing my arms. What is he playing at?

"That wasn't me, it was the others. They told me I had to do it." Sasuke says quietly. Suddenly he looks five years younger and terribly weak and sad. I can't help but want to believe him, despite his ridiculous excuse. I've loved him for way too long, haven't I? I can't even stay mad at him when he has clearly wronged me.

"So just because they, Sakura and the rest of the gang I presume, told you to- what exactly? Find out if I love you? You felt like you had to?" I ask. I still don't want to openly admit to him that I do love him; all of this could be a continued act to make me slip up. At this point I wouldn't put it past him.

"Yes, I told them about your sketchbook and they thought that maybe you were in love with me, and they wanted to know if you were or not. And I thought it would be fun…" Sasuke trail of.

"You thought it would be fun to give people a reason to really start bullying me? You do know that they would probably start beating me up, destroy my stuff and just generally make my life a living hell, as if it isn't bad enough as it is?" I say. Hasn't he thought about this? He can't be that short-sighted.

"Well, maybe not fun per se, but I though it would be nice to spend time with you… I didn't really have that much choice, you know. They would have done all of that to me if I didn't…" He says quietly. He looks ashamed. Good. He deserves it.

"Well that's not my problem is it?" I say, though with little conviction. The fight has disappeared completely in me now. "Do you like me Sasuke?" I ask, feeling tired and old. I don't know what kind of answer to expect anymore, the only person who'd ever be able to throw me for a loop, did just that, and I'm left feeling as if I've been shoved into a washing machine, washed on 60 degrees, then been hung out in a tornado to dry.

"I do like you Naruto… I really, really do… I think I may even love you." He says sincerely, meeting my gaze steadily despite the apparent blush creeping up his neck.

"What?" I deadpan; it was not the answer I had expected. He can't be serious, can he? How is that even possible? Is this a trick, just to make me forgive him? Or is he serious?

"I said I really like you Naruto." He says, a trace of what sounds like defiance in his voice.

"Yes I heard you. Do you really expect me to believe that? After you very nearly ruined my life?" I ask.

"I… maybe?" He says. Somehow I can tell that means it. He really does like me. Suddenly I feel dizzy as the full impact of the situation hit me. Sasuke actually likes me.

I take one shaky step towards the bed and sit down on the edge, shaking my head carefully in an attempt to clear my thoughts.

Can I really trust him? what does all of this mean? What are we supposed to do now?

"Naruto…? Are you ok?" Sasuke asks carefully, laying a hand on my shoulder.

"Do you mean it?" I ask, looking at Sasuke pleadingly. It's like all of the anger and numbness I have experienced up till this point has been blown away. All that is left is the sad and insecure me, who has admired Sasuke for so long, I can't even remember when it all began.

"Why would I lie?" Sasuke says. He seems taken aback by my sudden change in behaviour.

"I love you Sasuke." I say earnestly, realizing that I haven't really told him yet. Sasuke's eyes widen for a moment, as if he hadn't been sure whether it was true or not up until this point. He seems at a loss about what to do for a moment, until he decides to lean in and kiss me again. This time the kiss is gentle and loving, and it makes me feel as if I'll never need anything else in the world, ever again.

I can't bring myself to doubt him anymore, even though I know I should be careful. This just feels too right.

Sasuke pulls back an inch.

"Please forgive me." Sasuke says. His voice suddenly sounds so feeble I feel my heart clench.

"There is nothing to forgive; it turned out ok in the end, right?" I say, resting my forehead against his.

"I suppose…" He says, looking down into his lap. He is clearly not convinced by my words. I can't help but chuckle.

"What?" Sasuke says defensively.

"Bastard. Even after everything you did to me you still have the guts to be sad and insecure." I say with a smirk.

"Don't call me that!" He says sourly and my smirk turns into a grin. I didn't notice quite when it happened but the conversation has suddenly become completely relaxed. The tense atmosphere disappeared along with my ill feelings towards Sasuke.

"Hey Naruto…?" He says after a moment of silence.

"What?" I ask, looking into his deep black eyes.

"I love you too." He says earnestly. It feels as if my heart does a funny summersault at his words, and I can't help but grinning like an idiot.

"Kiss me then, idiot."

"Moron."

"Your moron."

"..."

"And I'm your idiot."

"Damn straight you are."

Well, that's it. I purposely made Naruto's behaviour a bit different from the alternate ending because I felt that when he said yes he sort of "exposed himself", and felt a lot more hurt and vulnerable than when he said "no".