Chapter 3

The night was rainy and cool, but the window was opened in Naruto's bedroom. He waited for Kakashi and his favorite; ramen with roast pork. His mouth watered just thinking about it. He could smell it as he waited. 'I wish he would hurry up, I'm starving.' Naruto said to himself as laid on his bed.

"Smells good doesn't it?" a voice said from his window, "It's been a long time since we hung out together, Naruto."

Startled by a sudden presence in his room, Naruto rounded off the bed onto the floor with a thud. "Oooww!" Looking up from the side of his bed, he noticed Sasuke sitting in the opened window, "What are you doing here and where is Kakashi-sensei?"

"He won't be coming," Sasuke said jumping down from the window, "He sent me instead so we could catch up on some things. Why? You don't want to be here with me?"

"What? No, that's not it." A nervous Naruto grinned, "I was just expecting Kakashi-sensei and he was supposed to be bringing some ramen."

"Here, it's still hot, so be careful." Sasuke said handing a bag to Naruto, "The roast pork is in the tray at the bottom of the bag."

Even though he was worried about Sasuke being there, Naruto wanted to enjoy a meal with some company even if it was for a short period of time. He just could not figure out why Sasuke was always so worried about him all the time, could what Itachi said to him be true, that Sasuke like him as guy as well.

Naruto shook his head as he looked over at his raven haired teammate; he thought to him self 'That impossible. Sasuke's a guy and I am a guy (most of the time anyway.) He would never do anything to screw up our friendship. He's my best friend and he's just worried about me that is all.'

"Not much has changed since I was last here," Sasuke said interrupting the blond's thoughts as he looked around Naruto's room, "you still have the same taste in bad décor as always."

Placing the bowls of ramen on the table that he sat at all the time looking out the window, he motions for Sasuke to come and sit down and eat with him.

"Yeah, I know. I like certain things and styles. It will probably never change. Anyway, why did you come here instead of Kakashi-sensei?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto with determination, but the eyes that were looking back at him were big and frighten, not that of the brave ninja that courageously put his life on the line many times to save others. He knew that whatever was happening, it wasn't good and it was scaring the hell out him.

"At first when I came over here, I was going to rant and rave at you, but looking into your eyes I see fear and a little sadness." Sasuke said as he approached Naruto, "I don't need my sharingan to see that."

"A-Are you kidding me?" Naruto said between bites, "What are you talking about?"

"Dammit Naruto! Would you stop trying to do it all by yourself?" Sasuke snapped, "Sakura and I are here for you! I want to protect you and you won't let me!"

Putting his food down, Naruto turns to face Sasuke. He could see how much his friend really cared and he did not want him to be sad on his behalf. He wanted to tell him everything, but what if Sasuke did not treat him the same after that? What would he do then?

"I'm sorry to cause you and Saruka to worry about someone like me."

"Someone like you? What the hell is that suppose to mean?" an enraged Sasuke demanded, "Are you completely stupid or just that naïve about life? Kami! You're still idiot at times!"

"I'm not stupid or an idiot! You Jerk!" Naruto spat back, "You're such an ass at time, Sasuke!"

"Really?" he says cocking up his eyebrow and leaning in so close, that Naruto could see the pupils of Sasuke's brilliant bright red eyes, "So I'm a jerk am I? Then I guess you'll excuse me for my jerky ways."

Grabbing Naruto by the nape of his neck, Sasuke pulls him close and looks deeply into his eyes and says, "I've always wondered what it would be like to kiss those soft lips and stroke that beautiful skin. I guess I'll find out right now."

He kissed Naruto as he ran his finger through soft blond hair. Sasuke embraced Naruto's body, squeezing him tightly for a moment; feeling his body tense up in his arms.

"What the hell are you doing?" Naruto asked as he pushed Sasuke away. He could hear his heart pounding and his face was flushed. His body was tingling and all he could do was crouch down so he could hide his face, "No! Don't touch me!"

"You really are that naïve, aren't you? Do you want to know a secret?" Sasuke said as sat down beside him, "I love you, Naruto. I've always loved you from the moment I met you."

Itachi's words ringing true in the young blond's head.

"No, no, no!" Naruto said covering his ears "Don't say that. It's not true. You can't love me, not like that."

"But it's true and I'll always be here for you when you need someone, so let me help you now." Sasuke says as he gently touches Naruto's head, "I've always wanted to be the only person you would ever need, but lately you've been avoiding me and I didn't know why, not at first."

Naruto kept his face buried in his hands because he did not want Sasuke to see the tears that he had brought to his eyes from the kiss. "Everything will change. Y-You can't love me that way." Naruto said in a muffled voice, "Not now. Not with everything that's going on in my freaking life. Not now."

"Just let me so you how much I love and care about you." Sasuke said as he stroked the blond's hair, "Let me the one to carry the weigh of the world with you."

Words. Those words. Naruto never expected to hear those words from anyone. Those three little words that mean so little to some, meant the world to him and Sasuke just said them. Just like that.

"Naruto, I know that this is a little confusing," the raven signed, "yes some things will change, but I'll be by your side thru it all. Give it a chance. What do we have to lose?"

Naruto knew it was hard for Sasuke to admit his feelings; it just did not happen. Never in a million years did this Uchiha ever talk about his feelings; so for Sasuke to confess these feelings was really a big deal. Was he really making it more difficult than it really was? Can life be that simple or was that just in fairy tales? 'Dammit!' cried his inner Naruto, 'Dammit!'

Looking up, Naruto gazed into eternally red eyes and saw only sincerity; no malice or ill intent; just love. A bountiful harvest of it in the Uhicha's face and as those crimson eyes looked in pools of blues; Naruto felt the weigh of the world all of a sudden get a lot lighter.

"S-Sasuke, there's something I need to tell you… or rather show you," whispered the blond as he turns his head and looked out the window at the moon, "but once you know it, things will never be the some between us."

"Like I said before, I'll want to be by your side." smiled the raven, "There's nothing that could possibly ever change that."

(Kami, help me explain this so I don't end up losing my best friend.)

"OK…Well…you know that I carry the Nine Tailed Fox inside of me, right?" Naruto was just reminding the Uchiha of this well known fact, but just wanted to be sure, "Well, she's kind of in…heat.

On the outside Sasuke's face remained calm, but on the inside inner Sasuke was passed out with little ravens circling his tiny neko body. The fact that the Tailed Beast all go into…heat, was also a very well known fact, but for him to forget was completely idiotic on his part.

"In heat you say?" Sasuke questioned the blond, "What does that have to do with anything?"

The question no sooner had left Sasuke's lips, when a cloud of orange smoke started to surround Naruto's body. When it finally vanished there in front of him stood the beautiful girl from the other night. She had eyes like blue diamonds and soft pink lips. Her hair looked like spun gold just like Naruto's. Her body was truly a sight to behold.

"Hello Naruko. I was wondering when you were going to tell me," Sasuke smiled, "I figured that was you the other night when I was chasing you."

"What the..? How did you know it was me?" she asked in a softer voice than when she was Naruto, "Have you been spying on me all this time?"

"Like I said before, I love you and I noticed you from the first time I ever laid my eyes on you as Naruto." gazing into her big sparkling eyes, he smiled and caressed her silky soft cheek, "Everything that you were doing and saying is the same no matter what sex you happen to be at that time. You are the only one that can match my speed and technique; there is no one else who has your determined spirit, will, and drive."

"Uchiha, you are either completely nuts or a pervert." Naruko signed, "Or both."

"Yes. Yes I am." Sasuke grinned, "Anyway, you still haven't told me what the Nine Tails has to do with what's going on with you being male one moment and female the next."

"Kyuubi is the name of my Tailed Beast and she can be a real bitch at times." Naruko frowned, "She is changing my body to suit her purpose, even if I'm too not happy with."

A talk with Kyuubi

"That's right, Kit…" Kyuubi growled thru the bars of it cage, "Your body is my prison, so I get to have some fun at your expense. Wonderful, don't you think?"

"Hell No!" Naruko pouted, "It's not fair. I didn't ask or get a choice about being your container, did I?"

"Humph." snorted the demon, "I didn't ask to be sealed either."

"It's wasn't fair to either one of us, huh?" Naruko whispered more to herself then the demon, "Neither one of us got a choice."

"…" pausing the demon pondered on her container's words and finally replied, "Everything is for a reason; even I don't have all the answers and I've lived a hell of a lot longer then most."

"We'll get thru this together, Kyuubi." She said stretching her hand out petting the demon's soft fur, "You and me."

"Mmmm. Don't forget that sexy looking Sasuke Uchiha; besides he's madly in love with you anyway" purred the she-demon, "he going to make an excellent mate for you. He's perfect in every way; Handsome, Intelligent, Brave, and Strong. Suitable indeed."

"Kyuubi!" Naruko shouted, but the Nine Tails was going back to sleep, "Kyuubi! I know you hear me!"

"I'm tired. I'll talk to you later." yawned the demon, "Goodnight little kit."

"Goodnight Kyuubi." groaned the blond, "We have a tough road ahead."

"But we're not alone on this one, Kit." grumbled the demon as she closed her eyes to sleep.

"No we are not alone." Naruko whispered as she left the sleeping fox demon. "We were never really alone."

Back to Sasuke

Naruko explained every thing to Sasuke. She told him of the conversation she had just had with Kyuubi and what her reason was for what was going on with on with Naruto's body.

"She is in other words looking for me a suitable mate" Naruko explained, "and she believes that is you."

Naruko could see a smile of satisfaction crossing the Uhicha's face. She knew what he was thinking and it made her shiver. 'He's such a Pervert!' she frowned as she watched his 'I told you things would work themselves out for us' face.

"This can't be happening to me!" Naruko cried as she faced palm her forehead, "This will not work."

"Why not?" Sasuke smirked wrapping his arms around her shoulders, "You know that I love you and that I will be there for you. What part of that do you not believe?"

"B-B-But I-I… you can't be in love with me." Naruko fumbled to find the words, "It's not right. I'm really a boy."

"I have never cared about that," smiled Sasuke, "love knows no gender and as such neither do I."

The eyes that were staring at Naruko were compassionate and loving. Looking at them she felt safe and all of the worries of the world just seem to melt away, but Naruko wondered how long would it last. There was still Itachi, who was determined to make life a living hell and he would enjoy every minute of it. She did not want Sasuke or anyone to get hurt because of her or when she was Naruto. She had to protect her friends no matter the cost and if it meant sacrificing her self to Itachi, then so be it.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around Naruko's waist, pulling her closer to him, "I would like to do this when you're Naruto, too." He said as he gently caressed her face and started kissing her cheek and neck.

Every where his lips touched, a warm sensation left its mark on her body. Naruko did not know why, maybe she just wanted someone to hold her, to comfort her right now, but she just wanted to give in and let Sasuke do what ever he wanted. That's what she wanted but could not let happen.

"I don't know what's right and wrong now." pushing Sasuke away, Naruko shakes her and said "My head is spinning and I have butterflies in my stomach, I'm really confused."

"Why make things difficult?" Sasuke asked "Are you worried about my brother Itachi?"

"How do you know about him?" she asked "Do you know where that bastard's at?"

"I know him and I know what he's capable of doing," he told her, "and I know what he's after."

"I can take care of myself," Naruko fired back at him, "just stay out of the way!"

"Just like the other night?" Sasuke questioned, "What about today? You may not want anybody's help, but you need it and I'm the only one that can save you now."

The tears that filled her eyes, spilled down the sides of her cheeks. Naruko turned to face the window because she did not want Sasuke to see her like this. She felt weak for crying in front of him and she did not want him to see that side of her,

"Please leave," Naruko said softly, "I-I just want to be alone for a little while."

Moving up behind her, Sasuke wraps his arms around her and buries his face in the back of her head. He inhales the scent of her soft hair which smelt of rose water and sweet jasmine. Holding her this close made him want her even more, but for now he had to settle for this.

"I know that Itachi did something twisted and perverted to you," he said as he took a deep breath, "and I know that you're afraid, but you have to let me protect you."

Turning around to look at him, Naruko buries her face in his strong chest instead. She could not bear for him to see the tears that were still rolling down from her eyes. Feeling Sasuke's hand on her chin., he gently tilted her head up so he could see her eyes. Looking into them was like looking at the reflection of the moon in a pool of water. He felt his body ignite as he held her, 'Naru is so beautiful.' he thought, 'I want her so badly.'

Picking her up, Sasuke carries Naruko to the bed and gently places her on it. He climbs in beside her and puts his arms around her to reassure her that he would be there to keep her safe. Naruko did not try to push him away, but instead put her hand on his chest. They fell into a peaceful sleep in each others arms.

In the distance a dark figure stood on a rooftop. His blazing red eyes could see further than the normal human eye and they were staring into Naruto's room. A twisted smile crept across his face as he watched Naruko and Sasuke sleep.

"Time to play with my foolish little brother and that sexy little fox." chuckled the dark figure to him self, "I want to hear them scream."

That's all for now kids. Sorry for any errors. It's now 6:30 am and the Great God of Sleep Beckons Me…Will update ASAP… Please Review and let me know what you think of the story so far. I am in the process of editing this along the way, there's just some stuff that needs some tiny changes. So yeah…

DumDumDummmm! He's Baaackkk!

Naruto: Why is this happening to me? TT

Sasuke: Don't worry Naruto, I'll protect you!

Itachi: KuKuKu…Sexy little fox…

Naruto: Help! Sasuke! Help!

WHACK! WHACK! THUD!

Naruto: My hero. Kissing and hugging Sasuke.

Sasuke: Yay Me! (Private thought)