Chapter 4
Naruto walked down the quiet evening street. He was on his way back home after work. It had been a long shift and he was tired. But as he dragged his feet across the pavement he was greeted with something familiar.
Instantly, he turned, expecting a familiar face.
"Sasuke?" he asked. But as his eyes focused in the darkness, he realized it was only someone smoking. The smell of the burning tobacco made him think of Sasuke.
He sighed heavily and continued walking.
"Hey kid." The man asked.
Naruto debated on whether he should answer or not. After all it was well after 11 o'clock and he was on a near empty street. This wasn't the best time to be making friends with strangers.
But being maybe a little more reckless than necessary he stopped and turned, "Yeah?"
"Did you mistake me for someone else or something?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
"Eh, no problem kid." The man pulled the packet of cigarettes from his front pocket and offered it to Naruto, "Want one?"
Naruto's first impulse was to say no, of course. He was still in high school and he didn't smoke. But then he stalled thinking of Sasuke and the now pleasant smell he almost craved sometimes.
Suddenly another shadow began walking towards them on the darkened street.
"Satoshi? Is that you?" a voice asked.
"Yeh, it's me." The man answered.
He tossed the last of his cigarette pack at Naruto and turned to join the other person, "See ya kid. And don't wander around here at night. It could be dangerous." He chuckled.
"Ah, wait. I don't smo-" but the man was already laughing and walking away with the other.
Naruto sighed and looked down at the rectangular box in his hand.
There were only four left.
He rolled his eyes and tucked it into his pocket before continuing on his way home.
His apartment was small, barely fit for human habitation. But it was what he could afford. And he still had enough money to get around by bus and eat pretty well so he accepted it. But it sometimes bothered him.
A few times, like the first time Neji came over, he felt embarrassed. To the rich kids in his group, Naruto's home was a dumpster that they wrinkled their noses at and refused to step into. And it was true that it was small but it wasn't *that* bad.
He slipped off his shoes and dropped his schoolbag by the door. He went to the kitchen and got himself a glass of water; leaning against the counter as he sipped at it.
He pulled the cigarettes from his pocket and stared at them. On a whim, he decided to try it. Why not? He didn't have parents to tell him not to.
He turned and pulled a lighter out from one of his kitchen drawers and quickly lit the first cigarette. The familiar smell made him smile. He put it to his lips and inhaled, thinking that it would be fine. He'd been around cigarette smoke for a while. How different could actually smoking be?
His eyes widened and began to water as he went into a coughing fit.
The smoke had burned his throat worse than he thought it would. His nose dripped a little and he felt queasy and light headed. He sighed trying to relax himself before dragging on the cigarette again.
Again he coughed and finally he decided to hell with the damn things. He put the cigarette out on the tile of his kitchen counter and shoved back into the box which he then shoved carelessly into the first kitchen drawer within reach.
He continued coughing lightly, making his growing headache worsen. He felt stupid for even trying the damn things. Was he trying to be like Sasuke? Was he trying to be rebellious? Or was he doing it just because he could?
He didn't know and he didn't really care. All he knew was that it was midnight and he had to be up again in five hours to get to the bus on time. It was a hard life, but it was satisfying in a way that Sasuke's and Neji's would never be. Everything he had, he earned. And he worked for it, with his own strength. So he could take pride in his every possession.
But it was still difficult to live through.
Especially by himself.
Coming home to an empty apartment, even if it was his that he worked hard for, never ceased to hurt him.
Mumbling, "I'm home." To a darkened room where no one ever heard him stabbed endlessly at his heart.
He grumbled a little as he lay down in his bed. He just wanted to sleep. He wanted the few hours of empty, thoughtless peace that only sleep could bring.
Xx--XxX--xX
It only took a few weeks. Gaara met with Haku almost every night and Haku easily began to open up. Gaara even got to see a few genuine smiles and hear his gentle melodic laugh. He found himself liking Haku more and more, for some unexplainable reason.
He'd never had a best friend before. He supposed that Naruto could have been his best friend, but he was interested in being much more than Naruto's friend. He told Haku this one night. Because everything seemed so simple while sitting out with the stars. Secrets meant nothing, there was nothing to hide. He liked to offer up his thoughts to the stars, and he liked getting Haku's opinion on them too.
But on that night, when he'd said he was interested in dating Naruto, Haku paused a little before smiling. And his smile, however pleasant, did not seem true.
"So what do you think? Think I have a chance?" Gaara asked.
Haku smiled, "Of course you do. All you have to do is talk to him. I've known Naruto for years and he's a little thick when it comes to picking up subtleties. You'll have to spell it out for him."
Gaara chuckled, "Yeah, I noticed that. But I'm nervous I guess. I really like him…"
"…do you know why?" Haku asked.
Gaara was a little surprised by that question.
Why? Why did he like Naruto?
He didn't know. He didn't really have any clue as to why he did. But the fact remained that he did. And that was the important part, right?
Well he did kinda understand it. Whenever he was around Naruto the world seemed kind again. He felt like he could smile, and laugh and enjoy life. It made him feel… good.
"I guess because when I'm around him, I feel happy." Gaara said as he struggled to put his emotions into words.
"Do you love him because he makes you feel happy, or do you feel happy because you love him?"
Again Gaara had to think very deeply to answer that question. And this one, he realized, was mountains more difficult than the last.
He honestly couldn't figure out the answer, he couldn't even begin to organize his thoughts that would allow him to make up an answer.
"I… don't know." He finally submitted.
Haku nodded easily, "Most people don't. That's why there is so much confusion in the world. About what love is."
"Well… what is it?" Gaara asked.
"Love is devoting yourself entirely to another person. To love that one person with all of your heart. So that you live for them. Even if everything else passed away you would live happily. But if you had everything in the world but that one person you would be unhappy. Love is… when you would give your life for someone. When you live for them, and them alone."
Gaara silenced as he listened and tried to understand. He never imagined that Haku would think that way. And he'd never heard the boy speak so much at once before.
"But, don't you think that maybe there are different types of love. Not everyone can love like that."
Haku smiled, "But if you figured that out you'd know the meaning to life wouldn't you? And that's too much to try to understand." He sighed, "You should try to understand yourself a little better before you try to figure out everyone else."
"So true."
Xx--XxX--xX
Sasuke was in a particularly foul mood today. He hadn't slept very much, not that he usually did. But his brothers enigmatic stare and vague comments kept him up more than usual.
Even the teachers seemed to notice. The Uchiha prodigy was not in the mood for games today. That much was obvious. His fangirls shied away into other corridors and his friends kept their distance.
Except of course, for a certain blond who couldn't see the difference. To him,Sasuke's bad attitude seemed no different than any other day.
"Sasuke-teme! Talk to me. You've been all quiet and broody all day. What's your problem huh?" He badgered as they all sat outside for lunch.
Sasuke fought valiantly to resist punching the boy. Especially since he was about to ask a favor of him. Yes… then he would exact his revenge on the blond for bugging him. And he would enjoy it much, much more.
"Naruto…" Sakura whispered harshly as she pulled on Naruto's elbow, "Just leave him alone."
"But-"
"Naruto." Sasuke interjected, "We need to talk."
Everyone within hearing distance turned. Those were the first words Sasuke had spoken all day. Sakura felt a little worried. As much as she picked on him, Naruto was a good friend of hers and she wasn't sure what Sasuke's intentions were but she didn't think they were good.
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Right. Talk to you later, Sakura-chan" Naruto said as he followed the raven haired boy back into the school.
Sasuke led him to an empty bathroom. Most everyone was still outside for lunch, so Sasuke didn't worry about being seen. But still he glanced both ways before shoving Naruto into the largest stall and joining him.
Naruto hmphed at being pushed so roughly. But the sound of the lock on the door ended all of that. As Sasuke turned, Naruto saw the obvious lust in his eyes.
"Not again. Come on Sasuke. My mouth is gonna taste all gross for the rest of the day."
"You think I give a fuck?" Sasuke asked as he stepped around him to the toilet. He sat on the lid unbuttoning his pants while Naruto watched. He could see that this was unavoidable; Sasuke was already hard.
With a sigh, Naruto dropped to his knees between Sasuke's legs. Sasuke bit his lip as Naruto grabbed his erection firmly in his right hand.
Naruto didn't bother to glance up at Sasuke's face. This was a job, not a pleasure.
Sasuke gasped a little as Naruto began to lick around the head. His hand worked in steady up and down motions and his tongue swirled in slow circles. He was nearly torturing the poor Uchiha.
"Hurry up." Sasuke growled in a needy voice.
"Yeah, yeah…" Naruto muttered
Sasuke watched greedily as Naruto took him in. It felt wonderful of course. But he wanted more.
Sasuke grabbed harshly at Naruto's hair and began to thrust into his mouth. Naruto gagged and coughed a bit before relaxing his throat. Sasuke watched as Naruto's tongue lashed out to rub him. He was thoroughly fucking his blond's mouth.
He had worried all night about what Itachi had said. In the mood for ramen? Or in the mood for the only person they knew that loved ramen? That thought made Sasuke growl lowly and thrust harder.
Something warm before bed, huh? Something like Naruto… Sasuke couldn't let that happen. It pissed him off beyond reason to even think of it. Of someone taking his Naruto.
That thought made him pause. When had Naruto become "his Naruto"?
He wasn't sure. But he didn't stop the thoughts. He accepted them. Trying to justify it.
**It's not love. It's dominance. I just want to claim him is all.**
He told himself.
He could feel Naruto's hot mouth around him and he wasn't sure how much longer he could last. Finally Sasuke's thrusting stilled and Naruto began sucking with abandon.
He sucked the head harshly and wiggled his tongue on the slit in the way he knew Sasuke loved.
Sasuke's hands turned to fists in Naruto's hair and he grunted as he climaxed. He pulled Naruto away just in time to see his cum splash out all over his face. Marked. Naruto was his and his alone.
Naruto sputtered angrily, "What the hell Sasuke-teme! What was that for?" he yelled.
But Sasuke ignored him, standing and cleaning himself up before exiting the stall.
Naruto grumbled curse words under his breath as he wiped the cum of his face with toilet paper and flushed it away. By the time he stood and exited the stall to yell at Sasuke again, the boy was gone.
Naruto sighed and went to the sink to wash his face more thoroughly. He wondered why Sasuke had acted like that. He'd never seen Sasuke so seemingly desperate for it before. Had he really wanted to cum that badly?
But Naruto couldn't really care about that. He'd been right, his mouth did taste gross!
He groaned and washed his mouth out as best he could. The taste was gone after a few moments.
Naruto checked his watch. Still ten more minutes of lunch, but he didn't really feel like joining everyone outside just yet. So he walked leisurely through the empty hallways; just wasting time. He didn't expect to see anyone. So he was surprised when someone called his name.
"Naruto," Gaara said as he quickly walked to catch up with him.
Naruto stiffened a little.
Gaara smiled a little and blushed, "There's… well there's something I want to talk to you about."
