Chapter 4: Scrambler

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Slightly understanding why Sasuke had been acting so weird made Naruto feel better. But there was still something bugging him that he couldn't quite grasp. It was like a wet bar of soap; every time you think you've got it, it slips out of your hands once more. With shaky hands, perhaps he didn't want to hold it; perhaps it was easier to just let it go and move on.

He had gone back to Sasuke's house and stayed for a little while, the two of them flipping through channels, spending most of the time arguing over what should be watched rather than actually watching the television. After finally landing on some action movie that Naruto had already seen "a bazillion times", the dobe ended up falling asleep on the Uchiha's couch, much to Sasuke's dismay.

What do I do? Should I wake him up or just let him sleep? He looked at the boy who sat there resting so peacefully; it would've been like slaughtering an innocent lamb for Sasuke to wake him. I guess it wouldn't hurt. Standing up quietly, Sasuke turned off the TV and tiptoed up to his room to fetch a blanket.

As he walked out of his room he heard someone whisper, "So he's sleeping over?"

The younger Uchiha turned to whisper back, "Well I don't want to wake him." He smirked, "aren't you supposed to be in bed anyways?"

Itachi looked up innocently, "I can't sleep. I think it was the curry."

"Bullshit." Sasuke snapped lowly, "You planned this all from the start, didn't you?"

"Well it worked, didn't it?" The elder Uchiha shrugged.

"Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

Itachi let out a small chuckle, "Just go. He's probably going to freeze and wake up."

"Maybe that'd be better" Sasuke mumbled before tiptoeing back down the stairs to the living room. He spread the blanket over the seemingly lifeless boy. He's probably a heavy sleeper. He'll be in pain tomorrow if he stays in that position. Lifting the boy, Sasuke's theory proved to be correct: Naruto didn't even flinch. He laid him down flat along the couch and positioned a pillow under his head. Satisfied with his work, the raven haired teen turned off the light and smiled ever so slightly, "Usuratonkaichi."

Upon waking up, Naruto noticed a few things were off. One, this was not his bed. Two, this was not his blanket. And Three, where the hell am I?!

Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes to get a better view of his world around. He was lying on a couch. How did I get here? He was still in his clothes from the night before. Oh right, I was at Sasuke's hou…wait a minute...WHAT?!

Sasuke walked into the living room only to be faced with a headless-chicken-like Naruto. "Calm down, dobe. You fell asleep during the movie."

The blonde looked up at him, trying to process everything and glare at the same time. Wasn't working too well. Sasuke sat on the couch beside him and handed him a warm plate, only to result in Naruto staring at the food rather than eating it. "It's breakfast. You know, what you eat in the morning?"

"Shut up." Naruto growled, sitting up straight on the other side of the couch and biting into a piece of scrambled egg. "I just didn't know where I was, that's all."

"Hn. Whatever, just eat."

"Teme, that's what I'm doing." Naruto snapped.

Sasuke shook his head in irritation then walked back into the kitchen to get his own plate of food. Upon return, he found the blonde had already finished everything on the plate. "Geeze, did you even breathe?"

"Huh?" Naruto looked at his plate, "Hmph. I was just hungry."

Sasuke took his time eating his food while Naruto simply sat and watched him. "Y'know, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to." The Uchiha finally commented.

"Hn. Fine." Naruto stood up off the couch. "Thanks for the breakfast."

"Yup." The raven haired teen nodded uninterestedly as the blonde walked toward the door, grabbing his coat.

"Later."

Sasuke waved abruptly, not bothering to look up from his food.

"Teme." Naruto muttered before shutting the door behind him. But Sasuke would never know that once the dobe had reached the corner of the street, he stopped, looked back at the simple house, and smiled.

The phone rang in the Uchiha house, followed by Itachi's announcement that he got it. Sasuke listened to the man's conversation, as nothing else seemed interesting.

"Oh, sensei, hello!... Yes, yes, well I just wasn't expecting a call…Sounds interesting…tonight?...dinner sounds wonderful…mhm…alright…thank you for calling…take care."

Itachi set the portable phone in the charger, standing with his back to the door. "Why don't you hang out with Naruto-kun." He spoke, knowing his brother had been standing outside the door.

Sasuke shrugged, walking into his brother's room and sat on the edge of his bed. "You talk to your sensei a lot, Aniki." He stated, ignoring Itachi's suggestion.

"Hm, well, we know each other quite personally." Itachi responded, sitting down next to him, "His boyfriend is your English teacher, actually."

"Eh? Iruka-sensei is with another man?" Sasuke raised his eyebrows then slightly chuckled, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. What's his name?"

"Hatake Kakashi. Really quite a fascinating man."

"So he's the one who's responsible for turning you into a philosophical moron." Sasuke scoffed, then whined as his brother whacked him upside the head. "Ow…"

"It'd do you some good to meet him, Otouto."

"No thanks. I'd rather spend all day listening to how Sakura's shopping adventures, or maybe stick my pinky finger in a pencil sharpener." Sasuke stuck his tongue out.

Itachi suddenly frowned, "what did you say Sakura's last name was, by the way?"

"I didn't…but it's Haruno. Why?"

The man looked down in thought, then shook his head, "Ah, it's nothing, I…I must have been thinking of someone else."

Sasuke shrugged, "whatever. So when are you meeting your lover?" This earned him another whack, "what?"

"Kakashi-sensei is my teacher, that is all." Itachi scowled. "And we're going to dinner so he can introduce me to someone he wants me to meet."

"Hn." Sasuke stood up then began to walk out of the room, "Well have fun meeting a new lover then."

Itachi rolled his eyes, "Why don't you hang out with yours today?"

Sasuke froze in the doorway and turned around, "He is not my lover. You're the one who swings that way, not me." He pointed at the older man then walked out of the room

Itachi smirked, Almost exactly what I said too…Oh yes, he's quite in love.

Sasuke watched as a pebble he had just thrown skimmed the surface of the pond before sinking down into the water. He was still infuriated with his brother for insinuating that he, a proud Uchiha, was gay, and liked Naruto of all people. While one half of him told himself it was probably true, the other half denied the accusation vehemently. To top it all off, to know that Naruto was all alone just like him made him wonder if that meant they were friends now—it had been a long time since he had an actual friend other than his brother.

"Sasuke-kun!" a shrill voice called out to him, making the owner of said name wish he could disappear into the horizon along with the setting sun.

He turned to see Sakura running up to him, looking very sweaty and out of breath as she carried a heavy duffel bag over her shoulder.

"How funny we'd run into each other here!" she smiled sweetly, but the raven haired Uchiha simply bent down and picked up another pebble, throwing it fiercely across the water.

"Yes it is rather ironic." He sighed, knowing fate was being a big fat bully playing a mean, mean joke on him.

"So have you made any headway on your English project?"

He tossed another rock, not even looking at her. "Not really."

"Yeah, me either. Who knew it would be so hard? And I'm really stuck for ideas for Naruto…I was actually hoping you could help me. See, I thought he'd be easy and all, but I've been watching him lately, and I've just totally been blown away."

Sasuke was surprised. He expected her to say that there was nothing nice she could say about Naruto or how unfair it was that they couldn't symbolize him as a clown. He turned to her, seeing sincerity in her eyes for the first time, "I know…me too."

She laughed bitterly, sitting down on the grass and watched as the waves reflected the sky's various colors of oranges, pinks and red. To her, it looked as if the sky were symbolizing them; Naruto, the bright orange that took up most the sky; Sasuke, the sharp red streaks that glowed with fierceness and power; and Sakura, the soft pink that served as a transition between the two.

"I think I know why Iruka-sensei put us all in a group now…" she began, getting his attention, "all three of us lost our parents."

Sasuke sat down and looked over at the girl, but she didn't look back. Instead, she just stared ahead, as if searching in the sky for answers. "You lost your parents?" he asked, a little shocked; He never knew, and she definitely never said anything about it in class. "when?" he added, but still keeping his cool.

"My mom about half a year ago, my dad a few months ago." She shook her head, "well…my dad is still alive…"

"That's better than nothing."

She shook her head and looked down, "not really. You see, it's not him anymore. When my mom died, my dad died inside too. He lost it completely; convinced himself that I was my mother, made a few moves…" she trailed off, "…well, to say in the least, he's in prison now."

The raven haired teen was stunned. Now, two people had proven to him that things weren't always as they seem. He had always seen Sakura as a happy-go-lucky girl with not a care in the world. He didn't expect her to have had that darkness in her recent past, especially with the way she would wear a smile every day without fail.

They sat there in silence, with only the wind rustling through the leaves and the sound of passing cars on the main road a ways off to interrupt their serenity. Finally, Sakura stood up, taking her bag, "I should get going now. It's getting dark and my aunt might become worried."

Something must have completely taken over Sasuke, because before he knew it, he was asking her if she wanted him to walk her home. But once again, to his surprise, she declined.

"No, but thanks." She smiled, "I need to stop relying on others to protect me."

He shrugged, "Alright then. Good night."

She began to walk away then paused, "oh, and you should go visit your lover at work. I hear he has to work late tonight."

Sasuke's jaw almost dropped but he caught his composure, "Whatever. You're so annoying."

She chuckled as she walked away, "goodnight Sasuke-kuuun!"

Sasuke turned and walked away, only raising his hand to say goodbye and not bothering to turn around. Well, guess it won't hurt…Itachi's out with his teacher and I'm kind of hungry anyways…oh damn it all to hell! He mentally threw his hands up frustration as he gave into the idea.

During the ten minutes it took to walk to the small ramen shop, the teen battled within himself, wanting half to turn around and just go home, while his feet carried him on closer to his new friend's work. But if anyone asked, he was just going to get something to eat and nothing more. The fact that his English partner and the person who had been driving him crazy the past few days worked at that same ramen stand was merely a coincidence. Just a coincidence!

Sasuke walked under the material flaps of the overhang and took a seat on one of the spinning stools. A couple sat together, cuddling as they ate the warm goodness a few seats down, and leaving the raven haired teen to feel like an innocent little fly that had just been squished. But that changed as soon as he heard a voice awaken him from his trance, "oi, teme! What're you doing here?"

"To get food. Why else, dobe?" Sasuke raised his eyebrows slightly at the blonde. "Nice hat."

"huh? Oh. Shut up." Naruto growled. It wasn't his fault the old man made his male employees wear chef's hats. "Anyways, what do you want to eat?"

Sasuke shrugged, "You pick."

"Heheh, alright! I'll make you some of the best grub you've ever tasted. Just you wait!" Naruto grinned before setting off to make the food. Sasuke occupied himself with playing with his cellphone.

Not that he received a lot of calls (though he would if he ever dared to give out his number), but it was still something to do to pass the time. He glanced at the time, 7:30…Itachi's probably at his dinner now… He didn't like how 'carefree' his brother had become, though he knew the older man was probably happier. But the fact that he was spending more time with other people than Sasuke irked the teen. What am I? Jealous? Itachi lives his own life, I live mine. What he does is none of my business.

"Whatchya doin?" Sasuke looked up to see Naruto peering at him. He had been unconsciously staring at the blackened screen of his cell phone for the past five minutes.

"What's it your business?" the Uchiha snapped.

"Woah there, no need to get testy. I was just waiting for some ingredients to finish cooking so I thought I'd see if you wanted some company, but man. I should have known. It's you we're talking about."

Sasuke rubbed his forehead with his thumb and middle finger, "Just go cook. And don't overcook it or I'm not paying for it!"

"Sheesh, cranky are we?" Naruto pushed himself away from the counter, "I'll be right out with your food, master Sasuke." He shot back sarcastically before returning to the kitchen (and in that restaurant, it really wasn't a far walk.)

Sasuke rolled his eyes. He should have seen it coming; if he wanted a friend that was just like him, he'd have to deal with the repercussions of a snide, sarcastic personality that would rival his own.

But when the blonde came back with a goofy grin and handed him his bowl, Sasuke couldn't help but smile. The dobe had placed two cucumber slices in the bowl as eyes and a chain of slices of chicken in a curve for the smile. He had been given a smiling bowl of ramen, and Sasuke no longer felt like a squished fly, but a free lightning bug, floating around that night in a happy bliss.

"Heheh, there. I knew it'd put a smile on your face!" Naruto chuckled confidently, his hands resting behind his head, "Now chow down!"

Sasuke shook his head, laughing, "Baka. Only you." He wasn't quite sure what he meant by the last part, but they let it go, enjoying the silence of the quiet night. The couple had left just a few minutes before, leaving only Naruto and himself in the front of the ramen stand.

After a few bites, Naruto asked, "Good?"

Sasuke nodded in appreciation.

Suddenly The blonde burst into a broad grin, "I've got it! I know what I'm going to symbolize you as!"

Sasuke raised one eyebrow while pushing the other down, "A bowl of ramen?"

"Iie, iie! I can't tell you! You have to wait. It's a surprise!" The dobe laughed gleefully.

Sasuke smirked, "Oh I can't wait." He retorted, his words just dripping with sarcasm.

"Heey! You'll like it! I think it suits you perfectly." He leaned back, looking at the raven haired teen like an artist would his painting, "Yes yes, it's perfect for you."

"Whatever, dobe." Sasuke smirked, "I'm still tempted to symbolize you as a clown."

"Hey! Iruka-sensei said you'd credit if you did! So hah!"

"I know. That's why I'm at a loss." Sasuke reveled in his pure burnage.

"Hmm, too bad for you, huh? Maybe you'll actually have to see my 'deeper' side after all." Naruto grinned, leaning on the counter as he looked down at his friend.

"Maybe you'll have to show it to me." Sasuke said with a smirk, setting his chopsticks down and folding his hands in front of his face. They stared for a minute, blue specs reflecting in black eyes, and black enrapturing sparkling blue ones. Neither would admit, but the speed of both beating hearts increased in a moment that they'd deny ever happened.

"Hey…Sasuke?" Naruto finally broke the silence.

"Hm?" The black haired teen took up his chopsticks and began to eat again.

"Will you wait for me to get off my shift tonight? The old man gave me a pair of tickets to the fair, and I thought maybe we could hang out. My shift ends in just half an hour."

Sasuke shrugged, "I guess so."

Naruto smiled, "Great!"

The two arrived at the Konoha fair somewhat nervously. Most people went together with their significant others, not their rivals. But Naruto decided to push the thought aside and make the most out of the free tickets.

"Let's go on that one!" The blonde pointed at a large ride with many arms and branches going every which way.

Sasuke peered at the sign, "You mean the scrambler?"

"Yeah yeah!" the fox-like boy grinned wickedly, "C'mon, doesn't it look fun?" He started off running, dragging the other teen along by the wrist.

"N-naruto!" Sasuke stammered, blushing madly from the awkward looks they were receiving. Why am I so nervous to be seen with him like this? It's not like I care what they think…Alright. No more. No one else matters but me and Naruto.

"What? Afraid of a little ride, Scaredy-cat?" The blonde stuck out his tongue and teased.

Sasuke yanked his hand away, "Hn. Hardly." Naruto didn't hear his comment though, and instead, ran off to get in the line. Sasuke sighed, walking calmly to catch up with the blonde.

They watched as people rode by, screams and laughter filling the air as they went around sharp corners and gut-wrenching drops in their seats. Sasuke could barely remember the last time he had been to a fair, but he knew that when he did, he had been in the presence of his parents and a much younger Itachi.

He looked at Naruto, who watched the people spin by intently. Maybe he didn't have his whole family, but here he was with someone who understood the pain of living alone, perhaps more so than he did himself.

In that instant, he decided to wrap his arm around the dobe's waist, earning a jump from the blonde, "what are you…?"

Sasuke smirked and leaned over to whisper, "I saw one of my fangirls walk by. Just go with it.."

"What?! I'm not going to have everyone think I'm gay for your sake! And besides, what if other people from school see us?"

"Why do you care so much what other people think?" He leaned his chin on the blonde's shoulder, purring in his ear, "Besides, I think you are and you're just afraid."

Naruto gulped and looked down, "Still…I'm not…I…" He was saved by the gate opening, allowing them to take a seat in the big metal machine. The dobe looked at his friend and bit his lip, watching how Sasuke pretended like everything was fine.

Maybe Sasuke was right. Maybe he needed to stop caring what other people thought. But he had made it his goal to earn the respect of his peers through becoming stronger and smarter…it had been his dream. But if he were to go along, and reveal that he truly wasn't the straightest arrow, it could mean losing all that hard-earned respect.

But there was also the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach saying, you want this. You want to feel his arm around you. You want him to hold you like he really means it. And as the ride tossed them around, Naruto's stomach wasn't the only thing feeling scrambled.

AN: thank you for all your reviews! n.n They make me one happy authoress! Now most people demanded that our favorite little Teme should be seme, and I shall do what the readers desire :D With my own little twists, of course!

I apologize that I haven't updated in a while; I'm currently working on two other fics (an angsty sasu/saku one-sided love story and a completely smut filled uchihacest oneshot that's taking longer than it should XD) I plan to put those on hold, however, so I can dedicate my time to finishing this one up, so expect more frequent updates!