Disclaimer: Look to the first chapter. I don't want to write it again.
Warnings: What I said up there.
Another disclaimer: Because I lack any sort of naming abilities and even less imagination, the rides named in this story are mostly based on ones I've read of or ridden myself. The Mind Eraser, for example, is a coaster in Eliches, in Denver. (Probably spelled that wrong...-cough-) Anyways, so I claim no rights to the names or the rides themselves. Can never be too careful, ya know?
Rating: PG
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-Love Thy Brother-
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The Naru-tionary, needed if you wish to make sense of my rambles:
- - - - - POV change and scene change, I'm tired of the variations, damn it!
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
888888888888 Recap! 88888888888
Sasuke sighed, damning the slow wit of the boy. "I mean, at least pretend we can stand each other every now and then. Kakashi really likes Iruka. I'm not going to make trouble for them just because I'm going to be related to a complete moron. We should at least stop with the pranks"
Naruto glared at the comment, but after a moment he nodded. "I guess...but I still don't like you"
The Uchiha smirked, "It's mutual. Now finish getting dressed. We're waiting on you, Dobe"
Sasuke turned to leave, ignoring the indignant boy behind him.
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It was a conversation they had both heard before...one that Iruka had repeatedly had with him while Kakashi had gone back overseas to get Sasuke and move him to Japan.
"Are you sure it's okay?...I don't want to force you to become family with someone you hate."
Iruka had asked Naruto that more times than the blonde could recall and always with an expression on his face like he was going to cry. And every time Naruto told him he didn't mind. He liked Kakashi, and as for Sasuke...well, they would learn to get along. Iruka never looked convinced, always sneaking nervous glances at the two when they fought and trying to get them to be friends.
Honestly, the blonde didn't see that ever happening. Sasuke was mean. Sure, he could ignore the anti-social behavior; not everyone likes being around people. And he may be able to forgive the holier-than-thou superiority complex; he was a rich, only child after all. But pushing aside all the small things that made the boy so unbearable, there was still the plain, simple fact: he was mean.
Naruto liked to think he'd put up with more than his fair share of trials and tribulations in his young life. His parents had passed away, one from cancer and another heartbreak, when he was only a baby. He was traded from one foster home to another for being such a 'little monster' and hated by his fellow orphans for reasons he still didn't know up until he was adopted. He liked being liked. He liked kind people, nice people, sweet people...not people like Uchiha Sasuke.
"If you don't stop glaring at me, I'm going to kill you, Usuratonkachi."
Naruto was shaken from his circular thoughts on his many reasons to hate the boy seated in front of him and glared. They were back in the car, Iruka having planned yet another "family time" thing to ruin his perfect vacation consisting of loafing around the house and trying to pack as much "Naruto time" as possible in before his friends searched him out. Not that they weren't fun or anything. It was just that they weren't as fun as he found himself to be.
They were going to an amusement park. Sasuke had fought it tooth and nail saying he didn't feel good, his head hurt, he sprang his ankle, etc. Naruto was semi-looking forward to it, just because he was sure the pretty-boy couldn't stomach roller coasters. He was already feeling excited about the possibility of seeing Sasuke green-faced and losing his lunch on his freshly-pressed clothes. Kami-sama, he should have brought a camera!
They arrived at the park, and Naruto almost burst from the car, momentarily forgetting Sasuke's presence in his excitement. Crowds always did that to him. He smiled at the screaming people on roller coasters and felt almost giddy. It had been a few years since he and his father had gone to an amusement park. However, a cold voice next to him reminded the blonde it wasn't just the two of them now.
"Che. This is so stupid."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke and glared. 'Damn, arrogant bastard.' "Don't be scared, Sasu-nii. It's not too bad."
Naruto gifted the fuming Uchiha with a large grin, adding insult to the nickname. However, Sasuke only smirked, the slight, evil glint to his black eyes making Naruto wish he could run away without losing face...then again he may run anyway.
"Thanks for the support, Naru-chan, but I'll be fine. Thankfully you don't have to worry about it since you're too short for any of the good rides."
Naruto glared, but was cut off from killing the Uchiha by a hand landing on his shoulder. Another hand simultaneously landed on Sasuke's head. Twin glares were directed at the grinning silver-haired man.
"Now children, this isn't the way to behave on a family outing, ne?" He leaned closer so Iruka, who had walked on ahead, couldn't hear and spoke, looking more like he was baring his teeth than smiling. "And if you two don't start acting brotherly, your every weekend will be spent staring at one another from opposite ends of a two foot by two foot room. M'kay?"
He ruffled Sasuke's hair and patted Naruto on the back, making him stumble, before walking between the two and up to Iruka who asked what he'd been talking about. Naruto stood immobile for a moment and studied the man before leaning over to Sasuke.
"...He's not serious...right?"
Sasuke sighed as he attempted to fix his hair. "He's always serious about punishments."
Naruto gulped and started walking, Sasuke moving beside him as the boys forgot their rivalry and both attempted to glare actual daggers at Kakashi's back. They got their tickets and went into the park. It was loud but not as crowded as they had thought it would be. The competition started almost immediately. Sasuke declined going on a ride called the 'Mind Eraser' and Naruto started in.
Naruto grinned and leaned in, talking like one would to a petulant child. "Awww, 'lil Suke is scared, huh? That's okay, maybe after the adults get off the ride we can get you an ice cream? Does that sound fun? Huh?"
The Uchiha slapped Naruto's hand off his shoulder and pushed his way past him, but not before mumbling a insult under his breath. Naruto glared but followed. Both of them were determined to show the other one just who was scared.
Soon they were fighting like usual again.
Naruto had to admit, though, even if it was more of a competition than a fun-filled, family afternoon...it wasn't completely unfun...In fact, it was pretty entertaining to watch Sasuke get greener and greener with each ride. As the two hobbled off a coaster known as 'Rail Chase the Ride,' Naruto sprang away from Sasuke and toward the nearest trash bin. His head was spinning, and his stomach seemed in a permanent knot. After a moment of...after a moment he pulled his head back to see Sasuke doing the same at the trash bin on the other side of the exit.
He smirked, wiping a hand over his mouth. "You lasted longer than I thought you would, Teme."
The raven-haired boy smirked. "Hasn't Iruka taught you to never judge a book by its cover?"
Naruto scoffed but stood, trying to get the world to stop the nauseating tilt it insisted on doing. He and Sasuke walked out, both the boys wondering if the other would take it as a sign of weakness to go find Iruka and Kakashi, who had decided to play some games. However, as Naruto went to ask Sasuke, he froze mid-step at the sight of short, bright, pink hair and bright, jade eyes. Without thinking, he grabbed Sasuke and dashed behind the nearest place that offered cover, which just happened to be a billboard for an upcoming ride. The Uchiha stepped away from Naruto and took a moment for his stomach to calm from the sudden sideways motion that almost sent him back to the trash can before speaking.
"What the hell was that for?"
Naruto peeked around the side and waved a hushing hand to the taller boy. Sakura-chan wasn't that far away. She was with the girls from school. Most of those girls were decent, Ten Ten and Hinata being almost friends of his, but Sakura-chan...well...A smack to the back of his head brought him back from his thoughts, and he leaned back glaring and fighting the wave of nausea that threatened to overtake him again.
"...What the hell!"
Sasuke sighed, "I asked first. What was with the shove?"
Naruto debated. He wasn't really sure he wanted to let the boy in on this particular bit of humiliating information...but they had been getting along fairly well, and he wasn't prepared to start another fight.
"Look around there," Naruto instructed. Sasuke lifted an eyebrow, but moved over, looking around the billboard. "Do you see a pretty girl with pink hair?"
Sasuke scoffed. "Well, I see a pink-haired girl."
Naruto rolled his eyes...everyone was a critic. "That's Sakura-chan." Sasuke pulled back and leaned against the board, probably trying to shake off the after-effects of the ride. Thankfully, it seemed Naruto was mostly over the effects of the many tilts and loops. "She used to be one of my best friends."
Sasuke closed his eyes, exhaling in a calming fashion. "Used to be? What happened?"
Naruto looked back around the board at the girl who was walking again. Naruto noted that it was in his direction, too. "She got boobs and better friends." Sasuke scoffed or laughed, Naruto couldn't tell which. "Besides...I'd confessed to her and after she...rejected me...we stopped hanging out."
"...So why hide? Scared of her?"
Naruto rolled his eyes, pulling back as Sakura neared the billboard. "No, asshole. She's gotten a little mean recently. I just don't want to deal with it."
Actually, the girl had always been a little mean, and the truth was he didn't want Sakura falling for this asshole. He could tell Sasuke was the lady-killer type...smug jackass.
"Hn. I have to be related to someone who's frightened of mouthy, little girls."
Naruto glared. "I am not!"
The boy just smirked at him. "Whatever, Dobe."
Naruto growled and, ignoring the protest in his stomach, pounced, knocking Sasuke and himself out into the walkway. The Uchiha was still smirking as Naruto grabbed his shirt collar and shook it, shouting at that arrogant face.
"You're such a complete and total asshole! Jerk! Bastard! Jackass! Teeeemmmmmeeeeeee!"
"...Naruto?"
The boy froze mid-shake and looked over, seeing Sakura and her little group standing beside them. He felt himself trying to blush and released Sasuke, rubbing the back of his head in a nervous gesture he'd had since he was little. "...Err...Hi, Sakura-chan."
She ignored the greeting and smirked. "What are you doing?" Temari laughed and he heard her mumble a "loser" behind her hand.
"Well...I was just...I umm...You see..."
"Get off me, moron!"
Naruto felt himself being lifted and was cast off the Uchiha, who stood and dusted himself off. Naruto jumped to his feet, anger blocking out the thought of the girl before him from his mind. However, seconds later both thoughts were equally gone as the need to stick his head in the trash returned. And from the echoed sounds next to him, Sasuke had probably done so, as well.
Naruto pulled his head out again, but this time was met with giggles and Sasuke still looking sick and highly unimpressed. He was about to ask what was wrong, forgetting the fact that he didn't care, when Sakura and Temari all but pounced on the Uchiha.
Oh.
"Wow! Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before!" "Are you in our grade! My name is Sakura!" "What are you doing hanging out with Naruto?" "Are you in our grade? Do you need a guide while you're here!"
Naruto glared until he felt a poke in his back. He looked over his shoulder and saw Hinata, who was smiling shyly at him. He smiled back. He was pretty fond of the little Hyuuga. She had just arrived at the school a few months back and seemed really sweet.
"H-Hello, Naruto-kun."
Forcing the cooing from behind him out of his mind, Naruto tried to give his full attention to the Hyuuga...damn pretty-boy..."Hey, Hinata! It's rare to see you out. Having fun?"
The girl nodded and gestured over her shoulder at TenTen. "T-Ten Ten made me come out...they don-don't think I have much fun."
Naruto smiled. "I see."
Naruto was cut off from his conversation with the shy girl by a jerk on his wrist. He'd been so wrapped up in forcing himself not to listen to the girl he liked throw herself at the Uchiha bastard that he'd almost been jerked off his feet. However, as he followed the grip on his wrist, he found himself staring at the back of the Uchiha's head.
"Come on, we have to go."
Naruto sputtered out a goodbye to Hinata, who waved, and was pulled away by the taller boy. The blonde tried to stop the dragging by the other boy twice before he finally caught himself and jerked his wrist free.
"That hurt, Teme."
Sasuke stopped and looked back at him, shrugging. Naruto glared, rubbing his wrist as he eyed the Uchiha suspiciously.
"What's with the quick retreat?"
Sasuke shrugged again and turned, walking toward the game area as Naruto caught up to him, still giving the boy a studious look. Sasuke glanced at him and sighed.
"Those girls are annoying."
Naruto smirked. "Huh, I thought you were the type that liked that kind of attention."
The boy ignored the comment and Naruto pressed on, wanting to find out if this was a weakness he could exploit. "Why didn't you respond to them? Sakura-chan is one of the prettiest girls in school and Temari...well, I don't like her, she's kind of scary..."
Sasuke smirked, and they saw Iruka and Kakashi, the taller man playing some knife-throwing game and doing pretty well by the looks of things. They weren't too far from the pair when Sasuke spoke again.
"You like that Sakura girl, right?" Naruto nodded, wondering where the jerk was going with this. "Well, even if I did like her, I wouldn't do that to you."
Naruto slowed his pace, finally stopping, as he blinked at the boy like he'd never seen him before. Sasuke stopped after noticing Naruto was no longer walking beside him. He turned, his hands in his pockets, and looked at Naruto who was wondering why he felt his face growing hot.
"...What?"
Naruto smiled and once again rubbed the back of his head, his fingers twisting in blonde spikes as he spoke. "That's not something I would expect you to say...I figured you weren't the type to care."
The normally-bored-looking boy frowned, looking slightly perturbed, before glaring at Naruto. "You have a lot of opinions about what type of person I should be, Dobe. Maybe you should stop trying to figure me out before you know me."
Having said his peace, Sasuke turned and marched up to the two men, getting a happy greeting from Iruka who held a large rabbit under one arm and a stuffed frog in the other. Naruto, however, was frozen to the ground, his eyes locked on the place Sasuke had stood a moment ago...it had to be his imagination...but just then...when Sasuke said that...he...he'd looked kind of...kind of cool.
TBC!
Okay, seriously sorry for the delay, i'm afraid i can't promise i won't do it again, but hey, at least they are being updated right! -looks hopeful- And sorry but i haven't finished reading all my reviews, but i will and i appreciate the comments from all you lovely little love-muffins! -gives a fangirls shriek and jumps at nearest reader- MINE!