SasuNaru: Kyuubis gift; chapter four. Avoidance's and confusion.

Edit; 11-17-09: Okay, I felt like Sasuke was too ooc, so I had to change it. I'm sure he's still ooc, but I like this version better. Sorry to those of you who liked the last one, but it didn't fit with the mood of the story right now.

A/N: Okay, I'm not very happy with this chapter, but that's probably because it took me all day to go through and change what I though need changed: basically all of it. the end is still the same because that's the only part I wrote of this chapter in the first version. I'll start working on the next chapter later- and by that I mean editing chapter five. I've had an exhausting day. Not only did I have to make my own cake, but also my own dinner, and clean, and babysit. The highlight of my day was updating this story. Sad, I know. All I ask is that you be kind on the suckage of the quality when/if you do review. I'm dead tired and just want the ground to swallow me up. I hope the rest of you had a good day though. If I get one review, I'll start writing chapter 7, and maybe have it up before we leave to visit the relatives.

Disclaimer: See chapters one and two. I don't own, so don't sue me.

Warning: Mentions of Shounen-ai, and some mild violence at the end. Cursing as always.

'Hn'. I pressed my face tighter to the pillow; taking deep breaths- the pillow was too thin to actually suffocate myself with. Itachi was right, I am weak. I should be dating women trying to find the right one to help in the restoring of my clan, getting revenge for those who have fallen… and not falling for some blond Usuratonkachi! Not to mention said blond haired ninja was a boy, and my best friend.

I raised my head, breathing in the moist air from the near constant rainfall in the village heavily. No. I wasn't falling for the dope- I couldn't be, the kiss meant nothing. I just did the first thing that came to mind, I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and you normally kiss someone to make them feel better- I just momentarily forgot that friends don't do that, especially not when the other is also a boy! That was all! I was momentarily confused, and he seemed really sad at the party, and Sakura gave me that really scary pointed look when he was leaving. In the back of my mind I knew how utterly pointless it was to come up with an excuse: I did it because I wanted to, because I wanted to get that blank look out of his normally crystalline like eyes.

I shook my head quickly, removing and thoughts that the image of those sad cobalt eyes brought on- as they always had, though you'd never hear me admit to that part.

I closed my eyes smirking sadly; I was only confusing myself more! And not to mention; even after my observation of the Jinchūriki yesterday I still had no idea what was going on in that beautiful head of his. Wait, backtrack for a second. I didn't just think that, did I? No, no I didn't. I meant idiotic head. Verbal confusion, I blame the weather.

I breathed out, lowly, and ran my hand through my hair, wrinkling my nose as I found it to be damp with sweat. I glared out the window, cursing the humid weather. I tossed my blanket off of me and smoothly climbed out of bed. I grabbed a spare change of clothes as I headed to the bathroom- and also the towel I had draped across my chair that night after my shower having been in a daze-; I needed a shower again to cleanse myself of the sweat and arid smell you normal gain having slept in it.

For about half a second I pondered how the carpet felt nice on my toes, but then I was disappointed when the nice soft feeling went away and was replaced with a cold feeling. Toes met tile and I was suddenly immersed in a sudden jolt of cold. I normally liked the cool feel of things. Counters, windows, glass. Though today I just wanted to sink into a chair with a glass of hot chocolate and find a way to rid myself of the turmoil I was suffering in my mind.

Eck, I shouldn't be out of bed when I'm like this, I sound as if I'm whining and 'angsting'- as Narutohad to eloquently put it many times before. My lips tightened into a thin line as I roughly shoveany thoughts of my hyperactive teammate out of my mind, turning the shower on.

Before I knew it the water was hitting the bottom of the shower, and I was leaning against the side of the small stall. That's how it was, how I got away from everything. I concentrated on the running water, how it rain down only the cold surface of the tub and how it rushed down the drain, collecting and dost or dirt that had settled there. I remember after the funerals I spent most of my time in the shower, spent quiet a bit on that. I slowly undressed and stepped into the lukewarm water, sighing quietly as the stream hit my skin. I made sure to thoroughly soak my hair running my hands through it. I had to make sure I got all the sweat and grime out this time. I doubt I did a very good job lastnight; I'd been in a rather annoying daze.

My mind swam in and out of the pounding water, making it so that I couldn't think- at least not clearly. I didn't want to think. I had soap on now, and it smelled pleasant. Like mangoes, and coconuts. I scrubbed the rest of my hair and body, rinsing the suds when I was done. I reached out and turned the water off, having finished brushing my teeth and rinsing all the soap off.

I breathed deeply, letting the wet air fill my lungs as I stepped out of the shower, and wrapped a towel around my midsection and opened the door to the main room. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out as the shock of goose bumps ravaged my pale bare skin. Damn, I forgot how cold it was out here in the morning. I hurried and pulled on my shirt and pants- or rather; shorts.

This was about the time every day when I wished I was a bear. I could get fat, and grow fur, and sleep all winter, and eat berries and sweet grass. I really did enjoy chewing on sweet grass now and then. I wouldn't have to worry about getting stronger to defeat my brother; I could just go and maul his ass. But I wasn't a bear. I was a ninja, and I wasn't aloud to let my emotions get in the way- though we've seen how good I am at managing that. So I couldn't be a bear, not if I tried, a bear is too fat, and would let his love for food, and fat, get in the way of mauling his brother. Like Chouji. Although I don't think he ever mauled anyone, he definitely had a large love of food, like bear.

"Hn," I muttered scowling; I was rambling. And it was never a good sign when you start rambling; especially when its about bears and how you want to be one. I shuddered at my insane rambling.

I glared at the wall, and the window, and the couch, because it had done me ill will at some point. Eh. I need to get out of here, glaring at inanimate objects can't be healthy for ones mental stability. Just like blond ninjas who hide something from you can't be good for you emotional stability. Fuck, I was doing it again. It has to be the weather, sending my thoughts into a disarray.

I was dressed, I went to the front door, only casting one look at our team photo from so many years ago. I grabbed my shoes and shoved my feet into the yanking open the door to be greeted with the damp air and a musty sent.

I stuck my hands in my pockets, looking at the ground. Wet ground, mud mixed with little rocks, so it wouldn't be sticky; but enough to dirty your shoes. That annoyed me sometimes, but it wasn't like I could do anything about it. I maybe my way aimlessly around the village; dodging the other people who had decided that if they needed somethin it was better to get it now before it began raining again. At least I didn't run into any PMSing pink haired females.

Overcast, and I was suddenly reminded of how Narutodidn't like the sky when it was cloudy, it made him a bit less happy… Causing his deep cerulean eyes to cloud over with melancholy. And emotion you don't normally see in those eyes. It made me want to start a fight with him just to keep his mind off the weather, and remove that look from his face. It always made my chest hurt.

I clenched my hands into fists in my pockets, irritated by my thoughts. 'Don't think of him.' I thought irritably, glaring at a passerby who squeaked and hurried past me faster. Heh, pathetic.

I looked ahead of me, the crowds were thinning out as I neared the area with mostly houses. I remember vaugly that Naruto leave somewhere near here. Hmm. Naruto.

And I was hiding in a tree, pressing close to the branches, watching the blond as he yelled incessantly; talking about ramen, apparently there was a new flavor at Ichiraku's place. Kiba was yelling just as loudly, but about something different. I didn't care to listen that hard. It was probably about dogs anyway. It always was with him. I pressed further against the bark and leaves, trying to conceal myself as much as possible.

Well good thing I was paying attention…Though, I don't know why I felt the sudden need to hide, I just did- so I went with the feeling. Though what really worried me was as soon as I saw Naruto, my stomach felt all soft, warm and bubbly. I felt like I was going to expel my last meal. I forced myself to look away from Naruto, lest my stomach empty and give away my hiding spot- not that I yet knew why I needed to hide, though I'm sure the feeling in my gut would only get worse. He was with Shikamaru also, who looked incredibly bored- as always- and was staring up at the dense clouds, as if there was some shape in the grey mass. They slowly walked past, not one of them noticing me, though I thought I saw a flicker of Shikamaru's eye flash towards me, but when I went for a second look, it was back to the clouds. I'm sure it was better to hide from them anyways; I didn't like the direction my thoughts started to turn towards when I though of the dobe, and being in direct contact surely wouldn't help any.

I held my breath for a moment longer before expelling it in one long breath. I slid my back down the rough bark of the tree, settling into a tense sitting position at the base of one of the branches. I ran a hand through my inky black hair, turning my head to the side to the side.

"Ack!" The weird sound escaped from my mouth, unwanted, but with the sudden distraction of that odd feeling in my stomach it was not to unexpected, and I began to fall of the branch I had been sitting on. Before I hit the wet ground I threw up a hand, catching the branch, swinging back up into the branches landing back on the spot I had been resting on.

"Hn," I said, looking towards Shino, nearly immediately regaining my stotic mask of indiference. "You shouldn't watch people without their consent, Aburame-san. It's rude." I said calmly, coolly- though glaring heatedly at him. 'Not to mention creepy' I thought snidely.

"I would have thought you would have noticed me, Uchiha-san." He said, a random beetle crawling across his face lithely. The corners of my mouth pulled down again. That was true, I should have. I noticed him raising an eyebrow- though only just barely, what with his jacket and glasses. "But then again there was something more interesting to pay attention to, wasn't there? I noticed the same thing yesterday, at Naruto-kun's party." My glare darkened more, wishing it could burn holes into his annoying mouth.

"I don't know what you could possibly be talking about." I said defensively. Though I noticed that probably wouldn't work, he knew that I knew- even if I didn't know the whole reason. "Hn." I finished. I didn't have to put up with him. He didn't know what was going on- heck I didn't even know what was going on

I swear, I know he's smirking at me now, I can feel it- even though I couldn't see it, not with all that crap he was wearing.

"Oh, but I'm sure you do know, Uchiha-san. After all, you didn't climb into this tree until you spotted Naruto and his friends." I narrowed my eyes at him, pressing my lips into a thin line. I needed to get him off my back. Then it came to me.

"Why were youin the tree, Aburame?" I drawled, smirking. He looked surprised at the question, but recovered quickly. I could feel his eyes staring at me amusedly.

"I was fallowing a new species of bug I found earlier. And aren't we a little defensive? Are you hiding something, Uchiha-san?" He said, if his voice wasn't in constant monotone I would swear there was a trace of mirth in it. "I would have taken you behavior from yesterday as mere concern over Naruto-kun's change in attitude. But now I can see it is obviously more." The last part was muttered, but I was able to catch it.

My back straightened even more. "What do you mean, 'more?" I hissed, my hands shaking. I heard him chuckle as he shook his head, standing up.

He was silent for a few moments, and I suddenly wished that I could see his eyes and his face, the covering of the glasses and collar got on my nerves.

"You'll figure it out eventually. Even you aren't that emotionally stupid." He commented with a shrug of the shoulders, turning around. His head turned back in my direction for a moment. "It's funny how now you start realizing you have the bug; you've had about three years to see it." My brows furrow in confusion. 'I caught a bug? I've had it for nearly three years?'

I felt my eyes twitching. So he tells me about this 'Bug' and how I'm emotionally stupid and then walks away without elaborating then decides to leave? I glared at his retreating back, wishing I could drill holes into it with my gaze alone.

I frowned ever more as I walked back to my house, hands in pockets, head bent downward as I felt some frugal raindrops on my face. A bug huh? Well it certainty explains the weird feeling I've been having lately. But what in the world could he have meant by 'you've had about three years to see it'? I've had this bug for that long and no one told me about it? I thought in confusion. I lifted my gaze upward when I heard yelling. I instantly saw two bigger men kicking and hitting an orange lump on the ground. Wait…Orange?

"You filthy monster, why don't you just die!?"

"Yeah, and do the world a favor! C'mon hit em' harder!"

I stopped, my shoes making a little scratching sound in the dirt. But I didn't care how dirty my shoes were now. Before I knew it I was there, my hands clenched together so tight I felt the warm sensation of blood on my fingertips. He was there, on the floor, beaten down by a few low life villagers. I looked up to the one closest to Naruto and my hand was around his throat, slamming him into the soaking mud road, a disgusting noise coming from his throat.

Okay, this chapter was a pain in the butt. I still hope you like it though. I know some people liked Shino's part, but I had to change it, but at least I kept him in there right? Please leave a review! It really does help. Flame or other wise.