Chapter 4: Bonding and Suspicions.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Morning sunshine soon awaken Sasuke from his slumber. As he finished taking a morning shower and brushing his teeth, he walked towards Sei's bed to nudge him awake, but he stopped on his tracks when he heard Sei mumbled in his sleep. Missing the first sentences, Sasuke silently moved to catch whatever information he could get. What he heard froze him.

"Naruto-kaasan, I'll bring you back. I promise." Sasuke noticed a tear fell from Sei's still closed eyes. Deciding that now is not the time to wake him up, he went to the kitchen to clear up his mind. While doing so, he took his time in making breakfast and set things in proper order.

In a few minutes, a sleepy Sei emerged in the kitchen. "Ohayou Sasuke-san!"

"Hnn.. Breakfast is ready. I made ramen for you." Sei grinned with joy and eat his ramen excitedly.

"Thanks Sasuke-san!"

"It's nothing. Oh, you can just call me Sasuke, by the way. We are friends now remember?" Sasuke gave a small smile.

"Thanks Sasuke!" Sasuke just grinned and ate his breakfast in silence. As soon as they were done eating, Sei abruptly stood up and excused himself. "Well, I got to do my morning training. I still have to find a good training spot to avoid any interruption. Thanks for breakfast by the way!!" He grinned.

"Wait, maybe you can train with me. I know of a place where we can train in peace and quiet." Sasuke offered with a smile and was followed by Sei's excited voice. "Really? Yatta!! Let's go!" He said as he dragged Sasuke out of the apartment. Sasuke just smirked to himself and stopped Sei.

"Uhm, Sei, do know where you're going?" He said trying to hide a smirk. Sei just blushed with embarrassment and rubbed the back of his neck with his arm while grinning sheepishly. "Uh, yeah, I forgot hehehe, I don't know the place yet."

Sasuke just smirked. "Come on." Sasuke led Sei to the old team seven training grounds.

"Woah, this place is just perfect, quiet, secluded and spacious." Sei remarked as he ran around the place excitedly. Sasuke was amused at Sei's reaction and for once, he laughed loudly.

Sei looked at him oddly. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Hahahaha... It's just that you look so funny running around like an idiot!!" Sasuke tried to suppress his laughter but instead, he burst out laughing, nearly rolling on the ground.

"I am not an idiot!" Sei said with a hint of annoyance and glared playfully at Sasuke.

"Just admit it, you're a dobe!!"

"What did you say!!"

"Didn't you heard me? Doohhhh--beehhhh" Sasuke said in a playful voice prolonging the first syllable for added effect.

"Argh, that does it. You're going down, teme!!" Sei charged at him and the two engaged in a wrestling match. Sasuke was having a fun time, and soon enough, laughter and cheerful voices filled the training ground.

"Hah!! I win!" Sei declared as he pinned Sasuke to the ground.

"Oh no you don't!" Sasuke said as he flipped pulled at Sei and reversed their position. He then attacked him with tickles. Sasuke reached out and tried to make Sei laugh as best as he could.

Sei tried to hold back, but he can't stop it anymore and he burst out laughing. "Sasuke! Teme...a ha ahaha! Stop already!" He said between his laughter.

"Not unless you say it" Sasuke smirked while Sei continues to laugh uncontrollably.

"Alright alright! You win!"

"Hmm, it could have been better but it works." Then Sasuke released him and turned his back on his Sei.

Grinning to himself, Sei tackled the still unaware Sasuke to the ground and pinned him. "Never turn your back on your enemy Sasuke." He said playfully as he smirk at the glaring raven beneath him.

"Oh, you'll pay for that!" Sasuke throw him off and posed in his taijutsu style.

"Show me what you're made off!" Sasuke said smugly as he challenged Sei to a taijutsu spar, while Sei just grinned. "As you wish!" And with a blur, Sei disappeared from Sasuke's sight. Sasuke looked around his surrounding and prepared himself from Sei's attack. In a few minutes, Sei appeared behind him and was about to punch him but Sasuke quickly blocked it. "Not bad! But you're still a dobe!" Sasuke smirked at the irritated look on Sei's face.

"I told you not to call me that!!" He said as he charged at Sasuke once more.

"Then prove you're not just a brat!" Sasuke's smirk widened as he blocked a series of punches from Sei.

"Is that all you can do?" Sasuke smirked as he managed to pin Sei to the ground. Sei tried his best as he struggled to break free of Sasuke's grip but it's clear enough that the older man is stronger than him.

He sighed in defeat and said, "Fine! You won!" He pouted as Sasuke resisted to pinch that cute face he was staring at. Sasuke then released him from his grasp and help the other one stand up.

"Well, that was fun!" Sei said.

"Hn. Not bad for a morning sparring session." Sei just grinned. "Yup! We should definitely do that everyday!" He paused to catch his breath. "Well, I think I needed a shower. I'll see you later Sasuke!"

"Hn... Let's go then. And after that, we can have a tour. I heard that there's a festival being held somewhere in the village. Maybe we can visit that too." Sei's face lit up and a grin spread across his face.

"Really? Wow. Thanks a lot Sasuke! You really are a nice person!" Sei said cheerfully. Sasuke just gave a small smile, surprised, but thankful that he had finally felt happy and cheerful. He was quite surprise at what kind of effect Sei has on him. In a few years he had been drowning in self-pity and sadness then all of the sudden, a young boy came into his life, not just an ordinary boy, but a boy that remind him of someone, and feels so familiar, like he's a part of himself.

He followed Sei towards his apartment and watched as Sei entered the bathroom to take a shower.

Sasuke sat down on one of the couches to take a rest. For a few minutes, Sei emerged, fully clothed and with a wide grin on his face.

"Come on Sasuke! Let's go!"

"Wow, that's fast."

"Of course! It's for a festival! I have heard there are lots of ramen there too!!"

Sasuke just smiled "You and your stupid ramen worship." Sei just pouted, this made Sasuke chuckle.

"Come on, stop pouting. I'll treat you for free ramen. So give me a smile!!" Sei just grinned and glomped at Sasuke.

"Really? Thanks Sasuke!"

"Anything for my little dobe." Sasuke surprised himself but decided to hide it and plastered an amused smile as he saw Sei pouts. "I'm not a dobe."

"Sure you are!" Sasuke said in a joking voice. "There! I see the entrance to the festival!"

"Really? Wow! There are lots of people! Come on let's go! Let the fun begin!" Sei dragged Sasuke towards the crowd and visited some shops and played a few games.

As they explored from shop to shop, they bumped into Sakura and Ino. "Sasuke-kun! What are you doing here?"

"Hn" Sei nudged at him with his elbow.

"Speak up bastard!"

"Fine. We are here to have some fun." Sasuke said in an uninterested voice.

"Excuse him for his bastardness, but you know him."

"Excuse me? Is bastardness even a word?" Sasuke smirked.

"What? It is!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, 'cause I say so. Now drop it."

"Fine." Sakura decided to interrupt.

"Excuse me Sasuke-kun, but we are trying to hold a party tomorrow. Will you come? It'll be held on my house."

"Party for what?" Sasuke asked in a bored tone.

"Its a surprise" Sakura said with a wink.

"I'm too busy." This time Sei, glared at him.

"Come on bastard. It can't be that bad. Let's give it a try."

"Fine. We'll come tomorrow. At what time?"

"6 pm Sasuke-kun! Be sure to be there!"

"Hn" The two girls left and Sasuke just sighed.

"I hate parties." He started, trying to gain Sei's attention.

"Come on, you'll enjoy it. I promise. Now come on, they're about to set the fireworks!" Sei stated cheerfully. Sasuke just sighed as he looked at Sei who is now excitedly walking towards the lake where they planned to display the fireworks.

Then Sasuke smiled to himself. Maybe it's not too bad to have some fun once in a while. Making his way towards Sei, he knows that he'll have fun.

But if Sasuke thought that this happiness will last for a long time, he is sadly mistaken.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I hope you all enjoyed it. Any mistakes that you have noticed, please report them in your reviews so I may correct them and edit this chapter. Don't worry, the action is about to begin and we'll be seeing Naruto soon. Oh, and excuse Sasuke for him being Out of Character, I figured that he needed some cheering up after all those years he spent sulking about Naruto's disappearance. Oh and even though this chapter is uneventful and boring, it has something to do for the next chapter. Let's just say, this is the calm before the storm.

See you all in the next chapter!