.

"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

The Wizard of Oz, 1939

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Take Four.

It was fun. No- it was really fun. Sasuke had never expected he would enjoy it as much as he did, already feeling like a star with all the cameras on him. The premise was pretty ridiculous and so was posing pretending to breathe fire ready for the special effects department. However it was still just what he wanted and he was completely in love.

It helped his current scene was beating the absolute shit out of Naruto. Not actually of course, but close kicks and punches- the grazing of skin on cheekbones or a kick that just missed. Clever camera imagery and good acting to look like a hit had been received was going to fill in the details.

Naruto was good. Sasuke loathed to admit it, but the usually cheery young man had transitioned into a pissed off ninja easily, intent on beating some sense into his (admittedly stubborn) character and looking like he meant it. Sasuke had once again felt the now-familiar sting of inadequacy bite him, but he'd simply carried on and attempted not to let it cloud his own acting.

Sasuke was having so much fun with the scene that he lost track of time, wondering what on earth Kakashi was talking about when he cut the scene and called for a break.

"You've been acting for close to three hours now," Kakashi replied, raising an eyebrow as both Naruto and Sasuke stepped off of the platform onto dry land. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. There's a small café about ten minutes from here- let's go up the lift, you can rest in the car. Oh, and Sasuke? Which martial art have you mastered?"

Sasuke frowned as they walked towards the lift. "What do you mean?"

"You clearly have one of them under your belt," Kakashi reasoned. "That fighting was immaculate. Well done."

"I haven't."

"Then you're a gifted natural fighter. Either way, its impressive- despite your attitude, I'm glad I chose you."

Sasuke practically glowed under the praise, feeling a tiny smile creep up on his lips for the recognition. Itachi put a hand to his shoulder momentarily in what Sasuke knew was an unspoken compliment, keeping his good mood intact... For a whole two seconds.

"Sasuke," Naruto whispered from his side. "I was right. You are fun to work with and you're really good, too."

Sasuke frowned- it was a compliment, so why did praise from Naruto destroy his confidence? He set his eyes on the blond at his side as they walked to the waiting Cadillac, taking his profile in. Naruto was also an amateur, also very good, and would probably be stealing any limelight the movie could present purely for his heritage. It felt like pity praise when it came from Naruto's mouth.

Sasuke was glad they were fighting in their scenes, because it enabled him to vent his frustration without having it spill over into their off-set interactions as it had done before. Not that he planned on having much to do with anyone off-set, but sometimes it was unavoidable. Like right then, where Sasuke pulled his still-damp clothes off the backseat and put them in the boot at Kakashi's request ready to move to the nearby café.

"Just stay in what you're wearing," Kakashi told him, one hand on the seat to feel for moisture. "The seat isn't really wet, so just hop in when you're done."

"I'll stay in my outfit too if that'll make you feel better," Naruto offered. Sasuke ignored him, pretending not to hear as he slammed the boot of the car down and clambered in the back. Naruto apparently took that as a positive, getting in the front still clad in orange from head to toe.

The drive was swift, leaving them to pull up outside a small but welcoming café shortly after with the film crew in tow. An elderly lady behind the counter greeted them with a small wave and kind smile as they stepped through the door with a soft jangle overhead from a bell, putting down the coffee pot she was holding to step out from behind the counter.

"Kakashi," she welcomed. "How nice to see you again."

"Hello Chiyo. How have you been?"

"Fine- is that Naruto I see? Naruto! Come and say hello, young man! You're looking so much like your father these days-"

Sasuke and Itachi exchanged a glance and let the pleasantries commence, heading to a table near the front window instead. Sasuke brushed at his clothes, feeling self conscious in the strange, unfamiliar clothing and smirked to himself at the thought that Naruto was wearing a bright orange jumpsuit. At least a shirt and shorts was reasonably normal.

"Sasuke," Itachi alerted him quietly, indicating over one shoulder as Sasuke sat down. "I'm going to find the bathroom- I'll have coffee if you order anything."

As soon as he had left Kakashi halted his conversation with Chiyo, putting a hand up to Naruto to keep him away as he approached Sasuke briskly.

"I will say this only once," he said, getting straight to the point as he sat down opposite Sasuke. "You're good. You're very good. Does your brother approve of your choice to be an actor?"

Sasuke frowned in confusion at the sudden assault of praise. "He doesn't really have a preference."

"Alright, good. Your father is the issue, correct?"

"What are you-"

"We didn't have this conversation and I will deny it if you attempt to bring it up," Kakashi cut in quickly. "Don't let anyone sway your decision or attempt to bring you down. Not your brother, your father- no-one. You're meant to do this. I dislike your attitude but I like your style. Just one word of warning, Sasuke."

"What's that?"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, thinly veiled intimidation within them. "If you hurt Naruto, I will make sure you never work this business again. Are we clear?"

"Are you threatening me?" Sasuke queried, his own eyes narrowing sharply.

"I'm warning you," Kakashi attempted to clarify, but Sasuke wasn't convinced. "Take heed Sasuke. This is the only warning I-"

He halted immediately at the sound of approaching footsteps, turning to give Itachi a short wave in greeting as he approached the table, eyes slightly confused at the interaction in his absence.

"What would you like to drink, Itachi?" Kakashi remarked casually, standing up without even glancing at Sasuke.

"Coffee is fine, thank you."

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke attempted to snap out of the haze the conversation had put him in, shaking his head slightly to clear it. "Orange juice."

Kakashi nodded and set back off without a word, leaving Itachi to take his seat.

"What was all that about?" Itachi asked curiously, his voice low as he glanced over his shoulder at Kakashi's retreating form.

Sasuke hesitated, unsure whether he should bring up the conversation or not. He decided against it, shrugging and turning his attention to the plastic covered menu on the table instead.

"He just said I'm a good actor," he replied. "Nothing to worry about."

"I don't believe that for a second. What did he say?"

"It's nothing," Sasuke smoothed over, shaking his head and pursuing his lips. "You don't believe he would give me praise?"

Itachi simply took the menu from Sasuke's hands with a sigh. "If you wish to keep it to yourself I'm not going to drag it out of you."

"I thought you were supposed to support me," Sasuke mock-sulked as he snatched it back. "He told me I was good, nothing else. You need to learn to trust people."

Itachi raised an inquisitive eyebrow at that. "Now I know you're hiding something," he remarked shortly. "You're the most distrustful person I know."

Sasuke exhaled lengthily and fixed him with a glare, the conversation halting when Kakashi joined them with a tray of drinks.

"You should get something to eat while we're here," he told them as he set the tray down, leaving them to take the correct drinks from it. "We're not planning on coming back. Did you want any sugar in that, Itachi?"

"It will be fine like this," Itachi declined, picking up the cup. "What time are you thinking of leaving?"

"Is there a problem?" Kakashi asked, ever perceptive. Itachi gave him a short nod, looking marginally troubled.

"I'm supposed to be at work at four. I was expecting to leave from the set and head there."

"Yet you still willingly came to the location shoot?"

"That was a mistake," Itachi admitted, his tone low and demanding that he not be questioned.

"We won't be done before then," Kakashi told him. "I can ask a member of crew to take you back if you'd like."

The look in Itachi's eye suggested he didn't want to agree to that, glancing across to Sasuke.

"He'll be safe in my care," Kakashi urged.

"Alright," Itachi agreed with a uncertain nod, turning his attention back to his coffee. Sasuke observed him for a moment as Kakashi seated himself as well, his eyes eventually straying to Naruto. He was chatting with the old lady behind the counter, Chiyo, and seemed as though he knew her well.

"Chiyo has known Naruto since he was a young boy," Kakashi explained as he noticed Sasuke's gaze. "Even if we weren't filming up here Minato used to come anyway. He liked to keep the smaller businesses afloat- Chiyo was struggling a little so he used to make a journey up here once a week with Naruto and sometimes myself to give her some support. It's been a while since we came though, so they have a lot of catching up to do."

"That was a nice gesture," Itachi agreed conversationally. "I presume you've known him for as long too?"

Kakashi nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "I'm his godfather."

Sasuke wondered if he would elaborate, beating down the notion that he was disappointed when his curiosity wasn't indulged. Regardless, he found his gaze back on Naruto as he chatted animatedly with the smiling lady and wondered somewhere briefly on the edge of his consciousness why the other's eyes didn't look as happy as the rest of his features.

-.-.-

Sasuke really did notice the unbearably empty seat beside him as they drove back from filming. Itachi was usually with him all the time except when either of them worked, and he'd liked the idea the latter would change with the acting job. Itachi had every right to be there as his manager, and in Sasuke's mind it translated to more time with his elder brother. They both complained about their shared studio apartment being so small they didn't get any space to themselves, but Sasuke liked to think his brother joined him in exaggerating distaste.

He'd never admit to missing Itachi's presence of course- just like he never admitted that the times he wandered into the bar the other worked at in the evenings was an action born of loneliness. Itachi probably knew it though, which was why he allowed Sasuke to stay with a coke rather than throwing him out for being underage.

"Sasuke," Kakashi spoke up in the front seat. "You should open up a little. I think dinner out is on the cards."

"My brother takes care of the money," Sasuke snapped, which wasn't actually a lie. Itachi made his thoughts on Sasuke handling their income clear, since the month Sasuke had insisted he could do it they had ended up with their electricity cut.

"I didn't suggest you needed to pay. It's got to be better than going home to an empty apartment, right?"

Sasuke didn't give a response, which Kakashi took to be begrudging agreement as he pulled up outside of a flashy looking restaurant twenty minutes later. He prompted both his passengers to get out before winding his window down to address them as they stood on the pavement.

"Enjoy yourselves," he said with a wave. Sasuke opened his mouth to protest but Kakashi was already pulling away, leaving him to feel a little dumbfounded and vastly tricked.

"Did you plan this?" He snapped at Naruto, who was already halfway to the restaurant door. His co-star paused and looked over his shoulder sheepishly.

"Kakashi thought we'd get to know each other a little better if we spent more time together," he supplied with a guilty half-shrug.

"I'm going home," Sasuke informed him after a stunned moment, turning and shoving his hands deeply into his pockets as he walked. Naruto chased him, grabbing his arm and attempting to halt him.

"Don't Sasuke," he pleaded. "I want to get to know you so we can have better on screen chemistry."

"Those words sound exactly like something that would come out of Kakashi's mouth."

"Okay, those were his words," Naruto admitted, succeeding in getting Sasuke to stop. "This restaurant serves great food," he attempted instead.

"I don't care."

"I want to get to know you."

"I don't care."

"Sasuke! What's your problem?"

"You!" Sasuke yelled, whirling around to face Naruto with fire in his eyes. "You have everything I have ever wanted in life and you don't even care! Do you have any idea what I had to put up with to have the opportunity to come here?"

Naruto didn't falter under the glare. "I have no idea," he replied casually. "Because you don't speak about yourself, I can't be expected to know about your hardships, right?"

Sasuke faltered, a little of his anger dying down in the face of Naruto's calm demeanour.

"You know I don't want any of this?" Naruto continued, his voice taking on a sharp edge Sasuke wasn't aware he possessed. "I was dragged from film set to film set and I hated it!"

"You have no idea how lucky you are."

"Lucky?" Naruto echoed incredulously. "Lucky? I lost my father at the age of seventeen, Sasuke! I didn't get a real childhood because I had to just play nicely in the corner out the way and hope my Dad got five minutes to come and spend some time with me! Kids wanted to be my friend because we had money, not because they wanted to know me! Which part of any of that is lucky, Sasuke?"

Sasuke attempted to continue his harsh glare but he lost the battle, turning his eyes to the pavement and feeling a little humbled.

"Sometimes the grass isn't as green on the other side," Naruto concluded, his voice almost lost on the wind around them. "Now come and eat with me, would you? I'm hungry."

"Alright," Sasuke breathed in response, following a pace or two behind Naruto as they headed back towards the restaurant. He still didn't like him, but sharing dinner with him was preferable to eating a plain meal in an empty apartment.

He ignored the part of his mind that told him he felt guilty for his spoiled conduct. Guilt wasn't an emotion he was familiar with, even though it clipped at him once again when he noted the prices on the menu.

"I'm not happy about you paying," he found himself saying.

Naruto lowered his own menu and gave him a smile- a genuine smile, not one of the fake ones he'd been parading around. Sasuke blinked in surprise at how different it was and that he was capable of seeing the deviation.

"Thank you for caring," Naruto murmured. Sasuke felt uncomfortable being the recipient of his companion's projected kindness so he turned away, wondering why he felt a little telltale heat on his cheeks as he did so.

"I don't," he snapped with enough venom to murder the conversation back to silence.

He didn't like the guy. He shouldn't like the guy. That didn't explain the slight uneasy fluttering in his stomach he had felt for just a fraction of a second- a feeling that had caused his own lips to quirk into a tiny smile in return against his will.

-.-.-

Author's Notes: Thanks for all the alerts, favourites, reviews- I'm glad people are enjoying this! :)