Rhapsody in the Abstract Shades of the Rainbow Chapter 4, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: No. No. No.

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Chapter 4: Happy Birthday

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Sasuke felt strange. He wasn't sure why, but he still felt as though there had been something important to do today. There's nothing to feel strange about, his mind reasoned. His mind was right. It wasn't right to feel strange about nothing. Maybe he was going to fall ill...

He had his regular cup of coffee in the morning, had his regular class with Kakashi, had his regular banter with Naruto about nicknames and stuff... Sometimes, Sasuke could swear he and Naruto acted like a married couple sometimes. Really, who in the world would stay with their best friend, give their best friend piggybacks all the time and even kiss their best friend goodnight sometimes? Not to mention the fact that they sometimes shared the same bed, only to wake up in each other's arms. Now, that was weird.

"Teme!" Sasuke smiled knowingly, bracing himself for the impact that he knew was soon to come. Tanned arms wound around his neck while legs clad in stonewashed jeans secured themselves around his hips. Sasuke gripped the back of Naruto's thighs, making sure Naruto wouldn't slip. "How's my bitchy best friend this special day?"

Naruto liked piggybacks. When he found out that the 'jump on Sasuke and get a piggyback' technique was effective, he started using it more and more often. As a result of Naruto's technique, Sasuke was now used to giving sudden piggybacks. He didn't really mind. Besides, it offered a molestation oppurtunity.

"Hey! Don't grope my butt!" Naruto exclaimed, swatting at Sasuke's wandering hands.

"Bitchy?" Sasuke asked, withdrawing. "Special day?"

"You forgot, didn't you?" Naruto murmured, dropping his head into the curve of Sasuke's shoulder. He missed the hitch in Sasuke's breath.

"Naruto, please don't breath on my tattoo..." Sasuke said, trying to keep a boner from forming. Naruto withdrew.

"Oops, sorry... You forgot, right?"

"Forgot what?"

"I can't believe it! You actually forgot today's your birthday!" Ah, there it was. His birthday. "You know the new bi bar about half a block away? The one called Estrella?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, I invited Gaara, Neji, Shika, Kiba, Ino and Sakura over there to celebrate. Thank goodness your birthday this year's on a Saturday, ne?"

"If not for the killer hangover I'm bound to get if I drink too much."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Bottom line is, you have to come. If you don't...I'll...make you run naked around the campus twice!"

According to Naruto, it was a crime to forget your own birthday. If you forgot, he normally remembered for you.

Thank god for Naruto, then.

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Sasuke looked into the full length mirror, checking himself out. (Wow, lookie here. Mr Narcissistic…) He 'tch'ed when a bit of hair from his fringe fell into his eyes. It was getting long. He flicked at the fringe again, screwing his eye shut to keep the hair from getting in. "Is it getting long?" Sasuke whirled around.

"Yeah. I haven't had the chance to go to the hairstylist's lately." What? He wouldn't trust anyone but his brother with his hair, and although they rarely tolerated each other in another's presence, these precious haircut sessions were the only thing left to keep the two together.

"Want me to cut it for you?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Naruto. Naruto huffed.

"Hey, don't give me that look. I cut my own hair!"

"Cutting your own hair and cutting someone else's hair is different."

"Aw...Sasu-chan doesn't trust mee..." Naruto whined, slowly making his way to the door. Sasuke's eye twitched. That was all the warning Naruto received before Sasuke lunged towards him.

"Aah! Run for your life!" Naruto screamed girlishly and took off, Sasuke hot on his heels.

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Neji stood in front of the club, hands tucked into his pockets. He was dressed in a simple pale green dress shirt and slacks, while his redhead roommate beside him was wearing what he could have described as 'hot', which wasn't really in Neji's vocabulary. Naruto had somehow managed to persuade Gaara into wearing jeans so tight they needed an extra five minutes put on time.

"Ridiculous." he mumbled, shifting from one foot to another. Gaara glanced at him. "The others have already gone in. What's taking them so long?" As if Neji's words were like Harry Potter's 'Accio' spell, the aforementioned two appeared, Naruto running like a madman with Sasuke hot on his heels. Without sparing a glance at the two outside, they sped into the club.

Neji let out a prolonged sigh at ther childishness. Gaara slowly made his way into the club, nodding to his brother Kankuro who was the bouncer. Neji let out another prolonged sigh and followed him.

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Sasuke nursed his Bloody Mary, looking at his cards. 'Shit. 4 marks overload.' He took a sip from the mixture of tomato juice and vodka. Peering over Kiba's head, he spotted Ino coming with two trays of drinks in each hand and a bowl of maraschino cherries perched precariously on the top of her head.

"Ino-pig, are you crazy?" Sakura asked, getting off her seat and grabbing the bowl before it could fall off the blonde's head.

"Thanks, Billboard-head." Ino said, carefully setting the drinks. She passed the drinks to their respective owners. Naruto let out a squeak of indignation when he saw what Ino ha gotten him.

"Why'd you get me an apple martini? It's girly..." he said, poking gingerly at the drink with his straw as if it was poisonous.

"Stop whining. I paid for that, you know." she said, sitting down with her own drink. "So, what are we playing?"

"Blackjack. Loser has to strip on the stage." Shikamaru said, plucking a card from the deck.

"Everyone done?" Sakura asked.

"No! I'm still deciding whether I should take the risk." Naruto said, looking intensely at his cards. He shrugged and took a card. "Shit!"

"Well, let's unveil the secret, shall we?" Sakura said, putting her cards down. The others copied her action. Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. At least he didn't have to strip. "Who's the loser?"

"Mee...why me..." Naruto groaned, dropping his head onto the table.

"You have to do it, you know." Neji reminded him.

"Fine..." Naruto stood and downed the rest of his 'girly' drink. Sasuke wasn't sure if he could handle Naruto stripping.

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Naruto marched up to the stage, heading towards Temari, the DJ. She flashed him a grin while giving him a thumbs-up when she saw him coming. He gave her a weak smile, wiping his palms on the back of his jeans. They were sweaty. The steady bass of music blasted out of two speakers nearby, almost strong enough to kill small animals. He beckoned to her.

"Ne, Temari-chan. Do you know any good strip songs?" Naruto almost had to shout to be heard. Temari's grin turned into a positively wicked smirk. She scribbled on piece of paper and passed it to Naruto.

"Yeah. They're here." She reached up to rifle through the CDs on a shelf and passed one of the CDs to him. Naruto looked at the CD's cover dubiously. Temari wrote something else on the piece of paper. "I recommend this one." She tapped one of the titles on the cover with a manicured fingernail.

"Well, I dunno. Your choice, I guess." Naruto wrote, handing the CD back to the blonde.

"It'll be on in five. Besides, it's gonna be Strip Hour soon." she wrote. Temari paused, as if contemplating something. She shrugged and added the question. "So...who's stripping for who?" Naruto flushed slightly and shuffled his feet, looking at the ground.

"Me. I lost at blackjack. I think they just want a free show."

"Hah. You always were a lousy card player. Good luck." Temari waved.

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As the dance mix faded, a spotlight centered on the platform meant for the DJ. "Yo, your DJ Temari here. How's the dancefloor going?" As whoops, cheers and wolf whistles greeted her, Temari allowed herself a dirty little smirk. The audience waited to see what Temari was going to announce. Those who knew waited with bated breath for the announcement. "We-ell, it's Strip Hour, so let's kick it off with our very own Naruto!" She flicked a switch and sat back.

Naruto stepped onto the stage confidently, his steps well measured. That was a trick Temari had taught him, to appear confident when he wasn't. He really wasn't confident. He took his position by the pole in the middle of the platform, by the strip pole and waited for his cue. Temari had also lent him a strip costume that had many layers but was almost impossibly tight, just like the jeans he had to squeeze into. It was definitely crushing his balls. He wasn't even sure if he could move properly after this. The spotlight slowly moved to center on him, giving him ample time to prepare.

Something special,

Unforgettable,

50 Cent (cent),

Justin (tin)

Timberlake (lake)

God damn (damn)

She she, she want it, I want to give it to her,

She know that, its right here for her,

I want to, see her break it down,

I'm ballin', throwin' money around.

Naruto swayed his hips to the beat, focusing on making his movements smooth, slow and erotic. If he was going to strip, he might as well do it well. He continued swaying like a snake, repeating the mantra in his head. "You can do this, you can do this, you can do this..." He slowly circled the pole, eyes closed in a bid to keep himself from getting stage fright. The spotlight was very warm, and he was sweating slightly.

She work it girl, she work the pole

She break it down, she take it low

She fine as hell, she about the dough

She doing her thing out on the floor

Her money money, she makin' makin'

Look at the way she shakin' shakin'

Make you want to touch it, make you want to taste it

Have you lustin' for her, go crazy face it

Naruto leant back with his back to the pole and slowly slid down, the lyrics unheard as the steady beat pulsed out of the speakers. The pole was getting rather slick, a result of the spotlight's glare, which in turn made him sweat. The tanned hand at his waist slipped away to gently caress the pole almost like he would a lover as he slid back up. Somebody whistled, making Naruto's confidence grow.

Now don't stop, get it, get it

The way she shakin' make you want to hit it

Think she double jointed from the way she splitted

Got your head fucked up from the way she did it

She's so much more than you're used to

She knows just how to move to seduce you

She gone do the right thing and touch the right spot

Dance in you're lap till you're ready to pop

Naruto hooked a leg around the pole and rubbed his back against it, head thrown back in a seductive fashion. A wandering hand reached up to run through his blond locks, lips parted as he pictured rubbing up against his imaginary lover. His other hand gently caressed the cool metal of the pole, made warmer by his activities. He slid a little lower every once in a while, keeping time to the beat.

She always ready, when you want it she want it

Like a nympho, the infor, I show you where to meet her

On the late night, till daylight the club jumpin'

If you want a good time, she gone give you what you want

Let me talk to ya

Honey-tinted hands wrapped around the pole, their owner slowly lifting himself up from his crouch at the base, gracing each half of every sentence with an upper body pulse and a slow but short circle of the hips alternately.

Baby it's a new age, you're like my new craze

Let's get together maybe we can start a new phase

The smokes go the club all hazy, spotlights don't do you justice baby

Why don't you come over here, you got me saying

Aayoo, l'm tired of using technology, why don't you sit down on top of me

Aayoo

I'm tired of using technology, I need you right in front of me

Naruto slid his hands down his torso and legs so that his fingertips were on the floor. He was going to do someting that Sakura had said was a potential hazard to his balls. So what? If Lee could do it, then Naruto should be able to do it too. He slowly moved into a horizontal split, wincing slightly at the burn. It wasn't too bad. Sure, there was a little pressure down there, but it wasn't too bad. He slowly slid back up into a standing position and circled the pole again.

Ooh, she wants it, uh uh, she wants it

Ooh, she wants it (soo), I got to give it to her

Ooh, she wants it, uh uh, she wants it

Ooh, she wants it (soo), I got to give it to her

Your hips, your thighs, they got me hypnotized, let me tell you

Naruto brought himself close to the pole, slowly and heavily swaying his hips to the beat. He grasped the pole and continued to sway. He was getting a little aroused, since it was obviously a striptease. With mild interest, he wondered what would happen if Iruka caught him doing this. Kakashi would be ecstastic, for one.

Got a thing for that thing she got

The way she make it tick, the way she make it pop

Make it rain for us so she don't stop

I ain't got to move, I can sit and watch

In her fantasy, there's plain to see

Just how it be, on me, backstrokin', sweat soaking

All into my set sheets

Naruto slowly started to pull his outer shirt off, teasingly exposing the skin of his stomach under the next layer. It went flying over his head and off onto the stage.

Sasuke watched Naruto dance, his attention riveted as the blond slowly took the first layer of clothing off. He never knew Naruto could dance like that. It was rather remarkable, really. For all of Naruto's unremarkable behavior, his abilities really were, so to say, remarkable.

When she ready to ride, I'm ready to roll

I'll be in this bitch till the club close

What should I do, one thin' gon all fours

Now that that shit should be against the law

From side to side, let it ride, break it down (down down)

You know I like, when you hike and throw it all around

Different style, different move, damn I like the way you move

Girl you got me thinking about, all the things I do to you

Let's get it poppin' shorty we can switch positions

From the couch to the counters in my kitchen

Naruto's hands went above his head to grip the pole as he swayed his hips again. This was actually fun. He couldn't really believe it, but it was actually fun. He suppressed a grin. That particular grin, if allowed to appear would certainly make him look maniacal. He let his hands wander, teasingly baring a little bit of skin as he imagined his lover's hands on his body. 'Sasuke.'

Let me talk to ya

Baby it's a new age, you're like my new craze

Let's get together maybe we can start a new phase

The smokes go the club all hazy, spotlights don't do you justice baby

Why don't you come over here, you got me saying

Aayoo, l'm tired of using technology, why don't you sit down on top of me

Aayoo

I'm tired of using technology, I need you right in front of me

Sasuke watched in slightly morbid fascination as Naruto gyrated on stage, slowly taking the last layer of the clothing on his torso off and throwing it away. He stared, transfixed as Naruto continued to sway, then reality hit him. He was attracted to his best friend. His male best friend. He probably loved him, too. Sasuke chuckled lightly, shaking his head. He continued to watch Naruto, eyes widening when a hand reached out from the crowd to lightly smack Naruto's butt. To his surprise, Naruto grinned lecherously and continued to sway his hips.

Ooh, she wants it, uh uh, she wants it

Ooh, she wants it (soo), I got to give it to her

Ooh, she wants it, uh uh, she wants it

Ooh, she wants it (soo), I got to give it to her

Your hips, your thighs, they got me hypnotized, let me tell you

Naruto did a series of hip rolls, keeping in time with the beat. The song was coming to an end, and Naruto had no idea how to end it. He had stripped, of course, but since he was rather inexperienced in this particular arena, he was out of ideas. He quickly racked his mind for ideas. Suddenly it hit him. Hadn't he seen a girl doing that move back when he was still in the orphanage? A...quick full body roll that somehow ended in a horizontal split, wasn't it? Naruto winced and did the move as the end to the song. The spotlights were dimmed drastically to allow Naruto his exit.

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Naruto walked as quickly as he dared to back to the small group of tables in the corner of the club. He could feel the heat slowly spreading from his neck. 'Damn, I'm sure I'd look like Sasuke's drink if anyone could see my face right now.' He was jerked out of his mental pity-fest-cum-scolding by a call of his name. He started.

"Ne, Naruto! Where are you going?" Naruto turned to look at the person. The group, not including Sasuke was looking at him.

"Uh...nothing. I was just...distracted. Yeah. I was distracted." he replied.

"Well, come over here!" Naruto quickly walked over to them and sat down. He noted that his drink was now a piña colada, which wasn't too bad.

"Woot! Naruto, you go, man!" Kiba hooted, pumping a fist into the air. "If I were gay, I would have jumped you!" Naruto flushed a little and looked down at his drink, sneaking a glance at Sasuke. The brunet looked rather tense, his hands firm around the stem of the vessel that held his blood-red drink.

"Ne, Sasuke." Naruto said, shifting closer to him. Sasuke looked into the watery depths of his drink, adamantly ignoring Naruto because he was afraid he would jump the blond. He 'hm'ed, indicating to Naruto that he was paying attention.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Uh, nothing." Naruto said, the expression on his face confused. It made him pout a little, which in turn made Sasuke lose a substantial amount of self-restraint. His hand clenched and unclenched, and he ordered another drink to gulp down in a bid for release.

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Two drinks later, Sasuke was drunk. Naruto stood outside the club, wincing when Sasuke kicked his ribs as he waited for the others to get their cars. "Hey...stop that." Naruto said, shifting to get a better grip on Sasuke's lower thighs. He yelped when Sasuke started squirming. "Hey!"

"Well, it's time for us to go. You sure you don't want any help with Uchiha?" Shikamaru asked, Ino with her arm around his waist. Naruto shook his head.

"Nah, I can handle it." Sasuke squirmed again. Shikamaru stared apprehensively at the way Naruto was carrying Sasuke. "What? He's too long to carry bridal style!"

"We don't want the newspapers or campus paper to have 'Best Friends Fall To Their Death' as the headline tomorrow, you know." Ino said.

"Mendokuse..." Sikamaru said, nodding sagely and earning a smack from Ino. Naruto sniggered and shook his head, turning to leave.

"Bye!" He waved.

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Naruto slowly made his way down his dorm corridor, his progress hindered by Sasuke's weight. He winced. Sasuke was kicking his sides and squealing "'Gee up!" childishly, something Naruto normally did, not he. Naruto fished around in his pockets, searching for his key and adamantly trying to ignore Sasuke's apparent need to go through with the 'kick Naruto's ribs in' plan. The door unlocked easily, letting Naruto and his squirming bundle of uh...Sasuke through. It was rather tough to maneuver, trying not to hit anything on the way, all the way to the bedroom.

Naruto dumped Sasuke onto the bed, heading to the bathroom for a tub and a warm towel. Sasuke slumped as soon as Naruto put him down, threatening to keel over and drop to the smooth but hard wooden floor below. A muffled thump and a string of curses was heard from the bathroom. Naruto came into view, a basin on his head and a washcloth wet with warm water saturating his shirt on his shoulder, muttering a string of highly imaginative curses. He was bent over holding his foot, trying to soothe his stubbed toe. Once the throbbing in his toe subsided, Naruto walked over to Sasuke's bed, a limp evident in his stride.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, sitting down and pushing Sasuke so that he was lying down, remembering to plop the towel onto his brunet counterpart's forehead. He then proceeded to take Sasuke's shoes off and cover him with the blanket.

"Naruto..." Sasuke groaned, stirring. A hand came up to try and remove the towel.

"Hey, hey, hey... Keep that on." Naruto said, stopping him. Sasuke's hand dropped and he stirred, twisting in the sheets. Suddenly, he sat up and retched up the contents of his stomach for re-examination, all over himself and his bed. Some of it got on Naruto, too. "Ah, fuck." Naruto said, looking at the mess on the bed. "Didn't react fast enough. Guess you'll have to sleep in my bed..." He scratched his head briefly before rising with a grunt to try and clean Sasuke off.

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Naruto lay on his side next to Sasuke, an uncomfortable position, but used for lack of space. Sasuke was still awake, albeit balancing on the fine line in between consciousness and sleep. He stirred slightly, rolling onto his other side to face Naruto. A strong arm came around Naruto's waist, Sasuke deciding to use him as a bolster. "Naruto? Is that you?" Warm breath fanned across Naruto's neck, a common thing since Sasuke now slept in the same bed with him every once in a while.

"Hmm?"

"I...I think I love you, Naruto." Naruto's body tensed slightly at what Sasuke had said. It had to be the alcohol talking. Wasn't it? Naruto decided to play along, even if it meant voicing his fears.

"Yeah. I think I do too." Sasuke hesitated, if only briefly.

"Okay." And he was asleep. Naruto couldn't sleep. What had he done?

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Rating Guide: 1 star: Oh my god. This is awful. 2 stars: It really needs work. 3 stars: It's not good, but not bad either. Work a little harder, maybe? 4 stars: It's really good. 5 stars: Oh mi god! This is really excellent!

To Be Continued…