Heyo our almighty readers! Here's the next chapter! They're being spaced out because we're working on others, and it's harder to get around to prepare each chapter. Enjoy!

Sasuke's played by Ah-chan once again, and Naruto's played by Da-kun!

On the way home from school, Sasuke was throwing a mental fit. All he could think about was Naruto. Being so lost in thoughts, he didn't notice that he was way past his house. The sound of the old rusty swing creaking in the wind brought him back to reality. He looked at the old playground and remembered from when he first met Naruto.

Flashback: Five Years Ago

Sasuke sat on the swing watching all of the kids play. He was used to this. Watching others have fun, and him being alone. But today, today was different. On this afternoon, all of the kids were picking on the new blonde haired boy whose first day of school was yesterday. He had no idea why the boy was being picked on, but he'd rather watch someone else get hurt, then him being made fun of for being a pretty rich boy.

"Hah! You want to play with us!" the first boy teased. "Really, what makes you think anyone wants to play with an idiot like you!" another added meanly.

Noticing how much this hurt the blonde, Sasuke stepped in. He held out his hand to the kid.

"Want to play?"

It took awhile for Naruto to realize what was going on. Moments later, Naruto… well, he flipped out.

"No… no! I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help!"

After that he ran away.

Sasuke was dumbfounded.

"Hn, dobe."

~End flashback~

Naruto trudged out of school, letting his feet carry him around Konohagakure. His face, usually bright and grinning, was downcast and emotionless. Sasuke had played with him all morning, and Naruto had fallen victim of it until lunch. The Uchiha's comment angered the blond greatly and he'd snapped. In response, the taller boy had walked off, leaving Naruto behind, like everyone else.

Not paying any attention, Naruto looked up as he heard a faint creaking. His eyes latched onto a familiar swing and he slowly walked over to the tree it hung from. Leaning against it, Naruto let his back slide down the trunk.

~~Flashback~~

Naruto bit his lip, shaking sand out of his hair. The other kids laughed at the miniscule blond at their feet. "You want to play with us?" one gasped mockingly. Naruto pushed himself up of the ground, fighting back tears. "Really, what makes you think anyone wants to play with an idiot like you?" the other laughed, clutching his stomach. "Go away." Naruto muttered. "Hm? Did ya just speak to us?" one scoffed. He shoved the kitsune back down, marching off with his friends. Naruto sniffed, wiping his eyes as they left.

Hearing a new voice, Naruto looked up to see a dark-haired boy standing over him. The out-stretched hand only seemed to be out of sympathy. Naruto scrubbed his tears away, scowling slightly. "NO! I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help!" he shouted, shoving himself off the ground.

Giving a final glare at the raven-headed boy, Naruto took off running in the opposite direction. "Stupid teme!" he shouted over his shoulder.

~End Flashback~

Sasuke must have been really spaced out, because when he re-awoke from his flashback he saw Naruto sitting by the swing. Not knowing what he should do, he walked past Naruto and sat by a tree horizontal of the blonde's.

Naruto had hardly been paying attention at all when he approached the tree and sat down. A sudden movement caused him to jerk his head up ad freeze as a very familiar figure made his way towards a nearby tree. Tilting his head back down, Naruto tracked Sasuke's movements from the edges of his vision, ready to run at any given moment. He was swearing at the gods for bringing such luck upon him today.

Sasuke picked up a nearby stone and started tossing it in the air to pass the time.

"So..."

He began to speak, but couldn't find any words to say. Every thought that came to mind sounded like something out of a corny romance novel.

Moments passed before anything happened. Now Sasuke was standing up leaning against the same tree that he had been sitting by.

He sighed, and turned around towards his house and looked over his shoulder.

"Well… I guess things are going to go back to normal now…"

"Me… the loner…"

"… and you…"

He paused. There were no possible kind words that Sasuke could use to fill in the gap. Ashamed, he started to walk away.

Naruto's eyes tracked the movement of the pebble to distract himself from everything else. He had to concentrate on it as not to snap and say or do something stupid and idiotic. Sasuke's beginning statement seemed to hang in the air above them like a dark, looming cloud.

Lifting his head, Naruto waited for the Uchiha to say something if anything. Though not sure of what to expect, he kept his ears open as the silence draped over them like a blanket. Naruto sighed after a few minutes; eyes dropping back to his lap, where he cradled a tiny little blossom he'd picked off the grass beside him. Tracing the miniscule veins and streaks that were artfully placed, Naruto left the suffocating silence for the small details unnoticed by most people.

Looking back up as Sasuke's voice reached his ears again, Naruto was a bit surprised to see the raven-head standing up now, facing the other direction. Biting his lip, Naruto sighed as well. "Sure, normal. Whatever that is." he muttered, glaring darkly at the ground for a moment.

He listened to Sasuke's broken words and only wished he'd thought about steeling himself against anything. Sasuke's silence after mentioning Naruto felt like a punch in the gut. Of course the Uchiha couldn't think of anything kind to say to him. Hardly anyone could.

"I know… just another nobody that everyone hates." the blond muttered dejectedly, resting his head back against the hard bark of the tree. Through his slitted eyelids, he could see the boy moving away from him. "You're perfect, the child anyone could ever want. You're what every girl loves: smart, rich, cool, and handsome. Who am I to try to be better?" Naruto punched the ground, upset now. "Just a poor punk who thought he could own the world with a few taunts against the big guy."

"Too bad that I'm gay and my parents are dead…"

Sasuke paused.

"… and that a poor punk has a much better future ahead of him then a rich bastard like me.

After saying that, Sasuke headed towards his house. He wasn't sure if Naruto heard him or not. He was far away, and he choked on his words. In a sense, he wished that the dobe didn't hear him. He wanted everything to go back to normal. Saske enjoyed the days where he could just endlessly stare at the kitsune, going unnoticed. He never wanted any kind of relationship.

Either way, if Naruto had heard him or not, thins would never be the same.

"Being gay isn't a bad thing, you know. I know it makes life hard sometimes, but we suck it up and pull through. And sure, your parents are dead, but at least you got the chance to know them. All I know is that I was found on a damn street corner with only a name and a blanket." Naruto sucked in a harsh breath, briefly wondering how he'd gotten from the base of the tree to the sidewalk with his fists clenched angrily. "And I'm sure people will love me; the poor kid with only a name and a few scars to himself."

On his own thoughts, Naruto hadn't half a clue how he'd heard the boy other than that the wind was blowing in Naruto's direction from the Uchiha. But the teen still walked away, hair fluttering in the wind. Naruto growled, punching the tree angrily, ripping at the skin on his knuckles. He'd crushed on the raven from the beginning, craving a rare soft smile and beaming when he got one. Recently, when the other teen would concentrate, Naruto would steal a glance at the boy and would scribble out a brief sKetch of his face. He'd wanted something akin to a relationship, though he wouldn't mind at least being friends.

But after today… Naruto could think of no way to change anything from the huge transition everything was about to take. "Kami, why'd I have to fall for him?" he mumbled, punching the tree again.

Aw!!! It's like a terrible lover's quarrel! Sorry that they're both a bit OOC, but it makes sense with everything else, right? So no worries!

Hope ya enjoyed! Please review! It makes us feel good and think about getting out new chapters sooner!!! It also makes Sasuke and Naruto happier!!!

Ja ne!

Da-kun