Ita-chan: *pounces on Sasu-chan* I missed you, otouto!

Sasu-chan: I missed you too, Nii-san!!^^


Naruto sighed as he glanced at the clock. He looked away before looking back really fast. "Oh no!" he moaned before rushing to his room and slamming his door shut.

Sakura, Gaara, and Sasuke could hear some thumping from the blonde's room before he came back out in a baggy white t-shirt, black cargo jeans, and combat boots. There was an earring in his left ear – a stud – and his hair wasn't straight.

Sasuke felt his jaw start to drop, but stopped it just in time.

"I'm sorry guys, but, I've gotta run!" Naruto said, stopping long enough to grab his keys before rushing out the front door.

Gaara heaved a sigh. "I don't see what he sees in that jerk..."

"Oh, you mean Sai?" Sakura asked.

"Mm-hm," Gaara hummed.

Sasuke looked utterly lost.

~*~Naruto's POV~*~

I hurried to meet Sai at Moonlight Café – one of those really, super fancy places that I tended to avoid like the plague. Every time I went into one of those fancy places, I always ended up breaking something or knocking into someone. It never failed. Ever.

I was supposed to meet him outside the restaurant at ten o'clock. I glanced at my watch as I ran down the street towards the building about seven or eight blocks away from the apartment. I paled, it was almost ten now!

I doubled over, panting for air, once I arrived at the entrance.

"You're late." a voice from beside me spoke.

I jumped and looked up at him, "By a minute or two."

Sai's eyes narrowed and I paled even more.

We walked into the restaurant and were seated almost immediately. At our booth, I flipped through the menu, not really paying any attention to the food 'cause I knew Sai was going to order for me.

Five minutes later, when the waiter came, guess what. Yep, Sai ordered for me. The waiter took our menus and left to go get our drinks before coming back. "I'll be back with your food." he said setting two glasses down; one was water and the other was Budweiser.

I sighed silently, this was going to be a looooong night. Even more so since I was staying over at his house tonight. My eyes widened, I had forgotten to tell Gaara that I wasn't going to be back tonight.

"Sai..can I borrow your phone real quick?" I asked.

"Why?" Sai asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I have to call Gaara real quick."

Sai was reluctant to hand his phone over, but did after a moment.

I dialed the home number for the apartment.

"Hello?" Sasuke spoke.

"Sasuke...you're still over there..?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah, well, Sakura's going to stay the night with Gaara and leave early to get to work on time, and I guess I'm staying as well.." Sasuke sighed.

"Oh, well, in that case, you can use my room. I won't be home tonight. Tell Gaara I'm staying with Sai tonight, alright?"

"I guess.." Sasuke said.

I didn't have a chance to say anything else before Sai ripped his phone from my hand and hung up. I looked over at him before looking away, holding back the urge to say something.


~*~Normal POV/ Sasuke's POV~*~

"Naruto says he won't be home tonight." I told Gaara, looking at the phone oddly as it randomly hung up.

"Oi....." Gaara trailed off.

"He's staying with Sai?" Sakura asked, a pitying look on her face.

"What's wrong with Sai?" I asked confused as I hung up the phone, giving up on hoping he would call back.

"Nothing really, he just drinks Budweiser," Sakura sneered.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked.

Gaara rolled his eyes. "He's abusive."

I went bug eyed, "Then why doesn't he end it?"

"He tried....once..." Gaara trailed off and took a sip of his homemade Bloody Mary.

"What happened?"

"He couldn't move for the next week he was so sore. Rape, whips, and other hurtful things." he stated monotonously.

"And you're not doing anything about it?" I asked dumbfounded.

"It's his choice. If he wants something done about it, he needs to do it. I'm not always going to be there to stop things like this from happening and he needs to learn how to own up." Gaara explained taking another sip and offering Sakura one. She took it.

I massaged the sides of my head, muttering, "He won't need to learn how to 'own up' because the next person he's gonna be with won't mistreat him like that."

"What was that?" Sakura asked still cuddled into Gaara's side.

"I'm going to bed." I stood up suddenly and headed to his room. Something needs to be done....but can I actually do it alone...probably not. I sighed and went to bed.


Sasu-chan: *sighs* poor Naru-chan........Sai's so mean oh and no offense to Budweiser drinkers in the audience^^

Ita-chan: *sighs* I feel bad for making Sai soo...evil..