I'm late, I'm late! Sorry, dear readers, I swear it wasn't my fault! ...Okay, it was, but I have excuses. For anyone interested in my daily life, I've been to a marriage this weekend, and it was great; we had a three-forks-and-knives kind of dinner (really good too), with the huge advantage of getting to eat the local goat cheese, since we were in the countryside. Yum.

Also, I'm starting my intensive English week, and I'm actually learning stuff -I have to admit I never knew the grammar rules hidden behind what I wrote- so y'all wish me luck, even though technically I'm still on holidays.

Note: the rant's supposed to fill in the empty space, seeing the chapter's so short. But do enjoy.

Disclaimer: Naruto's not mine. Sasuke's not either.


Crossing

The dobe didn't let go of my hand. He had forced me to warn his perverted doctor that we were both leaving, and we were now standing in the locker room that separated the sterilized section from the rest of the hospital.

"Go wash," I ordered, handing him some of my clothes. "And brush your teeth; you need to take the blood scent out of your mouth."

He took the garments, frowning. "Why do you keep your stuff here?"

"Dr. Hatake gave me permission. These showers offer more privacy than the ones they have in the dorms. Since I had to come here twice a day in any case, I at least got to use this advantage."

He shrugged, and went to the closest shower. I washed as well, walking out to find him brushing his teeth, looking unpleased. "Hidz' ahun assy," he told me.

"Learn how to speak, dobe," was my stern reply. "That jumble you just blurted doesn't mean anything."

He rinsed his mouth thoroughly, and looked up again, "This thing tastes like shit," he said, wrinkling his nose. "I've been wanting to let someone know."

Snorting, I took the toothpaste, and began brushing my own teeth. I could feel the dobe's eyes on me as he waited, nervous.

"These feel weird," he mumbled, indicating his clothes. I glanced at him. The black shirt was tight against his chest, revealing his build. His jeans were lighter than those I wore, looser as well, since I suspected he wouldn't enjoy having his legs bound tightly just yet. Shrugging, I rinsed my mouth.

"It's decent," I told him. "The girl are going to come running after you."

He grinned weakly. "I'm scared," he admitted. "What if-"

"Don't you even start with 'what if's'," I growled. Then a thought occurred. "Aren't your eyes hurting?"

"A little," he said, shrugging. "Artificial light doesn't hurt as bad. And I brought sunglasses."

"Dr. Hatake warned my teachers, so you could come to class," I smirked as I added, "And I tell you right now I'm not giving you a choice."

He shrugged. "What's the course?"

"French."

Naruto stared at me. "You take French? In a medical school?"

"I don't want to stay here forever, dobe. I need to learn foreign languages if I want to travel. Now come on." I opened the door and pushed him out, stopping when he brought a hand up to his face, groaning. "What is it?"

"Smells," he mumbled, slowly uncovering his nose. "Wasn't ready for it. Let's go."

We walked down the halls at a rapid pace, soon crossing the hospital-college limit. I led him directly to our class, which was situated on the third floor. We entered the classroom last, and professor Iruka approached us. "Naruto, welcome. Dr. Hatake just called." To my classmates, he added, "Naruto has been home schooled in the past seven years, due to health problems. I hope you'll help him get accustomed to the university life."

They nodded, and I noticed with some amusement that some of the girls had already started checking the dobe over. Naruto flushed, mumbled thanks, and went to sit down, as far away from the windows as he could afford. I slid into the chair beside him, and glanced to the other side of the room. I caught Neji's eye and motioned my query. He raised an eyebrow and then pulled the curtains, cutting out most of the sunlight. Next to me, the dobe sighed in relief.


Review, and hop on to the next chappie kiddies...