Mad World
Chapter 7 - House Arrest
Naruto blinked. He was in a different place, again. Apparently he went under as soon as the pain in his head grew really strong. It came at random times, and he had no real warning when it did come. So he had to be quick and thorough with his questions. That was the plan. During the day so far he'd gone under several times but also come up for air once, but he'd still been in that other bedroom. It was odd. Usually when he came to, he was around someone. Now he was in a different room…and in Sasuke's arms again. Did the pervy bastard get a kick out of molesting him while he was unconscious or something?
"Sasuke…why are you hugging me?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke stiffened when he spoke, and he pulled away, mumbling 'sorry' dejectedly. This was not the Sasuke he knew. Where was he now? Naruto inspected the room he was in, and didn't like what he saw. He was in a big metal box, with a toilet, sink, bed, and one door. Sasuke was standing in front of it. Naruto tried to move his arms, he had intended to grab Sasuke by the neck and force him to tell him what was going on. But, he couldn't move his arms. Naruto looked down at himself and found his arms bound to his chest by a straight jacket. It wasn't comfortable at all and he didn't even have any leeway to move his arms a bit to get the blood flowing. What, did they just want his arms to suddenly never be useable again? Whoever 'they' were.
"Alright Sasuke. I don't know how much time I have, it seems like I can't control how long I'm awake before I pass out so answer my questions as quick as you can." Naruto told him. Sasuke nodded.
"Where are we?"
"The sanatorium in Konoha, the highest security wing they have, and I'm the only one allowed to visit you."
"Why am I here?" Naruto had difficulty getting that question out. He was in the sanatorium? In the high security wing? What had he done? By the look on Sasuke's face, he wasn't going to like the answer.
"Two years ago, when you found me in one of Orochimaru's bases, he put you under a genjutsu that lasted three days. When you woke up, all the stress the technique caused to your mind forced you to regress mentally to the age of seven and lose all your memories of everyone. For the past two years you've been in the minimum security wing of the sanatorium and Sakura has been visiting you every day since you were admitted." Sasuke answered him quickly, as Naruto had asked. Yet, it took a few minutes for his words to sink in. Two years? He'd lost two years? The mental age of a seven year old? Naruto couldn't imagine anything more mortifying.
"When did you get home?" Naruto bit out, he hadn't even gotten to be there when they'd found Sasuke and brought him home. Wow, he really was just as weak as Orochimaru said he was.
"A little over two weeks ago. I only started visiting you a week ago, though. The reason you're back at all like this…is probably because I brought back so many of your memories so quickly that your seven year old state and your normal self are now fighting for control. Or at least…I think that's what the nurses said to me last night."
"Oh, is there any way for me to try harder to stay in control?"
"I don't know." Sasuke admitted, "I can try and not be, er…hugging you when you do get control again. But it'll be kinda hard cuz your other self is sorta…clingy."
Naruto hung his head, blushing profusely. Just great. When he was 'out' he was all over Sasuke…just what he wanted his rival to see. All of this information he'd just been given was threatening to swallow him whole. He could feel the pain start to grow and Naruto panicked. NO I'm NOT going back. In an act of desperation he threw himself forward towards Sasuke. He had to stay in control; he had to stay in control. The pain was fading again, but it was making him shake and was taking all of his concentration. He noticed that as Sasuke cautiously put his arms around him, that the pain nearly disappeared. Naruto chuckled bitterly.
"Just great. If I can stay like this long enough without hating you I think I can stay 'in control'." Naruto laughed.
Sasuke laughed too, but it was weak and shaky. Naruto noticed that Sasuke was holding him as tightly was Sakura had. It like they were hoping, if they held him tight enough, that he wouldn't fade away. Naruto tried to imagine Sakura like that, for two years and no matter what he did he couldn't get her back. Then suddenly, Sasuke came home and spent a week with her and got her to be sort of half and half like Naruto was now. Naruto would feel so helpless. He didn't know how Sasuke and Sakura managed. Ugh…two yeeeears…Naruto thought in frustration. How could he just fall under like that for so long? Leave Sakura to find Sasuke by herself with Sai the asshole.
"I can't believe that you're finally home, and I was so busy sitting around here sucking my thumb to get to be there when we finally brought you back." Naruto groaned.
"You don't suck your thumb, if that's any consolation." Sasuke offered sarcastically.
"Oh, gee, good to know."
But Naruto's curiosity got the better of him, "What am I like, when I'm not, ya know, me…?"
Sasuke sighed, obviously trying to think of a reply. Naruto shifted, mumbling something about moving over to the bed because he was getting tired of standing. Sasuke wrapped an arm around Naruto's shoulder just in case and they shuffled over to the bed where they clambered onto it. Naruto maneuvered them so they both were leaning against the wall, and Naruto was leaning into Sasuke who still had an arm around his shoulders. Naruto felt awkward and embarrassed in the position but didn't want to give up control to his other self, which sounded idiotic even to him. For now he'd put up with it.
"At first, when Sakura 'introduced' me to you I hated it." Sasuke started, "Your younger self is a fan of coloring, just so you know, and he got me into it the little demon spawn."
"Younger me got you to…color?" Naruto asked, as if to clarify this ludicrous thought. He shook his head, chuckling.
"Yes, actually." Sasuke paused, "But I got used to it really fast. You hated me at first too, which isn't surprising but it was for really weird reasons."
"Like?"
"Like I was mean, and you thought that I thought you were stupid or something like that. But Sakura made you apologize to me and then pretty much left us alone. Something that I still haven't forgiven her for, mind you."
"I'm that terrible to be alone with?"
"When you're clingy, sort of."
Naruto calmed himself down enough that they carried on the conversation for a while. Naruto learning more and more about his supposed other self, becoming increasingly interested in how Sasuke would act in response to him that way. After they'd talked for a good deal of time, Naruto thought it would be a good idea to see how long he could keep himself in control without being close to Sasuke.
"Are you sure you want to try this?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm sure, now scoot away from me. Come back when I say so." Naruto instructed.
Sasuke detached himself and moved to the end of the bed so they weren't touching at all. The pain came back instantly, but not so intense Naruto could feel himself losing control. It was a minor ache as opposed to the painless relaxation he felt when leaning against Sasuke. Naruto forced himself to not focus on it, like he would if he hadn't known anything about what was really going on inside his head. When he did this the pain in his head grew, as if to say, 'Stop ignoring me!' Naruto concentrated on it again, fighting it back but he didn't think he could handle it. He reached out for Sasuke who hurried onto the bed and wrapped him up in his arms. The pain vanished and Naruto let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He gasped and panted trying to regain his breath and leaned weakly against Sasuke's stomach. Sasuke was kneeling next to him while Naruto sat, making Naruto's nose dip slightly against Sasuke's bellybutton. It was an awkward position but at least Naruto was still in control. Smirking slightly, he decided to see how different Sasuke was with younger him. He told Sasuke that wanted to try again and let him get to the end of the bed.
Naruto wasn't sure if he would be able to fake younger him well enough, he hoped he could. If he didn't and Sasuke caught him it was be extremely embarrassing. The pain was there, but not enough to be a threat. But all the same he bent over, pretending to be in real agony, hissing as if he'd just received a particularly strong jab of pain in his head. Sasuke rushed forward to counter it, and once in his arms again Naruto lifted his head up and looked around, acting confused. He looked up at Sasuke and asked what had happened in his most childish voice. Naruto could feel Sasuke tense and then sigh.
"Nothing, nothing happened."
"Oh, okay."
Naruto wriggled out of Sasuke's arms and waddled on his knees over to the pillow side, falling down face first because of the straight jacket. Who would have thought that binding up your arms would have such an influence on your use of your legs? Sasuke chuckled slightly and helped him roll over. Naruto pouted at him and struggled against the straight jacket. He used all of his will to summon some fake tears and managed to get his eyes to water.
"Why do I have to wear this thing, Sasukeee?" He whined as pitifully as he could.
Sasuke looked away from him and sighed, "I don't know. It seems kind of silly that you do, huh?"
Naruto nodded, wishing he could get Sasuke to talk more without being too obvious. He lifted himself up into a sitting position and leaned his head against Sasuke's stomach, nuzzling against his soft linen shirt. Sasuke let out another one of his soft chuckles, which he seemed more prone to when Naruto was his 'younger self'. He settled down next to Naruto on the bed, lying on his side and drawing Naruto into his arms. Hating himself for it, but curious as to how much Sasuke would do, Naruto snuggled closer, tucking his head under Sasuke's chin and breathing against his neck. Naruto smirked, was that a shiver he just felt? Wiping the smirk off his face and replacing it with a playful look he quickly pressed his lips against Sasuke's neck and raspberry'd him. Sasuke growled at him and pushed him away, muttering something about 'stupid dobe'. Naruto blinked innocently at him. But then, this look spread onto Sasuke's face, much like the one that Naruto was used to when they sparred. It was that 'you're gonna get it' smirk. Naruto tried to roll over and inch away like a worm due to his bound arms, but of course Sasuke caught him easily and pinned him to the bed.
Naruto yelped, and sadly he wasn't faking that. He inwardly reprimanded himself for making such a girlish sound and barely had time to accidentally make another one when Sasuke flipped him over and started tickling him within an inch of his life. Naruto laughed; of course he laughed he was being tickled. But apparently he wasn't laughing the right way and that's what clued Sasuke in. The Uchiha avenger turned and eyed him, and Naruto blushed. It was very hard to make pretend little kid faces when your rival has his arm wedge in between your legs, his hand under your knee and his forearm resting soundly on your chest to hold you down. Naruto gave him a bashful smile and Sasuke sighed heavily.
"Don't you ever fake me out like that again, do you hear me?!" Sasuke shouted. He pulled his arm out from under Naruto's leg and laid it on top of his thighs. With an annoyed groan Sasuke collapsed on top of him, resting his cheek on Naruto's stomach.
Naruto lifted his head up as much as he could to look at Sasuke. But he could only see the back of his head because his face was turned away from him. "Would I really have acted like that?"
"Shut up dobe."
Naruto let his head fall back onto the bed again. Okay, so pretending to be his kid self was probably a bad move. He was just curious. But Sasuke wasn't going to answer any of his questions now, he bet. Just fan-fucking-tastic. In protest to the angry snuggling Sasuke was doing, Naruto rolled onto his side only to be roughly slammed down onto his back again. Naruto let out an indignant 'OW' at this but Sasuke merely grumbled at him to not move and it wouldn't happen again.
"So is it completely normal for younger me and you to have sporadic tickle fights?" Naruto inquired conversationally. Sasuke turned his face towards Naruto and glared at him, but also with a slight tinge of pink to his cheeks.
"Well damn, I wish I had a camera and my hands to use it to capture the only Uchiha Sasuke blush to ever come into existence!" Naruto crowed.
Sasuke faltered a moment before glaring again, this time without the miniscule blush that had been there before. Naruto smirked at him and Sasuke let his head fall back onto Naruto's stomach. It was then that Naruto paused to look at Sasuke and realize just how truly exhausted he appeared. He'd apparently been spending a lot of time here, and working his ass off to get Naruto to go back to normal. Now here he was, normal, well kind of. All Naruto could do was pester him with questions (some valid, most not), and freak him out probably way more than he had shown. Naruto frowned at the thought of apologizing and instead chose to ask a question he truly meant.
"So, if all you're gonna do is angrily nuzzle my belly and pin me to the bed what's the point of me being my old self? Why don't you let go of me long enough for kid me to take over, huh?" Naruto spat out.
"Shut up Naruto, I want to see how long I can keep you here, so I have a more impressive number to give the administrators. If you can stay in control and become your old self for longer and longer, they may let you out of here." Sasuke explained neutrally before indignantly adding, "And I'm not nuzzling you."
Naruto watched as Sasuke let his head fall back to his place on his stomach and then promptly resumed his 'not nuzzling'. Naruto laughed sarcastically, which felt funny with Sasuke's head on his belly and arm on his chest. Eventually, during the somewhat comfortable silence Naruto ended up falling asleep, he didn't know when or how but when he woke up, he once again was in a different place. Naruto glanced around and found himself in a very large bedroom with the Uchiha mon on the wall directly opposite him. He propped himself up on his hands and…his hands?! Naruto moved his arms freely, happy to be able to move them again without the restraints of his straight jacket. But, he was alone. Where was Sasuke?
Sasuke glowered at Naruto with as much energy as he could muster. He was so exhausted. That was the third time Naruto had referenced his overly physically affectionate actions. Sasuke was having a hard enough time controlling them or understanding them as it was without Naruto pointing them out or making snide comments. To think he wanted this brat back. He sighed. When Naruto had blown on his neck like that, he'd felt a growl well up in his throat that was quite unlike the one he permitted the blonde to hear. If that hadn't made him mortified enough, while he was tickling Naruto he found out he'd been faking the whole time. He had frozen in absolute terror. This, Sasuke realized, was the problem of having become so close to younger!Naruto and then being around older!Naruto again. He slipped up. Those personalities garnered very different Sasukes, and he never wanted to become the wrong one around Naruto. Well, he just had, and now Naruto couldn't stop making comments about it.
Eventually, he felt the little brat fall asleep beneath him, and Sasuke gingerly pulled away. How long had he managed to stay in control like that? Sasuke checked his watch. It'd been nearly six hours. Would that be enough to persuade the administrator? He hoped so. Sasuke wobbly moved over to the door on his partially numb legs and unlocked the door, and let himself out of the room. Then, he went out the door into the rest of the high security wing, trying his hardest to remember the way back to the first door. He wandered around, got lost two times, and found the door nearly ready to beat it down. As impatient as he was, Sasuke made his way to the administrative offices ready to fight with the head of the sanatorium until he went hoarse.
Well, that hadn't been so bad. Sasuke decided reasonably. Naruto was allowed to go home with Sasuke, but not allowed to live on his own. If he managed to stay in full control without any lapses for at least a year, then he could live on his own and return to duty as a ninja. If there was a lapse, and a minor one at that, then the year countdown would restart. Sasuke sighed. The arrangement was made confidentially, and the head promised not to inform anyone of the move. Sasuke knew that once Sakura found out that he'd taken Naruto home with him, and without telling her, she'd beat the crap out of him. He was sure of it. But, it would be worth it. Right?
Sasuke ventured back into the ward where they kept the really crazy people, with some spare clothes for Naruto from his old room. He was going to make him get changed, and he was given the key to unlock the clasps keeping his straight jacket on. Then, after signing him out officially, he would be allowed to take Naruto home. However, Sasuke encountered a problem when he arrived back in Naruto's 'room'. The dobe refused to wake up. He might have well been completely knocked out. Sasuke poked him in the eye even and he didn't wake up. Sasuke groaned, not sure how exactly he was going to go about this. He started first unlocking the clasps and letting Naruto's arms fall down from their restraints. Then, carefully he flipped him over onto his belly and turning his head to the side so he could breathe. Sasuke stared awkwardly down at the mess of strings and buttons that kept the damn contraption on him. He growled. This was trying his patience. Seriously.
So he untied the bow at the top and then scoured the strings with his eyes. Okay, so they were kind of like shoe laces, crossing each other diagonally into the opposite holes. Gradually he started pulling them loose until he reached the bottom and the strings were all undone. To his infinite frustration Sasuke discovered that there were in fact buttons hiding beneath the string and he then undid those. But those buttons were slippery and without girly fingernails he had a hard time getting a grip on them. Sasuke was truly amazed that while he was angrily swearing and working clothes off of him, Naruto still managed to peacefully sleep, snoring like a wood chipper. After he got the straight jacket open in the back he peeled it further open and rolled Naruto over again so he could get the damn thing off. Sasuke paused after he'd gotten it all the way off, considering putting it back on. There wasn't another shirt beneath it, and Sasuke found himself staring at Naruto's bare chest. He blinked as though he were trying to get something out of his eyes. Sasuke had seen Naruto's bare chest before, it was nothing new. Well, yes it was. Sasuke had run off when they'd been thirteen? Then, the next time he'd seen him, Naruto had been fully clothed. Then another two years had passed. Well, five years had definitely changed Naruto's appearance a great deal. Sasuke swallowed and in a determined fashion ignored Naruto's matured physique.
Instead he reached over to grab the shirt that he'd picked out for Naruto and started maneuvering him into it. A conked out Naruto was very hard to dress. Sasuke had to lean forward and support his back while somehow yanking the shirt over his lolling head. The pants, were worse. Sasuke stood in front of the bed staring for quite a while at the drawstrings on Naruto's canvas pants. Why were they so intimidating? They were pants. Sasuke reached out a tentative hand and yanked one of the strings out of its uniform bow. He watched as the hem fell a little lower, revealing the top of his boxers and a trace of coarse blonde hair. Sasuke shivered involuntarily like he had when Naruto had surprised him with that raspberry to the neck. He stared woefully at the jeans that were sitting folded neatly on the bed next to Naruto. Why couldn't they just suddenly appear on him on their own? Why did Sasuke have to do it? Because the stupid administrator wants the sanatorium's clothes back before he leaves. Sasuke thought absently.
Sighing, he pulled Naruto's pants down and off. Sasuke averted his eyes, even though technically Naruto still has his boxers on. He was being so stupid about this. Grabbing the jeans and unfolding them he started working Naruto's legs into the pants and pulling them up. But then, the problem arose where the stopped. Naruto's ass was rested on the bed. Sasuke tried to somehow sneak them on without having to touch Naruto at all. But it didn't work. Sasuke groaned. This just wasn't fair. He slid his hand under Naruto's back and lifted him up slightly and tried desperately to yank the jeans up. He was met with failure. His face heating up Sasuke moved his hand an inch or so farther south and applied upward pressure. Again, the jeans did not go up. Sasuke realized with much trepidation that his face was directly over Naruto's crotch as he was doing this. He felt like screaming. Ah, to hell with it. Sasuke blatantly reached his hand down and cupped Naruto's ass in his palm and yanked the jeans up over it. Then, faster than he had ever moved before Sasuke jerked his hand out from under Naruto and allowed him to fall onto the bed. Sasuke felt the urge to run his hand under some scalding hot water.
After that ordeal was over, Sasuke zipped up the jeans and buttoned them before folding the other clothes and laying them on the bed near the pillow. Sasuke placed one arm under Naruto's knees and the other under his back, tilting Naruto's head onto his shoulder. Off he went to sign him out. The walk home was by far the oddest thing. No one seemed to be out on the town to catch him carrying Naruto Uzumaki bridal style. This was very helpful as Sasuke had feared being seen by someone far more than being beaten to a pulp by Sakura. When Sasuke reached the estate, he opened the front door awkwardly with one hand and leaned against it, nearly falling into the house.
He awkwardly reached around behind himself for the door handle and threw the door shut behind him, fiddling with the lock for a few frustrating minutes. Sasuke shuffled down the hall into his bedroom, wandering into the room enough to set Naruto down on the bed. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearing midnight. Sasuke crawled over Naruto onto the bed and slid under the covers. He worked the covers out from under Naruto and then over him, carefully moving him away from the edge so he wouldn't roll off the bed. Then, then Sasuke fell asleep, more exhausted than he'd ever been in his life.
When Sasuke woke up, Naruto was still peacefully snoring away next to him. Sasuke shot a look at the clock and saw that it was eleven in the morning. Naruto had been asleep since nine last night. All of what had happened yesterday must have drained him. Sasuke decided to go start making breakfast for the both of them while Naruto got a little closer to waking up. He almost expected to see Sakura waiting for him in his kitchen, but thankfully she was nowhere to be found. Sasuke sighed in relief before going in search of some food to make for Naruto. Smirking to himself, Sasuke found the ramen and started making some for both of them. When the microwave beeped at him he took both ramen cups out and put them on the counter, carefully folding the lids down and waiting.
By the time they were done, Naruto had awkwardly shuffled into the kitchen, as though he had followed the smell. Sasuke stiffened; waiting to see which Naruto he would enjoy the company of this morning. Naruto padded over to the counter and inspected which flavors of ramen were sitting there. He picked the chicken one and grabbed the chopsticks before sitting down at the kitchen table to robotically inhale the whole cup. Sasuke shook his head, joining Naruto at the table where he ate his ramen with much better manners. Naruto finished his breakfast and belched loudly.
"So, teme, where am I?" Naruto asked him.
"In my house, the sanatorium let me take you home last night." Sasuke started cautiously.
"Oh." Naruto muttered, "Why didn't they let me go to my own apartment?"
Sasuke grinned inwardly, he had the ol' dobe. Still. Maybe he was back for good. "Because you need to be watched to make sure there aren't any more lapses back to your younger self."
"Oh, that sucks. I have to live with you?" Naruto groaned.
"For a year, with no lapses at all."
"A YEAR?!" Naruto shouted, "A whole year, 24/7, all the time, with you?"
Sasuke grimaced at the thought. He'd gotten pretty used to the dobe, but mostly to his younger self. If he remembered going on extended missions with Naruto when they were younger, they hated each other by the end of the first day. Often times Kakashi would have to peel them off each other and hold them at arm's length away. Still, held by the collar the both of them would swing wildly at each other in mid air, hoping to land at least one blow. Naruto got up and threw his trash away, absentmindedly grabbing Sasuke's too. This was new. A very, very small thing that Naruto wouldn't have done. Okay, so it was something as miniscule as picking up Sasuke's trash for him without being asked, but for the dobe that would have been a compliment when he was younger.
Naruto got up and walked out of the room. Sasuke fidgeted like a new parent and called after him, "Where you going, dobe?"
"To take a shower! Don't try and follow me in, either, cuz you may have no qualms about grabbing my ass and cuddling but I don't swing that way!"
Sasuke froze. Had Naruto been faking it? The sleeping thing? Sasuke sincerely hoped he hadn't been faking it, but with Naruto one could never be sure. Unless he wanted to be consistently pranked for a whole year, Sasuke had to find something for Naruto to do to keep himself entertained. He thought about going into town and buying some video games, but he didn't want to leave Naruto alone in his parents' house. Who knows what kind of stuff he would get into? Sasuke listened to the sound of the running water coming from the bathroom and considered his options. He could call someone and have them go into town and buy things for him. But Sasuke wasn't sure who he'd be able to call and ask to buy loads of electronics for him without asking any questions that Sasuke would be hesitant to answer. First, Sasuke went through all the names he could think of in his head. Neji…probably didn't play them, and would be too suspicious. Chouji, while ultimately dense and kindhearted, would definitely mention it to his girlfriend Ino (Sasuke still couldn't believe they were together) about the favor.
All Sasuke needed was someone with disturbingly unlimited knowledge of the world of video games and movies, who was relatively dense and…wait, he could call up Kiba! Sasuke congratulated himself on his problem solving only to be confronted with the conundrum of whether or not Kiba was talking to him. Well, there was no real harm in trying. Sasuke wandered over the telephone and grabbed it off the hook before going off in search of the phone book. After getting a hold of Kiba he was first confronted by Hinata. Sasuke blinked, confused as to why he would get Hinata when he was calling Kiba.
"Um, sorry, I think I have the wrong number Hinata, I was trying to call Kiba." Sasuke muttered, checking the number on the page he was staring at.
"No, you h-have the right number Sasuke-kun. Let me go get him for you."
Sasuke arched an eyebrow, this was an interesting development. Hinata was at Kiba's house. Though technically they were all jounin now, perhaps they still held group meetings? The bonds formed while in one's three man cell of genins was typically very strong. It was not surprising when team mates still talked on a regular basis well into adulthood. But…Hinata at Kiba's house? Sasuke rolled his eyes and waited patiently for Kiba to pick up the phone. When he did, Sasuke was relieved to hear a rather easy going tone in his voice rather than any true malice.
"Hey Sasuke, what's up?"
"Hi Kiba, I need you to do me a favor."
"Kay, I'm pretty free today, what can I do ya for?"
Sasuke removed a rather unpleasant image from his mind before explaining his predicament. Kiba seemed relatively excited at the thought of going all out in the electronics department. He was even more enthused when Sasuke told him that he was free to put the charge on Sasuke's tab for whatever he got. He told Kiba he needed the best entertainment system he could find, and all of the best gaming consoles and titles out there. Also, buying up 90 percent of the movie section was also reasonable if the teen was so inclined. Kiba agreed, after writing down the specifics and told him he'd be by later to drop off the stuff. Sasuke thanked him and hung up the phone in time for Naruto to come wandering into the kitchen.
"Who were you talking to?" Naruto asked him.
"Kiba, I'm having him get some stuff for me in town."
"Oh, why didn't you just go get it yourself?"
"I'm not sure I'm supposed to leave you alone this early on."
Naruto rolled his eyes and shifted his grip on the towel around his waist. He was obnoxiously dripping water onto the tiled floor of the kitchen, unaware that he was triggering Sasuke's OCD like crazy. Sasuke stared at Naruto for a few minutes with a 'what do you want?' glare, waiting for Naruto to get to the point of why he was standing in the kitchen in nothing but a towel.
"Didn't you bring all of my clothes here from the sanatorium?"
"Shit." Sasuke nearly smacked his forehead. "C'mon, you can borrow some of mine and we'll go pick up yours later."
"Fine." Naruto disappeared from the kitchen and meandered down the hall into Sasuke's room.
Sasuke noticed, to his chagrin, that Naruto had left a trail of droplets on the floor all the way down the hall. He followed Naruto into his room and watched him looking around the room in confusion. Sasuke strode over to the dresser and opened the top drawer, first pulling out some plain blue boxers. Then he rifled through the other drawers getting some jeans and a random t shirt to hand to Naruto. After that, Sasuke politely left the room and went to answer the suddenly ringing phone in the kitchen. He picked it up and heard that it was Hinata.
"Hello, um, S-sasuke-kun. It's just that Kiba told me you'd asked him to pick some things up for you in town because you weren't able to leave the house today."
"Yes, I did. I appreciate your concern, I'm fine, I just am a bit tired. And since I have no real knowledge of that kind of stuff anyways I figured Kiba could help me." It was a smooth lie, and he was proud of it, until Hinata offered to help out as well.
"Well, if you're unable to go out, would you like me to go and get you some groceries at the market? I'm on my way there anyways, and if you're out of food and can't go out, I wouldn't mind…" Hinata had less of a stutter, Sasuke noticed, but her voice was still just as quiet. So he had to jab at the volume on the phone to make sure he could hear her.
"Um, it's alright, I think I…" Sasuke checked the fridge and the pantry and was thoroughly disgruntled to find that they were in fact out of food, "Actually, that would be very helpful, Hinata."
She went off in search of some paper and a writing implement before asking him what it was he'd like for her to get. After Sasuke supplied her with a list, he hung up and was again pestered by Naruto.
"Who was that?" Naruto questioned as he fell into a seat at the kitchen table. Sasuke explained the situation to him and Naruto nodded weakly. Sasuke leaned against the counter and the two stared at each other.
"What do you want, dobe?" Sasuke growled. Naruto leaned his chair back on two legs and gave Sasuke a look as though it should be obvious.
"Entertain me!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke scowled. Maybe it would have been easier to just let him stay in the crazy house.
TBC…
