Pebbles of the Sand~


P r e t e n c e


"What the fuck!" Naruto exclaimed as he was pulled inside an abandoned classroom late one afternoon. Everyone had already left, excited for their winter half term break, and most of the remaining students were those who belonged to the student council, along with a few athletes making their last rounds for the season.

He pulled his arm away as he was pushed a little roughly against the wall. His usually calm blue eyes were now dark, glaring straight at whoever yanked him so violently inside the room. Fiery blue eyes meet bored obsidian orbs.

"What the hell is wrong with you teme?!" Naruto yelled, massaging his abused arm in the process. His initial anger faded to mere irritation once he learned who it was being so brutal towards him..

"We need to talk." Sasuke answered him calmly.

"Talk? TALK?! We always need to talk! I'm getting tired of these stupid talks. Everyone has gone crazy! My sister and Miyuki keep coddling me like a baby, talking about this stupid engagement problem of yours. Then you tell me our deal is off, and now you want to talk again? Seriously? I'm going to go INSANE!" Naruto exclaimed, tugging at his golden hair in distress.

"Calm down dobe, and stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Stop tearing your hair, I don't want a bald boyfriend."

Naruto stared at the taller boy for a moment, attempting to digest what he had just heard. "Sorry?"

"I said, I don't want a bald boyfriend. Have you gone deaf?" Sasuke retorted.

Naruto opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His face contorted, brows knitting together, trying to understand. "What boyfriend?"

Sasuke settled himself comfortably on a chair, the late afternoon sun penetrated the glass wall of the room looking out over the main college green. "Do you want the deal to continue?"

The blonde teen scratched his head, his confusion growing yet more with Sasuke's question. "Huh? Well, I mean, sure, but, well, we can't. You're engaged to Miyuki and . . . you told me it was off already."

"Neither Miyuki nor myself have consented to this engagement, and the only thing that might revoke the contract, so to speak, is if I introduce someone to my parents. Since it's a little too late to look for someone who could act as my boyfriend, we decided you could take the part. That way, I'm still helping you get the attention of the person that interests you, but there's more incentive on my side than just the absence of fangirls." Sasuke explain.

"We? And what makes you honestly think I would help you? Do you have any idea what our parents will think when you announce this? Do you honestly think Aunt Mikoto and my mum will let us slip like that after they learn that, well, anou , that we're you know? Going out as… as a couple."

"Kyuubi-san said we can call it off later –"

"And nee-chan had something to do with this?!"

Sasuke smirked slightly. "Yes."

"I'm, I'm… Gah!" Naruto stuttered, and started tugging on his hair once again. "But no one would believe us. Here, maybe they do, but at home? Everyone knows that we don't get along well…"

"Usuratonkachi! That's why we need to make them believe. We're all coming home this break, and we need to pull some stunt to make them trust us." Sasuke countered, massaging his temples in irritation.

"Sasuke, I'm going to trust you on this one . . . but if it goes wrong . . ."

"It won't dobe"

"You'd better think of something good" he muttered under his breath.


Naruto couldn't believe it. It's wasn't that he hated the idea; in fact he was quite thrilled to know he could spend some more 'quality' time being Sasuke's boyfriend – even if it was only a pretence. But he had no clue what the other teen had planned to make the Uchihas believe that they were a real couple.

"I hope mum is alright about this . . . I won't last a day if she starts acting like a weird yaoi fan girl the way I know Aunt Mikoto will the moment she hears about this." He mumbled under his breath while his sister Kyuubi manoeuvred her car toward the exclusive village where the Namikaze's estate was located. The village also housed the Uchiha's mansion.

"Calm down kit, everything's going to be fine. Trust me." Kyuubi replied, a wide smile showing off her perfect white teeth.

"And I never thought you'd be plotting things behind my back with that teme nee-chan!" Naruto accused his sister.

"Oh, don't be mad kit. You know I love you – and, I only want what's best for you."

"And you think that this is the best for me?"

Kyuubi smiled then nodded, "Who knows? Everything might end up for real, ne Naru-chan?"

"Whatever."

Kyuubi ruffled her brother's already tousled hair while the Namikaze's huge white iron gates slowly openedin front of them. "Here we are!" she announces in singsong voice.

Naruto rubbed his forehead in apprehension before stepping out of the car whose door was currently held open by the Namikaze's butler. "Welcome home young master." Harold greeted him. Naruto smiled at the old man, nodding his thanks then ran inside the door and loudly announced his return:

"Mum! Dad! I'm home!"


"What are you saying Sasuke?" Fugaku demanded, his voice held no emotion and his eyes were as cold and rigid as his posture.

"I'm not going to marry Miyuki, father," Sasuke answered, staring back unflinchingly "I'm already involved with someone, and I lov - …like him a lot."

"Him?" Fugaku asked, the corners of his mouth turning down and his brows knotted more in confusion and disapproval.

"Yes father, him."

"Don't play with me Sasuke. You are not in any position to cancel this engagement." Fugaku told him roughly, his voice deep and authoritative, ringing through the Uchiha's huge sitting room. A fire blazed in the hearth and the older man banged his fisted hand down on the table next to him. "And a male?" he snorted, "How could you possibly strengthen our clan with a male partner? And what kind of family does this boy belong too?"

"Father, mother?" Itachi interjected "the reason you committed Sasuke to someone without his knowledge or permission was because you were afraid that he would grow old alone and bitter, right? So, what's the point in continuing if he's already emotionally attached with someone, even if it is a boy?" the eldest heir to the Uchiha fortune was currently sitting comfortably on one of the velvety loveseats of the room, his legs were crossed and a glass of wine was in his hand.

"I'm not really concerned about the gender of this person Itachi, my concern lies more with the family to which this person belongs. If Sasuke ended up with a male companion for the rest of his life, it would be acceptable only if that person belonged to a good family. But a boy coming from just anywhere? I cannot agree to that. The engagement is on and that's final!" Fugaku boomed, his dark stare boring hard into his youngest son.

"Do we know this boy honey?" Mikoto asked, pulling herself away from her husband's side and sitting down beside Sasuke.

"Father's is not interested, so there's no point telling you" Sasuke said brattily.

"Well I guess Naruto-kun will have to live with a broken heart. Poor little sunshine." Itachi countered, a sly smirk forming on his lips as he sipped at his wine.

"Naruto-kun? As in, Kushina's Naruto-kun?" Mikoto asked, her dark brown eyes widening and lighting up her face by just thinking of her best friend's youngest child.

"Yes mother." Sasuke answered quietly, his face still devoid of any emotion.

"Fugaku darling, I think Naruto-chan is more than enough for an Uchiha right? Besides, I would love to have that boy around here. He's such a doll." Mikoto told her husband, eyes twinkling with excitement.

Fugaku closed his eyes, and nodded slightly to his beloved wife. "You're right. However" he added before Mikoto could celebrate" I would like to observe the two of you for the meantime. I'm not going to call off this engagement until I'm convinced that the two of you are seriously connected."

"But father, Naruto-kun is with his family. It's the only time he can spend with them." Itachi pointed out.

"He's right darling, but we can still see him since he's only a few blocks away from our place. Isn't it right Sasuke?" Mikoto added.

"Yes mother. You'll see him here often."

"How exciting!"

"I honestly don't understand how the two of you . . . ended up with each other. You used to want to tear each other's throats out when you were young." Fugaku observed, feeling there was something not quite right with the situation.

"Oh darling, don't you know the saying "the more you hate the more you love"? Well this is a perfect example. Besides, things do change." Mikoto coaxed her husband, putting her soft hands on the man's shoulders.

"Let's just wait and see." The man replied, his eyes not leaving his sons and the exchange of a look he could not decipher.


Colourful leaves falling from almost barren trees danced in the air as the cold autumn wind rattled them from their branches. The sky was dull, and filled with ashen coloured clouds as Sasuke parked his car in the Namikaze's drive before stepping out into the cold air. He pulled his thick corduroy jacket close to his body and then stalked up to the front door.

Harold was already waiting for him and the old man opened the door with a slight bow, allowing Sasuke to step in and onto the white marble flooring, before leading him deeper the warm and inviting Namikaze manor.

A squeal and a tight hug greeted him as he entered the leaving room. Kushina's long auburn hair was all he could see as the small woman gave him one firm squeeze before letting him go. "You're such a darling Sasuke-kun! I never thought this day would come! I always wanted you to end up with my Naru baby; after all, the two of you are so perfect for each other!"

"Mum!" Naruto's voice woke him up from his stupor and a strong heave relieved him from Kushina's grasp.

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetheart, I just can't help myself! Sasuke-kun is so adorable after all. Now I know you two need some time on your own, so, we'll be off ne?" Kushina said, her eyes sparkling in glee. She then proceeded to drag her slightly stunned husband from the room.

"I'm sorry about that teme," Naruto said to him. "Let's go up my room, I don't think it's a good idea if we "talk business" here."

Sasuke grunted slightly and followed the golden haired boy to his room. Before they could step onto the grand staircase however, Kushina popped out from nowhere, smiling up at them in what Sasuke deemed a somewhat worrying manner.

"Oh, are you boys going up to Naruto-chan's room?" Kushina asked interestedly.

"Mom!" Naruto whined. "Don't do something stupid okay?"

"Me? I wouldn't! What makes you think that? Now go and enjoy yourself." The red head replied, just a little too sweetly.

Sasuke and Naruto stared at the petite woman for a moment, not quite believing her display of innocence. The blonde teen then grabbed his friend's wrist and pulled him out of his mother's view.

Sasuke was shoved inside a spacious and well-decorated room. It was elegant by all means; the dark blue and orange theme though contrasting was quite pleasing. It was tidy, and the king sized bed in the centre of the room appeared inviting. Books were properly shelved on one wall, a wide screen flat TV was placed in front of the bed, and there were plenty of other little comforts scattered around. He never thought the dobe's room would be quite so clean as this; he had always been under the impression that with Naruto's personality, the blonde's room would be as messy as his mind.

The sound of keys being turned in a lock brought his attention back to the bedroom's owner. Naruto was wearing comfortable, loose cotton pants and a simple white sweater. He motioned for him to take a seat on a couch near the huge glass window overlooking the Namikaze's garden.

Sasuke removed his jacket, placed it on the arm chair while he watched Naruto as the blonde settled himself down, a small black coffee table separating them.

"So, what now?" Naruto asked impatiently. He pulled his legs up onto the chair and sat cross legged.

"We need to act like we're a real couple in front of everyone - especially in front of my father." Sasuke said.

"It's not that hard to make my parents accept us you know, but my mom keeps telling me that we didn't have any romantic link before and she's a bit puzzled how we end up 'we'. She keeps bugging me to tell her." Naruto huffed, while scratching his head.

"Listen, whatever I do when we're in front of them just don't act surprised. We can't plan anything when we can't predict people's movements. Just trust me."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Trust you? That's easier said than done bastard."

"What do you mean by that dobe?" Sasuke growled in irritation.

"You're a sadistic, arrogant, bastard Sasuke, how could I possibly trust you?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw, if he didn't need the idiot so much he would have punched him straight in the face. "Just do as I say dobe. It's not like you can do anything about this."

"I don't understand why I need to be dragged into your problem you know? You, nee-chan and Miyuki owe me big time." Naruto replied, moving from his place as the phone rang. "…if only I don't love you…" He mumbled quietly on his own before picking the phone on his bed table.

Sasuke wondered what the blonde dobe was murmuring about but he put to the back of his brain after assuming it was merely more insults being thrown his way...


--AN--

Pebbles: Gyah! Gomen gomen if it took me too long to update. Lots of things going on with my life right now. But please continue supporting the story.

Sasuke: Daho! (Stupid, moron, imbecile)

Pebbles: *raising her right eyebrow* What… did you say?

Sasuke:

Pebbles: *growls*

Sasuke: *glares*

Pebbles: Stupid bastard!

Sasuke: Stop borrowing dobe's word.

Pebbles: Am not you jerk!

Sasuke: You're a liar, you know that?

Pebbles: What makes you say that?

Sasuke: Just tell them you're too lazy to write, don't give your pathetic life as an excuse.

Pebbles: You insolent brat, I'm going to get you in the next chapter! I promise you, you… you…. Asshole!

Sasuke: *stares indifferently* baka.

Pebbles: *fumes with rage*

Sasuke: You can't, Kiri's writing the next chapter. Stop threatening things you can't do.

Pebbles: *Pulls hair in frustration* I'm telling on you to Kiri. *sob*

Sasuke: Stupid fan girls *backs away slowly*