Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine

-oXo-

Chapter 9: 23rd of July

It was early in the morning, the sun was rising on the 23rd of July; Sasuke's birthday. Naruto and Sasuke were still lying in bed. Naruto began to stir and woke up and he turned around to face Sasuke.

Sasuke was still fast asleep on his stomach and Naruto got an idea to surprise his raven; he put his leg over Sasuke and sat on his buttocks. Sasuke awoke and his eyes flashed open, then Naruto began to massage his back and his eyes closed again in pleasure.

"Happy birthday."

Naruto massaged Sasuke for some time and then Sasuke began to move. Naruto put his arms and legs on either side of Sasuke, so the raven could turn around. When he had, Naruto bowed forward very close to Sasuke's face. They stared each other in the eyes and then Naruto started kissing Sasuke on the mouth. Sasuke returned the kisses by pushing his tong into Naruto's mouth.

They laid there for a while only taking short breaks so they could breathe. A purring sound was heard and Sasuke intensified the kissing.

Finally Naruto broke loose and fell down next to Sasuke, both panting.

"Kakashi was right."

"About what?" Naruto asked confused.

"You do purr when we-"

"Eh~?" The purring stopped abruptly.

"Don't stop now."

"It's not something I can do on command, you know. It just… happens. I can't help it."

"Then I'll help you," Sasuke said, bending over Naruto, letting his hand slide over his torso and starting kissing him again. He let his other hand search for the red tail and stroked it a few times. Naruto began to swift his tail at the touch.

Sasuke reached up higher till he found the button which kept Naruto's boxers in place. He began tracing circles around the base of the tail and stroked it tenderly. Naruto tensed a bit at the touch and then moaned softly, but no purring. Sasuke had had enough; he pulled at the button to loosen the boxers.

"Sasuke?"

Then there came a knocking sound from the front door. Sasuke sighed and a 'damn' slipped his mouth. Naruto looked up at Sasuke, closed the button again and stood up from the bed. Sasuke lay grumbling and pulled the blanked over his head. Another knocking could be heard as Naruto quickly put on a shirt and some loose pants. Sasuke heard him stroll to the door and open it.

"Ohayo, Naruto. I wanted to congratulate Sasuke-kun before we would go on our mission."

Sasuke grumbled some more. Was this why they had been disturbed?

"I'll get him. Sit down, Sakura-chan," Naruto said, walking to the bedroom, while Sakura settled herself in a chair in the living room.

"Sasuke? Sakura-chan wants to see you before she goes on her mission. Come out of bed."

Sasuke folded the covers back and pulled some clothes on, while Naruto returned to Sakura. He grumbled softly all the while.

When Sasuke came into the room Sakura congratulated him, stayed to talk for a few more minutes and then had to go. Naruto in the mean time had gone to the kitchen to make breakfast.

When Sakura had left the apartment, Sasuke went to the kitchen and hugged the blond from behind. "Shall we finish what we started?" He put his head on Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto blushed. "You know that I have to go to Tsunade for another check-up later, right?"

Tsunade had told Naruto she wanted a check-up every week, to keep a closer eye on the fox as he tried breaking the seal.

"Hn. I forgot." It was safe to say that Sasuke was in a foul mood that morning.

-x-

Naruto stood up to clean the table. It was 5:43 pm, time to take a walk.

"You coming for a walk?"

Sasuke liked taking walks. It was something they would do together more and more often.

Sasuke stood up from the table as well and walked to the door. They put on their sandals and Naruto grasped his cape.

First they just strolled down the streets, where they met Lee who congratulated Sasuke exuberantly telling them all about youth and such. When they had finally shaken Lee off, they set out for the Hokage monument.

Sasuke wasn't sure why Naruto liked it so much to sit on the head of the person that had sealed the fox in him, but he couldn't disagree with how beautiful the view was from up there.

Sitting there for over 15 minutes, looking over Konoha, Naruto finally stood up. Slowly they walked back to Sasuke's apartment. It began raining and they ran the last part. It was a nice summer rain, not cold, but still wet. Naruto's spiky hair wasn't so spiky anymore. He shook his head to clear the raindrops and to annoy Sasuke.

Sasuke took out his keys and opened the door. Naruto pushed him inside and at that moment the light went on in the room and a loud 'Surprise! Happy birthday!' came from the room full of people.

Sasuke stood a little flabbergasted, but barely showed it, with his stoic face quickly intact. Though it hadn't been fast enough for Kakashi apparently, for he was having an inside joke, chuckling. Sasuke looked over to Naruto, who stood grinning in front of the door; as if Sasuke might want to run away.

"Surprise," he said again, "Hadn't expected that, right?"

Then Ino came walking forward, hugged Sasuke a little too long and kissed him (which he absolutely did not like and let it show, but Ino seemed immune). The party had started.

-x-

Sakura had not only invited everyone but had also told them about Naruto (or more precise, his tail). So they were prepared. Naruto had been very grateful to her. He hadn't looked forward to telling (or showing) them himself.

Ino, Sakura and Shikamaru were talking to Sasuke, who didn't look so annoyed anymore. Naruto came hurrying past Sasuke, having had enough of Guy-sensei and Lee's youth speech and how good he was in keeping things up in his 'condition'; fleeing over to Iruka, Kakashi and Sai.

"-mom told me, I was really surprised," Ino finished. Sakura laughed along with Ino. Shikamaru and Sasuke just stared.

When Ino was done laughing, she looked Sasuke straight in the eye. "So, how are you and Naruto doing? Already living together, I heard."

"Where did you hear that?" Sakura asked surprised. She was sure almost no one knew how close the two really were. She didn't even know herself precisely how close they were. That was why she kept guessing and asking things about their relation to them.

Ino switched her gaze to Sakura. "I just heard," she said simply. Now Sakura suspected she was just guessing.

"Then you heard wrong," Sasuke said.

"I told you not to believe all those gossip and especially not to ask them about it," Shikamaru waved to Sasuke. "Troublesome."

"Talking about gossip," Sakura said, "I heard you and Chouji-"

"-have a mission together tomorrow. That's right," Ino quickly finished Sakura's sentence. Sakura pulled up an eyebrow.

"STOP ASKING, KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Naruto's voice echoed through the room. Kakashi was looking very amused (somehow), Iruka looked a bit shocked and Sai looked somewhat interested (as far as that is possible) with his usual smile on his face. Naruto stalked past Tsunade and Yamato straight to Sasuke, looking rather annoyed.

"Did he ask about the purring?"

"Yes."

"Hn."

Sakura looked over to Kakashi and shook her head.

"Purring?" Ino was very interested.

"Don't ask," Naruto warned.

"That's so cute," Ino squeaked, "When?"

Naruto looked angry at her and wanted to move away, but Sasuke stepped in. "That's mostly only for me to hear," he simply said, successfully shutting Ino up about this. Shikamaru gave her an I-told-you-so look.

"So how are Kurenai-sensei and Akane-chan doing?" Sakura asked Shikamaru to change the topic.

"Just like a mother and her two-year old daughter should be: healthy."

Sakura looked over to Ino for a better explanation. "Last week Akane-chan was having a small fever and when she had drunk a bit too much orange juice, she managed to puke on Shikamaru." She giggled, Shikamaru looked a bit sour. "Temari said he smelled for two days. But Akane-chan is all better now."

Sasuke leaned over to Naruto to whisper. "Why did you do this again?"

Naruto looked back a bit surprised. "Because they are your friends and it's nice to have them over on your birthday"

"Just you would have been fine."

"Don't let what Kakashi-sensei said become true."

"About the purring?" Sasuke asked confused.

"No… about you wanting to be alone with me tonight, because… you know." A small blush crept up his face.

"Oh... he said that?"

Naruto nodded and Sasuke became silent. "Wait… you mean he was right?" Naruto's face fell somewhat.

Sasuke didn't answer.

"I think I can handle the purring questions now…" Naruto said, ready to turn away again.

"Did I hear the word purring?" Kiba came walking to them, followed by Akamaru.

"No," Naruto said a bit too fast.

"Tell me about it. I didn't know foxes could purr."

Kiba was a 'little' drunk and Naruto smelled it all too well. His eyes narrowed and he waved his hand in front of his nose.

"Kiba-kun, please," Hinata said, grasping his arm, "I will take you home."

"No~, the party just started."

"It's already 11:30, Kiba-kun. If your mother hears you were drunk again…" She didn't need to finish the sentence. Kiba shuddered, remembering his own birthday, or more precise the day after.

"Okay, I'll go," he said obediently and walked to the entrance with Hinata and Shino.

"Wow, didn't know Hinata had twisted Kiba around her finger like that," Ino whispered to Sakura, who nodded in agree.

Lee, Tenten and Neji came to say they were going as well, giving Sasuke a hand.

"You should do this every year, Sasuke," Tenten said.

"It brings out your youth and it was really sociable." Sasuke just nodded out of politeness.

Neji just gave him a stare and Sasuke returned it.

"I would like to see those two together in a room for an hour," Ino told Sakura.

Naruto grinned. "You think they will stare each other to-AAARG!" Naruto turned around along with everybody else. "Kiba, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Kiba had pulled very hard on Naruto's tail and was still holding on to it. Naruto tried to pry him loose, but it didn't work, he was holding on tightly. Hinata and Shino also came into the room, having noticed Kiba had gone, looking with a mix of worry and anger to the brunet.

"Look everybody, Naruto's gotta tail!" he said loudly.

"Yes, we know. Now let it go, Kiba."

"Look, it's real, when I pull it-" He did so and Naruto gave a yelp and looked about ready to form a Rasengan.

Not liking the idea of the house of the Uchiha being shredded to pieces, Shino stepped in. "Kiba, just let him go."

"Why? It's so soft." He was squeezing the tail know. "Say, Naruto, where are the matching ears?"

This time Naruto really was forming a Rasengan. That was the cue for Ino, Hinata and Shino to pull Kiba away from the angry blond and for Sakura and Sasuke to calm Naruto down.

The yellow chakra disappeared and peace was once again established. Hinata apologized over and over and finally took off together with Shino and Kiba.

"That really hurt," Naruto said, not wanting to rub his butt or tail with everybody in the room.

"Let me take a look at it," Ino said a bit too eager; just taking the opportunity to touch the tail as well, but nonetheless Naruto didn't struggle. "Nothing serious," she said, letting go, "Kiba is right though, it really is soft."

"Yeah, yeah, very nice and all, but you don't have to walk around with it."

"But it's so cu~te."

"I don't want it to be cute."

"She is right you know."

"Sasuke~"

"Alright kiddo's, enough playing around with fluffykins here."

Naruto gave Kakashi a really sour look. "When I become Hokage, I will definitely confiscate those Icha Icha books," he said with an evil voice that, in combination with those words, made Kakashi flinch.

"Don't get ahead of things, gaki," Tsunade said, grinning.

-x-

After everybody had left the apartment Sasuke fell on the bed, not even bothering to take off his clothes. Naruto stood watching him for a while, flicked off the light and sat down next to Sasuke.

"You're going to sleep in your clothes?"

"Hn," came a grumble from the pillow.

Naruto moved over Sasuke and untied the raven's pants and pulled them out; then went for the shirt. Sasuke wasn't really cooperating, which made it a bit harder, but finally he succeeded in pulling it off as well. He undressed himself and lay down on his side, with a hand under his head, next to Sasuke, on top of the covers. Sasuke, having turned around on his back, had his eyes closed.

Naruto stroked a hand through the raven's hair. It was nice and soft and smelled like lavender. Playing with one of Sasuke's long locks, Sasuke began to make a soft sound.

"Prrr, grrr, prrr."

Naruto stopped playing with the hair, though still holding it between his fingers. "Are you mocking me?" he asked while Sasuke preceded his attempts of purring and then stopped.

"No, just showing you what a nice sound it is." His mouth curved upwards. "But I must say, you do a much better job at it, I can't really compare to it. Besides you can purr and speak at the same time."

Naruto stayed quiet and began fumbling with the hair in his hand again, not sure if he was angry or to think of it as a compliment.

After some silence he called the other. "Sasuke?" He waited till the other would answer in any way, but nothing came, so he went on. "Did you not like the party?"

Sasuke turned his head and opened his eyes. "Hmm, I guess it wasn't so bad." A small grin was on his face.

Naruto grinned and rolled on his belly, his hands reaching under the pillow. Sasuke closed his eyes again and heard Naruto yawn.

He had eventually quite enjoyed his birthday, but he just couldn't really say that out loud; afraid of what next year might bring.

An owl hooted in the distance as they fell asleep.

-oXo-

Next: Sasuke is away on a mission, what's Naruto going to do all day?