*A/N Hey everyone! Happy new year! I've got big things planned this year for you all! Including a SasuNaru college story! Actually, its been in the works for over a year now and it's still not finished but it's mostly done. If none of you have realized, this is NaruSasu not SasuNaru so yea. Um, anyway, look forward to more stuff coming soon! For now, enjoy the next piece of the puzzle right now!*
As if the day couldn't get any worse, there was yet another note tied to the rock that had come through the window in Sasuke's house. He gave an uncharacteristic growl and went to pick up the stupid thing. He untied the note and read:
Do not be discouraged Sasuke, I'm watching out for you. Kakashi was right, I was here. Go to your room. There is a gift I'm sure you'll need.
"That damn Itachi! What ridiculous game is he playing now?" In spite of his better judgment, Sasuke went up to his room to find this 'gift' his dear older brother left him. He opened the door and there, on top of his bed, was a book. Sasuke cautiously stepped toward it as though it would suddenly attack him. He loved his brother very much, he just didn't trust him. Even so, he picked it up and read the title: Basics of Hypnosis
Sasuke couldn't quite put his finger on it, but today seemed a little different, sort of off. Maybe it was due to the fact that he stayed up late reading that book, and now he was about an hour late getting to Naruto's house. If yesterday was weird, it was nothing compared to the weird feeling he had today. Sasuke looked around at the sun-bathed houses and street as he walked to Naruto's house, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He tried his best to just shake the feeling off, but still it persisted. He just kept walking, opting to just ignore it.
Naruto was up early, pacing in his living room. It had been fun making his father do the chicken dance last night, but he wondered if his trick could work on a mind like Sasuke's. Not that his father wasn't smart or had a small brain or something, but the older Uzumaki was rather childish and perhaps more susceptible to being controlled. As for Iruka, the man was just too kind-hearted to refuse anything. So, it all rode on if Naruto was strong enough to purge Sasuke's mind. ~Alright Naruto, this is it. Just act natural until the opportune moment. You can do this!~ It wasn't helping his nerves with the fact that Sasuke wasn't here at the same time as Tuesday. No matter. It just gave him more time to completely think things through. Good luck with that.
About an hour or so later, Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin when his mind was pulled from its musings at the sound of the doorbell ringing. On the doorstep, Sasuke ran a hand through his dark hair and tugged down on the hem of his black shirt. The door to the Uzumaki residence opened to reveal a grinning Naruto. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the blond but just said a greeting as he stepped inside. Naruto mentally kicked himself as he closed the door. Without missing a beat, Sasuke walked into the kitchen, sat down and pulled out the assignment Kakashi had given him for Naruto. Naruto came in and sat with him. He gave a little frown at the new work. "I remember Kakashi-sensei saying that we would only need to do the assignment he gives us at the start of the week. I'm sure we finished." Sasuke shrugged at his words and replied, "Maybe he thinks you should be kept busy. I don't understand the man myself so I couldn't really say." Naruto hmphed but didn't complain, which surprised Sasuke. His friend was usually quite adamant about not liking work. The little nagging feeling was back.
Like Tuesday, the assignment wasn't very difficult. It took about three hours to do two worksheets and an essay, by which time the boys were hungry and their eyes were irritated from reading so much. Sasuke was glad that Naruto wasn't really an idiot and was just lazy about doing work, though sometimes the blond did stumble with the work. Even so, Sasuke found tutoring Naruto rather enjoyable.
Naruto gathered all of the completed work and put it into the binder along with the rest of his homework from Monday. Sasuke stood up and stretched. Naruto got just a glimpse of skin as Sasuke's shirt lifted along with his arms. Just that would supply Naruto with a fantastic dream tonight. However, he didn't want to just dream of Sasuke forever. He wanted that dark haired pale skinned boy writhing and begging beneath him every night. With that thought, Naruto quickly devised a plan to get Sasuke to allow him to hypnotize him.
The hairs on the back of Sasuke's neck stood up precariously. Yep, the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right was definitely bugging him. He turned to Naruto, who turned his head rather quickly away from him as though he had something to hide. Sasuke sighed and said, "What is up with you?"
"Nothing."
"I know it's not nothing."
"Really, it's nothing."
"Damn it Naruto, will you tell me what's bugging you?"
"There's nothing wrong with me, but maybe there is with you."
"What? Baka, there's nothing wrong with me. There's something wrong with you!"
"Teme, don't call me a baka! What's wrong with you?!"
"You! You're what's wrong with me!"
Naruto blinked, then blinked again, slightly dumbfounded. Realizing how that must have sounded, Sasuke's cheeks tinted pink and he looked away with an embarrassed frown. Naruto struggled to hide a snicker so he punched Sasuke lightly on the arm. "Well, sorry that my dashing good looks keep you up at night." ~You have no idea~ Sasuke thought but Naruto just continued talking. "So, I think I know what to do." It was Sasuke's turn to blink and he tilted his head toward the blond questioningly. "How do you mean?"
Naruto's plan hadn't gone the way he'd thought, but it still turned out to his advantage. He led Sasuke to the living room and sat him on the couch. Then, from his back pocket, Naruto pulled out the pocket watch with a huge grin. Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Naruto gave the sitting boy a look, misinterpreting. Sasuke was putting two and two together in his head. How did Itachi know Naruto wanted to try hypnosis?
Naruto grinned and ruffled Sasuke's hair. "Don't be like that Sasuke! I'm here to help! I'm gonna hypnotize you and rid you of your bad dreams." The raven gave him such a blunt stare that Naruto chuckled nervously. "C'mon Sasuke, it can't hurt! Even if you think it won't work, what've you got to lose?" Sasuke thought for a second and remembered the note from the day before
.
Dear little Naruto only ever wanted to impress you, so do him the favor of doing anything he says.
Well, Naruto was right. It couldn't hurt to just play along. Besides, he'd read that book. He knew that if this actually worked, he could get out of it. He liked having dreams of Naruto. "Fine, Naruto, do what you want." The blond nearly started jumping with joy. "Alright! So, just relax and watch the watch. Keep your eyes on it and listen to what I say…" The gold watch swung back and forth in front of Sasuke, who diligently kept his eyes trained on it as Naruto spoke. In his head he vaguely wondered if Naruto had tried this already and hoped it didn't work. He liked dreaming of the blond, though he wished for the real thing.
Naruto saw the now familiar glaze in Sasuke's eyes that let him know that he could give a command. Or so he thought. Unbeknownst to Naruto, Sasuke was not paying him much attention and was lost in his own thoughts. No, he didn't want to stop dreaming of Naruto, so he would just pretend to be hypnotized. After reading the book, he was sure he could pull it off. He noticed the sound of Naruto talking had ceased, so he paid attention to what he said next, so that he could 'obey' the command.
"Well, you said you were having strange dreams about me, so the best way to get rid of them is to act them out. But since I don't exactly know what you dream, Sasuke, I command you to tell me about your dreams."
Sasuke was not expecting that, at all. He almost blew his cover. He had to think fast, so as to avoid suspicion. He couldn't tell his real dreams; they'd only freak the blond out of his mind. What could he do?!
*How does Sasuke get himself into these things?! Not even I know. Hm, so does this mean Itachi is the mysterious stalker? Mwuahaha! I'm not telling just yet, though I'd still love to hear opinions and predictions in a review. (innocent smile) I'm hoping to get in another chapter by next week so stay tuned! If this were a t.v. that is...*
