Okay, sorry for the lateness of this chapter, people. If you really can't remember shit from the last chapter, skim the end if the recap doesn't help. Orrr... I'll just tell you. Yeah, that works.

So, Sakura was making those plans to meet Sasuke to further question him on his sexuality after he and Naruto spent the afternoon together and stuff. Naruto had told Sasuke he's gay, in case you forgot. So yeah, now this starts after Naru and Sasu get to Kakashi's place to wait for Sakura to pick him up.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I seriously have the greatest editor in the freaking world! She totally nailed everything I asked of her in this chapter and more. Thank you, you rock. raveresque-fantastique, I promise to take your advice and appreciate your support and help.

Recap

"Hold on, I got a text." He pulled out his cheerfully beeping phone and read the incoming message. "Uh, Sakura says she wants to take you on a private tour of local apartments so you can find a place." He seemed a bit surprised and confused by this request.

I wanted to decline the offer, but Naruto would want an explanation and I myself don't really know what I'm doing or the answers to the questions Sakura was really gonna ask me.

"Tell her I'm on the way.."

End Recap

We drove back to Kakashi's place and once there, sat on the hood of the car. The day was dripping with humidity and I felt my skin grow sticky and gross. I looked over at Naruto and it was like a picture of perfection. He seemed completely unaffected by the weather. Damn him...

Sakura pulled up in her small yellow Mini Cooper, her smile bright with her secret motives. She waved cheerfully to us, especially to me. Damn her... She hopped out and Naruto walked over to her for a hug. I stayed where I was, noticing the quiet voices they were using. Secret crap, I guess. She wasn't telling him what was going on, right? That'd totally just defeat the purpose... Maybe they were just.. I don't know! Damn them both...

"Sasuke-kuuunnn! Come on! Time to go!" Sakura called cheerily, despite the few steps away she was.

"..Coming.." I mumbled unhappily, not at all feeling the same excitement she was.

"Alright, I'll leave him with you, then. I'll see you guys around!" With that, Naruto hopped back into his black SUV and sped off to God-knows-where. As soon as he was around the corner, her sweet sugar-coated smile mutated into one of pure sadistic desire. I swear I heard her cackle.

"Now, hop in. Time to find you a place!" She got back in and I slowly took my time, debating over whether or not it'd be best to just run. Would I be able to make it..? I wasn't sure how fast she could run, so I finally gave in and closed myself inside the small box with wheels. She peeled out of the lot, still smiling. It was actually getting kind of creepy now..

"So," She began, less enthusiastically. "do you have anything you wish to share with me?"

"No." I answered flatly, folding my arms against my chest.

"I see. Well, maybe after some driving."

We sat in completely stiff silence for about ten minutes or so until she drove us to the mall. Whatever she had planned, I don't know. But I was very close to shitting myself.

She waited until I pulled myself out of the damn car so she could flash another oh-so innocent smile at me. Grr her to Hell. Not only that, but she locked arms with me. After a few seconds of walking, I noticed how inconspicuously firm her hold on me was. She thought I was gonna run!So we entered the mall with her commenting occasionally on a few of the displayed items on the mannequins. She was taking us directly to the food court, I guess this was to be the interrogation room.

An empty table caught her eye and she yanked me down into the chair in front of her, eyes filled with determination. I knew something was going to come from my mouth that I really don't want to share. Something about Naruto and me.

"Spill the beans, the pan is sizzling. What are you?"

We were hunched over the tiny round table. I'm sure people walking by were thinking we were a cute couple. Yeah, me and Ms. Sadist-from-Hell are truly meant to be.

"I don't know, confused?"

"Okay, we're getting somewhere.." She sighed, though still seemed motivated by her nosiness.

"Hn.."

"How about I tell you a secret to see if it helps you figure out your own?"

"Uhm, is it your secret to tell or someone else's who doesn't know you're sharing it with others?" I stared her right in the eye and she seemed a little bit taken back. She recovered almost immediately though.

"He won't mind." I raised my eyebrow with curiosity.

"Fine.."

"Naruto's gay." She kinda shrugged it out as if I had been asking her how her day was or something.

"I uh, I know." Well, he told me. Duh.

"How!?" She whispered harshly, coming closer to confine our words to just us and not any nosy people nearby.

"He told me. Today, before you offered to take me to go apartment hunting."

"Ah. Okay, then. So, when he told you this, were you happy?"

"I don't know." I looked down at my arms that were folded on the table.

"Well, were you pissed?"

"No."

"God, you're just a bundle of help, now aren't you?" Even though her sarcastic reply really should have meant that she was giving up, the questions continued.

"Did he talk about hot guys or old boyfriends?"

"Not really..?" A spark went off in her eye.

"What did he say!?"

"He promised not to make out with a guy in front of me or something.."

"And?"

"What?" I asked, definitely peeved.

"Did you feel jealous or anything?"

"Well, no, but I guess a little..something." I was determined to hold her off.

"Something what?" She pestered, leaning in closer to me.

"Just.. odd, maybe."

"Bad or good?"

"Bad."

"Do you ever picture the two of you as more than friends?"

"Um, I've never done that before."

"What about me?" I looked up to see if she was serious. She was.

"No."

"Kakashi?"

"Nope."

"Well, do it now."

"Do what?"

"Ugh, close your eyes." I did.

"Now, picture you and I holding hands."

"..."

"I lean on your shoulder, your arms circling my waist to bring us into a sweet hug.."

"..."

"You lean down as I look up and we share a long kiss."

"..."

"Anything?" She asked. I opened my eyes.

"Not really."

"Well, what if you kissed her?"

She pointed over at a girl with wearing a thin but long-sleeved grey shirt with jean shorts that went mid-thigh. Her hair was a fiery orange, completely natural and wavy almost to her elbow. She was pretty, I guess.

"Hn."

"You know what?"

"Wha-" She had leaned over and pulled us together for a firm kiss. I couldn't believe she was kissing me. I mean, my first kiss went to this woman who was trying me to admit I was gay. Come on!

"There. Anything?" She seemed so unaffected by what she had just done, so I would do the same.

"Nothing except my annoyance."

"Sorry about that. It was the only thing I could think of."

"Hn.."

"Back to the imagination thing.. Close your eyes again."

"Now who?"

I already knew.

"Naruto."

"..."

"You two are sitting in a movie, arms touching on the arm rest."

Not just who, but...

"..."

"He puts his arm on yours, tracing circles with his fingers on your hand."

...everything...

"..."

"His arm is lifted and lays across your shoulders, bringing you closer."

"..."

"His cheek caresses yours, warm and smooth."

...But also nothing.

"..."

"His face turns toward you and your eyes lock with his, so close."

"..."

"Your noses touch and he brings his lips over yours, sucking until-"

"Stop!" I yell. Thankfully, the food court is loud enough to prevent my outburst from drawing in much attention.

"What?" I could tell by her voice that I had shocked her.

"Just stop," my voice was lowered. "I don't want to do this anymore. I'm not gay."

I was walking away, off to find a bus stop to take me back to Kakashi's place. I needed to keep searching those ads for an apartment.

"Sasuke, you can't actually believe walking away from me will help." She was almost jogging to keep up with me.

"So what?" I kept myself cold and locked away.

"The possibility is still there. Just because you might've been enjoying the fantasy doesn't mean it's bad!"

"I didn't enjoy it." I growled, glaring at her with narrowed eyes.

"You were flipping blushing!!" She exclaimed angrily.

"Hn."

"Sasuke! Why are you so scared? Being gay isn't a bad thing!"

"I'm not gay!" With that, I walked out the double door exit and continued to stride out into the never-ending parking lot in search of a bus stop or a cliff to jump off of. Preferably the former, though.

XxXxXx

None of the nearby bus stops headed directly back to the area the complex was in, so I walked a few blocks, checking the signs of every bus stop. No luck. I only had enough change for one bus. Soon I recognized a strip of shops to be the one Naruto had taken me for the job interview he was a day early to. It was quite busy now. I guess the crowds rolled in around five-ish. As I was just about to pass it, I noticed another bus stop. Quickly, I ran toward it, praying it was the one I was looking for. The sign had my stop listed, so I released my held breath and fell down onto the bench to wait. Only a few minutes until the next bus.

I looked around, watching cars go to park and leave. One lady was screaming at a guy for almost hitting her bumper. Off to the corner of the lot was a couple kissing. I squinted, trying to see a face or something. It was hard, since hands were cupping cheeks and they were...well, very into it...

The grumble of the giant bus motor was getting closer, but I still was oddly curious about the couple. Both had short hair, one a bloody red shade, the other a bright blonde. Right when the bus pulled up, the red head pulled away and ran toward me, the bus.

He had jumped on before me, since I was staring at the other person. Those bright blue eyes, tanned skin slightly flushed... Holy fucker, it was Naruto. I got on the bus, slipped in my change and sat down, eyes still wide, but now watering.

I knew everything about nothing.

Has anyone seen that commercial for Nationwide car insurance where the two ladies upstairs are talking about the second one's cute yellow car and the insurance and then a couple outside downstairs are fighting, dropping furniture onto her car by mistake from the 5th floor during the fight??

I will write a one-shot for whoever finds out what kind of car that it is. You can go to nationwide's website and check out the commercial if you have no idea what I'm talking about. Again, one-shot for whoever finds out what model it is!!

happy unbirthday

--frumpyrox