Hm.. Since i prewrote some of this, I like looking back to see how much effort I put in to sprinkling tiny bits of canon in. Even the lightest pinch, like Naruto's adoration of the lake and how that shows his water type, while Sasuke shys away and (as you'll see later) prefers fire. ...Random notes aside, this chapter makes me a tad bit sad. Sad for Sasuke :( I might include some smut in the next chapter for those who want it (The pre-SasuNaru relationship is a bit of a long build, so I'll need to sprinkle in some 'tease' smut to quench your thirst now and again :P)

Also, thank you for all my reviewers :D and for everyone who favorited/alert added this, (you're all hiding from the reviews, huh? :P) Keep it coming, it makes me so happy and eager to write and satisfy you ^.^ Two quick more notices: 1) I'm officially a published author :D I'm in an anthology of poems coming out soon, which makes me very happy. I just needed to share that with some people who actually care. and 2) I'm going to start adding original fiction to my blog ontop of updates about my life, so, check that out if you haven't already :) Enjoy!

"Hey, Sasuke?"

"Hn."

"Do you want to visit the lake?"

"I feel like saying no. Will you run off and nearly die on me again?"

"Will it get you to come with me?"

Sasuke peered over his homework to give Naruto an unamused look. Naruto grinned, "Please?" He asked, "We won't go skating, just sit. We haven't done that in a while."

Sasuke shut his book and looked at the blonde with hesitant eyes. After another moment of silence and Naruto giving him his best 'look-at-me-I'm-so-adorable' puppy face, Sasuke ceded, "Fine. For a little."

"Yes!" Naruto was ecstatic. He pulled on his blazer, leaning over to grab it and letting the necklace drop out from his shirt. Sasuke smiled, grabbing his own blazer, walking beside the blonde as they enjoyed chatting up about one of their teachers and how their pre-calculus class was giving Naruto headaches – Sasuke of course, justified that that was his lack of a brain trying to think, causing a non-too-pleased Naruto's tongue sticking out at him.

Sitting beside the lake, anyone who was there was beginning to leave. Neji and Tenten were leaving as Sasuke and Naruto arrived, "Hey!" Tenten was never one to pass up an opportunity to chat with her blonde friend, "Nice necklace."

"Thanks," Naruto grinned, "What're you two doing here?"

"Oh, uh-"

"You two are like official now?" Naruto grinned a toothy grin.

"Well…" Tenten glanced at Neji for assistance.

"You two are by the lake together. Does that mean you two are official now?" Sasuke went rigid at Neji's cold tone.

"Neji," She shot daggers at him, not expecting that to be his way out of the situation, but laughing awkwardly all the same, "He's right, heh? We're just taking a walk."

"Should I do some investigative snooping into that claim?" Naruto teased, "Have fun – but not too much fun. Wouldn't want you to be stuck with that blank stared ball of fun forever-"

"Naruto!" She hit him over the back of the head, her cheeks burning, "I'll see you at newspaper tomorrow, and I'll be sure to harass you!" She called as she walked away, being tugged by Neji.

Naruto turned to Sasuke, "What does she see in him? She's the nicest person ever."

"Maybe there's another side to Neji," Sasuke suggested as they continued toward the lake, "Maybe he's kind and talkative around only her."

"What makes you say that?"

"Some people just have a tough time letting people in. It's only if you're really special to them that you have the privilege of knowing them."

Naruto shrugged, "Maybe. "

"Naruto, you got here too late! We were just playing a game of Frisbee!" Kiba and the boys were walking over, "I owned, of course!"

"You're like a freaking dog," Shikamaru grumbled.

"D-Don't be mean to Kiba," Piped up the petite Hinata, who was walking a few feet behind them, "H-He's r-really good."

"Thanks, Hinata!" Kiba beamed.

"Hi, N-Naruto," She smiled, waving, "Going on a walk?"

"Just hanging out by the lake with Sasuke," Naruto grinned, "I guess you guys are already heading in?"

"Yeah," Choji rubbed his stomach, "it's dinner time."

"Is food all you think about?" Shino pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's not my fault I'm more concerned with eating rather than studying the parasites that could be living in it!" Choji pouted.

"If there were parasites living in your food, you'd be dead, Choji." Shino groaned at his rotund friend's idiocy.

"Well-"

"Let's go eat," Shikamaru cut him off, "See you later Naruto."

The boys and Hinata left Naruto and Sasuke finally alone, much to Sasuke's increased comfort. He was still a little bit bitter over Neji's back hand comment, even Naruto hardly flinched at it. Sasuke supposed he should be glad; Naruto didn't outwardly say how disgusting that would be and how they would always be best friends.

"We got here just when everyone was leaving," Naruto sighed, "Oh well."

"What are you doing for break?"

"Oh, nothing much. Probably just lounging around home," Naruto played off non-chalantly, "You?"

"I might be going to Venice again," Sasuke raised an eye brow as he asked casually, "Have you ever been there?"

"Nope," Naruto shrugged.

"Do you think you'd like it? The whole historic Italy, water ways and walking type thing?"

"I'm sure if I ever got to go I'd like," love, "It. There's no cars making noise, lots of boat rides, pretty art and the market places seem so cool-"

"For someone who tried to sound not interested, you sure know a lot about the place," Sasuke smirked, causing Naruto to blush. Now Sasuke just had to ask his family if it'd be okay to let him tag along for spring break.

"I looked it up for a project that one time," Naruto covered, unwilling to admit that Italy was one of Naruto's ideal places to visit. When he had been feeling rather cynical during his young adolescence, he made a list titled 'Ten places you'll never visit before you die'. On the top of that list was Venice.

Silence enveloped the two long time best friends, wind whistling by creating the only noise. Sasuke let his gaze fall on the blonde, whose features were scrunched together in some kind of hidden worry, his mind at work as he watched the sunset. Sasuke wondered what went on the blonde boys head; If it was that he'd never see Venice, well, Sasuke would be damned. That kid was worth a lot more than just a trip to Venice.

Sasuke stared at him for a long time, and not once did Naruto glance back. Sasuke almost wished he had, so his innocent mind could be distracted by whatever was worrying him so deeply and draw his thoughts to Sasuke and wonder why he was staring. Of course, Sasuke would say Naruto had something on his cheek, but maybe, just maybe, Naruto would catch a hint.

Naruto was thinking about how he didn't want to lose Sasuke, and was worried that perhaps, though Sasuke wouldn't intend on it, if he knew, they'd grow distant due to the awkwardness, or due to Sasuke wanting to go places like Venice which Naruto could never afford.

After a while, Sasuke's worry for the blonde made him gaze out over the lake to the now darkened sky, both of them sitting there, saying nothing. When he felt Naruto's blonde locks graze his shoulder, he looked over and laughed at what he saw. Leaning on his shoulder, Naruto had fallen asleep.

"Only you," Sasuke murmured as he pulled the blonde's arm around his shoulder, "Only you could fall asleep in the freezing cold, sitting up, while thinking."

He quickly realized that the blonde, who wasn't any help since he wasn't even remotely conscious, would be difficult to handle like this. Grunting over the fact that Naruto wasn't the lightest person ever, Sasuke placed one hand under Naruto's knees and lifted him bridal style to carry him back to the dorms. He tensed when Naruto's arms tightened their grip around his neck, getting comfortable in Sasuke's arms. Sasuke's bubble had been popped, but that didn't mean that having Naruto, a vulnerable, sleeping Naruto, snuggle up to him didn't hurt a little. Sasuke imagined it was like sex; Pleasurable, but painful at the same time.

Sasuke's nose crinkled at the fact that he had just compared his and Naruto's touchy feely relationship to sex. Sasuke wished his subconscious would listen when he told it, it wasn't like that. God, he wished it wasn't like that. He hoped one day he'd wake up and it wouldn't be like that.

It was one thing to be a boy attracted to other boys. It was another to figure it out only to have it make sense then why you were under the beck and call of an obnoxious blonde whose loud mouth was just one of things you found charming. Whose every wink, laugh, word, breath was a… a magnet, pulling you in. Begging for more time. Pleading for attention. He thought maybe he was crazy. And then Vincent had to go and show him a new world. A world that made so much sense, that felt so right, and hurt so bad at the same time. It was a high he crashed down from. Cold water after a hot day. It was shocking and terrifying and.. It was painful, there was no other way to explain it.

So it is, when you're functioning without a heart. Naruto must be running more efficiently than ever, with his heart and Sasuke's both tucked inside his chest. And while he continued to grow, improve, become the young man Sasuke had known he could always be, Sasuke would be running on sheer will alone. The will to what? Not the will to live, no. The thought of living without the same adoration he gave to Naruto was.. Unbearable. Sasuke decided, then, that it must be the will to see him. To be near him. To help him and guide him and make him happy, even if it meant setting him up with Sakura, or the next girl bound to break his heart. He would. Because, he… It was painful, too painful to describe. To say.

He didn't want to… to… He flinched. No, it's not like that. It sounded faker every time he lied to himself.