Nikki: Yeah, had this typed up for a while, but didn't know where I could fit it in. Well, anyway I got a review saying that the adults are stupid for not doing anything. I'd just like to clear this up, that in my own experience letting an adult know doesn't mean they'll do anything. I was bullied to the point of someone throwing me down the stairs and when I told a teacher and relative, they were aware of it but every time they saw it happen they turned a blind eye. This is similar to what the Uchiha family is doing; they are avoiding the topic so they won't have to deal disciplinary action against Sasuke.

Gaara brought his fist down to the youngest Uchiha's face, wanting so badly to bruise his perfection.

"Don't touch him!" Gaara pulled his hand away quickly from the proximity of Sasuke's face as if burned. He turned around to face Naruto, who had spoken, before wincing. When had Naruto started looking at Sasuke like that?

The now grey orbs were fixated on Sasuke with worry adorning their depths. One hand was stretched out to the raven as if reaching out to help him.

"Good boy, Naruto. Now come and help me up." The demand was quiet, almost silent.

Despite the lowness of the command, said boy scrambled to help his bully; pulling him up to his feet with obvious difficulty. Sasuke ruffled the twelve year olds now artificial black locks with a smirk on his face. He slowly turned to Gaara.

Sasuke pulled Naruto to his chest (Naruto's back to his chest) and rested his head on the smaller boy's shoulder, "Doesn't he look absolutely yummy like this, Gaara? Grey eyes piercing your soul, his black hair allowing him to fit in with all the other Japanese people. I think he does. I could just kidnap him and eat him up." Sasuke jokingly dug his teeth into the tan column of skin, all the while maintaining eye contact with the red head. Naruto stood still, giggling when Sasuke teasingly nibbled on his neck. "I wonder if Sakura would be jealous if I chose Naruto over her. You know, seeing how both of your friends are awfully obsessed with me."

Gaara gritted his teeth. It was true. Even Sakura had fallen victim to the Uchiha's charm. Gaara himself had wanted to be the raven's friend too, but he knew better. He knew of the monster that was lurking beneath that pale expanse of skin and those flaming black pupils. Naruto just wanted to be loved, and was tricked into believing that Sasuke would provide him that. And Sakura was at that age when she would swoon and fling her panties at any good-looking noble boy who looked at her. He could forgive his friends; they were just vulnerable.

But he could never forgive the snake named Sasuke.

"Gaara?" Teal eyes darted to look at the boy nestled in the raven's arms. His eyes softened and Gaara opened his ears to anything he had to say. "Aren't you happy for me? Sasuke makes me happy; Sasuke loves me!" Gaara flinched at his friend's high-pitched voice.

Sasuke smirked before abruptly letting go of Naruto and pushing him to the floor.

Naruto squeaked as he fell. He dropped to the ground of the playground with a thud. His hands and knees scraped against the gravel and dirt, and they bled and burned. As if in a trance, the blond got up and smiled at his 'love'. He ignored the stinging in his palms in favor of apologizing to his 'boyfriend'.

"Sorry, Sasuke. I forgot that I shouldn't linger too long. Forgive me?"

"Of course, Naruto."

As Sasuke rewrapped his arms around the other's waist and leaned into Naruto, Gaara felt his world tilting. As their lips met, Gaara fell and crashed into a pool of icy cold water.

"Shit!" Gaara cursed loudly as he woke up. He was drenched in cold sweat. Figures he would have a nightmare like that.

He couldn't help but worry for his best friend. The boy was gullible and no doubt would believe anything Sasuke would say. That was just the way he was.

What he saw was only a dream, a dream that recurred in his mind over and over. It made him shiver just thinking that Naruto would fall for the lies of the devil so easily.

Now that he thought of it… hadn't Iruka mentioned a meeting with the Uchiha family about Sasuke and Naruto's behavior?

"Crap!" Gaara threw his blood red quilt off him and down the stairs to his landline. Gaara was always up at random hours of the day, Temari wouldn't mind his being up at 6.19 in the morning… Well, it depends on if he was quiet enough to give her the slip.

'Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.' His mind chanted the mantra repetitively.

"Hello?" A groggy voice was heard over the phone and Gaara mentally cheered.

"Naruto?"

"Yes, it's Naruto. Gaara why are you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep. How was the trip to the Uchiha mansion?"

Gaara could practically hear the smile on his friend's face. The other boy sucked in a breath before talking very fast, and very incoherently.

"Sasuke told me he loved me! And I said I loved him too. He's my boyfriend! Isn't that great? Iruka hasn't said anything yet, but I wonder how Sakura will react? She hasn't really spoken to him yet. I like Sasuke's mom and dad! They're pretty and sophisticated and they said I'm welcome at their home anytime. You know like the saying "my house is your house!" Or something like that. My main point is that Sasuke loves me for me. He even said that I would much better with black eyes and black hair, do you think I should do that? I think I might, just to make Sasuke happy. I'd do anything to make him stay with me! Are you happy for me, Gaara?"

Gaara pulled the phone away from his ear and could still hear Naruto on the other line. He tried to stop from sucking in rapid-fire breaths. It wasn't a good idea to hyperventilate over the phone with his worrisome best friend listening.

Gaara felt his soul escape his body anyway and he was positive that his heart stopped beating. His worst nightmare had certainly just come true.

Gaara forced him to sound neutral about the situation and said, "That's great Naruto. When will I be able to officially meet your... boyfriend?" The red head pushed the word through his lips. "I only got to see him once, and it wasn't under the best circumstances."

"Um... Well Gaara could we hang out later today? You can meet Sasuke and Sakura could too! We can go to the park and play on the swings, like we used to!" Naruto boomed loudly.

"That's fine Naruto. I'll call Sakura at 10 okay? We can all meet there at 12:30; just remind Uchiha. I won't be waiting for him the whole day."

"Yeah! Okay Gaara I'll call Sasuke and we'll be there at 12:30! See you later!"

Gaara sighed when he heard the click of the phone on the other line. How many times was he going to have to save Naruto's ass before he realized people could not be trusted? Especially Uchihas.

"Hey Sasuke!" Sasuke turned to his blond 'boyfriend' and grunted. Funny, how things work out. But it wasn't a problem with him; in fact it was a blessing. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...

Did Naruto even count as an enemy though? He was just everything Sasuke wanted to be. Happy... loved... invincible... Was that enough reason for him to hate the other? He guessed so.

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand and he stared at it. The blond WAS cute but he had been making his life hell for how many years now? He didn't think he could change his motives and life goal so quickly.

Suddenly Sasuke felt eyes on him through his thoughts and he tightened his fist around Naruto's. Why had he even agreed to this? Meeting the dobe's friends, they would probably ruin him. How was the blond to suffer if his friends were still by his side? A support system was the thing that brought people up when someone was trying to break them.

Naruto winced. Sasuke was squeezing his fingers too hard. It hurt. It felt like his fingers were being compressed and forced together. He could tell his fingers and wrist would have bruises the next morning.

He faced his raven and sheepishly smiled. "Uh, Sasuke? Would you mind easing off on your grip a little?"

The Uchiha just stared ahead at his approaching friends. "Does it hurt?" He asked.

"A little. You're squishing my fingers."

The grip lessened a little, but otherwise remained tight and painful.

Naruto ignored the pain in favor greeting his friends. "Hey guys! Long time no see!"

Gaara turned his lips slightly but it fell when his eyes landed on that blemish marring his friend's perfection. "Hello Naruto. Uchiha." He mutters the name with a sneer.

"Gaara... How...nice it is to see you again. And who is your pink-haired friend?" Sasuke had always been a curious child, this was no different. Albeit this curiosity was more of an infatuation of wanting to know about everything in Naruto's life. How pathetic of him.

"I'm Sakura Haruno. I'm normally the one who worries when Naruto doesn't come home on time. Sort of his mother figure, if you will." The pink haired girl said with confidence, and Sasuke knew she'd be a difficult one. Though he had thought the same for Naruto, and look how that had turned out.

"Hn. So you're both close with Naruto. Guess we'll be spending a lot of time together; you know, considering how I own him now." Sasuke smirked and he could see Sakura swoon at the sight. Ah, this was quite easy. Too bad he'd have to wait with Sakura seeing as how he had Naruto and whatnot. Such a shame, but wasn't it equally as satisfying to break both of their hearts at the same time?

The heart was the most vulnerable place in the body; emotionally anyway.

"I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other. Better become acquainted with each other more. I'll cut to the chase: what do you want from Naruto?"

Naruto tilted his head to the side innocently. "What do you mean Sakura-chan? Sasuke-koi just wants to love me. Right Sasuke?" Naruto sure was gullible. Allowing him to get close enough for pet names. He must have a lot of faith that Sasuke would forever love him.

"Right Naru-koi. I just want to love you, and protect you from monsters." He then pushed the blond away and gave him some yen. "Buy yourself some ice cream, it's hot out today. I'll talk to Sakura and Sabaku, okay?"

The blue eyed boy skipped away merrily with a hum of agreement and the others watched him disappear into the distance. When he was gone the raven looked to his "boyfriend's" friends before 'tsk'ing in annoyance.

"I don't understand why you people keep getting in my way. I'm doing society good by hurting that little blemish. He's a disgrace to the Japanese race! I'm trying to fix that!" Sasuke growled, with coal orbs blazing.

"He doesn't need fixing! He's fine the way he is! If anything you need to be reformed from the head down!" Sakura retorted.

Sasuke sighed in frustration and pressed his index fingers into his temples. "I'll make you a deal. You keep away from him and I won't hurt him TOO badly. The more you linger, the greater the damage."

"No." Gaara finally spoke. Sakura on the other hand was more hesitant.

Should she ignore Sasuke's wishes and risk Naruto being broken much more quickly than originally planned? Or should she leave and save him the pain of Sasuke's wrath? Either way Naruto would end up shattered and then she would have to pick up the pieces and reconstruct him. But to cause him so much pain over a short amount of time, or the same amount in a long period; that was the question.

"No. I won't do that to Naruto. He needs me, us, by his side."

"Suit yourself, you'll come to regret that decision."

After those words were uttered, Naruto was appearing before them and their conversation came to a close.

"I got green tea ice cream, Sasuke-koi. Do you want some?" The blond's mouth was filthy with the treat's delicious residue and, in all of Sasuke's opinion, he looked adorably dirty. And just like how the dobe smelled it was tantalizing yet it disgusted him at the same time.

"No, Naru-koi. I'm good. Hurry up and finish. We'll go play in the park right after." A muffled, 'okay' resounded from the petite body next to him and he nodded.

A thought popped into his head when he thought about "playing in the park" with Naruto in whole.

Yeah. Sakura and Gaara would regret not ditching the blond soon enough.

"Come on, Naruto let's go play on the jungle gym." The raven said devilishly enthusiastic while walking away. Naruto nodded and turned to his best friends.

"Save me a swing please guys!" He yelled, running after his beloved Sasuke.

He didn't look back at their grief-stricken and worried faces to ask if they wanted to join them. He just ran, probably to his death.

"Sasuke-koi. Want to go down the swirly slide with me?" He asked, and heard Sasuke sigh.

"No, I don't want to go down a fucking slide. I'm not a child, but lets' go on the monkey bars. Maybe you'll fall and break an arm." Sasuke struggled to keep his temper in check. But he felt somewhat uneasy seeing tears in this kid's eyes.

He couldn't shake why since last night he was constantly feeling guilty. He'd told Naruto he loved him, knowing that was the boy's greatest desire. To be loved by someone who wasn't obligated to. That was probably Naruto's biggest dream, and he had given him a taste of it. And he knew one day he would rip the carpet from underneath Naruto and show him it was all a lie.

"Sasuke are you not feeling well? You're a little moody, and you haven't moved in a while. Do you want to go back to my house and call your parents?"

Sasuke wanted to strangle the little fox. He had the nerve to worry about him! They were bully and victim. They weren't even close. So why did Sasuke have this dull voice in his head that said he was going to regret it all soon?

Eh, too bad. Not like he ever listened to his conscience; I mean, who did?

"Sasuke! I think we should go home. You keep spacing out. I'm going to let Gaara and Sakura know, okay? Don't move; stay right here!" Sasuke ignored him. Sometimes that high-pitched voice grated on his ears, no matter how many other countless times he couldn't bear to not hear it.

Suddenly, after analyzing what the dobe had said, Sasuke turned around and grabbed the tan wrist moving from him and yanked it back.

He growled, "And who said you can leave? I don't remember saying that."

Naruto hissed slightly in pain and Sasuke saw those cerulean eyes turn clouded again. Oh, how he loved those eyes like that.

"Sasuke that hurts." Sasuke tightened his hold. "Please – Sasuke- stop. It hurts." Once again, the grip tightened and then the raven tugged slightly. "Ow! Stop Sasuke! It hurts a lot!" Naruto tried to tug his wrist free desperately. Sasuke loved the cries, the tears, the urgency. He loved it all! Oh, he loved it when Naruto got like this.

Finally, he let go. Naruto rubbed at his sore appendage while whimpering quietly. When he himself let go five reddish marks stood out from amongst the rest. They no doubt would bruise and litter his skin with purplish-blue dots for days.

"A little something to remember me by, Naru-koi."And then Sasuke was gone. Like a wisp of the wind. Like he wasn't even there in the first place.

The words certainly didn't hold the same adoration they held mere minutes ago. Now- now they were filled with malice and (though Naruto didn't want to admit it) hatred.

"Sasuke, where did your love go? Where did it go?" Naruto stared down at the black-and-blues on his wrist. He'd do anything to have Sasuke love him like he did last night.

And Sasuke would love him again.

Actually, Naruto was quite sure that Sasuke would love him even more. Just because Sasuke had earned his love, did not mean he would stand for this bull.

He wanted someone to truly love him. Sasuke said he did, granted he didn't necessarily believe him. It was fine, he could force the other to love him.

Sasuke would love him, because he was just that determined. All he had to do was act like twiddle dumb and neither Gaara nor Sasuke would suspect a thing.

He would start with a few alterations to his appearance. Nothing too severe yet something people would notice if they looked hard enough.

And he knew just what to start with. Sasuke wanted a perfect Japanese boyfriend, and Naruto could certainly provide for him.

Yes, Sasuke would love him in no time…

Nikki: So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Yes, yes. Your dear Nikki is another year closer to death. Virtual cake, plushies and other gifts are deeply welcomed but not mandatory! :) Anyway, I'm going to start putting up deadlines for when I update on my profile. It'll be right at the top, so if you ever want to know just check there! Peace!

(You know, sometimes I wonder how such a cheery person like me ever wrote this story. And did you realize the word count has been crawling up the scale, which many of you asked for?)