AN: Humm, how long has it been since I updated. Probably not that long ago. It feels like ages. Here's chapter 10! I hope you enjoy it. Now to briefly answer a few reviews. WHOO! 133!

Kyuubi-kun: I love you. I really do. That really makes me feel special. Unless you felt like that because my chap was so shit it has inspired you to want to do better. Then I'd cry.

Strawberries and Napkins: Thanks for all the reviews!

oOKeairaOo: You are definitely NOT Shiky's only fan! Smexy Shiky... Thank you for be as lovely as ever!

Rachel Dracon: Titles are a bitch! I do have a lot of fun pulling them out of my ass tho. I think they relate... kinda...

tyranimo: Ooh, I like you. Cheers (thanks in English) for the review.

Jiro-Sama: LMAO! I didn't really think about it being British. Do you not have the word busking? Hang on, I'll translate. The original: "Can't be assed to answer reviews right now. I'm knackered. Busked with a friend in at a train station in the rain earlier. It was a good way to pass the time and an easy way to get a cold."
EDIT: Can't be bothered to answer reviews. I'm tired. Played music (he played guitar, I sang) in the rain at the train station earlier. It was a good way to pass the time and an easy way to get the flu.

Is that helpful? Dunno what it was that was specifically British so I just simplified it all... Tee hee. Still amuses me.

To all those new reviewers that I haven't thanked because I don't want to have to write a massive list: THANK YOU!

Lady Samurai: You are my 100th reviewer! I throw a party in your honour (soon enough) and Naruto and Sasuke are invited! Don't blame me if they steal all the mini-sausages. That pair just love their meat ; 3 !

Chapter Ten: A Cause for Concern

Naruto woke up to silence. Sunlight streamed through the open curtains of his room, creating patterns of shimmering light on the opposite wall. He watched them in fascination until he realised that he felt undeniably and uncomfortably moist. He opened his mouth to breath, his tongue feeling large and tacky and raised a hand to his damp forehead and hair. Memory of his last conscious state flashed before his eyes and he retched painfully, rolling over to look at the carpet with crisp, searing eyes.

"Sasuke," his mouth formed but no sound escaped. He gasped breathlessly, a terror running so deep it chilled his throat, "Sasuke!" His eyes watered with the effort and the fear. He retched again, his empty stomach giving nothing.

"SASUKE!" He screamed, the sound suddenly freeing itself. His head span and he clung onto the mattress desperately with tightly closed eyes. He was not aware of how much time passed before he was turned over firmly and pulled up into a sitting position in secure hands.

"Look at me." The person commanded and Naruto squinted at them as he tried to regain his breath, "No, Naruto, open your eyes." They said.

"But what if it's not you? I don't want to if it's not you!" Naruto wailed and writhed, screwing up his eyes tightly.

"What? You're not making any sense. Naruto…" The person fought against the struggling blonde, "Naruto! Cut it out!"

"Sasuke!" Naruto cried, fighting off the hands that tried to hold him still.

"It's me, you moron! Look!" Sasuke barked, holding Naruto's face in his hands as he tried to push him away, "Stop it! Naruto! Stop it!" He grabbed his flailing wrists, sat on his legs and pressed his forehead against Naruto's firmly, "Open your damn eyes and look at me!"

Naruto whined and wriggled without any success, so he lay back panting and sobbing dryly, "No. I… you're hurting me!"

"I'll let you go if you stop struggling." Sasuke said calmly.

Naruto swallowed and nodded hesitantly. Sasuke let go of his wrists and sat beside him on the bed, "Better?" He said running his hand across Naruto's forehead. Naruto nodded and opened his eyes, gazing at the ceiling blankly. Sasuke peered at him analytically, "That wasn't so bad was it? Your pupils are still slightly dilated. I bet you're exhausted now, aren't you?" Naruto ignored him, "What now?" Sasuke sighed irritably.

"What time is it?" Naruto said hoarsely.

"Four in the afternoon. What's wrong? Do you want anything?"

Naruto shook his head and then nodded, raising his hand to his face, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just stressed, you know? And then the gig was so good and you were so…"

Sasuke took his hand away gingerly and kissed his eyelids, making a beeline for his trembling lips, "What are you apologising for, you stupid boy? I'm not mad at you!" He said, pulling away from Naruto's searching mouth, "You get so worked up about everything! Worry about yourself for a change! Everyone else is."

"What?" Naruto murmured, longing for Sasuke to stop talking and continue working on his lips. He reflected on this later, realising how strange it was for him to want to shut the normally silent Sasuke up.

"Of course they are! You didn't think they'd all just overlook the fact that you collapsed in the street and passed out, do you?" Sasuke laughed wretchedly, "They've been worried sick. Kiba called in a doctor and Shikamaru stayed over."

"Shikamaru?" Naruto smiled tiredly.

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, believe it or not. The doctor said you're suffering from a serious case of fatigue. Don't know how considering you seem to get a lot more sleep than I do…"

Naruto shrugged, appreciating how comfortable his pillow really was as his eyelids flickered.

"You're tired. You need to rest." Sasuke said, moving to stand up.

"No!" Naruto said frantically, squeezing his hand, "Stay with me. Talk to me. Just don't leave me alone again."

"Ok! Ok." Sasuke said, leaning over and kissing his nose, "Move over."

Naruto shuffled up and Sasuke lay beside him and wrapped his arms around his smaller form protectively, resting his chin in the crook of his neck and breathing underneath his ear.

"Sakura was beside herself with worry. I told you she'd get over it. You should never have doubted me…" Sasuke said, realising he was only talking to calm Naruto's nerves. The flaxen haired boy breathed deeply and entwined his fingers in Sasuke's, "…Ino was up half the night making pancakes for everyone and pacing around like someone possessed." The breathing thinned and came more regularly, "And me, you ask? …Well… I didn't leave you, right up until the doctor kicked me out this morning. I'm sorry I wasn't there right away. I'm sorry for being so tactless last night. You were right. I was being obnoxious. But then again that's not really out of the ordinary is it… I'm sorry I'm such a bastard." He said, knowing he was only talking to himself. Naruto was lost in dreams. Sasuke also knew, and hated the fact that he would never have said it otherwise.

Later that evening Naruto woke again feeling far more refreshed. Sasuke sat at his desk writing an essay on his laptop, quietly clicking away and chewing his lip, his hair partially tucked behind his ear in a harassed manner. Naruto rubbed his eyes and sat up, feeling the need to be cleansed more that ever.

"How're you feeling?" Sasuke asked, not looking up from his work.

"Weird."

"Understandable." He said, chewing the skin on his thumb, "Don't be surprised if you get a cold over the next few days. You were soaked through last night."

Naruto swung his legs out of the bed, "Ow!" He said as he received a sharp stab of pain from his knees.

"What?" Sasuke said looking over his shoulder. Naruto gestured madly at the large purple bruises forming on his kneecaps, "Oh." Sasuke said simply, "Probably from when you fell over. Muffin?"

"You don't seem very sympathetic." Naruto grumbled, readying himself to stand up.

"That'll be because I don't feel it. Do you want a muffin or not?" Sasuke replied, holding out the rounded cake he took from a packet on the desk and licking his fingers.

Naruto blinked at him, "No. Not right now…"

Sasuke sighed and replaced the muffin. He looked back at Naruto again who was testing out his feet on the carpet, "Where do you think you're going, why, and how do you think you're getting there?"

"The bathroom, because I feel disgusting and the usual method of walking will do."

"Try it." Sasuke smirked wickedly, picking at the spongy confectionary item.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at him and applied his weight to his feet, pushing himself off the bed and standing. He did his best to ignore the pain coursing through his legs from his kneecaps and gave Sasuke a smug exposure of his tongue.

"Walk." Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

Naruto hesitated and then attempted to walk as callously as he dared. He did not get very far before Sasuke was holding him up and rolling his eyes patronisingly.

"You're such an idiot." He said scathingly, pulling his arm over his shoulder to support him as he walked him into the bathroom, "And how were you intending to wash?"

"I can still clean myself, I'm not disabled!" Naruto cried indignantly.

"Oh, really? So was it going to be sitting in the shower tray not able to stand up or slipping and drowning in the bath?"

"I'll be fine, but thanks for the concern." Naruto smiled sarcastically.

"Very well," Sasuke stood back and removed his support around Naruto. Naruto grabbed the sink and scowled darkly, "Go on! Run the bath. Or can't you turn around?"

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Naruto questioned.

"Of course."

"You just want to get me naked!"

"If it's just that I want I could have stripped you last night while you were unconscious…" Sasuke smiled perversely and Naruto gaped at him speechlessly. Sasuke turned the taps on the bath and stuck in the plug, "Don't look at me like that, I didn't did I?"

"I wouldn't know!" Naruto moaned, wincing at the sharp pain of his knees.

"Don't whine. You're only acting violated because you know you want it really." He said, a strange smile gracing his lips as he stole some of Ino's lavender bubble bath.

"W-want what?" Naruto stammered. Sasuke took the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it over Naruto's head, "Hey!"

"Stop complaining. You wanted a wash didn't you?" Sasuke said, rolling the shirt off Naruto's arms and folding it over the towel horse. Naruto grumbled warily and sceptically eyed Sasuke as he tested the temperature of the rapidly rising bath water. Sasuke caught his gaze, "Stop looking at me like I'm a rapist! I'm not taking advantage of you in your oh-so-fragile state! Besides, it's not my style to pick on the weak and feeble." Naruto's expression did not change as Sasuke turned off the taps and dried his hands on his trousers.

"Prefer a struggle, do you!" Naruto asked incredulously, "If that's not the mark of a rapist I don't know what is!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Get in." he sighed and turned his back to face the door. Naruto hesitated before carefully removing the rest of his clothing, trying his hardest not cause himself any harm, and easing himself into the bubbly water. He instantly felt soothed and could even bend his legs a little.

"God knows how you coped in school communal showers." Sasuke said, turning around as Naruto groaned contentedly.

"That's a bit different." Naruto grinned, "This just seems backward."

"In what way?" Sasuke asked, inspecting his reflection in the mirror above the sink.

"I don't know." Naruto lied, not wishing to explain his comment and therefore avoiding an awkward conversation. Sasuke did not push him for an explanation. He lay back and reflected on the gig the night before.

"How do you think we did last night?" Sasuke asked, reading his mind.

"Awesome. It was great." He replied, a surge of adrenalin running through him at the memory.

"Take it easy next week. We don't want you collapsing on stage."

"Next week? Oh crap, that's right. We have another gig, don't we?"

Sasuke nodded, "Sit up."

Naruto did as he was told, "I guess that means that we're appreciated."

"Mm, at least by the landlord." Sasuke agreed, sitting on the edge of the bath and drenching a sponge in the water.

"Nah, the crowd loved it. Especially you." Sasuke said nothing and sponged Naruto's neck gently. Naruto shuddered at the water running down his shoulder blade pleasantly, "But then it's not surprising really. The band that played before us were butt ugly."

Sasuke gave a snort of dry amusement, "I'm sure that's the reason, Naruto." He said sarcastically, squeezing the sponge out over Naruto's head.

"And we're only going to get better! We could have a record contract this time next year!" Naruto said through a sheet of dripping blonde hair.

"I doubt that very much." Sasuke muttered, massaging shampoo into the yellow mop.

"Wanna bet?"

"I don't gamble."

"Liar. You're just chicken."

Sasuke smiled, "Alright then. If we have a record contract this time next year I'll take you to Japan and if we don't…"

"I'll sell my guitar and give up the band." Naruto said. Sasuke paused in his action of reaching for the showerhead and looked back at Naruto's serious expression.

"Deal."

The doorbell rang downstairs.

"Who's in?" Naruto asked as Sasuke rinsed off his hair.

"Sakura and Ino and Nara. Someone will get it."

Sure enough they heard footsteps trip down the stairs and the door click open. A few moments later they heard Sakura's voice call up the stairs.

"Sasuke!"

He sighed and stood up, "Hang on a minute." He said to Naruto and closed the bathroom door behind him. Another few moments later, Naruto heard angry male tones drift up the stairs and then they dulled. He moved his legs testily and then raised them over the edge of the bath, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of the bath and pulled himself out, his eyes stinging when his heels took his weight and a dull aching pain took over his legs. He stood, wrapped a towel around his waist and went out inelegantly into the hall. Sakura caught his eye by waving silently as she eavesdropped out of her bedroom door. She glanced down the stairs and then tiptoed over to Naruto's side.

"How're are you?" She mouthed. Naruto smiled and gave her a thumbs up and then angled one thumb down the stairs questioningly. She shrugged and then pushed him into his room. He almost fell over as his knees momentarily jarred but Sakura didn't seem to notice. She closed the door behind her and seemed to take a moment to gather herself as if her mind was scattered across the room upon entering.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, still unsure how to approach the volatile young woman. Sakura looked up, smiled, crossed the room toward him and draped her arms around his neck. Naruto was very aware of his dampness and extreme lack of clothing, a towel was all that hung off his hips.

"I just wanted to let you know that I still meant what I said last night, despite how hammered I was. Because…" She held onto him tighter, rising up on her tiptoes and pressing her cheek against his neck, "… Because if I can't have him then you're a good enough reason why I shouldn't." He felt his face burning as hot new droplets of water dripped down his collar, "So I want you to tell me everything, every perverse detail. I want to be your confidante…"

"You want to be my fag hag!" Naruto laughed softly, taking her arms and gently removing them from his shoulders.

"Exactly." Sakura giggled pitifully back, rubbing her eyes and sniffing, "No, that's not right. I want to be your friend."

The door slammed shut downstairs and there was a pause before heavy footsteps stamped up the stairs. Sasuke stalked into the room, obviously irate, and collapsed on Naruto's bed, ignoring their presence. Sakura shot Naruto a look. He shrugged, and then she gave him another swift hug before leaving him alone with the swirling blue-black vortex in the corner of his room.

"I should pass out more often." Naruto smirked. Sasuke didn't respond. Naruto ran a hand across his mouth and inhaled deeply before approaching the darkness, hobbling a little, "Who was that?" He asked as he sat on the bed.

Sasuke avoided his gaze, "Shit-face."

Naruto smiled, "Sorry, you're going to have to translate that one."

The brooding boy sighed and reached up to touch the hair above the nape of Naruto's neck, "I don't think I've ever met someone with hair as blonde as yours."

"Sasuke." Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Kakashi."

Naruto's eyes widened, "Hatake? Our lecturer? What did he want?"

"Oh, to lecture as usual." Sasuke grimaced, stroking the water droplets off Naruto's back, "I'm sure torturing me is one of his favourite past times. Although he's been more pathetic than anything else lately."

"You're talking about Kakashi Hatake?" Naruto questioned again, "We didn't have a lecture scheduled for today. The pieces aren't quite fitting here, Sas'."

Sasuke murmured deeply and sat up. He ran his hands up either side of Naruto's spine, "Doesn't matter. He's not important." he said in placating tones.

"What's going on, Sasuke? Was it him that rang you that day? Should I be concerned!"

Sasuke hissed through his teeth irritably and Naruto felt his nails nip lightly into his flesh, "No. It's nothing like that. I mean, yes it was him on the phone that time but…" He rested his forehead against Naruto's back, "He's an old family friend. And he's basically all I've got. That's something he likes to constantly remind me of. Except now he's bugging me more than usual because… well, I've been pretty much ignoring him. So it's nothing shifty and really nothing important."

"Why didn't you tell me? You had me seriously worried for a minute!" Naruto was reminded of his relationship with Iruka but he got the impression that this was something a little different. Sasuke grumbled, "You shouldn't ignore him though. He's obviously only worried about you."

"Nah, he's just jealous that I've found someone else and he hasn't." Sasuke muttered bitterly. Naruto frowned, "But as I said, it doesn't matter. He just pissed me off coming here."

"Why would he be all you have?" Naruto blurted, realising how tactless he had been a little too late. Sasuke said nothing. They sat in silence for a moment, Naruto on the edge of the bed, Sasuke leaning against his back. Sasuke sat up away from him. Naruto winced as he stood up without saying a word, "Sasuke, don't go. I'm sorry, I'll shut up now." Naruto grabbed his shirt as he started to walk away, "Please." Sasuke stopped but Naruto couldn't see his face behind his hair.

"Because everyone else I loved is dead. Look, I really don't want to talk about this now. I'm g-"

Naruto pulled him down against him across the bed, "Kiss me."

"Stop it." Sasuke mumbled angrily, trying to pull away from Naruto's firm grip on his shirt collar

"Like you did the first time…" Naruto purred, breathing deeply against Sasuke's chest, "Or am I still not allowed to talk about that… Don't ignore me too. Don't throw me away like some toy you've got bored of."

"Never." Sasuke growled, pressing his lips against Naruto's securely, "Never. Never. Never. Never."

Naruto grinned against Sasuke's mouth and let himself sink into pleasure, pressed against a mattress by a person he thought he'd never even like let alone…

"I love you."

AN: Aii! It's the longest chapter so far. Sorry the bathroom scene wasn't kinkier. I felt it would be a bit inappropriate due to Naruto's current state. There's always time for more! I wrote this in the blackest week in the history of anime. Naruto was licensed! I'm in the hopelessly optimistic stage of mourning. That's hoping that they might do a good job when they quite blatantly won't. Oh god! WEEP! Next chap: OHNOSE! SASUKE!