You can't see me now
all those games you play
I can't know you know
I need one more day
cause I want to tell you

Don't look away, if you do than I may
No one knows truth not even you
You let your mind show
Hate that I've known
That I've been there before
Don't look away anymore – Joshua Radin, Don't look away

Having a door slammed in your face made you forget why you're trying to fix your younger brother's love life. Sasuke had arrived home via Temari a few minutes before and without speaking had stormed past Itachi, up the stairs and into his room. When Itachi had tried to follow he ended up staring at Sasuke's 'Leave me alone!' door sign.

This so wasn't worth it.

"Sasuke!! Open up, you little brat!" Itachi screamed as no one was in the vicinity to hear him lose his composure. There was a pause and then... "Bite me!!"

Itachi took a step back. Kakashi had clearly not told him exactly how bad it was. All he'd been told was that Sasuke and Naruto had had a fight and Temari's brother was somehow in the thick of it. Which is why as soon as he'd hung up he'd called his old classmate and ordered her to pick up Sasuke. She'd agreed as soon as he'd mentioned Gaara's name. Itachi wondered how much she knew.

"Sasuke? Sasuke, come on, talk to me," Itachi tried. "Mom and dad will be home soon and they're going to get suspicious if you're like this."

Sasuke stayed curled up on his bed and silent. Don't talk to me, he willed. Go away, don't try to help. Because unless Itachi was ready to dispose of Gaara himself Sasuke didn't want any help. And he wasn't just going to let Naruto go either.

It took me two years for that kiss, Sasuke thought. Two whole years of thinking he hated me. That kiss was worth it. Naruto is worth it.

I'm not giving up. Not yet.

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

Naruto's mind might be firmly set but everything else was protesting. His body knew that this was not its partner. Even his mind subconsciously betrayed him: in his mind's eye Gaara's body and face shifted to that of Sasuke's, the teal eyes shifted to narrower, darker ones, the hair growing and bleeding to black, pale skin turning porcelain.

Damn. Damn it! Naruto thought, shifting uncomfortably in Gaara's arms.

"What's wrong?" Naruto was cruelly reminded of Sasuke's words and how it had all gone badly.

"Nothing. Sorry. Was just wondering if I should call my dad if I'm staying out late." Gaara seemed to accept this for a moment and Naruto subconsciously relaxed. Then his eyes narrowed and the grip on Naruto's shoulders tightened. Naruto squeaked in protest.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Naruto's face gave it away.

"Why?" Gaara's pincer like fingers sank in deeper and Naruto tried not to complain.

"Because I think I left things badly with him," Naruto tried to explain. Gaara's grip didn't loosen.

"Just as well. It'll stop him from having any ideas."

"Ideas?" The word slipped out. Gaara fixed a blank stare on him before thankfully letting his hands fall to his sides.

"Of taking you back," he said matter-of-factly. Naruto opened his mouth to protest but the words caught in his throat. What should he say here? He wasn't a possession was the screech that got lodged first but he understood that to possessive types, like Gaara and Sasuke, he was. Some sort of pet that would run away if you took your eyes off it.

Secondly was that if Sasuke wanted him back who was to say he wouldn't go? Sasuke was permanently in his head.

On the other hand who was to say Sasuke would want him back? Sasuke may have cooled off by now or he could have meant what he said and hated Naruto more than ever.

Naruto sullenly shut his mouth and squeaked when it was quickly covered by Gaara's.

Shit, Naruto thought. It still feels like cheating on Sasuke! But he did his best to respond, all the while guilt throbbing in the back of his head.

"Ring your dad," Gaara said suddenly. "Come over and see Temari." Naruto mutely nodded. Did Temari know?

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

She knew.

"Naruto!" Temari had flung open the front door and immediately hugged him. She hugged him tight for longer than she usually did. Gaara stepped past them into the hall while Naruto stood there, breathing in her perfume and some fluffy blonde strands of hair. After a while she released him and stood there with Naruto feeling like a show dog being judged.

"You've grown," was all she said in the end before ushering him into the flat.

"Have you been out?" Gaara asked when they'd shut the door. Naruto sat down as Temari ran around picking up her keys, shoes and bag off the sofa.

"Yeah. Shop. Needed some things," she explained briefly before hurrying into the kitchen. Naruto took off his blazer with a sigh of relief before noticing Gaara was frowning.

"What?"

"I think she's lying..."

"About going out?"

"Where she went." And then they stopped as Temari poked her head round to the door to ask what they'd like to drink.

"Uh, juice is fine," Naruto replied and Gaara said the same. When Temari had shut the door again Naruto hissed "Why do you think she's lying?"

"Because she is," Gaara spoke in his normal tone. "I just know, ok?" Naruto wisely kept his mouth shut until Temari came back.

Nobody said anything until Temari had put the tray down onto the coffee table and the boys had taken their drinks. Temari picked up her coffee mug and focused on Naruto.

"So," she said casually with a far too fake smile. "How's school?"

Naruto dutifully answered questions about classes, friends and teachers. Then came the clincher.

"Seeing anyone?" Naruto almost choked.

"No!" he coughed. "I mean, um, no. Not...no." Beside him Naruto could almost feel Gaara rolling his eyes. He couldn't have made it more obvious if he'd tried.

Except, you know. That he'd been thinking of Sasuke.

Temari only smiled. "Gaara, why don't you go get those kettle crisps on top of the fridge?" Gaara's eyes narrowed further but Temari only smiled, not the least bit intimidated. Finally, Gaara stood up and disappeared into the kitchen.

Temari waited until the door was shut.

"So. Do you like this Sasuke boy?" she asked and didn't even blink when Naruto spat a mouthful of juice over the table.

"You know?!" Naruto hissed.

"I saw him today," she said quietly and Naruto went numb.

"You...you saw him?" he whispered. "How is he?" Temari put her mug down.

"Threatening death on Gaara. Furious with himself." Her eyes turned softer. "Missing you." Naruto looked at the floor.

"Naruto, you know how Sasuke feels about you, right?" Naruto nodded.

"Yeah, he told me that day in detention and...ow!" Temari slapped him open palmed.

"Then why do you keep fucking around?" she snarled. "Naruto, you need to make up your mind fast! Sasuke, although he likes to think so, won't wait forever. By being vague and indecisive you're just going to keep hurting people. Naruto, do you like Sasuke or not?" Temari's door opened and Gaara threw the bag of photos on the table.

"There. You eat too much junk, Temari." Temari, pretending like not a word had been exchanged while Gaara was out of the room, opened the crisps and casually offered the bag to Naruto. As not taking some would have made Gaara suspicious Naruto took a handful, not hungry at all.

Sasuke misses me?

Temari began to talk to Gaara about something trivial while Naruto thought, automatically eating crisps.

Naruto fumbled for his phone. "Hey, I'm just going to call my brother." Temari looked surprised.

"Why? I can drop you home, it's no problem."

"It's fine. Kyuubi will be on his way home from work and he can get me on the way. I haven't seen him in a while, that's all," Naruto fibbed and hightailed it into the kitchen to make his call.

"Pick up, pick up, you stupid asshole," Naruto whispered to himself as the phone rang endlessly. Finally a sleepy yawn answered him.

"Yo. What's up, Naruto?" Kyuubi drawled lazily.

"Come get me," Naruto whispered quietly as possible. Temari's loud – way louder than normal – voice was still audible from the living room, hiding what Naruto was saying but he wasn't taking risks. Kyuubi yawned again.

"What's that? Can't hear you."

"Come pick me up!" Naruto hissed. "I'm at Temari's place." This caught Kyuubi's interest.

"Why are you there?"

"Come pick me up and I'll explain," Naruto said hurriedly. "It's...it's about Sasuke." There was a pause.

"Give me ten minutes," Kyuubi said before he hung up.

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

"In," Kyuubi commanded, briefly waving to the watching siblings. "Explain."

"You have to promise not to kill Gaara," Naruto muttered, slamming the car door. Kyuubi looked mystified.

"Why would I do that?" he asked.

Five minutes later he knew exactly why he'd want to do that.

"You promised," Naruto warned.

"You dated that psycho?" Kyuubi hissed. "Naruto, this is sick! He's blackmailing you! Tell him where to fuck off!"

"I can't," Naruto insisted. "He's my best friend."

"You have other best friends! Better friends! Ones who don't use emotional blackmail into breaking up with somebody! My God, that little creep is so dead!" Naruto shifted uncomfortably.

"You'll have to fight Sasuke over that."

"No way, he's mine. Who does he think he is? I know he's your 'friend' but...well, you like Sasuke right?" More fidgeting.

"I don't know. I think I do. Wish I'd figured that out before Gaara did what he did..." Naruto mumbled.

"Jesus Christ. Then maybe you wouldn't have ditched the guy you like for the guy you used to like and date. I don't think you could say anything else than could make me madder," Kyuubi said, shaking his head.

"I'm kind of dating Gaara again..."

"What?! You're doing what?! How come you didn't mention that the first time? Is that part of the bargain? Oh hell no..." Naruto bit his lip. He couldn't remember the last time his brother had been so angry.

"Hey, where are we going? Take me home!" Naruto demanded as Kyuubi took a different turning to the one that took him home. Kyuubi ignored him and only pressed on the accelerator.

"Kyuubi, stop it! Where are we going?"

"We're going to fix this," Kyuubi said through gritted teeth.

"How?" Naruto asked in confusion. "This isn't the way back to Gaara and Temari's." Then it struck him the only other place they could be going. "No! No way!! Turn around!!"

"Rejected."

"I'm serious!" Naruto screamed in a panic. "I can't talk to him!"

"Why not, Naruto?" Kyuubi demanded. "Why can't you explain to Sasuke what's going on and apologise."

"Because we had a fight!" Naruto was relieved when the car slowed down a little. "I'm sorry I didn't mention it! I was distracted after what happened with Gaara and somehow it ended up into Sasuke getting mad at me. He thought I wanted to break up and he was so angry and confused...it just...made it easier on me." There was silence then Kyuubi hit the gas again and Naruto continued to scream.

"What are you doing?!" Naruto wailed.

"We're still going over there! Jesus, I thought you were better than that! You just took the coward's way out and now I don't care if you have to bone the guy while Mikoto makes me tea downstairs but you are apologising!"

"I'm not going to!" Naruto hissed. "And you shouldn't say stuff like that to your little brother!"

"Oh yeah, have all your decisions made for you! Naruto, you were never in love with Gaara and you haven't liked Gaara for years! Not in that way and now Sasuke...you like Sasuke. So stop being such a dick!"

"God, you are the worst brother ever! Let me out!"

"No way! Jesus, Naruto what is it going to take you for you to see that you're in love with Sasuke!" There was silence. When Kyuubi noticed Naruto had gone white with shock he pulled over.

"You really hadn't thought of that at all, had you?" Kyuubi asked quietly. Naruto shook his head.

"When you were all children, who was your best friend over everyone else? Sasuke. When you went to different schools what happened? You hooked up with Gaara because you were separated from him. When you met again, who was so happy because Sasuke was glad to see him again? You were. And why have you spent the last few years 'hating' the guy because you were furious that he left you? That's you." Kyuubi was quiet for a moment while Naruto absorbed this.

"You knew?" Naruto croaked.

"It took me a while to work it out. Just recently in fact. But Naruto, if you actually do realise you love Sasuke do you want Gaara to control you? Sasuke can't wait forever." Temari's words echoed in the car. Sasuke, although he likes to think so, won't wait forever.

"I know. But Gaara was there when Sasuke left. Sasuke chose to go to a different school and it was hard to keep in touch."

"And when Gaara moved which school did you pick? Oh yeah, Sasuke's." Naruto grinned weakly.

"You know that rhetorical question thing is getting kind of lame."

"I'm shocked you even know what a rhetorical question is," Kyuubi said, starting the car. "So, do you want to see him?" Naruto paused, thinking. If the flutter in his chest was anything to go by it was what he needed.

"Yeah," he said. "I wanna see him."

X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X/X

After they'd pulled up in front of Sasuke's house they sat in silence.

"Are you ready?" Naruto had his hand on the door handle.

"Yes. No. I don't..." he swallowed. "I'm not sure. What if he's mad?"

"I doubt very much he's still mad at you," Kyuubi said calmly. "Now go." Naruto twisted round.

"You're not coming with me?" Naruto asked in panic.

"So that when you make up I have to endure the making out? No, thank you. Also I know Itachi and I were friends but I'm not comfortable seeing his family right now. Especially as his brother has the hots for mine. Now go before you chicken out!" Kyuubi simultaneously leaned across and opened the door while unbuckling Naruto's seatbelt and shoving him out. Naruto stumbled and caught himself before hitching his bag up his shoulder and giving Kyuubi the finger.

"Right, here we go," Naruto muttered to himself as he walked up the garden path. Attempting to press the doorbell took a further five minutes. When it finally rang the door was once again opened by Mikoto.

"Naruto, isn't it?" she smiled "How nice to see you again! Were you looking for Sasuke?"

"Yeah, sorry. My brother was driving us home," he gestured to the waiting Kyuubi. "When I remembered I had to talk to Sasuke. It seemed easier than phoning." Mikoto waved him in.

"Of course, of course. Is your brother ok waiting in the car? Oh, if it won't take long just go up. Sasuke won't mind." So once again Naruto climbed the staircase, his heart in his throat. He didn't make it to the end of the hall though as another door opened and he was met with his brother's old friend.

Itachi's eyes widened to see him standing in the hallway.

"Naruto? What are you here for?" he asked in a quiet voice, mindful of the shut door a few metres away. Naruto tugged nervously on his tie. For some reason it felt like it was strangling him.

"I had to come. I needed to see Sasuke," he explained. Itachi simply stared.

"Good luck," and with that Itachi turned and disappeared down the stairs. Naruto shivered. Itachi had always given him the creeps. It loosened his resolved a little but memories of the rooftop strengthened it.

Please let him forgive me.

Because I...I...so much.

So Naruto opened the door.