Warnings: violence, physical and verbal. Cursing. Shounen ai by way of kissing. Itachi (and therefore angst and creepiness). Dream sequence. Arguments. An (important) original character is introduced.

Disclaimer: He draws it. They own it. Those air it. We watch, read, imitate it
(i.e. I don't own Naruto, and I can only claim my plot and writing).

I'm holding an art contest! Go to my homepage to find out about it, and the prizes (a story written for and dedicated to you. You pick basically everything I write, I just put the words down).

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You made my day, every single time. I'll try and update soon. I'm not making promises, though...wedding's getting closer (my sister's, too, so I can't get out of it...)

Thanks to my wonderful betas, Sweetie Pai and Meghan (the main ones for this), and redjediknight (who's amazing) and Silver (who's spectacular). The latter two were busy, and will probably have me reposting this chapter in a bit...

愛 Something of Love: Ai no Koto
の
事

Chapter Nine
by Taes

Sasuke breathed a quiet sigh of relief as the sun warmed his cheeks. Silence. After a morning of thoughtless chatter and endless gossip that was all he wanted. He sat down to eat with his back against the door—the supposedly locked door no one could enter but he—and relished the smell of home-brewed tea. His lips tightened when he remembered who'd made it.

Itachi...

Sasuke's hands gripped the wooden obento box. I don't want it, he decided, but the hot sun continued its torrent of heat. He felt the soft tissue of his lips with one hand, and wondered, why are you—

"Sasuke, give me a hand!" a voice pitched high with sudden fear. "I'm about to fall—"

He found himself up and running before he realized it. When their hands clasped, he felt as though they were crafted with the other in mind. It was a sudden thought, and it seized him too quickly to mask the true meaning. So the thought simply was, and Sasuke couldn't deny it. Naruto's hands were smaller, darker and so broad in comparison to his own. They fit comfortably in Sasuke's pale, long-fingered hand. Moreover, while Sasuke's were chilled, Naruto's charming hands were warm.

...nice, Sasuke thought and held on for a little too long.

"Thanks," Naruto grinned and Sasuke noticed the school bag slung over his shoulder. So he remembered to bring his lunch...hmf.

Itachi had noticed the finished bento the previous week, and thus Sasuke's lunch had since grown to include monstrous proportions. Enough for two...his eyes narrowed at the thought, and he wondered how his brother could be so...perceptive. "Idiot..." he said aloud, but he didn't know who the charge was for. "What'd you come up here for?" Sasuke demanded, his voice gruff.

Naruto's large eyes shrunk and the two contested silently. "...Sakura didn't wanna eat with me," he grudgingly divulged. "And it's embarrassing to eat alone." Blue eyes rushed to Sasuke's abandoned lunch. "What'cha got to eat?" he wondered and noisy footsteps closed the distance. "Wha...you have shrimp?" his eyes twinkled "Big shrimp?" his voice held an unbelieving quality that Sasuke found exasperating

"So?" the question was meant to affirm his irritation to Naruto. "That's not—"

"—shit, wanna share?" he sounded like a child. A rude child.

"No!" maybe spoken too soon. His voice felt heated. Harsh.

Naruto's eyes returned to the slit-like shape and Sasuke found himself smirking with anticipation. Then a shrimp went flying. "So eat it!" Naruto laughed while he spoke and Sasuke barely snatched the flying seafood from the air. "Sasuke-yo!" Naruto seemed to attempt a serious face, but the tone had no malice that time, and Sasuke recalled the previous incident. It led to...mountains.

Naruto was then on the ground. He tied Sasuke's bento tight and threw it. "Your ammunition." He explained.

"Stop throwing food!" Sasuke scolded, but Naruto didn't hear. He just pulled out two leaves of limp cabbage from his own lunch and heaved it over. Then he followed suit with the remaining pieces—until there was only rice left. Sasuke dodged every piece.

"Dropout." Sasuke's eyes blazed. "Now you don't have—"

A bright smile. "So you'll share now, right?" And quiet laughter.

Sasuke's eyes froze on the glittering smile. All that for a meal? "You just wasted your lunch." He frowned and Naruto's lips jerked a little wider. "So why should I?"

Crisp laughter filled his ears. "You shouldn't take back what you say—"

Sasuke heard the mirth and his patience drew to a close. "I didn't promise anything." He warned, and Naruto laughed more.

"Yeah you did!" he wagged a finger and winked. "By giving me some the other day you promised to feed me when I need—"

"—you don't need anything. You threw—"

"Cute cloud up there, isn't it?" wide, sparkling eyes meandered towards the heavens. "Definitely my kind of cloud."

Naruto…why did you say that? But Sasuke found himself scanning the horizon for it though he couldn't see why any one cloud would be cuter than another would.

"You know," Naruto continued and Sasuke thought he was being deliberately facetious. He didn't know. "The one with the long tail and three humps?" he stood and turned to face the sky.

Sasuke stared for a moment longer and murmured, "It's covering the sun."

Naruto whirled around suddenly, surprise written clearly on his open features. "Yeah…" he replied quietly. "It is." The brilliant sun-like boy moved to the area Sasuke had reclined by earlier. He looked fleetingly at Sasuke's bundled bento. Then away.

He wants the food Itachi prepares…the tea.

"Looks like your mom made too much again, huh?"

A lie. She hadn't made his lunch in years…since I was eight…But he nodded dumbly and opened his bento again. He wordlessly passed a shrimp to Naruto and opened the tea. He poured a cup and scooted it towards Naruto. The blond gladly accepted what Sasuke could not.

"…Naruto…" the blond regarded him curiously. "…last week you invited me to the mountain." A cheeky grin hid confusion. "And this weekend… I'd like you to come to my house—"

"Fuck." Complete surprise.

"—if you don't mind." The red seeped into Naruto's cheeks and Sasuke found himself smiling. He's blushing. What a child.

"…I'd love to…" he mumbled. Sasuke's heart faltered. "What time?"

The first thing Sasuke noticed was the heat. For late summer, it was unusually hot. Summer vacation had since passed and Minami Ko, South High, was preparing for the annual school-trip. However, children still went without jackets, adults carried their suit-tops on arms, and all put their unneeded coats into bicycle baskets.

The second thing that passed through his head had more to do with Naruto.

He's late.

They'd timed the early morning rendezvous so that Sasuke would arrive on the seven forty-five train and they'd return on the seven fifty-five. But it's ten 'till already… And no trace of the obnoxious boy could be found. Sasuke scowled.

Minutes passed.

Behind him, the train pulled in.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

And then, "Sasuke!" Sasuke recognized the voice first, and then the shock of blond hair. He was still too far off to see his face.

Orange again? Does he want to be noticed?

Heh. He runs quickly…

So he waked—slowly—to the ticket machine and shoved a five-hundred yen coin in the slot. He pushed a few buttons on the screen and the machine spit out the tiny orange slip of paper. He walked to the gate and flashed the pass—the long-term ticket that Itachi bought…so I didn't have to ask...And Naruto ran into Sasuke from behind. He gave the ticket to the ticket-master, who stamped the tiny slip.

Naruto breathed heavily behind him, and Sasuke felt his warm breath on the back of his neck. He didn't turn around to see the boy.

"The train's leaving now, so you boys ought to run," the ticket-master suggested with a chiding smile.

Sasuke nodded, and Naruto gasped. "What!"

Before he could complain any longer, Sasuke was off. The ground seemed to blur as he ran—streaks of gray and black—and he vaguely heard Naruto calling him again. Surprised. Annoyed. They ran up the steps and through the tunnel—their feet thundered loudly—and skipped down the platforms.

Sasuke pressed the button to open the heavy metal doors. He climbed up and offered a hand to Naruto, who took it awkwardly. As soon as they entered, the doors closed, and the train started to move. Naruto smiled at Sasuke and his eyes crinkled. Naruto chuckled breathily and looked at the door. His laughter grew until it took on a breathy, strained feel.

Sasuke's eyes were fixed on their hands—still clutched together—until the train jerked a little. Their hands released.

Rested against the metal walls. They shifted for the balance.

And Sasuke nodded in the direction of the cabin. Naruto followed awkwardly. His breathing was ragged, and Sasuke closed his eyes.

...Naruto...your voice...it sounds like you're hurting.

But he didn't say a word.

So the silence continued comfortably as the train bustled along, stop after stop. Naruto watched the window and Sasuke watched Naruto. This quiet...it's nice.

When they reached the familiar station, Sasuke titled his head. Blue fixed on Sasuke's mouth.

Strange, how such a determined idiot doesn't meet my gaze...what's he afraid of?

"Let's go." And so they went. No stairs here...Sasuke thought to himself, and his lips twitched upwards. It's so much easier to go home than to go away...

Run away.

And never come back...

"So how far's your house?" it was the first thing Naruto had said since they'd boarded the train. It caught Sasuke by surprise and his steps slowed.

Sasuke shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe half an hour." He put his hands in his pockets, and Naruto snorted. Sasuke blinked.

Aaa...I'd forgotten that. He knows it's rude to put your hands in your pockets...but he made no move to change his position. Sasuke knew Naruto's eyes rolled upwards.

Once again, he fished the ticket-pass from his pocket to shove it in the ticket-master's face. They simply murmured a quiet, "Thank you," and wordlessly took Naruto's stamped ticket to deposit it in the metal box between the gates.

Sasuke didn't acknowledge the man, but he heard a quiet, "Thanks," from Naruto.

Baka...

The first ten minutes they walked without noise. Naruto studied the houses or the sidewalks and made quiet noises of surprise when he saw people staring at them. Sasuke looked ahead, at the sky, and at the ground. He met no one's gaze, but the people they saw each called greetings.

Such is the respect for the Uchiha family...

Damn it all.

His hands clenched and Naruto moved up behind him to put an arm around his shoulder. "Ne, Sasuke," he laughed and Sasuke stiffened.

He's touching me.

"Don't you get bored walking home? I bet you could ride a bike or something and get home faster—"

"I don't want to." Sasuke muttered, and Naruto stared. His hand slipped off Sasuke's shoulders, and Sasuke missed the closeness.

Does he know? Could he...? No. Family is important to him...because it's something he doesn't understand

What a simple idiot...

"You jerk," a child still. "It was just a suggestion…" And for a while, there was quiet but the atmosphere was anything but tranquil.

Naruto grinned at Sasuke as he reached for the door's handle. It seemed weird to be anywhere with Sasuke—much less his house. Dude...that's so...unexpected.

Guh!

He's messing with my head!

The door opened and the two stepped inside. Naruto murmured a quiet, "Ojamashimasu," excuse me for intruding. It was only the polite thing to say, but Sasuke glared at him as if he'd committed some grave offense. Naruto stuck out his tongue. Sasuke stared and Naruto laughed.

The sound of his laughter echoed quietly in the closed off space. Much to his surprise, the other put a hand over his mouth—his hands are—so soft—and put a finger to his lips.

Naruto blinked. Whatever... and he pushed away from Sasuke to take off his shoes. The house was eerily quiet, although Sasuke didn't seem concerned. This guy is something else... Sasuke gestured for Naruto to follow, and mounted the step. They walked through the entryway with silent footfalls.

The entryway seemed like a square hallway to Naruto. It had simple decoration and two flat pillows on which unwelcome visitors could sit.

They probably don't let very many people past here, Naruto thought.

In accordance with all other old houses Naruto had seen, there were no corridors; one room simply led to another and the walls were truly only sliding doors.

No privacy whatsoever. Old houses like these don't have any locks…

Naruto bit his lip. All these rooms are washitsu, aren't they? Damn...they must have more money than—he shook his head quickly. That doesn't matter. Nevertheless, his gaze drifted to the elegantly painted walls—doors to what rooms? He wondered—and stayed on the gilded flowers. Fuck...who has the money for that kinda detail?

Only one wall lacked the picture-like decoration. But on it hung a scroll longer than Naruto was tall. He pointed. "What's that say? It's written in the—"

"—old script. It's a litany my family's passed down over the generations." Sasuke moved to the center of the room and smirked at Naruto.

Curious, Naruto wandered over. The writing was impressive—something not even their school's calligraphy teacher could imitate…that's some style. "Who wrote it?" maybe they commissioned it…?

"Itachi."

Naruto stared. "You've gotta be kidding me." Sasuke laughed quietly and his shoulders shook with displeasured mirth. Naruto's eyes narrowed. "You are such an idiot." He grumbled, and reached out to touch the aging paper. "When?"

"He was ten years old."

Naruto stared. "…fuck…"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What else can you expect from a genius? With eyes like his—"

Red on black.

...on...

"—what's it say?"

Sasuke's smirk deepened while his eyes widened.

He looks... like he lost it...

This family's completely nuts.

"Seek with eyes that truly see." And he laughed again.

Naruto glared. "Dude, I didn't come here to watch you crack—" more laughter. "—never mind, you cracked a long time ago." He stiffly marched to the center of the room and reached for Sasuke's shoulders to try to shake some sense into the boy.

Sasuke's arms moved to block him in an instant. Twisted and had Naruto falling—

—into an animal-like crouch.

Naruto grinned. "Wanna play?"

He leapt up without waiting for a reply while he used his legs to spring forward. The impact would have been devastating had Sasuke stayed put. But with a short laugh and amazing speed, he was gone. Naruto skid on the tatami floor—baffled.

Thrilled.

He let out a whooping laugh and began again.

The two fought like falling stars, brilliant, burning and harsh. Sasuke's movements were skillfully performed—like he's been trained in the arts, Naruto thought—and Naruto's actions were the opposite. Improvised, completely from his head—the things I've seen and the things Kakashi showed me—and without grace. Without style.

Kakashi's technique wasn't suited for the brash young man.

"You're sloppy," Sasuke smirked.

Naruto snarled. "You look like a princess."

Sasuke's lips twitched.

Naruto held back his chuckles but his grin widened and he started to laugh. He clutched his sides helplessly and fell to the floor. "Queen..." he snickered. "Oh, crap…"

Sasuke squatted next to the boy and put his long hands on his shoulders. They stared at one another, and on impulse Naruto pulled Sasuke until he fell. What a tangled mess of limbs...He continued to laugh as Sasuke struggled to find a more comfortable position. "Stay still, stupid," Naruto choked and put his arms around the other's chest.

His hands couldn't reach.

Sasuke froze for a second before he wrestled Naruto into a sprawling position. They were lying on top of one another. Naruto smirked and rolled so they faced one another on their sides. Sasuke laughed and reached to touch Naruto's face. His hands fit...

Naruto smiled and moved to touch Sasuke's lips. Soft...

They were still, and for a while, they said nothing.

Then Naruto sighed. He ran one hand through his tangled hair and muttered, "I feel really stupid." Sasuke snorted at that and started to move. Naruto tackled him and they wrestled for a few minutes. Finally, Naruto lay down flat and sighed. Sasuke pinned him. "I'm bored." He said simply.

Sasuke scoffed. "Yeah?" a light smile.

Naruto thought, what do kids normally do at each other's houses…?

He fidgeted. "What do you wanna do?"

Sasuke smirked. "Well," his silky voice hinted at something Naruto wasn't sure about. "We could spar,"

Does he think I'm an idiot? "Yeah. Right." Naruto rolled his eyes.

Sasuke pushed away and stood. "Follow me." his voice was quiet and fell flat.

I've been swallowed by the emptiness…A smile twitched Naruto's lips. Heh.

They drew back the door to reveal another room. This area's…what? Two long and narrow tables were situated low on the floor. A closet to one side, flower arrangements in the corner and the smell of cedar. Naruto looked to Sasuke, who went immediately to the closet to withdraw two long sheets of paper. He spread them after he retrieved two boxes.

Naruto's lips twitched into a grin. "Don't you need some felt?" he continued to beam. "So it doesn't seep through to the table." He laughed as Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

Sasuke walked calmly to the tables before setting the boxes down, and then he slowly opened them. The first item he pulled out was a tightly rolled bundle of cloth. Naruto twitched and smiled wearily. Quietly, Sasuke pulled out the remaining supplies and placed them on the floor.

"Let me help," Naruto mumbled and picked up the first bundle. Clumsily, he managed to unwrap it and spread out the stiff cloth. He ran one hand over the table's surface to remove the wrinkles.

Sasuke chuckled.

Naruto glanced at the other table. "Hey!" he was astounded. "How'd you get it out so quickly…?" the contents of the box had been emptied and set up in the time Naruto had fumbled with the felt. Naruto's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

"Here," Sasuke's voice was soft in Naruto's ear.

He's…helping me…

It's…kinda nice.

"You know how to hold the brush, don't you?"

Naruto snorted. So much for nice. "Any little kid could tell you that." Sasuke waited. "Yes! I've had the same classes you have, prick." He grumbled. He picked up the brush awkwardly. Nevertheless, he looked at Sasuke for instruction. "What are we writing…?"

The room heard more laughter.

…ugh…Sasuke's laughing at me a lot today…

He's terrible!

Sasuke poured a little water into the deep end of the stone and rubbed the stick of dried ink into it. He mixed gently and said, "Why don't we practice with something easy."

Sasuke put the dry ink down, and picked up the brush. It dipped into the black ink, and Sasuke rolled the brush's head for a moment to fill it with ink. He pulled the brush up the gentle slope—that's oka, the hill—of the ink stone. Naruto's eyes followed the black stream that flowed back into the pool—and that's umi, the sea.

"A proverb." His hand moved up and away from the ink stone and over the white paper. He smiled slightly and leaned over to start from the top. How can he reach…?

The words appeared on the paper faster than Naruto had thought possible, and each character shone with the dull light of fresh ink. The gentle smell of earth and water found Naruto, but he paid it no mind.

He's…he's writing…

Sasuke's mouth opened. "Prod the bush, and a snake will come out." Naruto's brush dropped. Sasuke turned to regard the other boy. "You haven't even prepared your ink." He noted, annoyed.

Naruto shook his head and mumbled, "You write well…"

But why a snake? Why a snake? It's too…

His hands shook as he fumbled with the dried ink stick. He added too much water and bit his lip. Crap. With a tissue, he soaked some of it up—enough so that the umi didn't overwhelm the oka—and carefully put the tissue in his pocket. He began to swirl the ink into the water when the door opened.

Both heads turned. That's the wall with the scroll on it…Naruto thought vaguely. The one Itachi wrote. I didn't know the wall opened …?

"Sasuke." The voice was chill with lack of feeling, and the eyes were blank and heavy. Naruto's hand stalled. Red on black...eyes. His eyes flickered to the paper Sasuke had written the calligraphy on. White.

"Aniki." Brother. Naruto's eyes flew to Sasuke. What's he doing?

And the man moved across the tatami as his loose yukata rustled gently. He's wearing black again, Naruto thought. Sasuke didn't move from his position even as Itachi closed in on him. The elder of the pair glanced at Sasuke's calligraphy and his lips stretched into a thin smile. His eyes were small. Slender.

Naruto's hand clenched the brush tightly. He wasn't holding it correctly—his hand had closed into a fist—and the opaque ink dripped onto the oka. Itachi's eyes turned to Naruto and the blond swallowed audibly. The dark man's lips stretched further. "Quite a catch," no inflection whatsoever made Itachi's voice eerie, "isn't he?" The smile ceased and Itachi's cold, infallible expression seemed to overtake both boys.

Sasuke scoffed. "No." he stood straighter, brush forgotten on the white sheet. A black stain began to eat away at Sasuke's signature.

When Itachi laughed, Naruto thought his heart would freeze.

He's…not laughing outta amusement or something…is he?

"Hey," Naruto spoke calmly but the sound of the word faltered. Fell. "Don't talk about me like I'm not—"

"Then he's nothing special." Itachi closed the small distance between them in two steps. Bowed down. And he took Naruto's face in his hands. "One would say." The smile returned for an instant, and red—they're black, not red—eyes focused on Naruto's birthmarks. Three lines of imperfection. The skin burned. And then Itachi moved away. He returned to Sasuke as Naruto's free hand moved to cover his cheek.

Fuck you…but there was no emotion to back up the thought.

The two brothers stared at each other, and Naruto released his grip on the brush. He closed his eyes, leaned forward, and began to write. He knew—but couldn't admit—what to say.

The first character was complete. His muscles tensed and the bristles brushed stiffly against the paper as he moved to the second character. The sound of wet ink on smooth practice-paper filled his ears. Devoured his heart.

In moments, it was done.

The brush touched his fingers, and Naruto opened his eyes.

The brothers had turned to him.

"Na…" Sasuke's voice stumbled. "Naruto…" the pale boy wanted Naruto's actions to be nothing important. Nothing significant. But sound betrayed his heart's thoughts.

And Itachi's smile grew. "As expected," black, not red "Uzumaki Naruto…isn't it?"

Naruto swallowed. Tried to smile.

Though Naruto didn't notice Itachi moving, he knew in an instant that the taller Uchiha stood behind him.

He read the single word Naruto had written. "Unmei." Uchiha murmured. Tasted the word with smiling lips. "Fate."

Naruto's eyes shifted to the paper. In a messy semi-cursive style, Naruto managed to take up the bulk of the paper. The characters were legible, barely, but the ink was dull. Gray-blue.

I didn't...

"Your 'fate' fades." Itachi smiled. Naruto wished he wouldn't. "Too much, hmm?"

Sasuke seemed to chuckle. Seemed to growl. Naruto was undecided what the younger Uchiha did. "Water. You had too much water." the other boy clarified.

Naruto laughed and took up his brush. He scribbled a stylized 'Uzumaki Naruto' in katakana, one of the Japanese alphabets. The tiny swirls at the end of each character made his name belong only to him. He smiled a little despite the unnerving Uchiha behavior.

And then Itachi bent down. Naruto felt the heavier man's weight on his shoulders and back. It was a comfortable sense of closeness that he imagined lovers would share. An embrace. But he shuddered to think it was Itachi who stole the cherished moment. His hands shook as Itachi claimed the brush from the smaller boy. He wrote Naruto's name in kanji, Chinese characters.

'Uzumaki: whirlpool.' and 'Naruto: Maelstrom.'

Naruto almost smiled. He'd always been afraid to ask a knowledgeable teacher for the kanji. It seemed embarrassing not to know what everyone else learned in elementary school. A sigh caught Naruto unexpectedly. I guess my teachers didn't like me then, either.

Naruto craned his head to see Itachi. Cold eyes shone dully in the dim light, and Naruto froze.

He's…something about him…

Sasuke abruptly folded the calligraphy he'd written. The quick movements successfully creased the beautiful words, smeared the not-quite-dry ink and left splotches on the white space. Naruto's heart fell even as those terrible words were ruined.

I don't understand.

Sasuke hastily returned the materials to the box and rushed out of the room, ink-stone and brush in hand. The sound of running water could be heard, but Naruto remained immobile.

Why would anyone waste something like that? It had meaning...

A hand on his shoulder. Naruto twitched. He didn't look up and Itachi remained there.

The door opened again, and Sasuke said, "Aniki."

Brother.

He called him again.

There was a quiet shift, and Itachi relaxed his grip. Turned away and leaned against the wall.

That's the same one he came through, Naruto noticed, and rubbed the place Itachi's hand had been.

Sasuke lightly coughed, and Naruto picked up his brush while his fingers lingered on the base of the oka. He followed Sasuke's path out the door and found the dining room.

Surprisingly, it wasn't the same as Kakashi's traditional dining room. There were chairs, not pillows, and the table was raised enough to use those chairs. The floor was made of a golden wood that shone. There were no woven rice-stalks—no tatami. Naruto padded awkwardly through another set of doors to the kitchen. In stark contrast with Naruto's small, hallway-like kitchen, the Uchiha family claimed a spacious area with multiple counters and even a small oven. Naruto's eyes were wide.

…this house…this place…

He hastily washed the ink out of the utensils and walked through an open doorway. Surprisingly, it led not to the dining room, as he'd expected, but to a small hallway. Curiosity led him further, and at the end of that hallway he found another large washitsu.

This must be a meeting area…

Pictures of the Uchiha family decorated the high ceilings, and in the far corner there was an old-fashioned cooking-pit. It was complete with sand and a hook to hang a pot from. Naruto grinned and began to walk over.

His heart stalled.

Hesitated.

Overwhelming feelings of hurt, pain and fear brought him to a complete stop. A memory surfaced, and with it the faint smell of blood. Those two…White and his precious person…what happened to them?

And he saw it.

A dead-white hand through White's chest, a frozen smile. And White's teacher, protector, important person. A rush through falling swords and knives and me.

He fell.

I cried.

The gold eye stepped back and I heard him.

White's dear on…he wanted…White.

Wanted to be…together…

Laid them down to see that gentle, tender smile…

I…what did…I

"Naruto, what are you doing?" from the kitchen, Naruto could hear Sasuke's voice. It was clipped, annoyed. Obviously, Sasuke had no idea where Naruto was.

But doors opened, and Naruto was face to face with Itachi once more. Cold, curious eyes turned to him, and the heavy ink-dish slipped from Naruto's fingers. It fell with a quiet thud.

He—

"Naruto."

—hurt—

"Sasuke is waiting." And he took Naruto by the arm and pulled him through door after door until they returned to the two tables.

Naruto could barely breathe. Couldn't think.

"Naruto?" Sasuke's voice made the panic hitch in his chest, and Naruto shook. "There you are." Itachi had abandoned Naruto's side in favor of the wall, and Sasuke spared him not even a glance. "Let's go."

And the two left the rooms of tatami and the smell of earth and water. Walked out of the noiseless house and down the street. Silently. Quietly.

And even when Sasuke bought his ticket, Naruto didn't say a word.

Sasuke seemed to enjoy the silence.

tbc...

Footnotes

1. Bento vs. Obento
The "o" is honorary. They mean the same thing.

2. Minami Ko.
The name of the boys' school is "Minami Ko" or "South High"

3. Trains, train stations, and train tickets
Trains come fairly often during busy times of the day-- like mornings. If you go at in-between times, no one's gonna come, so the wait will be much longer.
I had a long-term ticket thing (like Sasuke). You buy them once every now and again-- it's much nicer than buying a little cheap thing every day and having to carry change (like Naruto did). But they're expensive. (Picture of train stations on site)

4. Putting your hands in your pockets.
I don't remember why that's rude. I just remember being told not to do it.

5. Baka. "Baka" means "idiot."

6. Outsides of Japanese houses
Most houses in Japan look the same as any house, but Sasuke lives in an old fashioned type house vs. Naruto's modern one. However, it's not really a good idea for modern houses to be without locks, so instead of the old sliding doors everywhere, the Uchiha family has one set of regular doors…

7. Japanese houses (inside)
The walls are white with lotsa pretty scenery/pictures, so that means Sasuke's family is quite well off.
Tatami are woven rice stalks. It's a kind of carpet, basically. It's unusual to have a lot of tatami, and shows that they spent quite a bit on their home.
It's not unusual for a Japanese family to have a western style dining room…it is unusual that they have a room for dining…most Japanese houses seem to do the "both this and that" room-style-thing. Naruto's mostly surprised 'cause he thought that the Uchiha were completely immersed in Japanese culture—and therefore wouldn't have any hardwood floors or high tables…(more information on washitsu and shrines available on site)

8. The family crest/quote/saying (…what's that word…?)
Itachi wrote it. It's basically descended from Chinese writing—there's only kanji, no hiragana. This type of writing is studied in the Japanese "Kouten" class. (A picture of calligraphy style kanji given)

9. Calligraphy
It's an art. I happen to love it. the things that you need (according to Takenami Yoko) are "the four treasures" (19). The brush, ink, ink stone, and paper. (If you're curious about the utensils, caring for brushes and other pictures, go to the site.)

10. "Prod the bush, and a snake will come out."
The place I found this proverb on said "poke the bush" but I can't say that without laughing, so I changed it…薮をつついて蛇を出す (やぶをつついてへびをだす)

11. Katakana vs. hiragana vs. Kanji
Katakana ( カタカナ) is supposedly used only for foreign names and countries and such. Hiragana ( ひらがな ) is used for verb endings and poetry. Kanji (漢字)are compounds. They're used as stems, nouns, and other "concrete" concepts. (More information on kanji available on site)

12. The cooking pit
The Uchiha's pit thing is built in the floor. This is considerably old fashioned, because most of the Japanese houses have quit using the cooking pits. I consider it a statement of belief, that the Uchiha have such an old fashioned thing…sort of, "The Uchiha Clan will not change. We will be here forever." Or something along those lines.