oh wow, there're so many reviews, and rather positive responses…that was quite unexpected…haha…i was expecting being snuffed quite alot, but oh wells, its good!! haha…

finally a chapter with a double digit! and reviews have hit over 250! wow!! wow…

anyway, here's 10 and part 2 of the duel!!

disclaimer: i really really don't mind owning it, anyone wants to buy it for me?

Chapter 10: Duel (Part 2)

by zfirze

Sasuke sat on the branch of a tree in the Forbidden Forest, his hands tucked under his chin and his knees drawn up in a defensive position.

Naruto was afraid of him…

He sighed and lifted his head to face the sky. In the end, Naruto had lied. Lied when he had brazenly proclaimed that he was not afraid of Sasuke, whatever form he took. Lied when he said that he would looked at Sasuke as Sasuke, not as anyone one else.

He shut his eyes tight. It was to be expected, Naruto's fear. After all, he had tried to kill Naruto when he was in that form. He just thought, maybe…maybe…Naruto would be different from the rest, from the rest of their friends, from the villagers.

Sasuke remembered the first time he walked through the gates of Konoha again, two years after he had defected. The cold gazes, the harsh and scared whispers among the villagers. No doubt news had long spread about his betrayal and all his acts he had committed during his time under Orochimaru. It was okay though, Naruto was beside him. Naruto had encouraged him, told him to ignore the comments, comforted him and escorted him safely to the Hokage's tower.

Even after Naruto had managed to convince Tsunade-sama to trust Sasuke, Sasuke could tell that she only took him in again because of Naruto. When he joined the rest of their friends for a gathering, he could see the fear in their eyes. Fear that he would betray them and their friendship again. Fear that he was just a spy to collect information on Konoha. Fear that he would hurt them.

Sasuke looked towards the direction of the Quidditch pitch. He took a deep breath and tried to think objectively. Right now, Naruto's greatest fear had just materialised in front of him. By right, he should be helping Naruto to overcome his fear and get him out of the situation since Naruto was at a disadvantage, not knowing the wizarding world as well as the other wizards.

Sasuke hesitated. Even if Naruto was afraid of him, he had promised Naruto that he would never leave his side again. By abandoning Naruto in times of need, he had broken his promise.

He didn't want to betray Naruto's trust.

Maybe he should at least head back and try to help Naruto. After all, it was his fault that Naruto was afraid of him. And although that fact hurt him, he didn't want to see Naruto suffering.

He stood up and slowly, hesitantly, made his way back to the pitch.

Naruto stood there, unsure of how to respond.

By the loud whispers going around the crowd, he knew that what was in front of him was his greatest fear. It didn't make sense though. He definitely knew that he wasn't afraid of Sasuke…then, why?

"Naruto? Are you alright?" Ron asked him.

"Hmm? I'm fine, just a little confused,"

"Are you sure? You don't look so fine… Anyway, are you going to get rid of the Boggart soon? The crowd looked rather scared of it…whatever it's supposed to be,"

"What do Boggarts do, anyway?"

"You don't know?" Ron sounded surprised, "I think they just take the form what you're afraid of and hope you start screaming in fear?" Ron hesitated.

At this, Naruto turned around and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" Ron said, defensively, "We were told that…well, something like that. And just taught how to get rid of it,"

"Can you teach me then? The method to get rid of it?"

"Sure, it's rather easy. All you have to do is think of something funny that you can convert your fear into, visualise it in your mind and then say 'Riddikulus'. It'll change into whatever you have visualise, you laugh and it'll 'poof'!" Ron grinned brightly.

Naruto gaped slightly, "As simple as that?! All I have to is laugh and it'll disappear?!"

"Well, the visualisation part is rather hard for people who are terrified when they meet a Boggart. But since you definitely didn't fall into the 'terrified' category, it'll seem simple for you," Ron rationalised.

Naruto nodded and started thinking of what could be funny about Sasuke's demon form. There wasn't anything funny about it, since Naruto knew exactly what Sasuke could do when he was in that form.

Unconsciously, he glanced up at where the teachers were sitting and caught sight of Umbridge's disgusted face. He turned his attention back to the Boggart at hand, trying to come up with something even remotely funny. Stuffing it into a pink frill dress with a big pink ribbon on top could work. Naruto could scarcely imagine that happening.

With that in mind, Naruto raised his wand, "Riddikulus!"

The Boggart stumbled slightly before raising to its full height, looking just as menacing. Naruto turned to Ron for an explanation.

Ron looked bewildered, "I dunno, that never happened before!"

"Maybe there's something called collective fear or something? Since I think Naruto did do it right," Harry supplied helpfully as he limped towards them.

"What happened to you, mate?" Ron glanced pointedly towards Harry's leg where his robes were still issuing steam.

"Malfoy hit me with the Leg-Locker, but I managed to dispel it and shot Malfoy off to somewhere. He set my robes on fire before he was blasted off though," Harry explained.

Ron nodded in sympathy.

"Er, so you were saying collective fear?" Naruto asked.

"Not sure whether that holds true, have to check with Hermione on that, but look at the crowd,"

Ron and Naruto looked around.

"Man, they do look somewhat scared," Ron commented, trying to act casual.

"So since so many people are afraid of it, I can't get rid of it myself?"

"Maybe…so, should we try it together? The power of three is better than one," Harry joked nervously.

Ron nodded his approval and Naruto shared with them his image.

"That'll be gross, utterly gross. But probably hilarious as well," Ron said reluctantly, "Though I don't think that that thing could be funny in any way at all,"

Harry played with the image in his mind, "It reminds me of Umbridge, doesn't it?"

"That's kinda where I got my idea from,"

As one, they turned to the Boggart and shout, "Riddikulus!"

The Boggart stumbled once more before the blue and white clothes it was wearing before changed into a lavishly frilled frock. A low rumble of laughter and shock from the crowd accompanied with suppressed mirth from the three boys in front of it was enough to let it disappear in smoke.

As Ron and Harry congratulated each other, Naruto's eyes traveled to where he knew Sasuke sat in the crowd. He couldn't find Sasuke.

'Where is he? Did I - did I hurt him when that Boggart changed into him?'

Of course you did. Why wouldn't he be hurt?

'Kyuubi!'

Hey kit. Nice to see you too, especially still in one piece.

'Where did he go to? I should go find him,' Naruto thought, determinedly.

"Where're you going? The duel isn't over," Ron held him back.

"I - "

"The duel is now over! All students please wait as we will announce the results shortly," McGonagall's voice rang out, shriller and sharper than usual.

Harry looked up at the teachers' stand where McGonagall seemed to be arguing furiously with Umbridge and he shook his head slightly, "Naruto, let's wait for a while first alright?"

Naruto looked back at him emotionlessly and nodded, rather reluctantly.

A few minutes later, McGonagall spoke up again, though her tone was slightly clipped and annoyed.

"Well, most teachers have agreed that in the duel, the Gryffindor team had shown their strength as well as displayed the courage they should have as a Gryffindor," McGonagall's nose flared slightly, "They have faced up to their fears and had done lots of quick thinking there. Hence most teacher have agreed that they have passed this duel and should be allowed to reform their Quidditch team,"

"Hem hem,"

McGonagall's grip on the magical microphone visibly tightened before she relinquished it to Umbridge.

"Yes, well done, Gryffindors. You have shown your courage and everything but remember that it is up to me to decide - "

Umbridge's voice was drowned out by loud protests from three-quarters of the school.

"Hem hem. Like I was saying, it is up to me to decide," Umbridge's face took on a sickeningly expression, as though she was refraining from speaking her mind, "But rather unfortunately, it had been earlier agreed on that the outcome of this duel will decide the fate of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hence, with utmost pleasure, I will allow the team to be reform,"

Harry saw McGonagall try to desist from rolling her eyes - Umbridge just want to get a word in and act like she's mightier than anyone else. Harry laughed lightly at that. The duel was finally over, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team was allowed to reform. It was something to be happy about. Ron grinned broadly from beside him. On the other hand, Naruto didn't look as pleased.

"Look, I gotta go," Naruto waved to Harry and Ron, before running to the exit.

'Where's Sasuke?' Naruto thought rather desperately as he continued searching the crowd for any sign of Sasuke.

He's there, kit. Look up.

Naruto looked up, straight into Sasuke's dark onyx eyes. Sasuke stood there, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his robes and looking unsure.

He never left your side, nor did he break the promise he made to you. Kyuubi's voice was somewhat gentle.

Suddenly, Naruto's fear became clear to him.

His fear wasn't a physical one. He wasn't afraid of Sasuke's power, nor the cruelty of what Sasuke had done.

Naruto let a small snort escape him, before his mouth curled into a light smile. His fear was rather selfish, wasn't it? He just didn't want Sasuke to leave him. What he wanted was for Sasuke to always be by his side, to always be with him. He was afraid that Sasuke would abandon him.

He felt stupid.

His jogging pace increased slightly as he neared Sasuke. Before Naruto could reach him though, he turned around and walked off.

"Damn, wait up teme!"

Naruto chased him all the way to the Lake before he finally caught up. He grabbed Sasuke's wrist to force him to turn around.

"Sasuke!"

"What dobe," Sasuke answered in a monotonous voice, his eyes not meeting Naruto's.

"I - I'm sorry! But it isn't what you saw! I mean, it is what you saw, but not that way! No! Argh, what am I saying? I - "

Sasuke clapped a hand over Naruto's mouth, "Stop rambling. We still have a mission to complete," He said coldly as he pulled his hand out of Naruto's grip.

"Wait, I need to explain!"

"There is no need to. I understand your fear. It is only natural. I promise that I am not angry at all,"

"No, you don't understand! I'm not afraid of you in that sense!"

Sasuke looked back at Naruto, his face blank and void of any emotions.

Naruto looked straight into Sasuke's dark eyes, "Oh, to hell with that,"

Before Sasuke could respond to Naruto's crude comment, Naruto pulled him into a deep and bruising kiss. Naruto's tongue told Sasuke everything. How important Sasuke was to him, how much he valued Sasuke, how much he missed Sasuke even he was gone for just a second. Everything.

They broke for air a few minutes later.

"That isn't an explanation," Sasuke said stiffly, though his mood seemed somewhat lighter than it was before.

Naruto took in a deep breath, "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I know what you saw just now must have hurt you. But I mean what I said before - I won't be like the others and be afraid of you in that way, in any way, not even when you're in that form,"

"That's a lie, the Boggart transform into whatever you're afraid of. If you're not afraid of me, then why did it change into me?"

Naruto suddenly looked a little guilty, "It's because I - ," Naruto gulped before continuing, "Please don't think I'm stupid…My fear isn't because of you looking scary or fearsome in that form. What I'm scared and terrified of is you leaving me!"

Naruto paused before continuing, "All my life, I was hated by the villagers, and I never had a friend. Until you came into my life. You were my first friend. Now even more than just a friend and I don't want to lose that! I don't want to lose you! I don't want you to leave!"

There was a moment of silence as Sasuke digested the information. Naruto was merely afraid of Sasuke abandoning him. He sighed. If that was what Naruto was truly afraid of, then…

"You're being stupid, you know that?"

"I know," Naruto grumbled.

"And you do know that it was very dangerous for you admit that while on a mission?"

Naruto's eyes drooped, "I know, but…"

There was another moment of silence.

"Neh, Sasuke, I'm a little selfish, aren't I?" Naruto asked.

"What made you say that?"

"I shouldn't be afraid of you leaving, right? More like, I should be afraid that you would lose yourself to the darkness again, or something along that line, shouldn't it? That should be the correct fear…if I'm not so selfish,"

"Fear is selfish, Naruto,"

Sasuke watched as Naruto started twiddling with an invisible thread on his robes. He sighed again, before pulling Naruto into a tight embrace.

"I'm not leaving, dobe. Not now, not ever,"