I thought I'd continue the Sasuke and Haruki P.O.V's for this chapter, since I like the couple :) Hope you all enjoy!

Haruki's P.O.V

I woke to the sound of shouting, and to the smell of burning.

Sitting up I groaned, trying to make sense of my new surroundings. I was not in the wilderness in who-knows-where, and I was not in jail…Listening to the voices as they grew louder and louder, I tried to untangle the two voices.

Sas-uke.

Oh shit, of course…yesterday I had met my soulmate, Sas-uke, and I had somehow convinced him to take me to his house. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table I sighed. It's not even five in the morning and he's awake?

Forcing myself to get up, I rummaged through the spare clothing in the wardrobe, finding a display of expensive brands and luxurious materials…he's richer than rich, and it pisses me off. I donned a simple black outfit, fussily choosing a long-sleeved shirt that fastened all the way up, and then I marvelled at the fact that this room had an on suite bathroom. It was too much for this thief to handle.

When I was all ready, I hesitated before leaving the bedroom. Sas-uke doesn't like me at all, and even though I dressed nice today and have even brushed my damn hair, I doubt that's going to make him like me. Hell, I don't even understand how he even managed to fall in love in the first place, with someone as pure and good-willed as Naruto no less.

Grimly, I opened the door, coming face to face with an angry Sas-uke. His eyes were penetrating me, searching for something. I raised an eyebrow.

"It's not even six yet, I still have an hour before breakfast," I said casually, slipping past him, "What's with the rage, man?"

Sas-uke scoffed, incredulous, and it was only then that I realised what he was wearing. An apron…a messy, food splattered apron. My eyes widened.

"The maid left," he explained, tearing the apron off, "The fifth one in a month."

I puzzled at him, trying to fight the urge to search into his thoughts, and I tried to judge by his behaviour what he wanted. Tilting my head, I let my eyes roam over him, taking in the way he wouldn't even look at me, and how he was scowling and gritting his teeth as if he didn't want to explain any further. When I realised what he wanted, I almost laughed.

"I'll cook," I smiled, amused, "I may not look it, but I was a chef in the Bad Guy Hideout for eight years. None of the others could cook, so I had to learn."

Sas-uke crossed his arms, annoyed that I had figured him out, but I took the apron from him and examined the food contents splattered on it. I grimaced.

"What the hell were you trying to make?" I joked, giving him a grin.

He glared at me.

"Tomagoyaki and miso soup…and okayu…" he admitted coldly, yanking the apron from my hold, "You have a problem with how I can't cook?"

I shook my head, turning to make my way towards the source of the burning smell.

"I'm going to teach you to cook. If you can't make a simple miso soup at this age, you're pretty hopeless," I told him calmly, and then glanced back at him, "So come on, lessons start now."

He was already arguing with me, but I ignored him, letting him follow me all the way to the kitchen. Kankuro was there, attempting to hide the damage Sas-uke had done to the kitchen, and when he saw me he simply stared. His thoughts informed me that I was not what he had imagined for his gay friend to be paired with, and he was trying to imagine us as a couple.

I grunted impatiently, glaring down at Sas-uke.

"You're worse than I thought," I commented dryly, examining the burnt blobby brown substance in one the pans, "What even is this?"

Refusing to comment, Sas-uke went to clear away the hideous inedible creations he had made, and we all cleared away together. Kankuro's thoughts continued to piss me off, as he kept thinking about how freaky my eyes were, or about how I had the annoying habit of clicking my fingers when I was searching for something.

"Dustpan, dustpan," I mumbled, looking in the cupboards, "Dustpan and brush…"

No one spoke, but I considered that understandable since there was a stranger in the kitchen. However, I was almost ecstatic with how well-equipped this place was. This was a chefs dream come true…it was just amazing.

When we were all set, Kankuro went to go watch TV, and I pulled Sas-uke to the table. He was very reluctant, but as I instructed him to do things he did them silently, without a single word. He was still refusing to look at me, and he moved away when I got too close. It was hard to read his face, and I cursed my decision to not invade his thoughts.

I worked quickly, giving Sas-uke the simple cooking tasks while I did the main majority of the work. Babbling as I went, I knew he was trying to feign disinterest, but he was listening…his face is hard to read, but you have to watch how he angles his body, and then it almost becomes quite simple to read him. Right now he's slicing green onion, head bowed. He's completely absorbed in the task.

"So you were a chef for all the criminals?" he asked quite suddenly, surprising me, "Were they your friends?"

I sighed.

"No, not really. We were a small bunch of guys who had nowhere to go, so we decided to make a place where we could hang out. It lasted eight years, but then the place caught fire and we all moved on."

He didn't ask any more questions, or said anything once breakfast was all done and served. Kankuro praised my cooking abilities, gaping over the perfect execution of the dishes, and I wished that Sas-uke would say something. I wanted to hear his acceptance and like for my cooking, but he just sat there, quietly eating, keeping his eyes down and focussed on the same spot in front of him. However, I was pleased when he ate everything.

Kankuro alarmed me with a new topic, shortly after I had cleaned the dishes.

"Just got word from the Hokage. That ball event is tonight, at eight o'clock, and we have to be in formal dress. We have to pair up as we enter the ballroom as well…" he said, musing over the letter in his hands, "Hey Sasuke, have you got a spare suit?"

I almost dropped the plate I was holding, and Sas-uke turned to me with narrowed eyes.

"I'm going to a ball?" I asked, frowning at the concept, "With dancing, music and fancy little tiny plates of food kind of ball? The type where girls wear those stupid gown things?"

Kankuro nodded, his thoughts settling in understanding that I had never even attended any kind of formal event in my life. The closest thing to formal in my life was signing a piece of paper to agree to assassinate some lord of some place, and that was years ago…

"Tell me you're kidding?" I pleaded, gripping my hair and pulling tightly, "I can't even dance, or have a conversation about politics and shit like people do at these things…I don't even like dressing up all extravagant, it's a waste of my time."

My flimsy attempts at withholding my telepathic abilities snapped, and I heard Sas-uke's thoughts clearly.

Well, you're going anyway, whether you like it or not, he thought simply, glaring at me, I don't really think it's going to be as bad as you think.

I scowled, but then wondered if Sas-uke had being so quiet before because he had talked in his thoughts beforehand. Crossing my arms, I dared raise the subject.

"Before, when you weren't talking, was that because you were waiting for me to hear your thoughts?"

His glare intensified, and his lip curled in dislike.

"Yes," he muttered, mirroring me by crossing his arms, "So my theory about you trying to avoid reading my thoughts is correct?"

I nodded, feeling like he had being testing me, waiting to see if I had listened in on him. Reaching to read him again, I almost burst out laughing when I saw an image of a bunny sipping tea. I smiled, impressed he had his defense mechanisms sorted and that they were amusing, but I felt defeated nonetheless. I was going to that ball…

As the day slowly passed, with me scowling at half a million damn expensive tuxedos, I hadn't realised Sas-uke had appeared behind me. I was still growling at the tuxedos, unaware he was there, and it was only when I turned and smacked right into him that I comprehended his presence. I swore, almost falling completely, but he managed to steady me on my feet. My face was blushing furiously at how clumsy I had been.

"Damn, why the heck did you creep up on me!" I raged, annoyed that he had caught me without my shirt on, "What you doing, perving on me?"

Sas-uke didn't say anything, and I knew why. I was topless, and all my scars were on show…I didn't like him staring at them so I quickly yanked on a black shirt and turned my back to him. It didn't take a genius to realise that most of those scars weren't an accident.

"Need a hand?" he asked quietly when he observed me struggling with my tie.

I nodded, allowing him to take over, and he silently sorted out my knotted mess. He did it slowly, as if testing how he felt being so close to me, but it was clear to me that he wasn't ready to get any closer. It annoyed me, because I already liked him, and I wanted to get closer.

"Even I have danced before," he muttered quietly, handing me my blazer, "So it amazes me that you haven't."

Scowling, I shrugged and went to walk past him, but he gripped my arm.

"I'll teach you," he said, holding my eyes, his entire face completely serious.

That left me stammering with astonishment, and as he dragged me quietly into a bigger room I felt compelled to argue, but I realised as he closed the door that he wasn't going to listen to me. Embarrassed by the concept of dancing with him I dug my hands into my pockets, but when Sas-uke stood in front of me demandingly I knew what he wanted, and so I gave him my hands. He held them firmly, guiding one to rest on his shoulder and the other to hold his tightly. He rested his other hand on my waist.

"Are you serious?" I hissed, unnerved by how forward he was being, "Loosen your hand a bit, you're crushing me."

His expression didn't waver, a mask of cool control, and I understood that he wasn't going to tolerate any debate on this. Still, I was confused. Before in the kitchen he didn't want to be close to me at all, but now he wanted to teach me to dance? Why did it even matter if I could dance or not? Sure, I had moaned about it, but I didn't want this.

"I'll lead," he said flatly, moving his left foot back, "You follow."

Rolling my eyes, I wondered if this was because he was still annoyed with me calling him the uke, but I was sure that wasn't it.

When he pulled me closer I felt my eyes widen considerably, and he guided me into a slow dance while he refused to look up at me.

"Are you waiting for me to read your thoughts?" I asked, studying him, "Or are you embarrassed to even look at me?"

He stopped, lifting his head a fraction. I wasn't getting any ideas on how to read his behaviour, so I reached for his mind, but it was swamped with thoughts of turtles sword fighting. Sighing heavily, I made a move to pull away, but he wouldn't let me.

Gripping the front of my shirt, Sas-uke pulled me so close that our bodies were flush against each other, making my entire face flame. It felt…nice…in an odd, intense way.

"I want you to kiss me," he quietly demanded, finally looking up, "So I can decide if I'll like…this."

Reeling from his words I couldn't fathom a reason why he would want this so soon, but I saw that he was waiting, his face expectant. I looked at his lips, finding them enticing. I wished that I could hear his thoughts, in case this was a trap.

However, apparently my time was up because he was making the move, leaning in close with his eyes on the target of my lips. I didn't know what to do, my heart was pounding, but I knew one thing: he was in love with Naruto. Feeling his cool breath on my face, I closed my eyes, but there was no getting away from the facts.

I pushed him away, startling him with the unexpected rejection.

"You're still in love with Naruto," I explained, moving away from him, "I can't kiss you when I know that you love someone else."

I don't know why, but that hurt. It hurts. I don't want to be' just' Naruto's replacement. I wanted to be 'the one', and I wasn't going to be if I was convinced he was still in love with someone else.

I left the room as fast as possible, feeling disgusting.

Sasuke's P.O.V

I've done a bad thing. I know I have, and I knew the moment he pushed me away and left the room abruptly, as if he didn't want to be with me for another second longer. I'm unable to get the memory of his face out my head…his expression was that of someone who had felt complete betrayal or pain.

It was oddly frustrating that I had caused him to feel that way, but he was right. I love Naruto, not him.

During the last hour leading up to our time to leave for the ball, he avoided me completely, locking himself in his room until it was time to go. Kankuro gave me a look, the kind that said 'what did you do?' and we travelled to our destination. I was distracted. Haruki was sitting as far away from me as possible; fists clenched tightly, his gaze on the outside world as we passed it by.

It would be stupid to deny that I had been wrong in trying to kiss him, but it had been on my mind. Seeing him so at home in my kitchen, making breakfast, had made me wonder what it would be like to casually kiss him, and act as if we were a couple. I would be lying if the concept of kissing him didn't excite me, but that was only because I had pretended I was about to kiss Naruto.

"So," Kankuro said tensely, shattering the silence, "You'll be able to meet my girl, Ume…she's a real fire cracker."

Haruki glanced at Kankuro, but then his eyes slid past him and to me. The look in his eyes was downright cold and bitter, and I looked away swiftly and to the outside world, willing myself to be engrossed in something else to distract me from the feeling of Haruki glaring holes into my back.

"You looking forward to telling everyone else you're gay?" Kankuro said suddenly, raising a scowl out of me.

"Naruto already knows," I said shortly, "He's fine with it. The others should be too."

I heard Haruki scoff at me, "Yeah, if Naruto is fine with it, everyone is."

Whipping my body around, I was tempted to lunge at him with my sword, but Kankuro pressed a firm hand against my chest in warning.

"Haruki is right to be mad," he told me resolutely, his black eyes piercing, "That is, if this is what I think this is about."

I swatted his hand away. Great, the situation just got worse, because Kankuro knows…just fucking great.

We arrived at the extravagant place, complete with glossy floors and chandeliers, and shortly after Kankuro bashfully found his girl Ume, introducing us to the 'fire cracker'. I wasn't really paying attention, because my eyes were on Haruki, who had made his way over to where all the beer was. When he opened it and chugged it back, I realised we really had a problem. A big, profound problem.

Excusing myself from Kankuro and Ume, I strode over to Haruki and snatched his beer away.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I hissed.

Haruki didn't answer, going to open another beer, but I stopped him before he could even reach it. He turned to me, looked around at everyone else, and then sighed, gripping the beer I held in my hand.

"I'm trying," he remarked darkly, tugging the beer out my grasp, "to enjoy myself."

Idiot. Does he really intend to drink the night away, and to humiliate himself in front of everyone? Does he really want to look a fool? The whole event has hardly started and he's being an ass.

"If you can't behave yourself, go back to the house," I growled, seeing more people arrive, "You can act like an idiot there."

He turned with the intent to hit me, but his eyes settled on a particular blonde, and he withdrew to the other side of the room. Naruto approached with his girl, and I glared coldly at her. She was cute and pretty, dressed in a yellow lace gown, and her topaz eyes were warm. I was nothing like her, and if this is what Naruto is fated to love, I never had a chance. My gaze slipped to Haruki, and I saw him trying to ignore Kiba, who was currently barking a load of questions at him.

"Trouble with your man?" Naruto asked, following my gaze, "Have you tried being, ya know…friendly?"

I shrugged, knowing full well that I had been far from friendly.

"Hn."

My hand found a beer, and Naruto's eyes narrowed as he realised the depth of my problems. He chuckled when he saw that Haruki was drinking beer too, matching me in my habit of drinking to ignore my issues.

"Why don't you apologise and start over?" he suggested, "Or ask him out on a date?"

Snorting at the very idea, I waved off his suggestion and laughed at the thought of going on a 'date'. Haruki on a date is like Naruto saying no to ramen.

The sound of a door slamming sounded, and everyone turned in alarm but no one could be seen entering the room, meaning someone had left. It didn't take even a second to realise who had gone, and I considered letting him go…but. Setting down my beer, I went after him, telling Naruto to save me some beer. People were staring, piecing together who my soulmate was, and that I was gay with the tall odd eyed guy. I heaved the huge door open, leaving the bright yellow glow of the ball.

"Haruki!" I shouted, embracing the cold night air, "Where the fuck are you!"

There was no answer, but I saw to my left the lone figure…walking in the opposite direction to my house. I ran, enraged at the idea that he was giving up on me already. He can't give up on me; he's my soulmate for goodness sake.

As I approached him I saw the empty beer bottle in his hand, and he turned slowly, his face emotionless. He didn't say anything, and when I remained silent he turned to continue walking.

"Wait," I ordered, walking closer, "What are you doing? Are you…leaving me?"

He gave a curt nod, continuing to walk, and something inside me broke. I was being rejected, something I had never thought possible really, but I was being rejected by my soulmate. Without me even knowing I was following him, not wanting to accept this. I wasn't going to accept that he didn't want me. Ever.

"Haruki, just stop walking," I shouted, unable to match my strides to his longer ones, "Just stop…walking!"

I grabbed him, feeling bubbles of anxiety eating at my insides. Why? Why is it that the very thought of him leaving left me feeling alarmed? Why do I even care?

Haruki shrugged me off, but I only grabbed a hold of him again, fully embracing him from behind. I buried my face in his back, feeling panic envelop me. I was losing control of the situation.

"You can't go," I hissed, tightening my hold, "I can't let you."

Why? I'm shaming myself as a Uchiha, because I'm practically begging him to stay. I've already lost Naruto, so if I lose Haruki too then no one will have me. I would just be a lonely existence, and even though that never used to bother me, it frightened me now. It scared me because it meant I had no chance. I hated to admit it but I liked Haruki. He was daring, and unafraid of me.

Haruki tossed his empty beer bottle to the side, letting it roll away after it had landed with a powerful crash.

"Sasuke," he said flatly, prying my hands off him, "Piss off."

And then I watched as he left, not even turning to look back at me. It's ironic, because I did this to Sakura, and now I'm the one being abandoned. As Haruki's back disappeared from view, I cursed myself.

Fate must really hate me.

It must really, really loathe me.

Ohhh, Haruki left, but will he come back? I'm really cruel to the characters, aren't I?

Anyway, a question for the readers! Should I write an M rated story for a favourite pairing of Spiral Fall or not? If so, which pairing would be best to do in a naughty story? I eagerly await any of your ideas ;)

Also, review, advise and criticise!

Taa taa for now, but I will be back with a new chapter tomorrow hopefully! :)