Wake Me When I Begin To Disappear
~This is A SasuNaru Fanfic! Don't like it, then don't read it! All Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter 11
When Sasuke returned to work, he wasn't surprised to learn Naruto had taken off for a personal day.
"Don't ya think it's too coincidental that when Sasuke comes back, Naruto is gone?" Kiba whispered to Shikamaru.
"Something probably happened between those fools again. We'll ask Naruto once he comes back, besides he still owes us a full explanation from our conversation the other day." He scratched the back of his head and walked to the kitchen.
Kiba followed, "Screw till tomorrow! Let's just call him at lunch! I'm aching to know who this mystery person is!"
Shikamaru smirked, "Conceited as always Kiba. But I won't deny that I'm curious to know too. We'll call during lunch."
Overhearing the discussion, Sasuke planned on listening to that phone call.
Lying on his couch, Sasuke welcomed the silence in the room.
He sighed, (…Why did he freak out like that? I expected him to throw a fit after I pulled away, not for him to kiss me back…the dobe really is unpredictable…) closing his eyes, Sasuke re-lived the kiss Naruto had instigated. The skinny, but firm arms of Naruto wrapping themselves around the raven's neck and drawing him in. Sasuke could already tell Naruto was caught up in the sensation as much as he was, but he didn't predict the blonde to push away and be so frightened.
Sasuke half-opened his eyes and quietly mumbled, "Usuratonkaichi…"
"Hey there everyone! Where are all my pretty ladies!?" Jiraya cheerfully paraded into the Host House.
"Welcome Jiraya! Good to have you back." Sakura greeted him.
"Pretty as always Sakura! Now, where's that scoundrel Naruto? He should come attend me so we can catch up!" Jiraya looked around then was stunned, "Huh? No Naruto today?"
Sakura sighed angrily, "Yes. That lousy idiot left during break yesterday and then had the nerve to ask for a personal day today!" she pulled back a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Personal day? That's unlucky of him…well don't mind Naruto, Sakura! You know how that goofball is sometimes, why don't you serve me today?" he grinned.
Sakura laughed, "Sure! I'll be back with your usual wine!" she headed to the storage room.
Taking a seat at the bar he called the two bartenders, "Yo Kiba! Shikamaru! Come over here!"
Kiba walked over first, "What's up old man! Nice to see ya again!"
Shikamaru smiled, "Hello again Jiraya-san!"
"Back at you guys! Alright then, spill it. What's the deal with Naruto taking a personal day? He's never done that before, so why now?" Jiraya asked.
Both boys looked at one another before saying a word.
"You see," Kiba replied, "Naruto's been acting very…weird lately, weird even for Naruto! He's been out in space a lot, edgy, and the biggest thing of all is-!" he was elbowed by Shikamaru for being too loud, "Hey!"
Jiraya was intrigued, "Finish what you were going to say!"
Shikamaru continued, "The other day Naruto was told us why he'd been acting strange and…" he gestured for Jiraya to lean in, "He told us it was because someone he hates has been putting the moves on him…"
Jiraya snorted then released enormous non-stop laughter, "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THAT'S THE MOST HILARIOUS THING I'VE EVER HEARD! SOMEONE PUTTING THE MOVES ON NARUTO!?" he continued to laugh.
"Jiraya-san please tone it down!" Sakura rushed over to him, she set the bottle in her hands on the counter.
Covering his mouth with his hand, Jiraya laughed quietly.
"Okay then, what's so funny?" she asked.
"We were just talking about Naruto." Shikamaru said.
"Oh. Because he actually managed to catch someone's eye?" she commented.
"YOU KNOW!?" both boys cried simultaneously.
"Yeah. The moron told me too after you two left us alone." Sakura crossed her arms.
"What did he tell you?" Kiba immediately asked.
"Not much. I asked him who this person was, but he wouldn't budge. He kept saying how confused he was, so when I told him just to speak directly with them…he ran off right in the middle of work!" she slammed her fist against the counter.
"That explains why he isn't here today! He must've got into a fight with that person and is pouting at home!" Kiba shouted.
"Wait, what if it was that person who hurt Naruto? Maybe he's upset?" Sakura pointed out.
"That's true, knowing Naruto anything's possible!"
"Hold on there you two; first and foremost we don't know anything about Naruto and this person. Don't you three start being nosy! Let's not assume things before he has a chance to clarify everything." Jiraya opened the wine and poured himself a cup.
"Me and Shikamaru were gonna call him right about now. He might tell us what we want to know." Kiba pointed his thumb at Shikamaru.
"What're you waiting for!? Go on!" Jiraya waved his hand for them to go with their plan.
"Seems to me like he's nosier than we are!" Kiba grunted.
"Sakura, why don't you go join them? If anyone here can knock some sense into that boy it's you." Jiraya smiled.
"Are you sure Jiraya-san?" Sakura raised her hand to her mouth.
"Yes. Now go you'll miss everything!" he continued to drink his wine.
Hearing the commotion, Sasuke walked out from the bathroom and stood by the kitchen door.
"Quit hogging the phone Kiba!" he heard Sakura command.
"Both of you stop! We'll put him on speaker!" Shikamaru pressed a button on the machine.
Sasuke could hear the dial tone, and it felt like forever since it picked up.
They all went silent when a rough voice responded, [Hello…?]
Sasuke had to fight the urge to reply.
"Naruto! It's Kiba and Shikamaru!" Kiba yelled.
"I'm here too!" Sakura added.
There was a ruffling noise like bed sheets before the voice said something, […You're there too Sakura? What's going on? Why you guys calling me from work?]
Sasuke listened intently.
"Jiraya-san is here and he asked for you." Shikamaru said.
[…Pervy Sage is there?] He asked.
"Yes. He was worried since you hardly skip work. Plus, we wanted to know how you were as well!" Sakura lowered her head to the machine.
The voice on the other line was quiet for a moment, [I'm fine guys…say that to Pervy Sage too.] Sasuke pressed his ear to the door, [I just needed a day to clear my head…Sakura…will you please go tell Pervy Sage that I'll be sure to visit him at his place when I can…?]
Sakura happily agreed, "Sure. I'll be right back, so don't hang up yet! You hear!?"
Naruto lowly chuckled, [I won't…]
Sasuke slid back behind the door when she came out, then slowly resumed listening.
Shikamaru spoke, "…Is there something you wanted to tell us in private Naruto?"
[…I really hate how smart you are Shikamaru...Sorry guys, you'll have to wait till I come back…I don't wanna say anything over the phone.]
"Naruto? You still there?" Kiba scratched his head.
Naruto sighed deeply, [Is…Sasuke there?]
The raven froze.
Kiba turned to Shikamaru, both exchanging confused glances, "Huh? Oh um, yeah he's here at work but not in the room with us!"
"Why'd you ask Naruto?" Shikamaru questioned.
Sasuke held his breath.
[…Just wondering. Didn't want him to eavesdrop is all…] A long pause occurs before he finishes, [I think I'm going to take a few more personal days…Apologize to Sakura for me.]
Hurriedly picking up the phone, Kiba screamed "Naruto wait-!"
[I don't feel right, right now…Thanks for worrying about me. Bye…] the line ended and the tone returned to beeping.
Shikamaru and Kiba went quiet.
"Sasuke, where are you going?" Sakura asked, although not receiving a reply.
After watching Sasuke swiftly disappear through the double doors, she stepped back into the kitchen.
"Kiba? Shikamaru? ...What's wrong?" she felt the unstill atmosphere of the room. "He hung up didn't he…?"
They simply nodded their heads.
Taking in a breath, Sakura huffed "Well…He better be back soon! Otherwise I'm going to kick his ass! ...Enough of that, let's not just stand here like idiots…Lets go keep Jiraya-san company."
Entering the main room, Kiba gazed around "Hey…where did Sasuke go?"
"He left abruptly. I guess he wanted to leave early since there aren't many customers…" Sakura went back to chatting with Jiraya, and so did the two boys.
Every night in Naruto's apartment, the only sound resonating in the small space was the refrigerator. Over the years, the noise became comforting and helped him drift to sleep. However today…it was the only thing keeping him up.
(That damn fridge…! Ugh…I feel like complete crap! Why couldn't today have been my weekend off!? Sakura's gonna kill me if I miss too many days, but I don't think I can handle working there with 'him' as if nothing happened! …Yesterday…after I left and got home…I couldn't sleep at all! Everything just kept re-winding over and over in my head! I don't know what came over me!? For some reason I was okay when I let him kiss me, but then when I kissed him back-!? Why did I kiss him too!? I just don't get it…...Apparently I was the only one who felt like that since that jerk went to work today! …was it that meaningless to him…?) He drew his sheets up to his mouth and closed his groggy eyes, attempting to get some shut-eye.
All of a sudden, bright sunlight blinded his eyes and a gush of wind disheveled his already messy hair. Forcing himself to sit up, he was stunned to see a shadow suddenly block the sunshine.
"You look ridiculous Usuratonkaichi…" the shadow said.
Naruto could barely see his face, but the outline of Sasuke was clearly visible.
