AN: Oh gosh! I am so sorry guys! I just realized the ending of the last chapter and then you guys had to wait this long for a new chapter! That's like…torture! I tortured you guys! T.T *cries* Sorry! SO SORRY! On a good note, my art exhibit is next Monday (November 8th) and all my art pieces, my theme and everything is all approved! =D I just have to print my works on canvas and staple gun them onto my stretcher bars and matte paint them so they are safe from UV ad fingerprints. But I hope you all enjoy this new chapter. My beta reader seems to be on hiatus or something….I haven't received the corrections to this chapter yet so I am proof reading this myself….which I am NOT a good proof reader. xD If you see anything that needs changing, send me a PM please ;)

Chapter 10 Re-cap

Naruto.

His cell phone had been in his back pocket the entire time since he arrived home from school. It would be so easy to break up their relationship through a text message or a phone call but seeming the blonde didn't have a phone, Sasuke was dreading telling the blonde the news tomorrow.

It was going to be the worst day of his life.

Chapter 11: It was just a prank

The raven took his sweet time walking to the school. He was dreading everything about seeing the happy and hyperactive blonde but angry and was sure he was going to kill a certain pink haired girl. Oh, she was going to see his wrath and pain. Speaking of the devil.

"Sasuke kun!" Ino and Sakura had yelled in unison as they saw Sasuke in the hallway, heading towards his locker. As soon as they clung on to his arms, he pushed them both away, straightening his shirt from their clingyness.

"Fuck off." Was all he managed to say as Iruka had warned the raven to watch his mouth and Sasuke then took his wrath towards the unsuspecting brunette.

"Fuck you." Sasuke whispered, just quiet enough that only him and his fellow students heard him.

His locker was the next object to be the target of his anger. As soon as he put his combination in, his door swung open, slamming the door into the other lockers and causing people around him to flinch. Everyone knew Sasuke was pissed off at the world and no one knew why…and poor Naruto, he had no idea what he was about to fall into.

"Hey Bastard!" Naruto yelled as he went over to the raven. "I was wondering if we could hang out after school today! I need help with my science and since you are in advanced science, I thought maybe you could help me?"

Immediately, Naruto could tell something was wrong and he was at the wrong place at the wrong time today.

"Naruto, we're done." He said dryly, grinding his teeth together, holding back his anger.

"wait..what?"

His heart sunk and his breathing hitched. Did Sasuke just say they were done?

"We cannot be together anymore, Naruto. This….thing…between you and I is wrong. It won't work." As painful as that was for Sasuke to say, it was harder for Naruto take in and process what he had just heard and why.

"No. I mean…why? What did I do? What's wrong Sasuke?" Naruto was panicking and was wanting to know what was wrong so he could fix it. If it meant he had to back off a bit to give Sasuke space, then he would back off as long as Sasuke needed. If it meant that he had to jump off a fucking bridge, then he would jump off the fucking bridge.

"Naruto. We. Are. Done." He said, turning around to show how serious he was.

Just as fast as Sasuke turned around, he felt a punch to his face and failed to catch his footing as he tripped forward.

"Fucking bastard! So that's it? Your just going to walk away and pretend we were never together?"

The five minute bell began to ring and Sasuke picked himself up to grab his books from his locker and slammed it shut. He hated to look at Naruto and see the tears and anger in his eyes. He was good at hiding his feelings in public but he still felt like a sword was pierced through his gut and was twisting inside of him. The sad part was, he knew he was the one holding and twisting the sword but he had no choice.

"I don't want to discuss this anymore with you." He said dryly before heading to his class, leaving a broken and shattered blonde behind.

When half of the day was over and lunch arrived, Kiba had seen the blonde in the worst state he had ever seen and Naruto wouldn't even say why. He was quiet, alone and anyone could tell he was trying to hold back from falling apart. But Kiba was fucking going to get an answer during lunch and decided to drag Naruto into the guys bathroom, the furthest one from the cafeteria so they had their privacy.

"Ok Naruto. Whats wrong?" Kiba asked, crossing his arms and watched as the blonde started to cry a little bit. Naruto was really trying to hold back his emotions. He opened his mouth only to close it again and opened and closed again. It seemed no matter how hard he would try, his voice was going to crack.

"Sasuke, said him and I are done."

Kiba wasn't expecting that.

"He told me this morning that him and I are done and that this 'thing' we have is wrong." Naruto explained between small sobs. "and I don't even know why!"

Kiba grabbed Naruto as he fell to the bathroom floor as he began to break down in Kiba's arms.

"I don't know what I did wrong Kiba. I tried. I trusted him." He sobbed, his tears soaking into the brunette's shirt. All Kiba knew what to do was let Naruto cry on him and to release his pain. Gently, he began to rub Naruto's back, telling the blonde things will be fine in the end.

"I trusted him Kiba. I trusted Sasuke and he left me."

On the other side of the building, Sasuke was sitting at his own table, alone. He didn't even look towards Sakura, Ino, Karin and the rest of the gang nor did he look at Neji, Gaara and Shikamaru's table. He did notice that the blonde and the dog boy were missing at the table. He guessed they were together, probably talking about him.

Neji knew right away something was wrong but his life was worth more than finding out what was wrong. After all, he would find out eventually, which is probably why Kiba and Naruto were gone.

Something bad happened and he glared at the girls who were chatting away like nothing was different about the Uchiha. Yeap, he had a bad feeling.

Kakshi's class was after lunch and as much as Sasuke wanted to skip that class since he sat right next to the blonde, he knew his father would find out and be upset. But when Sasuke arrived, he noted the blonde wasn't there yet and by the time class started and Kakashi came waltzing in with a smile on his face, Naruto was still missing.

"Hmm? Look's like only one of you are missing today. Oh well!" He chirped, a little too happy for Sasuke's liking.

When school ended, all the raven wanted to do was go home, lock himself in his room, throw out the key and curl in the darkest corner he had and just stay there for all eternity. He hated people, well, most people. There were very few that he enjoyed having around and he lost one of the most important ones. As he stepped just outside the schools perimeter, he saw from the corner of his eye a flash of pink running up to him from behind.

"Sasuke!" She cried and he refused to stop. He would explode if she wanted to talk and he was warning her by walking faster. But before he knew it, the girl had ran in front of him and gripped his shoulders, causing him to flinch at her strong grasp she had on him.

"Sasuke? What's wrong?" Sakura asked, who would soon regret asking.

"What's wrong? What is wrong, you ask? YOU ARE WHAT IS FUCKING WRONG!" He yelled, pushing her arms away from him.

"Sasuke…I….I….don't know what you are talking about." She pleaded, wanting him to calm down.

"You fucking told your dad about Naruto and I and in turn, my father is no longer letting me see Naruto anymore!"

"But, it wasn't a real relationship." She spoke quietly.

"What? What do you mean it wasn't real? Because it sure felt real." His glare was so intense that Sakura could't stare into the black orbs. She shifted her weight, wondering if she should say anything but she was tired that this prank had gone as long as it had. Not to mention all of Sasuke's attention was focused on Naruto all the time and he hand't sat with her at their table since the day after the prank.

"That night, at the party when you passed out and woke up in Kiba's bed, it was all a joke. None of it happened the way we said. You and Naruto just ended up falling asleep at the party and we carried you to Kiba's and the guys undressed you. Kiba was the one who came up with the reason why you two ended up where you did but Gaara and Neji were the one's who had the idea in the first place. The confessions, the acts, everything was all just a prank, Sasuke. None of it really happened. You and Naruto were never dating nor did you two ever sleep together."

Sasuke's heart stopped. "Just a prank?" He asked quietly. So everything, their relationship was fake. Wait, did Naruto know about it before he did?

"Does Naruto know?"

Sakura looked down at her feet. Kiba had spoke to her earlier that day about what was happening with Naruto.

-*Flashback*-

"Saskura?" Kiba yelled as lunch just ended and everyone was heading to their next class.

"Yes?" She asked politely, a little too happily.

"What happened between Naruto and Sasuke? Naruto just had a breakdown and I had to call Iruka to pick him up. He was so out if it that he couldn't even get a basic sentence out without stuttering or crying." He explained, crossing his arms, looking at the girl like as if she knew.

"I have no idea. Maybe they found out that their whole relationship was just a prank." She shrugged, not really feeling bad if that were the case. She was tired of this prank and it was going way too far for her liking.

Kiba sighed and began massaging his temples. "I might as well text the truth to Naruto while he's home. I don't want him to find out another day and miss more classes."

"But, won't he take it hard?" Sakura asked, almost feeling guilty.

"Probably but he's Naruto. He's strong. Just give him a few days and he will be his old felt again." That's what he was hoping anyways, Naruto had never been in a relationship so it's not like he knew how he would handle it.

"Alright. I will tell Sasuke after school. I usually see him walking home and I can stop him and tell him the truth."

They both nodded in agreement and left in opposite directions.

The only problem was, Kiba forgot Naruto didn't have a cell phone and when he went to text, he cursed because he didn't have time to call his house to talk to him, he would have to wait until after school to get ahold of Naruto and tell him the truth.

-*Flashback ends*-

Without much thought, Sakura replied to Sasuke's question. "Yeah, Naruto knows." She added and realized Sasuke's fists started shaking and his anger boiling up.

"That….asshole! He played me this whole time?"

"No Sasuke that's not what I..."

"I don't want to hear it!" and in a swift second, Sasuke ran past the pink haired girl and began running. He had no idea where he was running to but he didn't want to go home where his parents would question him so he just went where his feet took him, which was away from his problems. If he had to leave this city, he would. His brother made it on his own with a child, he could on his own as well.

Sakura stood behind, cursing that the truth was being revealed but she was glad this was over, for the most part.

"He's been gone for four hours now." Mikoto stated with her hands held together as if she was praying. Her husband was sitting on the other side of the table, looking at phone numbers which he could call. "Why don't you call Itachi, see if he's with him." she pleaded but was followed with rejection.

"I would rather call Oprah Winfrey before I called Itachi." He stated, turning another page of his address he had of family and friends in the area.

"Well why don't we call the police?"

"And have this on the news? No."

"Why are you always so conscious about how the Uchiha name will appear if news gets out that Sasuke is missing? What if he's out there dying?" She yelled, emphasizing the word dying with her hands. She couldn't handle all this stress and her husband was more worried about the rumors the press would make than having their son back at home, safe and sound.

"Fine. I will call the cops. I would rather put up with rumors than see you cry." He stated, grabbing the land line phone and calling 911.

All Mikoto could do was pray, pray that Sasuke was alright and that he was just fine with a friend and forgot to call home.

Itachi had just put his daughter Aiko to sleep when he heard his phone ring. It was near eight at night and he knew of only one person who would call this late. Walking into his small apartment kitchen, he lifted the wireless phone and as he expected, it was from his parents home. He clicked the "accept" button and placed the phone to her ear.

"Hello mother." He answered, knowing father would never call and Sasuke, well, he would use his cell phone and never the landline.

"Itachi, please tell me Sasuke is there with you." She pleaded, twisting a finger around the phones cord in nervousness.

"No. I have not seen him all night. Why? Is he missing?"

"He hasn't came home since school let out. I am worried. I have no idea where he would be. Your father called all our family members in town and some of Sasuke's friends and none of them know where Sasuke is."

There were one of two places Sasuke could think of.

"Did you try Naruto's?" He asked.

"No, I have not, but we did get ahold of Neji who gave me Kiba's phone number who said Naruto went home early and Sasuke stayed in school all day."

"That wouldn't mean Sasuke didn't go to his place after school."

"Oh I know hun. The thing is, your father told Sasuke to break up with Naruto. I don't think he would be there after Kiba telling me that they had indeed broke up. Which was why Naruto left home early, he took it hard."

"I see." Itachi whispered. If he wasn't at Naruto's then he knew exactly where Sasuke was, problem is, he couldn't leave since his daughter was just placed in her bed and he really didn't want his mother to be over at his place so late while things were tense but the sooner he found Sasuke, the better. "I will come by and drop Aiko with you. I think I know where Sasuke may be at."

A deep relief lifted Mikoto's heart as she knew Itachi would have an idea where his younger brother would be. After all, they use to spend a lot of time together and headed out to places to hang out. If anyone knew, it would be Itachi.

"Alright. Please, just hurry. I am worried about Sasuke."

"No problem, but I do have to ask, why did father tell Sasuke to break up with Naruto?" The older brother wasn't stupid, he had an idea why but wanted to know for a fact.

"You know your father, he's conservative. He doesn't support homosexuals and think it's a disgusting act. Not to mention the reputation he wants to keep up with the Uchiha name." She explained,

"And what do you think mother?" He simply asked, not knowing what her intake was on the situation.

"I knew before your father found out. I don't have a problem with it. I actually like Naruto a lot. The poor boy had gone through Hell and back, supporting himself with no family. I welcomed him over and feed him as much as I could offer." A small smile crossed her face. "He is a wonderful boy, the exact opposite of Sasuke but I think Naruto is what Sasuke needs and Sasuke is what Naruto needs."

Itachi was proud of his mom, she was always caring and nonjudgmental which was why he could talk to her about anything, she was open minded and honest.

"Alright. I will be by in about twenty minutes"

And they both hung up.

"Please Sasuke be where you think you are" Itachi prayed before he woke up his daughter and headed out.

It was another thirty minute drive for Itachi from his home to the place he felt Sasuke would be. It was quite a drive and if Sasuke walked or ran this entire route, he would be sure that Sasuke was exhausted wherever he was. It had been completely dark when he reached the outskirts of the city and into the country area. He took a turn up a hill, reaching his dedication and parked his car.

Right in front of him was the very hill he spent time with Sasuke when they were just a tad bit younger. The city lights created a florescent glow in the cloudy sky and before him was a silhouette sitting in the grass and indeed, it was Sasuke's duck butt hair that was what gave him away.

"I think you got your exercise for the next month." He said sarcastically, testing to see what Sasuke's patience level was.

The only reply Sasuke gave was a turn of the head to acknowledge that he knew Itachi was there. He took that as an indication to talk to his younger brother about what was happening.

"Do you remember when you were just about 5 years old, and mom asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. Do you remember your answer, Sasuke?"

Sasuke sneered for a moment, he hated pointless questions but he knew Itachi's question's were not pointless.

"Yes. I said I wanted to be a professional snowboarder."

"And why did you not go for it?" Itachi simply asked.

"Because dad said I wouldn't make steady money that way."

"And what did mom say?" He asked again.

"She said go for it, as long as I don't break any bones and always remember to be respectful and fair against my opponents."

"If you still snowboarded, would you try out to be a professional now?"

"No."

"And does that upset you Sasuke? You use to love snowboarding and watching it on TV."

Sasuke merely shrugged at what Itachi asked.

"I dunno. Sometimes I wish I could but I know dad would be upset if I 'wasted' money on snowboard equipment and holiday passes."

"And that's the difference between you and I, Sasuke."

"What do you mean?"

"I never let dad's words effect me. He didn't like my girlfriend nor that I had a kid. He also wanted me to take over the family businesses but I refused because it wouldn't have made me happy and he hated that. You let dad stomp all over you. You desperately seek his attention that approval that you will never get, Sasuke. You really think dad will all of a sudden change when you do everything he asks?"

"That's because dad gave you all the attention and was always proud of you."

"And do you think I liked that he favored me over you?" Itachi had to take a deep breath before he carried on, it has been a while since he had been so open and honest to Sasuke but he knew it would help. "Sasuke, I hated seeing you being left behind by dad, which was partially why I stepped off to the side and made dad upset with me, so he would see potential in you too. But, when I was out of the picture, he only placed more expectations on you to fulfill. I placed expectations on you without realizing it. I'm sorry. But Sasuke, do mom and myself a favor, do what you want to do. If dad say's no, tell him that it's your life. Your eighteen years old now and you can make your own decisions."

"But dad would kick me out and stop his support like he did to you."

"And then you have me to lean on Sasuke…and Naruto. Both of us may not have much to offer but I guarantee you, mom would slip in a few dollars to help support you and also help you with college. Mom still does that with me without dad knowing."

"She does?"

"Hmp. Yes. As much as I say no, mom can be stubborn and she uses that 'Itachi, I don't have longer to live so please do this and make me happy' speech on me and I give in."

"She's very convincing." Sasuke laughed a bit at that, seeing his mom using her cancer as an excuse for Itachi taking her money.

"She is, but it's because she loves me. She loves you. Just like how I and Naruto love you."

Love, that had been the first time Itachi had said he loved Sasuke. He tried to express it and write it down in letters and cards but he had never said it to him, face to face.

"Psh. You don't love someone by playing around with their feelings." Sasuke whispered, picking up a stick and throwing it.

"Naruto? I only meet him a few times but from what I can tell of his character, I don't think he is the type to mess around with someone's feelings, muchless yours."

"But Sakura said…"

"And do you believe Sakura?" Itachi interrupted Sasuke's statement. A long pause broke out between both of them as Sasuke thought about what he asked.

"No."

"And do you trust Naruto?"

"Well, I did."

"I think you should talk to him. Hear things from his perspective. Or if you don't want to see him right now, talk to a close friend of his who would be neutral about the situation. I don't know anything except that dad told you to break up with Naruto. Mom and I say don't."

"Exactly, you and mom don't know the situation. How can you tell me to talk to him after what happened? You wouldn't…"

Sasuke was silenced with a poke to his forehead, Itachi on the other end, smiling a genuine smile.

"Just trust Naruto. I know you have a hard time trusting people after you been hurt but trust me on this."

"You hurt me too ya know. So you asking me to trust you and to trust Naruto. I don't know if I can do both at the same time." He teased, brushing his brothers finger off his forehead and shrugged.

Itachi did a satisfying deep breath, knowing he had made his point and how it was up to Sasuke to fulfill what dreams he may have hidden from the world.

"Well, mom is worried sick about you so I think I should bring you back now. I even had to wake Aiko up right after I placed her in bed so you owe me." He teased, standing up and wiping off the grass and dirt from his pants. "Just do what you think is right, Sasuke."

"Sasuke! I was worried sick" his mother yelled as she ran over to her youngest son, hugging him until he could hardly breathe. He stumbled back, pushing his mom away from the smothering.

"Mom. I'm fine." he said sternly and Itachi smiled at their mother's actions.

"Is Aiko in my old room?" Itachi asked, heading up the stairs.

"Yes she is. Sound asleep too."

Itachi was gone up the stairs and down the hallway before she finished her sentence. Couple minutes later, he was heading down the steps with his daughter in hand.

"Well, have a good night mother and Sasuke. It's really late and I have to get up early."

They said their goodbyes and then when the door was shut, Fugaku had arrived down the stairs.

"Sasuke" he stated, crossing his arms and glaring at his son. "Why did you run away. Only cowards run away. I almost had to get the police involved and that would have been all over the news. You know well that our reputation would have been shattered if the public found out you ran away from home. I don't know what has been wrong with you lately but I expect you to mature and get over this facade." He stated, never taking his eyes off Sasuke.

"I am not a coward." the young Uchiha stated, glaring back at his father with equal anger.

"Oh?"

"You are the coward. Your the one afraid of the public seeing that we are a normal family, that we have faults like any other family out there. Your the one afraid of people judging you and the family if they find out I am a homosexual or that I ran away because I needed to think things through and be alone."

"Stop this nonsense!"

"No! I have to give up my freedom because of my last name, because of you. And because of this, I am unhappy, Itachi's unhappy, even mom's unhappy!"

"You shut your mouth or I will shut it for you, Saske!"

"Go ahead!" Sasuke, yelled, pulling his sleeves up to hold up his scarred and bruised arms. "It's not like you haven't abused me in the past! The flesh can heal, but mental pain takes longer to heal. As long as I am happy, you can punch me, hit me, kick me, and even cut me all you want! I am not going to give up my happiness because you want me to."

"Sasuke?" Mikoto asked, walking closer to her youngest son. She reached and held his arm and began to rub his bruises, scars and fresh self inflicted cuts. "Did you do all this?" She whispered, watching her sons eyes who were stuck on his fathers.

"No. Not all of it." She stated simply, glaring his cold eyes back at his fathers who's was equally cold.

"Fugaku?" She asked, looking at him with pain in her coal colored eyes. "Did you do this to Sasuke?"

He scoffed: no compassion in his face or his posture.

"I will not have a disobedient son. He deserved every beating I gave him. I assure you that."

"Fugaku!" She yelled, holding Sasuke close to her body. "You…you abused Sasuke willingly?"

"Oh don't feel sorry for him. He is a troubled kid who needs to lean his place."

"Troubled? Sasuke? Sasuke has only ever done what you asked! He's got good grades, graduating and going off to college! He's very successful if you ask me!" She didn't hold back her tears that were falling down her cheeks. "He's never deserved being hit! Not once! And out of all people who would abuse him, it's you?"

"You don't know what you are talking about Mikoto. Your taking his side and not seeing things from my side."

"I don't want to know your side." She cried. "You abused our son. Our youngest son. I can't…I can't forgive you for that."

"I don't need your forgiveness." He simply stated, turning back towards the stairs and heading back to his office.

Mikoto finally looked at Sasuke in the eyes since she started to argue with her husband. She saw pain in his eyes as well as fear. She didn't want her son to be abused anymore. She didn't notice all this time. He's been in pain and she didn't know.

"Come on, Sasuke" She said, hugging him. "We are leaving tonight."

"Where?" Sasuke squeaked, hardly able to hold down his fear and tears.

"Away from here." She simply stated, cupping his face and moving a bang out of his face. "I don't think it's safe for us to be here right now." She said. "I don't want you to be in anymore pain. I guess you and I have something in common." She kissed his forehead.

AN: Reviews would be great. :3 Thank you all for your support!