A.N.: Hello, minna-san. Made it quick, huh? Well, quick for me, at least… Oh…this story is NOT finishing in this chapter. In the beginning this was going to be the final one, but it's getting damn too long (too long for me)—I just thought I should divide it. And here it is.
The second part is still being writing itself…hopefully with next chappie I shall be done.
Fushica: Y-yeah… tee hee… +nervous laugh+ It's his fault+points to a Sasuke plushie, before fleeing and hiding away.+
Fitful Fantasy: Yes, that's true. Well…even I am beginning to think that Sasu-chan is way too possessive…
ShinraTurk-Krena: Thank you! Hope you get tuned in till the end. ;D
AngelzNDevilz: Oh why thank you! And I hope you enjoy this update! ;D
Inuyashanaruto: Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it! And I'll try to keep my best. XP
Prozacfairy: Thank you for your kind words! Well, yeah… Now you shall see what happened to Naru-chan. XP Hope you like this update. :D
sweetpotato1992: Glad you like it. And I shall keep going writing this crazy fic. XP
singingrain: Yeah. Sasu-chan really has the knack of not appreciating the things people do for him out of the goodness of their hearts. Anyways… XP It was a good thing Naruto decided to save the day. XD
Ookami Aya: I'm glad you didn't sue me, cuz I'm so broke… You really think so? I'm so glad! Seems like I manage to do things right for once…
RinTori: Yes! They're FINALLY together! XP You shall see how it ends... soon...hopefully... --;,,,
Xia Momo Capernicus: Yes, that's the way our lil' Sasu-chan is+hugges Sasuke's plushie+ Oh, thanks! I feel so honorable that you like so much this worthless fic of mine! Makes me worth writing... +tears of happiness+
starz4evr: Thanks! Hope you like this update!
Principal Pairing: SasuNaru
Rating: T –for bad language, swearing, and boy-on-boy situation.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never will. Unless Kishimoto sensei willingly decided to give it to me…and I don't think that'll ever happen. TT
Warning: Boy on boy situation. And relationship. Don't like it, please don't read it. Why should I keep bothering in writing these, anyway? We'll in chappie 13; you should be used to it by now. Oh, and so OCCness too. --;,, OH, AND I REALLY HATE FLAMES. You wouldn't want to get me angry…
-----
Saint Valentine's Day a la Naruto.
By Aya Honey
---------
Chapter 13: The prelude to it—the party
Things looked promising… Sakura thought, with a smile. Things looked so good and promising now that she was sure she had no longer her life under constant threat. She was happy… so happy that now she had no reasons to worry about (till the Holidays ended, anyways…), that she could be with Lee without her fearing anything threatening her own life… She was so happy that she got all that cleared-up with Sasuke-kun that her break-up with Lee was just a fake, and that trying to date with Naruto was just for the sake of to getting him and Naruto toget—gulp!
Eyes wide, the girl stopped dead in her tracks as realization hit her. She was on her way to pig-girl's house (translating, Ino's house) hand in hand with Lee, when she suddenly remembered the little fact that she hadn't exactly clarified that tiny little wincey detail with Sasuke-kun… But she probably was overreacting, because Sasuke, being the genius he was, would have already cleared that up by himself... –But she couldn't be too sure, because when he was jealous, she had everything to worry about… –But then, why hadn't he said anything to her about that on the woods…? But then, Sasuke-k—
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" was the worried question that snapped the kunoichi from her inner ramblings and desperations and fears, bringing her back to reality. She briefly remembered how hard she had to work for Lee to drop the 'san' from her name and put the 'chan' instead when they first started dating—but that was really not the time to be remembering that.
Smiling nervously up at him –he was clearly taller than her (oh and by the way, Rock Lee was accompanying her officially as her boyfriend again; he couldn't be happier about that)—she quickly responded, "Nothing. But we should really hurry up to that pig-girl's place…" and then with anything more as an explanation, she began to drag Lee along her, as fast as she could. …She didn't want to risk any chance over meeting Sasuke-kun…
Nope. It was no good to push her luck, not when she had survived this much…
She had exactly one day to clarify everything before the party at Ino's place. If not, she could officially call herself a dead person.
As she and Lee were making their way to the bleach-colored kunoichi's place, Inner-Sakura, with tears in her eyes (and not precisely tears of joy) was questioning the fates and whatever gods there were out there why they enjoyed putting her life in constant risk…
…Never mind that she was a kunoichi… she should be used to it by now…
…More so after being part of the infamous former Team Seven…
--------------------------------------
Kakashi had just finished debriefing his report, and was handing it to the Hokage-sama. …Why were they even bothering to do it so formally when they both knew that mission was off-records? He shrugged that thought off mentally; she seemed to be in a really good mood, and he didn't want to risk it by mentioning it. She was very satisfied with the results, to say the least.
"Thank you for your hard work, Kakashi. It was splendid. Come back here after I claim the winning of my bet; I shall give you something extra for you then." The Hokage said, satisfied, with a smirk on her face.
"It was really nothing, Hokage-sama. But…I'm not really into money, you see. …I'll be more than fine if you just arranged it…" Said nin said, after bowing respectfully, an odd glint in his visible eye. And for the tone of his voice, it was clear that he was up to something.
"…Oh." She said, a knowing look on her face. She continued, "If that's what you really want… then it shall be arranged. You are dismissed, then." She finished, dismissively waving her hand. Then, as an after-thought, and still smirking, she added, "…Good luck with your dolphin." At the retreating form in the smoke.
She was just relaxing in her chair, closing her eyes, resting a bit before getting back to work, when she felt, or was more she remembered, something.
"…You heard it, Jiraiya. Time to pay." She said to the slumped form with the defeated air surrounding him, not even trying to disguise his invited presence.
Getting up and making his way to Tsunade, he grumpily snatched a bag, and tossed it to her, disrespectfully to say the least. "…For all the times for you to be right and win…"
"Tsk. That shall teach you. I TOLD you this would happen someday." Okay, that was weird. The weird thing was that she said it so triumphantly at her being right, and forgetting? not minding? even being happy? about the real situation's implication. Why wasn't she mad about her being right? Why wasn't she mad that Sasuke took her poor little innocent Naruto away? Maybe the fact that she had finally won a bet was taking over her and her good judgment. Not that Jiraiya thought she had any of those, anyway.
…Maybe she was a closet-fan. He shivered at the mere thought of it. Maybe, all this time, she had been a closet-fan of –another set of shivering— of that kind of –gulp!—like.
…Yeah, now it all made sense. All those strange situations that he and Orochimaru were put together back then when they were still a team. …All those accidental pushing and bumping into each-other… That near-to-happen-kiss… It all happened with her being nearby. Now it made sense that almost-disappointed look she had at that time. Now it made sense that little weird face she had back then…when that happened.
And…they weren't scarce and in-between. 'Damn you Tsunade, I swear—'
"…What? Maybe your loss in this had finally shut you up." Tsunade said, successfully taking him out off his not-too-pleasant memories. Oh she was way too much enjoying her winning… "…Or are you sad that you haven't noticed that before, for you to write that smutty novel of yours?" she really was enjoying it –and losing it—if she wasn't recoiling and promising him a painful death at the mere thought of him writing that, and much more as her beloved brat's expenses.
"Shut up, Tsunade. You might have won this one, but the next you're definitely gonna lose."
"Aha…" She said, interested, a confident hand on her hips. "So, what next bet is gonna be at?"
"Naruto will be on top." He said, confident. He was so confident on his statement. He had to win this one. He had to do it, for his pride's sake. For his pride and dignity's (even if it rarely ever showed itself, he did have one!) sake. He trained the brat for two and a half years, dammit!
…He forgot the little fact that training Naruto and supposedly knowing him hadn't really helped him to win their bet… and was what had put him in this situation…
"I beg to differ, Jiraiya."
She was soooo gonna win this. Something told her she was going to. She was confident.
…Time to call that pervert Sharingan-user again…
---------------------------------
Naruto sneezed. He shivered. He had a feeling as if…someone was talking about him, and none of good could come out of it. Well, none of good to him, anyways.
He was used to it. Way too much used to it.
Prove of it was…the girls' plan to get he and the teme together.
Speaking of the tem—the devil… in the time that passed between that day of learning the girls' plan and of the teme's real feelings, and today, exactly thirty-two hours, thirty minutes and two seconds before the Yamanaka Ino's girl party…he had been hiding from the bastard.
Not because he didn't like him. Not because the bastard had done something utterly bad to him. And not because he himself was having seconds thoughts about their new-forming relationship.
And definitely NOT because he was afraid of him.
But because, the second the bastard got the chance, it was the second he couldn't keep his hands off of him. Really. A couple of gropes here and there was alright—he himself enjoyed reciprocating it—but, it was as if the bastard couldn't control his libido, god-damnit! Just yesterday, he was almost eaten alive, damnit!
And it was NOT because he was embarrassed of him. Or something. It just—
Shit.
There he was. The bastard. And he seemed to be looking for him.
Damn.
Naruto quickly deviated from his path on one of Konoha's street, quickly ducking and hiding in one alleyway that thank the gods was near him. …But there, he found that he was not alone…
"…Iruka-sensei!?" he asked, and a quick hand made it to his mouth, successfully shushing him, that hand clearly owned by his former teacher. "Iruka-sensei!" he tried again, this time managing to whisper, after said sensei's hand pulled away from his mouth. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same." The other replied, in a paranoid-like fashion, looking if anyone had spotted them.
"Well…" he didn't know what to respond to that. He still hadn't got the chance to tell his sensei of his exact situation with Sasuke now. He wondered if Iruka-sensei already knew about his feelings for the teme, as the girls pointed out that everybody else knew, even if he had never told the sensei before… He also wondered how many people exactly knew, and who exactly knew about his and teme's…situation.
"Well?" the older of the two pressed, the scarred teacher already entering into what was often called 'mother-hen mode' for the blond boy, even if he himself hated to admit it, and successfully forgetting the reason of his worry and wariness. And what seemed his current hiding situation.
"…It's all the teme's fault." It was all that the blond azure-eyed boy was able to muster, bright red.
And then Iruka saw it. Just underneath Naruto's jacket, below his collarbone… a bright…hickey. And it seemed brand new too.
And it didn't seem to be the only one. There were others… at least two more of them… and fresh, too…
…Then… did that mean…that… Sasuke and Naruto now…
"Here you are, Iruka-sensei. I have finally found you." a happy-go-lucky voice was said from behind him. A way too familiar happy-go-lucky voice.
Iruka's blood turned ice. He sweated cold. Damn.
He wasn't one to curse, but damn.
Slowly turning over, he spotted the owner of that voice. That single one eye visibly arched into that happy rainbow-arc, that smutty book open in his hand, that familiar spiky silver hair…just behind him…
"Yo, Naruto." Kakashi said, now regarding the other person. "Thank you for finding him for me." He said, before grabbing Iruka by the collar of his vest, pulling him up.
"L-let me go, Kakashi!" Kakashi? Naruto had never heard Iruka-sensei talk so casually to Kakashi-sensei that way before. Now he was confused. ...Was he the one Iruka-sensei seemed to be hiding from? And if that was true, then why?
"Oh, don't be that way, Iruka-sensei. I had a pretty hard time earning it…" his voice seemed way too much perverted, while he effortlessly tried to stop the other from flailing.
When the silver-haired nin finally succeeded to pick the other bridal-style, he said to the still very confused Naruto's direction. "See ya, Naruto. Sasuke." Before he vanished into that familiar puff of smoke, that last name pronounced sending shivers down Naruto's spine.
Fuck.
"Found you."
-----------------------------------
Ino was just arranging some new arrived flowers into their respective places in her family's shop when a blur suddenly passed past her. What the…!? And turning around, she saw that it was none-the-less than big-forehead. And her boyfriend. The girl looked pale, and horrified, and scared, and just flushed from her run—and that was just plain weird.
The bubble-gum haired hair was the one that usually put others under that state, what with her ungodly strength.
Not that she was afraid of her and her strength.
But that was beside the point.
Making her way toward the new-arrived couple, she asked, hand onto her hips, "What the hell are you doing, forehead-girl?"
At that name being called, the pink-haired girl instantly glared, before replying. "Hiding."
"And why would you be hiding, this time?" And why here, again? Couldn't you find another place to hide?
"Yes, my youthful flower, why are you hiding? I shall protect you from any harm, even if it means risking my life!" Lee exclaimed, ending it with his infamous pose, that sparkly-teeth-thingy also there.
The two girls opted to just ignore him.
"…And from what?" even when Ino was obviously losing her patience, there was also worry creeping into her system at her friend and former rival.
Poor Lee was crouching in a corner, visibly depressed by the rejection-slash-ignorance.
"…Sasuke-kun…" the emerald-eyed girl replied.
"Again!?" the blonde-bleach haired kunoichi exclaimed, accentuating the word. What did she do this time!?
"…Well…" the other girl started quietly, visibly nervous, before continuing, "…I hadn't explained to him yet the whole part of…"
"The whole part of…?" the blonde female promptly inquired her; losing what little patience she had by the minute.
"…the whole part…the whole reason why I asked Naruto out…at that time…" was said even more quietly, almost embarrassed of having forgotten that little explanation to the brunet when she had the chance. But who could really blame her? Sasuke-kun looked so terrifying at the moment…and she was so nervous…and at that time in place, he was scarier than even…even…even Orochimaru! Yeah, than even him! And even—
"…Oh." Ino said after a while, in an understanding tone of voice. "Well… I don't think you have anything to worry so much about. Sasuke-kun has who he wanted now, and I highly doubt he is even caring about it. Besides, he is Sasuke-kun; he would have figured it out already. I would even venture to say that he had forgotten about it by now." The girl said, turning onto her back. "…And now that you're both here…make yourselves useful and come help me to prepare some of the things for tomorrow."
'She might be right. For once.' Sakura thought, feeling relief flooding over her. Then, as she and Lee followed the blonde girl, she desperately thought, 'Please let that be case…' though… she couldn't help but be worried…there was still some feeling nagging at the back of her head…
------------------
"…I still don't understand why you where hiding from me." Sasuke said, almost pouting (Uchiha people never ever pout), sitting at the window-sill of his bedroom, a certain blond in the cradle of his arms, head tucked on said blond's head. …How he managed to get Naruto there was a mystery…well, not much so as Sasuke undoubtedly had his charms, and even when Naruto was stubborn, so the Uchiha was. And in that situation, who could really blame Naruto for not resisting the Uchiha's said charms?
"…Just because." The younger of the two replied, blushing a little, and was pouting.
"That's not a proper answer, dobe."
"Well…" the azure-eyed boy started, fidgeting. "…It's just…"
"…Just what…?" the other inquired, that wicked hand making its move down, again.
"That's it!" the blond exclaimed, irritated, breaking from the brunet's embrace, and pointing one finger at said person accusingly. "You just… you just… Every time you get the change, it's like you can't keep your hands to yourself!"
"And why should I? We're dating." The other dead-panned.
"Arggh! That's not the point! Even in public, you barely contain yourself…"
"Then again, Naruto, why should I?" this time Sasuke made it to pronounce the other's name.
"Don't you… don't you care what the others will say… if they see us…if they know about us…?" he said, avoiding the Uchiha's gaze.
"No, I don't. I don't care what the others say. I never did." it was said firmly. "Do you, Naruto? Do you care?"
"…No. It's just… what about your reputation…? Y'know… after all, I'm the Kyuubi vessel…and in their eyes, I'm not fit for you…" it was said, quietly.
Then, the blond was enveloped by a pair of arms, two arms that were strong and warm, (warm despite the other's usual cold exterior and demeanor), pulling him close. He felt safe there. "You're really a dobe…" it was said, lacking the sting of offense, and instead being said affectionately. "I told you that I don't care. I don't care what the others have to say…I will always be by your side. And they really…know nothing." was declared in a rare confession of emotions for the charcoal-eye brunet's character. And the blond understood the real meaning behind those words.
I don't give a damn what the villagers have to say. So, I will never leave you; not again. And they know nothing of you.
He felt warmness at those words, and their meaning. And…Naruto found himself believing Sasuke again.
"I'm glad…to hear that." he replied, returning the embrace. "But…I will be even more glad if you would keep that type of behavior in public to a minimum… it's kind of embarrassing, y'know?"
"…Okay, okay…" the pale boy relented, not being able helping but to smile. "…But, for compensation…" he started, pushing the other to the bed, before straddling the blond, grinning, "…I have to grope you to my heart's content here…for the times I won't be allowed to do so in public…"
"…Really… Since when you've become this perverted…?" Naruto said, blushing.
"But you love it." the Uchiha said, before claiming those pink luscious lips into his own.
The blond put his arms around his partner's neck, being more than happy to compromise.
------------------------------
Okay, so they hadn't gotten that far –not as far as the teme would've liked anyway—but that wasn't reason enough for the bastard to be grumpier than usual. Even when the teme never really needed a real reason to be that way—he was always like that.
"Tell me why we're here, outside, in this crow, instead of home?"
Home… "Inside your place, you mean." Naruto said, regarding the pale skinned boy, trying to look irritated regardless of the warm and fuzzy feeling he got at the other saying that word. And the implied meaning of it.
They were in the middle of the throngs in Konoha market, said people being bussy with last-minute Valentine's presents and the likes. Here and there, the shops (and almost the rest of Konoha, actually, even if just a little bit) were filled with red and pink colors.
"Because…we have to prepare for Ino's party tomorrow." Naruto explained, and the grudgingly muttered "Sakura-chan said the prerequisite to the party was to wear something red…" and then with some more strength, he continued, "…And I bet the only colors in your wardrobe are black and blue. You're too somber. And dull."
The Uchiha glared at that. "I also have white." And besides, Naruto's choice of colors weren't right, either. They were just…much too bright.
"Which also doesn't count as bright, either. You really need some color."
"And you really need to shut up." Sasuke said glaring, hands tucked on his pocket, continuing walking, now leading.
They continued to walk for a couple more of minutes, silent (Naruto really wanted to say something in retort, but decided against it. The teme seemed to have soured his mood when he decided to stop the mutual 'grope feast' in other to come down here.), and instead just chose to pout, until the blond collided against something warm. Something warm and big. That something being the teme's back.
"Why did'ya stop?" he inquired.
"You want to buy some clothes, right?" the older of the two said, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at the baka crash onto his chest because he was spacing out instead of paying attention to where he went.
"…Yes…" the tan boy said, uncertain.
"Well, then, let's go." The Uchiha said, before entering through the entrance they stopped in front of, that entrance being of a cloth's store. Naruto smiled brightly at that, hurrying up to catch him. Sasuke, catching that smile, promptly continued. "But I'm not getting anything read and/or orange." Before continuing.
What the Uchiha never saw was the wicked Cheshire-like-grin (more like a smirk, really) that passed through Naruto's features, as he walked a little behind Sasuke.
'We'll see about that, teme.'
-----------------------------
Vocabulary…I don't really think there's anything new down here…
---
A.N.: …Don't really like it…………. Please do forgive any grammar mistakes… This is un—betaed… and I'm tired as hell, and I tried to check any typo with my lack-with-sleep mind… too tired… I'm sorry if this chappie doesn't make any sense, either… Hopefully, the next one gonna get better.
I'll really try to finish it the next chappie. I KNOW this has to be done…but it just keep writing to its own… I still don't know if it's gonna have a lemon or not… Depends if it fits into the story or not.
Please please do give me reviews. That will lift my spirits. Any question, suggestion, criticism –but NOT flame—I will be more than glad than to reply.
Well, see ya! …Hopefully soon. XP