AN: WoW guys... So many flattering reviews! 8blushes* I'm touched! ^.^' Sorry about the typos! Cheers,

They had finished with breakfast when the phone rang. Naruto jugged to the bedroom to retrieve his cell and came back five minutes later with a grim expression.

"Work called, although they forcefully kicked me out of work for a while, they need my exceptional expertise and wits right away." He flipped his hand to his forehead dramatically, and Sasuke looked on and pulled on a small smile, thought spinning already.

"I'll have to run out for a while. Will you be ok?"

Sasuke nodded; "Ill take a walk around the neighborhood, if that's ok? I don't want to stay indoors on such a beautiful day." He looked out, the sun was shining brilliantly still, and it illuminated the living room in happy sunlight.

Naruto huffed, "No need to ask kit, your spare keys are by the fruit bowl on the bar." He winked and finished buttoning up the shirt ha had already thrown on. "I'll be in contact when I know more ok?" He threw walking out the door and locking it around him.

The silence was thick after the final click, and Sasuke looked around him, just taking in the view. When was the last time he was alone in a house that looked this happy? He couldn't remember, but he walked over to the window and trailed Naruto's car with his eyes. It gleamed happily in the sunlight, and Sasuke felt like an even bigger asshole than before.

He brought the dishes to the sink and washed them absentmindedly before making his way back to the bedroom and glaring at the bags of clothing that still lay unpacked.

There was that knot in his throat again.

He picked at the bags gently, not wanting to cause a mess, and pulled out a pair of gray jeans and a green shirt, that would have to do for now, he nodded to himself, and pulled a blazer for the cold weather, just in case.

A pair of black running shoes that bordered on dressy that Naruto insisted he needed completed his ensemble. He popped his wallet and phone into his back pockets and grabbed the sunglasses. As he was passing by he caught himself fin a mirror. He almost couldn't believe it was him. The stranger looking back out at him reminded him of… he shook his head, trying to squelch the ghost of his past for now.

Closing his eyes, he walked out and locked the door behind him. He found himself outside soon after, and looked around. He could go anywhere he wanted. And he made his way towards the park.

It was such a change, to have people looking at him with respect, admiration even, from some of the women that gave him come-hither looks as they passed by him. He sneered, thye wouldn't give him a second of their day had they seen him as he was before, disgust would have been the only emotion they would show, and that was why he hated people. In general, he disliked them highly; all except one.

He spotted the booths on the opposite side of the street. There were three standing in a row right across some small café. It looked like it was a popular family place; there were a couple of families with small toddlers trying to feed the screaming, happy kids and laughing around the mess of food they made.

Sasuke looked on sadly, that was the life he had never had, even as a child, all he remembered were tutors and maids, running in and out of his memory, his father, a distant pillar of strength he couldn't ever approach. He remembered his Mother though… Her image flashed before him as he watched a smiling red-haired woman try to hold her two year old struggling, squealing boy and wipe some sauce off his cheek.

She was laughing, an the man beside her was rolling his eyes and trying to look stern, failing miserably when his son ran to him laughing. He smiled and broke into laughter as the boy jumped at him.

Sasuke passed with his head bent. He slid into the booth. It was plastered with colourful images and news snippets. Scribbles and phone numbers littered the walls; the phonebook that was supposed to be there for use was missing.

Sasuke fished out a coin and dialed. The phone beeped a couple of times before a quiet voice answered; "Who is this?"

"Nice to hear you too." Sasuke sneered, remembering why he hated the man so much.

"Well well well.. If it isn't… wasting your money on a phone call? Is the situation that bad my dear?"

"The situation is fine, you nosy prick... better than fine actually."

"So…?"

"So you can start looking." Sasuke smirked. "Don't expect payment yet, but I promise it will come, I'm now sure that I can provide and…."

"And what?" The voice sounded excited and sly at the same time

"Keep it in on the down low…" Sasuke finished.

"Aye aye sir."

The phone line went dead, and Sasuke quickly made his way out back into the happy, carefree world.

He had underground acquaintances that he now needed to contact and remind of his existence. They needed to know that he was on the move.

"Sasuke!"

He turned around at the familiar voice, and saw Sakura running to catch up to him. His stomach dropped, had she seen him? Did she find him getting out of a booth suspicious?

She hadn't, by her rosy cheeks and happy expression he clued in that she had just seen him, and wanted to chat. He decided that he might as well; his memory clicked back to Naruto, and the pills that he still needed to find out about.

"Hello Sakura." He smiled pleasantly, "come to check up on me?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "I did, went to the house in fact, and you weren't there, and Naruto isn't answering his phone, and I don't have yours on mine yet. I was actually passing on my way home when I spotted you.' She smiled.

"Well, great then, you can get my number while you're explaining to me how to use this." He took out his phone and laughed. "Naruto tried explaining it to me, but I don't get it still, only now I was trying to use the booth. "He pointed out the phone booths he had come out of." But I realized I had no change on me so…" he handed the phone over into her waiting hand, "I failed.' He signed in defeat, "Will you show me?"

Sakura perked up right away. "A pleasure! Lets get some chow and head on over to the park. It's wonderful out today and we can go over everything there is to know on here. She waved his phone around, while adding his number to her list.

They grabbed some food Sakura swore was completely delicious and made their way over to one of the picnic tables in the park. Making themselves comfortable and digging in; Sasuke listened while Sakura lectured thoroughly on every single application Sasuke had. He listened to her mostly, only tuning out on the parts he already knew how to use, and let her have the pleasure of being able to teach, which she was clearly getting because after an hour, she was looking bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Sasuke nodded in appropriate moments, "Mhmmmm'd" and "ahae'd' in the slots provided, and asked minute questions when he though he'd been quiet for too long. Overall, he thought he did a wonderful job in making the pinkette happy with her vast cellular knowledge.

But finally, even her battery ran out, and she took a deep breath, looking at him in intellectual contentment. "And how are you two doing anyways? Getting along?"

"Ahhhhhh" Sasuke scratched his head, "you could say I'm a retard… but... well, actually, I kind of... gave Naruto a bruise... on his, erm… rib?' He finished in a lame question-like manner.

Sakura nodded. "Fight?" She asked, nodding knowledgeably.

"Yes." Sasuke looked away; entirely unhappy with the image of the black bruise he had left.

"Well, Naruto has some painkillers I think, if it's not broken it's best to let it heal naturally." Sakura shrugged.

"Oh, are they the small white pills he has?" Sasuke knew he was pushing his luck, but if he had a chance of finding out about what they were without time consuming research the better.

"Oh….' Sakura's voice fell. "No, these are for his… ahhh, well, you know Naruto had it bad as a kid right?" Sakura looked more sad then serious, all of a sudden. The sudden switch from mood had Sasuke on edge all the same.

"Well, he had this case recently, and it left him a bit unstable emotionally so… Tsunade prescribed some of these pills to him to keep him off the edge, and not so you know, stressed out."

Sasuke nodded, "he wasn't using them, if that's what you're wondering Sakura, I just saw them lying around underneath the sink when I was looking for some patches, and thought maybe they were painkillers. He laughed softly. 'I guess it doesn't matter."

"He shouldn't be keeping them around anyways, "Sakura frowned, "in case anything, these are rather strong drugs to take."

"I think he should," Sasuke argued, "Just in case he feels a relapse, he has something to lean on and besides, it looked to me like they haven't been touched in ages." He smiled, reassuring her.

She smiled in return, completely oblivious to his lies and tricks. And that was best; he'd make her adore him. It was easy enough, he could easily befriend her, found her smart and sweet enough, and obviously, Naruto trusted her. It was going to be easy, and give Naruto less of a reason to worry and check up on him, if he had Sakura as a friend.

So he chatted and put on his best happy face. And found himself actually finding it easy to be kind to her; Sakura too, got right into it. They were laughing and joking like old friends before long and thusly made their way back to the apartment.

She stayed for a while, and Sasuke made coffee, they watched TV, and it was so strikingly human to just sit there and do such trivial things as watching stupid shows that Sasuke was startled into reality.

They were sprawled on the couch, covered in chip crumbs and laughing heartily at some stand up comic was saying when Naruto walked through the door, looking disheveled and stressed out.

Sasuke straightened up, his eyes immediately scanning the blonde, trying to figure out what was wrong. Sakura jumped up and bounced up to the startled blonde, hugging him around the neck and peppering him with a shortened version of their day together.

Naruto nodded and smiled, getting over his initial shock of seeing her there, and since he couldn't sense any killing intent form her, decided to play nice. Sasuke saw his eyes glaze over as he repeated the ritual brain freeze he himself pulled in the park previously. Maybe it wasn't just him, he figured, maybe all men had the special ability to listen without really listening.

He smiled as he too, walked over, smiling at the blonde and grabbing the paper bag he had picked up along the way. Peeking inside, he found fruit, which he took out, and some meat, which he stored in the freezer, while he half listened to Sakura's accounts and Naruto's answers.

He had initially deemed the bag empty, but when he grabbed it to throw out, he felt a small bottle inside. He took it out, and realized that it was the drug Sakura told him about. He peeked at the two quickly, and was happy to see that Naruto was facing Sakura, his back to him. Sakura wouldn't be able to see him either, being blocked by Naruto's broad frame.

He strolled over quickly but silently, and slipped the bottle into one of Naruto's back pockets. The blonde didn't even flinch, although a minute stiffening of his back told him he knew what was done.

The raven walked back to the living room and turned off the TV. He looked at Naruto, who was now facing him, and only a brief flicker of the blue eyes told him Naruto was aware. Sasuke kept collected, and didn't mention the incident at all.

It was only when the pinkette left that Naruto visibly relaxed, dropping the smile and lowering the voltage in his frame. Sasuke deemed the timing inappropriate to ask about the pills.

Naruto sat down at the table and combed his fingers through his hair, sighing deeply. Sasuke quietly placed a cup of tea in front of him, earning himself a thankful smile. He placed his hands on Naruto's neck and felt the man tense up.

"Relax, I'm not going to bite." He kneaded the hard flesh to make his point. "This will take some of the pressure off." He explained, already feeling the man relax. It surprised him how quickly Naruto trusted him, something that made him swell with emotion and shame.

Naruto groaned pleasantly when Sasuke dug in harder, intent on rubbing the knotted muscles into submission. "Godssssss sauske… that feels… ahhhhhhh…" He almost purred. "So gooood."

Sasuke tried to keep his mind sane; the sounds the man was making were too sensuous for a simple back massage.

"How was it?'

He hadn't really expected an answer, figuring if Naruto wanted to say something he would have done so before now. But he thought that maybe a gentle prompt would help him out, instead of keeping it bottled in.

"You really don't want to know…" Naruto sighed.