AN: Waaaah... I'm catching up with myself. I feel mean if I don't update for ages but if I don't slow down I won't have anything to give you and you'll have to wait even longer. Luckily my new stuff seems to have taken a randy turn. Or "Horni-fic-ation" as I like to call it. Well anyway... Fic time.

Chapter Fourteen: Overrated Perfection

Naruto sat on his stool and watched the light bounce off the glass of water he held in his hands, sending disks of illumination dancing across his room like fireflies in a cave. He held the glass to his eye and gazed at the blurry patterns it burned into his retina.

It was later that afternoon: A deep, dark blue smothered the sky, a pale half-moon cut cleanly into its surface. Although it was not as late as it seemed: the winter months stripped away the daylight.

As soon as Naruto had gotten home that morning he had taken the necessary pills and collapsed into bed. He had woken several hours later with a heavy but ache-free head and wandered downstairs blearily. As he had entered the kitchen the conversation that had been taking place in his absence ceased. An awkward silence that lasted only a few moments seemed to drag forever until Kiba had jumped off the side counter and slapped Naruto's back amiably.

"Feeling better?" He had asked, smiling far too broadly to be casual.

"Yes, I think." Naruto had replied doubtfully as a sick feeling coated the insides of his stomach like turpentine. Sakura had rolled her eyes at him as he sent her a look of confusion. Looking back on it as he gazed at the specs of light, he hesitated to think the sick feeling had anything to do with illness, more rather that his friend felt he had to treat him differently. Now that he was…

After pouring his glass of water, Naruto had retreated from the kitchen. Another conversation struck up as he left the room. For only a second he experienced a feeling that he hadn't felt since he had joined the band: Isolation. As he had walked up the stairs a figure in black met him at the top. Naruto had hesitated and then edged wordlessly past him, refusing to make eye contact. He had felt eyes on his back as he walked into his room and closed the door.

Now as he drank a little of the water and watched as the ripples sent swirling patterns bouncing off onto his walls, the depressing feeling he had experienced a flash of earlier sank down his throat as if in the water itself. He held the glass out before him and glared at it with distrust.

Darkness covered his vision as Sasuke stood in front of the lamp and removed the source of his interest. Although surprised that he hadn't noticed him enter the room, Naruto feigned disinterest, sighed and lowered the glass to his lips.

"You can't ignore me forever." Sasuke informed him. Naruto shrugged and took a sip.

"I'm not ignoring you." He said mildly.

It was Sasuke's turn to sigh, "Alright then. Would you stop avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you either."

"You're being obnoxious." Sasuke said through gritted teeth, folding his arms across his chest. Naruto shrugged again and picked up a book. Sasuke put a hand to his forehead and said in a tone that suggested that he was in no mood to play games, "Would you at least tell me what this is about?"

"I'm a little busy right now, come back later."

Sasuke took the book out of his hands and put it to one side. He then took a deep calming breath, "Naruto, please answer my question."

Naruto looked him in the eye, "I think you already know what the problem is…"

"What? Confirming our relationship with a group of people that are supposed to be your friends? Is that your deal? Because if it is, it's a pretty lame excuse to use to brush me off."

"They're your friends too, I'm not brushing you off, and no, you dip-shit."

Sasuke pulled a face, "Then what is it!" Naruto remained stonily silent. Sasuke waited a moment, every pore seeming to fill with repressed fury until he could no longer contain it, "Fine! Screw you! That's the last time I concern myself with your childish mind games! If you aren't going to tell me what I did wrong then I can't fix anything. So I'm taking it facedown that you don't want me to care if I upset you!"

Naruto laughed, "You're such an idiot."

Sasuke visibly fumed but chewed the side of his mouth and said nothing. When Naruto didn't explain his comment he scowled and turned to leave the room.

"Wait. Sasuke..." Naruto said, and the raven-haired boy paused and turned back, looking expectant, "You were a dick last night." Naruto enlightened him, his expression bland. Sasuke glared expressionlessly back.

"And? Is that any different from usual?" He smirked irksomely.

Naruto gave a wry smile, "Not really. But, in particular you did try to rape me."

Sasuke raised a bemused eyebrow, "I wouldn't go as far as to say that…"

"Well, I just did. And I want you to know if you ever treat me like that again I will not only never speak to you again but I will also castrate you with a rusty saw."

"Duly noted, thanks for the warning." Sasuke grinned.

"What are you looking so happy about?" Naruto frowned, returning to gaze at the reflected light and forcing his own happy smile into a grimace of disapproval. He wasn't prepared to let Sasuke get away with it that soon. Sasuke wrapped his arms around his neck.

"Nothing." He replied, burying his face in Naruto's shoulder, "Nothing but you."

The feeling of loneliness vanished.

It was only later that night that Naruto realised how shallow the replacement of emotion had been. The loneliness was still there and it would remain there until he could trust Sasuke. And although he would like to think he could trust him now he knew in his heart of hearts that Sasuke was as unpredictable as a cat on a moped and easily as dangerous. He loved him but he knew he couldn't trust him. The boy may swear blindly that he would never accost him again but even if he himself thought he meant it, when it came down to it Sasuke was obviously unstable.

Naruto hated himself for his revelation. Why can't I just be happy with what I have and get over it? He reflected angrily over a pot of instant noodles in front of the TV. Sasuke dozed peacefully against his shoulder. Naruto realised that it was one of the rare moments that he had actually seen him asleep. He wondered if it symbolised a change in their relationship. Had Sasuke never lowered himself to that moment of weakness on purpose? Naruto supposed he was reading too much into it but contented himself with the thought that maybe now Sasuke felt he trusted him. This thought in its self comforted Naruto.

Sakura came into the sitting room with a mug of hot chocolate and folded her legs beneath her as she sat in the armchair and blew the mists that curled off her drink. She glanced the two of them over and then watched the movie that was showing on the TV. Naruto couldn't help feeling edgy.

Several minutes went by before Sakura interrupted a tense moment in the film and almost made Naruto jump out of his skin.

"Relax." She said, "You're so tense I keep on thinking you'll snap with the pressure and it's distracting me from the movie."

Naruto blinked. Sasuke sighed in his sleep and shifted against his arm. Sakura looked at him thoughtfully.

"You wouldn't think he was such a snot-rag looking at him like that." She said, "If I was you I'd feed him sedatives so he'd never wake up and harass me."

Naruto smiled, "It's an idea." He frowned and hesitated on the question that had been bugging him since she entered the room, "Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"Not at all." Sakura laughed, "Why would it?"

Naruto shrugged, "'Cause… I dunno. You like Sasuke."

"Correction: Liked. I actually feel a whole lot better about the whole thing. At least now I know he's gay and it's not just because I'm hideous or something. Plus, you two look adorable together."

Naruto grunted derisively and yawned.

"So, anyway, I'm not being a very good fag hag. You haven't told me a thing!" Sakura continued just as Naruto started to watch the film again.

"There isn't much to tell. Leastways when-" He nodded his head at Sasuke's dormant form, "-is around."

Sakura nodded, "Fine. I'll let you off the hook tonight but I am booking a filling in session with you in the not too distant future. Don't roll your eyes at me. You're not escaping me again."

Sasuke drew a long breath and stretched, almost smacking Naruto in the face. He leant back into his lap and opened his eyes drowsily.

"Hey." He smiled lazily at Naruto.

Naruto felt the intense desire to incorporate him into his very being develop from nowhere. The only thing that stopped him was Sakura's presence and the part of him that realised that, other than by an act of cannibalism, the notion was physically impossible to carry out. Some serious "hugging" would have occurred nonetheless.

"Hey." He replied instead. A poor substitute.

"Ok, well, I'm just going to go get some munchies. Do either of you want anything?" Sakura asked in amused tones. Sasuke turned to her voice but did not seem surprised or bothered either way.

"Nah, I was just going to go turn in." Naruto said.

"I'll have some- ow!" Sasuke started to say before Naruto jabbed him in the side, "Nothing. Thanks."

Sakura left the room with a suspicious smile.

"What's up with you?" Sasuke asked, his eyes half-closed with languid weariness.

"We're sleeping in your room tonight." Naruto informed him.

One eye opened a little more in a questioning squint, "Why?"

"Because I'm bored of my room."

"But your bed smells like you!" Sasuke moaned.

"And your room smells like you!" Naruto countered.

"But I can't smell me!"

"Oh, boo-hoo!"

Sasuke said nothing in retaliation but seemed to be weighing over the idea in his mind.

"There's really nothing to consider. And it means Kiba won't wander in in the morning!"

"A small consolation."

"Why are you so hung up about it?"

Sasuke shrugged, "I don't really get the best nights sleep in there and we have a lecture tomorrow."

"Well, maybe that's 'cause you didn't have me around!" Naruto grinned and pushed him teasingly. When Sasuke didn't reply Naruto squished in his cheeks and pressed his own forehead against his, "Come on, don't be a brat."

Sasuke "hmph"-ed and sat up. Naruto grinned at his victory and stood, pulling a grumbling Sasuke up with him.

"Sasuke's bed! Sasuke's bed!" Naruto sang tunelessly as he pushed Sasuke up the stairs.

"Shut up or I'll reconsider." Sasuke growled.

"That didn't even rhyme! Put more effort into it, Sas'. You could've said, "Shut up or I'll beat your head" or anything! I'm disappointed." Naruto prodded him.

"I will if you don't!" Ino yelled from her room, "Some of us are trying to sleep!"

Naruto paused and sucked in his cheeks, "Ino's getting cranky! She wants some hanky panky! She's not exactly picky! She'll even take our Shiky!" He sang and ran into Sasuke's room before Ino came out to satiate her bloodlust. Sasuke sighed and followed him at a more laid-back pace.

"You're such an idiot." He said as he closed the door behind him and took off his shirt.

"Absolute genius." Naruto snickered, watching Sasuke undress with mild interest as he sat himself on the bed and tested the mattress. Sasuke said nothing.

Naruto turned on the bedside light. "You tired?" He asked.

Sasuke grunted an affirmative.

"Ok." Naruto nodded.

Sasuke looked at him enquiringly but Naruto just smiled and picked up the nearest book. Sasuke paused before gently taking the book off him and returning it to its rightful place. He knelt beside the bed in front of Naruto and folded his arms across Naruto's knees.

"We have all the time in the world." He said, taking Naruto's hand and gingerly tracing its contours with his own fingers, "And just knowing that is the best feeling… it's amazing. It's completely amazing how you've managed to turn me around. This time last year 'all the time in the world' sounded like an eternity of hell. But somehow…

"I'm not going to make any more mistakes with you. Last night was the last time. So you don't have to feel like you have to finish it. Next time will be totally different. It won't be a mistake. It'll be perfect."

Naruto sat in awkward silence wanting to say or do something in response but nothing seemed appropriate. Sasuke kissed his fingers and stood up.

"Go get ready for bed." He said softly, a hint of humour lifting the corner of his mouth.

Naruto grinned, "'Love you."

"I know."

AN: Mm. Lovely.

:IMPORTANT: Well, yes and no. I thought I'd say that to grab your attention and make you read this tho. AUTHOR NEEDS HELP! I'm kinda stuck for a decent name for the band... I thought of and dismissed a few (that I will not share for fear of being tied to a pole and shot) So I'd really... (puts hands together and bows head) really appreciate some suggestions from you gorgeous, lubberly lot. BE SERIOUS NOW! The winner will get the "awesome" prize of having a scene of their description added into the fic (as long as it's not too inane). So that could be anything from a kinky boudoire scene to a trip to the zoo! WHOO! Double prize! Wow, looks like subliminal messaging! XD! Why do I get the feeling this will be disasterous... PROVE ME WRONG!

Review Replies: (This Chapters gift is a handshake from the Sexy Salacious Side-Character Shikamaru)

Lelith: Yay! Reading it twice! An indication that you enjoyed it alot. That's what I want to hear! Thank you v. much! (Shikamaru offers his hand)

OokamiHanyouGurl: Ooh... Neji... what a rude young man... Well, he certainly has something shifty about him doesn't he? You'll see, you'll see... (Shikamaru raises an eyebrow and gives you his hand)

calpis: Ramble for as long as you like. The longer the review the happier I am... and I do horde these reviews... and show them off to people... and print them off and pin them to my wall. OK, I don't do the last one but everything else is true! Well, I'm not going to give too much away but I will tell you that YES Neji will return! Fairly obvious, ne? Will a rivalry emerge between these two bands? I'd be lying if I said no... (Shikamaru nods knowingly and offers you his hand... dare you take it!)

oOKeairaOo: He IS such a poof. The curse seal form proves it. Why Naruto didn't burst out laughing when he saw it I don't know. I did. I wanted to keep the reactions as true to the characters as possible... I think Ino escaped me a little but... to be honest I don't care. Does that make me a bad person...? XD! Thank you for the review as always (Shikamaru recognises you as a Shiky fan and smiles before offering his hand)

Trio Wing: ) Yes, yes I do have a weird sense of humour. I've had it likened to Kakashi's before. I wasn't sure how to react to that so I just tugged up my mask and shrugged it off before reading my favourite book. Thank you for the review! (Shikamaru removes oOKeairaOo from his arm before offering his slightly damp hand to you)

NEXT CHAPTER: The Special Review Prize will be a giant glomp from Kiba so: GET REVIEWING!