Ren-sama's Note:

I wouldn't want to make you wait any longer by apologizing so much for the super late update. And so here's the next chapter. ᶺoᶺ

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Chapter 21

"Well then, we're leaving." I was surprised when Sasuke spoke just beside me. I looked at him in uncertainty for just some seconds before he grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me out of the place without my consent. Konan and Yahiko were left behind slightly gaping at the both of us. I wasn't even able to apologize to my earlier behavior, not to mention say I was already forgiving them.

"S-Sasuke!" I voiced when his hold on me was getting really tight. "Let go!"

"No way." He simply said as he dragged me inside his house once again.

I was struggling the whole time but I had the decency to not shout in the middle of the street while everyone was most likely already asleep. "What's wrong with you!? You asked me to leave so suddenly and then now you're dragging me back here by force!?"

He finally let go when we're already inside the living room. He turned to look at me. "I already called your house. I told them you'll be staying the night here."

"Wha–? Why did you do that!?" I asked in both exasperation and confusion.

"…Because we need to talk." He said before he took my wrist again. I growled when he dragged me onto the second floor where his room was.

I was confused and exhausted from all the things that happened tonight so I didn't have much patience anymore, especially since the words I told him earlier were still weighing heavily in my heart. I said those words in his very room… And now he'd dragged me back to his room once more. "There's nothing to talk about." I voiced coldly. He already told me his definition of a lover wasn't the same as mine. He also implicitly told me that he had no feelings for me. And yet I still confessed to him. That was my fault. He didn't have to talk to me about it because I knew I was rejected anyway. And on top of it all, he didn't have to console me.

I knew my voice was cold and indifferent but it seemed Sasuke was already too used to it to even care. Or maybe he was just a bastard since he acted like he heard nothing. He readied some clothes while I stood awkwardly by the doorway of his bedroom.

I didn't know what to feel anymore. First, he got angry at me when I tried to be honest with him, even going to the extreme of taking my words literally. Then he asked me to leave, and quite coldly at that. And yet, he appeared in the park just when I was trying to spill my heart out to those two. And finally, he dragged me back here by force despite my protests.

I arched an eyebrow at him when he gave me a pair of pants and shirt. "What is this for?" I refused to take it but he pushed it onto my chest so I had no choice but to hold onto the clothes.

"You can also wear your uniform in your sleep if you want." He said with a straight face and I immediately glared at him. My glare softened a bit when I finally realized that he had those dark eyes again. I don't know what to make of it anymore. It's like he's hurting a lot but he's keeping it all bottled up inside him… And I don't have the slightest idea on why he seemed so upset. It couldn't be because of my rejection, right? It's not like he loved me anyway. And it couldn't also possibly be because of my confession, right? I should be the one upset about it and not him.

I sighed as I tried to calm myself down. We stood there in the middle of the room in awkward silence for a while before I finally talked since I couldn't bear the tension anymore. It was also with a much calmer voice that I asked him. "So… what are we supposed to talk about..?"

"That can wait later." And the bastard voiced when I really gathered up the courage to finally ask him what we have to talk about. Gah, annoying! And yet… I was starting to feel myself warm up from the mere thought of Sasuke not wanting to end the night with the two of us not in good terms. That fact alone had managed to make the intense pain I felt in my heart subside a little. Sasuke went out of his way to really go outside his house and look for me… It was a bit touching…

I glared at him for the last time before I walked towards the bathroom and closed the door, bringing with me the change of clothes that he gave me. His clothes… I locked the door and leaned on it before a small smile managed to escape through my lips. Really, how annoying this thing called 'love' is… More than anything, it was making me look like a total lovesick idiot… I brought the clothes near my nose and inhaled them – a mixture of used fabric conditioner and the remains of Sasuke's scent. I blushed at the mere thought of the perversion that I was doing right now. To think that I would like the bastard's scent like this…

How addicting his scent is…

I took my time bathing and even took more time in changing clothes than usual. I looked at myself in the vanity mirror and saw myself wearing a black t-shirt just a little bit larger for me. My hair was still dripping wet but I didn't mind since it felt refreshing. My eyes wandered to the shirt again and I tried to imagine Sasuke wearing it. Instead of getting the image, however, I just ended up blushing while I imagined totally something else about him.

"Damn… I haven't even felt this kind of deep desire and longing for Yahiko…" I sighed as I whispered.

When I went out of the bathroom, I was already feeling a lot more comfortable and relaxed… at least, until I saw Sasuke half-naked on the other side of the room. His lower half was covered with a small towel and his upper torso was practically dripping wet with water. It seemed he too just got out of the shower. That was kind of obvious actually since he was damping another towel on his hair.

I practically stared at him with wide eyes, frozen in my spot. At the least, I still managed to hold back the urge to gulp at the sight before he caught sight of me and smirked.

"Like what you see?" His eyes were still quite dark but there was already a hint of humor in them.

I could only scowl at him before I blushed deeply. "No way, bastard." Although… I did actually like it. Seeing the person I like almost naked and dripping wet was not an everyday view. And most likely, I could only see it now… No, I take that back since the bastard is already approaching me!

I was still frozen, wide-eyed and practically gaping, when he stopped in front of me. I was staring at him with both amazement and confusion. I had no idea why he had to be so close to me – too close for comfort actually since both of us just got out of the shower.

He took the towel from his damp hair and lowered it. I didn't know what he was going to do until I felt the firm but gentle press of the towel on my own hair. "Your hair is still dripping." He voiced quietly.

I could only stare at his onyx eyes as he dried my hair in the gentlest way possible. I stood there frozen and yet I felt like I was melting from too much pent up emotion. He knew I held feelings for him… Why did he have to do these things..? It would definitely make me hope. And I didn't want that… because hoping meant that there's a huge chance I would get hurt again, especially since Sasuke told me he had no feelings for me.

And yet…

And yet, the feelings of those warm hands gently rubbing my hair with towel was the most touching and comforting act he had done for me today. I felt like crying again…

"Really… you're the most incomprehensible bastard I know…" I managed to voice after a while of silence.

His hands stopped for a second as he looked at me with those dark eyes of his. I simply averted my gaze so I wouldn't have to face his eyes directly. I didn't like those dark eyes. I felt that all of Sasuke's feelings and thoughts were projected through those orbs and I didn't want to look at them. I felt that all of Sasuke's pain and suffering were behind those eyes… Looking at them was hurting me as well…

Sasuke's hands let go of the towel, much to my confusion. I looked at him again to see what he was trying to do. Those dark eyes were still there, looking at me as if trying to tell me something I could never understand. Really, Sasuke… if you want to tell me something… you can just say it out loud… My eyes widened when his hands slowly traveled down to my jaw and lifted my face. "Sasu–"

The gentle lips that covered my own were cold but passionate. It wasn't like his usual teasing kisses which were full of laughter and sunshine and butterflies. His kiss this time was like a raging and violent storm. I felt like I was drowning and I could only hold onto him for leverage. All I could feel were his lips on mine and his tongue inside my mouth. It felt so good and pleasurable but it also felt like Sasuke was in pain just basing from his actions. I didn't know why he would be hurt...

The towel on my hair fell down the floor but neither of us cared. His hand on my jaw was strong but gentle, guiding me to his lips and yet at the same time preventing me from breaking free. His other hand had traveled down to my waist, caging me in a suffocating embrace. His hold on me was getting tighter and tighter by the second just as his kiss was getting more passionate and domineering, almost bordering on desperation.

But the most surprising thing was the fact that I found out I didn't mind… If he wanted to cage me in his arms and suffocate me then I would have no qualms or complaint… as long as he would love me…

However, I also knew, at the back of my mind that it was not the case.

After a while, we parted for the much needed air. I felt that I was blushing up to the tips of my ears and I was panting hard. Sasuke too was having ragged breaths. He still had his arm circled around my waist while my hands were still firm on his chest. I didn't know if I wanted to push him or not… because I knew that pushing him now would hurt him a lot… and yet, not pushing him would most likely hurt me instead.

I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead on his shoulder. I wasn't this much of a masochist when I was Yahiko's lover… I exhaled deeply to calm myself down.

"If I'm an incomprehensible bastard…" My ears perked up when he whispered those words to me. "…then you're an insensitive idiot…"

What!?

"Hah!?" I pushed him a little to look at him fully. "What do you mean insensitive!? Aren't you the one trying to make me your lover even though you have no feelings for me!? And when I told you I wanted to be loved, you actually got angry! If you want to say something, you can just say it out loud, you idiot!"

And I stopped when I realized I was already rambling and on top of that shouting at his face.

I was confused when he let go of me and walked towards the wardrobe beside the bed. I realized he was going to change clothes. Gah! Here I was trying to spill my heart out and then he would just ignore me and change clothes!? Who's the insensitive now!? "Sasuke!" I shouted out his name in my frustration.

His back was facing me but I still saw it when he exhaled deeply. "What do you want me to do then?" He voiced as he put on a dark gray shirt. I averted my gaze and prevented myself from getting distracted when he removed the towel covering his lower half. When I looked at him again, he had already changed.

"What do you mean?" I asked with a much calmer tone, although I was still scowling.

"I want you to be my lover. You rejected me. I asked if you loved Yahiko. You said you didn't. And yet you still wouldn't want to be my lover. And even when you already confessed to me, you still refuse. If I said I didn't have romantic feelings for you, would that mean I am not worthy to be your lover?" He then faced me with his usual cool façade just as he sat on the bed, his feet dangling on the wooden floor.

I could almost slap my forehead.

Doesn't he even know what the definition of the word 'lover' is?

I sighed deeply as I approached him. "Let's do it like this then." I knew I would most likely get hurt by this but I still didn't want to have any more miscommunications with him. "If…" I stopped right in front of him. "If I were to be your lover, then would you love me back..?" I looked at him directly. My eyes were filled with challenge and bravery, though underneath I felt so scared and confused.

His eyes widened a little, seemingly surprised at my question. He then looked at me with those unreadable eyes of his again before he finally opened his mouth. However, he must have been too shocked because he wasn't able to speak.

My eyes turned gentler then. My hands touched his cold cheeks and made him look up at me. "Like I said, Sasuke… I don't want to be a lover to someone who doesn't love me… It's something as simple as that."

"…I will." He finally said. I blinked at him in confusion. His answer seemed out of context. My confusion must have registered on my face because he glared at me and elaborated. "You asked if I would love you back in case you become my lover. That's my answer."

My eyes widened in surprise. My hands too were frozen on his cheeks… at least until I realized what his sentence meant. "Hey, how are you even sure you would love me back?" I looked at him in skepticism. "Doesn't your answer mean you don't love me at the moment?" I wanted to just punch him for repeatedly rejecting my feelings over and over again.

"I will. I just know it." He stubbornly said.

"Are you an idiot?" I asked in frustration. "How do you even know that!?"

"I know I will because I'm the Black Knight." He said with confidence. "If I said I will, then there's no way I won't."

Aaarrrgghhh!

"Gah, what's wrong with you!? What did your title even have anything to do with this!?" I wanted to pull all my hair out because of frustration. "Where's that confidence coming from anyway?"

"Naruto…" Sasuke spoke. He looked like he wanted to say something but he didn't know how to. Instead, he surprised me when he took my hand and brought it to his chest. "I can't…" He sighed when he seemed to have given up trying to explain. "I don't know how I feel for you yet… but I don't feel it towards anyone else…"

"So you feel something..?" I asked, hoping. I could feel the fast beating of his heart from underneath my hand.

He smirked when he looked up at me, his eyes darkening in a different way this time. "I find you really cute, asking me something like that…"

That somehow made me blush. "Idiot! Here I was trying to..!" I tried to take my hand back but his hold on it was much tighter than it looked.

My breath hitched when he suddenly pulled me towards him. My eyes widened when it only took a second for him to pin me down the bed. He wasn't called the Black Knight for nothing after all. "S-Sasuke..!" I blushed deeper when he knelt on top of me.

"I want you to understand my feelings more." He sounded so sensual even to my ears.

"Really, Sasuke. There's no need…" I said, trying to appease the perverted spirit which seemed to have possessed him. I gasped. He actually licked my right ear! The bastard! Oh, aniki. I think I'm being harassed here!

"Ahh..! Sasuke..!" I tried to resist and gave him a glare when he bit my ear. I could feel my ear reddening a lot. "You bastard…"

"And yet, you love this bastard." He whispered just as he gave me a full kiss on the mouth.

I could feel his tongue exploring me and I felt like I was drowning. I didn't even realize I was already clutching his shirt for leverage. His lips didn't feel cold anymore. Instead, it felt so hot I thought I was burning. Both of us were already panting hard when we broke apart for the much needed air.

And both of us actually jumped in surprise when the door of the bedroom fell from its hinges with a loud bang.

"How dare you kidnap my younger brother, you shitty kid…" A low growl which sounded a lot like aniki echoed all throughout the room.

"Shit…" Sasuke muttered under his breath while I actually gulped in dread.

Aniki stood there by the doorway. I could almost see a very dark aura surrounding his entire being like a shield.

Sasuke stood up from the bed and readied for a battle to commence. "I did not kidnap him. He came here of his own accord."

"Aniki…" I was too surprised that it took me a while before I could stand up too.

"You are not spending the night here, Naruto." Nagato seemed genuinely upset too. Really, he's too overprotective. And he had a great timing too.

"What?" Sasuke was the one who growled this time. "I was already given permission by your parents."

"That permission was already revoked." Aniki actually smirked, as if he enjoyed saying that piece of information. Even I was surprised at that. Revoked? How come? It's not like Minato and Kushina to actually take back their words. Hmmm… "Let's go home, Naruto."

I actually blinked at him. "Now?"

He glared at me. "Yes, NOW."

"You can't do that." Sasuke voiced as he held my arm tight. "He will not go anywhere."

"Sasuke, don't annoy him anymore." I hissed under my breath. "He'll only get angrier."

"You dared flirt with Naruto, you bastard…" Nagato's eyes flashed, I swear it did, when he saw how Sasuke held my arm to stop me. "I'll never let my younger brother be stained by the likes of you! I'll definitely crush you on the Sentouki Tournament."

"Bring it on, Red Knight-san with a brother complex." Sasuke smirked. Argghhh! Sasuke, you idiot! Don't you know you're only making it worse!?

Nagato's eyes had almost turned crimson in his anger. I could almost see every muscle in his body readying for offense. Oh, Kami… This is bad… And actually turning for the worst because of the bastard's smug attitude!

"A-Aniki… Sasuke and I… are already going out." I voiced with much audacity. Even I didn't know I had that. Both Sasuke and aniki were surprised. I knew that much since they both looked at me with the same stunned expression.

"What..?" Aniki seemed hurt at that. I actually didn't want to hurt him like that. However, it was the only way I could think of that wouldn't end up with the two of them fighting. I felt so guilty and yet at the same time I felt like a huge burden had finally left my chest. I looked at Sasuke and smiled in sincerity. I wanted him to understand that I meant what I said. He still looked stunned so I doubt he'd last long against aniki in a fight right now. But Sasuke was strong too… he's the Black Knight after all… And I don't think I would want to witness a fight between two Knights in a small private area such as Sasuke's bedroom. That would be hell...

After a while, Nagato looked down. It seemed he felt defeated. I'm really sorry, aniki. But I truly love Sasuke… "That boy… " He voiced just as he resumed his glare. "He doesn't look like he bathes." Now it was my turn to be surprised. I didn't know if I would laugh or if I would laugh… either way, I wanted to laugh out so badly it was so hard to suppress. I bit my lower lip.

Sasuke looked irked. "That was a personal insult just now."

"It's true." Nagato insisted. And it's kind of funny how he was making such a statement when he looked so serious. It seemed aniki had lost the fight so he's trying for a blow below the belt. "You hair always looks the same… unlike Itachi's." That… that was the first time aniki talked about Itachi.

And yet, his expression was… I couldn't help but feel sorry for aniki. So he still loved Itachi… I could see it in his eyes, in the way he spoke of that person.

Sasuke must have realized the same thing too. His aura had calmed down a lot. So this person too… missed his brother. "Well, excuse me for not having long and silky hair like my brother."

Nagato smiled to that. "Let's go, Naruto." Still? "Sasuke too. I convinced Haha-ue to let the two of you stay the night at our house instead."

The two of us could only gape at him as he finally turned around and left. He would most likely wait for us downstairs.

I couldn't help but sigh. It's his doing after all. I knew there was no way Haha-ue or even Chichi-ue would go back on their words. So he convinced them huh…

"Brother complex indeed." Sasuke voiced, louder this time because aniki wasn't in sight anymore.

"…Nothing like that at all." I voiced, clearly not convinced about it too. "He's just a bit protective." I did not let my eyesight wander towards his direction. I knew he was looking at me.

"So we're dating now." He voiced quietly.

I blushed and sighed. "I guess we are." Finally, he used his hand to cup my cheek and made me turn towards him.

He gave me a really smug expression before he pulled me for a peck on the lips. "Great." He voiced, seemingly satisfied. Really, it seemed that smugness helped a lot in his handsomeness too.

And thus, I was still in a daze even after we got home.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"So…" I voiced, totally feeling tensed.

"What?" Both Sasuke and aniki answered on my either side.

I couldn't help but sigh. "…Good night, aniki, Sasuke."

"Good night, Naruto." They voiced in unison, resulting to both of them growling at each other.

I wanted to have a good night sleep, for Kami's sake! Sasuke was supposed to sleep in our guestroom but he insisted that he wanted to sleep in my room, which resulted to aniki wanting to sleep in my room as well! He said that he would not let Sasuke take advantage of me at any cost!

Why did the both of them decide to sleep in my room tonight anyway!?

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.tbc.

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Ren-sama's Note:

Everyone, I feel guilty for not updating in, like, a century. And so I'm terribly sorry for that. I'm having a really hard time getting out of my writer's block but I'm still trying my best to write once in a while.

Please review? ᶺoᶺ