Well hello there. Not too long this time huh? Still a while but oh well, it's before the 24th which is what I promised most people. It's probably because I've started to write this one paper now as well (which is all because my laptop crashed on me for about a week... so I lost many of my files sigh good thing all of my Concrete Naruto stuff had back-up, as well as other things). But I did lose some documents that had no hardcopies. Oh well, I'll live (hopefully if I can get my files off my hard drive). But yes, now that I've started to carry a notebook around with me almost everywhere (even to work), I think I might be a bit quicker on the updates.

Anyway... this chapter might be dedicated to Nick as a birthday present, but I just might be able to get out another chapter before then. So just in case I can't... Happy early birthday Nick, I hope you like the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Concrete Angel

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Chapter Twenty-One:

Sasuke didn't allow his words to fade into a silence like the last time because he spoke up in an extremely agitated voice, "Why can't you tell me?"

Naruto chewed at his lower lip. He knew Sasuke wasn't going to like his answer. Of course he wasn't going to like his answer, he had no reason to be happy with any answer explaining Naruto's current predicament no matter how sufficient. Sasuke had already expressed his distrust of the redhead and his concern for Naruto.

Even though it took a while to sink in... well actually it took a bullet sinking into his flesh to make him realize but nonetheless, he knew how much he hurt Sasuke by walking away that day. Especially after the moment against the wall... the raven pressed so close... and his lips...

Naruto shivered at the memory and once again brought his eyes upon the impatiently waiting Sasuke. It was only then that he realized how long he'd been silent. He would have to speak eventually and if he didn't now, Sasuke might not want to hear from him later.

"It's my fault." Naruto spoke, staring him right in the eyes.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in a questioning glare which pierced Naruto's soul.

"I'm the one who went along with everything... I was too trusting of someone I didn't even know. I assumed since our lives were so similar, being out casted and hurt, that I could trust him immediately and without question." Tears slowly formed at the corners of his eyes as he spoke. "I really don't know anything about him Gaara, or Temari or Kankuro. They were so distant and harsh and didn't treat me like... like you treat me... but not like the others either. I assumed they'd open up to me once I proved myself but... but they lead me into something I didn't understand. But it was my fault. I didn't question them... not once about anything because of how they protected me..."

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Naruto was actually crying now, and he didn't fully comprehend why he was. Was he so desperate to get his message across to Sasuke? Did he want to express his sincere regret at having rejected the other? Or was he so ashamed of possibly having Sasuke be disappointed in how naive and senseless he had been?

"I pushed you away and I should never have done that! You've been there for me more than anyone in my life and I dismissed that without thinking twice just because of him and what I thought I had with him... and there was really nothing there at all."

Tears poured uncontrollably down from his blue eyes like water from a broken faucet by this point and he had long since not been able to even look in Sasuke's direction.

"You deserved so much more than that and you tried so hard to warn me but I refused to listen. I was blind and ignorant... and stupid. I never should have-"

The blonde's words were cut off suddenly by a pressure against his lips. It took him a moment to realize that this pressure was caused by Sasuke's lips.

His eyes widened and his tears stopped instantly. He was in such shock that the thought to kiss him back couldn't even be processed by his mind. All he could do was lay there, stiff as a board.

Even as Sasuke's lips slowly pulled away, Naruto remained as he was, as though held in place by an immovable force that refused to let up.

He could feel Sasuke's eyes upon him, drilling into him. Questioning, concerned, worried, pleading. But Naruto could not respond. He could not inform Sasuke of how he felt about this kiss because he wasn't even fully aware that he had been kissed. It was as though he was in a stand-by mode, no longer processing what happened around him.

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked, his voice thick with concern, afraid he'd crossed a line.

The voice calling his name snapped Naruto out of his daze, and his eyes focused on the Uchiha's face. His blue eyes were still stunned as they locked onto the worried dark ones, but they had softened.

He was slowly processing what had happened and how he felt about it. It was different than the last time, he suddenly remembered. The first time Sasuke kissed him had been desperate, pleading, forceful, and slightly aggressive. But this was soft, sweet, caring, reassuring, and left Naruto wanting to cry all over again. Which he did.

This caught Sasuke completely off guard and frightened him. It all showed in his face and his reaction. His eyes instantly flew open, as did his mouth and he jumped with surprise. He saw in Sasuke's darker eyes a flash of hurt and guilt. That he assumed he had caused Naruto to hurt even more than he had been.

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But that wasn't why Naruto was crying. He was overjoyed and stunned by the thought and feel of Sasuke's gentle, loving kiss and it overwhelmed him with emotions that piled on the billions of horrible ones he'd suppressed over the years, causing them to overflow.

When Sasuke made to move away and give the blonde some space, Narutos good arm instinctively reached out and grasped Sasukes wrist. His hold was firm and he pulled slightly, wanting him to stay close, never wanting him to leave.

And Sasuke did not fight. He just sat, waiting, observing like a confused bystander who witnessed a brutal murder.

Gradually, Narutos tears stopped and he forced himself to sit up as best he could despite the mind numbing pain pulsing from his injured shoulder, arm and head. How he had managed not to slip into a coma with a concussion like that was beyond him. However, that didnt matter, not right now at least. What mattered was reassuring the raven, who was waiting so patiently for a response when he was most definitely panicking like a madman on the inside.

Sasuke, Naruto spoke as softly as he could without sinking to a volume that could not be heard.

His own name made Sasuke jump and he focused his distant eyes on Narutos face. They started at each other for the longest time. It felt as though they were friends reuniting with each other for the first time in ten years.

Then Narutos lips spread into a shy smile. To which Sasuke responded with a gleam of hope and happiness in his face and eyes. Carefully, he brought his hand up to cup Narutos cheek. Being so cautious, like Naruto would break and fall into a million pieces at one wrong movement. But the blonde leaned into the touch, loving the warmth of Sasukes affection.

This, in turn, made Sasuke smile as he was given the reply to his kiss. Naruto accepted him, wanted him, loved him. He was scared, of course. Naruto had never actually loved anyone before, or received love from anything. But he trusted Sasuke, he knew he could depend on him and risk letting his defences down. Because Sasuke would not betray of use him. He sincerely cared about him, despite how different their pasts and lives were.

With this, Naruto turned his face into Sasukes hand and kissed the center of his palm, silently confessing his love as his eyes drooped to slowly close.

Sasuke continued smiling down upon Naruto's content face, tracing his fingers around the bridge of Naruto's nose and his eyebrow, down to his temple. As Naruto's breath evened out, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the boy's soft cheek.

Finally he'd gotten Naruto to trust in him, and hopefully to love him. Sasuke didn't retract his hand from Naruto's face even though he was now obviously asleep, having been so exhausted. He felt so protective of the frail blonde beneath him and felt the strong urge to keep on holding him forever.

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Never would he allow anything bad to happen to his love. Now he understood that just earning Naruto's love and friendship weren't enough, he had to protect him from all harm. Just as Gaara had with Emi... however he managed to keep her away.

Sure he hated Gaara with a writhing passion, but he had to admit Gaara had done right by keeping Naruto safe from his aunt's abuse, despite whatever his intentions had been... and still were.

That would mean that Naruto would also now have to keep a closer eye on the Sabaku's and make sure they keep their bad habits and nature away from his beloved.

Instantly Sasuke jumped at the sudden opening of the door and he swung his head around to see Tsunade-sama standing in the doorway.

"Heard of knocking?" Sasuke didn't snap but it was almost close. What if he'd been sharing a really intimate moment with Naruto? Technically he still was having such a moment, but with Naruto being unconscious, there really wasn't much he could do anymore.

Tsunade didn't reply to Sasuke's comment, she just eyed both boys over carefully. Her eyes stopped where Sasuke's hand still under the sleeping boy's cheek and she gave a curious look but still said nothing. The intrigued look, however, caused Sasuke to pull his hand away and feign that he was merely pulling away from the blonde to be able to turn and face the doctor. Which he initially did.

She walked inside, shutting the door behind her, with the same expression on her face, only slightly more amused. As though she thought of how she could use what she discovered to her advantage.

Sasuke gave her a look off warning, telling her not to test him. He could have tried to appear ignorant of why she was smirking or that there was no truth behind why she was, but it unnerved him to have her look at them that way. The mere idea of her possibly manipulating him, or rather Naruto, sent a chill of anger through him.

"Calm down, Uchiha." Tsunade spoke with a slightly irritated tone, but it was obvious to Sasuke in her body language that she couldn't care less. "I have no interest in whatever your relationship is with Uzumaki." Suddenly a slightly mischievous smirk danced across her lips, "However it does clear some things up and makes the situation a little more interesting."

Sasuke couldn't control the deadly glare he automatically sent her, of which she promptly ignored.

"His condition is stable. No infections or fatal wounds. He should be able to leave by tomorrow." It was astonishing how fast she could resort back to "professional doctor" mode. Of course, she was high up on the chain of command, so it was natural that she should be able to do that.

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Sasuke was thankful his Naruto wouldn't have to stay cramped up in this tiny hospital room with nurses and doctors who hated him or ignored him, but Tsunade spoke before he could acknowledge the statement.

"He is not to return to Emi's."

Her tone was strict and left no room for argument. Though why on earth would Sasuke argue to that? He didn't know why she would think he would let Naruto return so easily to that horrid building, especially after what she now assumed about their relationship, but he let her continue speaking once she opened her mouth once more.

"At least not for a week, and he won't be attending school for this time period either. He will use this time to rest." Though she gave no explanation as to why Naruto was not permitted to do these things, or as to why she was informing Sasuke, in her dialogue. The Uchiha read in her eyes that she was up to something, nothing sinister of course, but she did have some sort of plans to follow through.

Now Sasuke took the opportunity to nod, and reply. "He'll stay at my house. I won't let him over-exert himself." He never added that he also wouldn't allow Emi anywhere near him either, but that was mainly because Emi would never suspect that her nephew would be staying in the old Uchiha family district. At least she had no reason to suspect.

Once again, Tsunade nodded, obviously satisfied with his answer and left the room. He expected her to leave without a word but before the door closed completely she announced to the raven, "You have five minutes."

Sasuke sighed as the door closed and turned back to the sleeping blonde. He didn't want to leave his Naruto alone here once again, no matter how peaceful he appeared to be sleeping now. After what had just happened between them, he wanted to lay there beside him and be there for when he awakened, letting the blonde know he would always be there for him. Sasuke sighed once more before pressing a tender kiss to Naruto's temple and brushed his fingers sweetly across his cheek before easing himself up off the bed as carefully as he could, so not to disturb the slumbering blonde. It would be all right, he'd have an entire week to be by his side, and he would not waste a moment of it.