Note from the Author: Random thing for Invader-Nehima that didn't come out at all like I wanted. -.- It started as a drabble-thing that was going to be a "Sasuke likes hugs, Naruto likes hugs – they like to hug each other" thing, but of course, Elizabeth has overanalyzed the plot of everything she has ever written and went slightly crazy on this one too.

And I've always wanted to rewrite a scene from the show so that it goes the way I thought it should have, so I did.

So Invader-Nehima: I apologize. Deeply. And eternally. :bows:

Random Projects: o.O People keep telling me stuff like that, and I never know how to respond. :blushes:

Naash: -.- How I despise NejiTen.

Invader-Nehima: I don't think it's really a crack pairing – but it still weirds me out hardcore. -.- I don't, as a rule, write SasuNaru – most of my stuff is NaruSasu … but I made an exception and did that just for you.

Furuido: … That has to have been the greatest review I've ever gotten.

Book-manga-freak: It's a pairing I'm officially never writing again. Haha.

Porny: -.- I hate NaruHina and SasuSaku so very, very much. :considers suicide:

Yeah, I know FF dot net has been acting like such a loser lately:shakes fist:

Koiree: … I don't like the pairing either. -.- I just had to write it. And no, "anyways" is not a word.

Ihrtinu: … I want an Akamaru hat!

Ravensbff: It's pretty random coming from me since I never write it, but it's actually a pretty big pairing and in a way, one that works. I only wrote it because my sister (Furuido) and I were discussing random pairings we've come across and I made a comment about NejiLee, she made a comment about it working and then … I had to write it. -.-

Puffi the Insane: o.O Thank you! :huggles:

Silent Sage: I actually just read this one-shot again a moment ago, wondering why everyone freaked out about it … and I realized I quite like it. And I'm glad you do. Thank you very much; I really do appreciate the compliments. And if I ever decide to write another NejiLee, it will definitely be dedicated to you.

Embrace

One of the things few people knew about Uchiha Sasuke was that he loved hugs.

When his parents were alive, he wasn't able to leave his house, come home, wake up, go to sleep, or walk into or out of a room without his mother embracing him.

Naturally, after his clan was destroyed, he was averse to contact, avoided it because it was painful. When a person held him, the only thought running through his head was This is not my mother and he rebelled against the arms, shunning humanity because it thought it could replace his family.

Besides that, the only people who tried to touch him were girls that wanted him. Tackling someone when he's off guard does not qualify as a hug. So he began to detest any kind of physical affection.

But he really did long for it, though he rarely admitted it even to himself. He was jealously hateful toward people to whom love came naturally and openly. He wanted that, but was too proud to condemn himself to it.

That was Sasuke. That was his life.

And then there was Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto had never had family or friends to express love for. He was lonely, watching others with important people, wishing he had people he could hug as "Goodbye" or "Thank you" or "I love you." He wanted someone to care about.

The first person he ever hugged was Umino Iruka, who was much more like his father than his teacher. Iruka had embraced him without hesitation when he'd thrown himself, laughing joyfully, into his arms, so proud to be wearing his own forehead protector, the symbol that declared him shinobi.

That hug kept him from giving up.

That was Naruto and his life.

Now, when Sasuke and Naruto ended up on the same team, they were less than pleased. Sasuke didn't know why Naruto was so desperate for approval. Naruto couldn't understand how Sasuke had no friends when everyone wanted to be around him. They were immediately at odds, finding something wrong with the other at every given moment.

But while they were rivals, they were friends – forever watching each other's backs, praising one another even as they mocked. Each understood the life of the other because, while they were so different, there was no one more like either of them than the other.

Naruto loved Sasuke from the moment he accepted him as his teammate, fighting with him against Zabuza and proving that they were a perfect force – connected without or words or thoughts – just being. He was sure of him as a clear, defined figure in a world blurred by mist.

When they battled Haku, Naruto had no doubt that they could defeat him, because they were friends, and they were the perfect team and (of course) he was an optimist.

He never expected Sasuke to die. And at that, he'd never expected him to die for him.

And Sasuke was just as surprised that saving Naruto would ever be his motive for giving up his life. As he fell, the wind rushed through his ears as if whispered voices were laughing at him, and Naruto's voice cut through the maddening sound, wailing his name. He closed his eyes, expecting his head to meet a nice concrete pillow, but was captured in the cushion of Naruto's arms.

He found himself leaning into the embrace, vaguely recognizing the boyish smell that was completely Naruto, taking comfort in him in his last moments. His consciousness drifted to him and away, like the tide of a fickle sea. One moment, Naruto was holding him close, and he woke to hot tears and soft breath against his neck; then his cheek lay against the cool comfort of the pavement, and a voice that sounded like Naruto's was screaming, and Sasuke panicked internally, thinking he was in danger and then registering the rage, his body relaxing with relief back into slumber, thanking him for avenging him. The third time he woke, he felt alive again, not so much on the brink of eternity, and he remembered why he hated hugs as Sakura realized he was awake and tackled him, weeping happily.

She helped him to his feet and he broke away from her, vision still fuzzy, looking for his other teammate. He found the shock of blonde hair and stumbled toward it, wanting to call to him, to tell him he was alright.

Naruto turned at the sound of Sakura's joyful voice – his heart might have burst, a smile lighting on his lips.

Sasuke just stared at him for a moment, unsure of the tears on his cheeks, whether he was the cause – and if he was, was he happy about that?

But it didn't matter, nothing had ever mattered so much as what he needed to do right then. He ran to him – his legs like lead, his brain working in slow motion – and then he was clasping his arms around him, burying his face in the hair at his temple, and he forgot about the ache of his body, warming to the feel of being in Naruto's embrace as he whispered his name.

And that was the beginning. That was the start of Sasuke's demise.

Or – was it really a demise? He felt like he was becoming his mother.

Because now, Naruto couldn't leave his house, come home, wake up, go to sleep, or walk into or out of a room without Sasuke embracing him. Naruto certainly didn't mind, and Sasuke was getting so used to loving affection again that he didn't know what he'd do if he ever lost it.

Of course, Naruto promised – and showed – him everyday that he never would.