Lily: sorry i haven't updated this in awhile. i was stuck in a major rut and wasn't even sure if i wanted to finish this story, but then i remembered all the wonderful reviews that i had gotten. by the way, this chapter is dedicated to Firedraygon97, one of my most favorite fans! i hope you enjoy your Kakashi plushie. I love all my darling reviewers! *hugs reviewers and all the gifts they gave her*

Unfinished Solo Duet
Chapter Five
I don't wanna swim the ocean

To Sasuke's surprise, he was actually impatient. He wanted the next two days to be over and done with. He was too excited to sleep, but not sleeping just made the days even longer. It was with great relief that Sasuke opened the door at seven o'clock, not that he let it show. Kakashi smiled under his mask.

He was wearing his usual clothes, but Sasuke had actually changed from his usual clothes for something of the winter equivalent. He wore a pair of black pants and a long sleeved, high collared shirt that was such a dark blue you could hardly tell it apart from the pants.

said Kakashi nonchalantly, you ready to go?
Sasuke answered in his normal, emotionless tone. Kakashi might have frowned under his mask, but Sasuke couldn't tell.
The two began to walk to the igloo. The snow that covered the ground turned to slush under their feet, soaked into their shoes and froze their toes.

Sasuke never really noticed the weather. He was always cold. He, himself, didn't feel cold, but when people touched him, which was a very rare occurrence, they often remarked on how cold he felt. This didn't matter to Sasuke, it didn't seem to affect him in any direct way, so why should it matter?

The igloo was monstrous, Sasuke couldn't help but be a little admiring of it. On the inside families had set up folding chairs, or laid pieces of plywood on the damp ground and covered them with blankets. Stands were set up around the perimeter of the igloo, selling food or gifts, there were even a few fire works stands.
Some hailed Kakashi and Sasuke,
Oy! Over here!
Obviously, it was Naruto. He sat on one of the blanket covered planks, wearing an oversized orange down vest and snuggling up as close to the furiously blushing Iruka as possible. Sakura was also sitting on the blanket, she had Lee's head in her lap and was coming her fingers through his thick green hair. Kakashi and Sasuke headed over to the blanket and sat down. Sasuke sat by Lee's feet with Kakashi next to him.

What took you so long? said Naruto with a grin.
Nothing, idiot, said Sasuke blandly.
Feh, fine be that way, Sasuke. Big eyebrows over there was just-
Sakura smacked Naruto.
Naruto! Don't insult my boy friend, if you do, I'll insult yours. Sakura raised an eyebrow and glanced in Iruka's direction.
Eh. Sorry, Sakura-chan,
You better be.
Now, now, said Kakashi, putting his hands on the two fighting shinobi's heads, the whole point of this gathering is to be together with friends and family, he paused for a moment, thinking, ... and to get so extremely drunk that when you wake up you won't remember what happened!
said Iruka sounding annoyed, You can't let them have alcohol!
Hey, they're old enough to have sex, so I say they're old enough to drink.
You are so...
Awesome? Cool? A great sensei?
... immoral.
I'm hurt.
Naruto interrupted, Iruka, could I get some ramen?
Naruto, you just had ramen!
I know, but look they have a ramen stand right over there.

Naruto played his ace. He made the saddest face he could, flung his arms around Iruka's waist and buried his face in his chest.

Oh, all right, sighed Iruka, handing Naruto some money. Naruto grinned like crazy and ran off. Kakashi sniggered,
You are such a push over.
Hey, you try resisting him when he does the puppy dog thing.

While Sasuke was watching this, the ghost of a smile playing across his face, Sakura leaned over and whispered in his ear,
So, which one do you think is uke?
said Sasuke looking surprised.
I mean Naruto and Iruka. Which one do you think is the uke?
Yeah, added Lee, by the way Iruka blushes, I'd say it was him, but that would just be odd... he trailed off and went back to gazing adoringly at Sakura who giggled and fiddled with the hair that hung over his ears.

Naruto came back and sat down, clutching a bowl of ramen to his chest. Wreathes of humid mist rose from it curling in the cold air. Naruto sighed,
I love you,
Thank you, said Iruka, beaming.
Um... I meant the ramen, but I love you too. he kissed Iruka on the cheek.

Sasuke suppressed a smile. Kakashi was actually right, this was sort of fun. Just sitting with friends and talking about random things, it all had an oddly out of body feeling to it, as if Sasuke weren't really there. One of those moments where the whole world feels a little too hazy, because if it weren't you wouldn't be able to handle the sheer joy of living in that moment.

Kakashi leaned back and watched Sasuke. The boy actually looked happy. The corner of his mouth kept twitching, trying to stretch into a smile, but something was keeping it from doing so. Kakashi reached out a hand to tap Sasuke on the shoulder, his fingers accidentally brushing the boy's graceful neck. Kakashi jerked his hand back and Sasuke twitched.
said Kakashi, Sasuke, you're freezing!
I don't feel cold.
I'm serious, feel him Iruka, he feels like ice.
Iruka put a hand on Sasuke's forehead.
Gah! You're right! It's like sticking your hand on an ice cube!
Sasuke was slightly flustered. Two people had just touched him in succession. People rarely touched him unless he was fighting them. This contact caused an odd sensation, especially when Kakashi brushed his neck.
Lemme see, interrupted Naruto, clapping a hand to Sasuke's face, Waah! Frost bite!
You serious? Sakura pressed the palm of her hand to Sasuke's forehead and Lee put his hand alongside hers.
Man, Sasuke, he exclaimed, aren't you cold? I would be.
Sasuke leaned back, hunching his shoulders around his ears, painfully aware of the flush that was creeping across his ears and cheeks.
S- stop that. I'm not cold. I feel fine. I could say that you all are just overly warm.
muttered Naruto as he slurped his ramen and snuggled up to Iruka.

Kakashi tried not to laugh. It was entertaining to see Sasuke get embarrassed. The little glow of pink that crept across his features, they way his eyes widened, his mouth dropped a little as he breathed heavily and he impulsively scooted backwards. It was a cute sight. It was odd to describe Sasuke as cute, seeing how he was more along the lines of beautiful, but when he showed such an uncharacteristic emotion, that's what he was.

There was a sound of air hissing, a bang and then the first firework went off. An explosion of color, refracted and broken in to millions of glittering snow flakes, caught in the mirrors of the ice. Sasuke, Kakashi, Iruka, Naruto, Sakura and Lee all watched as explosion after explosion took place, reflected in their eyes, in their hearts. Emotion. Move me. This horrible build up until I reach the top. I can't stand this level of emotion anymore, it's just too much. Let me burst and fall, I know you'll be there when I can take it.

Sasuke remembered the night before his parents died. His mother, father, Itachi and himself had been sitting under the same dome of ice. Sasuke had been curled up next to Itachi, his head resting on his beloved brother's ribs, liking the warmth and care that filled him when Itachi was near. But when Sasuke looked up into Itachi's eyes, he didn't see a reflection of the star bursts in the sky. He saw bleak pools of despair, black holes.

Sasuke looked around him. Iruka had his arms wrapped around Naruto's small frame. Lee was sitting up, his spine nestled in the curve of Sakura's stomach, her chin resting on his head. Kakashi sat with his knees pulled up, his cloth covered chin resting on top of them. All, even the indefinable Kakashi, had the glisten and spangle of fireworks written in their eyes. Sasuke knew that if he looked into a mirror at that moment, he would see an exact duplicate of the darkness he had seen in Itachi's eyes.

He wanted this emotion, this caring, this love. But he couldn't have it. He was broken, under his wall of ice, he was cold. Frost caked his wounds, froze his blood and bit into his skin. He wanted warmth, but he couldn't have it. Sasuke was an avenger, a shinobi. An avenger doesn't need love, only fulfillment of his task. A shinobi doesn't need care, he is solitary, fending for himself.

Only Kakashi noticed when Sasuke got up from the blanket and walked away from the sparkling castle of ice, so similar to the boy's heart.