July 13th

This whole, 'pretend it isn't me' thing is actually a lot harder than I previously thought it would be...

I gave Naruto some rather lovely gifts, even a bouquet of yellow roses and several small passages or poems with each one. There were three gifts in total. The roses, a box of rather expensive chocolates, and a plushie I noticed Naruto looking at for the past month or so.

I don't know much about the plushie, it's a character from some anime that he and Sakura obsess over, but he was practically glowing when he saw it in the display window. The character was male so that raised my confidence.

Maybe I have a chance after all?

Anyway it was kind of embarrassing how everything happened, I'm almost ashamed of myself for not sensing him, but I came up with a pretty impressive lie in the end...

:: Flash Back ::

Sasuke stared at the door in somewhat dread. Should he leave them at the doorstep, then leave for an hour and come back? What if someone found the gifts first and decided to run off with them?

He let out a breath and with a shaky hand he raised it to rap softly on the door- only to come in contact with very smooth, damp, and hard flesh. He looked up and stared into two equally shocked pairs of eyes, and then his gaze drifted back down to his clenched fist, still connected to the rather nicely sculpted chest.

He almost started drooling then, thinking that that orange jacket of Naruto's hid a lot of him than it should be allowed to...

"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" Blue eyes took in the flowers that the ebony-haired boy had in a death clutch and stared at him in confusion, "And what's with the flowers?"

"I don't know, you tell me." Sasuke drawled in a bored manner, he was silently handing himself an actors award for his outstanding performance yet in his mind, "I just came here to check up on you and saw these lying on your doorstep. Not telling me something?"

Naruto glared at his sarcastic comment and then took the flowers from his grip handling them gently. He stooped down to pick up the two remaining wrapped gifts and Sasuke was subjected to seeing that small towel wrapped around his small waist ride higher with the effort. Not like Sasuke was complaining of course...

Naruto began walking back into the small apartment, leaving the door open. Sasuke knew this was the blonde's way of saying "If you still want to, come in, but either way you're closing the door".

After Sasuke had taken off his sandals he found Naruto sitting on the rather old looking couch in his kitchen/dinning room/ living room. The blonde was examining the gifts carefully, most likely checking for traps. Sasuke felt anger swell in him at the thought, because it wouldn't surprise him if some of the villagers tried that when the blonde was young and very innocent.

He knew about Naruto's secret. After discovering his feelings the protégé wanted to know everything about his obsession, and he found some things he would have rather not known.

He refocused on the blonde's actions and his hentai side squealed when he realized the blonde had not changed from his rather skimpy looking towel. His other side was giggling childishly at how Naruto was very careful with the gifts after he found no threat to them.

The Kitsune peeled the wrapping paper off very gently, making sure to cause no tears in it, and after he removed the paper he folded it carefully and set it down beside him. He opened the box of chocolates and his eyes widened in amazement. Somehow Sasuke knew Naruto knew just how much was spent on this chocolate. It was foreign chocolate that was soft and creamy to the taste and nearly melted in your mouth as soon as it came in contact with the tongue.

He opened the lid and the small note flooded to the floor. He watched Naruto with hidden anticipation as the blonde read over the simple sentences. They weren't poetry, but they were his opinion. He didn't need to ask Naruto what it said, he did after all write it himself.

"I give to you a gift for a loved one.

Though these chocolates won't do much for you,

You're sweet enough already."

He couldn't help but remember how all day he felt those lines were so corny. He still did, but seeing Naruto's sky blue eyes soften and mist with happiness, he suddenly felt so proud. Like he had won the greatest prize an individual could be given.

Sasuke smirked like a smug cat, enjoying his choice of gifts, though thinking back on it, he should have been very glad Naruto hadn't looked up at him at that time, or his cover would have surely been blown then.

Naruto reached for the bigger gift, and once again the process of unwrapping and folding the wrapping paper started. Naruto opened the small box lid only to find the box filled with Styrofoam popcorn. The Kitsune pouted at this and then fished out his prize.

Sasuke swore he would never forget the emotions that flitted across his love's face. First was confusion, probably wondering what it was. Then anger, 'why would someone give me a doll?!'. Then recognition, 'wait a minute this looks familiar...'. Then hope, 'please let this be what I think it is!'. Then the utmost happiness...

"Woo-Hoo!! It is! It is!" The genki boy shouted.

Now Sasuke didn't really know what he purchased for his crush, so he couldn't help but voice his question; "Is what?"

Naruto then glided over to him, healthy as ever, and shoved the blonde plushie right up close. "It's the Sanzo plushie I've been dying to get!" Naruto sang.

"Sanzo plushie?" Sasuke asked confused.

Naruto stared at him with wide eyes, his face contorted in the utmost shocked horror. "Sanzo! As in Sanzo from Saiyuki!"

Sasuke's face must have given him away, because he still didn't understand. Naruto sighed and looked at him with disappointment. Sasuke actually felt left out, judging from Naruto's reaction towards this Sanzo character, the two of them could have hour-long conversations about this 'Saiyuki'.

"Saiyuki is this new manga that came out, they just started making the anime for it. I can't wait till it comes out on video, I want it so bad." Naruto let out a laugh, "Sakura likes Saiyuki too! She said I'd have to beat her to them first."

Sasuke let out a small chuckle causing Naruto to freeze. Sasuke realized then that Naruto never heard him laugh before. He wondered if Naruto maybe felt honored to hear him laugh, or if he just felt indifferent.

"Sakura's favorite character is Hakkai, she says he 'reminds her of herself'. I actually like Sanzo much better."

"Ah. I could see that." Sasuke smirked at the blush that spread across the others face. "Well. Maybe I should read this manga sometime, it sounds interesting."

Naruto laughed, and then turned and ran to his room. The Uchiha boy nearly pouted when five minutes later the blonde came out fully clothed. But before he even had a chance several books were shoved under his nose.

"Here you can borrow them. Just make sure that you take good care of them. I don't get much money, so when I buy something I want my moneys worth." Naruto explained.

Sasuke took the mangas from Naruto gently, he didn't really know why, but he felt so... proud of himself that Naruto trusted him with something he obviously loved greatly.

He hadn't realized until he was out in the hallway that Naruto escorted him out of his apartment, he couldn't help but ask; "Why do you like Sanzo so much?"

The blonde shrugged his shoulders and answered as he closed the door, "Because he reminds me of someone I really admire. He's funny and serious and he's very sexy too..."

But then that could have been just his imagination talking...

:: End Flash Back ::

I never did get a chance to see how Naruto would react to the notes for the other two gifts. They were pretty simple though.

The one I had attached to the roses said:

The yellow rose symbolizes everlasting friendship and happiness and growing care. These roses are perfect for you Naruto. You may not realize it, but you have a friend in me, your happiness is a vibrant color, and I am proud to say I care about you.

The one for the plushie said:

I always see this catches your eye,
It makes me want to burn it,
Makes me want to cry,
Because I'd love you to look at me,
With those passionate eyes of yours.
And I'd love to get the hugs and kisses,
You'd give to this special toy,
But I have a question...
Would you willing hug and kiss this boy?

I admit the last one, kind of gives away a clue. Now Naruto knows it's a male attracted to him, but will he figure out it's me?

I like these gift ideas Sakura suggested, maybe I'll use them again sometime. The reactions I get from Naruto are too cute to pass up.

Well I'll leave for now, Naruto told Sakura he'd be at training tomorrow, so I want to get plenty of sleep so I can wake up early and not be grumpy...

I'm not a morning person. U.U

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Thanks for the reviews; though it would be nice if I could receive more, I don't exactly like to continue a fic that nobody really cares for...

laughs I kinda made Sasuke perverted, and there will be more perversion in later chapters like I mentioned in the previous chapter. Sasuke is a growing boy, he just hit the ripe age of puberty, it's normal and to be expected for him to act horny... glances away

Japanese Terms Used:

Sensei – Teacher, instructor etc.

Hentai – Pervert/Perversion

Kitsune – Fox

Genki – Energetic/Hyper

Plushie – Stuffed toy

Manga – Japanese comic book (graphic novel)

Saiyuki – awesome manga! Saiyuki has to be one of my favorites; I just love it so much! Why did I choose Saiyuki? Well, hopefully it will be obvious in later chapters .