Hey everybody...I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so nothing witty to say. The characters aren't mine, so please don't sue.
A/N: If you care, and since I feel like whining, I had surgery three times this summer, and I thought the incision had finally healed, but today it went all psycho painful on me. I had to go home from school early, but I still plan on giving you a chapter! (Today is Thursday, but I won't be able to post till tomorrow, Friday...no internet. TT) Sorry if this chapter sucks, I'm typing lying down, and it's kind of difficult. (That's also why it's short) Thanks for bearing with the pathetic AN. And now that I'm done whining, I'll thank my lovely reviewers.
KShindou25: I'm glad you liked it! I really have never thought my writing is very good, because it's broing to me. If I try to read something I write I'm just like, blah, blah, blah, because I've already written it, so, yeah. It's nice to hear that people enjoy my style. Thanks so much for your review. Here is a pan of tasty chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy!
Yugi-obsessed: I'm glad you liked. I'm not sure if I meant for it to be cute, but I think it turned out a bi on the cute side. Thanks for reviewing, here are some fresh baked brownies.
Hieisbestbuddy888: I'm glad you think you did well on your Latin test. I never feel that way after mine, although this year, I haven't really had a chance to take one yet, because I've been missing so much school! Oh well, I guess I'll have to do it eventually. I don't know why Sasuke dresses weird, but I have grown quite fond of his clothes. ;) Thanks for the review. Here, is a cookie cake for you!
ewon: I am completely in love with Uchiha brothers! I completely agree abou the drop dead gorgeousness, and Naruto is indeed supposed to be cute and huggable. I'm glad you enjoyed this/these chapter(s). I can't remembered what I've given you, so sorry if you've already gotten a sno-cone stand. (I don't think that was you!) I hope you enjoy, and if you don't, you can sell it and make lots of imaginary money!
animecutie101: I'm so glad you like it! I love it when people like my story. So, I don't think there'll be many cliffies in my story, so, yeah. Thanks for reviewing, here's a fresh baked pan of lemon squares.
Juu: I'm glad someones hapy about the slow development, I'm sure having trouble with it! I might have Sakura star being nice. Or maybe not. I'm glad you like this chapter, thanks for reviewing. I now bestow upon you a lifetime supply of chocolate!
Danya2: I'm glad you liked it, and I hope this update is soon enough! I know I already gave someone lemon squares, but I'm having trouble being creative with the treats today. Thanks for reviewing. Enjoy your lemon squares!
Kyuubi-kun: Hey! I'm glad you like it, and I can understand what you're saying, even if you feel incoherent. I hate politics, even if I know next to nothing about them. I still hate them. As your treat, I am giving you a chocolate cheesecake with whipped cream. Enjoy!
But Home Is Nowhere...: No Real Distance Here To Mention
Sasuke smiled. It was just like Naruto to introduce his house as "humble abode". For a moment, he stood still, taking in the long hallway that ran all the way to the back of the house, with a kitchen and living room branching off of either side, or two doors further down. It was small, but nice, and Sasuke found himself feeling quite at home already. It wasn't until he heard a soft, "So what d'ya think?" that he realized he hadn't said anything.
"It's great," he replied, his smile brightening as Naruto's face lit up.
"Well, there isn't much to it, but if you like, I can give you a tour." Sasuke nodded and Naruto beamed. The blonde led him down the hall and into the kitchen. "This, as you can see is the kitchen. That," he pointed to the refrigerator. "Is the fridge." His hand moved as he spoke, pointing to various objects. "The oven. The microwave, the Ramen cabinet, the Cereal cabinet, the silverware drawer, the pots and pans cabinet, the cups cabinet, and the dishes cabinet." Sasuke paid close attention, figuring this information could come in handy later, and the blonde crossed to the other side of the room, motioning for Sasuke to follow.
After a few steps, Naruto stopped. "This lovely branch is the Laundry room, where all of the washing of clothes is done. And that lovely appliance there is known as my dishwasher." Sasuke smiled at his antics, and nodded as if fascinated. It was almost cute the way the other boy was expanding his tour to include every aspect possible, undoubtedly trying to make up for the lack of size of his house. Naruto turned to him once again, continuing,
"Now, if you'll follow me, we will continue on to the living area." He sounded like he was giving a tour of a museum. Sasuke laughed. They walked across the hall and into a relatively large open room, with soft grey carpeting, a dark blue sofa, a love seat, a TV, a lamp, a large sound system, for racks of CDs, and a coffee table. Naruto pointed each of the objects out, explaining what their use was, and why they were in the room, and then asking Sasuke to follow him once again.
He stopped a few feet down the hallway, in front of one of the doors and said sagely, "I hope you're ready for this. It is one of he most interesting parts of the house." Sasuke nodded as a signal that he was ready, and Naruto flung the door open with a flourish. "This! Is the hall closet, house of all cleaning supplies including the Vacuum, the mop, the broom, the dustpan, and, most importantly, the dust buster."
Sasuke laughed again at the dramatic tone Naruto was using. He sounded as if he'd just discovered some remnants of an extinct species never known to man before. "Oh yes. This is definitely the most interesting thing I've seen in quite a while. Quite amazing, really. I commend you, Mr. Uzumaki." Naruto beamed once again as he closed the door. There was only one room left, and Sasuke had to assume it was the blonde's bedroom, and hopefully, bathroom.
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Naruto was relieved beyond imagination that Sasuke seemed to like his house, and was playing along with his tour. There was only one room left, though, and it was the most important one. His room. His sanctuary. The place that no one other than him had seen for more than six years. He was a little scared Sasuke would scoff at him when he saw the peeling paint and posters with tattered corners, or his old bright orange comforter(1). He paused a moment before opening the door, taking a deep breath and looking at Sasuke seriously. "This is my room." The other boy smiled at him, and he opened the door slowly, walking in and spreading his arms, as if Sasuke wouldn't see it if he didn't make the gesture.
Sasuke was silent for a moment, a quiet look on his face, and then he smiled again, his face lighting up, "It's just like I thought it would be. I like it." Naruto wouldn't say it, but at that point, he felt a wave of relief flood through him, saturating his every pore. Someone liked his room. Sasuke liked his room. 'Thank God.'
"The bathroom is in there," he said gesturing to the open door. "Do you wanna go get your stuff from the hall?"
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Sasuke nodded and left the room, returning a moment later with his duffel bag. He dropped it on the floor next to the door. He looked around the room once again, smiling. It really did seem to suit Naruto. There was black paint on the walls, peeling slightly, and there were multiple posters of various bands including Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, AFI, and His Infernal Majesty. He had wood floors, just like in the kitchen, and orange sheets. His room was fairly neat, except for the unmade bed, and there were a few books and spirals scattered across the floor. It just seemed like a homey room to him.
Suddenly, Naruto hugged him. He was a little confused, but hugged him back anyways. After a short moment, the blonde pulled away, and Sasuke gave him a confused look, asking, "What was that for?"
"I remembered I wanted to hug you earlier." Sasuke just smiled, shaking his head. The blonde continued talking, unfazed, "So! What do you want to do?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I dunno. Anything's good." Naruto nodded, placing his fingers on his chin, and striking a "Thinker" pose for moment.
"We could watch a movie?"
Sasuke though that was an okay idea. "Sure." He followed Naruto back into the living room, and they then proceeded to have a twenty minute discussion over who should pick the movie. Naruto kept saying that he was the guest, so he should pick, and Sasuke finally just gave in.
"So! What are you in the mood for? Horror? Comedy? Romance? Action? Independent? Drama?" Naruto looked at him expectantly, and he thought for a moment before answering.
"How about Independent."
Naruto smiled and said cheerfully, "I was hoping you would say that. I've only got a few, but they're good ones." He searched through his DVDs until he came to the ones he was looking for. "I have American History X, The City Of The Lost Children, that's in French, Gothic, and Beautiful Thing. (2)"
"You have Beautiful Thing too?" Sasuke was shocked. He didn't really expect Naruto to own anything like that, because, really, what straight guy owns a movie about two gay boys? Naruto just gave him a 'duh' look and said quietly,
"Yeah. It's a good movie."
"I agree. I was just surprised is all."
Naruto just nodded and moved on, "So, what do you want to watch?"
Sasuke thought for a moment longer and decided on American History X. He'd heard it was one of those movies that everyone has to see once before they die, and he had yet to do so. "How about American History X." (3)
"Good choice!" Naruto put the other four back on the shelf and opened the box, sticking the DVD in the player. "Hey, do want something to eat?"
"Sure. I'm kinda hungry now that you mention it." They walked into the kitchen as the DVD loaded, and Naruto opened what he had called the "cereal cabinet". Inside there was box of Lucky Charms, a Box of Frosted Flakes, a box of Popcorn, and a few different bags of chips.
"Popcorn okay?" Naruto looked over his shoulder, and upon seeing him nod, stood on tip toe to reach for the popcorn, which was on the top shelf. It took a few minutes to pop, and then the blonde poured it into a large bowl. "Do you like butter and salt?"
"Yeah, but I can do either way if you don't."
Naruto looked as if he'd just spoken some sort of horrible blasphemy. "Me? Not like butter and salt? I was only asking to be polite. Wouldn't want you to have a heart attack or something." He smiled slightly, and Sasuke found himself amused once again, thinking of what an odd character Naruto was.
"Alright then, put as much as you like on it. My goal is to one day become a very successful plus size model, if my metabolism will every let me." For a moment Naruto just stared at him, processing the joke, and then he burst out laughing. He bent over and clutched his side, and Sasuke found himself wondering if what he'd said was all THAT funny.
"You!" Naruto was gasping now. "Fat!" He cracked up again, and collapsed to his knees. Sasuke smirked.
"What? You can't see me as obese? Really? I thought I would be able to pull it off pretty well." Naruto was crying now, clutching his stomach, and screaming.
"Holy crap. Ow, oh my god, ow. I think I'm gonna die." He was still laughing as he said this, but obviously in pain. He was seriously crying now, too, and Sasuke quickly knelt beside him, grabbing his arm.
"Hey, breathe. Just breathe." Naruto was gasping hard, still clutching his stomach with one arm, the other hand holding on to Sasuke's shoulder. "Slow down. Breathe slowly. Deep breaths." Naruto looked like he was concentrating hard on maintaining a rhythm, and after five minutes, he was back to normal. Sasuke frowned at him. "Jesus Christ you scared me! Don't DO that."
Naruto just smiled at him. "I haven't laughed that hard since, ever. Remind me never to imagine you being fat again." He stood slowly, rubbing his stomach, and grabbing the salt. "As I recall, this entire thing started with us putting salt and butter on the popcorn?" Sasuke nodded, and Naruto upended the salt bottle into the popcorn.
Sasuke went to the fridge and grabbed the butter, he then went to the dish cabinet and grabbed a bowl, lobbing a large hunk of the stuff into it. He stuck the bowl in the microwave, and nuked it until it was completely melted, pouring it generously across the popcorn. This done, they retreated back into the living room and settle on either end of the couch, the popcorn between them. It was five o'clock by the time they started the movie.
TBC...
A/N: Okay, I'm not sure if I hate this chapter or not. I find that I'm not very good at writing dialogues, so it was easier at the beginning of the story when they were doing more thinking. Now, though, they have to talk, and I think I'm screwing it up. Oh well, I'll blame it on being sick. Thanks for reading.
-Farewell To You-
ISAN
1. I can't remember if I've already said his sheets were a different color, so, if I have, they're actually orange, and I just didn't realize it yet.
2. Okay, these are all movies I've seen on the independent film channel, so, yeah. If you want to know about any of them, email me. My address is in my profile. And, of course, if you know what these are about, I know Naruto probably wouldn't own them, but my Naruto will.
3. I love this movie! It's absolutely incredible. If you haven't seen it, you really need to. It so good.
Oh yeah, the Chapter title is from "Feel So Near" by Dougie McLain(sp?), it's off my Celtic tides CD