Read the sign.

A/N: Okay, guys, just so you know, late posts are not becoming a habit of mine. I had this written and ready to post on Tuesday, but was refusing to let me upload documents, and then on Wednesday, it was raining, so mu mooched connection was gone, and I couldn't connect at all. I'm sorry. Please forgive me? Anyways, thanks for reviewing. Today's tret is chocolate cheesecake muffins.

Lady Lemonade: You are currently my favorite person in the world, because you like AFI. I don't know anyone who likes AFI, and they all get mad at me when I play AFI around them. So, yeah. I currently love you! As for the praise for the chapter...thank you very much! I'm hoping to get rid of this writer's block soon, but it's not really working. So, this chappie is another product of Block of the Writer. –cries- Maybe I should write at two in the morning more often? Alas, I do not know. Anyways, I'm glad you liked the chapter, and here are some chocolate cheesecake muffins! (They taste more like cupcakes...) Plus, since you like AFI, you get cake! I hope you like.

Kyuubi-kun: Um, yes, I vote we kill his uncle too, but we're never really gonna see him again (at least I don't think we will) and when I do explain what's happened with the system, you'll see he's necessary. I'll do that within the next few chapters. Promise. Thanks for the review. Here are your chocolate cheesecake muffins!

AlterEthereal: Alrighty, I know I'm totally mean to Naruto. I'm sorry. I didn't start that chapter thinking I was going to be writing that, but it was late, late, late and I'd just had this deep conversation with my friend in England on IM, so I was in a pretty serious mood. Anyways, now that my story comments are done...Wow! Heart surgery. I really hope it goes well. Are you nervous? I would be like shaking in boots. Holy crap. There aren't any vital organs on the tail bone. Oh my. Good Luck. I hope everything goes well. Here are some chocolate cheesecake muffins, and as a good luck wish, I'll throw in a box of gourmet chocolate. Enjoy!

Shadow Eclipse: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing! Here are some chocolate cheesecake muffins for you.

YoungSasuke: I was hoping someone would like the Pizza guy, although you're the only one who said anything. I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and I know how it is with coming into the story really late and not reviewing the first billion chapters. Thanks for reviewing now. Here are some chocolate cheesecake muffins for you! Enjoy.

Narlover: That's high praise. I wouldn't say I'm the best, but I'm glad you think so! I'll have to listen to this song you've mentioned. Thanks for the rec! And thanks for the review. Here are some chocolate cheesecake muffins.

Hieisbestbuddy888: The reason you get the longest reviewer response thingy is because you leave the longest reviews! I love long reviews. Woo hoo! As for the confusion. It all makes sense now...when I think about it, it made sense before too. Hmmm... I feel a little out of it. Alas, I am currently trying to load this chapter and it's refusing to work. Oh dear. As for your tea spilling, I hope your computer is okay... I know mine would be very angry with me if I spilled tea on it. I'm glad you liked his answer, and I guess Sasuke's question was kind of predictable. Hmmm... I love Hiei/Yuusuke fics! I will have to read yours... yay! I must say, though, I have a little weak spot for Yuusuke/Koenma fics. They are very cute together. Hiei is my fav character in Yuu Yuu Hakusho, with the dragon thing! He's so awesome. Anyways, thanks for the long review! You get extra Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins.

There's one more person that I'll respond to next chapter...no time right now. Sorry Queen of the paper clips. I feel mean...

Okay, guys, thanks for all these reviews. Enjoy the chapter, even though it's short and stinky.

But Home Is Nowhere: Weak and Powerless

The pizza was good, better than pizza even had the right to be, and Naruto couldn't help but watch as Sasuke ate it. The cheese was going all over the place, dripping ff every slice, and Sasuke was nibbling delicately, licking his fingers every few seconds as he pulled off stray pieces of cheese to eat by themselves. It was a fascinating sight, he decided as Sasuke looked up at him quizzically.

"What?"

"Nothing. You just... Never mind." Naruto frowned. He just what? Why was Sasuke eating pizza so interesting? It wasn't. There was nothing special about the way Sasuke ate pizza. Nothing at all. It was completely normal, and boring, and Naruto was absolutely not still watching. Definitely not.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Okay, so maybe he was, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he was about to stop looking. Really, he was. "I dunno. You eat weird." Well, that was certainly the lamest excuse known to man. What the fuck was he thinking, and why the hell was he still staring at Sasuke. 'Holy shit. This is not that hard, Naruto. Just look down. Eat your own pizza. Quit staring!' He was silent, and his eyes were still pinned on Sasuke. 'Damn eyes.'

"What do you mean, 'I eat weird'?" Sasuke was giving him an incredulous look, his eyes narrow, and his face a half smile.

'Think Naruto. Think. Just say something.' "Uh..." 'Oh that was brilliant.' Naruto finally tore his eyes away, pinning them to his lap, where his plate sat. Sasuke was NOT that interesting. Especially not when he was eating pizza. Really. In fact, Sasuke should win the boring prize, for most boring pizza eater EVER. Yes, that's right. Completely not worth watching. Except that Naruto was now remembering Sasuke in his towel, with nothing else on. And now pizza seemed incredibly interesting. 'Oh shit. I am not thinking that Sasuke looks hot eating pizza. I am absolutely not.' He looked up. 'Oh fuck, I am.'

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Sasuke was supremely confused. Naruto looked terribly flustered, and for some reason, his eyes were darting all over the place. It really was quite odd, considering not moments before they'd been having an easy conversation. Then again, there was that whole Naruto just sat in Sasuke's lap crying for half an hour. That could be it. Sasuke shrugged to himself, deciding that was definitely it.

"Never mind. I can accept the fact that I eat weird." Sasuke smirked. Naruto looked relieved. It was cute. 'Wait. Not cute. Something other than cute. Something way on the other end of the spectrum of cute.' The blonde was now stuffing a piece of pizza in his mouth, his cheeks puffed out to make room. 'Okay, cute.' "And you say I eat weird?"

Naruto puffed up, looking indignant. He was chewing laboriously on his entire slice of pizza, but when he finished, Sasuke was given the pleasure of listening to the blonde defend himself. "I do not eat weird! I eat enthusiastically! You, eat weird, with all the nibbling and finger licking! You eat like a cat or something!" Naruto stuck his tongue out.

Sasuke reached across the couch and flicked the blonde's forehead. "At least I take bites." Naruto scowled in defeat, and there was a moment of silence. A moment.

"I'm full!" The blonde's finger had shot into the air almost triumphantly, and he was smiling again.

Sasuke smiled back. "Me too. Let's clean up, and then we can finish our English thing." Naruto nodded solemnly.

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He'd almost forgotten about the English assignment. Almost. He was rather dreading doing the rest of it, seeing as he'd already broken down once, and he hadn't even finished answering the first question. He was not looking forward to this at all.

They stood and carried the leftovers into the kitchen. Naruto stuck the boxes on a shelf in the fridge while Sasuke put the dishes in the dishwasher, and five minutes later, they were back in the living room, Sasuke waiting patiently for Naruto to continue his story. He took a deep breath. "Alright. I left of with the sex, right?"

Sasuke nodded. "Okay, it's a breeze from here. On my twelfth birthday, that was three years ago, my uncle decided that he no longer wanted anything to do with me. He knew he couldn't throw me out on the streets, and he was pretty wealthy, so he decided to put me up somewhere far, far away from him. He lives on the other side of the country and he likes it there, so he came here with me and put a down payment on this house. This is probably the one nice thing he's done in his life, even if it is illegal. He sends me a check each month to pay the bills, and then a little extra, so I can live like a normal person. In return, I don't tell the authorities about our arrangement, or his little drunk spells. I guess he probably chose here knowing that people would hate me, but I'm still grateful. At least I don't have to live with him, right?"

Sasuke nodded again, and Naruto wished he would talk. It was a few moments before his wish was granted. Sasuke reached across the couch and grabbed his hand. "Thanks for telling me all this." His voice was quiet and sincere. "I know you didn't have to." He smiled softly, and Naruto felt a little twinge in his stomach. It was nice, when Sasuke smiled at him like that.

"Yeah. No problem." He smiled back, and felt a slight pinch of disappointment when Sasuke let go of his hand, sitting back against his end of the couch.

"So, since you've spilled your heart to me, I guess it's your turn to ask a question."

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Naruto nodded slowly, drawing the notebook into his lap. "I've been trying to think of questions to ask you, but you're just such a mystery person."

Sasuke smiled at that. 'Mystery person, huh?' "Ask me anything. I promise I'll answer." He hoped his voice was reassuring.

"Alright. I guess I wanna know if there's an event in your life that has really shaped you into the person that you are today, and if there is, what was it?"

TBC...

A/N: Alrighty everybody, I know this is way short, and the crappiest chapter I've written so far, but I had to answer the question about Naruto and I had write about ho sexy Sasuke is, so you got this. I promise the next one will be better. Thanks for the patience with the crappiness, I've been really stumped. Hmph! The chapter title is a song by A Perfect Circle. Not mine.

Toodly Doodle.