A/N: Whee! Chapter 35. One would really think a 34 chapter story would be longer than 87 pages, wouldn't you? Haha. That's me and my short chapters. Oh well. I'm sorry if this chapter sucks, I've been really busy lately and I'm going in to have surgery on Thursday, so I wrote this really quickly so I would have an update before then. There probably won't be an update for another two weeks once I've had my surgery, but I promise one right when I get back to school. Thanks for your patience. The next chapter will either be the last or second to last chapter, and then there will be an epilogue, and then it'll all be over! Haha! With this thought in mind, I'll thank you lovely reviewers. I know I usually include people who haven't gotten to this chapter yet, but today I'm looking at the list for chapter 34 reviews, so I'll probably leave a few people out. Sorry. Today's treat is French Toast with whatever your favorite topping is.

sasuke-4ever: Hmmm…I could've sworn you'd reviewed before…Maybe you have. Oh well. I suppose it doesn't really matter. I never mind late reviews, because in my mind, a review is a review, and it doesn't matter if it's late! Haha. I'm so glad you like the story. Thanks so much for the review. Here's your French toast.

hogo-chan: Hey, you're review showed up twice! Wonder why that is. I suppose it doesn't really matter. It just boosts my numbers, and then my ego. Haha. I'm so glad you like my fic, and I'm glad you like all the sappiness! Thanks for reviewing! Here is your French Toast.

Half-Devil: Hah! I can't tell you who's going to ruin it, because that would give away the story! Nice try though. Haha. Glad you thought it was cute. Thanks for the review. Here is your French Toast.

tracy-kins: I'm glad you reviewed! And I'm glad your not ashamed to like my story. Just so you know, EVERY SINGLE REVIEW makes a difference to me. It's really special when people totally get me and make my day though! Haha. I actually meant for the café to sound clean, but grunge and angst is a neat idea too. So, yes! Japanese vampire lair it is! Woo Hoo! If you do draw it, I would love to see the picture. Haha. That Blue Lotus sounds very neat. is having immature thoughts Yay, Blue Lotus! As for the orchids, thanks for the info. I really had no idea what I was talking about. I just knew they were extremely delicate and took lots of care, ect, ect. I think you might have one of my favorite reviews this time, if only for the fact that you called Sasuke "the ice princess". I laughed for at least ten minutes straight when I read that. I really needed something to make me smile too. I didn't describe the orchid I was talking about exactly accurately, but I think it was pretty close, and I posted a link to it in my profile, so go there if you haven't already. And now that I've written and entire paragraph of sentences that have no connection whatsoever to each other, I think I'll give you a whopping plate of French Toast and leave you be. Thanks for reviewing!

Kyuubi-kun: Daaaaaaaamn. Yours was my second exceedingly long review in a row. Haha. I posted a link to the picture of the orchid in my profile, so go there if you haven't already seen it. And I'm glad you liked the picture of Naruto in the Sailor Skirt, because I thought it was absolutely Kawaii. I'm so jealous of you and your snow, the coldest it's gotten here is forty or something, except for one freak night when it was 27, but there was still no snow. I hate Texas. I actually didn't think of Bert and Ernie until I'd already posted the chapter, and then, I was like, "Oh man. I named him Ernie" and I burst out laughing. Hee Hee. I'm glad you liked him. Thanks so much for the review. Here is your French Toast.

Momochi Zabuza: I can definitely see how you would put Sasuke in the skirt, because, come on…drools But, I thought that picture was pretty awesome too. I like them BOTH in skirts. Hee Hee. I guess that's kind of weird for a straight chick. But I guess on my list of "people I'd go gay for" I'd just have to put a bunch of cross-dressers. Haha. Oh well. I'm kind of sad this fic is coming to an end too, I've been working on it for the better part of a year now (even id I didn't post in the beginning). Oh well. I'm glad you liked the fluff. I love writing fluff. Haha. Thanks so much for the review. Here is your French Toast!

Hieisbestbuddy: I'm glad I could brighten up your day a little with my disgusting amounts of fluff. Why was it the most depressing day of the year? I'm really wondering now. I'm sorry about your head. I know how that goes, my stomach has been in full revolt against anything and everything that is available to me for eating for the past month, and my tail bone (where all my surgery has been and is going to be) is always in pain. Haha. Whoops! I just dumped on you. Sorry. I don't mind short reviews, I'm just glad to hear from you. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your French Toast and a hug to make you feel better.

YoungSasuke: Yay! I love sushi! I guess you knew that already, though. Haha. Thanks for the sushi. I posted the link to that flower in my profile, though your parents' anniversary has probably already passed, but if it hasn't, it's there! I like that little skit you wrote there. It was quite nice. Hee Hee. Thanks so much for the review. Here is your French Toast. Enjoy!

Red Rose: Thanks for the info about the orchid. I posted a link to the one I was describing in my profile if you want to see it, and it was, indeed, very tropical looking. Haha. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your French Toast.

Ever13: Hee Hee. I posted al link already, if you haven't seen it, now you know. Haha. I'm glad to know you don't mind short chapters, 'cause this one is pretty short too, and written in a hurry. Haha. I'm glad you like the fluff. I like the fluff too. It's so much fun to write. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your French Toast.

Macy: I'm glad you liked the fluff. I absolutely died with happiness while I was writing it, because I have a secret love of sap and fluff. It's good to know I made someone else smile as much as I made myself smile. Hee Hee. Thanks so much for the review! You know I love you for it! Haha. Here's your French Toast.

Rini Rika: Yay! I'm glad you like it. I'm enjoying feeding everyone's cuteness cravings. Fluff is so much fun to write. I'm having a field day. Anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your French Toast. Enjoy!

Sahira-Chan: Sorry about the shortness, and I hate to say, they're probably all going to be pretty short from here on out, and this one's going to be written really quickly. Sorry. And I made you wait two weeks. I'm so bad. Thanks for the review. Here is your French Toast. Enjoy!

AlterEthereal: Well, you've once again caught on to exactly what I was going for this chapter. I've been describing the way I would hope being in love would feel this entire time (not that I would actually know), and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this stuff is totally romantic. Haha. I'm gald you liked the way I described the flowers. I was actually worried that it sounded stupid, but at least I know one person thought it was good. Yay! Thanks so much for your review. Here is French Toast! And…uhh…a hug, because you're special!

Suffer boy!: Um, I think it's safe to assume there is going to be some extreme suffering for them, and that is a promise. I can't however tell you that this story will be going on for much longer. I know exactly what's going to happen and there're only a few chapters left. Sorry. Haha. Now I just have to actually WRITE the chapters. Thanks for the review and suggestions. I'll make sure to take all of these comments that I'm totally ignoring right now into consideration for my next fic! Here is your French Toast.

Shadow Eclipse: I think I'm actually going to be okay now, because I don't have any D's anymore, and as long as I didn't bomb my Physics final today and don't bomb my Latin final tomorrow, it should stay that way. Thanks for the concern, and patience with my extreme slowness. Here is your French Toast.

Yaoilover S: I'm glad you liked it. I know it was kind of corny, and an orchid is a little weird, but I love orchids, and, well, I was feeling corny. Hee Hee. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your French Toast. Enjoy!

Queen of the Paperclips: Umm…I can't say they'll be getting any action in THIS story, but maybe to make up for it, I'll put lots of EXTRA action into my next fic. Haha. I'm glad you like my OC's, because I was kind of afraid I was doing something absolutely terrible by adding them (I know it's very easy to screw up the OC thing). I did indeed enjoy the urban ninja mix, and all the other awesome pics on the site, and I thank you for the link, and the review! Here is your French Toast.

Momo-Sama: Yay! I love AFI. I always enjoy finding out when other people like the bands I do, especially when I'm obsessed with them like I am AFI. Hee Hee. As for the other comment…uh…yeah. Maybe in the next story. I do love reading Itachi as the wonderful bastard that he is, but I couldn't fit it into this story if I tried. Haha. Thanks for reviewing! Here is your French Toast.

Okay, that's everyone. I'm so sorry for making you all wait TWO WEEKS for this short, poorly written chapter, but here it is, since I won't be able to update after today for two to three weeks. Thanks for the patience. Before we start, if you didn't catch on already, I POSTED A LINK TO THE PIC OF THE ORCHID FROM LAST CHAPTER IN MY PROFILE! Alright. Now we can continue. Here is chapter 35!

But Home Is Nowhere…: You're Silver Grin

At the time, kissing Naruto had seemed like an excellent idea. After all, they had been standing on the street corner, Naruto smiling brilliantly and cradling his newly acquired orchid gently in his arms, and Sasuke with an arm slung lightly around the blonde's waist. Of course, the thought hadn't occurred to him until Naruto began gushing thanks for the flower, multiple expressions of gratitude falling from his lips at once, but when it did, it had seemed like the thing to do. Naruto didn't need to be thanking him. He deserved the flower. He deserved more than the flower. He deserved the world. And so, Sasuke had leaned down slightly and pressed his lips against Naruto's smiling inwardly at the surprised pause in speech before he felt a small pressure returned.

And then, it became clear, that while it had been quite a nice feeling kissing Naruto, it had been a very bad idea to do so without first checking to see if there was anyone watching, because, as it were, when they parted, a scream like no other was heard piercing the air followed by the sight of a very offended, very flustered looking girl. Of course, it only took Sasuke a moment to recognize her as the girl he'd decided would make a nice friend and then to give a confused, "Sakura?"

Simply put, Sakura had been in no shape to speak at that moment, and Sasuke nearly grimaced as a series of unintelligible syllables came pouring from her preceding a slightly awed, "Why him? Of all people?"

Naruto was silent as Sasuke answered, "Why the hell not?"

"Well, because he's…" she trailed off, exhaling loudly and making an odd gesture with her hand. "What the fuck would possess you to kiss a-a-a creep like him? I knew you were gay, but come on Sasuke, you could have anyone you want. Why sink to his level?"

Naruto was crying now, albeit silently, and Sasuke couldn't help but bristle. Stepping forward, he brought his hand hard across her cheek, with enough force that it was sure to leave a bruise, and then yelled, "What the fuck would possess you to think you're above him? Where the hell do you get off saying things like that about someone you don't even know! And why the fuck do you insist on blaming him for something that he had no control over? For God's sake Sakura, can really walk around thinking like that and still believe you have a right to judge anyone? I thought you were different than everyone else, that maybe you had some class, or maybe even a heart, but apparently I was wrong." With this, he paused for a moment, making a conscious effort to calm himself, ignoring the dozens of stares his screaming had attracted. When he'd finally managed to regain control of his breathing, he spoke again, his voice nothing more than a venomous whisper, "How can you stand to let yourself live? If I were you, I'd have killed myself years ago." (1)

She was crying now, a look of utter shock on her face, and her hands clenched in fists at her side. She was about to retort, but Sasuke chose to ignore anything she might've said, turning back to Naruto. The blonde was shaking slightly, twin trails of tears on his face, and his fingers white on the vase of the orchid, careful not to hurt the flower itself. Sasuke placed a gentle hand on his cheek, wiping away a few fresh tears and saying, "Don't listen to anything she has to say, Naruto. She's wrong. You're above everyone whose ever hurt you. Hell, you're above everyone, period."

The blonde's eyes were wide, filled with a painful sort of innocence that Sasuke had trouble deciphering and his voice trembled when he spoke. "No one's ever bothered defending me, Sasuke. No one's ever bought me flowers, or taken me to breakfast, or known my favorite color, or let me teach them how to make crepes. Hell, no one's ever let me give them a fake tour of my sad little house." He was whispering, his tone an odd cocktail of melancholy and joy, a bittersweet smile on his face. "I guess the whole point is that you're so kind to me I have no idea what to do with myself." Sasuke was trying to think of something to say in response, but Naruto continued speaking, "Anyways, thank you." He took a small breath. "And, I love you."

Sasuke's heart for the thousandth time since he'd met this boy, and a small smile made it's way to his eyes. "I love you too."

For a moment, they just stood there silent, and it seemed as if the entire block had frozen, the only sound the faint trill of a piano coming from a small shop across the street. And then Naruto smiled and shifted the flower to his side, standing up on the balls of his feet and pressing a kiss into Sasuke's mouth. (2) It was short and chaste, but when they parted, Sasuke felt like he suddenly had a life. And the words, "I never thought it would matter so much to me if someone said that to me," coming from Naruto's mouth only made the feeling increase.

He was alive now.

TBC…

I know! I know! It's only a page, but I promise, the next one will be long! It's a garuntee. I didn't really feel like writing this today (though I do kinda like it), but I knew I hadn't updated in two weeks and I wouldn't get a chance to for another two weeks after this, so I felt obligated. I hope you liked what little was there. You all seem to like the fluff, and you all seem to hate Sakura, so I think I satisfied that pretty well in this short little piece. We finally had the confession, too. I've been implying it all along, but they never actually said it. (Or did they? That would be really embarrassing if they did and I don't remember. Haha. If so, please inform me and I will spend due time being ashamed of myself.) I hope you guys like it. I kinda do. (It feeds my secret desire for MORE FLUFF!) Chappie title is from "Mouth" by Bush, and is not mine. That's all for now!

Bring That Booty to The Ground! Bring That Big Butt Down!

ISAN

1. Alright, I know this isn't the smartest rant ever, but I really couldn't think of anything extremely hurtful to say, so imagine that this is a really terrible insult, alright? Thanks.

2. I feel like I'm the only person in the world who uses the terms "pressing a kiss INTO someone's mouth", but I am really wuite fond of that wording. Is it weird?