Disclaimer: Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn.

Chapter Two:

Naruto was still running.

If he had to guess, he'd say he had been running for at least a good hour now. He was planning on stopping, of course…just not yet. He had hit Sasuke without warning and, to Sasuke, without reason. Not a good thing. Naruto had realised the minute he hit Sasuke that the boy had had absolutely no intention of kissing him-but by that point it had been too late. Running seemed like his best option, well, it was an option and it's not that he was afraid of the other boy, no way! He just didn't want to have to explain his actions because, let's face it, what the hell would he say? 'Oh, sorry about that-I thought you were going to kiss me.' That didn't really seem to cut it. So here he was, still running.

Or maybe not.

Naruto smacked into something and rebounded off, landing hard on his back. Stunned, the blond boy lay where he'd landed, contemplating whether to get up and keep going or just lay there until someone dragged him away when a blurry face appeared above him.

"…Shikamaru?"

"Chi'. You're so troublesome," the darker-haired boy muttered, helping Naruto to his feet, "watch where you're going next time."

"Y-Yeah…" Naruto said distractedly, looking around for any signs of Sasuke.

"Oi," Shikamaru said, trying to get Naruto's attention as the blonde looked doggedly around himself, "what's wrong with you?"

"Wrong?" Naruto repeated in reply, his eyes finally resting on the other boy. "Err…nothing. Really. It's nothing. There's nothing wrong, why would there be anything wrong? Am I acting like there's something wrong? Cause there isn't anything wrong, I'm perfectly fine. Perfectly fine. Never been better; cause there's nothing wrong at all. It wasn't like I was running away or anything. Especially not from Sasuke, I'd never run away from Sasuke. You're talking about Sasuke a lot. What makes you think it has anything to do with Sasuke-it's got nothing to do with Sasuke. It's not like I punched him and ran away or anything, I didn't; and if I did it was only cause he was acting like a pervert while I was sleeping. In my head I mean, not really, but he could have been. I mean when I woke up and he forced his way into my apartment it was just like in my dream so I thought he was going to kiss me. That's logical, right? He was coming all close and everything so of course I had to punch him and it's really his fault cause he's the one that was kissing me in my dream so what was I supposed to do? Let him do it in real life too? So I had to punch him, and maybe that will teach him a lesson for following me around everywhere and he has to know it's that week this week, right? Okay, maybe he doesn't, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did and he's just stalking around messing with me and trying to kiss me. Oh man! What if he is trying to kiss me? What if my dream was a warning and he really was going to kiss me when I punched him. That means that no matter where I go to hide he'll follow me and I won't be able to get away from him and he'll kiss me anyway and… Shikamaru! You have to hide me!" Naruto suddenly grabbed Shikamaru's arms and shook him, "Sasuke's trying to steal my innocence!"

Shikamaru stared at Naruto flatly, his left eyebrow beginning to twitch slightly as he slowly pried the other boy off him. "So troublesome," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets as he deliberately stepped around Naruto and walked away.

"Hey!" Naruto yelled after him, "you asked!" he huffed indignantly.

After a few minutes of yelling obscenities after the lazy chuunin Naruto slowly began to make his way to the ramen stand, hoping to drown his sorrow in at least ten bowls of the stuff. Almost halfway there, Konoha's two biggest Sasuke lovers stopped the blond boy in his path. "S-Sakura…Ino…how's it going?" Naruto asked nervously.

Both girls looked at each other hatefully before turning back to him, "do you know where Sasuke-kun is?" they said in unison, staring at Naruto expectantly.

"W-Why would I know where he is? I-I mean, we're not even friends, we hate each other! What makes you think-"

"Naruto!" Sakura said loudly, eyeing the boy strangely, "you guys were supposed to train together this morning, baka. Now where is he?"

"Naruto-kun," Ino said sweetly, taking his hand in hers, "could you please tell me where I could find Sasuke-kun?"

"I-I…"

"Ino-pig!" Sakura fumed, watching the other girls' tactics, "Naruto, don't tell her anything! She's nothing but a…"

"So…have you seen him at all today?"

"…and she's not even close to being good enough for Sasuke-kun…"

"Did you two train today? Is he still there?" the blond girl said, trying to get a sign that Naruto was listening to her.

"…it's just sad that she keeps it up, after all, Sasuke would never go for her…"

"Or has he gone home already?" Ino continued, struggling to keep the sweetness in her voice as Sakura continued her rant.

"…not even in a million years," Sakura laughed suddenly, "he's more likely to marry Naruto then stupid, ugly Ino-pig!"

Naruto snapped out of his stupor at that and turned to the pink-haired girl, "I don't know where Sasuke is, I haven't seen him today, I don't care where he is and I hope I never have to see him again!" Naruto yelled, turning around and running in the opposite direction.

It took Naruto until he was at least five blocks away to realise he was running in the wrong direction. Away from ramen.

He slowed to a stop, trying to catch his breath, and sighed. Why was it always about Sasuke? He turned around and stared wistfully in the direction of the ramen stand. Why did everything have to happen to him? There were plenty of girls, not to mention quite a few boys that would be more than happy to be in his situation.

Slowly, Naruto began to drag his feet forward. He was incredibly hungry and if he got to Ichiraku's within the next hour or two Iruka would be there.

"Free ramen…" Naruto all but drooled, picking up his pace.

"Naruto-kun!" shouted an unbelievingly happy voice from his right before he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug.

"F-fuzzy-eyebrows…" Naruto managed to choke out, clawing at the other boys back, "c-could you…loosen y-your grip…"

"OH!" the black-haired boy let go immediately, "sorry, sorry…I'm just so happy to see you! You've been away for a while and I missed you terribly!" Lee declared, striking a pose.

"Ah…t-thanks." Naruto said, stepping back slightly. "So…er… Are you off to train?" Naruto asked suddenly, trying to change the subject.

"Well actually, I was looking for Sasuke-kun…"

Naruto froze.

"…we had a match before he left and I lost. But I've been training since you guys left and now I'm sure I can win!" he finished strongly, fire burning in his eyes as he looked off into the middle distance.

Naruto started to back away.

"Naruto-kun?" Lee said, coming back to himself as he noticed the other boy inching anyway, "where are you going?"

"I-I'm…"

"Are you going to see Sasuke-kun?"

"No!"

"Oh…do you know where he-"

Lee's voice was cut off as Naruto speed away, only to speed by again when he realised he had run in the wrong direction. Again.

"Argh…" Naruto leaned heavily against the wall of the random alley in had run into, his breathing laboured.

The idiot was chasing him!

"Damn it!" he cursed, looking around the alley; it figures he'd run into this one, it was a dead end.

Naruto listened closely for any sounds that Lee was close before he cautiously stepped back out on to the street, staring intently back the way he had come for any sign of the other boy. When his intent search revealed the coast was clear, Naruto finally sighed and turned around, intending to walk the other way, thankfully towards the ramen stand-

-and slammed straight into someone, knocking them both to the ground.

Instantly Naruto was desperately struggling to his feet, a single mantra going through his head. Please don't be Sasuke! Please don't be Sasuke! Please don't be Sasuke!

"You idiot! Watch where the hell you're going!" the admonition was accompanied by a low voiced growl and, having managed to get himself onto his hands-and-knees, Naruto found himself nose-to-nose with Akamaru.

Kiba. Phew.

Relief flooded through the blonde as he scrambled the rest of the way to his feet-the last thing he would have wanted at that moment was to have crashed headlong into Sasuke.

"Sorry, Kiba," Naruto said distractedly, brushing his pants off, "wasn't looking. Seeya!" Next stop, Ramen.

"Hey!" Naruto had managed three steps before his left leg refused to move, being held back by Akamaru's teeth firmly gripping the leg of his pants, "where are you going in such a hurry?" Kiba demanded.

"Ramen," Naruto said shortly, tugging at his pants leg.

Kiba frowned at him, "again? Don't you eat anything else?"

"No," Naruto tugged a little harder on his pants, trying to shake Akamaru off.

"Seriously, man, that's no good for you," Kiba leaned back against the wall behind him and glared at Naruto, waiting for some kind of response. When he didn't get one, his eyes narrowed and he stood back up straight. "What's got into you today? You're never this quiet, you've been spending too much time around Uchiha; you're beginning to act like him."

Naruto stopped fighting with Akamaru for the possession of his pants leg immediately as his head snapped up and he glared at Kiba. "N-no, I'm not! No I haven't! I'm not like Sasuke! I'm never around him. I hardly ever see him!" he lifted his arm and pointed at the other boy furiously, "you take that back!"

"What?" Kiba stared at Naruto as if he'd grown an extra head, perhaps one with tentacles and an extra-large nose, "what the hell are you talking about, you two are always together."

"No, we're not! No we're not! You think I'd hang around with that bastard? Never! I only do cause I have too, for missions and training!"

Kiba crossed his arms over his chest, "Which is always. All. Ways."

"It is not!" Naruto's voice had grown a little high pitched and he was now gripping his hands at his sides in frustration. How could Kiba say he was always with Sasuke? He was barely ever with Sasuke. Never, except for missions and training and the occasional free bowl of ramen! All of his free time was spent blissfully Sasuke-free…when he had free time that is. When he wasn't on missions…or training… "Ahhh!" Naruto suddenly lifted his arm again and stabbed his finger in Kiba's direction, "you're trying to trick me! I never hang around with that guy so stop talking about him!" and with that Naruto jerked his pants leg free of Akamaru's now loose grip and stomped off down the road, his annoyance demonstrated in every step he took.

Damn Kiba. He was the fifth one to talk about Sasuke today, on the one day he really didn't want to talk about him. Not that he normally wanted to talk about him, because he didn't, ever. Naruto didn't even like thinking about that bastard; especially not today, or tomorrow or for any day this week. Not until he had gotten through this week without a single kiss with Sasuke. Then maybe he'd think about him-not that he'd want too, or wanted to now either. There was absolutely no reason why he should think about Sasuke. None at all.

"Then why the hell am I still thinking about him!" Naruto had stopped dead in the centre of the street as he shouted this and people were now beginning to walk carefully around him, shooting him reproachful glances as they went.

Naruto glared back at the people skirting around him sourly and then turned to face the direction of the ramen stand for what felt like the umpteenth time and resolutely set forth back on his quest for breakfast.

Naruto had run further from the ramen stand then he had originally thought and he had been walking for more than twenty minutes now trying to navigate his way there, preferably without running into anyone. Sasuke.

He determinedly quickened his pace as he marched towards Ichiraku's, all he wanted to do was sit down and have a nice bowl of ramen-hopefully provided by Iruka. Free ramen always tasted better and as luck would have it, said mentioned teacher sat blowing cool air over his newly delivered ramen, the steam clearly visible from where Naruto now stood, halfway down the street from the Ramen stand.

Naruto was at Iruka's side in an instant, a friendly arm slung around his shoulder as he all but drooled over his teacher's meal. Iruka paused, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "Hello, Naruto," the brown-haired man said pleasantly, already resigned to his fate, "would you like some ramen?"

Naruto grinned, all thoughts of Sasuke, kissing and the fact it was that week disappearing from his mind as he slipped into the seat beside Iruka, digging into the bowl of ramen that was almost immediately placed in front of him; the old ramen guy obviously knowing the drill just as well as Iruka.

Naruto was through his first and second bowls of ramen and ordering his third by the time he slowed down a little; pausing in between bites to cast Iruka a contented grin and a word of thanks for the meal.

"So," Iruka began, setting his chopsticks down across his empty bowl. "You and Sasuke seem to be getting along better these days…"

Sasuke. Again.

Naruto's head snapped around to stare at Iruka with an expression close to horror. He'd thought he was safe! Here, of all places, he'd thought he wouldn't have to hear about that guy-and from Iruka to top it all off.

It took a moment before the shock wore off, and that was only because he suddenly realised that he'd just poured the dregs of his ramen down his front when he had turned his head away from the bowl.

"Ahhh!" Naruto dropped the bowl on to the counter and leapt out of his stool, "why…why…why is it always about him!" He yelled before doing an about face and stomping away from the ramen stand.

"Was it something I said?" Iruka asked himself as he watched Naruto's retreating figure disappear into the crowded street, his expression perplexed.

The Gods must hate me, Naruto thought as he continued to stomp down the street, not really heading in any particular direction. If one more person mentioned Sasuke to him today, he would-

"Yo!"

Oh no. No. He didn't need to turn around to know who was behind him; years of hearing that exact same greeting nearly every morning had instilled the knowledge within him and without even thinking about it he picked up his pace, seconds later diving into a full on sprint.

…Was it just him or was he going nowhere fast?

Slowly Naruto craned his head around, struggling to look over his shoulder and find out what had so suddenly stopped his rapid movement.

"Hello, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said dully, abruptly stopping all movement and wilting in place. There was no getting away now. Obviously the second he had heard the dreaded 'Yo' it had been too late.

"Hello, Naruto!" Kakashi said, his voice laced with something that could only be an overwhelming joy in the face of Naruto's pain.

Naruto struggled for a moment, his feet kicking in the air a few inches above the ground, before Kakashi finally let go of Naruto's shirt, causing the blonde to fall to the ground.

Picking himself up, Naruto turned to glare at his teacher, "what do you want?"

"Want?" Kakashi repeated innocently, his gaze turning lazily to survey the buildings around them with apparent interest.

Naruto stared at the silver-haired man flatly, clearly not in the mood for his games.

Kakashi turned his attention back to Naruto and his one visible eye turned upwards as he smiled behind his mask, "guard duty. Six till midnight at the sector three gate," he said and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"EHHHH!"

"Stupid Kakashi…" Naruto muttered for the millionth time as he walked into his apartment. After Kakashi had left he had decided to come home, thinking a good nap was what he needed if he was going to be up half the night, only to remember why he had been out so long in the first place. After thirty minutes of staking out his own home, Naruto had come to the conclusion that Sasuke was definitely not waiting around to kill him and had finally climbed out of his hiding place and slunk into the building; his only desire to get to bed.

…And then he remembered he was covered in the dregs of his lunch. He may have loved ramen but he certainly didn't want to go around smelling like the stuff-he was in desperate need of a shower.

It was a good twenty minutes later before Naruto finally stepped into his bedroom and, yawning, pulled on clean clothes before hopping into bed; falling asleep within seconds.

Naruto woke up a good fifteen minutes before he had to report for guard duty…yet he still ended up being ten minutes late. Why you might ask? Well…he had to make sure, absolutely sure, that Sasuke wasn't about to ambush him in the middle of the street, didn't he?

"You're late," stated one of the guards when Naruto finally did arrive in a less than enthusiastic rush, "you were supposed to be here at six o'clock."

"Hehehe…" Naruto laughed uneasily, "well…I'm here now!"

"Hn. We'll be leaving then," was his answer and the two guards leaped onto the roof of a nearby store and then off into the night, disappearing almost instantly.

Naruto gaped after them for a moment before he managed to do anything; and that was to suddenly start waving his arms after the men and to yell, "Wait! Where's my partner?"

"Right here, dobe."

Naruto instantly went still. No. Not him. Anyone but him! He hadn't even realised there was anyone here, there probably wasn't; he was just so paranoid that he was hearing things. That's right-he was hearing things. Still, even if he were hearing things, that still left him without a partner for guard duty.

Scowling, the blonde spun on his heel, intending to walk over to the gates he was meant to be guarding and came face-to-face with none other that Sasuke.

Damnit! He hadn't been hearing things…or maybe he was seeing things too. He looked closely at the irritated boy, nope. The guy was really here.

"S-Sasuke, what are you doing here?"

Slowly, his gaze fixed on Naruto intently, Sasuke raised one black eyebrow and the blonde was suddenly reminded of something he'd learnt back at the academy. Predators could sense your fear.

"Guard duty, baka," Sasuke said after a long moment and then, to Naruto's immense relief, looked away from him and turned to walk over to the gates.

"R-really...?" Naruto asked through the lump in his throat, desperately hoping that Sasuke was just messing with him. After all, this was where…was where it had happened in the third year of their tradition. Not this exact spot but close enough; in fact, in Naruto's opinion, it was too close, far too close. "Y-you have guard duty here? Right here?" Maybe, just maybe, Sasuke had gotten the location wrong.

Sasuke paused as he reached the gates and looked back over his shoulder, the look he directed at Naruto clearing saying 'I am extremely pissed off right now. Stop being an idiot or I'll kill you'. "Yes." Sasuke said, very precisely, and then dismissed Naruto from his gaze again as he settled down next to the gates.

"…Oh," Naruto swallowed slowly and gradually, staying as far away from the other boy as he could without looking like he was trying to run away and made his way over to the gate near Sasuke, resigning himself to a nervous night.

This was all Kakashi's fault Naruto decided, for this…his teacher was definitely going to pay. Naruto spent the first hour of the watch alternately dreaming up ways he could get back at Kakashi and casting sidelong, uneasy glances in Sasuke's direction; the former offering him a welcome escape from his situation and the latter causing him to get jumpier and jumpier each time he did it.

For some reason Sasuke hadn't reacted yet. Naruto had expected something more than a fierce glare when he saw the black-haired boy next and the fact that Sasuke was simply ignoring him and concentrating on guarding was throwing Naruto off slightly. What was Sasuke thinking? Did he have something planned for revenge? Was he just biding his time? If so, what for? If the situation had been reversed, Naruto certainly wouldn't have waited so long to retaliate, why-

His thoughts cut off suddenly as his attention was abruptly pulled to the right by a soft rustling coming from the bushes.

Naruto's eyes went wide and he found himself unconsciously scuttling in Sasuke's direction, before he realised just what it was he was doing and began to scuttle back the other way. Holding himself tense, Naruto ignored the feeling of Sasuke's eyes boring into the side of his head and glared off to the right, into the bushes. Rabbits. Damned rabbits. This was just like the last time, but oh no… "…Not falling for it this time. Nice try, bunny, but I'm not doing it. I won't go anywhere near him! I win!" Ha! That's right, he wins. Not the rabbits-not this time! There would be no accidental kiss this time! "Stupid rabbits-probably planned it. I bet they did, I bet it's the same rabbit, out for another shot. Well I showed it, didn't I-"

"…Naruto."

"-won't be making me do anything I don't want too. The amazing Naruto does not lose to bunnies."

"Damnit. Naruto!"

The sound came from directly next to Naruto's head and not only managed to get the blonde's attention, but also caused him to half scramble to his feet, his back hard up against the wall behind him as he stared around wildly. His eyes landed on Sasuke, meeting the other boy's annoyed gaze as he slowly climbed to his feet from where he'd been crouching next to Naruto.

"S-Sasuke?"

"What's wrong with you?" Sasuke demanded again, taking a step closer to Naruto.

"Wrong?" Naruto automatically took a step backwards as Sasuke came far to close for comfort, the left side of his back scraping against the wall as he moved. "N-nothings wrong. W-why do you think anything's wrong. Nothing's wrong," this was it. Sasuke was finally going to kill him.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he took another step closer to Naruto, effectively cutting off Naruto's route of escape, "stop acting stupider than you already are, Naruto!"

"I-I'm not…I…" Naruto looked around wildly trying to find some way out of the situation he'd somehow landed in. At this rate he'd have to explain to Sasuke what was going on and that was not an option. Not under any circumstances…but there was no way out. Sasuke was standing between him and freedom, and behind him the wall was more than effectively solid.

"Naruto…" Sasuke began, his voice almost growling the word.

"Everything is fine!" Naruto more yelled than said and started gathering chakra into his hand, figuring a solid punch would get Sasuke out of his way long enough for him to escape, "would you just leave me alone!"

"Naru-" Sasuke paused and suddenly grabbed at Naruto's hand, forcing it back against the wall next to the blonde's head. "Naruto! What the hell is-"

Naruto cut him off, "L-let me go!" Sasuke was getting far to close. Far to close. "I-I said let me go…pervert!"

Sasuke stopped mid-sentence and stared at Naruto in complete shock at the word.

"Pervert!" Naruto yelled again and yanked his hand out of Sasuke's suddenly lax grip, "Get away from m-"

"S-Sasuke-kun…"

Naruto went completely still, his eyes moving reluctantly to look over Sasuke's shoulder and into the darkening street beyond the gate he and Sasuke were supposed to be diligently guarding. Oh no-

Sakura.

"S-Sasuke-kun? W-what…what's going on?" The girl asked, taking a small step closer to them, her eyes wide with confusion.

Sasuke made no answer and it was then that Naruto noticed that Sasuke hadn't moved an inch, his eyes unfocused as he stared blankly at the wall. Naruto twitched, had he even noticed Sakura was there?

"D-damn it, Bastard. Get off me!" Naruto growled, pushing Sasuke hard and quickly moving away from him. Stupid bastard. Sasuke had caused this…he could deal with it.

Not bothering to look back, Naruto took the opportunity to escape and ran straight passed Sakura and down the street. He was going to go home, lock his doors, and this time nothing was making him come out until this week was well and truly over.

End Chapter