Disclaimer: Naruto as always and forever does not belong to me. It belongs to its creator, Kishimoto Masashi, and the associated companies.
La/-/er- For once, I really am starting this when I said I would. Right after I finished the last chapter. As such, I've got nothing to say and review responses to write... yet!
Warning: There is an OC in this chapter. Except, she's not mine. Nope, she's the bastardized version of Seito's OC in her story Kagau Waku wa Hana no Shita ni te. The one named Seika. Why is she in here? Cuz she pissed me off. Seika, not Seito. Ya see, in our AIM conversations together, Seito tends to switch between herself speaking and her OCs/muses. So in my mind, Seika rather exists. Yes, you can ignore my insaneness now. Just wanted to warn you and disclaim Seika, even if she is bastardized in here. And if you haven't checked out Seito's story yet, I suggest you go and do it now. It's rather good. Funny. Or if you like Fullmetal Alchemist, forget the Naruto story, read her FMA/HP crossover named Yoake Mae: Fate and Destiny. It's brilliant, I tell you! Brilliant! It's like a brand new genius kind of work! Ahem, I'm done.
Review Responses: Since I still don't have a life, this time in alphabetical order!
:)- You're not really in the beginning or in the end, so I'll just stick you in the beginning cuz you deserve it. Yes, yes, I know, I know, them finding out and then doing their revenge is the best part. But please! Building up suspense and all that. That and I like to drag things out, lol. You find their initial reaction here. Half of it... And I don't like your preferences... because it just ruined everything for me... It was what I was planning on doing. Pooie. Ah, it's in the summary, I'm still sticking to it. But good thinking, it's perfect. The last part of your review, is being taken into consideration... :cackle:.
Aimi-chan- :sniffle: So many people likey ma storie. 's nice ppl too. Yes, I find the referring to future events very fun to do. They're like sneak previews, except more foreboding. :blink blink: I... well, if you wanna haunt me for eternity, I've got nothing against it, lol. And it's soon, it's the same day you reviewed. And I definitely will put more SasuNaru fluff. In the 5th chapter. :cackle: (Ah! You like KilluaxGon! Hug me:giggle:)
AnimeFreakPerson- That's all I'm really aiming for. I'll do the best I can to keep it up. And here's your update (hiding it in between coughs, tut tut, be brave! Shout it out! Lol) Thankies.
Aurum- Creativity is not needed for reviews, honesty is. As long as you keep on with honest comments, I'll love you forever. Lol, in the platonic way of course. I suspect many people liked the 2nd chapter more than the 1st. But I shall try to write as good, if not better than I have been. Managed to live? That doesn't sound very steady. School shouldn't do to much to me, but 's my "most important year" so teachers might get vicious. But I can always write on my way to school, so updates shouldn't slack off. It won't be like how it's been, but it won't decrease too much. Thanks for the compliments and comments. And thanks for reading my ramblings at the end, and commenting. :huggle:
Cookie6- Thanks. And don't worry, I'm not stopping until I've finished, even if it means I need to actually... :shudder: work at it. Hehe, they are cute, aren't they?
Dark Mimiru-Chan- Dear gawd... your review made me laugh hysterically for a long, long time. And I finally remember why I know you. You write great humor fics too:huggles: (every time I look back at your review, I laugh a little more)
evvy-You like the way this is going, eh? Thanks! And your review sounds like something out of the New York Times. 's not bad, sounds professional-like. Thank you for the compliments. I'll keep it up, don't worry 'bout me.
ghostninja85- :beaming grin: "Well written as always", that's a good compliment! Thankies! And I'm afraid my humor is starting to diminish as my perverted-ness rises. What do you mean "actually laugh"? I'm caught between being complimented and... I'll just stick with that. I do believe that's what you mean. You get half their reactions in this chapter. Lol, subliminal messaging. I don't think I really need it, but it helps. Keep it going! Anyway, thanks for reviewing everything:huggles hard: And I do believe updating hours after you review is soon.
izumi- It was such a great name, wasn't it? And life would definitely be easier. But also a bit boring. After all, a name like Target(tm) is quite unique and sticks in your mind doesn't it? If you babble what you feel after the chapter, I cannot ignore your feelings! Lol, but thanks for reviewing.
mystik-Glad you like the story. (tips imaginary hat) Half of their reaction is presented in this chapter. And updating in less than two days is rather good, doncha think?
Nanashi2- To tell the truth, your review was the thing that pushed me over the edge to start writing the damn thing. So pat yourself on the back for that. I try to update fast, cuz this one isn't supposed to be too long and I had a horrible updating schedule for my other multi-chap. I went a month without updating. No one seemed to care, but I did so... yeah. Hehe, glad you think it's cute, I can't seem to help myself when I write scenes with those two together. And Naruto smothering himself seemed like something he would do, accidentally of course. Glad you thought it was funny. What you wrote at the end there was love daisuke... Daisuki means I like (you) very much. And the reason why I know this so well is because of DNAngel, hehe. And you skitter a lot...
NightOwl123- :bows: Thankies for your comments and here's the next chapter!
RukaIayLomperGay- Hur? Confusing? Nani? Honestly K-chan, you need to get your mind out of the gutter! Think big picture! But yeah, you get everything but that for the next few chapters. And this one, although it's slightly milder here. (Mojojo? Power Puff girls? I shall commence to look at you weirdly)
Seito- You know, technically you didn't tell me what you thought about this chapter. But I'll take all the things your OCs said as a compliment. And yes, I'm continuing. Hurm... should I send you this chapter? ...nah. I didn't know when I first wrote this, but Seika's in here... as I said up there.
YaoiLoverS- Haha, I can tell what you thought was good about the first story. You read the title? I usually read the summary and I never find what the title is until I'm done reading. And the author. Cuz then I need to save the stories into my computer, lol. Don't worry, there are hidden perverts in all of us waiting to come out. I've a feeling there's more of that pervert in you. Yup, reactions in this chapter, and I should think that two days is a good update time.
:running tears: Thank you everyone. Never knew this would be quite so popular. Honestly, if I knew, I would've forced myself to start writing this sooner!
Delicious Revenge --- Chapter III --- The La/-/er
The Action and Reaction
It was a pleasant day in Konoha. As the people mingled in the streets, birds chirped and leaves rustled. A slightly cool breeze blew through the nooks and crannies of the village, banishing most of the oppressive heat that threatened to settle upon the town. Varying voices cried out through the streets, creating a nice blending of sounds along with the other sensations felt that day.
Shops opened up cheerfully, students went to their respective schools, parents went off to their jobs and those not belonging in the aforementioned categories did their own little peaceful things. But through it all, rumors flew from mouth to mouth, ear to ear, person to person, building to building. The rumor that was to set the style of the events of the village for the next few months.
(Ah, indeed, it is déjà-vu yet again. The only difference is...)
In an apartment somewhere in the village, Sasuke woke up slowly in the bed, wanting to relish in the feeling of a new mattress. Momentarily forgetting that there was another person in the bed, since it wasn't his new mattress, he did a little stretch and made a little noise.
A little noise that seemed to have an identity crisis as it seemed to be a cross between a whimper, a sigh, a moan, and something quite unidentifiable. But quite erotic.
Erotic indeed to the person next to him.
The male person next to him whose bed they both laid on.
The one who was now desperately trying to finish the job he subconsciously tried to do last night.
To suffocate himself so that these thoughts would get outof his mind!
When Naruto shuffled around to thrust his head into his pillow, Sasuke abruptly stopped stretching. Finally remembering that the bed he laid on was not his, he slowly got out and then continued to stretch.
Not noticing, or at least, seemingly not noticing Naruto's gaze upon him, he did his daily morning stretches. As he went through each one, somehow, it seemed to get more and more provocative. Each new stretch showing another fresh expanse of skin.
Another chance to glimpse the pale skin that stretched tautly over those smooth, slim muscles...
In an attempt to get Sasuke to stop stretching, Naruto turned over and pretended to start waking up. Having turned away to do so, he never saw the smirk that played on Sasuke's lips.
Giving a large, and quite an exaggerated yawn, Naruto sat up and rubbed the back of his hands across his eyes.
"Ne... what time is it?" Soon sinking into a real wake-up drowsiness, Naruto looked up at Sasuke blearily.
"It's 8 o'clock. I'm going to make breakfast, do you want any?" Sasuke's stomach grumbled a bit, as if needing to prove that he was making breakfast because he was hungry. And definitely not because he had already heard an initial grumble from Naruto.
Naruto brightened up slightly at the thought of food. He nodded eagerly, causing him to stop moments later when he started to get dizzy.
Chuckling slightly at his actions, Sasuke moved to the kitchen. There was a moment of silence before the sound of rummaging was heard.
"Naruto. You have... very little food in your refrigerator." There was an amused tone in Sasuke's voice, one that said that he may be amused... but he wasn't really.
The two boys must've spent too much time with each other because while anyone else would've simply taken his tone and statement at face front, Naruto donned a nervous look on his face.
"Um, yeah. I uh, forgot to go grocery shopping."
"Hn."
Padding softly back into the bedroom in a few steps, Sasuke bent down to retrieve the shirt he had taken off the night before.
Trying to control his 16 year-old hormones that were determined to point out Sasuke's attractive qualities, Naruto bounded out of bed with a skip in his step.
"Since I don't have any food in my kitchen, why don't we go out and eat ramen at Ichiraku?" Naruto suggested with a smile and an innocent expression.
In reply, Sasuke grimaced, before saying, "You may be able to live solely on ramen with the occasional venture into the other food groups, but I want to have a normal breakfast."
"Eh? But ramen is a normal breakfast." With a confused look on his face, Naruto walked over to his small built-in closet, "What else would you eat?"
Trying to decide if he was joking or was serious, Sasuke looked over to Naruto.
Naruto who was wearing a genuinely confused face... and nothing else.
Well, he still had his underwear on. (Boxers, in case you wanted to know.)
But other than that, Sasuke was able to see all the decimeters and centimeters and millimeters of Naruto's tanned skin. Distantly wondering how Naruto's skin was the same color all throughout, Sasuke had to shake his head in order to get himself to turn away from the sight.
And what a lovely sight it was.
(Oh, a question, you say? Ah, yes, yes, that question. Well, since 16 year-olds will forever be 16 year-olds, meaning that they are discovering their sexual preferences. They are also discovering their sexual orientation. (And yes, those are two different things.) As such, the two boys have already discovered that they are attracted to those of the same sex. Although one can say that the two are really only attracted to each other. You don't exactly see these two eyeballing anybody else. Maybe Gaara...)
Clearing his throat in yet another attempt to distract himself, he finally replied, "There's the eggs, bacon, ham, bread, and pancakes combination. There's the miso soup, rice and fish combination. And there's other stuff that don't include ramen."
"Really? The only times I don't eat ramen for breakfast are when Iruka takes me out to eat doughnuts." A wondering look fell upon Naruto's face, even while he dressed himself.
Meanwhile, Sasuke scrunched up his nose at the thought of eating doughnuts for breakfast. Why anyone would want to eat the sugary flour topped with frosting or filled with jam early in the morning was beyond him.
Finishing up his outfit, Naruto turned to Sasuke to say, "Well, since I haven't had a 'real breakfast' yet as you put it, why don't we go out, buy the things we need, and you can cook it when we get back?"
Contemplating on that solution, Sasuke gave a nod before smirking, "And how do you propose we pay for the food we need?"
Naruto's face fell as he realized that since the food they were going to buy were for him, he would need to pay for it all. And by what Sasuke had said, there was a lot of food to buy.
Almost anticipating the thoughts that would start running through Naruto's mind, Sasuke rolled his eyes a bit before continuing, "But since I am the one who wanted to have a real breakfast in the first place, I suppose it would only be right if I paid for the food. However, I expect you to pay me back sometime."
Naruto grinned at Sasuke, glad that he wouldn't have to spend his money on food that was not ramen. He grew excited; never having eaten a normal breakfast before, he couldn't wait to see what it would taste like.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't until the next few weeks were over.
It was a pity that our two boys were not clairvoyant, for if they were, they would've never went out to go grocery shopping. Together. On the day after yesterday. On the day when rumors were not rumors anymore, but truths.
---------
Not knowing what laid before them, the two sprinted to Sasuke's house to pick up more money before rushing back to the street they were at yesterday. Well, not that exact same street, but the street next to it, the one with all the food.
When they reached there, they didn't notice anything special at first. They continued to speak to each other and with Naruto's rather boisterous voice, most of the villagers heard their words.
(This is where we either shake our heads in pity for them, or rub our hands in glee for what they were about to experience.)
"So Sasuke, what are we going to eat today?" Naruto asked with an inquiring tone, one that also said 'I have no idea what's going on here, so tell me before I make a fool out of myself.'
Adding to the villagers' fu- thoughts, Sasuke seemed to know exactly what Naruto was not saying as he answered in a way that did not really fit the original question.
After all, who answers a question like that with an answer like this?
"Well, I was thinking that since miso soup and the fish might take some time to cook, we should eat the eggs, bacon, ham, bread, and pancakes combo. That means, obviously, we need eggs, meat, flour, sugar, syrup, and baking powder. We're also going to need oil." Sasuke said all of this easily, as if this was not the first time he had done this. 'This' as in dictate to Naruto what they needed to buy.
And as such, more thoughts were added to the villagers' questing minds.
"But won't the bread and pancakes take longer to cook than fish?" A confused look on his face said that he really didn't know what was going on.
"Usually, yes. But my... okaa-san taught me a way to cook them pretty fast." The hesitation in his words did not go unnoticed and the arm that Naruto swung around Sasuke's did not either.
As they walked to the stores that contained the food they needed, they managed to catch a few snatches of conversations.
"...so cute..."
"...why they didn't get together..."
"...shopping together..."
"...domestic bliss..."
"...arm around... reassuring..."
"...freaking hot..."
"...didn't need to hide..."
"...would've accepted..."
With each snatch of conversation, they bought a little more food. When they had all that they needed, they finally caught a full sentence that clued them in on who they were talking about... big time.
"Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun make such a cute couple, don't they?" (1)
The words drifted to the mentioned boys. The sound waves were received by their ear drums, translating the waves into coherent words.
And the two stood stock still.
For a second they could only stand there, but moments later, they continued walking, thinking, hoping, praying that they had heard wrong. Nevertheless, Naruto's arm slowly dropped from its position that it had been since they first entered the street.
Walking woodenly back to the beginning of the street, they tried to ignore all the whispers that were being... whispered around them and tried to speak normally. Soon though, their conversation turned.
"Um... Sasuke?"
Sasuke grunted, signaling that he had heard the boy, but refrained from saying anything.
"It's not just me, is it? I mean, they are acting weirdly around us, aren't they?"
A slight nod and Naruto continued, "And I wasn't imagining it when I heard them say... that, was I?"
Another shake of the head.
"Perhaps it would be best to get back quickly?" 'And ignore the comments being said.' were the unspoken words.
Unspoken because they were afraid that should they acknowledge the whispers, something would happen.
Unfortunately for the poor boys, something was to happen with or without their acknowledgement. It just turned out that it would be without, for moments after the two decided to calmly leave the street, a commotion started at the end of the street.
Word had spread through the streets that Sasuke and Naruto were shopping together. For food. For breakfast. And combined with the observation (because you can't really call it a rumor, it did happen after all), of the two going out last night to buy new sheets...
(Well, there was a reason why the last chapter was called 'A Nudge in the Wrong Direction'. As the two were about to find out right about... now.)
"Sasuke-kun! Naruto-kun!" A high-pitched voice screamed out. A high-pitched voice belonging to one white-haired, blue-eyed teenager. Well, she's five years older, so it's more like young adult.
Close to cringing, but not really, since she was one of the better fan girls, Sasuke and Naruto turned slowly around to meet the girl.
(If you were wondering why they didn't run, it's quite simple really. She would've caught up to them in a few seconds anyway. They needed to save their energy to confront her first. And speaking to her after you've ran a few miles non-stop at top speed is not a good idea.)
The running girl reached to where the two boys uncomfortably stood. They were in the middle of the street with a lot of people watching their every move.
"Ah, Seika-san, how may we help you?" Naruto was the one to address the girl as Sasuke seemed rather determined to keep his mouth shut. You'd think it would be Naruto whose mouth needed to be shut...
The girl, now named Seika, giggled before replying, "It's nothing, I just wanted to congratulate the two of you getting together. I always thought you guys were two-of-a-kind."
Sasuke, finally unable to keep his mouth shut, coolly said, "Excuse me Seika-san, but what exactly do you mean by that statement?"
Seika seemed to change personalities as she only smiled softly and said, "Oh, you guys don't have to worry and pretend anymore. We already know that the two of you are dating."
There was a twitch from one of the boys before both of them opened their mouths, "Dating!"
"Isn't that cute, the two of you are speaking at the same time. But yes, dating. We thought that you didn't want anyone to know, but we had to tell everyone so that you will see that you have our support."
"Your," there was another twitch, "Support?"
Seika nodded solemnly, "We understand that there are pressures in the two of you dating each other. Besides the fact that the two of you are male, you're also, well, you. But your fan clubs' presidents believed that it was best to inform the village so that you wouldn't have to hide anymore."
Seika was so enthralled in telling them of their support in them and other various things that she never noticed the two boys in front of her slowly grow more angry and confused. At the words of 'fan clubs' presidents', something seemed to have clicked and the two calmed down. Slightly.
Meanwhile, the white haired girl was still speaking, "...think it's great that you two got together. Speaking from a girl's point of view, I think it's so romantic how the two of you got hooked after years of rivalry and then friendship. And I have to admit, seeing the two of you together," here she blushed, "is kind of hot."
'Hot? What? The hell.' Were the thoughts running through the minds of the two 'dating' teenagers.
Restraining his temper, Sasuke calmly stopped the girl from rambling on any more and said, "I don't know where the two of them had gotten this information, but Naruto and I am not, were not, and never will be dating each other."
Naruto hesitated before adding in a soft, "Yeah, we haven't been dating and the chance that we will is close to nothing."
Glancing at Naruto peculiarly before turning back to Seika, he continued, "Seika-san, I would appreciate it if you would stop the rumors that are going around about our relationship."
Seika smiled at them, but it wasn't the smile that they wanted. It was a smile something along the lines off, 'I'll indulge you for now, but we all know what the truth is.' And right now, the truth was that the two were and are dating.
Before leaving the two in peace however, she added something that would make the two boys pause a bit.
"If you want others to think that you're really not dating, it might be best if you don't have sex when other people can hear. And if you guys don't go to buy new sheets right after. What else... oh yeah, and especially don't go out to buy breakfast food together the next morning."
With that, Seika laughed and left, trailing another comment behind her, "I still think you guys look hot together!"
She left the two boys standing in the middle of the street with rather interesting faces. A cross between incredulity, disbelief, anger, confusion, and oh yeah, embarrassment.
With burning faces, the two stalked back towards Naruto's apartment. Not really thinking that it wasn't the best place to go to, together. Especially after that scene. They walked there in silence, each one fuming in their own way; underlying thoughts ignored by both. The thoughts that said that it would be nice if those accusations were true.
--------
Reaching the home, the groceries were put in their appropriate places. When there was nothing left to do except for cooking the food and eating, the queasy stomachs present in both of them strongly protested.
Finding nothing else to do, they sat down abruptly at the kitchen table.
"Naruto..."
"I know. But what are we going to do! Everyone thinks that we're dating!" It seemed that the full implication of the words suddenly hit Naruto as he jerked out of his seat and paced the little space available for him to pace.
"Argh! And they thought we were... we were.."
"Having sex! Just say it" Sasuke, though anxious as well, could not help but smirk at Naruto's inability to speak about sex.
Seemingly hearing the smirk in his voice, as Naruto was not facing Sasuke, he whirled around and shouted.
"It's not funny! They think we were having sex! When would we have been having sex! We were busy all day with... the... bed."
"Oh no!" Naruto sat back down on the seat, burying his head in his arms.
"I told you it sounded like we were having sex." Sasuke said smugly, quite content to at least momentarily forget what was going on.
A muffled "Shut up" was heard before Naruto picked his head back up. "What are we going to do."
The dark haired boy sighed before speaking, "Well, the first thing we have to do is talk to Sakura and Hinata-chan. They were the ones who started it all, so we should go there."
There was a blank look on Naruto's face before he finally uttered a "What? Why them?"
Giving out a frustrated sigh, and wondering if sighing so much in such a short amount of time was healthy, Sasuke smacked Naruto before answering, "You idiot, didn't you hear what Seika-san said?"
"Um... yeah. Something about our fan clubs' presidents telling everyone. Eh! Sakura and Hinata are the presidents?"
Trying to contain yet another sigh that was yearning to come out, Sasuke merely nodded.
"That's why we need to find the two of them, and fast."
Naruto nodded before getting out of his seat and towards the door.
"We should eat first though. We didn't eat too much last night."
Naruto made a look and said, "I don't think I can eat anything right now. Maybe after we talk to Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan."
Sasuke gave a "Hmm" before getting out of his seat as well and out the door.
"They should still be at their houses, it's still early. Let's go."
With that the two sprinted toward the house of one Haruno Sakura.
Getting there, the two proceeded to drag her to their training clearing. Naruto left, then brought Hinata. Moments later, Sasuke left and brought Ino at the words of the two presidents. And then they began to talk... er, argue.
To Be Continued...
(1) Yes, it deserves bold and italics. And no, I don't know who said this.
La/-/er- This could've been longer. You know, if I put in the conversation between the three girls and the two boys. But then my next chapter would be empty-ish. Or it might be too long... Anyway, since this was supposed to be part of the last chapter, you'll have to accept this for now. And I update quickly too, a few hours earlier than I was supposed to. It's not Friday for another couple of hours or so, lol. But it's because everybody was so nice and reviewed so quickly.
So expect the next chapter Sunday. If I get a harder-to-beat laziness block before then (that's what happened with this chapter, 's why my written times stretch two days), I'll try to squeeze it out on Monday afternoon. I'll write on the train or something. After that, it's most likely the chapters will come once a week. Most likely.
Alright, that's it for now, review!
Written: 9/8/04 (5:58 p.m. to 9 something) - 9/9/04 (12-ish to 3:08:27 p.m.)
Edited: 11/15/04
Re-edited: 4/27/05