And the Beat Goes On
Chapter 4: Dance to the Music
"Hey, Hinata."
Hyuuga Hinata glanced up from her book, having heard someone call her name. For a fraction of a second, she thought she'd been imagining things again. And then she saw him.
Naruto smiled brightly at her and she felt her limbs go mushy. "H-hi Naruto," she stammered, twisting a lock of her dark hair about her index finger nervously. She could feel the colour rising to her cheeks.
The blond seemed oblivious to this and continued. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the dance with me on Friday."
Hinata felt ready to faint. Was this really happening? How could it be true that Uzumaki Naruto, the boy of her dreams, had finally noticed her and was going to ask her to the dance!
So overcome with emotion she was that she could barely stammer an answer, which really made no difference to anyone else. "Y-yes! I-I'd like that a-a lot, N-naruto!"
He smiled broadly in return and she swore her knees were knocking. "Great!" he exclaimed. "I'll see you Friday then!"
He turned to go, glancing back and giving her a little wave. She waved back shyly after a moment's hesitation. He left the library. She sighed and hugged her book to her chest. "Oh, Naruto. . ."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sakura and Ino were sitting together at one of the cafeteria tables, talking about one of many miscellaneous topics that girls talked about. They shut up instantly, however, noticing a certain dark-haired boy walk into the cafeteria.
Immediately, they started whispering. Ino glanced at Sakura. "Do you think he's already asked someone to the dance?"
Sakura glared back. "I hope not! I doubt he's going at all."
Ino held her friend's gaze. "But, if he was going to, who do you think he'd ask?"
Sakura shrugged. Ino glanced back at the object of their affections. "Oh, look Sakura! He's looking for somebody! See the way his eyes keep darting about?"
The pink-haired girl nodded. "Yes! Oh, oh! Ino, look! He's spotted us! He's heading this way!"
Both girls squealed, "I bet he's coming to ask me to the dance!"
Then they glared at the other. "He wouldn't ask you to the dance, Sakura-big-forehead!"
"He'd probably ask me sooner than he'd ask you, Ino-pig!"
The blonde girl smirked. "Why? Do you really think he likes your wide forehead?"
Sakura squealed in rage and covered her forehead with her hands. "At least I'm not a stupid blonde! I'm sure he couldn't put up with your stupidity!"
Ino laughed. "What I lack in brains, I make up for in beauty and I'm beating you in both."
The girls continued bickering, not even noticing when a shadow loomed over them. Somebody cleared their throat. They paused, glancing up. Sasuke was standing at the end of the table. He wasn't looking at either of them, but rather, the wall half-way across the room. "I was wondering if one of you would accompany me to the -"
He never got farther than that, for both girls started squealing in joy at the prospect of going anywhere with Sasuke. "Oh, oh! Pick me, Sasuke!"
"Don't listen to her! I'm obviously the much better choice!"
"Shut up, Ino-pig!"
"Make me, Sakura-big-forehead!"
And with that, the girls recommenced their quarrel. Sasuke, however, had been distracted by a certain blond boy, who he had just spotted, sitting in a corner by himself. Sasuke sighed inaudibly at the sight of Naruto.
The blond looked so dejected, sitting there, by himself, pushing the muck the cafeteria called food about his plate with a fork. Part of Sasuke wanted to go to him and at least give him some company. But the other half of him was bitter.
Naruto had asked Hinata to go to the dance with him. Sasuke wasn't quite sure why, but the thought made him jealous. He glanced back at Sakura and Ino, who were still fighting. Since Naruto had seemingly thought so little of their actions, he felt compelled to show the blond he cared less.
Naruto was denying that anything had ever happened between them and he was using Hinata to prove that he thought nothing of Sasuke. Well, two could play at that game.
Sasuke sighed loudly, drawing the attention of both girls. "What's wrong, Sasuke?"
"Is the something the matter?"
They forgot their fight in an instance to dote on him. "If you can't decide," he said, in a tone that noted he couldn't care less, "I'll choose for you."
Both girls stared up at him in silence, waiting for the death knell to fall. Sasuke nearly grimaced and checked himself. It was no fun picking between two things you didn't want, when the thing you wanted was sitting just a little farther away.
"Sakura," he said at last, before turning to walk away.
Both girls stared after him, unsure of what Sasuke meant. Had Sakura been the loser or the winner? Sasuke turned about to glare at the blush-haired girl. "Well?" he asked irritably, signalling that she should follow.
Sakura rose from her seat and scurried after the dark-haired boy, leaving Ino to sulk in her seat. The blonde girl huffed, blowing strands of hair out of her eyes.
Beside her, a boy known as Nara Shikamaru said in a drawling tone, "You have bad luck."
Ino stuck her nose up in the air. "You just wait and see, Shikamaru. Sasuke will soon realize the mistake he made. You just wait."
Shikamaru snorted. "Sometimes," he said, "I pity you, Ino."
She chose to ignore the remark and focussed on glaring at Sakura's back.
Shikamaru and herself had been friends for a long time, every since they were very small. She had forgotten how they had first met, but she half suspected it was over something silly.
Shikamaru was a sulky, lazy creature. He was failing all his classes, yet his IQ claimed he could achieve top marks, if he so wished. He just didn't apply himself.
Meanwhile, Sakura was having quite the enlightening conversation with Sasuke. So far, he had yet to say anything to her.
When he judged they'd gone far enough so as not to be heard, he stopped and said, "You're going to accompany me to Friday night's dance."
She nearly fainted. How long had she been waiting for this! His eyes bored into hers with an intensity she had never seen before. It made her heart flutter.
He laid out the rest of the details and then departed, leaving her wondering if she was dreaming this.
She wandered back to her table, as if lost. Ino glared at her. "So, what did he say?"
Sakura blinked, then smiled broadly. "I'm going to the dance with Sasuke!" she squealed happily, enjoying every last second of Ino's shock.
"What!" the blonde girl screeched. "How could he choose you over me!"
Sakura just smirked.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Rock Lee took a deep breath, preparing himself. He wove through the halls, after his target. He approached her quickly and when he was beside her, slackened his pace.
"Sakura," he said, announcing his presence.
Sakura jumped, startled, and looked to her left. "Lee!" she cried, curling her lips in disdain. "Go away," she said, a hint of anger in her voice.
"Ah, Sakura, I just wanted to ask you if you were going to the dance."
They'd stopped walking now. Sakura faced him, hands on her hips, spite in her face. "Yes," she said bitterly. "I'm going with Sasuke. Now, leave me alone!"
She walked off haughtily, leaving him standing in the middle of the hall, crushed. "Sakura," he said, watching her go.
Well, feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to help him! He made a vow to himself that he'd win Sakura over, eventually. It didn't have to be tomorrow, or even before they graduated. He didn't care, really, if she was ever his girlfriend per say, but more of a friend or friendly acquaintance.
Right now, she was blinded by her so-called love for Sasuke. While Lee didn't know him personally, he didn't have much faith that he could ever treat Sakura well, or even like her back. Sasuke was apparently like an iceblock.
Which brought him to his next thought. Sakura was going to the dance with Sasuke? It seemed impossible. But then again, Sakura had told him, and she wouldn't lie about a thing like that, would she? He doubted it.
He frowned and rubbed his chin in thought. There seemed to be a lot more going on here than what had just been revealed to him. Sasuke suddenly opening up and acknowledging Sakura? Something had to have caused it. And he was determined to find out what had and why Sasuke had suddenly chosen Sakura.
He'd sworn he'd do anything to protect Sakura, even if it meant breaking her heart.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
" . . . to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much," Naruto muttered, looking down at Sasuke's hand, which was clasped firmly about his own.
Sasuke hissed. "You can't do that! You have to look at me when you say that, you moron!"
Naruto made a face, sticking out his lower lip indignantly. "Stop telling me what to do!"
The boys were, once again, practising their scene at Naruto's house. Both were in full costume and had long since put their books away, reciting the lines from memory.
Currently, Naruto was having trouble maintaining eye contact with Sasuke. The entire scene called for pure, non-stop eye gazing, except when they closed their eyes to kiss, but Naruto seemed to be unnerved by this.
The blond had been fidgety all evening, as though he were anxious for something to happen. Sasuke had been wondering what. "Look," he growled. "You don't have to look at me, specifically. Look at the wall behind me, or something, just make it look like you're looking at me."
"Whatever," Naruto mumbled and glanced at the floor.
"What is wrong with you?" Sasuke asked, losing his patience all together.
Naruto didn't answer him, nor did he lift his gaze. Sasuke grabbed hold of the blond's chin and pulled his gaze up to meet his own. "What's wrong?" he hissed, acidly.
Naruto tried to pull away. "Nothing's wrong!"
"Then stop acting like some stupid school girl!"
"I'm not acting like a school girl!"
Naruto's face became flushed with embarrassment and anger. Sasuke could feel his own blood dashing back and forth through his veins madly. "You are so!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Naruto cried out and lunged at him. He sidestepped, neatly tripping the enraged blond, who landed on his face, sprawling out.
Naruto had grabbed the edge of the cloth which was draped about Sasuke's neck as a cape of sorts, yanking hard on it when he fell, toppling Sasuke with him. He growled, recovering, attacking Sasuke again.
Sasuke flipped them over, crushing the smaller boy between the bed and himself. "You sorry little bastard," he snarled.
Naruto sneered and spat at him. "Fuck you," he muttered poisonously.
Sasuke drew back to punch the blond. His fist met Naruto's nose. Blood spattered across his knuckles and Naruto's cheeks.
The smaller boy clasped a hand to his nose. "Holy shid! You punched be in da node!" he said, his voice funny because of the blood pouring out of his presumably broken nose.
Sasuke said nothing as Naruto shoved him aside, grabbing Kleenex from the box on the bedside table. He held the tissues to his nose, then glared at Sasuke. "Jerk," he said.
Still, Sasuke said nothing. He couldn't find anything to say. No apology seemed fit, or necessary. At last, the bleeding seemed to cease and Naruto took the tissues away from his nose. It was still dripping. Sasuke offered to get a cloth and disappeared before Naruto could answer.
He came back with a wet cloth. He knelt down, plying it to the blond boy's face, wiping away the splotches of blood. "I. . .I'm," he started to apologize, but he didn't finish.
He'd pulled the cloth away and instinct had pulled their lips together, as if they were magnetic forces. Sasuke let the cloth fall out of his nerveless hand and cupped Naruto's flushed cheek instead.
He ran his tongue across Naruto's lush lips, almost as if he were begging the blond to open his mouth. He was barely conscious of what he was doing. Naruto complied to his whim, and he plundered the other boy's mouth with his tongue.
Neither was really sure what they were doing anymore, driven only by an animalistic urge. They tumbled, miraculously, onto the bed, one on top of the other, a writhing heap of pleasure. They broke the kiss, then went back for more, until they were dizzy from lack of air and drunk from the taste, the scent, the feel, of the other. Their hands seemed possessed, roaming freely the expanse of the other's body.
They parted, unable to keep the activity up any longer. They lay side by side on the bed, gasping for breath, shuddering with sensation. "Sasuke?"
"What?"
"W. . .what the hell did we just do?" Naruto inquired, panting, and glanced over at his partner in crime.
The ebony-haired boy just stared back. "I. . .I don't know."
"I hate you, and vice versa," Naruto mused. "So why do we keep acting like we want to boink each other's brains out?"
Sasuke grimaced and blushed at Naruto's blunt assessment of the situation, but responded, "I don't know."
This of course, led to another argument and they parted on ill terms. Each boy sat up long past midnight, brooding and musing on possible, logical reasons for their actions.
- - - - - - - - -
It was Friday night. The gymnasium was packed with students, moving to the music. The music itself was ear-shatteringly loud, and the floor shook as though the sound had become essence of the ground. Lights flashed and flickered all about, bathing the party-goers in red, blue, yellow and green light. The gym had been transformed into a highschool dance club.
Sasuke arrived with Sakura hanging off his arm at about ten past eight. Sakura looked absolutely delighted when she saw the party in full swing; Sasuke, on the other hand, looked disgusted.
Sakura dragged him onto the dance floor, where she began swinging her hips and generally imitating some of the other 'dancers' there. She kept giggling and blushing and trying to get him to dance.
He refused every time. He couldn't believe he was here. What was more amazing was that he hadn't been swarmed by fan girls yet.
And so, they spent half an hour like that, Sakura dancing and pleading with Sasuke to dance; Sasuke steadfastly refusing. By quarter to nine, Sakura was growing exasperated and desperate. "Sasuke, please!" she whined, her eyes growing wet with tears when he shook his head yet again. "I thought you came here to have fun!" she cried, feeling her heart break in half.
Sasuke glared at her. Suddenly, his eyes were away from her staring into a corner. She glanced over her shoulder to see the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. She blinked in surprise.
Hinata was with the blond, shyly dancing a bit, then stopping and wringing her hands, only to be goaded into movement again by the blond boy, who bounded around with seemingly endless energy. Sakura glanced back to Sasuke. His eyes were still focussed on Naruto. She glanced back the other way. Naruto had glanced over his shoulder and had stopped dancing, turning about to face them. His eyes had narrowed and looked considerably darker than their normal sky-blue. He said something to Hinata, then walked toward Sasuke.
Sakura grew frantic. She didn't want Naruto to walk over here! She tugged on Sasuke's arm. "Sasuke!" she begged. "Let's go get a drink! I'm thirsty!"
Sasuke ignored her. He pushed her away and walked toward Naruto.
They met about mid-way, much to Sakura's horror. Naruto glared at the taller boy. "What are you doing here?" he yelled, loudly, just to be heard over the music.
Sasuke made no reply. Naruto gritted his teeth. "Look!" he cried. "Just because we kissed a couple of times, doesn't mean I like you!"
Sasuke said nothing, but a small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Oh!" Naruto cried, clenching his fists. "I'm going to wipe that smirk right off your face!"
Sasuke said nothing still. Making the blond mad was fun. Naruto's eye twitched. "Fine! Fine! I like you! That's why I kissed you! I like you Sasuke! I'm a faggot, and I like you, and I want you to screw my sorry little ass until I can't think straight! That's why I kissed you!" he screamed, unaware that the music had stopped and that now, everyone in the gym could hear every word he said.
Sasuke turned red. "You idiot," he hissed.
A few nervous giggles could be heard from the crowd, who was unsure of what else to do. Naruto glanced about him, then bolted from the room. A moment or two of silent confusion ensued. Then the music went back on and everybody resumed dancing, timidly at first, then with more vigour.
Sasuke felt a hand wrap itself about his arm and he glanced to his left to see Sakura. "Oh, Sasuke. . .Sasuke, I'm so sorry for you," she said, pressing her forehead to his arm.
He pulled away. She glanced up at him. "I always knew he was queer," she sneered, suddenly. The contempt in her tone indicated she was talking about Naruto. "He's got no father and that's why he's all screwed up. Iruka's gay too. It makes me sick," she said snidely.
"Shut up," Sasuke said suddenly, his voice quavering slightly. He turned to glare at her. "You don't know anything about anybody, so just shut your mouth, you stupid little bitch."
Her eyes welled up with tears at the hurtful words, at the utter anger in Sasuke's voice. Sasuke looked as if he were about to continue, then changed his mind and dashed off. Sakura bit her lip and blinked rapidly, trying to prevent herself from crying. The night that was supposed to have been her fairy-tale come true had turned into an utter disaster.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Naruto ran. Naruto ran blindly. He didn't know where he was going. He just ran. He ran fast; he ran far, blinded by tears.
He felt guilty for not saying goodbye to Hinata; for running away from her like that. He'd apologize later. Right now, he had to get away.
He ran down the road. He ran right by his house. He ran to the woods on the edge of town. He tripped on a root, landing flat on his face.
Just his luck, it started to rain. How cliche. He didn't run much farther, afraid of slipping in the mud, as he'd already done ten times at least. He huddled under a pine tree, and sat, shivering in the down-pouring rain.
Tears streamed down his face and he wrapped his arms about himself, trying to prevent himself from breaking down completely. He rocked back and forth slightly, trying to quiet his hysterical sobs.
Something came crashing through the underbrush and he froze, afraid it was some wild animal. He stared wild-eyed at the bushes, positive he was going to die. All alone. 'Always alone,' he thought bitterly.
He continued to stare when Sasuke, a fully soaked and muddied Sasuke, emerged from the foliage. "Idiot," he hissed.
Naruto couldn't really see him anymore. Everything was turning into one big blur. Then, the blur turned to black and he knew no more.
- - - - - - - - - -
One muddy, wet, scratched, bruised and bleeding Uchiha Sasuke walked into his house. He tugged off his shoes and threw them to the floor in a fit of rage.
"Stupid Naruto," he muttered angrily, storming into the house.
"That you, 'suke?"
He glanced up, confused. The voice was slurred, but it clearly belonged to Itachi. "'Chi?" he asked, calling his brother by the pet name they'd shared when they were much younger.
A fit of giggling ensued, followed by a, "Shush, quiet!" and Sasuke discerned there were two voices.
He wandered into the den. It was no surprise that Orochimaru was the source of the other voice. What was a surprise, however, were the empty bottles of vodka scattered across the floor. Both Orochimaru and Itachi were giggling drunkenly and Sasuke could only guess what had happened.
Itachi smiled up at him. "Hey 'suke!"
He gestured for Sasuke to sit down beside him. The younger boy did so hesitantly. Itachi nuzzled his cheek. Sasuke glanced back, to see Orochimaru smiling down at him. "Pretty thing, aren't ya?" he slurred.
Sasuke glanced back at Itachi, finding his cheek now wet. The older boy was crying. "Oh, 'suke, you should leave. 'Suke, you should have never come in here. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
"What the hell are you going on about?" Sasuke asked, trying to pull away from Itachi's hold.
"I wanna fuck you," Itachi answered. "I wanna fuck you so bad."
"Stop being a moron," Sasuke told him, struggling to get away. I
tachi was sobbing openly. "Oh, gods! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm gonna rape you, poor thing!"
Sasuke struggled out of his brother's grip. He fled the room, leaving Itachi to his drunken rambling, with only Orochimaru to. . .console. . .him.
He ran back out the front door. He had no idea where he was going, he just. . .kind of ran. When he stopped, he realized he'd stopped in front of Naruto's house. He stood there panting, before deciding to seek shelter for the night. There was no way he was going home. Not with his brother and Orochimaru drunk like that. They'd probably violate him while he was asleep.
He shuddered as the memory of his brother and his alleged boyfriend going at it floated back to the surface of his mind. His eye twitched slightly.
He walked up to the house and knocked on the door. Iruka opened it hastily. "Sasuke! What a surprise! I thought you went home! Thanks for bringing Naruto back! Oh, poor thing! He's lost it again! This is your fault!"
Sasuke blinked in reply. Iruka went red in the face, realizing he'd been ranting. "Err. . .did you want something?" he asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said simply.
Iruka waited for the ebony-haired one to continue. "Itachi's drunk," Sasuke said, as if that explained everything.
Iruka merely stood there, confused. "What does that have to do with you?"
"I'd rather not talk about that."
Sasuke brushed by him, into the house. He was getting cold and he didn't want to play twenty questions. He slipped off his shoes and went into the kitchen. Iruka blinked, then shut the door, chasing after the teen.
"Hey! Itachi didn't hurt you or anything, did he?"
Sasuke shook his head. Iruka breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, Naruto, looking pale and confused, wandered into the kitchen. He seemed very unstable, wobbling about, finally sitting down in one of the kitchen chairs. The red, irritated skin about his eyes claimed he'd been crying.
Sasuke could only stare in shock at the broken creature in front of him. A feeling of pity consumed him and he wanted nothing more than to hold the poor thing in his arms and comfort him and whisper sweet nothings into his ear -
He held himself in check and squashed those thoughts in an instant. Unfortunately, his body had moved of his own accord and he was on his knees before the blond, holding his hand. "Naruto," he murmured. "What's wrong?"
Those eyes - gods, those eyes! They burned into his soul with their emptiness. He had fallen into the crystal pools and he drowning in his flood tide of emotions.
"Sasuke. . ."
The voice was so dead and dejected. It was so soft and it lacked any brazen quality it had held formerly. "I'm so sorry," the blond was saying. "I embarrassed you in front of all those people. . .gods, I'm sorry!"
He buried his head in his hands and commenced sobbing. Iruka placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders and helped the blond up. "You need to go to bed," he said firmly.
Naruto was led away. Iruka returned a few minutes later, seating himself in the chair Naruto had previously occupied. Sasuke had retreated to his former seat. Iruka gave him a funny look. "So. . ."
Sasuke cleared his throat. "May I spend the night here?"
Iruka glanced at him, unprepared for the question. "Uh. . .I guess. . ."
"Thank you," Sasuke said, bowing his head in gratitude.
- - - - - - - - - - -
"There's a spare bedroom up here. . .I think. . ."
Iruka led Sasuke up the stairs. Neither of them had said much. Iruka was too concerned about Naruto to make pleasant conversation. Sasuke was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to care if anybody talked to him or not.
They passed the door to Naruto's room, which was slightly ajar. Sasuke paused, peering in. Naruto was curled up in his bed, sound asleep. The moonlight which filtered in from the window cast the room awash in blue tones. Naruto looked almost. . .ethereal.
Somebody placed a hand on his shoulder and he glanced up at Iruka. The brunet man smiled slightly. "Come on," he near whispered.
Reluctantly, Sasuke followed Iruka the rest of the way down the hall. The spare room was dark and drab. The furniture was minimal and the colours, faded in the moonlight, appeared to be mostly grey and brown tones.
Iruka said good night to him, then retired to his own room. Sasuke settled himself down on the bed. His thoughts refused to rest though.
He couldn't help but continue to think about Naruto. He felt sorry for the blond, and sympathised with him. He wanted to offer some sort of comfort, but was unsure of how to do so. His thoughts then dispersed down another path, which some would consider lewd and perverted.
His hormones were taking over his brain again. They'd been acting up lately, using the image of his favourite blond boy as a source of revolt and overthrowing all rational thought. He supposed it would have happened sooner or later. It was part of being a teenage boy, or so he was told.
What made tonight's fantasizing particularly unbearable was the fact that Naruto was asleep just down the hall. If he wanted to find out if Naruto's blond mop really did feel like silk, he could have gone and petted the blond, and nobody would ever know.
He was sorely tempted to do just that. Desire gave way to impulse, and he found himself having risen from the bed and creeping down the hall. He pushed open the door to Naruto's room. The blond was still curled up, as oblivious as ever.
Sasuke entered the room and closed the door. He sat down on the bed beside Naruto. He looked at the blond for a bit, before saying out loud, "Do you know what you do to me?"
Silence reigned in the room. Absently, he stroked Naruto's glossy hair. "Why do you do that? Is it funny? Do you like making me uncomfortable?"
After a little pause, he asked, "What do you think about me, Naruto? Do you like me too?"
He sighed and lay down beside the blond, stroking the sleeping boy's cheek. "You make me feel. . .so much. And you don't even do anything. It's so weird. Why?"
He studied the boy's features intensely, as if mapping his every feature. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Naruto's forehead. "I think I love you," he whispered, then settled back on the bed. There, he fell asleep.
- - - - - - - - -
Iruka snuck across the hall. Early morning light flooded into the hall. He'd already checked the spare room and found it empty. He knew exactly where to find his missing house guest.
He threw open the door to Naruto's room, exclaiming, "Ah-ha! Get your hands off him!"
He opened an eye and stared at the scene laid out in front of him. Naruto and Sasuke were curled up on the bed. Naruto was nestled in Sasuke's arms, his face pillowed against the other boy's chest. Sasuke's lips were turned up in a sort of satisfied smile. Their breathing was shallow and even, indicating they were both asleep.
Iruka nearly melted from the absolute cuteness of it. He was deeply touched by Sasuke's concern for the other boy. Of course, Sasuke was always one to ruin such a moment and did so now by opening his eyes.
He glanced at Iruka, and then at the position he had assumed during the night and blushed lightly, but didn't move. He couldn't say why, but he was all too content to be bothered by the fact that he was caught.
Iruka smiled at him. "You should get up, before he wakes up," he said.
Sasuke blushed brighter, but shook his head 'no'. He didn't really care if Naruto woke up. The blond sighed in his sleep and cuddled closer.
Iruka shook his head and smiled. "I'm going to go downstairs," he announced quietly. "What would you like for breakfast?"
Sasuke merely shrugged. Iruka frowned. That, of course, was to be expected of Sasuke. "Fine. But don't complain about whatever I make."
Sasuke said nothing in return and Iruka disappeared downstairs. Sasuke turned back to Naruto, who was still curled against his side, his fingers digging into the cloth of his shirt, clinging to him. Sasuke felt a smile pull his lips upwards and he brushed said lips against Naruto's forehead. "Good morning," he whispered, pulling back.
Blue eyes, dulled by sleep, flickered open. Naruto blinked once, then twice, mumbling stupidly, "Sasuke?"
And then, he screamed. He scuttled back from Sasuke, falling out of the bed, landing on the floor, still screaming bloody murder. "Oh my gods! You raped me!" he screeched, pointing an accusing finger at Sasuke, who dashed his head against his palm.
"Moron!" he cried. "You're dressed; I'm dressed! I did not rape you!"
Naruto looked down at himself, and then over at Sasuke, to find what the dark-haired boy said very true. They were both dressed. "How do I know you didn't just put my clothes back on after you did. . .it?" Naruto asked, eyeing Sasuke suspiciously.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Naruto."
"What?"
"You cannot rape the willing. Therefore, I couldn't rape you."
Naruto blinked several times over, trying to process that. "I do not want to have sex with you!" the blond screamed at the top of his lungs, pointing the finger again.
Sasuke smirked coyly. "Oh, don't you now?" He lay down across the bed, stretching out, maintaining eye contact with Naruto. He'd seen someone do this somewhere before. . .
Ah. That was right. He'd seen Itachi pull this one on Orochimaru when he was trying to -
Oh gods! What the hell was he doing! Sasuke sat up abruptly, his expression falling. He'd been trying to seduce Naruto! He shuddered at the thought.
Naruto just sat there through the entire episode, staring blankly at Sasuke, before crossing his arms and huffing, "I do not want to have sex with you, Sasuke."
He turned his nose up in the air, as if for emphasis.
- - - - - - - - -
Morning light brought no relief to the Haruno household. Downstairs, man and wife were arguing like there was no tomorrow. Upstairs, Sakura lay prone on her bed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
She had been up all night long, crying. She didn't really quite know why. Sasuke hadn't officially broke her heart yet, but she had a feeling he would. Especially the after the way he ran out of the gym, after Naruto. She was sure he'd gone after Naruto, even if she had no proof to back it up with.
The dance had been a disaster. She should have known that the great Uchiha Sasuke was far too sophisticated to have fun. He was too sophisticated to dance with her. He was such a jerk! She sniffed loudly.
Then again, nobody ever said the path of love was easy. Sasuke was always stoic and cold. It couldn't be expected that he would change overnight into an openly affectionate person. It would take a long, long time. It might even take forever.
She sat up, feeling re-energised. She would be the one to change Sasuke! She would win him over and slowly, but surely, inch by inch, she would change Sasuke. In fact, he would love her so deeply and so much, that he would throw away the bitter indifference he had just to please her!
Ah, the flags on her castle had just been raised and the Princess had just donned her crown. And now, she settled on the edge of her bed, by her window, to wait for her beloved Prince. Yes, Haruno Sakura had just made her way to back to fairy-tale land.
Downstairs, something shattered. She heard it, but she pretended she didn't. She didn't want to hear it. Her Prince would come soon, to take her away. She sighed and looked at the glorious day outside her window.
She started to cry again. The sun, the bright yellow sun, had just reminded her of something else. That blasted Naruto! It was nearly a universally-known fact that the blond harboured a crush on her. Now, now, he had openly admitted he was gay to a crowd of people. What did that say about her? Naruto liked guys! Did she look masculine? What would people say?
Stupid Naruto!
- - - - - - - - - - -
Iruka was slightly angry. He was banging pots and pans about, just to vent. "You try to be nice, you try to offer him something he likes and he just brushes you off like a fly!"
Sasuke had made Iruka mad. The brunet teacher had wanted to make the other boy feel welcome by offering him, perhaps, a favourite dish of sorts ( and show off his cooking skills as well), but no. No, Sasuke just had to shrug and not care.
"What do you want to eat?" Iruka muttered, re-enacting the scene bitterly.
"I'll have whatever you're making, Sunshine," was his cheerful reply.
"Gah!" He dropped the pan he was holding in utter surprise.
Kakashi was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the morning paper, as if this were a very normal thing. Iruka gawked at him. "How did you get in!"
"You left the door unlocked," Kakashi said, waving the subject off. He turned the page.
Iruka mentally made note to make sure to lock the door next time, and glared at Kakashi. "You didn't have to come in and sit down, you know."
"Sure I did," Kakashi replied brightly, smiling at Iruka. "You're making breakfast."
Iruka blushed, taking that as a compliment to his culinary skills. Kakashi continued smiling. "So, what are you making, Sunshine?"
Iruka blushed brighter and turned back to his pans. "Don't call me that," he muttered half-heartedly. In all truth, he rather liked the idea of Kakashi having a kind of pet name for him.
There was silence for a moment, and then, "So, what are you making?"
"Breakfast," Iruka stated.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Yes, but what are you making for said breakfast?"
"Food."
Well, it seemed that Kakashi wasn't the only one with an annoying sense of humour. Iruka was trying not to laugh, and doing a rather poor job of it.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Kakashi said dryly.
Before further conversation could ensue, there was a loud clunk from the living room, followed by a yell of, "You dumbass!"
A blur of motion came hurtling into the kitchen. One half of said blur was Naruto, the other, Sasuke. Naruto was laughing insanely. Sasuke tackled the blond and the momentum of the movement sent them both out the door. I
ruka frowned. Kakashi smiled slightly. "Interesting household you have this morning, Iruka."
Iruka sighed in response.
- - - - - - - - --
Ino was on her way to Sakura's. True, she was angry at the other girl, and very, very jealous that Sasuke had picked her rival over her. But she'd heard through the grapevine that things hadn't gone exactly well and now she wanted details. Oh yes, she was going to wring all the details from Sakura.
She walked into the Harunos' yard, and was surprised to see Sakura standing beneath her window. "Sakura?" she nearly yelled, which earned her a glare from the other girl. Ino swallowed. Was she sure she wanted pester Sakura when she was obviously in one of those moods? The girl looked like she'd been through hell, her hair messy and her eyes red and irritated.
"What do you want, Ino-pig?"
"How. . .how was your date with Sasuke?"
Sakura looked at the ground and took a long time answering.
"I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled finally, staring at the mud-stained ground.
Ino didn't know what to say to that. Sakura was supposed to have been having the time of her life last night! Her patience was supposed to have brought her the long-awaited knight-in-shining armour! She felt her blood boil. If Sasuke had broken Sakura's dreams, oh, was that jerk going to get it! He deserved it, especially if he treated Sakura badly, especially if he thought she was expendable! The girl had waited too goddamn long for her happy ending! Ino was going to make sure she got it!
"Was Sasuke mean to you, Sakura? Did he hurt you?"
She placed her hands comfortingly on her friend's shoulders, her face full of concern and her eyes full of biting contempt for the bastard who put her friend in such a state.
Oh, of course, Sasuke was nice to look at, and a genius, surely, but she didn't want him if he didn't have the personality to match! What good was having someone who thought everyone else was beneath them? That only ruined people. And besides, her friend was surely more important than some silly crush!
Sakura choked back a sob. "Oh, Ino! It was terrible! He just shoved me aside! Like I was nothing! Nothing at all! He swore at me too! He called me. . .he called me a stupid bitch!" she wailed, turning her body toward the blonde's, as if to shield herself from the cruel mockery of the world.
"That jerk," Ino growled.
Sakura continued to sob bitterly, whilst Ino plotted her revenge. Sasuke was going to pay for this. He was going to pay dearly for hurting her friend.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Sasuke and Naruto spent the afternoon between bickering and being incredibly snuggle-y and cute. It was really, on the whole, rather weird. It just didn't make sense that Sasuke would ever be. . .cute. Sasuke and the word cute just didn't work well together. Unless you were a rabid fan girl, of course. Then, they were never separated.
Iruka chalked it up to the seeming fact that Sasuke was comfortable with the company. He was comfortable enough to let his emotions show, even just a bit. It had been Naruto doing most of the hugging and snuggling, with Sasuke just sort of bearing it and occasionally hugging the blond back.
All in all, Iruka thought, they made a very cute couple. Yes, they were cute even when they were fighting. They were good for each other too. Naruto could draw Sasuke out of his shell, and Sasuke. . .well, he wasn't sure what the dark-haired boy did for Naruto, but he had a vague idea it had something to do with comfort and acceptance. Sasuke seemed to accept Naruto for who he was, and for Naruto, that was a big thing.
Currently, Naruto was clinging to Sasuke's leg, trying to persuade him not to go. Sasuke was trying, very hard, to pry him off. A couple of weeks ago, Naruto would have been pushing Sasuke out the door and Sasuke would have left long before sunset.
Sasuke hadn't wanted to run the risk of going home and running into a hung-over Itachi. It probably wouldn't have been a very pleasant experience, he reasoned. The better part of the day had passed and Sasuke mused it was safe enough to go home.
"You have to stay for dinner!" Naruto wailed, loudly.
Iruka merely smiled and shook his head. Sasuke yelled something explicit at the blond, getting quite fed up with the childish behaviour. Naruto whimpered and let go of Sasuke, who stormed down the walkway. Naruto gathered himself to leave Sasuke with one last annoyance.
"Bye-bye, Sasuke-love!" he called, waving.
Sasuke spun around, glaring daggers. "Don't call me that!" he shouted.
Naruto snickered. Sasuke left, fuming.
- - - - - - - - -