And the Beat Goes On
Chapter 6 : Keeping the Beat
Kiba started to laugh. He pointed at the two boys in the doorway. "Hey! Looks like they're both queer!"
The announcement was accompanied by various chuckles and snorts and snickers from the boys. The girls merely stared in mock horror. Ino stood up, slamming her hands on the table. "Sasuke!" she screeched.
Sasuke winced. Oh, this was not good, definitely not good. . .
"You gave up Sakura to be with that!"
It took Sasuke a moment to realize the "that" she was referring to was Naruto. Hastily, he let go of Naruto's wrist and scowled. "No -"
Shikamaru (who was conveniently in their class as well), pointed an accusing finger. "Don't deny it, Sasuke! You were kissing him!"
Everyone paused to give Shikamaru a funny look. Kiba raised an eyebrow. "You were watching?" he asked.
Shikamaru scowled. "No! I forgot my music in the music room!" he huffed defensively.
Kiba rolled his eyes. "Sure. . ."
Tsunade was desperately trying to regain control of her class. "Now, now. Please, settle down. You have all of your lunch hour to discuss the finer points of Sasuke's sexual orientation."
Her little speech only evoked more laughter. Even a few of the girls started laughing. Tenten laughed loudly, "Sakura likes a gay guy!"
With that, the mocking changed targets. Sakura turned a shade to match her hair, but she didn't make any reply. She sat, with her eyes on her desk, quivering with silent rage and humiliation. Quite suddenly, she shot up out of her seat, pointing her finger at Sasuke. "You!"
Sasuke blinked in confusion. He'd never seen Sakura angry before, let alone angry with himself. She wiped angry tears from her eyes. "You dare to make a fool out of me!" she cried in indignation. "I hate you!"
She ran out of the classroom, unable to bear another moment of the torturous laughter. She shoved Sasuke aside and managed to effectively knock Naruto the ground. The blond didn't say anything, but got up and proceeded into the classroom, his eyes fixed on the ground.
The students were quiet then, save for the occasional snicker. Naruto took his seat and hastily buried himself in the book they were supposed to read for the first fifteen minutes of every class. All eyes turned to Sasuke as the dark-haired boy took his seat. He glared back, and most of the students shut up, returning to their own reading.
Sasuke sighed. What a disaster. . .
- - - - - - - -
"So. . ."
Sasuke slammed the door and glared at the living room. Itachi turned to face his brother, smiling a little. "I hear you have a boyfriend."
Sasuke grunted in reply and kicked off his shoes angrily. He stormed by Itachi, heading for the stairs. "Bad day?" Itachi asked, just as Sasuke laid a foot on the first stair.
The younger turned to glare at his brother. "Maybe," he growled. "Just maybe."
Itachi shook his head. "Whatever, Sasuke. If you wanna talk about it, I'll be right here."
"I don't wanna tell you anything," Sasuke mumbled and started up the stairs.
Once inside the solitude of his room, he sat down at his desk. He opened his text book, but he couldn't see the words, nor could he concentrate on them. He drummed his fingers on the table top. His mind was buzzing.
Oh, he would get back at them for saying he was gay. He was not gay. He wasn't like Itachi, not at all. He'd show them. And if he was a little queer, what the hell did it matter! It wasn't them who had to worry about it, it wasn't them who had to like the idea of kissing another boy! Girls thought about kissing boys all the time, so why were they so disgusted and freaked out by it?
It just didn't make any sense. Girls, come to think about it, didn't make any sense. Maybe that was why he liked boys.
He rested his cheek on his hand, feeling utterly dejected. They just didn't understand! How could he not like Naruto? Sure, the boy was the outcast and annoying and obnoxious at times, but if they could see past all of that. . .
The problem was, they couldn't. Naruto had crafted his mask too well and even if he did falter, they still didn't see what existed away from them. Naruto wouldn't let them know, Naruto wouldn't let them in. Just like he shoved everyone away, Naruto pushed them away by trying to draw them closer. It worked well.
They were similar enough to understand each other, and different enough to intrigue each other. Sasuke doubted he'd ever be bored by Naruto, or feel completely unattached. He didn't think any of the girls would understand him. He was an enigma to them, just as they were enigmas to him. They dreamed of getting married and having the perfect little family, in the perfect little house and being the perfect little wife and the thought of a life like that just made Sasuke sick. It didn't happen and he couldn't see how they imagined they were different enough to make it happen.
Naruto was different. Naruto understood having nothing, and losing everything. Naruto understood being alone. Naruto had seen the world through open eyes to know that it wasn't a happy place. He knew the cruelty and suffering first hand and with that knowledge, he could understand Sasuke better than anyone else could.
Sasuke sighed and drew a circle on the desk with his forefinger. He had shunned Naruto after English class, and for the rest of the day. He shouldn't have done that. Somehow, the less rational, angry part of him had blamed Naruto for everything that had happened that morning, when he knew that he was more to blame. Shunning Naruto wasn't something he should do. Naruto was something precious to him, something he couldn't stand to lose. Naruto was a comfort to him, because he understood. Sasuke didn't want to lose him.
He was such a blind fool! He didn't want to lose Naruto, but he was pushing him away! Just because some stupid mocking children had pointed fingers and laughed, he was risking losing the only thing that mattered to him right now!
Suddenly, he felt as if he was in some sort of sappy romance novel. Stuff like this always happened in those things. He sighed again. His homework still wasn't making any sense. Neither was his life.
- - - - - - - - -
Naruto picked at the food Iruka had put on his plate. He really didn't feel much like eating right now.
Sasuke had been pointedly ignoring him since the incident in English. He couldn't say as though he blamed the boy. It was a pretty harsh thing for Sasuke and it had to have knocked him right off his pedestal. Part of Naruto felt that Sasuke had deserved it. The other half of him really wanted to talk to the other boy, to see how he was feeling, to try and console him (if consoling was necessary).
Sasuke wouldn't even look at him and that made him feel really. . .bad. He felt that it was his fault, and to a degree, he supposed it was. If he hadn't of. . .And if he wouldn't have. . .Of course, he shouldn't of. . .
He sighed again and Iruka looked at him worriedly. "Something wrong, Naruto?"
The blond shook his head 'no', not wishing to cause his guardian any more grief. He knew he'd been more than enough trouble the past few days. "Nothing's wrong," he said, turning his attention back to his plate.
Iruka watched him for a moment or so, before returning to the task of eating. Naruto sighed again and sat back from the table, pushing his plate away from him. Iruka looked at him again. "All right. Now I know something's wrong."
Naruto looked away. "I don't wanna talk about it."
"C'mon, Naruto. What happened?"
Naruto shook his head and got up from the table. "I said I didn't want to talk about it."
"It's about Sasuke, isn't it?"
Naruto froze in the doorway. He turned back to look at Iruka, incredulous. "H-how. . ."
Iruka smiled gently. "Intuition. C'mere and tell me what happened," he commanded gently and Naruto was obliged to sit down.
They sat in silence for a moment or two. Naruto twiddled his thumbs anxiously. "It's really not his fault," the blond said at last, leaning on the table.
Iruka raised an eyebrow. "What's not who's fault?"
"It wasn't Sasuke's fault. I mean, I really wish he'd talk to me, but ya know, he can't really be blamed for not wanting to after what happened."
"What happened?" Iruka inquired.
Naruto sighed heavily. "Well. . .it's kind of complicated. . ." He glanced shyly up at Iruka and continued. "It started on Friday, and. . ."
Somehow, Naruto managed to relate the entire tale. "And now he's not talking to me," he finished miserably and lay his head down on the table.
Iruka just stared in disbelief. "You. . .did what?" he asked. He wasn't looking at Naruto, but rather the wall behind him.
Naruto didn't bother to respond. There was silence between them for a moment or two, then Iruka said, softly, yet firmly, "Naruto. I don't want you to even look at Sasuke. You're. . .you're too young for that kind of stuff. I.. .want. . .Go to your room."
Naruto got up without argument and left the room. Iruka looked at the table.
- - - - - - - - - -
Sakura glanced at the door warily, then picked up the phone. Hastily, she dialled a number. The phone rang once, twice, thrice.
She glanced at the door again. Her parents were fighting again. Silently, she willed them to stay away for a moment or two more, just long enough for her to make her call.
She could feel the skin around her eye bruising. Blood pounded through her head. She felt dizzy, she felt sick. Her breathing was harsh, no matter how she tried to clam herself. Tears wetted the broken skin of her cheeks, as they coursed down her face. She held a hand to her lips in an effort to stop sobbing.
They hated her, oh, they hated her so! They were warring over her, vying for her affections, offering her gifts, getting angry when she took the other's side, calling her names, claiming she didn't love them.
She loved them! She truly did love her parents! How would she have survived without them? What if she had been tossed to the wolves like Naruto? She surely wouldn't have survived. She loved them, she was thankful for them! And now, they were trying to tear her apart, pulling her apart limb by limb, shredding up her insides. She loved them more when they didn't fight. She loved them more when they didn't hate her. When they hated her, when they fought, she hated them.
Her father had struck her. They were fighting now, screaming that they were the better parent, that the girl was right to love her mother more; that she was a wretched little whore to love her mother more.
The footsteps where coming closer. She felt so scared, so sick. She was shaking so badly, she couldn't breathe properly. She felt desperate, so desperate that she was beginning to feel as if she wasn't there, as if it were someone else's eyes she was looking through.
The phone rang again. And again.
Silently, she willed her saviour to pick up. She squeezed her eyes shut. 'Pick up, pick up, I know you're there. . .'
She glanced back at the door, only to hear the footsteps stop. Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened. Her grip on the phone tightened. 'Pick up before they. . .'
The door creaked open and two wraithlike figures, cut out of shadows in the midst of the light, stood in the doorway, announcing her doom.
The phone rang again.
- - - - - - - - -
Ino heard the phone. She scowled and chewed at her pencil, ignoring it and going back to her homework.
"Two times five, divided by sixteen, multiplied by -"
The phone rang again, and she glanced up irritably at the noise. Her train of thought had just jumped off a cliff. "Can somebody get that!" she hollered, hoping that someone would pick up the object of her bane.
The noise persisted. Sighing, she slammed her pencil down and got up, storming down the hall. "I'll get it," she mumbled, trudging downstairs.
It rang again. And again. And it rang once more, just for good measure, as she walked into the kitchen. "I'm coming, I'm coming," she growled at it. "Hold your horses."
She picked it up. "Hello?"
The line went dead. She gritted her teeth and slammed it down. "Jerk!" she screamed at it.
Somebody had interrupted her and made her walk all the way down here, just to hang up on her! She glared at the caller I.D. 'Jerk' wasn't going to get away that easily. She stared at the number for a moment blankly, seemingly recognized it from somewhere.
"Oh, shit -"
She grabbed her coat. She grabbed her shoes. She practically flew out the door, down the walk. She ran down the street, her feet pounding the asphalt, her blonde hair streaming out behind her. That was Sakura's number! The girl rarely called her, except for when she was in trouble. She'd let it ring about ten times - Sakura must have really been pressed for time, or something and -
Her thoughts were jumbled. Was Sakura hurt? She knew things weren't good at the other's household right now, but surely -
Her parents wouldn't hurt her, right? She tried to find some reassuring statement, made by someone, in the midst of her confused rambling. She couldn't.
'Shit, shit, shit, shit -'
She mentally berated herself for missing that call! Sakura could be hurt really bad, or lying in a ditch somewhere, or gods knew what else, for all she knew! The other girl relied on her, had made Ino her saviour, and now!
She flew up the driveway, gravel being churned up by her shoes. She skidded to a stop and pounded on the door. She stood back a moment, trying to regain her breath. Her lungs burnt with every breath she took.
The door opened slightly and timidly, someone looked out. "Hello?" said a voice that Ino knew to be Mrs. Haruno's.
"Hi," the blonde girl said, a little breathlessly, smiling shyly up at the woman. "Is Sakura home?"
Mrs. Haruno shook her head 'no'. Ino felt her stomach twist up. The woman had a vibrant red mark on her left cheek. Ino looked about nervously. What if something bad had happened to Sakura?
"Will she be home soon?" Ino found herself asking.
Mrs. Haruno shrugged. "You can come in and wait, if you want," she said softly, as if afraid of the blonde teen in front of her.
Ino nodded graciously and stepped inside the foyer. She slipped off her shoes. She walked into the house, up the stairs to her friend's room. She knew that when she was invited in to wait, Mrs. Haruno meant she could wait in Sakura's room. It was always howthe household worked, and Ino now knew the reason for it. She opened the door to find Sakura very much at home, sitting in her room.
The lights were off and the window was open. Ino shut the door. "Sakura?"
The pink-haired girl looked up and then back down. "Ino. . ."
Ino could already guessed what had happened. Sakura had gotten out and back in through her window. Her parents thought she wasn't home. Sakura had used that trick when they were smaller. She still had the rope and she always left the window unlocked.
"I'm sorry I didn't get your call," Ino murmured, keeping her voice low, so as not to rouse suspicions.
Sakura merely shrugged. Ino sat down beside her and for a little while, they were content like that, just sitting. Ino glanced at her friend. "Sakura," she said upon impulse. "Look at me."
Her companion glanced up at her, quickly, and then meant to look away, but Ino grabbed her chin and held her fast. Blue eyes met green and read most of the story in them. Ino sighed and looked away. "Your dad?" she asked quietly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sakura nod. The smaller girl curled her knees to her chest. "I. . .I wish. . ," she started, then stopped, looking at the floor for answers.
"What do you wish?" Ino asked, prompting her friend to continue.
Sakura looked at her, and her eyes were full of vehement contempt and spite. "I wish they hated me! Then they wouldn't fight over who I love more. Then I wouldn't have to put up with this shit. I hate them so much. They're purposely trying to make me pick sides - I don't want to! I don't like one better than the other! I hate them both!"
She rested her head on her knees then, shoulders shaking with her silent sobbing. Ino bit her lip, unsure of what to say, then laid her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I wish I could help, but. . ."
Sakura didn't respond. Then, she said, her knees muffling her voice, "Help me make them hate me."
Ino raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Make them hate me, Ino. You and I, we can do anything together! We're unstoppable."
The other girl looked back up at her, and her eyes were passionate, overcome with emotion. Ino didn't know what to say. "Sakura. . ," she breathed, unsure of the change that had overcome her friend.
She didn't know what else to do. It came almost naturally. Those eyes held her captive, and so, it was only fair to capture something of Sakura's. Her lips were petal soft in the brief instant they were against her own.
Sakura stared at her, dumbfounded and Ino could only concur with her friend's confusion. "Ino. . ."
"Sakura. . ." Ino blushed and looked down at her feet.
"I'm sorry." Sakura laughed, bitterly. "Don't be sorry!"
She looked at her friend and said earnestly, "That's one way to make them hate me."
Ino blinked in confusion. Then, her confusion was overwrought by surprise.
- - - - - - - -
"Good morning," Iruka said, greeting the band cheerfully.
"Good morning, Sensei," they droned back, sounding more like buzzing bees than anything human. It was too early by their standards to be cheerful.
"Today, we have a new student with us. I'd like you all to say hello to Gaara. He's going to be playing the oboe for us."
Naruto glanced over at the indicated student. Gaara had flaming red hair, and no eyebrows. Naruto wondered briefly if that was because he dyed his hair and his eyebrows didn't match, so he shaved them off.
He could barely see Gaara's eyes, but he did determine that they were an odd shade of green. They were rimmed with heavy black eyeliner, giving the impression that Gaara was some sort of punk.
As if he had felt himself being scrutinized, Gaara glanced up at Naruto, and smiled. The odd thing about was that he didn't really smile, per se, as his lips twitched upwards in a nasty expression. It promised violence. Naruto shuddered under that gaze and quickly turned back to his music. He decided that he didn't like Gaara much.
Sasuke, meanwhile, was also scrutinizing the newcomer. His judgement, however, was less noticeable than Naruto's, as he could just glance to the side and see the newbie. Naruto had to turn around to see anybody, which was much more obvious.
Sasuke saw Gaara lift his head and smile nastily at Naruto. He had to force himself to stay in his seat. The way Gaara looked at Naruto made him nervous, made him feel protective of Naruto. There was something predatory in Gaara's gaze and Sasuke didn't like it one bit.
Speaking of Naruto, he still had to apologize to the other boy. If he didn't want to lose Naruto, he had to apologize for not talking to him. He sighed and lifted his flute to his lips, because Iruka was giving them the start signal.
His eyes kept darting back to Naruto. He really hoped he hadn't hurt the blond's feelings too much. He didn't want Naruto to be. . .upset because of him.
Many gruelling minutes and several start-overs later, Iruka dismissed them. The band members slowly filtered out of the room, heading to their various lockers and classes.
Naruto nearly jumped when somebody placed a hand on his shoulder. He glanced back, half expecting to see Iruka or even Sasuke.
Instead, he saw cold, green eyes. Gaara smiled at him. "Hello," he said and his voice sent chills down Naruto's spine.
The red-haired boy smiled and studied Naruto, as if memorizing every detail of his face. Naruto tried to tear his eyes away, but he was held, both by fascination and fear. Absently, Gaara reached up and stroked the blond boy's cheek with his forefinger and thumb.
Gaara smiled. He'd transferred to this school about a week ago. He'd noticed Naruto his very first day at the new learning institution. He recalled sitting by himself in the cafeteria, about two tables away from where the blond had been sitting, alone as well.
He'd been fascinated. Here was another creature like himself, when he'd thought himself alone in the world. Here was another who understood what it meant to be the social reject, to be alone. The only thing he couldn't understand was why anybody would reject the blond. He was pleasing to the eye, and he seemed no more harmful than any of the others there. Then again, he supposed that society just couldn't accept some people. People like himself, people who were a little bit different.
From that moment onward, he had tried to find out what set Naruto apart, what made him different. He had been tailing the blond for the last week, taking note of where he went, why he went and who he went with. That was the reason he had joined this stupid band in the first place. He wanted to find out what made Naruto so. . .special, as he called it.
"How are you, Naruto?" he practically purred, gauging the blond's reaction. He nearly laughed when he found it, because he'd expected nothing less.
Fear.
"H-how did you know my name?" The question started out in earnest surprise, and then the words became angry. Gaara smirked.
"I know quite a bit about you."
Naruto blinked, wracking his brain, trying to remember if he'd seen Gaara somewhere before, talked to him before. He didn't think he had. Heck, he didn't think Iruka had even introduced the eyebrow-less freak to any of the band members individually. How did he know his name!
Gaara smirked, watching confusion darken Naruto's fair features. His moment of triumph was ruined, however. Sasuke, who had been standing silent in the background throughout the entire exchange, had pulled Naruto away by his arm, positioning himself between Gaara and Naruto. Gaara frowned. Naruto blinked stupidly in surprise. Sasuke threw an angry glare over his shoulder at Gaara. "Excuse me," he gritted out, "but I need to talk to Naruto."
Gaara's face twisted into an angry scowl. "As you wish," he said begrudgingly, and bowed out of the room without another word. Sasuke turned back to Naruto.
"Thanks," the blond breathed, a smile spreading across his face.
Sasuke shrugged. "Listen, Naruto. . .I. . .uh. . ."
Naruto smiled. "It's okay, Sasuke," he said, as if he knew exactly what the other boy was trying to say. "I'm sorry too."
He hugged Sasuke then and Sasuke could only blush and look surprised. Hesitantly, he wrapped his own arms about Naruto, revelling in the feeling of holding the other boy close.
"Aw, another sweet and sappy moment," somebody cackled.
Sasuke glared in the direction of the voice. Orochimaru smirked at him. "So cute," the older boy said mockingly.
"Screw off," Sasuke growled. Orochimaru just laughed.
Naruto pulled back from the embrace, glancing at the clock. "We need to get to class," he said.
- - - - - - -
Gaara curled his lip in disgust, watching the dark-haired asshole exit the music room with Naruto. Just who did that jerk think he was! He had no right to interrupt him while he was talking to Naruto.
Naruto certainly seemed glad of his company thought, Gaara noted bitterly as he watched the pair manoeuver down the crowded halls. He grunted in annoyance and turned, ready to head for his own class.
He changed his mind suddenly and headed for the nearest set of double doors. He needed to get away. He needed air. He needed to think and plan.
He needed a cigarette.
- - - - - - - -
Kiba glanced up from his book, watching as Sasuke and Naruto walked into the classroom. His expression darkened and his lip curled into a sneer, but nobody could see it, because his face was buried in the book.
He hated Sasuke. Sasuke was such an arrogant asshole. He acted like the rest of the world was inferior and that bugged Kiba. What made Sasuke so great? He didn't get it. Shikamaru was every inch as smart as Sasuke, but he didn't get that kind of recognition. Sometimes, this world made no sense.
Kiba half suspected that it was because Sasuke was the son of a wealthy business man, that everyone respected him. He didn't doubt that if the other boy had been as stupid as shit, that the teachers still would have loved him to death, just because his father was practically paying their wages.
And now, since Sasuke's parents were dead, everybody pitied him. They pitied him and said he distanced himself as a way to express his pain and they forgave him for being such a prick. Kiba didn't buy that. Sasuke had been distant long before his parents were dead. Sasuke was just a prick, and there was no need to forgive him, or pity him.
Kiba felt he had every reason to make fun of Sasuke. That kid needed to be brought down a peg or two. He needed to learn he was just like everyone else. Making fun of him, publically humiliating him, was just the way to kill all that stupid pride he had.
Kiba shifted his gaze to Naruto. He gritted his teeth. The blond was just, in general, annoying. He was always bubbly and bright. Nothing seemed to bring him down. He was stupid, he knew nothing and yet he bragged about how great he was. He'd never amount to anything at all.
Kiba glared at him. He hated Naruto, he hated everything about Naruto. He hated the way the boy talked, the presence he had. He even hated how the kid walked. In Kiba's opinion, Naruto was like a crime against humanity.
'They deserve what they get,' he thought bitterly, glancing at his book, then off to his left.
Hinata was sitting beside the open window, thoroughly absorbed in her book. Kiba nearly sneered. The girl was such an idiot, wasting her time crushing on Naruto. She deserved so much better.
He glanced to his right, looking forward, spotting Sakura and Ino passing notes. He wasn't sure who was worse: Hinata for liking Naruto, or Sakura and Ino for liking Sasuke. Girls were idiots.
He looked back at his book. He didn't really focus on the text, but rather, his thoughts. Everyone was so blind. They were all idiots. They were selfish, self-centred pigs. All they thought about was how sad their lives were, or how great they were, or how they loved somebody. They didn't even know what love was. They were just infatuated.
The words blurred before his angry eyes. They got what they deserved, they got what they deserved, they got what they deserved. . .
Sasuke and Naruto deserved every bad word they ever received, every insult that came their way. He snuck a glance at Naruto. The blond was seemingly so harmless, so weak and fragile. He'd shown the class another side of himself lately and it made Kiba wonder.
Maybe Naruto wasn't so bad. Maybe Naruto didn't deserve what he got. He certainly hadn't deserved what had come his way. Kiba sighed and tried to make the words on the page make sense again.
- - - - - - - - -
Ino sank into the seat next to Shikamaru. The dark-haired boy raised an eyebrow, slightly baffled by his friend's exasperated expression. He was about ask a question, when his attention was diverted by the blonde girl's lunch. He reached forward to snag a fry and got his hand slapped.
Ino glared at him. He glared back. "Bitch," he muttered.
"Mooch," she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him.
He rolled his eyes. "What's up now? You look like something tragic just happened."
He leaned back in his chair and waited for her to reply. She glanced nervously about, then turned to face him. "Don't tell anybody, okay?"
He could barely hear her over the noise of the cafeteria. Still, he nodded and waited for her to continue. Her blue eyes darted about. "I. . .kissed Sakura."
Shikmaru raised an eyebrow, silently prompting his friend to continue. Ino sighed. "She called last night and I missed the call, so I went over to her house and . .well. . .yeah," she finished, looking at her laid-back friend.
For some reason, she really cared what Shikamaru thought of her. He was her best friend, he had been for a long time, and he was her confidante. He listened to everything, and then, when he offered advice, it was usually fairly sound. She watched his face for signs of disgust or shock.
He merely shrugged. "Good for you," he said.
Ino felt her face twist up in anger. She had expected more of a reaction. She wanted him to tell her that it was wrong and that it was disgusting! If his reaction was negative, she would be able to quell the confusing feelings swimming about in her stomach.
But no, Shikamaru would never give her a negative reaction, let alone much of a reaction, because he knew it would piss her off. Just the same as giving her no reaction did, because no reaction wasn't helping her!
She looked away and stared sorrowfully at her lunch. "Hey," she said softly.
Shikamaru glanced at her. She offered him the plate of fries. "Help yourself," she said, feeling as if she needed to make amends. She really shouldn't be mad at Shikamaru. After all, it wasn't his fault she had kissed another girl.
Shikamaru eyed her warily and reached for a fry. She sighed.
- - - - - - - - -
"Hey."
Itachi glared at his boyfriend. "What the hell are you doing on my doorstep at. . ." He glanced at the clock. "Ten o'clock on a Tuesday night?"
Orochimaru shrugged. "Do I need an excuse?"
"Yes."
Orochimaru sighed. "Itachi, you're such a prick sometimes."
The other boy smirked and moved aside, allowing Orochimaru into the house. "I try," he said smugly.
Orochimaru walked into the house and slipped off his shoes. Then, he pivoted and swept Itachi up into his arms. The other boy clung to him, as if afraid of falling, then glared at him. "Put me down."
"Never!"
Orochimaru made quite a show of waltzing about the living room, Itachi cradled in his arms, before settling down on the sofa. Itachi punched him playfully. "Idiot," he hissed. "What do you think my brother would do if he saw that?"
"Laugh," Orochimaru retorted, rubbing his nose against Itachi's.
Itachi laughed lightly. "I'll kill you, I swear," he laughed softly, trying to push his way out of his boyfriend's grip.
Orochimaru was more yielding than he expected and when he was released from the embrace, he tumbled right off the sofa, onto the floor.
"Jerk," he hissed.
Orochimaru merely snickered at his misfortune. Itachi grumbled and clambered back onto the couch. "So. . .what did you want?" he asked, glancing at his significant other curiously.
"I wanted to know if you wanted to have a party on Friday," Orochimaru said nonchalantly.
"Oh, no. . .not another one of your parties," Itachi groaned. "Your parties are always disasters, Orochimaru. Gods, I don't even want to remember the last one."
Orochimaru smirked slyly. "Hey, it was all good while you were drunk."
Itachi huffed. "It wasn't so good after I found my house trashed. And after I was hung-over. And after I was sore and abused and -"
"You liked it while we were doing it."
Itachi glowered. "I'm not hosting another of your parties. If you want to have another party, you can have it at your own place."
"Sweetie -"
"Don't you dare! I'm not going to do it! I will never have another party in this house!"
About half-an-hour later, Itachi was wondering how the hell Orochimaru convinced him to host the party as he sat with the other boy and tried to make a list of all the things they would need for Friday night.
- - - - - - - - -