Disclaimer: (In a wheelchair) My wonderful sezzy pal Gaara is here to do the honours!
Gaara: …
TJ: Loosely translated that means "TJ doesn't own anything."
Summary: There's a fine line between Rival and Friend and an even finer line between Friend and Lover. Sasuke refuses to cross any of these lines with Naruto, but fate seems to have it in for him. School fic NaruSasu
Warnings: Slash/Shounen Ai/Yaoi, occasional swearing and, knowing me, some eventual angst. I promise I'll try to make this my first humour fic! WISH ME LUCK!
Crossing the Line
Previously:
"Haku." I correct, as the dark-haired boy turns to leave.
"I know he's not the reason you're holding back from Naruto." Kakashi-sensei presses and I find that I'm sick of this conversation.
"I need to sleep before tomorrow."
And so I do.
Chapter 9: Resolution
I walk into school, to sum it up in a single word, miserably. I'm receiving more stares than normal. Naruto hates me. Not that I care…or at least I shouldn't care. I'm concerned--an abnormal feeling for me--and…I'm receiving more stares than normal…
This last one has me unsettled. Why is everyone staring at me and…whispering?
I spot Sakura in the crowd of gawkers and raise an eyebrow in question as she bounces over to me.
"Sasuke! You look nice today!" She coos, holding her hands timidly in front of her and smiling shyly at me. I stare at her as if she's grown another head; I'm the same asalways.
'Oh. Shit.' My eyes widen in horror as I draw the only possible conclusion for the overabundance of stares today.
"Sakura..." I begin tentatively, unsure of how to confirm my fears without straight out asking her. "Do you like the new color I tried?"
The plan is if she says the new black looks stunning on me, I remembered to shower this morning; if she gushes about how good pink looks on me, I forgot.
"Of course I do Sasuke!" She exclaims with a bright smile, "We're like twins now!"
I shake my head at her girlish notions and mentally curse myself; if I still have the dye in, that means I still have the make-up on. I begin to walk away, glad that I at least had enough competence to change this morning, when a hand on my shoulder stops me.
"Sasuke…" Sakura begins in a tone I rarely hear from her…sincerity…
"Hm?" I turn to look at her, curious as to the sudden personality change she's showing.
"I'm sorry about the scene I made on Friday…." She trails away as my mind begins traveling through its massive amounts of memories in search of a scene Sakura made on Friday. Past the little stunt I pulled at Naruto's place and my night at Sharingan last night, I can't remember a thing… I cast her a questioning glance.
"About you and Naruto being a," she blushes but continues, "couple. I'm happy for you." The last part is said as a long sigh, as if she's been trying to come up with the right words to say all weekend.
I'm taken aback by the sudden maturity that Sakura is showing and smirk slightly at her.
"He's not as bad as everyone makes him out to be." I find myself saying as we, Sakura and I, walk to my locker together. It feels refreshing to talk to someone when they don't have ulterior motives, getting in my pants for example.
"Yeah, I know." She concedes, lowering her eyes. "I guess sometimes it's just easier to play into the role you're used to rather than trying to break out of it." I nod, agreeing with her and lift my head, glancing at the numerous people staring at me.
"I heard he's a fag." I hear one person whisper and find myself scowling.
"…with Naruto?"
"I thought they…"
"…rivals?"
"…ew…Sasuke likes guys…"
"…up the bum!…"
I frown as a group of testosterone-induced males burst into laughter.
"Hey Uchiha!" One of them calls; I recognize him as the tenth grader that tripped Naruto on Friday, putting us in the compromising position that spawned our 'relationship'.
I glare at him.
"I never knew you liked it up the ass." He snorts, and the laughter starts all over again.
"Ignore them…" Sakura whispers to me, pulling me away from the dense block of muscle just before I, personally, tear him apart limb by limb. I allow her to lead me to a more secluded hallway before tearing my arm from her grip, angry with her for stopping me from protecting my pride.
"Next time don't stop me." I growl and turn away from her and towards the nearly empty hall.
Nearly empty save for Sakura, myself and…Naruto…
I stop dead in my tracks. Naruto is staring at me with wide, apprehensive eyes and is stopping his own trek down the hall.
"Naruto." I say, trying to keep my voice calm. It comes out as cold.
"I can't…" He whispers fearfully and bolts down the nearest hallway, evading me.
"Damnit." I curse and take off after him, leaving a very confused Sakura in my wake.
'The grip on my shoes sucks,' I note as I slide precariously around the tight corner Naruto just bolted around and down the hall. I continue sprinting, eyes peeled for a shock of blonde hair.
I speed up; I see him.
"Naruto, stop damnit!" I yell as I put forth another burst of speed. People are really staring now. Not only do I have the most eccentric makeover this school's ever seen, but I'm chasing down the hall after my 'boyfriend' at top speed and yelling at him.
Naruto glances over his shoulder at me and, judging by the look of terror on his face, he reads my determination as livid anger. Sometimes I hate the way my face makes every emotion I show come off as cold and manipulative.
"Damnit, Naruto, stop running from me!" I roar as he makes a move indicating his plans to turn down another hall.
This comment brings him to an abrupt halt.
With all the momentum I've built, I nearly slide into him.
'Yup, the grip on my shoes definitely sucks.' I affirm as I stumble to a stop mere inches away from him.
"I'm the one who's running away?" He asks with loosely controlled anger. I glance at his fists and note that they're balled.
Damnit. I forgot that the one way to piss Naruto off is to insinuate in any way that he's a coward.
"Listen, I just want to talk okay?" I say exasperatedly, grabbing his arm and dragging him away from our growing audience.
"Oh, so now you want to talk?" He growls and rips his arm from me. We're still in the crowded hallway being ogled by fangirls and homophobes alike. "You didn't want to talk on Friday."
"Would you quit being so self-centered and listen to me?" I drawl in annoyance. In reality, I'm fuming, but something keeps me from letting him know that.
"S-self-centered!" He sputters indignantly, glaring at me furiously.
"Yes. What happened on Friday had nothing to do with you." I state, shoving my hands in my pockets and standing in a relaxed stance, the complete opposite of Naruto's tense, angered posture.
"Oh really? Because from the impression I got, you didn't want to see me again." He blurts out; hurt flashing in his eyes.
'Why is he so hurt by my actions?' I find myself wondering, ignoring the sudden onslaught of whispers, 'it's not like we're friends.'
"I tried calling you all-" I'm yelling so I cut myself off and lower my voice, leaning forward in frustration. "I tried calling you all fucking weekend!" I spit out, glad that he seems shocked.
'So he wasn't ignoring me…'
I'm relieved.
"Really?" He's searching now, looking at me for answers, for assurances.
"Yeah." I shrug and push a lock of black hair from my face as he grins.
"You're really taking this gay thing seriously." He taunts, his eyes locked on my ridiculously flaming appearance.
"Haku thought I needed a makeover." I explain flippantly, following as Naruto moves past me and in the direction of Kakashi-sensei's class.
"Haku?" He asks suspiciously.
"A guy I work with." I clarify, adjusting my abnormally light bag. "Shit, have you been to your locker yet?" I ask, hoping he'll walk with me to mine. Perhaps the rabid fan girls will keep at bay if my 'boyfriend' is with me. Naruto blushes and scratches the back of his head.
"Actually, I got kind of sidetracked." He murmurs, abashed.
"We'll stop at mine then yours on our way to class then." I decide, turning sharply down the corridor that leads to my locker.
"Sure." Naruto follows me, slinging an arm around my shoulder. His cunning grin is unnerving me. I glance pointedly at his arm then back at him with slightly narrowed eyes. Naruto completely ignores the action.
"Did you know that public displays of affection are expected from newly acknowledged couples?" He asks artfully and pulls me closer to him.
I scowl and push him away, fully aware of the sudden looks we're receiving.
"…it's true?"
"…ew my virgin eyes…"
"…touched Sasuke-kun…"
"…that he did…"
I block out the voices and return my attention to Naruto.
"I'm not into publicly displaying anything." I respond, ignoring the way he rolls his eyes at me.
The only reason I haven't reminded him that we're not even really going out is because we still have a stupid audience. When will people get lives of their own and stop tracking mine!
"You're no fun." Naruto pouts and crosses his arms over his chest, reaching my locker. "Besides, all your followers won't believe you're mine unless they see us doing…stuff…" He's speaking unbearably loudly now and grinning manipulatively at me. I hurry to stand beside him at my locker. People are watching even more vehemently now.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I hiss at him in a hushed tone as I manage to get into my locker and start pulling out my books.
"Warning you that I'm about to kiss you." He responds with a devious smile in just as quiet a voice. I freeze midway through stuffing a book in my bag and stare at Naruto with wide eyes.
"You're what!" I whisper in surprise.
I think I'm having a heart attack.
"About to kiss you." He repeats, licking his lips, an alluring gleam in his eye.
…
'This is where I object whole-heartedly,' the logical side of me thinks as a smirk graces my features.
"I'll give you five seconds to run." I murmur back, leaning forward slowly. He winks at me slyly.
"This time you'll be the one that's catatonic when I'm through with you, Uchiha." He whispers huskily and follows my lead, pulling closer to me.
I can feel everyone's eyes on me as I place my hand behind his head and take his mouth with my own.
…
I'm frozen and completely at Naruto's mercy as his tongue gently strokes my lips, asking for entrance.
Oh god, this wasn't a good idea!
'He likes you remember!' My mind screams as I moan into his mouth and pull him closer.
Kisses aren't supposed to feel this good! This is supposed to feel like kissing Haku, emotionless, empty…but it doesn't.
I feel…alive.
He pulls away tantalizingly slow and licks his lips, smirking at me.
"Five."
I shudder at the loss of heat.
"Four."
I want so badly to pull him towards me again.
"Three."
Why is he smirking at me so superiorly? He did not just win.
"Two."
I suddenly realize he was right. I'm currently catatonic.
"One." He grins at me arrogantly as I regain muscle control.
"Run." I murmur.
And we're off.
OoOoO
We stumble into Kakashi-sensei's class with about as much grace as a pair of beached walruses. Naruto's arm is slung lazily over my shoulder, and he's laughing boisterously. I can't keep the small smile from my lips as he pulls me closer, despite the awkwardness of it all.
I feel drunk, only I'm sober. It's…nice.
"I told you I'd give you five seconds!" I remark haughtily, unprepared as he hastily catches my lips in a chaste kiss. I'd just like to state that I did not give him permission to kiss me whenever he wants!
(For the record, I still find him remarkably annoying.)
"Hmph! You were still catatonic for those five seconds!" He argues, releasing me back into my desk. My dumb smirk is still in place as a small laugh escapes my lips. I don't think I've ever felt this happy, and I don't think I've ever laughed before. I wish I had a drug that could do this for me.
"They're staring." I comment coolly, smirking as everyone watches Naruto and I interact.
"Why wouldn't they? You're Uchiha Sasuke, everyone probably knows about what just happened by now." He points out, grinning wildly.
I laugh again, a quiet controlled laugh.
Next thing I know, Naruto is laughing as well and this just makes me laugh harder, which in turn makes him laugh harder, and I suddenly feel so alive that it feels wrong. And I'm scared because I keep letting him kiss me without any thought ,and I shouldn't because we've only been friends for a week. And I shouldn't like him this much, or his kisses, but I really don't want this sudden burst of joy to end...
I'm still laughing.
"Oh for the love of God, would you two shut up!" Shikamaru suddenly exclaims in exasperation, lifting his head to glare at us. "Save it for the honey moon."
We both pause to look at him, completely taken aback.
The brunette genius' head falls back to his desk with a loud thud.
Naruto bursts out laughing and I smirk. The drunken feeling is gone now and I'm back to my normal vague, emotionless self, but the lingering feeling of happiness is still there, and for once, I think I like how I feel.
OoOoO
I'm walking to my English class, the only class I don't have with Naruto, when a group of dunces decide to pester me.
"What did I tell you about Naruto?" I glance up to see Kiba snarling at me. He is accompanied by his ever-present best friend Shino as well as a collection of other homophobes I don't know.
I remain silent and decide to ride out the wave of insults as they come.
"I can't believe you're a fag." One of them states incredulously.
"Fucking pansy." Another one adds, roughly pushing me into a locker.
"I always wondered why you were so moody...this explains it though." A punch lands on my jaw as I try to figure out who the hell the idiot who came up with that brilliant insult is.
"You're just like your tramp of a brother, Uchiha. My sister told me all about him." Kiba is speaking again. I scowl at him and make a move to punch him but am quickly detained by two people I don't know.
"Tell me Uchiha, how many STD's does Itachi have?" Another person I don't know asks this question before punching me in the gut. I gasp and try to curl my body around my bruising stomach but the hands restraining me hold me still.
"Don't go any lower, Yuki, or you might turn him on." Someone warns the puncher; I growl under my breath.
This time a kick connects with my ribs and if I weren't being held up I would have fallen to the ground. The assault of punches and attacks continues mercilessly. The only sounds being made are their insults and my grunts of pain as I take the beating without complaint.
The bell rings.
They stop and look at each other stupidly.
"You guys better let him go, don't want him getting the wrong impression." One of them says finally, and I realize that Kiba and Shino have left.
I fall uselessly to all fours as the hands holding me up release me.
"Get up Uchiha, the only person that wants to see you on all fours is your fucking gay lover." One of them spits out, and just like that, they walk away, leaving me in the hallway.
I sigh and somehow manage to make my way to the nurse's office.
"Sasuke?" Tsunade sounds surprised when she sees me enter the room, limping and bleeding. "What happened?"
I stare at her blankly a moment before slowly replying.
"I fell."
OoOoO
Naruto and I are sitting on his couch, sipping water and talking. We've just decided that today's burst of affection was a one-time thing, and we should really keep our hands off each other, seeing as how we don't really know one another and aren't dating in reality.
Actually, I decided all of this. Naruto just nodded resignedly throughout my speech. I think he really does like me, but I decide if he does, that's okay.
"Hey Sasuke?" I look up from staring in contemplation at my drink at the sound of Naruto's voice.
'If he's going to ask me if I'm still hurt from my 'fall'…'
"I'm fine." I snap and he averts his eyes hesitantly.
"Actually that wasn't what I wanted to know…" He tightens his grasp on his own cup of water and avoids my gaze, "Um…was I your first kiss?"
I raise an eyebrow at the odd question.
I know for a fact I'm not a bad kisser.
"No. Why?" This doesn't seem to be the answer he expected, if the way his face falls is any indication.
"Just curious." He responds dismissively, still not looking at me.
"I don't see why you're upset." I ignore his protests at the insinuation, "It's not like I'm your first kiss." I say, always the voice of reason.
"How do you know that?" Naruto demands, offended.
"You told me you went out with Gaara in grade nine. Don't tell me you dated your best friend and didn't kiss him once." I drawl, taking a sip of my water. This conversation is making Naruto uncomfortable; I can tell.
"Yeah, I kissed Gaara, but he's the only person." Naruto looks up, finally meeting my eyes, "Who have you kissed?"
I pause at the question, unsure of how to answer.
"Who have I kissed…?" I trail away.
'Too many people…' I think bitterly. Half the time I don't know their names.
"I guess it depends on your definition of a kiss." I'm skating around the subject now, hoping that Naruto is as stupid as he looks and will be unable to follow what I'm saying.
"If you consider a kiss to be simply pressing your lips to someone else's and going through the motions, then I've kissed too many people to count." I gauge Naruto's shocked response and continue before he can fully grasp what I've just said.
"If you consider a kiss going through the motions and feeling something more than nothing in response to the actions, then I've only had one kiss." He stares at me, his face unreadable.
"That doesn't answer my question, Sasuke." He says dryly, "I asked who you've kissed, not how many people." I sigh and damn his random intelligent steaks.
"The only people that I know the names of and have kissed sober are you and Haku. Haku doesn't really count though; I didn't have much of a choice." I reply bitterly.
"You mean half the time you're drunk or you don't know their names?" Naruto yelps out incredulously.
"I work at my brother's gay bar." I inform Naruto humorlessly.
"You're underage!" He yells out, scandalized, and I roll my eyes as he tries to argue with my claim.
"Do you think Itachi gives a shit?" Naruto is motionless as he considers this.
When he finally shakes his head I continue, "Besides, if someone were to call Itachi on hiring one underage worker who just happens to be his younger brother they would suddenly find themselves, 'coincidentally', in a vicious unlucky streak. Itachi has connections and he has a vicious streak, making him a veritable threat to anyone who wants to hurt him…or his pride."
I'm surprised I've said so much to Naruto, but it doesn't feel like I'm telling him any huge secret. I'm just making Itachi out to be the asshole he is. I smirk, ignoring the pain in my split lip; Itachi can try to get his hands on Naruto now.
"Is that why you look like a flaming homo today?" Naruto asks in amusement. I glare dryly at him.
"I made the mistake of letting Haku, the guy I've kissed and danced with, go wild." That's all the answer he's going to get to that question.
"You…dance?" My blonde companion looks horrified at the concept, poor thing. I shrug.
"I just have to act sensual, no stripping involved." It's amazing how detached I am when it comes to my job at Sharingan, "Itachi knows I hate dancing, therefore he only gets me to dance on rare occasions, last night being one of them."
Next Naruto does something that takes me completely off guard…he laughs.
"What's so funny?" I'm irritated with him; I hate it when I'm not in on the joke.
"You talk like an old pro!" He smirks and deepens his voice, "'I just have to act sensual.'" I glare at him, not amused, as he mocks me.
"I have to leave." I declare as I stand, depositing my cup in the sink before heading for the door.
"I'll talk to you later?" He asks, still grinning.
This time I don't leave him hanging.
"Yeah."
Word up. Hope you liked it. A little fluff but Sasuke's still in denial. Silly rabbits, tricks are for kids and Sasuke is for Naruto.
POOF
toodles
TJ
word up.
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