Author's note: Only one more update before I leave. -Tears-
Love you guys, Enjoy.
Something was pulling Naruto from his pleasant little dream world. Shifting lightly, he absentmindedly fought whatever was dragging him from his slumber and tightened his grip on the comfortable weight on his chest.
...Wait. Wha?
Peeling an eye open, Naruto managed to take in the sight of Sasuke, in Naruto's teddy bear pajamas (he'd always known they'd come in handy some day), curled up against Naruto's chest. The pale Uchiha slept with his lips slightly parted, one hand lightly curled with the palm facing up by his face. His chest slowly rose and fell beneath the overly big pajamas as he slept.
...It's so totally his fault if I glomp him.
Smiling gently, Naruto watched the Uchiha sleep. It wasn't often that Naruto got to see the boy so relaxed...and a part of him wondered if Sasuke didn't relax because he knew just how...feminine he looked when he took the stick out. Naruto chuckled lightly, careful not to disturb the sleeping boy.
He really has no idea just how cute he really is. Stifling a yawn, Naruto glanced at the clock on the VCR. 3:00 AM. We'd better not stay here any longer, or neither of us will be able to move tomorrow morning.
Trying to wake himself up a bit more, Naruto reached over and snagged the forgotten remote on the ground beside them. He turned the muted TV off—it was probably the flickering light that woke him up earlier—and set the remote down again, looking at the still soundly sleeping Uchiha. Slowly, Naruto leaned forward and shifted Sasuke, eventually maneuvering him into his arms.
Naruto stood carefully, somehow managing to lift the boy into the air without jostling him. He smiled when Sasuke continued to sleep, his head cushioned against the blonde's shoulder. This was great timing for my klutziness to desert me.
Ignoring the lights in the den, Naruto carried Sasuke into his bedroom, lightly kicked his door shut, and set the boy down on the bed. Sasuke frowned immediately, curling onto his side and snagging a free pillow. Holding it against his chest, he burrowed his face into it and settled.
Laughing lightly under his breath, Naruto pulled the covers over his friend and went to turn out the light. You know, I don't think I'll let him live this down for a while. He's just so cuuuute!
Smiling over the numerous ways to tease Sasuke, Naruto slid into bed beside him and closed his eyes. He immediately slipped back into the realm of unconsciousness.
Thanks for coming over, Sasuke. When else would I have gotten a chance to see you this way? He smiled.
Who knew that Uchiha Sasuke was too cute for his own good?
One damn beam of light.
The first emotion Sasuke's mind registered as he awoke was irritation, one eye peeling open to glare at the malicious ray of sunshine that had chosen to snag his eyeball at the perfect angle to wake him up. Glowering, he reached down, snagged the comforter, and started to pull it up over his head.
An arm flopped across his chest.
Stilling, Sasuke slowly looked over at the gently snoring blonde beside him. Naruto's face laid about five inches from Sasuke's...
...A distance that shortened drastically when Naruto abruptly decided to pull Sasuke close and practically roll on top of him.
Sasuke stiffened, his face turning red as Naruto's snores were muffled by his throat. At least half of Naruto's chest was now on top of him, pressing him down into the mattress, and the boy's thigh had slipped between Sasuke's legs. Deciding to stare up at the ceiling, Sasuke tried to pretend that this was all a dream.
...Then again, that was probably a bad plan, since if this were a dream, he wouldn't have that bet to worry about, and he could—
Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut. Mind out of the gutter. Mind out of the gutter. You have will-power in there SOMEWHERE, Uchiha! Find it!
Naruto's thigh chose that moment to press against Sasuke's groin. Biting his lip, the Uchiha turned his face away. Maybe if he focused on something else... Sasuke thought quickly, then chose to start counting backwards from one hundred.
Beside him, Naruto let out a sleepy murmur and shifted against him, inadvertently rubbing Sasuke's crotch. Sasuke decided to count from one thousand instead.
Despite his best efforts, Sasuke felt his hormonally-overcharged body react to the stimulation the snoozing Naruto was giving him. He swallowed hard, trying to will down the erection that was dying to show up.
He failed.
Sasuke continued to bite his lip, threatening to draw blood as he restrained himself. Naruto wasn't helping things at ALL, considering the fact that the more bothered Sasuke became, the more determinedly the blonde seemed to rub against him. His hands violently gripping the sheets, Sasuke valiantly resisted the urge to grind himself against Naruto's leg.
He's still asleep. He's ASLEEP, dammit! If you respond, he's bound to wake up, and then what will you do? Sasuke bit back a groan as Naruto made a low noise in his throat and rocked his pelvis against Sasuke's right hip. The sheets threatened to rip beneath Sasuke's hands.
Breathing heavily, Sasuke felt sweat bead along his brow as Naruto shifted the arm about his waist, sliding his large, rough hand underneath the brunette's pajama top. Delicious slivers of electricity shot through him at the contact, making Sasuke's condition that much worse. He swallowed with difficulty.
If he wakes up now, I'll be mortified for life. He gasped when Naruto's thigh rubbed against him again, unable to keep his hips from lifting slightly off the mattress. But how do I get out of this without waking him up?
Even when asleep, Naruto seemed to respond to Sasuke, pressing the boy more firmly against the mattress and rocking himself forward. Sasuke's eyes flew open.
He...is he...? Sasuke froze as Naruto rocked against his hips again. This time it was unmistakable—Naruto was also sporting an erection.
The knowledge exploded in Sasuke's mind, making the boy's blush deepen to a fiery red. The next time Naruto rubbed against him, he was too distracted to stop himself from bucking against the other boy. Closing his eyes again, Sasuke tried to ignore the hand that was leaving trails of fire along his chest and the thigh that was creating that delicious friction between his legs.
Re— His brain tripped as he had to fight yet again to keep from grinding himself against Naruto's leg. —Regardless of how he's reacting to me right now— Gasping, he struggled to keep from writhing beneath the blonde, his hands lifting to grip the other boy's back. —He isn't aware of it!
Just when Sasuke was positive that he wouldn't be able to restrain himself any longer, Naruto stopped moving. Sasuke fought to get his breath back, Naruto's shirt bunching under his hands.
Jesus Christ... He swallowed hard, trying very, very hard not to move, since Naruto's thigh was still pressed against him. I do NOT want to start off the day by going off on Naruto.
Slowly managing to catch his breath, Sasuke tried again to will his reaction to Naruto away.
The blonde in question abruptly opened his eyes, staring at Sasuke with an unfocused gaze. The Uchiha froze.
...Crap. Unable to say anything—especially when the proof of his arousal was currently proudly wedged against the blonde's leg—Sasuke simply returned Naruto's gaze. The blonde stared uncomprehendingly at him for a long moment.
"...Sasuke?" His brow wrinkled in obvious confusion as his brain tried to grasp the situation. "What...?"
Abruptly, the blonde's blue eyes flew open. He glanced down, looked back up at Sasuke, and turned bright red.
"Jesus—Sasuke, I'm sorry, I—" Flustered, Naruto rolled away from him and sat up, folding his legs and grabbing his ankles with both hands. He hunched forward in an attempt to hide his arousal. "I...um, I forgot that...well, from time to time, I get a little affectionate when I sleep too close to someone, and..."
Sasuke remained on his back as he stared at the blonde. Naruto's...embarrassed? Surprised, he rose onto his elbows and watched as the blonde stumbled over his words. It's been years since I've seen him so frazzled.
A slow smile settled on Sasuke's face. It's about damn time that the tables were turned.
Slowly and deliberately, Sasuke sat up, pinning Naruto with a smoky gaze. "You know, Naruto, I never would have expected to come here and be molested by you in your sleep."
The blonde flinched, his blush increasing as he stared steadfastly at his feet. "I'm...sorry."
Sasuke's smile melted into a dangerous smirk as he crawled over to Naruto. He placed a hand on the blonde's chin and tipped it up, forcing Naruto to look him in the eye. Eyelids narrowing, he leaned forward and purred into Naruto's ear.
"Next time, you should do it when you're awake."
Naruto sputtered, shifting backwards away from the Uchiha. He seemed to grow more flustered as Sasuke immediately advanced, placing one hand on either side of the blonde's waist.
"N-now hold on a second, Sasuke!" He glanced down, clearly embarrassed by Sasuke's uncaring display of his arousal. "Don't you think we could both use a little space here?"
"Well, I suppose that's one way to alleviate this," he murmured, moving closer. Naruto looked nervous, another expression that he hadn't seen in years. Enchanted, he leaned down and gently nuzzled his nose against the base of the blonde's neck, inhaling that unique scent of honey and cinnamon that Naruto seemed to carry with him.
Naruto swallowed. "Somehow, I'm getting the feeling that you're not up for that choice."
Sasuke smiled. "Very observant."
After a moment of silence, Naruto shifted uncomfortably. "Well, either way, you could get off me, Sasuke."
"Am I making you...uncomfortable?" He chuckled lightly under his breath as the implied innuendo struck the blonde. "If so, I can think of other ways to make you...comfortable."
Now even Naruto's neck had turned red.
"Sasuke..." The Uchiha being addressed was fairly sure that Naruto hadn't meant to say his name quite like that. Stilling, he digested the husky quality to the blonde's voice. He sat up, placing his mouth inches from Naruto's.
"What?"
The blonde leaned back, trying to put some distance between himself and the brunette. Sasuke wasn't having any of it, advancing with each retreat Naruto made. The blonde's face scrunched.
"Look, will you cut that out already?"
...He's pouting. Sasuke couldn't bite back a grin. "Cut what out? Don't tell me you've developed issues about your personal space."
Naruto's bottom lip stuck out even further. Sasuke's grin simply widened. He really is pouting! God, was he always this adorable?
"I don't have issues about my personal space, it's just—"
"Just what?" Sasuke moved forward again, well aware of the fact that if Naruto moved any further back, he'd fall right off the bed.
"Just...well..." Naruto's eyes flickered uncertainly to Sasuke's lips, his fingers gripping the edge of the mattress.
"Just...?" Lowering his eyelids, Sasuke moved forward yet again. All Naruto had to do was move a tiny bit forward...
"Leeeeeet's get it started...in heeeeeeeeeere!"
Both boys froze as music by the Black Eyed Peas suddenly filtered into the room. Blinking, Naruto shoved Sasuke off him, flipped over, flopped over the side of the bed, and pulled out his cell phone.
Sasuke stared as the blonde flipped the phone open. THAT'S his ring?
"Hello?" Naruto answered curiously.
"YOU WENT ON A WEEKEND RETREAT WITH SASUKE AND DIDN'T TELL ME?"
Wincing, Naruto held the phone away from his ear. "Good morning to you, too, Sakura!"
"I SWEAR TO GOD, NARUTO, IF YOU DO ANYTHING—"
"Tell that to him!" Naruto interrupted. "He's the one pitching a tent over here."
Dead silence came over the phone. "...What?"
Sasuke lifted an eyebrow, startled by Naruto's willingness to tell the pink-haired girl what was happening. Even when she quieted down, her voice carried clearly to Sasuke from his position by the blonde.
"Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. He was coming on to me like a mad man before you called. You saved my life!"
More silence.
After a long moment, Naruto chuckled. "You okay over there, Sakura?"
"...Was that a joke, Naruto?"
The blonde heaved a tremendous sigh. "I wish. I think the Uchiha's trying to soil my good name!" He whimpered into the phone, giving Sasuke a pair of big, blue Bambi eyes and making his bottom lip tremble. "Please, Sasuke-kun...we shouldn't! Not while I'm on the phone! You...AH!"
Sasuke stared as Naruto made his suggestive comments, his own face heating. You know, he doesn't have to make those sexy faces, too...
After a long moment, he chuckled into the phone. "...Gotcha, Sakura."
"...You're an asshole, Naruto."
"What's the matter?" he teased. "You liked that, didn't you?"
"...I'm not answering that. Just keep your hands off him," she replied, clearly grumpy.
Naruto laughed. "Yes, ma'am. As you command."
The girl murmured something Sasuke couldn't catch just before the call was dropped. Naruto snapped the phone shut, grinning at Sasuke.
"That was a close one. I thought she was going to take my head off." Turning, he scooted off the edge of the bed and stood. "I'm taking a shower. Get your stuff together while I'm in there."
It wasn't until the blonde had closed the bedroom door that Sasuke realized that he'd just neatly gotten away.
Dammit! That's three times now! He scowled.
What's it going to take to get him to kiss me?
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Letting the water from the shower head above trail down his back, Naruto banged his head against the tiled wall of the shower.
"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!" He gritted his teeth, stopping his head banging long enough to grind his forehead against the wall. "What did I decide yesterday? It's been less than twenty-four fricking hours, man. Get it together!"
Thinking over the way Sasuke had approached him just now, Naruto ran a hand over his face, straightened, and set the water temperature to arctic.
It figures. Of all times for the guy to show that he's interested in me, it has to be right fricking after I decide that I'm not going to do anything with him. Placing one hand on the wall, he let his head hang. And people accuse me of having bad timing.
The cold water slowly started seeping into his skin, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure it. That's another thing. I haven't had to take a cold shower in years, dammit. It's all his fault!
After about ten minutes of grumbling under his breath, Naruto finally began to shiver under the onslaught of cold water. Sneezing, he turned the water back to hot.
Damn him. Two weeks ago I didn't even know that I was attracted to Sasuke—well, that way at least—and now after Neji's little "wake up call," I'm having issues. He sighed. Sometimes I wish I really were as oblivious as I pretend to be. Then I wouldn't know what was going on.
Turning off the water, Naruto stepped out of the shower, grabbed the towel he'd brought in earlier, and dried himself off. His chin set in a determined line, he got dressed.
I'll just have to make sure I don't present Sasuke with any opportunities on the way home.
Sasuke was ready to tear his hair out. The whole ride home, he kept trying to think up ways to create a "kissing environment," but any time he managed to find one, the blonde said something to derail his thoughts or put on a silly song to sing along with. Frowning, he turned to stare out the window.
Naruto hummed beside him, tapping the steering wheel. After a long moment, he glanced over at the Uchiha.
"Say, Sasuke. You still haven't thanked me."
He looked over at the blonde, one eyebrow lifting. "For what?"
"I dunno, taking you home with me, feeding you, taking you on a ride—" Sasuke coughed lightly and looked away— "or making you take a bath. Take your pick."
"The bath?" Sasuke's eyebrow climbed higher on his face. "Why the bath?"
"Well, it sounded like you enjoyed it last night. I'm guessing you were a lot sorer than you let on." Naruto returned his gaze to the road. "You kept moaning and splashing around."
Sasuke's eyes widened. He heard me? Oh god...please tell me I at least didn't say his—
"Oh yeah, and you kept saying my name." Naruto chuckled lightly, glancing back over at the brunette. "I figured that if you enjoyed it that much, you should at least thank me."
After a moment of staring at the blonde next to him, Sasuke simply turned and stared out the window. I won't blush. I won't blush. I won't—dammit!
"Sasuke? You ok?"
"You honestly enjoy embarrassing me, don't you?" Sasuke suddenly snapped. His gaze narrowed as he stared out the window.
"...Huh?"
The Uchiha turned, fixing Naruto with a stern gaze. "Every time I turn around, you're teasing me about something or humiliating me in some way. Do you get off on that or what!"
A pair of blue eyes blinked at him. "I...wasn't teasing you..." he slowly stated, watching Sasuke with confused eyes. "I figured...well, when I get into a hot bath when I'm sore, I make noises like that. That...wasn't the case last night?"
When Sasuke only stared at him with slowly widening eyes, Naruto's face turned lightly red.
"...Oh." The blonde looked away, fixing his gaze on the road. "Um, sorry. I didn't realize you were...um..."
...Is it possible for a person to die of embarrassment? Because I think I'm going to try... Sasuke returned his gaze to the window, aware of the abruptly awkward tension between them. He honestly didn't know...and I basically just admitted to his face that I was, well, having "naughty thoughts" about him last night.
Lowering his head slightly, Sasuke rubbed a hand over his eyes. And I call him an idiot.
After about ten minutes of silence, Naruto slowly started to sing, his voice soft.
"You think I'm goooorgeous, you want to huuuug me, you want to kiiiiss me..."
Sasuke turned to stare at him. Smiling sheepishly, Naruto looked at him and placed a hand behind his head.
"Heh, sorry. It just seemed kind of appropriate." He thought for a moment, then gave Sasuke a fox grin. "Or should I have sung 'Strokin' instead?"
Against his will, Sasuke's lips twitched. "Even you aren't that mean."
"Hey! I'm not mean! I poke fun out of the utmost consideration." He blinked innocently. "I take my amusement at others in awkward situations very seriously!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're sadistic."
"Am not. And besides, that's a great song." His grin returned in full force. "I stroke it to the east, and I stroke it to the weeeest—"
"Naruto!"
"And I stroke it to the woh-man that I looove the best!" Laughing, he dodged a smack on the shoulder. "I be strokin'!"
Sasuke connected a solid punch to the blonde's arm. "You're vile."
"Oh, come on. How many songs can cover sooo much in so few words?" His grin grew, stretching impossibly far as the boy mischievously narrowed his eyes. "I have that song, you know."
"You're not putting it on."
"But Sasuke-kuuuuun..."
"No."
Naruto sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll protect your virgin ears."
Sasuke snorted. "As if it's possible to have 'virgin ears' around you. How many people have you corrupted with your perverted comments?"
"Sixteen and counting. I have high hopes for the future."
"Like I said. Sadist."
Even as he received a smack upside the head, Sasuke managed a small smile. Thanks for letting me off the hook, Naruto. Shaking his head, he resumed his stare out the window and took note of the increasingly familiar landscape. Naruto let out a light sneeze beside him, lifting a hand to rub at his nose.
Eventually, the two drove onto campus, making their way to Naruto's dorm. After Naruto parked, Sasuke got out and leaned against the side of the truck while the blonde went through his twenty-two point checklist for securing the vehicle.
I wonder when he became so good at dissolving awkward situations... he mused, walking into the dorm when the blonde finally declared his truck safe.
...And about those other two. They must have heard about the weekend by now. Sasuke frowned. I wonder what's going through Gaara and Neji's minds.
"I hear there was a disturbance between you and Naruto today."
"This has nothing to do with you, Uchiha."
"Naruto's business is my business."
...Are you sure?
Sighing lightly, Neji stared up at the ceiling, stretched out on his bed with his arms up over his head. A light frown crossed his features. If I don't hold Naruto's affection, then I really don't have the right to say that. How can I claim that I should know everything about him?
Neji closed his pale eyes. I want...I want that right. I want to be able to say, "He's mine. Hands off!" Frowning, he rubbed a hand over his eyes. I guess that's what happens when you've liked someone for as long as I have.
Neji mused over that kiss he'd given Naruto last week. He could remember clearly the desperation he'd felt, the fear of rejection... It had taken more guts than he'd shown to actually plant that kiss on the blonde, his thoughts focused on somehow bringing the boy closer...and yet, ironically, that kiss was the very thing that pushed him away. Facing Naruto after that was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.
That was the problem with always appearing confident and in control. The more afraid Neji was, the more cold, curt, and condescending he acted. He knew it made him come across as a cold bastard, but it had always served its purpose...until now.
Hell, his pride was part of why he'd ended up with his crush on Naruto in the first place. It was...what, seven years ago now? One fateful summer with far too many coincidences had pulled him from grudging respect to a bundle of emotions he did not know how to deal with at the time...
Begin flashback-
They had to be fucking kidding him.
One pale eye twitched in Neji's otherwise impassive face as he sat among his peers. Snickering behind their hands, the other boys around him watched him with irritatingly amused eyes. Trying very hard not to jump up and kill them all, Neji took a deep breath.
"You must be mistaken. There is no way I'm going to play that role," he stated calmly.
"Nonsense!" The busty older blonde before them shook her head and waved a script at him. "You're perfect for the role. No one else in this troupe will be able to handle it!"
His eye twitched again. "I said, you're mistaken. I am not going to—"
"Hyuuga Neji, you are playing Juliet, and that's final." She looked away, gazing at the other boys. "Now then, who should I pick to play—"
"I. Am. Not. Playing. Juliet."
Sighing, Tsunade turned to him. "Look, someone has to do it. It's not my fault that no girls joined the group this year. Out of everyone here, you look the most—sorry to say it—feminine, so you're the only guy who could possibly play the part."
The snickers increased in volume. Before Neji could open his mouth to protest further, she held up a hand.
"Don't argue with me. I'm the director, and my word is final. Moving on!"
Neji started discreetly grinding his teeth. It was true that, for whatever reason, this was the only year that the boys in the acting troupe Tsunade ran outnumbered the girls (or lack thereof). It was also true that of all the years to choose to join the damn troupe, Neji had to choose this one...and, of course, Tsunade just had to be dead-set on performing Romeo and Juliet.
It was official. As of 12:03 PM, Neji's life sucked.
"Now then, to play Romeo..." She lifted her copy of the script and moved it slowly as she looked at the other boys. Smiling, she dropped it on the one sitting next to her. "Naruto! Congratulations."
"Me?" The blonde blinked up at her. "I thought you said you wouldn't give me a lead, Auntie."
"I changed my mind. Romeo is headstrong, flirtatious, and has an extreme disregard for authority." She whacked him on the head with her script. "You're perfect."
Scratching the back of his head, Naruto shrugged. "Whatever you say." His blue eyes briefly locked with Neji's before they returned to his aunt. "Just pick a Tybalt, then! I want to sword fight!"
Neji's frown grew. I'm playing Juliet—he suppressed a shudder—to Naruto's Romeo? Eyebrows furrowing, he glanced away. I suppose out of these troglodytes, he's the one I respect the most...
His mind wandering off, he felt a very strong sense of unease tug at his stomach.
Somehow...I get the feeling that this will all go horribly, horribly wrong.
Neji was right. Glowering, he stood on the small stage at the theater the blonde woman owned and glared at the script in his hands. They were supposed to rehearse the scene where Romeo and Juliet—he still could NOT believe he was actually playing that part—met at the party.
Naruto stood before him, one hand on his hip as he began to run through his lines.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand/This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this/My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand/To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
Neji fought not to roll his eyes. "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much/Which mannerly devotion shows in this;/For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch/And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."
Tsunade interrupted them. "Neji, you have to be more flirtatious. Bat your eyes if you have to, just stop being so stiff!"
She ignored the Blazing Look of Death ™ Neji calmly sent her way.
Naruto glanced over at her. "What about me?"
"You're the wanna-be ladies' man. You figure it out."
Chuckling, Naruto turned back to the quietly fuming Neji and put on a dangerously handsome smile (which he didn't completely pull off...he was thirteen years old, after all). He stepped forward, continuing his lines.
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;/They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
Neji was starting to get a bad feeling about this... "Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take./Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
Before Neji could open his mouth to say his next line, Tsunade stormed up onto the stage.
"What do you two think you're doing?" She scowled when they both turned to stare at her. "You're supposed to kiss here."
...And with those words, Neji's universe froze, flipped over, and fell apart.
Naruto sputtered, holding up his hands. "Auntie! In case you haven't noticed, we're both guys!"
"So were the original performers of Shakespeare. If they could do it, I'm sure you two can."
"But...but... That's gross!"
Neji stood rooted to the spot, his knuckles white as he gripped his script. She...wants me...to kiss Naruto? Is she insane?
Tsunade clucked her tongue against her teeth and folded her arms across her ample bosom. "It's in the lines, and you're going to do it. Now back up, starting with Naruto's last line, and this time give me a kiss!"
While Naruto heaved a hearty groan, Neji's mind went on overdrive, trying desperately to deny the truth of what was happening. This isn't happening. This isn't happening. This isn't happening.
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take./Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
This isn't happening!
His pale eyes went saucer-wide as Naruto's lips connected with his own. Inhaling sharply, he froze.
In the back of his mind, he heard a little boy ask, "How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?"
...Just one...
Naruto finally eased back, his nose scrunched up. "That was really...weird."
If Neji's mind were able to process what was happening at ALL, he'd probably agree.
Tsunade heaved a sigh. "You two are going to have to practice this scene. I don't want it burdened by homophobia, okay? You have to make it look real on opening night, or I'll stop the show and kill you both."
Rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand, Naruto gave her a sour look. "Can we just get on with it?"
His aunt rolled her eyes. "Fine. Pick up from Neji's line and continue."
The Hyuuga in question was still trying to get his brain back in gear. Naruto kissed me. He...kissed me! He frowned worriedly. Why aren't I more upset by this?
"Neji? It's your line."
Blinking, he mentally shook himself and lifted his script. "T-Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged/Give me my sin again."
"You boys will be kissing there, too."
Neji's script crumpled slightly in his hands. "You kiss by the book," he managed.
Yup. My life SUCKS.
On opening night, Neji stood off to the side of the stage. His pride was curled up in a corner and wailing miserably at the fact that he was currently standing in a DRESS, for God's sake.
"Hey, Neji. You okay?"
Glancing up, Neji watched the blonde walk over to him. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks for a few reasons: one, he was wearing a DRESS in front of the blonde, two, Naruto looked damn good in Romeo's costume, and three...
...There's only so many times you can kiss a boy like him before you start to...feel something for him. It had taken Neji pretty much the entire two months of rehearsals to even come close to admitting it, but he couldn't deny the fact that he had started looking forward to their rehearsals for a whole new reason.
Maybe when their performances were actually over, this madness would disappear.
After an extended pause, Neji finally replied, "I'm fine, Naruto."
The blonde shifted his weight upon one leg. "You sure? You look a little flushed." He lifted an eyebrow. "You're not going to pass out on the stage, are you?"
The Hyuuga simply gave him a cold look.
"Right. Silly me." Naruto fell silent for a long moment, gazing at the pale-eyed boy. Neji returned his stare.
"Is something the matter?"
The blonde hesitated. "You're probably going to kill me for saying this, but..." He slowly smiled, a hint of his future charm showing within the motion. "You look good, Neji. Really good."
Swallowing, Neji simply stared at him. Naruto chuckled, patting him on the shoulder.
"Break a leg, buddy." With that, he turned and walked away.
Neji didn't move for a long moment, his heart pounding in his chest.
...I'm screwed, aren't I?
End flashback-
Opening his eyes, Neji stared up at the ceiling of his dorm room. That night, I played my part almost embarrassingly well. Even Tsunade was impressed with how well the kissing scenes went.
He swallowed, vaguely remembering the feel of Naruto's arms going around his waist while Neji's lightly shaking hands gripped the front of the blonde's shirt.
That night was the night I stopped denying to myself how I really felt about him. Whether or not that was when my crush on him actually started, I finally stopped running from the truth. His eyes took on a forlorn glint as he contemplated the slightly uneven paint on the ceiling.
And now, seven years later, I haven't made any progress with him at all. I hid my feelings as best I could all that time, praying that they would go away...or that Naruto would give me a sign that he returned them. Neji sighed again. Unfortunately for me, my feelings for him only grew.
Rolling onto his side, Neji closed his eyes again. It's a sad state of affairs when you've loved someone for seven years and still have no standing with him.
He lay like that for a long time, ignoring the fact that by his watch, Naruto should be returning home about now. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself not to roll out of bed, race over to the blonde's room, and beg Naruto to return his feelings. He took a steadying breath, opening his eyes and glaring at the wall.
I will earn the right to love you, Naruto. I promise you that.
Author's note: Gomen, that was more about Neji-san than anything else, but it was about time we heard his back story. One more chapter to go, minna...make sure you tell me what you think! Kisses