Note from the Author: … I'm a bitch. I just wanted to, you know, warn you of that fact before any of you hunt me down and gouge my eyes out so that I can't see the keyboard anymore.
Kawaii-Aikurushii-Kitsune: Definitely not wise for him to go home alone, because, you know, old habits die hard.
Only-getting-darker: o.O New reviewer! :throws cookies: Thank you very much for all the lovely compliments that make me blush.
Lotus Aia: I'm glad you decided to beat at Itachi instead of killing me. Because that would have made me immensely sad inside. -.-
Kawaii-Yami-Neko: Another new reviewer! :increases cookie-throwing: Gaara does indeed have blue eyes, but I suppose it's debatable. And Sasuke wasn't going to leave all his stuff at his apartment, now was he? And Naruto … well … he didn't know that Sasuke was moving out … so of course, he's going to stalk his boyfriend at his home!
Migueliscool: … I thought you died. Or started hating me. Or something. Haha.
Mew-is-back: Another new reviewer:runs out of cookies and gives you a hug instead: I feel so popular today!
Inukitsy: You know Itachi – he's a persistent bastard. Although he's so damn fine, he could have anyone he wants.
Kichou: I can always count on you to love my favorite scenes in my chapters. It makes me feel really good.
Taiyo-san: Maybe I'll add a little more Lee – just for you, because you're a new reviewer and I'm out of cookies and tired of hugging. :big smile: I think I'm actually doing another AU for this little series I have going on that's going to be SakuLee … but it'll probably be sad, because I'm the Queen of Angst. :insert whiny emo moment:
… but lately I don't care.
Hinata ran to get the phone, still pulling on her shirt after her shower, grumbling about how no one ever answered it. "Hello?"
"Hinata?"
"Sasuke-kun! Is Naruto-kun there?"
A pause. "Yeah. We're just watching TV."
Her eyebrow shot up at the hesitation. "So … are you coming back here today, or do you need help packing?"
"Uh," now the nervousness was apparent, "about that. I think I'm just going to stay in my own place. I'd miss the, uh, independence."
White eyes narrowed. "What made you change your mind?"
"I … don't know."
I do. "Well, if you're sure." Hinata said reluctantly. "I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, thanks, Hinata." Click.
She listened to the dial tone buzzing in her ear for a moment, then hung up and called Neji. By the time he picked up, her tension had increased tenfold, and she blurted, "We have a problem."
"Hello to you too." Her cousin sighed. "And said problem would be?"
"Itachi's back."
She could almost see him sitting up straighter. "How do you know?"
"Sasuke-kun changed his mind – he doesn't want to come here anymore. And I could tell he was lying to me on the phone. If it's not Itachi, something really bad happened."
"Calm down." Pause. "And stop chewing on your fingernails."
Her hand flew from her mouth. How could he always tell that stuff? "What are we going to do?"
"Did he say Naruto was there?"
"Yes."
"Well, we're going to call him first and see if it was true -"
"But it's not!" She was near panic now.
"Hinata-sama, relax. Alright, call Naruto. I'll come pick you up, and we'll go check on Sasuke, okay?"
"Alright."
0
Hinata dashed to the car. "Hi, Neji-nii-san."
"Did you talk to Naruto?" He asked as he pulled out of the driveway.
"No. He didn't answer."
"Good. I was thinking about it and I realized all he's going to do is worry if we're asking after Sasuke."
They pulled into the apartment complex's parking lot.
"His car isn't here." Hinata commented softly.
They took the stairs two at a time up to the Uchihas' floor. Neji knocked sharply, pushing Hinata most of the way behind him, growling, when Itachi answered. "Where's Sasuke?"
"Not here." The elder Uchiha said nonchalantly, eyeing the Hyuugas, eyebrow lifted in vague amusement.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
The male Hyuuga's eye twitched slightly. "Any idea where he might be?" The manners were forced at best, but Hinata gave him an A for effort.
"Check with his boyfriend."
0
One of Sasuke's favorite things was a warm bed – to curl up beneath two or three blankets, his head nestled in a feather pillow. There seemed nothing more comfortable, securing, than a place where he felt safe enough to sleep soundly.
Of course, his own bed no longer held that feeling for him. It had been tainted with Itachi's presence, and Sasuke avoided sleeping there at all if he could.
So when Naruto had invited him to spend the night there, he jumped at the chance, even if it meant Itachi was going to beat the shit out of him when he got home. Now, at one o'clock in the morning, he lay in Naruto's bed, snuggled against his lover, watching his sleeping face. "I wish I could stay here." He whispered, running the backs of his fingers along his cheek.
As if he heard him, Naruto pulled him closer, their foreheads touching lightly, and Sasuke smiled, closing his eyes. He had a mind to stay forever.
0
"Teme." That annoying voice was whining in his ear. "Wake up."
He cracked an eye, glaring at the clock. "Dobe, it's eight-thirty. Explain to me why we have to get up at eight-thirty."
Naruto scooped him into his arms, purring, "The same reason you stayed the night."
Sasuke tilted his head up, eyes narrowed. "There was a reason I stayed the night?"
The blonde boy sighed. "You really don't remember?"
"Jesus, Naruto, just tell me!"
"It's your birthday, you moron!"
He blinked. "Really?" The dark eyes softened. "You remembered my birthday?"
"Haven't forgotten it since you told me when it was when we were eight – remember that, Sasuke? I came all the way to your house to give you cookies I made myself."
"Yeah – they were burnt."
"It's the thought that counts, teme!"
The Uchiha sighed contentedly, cuddling closer to his boyfriend.
He had honestly forgotten it was his birthday – which wasn't really that much of a surprise, considering he hadn't celebrated it since his parents died – not really. Itachi usually just molested him more than once on his birthday - and he wouldn't really call that a celebration.
"I still don't see why we had to get up early." He murmured.
"Because I invited everyone over to celebrate!"
A tick appeared in Sasuke's eyebrow. "Why do you insist on making a big deal out of everything?"
"Because," he suddenly found Naruto straddling him, their faces inches apart, "you're a big deal."
The elder boy smiled and closed his eyes for a kiss that was all too chaste.
"So," Naruto whispered against his mouth, "how does it feel to be eighteen, hm?"
He dug his fingers into the blonde hair, mashing their lips together again. "I'm starting to like it." He said hoarsely, as his lover's tongue traced his collarbone. "If it means waking up to this every morning, I'll like it a lot."
"Too bad we don't have enough time to continue this." Naruto commented, wincing as he heard the doorbell. "Jesus – I will bet you anything that's Neji and Hinata. They're always so fucking prompt."
Sasuke groaned, managing to claim another kiss before they hopped out of the bed, rushing for clothes and toothbrushes.
0
"I'm going to give Sasuke-kun a piece of my mind." Hinata grumbled, a dark cloud almost visible above her head as they stood on the doorstep.
"No, you won't." Neji stated simply.
She glared at him, but didn't argue. It was probably true. "I wish he'd told us it was his birthday."
"He doesn't strike me as the type to like parties. In fact, I bet Naruto didn't even tell him about this one until this morning."
She giggled. That was probably true too.
0
Naruto pulled the door open, grinning. "Hi, guys! Thanks for coming!" He beckoned them inside, led them to the kitchen, where Sasuke was falling asleep on the table.
Neji's eyebrow shot up, and he poked the tired boy. "Jesus, Naruto – what were you guys doing all night?"
"Fuck you, Neji." Sasuke managed to murmur.
"We were sleeping." Naruto added, smirking. "What were you two doing all night?"
Hinata blushed.
Her cousin's white eyes narrowed. "Are you just angry because I get more action than you?"
"Oh, dear – I'm leaving the room." Flustered, Hinata did just that. The doorbell rang a moment later, and they heard her answer it, speaking sweetly to whoever was there. Now accompanied by Kiba and Shino, she reentered the kitchen.
"Neji-kun, I hear you're being a bastard to our little Hinata." Kiba accused, hugging her possessively.
"Get your hands off her!"
Sasuke resisted the urge to comment.
The small girl giggled, rushing back to Neji's side before he decided the break Kiba's neck.
"Damn – can't even put aside your differences for a birthday party." Naruto murmured, shaking his head. "And Kiba – you have a boyfriend! Stop flirting with girls!"
"If I got mad at him every time he acted like himself," Shino answered monotonously in his defense, "I wouldn't bother even dating him."
The dog-lover grinned, nuzzling his head into the crook of the stoic boy's neck affectionately. "Yeah, Shino understands."
"I think I'm going to be ill." Sasuke muttered, hiding his eyes in his arms.
Naruto snickered. "Teme doesn't show affection in public."
"Why am I the only girl here?" Hinata asked nervously, suddenly wanting to be as far away from these perverted comments as possible.
As if on cue, Sakura and Lee bounded in, TenTen and Ino on their heels. "Hi, boys – and Hinata-chan!" The pink-haired girl smiled warmly at the small blushing one. "Let me guess – they were competing over who had better sex lives?"
"How did you know?"
"Sasuke-kun and Naruto have been doing it for as long as I can remember."
"Oh."
"Neji-kun!" Lee hugged the taller boy.
A white eye twitched. "Lee."
"Yes?"
"Get off me before I'm forced to shove a fork in your eye."
The green-clad boy grinned, stepping carefully away from him. "TenTen!" He latched onto her instead.
"Lee, I came with you. You hugged me when I picked you up this morning!"
"Oh, right." He looked around, desperate for someone to hug.
"Psst." Naruto leaned toward him. "You can hug -"
"Dobe, tell him to hug me and you won't get any for a month."
He sulked. "Aw, come on! You're the birthday boy!"
"Shut up!"
"Some party." Ino's eyebrow shot up. "Is Sasuke-kun going to be like this all day?"
"Who left the door open?" Temari appeared in the doorway, followed by her brothers, boyfriend, and Chouji.
"Hi, Gaara." Ino smiled, blushing.
He didn't respond, but a ghost of a smile graced his face.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance.
"Gaara!" Lee tackle-hugged him.
The quiet redhead was the only one not to push him off – considering the amount of time they spent together, he was probably used to it.
"Is there any food?" Chouji asked, patting his stomach. "I didn't eat any breakfast."
"We're going to have cake later." Naruto confirmed. "And Iruka's making barbeque for us."
"Yes!" The overweight boy punched the air. "Barbeque! My favorite!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Why do you have to be so troublesome, Chouji?"
His best friend huffed indignantly. "Excuse me for being hungry!"
Sasuke shook his head, standing. "Maybe I'll just go home and you guys can have this -"
"No way!" Naruto tugged on his arm, eyes wide in an adorable pleading face. "Come on, Sasuke-kun. Everyone brought gifts! And they all want to spend your birthday with you!"
"Besides," Neji spoke up, expression pointed, "we kind of want to talk to you about going home."
The Uchiha grimaced. Aw, shit.