Hey, sorry for the long delay. Something you guys should know…when I find a really good story, I get hooked on it. Then I get in the mood for MORE yaoi and go off searching for MORE stories. So I get..a little sidetracked sometimes. XD Funny how, a few months ago, I was all,"Yaoi? Neh..whatever." Now I have withdrawals if I don't read it. Heh. Anyway, if any of you were wondering, I won't be doing any lemons. xx It's like..impossible. I'll pass out in the middle of writing it or something. Anyway, I'll start working on the picture. It'll be up by Chapter 6 or 7. Keep the reviews coming, I really appreciate them!
Disclaimer: I own Naruto, and all the characters. Then I woke up and my dream came crashing down.
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Chapter 5: The Day After
--- (Naruto POV) ---
I find myself not being able to sleep after the events at the pier. I try, but no matter how comfortable I get, my mind refuses to shut off. Instead, it chooses to replay the kiss with Sasuke over, and over, and over again. I'm not even sure what to think of it.
---
"Mm?" I mumble, turning my head to look at him, only to find he's already looking at me. His black eyes were, for once, unreadable; much like the real Sasuke's. He moves a little closer to me, tenderly grabbing my upper arm.
Before my mind can register what was happening, I feel another pair of soft, warm lips on my own. My brain goes into shock when Sasuke deepens the kiss, but yet keeping it simple. I find myself closing my eyes.
The hold on my arm tightens slightly, as if nervous or scared. Most likely of being pushed away. But I just sit there, my eyes closed, neither pushing Sasuke away or returning his kiss.
I feel something warm and moist slide against my lower lip, and at the contact I jump up slightly. Sasuke wraps his remaining arm around my waist, pulling our bodies closer together until there was nothing between us except our shirts. I can somehow feel desperation coming from him; desperation for my touch, my returning and accepting kiss.
Hesitating for only a few seconds longer –although it felt like much longer- I part my lips, letting his tongue slide past them and around my mouth, mapping it out, entwining with my own tongue.
Feeling awkward with my hands just lying on the wooden pier, I move one hand and tangle it through Sasuke's dark, smooth hair. When his grip on my arm leaves, tangling his hand with my own hair and letting my arm move, I wrap it around his waist.
A low moan escapes Sasuke's throat, swallowed up by my mouth, and he tugs our bodies closer still, crushing our torsos together and making it a little more challenging to breathe. After a few more moments of this, we break apart, gasping for air.
We simply stare at each other, a red tint crawling up both our cheeks, but it seems impossible to break our eye contact. The daze lifting from my bran, I disentangle my hand and let my arms drop to my sides and stand up, Sasuke doing the same.
"I..um…," I cough, clearing my throat and looking at my shoes. "I have to go home. It's getting late," I whisper. For a moment, I thought he didn't hear me, but when I look up he's nodding in agreement, but looking like he doesn't really know what I said. We lift our hands in an awkward good-bye wave, and I set off for home.
---
It's an odd feeling; both wanting to be with someone but yet not wanting to. When we parted from our kiss, my brain had somehow fully convinced me that when I'd see Sasuke, I'd see him scowling and growling in anger, followed by a punch.
But instead I was met with this other Sasuke; one that was embarrassed, yet looking happy at the recent events. I couldn't understand why my heart fell when I looked upon this Sasuke. The Sasuke that I don't know at all. Do I really prefer a grumpy, jackass Sasuke to this kind, caring one?
I toss and turn some more, first staring at the ceiling, then the wall, then the opposite wall, or maybe even the pillow itself. When my mind finally allows my body to fall asleep, my last thoughts are of Sasuke and I. Me sitting in a desk in class, surrounded by Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, and Lee on one side; Sasuke on the other side of me. We're throwing insults at each other, our hearts not in the words, both of us feeling strangely comforted in the other's presence.
I do.
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I walk into Iruka's math class Friday morning to find Sasuke, Hinata, Gaara, Chouji, and Shino already in their seats, rolling their eyes good-naturedly at my later arrival. I glance at Sasuke, and my eyes are immediately met by a pair of dark, onyx-colored ones. I smile slightly, sitting down across from him and behind Hinata, and he returns it, looking embarrassed.
Suddenly Hinata's head pops up right in front of my face, and she's giving both me and Sasuke odd looks. "What's with you two? You're both acting strange, Sasuke didn't even hug anyone. Not even you, Naru-chan."
"Eeermm," is all I can get out, squirming uneasily and feeling guilty, even if for no reason, in my seat before Sasuke saves me.
"Sorry, Hinata-chan," he says, making his voice weak and a little raspy. "I just don't feel well." He forces a half-smile, his eyes half-closed, giving him a tired, dozy, maybe even drunk look. I barely restrain a snort at his acting. I just settle for looking concerned for him.
Hinata leans forward, getting a better look at Sasuke, before nodding wisely. "Yeah, you are looking paler, Sasuke."
"Yeah, maybe you should rest in the nurse's office for a bit," I add, wondering how Hinata can tell if Sasuke looks paler. He's already pale enough.
"I think I'll be fine, guys. Thanks," he coughs weakly, and when Hinata turns her attention to the arrival of Iruka-sensei, I roll my eyes at him. He grins back at me. Just like that, the nervous, embarrassed air that was between us evaporated.
Iruka-sensei strides over to his desk and faces the class, forcing a smile. I just notice he's carrying a stack of paper.
"Ohayo class, as you all probably know, it's almost the time for our yearly weekend camping trip." He's forced to stop his explanation, as quite a few students in class erupt in hisses of "Yessss!" high-fiving, and a few that immediately reoccupy themselves with whatever they were doing before, obviously not interested.
My friends were among the former, and Sasuke turns around to grin happily at me. I'm not sure how to react; my real school has never done yearly camping trips.
"SHUT UP!" Iruka-sensei yells, and we all jump in our seats, one or two falling on the floor from jumping to the side. I blink in surprise, giving him my full attention once more. "Just like the year before, and the one before that," he trails off, a dark shadow covering his face. He clears his throat. "All you have to do is take a copy of this paper, sign it, have a guardian sign it, and bring it back to me by Monday. Meet in front of the school next Friday at seven pm, and be sure to bring essentials. We'll be back Sunday evening. Any questions?"
While Iruka-sensei answers the questions that are asked, my friends and I gather around in the back of the room to discuss the trip. "We're going, right? We go every year," Hinata whispers, every once in a while darting a glance at Iruka-sensei to make sure he hasn't seen us talking.
I nod, after hesitating a split second. Why not? It sounds fun. "I just love the camping trips to the forest. It's so peaceful," Chouji murmurs, looking blissful.
We look to the front as we notice everyone is done asking questions, and sadly, we move on to math. After the bell rings, the whole class grabs a copy of the permission form and files out, along with myself.
"Naru-chan!" I turn around and slow down, letting Sasuke catch up to me as we continue for gym. He glances away for a few seconds, then almost inaudibly asks, "We're going to be partners this year again, right? You know, for the activities and the…the tent." I fight down the urge to blush, then chastise myself for my stupid imagination at the idea of sleeping in the same tent. At night. Damn it, stop!
"Of course," I grin at him in a reassuring way, to let him know things between us haven't changed. Or have they? He grins back, and I can't help feeling an odd sense of excitement for next Friday.
--- (Sasuke POV) ---
"Sasuke!" Naruto calls to me. I can tell from the tone of his voice that he barely managed to restrain from adding the "chan." I ignore him though, and continue on my way to my house. I hear footsteps fast approaching, and when I feel a hand tugging at my sleeve I whip around, snarling in anger.
"Screw off," I hiss, knocking his hand away with my arm. I can see the deep hurt flashing in his eyes, but I whip back around to continue home, ignoring his gaze I feel at the back of my head.
Now back at home, in my room, I pace around and around my room. Every once in a while in anger I punch my pillow or the wall. Kakashi isn't home, so I'm not worried about anyone disturbing me. Except Naruto, but I know he won't be bothering me anymore tonight.
"What the hell does he mean he loves me? What's he playing at?" I hiss to myself, not watching where I was walking and stumble over the pillow that lays on the floor after bouncing harmlessly off the wall. "DAMN IT!" I yell, more at Naruto than the annoying pillow.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that that Naruto truly isn't the Naruto that I've known since practically forever. It sounds hard to believe; a made-up fantasy, but it's the only explanation. His aversion to the color orange, trying to chat up Hinata, Chouji, Shino, and Gaara, acting like he doesn't know who the hell Kiba, Shikamaru, Neji, and Lee are. The fact he thinks we're best friends, that nothing has happened. And his personality has done a complete turn-around.
Sick of thinking about this, I abruptly grab the pillow I just previously tripped over, toss it on my bed, and strip down to my black boxers. I lay on my bed, pulling the heavy blanket up to my chin. I guess I was more tired than I realized, because before I know it I fall into a heavy sleep.
---
I wake up at five in the morning as usual, mostly because of the internal alarm clock in my head than the annoying once I pound off with my first every morning. I grab a black t-shirt with off-white shorts, and then stumble to the bathroom to brush my teeth and gel up my hair into its usual spikes. I then flip on the television to MTV until it's time to go to school.
I walk to school, which isn't very far from my house. It's better than riding the bus with a bunch of annoying peers. As usual, I enter the school building, thankfully seeing no sign of the blond dobe, and sit in the back row in Iruka-sensei's room until the bell rang.
Students pour in, some by themselves who later meet with their friends, some in small groups of three or four. I roll my eyes as they talk about one single topic before Iruka-sensei came in. Some were happy and were saying how he was horrible, while others, girls of course, say they cried and that Chris shouldn't have been voted off American Idol. Why do they give a shit about who wins some rigged singing show?
I finally manage to tune the AI talk out of my head, when I feel another presence walking over and sitting in the desk next to mine. I stifle a groan, knowing automatically who it was. Sadly, my thoughts were proved right when my shoulder is lightly tapped and I look over to see Naruto. His eyes were slightly baggy and blood-shot, like he didn't get enough sleep last night. Like I care.
"Sasuke, can we ta-" I just shoot him a glare and whip my head to the wall on the other side of me, interrupting him with a, "Hn."
Before he can try again, however, Iruka-sensei walks in to start the class. I manage to ignore him while Iruka-sensei left us to our work, even when he attempts to pass a note to me. I reply by ripping it into shreds without even opening it. A little immature, but whatever. It gets my point across.
When the bell rings I'm first out the door, even when I was in the back, by shoving people aside with my shoulders and ripping Sakura and Ino's clingy hands off my arm. I'm already dressed in my gym clothes before anyone else comes into the locker room. Of course I'm rewarded (not) by a small outburst from Gai-sensei.
"Sasuke, I'm so happy you're so full of youthful energy and spirit, driving you to get ready for my class so fast! Maybe we can run a few hundred laps around the building after school today!"
"No thank you, Gai-sensei," I mutter, and he goes on about my youthfulness a few more minutes before he finally leaves.
It was when I was on my third lap around the school track that I run into Naruto, or he runs into me actually, again. I was more than surprised, because I was half a lap ahead of everyone else, except for Lee who was finished and was doing stretches and jogging exercises with Gai-sensei. Since when was Naruto athletic?
"Sasuke, I need to talk to you. After school, okay?" he pants. He may have suddenly gotten more athletic and endurance, but I can tell he's still worn out. The only thing stopping him from talking to me now was he had no breath.
Can't wait.
---
I'm halfway home when I hear familiar footsteps running to catch up with me. Once again, I left as soon as possible so I could avoid Naruto, but obviously that didn't work. He slows to match my walk when he gets beside me.
I ignore him, and he doesn't talk. We continue like that for a while, and I'm starting to think that he was going to change his mind and go away, but then:
"I was up thinking all last night," he states. I shrug.
"It's nice to try new things," I say, in my usual monotone voice.
He chooses to ignore that. "Do you think it's possible…" he pauses. "For there to be something like a…parallel world, or universe, or something?" He looks down at his shoes, biting his lower lip. I would've called him a stupid little kid, but with the odd things concerning him the past few days I've been thinking about things this odd as well.
"Yeah," I reply. "Why?"
"Because, this isn't the life I've been living the past fifteen years. My best friends were Hinata, Gaara, Shino, Chouji, and you. You…" he pauses once more, swallowing. "You weren't a grumpy jackass that called me dobe and usuratonkachi. And you smiled, and laughed, and we hung out everyday. And other people were different too, like Sakura. She's the shiest girl in school, not Hinata. And she's really nerdy, too. But now she's all clingy, to you, and annoying and bitchy. I know I wasn't dreaming or something stupid like that. That was real. But so is this. There's no other explanation."
I nod. "I agree with you, Naruto," I sigh. "The real Naruto, not you," I glare at him, "wears lots of orange. And stuffs his face with ramen any chance he gets-"
"I'm allergic to ramen."
I go on as if he didn't say anything. "He's annoying, loud-mouthed, and smiles too big and too often. And we're not friends; we…" It's my turn to pause. "We made a promise to stay best friends. But after something happened to me and my family, I shoved him away. Good thing, too. I hate him."
"Itachi?"
I stop and whip around to give him my death glare. "Don't you ever say that name again." After a few moments of me glaring at him, and him with his mouth gaping open in surprise, we continue to walk.
"We made that promise, too. Only you never broke that promise. And last night, before you left, you said you miss the real Naruto. The one that belongs here, not me. So I don't believe you when you say you hate him."
I slowly let out a breath I didn't know I was holding until now. "You're right, I guess," I mumble, wanting to admit it out loud and at the same time not wanting Naruto to hear it. But I know he heard it when he turns to give me a small smile.
"So…we're friends, Sasuke?"
"No," I snap.
"Oh. How about…" he turns to me again and smiles, chuckling softly to himself. "Friendly acquaintances?"
"Hn..Whatever, dobe." He doesn't look hurt as he usually does when I insult him. We both know it's how this works in this reality, and we both know he won't try to change that. I wonder if the real Naruto will ever return?
Naruto waves goodbye, then sets off in another direction to his own house. I just nod in acknowledgement and continue walking home. That's how we, as friendly acquaintances, part.
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Ah, finally got this chapter written. I won't be updating this weekend (May 13-14) because I won't be home. Glad I made this chapter a bit longer than the previous one. And I had to include the American Idol thing, I just got finished watching that when I typed that part and I was sad Chris left. I want Katherine to win, though. I don't own American Idol or MTV. Also, I just became aware that I messed the days and weeks up between the two realities. I intended for them to both be the same day, so sorry. I wanted Naruto in Sasuke's POV to be there for a week as well, but instead it's been a day. Oops. P
Review for this chapter and I'll go on to Chapter 6.
Responses:
Guardian of the Hell Gate: Thanks for telling me about the checkbox to let people that aren't members review. I wasn't even aware there was a checkbox!
Duhreah: Sorry for confusing you, you're probably not the only one. Hopefully you know what's going on now. )
Like I mentioned before the chapter, I'll be drawing the picture (the kiss) and I'll hopefully have it scanned and put up by Chapter 6 or 7. I'm also thinking of starting a FF7 fanfic. . Of course I won't abandon this one, just something I'm thinking of doing. If I do that, should it be Cloud x Sephiroth, Cloud x Zack, or Cloud x Reno? Thanks!