Mother's love

Tick, tick, tick… Anxiously Naruto watches as the seconds pass by, not paying any attention to the teacher at the front of the class or his workbook lying nearly untouched on his desk. He can't wait till this last class is over so he can rush back to the Uchiha's house and hopefully he has thought of a way to make it up to his raven about this morning by then. Today so did not go as planned… The blond sighs as he regretfully remembers Sasuke's reaction on him looking through his boyfriends sketchbook without permission.

"What do you think you're doing..?" Sasuke's voice asked threateningly.

"I… Sasuke… I can explain…" Naruto started but the tired sigh the raven responded with made him stop trying to find an excuse. For honestly, he didn't have one.

"Never mind, dobe." Sasuke said disappointed and Naruto felt a wave of guilt coursing through him. "Go take that shower. If you hurry you can still make it to school before third period."

"I.. Am sorry…" Naruto had mumbled while laying the sketchbook back where he had found it while Sasuke had grabbed himself some underwear to put on.

"Dobe." Sasuke had put his hand on the blonds head and touched his forehead to his. "Just let it go. It doesn't matter." The raven had said before kissing him shortly after Naruto had nodded. But the kiss had felt different from the ones before. It was hastened, a chaste kiss more to reassure an upset child. After the shower Naruto had tried to find him again but Sasuke was busy somewhere else in the house and it occurred to him that it was probably better to do as the raven said. For now.

But now the anxious feeling won't leave him. Had he screwed up to much? Would Sasuke forgive him? And what could he do to make it up to his boyfriend for the intrusion? For Naruto knows damn well that it does matter, Sasuke always held privacy in high regard. Their relationship starting like this was certainly not a good sign.
Staring out the window Naruto sighs deeply. He had thought about any number of things to make it up to the raven. He still has that fox outfit Sasuke had liked him in, hidden somewhere in his closet. Or any other variations he thought Sasuke would like had crossed his mind, but thinking about last night he just knows now that such won't do. It's not all about sex and Naruto is determined to prove that he wants them to do more than that. That is what Sasuke wanted after all.

"Uzumaki!" Naruto jumps in his seat at being so suddenly called to attention, the loud voice of his teacher, him standing next to his table, shatters his web of thoughts. "What outside intrigues you so that you can't even pay attention to my lessons?"

"N-Nothing sir!" Naruto replies accordingly.

"If you like staring out the window so much I could arrange that you could do so here for hours, after school. Would you like that?" The cold look Naruto receives is hard and threatening, making Naruto swallow hard. He would just have replied, when the bell sounds, signalling loudly that the class is over.

"I-I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again." Naruto replies while he quickly gathers his stuff and he still manages to be the first to leave the classroom.

Out of the gates he instantly jumps to a trot and he would have dashed off to the Uchiha residence if it weren't for his phone ringing.

"Uh, yes?" He answers, still out of breath.

"Naruto, it's mom. You're coming home today, right?" Sounds Kushina's voice from the other line and the underlying worried tone makes Naruto's chest tighten with guild. He silently face palms himself, he had totally forgotten about that promise.

"Naruto?" Kushina asks again as it remains silent.

"Ah, yeah. I'm heading home right now. I'll see ya in a bit mom." Naruto replies and hangs up as he regretfully turns on his heels to head in the direction of his home, his heart aching in his chest. Sasuke would just have to wait.

"Damn it..!" Sasuke curses under his breath as he hangs upside-down from the attic ceiling, bound by a chain of Christmas lights. His day is also not going as planned. While, in truth, it had such a terrific start. Waking up with his blonde angel in his arms, his smell the first sense of the day and to slowly wake up to those soft lips and his boyfriends warm body pressed to his. By all means, today should be wonderful…! He should be on top of the clouds, for he had finally done it! He had finally claimed his love, his Naruto, as his boyfriend and they even told each other they loved each other!
Yet, here he hang, brooding and in as dark and irritated a mood an Uchiha can have. His dobe not showing up in the shower, leaving him hanging which he could easily forgive if the blonde had had a good reason. Oh and such a reason he had! Looking through his sketchbook while he had told him not to do so without his permission! The exact sketchbook he had drawn Naruto in, more than a couple of times, and his cheeks flush again not just from anger but from embarrassment as he knows Naruto has seen his drawn perverted images of the blonde…
He sighs as he struggles again to get himself lose and as the chain unfolds itself some more he yelps shortly as he falls further down.

"Stupid, stupid cable..." Sasuke glowers as he sits up and wrestles himself out of the chain. He had realized that being angry at Naruto for his curiosity probably wasn't entirely fair. He had promised the blonde they would need to rediscover each other's boundaries and that they needed to get to know each other better. Thinking that showing some older sketchbooks to the blonde would do the trick, he had set off to find them. He had promised his brother anyway that he would clean up the attic and this was another motivation to get to that.
He had just managed to untangle the Christmas light and was putting them back in the box with other stuff from that holiday when he hears the ringing of the phone downstairs. He instantly drops everything as he sprints down the stairs to the phone.

"Y-yeah, Sasuke here." He says as he picks up, still out of breath.

"Little brother I hear you're short for breath, is this a bad timing?" Sounds Itachi's amused voice from the other side.

"No, not at all." Sasuke replies with a relieved sigh, glad to hear his brothers voice again. "I was cleaning up the attic, like you bode me to do. How… How are your injuries?"

"Good to hear you're keeping yourself busy. And as for my injuries; they are slow to heal. The doctor said to take another day's rest, though I honestly think I could take a plane tomorrow and be home before midday. How are you holding up? Calmed down a little?"

"Yeah, kinda." Sasuke says as he lets himself slide down against the wall to sit on the floor again like the last time they called. "There are just things I've got to tell you, in person that is." He hadn't even known that he wanted to tell him so much more in person. Things he never got to say before. That he couldn't say before. Having nearly lost his older brother, the chance to truly talk to him in all honesty, made him realize he really wanted that. "But it can wait. If the doctor says that you should rest another day, then do so." He sighs. "Don't come back earlier at your own risk just for me. I'll worry, can't help that, but I do want you back safe and sound. I can hold on a day or so longer."

"You are sure about this?" Itachi asks, still worried for well did he know what kind of an impact it must have had for Sasuke to hear about the earthquake and to think that his brother had met the same fate as their parents. How often hadn't he himself had nightmares of his little brother perishing alongside their parents? Hearing the devastation still in his voice when they last called had shaken Itachi up as well.

"I'm sure. Besides," says Sasuke, "I still have to clean the attic up. I promised I'd do so before you came back and, to be honest, it's such a mess that I could use the extra time. Didn't know we even had that much stuff." Sasuke shakes his head feigning disapprovement.

"Very well, then I shall. Have you contacted school yet? You think you could go tomorrow?"

"And waste the extra time I've just gotten? That attic isn't cleaning itself up you know, Itachi." Sasuke says semi-serious.

"Ah, but Sasuke, neither do those tests make themselves. You also promised me to keep your grades up. What was it again you said..?" Itachi says, closing his eyes as if he has to think hard about it. "Ah yes. You'll pass with flying colours! I do expect that from you now. Can't have my little brother be a high schooler forever now can I?"

"Ghn." Sasuke says though he can't help the smile on his face and Itachi can hear the amusement in his voice. "Homework will keep me busy enough. Besides, a friend of mine takes notes for me for the days I'm absent."

"I guess it's alright then."

"Yeah…"

A comfortable silence follows for a bit, both in thought for a moment.

"Itachi?" Sasuke asks as he looks up to the sailing before closing his eyes.

"Little brother?" Itachi asks while he leans against the phone booth and watches a young boy reading a story to his younger brother. Though he doesn't understand the language, it's clear he is reading an exciting part as the younger brother is completely enthralled in his big brother's reading.

"I…" A lump in his throat makes it suddenly impossible for Sasuke to continue. He then shakes his head as he continues. "Never mind... You probably already know anyway. I will see you again in two days and you will call me again tomorrow to also tell me how late you will return the next day, right?"

"That's the Idea. Call you tomorrow then." Itachi replies, smiling as the older of the two siblings made the younger one laugh, despite the dire situations that they both are in, no doubt.

They hang up shortly after that and Sasuke instantly takes out his mobile phone to call the principle. He had completely forgotten to inform her about the previous events and he hopes he is not to late yet with informing her about why he wasn't at school today. Glancing at the time, he is surprised to find it is late afternoon already. His heart sinks and beats painfully for a moment as he realizes that Naruto should have left school some hours ago. For a moment he's reminded of the bastards that wanted to rape him and his fearful heart beats quicker as he worries, only to be overtaken by a sharp pang of guilt as he remembers the solemn look the dobe had worn when he had last seen him this morning.

When Kushina walks down the stairs with a basket with clean clothes, she never thought she'd ever see the scene she finds in the kitchen.

"Naruto?" She asks her son who was just picking out some bowls from the cupboard and surprised by her sudden appearance the blonde loses the balance and the pile of cooking equipment tumbles over with a lot of noise. Cursing Naruto drops himself to his knees to pick it all up and Kushina puts the basket away to walk around the counter so she can help him. "What is all this for?" She asks, noting the apron, flower and other ingredients standing on the kitchen counter.

"I, eh, wanted to bake a cake…" Naruto replies while pouting and he takes the bowl he wants before he places the rest of them back.

"Okay… But can't that wait till tomorrow? It is nearly dinnertime already." Kushina says, surprised by this sudden initiative and Interest in cooking.

"It can't! It has to be done… Today…" Naruto looks away with red cheeks before he decidedly turns his back to his mother and put all his attention to the cookbook.

"Hmm… Baking a cake takes quite a lot of time and often doesn't go that well on the first try…" Kushina mushes, knowing that pressing the matter now isn't going to work. "Would pancakes do? I don't know much about baking cakes, but pancakes, that, I'm sure, I can manage."

"You want to help?" Naruto asks as he looks surprised over his shoulder and Kushina laughs for a bit.

"Young man, this is still my kitchen. I know it best. And I guess it's about time I get to cook with my son." She winks while pulling her sleeves up and picking out an apron. "In the meantime you can tell me about this sudden infatuation of yours. What makes you suddenly want to be a kitchen prince?"

"Eh, well…" Naruto starts while in the meantime they start to make the pancake batter. "This friend of mine-"

"The one with family in Japan?"

"Yeah… I said some stupid things to him. Stuff I shouldn't have. And he said it was fine… But it's not, you know.." tells Naruto, finding it somewhat awkward to tell his mother this for he knows she would not be helping him now if she knew for whom these pancakes were.

"You want to make it up to him." His mother concludes in understanding. "Then why not buy something for him instead? Or is that too easy?" Naruto nods at that.

"He's creative, one of the things we have in common. I want to make something for him, but not the usual thing. I… It's hard to explain." Naruto sighs.

"No it's not." Kushina chuckles. "You want him to know that you struggled for this. That makes it more special. Hmm… maybe pancakes is to easy then after all…" Kushina says as she doubtfully looks at the first pancake in the pan, waiting for it to be ready to turn.

"N-No! It's not. It's perfect." Naruto answers quickly, hating to see the doubt on his mother's face. This is new territory for them both and a huge step in their bonding after all the conflicts they had. He wouldn't want this to break of just because they settle for a more easy and secure recipe. "He probably would find it unnecessary anyway, though he'd still be grateful… And I could always cut them into funny figures, or something." Naruto shrugs. "I'm glad for the help mom. Sorry I'm in the way of making dinner." Kushina smiles at that as she takes care of the first pancake.

"No need honey. If we make a few extra these are just as good as any dinner. I just hope they will taste good." She chuckles.

"Of course they will!" Naruto exclaims as he wraps an arm around his mother's shoulders. "Pancakes Uzumaki style are the best!" And Kushina attests to that as she sets to getting the first masterpiece out of the pan, only for it to tear and fall back in the pan in a sad little heap. A short silence falls…

"Next time better." They say to each other and they take turns to bake pancake after pancake of which most, eventually, succeed.

After some hours, the kitchen smelling strongly and the air still filled with the heat of the battle, they have baked a fair share of pancakes of which Naruto has cut some in the form of comical characters and cookie characters. The ones that had failed were still good enough to be eaten and had been plentiful enough for a small meal.

"If he doesn't forgive you now, I will have to have a good talk with him." Kushina says, drying her hands after she had washed them.

"Ghehe. I'm sure he will. If not alone for the effort it took to make them." Naruto grins and he searches the cupboards for the toppings that go well with pancakes. He hums softly as he does so and he hardly notices how his mother watches him intently.

"You really like him, hm?" She asks suddenly, making Naruto instantly look up.

"Eh, yeah.. He's a good friend." He says quickly as he picks up all he had gathered and put them in the box with the closed of pan with still warm pancakes.

"Naruto." Kushina lays a hand on his shoulder and Naruto looks up to his mother who lays a gentle hand on his cheek. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" She asks as she looks him in his eyes with nothing but motherly love.

"Yeah. I know." Naruto replies in earnest while at the same time he feels his heart beating painfully in his chest. He had wanted to tell them before, but never so much as he wishes to do so now. Yet he knows he can't. It's too late for that. "I, eh, am probably going to stay over there…" Naruto says as he looks away, breaking the moment and his mother reluctantly lets him go.

"His family..?"

"Is alive. Albeit hurt and not back for another day or so, but alive and healing."

"That's good." Kushina says, having seen enough on television and knowing how hard it is to lose someone like that. She had lost some very good friends and distant family all those years back. It's a horrible way to lose people precious to you like that. "As long as you know what you're doing, then. And I expect you to come home tomorrow as well." Kushina says as Naruto puts on his jacket and put the bag with sleepover equipment on his back. He then takes the box in his hands, deeming himself ready to go.

"Don't worry mom, I promise you that!" Naruto grins brightly and before he leaves he turns around quickly to kiss his mother on the cheek to let her know his heartfelt appreciation for everything.

Little Sasuke pouted as he angrily stared out of the window as he was seated in the back of the car. He had noticed the worried looks of sympathy that his mother gave him over her shoulder as she was seated In the front of the car. He ignored it though, the anger still being there, smouldering, simmering after the rage he had felt just a few hours earlier. His cheek still hurt and he had a major headache after all the hair pulling the other kid had done to him.
When the car stops at the house Sasuke instantly dashes for the house, ignoring his mother's calling, and he would have gone straight up to his bedroom, had his big brother not grabbed his arm before he could rush up the stairs.

"Hold it, little brother. It's not polite to ignore our mother when she calls you." Itachi chided though the younger raven avoided his eyes, this time not being in the mood to enjoy Itachi's attention.

"Let me go, nii-san." Sasuke grumbled.

"Sasuke, we need to talk. And take a look at those wounds. Come," his mother said while she had taken a seat at the couch. "sit with me. Itachi could you get me some cold water and a towel?" She asked while Sasuke grumpily conceded to her wish. He sat down without looking at her, not wanting to see the disappointment or concern in her eyes.

"Sasuke." His mother says calmly as she softly caresses his head. "Can you tell me why you started fighting with that other boy in school today? You hate to see others hurt, it's not like you." She ventured carefully, her voice completely devoid of any anger.

"He ruined my drawing…" Sasuke muttered after a while, balling his fists as he remembers how the older boy had emptied a cup of water above his hard worn work.

"I see." Mikoto answered while Itachi placed the bowl with water and a towel on the table in front of them. "You know that still is no reason to hit someone like that." She said as she carefully cooled the small fists that are still red from hitting the other child.

"I know…" Sasuke had replied, the anger he felt was as much at himself as at the boy. "But he did it on purpose! And I… I worked really hard on it… It was s-supposed to be a present… for you…" The tears stung in his eyes at the memory of how well his work was turning out. While creating it he had imagined his mother's surprise and loving words of encouragement she might give him. He loved to see her happy, if his work could do that, he'd make it his life's mission to never stop drawing. So she would always be happy.
The tears were coming down in earnest now and his mother shoved closer to pull him into an embrace he didn't resist. The disappointment of how things turned out, the shouting of the teacher, the cursing of the other kid that had ruined his work and the way he had fought back, and the feeling of that red rimmed rage that caused him to attack the boy so violently, like an animal gone wild, a monster he didn't know he had in him awakening like that, it made his shoulders shock as he cried against his mother's shoulder. She shushed him, returning his fierce embrace with a gentle, save and comforting one. It scared him, that he could act that way, a side of himself he never knew he had and it made it hard to believe that he had really done that. Mikoto understood this and let him cry as long as he needed it.

"I'm sorry… " He whispered after a bit, the heavy sobs having subsided. He knew he let her down today, though he had intended to do the exact opposite.

"No need, my love." She said, not letting go. "I understand. I would have been very angry too, and probably done the same in your position." She told him and Sasuke backed away a little so he could look at her.

"Really?" He asked unsure while also amazed.

"Yes." Mikoto replied while she took the towel and his other hand in her gentle hands. "It doesn't make it right though. Next time something like that happens, try to go to the teacher first. If you are too angry for that, go outside for some fresh air and take some deep calming breaths. Think you can do that?" She then asked as she looked at him, holding both his hands in hers.

"I… will try.." He replied unsure, though he knew he would do anything to not disappoint her again.

"And that's all I ask. Now, how about you help me cook something up before your father comes home. I think I'll let you decide what we'll have for desert." His mother had said as she stood up and with a grin he had done the same, his anger and sorrow nothing but a distant memory for as long as she was happy.

With his back against a big box and a smaller one covered with dust beside him, Sasuke stares at the drawing in his hands with tears in his eyes, remembering how he had made another one for his mother after the first one had been ruined and caused all the drama that had ensued. He had never hit anyone till that day and he wonders now whether it was just the beginning, a precognition of his sadistic behaviour towards Naruto years later. He leans with the back of his head against the box behind him as he swallows hard, trying to keep the tears that build up behind his eyes from flooding down his cheeks.
He had cleaned the attic halfway and stumbled upon old stuff from their parents in the other half. He couldn't help himself taking a look. Normally he would have shoved anything that reminded him of his parents out of his mind, as he has done for so many years. Yet this time, he wanted to know if he could handle it and he had opened a vaguely familiar small box to take a look at the older memories, happy memories.
He puts the drawing back into the small metal box and stands up to look around at the other boxes and other strangely familiar things. Seeing a box with CD's written on it in bold letters, Sasuke walks towards it to have a look at it. He had never had any interest in any music his parents listened to and he was rather surprised to find such things here at all, finding it hard to imagine what kind of music his parents would have enjoyed.
Among the ones he finds he recognizes a few artists but not anything he would enjoy now. His heart skips a beat though as he reads "Piano symphony, by Mikoto Uchiha" on the next CD he holds in his hand. He quickly looks around and finds the old CD player he had seen earlier. He quickly puts the plug in so it receives energy and silently places the CD in its place, pressing then the play button with a beating heart.
His mother could always play the piano as no other. He had enjoyed it for as long as he could remember and the gentle music would always soothe him. He'd often taken his drawing supplies to the music room so he could draw while listening to the beautiful pieces his mother composed.
Sasuke closes his eyes as the first entrancing tunes begin, brought to life by such gentle hands that spin images before his closed eyes. He remembers now. He was never the only one to enjoy her music so. He remembers clearly Itachi coming to sit on the couch to read his book, though often he would just end up staring out of the window. Even his father would stroll by more often than usual, gently laying a hand on his wives shoulder for just a moment, a silent sign of appreciation and affection. Such things Sasuke had never noticed before.

Everything truly resounded around her. She was the one who kept us together, no matter how strained our bonds sometimes were, she was the everlasting constant that brought us peace. Sasuke thinks as a tear flows down his cheek, remembering more and far more clearly than he had in a long, long time. Mother… Why did you have to leave me?! He lets himself fall to his knees, leaning with his head on his arms as he fights the tears no more. I miss you so much! Though I know I probably disappointed you… I'm so sorry… Sauske sniffs, remembering her kind words 'You hate to see others hurt, it's not like you'. How disappointed she would be if she knew all the pain and hurt that he had caused. His sadistic behaviour with Naruto being the complete opposite of what she would have expected of him. Yet, he would give anything to hear her voice once more, to feel the kind stroking of her hand over his hair, to be held in such a reassuring embrace again, to eat her with love made cooking again, to even be chided by her again. And to see her joyful reactions to the artworks he made for her again, his chest aching at the vague memories and knowledge that she will never see how much he had grown since.

A new song has started and as he hears her voice, the first words to the lullaby she had so often sung for him to calm and soothe him, his hands start to tremble as his heart beats unbearably painful in his chest. It takes him a moment, tearful eyes making his sight blurry and trembling hands fumbling and
stumbling, before he had managed to turn the player off.
That… was too much… Sasuke thinks, his breath haggard and uneven as he tries to get his bearing. He sits like that for a moment longer, staring at the floor, until he hears the doorbell downstairs. He quickly dries his eyes as he stands up and hurries his way downstairs to open the door.

"Heya, teme. I know I'm late but I had this little surprise that I needed to make for you so…" Naruto says as soon as Sasuke has opened the door for him, walking in like he owns the place. "I hope you haven't eaten anything yet." Naruto puts the box he had with him on the kitchen table. "It's nothing special, so don't get your hopes up to much." He grins as he turns around to face Sasuke who smiles softly at him. The grin soon falters though as Naruto has noticed the red eyes of his boyfriend. He reaches out with one hand to lay it gently on Sasuke's cheek. "Have been crying?" He asks and the worry in his beautiful blue eyes makes Sasuke's heart skip a beat.

"Hn..." Is al he says as he leans into that warm, gentle hand, brushing it slightly with his lips as he closes his eyes.

"Did something happen to Itachi?" Naruto asks as he stands closer to the Uchiha who shakes his head.

"No…" Sasuke sighs as he pulls his blonde closer, clasping his hands behind Naruto's back so they stand in an embrace. "Nothing like that..." He says softly while caressing his cheek against the younger boy's temple.

"What is it then?" Naruto says equally softly while having one hand on the raven's shoulder and moving the other through his lover's dark locks.

"Itachi asked me to clean up the attic. I stumbled onto some old stuff from our parent's… I just…" Sasuke swallows hard as the tears threaten to come back again. …have been putting the memories away for so long… He thinks though he can't find the voice to say it out loud, a new wave of guild washing over him.

"I get it…" Naruto says and he nuzzles his head against Sasuke's. "That's very brave of you. If you want me to be there while you look through it…" Leaning back he looks Sasuke in his tearstained eyes, those black orbs that can sometimes show so much emotion that it hurts. Sasuke shakes his head though.

"No. It was just a bit too early for that I guess…" He takes a deep breath and makes some more space between them. "You had some dinner prepared? I've worked all day up there so I'm quite famished."

"Geehee. Don't you worry. On the menu today is pancakes Uzumaki style!" He proclaims happily as he goes to the box to take out their dinner and Sasuke walks to the kitchen cupboards to take out some plates, cutlery and glasses. "I actually made them together with my mom, if you can believe that."

"She didn't know for whom you were making them though, right?" Sasuke asks and Naruto sheepishly grins at that.

"She wouldn't have helped me if she knew. It was… Quite nice, actually… Being able to do something like that with her." The soft smile around his blondes lips makes Sasuke's heart skip a beat, finding it the most beautiful thing in the world.

They made short work of eating the pancakes, both having been rather hungry taken the late hour for dinner and long day they both had. After they cleaned away the dishes Sasuke takes Naruto's hand and leads him to the living room where the blond lets himself drop to the couch while Sasuke goes to the fireplace to make the room brighter and warmer as he feeds the fire expertly.

"It's good to know that you're getting better along with your mother." Sasuke says as he walks back to his lover and sits on the couch, one leg up on it so Naruto can sit between his legs, resting with his back against Sasuke's strong chest. "Cherish those moments…" Sasuke says softly while holding his boyfriend tighter, resting with his chin on his shoulder.

"I will…" Naruto replies, nuzzling his head closer to Sasuke's, being long glad that the raven doesn't seem to be angry or disappointed with him anymore.

"It seems my brother will be coming home the day after tomorrow." Sasuke sighs and with the thumb of his right hand he caresses Naruto's left arm, holding him even tighter as if he could lose him any moment.

"I see…" Naruto answers and they both fall silent for they need no words to describe what they both are thinking about. It would mean that these moments would come to an end, having to keep their relationship a secret for their family.

Moments like these will be scarce. Where could we meet? And how do we prevent ourselves from falling into former rhythm's? If we can see each other in only public places, and even then we'd have to be careful… Sasuke thinks as his heart beats painfully in his chest and as he smells Naruto's hair tears sting in his eyes again. I want him for myself! It doesn't have to be all the time, but I'm sick of not being able to hold him, or even just his hand, whenever I want to…

Naruto notices how Sasuke holds him tighter and returns the embrace by holding his arms tighter around with his own, almost wishing he could become entirely one with the greatest love of his life. I don't want to be apart again! He thinks. I love him so much, and it hurts that I can't tell anyone about it! The memory of baking pancakes together with his mother returns and tears sting in his eyes, remembering how she had told him he could tell her anything, that he could trust her. I don't know how long I can keep up with the lies…

"Will you live with me?" Sasuke suddenly asks, his voice barely more than a whisper, and Naruto's eyes widen at the question. He turns halfway so he can look his lover in his eyes.

"What?" He asks, thinking he might have misunderstood.

"Will you live with me? Have our own place somewhere, spending pretty much every day together. I'm asking if you'd wish to spend the rest of your life with me, to leave home, your parents, to come live with me at our own place. As soon as we have graduated?" Sasuke ask with anticipation, fear, desperation and hope in his eyes.

To be continued…

I know I let you guys wait a long time... Sorry for that! But this long chapter, I hope, has to make up for that.

Are there any votes for what they should do for their date? Amuzementpark, Museum, something to do with both their creativity, waterpark, picknic at the park, ? Any ideas for what a nice location would be for their date?

Next chapter: Like the back of my hand