A/N: Heh, told ya there'd be a fast update, didn't I? (grins)

But first, WOAH, now that's what I'd call a reception – so many AMAZING reviews! (faints) You really want to see more, don't you? (sniffs, and hugs you guys) Thank you, from the bottom of my heart – you can't even imagine how happy you made me! Responses to anonymous reviews can be found from underneath the chappy, un.

Oh, and before I forget… If you want this story to continue, this'll be a fourshot, un. (grins) Just so ya know.

Awkay, I think it's time to get going. After so many baffling reviews I'm a bit worried as to whether this chappy turns out worthy of them all. (gulps) I really hope you'll have a nice ride!

Verse 2: The Meeting

/ Since the rather hot, very drunken night they shared it took Naruto about a month before he finally managed to meet Sasuke again. Following vague hints and a hunch he found the raven from London in New Year's Eve.

He wasn't sure if he was more amused or irritated when he spotted a familiar raven sitting in a park and started to approach. " You're damn good at making yourself hard to find, bastard."

The corners of the other's lips twitched. " Wouldn't you have been disappointed if I'd made this too easy for you?"

He blinked twice at the answer he hadn't expected, then scoffed. " Yeah." Attempting to sulk a little despite the way his heart thumped, he took a seat beside the raven. " But you're still a bastard."

" Hn."

They sat in a silence for a long time, admiring how the first rockets colored the sky and both feeling a sizzle they'd never experienced before.

Naruto felt as though he'd been a pathetic, insecure and excited five-year-old all over again.

" Why did you play so hard to get, anyway?" he asked all of a sudden.

Sasuke snorted, as though asking 'Are you kidding?' without words. " We've only actually met twice, you know? This didn't exactly look like a romance novel."

He grinned. " And still you paid me a flight to London." Seeing Sasuke's expression he chuckled. " What – you thought Kiba wouldn't tell me who gave the ticket?"

The Uchiha's expression turned dark. " I'm going to kill that moron."

Chuckling some more, he gave in to his urges and placed a short, tender kiss to the raven's cheeks, surprised by how soft the other's skin was.

The Uchiha gave him a questioning look. " So that's how much you love traveling?"

He smiled and licked his lips, savouring the other's taste. " I can show you just how much tonight." He'd never wanted anyone that much in his entire life.

Apparently catching on the little game, Sasuke took his turn and gave him a kiss that easily sucked all breath from his lungs, made him feel like he'd been falling and floating at the same time. Not even trying to stop himself he moaned loudly and let his tongue investigate, blissfully unaware of the looks people passing by gave them.

Once they were finished all he could do was stare and gasp for breath. " Uh…", was the most intelligent comment he could muster.

He shivered when Sasuke's hand brushed the mighty bulge that'd appeared to his pants. Judging by the look in the raven's eyes, he had a feeling that the other was sporting a similar. " I think we're gonna have to take this inside", the Uchiha murmured.

Fortunately rockets muffled the sounds delivered that night. Otherwise they would've probably been kicked out of the hotel. /

It was a long time from when Naruto had last felt his heart thumping the way it did when he stood in the middle of the airport, his blue eyes fixed firmly on the constantly updating list of arriving flights. He was already almost on his way to rant about the infuriating delay when his steps became halted.

" Stop looking so nervous, dobe." He jumped at the sound of Sasuke's voice before managing to convince himself into turning around. " I'm not going to punch you or anything."

For some moments he was unable to react, for all his focus was fixed on the fact that although they hadn't talked in six months and seen each other even longer the Uchiha hadn't changed at all.

Why did it always feel like no time had passed when he met Sasuke?

Finally he managed to snort, hating how wet and stiff it sounded. " Well, based on that phone conversation we had yesterday I wasn't so sure." For a very long, dangerous moment he almost moved to hug the raven, but in the end his reason managed to convince him otherwise. It was around then he noticed the cast covering the raven's other hand and wrist. A flash of worry appeared, ignoring all the time they'd been nothing even close to a couple. " Dare I ask?"

" No." Sasuke then gave him a somewhat moody glance. " Look… I've just listened to a army of kids screaming at the top of their lungs for a decade, and my wrist is itching like hell."

" Then let's go." He then looked down to see a bag the Uchiha had hard time picking up. They dug simultaneously and his hand twitched when it came an inch from Sasuke's, but finally he managed to grab the raven's bag. " I've already waited two hours, so this place is getting old for me, too."

-

Unfortunately Konoha didn't have an airport, so they had to take a rather long drive to get to Naruto's house.

The first half an hour slipped by in silence until Sasuke snapped back into awareness at the sound of Naruto's voice. " Look… I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the wedding sooner, but… I thought it'd be… too weird, and I couldn't even get a hold of you. And then Sakura sent the cards…" The blond kept babbling in a voice so quiet he couldn't hear it.

He turned his gaze towards the car's window. He had no idea how long the silence had lasted or if Naruto was speaking when his voice worked. " So Sakura, huh?"

There was a pause. " Yeah." He could feel eyes on him. " What's so funny?"

Odd. He hadn't even realized he'd given a dark chuckle before. He shook his head. " You're just an unlikely couple, that's all." And it's kind of ironic you chose her.

The blond apparently attempted to swat his head, but to it felt far too much like a caress. " Teme." There was a small silence until the man went on. " Look… Thanks, for doing this despite… everything. It means a lot to me, even if we're just friends now. I… never thought you'd come."

" Hn", was what he settled with.

In some other situation he might've snorted at the irony.

Even the first hour hadn't passed, and he was already wondering what the hell had driven him into doing this to himself.

As silence lingered they both sank into a sea of memories.

/ About three months after London Naruto and Sasuke were more or less officially dating – or, at least sharing a bed more often than not. And despite Sasuke's frequent disappearances Naruto was very, very satisfied.

That afternoon it took Naruto's all not to forget their agreement of keeping their relationship a secret and grab Sasuke's hand while they entered a ice-cream bar. " After last night, you're gonna have to buy me a litre of pistachio ice cream! Or no, strawberry. Maybe a bit of vanilla."

The raven seemed close to smiling. " Why do I have a feeling that I'll regret this?"

He fought the urge to stick out his tongue.

Suddenly they both jolted a little when hearing a female voice. " Sasuke-kun, I can't believe this!" Turning his head, he found a pink haired young woman at their age all but running towards them, green eyes sparkling. " It's been ages from the last time!" She then spotted him, and arched an eyebrow. " Who's this?"

Sasuke seemed to bite down a sigh. " Sakura, this is Naruto. Naruto, meet Sakura." The raven then looked at them both. " Now, can I trust you two to act civilized if I go to order?"

He grinned. " Yup. You know me – I'm all about good manners."

Sasuke made a scoff while going.

As soon as Sasuke had left Sakura spoke in a voice that brought him chills. " Naruto, you look like a good kid. But bear this in mind: if you ever hurt him, I'll show no mercy on you. Understood?"

Green eyes flashed. " Keep him in one piece, and you won't have to find out." With that she left.

Naruto's eyebrow was high up while he watched the pinkette disappear. " Now that was weird."

He shivered with pleasure when feeling a very comfortable touch on him. " What was?" Sasuke's voice inquired, lingering torturously nearby his sensitive neck.

He shook his head. " Nah, nothing." He then turned towards the raven. " Now, am I going to get my ice cream or not?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, the corners of his lips twitching a bit. " Brat."

Some years later the three of them would find it bitterly amusing how things could spin around in time… /

The drive to his home seemed to take ages to Naruto, with him desperately trying to figure out how he should proceed, how far he could go without poking dangerously thin lines. " We're here", he finally breathed out when pulling off in front of a familiar block of flats.

Sasuke's eyes seemed to darken slightly. " Hn." Obviously the raven wasn't exactly comfortable with being in this place. He would've wanted to say or do something to make Uchiha feel at least a little bit better, but in the end he couldn't come up with anything that wouldn't have jeopardized the frail shell of normality between them.

He sighed, starting to get out of the car. He never noticed that his hand almost brushed the Uchiha's as he moved. " C'mon. It's already late – I bet you want a shower and something to eat."

Sasuke's response was delayed. " Hmph." Apparently that was the most the raven managed to produce around him now.

Swallowing down a lump he couldn't explain he kept walking into the house and towards the right door, pretending that he was really as oblivious as the other seemed to think, that he didn't notice something was out of place. He'd already pushed his key in a lock before his lips finally spoke again. " Look… Like I said, it means a lot to me that you're here despite everything, that you're actually willing to try and be just friends. I know it isn't easy." Seeing the look in Sasuke's eyes he smiled a little before going on. " I… just wanted you to know that."

He wasn't sure how to name the emotion that appeared to Sasuke's face just then, most likely unnoticed by the other man. " Idiot." Finally an actual word.

He rolled his eyes and opened the door.

In a matter of seconds Sakura's voice reached them. " What took you so long? I was already getting worried."

He felt a stab of guilt, only then realizing that he'd been away for six hours without calling her even once. " Sorry, I was just…" His words stopped there, for he had no clue how to explain.

Fortunately, however, it appeared he wouldn't even have to try. Because just then Sakura entered the hall – and gasped when seeing Sasuke. " Gosh!" In a matter of moments she'd sprinted all the way to the raven and pulled him into a huge, tight hug that made Naruto's chest contort uncomfortably. " It's been, what, half a decade! I'm so glad you came!" She then broke the embrace and punched the raven's chest playfully. " Where have you been, anyway? I was already getting worried about you."

Sasuke's eyes strayed towards him for a fleeting second. " I've been… traveling around." The raven seemed to take a deep breath. " Can I take a shower? The flight I just took wasn't exactly a refreshing experience."

Finally regaining some of his wits Naruto nodded slightly too enthusiastically. " Yeah… Um, yeah, of course. There's a guest towel for you." As Sasuke walked off he couldn't keep himself from staring at the raven's back, wondering just how uncomfortable things would get…

" Naruto." Sakura's voice startled him out of his thoughts. There was a look he couldn't recognize on the pinkette's face. " Sasuke… He isn't that ex, is he?"

He blinked, genuinely confused. " Huh?"

Sakura swatted his head, and he couldn't restrain himself from thinking that the gesture didn't feel anything like Sasuke's. " Idiot." Her voice was fond, but also carried a strange side tone.

He couldn't take the chaos in his head anymore. Giving her forehead a chaste kiss he started to make his way towards the kitchen. " Let's make something to eat, 'k? I'm starving."

-

Sasuke's eyes blazed as he stood in a shower, barely able to keep himself from punching the wall.

He'd already called Naruto to tell he was coming, taken what'd definitely been the most uncomfortable flight in his entire life, and now this, just to make sure he wouldn't be one of those idiots who couldn't even look at their ex into the eyes, to finally gain a closure. He didn't want Naruto out of his life, but right now he was wondering what the hell had made him think maintaining at least a trace of their bond would be worth this.

The shower he took was almost hot enough to burn his skin.

-

Sakura had always had sharp instincts when it came to detecting other people's emotions. That's why she frowned when first looking towards where Sasuke had disappeared, then Naruto who's steps were stiff when leading him towards the kitchen.

Something was going on.

She would've been even more alarmed if she'd known what was running through the men's minds.

/ It's often said that a couple's first fight determines the rest. In Naruto and Sasuke's case it started off deviously innocently, as though a storm in a clear day.

Two months after his nineteenth birthday Naruto yawned like fox and stretched when waking up, grinning a little at the very pleasant soreness in his lower body. Apparently the night before hadn't been a dream, after all.

He cracked his eyes open – and frowned when finding the other side of his bed empty.

Not again…

It, however, turned out his worry was premature. For as he scrambled out of the bed and all but dashed into his apartment's kitchen he found Sasuke there. The raven had apparently just finished his half of the breakfast that'd been set for them both.

He couldn't fight against a smile. " Morning." He took a glass of water, feeling thirsty from the activities in the night before. " I thought you'd left."

The Uchiha visibly swallowed a sigh, getting up and walking up to him. He trembled when feeling the raven's breath in his hair. " I will, in a bit."

He chewed his lip. " Oh." He then trembled and arched his neck with pleasure when the raven kissed his neck rather heatedly. " What… are you doing?"

" Trying to make you sound a little less disappointed." Sasuke cocked a half playful eyebrow at him. " Are you saying you want me to stop?"

His hold on the other tightened. " Don't you dare, teme." He grinned and attacked his lover's neck, making sure he left a mark. " You know… This we've always been good at. But…" He trailed off, not sure how set his words without setting off a sleeping bomb. He kissed the raven's skin lightly to soften the effect of his words. " It's been… what, almost a year." He searched through the onyx eyes, distinguishing a dangerous glimmer in them. " I'd want to get to know you, Sasuke."

Sasuke arched an eyebrow. " Why so?"

He snorted. " Because that's what a dating couple does, teme – they share everything, they want to know every little detail about each other."

Sasuke shrugged, and he could just feel how tense the raven's muscles were. " I do know you – you even told me about that… cat incident."

He nodded vigorously. " That's my point. You know my most embarrassing childhood memory – I wasn't even embarrassed to share it. And I don't know a bloody thing about you."

Sasuke's expression turned into that of utter discomfort. " Naruto, don't."

He frowned, feeling very cold when watching the Uchiha pull on a jacket. " What's so fucking hard about opening up just a little? You could at least tell me where you keep disappearing off to all the time!" He inhaled a deep breath, only to discover that it didn't manage to calm him. " Don't you trust me? Or am I not important enough?"

" Because… I don't know, okay?" Somehow it sounded like the raven had been referring to at least half a dozen things with that one, nearly snarled confession. He was fairly sure he saw Sasuke's hands tremble while the man pulled on a jacket. " I've gotta get out of here."

Knowing that he was most likely making a huge mistake he grabbed the Uchiha's wrist, so tightly he was surprised the other didn't utter a sound of pain. " You're not walking out on me now, damn it! Not this time."

When clashing with his Sasuke's eyes blazed in such a way that might've startled pretty much anyone else. " Let go of me, right now." The raven breathed hard, as though fighting to find enough air. " I don't want to hurt you."

In the end his eyes narrowed as he allowed everything that was balling together inside him burst out as barely controllable fury. He let go of Sasuke as though the man's skin had burned. " If you want to run so badly, then go – I don't care. You know where the door is, right?"


And leave the raven did, slamming the door closed so hard he was surprised it didn't break down.

Three seconds after Sasuke's departure he finally lost it, and threw the glass he'd been holding straight at the already closed door.

The soul tear of anger, disappointment, sadness and frustration was the first he shed because of the Uchiha.

Ironically enough, even though that was their first fight it was also the first time Naruto realized he was falling in love. /

Night had already fallen and Sakura was asleep when Naruto made his way to the balcony of his apartment. His heart shuddered although he knew it shouldn't have when he found that he wasn't alone. Sasuke was sitting less than a step away, smoking a cigarette with dark eyes fixed on the smoke that floated upwards in untraceable patterns.

He wrinkled his nose. " Three and a half years, and I couldn't convince you into quitting that damn habit."

The raven shrugged, not looking his way. " I started when I was twelve, dobe. You never stood a chance."

A pale, frail grin appeared. " Maybe. But it was fun trying to distract you from thinking about smoking." He could clearly remember all the 'fun' they'd had during those nights, as well as the sore mornings and afternoons afterwards…

He knew he shouldn't have said that when he saw the way Sasuke stiffened. " Hn."

He sighed heavily, knowing that the moment he certainly hadn't been expecting with joy had appeared. " We've gotta be able to talk about it someday if we ever want to make this stupid friendship thing work."

Sasuke emitted something that sounded like a snort, still not looking at him. " 'Talking' has never been our strongest area."

" Yeah", he stated dryly, his hand instinctively finding a spot the raven had liked to bite particularly often during their 'activities'. " I know." He then steeled himself, his eyes hardening. " But we've still gotta try, or you'll never be able to move and leave all that crap behind."

" What makes you think I haven't already?" the Uchiha all but snarled.

" Well I don't know – that's exactly what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed, flapping his arms a little. " I don't fucking know, because you never talk to me and I haven't been able to contact you for almost six months! Where the hell were you, anyway?" He knew it wasn't any of his business anymore, but for some reason he would've felt better knowing.

Sasuke didn't respond in any way whatsoever.

He breathed in sharply, his head spinning a little although he couldn't understand why. His chest felt very tight all of a sudden, it barely had enough room for his heart. " I'm going back inside", he announced somewhat gruffly, already turning around. " It's way too late for a conversation like this, anyway, and it's freezing out here."

Sasuke didn't make a move to stop him.

As he leant his back heavily against the closed door and lifted his gaze upwards with deep, laboured breaths, he couldn't know that Sasuke had the same memory running through his mind while the raven drew in another breath of smoke.

/ A couple of hours after the fight Naruto was finally calm enough to think at least somewhat rationally.

It was pouring rain outside. He was still mildly pissed, but he couldn't hold himself back.

The last of his irritation was forgotten the second he entered a park about two kilometres from his house to find Sasuke sitting in a swing. Hard as he tried he couldn't determine whether the raven was fighting against crying, fuming inside or just thoughtful while staring at nothing in particular.

He approached after a moment, swallowing sigh. " So, teme… Have you let out enough fume now?"

The Uchiha eyes narrowed, indicating that something was still smouldering. " Do you think I somehow enjoy being so damn fucked up?" Obviously that was the other's best apology along with unusually dark eyes.

His eyes softened, and deciding to defy the risk such a move included he wiggled himself into the same swing, so that their faces were mere inches apart. " No." He sighed heavily, partially because meeting no violent reaction – the Uchiha biting his head off or something like that. " And I'm sorry about being such a dick. It's just…" He trailed off.

Sasuke's shoulders relaxed, and after a moment the man was calm enough to lean forth and rest a chin against his shoulder. " Hn."

Of course it was hard for him to play all those emotions out in the open, not knowing if they were or would ever be returned. But…

He took Sasuke hand, and smiled when the Uchiha returned his hold after a moment, rubbing the back of his hand with a thumb.

Maybe he'd found something, someone, that was worth the trouble.

" You owe me a breakfast for all this running around, though, asshole", he announced after several moments of silence. " And some mind blowing makeup sex after that."

He couldn't keep himself from shivering with pleasure and grinning radiantly when the raven nibbled his ear far from coyly. " Dobe."

The next day ten white roses had mysteriously appeared to his doorstep. Sasuke showed up again after three more days. /

TBC, right?

A/N: So… (gulps) Was that any good, at all? Good enough to be considered worthy of two more chappies?

Gah, it's getting VERY late AGAIN, and I've got a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so I've gotta start tuning out.

PLEASE, do leave a review! Awww, c'mon – you know how happy ya guys using that 'lil button makes me. (gives puppy dog eyes)

'Til next time – unless, of course, this should be axed down!

Be good!

n: Yeah, it indeed is kinda cruel that Naruto's getting married and all. (winces) Poor… all three of them, actually! (sniffs)

Awww, I'm so happy to hear you find this story worth continuing! (dances with joy)

Gigantic thank yous for the review! 'Hope I'll be seeing you around.