Note From The Author: This is Furuido (her sister) because I told her I type this up for her.

Naruto's birthday was today.

Nobody had forgotten – it was just that nobody cared. They were all far to busy to care that the most obnoxious kid in their class was a year older.

Hinata had been the only one to acknowledge it, stopping to offer him a bow and a, "Happy Birthday, Naruto-kun!" before running after her team.

But Hinata, as sweet as she was, wasn't the one Naruto wanted to hear it from.

He sulked around Konoha

0

It had been ten hours. He let himself fall, staring up at the black sky through the dark silhouettes of leaves.

It was nearly midnight. His birthday was almost over and it hadn't been anything special – though he was sure it never would. His breath came through his nose with a hiss and he sounded so angry to his own ears.

A face loomed suddenly over him, round and porcelain, like the moon that framed it, "dobe, are you sleeping?" Despite the taunting nickname, the voice was soft as if, if he was in a slumber, he didn't want to wake him.

Naruto did his best to glare, though the sadness he was feeling kept it half-hearted, "No," he murmured dimly, rolling onto his side, his elbows cushioning his head.

A rustle and a sigh as Sasuke plopped beside him, his leg sliding through the damp grass as he stared skyward. "It's almost midnight. Why are you out hear?"

"Why not?" He sounded better even to himself, "I have nowhere else to be."

Silence. Then, whispered, "I didn't forget, Naruto."

"I know." Hollowed out – like a reed – his voice came through his throat, "It would have hurt less if you had."

Crickets droned out, suddenly and loudly, a cacophony trying to fill the dead space that followed his words.

"Come with me, Naruto."

He flinched.

"Come on – you can stay with me tonight." The grass murmured as he stood, stepping over his friend to look into his face, "I made dinner for you – and I bought you a present. If I have to return it because you're being stubborn, I'm going to destroy you next time we spar."

Naruto's heart lifted, his blue eyes finding and focusing on the other boy's face. "You're not making it up, are you?"

"No, it was supposed to be a surprise." Sasuke's hands found his pockets. "I've been looking for you for hours but, for once, you were impossible to find. I should have figured you were here."

Naruto dragged himself into a sitting position. "Surprise?"

He smiled. There was no grin in it, no over-compensating obnoxiousness. It was a simple, joyful smile. He let Sasuke help him up, but didn't let him go, drawing him close and embracing him. "Thanks, Sasuke."

Sasuke grunted, non-committal, taking his hand and walking with him like that, ignoring the blush Naruto put on his face.

Naruto's eyes were on him, watching him fondly, as she spoke – quite for once, enjoying the moment, of course, he didn't what he was saying – he was stuck on what Sasuke had said.

Naruto, everyone's waiting.