Secret Friends

Chapter 4: Safety of Your Arms

Disclaimer... Do I really have to do this again. Fine I own nothing! Are you happy now? Huh!?

Naruto...

Naruto promised Iruka that after school he would go to buy some food. Hinata said she would go with him because she knew how the villagers could be. They sat at lunch talking as always until the bell rang. Naruto was reading over the shopping list when he bumped into the wall and dropped it. He felt someone tug him up and then saw a hand holding out the list to him. He looked to see Sasuke holding the list.

" You shouldn't read while you're walking," He said with a pink flushed look on his face.

" Thanks. Ummm... I gotta go. Don't want to be late for class," Naruto blushed as his hand brushed Sasuke's when he took the list.

Trying to keep his composure Naruto turned and walked away. His heart was racing and he was having difficulty breathing. Did Sasuke Uchiha smile at him on top of being nice to him. Woah how weird. Got to clear my head or Dad will be mad.

Naruto sat in class and when the bell rang he and Hinata left for the grocery store.

Sasuke...

Sasuke didn't know why but something didn't feel right when he looked at Naruto. Maybe I should follow at a distance just to make sure. Sasuke watched as Hinata and Naruto left. He followed at a slow and hidden pace. When they entered the store he grabbed a paper to read and concealed his face. He saw Kiba sneak up behind Hinata and hug her. He was close enough to hear.

" Hey Naruto can I still Hinata for five minutes?" Kiba asked.

" Is that as long as IT takes," Naruto joked.

Kiba laughed as Hinata's face grew bright red.

" Sure," Naruto laughed.

They left and Naruto made his purchases. He left the store and waited outside for Hinata. While he was waiting the feeling of uneasiness grew in Sasuke. Then he saw a few big guys approaching Naruto.

" Hey brat. Long time no see," One man said.

"Oh No," Naruto mumbled.

To late. The bag was knocked from his hands. The man picked him up by his shirt as the others closed in around him.Sasuke could hear Naruto trying to fight back but against four guys, it was no use.

Sasuke ran forward without thinking.

" Leave him alone!" He shouted.

" Who? This worthless little brat!" The man smirked.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He moved quickly hitting the first man square in the jaw. The other who wa in his way got kicked in the stomache and had to double over in order to throw up. The third ran away and the man who was holding Naruto up was hit in the back of the head hard enough to be knocked out. Naruto fell to the floor in a crumplde heap, his lip was bleeding. Sasuke reached out and pulled Naruto into his arms gently. He held him close enough to see if he was okay.

" Sasuke," Naruto clenched his shirt in his fists and looked into his eyes. Then he began to cry.

Must keep self control in check. Sasuke reached out gently and brushed the tears away. Naruto hid his face in sasuke's shirt as he sobbed. Sasuke stood and Naruto did too. He sniffled and wiped his hand across his bleeding lip.

" Are you alright?" Sasuke asked

" Yeah. I will be. Thanks Sasuke," Naruto sniffed not even bothering with his fake smile.

" I got to go," Naruto stepped back," Hinata's waiting for me."

" See you around," Sasuke said. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Naruto...

Naruto watched Sasuke's retreating back. He felt like more tears were coming and decided to find Hinata and go home. When he saw her she ran to him and grabbed his shoulders.

" What happened?" She panicked.

" Nothing," Maruto smiled over the top of the bag. " I just bit my lip when I tripped and fell."

He asked if they could go home now. Hinata nodded and they walked in silence, which was odd because usually naruto never shut up. He was thinking about Sasuke and how safe he felt in the other boys arms. He hadn't meant to break down in front of the other boy but it just happened and sasuke held him. Did that mean Sasuke cared about him?

Naruto put the food away when he got home. Then he turned his computer on and clicked to sign on AIM. Everyone was signed on but the only name that interested him was

Everybody'sFool: Hey CrimsonPrince you there?

CrimsonPrince: Yes Naruto. What's up?

Everybody'sFool: I'm so confused. Today when I was at the store these guys tried to beat me up and the boy I like saved me. But normally he never talks. He asked me if I was okay and held as cried against his shirt. It felt so right!

CrimsonPrince: Does this mean you don't love me?

Everybody'sFool: No But I really like him too. It's to complicated to explain.

CrimsonPrince: Oh well Maybe I am pushing this a bit. Maybe I shouldn't have said I love you.

Everybody'sFool: Teme, Of course you should. It lets me know I can trust you! I love you I do but I like Sasuke too. Please don't be mad. I just need to figure things out.

Sasuke...

Sasuke sat back in his chair. Even if he did love Naruto it was still fun to mess with his dobe. He lickd his dry lips and chuckled.

CrimsonPrince: Okay I'll try to go slower. Maybe we'll figure it out together. Dobe don't panic I understand.

Everybody'sFool: I ...I...I just don't want to lose my only true friend.

Sasuke felt his heart tear at those words. Only True Friend... but it's me just hiding to save myself. I held him and... What am I doing? Sasuke felt guilt rising in his chest. He swallowed it bitterly and replied:

CrimsonPrince: You won't lose me! Not because of something so trivial.

Everybody'sFool: I wish you could be here right now. With me... so we could talk face to face. Maybe then we'd understand.

CrimsonPrince: Oh life is bitter there isn't much to understand. Would you be mad if I was someone you always knew who was just afraid to tell you the truth about who I am.

Everybody'sFool: I don't think I could ever be mad at you.

Sasuke sighed in relief at Naruto's reply.

CrimsonPrince: Your to innocent. You know that?

Everybody'sFool: What is your screen name meant for...?

CrimsonPrince:... Because that's how I lost everything. In cold crimson blood as it seeped through floorboards. I watched the people I cared for bleed onto the pavement and floorboards as if they were leaking. That's when I developed my Anger and dubbed myself the Crimsonprince because everything I loved bled crimson except me. What about yours?

Everybody'sFool: Well It was my favorite evanescence song and It talks about a world that never was and never will be. My life story.

CrimsonPrince: We don't fit in to a category of people do we?

Everybody'sFool: I never did.

CrimsonPrince: I have to go but I'll be back okay?

Everybody'sFool: K Bye

CrimsonPrince: Bye

Naruto...

Naruto decided to be nice and throw dinner together for Iruka and Kakashi seeing as Kakashi would be joining them. He put it in the oven just as they walked in.

" Naruto you put dinner together for me?" Iruka smiled.

" Yes," Naruto hugged Iruka and Kakashi.

" Thanks," They both smiled.

" No Problem," Naruto said walking over to the couch and sinking into. He let his long body curl until he was cradling his head on his knees. He was deep in thought. Why did sasuke help me? Why did I freeze like that? I never get scared. Was it because he called me worthless and I know I am! Maybe I felt like I deserved it. He looked at his hidden wrists watching the scars as they ran up his arm. Maybe his real true friend was the old razorblade he had so rudely abandoned A while ago. He realized what he was doing and stopped before he got caught. So this is who he had been not who he was now. Right?! He felt so tired and depressed.

" Naruto dinners done," Iruka called breaking his trance.

" It's okay i'm not hungry dad. I'll be back out later to hang out with you old people," He chuckled.

Iruka threw a pillow at him while kakashi laughed. Naruto went to his room and sunk onto his bed. For the second time that day he cried until he couldn't breath. He lay there with a heavy head and felt as if there was no way around this pain he lived with and why couldn't anyone see it or know he was hurt. He looked at his picture of his old squad 7 and turned it down. It reminded him of a time when he didn't always pretend and that made it worse. Naruto cleaned up his face in the bathroom and went to watch t.v. With his dad and His former sensei. His mask was back.

Sasuke...

Sasuke lay staring at the ceiling not knowing why he had this dark feeling around him. Something telling him to talk to Naruto but why. Why did it feel so urgent. Was something wrong.

Naruto...

Naruto sat on his bed with a razorblade in one hand and his other wrist turned out. He was contemplating whether he should do it or not. Just when he lowered the blade his compuet beeped. He dropped the blade to open his message.

Naruto,

Whatever it is your doing please stop. I love you. Don't leave me!

CrimsonPrince.

Naruto looked down and felt himself grow week. He fell to his knees and stayed there.

CrimsonPrince,

sorry I... I love you too. I won't leave!

Naruto

Naruto,

Do you promise?

CrimsonPrince

CrimsonPrince,

I promise!

Naruto

With that Naruto fell asleep with his head against his computer screen. He could almost feel strong arms wrap around him to protect him. Safe in the arms of love.