Ahhh, hehe. Yea, you see, about the title thing. Originally, I was going to have it named The Bittersweet Taste of Victory… but once I submited the document, I thought that The Bittersweet Taste of Victory was a bit of an angsty title for a humor fic. So I changed it. Anyway, yes, the real name of the story is Why Naruto Should Never Play Cards. So yes… sorry about the confusion.

Kimi

Why Naruto Should Never Play Cards

Chapter 2

Sasuke POV

I callapsed into the grass, chest heaving as I regained my breath. Even though Naruto lost the match, I had to give him credit. He was getting a lot better than when I had first met him. In fact, his first real matches that he somehow managed to win were won not by his ninja skills but by his unnatural ability to undo people's masks… and by sheer dumb luck of course. But now that he'd been training lately, I could literally feel the difference. Naruto sighed and layed down in the grass next to me, looking totally worn-out and defeated.

"Come on dobe. It was just a little match. Nothing to get so depressed over." Naruto grunted, obviously not taking a word of my advice. His face was contorted into something I recognised as concentration, which was rare for the little blond. "Hey…" I prodded softly. "What's on your mind."

Naruto's cheeks flared as he swallowed hard, turning his head away from me. "……Nothing." I raised my eyebrow at him, leaning back into the grass in an attempt to look him in the face.

"Nothing? Are you sure? You're not acting like it's nothing." Why was I so concerned anyways?

"It's nothing… I just…" he paused. "Lost a bet with Kiba and Shino."

I sighed in frusteration. Was that really all? He had gotten my worried for nothing. "You're such a baby Naruto. Can't take a stupid loss. What do you owe him now? A couple dollars?" Naruto shook his head slowly.

"I wasn't able to pay the full amount of my loss… So I have to repay them in a different way." His voice was oddly quiet.

"Look, Naruto, you're not usually the brooding, mysterious one. That's my job. So stop acting all sulky and bitchy like Sakura does when it's 'that time of month' and get over it already. I mean, I'm sure what they're making you do isn't that bad." I waited for his response. It couldn't be that bad, could it? I mean, this is dog-lover and bug-boy we're talking about here. The first literally has the mind capacity of one of his annoyingly stupid pets and Shino is a dumbass when it comes to things like streetsmarts. Neither have the ability to make Naruto do anything truly awful.

"… right." Naruto finally said, slowly rising from his position on the ground. "Well, I'm going to go home and have dinner now. See you tomorrow."

"Hey! Wait!" I called sitting up quickly and jogging a few steps to fall in sync with him. "Weren't you just at Ichiraku's? Why are going to eat dinner now when you've already had it? Couldn't you just… you know… stay here for a while?" What the hell was I saying? Let him go already!! Let him get on his damn merry way and DON'T TRY TO STOP HIM!!!

"Mm? Oh, yeah, right. Um, look, How about you and I just… meet back together here tomorrow. 8:00 sound good. Great." He didn't even give my time to respond before stalking away into the moonlight.

"8:00…" I repeated to myself. "I'll be here."

Naruto POV

I awoke to the monotonous beeping of my alarm clock, the feeling of anger already creeping through my viens. I hated being woken up by that thing. Why had I even set it? What did I really need to be up this early for anyways? I mean… really. My daily training didn't start until nine, so why the fuck would I have set my alarm clock for 6-freakin'-30?!

Wrenching my hand out from underneath the covers of my oh, so warm bed, I began to feel around the end table for the 'sleep' button on the alarm clock. As soon as I was sure I'd found it, my hand brushed over something that felt like paper. I let out a frusterated sigh and forced myself to sit up in bed to see what the hec this was. Grabbing on to the torn sheet of paper, I read writing that, oddly enough, looked like my own.

Meet Sasuke down at the training grounds. 8:00. Don't forget the bet.

-Naruto

"I know myself too well." I grumbled, sliding out of bed. The thoughts of the bet were not something I had been planning on waking up to. In fact, I thought I had decided to completely forget about it unless Kiba or Shino asked. Then I would just play innocent and act like I had no idea what the hell they were talking about. Maybe I could still follow that plan.

Either way, I still had to meet Sasuke for training. Finally, I clicked the alarm clock off and trudged to the bathroom to make myself at least somewhat presentable.

----------------------

It was now 8:15 and I was officially late. Sasuke was already there, slumped back against the tree… and… was he sleeping? I walked a little bit closer just to double check. And, sure enough, the Uchiha was sound asleep. I laughed. Unlike all of those sappy stories where they say people look really peaceful and angelic when they sleep, Sasuke looked like crap. Well… a girlish, pretty piece of crap that is. His eyebrows were furrowed in some unknown emotion and his face gave off the fact that he was, indeed, very uncomfortable. I tipped my head to the side, studying him closer. His pale skin looked even whiter than usual, like he had been up the entire night. I blinked. If he was really this tired, why hadn't he just stayed home. Kami knows he needed the sleep judging by his appearance.

I was brought out of my trance by a groaning noise from the slowly awakening Uchiha.

"Nng…" he mumbled unattractively. I smiled, leaning my face in towards his until we were inches apart.

"Morning Sasu-kun!" His eyes snapped open and, upon seeing the close proximity of our faces, nearly broke his head from slamming himself back into the tree. I laughed joyously and sprung up onto my feet.

"You ready to spar, Sasu-kun?" I could visibly see Sasuke cringe. Oh, ho ho, today was going to be fun!

----------------------

"Sasuke?" I poked the soundly sleeping boy, hoping to rouse him from his sleep. "Saaasssuuukkkeee?" Still no answer. It was like talking to the dead… or Shino. Either way, it wasn't very interesting having a one sided conversation with yourself. It was actually quite funny, the way Sasuke had basically dropped to the ground at the end of our fight. Even though I won this spar, I don't consider it a real point. I mean, the guy was practically sleepwalking. But still, a win was a win and I wasn't complaining. So now, here I was, still sitting by the stupid Uchiha's side, waiting for him to wake up… which didn't seem like it was going to happen in the near furture. So, instead of sitting there and doing absulutely nothing, I decided to review on the needs to repay Kiba and Shino. There was the whole 'admitting feelings' thing, which I was so not looking forward to. And then there was the kiss.

I glanced down at the sleeping Sasuke, an idea forming in my head. If I kissed him while he was asleep… it wouldn't exactly be forcing him to. I mean, he wouldn't be protesting, would he? So, what was the harm in bending the rules just a little bit… so long as I didn't tell Kiba. Just so that I get this stupid kiss thing over with.

I glanced around the field, finding it empty. Over the course of our fight, we had somehow migrated to the area partly secluded by the forest. Sure, it wasn't the most well hidden place, but it would work just to keep me hidden until I… finished my task.

Quickly, before he were to wake up or someone were to chance walking passed, I leaned in towards his face, pressing my lips hastily to his. I stayed there for a while, finding it oddly hard to pull away at the moment. His lips were so warm and soft. I thought that they would be like his personality, cold and stiff, like there was no real life in them.

And then… the strangest thing happened… A warm, shaking hand was placed on the back of my neck as the apparently awake boy that layed beneath me began… kissing me back. His lips applied a small amount of pressure and it was a bit shaky, clumsy, like he was hesitant, but you could still feel it. I stood stock-still from shock, my eyes staring wide-eyed at Sasuke. What the hell was going on?

Sasuke, obviously taking the fact that I hadn't moved away yet as a positive sign, began kissing me with more ferver. His hand gripped tighter on the back of my head, snaking up into my hair where his fingertips ran through my golden locks. I couldn't move… I just… this must be a dream. I must be sleeping now. Yes, sleeping, I'm at home, still in my bed, having the worst dream… no, nightmare… that I've ever had in my life. This just… I mean…

My thoughts were pulled to a stop when something smooth and wet passed over my bottom lip. I opened my mouth to say something to stop Sasuke, but instead found his tongue… tangled with mine. He was frenching me. My one and only best friend… was frenching me. Oh, god… and the bet… this was not good. And…

I'd never felt so invaded in my life.

Sorry this is late. I just wasn't in the mood for writing lately… don't ask why. I was just too happy to do anything about it. I had a daaaate! xD yea, I'm happy. Anyway, the next chapter will be up… sometime. I don't know when. Anyway, hope you enjoyed.