Chapter 7

Naruto stumbled, laughing happily as he crashed into a building. Lunch had been great. Lunch had been so, so great.

"Naruto! Look out!" The blond gave a startled cry as he went flying over a garbage can. Temari rushed to help him up. Naruto couldn't stop laughing. God, he felt incredible.

"Your forehead! Oh, sir, you're bleeding!" Temari gasped, allowing the man to practically throw all his weight on her. She was surprisingly strong.

"I'm fine. Heh. Fine. Fa-eyen. Fine. Feeeyin." Naruto mumbled groggily, breaking into more giggles. Temari shook her head. She honestly had NOT been expecting this. When Naruto had requested some sake at breakfast (and what kind of business sells sake at breakfast, anyway?) she had imagined one glass, casually sipped between polite conversation.

Naruto downing four glasses in three minutes had been a rather unfortunate shock- the fact that he hadn't stopped there was even more unfortunate. Now, here she was, her boss plastered at what was it? Ten thirty. Ten fricking thirty in the morning. People were staring. Well, this was rather unpleasant.

The blond girl rolled her eyes in amused irritation as Naruto almost ran into a light pole.

"Sir, we need to get you off the street before someone notices." Naruto just smiled.

"You're awful pretty." His smile disappeared and his eyes narrowed. "Does Sasuke think you're pretty?"

"I really don't know, sir." She responded, watching his face thoughtfully. Naruto looked down, his eyes darkening.

"He's a jerk. I hate him. I hate him so much! I hate his eyes, I hate his hair, I hate his mouth…" Naruto groaned, and his head fell. "God, I just want to touch him…" Temari's eyes flickered.

"He hates me. I know he hates me. He doesn't care that I'm gone." Naruto whimpered, sliding from Temari's arms and sinking to the ground. The blond woman bit her lip. She bent down, and lifted up Naruto's head by the chin.

"Naruto, do you want Sasuke to come get you?" The blond just looked up at her pleadingly. The woman's eyes softened. Slowly, she reached into Naruto's jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone. She smiled when she located the number she was looking for.

"Naruto?" The blond looked up at her. "I'm gonna call Sasuke, okay? He's gonna come get you." Naruto stared at her, his eyes damp.

"Promise?" He whispered, his throat dry. She smiled.

"Promise."

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Sasuke was trying very hard not to care. Why should he care? If Naruto wanted to wander all over Japan, that was his business. Of course, that attempt failed miserably. So Sasuke moved to a new strategy: Only caring because Naruto was on the clock. This was a business! Naruto had no right to just leave!

Drowning in his annoyance, Sasuke made his anger more or less known throughout the building in minutes. Anyone who came within his radar got their heads chewed off-which is why Sasuke's floor was suddenly unnaturally empty. Even Sakura and Ino had fled. Sasuke growled, and slammed his fist on his desk- the only remaining outlet for his fury.

That is, until his phone rang.

"WHAT?" He growled angrily, not even checking to see who it was.

"Naruto is at the corner of eighth and twenty-second Street. He needs you to pick him up." Sasuke frowned, not entirely recognizing the voice.

"Who is this? Who the hell are you?"

"…He really just needs you right now." Click. Sasuke sat there, gaping at his phone. What the hell? Glancing at the phone, he frowned. The number was from Naruto's cell-phone. He really just needs you right now.

Sasuke licked his suddenly dry lips. The corner of Eighth and Twenty-Second? That was about six blocks away. How had the dobe managed that? Sasuke hesitated a moment more before grabbing his coat. He decided against calling Kakashi- it would be faster if he just took his car. Limos were damn conspicuous.

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Naruto's head was spinning, and he was cold. The ground below him seemed to radiate cold. Where was he? He couldn't seem to remember.

He shouldn't have been drinking. He should have known better. Alcohol had always been a bit of a crutch for Naruto- unfortunately, Naruto wasn't a crutch person. Depending on something like alcohol for comfort left him feeling guilty and desperate. Which made him drink more. It was an unforgiving circle that had come close to devouring him once. Why hadn't it? He couldn't seem to remember…Why had he fought it….

Oh. That's right. Sasuke. Sasuke had been depending on him. He couldn't let Sasuke down.

"Mmmm…Sasuke." Naruto whimpered, his stomach wrenching miserably. Suddenly, warmth spread onto his face and he sighed, leaning into it.

"Dobe. What have you done to yourself?" Came a soft whisper, hinting at concern. Naruto shuddered.

"Sasuke…" Why? Why was he so weak? He hadn't wanted to drink. He hadn't been planning to…it had just…been there…

"Come on. I'm taking you home." Strong arms caught his, and pulled him up. Naruto's eyes fluttered open. Cool, dark eyes gazed down at him. Naruto sighed and pressed himself into Sasuke's arms. The Uchiha's hands caught his elbows, half embracing him, half holding them apart. Naruto tilted his head up at the slightly taller man.

"I'm s-sorry Sasuke." He didn't want Sasuke to hate him. It would hurt so much if Sasuke hated him. The dark haired boy sighed.

"Come on, dobe. Let's get you out of the street."

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Sasuke shifted uncomfortably as he tried to drive with one arm holding Naruto up. The blond kept tossing miserably, and it was causing Sasuke serious problems. Particularly when Naruto tossed his full weight into Sasuke's side, as he seemed intent on doing.

"Sasuke. I'm glad you came." Naruto murmured, his face turned against Sasuke's shoulder so that his warm breath flowed across Sasuke's neck. The Uchiha's breath came out a little shaky.

"What was I supposed to do? Leave you unconscious in the middle of the sidewalk?" Sasuke grumbled, trying to keep his eyes on the road. Naruto had taken a liking to playing with a strand of Sasuke's dark hair.

"I wasn't sure…" Naruto murmured, burying his face in the curve of Sasuke's arm. Sasuke shuddered. Even through his suit, it seemed like Naruto's breath was searing his skin. God, what was going on? He was suddenly on fire…

"You were so mad…"Naruto mumbled into the curve of Sasuke's suit. The Uchiha looked away. He needed to look at anything but Naruto. God, he could smell the man's hair.

"I don't like it when you're mad at me, Sasuke." Sasuke took in a sharp breath when Naruto's fingers suddenly buried themselves completely into his hair.

"Naruto what are you…" His voice faltered when his eyes met Naruto's.

"Don't be mad." He begged, his eyes dropping. Sasuke's heart was pounding- was Naruto staring at his mouth? "Please?"

Was Naruto asking for forgiveness? Or was he asking Sasuke to….

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!! Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin as he grabbed his steering wheel and jerked the car to the side to avoid being hit. Naruto slid in the opposite direction, hitting the door rather hard.

"Urgh." He groaned. "That hurt, Sasuke-teme." The Uchiha glared at him.

"It's your own fault. Stop distracting me!" The blond responded by slumping against the door, his eyes falling closed. Sasuke tore his eyes furiously away, staring stubbornly at the road. What the hell was wrong with him?

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Sasuke wasn't entirely sure it was worth it. Half carrying, half dragging Naruto to the nearest elevator was both irritating and frustrating. The blond was less than helpful, dragging his feet stubbornly every which way. By the time they actually reached the dobe's apartment, Sasuke's arms were tired, and his head was pounding with annoyance."Damn it, Naruto, get inside." Sasuke growled when they finally reached the man's apartment.

"No. You hit me." Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"I didn't hit you. You walked into the wall. I warned you." Naruto glared at him.

"You're a jackass." He mumbled, but nevertheless allowed the Uchiha to finally guide him in. The couch, Sasuke thought desperately; just get him to the goddamn couch. So, after what seemed like hours, Sasuke was finally able to deposit a wasted Naruto onto the couch. Too bad he couldn't get the blond to let him go.

"Damn it, Naruto. ONE of us has to be at work today." One of Naruto's hands was gripping his suit stubbornly; well the other was still around Sasuke's neck from when the Uchiha was supporting him. The Uchiha was bent at an awkward angle over the other man, his thighs pressed slightly into Naruto's hip, and his face inches from the drunken blond's.

"Sasuke." The tone of Naruto's voice made Sasuke's breath hitch. The blond's eyes were half closed and he was watching Sasuke dazedly. Slowly, Naruto arched his body, pressing his chest and stomach against Sasuke's. The Uchiha's eyes widened and his breath came out in a sharp hiss. "Are you still mad?" Sasuke didn't move. Sasuke didn't breathe.

"Don' be mad." His breath tickled Sasuke's mouth, and his fingers began to draw circles on the base of Sasuke's neck. Sasuke shuddered against the touch. Oh god, what was happening to him? He was going insane.

"I…I'm not mad, Naruto. I just…need to get back to work." He choked out after MUCH hesitation. The blond relaxed a little, his body sinking back onto the couch. His arm, however, remained firmly around Sasuke's neck.

"Not mad? You were mad..." Naruto sighed and leaned his head forward until his face was pressed into the curve of Sasuke's neck. Oh God. Sasuke's whole body lit up.

"Gaara…Isn't like you, Sasuke. No one's like you." Sasuke let out a moan as Naruto's lips moved when he spoke, brushing against his skin. His legs threatened to buckle.

"Naruto…" The name came out as a gasp. He couldn't stop himself. He had never felt so incredibly…aware before. Every place Naruto was touching him stood out in Sasuke's mind, which was barely functioning anymore. Naruto's arms went limp, and he collapsed onto the couch, his eyes falling entirely closed. Sasuke nearly groaned at the lack of contact. Naruto didn't seem to notice. In fact, Sasuke had a sneaking suspicion the blond had fallen asleep.

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Temari sighed, leaning against the hard, sharp, metal desk.

"What was I supposed to do? Leave him there? I had to call someone." She said, eyes dark. Across the room, Gaara slammed his fist into a wall. This was the only indication she had that he was displeased. His voice was as monotone as ever, and his body was deceptively relaxed.

"Call me." Temari crossed her arms over her chest.

"He didn't want you, he wanted…" She didn't get a chance to finish, because suddenly Gaara's hand was at her throat. His passive eyes glared into hers, and his grip held no force. That didn't matter…Temari knew Gaara well enough to know that one flinch and he could have her dead.

"Don't." He whispered, voice cool. She nodded almost imperceptivity, but Gaara's hand vanished from her throat. The red head turned for the door. "Leave your report on the desk." He added absently, sending her a cool glare. Temari frowned.

"Gaara- Naruto isn't like you. He isn't looking to settle anything." Pale eyes narrowed as she spoke.

"Just remember that if you hurt him, it's not revenge- it's malice." Pale hands clenched, and for the first time since the blond woman had arrived, a spark of real anger entered his eyes.

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My Birthday is this Tuesday! October 31!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

19 years old!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

…….

………

Well, that's about it.

Happy Halloween!