Our Gummi Bear Shaped Disclaimer: We own all but none, so bye screw you hun, I'm poetry dead, tests have fried my head, and now I shall have a choc bun.

Our Pocky Tasting Authors Note:

Sugar: Hello! Sugar here, so glad you guys are still reading this! Remember, flamers will be poisoned with deadly candy, and then skinned alive, rolled in salt, and dipped in vinegar!!!
Peppermint: O.O
Sugar: Anyways, on with the fic! 'giggles'

Peppermint: 'Rolls eyes while sharpening kunai….but whether for flamers or Sugar is unknown.

With Grace,

Peppermint and Sugar

It Start's With An IPod

Chapter 2 Strife At The Bridge

Tired eyelids peeled themselves apart, staring at a digital clock that read seven a.m. "What a dream..." Naruto grumbled, sitting up, and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Then, he realized there was music in his ears, and he looked at his hands, only to see an Ipod clutched there.

His face drained of all colour. It hadn't been a dream. Sasuke had really kissed him. And he had to meet him on the bridge today. "Why me?" Naruto asked to his empty apartment. He sighed, getting up and heading toward the bathroom, showering, dressing, then heading out the door toward the bridge, and his intimate demise.

Meanwhile across town a blue haired ninja was glaring at his front door; this was a bad morning. Stiffly moving he opened the door and walked out, mentally screaming at himself to turn around and go back. He didn't want to face Naruto, to have his heart only further ripped out. He knew Naruto could never like him back, he knew that he would never be able to touch him again but that didn't help the fact that he still wanted to.

Naruto arrived at the bridge, forgetting to take his usual detour, and because of that, being the first one there. He didn't notice though. He was too caught up in thoughts of a certain raven, and how he was going to get through the day. His eyes snapped up when he heard footsteps, and his eyes locked with his dark-haired rival's, Naruto not knowing what he would do, or say once the dark teen made his way fully to the bridge.

After a fangirl free walk Sasuke reached the bridge. He thought he was alone but when he looked up and met sky blue eyes he faltered. He hadn't expected the blond to show up early. Slipping on his mask of indifference he continued until he reached the rail. Leaning forward he watched the water flow beneath the bridge, his bangs covering his eyes.

Naruto was frustrated that Sasuke had failed to say anything about the previous events. Then again, how could he blame him? Sasuke must have felt horrible, or at least embarrassed at the situation, Naruto knew he would be. "Ano... uh- Sasuke?" Naruto dug into his pants pocket, pulling out Sasuke's Ipod and shoving it practically in the other boy's face. "I'm sorry, I never gave it back. And..." Naruto looked up, into Sasuke's face before looking down at the ground to the side. "I'm sorry for away." He finished, holding the Ipod out for Sasuke to take.

Sasuke looked up as Naruto held out the Ipod. He felt the urge to scowl at the device; it had all started with the blasted thing. Hesitantly he reached out his arm and took it, careful not to touch Naruto; not knowing how the blonde would react. "Understandable." He muttered. "Huh?" Naruto asked. Still refusing to look at Naruto he busied himself with putting the Ipod in his pocket while he answered "It's understandable that you ran."

Naruto half-heartedly glared at Sasuke. "I said I would never run away again, yet I still did." Naruto forced Sasuke to look at him, by stepping in his line of sight. "I want to know, what... what happened…why you did it." Naruto was a little startled by his own question, when he had thought about it this morning, he had just wanted to let the matter fall, and return to normal. But now that Sasuke was here, he wanted an explanation. He also could have sworn there was the fleeting thought that he wanted it to happen again...

Sasuke felt his stomach drop. How could he answer that? I kissed you because I'm in love with you; I have been since we accidentally kissed in the classroom? However before he could even think of an answer a shrill voice yelled "SASUKE-KUN!!" before hugging him from behind. He never would have thought it possible that he would be happy to see Sakura; but anything was better then looking into confused sky blue eyes.

Naruto almost audibly growled at Sakura, he felt a sudden possessiveness, but didn't know why, so he suppressed the noise. "Ohayo, Sakura-chan." Naruto said, calmly for once. He was not in the mood to greet Sakura in his usual manner today. He unintentionally glared at the girl, sitting down and leaning against the bridge railing, making himself comfortable for the long wait he knew he would have to endure until Kakashi-sensei arrived.

Sasuke's eyes followed Naruto as he sat against the bridge railing. He was both thankful and disappointed at the distance between them. "Sasuke-Kun?" Turning he looked at a blushing Sakura who was standing next to him, fiddling with the hem of her dress. He didn't respond just turned back to looking at the river, hoping she'd take the hint and go away.

After a few seconds he heard her sigh before heading to the other side of the bridge. Keeping his head bent he watched Naruto from the corner of his eye, the dobe was looking at the clouds, his blonde hair moving with the slight breeze. Sighing he pulled his gaze back to the water, he wouldn't look at Naruto. Almost as if to prove his mental command he pulled out his Ipod and placed it in one of his ears before pressing play. Letting Simple Plan's Untitled flow from the speakers. He mentally grimaced, why did it have to be a sad song?

Naruto glanced up at Sasuke to see him grimace. He also noticed it was at the music in his ears. He got up. Sasuke was his best, not to mention ONLY friend! He was not going to lose him. Naruto decided to try to talk to Sasuke, make things a little less awkward. "Oi, Sasuke-teme." He said calmly, making sure not to sound angry or hyper. "What'cha listening to?"

Sasuke tensed when Naruto spoke to him, he hadn't ever expected to hear that voice directed at him again. Carefully so as not to aggravate Naruto further he said while still focusing on the river "Untitled, Simple Plan." From the corner of his eyes he saw Naruto frown before muttering "Of course it would be a fitting song." He didn't respond just kept looking at the river.

He was contemplating saying something to Naruto, maybe letting him borrow the IPod when a poof was heard followed by Sakura's yell of 'YOUR LATE KAKASHI-SENSEI" Funny he hadn't even noticed that they'd been there for over two hours. Lifting his hand he turned off the IPod just as 'Look What You've Done' by Jet finished playing.

Naruto was normally very prepared for Sakura's screech, however today, he was not. The blonde kitsune jumped almost three feet in the air, falling over the bridge railing at the same time. "Ah!" Naruto breathed, reaching a hand up, hoping someone would grab it. While he was falling, he was also contemplating the fact that he actually quite enjoyed the cool feeling of water on his skin, so maybe this wouldn't be so bad...

Following the shriek Sasuke felt his stomach climb up into his throat as he saw Naruto jump off the bridge in fright. Without thinking he was leaning over the bridge his hand grasping Naruto's and his IPod dangling over the bridge, only just held in his ear by the headphone.

Mentally shaking his head Sasuke had to marvel at the headband Naruto was wearing; with the amount of times he got surprised, it was nothing more then a miracle he was still alive. However that thought was soon discarded as he realised that he had grabbed and was now holding Naruto's hand.

Naruto blushed red as a beet with both embarrassment at his surprise and for the fact that Sasuke was currently holding his hand. "Ano, Sasuke, can you pull me up now?" He asked tentatively, hoping Sasuke wouldn't decide to just drop him as punishment for running from the kiss.

Sasuke felt his cheeks heat up in the slightest blush at there position. He mumbled a small 'okay' before hoisting the blonde up, never noticing his dangling IPod. When Naruto was safely on the bridge Sakura gave him a smack upside his head. "You idiot!" Everyone waited for Sasuke's usual 'dobe ' comment but it never came, Sasuke just moved away from Naruto taking his IPod out from his ear as he did.

Naruto looked slightly surprised at the absence of Sasuke's 'dobe', but shrugged it off. He was just glad Sasuke didn't drop him. "Thanks, Teme." He grinned at the dark-haired boy. He hoped they were on good terms now, he couldn't stand it if Sasuke was mad at him.

"So Kakashi sensei," Naruto said to their silver haired teacher, who was examining the Uchiha closley, "do we have any missions today?" Kakashi was broken out of his thoughts by Naruto speaking to him. "Sorry Naruto, we don't. Just training today." Naruto's shoulders sagged and he groaned. "Awww, we NEVER have any missions..."

Everyone just ignored him as Kakashi continued. "Okay, Naruto and Sasuke will spar as will Sakura and myself." Sakura nodded and went to walk over to Kakashi but before she had taken two steps Kakashi's next word stopped her. "But first I need to speak to Sasuke." Naruto's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Kakashi's grinned wickedly…if his one visible eye was any indication. "Because I want to strip him down and check for injuries" The entire team blanched. "Bad image, bad image!" Naruto yelled while banging his head on the bridge railing, obviously trying to will the images away.

After beating himself over the head on the bridge, Naruto headed off into the forest with Sakura to allow Kakashi to speak with Sasuke. "Oi, Sakura-chan, what do you think Kakashi-sensei wants to talk to Sasuke alone?" Sakura looked at Naruto and shrugged. "He's probably helping Sasuke-kun plan a magnificent date for us, and afterwards, he's going to help Sasuke-kun and I get Married!!!" Sakura took an a dreamy look while Naruto just stared at her with a raised eyebrow. Somehow he HIGHLY doubted that that was what was happening...

Sasuke watched Naruto and Sakura walk away leaving Kakashi and him alone. Turning to look at the perverted jounin he felt a tendril of nervousness form in the pit of his stomach. Keeping his blank face in place he said "What do you want?" Kakashi studied Sasuke before saying "Something happened with Naruto…..what?"

Sasuke felt his entire body tense, with difficulty he allowed himself to relax before saying acid coating his every word "Remind me how that's any of your business." Kakashi ignored Sasuke's tone before saying "Tut, tut Sasuke, now tell me what happened between you and our resident knucklehead blonde." Sasuke's eyes narrowed "Stick your nose back in your porno where it belongs and out of my affairs."

Kakashi shook his head in mock exasperation. "Maa, I guess I'll just have to ASSUME some things, after all, like you said my nose is always in my porn so it effects the way I think, so I will automatically assume you did some nasty things to our poor, poor little blonde..." As Kakashi rambled on about sex and marriage, his inner grin was growing wider and wider.

"... And I guess I'll just have to explain it to Naruto the best way I can think of. That is, if you don't tell me the truth." He turned and smiled (although theoretically, you can't tell with the mask) at the fuming Uchiha. "What do you think of that then Sasuke-Chan?"

Sasuke eye twitched at the suffix but he otherwise didn't move. When Sasuke stayed quiet Kakashi continued. "Well then I'll just have to go and talk to Naruto and see what he has to say….especially if I mentioned how informative you have been." Before Kakashi could blink Sasuke had reached up and grabbed his collar, bringing there faces mere inches apart. Sasuke's sharingan was spinning wildly and his hands were slightly shaking, something that did not go unnoticed by Kakashi.

Kakashi mentally sweat-dropped at Sasuke's reaction. "Maa, maa Sasuke-kun, no reason to be angry..." Kakashi suddenly grew serious. "Sasuke, tell me what happened. If it's something that is going to be affecting your training, I need to know, now."

Meanwhile, Naruto was still staring at Sakura, her odd face still set in place. "You know, Sakura-chan, your face will get stuck like that if you hold it in place for too long." He chuckled. "I mean, just look at the teme." Sakura whacked Naruto over the head, HARD. "Sasuke-kun's face is perfect, Naruto no Baka!" Naruto's only reply was to mentally roll his eyes.

Sasuke felt like walking off and ignoring Kakashi, but he knew he couldn't. With a mental groan he muttered out "Nothing I can't handle." He could see Kakashi going to protest but he intercepted "It won't affect any missions." Kakashi still seemed unsure but Sasuke left in the direction of Naruto and Sakura before the jounin could protest.

When Sasuke was out of earshot Kakashi sighed before muttering "If only love and lust was as simple as it was in books." With one final sigh he pulled out his orange Icha Icha Paradise book and started reading it while walking in the general direction of his students, but for the first time in known history Kakashi couldn't concentrate on his beloved porn.

Our Éclair Filled And Roughly Shaped Author's Note: Well we hope you have enjoyed our second chapter….it was rather long ne? Anyways please R&R we would be ever so grateful! Well thanks for getting this far!! Oh and if you like our writing please check out our other story Mission Audition….are we shameless advertisers or what?

With Grace,

Peppermint and Sugar