A/N: Ok I am back! No sunburn either! Although the reviews lagged really really bad last chapter. Is this story that bad? I mean I think I only have like three people reading this and I know them all so it's not really all that great to hear from them cuz I do anyways on a daily basis almost. I'd really like a shit load of reviews at some point. Maybe promote me in one of your stories? I'd totally dedicate a whole story to those who get me more reviews. Either a one-shot or a multi chapter story, so please help me out? Ok with that said I have one more thing before the story starts. I LOVE YOU ERI-CHAN! I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN BABY, AND I AM THINKING ABOUT YOU LIKE CRAZY! I can't call though because my cell is out of minutes and I got grounded from both that and my house phone so I still can't call you! Just know you're with me every night.

WARNING: Slight violence (Depending how you look at it), very slight angst, and a lil' fluff?

Chapter 3- Relax Relapse

The sight is down right disturbing and sickens my very being. They take turns pushing and punching Naruto around until he falls to the ground, gasping for air. One by one they're now kicking him. In the ribs. In the stomach. In the face...everywhere.

Memories of Itachi rush through my head in a painful sweep. I scream out loud and sink to my knees. I clamp my hands over my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. But not before seeing the five bullies look in my direction.

With myself, I'm fighting to not snap. For Naruto and myself I must remain calm under this. Then, without warning his words ring in my head. 'Cling to your life and hate me. Hate everyone. Disregard everyone and everything as if you were the only one here.' Then Naruto's words come out of nowhere right after Itachi's. 'Grow up teme, in this cold and cruel world you have to cope. Get over yourself and open your eyes!'

As if on cue my eyes shoot open at hearing a loud crack. My head lifts up, I had removed my hands from my ears seconds before the sickening sound. They now are fists clutching the dirt I kneel on. My eyes fall on a crying Naruto holding his now broken left arm. One of them says something and kicks Naruto so hard he falls limp in an unconscious state before they all laugh.

That's it. These people are so gone. I shakily rise to my feet and before I take a single step, two of them grab Naruto and lift him onto his knees. The one that kicked him pulls out a kunai. Before I know what happened I'm over where they are, all five on the ground out cold with shuriken in various body places.

People all around me look shocked. Probably because I saved and acted for another person. Either that or cause I saved their so-called "Monster".

"What the hell is wrong with all of you!" I cry out as I pull Naruto's body behind me, back towards my place. "How can you stand around and watch this go on? You all make me sick!"

Knowing Naruto he probably doesn't have any medical supplies at his house. Which is why I'm bringing him to mine. The hospital is past my house and I don't know if I can even make it home. I'll call Iruka-Sensei. He always helped Naruto when he was hurt in the past. Hopefully he'll help this time too. It takes me only twenty minutes to get Naruto back to my house. I had gotten some fangirls to help me carry him.

I sadly had to kiss them both on the cheek. A small price to pay for a life though...I guess. As soon as Naruto lays safely on my couch I run for the phone. Dialing Iruka-Sensei's number I mutter to myself.

"Kuso, Kakashi you really picked a bad day for a big mission." the phone rings about five times and still no answer. "Come on pick-he-hello?"

"Who is this," asks my teachers voice from the other end. "Wait...Sasuke?"

"Ye-yeah. Listen, I need you to come over right away." I say making my voice sound urgent.

"Why, what's going on?"

"It...it's Naruto. He's been seriously hurt." I reply, unable to hold back the shaking my body seems to be doing on it's own now. The hell is Naruto doing to me?

After giving him my address I hang up. Going into the bathroom I grab a washcloth. The water runs cold in the sink and I drench the cloth in it before shutting the water back off. I wring it out and head back in to the livingroom. Carefully, I run the washcloth over his face, arms, neck, anywhere that has blood.

I'm particularly careful around his left arm. Knocking on the front door prompts me to leave the unconscious blonde for a moment. The door swings open and I pull Iruka-Sensei inside and close the door again. He says we need to move him to a bed right away. Quickly, I lead him upstairs into my room.

I tell him about Naruto's arm and he says that's not the only bad thing. His nose was broken, a fractured leg, obvious bruises all over, and I just now notice his hair. Splattered with his own blood. For a few seconds I feel faint. That is, before Iruka-Sensei tells me that it's just his arm and leg that we need to worry about.

"How is that possible? Doesn't it take a long time for broken noses and stuff to heal, Iruka-Sensei?" I question sitting down and looking at the unconscious blonde next to me.

"Naruto is...special. Because of his...what's the word...heritage he heals faster then normal people like you and me." He explains with a smile.

"Oh...ok. As long as he doesn't die..."

"I thought you two don't get along?"

"He's ok. It's just that the other day was too much. The yelling in my ear got me."

"Totally understandable. Hey listen, I have to get back home. I was kinda with someone when you called. When's Kakashi-Kun getting back?"

"Sometime later tonight."

"Do you think you can-"

"Yes, don't worry about it. I'll do my best, Iruka-Sensei." I say getting up so I can walk him out.

I go back upstairs and into my room, resuming my seat on the bed next to Naruto. For a nine-year-old I have a pretty big bed. Queen-sized so I get a lot of room. Not once have I left the my room. It's been three hours and the sun is starting to set.

A wave o sleep overtakes me as I yawn. Lying down next to Naruto, I move my body right up against his and drape my arm over his waist protectively. This poor boy has endured so much crap from these damn villagers, it's amazing how he keeps smiling most of the time.

"Happy birthday to me..." I mutter before falling asleep for the third time today.

I'm jerked awake by being pulled onto my side. My shirt up on the top of my shoulder becomes increasingly moist. Next come the whimpers and deep intakes of breath. It takes me a few seconds to realize Naruto has woken up and is crying on my shoulder. Nothing is going on inside of me.

It's been too long since I've been involved in this kind of human contact. So I improvise and ask the first thing my mom always used to. "What's wrong Naruto? You're ok now." I say, trying to sound soothing.

"I...I almost died That's what's wrong, you have no idea what it's-" I don't let him finish, for I push him off the bed and glare as he backs up against the wall.

"Don't...don't you dare say I don't know what it's like to have a near-death experience! Now stop crying like a baby Naruto! Be a man and suck it up, dobe." I say with a hint of disgust in my voice and no emotion in my eyes.

All that compassion and content I had just felt flew right out the window. This is why I try not to get involved with people. They don't think about anyone but themselves. All that's heard is our breathing. Our eyes are locked onto one anothers intensely. I snap out of it finally.

"Naruto, if you've got nothing to say...then get lost." I say standing up and walking over to my dresser for some pj's.

I hear the floorboards creak as Naruto gets up. The door opens and he walks out into the hallway.

"...Naruto, wait!" I call out after him.

He pokes his head in with a sad look on his face. "Listen Dobe, anytime someone starts beating on you again don't be afraid to try and find me. I got your back." I say looking at the floor and moving my toes nervously.

Why the hell am I fidgeting? It's Naruto, I have nothing to get worked up about. I must need something to eat or something...

"Thanks Teme." he replies with a brand new smile on his face now.

"How's your arm and leg?"

"Oh, they're fine now. Thanks for everything you've done. I'm gonna go now." Naruto says before he smiles again and walks out of view and downstairs.

His footsteps are heard all the way to the front door. God, he even walks noisy. Wiat, did he call me...teme? I dismiss the thought as I change and snake my way back into my comfy bed. Which...I now realize, the covers need to be washed.

I sigh and shuffle my way into the guest room and climb under the other beds' covers. Sleep takes over almost instantly. Not exhaustion, just really really sleepy from the days events. Well, I guess that is kinda exhaustion. What a birthday, ne?

Kakashi had awoken me late this morning. He said his mission went on longer than expected. Anyways, here I am. In Tsunade's office still with a little bit of sleep in me. We've been here for about forty or fifty minutes already. I'm not really sure. But suddenly I speak.

"I...no, forget it."

"No, please continue. Sasuke, this is the first time you've spoken in a session. Something big is on your mind. Let's talk about it."

"...I found...this boy the other day. He was getting beaten up and I stopped it. He was pretty banged up so I took him to my house, not knowing what else to do. The hospital was too far away."

"Why," Tsunade asks after writing somethings down on her notepad. "Sasuke, why show emotions to a complete stranger? Especially since you've never shown any form of compassion towards anyone else since the incident."

"Because...he's like me. Completely alone...and those eyes. Those eyes of his are so...wanting."

"Like you?"

"Yeah. In school he's totally hyper and fine, but after that...it's a different story. In school or around people those eyes have life, love and joy in them. When he's alone or close to it his eyes are cold, spiteful, and sad."

"Uh-huh...like yours?"

"...Yeah."

"So, you know him from school?"

"Yeah, next to Kiba he's the-ok, he is the stupidest person at the academy, but I envy him."

"Why's that?"

"Cause he has so much to put up with and endure. More than any other kid I know. Even me."

"Uh-huh...shit we're out of time. Do you want to talk more about him next time or anything for that matter?"

"Yes...that would be nice."

Three Years Later

It's been three years exactly. Today is my twelfth birthday and I'm spending it with Naruto. Ever since I literally saved his life we've hung out from time to time. He's an awesome person to know. Not that I'd ever admit that out loud. But he just gets you going and in this...mood. We're best friends, rivals, and I want so badly for us to be more.

I've been thinking a lot about him lately. More then usual and it's affecting me in my sleep. He's cause me to wake up with wet sheets on more then one occasion. It's sad that I've fallen for another male, but I'm proud to be the way I am. Gay. Tsunade and Kakashi don't know. I'd rather keep it a secret for now. My therapy sessions have been cut down to once a week now.

A lot of pressure off of me. I don't have to wake up extra early every morning now. Just once a week. It's been doing me a lot of good. I think the schedule changed last year or sometime earlier this year. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm supposed to focus on class in a few minutes.

But I can't get my mind off of fucking Naruto! Him and Iruka-Sensei. Him and Kakashi have been dating. For the past three years. I can't believe I just figured it out a few months ago. Ugh, kuso. Can he please get here and announce what he needs to. Stupid ceremony thing.

Hey, what the hell is Naruto doing in front of me?

"Nani, Dobe?" I ask lazily.

He just glares at me and I start to back. Then suddenly he starts to fall forward, his lips find themselves snuggly placed on my own.

A/N: Ok this chapter kinda sped things up. It had to be done though. This way I can go through ages 12-16 faster. Next chapter has something really exciting in it and I think you need to get some more people to start reading this to review, please? Oh, and I want no complaints on OOC. Let's get this straight. If you have a straight character (Sasuke and Naruto for example) and you turn them gay, even bi for that matter, their personalities will change. So I don't know why it is people complain about OOC when it really can't be helped. With that said please, please, please hit that little 'review' button and recommend this story for me. See ya'll next Friday with a special guest and a very...self interactive chapter.