Disclaimer: I can't think up something witty, so I'll just say this, "Don't own."

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Chapter 2

I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! Naruto was glaring at Sasuke, who seemed to sense this and looked up at him.

He smirked.

I hate him!

Since their chance meeting a week ago at Ichiraku, Sasuke seemed to have turned over a new leaf. He liked to torture the younger boy. Today the Uchiha had corrected Naruto when he had done a problem on the board and said it in such a way the fox was immensely embarrassed. It was also the most Sasuke had ever said. Of course, most of the class thought this was highly amusing, the exception being Hinata, Shino, and Shikamaru.

Just you wait Sasuke-bastard. I'll get you back for that.

Naruto was still plotting Sasuke's slow and painful death when the bell rang.

By the time school was over, Naruto figured he could just beat up the brat and call it good. The students were milling about the schoolyard, some carpooling or taking the bus, but a good amount were walking. Naruto spotted the raven, his dark eyes scanning the grounds, currently free of his fangirls.

"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto snapped, ready to bring about his revenge. The Uchiha fixed him with a blank stare, a tiny frown forming.

"Not now, Uzumaki."

Naruto was about to yell at him, but he caught the tired tone in Sasuke's voice. He couldn't begin to imagine why he would sound so worn out, and he backed off.

Sasuke turned and began to walk away, beginning the long trek toward the train station. After a moment, Naruto fell in step with the raven. He was greeted by a sidelong glare.

"We walk the same way. Why not walk together?"

Sasuke's eyes flicked forward, face giving away nothing.

Naruto mostly figured that meant something along the lines of 'okay'. They were silent for a long while until Sasuke made to leave for the station. Naruto then remembered Sasuke saying something about not really liking his family. With a sigh, he gave in to his nice side.

"Wanna go to Ichiraku with me?" Naruto couldn't help but offer.

Sasuke's features almost registered surprise, and after a moment's consideration, nodded.

"Sure."

Moments later, the two were sitting side by side at the booth, each eating a different type of ramen.

Silence...

"Don't you ever talk!" Naruto cried, frustrated.

Sasuke rose a brow, "Why should I?"

"Don't you want friends?" Naruto growled.

Sasuke snorted, "So I can have annoying brats like you following me around? No, thanks."

Naruto glowered, "You shouldn't take friends for granted! They'll always be there for you—"

"Just like family?" Was the mocking interruption, laced with just a tiny bit of bitterness.

Naruto bit his tongue and looked away, twiddling his hashi in his ramen. Sasuke snorted again and lept easily off the stool, heading back toward the train station.

"I'll see you later, loser." The aloof tone was back, and Naruto didn't watch as he walked away.

It was much later, the moon well into the sky. Sasuke dryly noted he was going to be tired in school; he had stayed up too late.

The pain behind his eyes was a sign of his migraine, although he wasn't sure what caused it.

He figured he could blame Naruto. The blond kid was annoying... Although it confused him to no end that he really didn't mind his company during the walk or going to Ichiraku with him...

He was still a fool though; or maybe just ignorant.

After all, once Sasuke had also been ignorant enough to think that those who cared would always be there for you.

The raven climbed into bed. Oh, how he hated this bed. It was soft, warm, and comfortable, and given to him by Orochimaru. Maybe—maybe—if he had gotten it from someone else he would like the damned thing, but there was no way he could enjoy the false comfort it offered.

Sasuke closed his eyes, his mind and body exhausted.

Just as he felt sleep overtake his senses, he felt someone standing next to his bed. Did Orochimaru want something? Or was it Kabuto?

Lips brushed his ear, making the hairs on his neck stand on end.

"Otouto..."

With a tiny cry, his eyes flung open and he pulled away from the voice.

Nothing.

Only the dark outlines of his door and dresser and desk.

Not the red eyes he expected.

He glanced at the clock. It was easily four hours since he had closed his eyes.

He hated it.

He hated not realizing a dream was a dream, even after he woke up.

Then again, maybe he hadn't been asleep...

Under his pillow was a cold blade. Wondering fingers reached for it...

So far, so good. Sasuke glanced down the halls quickly, not seeing Orochimaru. Maybe he would manage to get to school unhindered... He turned back. He froze at the sight of the Snake in front of him.

How does he do that...?

"I heard you shout last night." Orochimaru said softly, tracing Sasuke's lips, "Nothing I should worry about, I hope?"

Sasuke couldn't reply, his heart pounding.

"Get to school." The man said coldly, brushing past him, and the raven could breathe again.

It took him a little while to stop shivering.

Sasuke felt a desolate anger creep up his spine as he watched Naruto interact with his friends during lunch. Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru, and the blond moron all sat at a table in the schoolyard joking about something.

With a quiet hiss, Sasuke turned away, shoving his fists in his pockets and finding someplace far away to eat his own lunch.

It wasn't fair. How come—how come that moron, that idiot, got to have friends? How come he could have everything Sasuke ever wanted?

But his lip curled at the thought of Orochimaru and he knew why he couldn't have friends.

Was it really so much to ask for? To just talk to someone... Sasuke shook his head to clear away the thoughts. No use in thinking them now. He really shouldn't be so selfish. (He ignored the fact that Orochimaru would say the same thing to him.)

With a sigh, Sasuke glanced at his surroundings. He'd managed to find a portion of the schoolyard that was unoccupied and without the chatter of other teens. He found a spot and opened his bento, frowning at the food.

You see? This is how it's supposed to be. A chiding, soft voice whispered in his head. You're alone and you can't hurt anyone like this. You can't even hear anyone, can you? Did you really think, yesterday, that you might have a friend? Remember, Uchiha, you have to be alone.

Sasuke sighed. He knew. He closed his bento and pushed it away, no longer hungry.

"Hey! Hey Hinata!"

She turned and stopped, forcing herself not to fidget as Naruto approached her.

"N-Naruto-kun." She greeted, smiling shyly.

"I'll walk ya some of the way, okay?" He offered. She blushed prettily and nodded, self-consciously smoothing the pleats of her school skirt as they walked side-by-side. For a long moment they said nothing, Naruto idly humming tunelessly. After a while it died out and he said,

"What d'you think of that new kid?"

Hinata started at the question and looked down at her shoes. "Sasuke-kun is very intelligent." She said softly. "Although... He's not very social..." She swallowed, hoping that was all she had to say.

Naruto hmphed. "He's such a priss. He must be PMSing or something. He's seriously got a stick up his—"

"Naruto!" Hinata exclaimed, mortified. "Y-you shouldn't talk like that!"

Naruto gave her a vulpine grin in apology. "Sorry Hinata. But he's so..."

"I..." Hinata cleared her throat. "I think he's a bit... lonely." She said. Naruto made a sound in the back of his throat. "I mean! Today. At lunch, he was looking at you and your friends like he wanted to join you... I-I think he just doesn't know how to act. Around people..."

Naruto made a small 'oh' and frowned thoughtfully. After a moment, he came to a conclusion and said, "He's still a priss."

Hinata gave a small laugh. "Maybe. Ah... This is my turn, Naruto-kun. I'll see you tomorrow." She gave a small wave before she crossed the street.

Lonely, huh? Naruto gave a sigh and scowled at the thought of his dark-haired classmate. Well he can't fix that by pushing people away.

Sasuke looked away as Orochimaru held his chin, inspecting the boy's split lip. He jerked back when Orochimaru brushed a finger over the lightly bleeding tissue and he heard the Snake chuckle.

"Who did it?" The man asked, watching the teenager shift under his gaze uncomfortably and refuse to meet his eyes.

"Just an idiot at school. It's nothing."

"Hm... You fought back, I hope?"

"Yes." Sasuke felt small under those golden eyes and he knew it showed.

Orochimaru reached out and lifted Sasuke's chin, deliberately pressing his thumb into a bruise on the boy's cheek and watching him wince.

"You should put an ice pack on that." And he let Sasuke go, brushing past him, unable to see the boy shudder.

Sasuke did as he said, taking one of the ice packs from the freezer and wrapping it in a paper towel, placing it on his cheek and walking upstairs to his room.

Sasuke didn't know what Naruto's problem was. After all, why couldn't he just leave Sasuke alone? It wasn't like he wanted company. And that was what had caused their scuffle. Sasuke's nerves had not mixed well with Naruto's over-cheerfulness. Sasuke had thrown the first punch, hoping that the moron would just back off.

He should have known that Naruto's idiocy knew no bounds.

It must have been a tie, in the end, because they had both been sitting in the parking lot, trying to catch their breath. It had been an interesting fight. Sasuke had very obviously been formally trained in martial arts, but Naruto had developed a highly effective form of street fighting. But the punch he'd given Naruto in the stomach was going to hurt tomorrow.

Naruto had been laughing in the end, and at first Sasuke thought the moron had been laughing at him, and he hadn't felt the least bit amused.

But then Naruto had stood, and dusted himself off, and offered a hand up to Sasuke, with that ever-present, ever-annoying grin of his.

Sasuke had refused his help.

Strange. Sasuke frowned. In a way, it had been the most fun he'd had in a long time.

End Chapter 2

(O)Bento: Basically, a lunchbox. Only cool, and Japanese-like. The 'o' is honorific. Note that Sasuke doesn't use it.

Hum... Sorry that this is a bit short. Just barely six pages.

But I love Hinata. She's so sweet.