Disclaimer: Kishimoto-nii-sama won't share Kimimaro with me...

Chapter 8

"Things are looking up for the bird."

Sasuke looked up from his book, which was currently laying atop his desk, at the man standing in his doorway.

"Thanks for telling me." He said.

Kabuto did not move.

"Is there anything else?"

Kabuto sighed and stepped closer. Sasuke frowned at the action.

"Are you studying for finals?" The older man said after a long moment.

Sasuke's frown deepened at this. Kabuto wasn't one for random small talk, unless he was giving the boy a check-up.

"Yes."

"Which one?"

"Chemistry."

Kabuto caught the irony in this and offered a tiny smirk. "I'll be leaving you alone then." Sasuke saw that look in his eyes, near invisible as it was. Kabuto turned.

"I don't need your pity." Sasuke snapped.

Kabuto turned back to the pale boy, who had sharply risen from his seat before the desk, and was glaring hatefully at the medic. Kabuto sighed.

"I'm sorry." He stepped out and began to close the door behind him. "I did not mean to anger you." The door closed.

Sasuke's wrath dissipated immediately. He collapsed back into the chair, heaving a sigh. "You did nothing wrong." He called. He wondered if the other man had heard him. When he looked back at his chemistry book he felt only disgust, so he slammed it closed and turned away, drawing his knees up to his chest. He looked at his scarred wrists, visible due to the fact he had rolled up his sleeves. He needed a knife. It was the only way he knew to vent his frustrations.

'You're not some tool, Sasuke.'

That's where you're wrong Naruto... I'm just a toy. When Orochimaru tires of me, he'll kill me, like everyone else.

But the idea of being a human was enticing to Sasuke.

Naruto sent a baleful glance to the damned building that was slowly growing closer to the walking teen.

Friday.

Next week was finals.

Heaving a great sigh, the blond continued forward and hoped that Sasuke would show up today, and all next week as well. He didn't like it when the raven wasn't around, and not only for lack of company. There was something wrong; definitely. Tuesday had proved that, and not even Sasuke's efforts to reassure him on Wednesday had eased his mind. But the week had passed uneventfully, and Naruto hoped that it would be just as uneventful today.

Speaking of the confusing jerk, there he was now. The smaller boy was leaning against the side of the school, where he customarily waited for his boyfriend.

"Hey bastard." Naruto greeted as he approached the boy. Sasuke offered a smirk in greeting, his dark eyes meeting blue ones.

"We've got about twenty minutes until the bell rings," Sasuke informed the blond when they were at a closer range, "let's go find someplace else to hang out at."

"Behind the bleachers?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"No, moron. That's where everyone else goes to make out." There was a wry tone to Sasuke's voice. He hesitated, then added, "No one's near the east side of the building, last I checked."

"When did you last check?"

"Just a few minutes ago." Sasuke admitted, then picked up his bag, which had been resting next to him, and slung it over his should before walking off, assuming Naruto would follow.

A few short moments later, they were on the east side, sitting side-by-side and leaning against the prickly bricks of their school.

Sasuke was wearing his usual slight frown, eyes idly tracing the shape of clouds above. Naruto grinned as he watched the boy and began to play with his soft obsidian hair, running his fingers through it. Sasuke's frown twitched up into a smirk as he leaned into the touch.

With a bit of coaxing, Naruto pulled a disgruntled Sasuke into his lap; the shorter seeming a bit displeased with his current situation.

"You're just too cute." Naruto teased in response to the idle glare he received, cupping Sasuke's face.

"I'm not cute." Sasuke insisted, cringing at the word.

"Fine. You're pretty..." And Naruto titled Sasuke's head back and began to kiss him.

Sasuke found he couldn't stay irritated with the blond for very long.

"Hey hey hey hey! Not in public."

The two broke apart, and Sasuke had to turn his head so he could place his annoyed glare on none other than Inuzuka Kiba.

"Maybe you shouldn't look, Inuzuka." Sasuke growled at Naruto's best friend.

"As you wish, Princess Sasuke." Kiba smirked, earning a low growl from the pale boy.

Naruto only sighed. Kiba and Sasuke didn't hate each other—they just liked giving the other a hard time. He was pretty sure it was harmless banter. He hoped it was harmless banter.

By now, Kiba had crossed the distance and sat in front of the couple, and Sasuke climbed out of Naruto's lap.

"So how have the lovebirds been?" Kiba inquired casually, earning another glare from Sasuke.

Naruto hesitated before replying. Was it worth the possibility of cold shoulder just to tease Sasuke? He smirked as the obvious answer came to him. Yes; it was.

Naruto now always walked Sasuke to the station, especially if the pale boy was not going to the blond's apartment after school. They stopped just a short distance away to say their goodbyes.

"Wanna do something over the weekend, Sasuke? Have fun before finals?" Naruto offered with a grin. Something flickered in Sasuke's eyes before he said,

"Can't. Sorry. I'm busy."

Naruto felt that worry well up in his chest but didn't let it show and insisted, "Ditch, then."

"I can't. I want to hang out, I just can't."

And this time Naruto felt just a bit of irritation—perhaps not directed at Sasuke, but it was still there—and said, "You won't be busy next week, right?"

Sasuke hesitated before saying, "Right. I'll be here and we can try to do something next weekend."

"Great." He kissed Sasuke's forehead and walked back toward his apartment, glancing back at his boyfriend only once.

As Sasuke had promised, he was at school on Monday. They had only two finals to take—both took Asuma's chemistry, and Sasuke took Kurenai's math while Naruto took Gai's gym. Naruto was pretty sure he failed the chemistry final, but Sasuke insisted he must have done fine—they studied together, after all. Naruto broke down this argument quickly by reminding him that they hadn't done much studying at the time.

They got out early, so they both went to Naruto's apartment to study. Again, they didn't study much—Sasuke blamed Naruto who insisted on giving the smaller a shoulder massage which also consisted of small kisses along his neck, shoulders, and ears. It wasn't his fault he got distracted. Really.

On Tuesday, Naruto took Aoba's math and Sasuke took Gai's gym; then Sasuke had Art—taught by Genma and Naruto was subject to Raidou's cruel business test. He was pretty sure he failed that too.

Again, they went to Naruto's place, but completely abandoned the farce of studying as Sasuke immediately claimed the couch to use for a nap. And nap he did—until Naruto finished his after-school ramen and bugged the raven until he gave in and let Naruto sit on the couch and rested his head on his boyfriend's lap while he slept.

In his half-awake state, he enjoyed the feeling of Naruto's warm hand on his stomach and his other hand gently tracing the features of Sasuke's face. That was what he liked about Naruto—he could be so gentle. Sometimes he was sure he didn't deserve it...

He leaned into Naruto's touch at one point, and the blond paused.

"Are you awake?" He asked, a bit embarrassed.

"No." Sasuke mumbled, turning his face into Naruto's hand, enjoying the warmth. Naruto snickered and turned Sasuke's face up and the next thing Sasuke knew, there was the taste of Naruto in his mouth. His eyes reluctantly opened. Naruto was kissing him upside down.

This is fun. He thought before returning it. The kiss broke and Sasuke was sure he heard an ill-hidden chuckle.

"What?" He frowned.

"Nothing." Naruto grinned, "You're just cute when you're tired—Pretty! I meant pretty."

Sasuke scowled. "You're an idiot." He pulled Naruto down for a kiss again and when they broke apart Naruto promptly said,

"I'm not an idiot."

"Yes you are." Another kiss that made Sasuke shiver with warmth. When they parted, Sasuke shifted and closed his eyes for sleep.

"If you wake me up, I'll hurt you." He teased, languidly at rest, using his boyfriend's legs as a pillow.

The last day of finals.

Sasuke was not sure if he should be relieved or mortified, so he tried to settle for indifference.

Mortification won out, in the end.

He was terrified because this was it. This could be the last time he would ever see Naruto; that bright boy that made him feel again, even though he was afraid to. He wished he could have hated Naruto. He wished Naruto's good nature hadn't made him act almost... kindly toward the raven.

Things would have been so much easier if they just had hated each other.

But Sasuke knew that the world could not always work the way one wanted it to, not in the way it should.

"Mizuki failed me. I know he did." Naruto said, as they neared his apartment.

"Naruto, any home ec teacher with a sense of decency would fail you. All you can make is ramen."

"But what else do you need to eat?" Naruto cried melodramatically.

"Something with actual health value." Sasuke replied automatically. They had this conversation before.

"Variety is for people with no life."

Sasuke snorted.

Naruto unlocked the door to his apartment and they stepped inside.

As the blond flicked on the lights, a thought entered Sasuke's mind.

"Naruto," He said, "can I have your phone number?"

End Chapter 8

I think this chapter is boring, but maybe a good boring. Nothing bad happens; everyone gets a short break. I mostly needed to finish up school, so it's a bit short. This is really a transitional piece; I guess you could say from here on out is the second part of the story.