SasuNaru, yaoi and OOC

Beta-read by Karina chan

When the two lovers became one, the finality and the fragility of things had never been as lucid as that moment. There were too many variables that showed that there could never be them... not at this time... or the time after.

They bucked and strained against each other, giving and taking pleasure while seeking for comfort and sanctuary from the pressure and criticism they received from their families. However, for every slap of their sweat-slicked bodies all they found was the bitterness-tainted sweetness of this sacred union of their souls, of their bodies and of their hearts. The dull ache intensified at this very moment, knowing everything they had would soon become nothing but a memory to be buried at the deepest recesses of their minds.

And when they reached their peak, the blonde, instead of seeing white, saw nothing but the emptiness that he would feel the rest of the days. And this time, he couldn't stop the tears cascading down from his eyes. Trying to hide his tears, he pulled his lover towards him and tightened his embrace. Pleas of "Don't go" or "Don't leave me" was about to flow from his lips when he heard the soft sobs of his lover and he swallowed the words back. He shouldn't make it hard for the other. He had to let go. Besides, one could love another with possessing his object of affection, right?

He murmured his lover's name and the other just murmured between soft kisses on his nape, "Not yet. Let me feel you tonight." Because it was the only time they had now… would ever have.

Despite the tears, he smiled. "Please do. I want you to."

If only I can steal eternity...

Chapter 2: Deeper… stronger bonds

kimi ga namida no toki ni wa boku ga soba ni iru kara
hanareba nare no yoru datte boku ga soba ni iru kara
boku wa soba ni iru kara

-"Soba Ni Iru Kara" by Amadori

Naruto's face contorted in annoyance as his aunt painstakingly tried to school his stubborn golden locks in preparation for the boy's first day of school in a nearby kindergarten.

"Why can't Sasu-chan and I be classmates?" he asked for the umpteenth time. To both kids, they felt it was essential for them to be classmates or going to the same school because the other's presence gave them a sense of security.

"Because Sasuke-kun's place is far from your school," Tsunade- his aunt gave the same reply.

"He can stay here." After all, his friend had stayed overnight for many times already.

"Naruto," the woman said gently. "Mikoto-san would miss Sasuke-kun very much."

"Then she can stay here too!"

Tsunade sighed seeing it was pointless to make Naruto understand. If she won't stop, it won't be long before her nephew would suggest that the Uchiha family could live with them.

A second later, Naruto grunted and pouted at his aunt's silence.

-SasuNaru is love-

Wanting to improve her second son's sullen mood and stony silence which the boy maintained for five days straight since classes has started, Mikoto had personally went to borrow Naruto.

"Sasuke, look who's here?" she asked but was deliberately ignored. Sasuke was still mad that he was enrolled at a school where Naruto couldn't go.

He looked at his homework which asked him to identify animals and glared at it. Playing with his friend was better than this but Naruto must be busy with his homework too. Displeased at such thought, he glared harder before he was attack from behind.

"Sasu-chan!" a very happy Naruto said loudly and just near his friend's right ear, causing said friend to cringe.

Mikoto looked at the happy faces of both boys. The strict side of her wanted to remind them of their homework but she stifled the urge. She had to let them live a part of their childhood, knowing that their family name would demand them to be mature earlier than the rest of the kids.

Minutes later, both boys were lying on their stomachs, Sasuke identifying the animals and Naruto coloring them. The former realized that he didn't have to play with the latter to enjoy the day. As long as Naruto was with him, anything was fun.

Their gazes met and a warm smile was exchanged between them.

-SasuNaru is love-

"Is Naru-chan going home tomorrow?" Sasuke asked quietly as they huddled together under one blanket, lying on their side, facing each other.

The blonde boy nodded. "Uncle Jiraiya will pick me up tomorrow afternoon," he replied just as quietly. He didn't want Sasuke's mother to walk into the room again to tell them to go to sleep. He was extra careful not to anger the woman or he won't be invited again. "Can Sasu-chan come to my house next Saturday?"

The dark-haired boy nodded immediately and wished that tomorrow would be Saturday again. He wanted to spend time with the blonde and deep inside him, a voice told him that Naruto felt the same.

"Ne, do you have new friends?" Naruto asked what had been bugging him since school started. He was scared that Sasuke would replace him. He didn't want that. He couldn't stand that.

Sasuke recalled the faces of the people he met at school whom he needed to interact in a daily basis. Obligatory interaction. "I only have classmates," was his reply.

That answer made with conviction and warmth banished any fear and insecurities Naruto had, leaving him light and very happy. He moved closer to his friend before saying, "Me too." In the dimness of the room, Naruto saw how those dark orbs glinted with happiness.

The warm happiness lulled them to a peaceful slumber where school days never existed.

-SasuNaru is love-

For both boys who had promised their Saturday to each other, time had unfairly dragged the week until they felt like crying.

Naruto let out a small cry when he heard the doorbell buzzing. He rushed to the front door and grinned when he saw Sasuke standing there, behind him was the Uchiha's family driver carrying Sasuke's bag. He ignored the man as he pulled Sasuke in.

"Ne, I wanted to show you something," Naruto started as he pulled Sasuke deeper into the house.

"What?" Sasuke said excitedly as he followed him to the family den. His friend's giddiness was rubbing on him.

"Tada" Naruto cried out as he presented an orange, no, golden orange kitten in his arms. "You don't like him?" he asked, seeing the frown on his friend's face.

Sasuke reached out to pat the kitten's head. "Where did you buy him? Is he a stray cat?"

"I don't know. Uncle Jiraiya gave it to me and I named him 'Kyuubi'."

The dark-haired boy looked thoughtful before saying, "That name doesn't fit him at all."

The blonde glared, "It does!"

"No… it doesn't."

"It does. It does, ne Kyuubi?" The animal meowed making Naruto looked smug. Sasuke sighed.

"Are we going to play or not?"

"Of course, we will." Naruto then let go of his pet who seemed to be disappointed and stared at the dark-haired boy with an unreadable face. Sasuke ignored the look the kitten gave him in favor of his friend.

-SasuNaru is love-

The two glared at each other as they stood inside the bathroom.

"Why must you bring Kyuubi? Cats don't take a bath!" Sasuke reiterated.

"They do," Naruto retorted, his voice louder than Sasuke's.

"Not together with me… with us."

"Of course not. His bath is separate. He's here to watch us." The blonde then proceeded in putting the kitten in a small basket oblivious of the glare Sasuke was sending towards him and his pet.

Mad, Sasuke went to the shower ahead. He had expected that they'd have fun and that he'd have Naruto all to himself but he was wrong. All day, Naruto worried about that pet until he felt like he was being abandoned. Was he now being hated by his only best friend? Didn't Naruto like him like before?

"Ne," the blonde called out softly, noticing the stony silence his friend started. He looked at how Sasuke roughly rubbed his body as if, he was angry. He covered Sasuke's hands with his own, stopping their movements. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," the pale boy snapped back but he didn't pull his hands away.

"You're crying," he heard the boy whispered.

"I'm not," he denied but he could feel hot liquid running down on his cheeks and his view was blurry.

"Liar."

"It hurts," Sasuke voiced out even before he could even realized what hurts. Naruto smiled in understanding.

"Idiot. Of course, it hurts. You're scrubbing too hard." And before his friend could say anything, he took the body scrub from him and started doing it himself.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke stared at the sleeping form of Naruto. He poked the tanned cheek closest to him. "Idiot," he murmured. "I'll never forgive you if you'll choose that kitten over me." He then laid his head against Naruto's chest, listening to his steady heart beat. "Don't forget me, you idiot. I'm your only best friend, remember?"

As if in answer to his question, the blonde murmured an incoherent word and the other boy believed it was his name.

-SasuNaru is love-

Naruto opened his eyes and smiled knowing it was Saturday again. He sat up and scratch Kyuubi's belly as his pet stretched from his slumber.

"Good morning, Kyuubi," he greeted.

He quickly did his morning routine and rushed downstairs where his father was eating breakfast while reading the morning paper.

"Morning, Naruto," Arashi greeted.

"Morning," daddy."

The man arched an eyebrow as he felt pure joy coming from his child. "Sasuke-kun is coming here?"

"Yeah and he promised he'll teach me a new game." He looked at the wall clock and silently pleaded time to hurry and move to ten in the morning.

Naruto looked at the clock wondering if it was advance or something. It was already 10:32 and Sasuke wasn't still there. He was certain the boy would call if he was late. Did something happen to him? There was only one way to find out- he called Sasuke's residence.

"Itachi-nii," Naruto said, immediately identifying the cool voice answering his call.

"Naru-chan, how are you?" Itachi's voice was now slightly laced with affection.

"Fine. You?"

"I'm fine too. What can I do for you?"

"Is Sasu-chan there?"

Itachi looked at his younger brother who was shaking his head. The older brother covered the mouth piece and mouthed his friend's name.

"Tell him I'm not here," Sasuke said. He was tired. He didn't want to play with Naruto if all of his attention was not directed to him. He didn't want to compete against a kitten. He didn't like it either when said kitten won. Stupid Naruto, stupid Kyuubi.

"Ummm… Naru-chan… ah… Sasuke told me to tell you that he is not here."

"Oh!" the boy answered eloquently, his voice low and sad. "I see. Bye, Itachi-nii." And without hearing the older boy's response, he hung up.

Itachi looked at his brother. "I think you made Naru-chan cry."

Sasuke turned around, hiding his guilty look. "So? It's his fault anyway."

Naruto blinked at the telephone unit before he hunkered. He wrapped his arms around his legs and buried his face against his knees. Just as Itachi predicted, Naruto burst into tears.

Arashi who happened to pass by at that exact moment, kneeled in front of his son. "What's wrong?"

"Sasuke hates me."

"I don't think so. He's just busy."

"No. He promised Naru-chan that he'll come here and now Itachi-nii said Sasu-chan told him he's not there." He wailed louder.

"Naruto…"

"I want to meet Sasuke. I want to play with Sasu-chan!"

Arashi scratch his head. "I'll take you there then."

That stopped the loud wails immediately and the boy gave him a tearful smile.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke was watching TV trying not to think of the fun he missed by ditching Naruto when Itachi walked in.

"Naruto is here."

"Liar. He's with his cat," the boy answered. He tried not to, but he ended up pouting.

"Sasu-chan?" Naruto meekly called out as he entered the living room, causing Sasuke to jump in surprise.

"Na-naru-chan?" He uttered, unable to believe that his friend would come all the way just to see him. Was he still that important to the blonde despite Kyuubi? He could feel warmth spreading through him. The two met halfway.

"Does Sasu-chan hate me?" the blonde asked, tears ready to fall.

"It's you who replaced me with Kyuubi. You like Kyuubi more than Sasu-chan," the other boy reasoned out. It didn't matter that Itachi heard what he was saying. Naruto had to understand his pain… his side.

Blue eyes widened at such bold statement. "Idiot," Naruto murmured, his heart resumed its normal pace upon knowing that his friend didn't hate him. He leaned against Sasuke's chest. "I like Sasuke the most… forever."

It was now black orbs' turn to widen at such innocent confession. "Promise?" A smile broke into his face when felt Naruto nodding his head against his chest. "Then Naru-chan will sleep here?"

The boy looked at him, "But I didn't bring extra clothes."

"I'll let you borrow mine."

"Really?"

Sasukenodded,"Willyoustay?"

"Of course."

At that moment, Naruto felt like he was the happiest person on Earth, because Sasuke was giving the young blonde the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke felt how the body next to him stiffened when another streak of lightning angrily flashed against the dark sky. He turned around to face his friend, "Why are you scared of lightning? It's far from us."

"But I heard people being hurt and burnt because of that," Naruto answered. "I don't want to be hit by that nasty thing."

Sasuke pulled the blonde to him. The latter immediately snuggled against the former. "I'll be your shield. Don't worry."

Naruto smiled at that. "That's what I like most about Sasu-chan. He's so strong," he murmured against Sasuke's night shirt. He wrapped draped a slim arm over the boy's waist. "Sasu-chan is warm." And he drifted off to sleep, he murmured, "I have another reason why I like him."

In reply, the boy just hugged the other boy tighter, never realizing the bond between them had tightened and was forever evolving into something deeper.

-SasuNaru is love-

"It's your turn to try, Uzumaki," one fat child told the blonde as he jumped down from the weak and old fence at the farthest corner of their school. Usually, a gardener would be on watch during recess to discourage the kids from walking on the fence like some circus performer but right now, the man wasn't in sight so Naruto and his friends took the male's absence as an opportunity to show their courage.

The blonde nodded and climbed the fence. He immediately gained his balance and started walking. Everybody seemed awed with his speed and agility as he made his way towards the end of the fence. Naruto was so close and he was smiling when the fence gave way.

He let out a gasp, his eyes widening as he felt the fence beneath his feet crumbled and he was slowly falling. A sharp searing pain exploded but he couldn't identify where because he was too scared to focus anything. He thought he was going to die. He really did especially when darkness enveloped him. His last thought was, I won't see Sasu-chan ever again.

-SasuNaru is love-

When Naruto gained his consciousness, he found himself looking at the ceiling and the antiseptic scent that he associated with a clinic or hospital wafted to his nostrils. He turned to his side and saw his aunt wearing a white lab gown. He immediately knew he was in the hospital.

"How do you feel?" Tsunade asked the moment she saw his nephew awake.

"Sleepy," was the groggy reply. The woman just nodded. The pain reliever she had injected into Naruto was still working.

"Your father is very worried of you and-"

"Naruto?"

"Otousan," he uttered meekly because he could feel the waves of anger his father was emitting. "Such reckless deed you did. And now look-"

"Arashi," Tsunade interrupted. "Nothing will get into that head due to the medicine I gave him. Scold him when he can fully understand."

Arashi took a deep breath and swallowed all the words he wanted to shout at his son who grinned at his aunt, silently thanking her for saving him from his wrath.

"When you feel better, you'll also hear from me, you brat," Tsunade muttered.

-SasuNaru is love-

"Okaasan… Okaasan," Sasuke called out as he ran to meet his mother at the main entrance. 'Welcome home' slipped from his mind due to a very important matter.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" She looked mortified seeing few of her roses in Sasuke's dainty hands.

"Take me to Narut-chan's place now. Arashi-san said he's hurt and I can hear Naruto crying. Take me, please."

"What happened to him?"

"I don't know. I don't understand Arashi-san's words." He had been honest. He had called Naruto ask him about his sleepover in the latter's house tomorrow night when it was Arashi who answered his call. In simple terms, the older blonde had told him that he couldn't come because Naruto had an accident. But Sasuke couldn't understand anything not when he could hear Naruto's cries and shouts and he knew the boy needed him. He couldn't let his friend down.

"I'll call Uzumaki-san and-"

"No. You can talk with him later. I want to see Naru-chan now."

"Sasuke,-"

"Please," the boy begged. Mikoto sighed besides she also wanted to make sure the sweet blonde was alright.

-SasuNaru is love

An hour later, they were ushered to the study room where Arashi was finishing some documents.

"Sorry to disturb you," Mikoto said as she bowed. She made sure Sasuke did the same. The boy bowed but the words that came from his mouth wasn't that of greetings. "Ne, is Naruto okay?"

Arashi smiled. "He's in his room but he's in a nasty mood right now."

The boy just nodded before dashing to Naruto's room.

Mikoto sighed. "Those two, really…"

Arashi just chuckled uncomfortably.

Sasuke stepped inside Naruto's room and gently called his friend's name. Naruto, upon hearing that voice, stiffened under the blanket. He couldn't face Sasuke… not like this. His friend would laugh at him and would call him ugly. That was why on the day of his accident, he told his father not to tell Sasuke but then two days later the boy had called. He told his father to lie but Arashi would have none of that. Stupid father.

He felt his bed dipping under the other boy's weight.

"Hey," Sasuke gently called, fisting the blanket. "Are you okay?"

"Go away," came the muffled cry. "I don't want to see you."

"Why not?" he asked calmly when he felt something inside him twisting causing a weird feeling to bubble within him.

"Because I say so."

"Don't be an idiot."

"Goaway."

"Not until you tell me why."

Silence hung over the place before Sasuke asked again.

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO!" Naruto shouted as he threw the blanket away from him. Obsidian eyes blinked at him. Blue eyes stared back.

The blonde realized his mistake and grabbed the blanket to resume his hiding but Sasuke pounced on him, trapping him beneath his body, rendering him immobile under his weight.

"Cute," Sasuke whispered seeing the scars on his friend's face. They looked like whiskers.

Naruto stared at him. 'Cute' was the last thing he expected from the pale boy. He was even more surprised when the latter leaned forward and laid his head against the juncture of his neck and shoulder. "I want a pet like you."

Hearing that, Naruto scowled. "What do you mean a pet like me?" he shouted, causing Sasuke to move away from him. He took it as an opportunity to pounce on his friend. The two wrestled against the bed while laughing.

When the two boys finally tired out, Naruto flopped back on his bed and Sasuke followed suit. The dark-haired boy turned to his side and slowly traced a scar marking the blonde's cheeks. "Do they hurt?" he asked quietly as he saw his friend winced.

"Yeah, a little." Naruto mumbled.

Without preamble, Sasuke pressed his warm lips against the scars. "So pain will go away," he explained while his friend went speechless. He sat up, pulling the flowers he picked from his mom's garden from the floor and held them in front of the smaller boy. "Here."

Blue eyes glistened at the white roses wrapped in a film paper and tied together with a white ribbon. "Hope you'll get soon." This time it was him who stiffened when he felt warm and soft lips pressed against his forehead.

"Why did you do that?" He looked even more horrified, seeing his mom at the doorway.

Naruto smiled then grinned at Mikoto. "Sasu-chan is sweet so I kissed him."

Mikoto nodded. She hoped, oh how much she hoped, that whatever the affection these boys have towards each other, it won't escalate into something else that would break their heart.

Don't… don't fall in love with each other.

But it was too late for her plea. Love had joined Destiny in her twisted game of fate.

TBC