Chapter two is up now. The real story and action starts here. Please keep reading. It will get better, I promise.

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Chapter two-Deserted street

"Thanks a lot for the ramen!" I shouted back at the small booth restaurant. Ah, Ichiraku's ramen always tastes so good after a mission completed…well…It always tastes good. Tonight was quiet, and the sky was starless and clear where the bright half moon shown down on Konohagakure.

I honestly don't know how I got to Sasuke's apartment that night. I just was walking, enjoying the soft breeze… well, I guess my head was sort of up in the clouds and I could have very well walked into somebody; but there I was, standing in front of Sasuke's apartment complex. I glanced up at his windowsill, just to see if he got home that night. It was dark and it almost seemed to have a haunting aura around the area.

This was definitely odd. I checked my small, frog pocket-watch. It was 20:38. Sasuke should have been home by now. That's when I heard a door creak open and footsteps closing in. "Uzumaki, Naruto?" An old lady questioned, squinting her eyes a bit. I guess I was a bit surprised and I jumped slightly. I let out a nervous laugh. "Hi, yes. That's me." The woman seemed to have a stern look in her eyes. "Are you here to see if the Uchiha boy has returned?" She questioned me again. "Uhh.. Yes, yes I am. Um, is he here?" I stammered, pointing at his window. Why was I so nerve-wrecked?

Staying where she was, she answered my question, "I'm sorry. Apparently ever since he had left abruptly, his bills stacked up since then and the poor boy isn't able to pay them off." I responded with a look of shock. "Wh-..do you-..could he be-.." I stuttered, not really sure what sentence I wanted to go with.

The lady frowned and shook her head. I think she understood what I was trying to ask and replied, "I'm sorry. I have no idea where your friend is now. I would like to help you since you are such a great help in Konoha, but I'm afraid I cannot." I let my head drop in disappointment but quickly built up the happy-go-lucky character I've always been so good at playing and smiled at her. "Thank you for your help. Take care."

I didn't even give the poor old lady time to respond before I had jumped off. In the short time that it took from Sasuke's house to mine, my mind seemed blank. I was at a loss for, not only words, but all thoughts as well.

I stepped up to the door of my apartment building when I heard a tin can rolling on the floor. It also sounded like someone had fallen from behind the building. Without much of a second thought, I hurried to the back of the building only to trip over nothing. I moaned and rubbed my nose. Oh, right, the sound! I glanced up. There he was! Right under my apartment window too!

Sasuke lay on the ground as if he had fainted. Slowly I walked up to him. I steadily lowered myself to the ground. He had a giant blanket bundled around his lanky body, but, from where I was standing (sitting), that was all he was wearing. I took a quick scan of the area. Yep. His clothes were thrown down lazily and he had probably collapsed soon after. Lucky for Sasuke the building behind me had no windows facing his direction and no one lived in the room below me.

My eyes couldn't move from Sasuke's beautiful, yet worn and tired face. If you listened hard enough you could hear his soft, shallow breathing. I carefully wiped back some of hair that had fallen in his face. I guess I could see why all the girls had liked him…But, in truth, I had already known why they liked him…I probably understood more of who Sasuke was than they did too. I wonder what he's like now. I let out a noiseless sigh and smiled.

It was soon after that I come up with my ingenious plan! Quietly I hopped onto my feet and grabbed Sasuke's clothes. I took another look at Sasuke sleeping peacefully before I ran up to my room.

Only moments later I was back down and staring at Sasuke again. Now, the question was how to bring him to my room without waking him from his slumber.

Well, easiest said, I managed, until I got halfway to my bed. The first sign was a low moan and tired movements. I froze where I stood, my teeth clenched tightly and my eyes shut firmly as if I was truly afraid of his waking up.

But it was in one swift movement that I abruptly opened my eyes. Sasuke's hands were slowly wrapping around my waist. "Na..uto" He whispered, it barely audible. I mouthed his name as tears welled up in my eyes. He was still asleep but a small smile had formed on his face. Maybe it was my scent or even how I felt to him that allowed him to be aware of my presents. I squeezed my grip on him a little as if to send him a small hug back.

He really is different. It may be just how he was when he dreamed, but I was happy to have him back in my life again.

I laid him on my bed as lightly as I could. I paused over his blanket. He was the same gender as me, why was I so flushed at taking his blanket away to tuck him into my bed? I decided against it. If something like that made me nervous in the first place, there was probably a reason to it. I started to stand back up when Sasuke's hand shot up at me, faster than that of a bullet. He gripped onto my wrist, but he was still unconscious. I could feel the warmth of my blood reaching to my ears.

After a few seconds Sasuke's hand fell limp and he tossed to his side in the bed with a moan, already getting comfortable. I placed my left hand on my burning cheek. My gapping stare soon morphed into a warm smile. "Sasuke…"