I'm sorry this took so long. Juggling a job, school, tutoring and sports really cuts into my time, plus the fact that I type this in the library, which has conflicting hours with my crazy-ass schedule. I know these all sound like excuses, but I'm really doing the best I can. Sorry, everyone.

Also: A CLEAR, FAIR WARNING! THIS STORY WILL BE YAOI FROM THIS POINT ON. I apologize to all those who voted otherwise, but you were outnumbered nearly 8 to one. So SasuNaru it shall be. I WILL NOT TOLERATE FLAMES, HATE MAIL, OR NASTY COMMENTS ON THIS. Constructive criticism is fine and welcome, but if you send some pointless rude shiznit my way I will laugh at your grotesque incompetence. This is the will of the people.

Finally, Naruto's got a mouth on him, and going to start using it. He's gonna drop the F-bomb quite a few times, unless someone reeeeally has a thing against it. Send me a review if there is a problem. Should I up the rating just for that?

Also, to some of the people who reviewed:

Out Of Sheol: Thank you so much for the long review! Did you get my reply? I'm still not quite sure how the review system works here….

demon prince-sesshoumaru: No, I am not Chinese, I am an American (with Irish ancestors if you want to be specific). :)

knighted lioness: Naruto being Taicho will serve a purpose later on, but not for a while. Also, he will be called Captain from now on, because it's easier to type, and because of the translation necklaces.

That being said, let's get on with the show!

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Ch 4: Rest

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Naruto and Sasuke had decided to rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron for one night before heading to Diagon Alley. The Floo Powder had thrown them through the proverbial loop, and they needed time to rest. Being ninja, and powerful ones a that, they were both highly attuned to their surroundings. The new area they suddenly found themselves in was so…foreign, so…alive, that their internal balance was completely thrown off. And so, a mutual decision had them staying at the Inn before they threw themselves right into the hustle and bustle that surely awaited them in the Alley.

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Kyuubi.

Kyuuuuuuuuu…

………

OI, KYUUBI! STOP IGNORING ME DAMMIT!

What do you want? Noisy kit…

Hey, what's up with you today? You were acting like a total fucking pansy back there! Was the little wolfie really that big of a deal? Dude, that's so weak…

A strong wave of highly irritated chakra rolled angrily over the mental link. INSOLENT BRAT! THAT MAN MIGHT AS WELL BE A KITTEN COMPARED TO MY SRENGTH!

THEN WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR GODDAMN PROBLEM, FOX!? Naruto replied just as heatedly.

It's. Not. Him. The Kyuubi shifted restlessly, almost nervously. There's something else here…something sinister watching us. I don't know what it is yet, but it's not good…it's evil…

Oh, what? And you're not?

That's not the point, fool. Stay on your toes, I mean it…it reminds me of something, but I can't place it…

God, I hate it when that happens, said Naruto sympathetically, You could wonder about it for hours, and it just never comes…

Yes, said Kyuubi flatlyI know. Go to sleep, kitling, I need time to think on this in peace. And remember, be careful tomorrow, or is that word not in your pitiful vocabulary?

Yeah, yeah, I'll be walking on eggshells.

Humph, was the only reply Naruto received before he closed their link for the night.

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Sasuke looked up from his novel as his teammate suddenly opened his eyes and pushed him self up on his elbows. Naruto had been lying on their shared bed in trance while he communicated with his currently taciturn tenant. Not wanting to disturb what was surely a volatile conversation, the dark ninja had pulled a random textbook from Naruto's pack and waited patiently. It wasn't long before he came to.

"So, what's the big furball's deal?" Sasuke asked casually, turning a page.

Naruto massaged his temples tiredly. "Well, he started acting up as soon as we fell out of the fire place. I got worried and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't answer clearly. I just got that stupid 'lycanthrope, lycanthrope' crap. I guess I overreacted a little. The werewolf's not the problem, Kyuu was just distracted by something else. Something a lot bigger."

"Like what?" Sasuke inquired.

But Naruto could only shrug. "No idea. Fuzzbutt's workin' on it, but he told me to keep an eye out. Coming from him, it's probably something bad. Really bad."

That worried Sasuke. The Kitsune rarely gave warnings unless he really meant them. Heeding his advice had saved all of their lives countless times in the Akatsuki War.

"It doesn't change much, though," Naruto yawned. "There was bound to be trouble from the beginning. Why else would Dumbledore have hired us?"

"True, true," Sasuke nodded. "Anyway, we both need some sleep."

"Yeah, 'cause tomorrow were going shopping!"

A dark eyebrow crept its way slowly up the Uchiha's face. "Shopping."

"Yes, asswipe, shopping. Don't make it sound like fucking torture."

"What on Earth could we possibly need from Diagon Alley? We're not wizards, we're shinobi, in case you haven't noticed."

Naruto wagged his finger in Sasuke's face. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's a secret! And besides, we've got some time to kill, why not look around a bit?"

"You're impossible."

"I was 'imbecilic' yesterday. Make up your freaking mind, teme."

Said 'teme' merely rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide a small smile. He loved how easily the banter came between them.

"Right, then," Naruto announced, "This is a command from your great and glorious Captain Uzumaki! I'm wiped out, so it's bedtime!"

Too tired to reply, Sasuke just shook his head.

The two changed clothes quietly, each choosing some loose comfortable pajamas. Sasuke set a minor shock trap on the door, so that any casual thief couldn't just make off with their ninja gear. Then they both crawled sleepily into the roomy king-sized bed. Even though they were sharing sleeping space, they knew better than to complain when the conditions on the field made it feel like paradise. As they said within the ANBU, "Anything is better than recon."

And besides, Sasuke mused contentedly, sharing a bed with Naru wasn't so bad. It was nice to know that you trusted someone enough to have them watch your back when you slept, and that they trusted you enough to do the same in return. And being so close to him, close enough to feel how warm he was, well—

--Sasuke stopped that train of thought abruptly.

"'Night, teme."

Sasuke smiled to himelf and snuggled further under the covers.

"'Night, dobe."

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The next morning, Sasuke allowed himself to sleep in, something he didn't do often. However, when sleeping with Naruto Uzumaki, it probably wasn't one of his more brilliant ideas.

"Saaaaasuuuuuukeeeeeee…."

He ignored it stubbornly.

"Sasuke-chaaaaaan…."

Ignoring…

"OI, SASUKE! WAKE THE FUCK UP! DAMMIT WHY DOESN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME!?"

Naruto, apparently fed up with his unresponsive teammate, swiped the blankets right off the bed. "AH, COLD!" squawked Sasuke as his skin came into sudden contact with the chilly air of the room.

"Get up, I let you sleep in long enough," Said Naruto, "We need to get going so we can find someone to let us into the Alley."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Sasuke shot him a silent glare.

"Hey, don't get mad at me! I would have woken you up earlier, it's just that…well…" he trailed off.

Sasuke was confused. He tiled his head slightly to the side. "Well what?"

A pause. "You're just so peaceful when you're asleep. I didn't want to bug you a first…"

Awww, Sasuke thought.

"…but you took too damn long, so I took matters into my own hands. You sleep like a fucking log, you know that? Stupid teme."

Or not.

"And this coming from the guy I had to wake up in the middle of the afternoon yesterday? Hypocrisy anyone?" Sasuke growled, only half-annoyed.

Naruto huffed in return.

They both dressed with minimal conflict. Noting how cold the room was, Sasuke took care to choose a heavier outfit than he had arrived in. It was surely even more frigid outside. He wore a plain blue hoodie, thick jeans, and a pair of boots. Turning, he saw that Naruto was dressed just as he was yesterday, minus the hat and with a pair of black cargo pants decked with innumerable chains. Naruto himelf was gazing intently into the mirror perched atop a low dresser, messing with his long hair.

"Let's see… I want to try something different today…" he said to himself, "If I do this," he brushed a few locks over one of his eyes, "I look like a blonde emo/goth. But if I do this," he pulled it into a high ponytail, "I look like a girl. Damn." There was a faint scrape of metal-on-metal as Naruto pulled a hidden kunai from one of his many pockets. "Meh. Maybe I should just chop it all off right now and be done with it."

What!? "NO." Sasuke said, a bit louder than he intended.

Naruto turned, confused, kunai gripped reverse-hold in his hand. "Huh? What's the matter? It's just hair, not like it's the end of the world."

Embarrassed at his own outburst, (Why the hell do I care about his hairstyle?!) Sasuke coughed, "W-well, there's no point in cutting it now. You should wait until we get to Hogwarts. Besides…I-I think you look better with longer hair anyway."

Naruto narrowed his eyes in a very fox-like way, clearly wondering Huh? But he shrugged it off, saying, "Man, whatever, I'll just leave it down if it makes you happy." He replaced the kunai and Sasuke let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

And so the subject was dropped.

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A few minutes later the two finished re-packing. Sasuke suggested that they wear the translation necklaces from here on out, and Naruto agreed reluctantly. Though the silver metal was bitingly cold against their necks, it would have to be tolerated. Neither of them (even Naruto, who had Kyuubi) could speak English well enough to blend in with the natives. The earrings came next, but they weren't much of a problem, seeing as how both ninja had at least one piercing in each ear already.

After that, Naruto returned their room key to the innkeeper, bouncing around excitedly like a child the whole way. Sasuke was bewildered. While he was pondering heavily over Kyuubi's forewarning, Naruto seemed so carefree. He supposed it just one more of Naruto's many hidden talents.

But then came the problem: getting into Diagon Alley.

Sasuke glared at the nondescript brick wall in front of him. He was tempted to kick it, but his common sense told him the only thing he would get for it was a sore foot. So he glared his most stern, evil-ish glare, as if hoping it would bore a whole straight through the damn thing.

Naruto was being only slightly more proactive. After a minute's worth of ranting ("I swear to fucking KAMI if you're not gonna open I'LL BLAST YOU OPEN MYSELF!!!") he started making rounds in the dining area to see if anyone would assist them. Unfortunately, there was nary a soul in the place, besides the innkeeper who had left a "Gone for breakfast" sign on the front desk.

They were stuck.

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A/N

I'm sorry it's so short, but I felt horrible for not posting in such a long time…so I just put up what I could. Only five pages in Microsoft Word…less than half of what the others were.

Please forgive me!

Translations:

Kami- God (I think…)