So many baby pandas are saved... you guys rock! LOOOL. Okay, so I probably won't update this again until Friday. Or whenever I get chapter eleven FINISHED. I try to write inbetween class periods but my teachers freak out when we have our comps open during a lesson unless we absolutely need them. (Our whole school has this laptop thingy going on...) ANYWHO! So yeah, I can't do much (unless I'm in creative writing) without a teacher calling me out and saying: "YO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU SKYPING?"
I have such a thing, but I don't use it o.o.
Warning: This, chapter eight, and chapter ten, are my favorite chapters 8D. You guys will see why laterrr~ And, no, they are not dating YET, that's for some future chapter right around the bend... ;)
Disclaimer: Somewhereee over the rainbowww, way up high! There's a land that I heard offf, once in a lullaby. In this laaanddd, Fallen owns Naruto... and it's bliss! But sadly this is reality, I fail at being funny with disclaimers, and I don't own Naruto. :D
Enjoy my beautiful panda savers!
Chapter Nine: It's a Little Torn
+The Seventh Promise: I See Your Tears. Let Me Take Them Away+
"We could have told you that from the beginning. Seriously, how are you this dense?"
Lunchtime had rolled its beautiful head again, and since it was such a nice, fall day, so Naruto, Kiba, and Gaara decided: "What the hell? Let's eat outside!" Their usual spot was a huge tree off to the back of the courtyard. It was the tallest tree in the luscious area that stretched for the clouds. Oranges, reds, muddy browns decorated its branches just in time for the season. The three was their favorite hang out at school.
Naruto was leaning against the base of his tree, poking around in his bento box. It was a shame that such a good lunch had to go to waste because of the emptiness gnawing at his gut. Realizing that the guy you sort of hate for no really explained reason was your secret admirer was enough to digest for a lifetime. And right now, neither Kiba nor Gaara was helping Naruto stomach the news any better.
"How could anyone have seen that coming?" the blonde threw his hands in the air, a frown scarring his face. "Uchiha isn't that type of person to send roses and freaking promises."
"Obviously he is," Gaara said calmly, slipping a piece of tempura into his mouth. "If the past month has anything to say about it."
"I have to give you some credit, though." Kiba sympathized. "I didn't figure it out until he sat with us at lunch. You know, the little light bulb went dingafter that."
"And if Kiba could figure it out, then you know it had to be ridiculously easy."
Naruto leaned his head against the tree. 'Seriously,why do I hang out with these guys?' He placed his chopsticks on his uneaten food and stared up at the clouds. Puffy and white wisps floated across the sky. "Okay, I get it. I'm an idiot. And Gaara, don't you dare say anything or I'll tear out your throat." Threat firmly in place, Naruto continued. This time, a little more forlornly. "I still like her."
"We know," Kiba smiled softly.
Gaara simply nodded.
"It still hurts."
Another nod, and a wider smile this time.
"Damn it," Naruto choked back tears. He had already cried enough last night—just from the fierce brutality of knowing the truth. 'I'm not going to cry again, I already accepted it… Sakura likes… Sasuke. But Sasuke likes me…'
Somehow, his failing heart found a reason to accelerate its pulse at the prospect of Sasuke liking him. In the end, though, his heart could never be able to accept the truth, unless someone came right up to him and threw it in his face.
+I Promise+
Soccer practice was a one-way trip to hell, but really, what else was new? Afterwards Naruto was praying that he'd be able to move the next day. His legs felt like lead! "Kiba, come over here and carry me!"
"Not on your life, dude!" the brunette shot back.
Naruto groaned and splayed out on the grass. The wet dew cooled his skin instantly and a sigh flew out of his lips. 'Well, at least practice clears my mind.' It's really hard to think about life when you have soccer balls being thrown at you at dangerous speeds, you know.
A shadow cut off Naruto's view of the sun, and he would have screamed too, if Deidara's smile didn't scare him stiff. It was a smile that clearly said: "I-know-you're-dirty-little-secret-but-I'm-going-to-ask-you-about-it-anyways-because-I-can."
"Hey there, Blondie!"
"Spit it out, Deidara." Normally Naruto would have flowed into the simple banter that spewed between him and the older blonde, however, he simply did not feel the energy to do so today. He was old and frail on the inside no matter how youthful he looked on the outside.
Deidara looked offended and clutched his chest. "Spit out what? Why, do you think I want something from you?" the look he received from Naruto was enough to send him cracking up and actually get to the main point of his visit. "So I heard you and Little Raven hooked up after the party. You go, Blondie!"
A blush rampaged across his face. "I did not hook up with Uchiha! Nothing happened between us," the blonde was lying straight out of his teeth, and Deidara picked up on every fib.
The older blonde shook his head in pity for the blonde in denial. "That's not what Facebook told me… and Itachi, but that's besides the point."
Naruto sprang up like someone had lit his butt on fire. "No way… it doesn't say I'm with Uchiha on Facebook, does it? You're freaking lying!"
"Who knoooows…"
"Deidara, be nice," Sasori softly scolded. He was walking by at the right time to catch his boyfriend poking fun at Naruto. It was fun to do, and Sasori was an avid participator when it came to making fun of the blonde, but he knew his limits. Unlike a certain midfielder we know… "It's not on Facebook. Deidara's just being an idiot."
"You love me!"
Sasori smirked, "Sometimes," and then walked off to his car.
"All the time!" Deidara called out before turning to face the blonde who was trying, unsuccessfully, to run away. Grinning wildly, Deidara slapped a firm hand on Naruto's shoulder and brought him closer. "Oh no, I can't have you running away until you explain everything that happened—in detail!"
"There's nothing to tell!" Naruto tried to wiggle out of Deidara grasp, however the older blonde was a lot of stronger and had one hell of a grip. Sighing, Naruto realized this was a battle had no hopes for winning. "Okay, fine! I'll freaking tell you what happened! Now let me go already!"
"See," Deidara released his grip, a teasing smile forming on his lips. "Now was that so hard?"
"Bite me," Naruto muttered and folded his arms across his chest. "Alright, so over the past month I've been getting these roses, right? And each rose had this little promise tied to it. Well, Uchiha was the one who'd been sending them to me and yesterday we talked about it and I said I would think about giving him a chance."
"That's it? No sex?" Naruto's facial expression said it all—embarrassed and on the verge of death. Deidara let out an exasperated sigh. "Kids these days… absolutely no fun at all. But what about that pink-haired devil you're madly in love with?"
"I still like her," the blonde nervously rubbed his arm, chewing on his bottom lip in though. "But she likes Sasuke…"
"And Sasuke likes you—holy fuck, it's a love triangle to the extreme! What are you gonna do about Little Raven's feelings, huh? Do you like him?"
"N-No… maybe… uh… I don't know!" his feelings were all mixed up puzzle pieces that seemed to be nowhere near complete. "I'm way too confused right now to process any feelings of… whatever the hell Uchiha feels for me."
"Well this was boring." Deidara huffed and hitched up his duffle bag, already prepared to leave. "You should really figure that out soon, though. Uchiha's aren't known for their patience."
Deidara walked away afterwards, leaving Naruto to stand on the field all by himself. He sighed and ran a finger through his blonde hair. 'Why me?' he asked looking up into the clouds. Suddenly, he felt a vibration in his pants… pocket and pulled out his cellphone.
Gaara cnt take us home so Im taking the late bus. –Kiba.
"Dammit," he cursed and shoved his pocket back into his pants. The late bus never dropped him off anywhere near his house so that was automatically vetoed. The only person who he knew could give him a ride was the lastperson he wanted to see right now. "Why does life hate me?"
"Naruto, hey!" is that a good enough answer for you, Naruto? The blonde gulped as the space between him and Sakura was growing shorter and shorter. Sakura had her hair in a low ponytail today with neko-clips in her hair. She looked so adorable. Ouch, yet another scissors meant to cut his heartstrings.
'Need an escape plan. Need an escape—damnit, she's here.' "Uh, hey," his smile was a little awkward, but Sakura was beaming so many happy rays she didn't even notice.
"How are you?"
"Okay, you?"
"Great! Actually, I wanted to ask you something."
"Shoot." His stomach twisted into knots.
Sakura dug into her duffle bag, muttering to herself all the way, until she pulled out a light pink envelop with her initials on the front. She held it out to the blonde shyly, and just for a split second Naruto thought the letter was for him.
"Could you give this to Sasuke-kun, please? I saw that you guys talked a lot and I was hoping you could deliver it to him…?"
And then he realized he was an idiot—an idiot in need of open-heart surgery.
He didn't know what hurt most then: the truth, or seeing the letter addressed to Sasuke. A huge part of him wanted to rip the letter out of her clutches and tear it to shreds. Then laugh as her confessions of love and adoration sprinkled the ground like tainted snow. He would feel like a complete bastard, but at least it would put his heart at somewhat ease… maybe. Another part, equally huge, wished and prayed that Sasuke would never see her letter. Why, he didn't know? 'He doesn't like her.' The words embedded themselves into his skull, leaving a dull ache in their wake. 'So why… why don't I want him to see the letter…?'
Things were turning a little clearer then, though there were splotches of tears clouding Naruto's eyes as he choked out his next words. "Sorry, I can't do that. Uchiha and I… really aren't that close." He felt the urge to mutter another sorry, but nothing came. He was too enrapt in watching the disappointment play on her face as she carefully put her letter back into her duffle bag.
"Oh," a knife dug in a little deeper into his heart, "well… thanks anyways. See you around."
He was alone again (or so he thought), standing on the dewy field, wondering why in the world he had to fall so hard for her. All he got from it was scrapes, bruises, and an aching heart. Staring at he feet, he willed the ground to split open and swallow him whole.
Instead, he got Suigetsu and Deidara, followed by Sasori, instead.
"Deidara, how many fucking times do I have to tell you to get the bag of balls before you leave?"
"Stop bitching, Suigetsu! I remembered this time, didn't I?" Deidara huffed.
"You better have! I'm not about to run across the damn country again because of your mistake." Okay, so they really didn't run across the country last time Deidara forgot to pick up the bag of soccer balls. Suigetsu just liked to exaggerate whenever he got mad.
They found Naruto on the field, sniffling and on the verge of a breakdown. Suigetsu, Deidara, and Sasori both shared worried, sympathetic glances.
"Come here…" Deidara muttered softly and pulled the blonde into a hug.
Naruto hiccupped. He knew what they were going to say. He wasn't too keen on listening, though.
"Blondie," Suigetsu frowned and brushed away his hair. He was never good at comforting crying people. He usually stepped on land mines that further exploded the situation. "Loves sucks, huh?"
Another bubbling hiccup floated into the air.
"We did warn you, though." Deidara whispered.
"That we did." Suigetsu nodded. Sasori was the silent companion feeding Naruto tissues so he could clean up his runny nose.
"Shut… up…" the blonde blew out his nose. For the next five minutes he left tear puddles on both Suigetsu and Deidara shoulders until his eyes finally ran out of water and his heart was left numb.
+I Promise: It's a Surprise+
Deidara and Sasori offered to take Naruto home, so the blonde went for his duffle bag sitting on the bench. What he found there, though, was a red rose and a promise attached to it. If today were lead by blissful ignorance coating the truth, he would have been elated thinking it was from his Sakura. His heart diddo a little jump, though, but the mystery leading the excitement no longer was there.
That didn't mean he wasn't curious, though.
I saw your tears, and I promise to make you happy. Meet me by the front gates.
'Why the rose? He could have just said this to me face-to-face.' His curiosity was still gnawing at him as he saw Sasori and Deidara look at him expectantly. "Um, actually guys, I have to… uh…"
Deidara spotted the rose and smirked knowingly. "Don't explain. Go get him, tiger!"
"Keep it clean," Sasori smirked.
Naruto blushed wildly, grabbed his stuff, and bolted for the front gates. Leave it to Sasori and Deidara to make a simple, clean thing horribly dirty. Small bursts of excitement buzzed in his veins as he dashed through the parking lot, dodging and bending through cars, to reach the front gate. Sasuke was casually leaning against the metal bars, his fingers drumming on the inside of his arm.
"Hey," the raven waved.
Naruto frowned slightly. "What's with the rose? Couldn't you have talked to me in person?" 'Why is my heart thumping so loudly…'
Thump… thump… thump…
Sasuke smirked and pushed off against the fence. Naruto noticed that the gap between them wasn't too great and unconsciously took a step back. The raven's smirk faltered only a little bit. "I thought the roses approach was the right way to go. Besides, you're here aren't you?"
"What do you want, Uchiha? I'm missing my ride home because of you!"
"I saw everything."
Bam. There. It was said. And those three, simple words were punches to the gut. Naruto exploded then—a pile of tears, desperation, heartache, and realization as he launched himself and Sasuke beating at his chest.
"I hate you! I hate you… I fucking… hate you!" he screamed. "Why… why can't she love me? Why… Why do you have to…?" he collapsed, mentally, too tired to even try anymore. It was done. The truth was etched in stone. There was nothing he could do about it, and really where would crying get him?
Sasuke stood there and took the weak punches and terrible words. His heart grew a little larger for the blonde. If he could, he would have twisted and changed Sakura's feelings so it was the blonde she loved—not him. 'No, I wouldn't be satisfied with that.'
In some, horribly wrong, way he was happy Naruto was rejected. That meant he could pick up the pieces to the blonde's shatter part and help him glue them together. He'd insert a piece of himself into the puzzle, so that every time Naruto's heart thumped, Sasuke would be there—pumping and alive with him.
Warm arms encircled around Naruto's waist, pulling the blonde flush against the raven. He gasped—the second time they've hugged—still unfamiliar with such a foreign gesture. Instinct told him to break free; struggle.
His heart was telling him to stay.
'So warm…' Naruto unconsciously clutched onto the raven tighter. Was this the warmth friendship carried, or was this something more.
The raven placed his head on top of Naruto's—he was a few, good inches taller. "I promised to make you happy, and I will."
A small piece of Naruto's heart was fitted into place. Naruto sniffled. "Thanks… Uchiha."
"Sasuke," The raven corrected.
"Huh?"
Sasuke gave him a small smile. "Call me Sasuke."
"N-No way!" a small blush scarred his cheeks. "Ain't happening, Teme!"
"Do it," and just to add a more, threatening, touch Sasuke squeezed him tighter.
Naruto squeaked, jumping even closer to the raven's body than he needed to be. He blushed even more. "Dammit, Sasuke, let me go!"
"No can do, Dobe. Now that you're caught, I'm not letting go."
Sasuke why are you so adorable with your words! And Naruto, why you no get in Sasuke's pants yet! Lmfao, wait, am I allowed to ask those questions even though I'm the author and have complete control of this story...? ...Moving on then. Guys, baby pandas all over the world lack the resources to build bamboo temples to read their yaoi manga and pig out on their pocky. Do you WANT them homeless? Didn't think so ;). One more review and we take a baby panda off the streets.