A/N: Sorry this took sooooo long to put up. Honestly, I didn't mean to take so long to update. I'm not giving up on this story and I plan to finish it. Don't worry. Just give me some time to do so :) Anyways enjoy the chapter and while it might get cliche at some parts with the typical Sasuke-Naruto-Sakura love triangle thing, don't worry I have a plan. All will be revealed in the next two chapters. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I don't even own this story!....Jk, actually I do. :D
2 Days until the wedding...
"I'm really surprised at you Naruto. I thought you would start complaining again". Sakura glanced at her friend as they came to the end of their journey, their final destination looming before them.
"Well this is something I actually like to do" Naruto replied with a shrug.
"Honestly, I would have never taken you as the dancing type".
"Huh, What do you think my 'type' is?" He shot Sakura a questioning glance.
"Well I don't know," she looked away, studying her fingernails. They had been buffed and polished at least twice a day for the past week. Sakura had even taken to holding her fingers a little apart. All in order to keep everything perfect. "Dancing is graceful and smooth and-"
"Not something someone clumsy like me could do?" He raised an eyebrow, but he was only teasing. Well only half teasing.
"Oh, you know I didn't mean that, it's just...whatever. Hurry up; we're already ten minutes late". Sakura grabbed his arm, leading him through the doors of the small dance studio. The pair made their way silently through the halls, following the sound of the music until they reached the practice room.
The other members of the wedding party were already there, chatting quietly, all the wearing the strained expression of someone who had been put through too much in too short a time. In short, they were all exhausted. Sakura had insisted on mandatory (and unnecessary) dance classes for all wedding party members and with the big event only two days away, they were all beginning to feel the pressure.
"Well it's about time," came the grumble from Shikamaru. He had been leaning across the window, watching the clouds of the late afternoon float by listlessly. They were probably as tired as he was. "I was afraid I had come here for nothing".
Sakura rolled her eyes and pointed a condemning finger at her companion. "Blame him; he was the one who over slept".
"Sakura-chan, I already said that I thought you told me eleven o'clock-" Naruto protested.
"Does it matter, idiot? No matter what time she told you, you still would have been late" Sasuke could not keep the mocking tone out of his voice, and fought back a smirk at Naruto's enraged expression.
"Shut your mouth, bastard!" the blond shot back, preparing himself for their usual verbal (and eventually physical) spar.
"Stop it! I swear to God if you two start this now, I will kill both of you!" The amount of killer intent emanating from the bride-to-be was enough to enforce the sincerity of the threat on both shinobi. Naruto glared, Sasuke smirked, but both held their tongues.
Sakura turned and motioned to an elderly man with sharp blue eyes. "Naruto, this is Okamoto Toshiro, the dance instructor. It would be in your best interest to listen and obey everything he says. Got it?" The last two words were said with harsh force and Naruto nodded quickly in agreement.
"Haruno-san has already informed me of your skill, so it should be easy for you to catch up with the rest of the class", the dance instructor said smoothly. "Now, places everyone. Take your partners and we'll start the first dance".
"Naruto, since you are taking Ino's place in the wedding, you'll also be taking her dance partner," Sakura informed him as the rest of the members began pairing up.
"Wait, I have to dance with another guy?" Naruto asked, paling slightly.
"Well, yes," Sakura replied matter-of-factly, "Don't forget, you are the maid of honor".
He opened his mouth to protest, but closed it quickly once he saw the dangerous glint in her eye. Naruto sighed angrily in defeat, fearing whom fate had bestowed upon him. "So...who is it?" he asked hesitantly.
"Me, obviously" Shikamaru said tiredly, walking over from the window.
Oh yes, Shikamaru and Ino were married, so that did make sense.
"Oh, well that's not too bad". Naruto had feared the worst, but now felt his spirit brightening somewhat. If he had to dance with a guy, at least it would be a good friend.
"Speak for yourself. Having to learn these dances is troublesome enough, now I have to dance them with you".
"Hey! I'm a good dancer!"
"Uh, huh. I'm sure. Just don't make this more humiliating than it already is". The two arranged themselves in the proper stance. Naruto took a quick glance around the room, examining the other pairs.
There was Neji with Hinata, Lee with TenTen, Kiba with Sakura, and Sasuke with Temari. He was especially glad about the last pair. After the incident in the dressing room, Naruto had developed a slight fear of being in close proximity to the raven.
What was the bastard playing at? Whatever it was, Naruto was not going to fall for his sick game.
"Ready?" asked the dance instructor. The five couples nodded in response and then the music began.
The steps were familiar and easy to Naruto, who could barely hold back a 'told you so' grin when he saw the surprised look on Shikamaru's face.
Over Kiba's shoulder, Sakura shot him a grin of approval and Naruto felt his heart flip over in happiness. He would be the maid of honor, wear a dress, and engage in these dances, if only to please her. Everything he did, it had always been for her. Yet she still refused to love him, or at least love him in the way he loved her.
"You're not half bad Naruto," Shikamaru said, snapping him out of his reverie. They had moved onto the second of the three dances, "Better than Ino at least. Don't tell her I said that". He added quickly
The blond opened his mouth to deliver a smooth reply but was cut off by the sound of a shriek of pain.
"Damn you-you idiot!"
The music was abruptly halted and the dancing pairs turned to the source of the commotion. A scowling Temari was crouched on the floor, nursing one of her feet, the toes red and swollen. She glared up at an impassive Sasuke who faced her anger unflinchingly.
"What now?" Sakura asked crossly.
"This idiot stepped on my foot! Again!" The sandy blonde shakily got to her feet, still shooting daggers at her dance partner. "I'm sorry Sakura, but that's the last straw. I've been patient, but if I have to take one more step with this clumsy idiot, I'll do murder".
The impassive mask twitched slightly at 'clumsy idiot', but Sasuke remained overall calm, taking in the dramatics with a look of boredom.
Sakura groaned, running a hand through her pink locks. "Sasuke-kun, have you been practicing? We've been working on this for three weeks, why is this still happening?"
The raven shrugged, scrupulously avoiding eye contact, which seemed to further anger Temari.
"I refuse to dance with him! Sakura, give me a new partner!" she demanded.
"Temari, please, the wedding is in two days, it's too late for that!" Sakura pleaded.
"Then I guess I won't be in the wedding then!" Temari spat back childishly and moved the gather her belongings, ignoring the slightly paling bride.
"C'mon Temari, Sasuke can't be that bad. You came all the way over here, you just can't leave now" It was Kiba's turn to plead. The rest of the wedding party nodded their heads in agreement, all fearing the worst if Sakura lost one of her bridesmaids at this crucial time. All the pain in suffering would fall on them.
"I can and I will, unless I get a new partner. My poor feet, they can't take anymore torture" The Suna Kunoichi strode towards the door and opened it to leave.
"Gosh, this is so troublesome. Fine I'll switch with Sasuke". Shikamaru sighed in exasperation. This wedding was making everyone so high strung that it was driving him crazy.
"What?!" Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all yelled in unison.
Naruto turned towards his partner a horrified look etched on his features. "You can't do this! I don't want to dance with that bastard! Sakura-chan, tell him he can't do this!" His voice was edged with desperation.
"Shikamaru, are you sure about this?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
The lazy genius nodded. "All dance partners are the same to me and Naruto here is pretty good. Perhaps he can even teach Sasuke a thing or two".
The dance instructor nodded in agreement. "Yes, the boy dances very well. He is quite talented. That one," he grimaced at he looked as Sasuke, who only scowled back, "would do well to learn a thing or two from him".
"That's great then!" Kiba grinned happily, "Naruto you go with Sasuke and Temari you go with Shikamaru. Problem solved. Is that okay with you Sakura?"
The bride-to-be sighed but agreed. "Yes, I think it will work. Temari?"
For a moment, she looked pensive, but Temari agreed, wholly happy to be away from her horrid dance partner.
The only one not pleased with the new turn of events was Naruto, who gaped unbelieving as he was pushed aside and Temari swooped in the claim her prize.
"No way! No way am I dancing with him!" He screeched. "I refuse!" He would be the maid of honor, he would wear a dress, he would engage in these dances, all to please her. But he would not, absolutely would not dance with Sasuke. The thought of their bodies pressed so close during such an intimate action as was dancing, made the blond shiver and feel hot at the same time.
Since his return, Sasuke's close presence always made Naruto feel slightly sick, his body racked with uncontrollable feelings that he did not understand at all. In fact, he did not want to understand them. While he and Sasuke had managed to somewhat patch together their previous friendship, Naruto was still wary of the raven and his indecipherable dark gaze.
"What's the matter, Naruto?" Sasuke walked over, his mouth turned into that irritating smirk that Naruto wanted to scratch off. "Scared of something?"
Against his will, Naruto felt himself flush. Damn that bastard! "No!"
"Then it's settled, Naruto, Sasuke is your new dance partner" Sakura's smile sealed the deal.
She turned back to the rest of the group, cutting Naruto off before he could begin his wave of protests. "The rest of you, head down to the chapel and start getting ready for the rehearsal. Naruto, Sasuke," She turned back to her two best friends, "I want you two to stay here and master those dance steps. Especially you Sasuke, we cannot afford for everything not to be perfect. Is that clear?"
"Crystal" Sasuke said smoothly, still smirking about the recent turn of events and the good fortune he had just been blessed with.
"No, no, no!" Naruto wailed, running to his childhood crush as the rest of the wedding party began filing out of the room. "Please don't leave me here with him, Sakura-chan," he said frantically, clutching her hand. "He'll hurt me. He'll do things to me," he added with a whisper.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Naruto, stop this. Sasuke-kun is not going to do anything to you". She whispered back.
"Yes he will!" He was now holding onto her for dear life, "What about what happened in the dressing room?"
"Naruto, I don't know what happened in the dressing room".
"He was trying to do something to me!"
"What could he have possibly been trying to do?" Sakura could feel her annoyance levels rising. Naruto was such a drama queen sometimes. He complained about it, but she knew maid of honor was the perfect role for him.
The blond flushed and looked around to make sure everyone else had left. He glanced over his shoulder and locked eyes with his rival. He shuddered at the dark gaze and turned back to his last hope.
"I-I think he was trying to..." Naruto faltered, his face reddening even more.
"Trying to what?"
"I...I think he was trying to....molest me or something!" Naruto sputtered.
Sakura felt her jaw drop and her eyes widen. At the same time, she felt the urge to laugh. So she did.
"Stop laughing, Sakura-chan! This is serious!"
"I'm sorry Naruto, but this is too much!" The bride-to-be clutched her stomach as she laughed harder.
"Sakura-chan!"
"Naruto, I just can't deal with this now. I'm have to get to the rehearsal and then I have to contact the caterers" Sakura giggled and wiped a tear from her eye. "You two say here and 'work things out'. I'll see you in a few hours". She grinned and gave him a quick wink before turning on her heels and walking out the door. Naruto could still her giggling as she walked down the hall.
He stood there for a few seconds, his tan face distraught, and his last hope giggling away down the halls. He could feel his eyes boring into him and he forced himself not to run away. The room was suddenly colder and darker as the clouds covered the afternoon sun.
Naruto slowly counted to three before taking a deep breath and turning around to find himself face to face with Uchiha Sasuke.
"What the hell?!" He screeched jumping at least three feet in the air. The bastard moved fast! Naruto quickly backed away until he was safely on the other side of the room. "Don't do that you asshole!" he yelled.
Sasuke gave him an innocent look. "Don't do what?" he asked, taking a step forward.
"You-you stay away from me! Don't come any closer! I mean it!" Naruto was fully pressed against the wall and was already sending chakra to his feet in case Sasuke got any closer and he needed to climb it. The raven did not come any closer but momentarily examined the blond with an amused look before turning away.
Naruto was shocked, but he didn't relax a muscle. That bastard was just playing with him. He stayed firmly planted against the wall as Sasuke walked towards the back table and began sifting through the stacks of music left by the dance instructor.
Finally, Sasuke settled on a selection and turned back to Naruto, who immediately stiffened and increased his iron grip on the wall.
"Let's try the second dance. I don't remember what it's called, but let's try it out first". Naruto was surprised at the serious nature of Sasuke's voice. Perhaps he actually did care about learning the dances...
"It's the most intimate of the three dances so I think it will be the most fun" Sasuke finished with a smirk.
Or that jerk just wanted to...do things to him again!
"Fuck off, Sasuke. I don't care what Sakura-chan said. I'm not dancing with you". Naruto snarled.
The Uchiha's smirk didn't recede. "She'll kill you".
"No she won't" It's was Naruto's turn to grin, "Because there's no way she can get another maid of honor in two days".
The taunting smirk vanished and was shortly replaced by a frown. Damn the idiot! When did he get so smart? Sasuke thought viciously before recovering and evening out his expression.
"You're willing to disappoint Sakura like that? I thought you loved her". Sasuke jabbed, aiming for the weak spot.
Naruto's facial muscles twitched, but he lied calmly, "No, I don't love her anymore".
"Oh really? How come I don't believe you?"
"Cause you're a heartless asshole. I've got no reason to love her anyways. She's getting married, remember?"
"When has Sakura's relationship status ever stopped you before?"
"Well she's never been getting married before".
If Naruto had been paying attention instead of focusing so hard not to blow his cover, he would have noticed Sasuke edging closer and closer to his place on the wall. However, the blond had entered his usual and unfortunate state of obliviousness.
"If you really cared for her then you would fight for her" Sasuke shot, enjoying the reaction he was receiving from his friend/rival.
"I don't and I'm not".
"I don't believe you".
"Why not?!" Naruto cried furiously.
"Because you look at her like someone who's in love", Sasuke said softly, nailing the final blow. Or at least I think...
Naruto looked stunned, then his face crumpled and he sighed loudly, head falling against his chest in defeat. "Is it that obvious?" he murmured.
"Yes", Sasuke said shortly.
It was silent for a few seconds before Naruto lifted his head and locked his sky-blue gaze with Sasuke's obsidian.
"Why do you care so much?" he asked.
Sasuke had perfected the art of showing no emotion and he shrugged and replied smoothly, "I don't really. It just gets annoying seeing you practically salivate every time she enters the room".
The blue eyes flashed, "I do not sa-sa-whatever you said!"
The raven rolled his eyes. "Idiot, you're hopeless". He moved forward and Naruto, who had just noticed the shortened distance between them, screeched and attempted to crawl up the wall. Sasuke caught him easily and pulled him so that their faces were only inches apart.
"I came here to dance, Naruto" he said huskily, keeping his iron hold on his reluctant partner, who was pushing furiously away, "And you're going to teach me".
"No! Let me go!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto, I'm not going to do anything to you".
"I don't believe you!"
Against his will, Sasuke let the blond go. Naruto toppled to the floor and shot him a glare that was mixed with a look of surprise.
"I promise" Sasuke held out a hand to help him up. "I'm not going to do anything to you" Yet.
Naruto eyed the hand suspiciously, but in the end was won over by the sincerity in his best friends eyes. Just this once then...
"Fine" he relented and stood up on his own. "I'll teach you".
Sasuke worked to smother his smile and merely nodded as Naruto stepped forward.
The blond was flushing and cursing himself on the inside, but he assumed his most professional look and pulled Sasuke into the proper dance position.
"The second one you said?" he mumbled.
"Yes" Sasuke said, his whole body tingling with barely containable delight. He was so close! But he couldn't make his move, not now. He had to make Naruto understand first, but his time was running out.
Outwardly, Sasuke allowed himself to be led through the motions, nodding at Naruto's instructions and forming the image of an obedient dance student. Inwardly, he was planning. And thinking. Planning and thinking.
This feeling, what he felt for Naruto, was not just uncontrollable lust. It seemed to start that way, but now...it was just a bit more complicated. Sasuke had spent days pouring over countless books and dictionaries, trying to decipher and understand this impossible concept of love.
A passionate feeling of romantic desire and sexual attraction.
To feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend, or for something such as a place, an idea, or an animal
A person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
Sexual intercourse; copulation.
From a conceptual and intellectual standpoint, these definitions made sense, but Sasuke was unsure whether or not they applied to his situation.
Naruto was his friend, but so was Sakura, but she never made him burn like he did when Naruto was near him.
But it wasn't just about screwing the blond either. While that thought made the heat in Sasuke burn tenfold and resulted in the occasional barely concealable erection, it was not enough to satisfy him.
A sweetheart. Naruto definitely did not fit the role of a sweetheart. He was not even remotely sweet. He was loud and obnoxious and a fairly irritating person to be around. Uzumaki Naruto could never be Uchiha Sasuke's sweetheart.
A beloved person. This one worked better. Naruto was someone who could be loved. But did Sasuke even love him? That was the main problem he was having!
A tender affection. Sasuke was sure that during his years with Orochimaru and the subsequent ones after, he had pretty much lost all ability to be 'tender'.
Naruto made Sasuke feel something. He just wasn't sure what to call it yet. I'm pathetic, he thought darkly, I want Naruto to understand and I don't even get it myself...We need to talk about this. But when?
Sasuke had receded so deep into his thoughts that he only heard Naruto call his name after the second time.
"Hello to Sasuke. Bastard, are you in there?" Naruto called waving his hand back and forth across the ravens face. The dancing had been going more than well. Sasuke had been true to his promise and had not...done anything. He had moved through the motions gracefully and Naruto wondered why Temari had said he was such a bad partner. From what Naruto had seen the past half hour, Sasuke seemed to know exactly what he was doing. However, in the last few minutes, he had entered an odd daze and Naruto couldn't help but wonder about what had caused it.
"Sasuke?" he asked again.
"Wha?" Sasuke blinked and Naruto was shocked at the lost expression on his face. Where exactly had he been?
"What did you say?" Sasuke asked, his voice still holding that far away tone.
Naruto sighed. "I was asking whether or not you understood the part where we do the spin, but you suddenly zoned out on me. What was up with that?"
"Nothing. It was nothing". Sasuke resumed his usually stoic expression, his voice back to normal. Naruto opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by those dark eyes.
"Whatever" he muttered. "Let's start from the beginning".
They returned to their original stance and began moving through the steps.
"Tell me about Sakura. About how you feel for her," Sasuke said suddenly.
"Why would I ever tell you something like that? I though you didn't care" Naruto said frowning.
"I'm just curious" Sasuke said innocently. "You say you love her, it's obvious by the way you act, but how do you know you do?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the nature of the question. Sasuke was usually more heartless than a rock and he hated it when Naruto started talking about his feelings for Sakura. The sudden personality change, coupled with the blank look that had covered Sasuke's face minutes earlier, both worried the blond and spiked his suspicion level.
The events in the dressing room, the flirtatious comments, and now this inquiry about love; Sasuke was definitely up to something, but Naruto, who never fully understood what was going on in his friends head, was lost in the dark and knew that he needed to find a light switch or something.
So he would play along. And maybe he'd get a flashlight. Maybe.
"Well I just do" he finally replied.
Sasuke scoffed. "Details, usuratonkachi, details".
"Don't call me that! Or else I won't tell you anything" Naruto threatened. He slightly picked up the pace of the steps, challenging his friend to keep up. Sasuke's face did not change, but he matched Naruto perfectly.
"Weeellll, first of all, whenever I see her, I get this tingling feeling in my stomach. Like butterflies". Sasuke felt faintly nauseous. Butterflies? The fuck? But he nodded his head nonetheless.
This positive response launched Naruto into full on teenage-girl-with-a-crush-mode, quickening the pace as he went.
"I'm happiest when I'm around her". Faster.
"But I feel nervous as well. Butterflies again"
"But that makes me want to be with her more" And Faster.
"Never leave her side".
"Protect her at all costs" And Faster.
"And when she smiles, it feels like-"
"Butterflies again?" Sasuke asked dryly, breathing a bit heavier than he was when he started. He was doing his best to keep up as Naruto sped through the motions as if powered by his infinite love of Sakura.
"Noooo" Naruto said, ignoring the sarcasm. "Like I've just eaten 20 bowls of the highest quality ramen". And then he dipped Sasuke, giving him his most brilliant smile. The Uchiha almost punched him in the face.
Naruto pulled him back up and they parted, the dance over, and Sasuke more than happy that it was. The idiot had been less help than the Find True Love help books. Sasuke really should have known better.
"Oh, oh, and when she laughs-" Naruto started.
"That's enough, Naruto. I think I've got it". Sasuke said tiredly.
"Are you sure? Because I could tell you more". Naruto looked so eager....and so stupid. Sasuke held up a hand as if to shield himself from his friend's stupidity.
"I'm sure". He said.
"Awww, well fine" the blond said sulkily before checking his watch. "We still have a few minutes. So should we review one more time?"
The offer was tempting. It really was. But Sasuke had to decline. He felt he would be ill if he stood too close to Naruto too soon. The guy was making his head spin, and not just with his useless talk about his obsessive love, but because he was just so close. Their fingers entwined, his arm around his waist, and the way their bodies touched with each step, each motion, each little twitch. Every time Naruto spoke, Sasuke could feel his warm breath and it nearly drove him off the edge.
Naruto made Sasuke feel sick. He made him feel feverish and ill and more than a little uncomfortable. The effect that Naruto had on Sasuke made him go crazy, especially since he didn't even know if he loved the guy.
"Where'd you learn how to dance like that?" Sasuke had picked the first thing he could think of to change the subject.
"Oh, did you think I was good?" Naruto smiled smugly, unaware of the abrupt conversation shift.
"Better than I had expected" Sasuke said, glad he had gone for the ego stroke. Naruto never gave up the opportunity to brag about himself.
"To tell you the truth it was because of that pervy sage that I ever learned". Naruto smiled, but it was a sad smile. A slightly nostalgic smile. A smile reserved for tales about dead sensei's and the fun you had had when they were alive.
Sasuke never smiled like that.
"It was during those years that I was traveling with him. He would always do the dumbest things for a girl's attention". Naruto laughed in spite of himself, remembering the countless cities and towns that the pair had been chased out of by angry husbands, boyfriends, and the occasional girlfriend. "Anyways, this one time he set his sights on this really high class lady. A daimyo's cousin's daughter or something. I don't know why but she actually liked him and invited him to this fancy party. So the pervy sage got it in his mind to impress her at the party so he signed both of us up for a two week crash course in ballroom dancing. Worst two weeks in my life".
Sasuke allowed himself a small smile as he pictured Naruto learning how to dance. That clumsy idiot. How'd he ever get so graceful?
Naruto continued. "In the end it was a complete flop because the woman's best friend happened to be this lady that the pervy sage had tried to hook up with a couple weeks before. To make a long story short, we got our asses kicked and were thrown out".
"Sounds like my kind of party". Sasuke smirked.
"Yeah right. But I just never forgot those lessons. And I sort of, um, well, kinda, um, kept them up when I got back to Konoha" Naruto blushed. "Don't tell anyone about it, please!"
So the ugly duckling was really...a swan? At least sometimes. Then it went back to being ugly. It seemed Naruto was deeper than Sasuke thought. "Don't worry, " he said, "Secret's safe with me".
Naruto looked relieved. "Thanks, asshole".
"Come on, let's get out of here. I pretty much got these things down and I bet Sakura's throwing a fit about something". Sasuke said, grabbing his change of clothes for the wedding rehearsal. He still couldn't believe Sakura had ordered two pairs of formal attire for all wedding party members. One for rehearsal, the other for the big day. That girl was insane.
"Actually I think everything's going to be just fine" Naruto said naively, following the raven out of the dance studio.
"Yes I'm sure. Just perfect, right?"
"What do you fucking mean the caterers got fucking kidnapped?!"
Naruto paled and Sasuke almost smiled as they heard Sakura's screech fill every corner of the chapel.
Yes, just perfect.
A/N: Next chapter up as soon as possible. So be patient and wish me luck and hope that I don't get writers block. Thanks!
Much love
-dancer