Naruto hadn't cleaned his house in seven months.

And it was so dirty underneath of all the mess that he was paying his kid neighbors to come help him clean it.

"Naruto, you suck at life." One kid, Iwo, said as he picked up Naruto's dirty underwear and old socks with tweezers while holding his nose.

"Yeah, I hear ya, kid. Now get cleaning!" Naruto called from his kitchen. He was washing dishes. The other kid, Rena, was sweeping all of the dirt from the kitchen and bathroom and into a dustpan, muttering to herself about how she and her little brother better be getting paid good to be doing this gross stuff.

Naruto moved quickly, making sure everything was spotless before moving to wash off the counter and eating table. He had to impress the lovely lady coming over, after all!

Iwo changed his bed sheets and pillowcases and then dusted off his computer desk. Naruto straightened up everything so it was neat and then did the bathroom clean up, since Rena refused to even enter it. Instead she vacuumed his living area and fixed his television so it got more than four stations.

Everything started around noon that day and ended around two, when he got a call from Sasuke. Once he answered the phone he kicked the kids out with their newly earned yen and slammed his door shut.

He talked to Sasuke for at least an hour and he agreed to have him coming a little early to help him set up and get snacks out, but only do that. He made it clear that if Sasuke made any moves on him – especially if Hinata was there – that Sasuke would be kicked out.

Sasuke agreed innocently, obviously aggravated by Naruto. He only wanted a kiss… that's not so bad.

Sasuke arrived not a minute late with chips and cheese dip and plenty of soda to last them the night. He helped Naruto get out blankets and pillows for those who were sleeping over – and it was only Kiba and Sasuke – and then sat on his bed and relaxed until the rest of them arrived.

"So, I thought a scary movie would make for a good movie for tonight," Sasuke said. He was rummaging through Naruto's pile of movies and found plenty of horror, comedy and action films.

"Why a scary movie?"

"If I get scared we can cuddle." Sasuke smirked and threw Freddy Vs Jason in Naruto's face.

"Sasuke, what did we just discuss?" Naruto threw the movie back at Sasuke, who caught it.

"I was kidding. Sort of."

There was an awkward silence after that. Sasuke leaned back against the wall and stared off into space. Naruto lay back on the bed with his knees up so his feet barely touched Sasuke's, almost daring Sasuke's to move to touch him.

Sasuke could have done it. He felt he should have but he didn't want to chance Naruto kicking him out. Normally he wouldn't care if he did, for the reason that Naruto wouldn't kick him out because he'd feel too guilty, but he didn't chance it because Naruto wasn't the same kid that he used to be and he liked a girl who would be here any minute. Leaving them alone in his house was not an option, especially because his two friends supported him.

"Sasuke,"

"Hn?"

"If you and Hinata switched places, I don't think I would have cleaned my whole house,"

"Tch, is that supposed to mean something?"

"I think… I think it's a good thing, but my cleaning isn't a bad thing, either."

Sasuke lay down on the bed as well, keeping his legs where. He rested his knees against Naruto's without realizing it, but relieve when he did notice and didn't push him away.

"Because you know that you don't have to clean to impress me."

"That may be true, but you aren't the one I'm trying to impress right now,"

"What impresses you, then?"

"A good cook," Naruto joked.

"Then anyone can impress you. All they need is a cup of ramen."

"Then if it's that easy, they have to eat it, too."

Sasuke let a small smile spread across his face. He thought back to all of the times he spent with Naruto all those years ago, and not once did he eat the ramen Naruto wanted him to. And in the present, he wished he had.

Well, maybe not. Ramen never appealed to Sasuke or his family, for that matter. Such an atrocious meal would never meet an Uchiha's mouth. But if Naruto asked him, he just may have to consider. Right now, he'd do anything for Naruto to call and cancel on the other four and stay alone with him. Even if nothing happened, he'd be content sitting on the bed with him all night long.

"They'll be here soon, Sasuke." Naruto said all of a sudden, thinking about his friends. And Neji.

"I don't want to move." The brunette complained in a baby-ish way. Naruto had always hated it when Sasuke pouted at him like that. He rarely did it when the dated before, since Sasuke used to be the seme. Now he was more uke-ish – not that it was bad. Naruto kind of liked the uke Sasuke. But he still hated that damn pouting.

"You'll have to before they get here," Naruto said, avoiding the sad look that Sasuke forced at him. That look reminded him of a younger Sasuke, looking innocent and lonely. Maybe Sasuke was still lonely.

"Kiss me, and I just might."

"Sasuke," the blonde argued.

"Just one, I promise."

A promise from an Uchiha was a great thing, and Naruto figured he was the only one to get one of those from him.

Naruto sighed heavily, cursing at himself and then planted his lips firmly on Sasuke's and just as quickly he pulled away and looked him straight in the face.

"Get out of my bed, please."

Sasuke smiled again. "Sure."

--

Kiba spent hours on end eating up all the chips and cheese. Hinata and Neji didn't really touch it, though Kiba made her laugh quite a lot with his jokes. With the exception of Neji, everyone got along well. Sasuke and Shikamaru played four games of Go, which Shikamaru brought with him, Kiba, Naruto and Hinata talked about things going on in school and Neji and Shikamaru played one game after he finished with Sasuke. Of all of them, Neji got along with Shikamaru the most. Shikamaru even got Neji to consider staying the night.

Naruto was greatly satisfied with the way his gathering was going. He thought that if any others came over then everything might be different, so his turn out was better than expected.

They all decided to watch an action movie called Twelve Rounds. Even Sasuke couldn't keep his eyes off the screen! Everyone was watching the movie intensively, except for Naruto. Even with his arm around Hinata, he still couldn't figure out why the hell he kissed Sasuke.

He wasn't really thinking when he did it. His body just… moved… on its own. It was like he had no control over what he did. He didn't want to be honest with himself, but he enjoyed it. He enjoyed the few seconds that their lips met. Sasuke's lips were always so wet and so soft, even when he didn't have the time to kiss back.

He mentally hit himself. He wanted to hit himself so many more times. What kind of guy would want to be with a girl, but then goes and kisses his ex?

A 'no good guy' does that. Naruto was a good guy. He always had been. Even with Sasuke. Sasuke took care of Naruto and Naruto for Sasuke. They were good guys for each other.

And there he went again! It's like Sasuke was everywhere! In the real world he was somewhere close and in Naruto's head he was closer. He got in the way of his relationship with Hinata, and Naruto didn't like it. He and Hinata were getting closer. He liked Hinata a lot, and liked her idea to bring them all closer, even if it seemed almost impossible.

The thing was, he really didn't want to get closer to Sasuke – no matter how much his dark side wanted to. His dark side wanted to take Sasuke and be with Sasuke for as long as he lived, but the other side – his bright side – wanted to be a normal person and be with a woman; to be with Hinata. Hinata was going to be his girlfriend. He was going to make her his, and get her away from Neji and his friends.

He told all of this to Shikamaru when the movie ended and everyone was asleep on the floor except for Sasuke, who conveniently curled up on Naruto's bed. They stood outside, looking out onto the village drinking tea.

"I don't think she wants you to get her out, Naruto."

"What?"

"You know what I said. And I don't think that you like her the way you say you do."

"I don't get it…"

Shikamaru sighed. Naruto might have grown, but not in some places. "She wants everyone to be friends. She doesn't want to be separated from them."

"But they control her –"

"No, they don't. I talked to Neji. Hinata loves her friends and she'd do anything for them. Don't try to take that away from her."

"I didn't realize it…" Naruto felt his heart sink to the pits of his stomach and die. He hated right people. He was always wrong – or, that's what it seemed like. He was too airheaded for his own good.

His air headedness got him places, though. It made him a happier person, for one thing. Actually, that was pretty much the only thing, but being happy was living the good life, so he was always content being an air head. It didn't bother him one bit that he was an idiot. It got him the attention that he loved so much.

"I know, a little too well."

"I do like her."

"No, you love Sasuke."

"No I don't!" Naruto groaned and sat down on the balcony. Why did Shikamaru always have to do this? He was wrong…

Wasn't he?

"I see it in your face. The way you ignore him so playfully and the way you look at him when you're talking to him. It's all there. Hinata's just the girl that you let divide you two up."

"I kissed Sasuke. I liked it. But it doesn't mean that I don't like Hinata."

"I never said that you don't like her, I'm saying you don't like her like you like Sasuke. She's your friend that you think you like."

Naruto groaned with sorrow as Shikamaru's words sunk in. It wasn't that he hated Sasuke. He just didn't want to be his boyfriend again. Or, according to Shikamaru, he thought that he didn't want to fall in love with him again.

Perhaps Shikamaru was right. He could take Sasuke back. Sasuke would be good to him. He had been for the past week or so. Naruto believed in second chances, after all. But even if he gave Sasuke one more chance, it would ruin his friendship with Hinata.

No, no, it wouldn't ruin it. Perhaps… perhaps it would make it better. With the help of Hinata and the two 'leaders' of both groups of friends, they could get everyone to be friends. No one had to be separated and everyone would get along, just like she wanted it to be.

"I still want to d it,"

"Do what?"

Naruto stood up, taking the last sip of his tea and turning his head to Shikamaru. He wore a bright grin on his face. "By the Winter Formal, we're all gonna be friends."

Shikamaru looked at him as if he were just told that someone murdered his teacher all over again.

"What?"

"You hear me, ass hole. I'm done with this whole separation thing and so is Hinata."

"Naruto, you have my support and all… but how the hell are you going to do that?"

"You and Sasuke and Kiba and Neji are going to help us. We've gotta convince them that we can all be friends."

"Does this mean you're going to get back with Sasuke?"

"…Yeah. I guess it does."

Shikamaru smiled and muttered something about how much of a drag this was all going to be and followed Naruto back into his apartment.

They put the tea glasses in the sink and changed into sleeping clothes. Shikamaru fell asleep next to Neji on the floor since Kiba took the couch. Naruto slowly crept into the bed behind Sasuke, who stirred the slightest bit, and wrapped his arm around his waist. He whispered his goodnight to Sasuke, and he got a surprising and sleepy response from the raven he was spooning.

"I love you, you loser."

---

A/N: yayyy!!! I'm so very happy with the way I'm taking this! Hopefully you all like it, too. I'm not done, though. There are still a couple of events I'll make happen, so stay tuned. Chapter six should be up shortly. In the meantime I'm going to start on a five-chapter-multi-chapter NejiShika :) it'll be fun.

Oh, and you all should go to Rasengan22's page and request a chapter 11 to the story 'Talk to Me' because it was so so good and I wanna see an ending :D