Heee~~y! I'm back ^_^ Sorry for the wait!~ Exams are over (for now, there's still finals). Omg. This chapter... Don't kill mee~

Kissies to everyone reviews ^3^ Love youu~

Sasuke stood at the edge of the Uchiha compound. Konoha had changed its mind on the weather again and by mid morning it was drizzling but still warm. Humid. It was like that day they had trained with Kakashi. Seemed so long ago...

Where do I even want to go?

The boy kicked the ground and pushed his hands into his already moist pockets.

To Naruto?

He wasn't even sure whether he could handle Naruto without getting embarrassed beyond belief. Last time they had been together Naruto had been sleeping and Sasuke had...

He took one step and then another. Maybe he'd just wander and see where his feet took him.

In the hazy drizzle Sasuke spotted pink as he passed the small, open front café on the main street. Sakura was sitting inside with a plate of dango and a book in hand, watching him. She waved but didn't beckon him. He went over anyway and she looked surprised for a moment before she smiled warmly and moved from the middle of her bench to the side so he could sit too, which he didn't. Sasuke didn't even know why he came over but a strange calm washed over him when he entered her presence, pushing away an anxious unease he hadn't realized he had been feeling. He just stood and she went back to her book.

Somehow he had reached out to her at some point through all this and she had become his stability, even if she didn't know it. He used to be able to keep himself safe because Naruto was the one who was reckless and shaky; unstable. But ever since the beginning of everything lately he had felt unsafe and a little bit scared and it was her, her who was honest and wouldn't hide or lie, at least not to him, who had been keeping him safe. How very strange. And sort of funny how much he suddenly wanted her near when in the past she had been annoying and fake. But now.

Sasuke watched the girl from the corner of his eye, taking in her concentrated face as she read and tracked her small hands as they reached for the stick of her last dango. She was natural and he was happy that she was not conscious of him like she had been before as a "rabid fangirl". She'd grown up and become more mature than either of her male team mates.

"I like being with you," he murmured accidentally out loud and was caught off guard when Sakura lifted her face to him, fearing she'd misunderstand.

"I like being with you too," she smiled and he felt embarrassed.

"No... I mean, not like..." She knew didn't she? That he and Naruto were... At the hospital she had said it.

"You love him so much"

"No, I like being with you," she repeated. Sasuke bit his lip, feeling uncertain, his eyes skittering away from hers. He was open right now and he wasn't sure he hated it.

"Even though I like Naruto?" He asked in a shuddering breathy voice, surprising himself that he could bare his feelings so easily. She didn't miss a beat or hesitate in her answer.

"Yup. Me and you aren't you and Naruto or me and Naruto. Just because you like Naruto doesn't mean we can't be friends. It doesn't mean I don't like your company or that I can't be there for you, Sasuke kun."

Suddenly the "kun" on the end of his name made her feel far away. Before, he had always liked it being there; it kept her at arms length but now he wanted her near. Not like he wanted to hug her, actually the thought of holding someone who wasn't used to be thrown around or punched at any given time scared him. He might break her. Even when he was little he was he didn't want to hug anyone but his brother; because Itachi was strong and he'd seen him strong. His mother; he didn't want to hurt her because he was "oh so powerful" since he had entered the academy so he had always just folded inside her arms when she wanted a cuddle. In his mind if Sakura were to touch him he wouldn't be able to be anything for her. He would fold.

No, it wasn't that kind of wanting to be near her. She was just... safe; an amazing contrast to the overwhelming, painful feelings he had for Naruto. Soft, warm... affection? She was his friend.

It was sort of embarrassing.

They watched the rain.

"You know, this is probably the first time Naruto has seen rain... He was sleeping when it rained the other night." Again, thunder rumbled, just like it had that night in the hospital. Sasuke drew himself into his high collar.

"I wonder how he feels right now... Naruto never had a problem with thunder or lightning before, I wonder if that's changed?" Sasuke stayed quiet and there was another long silence.

"Maybe you should check on him," the girl started gaining a tiny, almost inaudible hiss from her male companion. Like he was going to do that.

"Speaking of seeing him; if you do you might get something nice Sasuke kun." She raised her chin to look up at him again and he looked down, searching her face for the meaning in her playful words and manner.

"Something interesting?" he echoed back. The rain pattered gently as the thunder snarled noisily overhead. She merely nodded once, closing her eyes into a smile. Sasuke huffed and started off into the rain.

Something interesting.

.

At first the subtle growl of the thunder hadn't bothered him too much. To counter it, the blonde had simply gotten back into bed and snuggled down with the duvet hooked over his ears. It hadn't bothered him to much; that subtle snarl. But now, the thunder how developed into a monstrous tearing apart of the warm safe air. Every time it struck he couldn't move and he had to cover his mouth to stifle a scream. It was pathetic, being scared of something that couldn't hurt him but it was how it made him feel. Empty and alone.

BANG!

Naruto's legs gave out as the sky roared in the same moment that he began to pull the door handle down. It would be just as bad outside so going out wouldn't make a difference. He could go to Iruka's place and he was sure the teacher wouldn't mind if he broke down a little bit. He had thought that. But it wasn't the same. As soon as the door opened he wasn't just shaken anymore. He was on his knees and then down with his elbows on the ground and his arms clamped over his head.

CRASH!

This time the thunder was behind him, the sound echoing relentlessly inside the walls of his small apartment. Naruto's foot slipped the first time on the now slippery with blown in rain entrance tiles and he fell and smacked his chin on the concrete outside the door but it didn't stop him. Scrambling to his feet, his fingers skimming the wet ground as he tried to gain balance, he bolted straight out into the rain. Irrationally terrified.

BANG!

CRASH!

He was tired. He was wet. He was muddy. He was cold. He was still scared but the thunder had long since eased of to a distant rumble and the rain picked up in its place, falling around him, hazy and grey. His mouth and chest was dry from running making it hard to breathe. He was lost too. His exhausted, shivering body couldn't find a direction. Where was he? He wanted to go home for the first time. For the first time he wouldn't have minded being in that dingy little house. Anywhere but here...

What he wouldn't give to be close to someone. What he wouldn't give to be warm and safe.

He laughed to himself, the soft noise swallowed by the pound of the rain.

Scared of blood, scared of thunder, scared of being alone; could he be anymore obviously uncool? All things that couldn't hurt him, things that couldn't even touch him. He was so pathetic that he couldn't even think straight and had tried to run away like a coward, only to find himself in the heart of the storm, running this way and that, tripping, screaming and slowly coming to a stop as the thunder retreated. The boy stood with his head bowed, water streaming down his face beneath his soaking fringe. He was probably crying.

I should give up. Nothing is right. I'm out here in the rain when I should have stayed at home. I am a ninja but I can't wear my forehead protector anymore. I want Sasuke but Sasuke is brave and strong and I'm not. He doesn't have many friends so he only wants strong people by his side. I'm not strong. I am weak and pathetic. A burden. I should give up.

"Naruto?"

A small sound of husky surprise brushed through the blonde's lips. His head was too heavy to lift.

"Naruto? Where are you? Naruto!"

He was imagining it right? That voice...

"Naruto? Hey! Naruto? Where are you?"

The rain became a dull roar against his eardrums.

"Naru- NARUTO!" Naruto finally lifted his head and there he was...

Soaked in rain. Muddy to his knees. Dark hair stringy and clinging to his pallid skin, curling over his cheeks that were pink from running. Black piercing eyes staring right at him.

"Sasuke san..." This time Naruto knew he was crying.

.

"I've been out here for hours Dobe. You're such an idiot," murmured Sasuke though the rain. Naruto felt his voice vibrate through his back and into his own body, a similar tremble within his chest as when the thunder had cracked but this time it was warm and soft; despite the insult, a reassuring purr. He didn't feel so small.

"Mmmm... I know," he replied as Sasuke bumped him higher up onto his hips; carrying him home because he couldn't walk anymore. It must be around mid afternoon by now. Since Sasuke said he'd been out here for hours; and yet he was too tired to walk on his own.

When he'd seen Sasuke he'd fallen to his knees. The other boy had approached without a sound, emerging from the rain and come close to him, looking down with his face spookily calm; completely transformed from the slightly flushed, panicked searching face from ten steps away. But when he had held his hand out, Naruto couldn't help but grab his arm with both hands, desperate for the contact, pulling the raven to his knees.

"Sorry." He had mouthed, his words wet and quiet. Sasuke had shaken his head incredulously, hooked his arms under Naruto's arms and pulled him into a rough hug with Sasuke on his knees and Naruto sitting, his body strained up and around Sasuke's neck, his face in his shoulder. He didn't ask how or why Sasuke was there, he didn't care; he'd come for him. Naruto grit his teeth against the taste of tears in his throat, taking in the other boy's jasmine scent; the one he loved so much.

"Thank you, thank you so much..."

The rain has stopped.

"Where are we going Sasuke san?"

"My house."

"I can go home. I'm alright."

"No, you're coming with me. Who knows when the weather will decide to start up again? Its still warm but it gets colder when it rains and makes thunder almost always because Konoha is always hot. We can't be sure, and I am not coming back out here just for you again Usuratonkachi," explained Sasuke somewhat icily. Naruto squirmed at "Usuratonkachi". Sasuke didn't use it as often as he used "Dobe" or "Idiot". It felt more like an insult than a name.

"Stay still."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize."

"Ok."

Sasuke sighed.

"You're shivering."

"Yeah..."

"Have you been out in the rain this whole time?"

"Mmmm... You too ne?"

"Yeah..."

Silence. And more silence. Nothing but the dripping of raindrops of the roofs of the houses and shops as they passed. All the way to the big Uchiha housing area. Naruto closed his eyes.

When they got to Sasuke's house, Sasuke didn't let Naruto down; he carried past the lowered entrance without removing shoes or towelling off and paid no attention to Naruto's broken attempt at a protest. The blonde's teeth chattered too much to form a full sentence to stop him anyway. They made their way down the hallway to the bathroom and Sasuke turned pushed the lever down on his shower with his elbow and stepped in, setting Naruto on his feet and then on his knees when, with a small cry from Naruto they discovered the smaller boy's legs shaking legs wouldn't support him. The hot water scalded his skin and Naruto writhed, trying to wiggle away into a dryer corner but Sasuke held him fast by his wrists until he was used to it. "Hypothermia Baka, just coz the airs warm doesn't mean the rain or your skin is. Get warm."

Naruto let Sasuke strip him to his boxers and then watched the boy get to his feet and begin to leave. He didn't want him to go.

"Ah- Sasuke san!" Sasuke turned and watched him without reply. Naruto opened and closed his trembling mouth stupidly before looking away. Water clouded his eyes and hung off his eyelashes.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"I have lots of water so stay in there a while. I'll be just outside..."

"Ah... S-sasuke s-san?" Naruto's eyes were wide and his body was leaned forward towards the standing figure. His teeth still chattered and his voice was hoarse from screaming.

Don't go.

Stay with me.

I'm scared.

Don't leave me alone.

Sasuke san...

Sasuke san...

I need you with me...

"You've b-been outside a l-long t-t-t-ime too n-ne?"

On a second scan of the young Uchiha as he turned to listen to the boy sitting on the shower floor, he was visibly shivering and his big shirt and shorts looked heavy, his shoulders were slumped and he was as filthy as Naruto had been before. His jaw was clenched tightly against the effects of the cold shudders making tiny spasms through out his body when he stood still and let it have him.

"W-we can both f-fit, you should w-warm up t-too, Sasuke s-san."

Naruto averted his eyes while Sasuke stripped to his underwear too and shuffled to the side to make room for the other boy. They sat side by side with the water running over one shoulder each. Naruto shivered. Sasuke shivered. This wasn't really working. At this rate both of them would get hypothermia. Naruto examined the goosebumps rising on Sasuke's white leg that was pressed flush with his own. His thighs were cold from Sasuke's rain-cold, slowly warming boxers against his exposed flesh where his boxers had ridden up.

"We need to move..." muttered Sasuke. Naruto nodded silently beside him. Suddenly he felt Sasuke's arm snaking around his waist and his fingers sliding behind his knees and his other hand doing the same with the other leg. In one swift moment, Sasuke had lifted him, his knees pressed against his chest; forced into a foetal position, and spread his long white legs, placing Naruto heavily between them, proceeding to wrap his arms around the blonde's middle making Naruto blush so hard that he was sure he would be fine getting out of the shower right that minute.

"I heard body heat is good for when you're cold too. Its easier this way anyway," said Sasuke matter of factly and Naruto had to stop himself from letting out a breathy something when he felt Sasuke's voice against the nape of his neck and felt it travel to his ears like a chill.

This was not a normal shower!

Naruto squeezed his eyes closed. God, Sasuke's body against his back, his thighs curled around his hips, knees tented to each side of Naruto, turned slightly in... Sort of swallowing the smaller body... Wasn't Sasuke embarrassed too? He couldn't tell if the solid chest against his shoulder blades was hardened muscle or tension. It was embarrassing right? This was not normal? Or... was this one of those things that Sasuke did without thinking and it only flustered the small sunny haired boy in his arms.

In his arms... It was almost like an embrace. He was holding him quite closely... For warmth? Or...

"Hngg..."

"What?"

"Nothing! It's nothing..."

Moments passed. Naruto was so comfortable that he might have gone to sleep in the steam and thick air, if he weren't so nervous. Water spilled over both of their small bodies, huddled together in that shower.

"Ne, Sasuke san. Do other friends take showers together?" Naruto was sure he felt extra warmth spread across the skin in contact with Sasuke. Blushing?

"W-when they could get sick I guess some might..." He stuttered! Didn't he? Or did Naruto just imagine it? Did he imagine the blushing heat of Sasuke's body too? Was he trying to give Sasuke feelings he didn't have in his mind... Was this for real?

Illusion?

But Sakura had said that Sasuke wouldn't push him away... He certainly wasn't pushing him away now but maybe that was because Sasuke saw it as something normal. Of course ninja and ninja relationships would always be different to an ordinary bond. In the past he and Sasuke would have fought together and trained together and probably showered off together; all normal people unordinary-ninja people ordinary actions.

"But not normally...?"

"Don't ask that question when you're the one who wanted me to come in here with you."

"Ah... I guess..."

"Do you think the thunder is coming back?"

"Hard to tell. I said that already."

Naruto mumbled his reply, feeling stupid.

"Its better to live your life out loud."

Naruto leant his head back on Sasuke's shoulder, closing his eyes and felt the boy jump at the contact. Water gathered on his blonde eyelashes and then slipped down his face like tears. Was it really better to live your life out loud? Wouldn't it be easier to keep things that might hurt you a secret? But this secret was eating him. He didn't have ninja life anymore. He, Uzumaki Naruto was very usual so normal things ate at him. He didn't have to worry about life or death or blood or injuries or skill. But he did worry about Sasuke. About these feelings for Sasuke.

"Naruto?"

"Ne, Sasuke san... What do you do if you like someone?"

After a long moment, "I guess you should tell them?" Sasuke answered his question with a question.

"And if you think they won't push you away?" This time Naruto's voice shook.

"Y-you... do something about those feelings then I suppose..."

"I see..."

"Something about those feelings..."

Naruto blushed again, an imagine of being held by Sasuke as he had been in the rain flashing through his mind. No, a hug was no good because he was always the one being held. Sasuke was bigger and Naruto was sure he would gawky and awkward if he was the one trying to hold Sasuke... and somehow Sasuke wouldn't like that... maybe.

In truth... he wanted to ... with Sasuke... he actually would like to...

Kiss.

But at this angle, in this position, even if he worked up that much courage, he'd have to turn around and Sasuke would know his intention. He might reject him. Or he might not.

"I don't think he would push you away."

Naruto took a deep breath. Here goes everything, Haruno san. You better be right.

"Sasuke san. Can I kiss you?"

No one. Moved.

"Ok."

"R-really?"

"Y-yeah..."

Naruto turned so that he was sat between Sasuke's legs and then shuffled forward and up onto his knees . The boy opposite him was flushed and all skittery; his dark eyes jumping away from Naruto's. If Naruto also hadn't been so flustered, it would have been a bit cute, in a "you're bigger than me and stronger but you're blushing because of something that little old me said" kind of way.

"You're sure about this?" asked Naruto.

Where should he be? Should he move so that he was closer to Sasuke? His heartbeat was going crazy. He could feel it in his fingertips as he reached to place his hands on Sasuke's shoulders. Or his face? His hair? This could be a problem.

"D-do whatever you want," replied Sasuke sourly and Naruto tried not to be hurt by the acidity of his words, pinning it on Sasuke being nervous...

Or was he uncomfortable?

Naruto's eyes widened and he searched Sasuke's blushing face. Was this only for Naruto's sake? He had asked "can I kiss you" and Sasuke had said "ok", but was that just because Naruto was small and pathetic today? Was he giving in...

"On second thought... You kiss me Sasuke san." The dark haired boy's head snapped back to the front, his eyes sharp, the blush dropping from his face.

"What?" This time Naruto was wriggly and blushing.

"Its just... I feel like you don't really want to so you should kiss me if you want to.. with me..."

"I think the near Hypothermia went to your head Dobe."

"It didn't." Naruto smiled a little. I want this… I like you.

"I can't." Oh wow... That cut deep and Naruto could feel tears welling in his eyes already.

Stupid, he growled to himself. Of course that was the case. Of course.

Stupid me.

Stupid Haruno san.

"I can't," repeated Sasuke. "I'm scared..." He tentatively put his hands on Naruto's waist but it seemed to feel wrong to the sitting boy so he removed them. Naruto slumped back to the ground.

"...of what...?" Sasuke audibly gulped.

"That I'll do something you definitely aren't used to..."

"Its ok… please…" Sasuke closed his eyes at Naruto's quiet begging. Ah… Why am I being so pushy, wondered Naruto. Because I want to be close to him.

"You… that's not really…"

"Please?"

Sasuke growled and Naruto opened his mouth to ask again but there wasn't time. All of a sudden Sasuke had him against the wall. He looked angry. And hurt. He was scary. And Naruto was scared. More scared than he had been in the rain because this time the person he wanted to save him, was the one to be feared.

"Stop it," snarled Sasuke. "I can't kiss you without hurting. I won't hurt you and I won't hurt me. Don't ask again. Naruto"

Tears ran over Naruto's whiskered cheeks but either Sasuke didn't see them or he didn't care. The way he said his name was like he was accusing him of being someone else.

Sasuke got up and left without drying off, probably trekking water all through the house. Naruto sat in the shower, the terror draining away, cold and grey.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto too... I'm him too…"