-1Of Struggles, Pain, Power and Battle

By Spirited Dragon

Chapter 7 Holding Hands Furtively

The next day broke and with it Naruto found something he thought he had lost a long time ago. He found hope. He has slept through the night and had nothing troubling him except the face of a newly discovered friend. He got up slowly from Sasuke's bed, he had been forced to sleep next to boy on account of his "condition", and quietly dressed for school. He scrambled around for his clothes, once again opting to wear Sasuke's, when a cold hand reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Where are you going?"

"School, and if I'm not mistaken, you should be moving too." Naruto said in a hushed tone then for effect he added "Teme."

"What time is it?"

"I think…Yup it's 7:30am"

"We have time" and with that Sasuke pulled Naruto down onto the bed and tried to go back to sleep, that was until his brain kicked in and he realised what time it was, who he was holding and what was happening down below. 'Oh shit' he thought.

"Right, yea. Move. Wait for me outside."

"But it's cold!"

"Outside. Now"

"Good to see you're so warm and inviting" Naruto grabbed a belt and stalked downstairs and Sasuke felt the impact of the door slamming. He ran to the bathroom brushing his teeth and running a comb through his hair at the same time, then he jogged to his room grabbing clothes in no particular order and slipped them on. Glancing at his appearance he jumped down the stairs and gabbing some water on the way out walked as calmly as he could to where Naruto stood kicking a lone rock back and forth.

They walked in silence to the bus stop, neither being old enough to drive yet. Once there they sat a good foot away from each other and occasionally one would draw breath as if to say something but no words ever broke the silence. Naruto fuming silently, he just couldn't believe that after all that they had shared and the fact he had submitted to orders from another, that this was what it had come down to. Silence at a bus stop. Well he found it hard to believe they were back to worse than when they started. He shuffled along the bus stop's red, hard, plastic elongated seat and staring straight ahead began to talk.

"I'll give your clothes back tomorrow today I have to visit my ma…friend. Although I could just burn them, maybe that would get a reaction out of you, I mean I think I preferred the half dead fluffy Uchiha that reared it's head this morning. But no! I get stuck with the teme. That's great that. I …"He was cut off as fingers entwined with his own and he looked to the boy sitting besides him, he was…well Naruto couldn't yet tell but it was some sort of emotion. Which in it's own right was some sort of achievement.

He reluctantly let go of Sasuke's hand as the bus trundled down the road towards them, packed full of children from other schools he groaned into the air. They both inwardly knew they'd have to push to get on the bus. Sighing Naruto got up and followed his friend quietly, swinging a black folder back and forth he stepped onto the only transport available to him.

"Thank God," he mumbled, when he noticed that the bus was moving and both of them had managed to make it on with a degree of space, granted Sasuke had to go and steal the only seat available and he was stuck clinging to a oddly greased pole. Naruto hoped that there weren't going to be that many people on the next stop or maybe the bus would skip the stop entirely meaning less travel time and people to squash him in like last minute luggage. No such luck. The bus screeched to a stop doors that looked new squeaked open and he was forced to hold on to someone's arm to stop himself from falling onto a "poor unfortunate citizen." The litter personified, looking man who wore a faded denim jacket and worn down trainers looked at his arm as if it has been infected which considering the appearance of the man was a little ironic. Naruto hastily stood and mumbled a "Thank you" all the while noticing a certain person smirking at the way god mocked him.

He yelped when someone stepped on his leg, not even his foot, his leg and he had shuffle further towards the pole he was holding to avoid the evil bitch who stepped on him. The only problem was that as soon as he moved more people pushed past him to grab any sort of space left on the bus. A gang of young teenagers, no taller than four foot pushed past him angrily and Naruto growled whilst trying to not fall over. He failed miserably and flew forwards towards an amused Sasuke and landed directly on his covered crotch.

"Damn," He shouted. The words half shushed because of the compromising position he was in.

"Na-ru-to. There's a time and place for nuzzling my penis. This isn't it," Sasuke replied, a patronising tone dripping from each syllable.

"Get bent Uchiha I'm hardly enjoying this"

"So planning to stay there? Move now." Naruto realised Sasuke didn't really talk much and ever since yesterday he was ordering him around a lot more. Not that he was complaining since getting too involved would only get people hurt.

"Yes sir" he grumbled sarcastically, he rose clumsily, grabbing the 'McGrease' the pole as he had come to name it, he stood shakily almost falling as the bus turned a corner.

"No need for that tone, you were the one who randomly attacked me. Silly dobe."

"Don't exaggerate!" Naruto barked unaware of the odd looks he was receiving and the tinted blush that has graced his face. He would never attack someone willingly, that was the job of the 'other' him.

"The youth of today, so aggressive," Sasuke said, a touch of laughter edging through his voice.

"You make me sound like some sort of…molester? Yea that," Naruto snapped.

"Guilty?" the dark haired boy questioned, seemingly innocent, unless you noticed the satisfied look in his eyes. Naruto turned away, he would not rise to this. No not going to take the bait. He tried to focus on the route ahead and calculated with the current traffic he would have to ignore Sasuke for a very long time. Damn.

Minutes passed and never before had he wished time would pass quickly, never before had he wished to get to the prison some referred to as a state education. Spending time with the Uchiha was not good. He felt like he was being torn in half, the decisions and words he had to make and say had to be picked so carefully so he could protect Sasuke. Manic moods of sweet to bastard to down right evil were not helping. He needed away from this boy.

The bus overtook an inexperienced driver dwindling along at what was at the very least half the speed limit. It launched itself round a corner and Naruto felt his grip falter. "Why? I hate you McGrease!" He tried to right himself but the bus jolted to a stop causing him to stumble and he closed his eyes as the realisation that he was falling hit him. He was falling and he was going right back to the person he was trying to ignore.

Naruto, blue eyes open a fraction, hair mussed and already losing the form he had given it this morning, found himself in Sasuke's lap; strong, cold to the touch arms wrapped preventing him from moving off his friend. The bus emptied and there they sat in silence once more. A blush adorning the blonde's face and a mask of indifference on the person he was sat on.

"You know the bus has seats now," Naruto whispered with half a conviction. It wasn't as if he minded being on the boys lap; it was just at the very least, embarrassing.

"Move if you want then," Was the reply from Sasuke who as usual was very softly spoken. The dilemma was here and now, Naruto had the choice of moving and leaving an embrace that steadied his normally erratic heart beat or, he could stay of his own choice and wordlessly admit his growing tolerance of the other. His friend. After moments of racking his brains in a silent debate he was snapped into reality by something he hated more than being beaten.

"Brat! You know if you let me out I could teach this Uchiha a good time, trust me I'd make you feel GOOD. No? I'll settle for what your master gives you then. Looser. You're such a good for nothing idiot, no one wants you! Get over it. He'll use you and leave you because you deserve nothing more!" The voice slowly died out with only the remnants of a cackle residing. Naruto slid off Sasuke's lap sweating and breathing in harsh pants.

"Hand," he gasped.

"What's wrong? Tell me" Sasuke replied, traces of concern making their way through his voice, he held Naruto's face with both hands and stared at the weeping eyes they held. His chest was troubled by pangs of pain as his only interest spoke once more.
"Please, I need it. He… You…" Sasuke offered one of his hands without question and held the boy once more. Wondering what went on in the head that lay pressed on his shoulder.

Arriving at an ridiculously early hour to school, they had at the very least an hour to waste give or take the teacher's arrival. They found themselves sitting once again on the stairs but with one major difference, instead of his own lap Naruto's head was resting on Sasuke's, whose had that wasn't supporting him idly toyed with almost yellow hair splayed across his trousers.

After twenty minutes of silence Naruto had apparently calmed down enough to speak and fill the void. The only change was that his topic of choice was not the usually picked one of happy, random thought trains. "Do you want to see?" He barely audibly said.

"See what?"

"You'll see"

"What if I say no?"

"Then you'll be all 'I wonder what that was arrrrghh I wanna know.'"

"And I talk like that?"

"Well Yes, in my head you do, don't you?" Naruto said, his voice growing as they rambled on.

"Dobe."

"Teme, but the thing here is not your bastard-ness, Do you want to see?"

"Show me?" Sasuke apprehensively replied and with that a weight was lifted from his legs as Naruto stood and pulled up his jumper up whilst pulling down his trousers, just enough to show what he needed without being perverted. Using the hand not holding his jumper he pointed to faded scars, nine to be precise arranged in a nonagon, curving over his hips. Inside their was a few words in Japanese kanji, Sasuke thought it said something that resembled demon, he was rusty. Shameful really.

"And the six whiskers I have, I wasn't actually born with them, I, well my body did those itself."

"The voice?"

"Yea, he's a bastard like that. Always out to prove he's stronger than me. it's almost funny 'cept for the fact it hurts."

"Was that why you freaked on the bus?"

"Yea he said…well he said some really dirty things and in the end said I would be left alone. Again."

"I'm not leaving. Well I will be."

"What?!"

"Well I do believe we have to move to get to out form." Sasuke smugly stated as he rose. "Dobe."

"Oh well, that's real funny that. Ha bloody ha. Looser," shouted Naruto, all sarcastic effect loosing itself in the volume.

"Come now." Once the order came Naruto immediately followed and breathed in deep waiting to see Gaara's face yet seeing nothing but an empty seat he did a double take of the time. It was right, they were on time and the teachers wasn't so he should, in theory, be there sitting and staring at they prey that was Naruto. He became more frantic as he followed Sasuke without question and different situations ran through his head at inhuman speed. "Sit," Sasuke monotonously blurted. He sure was getting the hang of giving orders, considering they were only one syllable words most of time Naruto couldn't really be shocked at the ease at which the raven headed teen had slipped into it. Giving them at every given opportunity it appeared to the people on the outside that the hostile nature that the Uchiha showed them took a new form with the blonde, or as a certain Kiba might put it "Uchiha had that bitch trained."

Naruto slid into his seat near the window, brushing past the back of Sasuke's head which caused a blush to creep onto his face. He sat and seamlessly began to show the world what was expected of him, a loud, brash, hard to understand nuisance. One that people couldn't help get close to. He held a sort of gravitation about him and that was one reason some people disliked him so much, here was a boy they all were supposed to hate and were warned to stay well away from, of fear of death kindly provided by Gaara; Yet they felt drawn in by him if he even spoke one word (in case a few really) to them. His passionate opinions often held you by the throat and even when he was having an 'off' day they were truly captivated. Unable to escape the pull they settled on trying to hate him. A task very rarely succeeded.

Across the room a platinum blonde, all natural, and a bubblegum pink, not so natural, haired pair sat and gossiped at what transpired between the two. "It's weird how they seem to be together all the time ne?" whispered Ino on fear of being heard despite the white noise chatter that filled the air.

"I know! I mean remember when Uzumaki passed out? That was beyond weird, I heard he spazzed when he came to. I think he must have a screw loose, he's gone beyond eccentric," Sakura not to subtly but solemnly whispered back.

"Oh shush, just because you're looking into studying medicine no need to psychoanalyse! If you keep on at it your forehead might have to talk to the rest of us while you go on and on and on and on!" Ino laughed at her long term friend.

"Ino-pig, take that back. I can hurt you so bad you realise?"

"Give me a time a place looser-head!" A few rows back a silent boy with sunglasses on indoors watched the girls fight, occasionally hitting the other. Next to him Kiba was talking endlessly occasionally barking laughs at him. He had stopped listening a while ago, it was more productive to think about the exotic bugs he could acquire. Illegally.

"Don't you think Shino? Shino? SHINO!!" Kiba screeched into Shino's ear.

"What?" said the stoic boy.

"Uzumaki and Uchiha. I mean notice how they seem to be together a lot? And Uzumaki is the only person the bastard talks to willingly, I mean wow. Talk about stuck up. I wonder what they talk about, I bet it's dead boring though, I mean an idiot and a rich kid… OH MY GOD! They're gay! I swear it. Look at that it's the same thing I do when…" Kiba trailed off and looked profoundly at a new piece of mud that had appeared on his shoe. Ooh the interest. It was almost an epiphany educing experience.

He had managed to grab the bug lover's attention though. Shino could at the very least agree that they did spend an unhealthy amount of time together for people who were supposedly 'enemies' come 'rivals,' it was clear to him they were bad for each other. Gay? Well he wouldn't put it past them. Any further speculations were cut off by the arrival of Iruka who apologised for his lateness, yet again and then took the register as quickly as possible and sped out the door, again.

"Kakashi sensei is rubbing off on him don't you think Shika?" said a large boy eating crisps happily as a pig in mud. A boy who appeared to be sleeping raised his head and looked at his friend sitting next to him. As troublesome as it would be Naruto and Uchiha-Kun he needed to give Chouji something to think about so he could rest.

"What about Uchiha-kun and Naruto? I heard he stayed over at Uchiha-kun's house. They seem to be rubbing off on each other. Hmm" He smiled at a job well done and went back to sleep.

"No way, tell me… oh well never mind. I'll go talk to Ino." Chouji shifted away and almost fluttered to where Ino was still arguing with Sakura. Back at where Naruto and Sasuke sat mumbling in soft voices about some unimportant topic, they didn't seem to realise they ideas that were being thrown around by their classmates, it was odd how they were instilled in their own world and when some students rose to go to class they were the last to leave and as they reluctantly stood Sasuke pressed his forehead to Naruto's in an effort to ease the imperfections of his breathing. "Let's go," he said.

"Yes sir," came the amused response.

"Meet me on the roof at lunch," Sasuke ordered as he began to walk away.

"And if I don't?" Naruto questioned as he followed.

"I make you pass out, again."

"I'm starting to get sick of that attitude of yours, plus your back aint half as good as your face."

"Careful someone might misinterpret that statement."

"Maybe I want them too Sasuke-chan," taunted Naruto.

"Say it again I'll make sure you wont be able to walk for a week." retorted a retreating back.

"Maybe I don't want to," countered Naruto inaudible. Hardly an appropriate answer.

Time passed too slowly for Naruto who couldn't wait for lunch. He had come to expect the presence of Sasuke beside him, in front of him, near him. The only time he was at ease with sinful existence he had created was when he was near the other and plus he could control the voices efforts to take over a slight more than usual. It was a winning situation, except for the simple small fact Sasuke annoyed the shit out of him. It was a slight drawback, one the great Naruto Uzumaki could surely overlook. Ooh it had been a while since he said that in his head. Sounded good if he was truthful to himself.

"You'll never be great you realise?" growled the Kyuubi no Kitsune [1

"Oh Bugger off, I mean I'm sick of you're damn interfering, this is MY body, I decide what I do with it!"

"Brat, you know you need me, remember what Gaara-sama said. 'I'll make sure you never feel the reality of dreams' since you so cruelly took away his. My kin."

"Shut the hell up fox. You're not getting me this time I have things to do that don't revolve or involve you. Oh and for the record, It was you who caused the deaths and my weakness that let you. Revel in the memory you're never getting to feel the reality of blood and life ever again." Naruto finished his mind match with the fox who plagued him and opened his eyes to see his teacher glaring at him for not paying attention.

"The answer Uzumaki-Kun, today if you please"

"Um, seven point nine?"

"Because the name of this line of division is a number, you are not in maths and even if you were I'm sure that would be wrong.

"Harsh," a random voice whispered.

"That it may be, now sit up and pay attention or detention this lunch!"

"Yes sir. I mean Mrs!" snapped Naruto. No way in the seven hells was he going to miss his appointment with Sasuke, he couldn't, it was ordered of him and he had been programmed to follow. Instinct taught him to preserve himself.

The lesson passed without incident and Naruto thanked any sort of higher power that lunch was what he had to 'attend' next. Off to Sasuke then, 'Oh god I'm starting to sound like a bloody girl, kill me now,' he thought.

Walking briskly to the roof stairs, he pushed open the underused door and he noticed Sasuke already seated on the ground waiting for him. It was to be expected from one such as him but for once Naruto would like to be the one on time. It wouldn't hurt. Jumping down from where he was standing he half shouted a "Hello!"

"Loud much?"

"It talks?"

"You're an idiot, I talk to you all the time."

"Well not enough," Naruto huffed back, it was true enough but he didn't feel like pushing his luck. "You know Gaara isn't in today," changing the tone to something suddenly more serious.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know he's always in, I think it makes him feel big knowing he can fuck me at school and no one really catches on." Naruto turned to face Sasuke and saw vague shock register in his eyes. "Oh right, didn't know about that heh heh, and life goes on," he rubbed the back of his neck and in a moment of insanity leaned against Sasuke's shoulder.

"You don't have to," Was the softly spoken comment, "But I like it," was the unspoken words that hung heavy in the air.

"I want to, you. I mean I. You're alright," mumbled the blonde from against a shoulder, "For a complete bastard anyways." They both let loose a laugh at that and Sasuke reached over to hold Naruto's hand, it would be a long time before he could readily admit the affection he held for this nuisance.

The heavy door was flung open and they jumped apart, Naruto smacking his head on the floor, reaching up to rub his head in slow circles to ease the slight pain he noticed the ease at which Sasuke sipped into being what people wanted to see. A boy who was indifferent and too high up to care about their trivial affairs. He was an antisocial beauty and they knew better to approach him. "YO! Uzumaki, come to find a private place to make out?" barked Kiba, following him through the door was Sakura, Ino, Shino, Chouji and last of all Shikamaru who made it clear he did not appreciate being dragged up here when he could be doing something productive, like watching the clouds. Alas the business of others included him somehow.

"Who invited you anyway? I mean just 'cause you can't get any from Hinata you try and worm in on our time?" bit back Naruto.

"You…I…OH MY GOD You admit it then? You and him…" Kiba trailed off pointed and waving frantically between Naruto and Sasuke. How did Naruto guess about Hinata? It was weird how that boy was so observant.

"Oh looser, he means why bother us?" Sasuke corrected not totally minding that Naruto hadn't shuddered at the idea of two guys having their way with each other, especially after what had happened.

"Well We thought we'd investigate, I mean an antisocial head-up-his-arse moron and a complete idiot failure. What can they possibly have in common that means so much time spent together," rambled Ino.

"No offence to either guys," Chouji threw in. He would be polite to the end.

"He a mate, more than I can say for you guys, I mean really." Naruto mumbled. Sasuke not totally missing this decided to end this as soon as he could, they had no right to come here to their spot and start demanding answers to something they had so little understanding of.

"Are you going to stand there and speculate or leave. Maybe if you were better friends then he wouldn't have the need to hang around with an 'antisocial head-up-his-arse moron' like me. So in short, bugger off." Sasuke then shoved passed Kiba pulled open the door and as a sort of courtesy held it open to indicate that they should be going.

Sakura and Ino left first, followed by Chouji and Shikamaru who was mumbling something about waste of time and lack of sleep. Kiba was last to leave and he left them the gift of glares and threats of finding out the truth.

"Well that was interesting to say the least, I mean you spoke, to other people, and more than one word. I'm impressed." Naruto beamed up from the floor and patted the ground next to him.

"Oh drop the act, I know they bother you. Tell. Now." Sasuke sat down beside him and leaned forward.

"Well okay if you insist, it's just that they sometimes only bother with me when it's something mad or to ease the ripples rumours about me create. They never noticed about him, or. Well they're not as observant as you and me ne?"

"Well some of them are about intelligent as the dogs they love so much."

"Ha ha well I guess that's true, I mean who drags poor old Shikamaru away from cloud watching, that's just cruel."

"Would you mind?" Sasuke inquired.

"Mind what?"

"Being with another guy, like you know, Kiba said."

"With you, you mean?"

"Hypothetically, yes." Sasuke tread this question carefully, the pain he would receive from rejection mattered so much more because with this boy he had shared secrets and pain with. It mattered because he cared so much about this one person.

"Hypothetically? No, I wouldn't mind, I mean…I like you, you know?" Naruto whispered, here was where he got told he was a freak and that it was unnatural and that he went against nature. Nothing he hadn't heard before.

"Good that way I can do this." Sasuke growing in confidence at the words uttered by the other grabbed Naruto's hair softly and pulled it (gently of course) so that Naruto's face was facing him and he leaned in to press chapped lips to soft ones.

Naruto's eyes opened wide and he blushed seven shades of pink, that was until he leaned into the kiss and responded instead of acting like a lifeless doll. He opened his mouth and felt Sasuke's tongue invade he mouth, they both mapped out the others orifice and memorised the unique taste that came with it. Naruto lifted his hand to place it over the one in his hair and melted the more Sasuke continued.

Sasuke felt his heart beat faster as Naruto eagerly responded and pushed back on him with vigour, breathing deep through his nose he nibbled on kiss swollen lips earning a throaty moan and he bit down sharply.

Naruto felt the sharp pain of the bite but it brought with it renewed passion. He was running out of air fast, not quite grasping the concept of breathing through ones nose. He pulled back slowly, a trail of saliva linking the two. It sagged and thinned eventually breaking and falling onto sliver of space between the two. He leaned his forehead against Sasuke's and whispered a husky "Wow."

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So yea, they kiss at last. I've been trying to get to that point for ages…trust me it does have a purpose besides the build up to smut ha ha, READ AND REVIEW OR THREATS OF DEATH WILL BE COMING TO YOU!

Sorry for the late update took too fg long to write. Considering it's only what nine pages long on works.