I just realized that this story is full of details... And now my head is still buzzing after finishing re-reading this. How can you all read such a long chapter like this?
Warnings: This chapter contained SasuNaru lime-ish (just a short one) scene. Turn back or skip it (will be no indication where it starts and will not affect the storyline) if you have anything against it.

Standard disclaimer applies. Unbeta-ed.

"I'd love to pursue my studies in music one day. But I also want to study business…" young Sasuke said one day after he played a piece with Naruto's companion.

"Hmmm…" the 10-years old Naruto nodded, fingers tapping his chi, thinking hard. "Can't you study both? I heard you can study a lot of things in university…"

Long ivory fingers pushed the white keys softly. "Maybe…" a small smile tugged on his lips. "But you'll go with me, ne Naruto? We'll go and study together when we grow up!"

"You betcha, Saske!"

Chapter 6: Growing Up

Naruto invited himself in when Sasuke opened the front door. "Itachi-niisan is not in?" Naruto asked. Sasuke shook his head. "He's trying to find another job." Naruto nodded in understanding.

"How's your mom doing?"

"Worse…" Sasuke answered, voice dropping. Naruto rubbed his friend's back. "I'm sorry…" he whispered achingly. "Is there anything I can help?"

"We can make lunch together," Sasuke suggested. "We don't have much though," he added.

"It's okay. Whatever's in your kitchen will be fine. Let's see what we got."

Just a few months back, Sasuke had a goal of pursuing his study in music and business. He passed his 5th Grade Piano Exam with flying colours anyway. Not long after that, his mother got sick. She could no longer work as her condition got worse and worse. So, Itachi was forced to quit school and looked for multiple jobs. Sasuke tried to help, but what can a 10 year-old do much to find money? So when he brokenly told Naruto that he might not be able to sit for another exam this year, Naruto understood. Unknowingly to Sasuke, Naruto had actually started saving to help with his friend's exam fees.

Since then, the raven-haired notice his brother had withdrew more and more. 2 years ago when their father died, Itachi stopped showing his sunny side. But now, Sasuke could not even read him anymore. When he asked the elder one, all he got was 'I'm fine, Sasuke.' It frustrated the younger Uchiha.

Truthfully, the boys thought that when Naruto was legally under the guardianship of Sarutobi-jiisama (which made Konohamaru totally psyched with the prospect of Naruto being his real older brother), things would be fine. That nothing could be worse anymore.

Obviously they were wrong.

Naruto saw Sasuke's mother as he helped the young Uchiha to feed her. The whole Uchiha family was known to be fair; saved for their father because he was working in the mining field; but the way Sasuke's mother was looking at the moment was beyond pale. Her skin was unnaturally grey- almost like ash colour.

His heart went to Sasuke.

The next year, Sasuke's mother's condition only got worse. Even with Itachi working full time 7 days a week, they still couldn't afford to pay for her medication. This only distressed the two brothers more.

For Sasuke, piano was his only salvation.

A few months before the piano grade exams, Naruto pulled out a box for Sasuke.

"What's this?" he asked his best friend.

"Take it. Use it for your piano exam. I know how much you wanted to sit for it."

The black orbs looked angry. "I don't need your money, Naruto! I don't need to sit for the exam!"

"Don't lie to me Sasuke. You maybe don't need to sit for the exam, but I know you want to. You've been looking at the piano and playing it like there's no tomorrow! I just want to help."

"No."

"Don't be stubborn, Sasuke. Take it! We've established long ago that friends help each other. This is one of the times!" Naruto shoved the box but Sasuke still refused to take it.

"You think I want it? When my mom's sick? You think I actually want to go and pay for something so expensive for myself? I'm not that selfish, Uzumaki!"

Blue orbs retaliated. "I didn't say you're selfish, Uchiha! Your mother would love to see you take the exam. Didn't she say she wants one of her sons to keep on playing?"

"Yeah, but we don't have that luxury anymore, do we?" There was a silence before his voice dropped a few notches. "Besides… the exam's in just a few months… I couldn't possibly learn everything in such a short time…" Sasuke looked down, black bangs covering his eyes, concealing the emotions in the black orbs.

Naruto grinned to his friend's confession. "Sasuke… you are a genius for nothing. You can even play by ears! I'm sure you'll do well. I'll even help you practice."

Sasuke hesitated. He wanted this. Of course he did. He loved playing piano.

But he didn't know if it was the right thing.

"I, I'll talk to my mother first, okay? So no promise there."

"Sure!"

As it was, his mother encouraged him to sit for the exam. The results? He passed. Even though it wasn't as good as the past results, Sasuke was content.

"See? I told you, you could make it!"

"Whatever… dunce..."

"Hey! I resent that!"

"How can you resent the truth?"

"You… you bastard!"

They were both stunned. Never before both used such crude words. It had always been stupid, idiot, dunce and similar meaning words. But that? That had never came up.

"I-I'm sorry, Sasuke. I didn't mean-"

"Whatever, Naruto," Sasuke cut him. He turned and walked away.

"H-Hey! Wait!" Naruto chase after Sasuke. Damn him for having longer legs! "Sasuke, are you mad at me?!" he yelled, running.

000

In the end, after 2 long years of struggling, his mother died. Naruto looked at Sasuke during the funeral. He looked solemn; miserable almost. The blond was with the dark haired on the day the sickly woman breathed her last breath. But never once since then had Sasuke cried in front of him. Naruto's concern grew. He was not sure if that was a good thing or not. He recalled the 8-year-old boy who cried and cried in his chest 4 years ago when his father had died.

Sasuke might have grown older, but he was still a child, Naruto thought miserably. Bottling up his emotion won't do him any good. He wished the fair-skin friend of him would just come up to him and spill whatever he had on his mind.

He then looked at the elder Uchiha. Since Itachi quit school, Naruto thought he had become creepier and creepier. Maybe Sasuke learned to conceal his emotions from Itachi? It's not like he hated the elder one; it's just that he wished Itachi had a shoulder he could cry on to; like Sasuke had Naruto. Maybe then he wouldn't be as creepy.

Naruto looked back at Sasuke. Oddly, only then he realized that Sasuke's eyes were bloodshot red.

Maybe Sasuke did cry after all. And that knowledge alone hurt Naruto. They promised to share what their shoulder could not carry alone; yet Sasuke chose to shoulder this alone.

Why are you leaving me out of this?

"Hey…" Naruto walked next to Sasuke after the funeral. The younger Uchiha nodded, acknowledging him. Itachi was gone- to where, nobody knows. Both friends walked in silence.

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked after a while. He wasn't sure where the boy wanted to go to. "Aaa," was the only reply. They walked in silence; with Naruto following the taller's lead. Then, he realized that they were walking to the school compound.

Sasuke walked and walked, nodding to some of the town people when they greeted him. Finally he stopped in front of the old piano in the music room. Naruto looked at him; worrying on what would Sasuke do now.

When Sasuke suddenly sat on the stool and started playing a mellow, sad piece, Naruto realized that that was his friend's way of coping with distress. There was a small smile on Naruto's face as he stood next to his friend who would play for hours and hours until his fingers shook and forced him from playing.

"Come on, Sasuke," Naruto tugged the raven's arm after he stopped playing from exhaustion. Sasuke's breath was ragged and Naruto saw glisten of tears in the black orbs. "Come on. I'll take you home and keep you company for tonight…"

Itachi was preparing breakfast the next morning when the two boys woke up. "Sasuke," Itachi called as they made themselves comfortable in the kitchen. Sasuke looked up. "The Inuzukas invited us over for dinner tonight and tomorrow night."

"Okay."

"I think they'd like to discuss about guardianship. I'll only turn 18 next year. Until then, we need someone to look after the two of us."

Sasuke was silence; expression showed he's in deep thought. "What will happen after you turn 18?"

Itachi's face was impassive. At first Naruto thought the older Uchiha wasn't going to answer it, until he said in low voice, "I can take over the guardianship of you after that. Or you can stay under their guardianship till you turn 18. In any way, I will insist they let us live here. It will only be for paperwork purposes only, if you want."

"Or… do you want to live with them?" Itachi added when Sasuke gave no reply.

"No!" Sasuke quickly answered. Naruto had never seen Sasuke panicked like that. He must really wanted to stay here, the blond thought. It's no wonder really; this was where they grew up. The place held so many memories for the two brothers.

"I want to live with you," Sasuke said firmly. Itachi just nodded at that.

True to his theory, the Inuzukas were concerned with the Uchiha brothers' welfare. Itachi insisted that they lived in their old residence and that the only favour they needed from the concerned family was legal guardianship of him and Sasuke. Since the law in Western Australia said that a 16-year-old could move out but the guardian would still be in charge of the welfare till the teen turned 18, the Inuzukas agreed. Sasuke was only too happy to live with Itachi that he didn't mind the rest of the arrangements.

"If you need anything; from financial support to education, please let us know." Kiba's father said at the end of the dinner. Both boys nodded, but they both knew that it was most highly unlikely.

Since the Uchiha had unimaginable pride.

"Are you going to continue your studies now, Aniki?" Sasuke asked on their way home. It had been such a long time since the two brothers talked like this.

"No." Itachi replied, Sasuke didn't see his brother's face, so he didn't really know what the older one was thinking. Itachi was really good in concealing any of his emotions, including happiness. "Your studies come first," he added.

It was a bit forceful, but the younger one had something else in his mind that he didn't realize it.

Sasuke frowned at his brother's answer. He didn't like how Itachi resumed the role as the head of the family. It's just the two of them now. Itachi could go and chase his own dreams now.

"But, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"N-Nothing…" Sasuke looked at his feet.

"Don't worry about me. I'll survive. I have always been, Little Brother," Itachi ruffled the dark hair atop Sasuke's head.

000

It wasn't easy for them, but they took one step each day. That formula worked on both best friends; and on the two Uchiha brothers.

On one sunny morning the year after, two 13-year-olds were finishing up their school work after classes had finished. They figured, if they could finish up their works after school together, they could spend the rest of the days in each others company without having to worry about anything else.

Besides, Naruto needed help in almost of their school works anyway. It would be annoying for the younger Uchiha if the later knocked on his door every night; or paster him early in the mornings; or even interrupted their soccer game when he suddenly remembered the hard questions.

Sometimes Kiba joined them, but most of the time he didn't. He had family who wanted him to help out at the farm after school. Sasuke was glad he didn't live with them; and secretly he was glad Naruto didn't live with the Inuzuka either.

So the two boys were in their class room, looks of concentration marred on their faces as they scribbled down in their notebooks. Once in a while, you could hear Naruto asking Sasuke and the replied from him.

Today in particular, they started a bit late because Sasuke wanted to play the piano first. After a long argument with Naruto a few months back, the tanned boy sulkily agreed that Sasuke didn't need to sit for any more exams. After all, the paler boy said, I have no one else to keep my promises to, don't I?

Naruto fumed for 3 days.

Sasuke noticed how today was a bit odd for his best friend. From the corner of his eyes, he could sometimes see Naruto stopped writing and looked unfocused, like he was thinking of something else. So when Naruto suddenly put his pen down and stretched and yawned lightly, slightly pulling up his shirt, Sasuke ignored him. Maybe the boy was just tired.

"Ne, Sasuke?" the blond turned to look at his partner in crimes. But the smarter boy didn't stop writing, nor did he look up to Naruto. "Hmm?"

"You have ever thought about…." Automatically tanned cheek became slightly rosy, making him looked like he had blusher on the cheekbones. Naruto sounded nervous, but Sasuke didn't give it any thought. It must be some kind of stupid questions again.

"…kissing?"

Sasuke's pen stopped at that.

"What?" he looked at his blond friend, having a funny distaste look on his face.

"You know… when two people press the-"

"I know what kissing is, moron. What the heck made you ask… that?"

The pink hue got darker. "Well…. I was just curious. I overheard the girls talked about it the other day, and I don't think asking jiji about it is appropriate; or Iruka-sensei for that matter. You're the closest thing I can ask." Naruto sounded offended.

Girls, huh? Figured, Sasuke fumed internally. Couldn't they talk about something else? Like global warming or something useful?

"I've never paid any thought to it," Sasuke answered after a while, monotonously. "Now, I think it's disgusting," he added after an after thought.

Naruto frowned. "Disgusting?" he made a funny face.

Sasuke shrugged his shoulder, picking up his pen again and continue on his work.

"Are you like, asexual or something?" Naruto asked in incredulous tone, hands at his hips.

Sasuke stopped writing and glared at his friend. "You are the one who should start using your brain for something useful, idiot! Like, studying for example; not some mushy girly stuff."

"Bastard…" Naruto muttered darkly, turning to his own work. "Acting like he's so smart…" Naruto continued under his breath.

"I am smart, dobe. Smarter than you that is!" Sasuke smirked.

"Shut up, Teme!"

Two nights after that, Sasuke snapped the book he was reading in annoyance. Really, ever since Naruto asked him that stupid question, he couldn't help but wonder about it himself. Part of him was in horror when he couldn't keep the question out of his mind. Naruto's question kept ringing in his brain box and it was mocking him in far distance.

"Aniki…" Sasuke looked up to his brother when he saw the older one during dinner the next night.

"Have you… you know… kiss someone?" the pale boy was thankful that the light was dimmed, or else his brother could see his flushed face.

Unknowingly to him, Itachi did see the red hints on Sasuke's cheeks and tip of ears. "Who's on your mind that you want to kiss so badly?" he asked his little brother in an amused tone.

"No one!" Sasuke looked horrified. "It's just that… the other day, Naruto brought it up and you know… I was just wondering." He added quickly.

Itachi chuckled, a bit darkly though with trained ears. "If I have ever kissed someone, huh? That's for me to keep and for you to not to find it out."

Sasuke blinked at that before the words sunk in. "How… How does it feel?" he asked then, not giving up.

Itachi smirked. "Oh, you'll find it out, Little Brother. One day you'll experience it yourself."

There was a distaste and horror look on Sasuke's face, but Itachi didn't make any further comment. The younger one was still dissatisfied with the answer but he knew he could not coax Itachi more. Itachi was just like that.

000

They raced to the top of the hill at the back of Sasuke's house. The game was cut short when one boy sprained his ankle, and now the two friends went to their usual peaceful hang-out place; under a large tree surrounded by the green grass. Sometimes, the horses from the next farm got into the Uchiha's land and they returned the horses before sunset so their owner wouldn not get worried. The grass on the Uchiha's land was surprisingly kept in shape and healthy. That must be the reason why the horses liked the greenery so much, Naruto thought.

But most of the time, when the boys were not in school with Sasuke practicing piano pieces and Naruto pretended he was the conductor; the two boys laid next to each other atop the hill, watching the cloudless sky and talked for hours. Or napping, till the sun went down.

"I won!" Naruto cheered, bending and placed a hand against the thick bark to catch his breath as Sasuke came running and stopping next to him.

"Whatever," Sasuke's ragged breath was heard as he leaned against the tree and slid down on the grass.

Both were trying to calm their breathing. Naruto sat next to Sasuke at first, but lied down afterwards. Both of his feet were up against the dark bark and his body was flat on the ground. That made him looked like an L-shape against the tree. Sasuke snorted seeing this. Show-offs!

Both were content with only the sound of the wind buzzing in their ears as the hot weather swept the warm wind across their face. Naruto opened one closed eye to look at the soft long hair of the boy next to him swayed gracefully.

'Sasuke should have been born an aristocrat,' he thought silently. 'That would suit him better.' Over the years, life made the two grew up faster than their age. Whenever unfortunate event came at one of them, the other would feel and mature with it too. Naruto shut his eyes again, enjoying Sasuke's silent company.

"Naruto, you remember the question you asked me days ago?" Sasuke asked, his eyes closed. In a way, not wanting to look at Naruto's face.

"Which one?" Naruto was far too lazy to open up his eyes too.

"The one, you know…" the slightly older boy's tone dropped.

When Naruto suddenly realized what he was talking about, his eyes snapped open. "About that?! That was ages ago, Teme!"

"It was only last week, dunce." Sasuke reprimanded, heat starting to rise up on his neck and he hated it.

Naruto's answer was only a loud bark of laughter. He brought his legs down and curled it as he hunched up on the Earth's floor in ball, hands pressing his stomach, but the laughter never subsided.

"What's so funny?" Sasuke opened up his eyes, glaring at his friend's form.

"So…" Laugh. "The 'Smart' Uchiha…" Laugh. "Finally bowed down…" Laugh- again. "In defeat against…" Laughed-snort-choke. "a girly question?!" He went off laughing loudly again.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, really annoyed by his friend's reaction. He cursed under his breath.

It actually took Naruto a long time to calm down because every time he thought the laughter was gone, he took a look at Sasuke and another bout of laugher hit him again.

What was so funny, anyway?! The taller fumed, frustrated.

And embarrassed.

Though, he wouldn't admit that even to himself.

So the young Uchiha had to wait patiently for Naruto to really calm down. But it was really difficult when once he thought the young lad had calmed down, he could hear little giggles here and there. He decided to take a nap.

Not 3 minutes after that, a poke to his ribs forced him to open up his eyes. "What?!" he scowled in annoyance. He didn't even get to visit the slumber land.

"Asleep?" A wide grin, almost foxily looked back at him.

"You blind?" he bit back. Naruto laughed sunnily. "Don't be mad, Sas'keh!"

"What do you want now?" he swatted the hand that poked him again and again, testing his temper to its limit. Well, who wouldn't with a teasing 'You mad? Huh? Huh?' with each poke?

"Just wanna know what's on your mind when you asked me that," the blond sing-song.

Heat suddenly crept up his neck again. Sasuke looked away, mumbling something that Naruto couldn't catch. "What did you say?"

"Like you have any experience in kissing!" Sasuke barked. "Laughing at me like that," his tone lowered when he saw the stunned face of his friend.

"Hmm….?" Naruto sat cross legged and supported his head with his arm planted on his knees; fists on his chin. "What are you thinking now?" Sasuke asked, curious.

"We can try it!" Naruto suddenly had this cheeky lopsided grin on his face. Sasuke's eyes widen. "What? I don't have any kissing experience; just like you said. And I'm pretty sure that you don't have any too."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "So we can try it, can't we?"

Sasuke almost gapped. "Are you mad?! Kissing is between a girl and a boy!"

"Yeah, I know. But between a girl and a boy who love each other," Naruto explained. "You don't want your first kiss with a girl to be sloppy and messy, right?"

"I… supposed so…" Sasuke agreed after a while.

"And we won't fall in love with each other; because we're best friends and best friends don't do that. 'Sides, we're guys, so we can practice without having any strings attached," Naruto said confidently as though he had just figured something out.

Now, Naruto might be naïve and dense when it comes to topics like this. But certainly an Uchiha was not that naïve. He just thought that Naruto made a logical excuse to experiment on each other. Of course he didn't want to look dumb or embarrassed himself with a pathetic kiss with his precious person in the future, so he just had to start practicing now, right?

Though, at the thought of kissing a girl made him cringe at the moment. Maybe he would be okay with it when he grows up, but right now? Yuck!

And Naruto? Naruto was okay, even if he was a guy; because Naruto was after all, Naruto- his long-time or life-time even, best friend. Forget that some people think kissing between guys was weird or yucky.
Who cared?

Sasuke certainly didn't.
Though he couldn't imagine himself kissing another boy too. That was just… wrong!

So Sasuke finally agreed, having established within himself that it was okay to kiss Naruto, but not to everyone else; be it a girl or a boy.

But when the time came, both boys weren't quite sure what to do.

"I guess we have to lean forward…" Sasuke said, his heart thumping faster.

"Like this?" Naruto leaned forward towards Sasuke who was leaning against the tree. Their breath mingled.

"Move forward more…" Sasuke commanded. Naruto did, and the moment he did it, their lips were pressed.

But it was over in a mater of moment. Both opened their eyes; unconsciously shutting them down when they were pressing lips.

And both had pink sprinkles on their cheeks.

"That was it?" Naruto pulled back, sounded a bit disappointed. Sasuke nodded, for some reason disappointed too.

"Maybe we should do it, you know, longer?" the raven haired suggested. Naruto shrugged. "Will that make a difference?"

"I don't know. Not until we find out anyway," Sasuke sounded unsure himself. Maybe this was not going to work after all, he thought.

"Okay… But we have to sit in a more comfortable position first. I was straining myself you know," Naruto complained and they finally sat next to each other but facing the opposite way.

Naruto turned to his right and Sasuke turned to his left, both boys were facing each other now. "Are you ready?" Sasuke asked. Naruto nodded and they both leaned forward, pressing their lips for the second time.

His lips are warm…

Both boys were having the same thought, but Sasuke was still unsatisfied with what people call 'kissing', so he tilted his head to one side a bit and surprisingly their lips fitted perfectly. He then boldly moved his lips, which caused Naruto to do the same before he knew it, his hands were cupping Naruto's jaw and the blond was crushing the front of his shirt in his hands.

When both of them broke apart, from lack of air nonetheless, they were panting. Both boys were still a bit dizzy and lips swollen, but they have small smile on their lips.

"That was certainly better," Naruto commented, wetting his lips. Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"We can practice more if you want…" the blond added after a thought, albeit shyly.

"Yeah… I guess we can…" he agreed, noticing the gone-pink hue was back on Naruto's cheek. His own face felt a bit hot.

But when he saw that slightly swollen pink lips as they walked back to his house for some cooling drinks, he thought it's worth it. The kissing experiment that is.

True to their words, the experiment didn't stop there. But it also progressed and escalated further, giving in to their hormones as time went by. The flicker of butterflies in their stomach turned into burning sensation whenever and wherever they touched each other. The sloppy and messy kisses became more and more controlled, sometimes passionate, sometimes desperate, and sometimes serene like they were enjoying the good times. More and more, it involved licking, nipping, biting, caressing and rubbing at every little inch that they could get to.

The philosophy of it's okay between best friends even though we're both guys didn't matter anymore. They just exist as Sasuke and Naruto. And whenever the two did this, it didn't matter what were the other laws, philosophy or theory that ever exist in the world; because to them, it's what just the two of them, that Sasuke and Naruto loved to do.

"S-Sasuke…" Naruto moaned as pale hand slipped into his unbuttoned pants and caressed the skin of his hips. Naruto unconsciously lifted up his hips for more contact. That was not where he wanted Sasuke to touch him.

The boy above him kissed the tanned sweaty neck slowly and deeply, sucking and nipping every so often. He took in a scent that was unique to Naruto and let his other thumb ran across the wet pink swollen lips. Automatically those lips moved forward to catch the raven-haired thumb into his mouth and sucked gently. One tanned hand buried deep into the glossy black locks while the other one sneaked under the paler boy's shirt and ran his hand across the toned abdomen.

"Naruto!" Sasuke gasped when the fingers underneath his shirt was rubbing, pinching and worrying the now-hardening nub. They panted and their breathing was becoming more and more ragged as the two kissed again, with Sasuke pushing his tongue into Naruto's hot wet cavern.

Their movement became more and more frantic. Naruto hissed loudly when Sasuke took the hardening erection into his hands, spreading the pre-cum with his thumb. Not wanting to back down, Naruto slipped the hand that was under Sasuke's shirt into his pants and gently took Sasuke's erected penis into his tanned hands.

"Nnnn..! Nar'to!" They rubbed more and more, taking each other higher and higher and swallowed their screams into each other's mouth when they finally saw the stars in the end.

Sasuke collapsed next to Naruto, but his head was buried into the junction of the other's neck. They lied in silence, trying to catch their breaths, so only the panting and gulping of air were heard.

The wind blew softly as both removed their hands and hugged each other. They let the cool breeze dried their sweaty body up and let their eyelids closed, content with each other's presence. Unknowingly their bond reached up yet another level. But both had never spoken up of it, willing to understand it all through their gazes and touches.

When the two woke up again, the sun was no longer above their heads. Sasuke moved so that his back was pressing onto the grass. He felt Naruto shifted and yawned, stretching his limbs in all direction. A smile tugged on his lips.

"Ne, Sasuke…?" Naruto turned his head.

"Mmm?"

"You remember what we discuss the other day, when you were playing 'Canon'?"

Sasuke was silent for a second before he answered "Yeah."

"So you've done thinking?" Naruto placed a thumb in Sasuke's palm, tracing random patterns onto the white palm.

"But you're just 14…" he said, voice clearly not agreeing with whatever plan Naruto proposed to him.

"So it's too soon?"

"Maybe…" Sasuke kind of regretted it when he told the blond that there were days where Itachi was not back for a couple of days. At first they speculated that Itachi was just in the next town, but that didn't even take one hour's drive. And then they had a theory that maybe he was looking for a job in the city.

That gave Naruto an idea. That he too could go to the city and find a job. Once he settled in and had a stable job, he could save up and help Sasuke in near future for the boy to go into university. By that time, Naruto would be used to the city that Sasuke didn't need to worry about adapting and coping with city's life. All the needed to worry was just his studies.

As for himself, Naruto was aware that studying was not his forte. He could wait for a few more years, doing work here and there, getting the taste of adult's life first before committing himself to something so serious. He could just go to TAFE for skill works; being a chef or a photographer- something that needed him to move a lot, because he sure couldn't stand just sitting on a desk and going through papers.

That's bor-ing!

"That means next year is more suitable, right? I mean, it makes sense, we'll be 15 next year and I'll be more matured!" Sasuke rolled his eyes at this. More matured? Naruto? Not likely!

Secretly, deep down, Sasuke didn't want his best friend to go. He had lost his father and mother. And now, as they grew, Itachi kept on distancing himself no matter how much Sasuke tried to get close to him. And now, Naruto voiced out that he wanted to go to the city for them. It scared him. It terrified him that his pillar of strength would be gone before he knew it. So he tried to stop Naruto from going so early; at least until he could wrap his mind about it.

One more day. Don't leave yet just one more day, Naruto. Sasuke grimaced each time he said that to himself.

"Have you discussed it with Sarutobi jiisama and Iruka-sensei?" Sasuke asked, moving his hand that Naruto was playing with so he could intertwine it.

Naruto moved his nose, as if something was itching on it. "No… Not yet anyway. I'll tell them when we've decided it's time for me to go." Naruto added quickly, sensing that Sasuke was about to lash at him. "And at that time, you will help me convince them. Everything's going to work out then."

Oh, but fate had a different plan for them.

Not everything would go as they carefully planned.

In the end, he gave in to Naruto's insistence. The younger boy was more persistence than he ever would have thought. So they set the date, revised their long-term plan and bought the bus ticket.

"Now, you'll write to me as soon as you got a place to stay in, okay?" Sasuke said firmly, casting worried glance over Naruto.

"Yes, maam!"

"I'm serious, Naruto."

"I'm serious too. Look, we've been through this over and over again and truthfully, you've permanently ingrained the plan in my brain, you know." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Of course, dobe! This is serious matter!"

"I know that! That's why you helped planned this, didn't you? I'll find a place to stay. I look for a job. I got some money. I write to you. Then we'll take it from there."

"No. You find a place to stay. Then you write to me. The rest is according to the plan," Sasuke insisted.

"Fine, fine!"

"Listen to me. If you don't write, I'll come and find you-" Naruto looked horrified at that. "No!!" he shrieked. Sasuke scowled at him. "Why the hell not?!" he barked.

"I'll write to you, I promise. Or maybe I'll call you, you know, through that public phone next to the school after school session, during the usual time we always walk pass by it. But you don't have to come looking for me!" Naruto said quickly.

Sasuke glared at him. "Idiot!" he scolded. "It uses more money to call. Just write to me, it'll be cheaper. And you haven't answered the question, dobe!"

"Because I'm capable of taking care of myself, Teme!" he answered with the same anger. "Sasuke, look, we're 15 now. You promised me that we'll do this when we're both 15. I'm a child no longer, Sasuke. I'm an independent teenager, who really can look after himself. Stop treating me like I'm a child…" Naruto pouted.

Sasuke forced himself out of anger. Or trying to. "So you think this is what it is? I'm worried, okay? I'm worried sick that you'll be in the city, alone, without anybody to help you!"

Naruto sighed. Really, Sasuke could be like a mother hen sometimes. "Try not to then. I'll come back home if I really think it's not working out- just like we've planned, like we've agreed on. I promise."

When Sasuke refused to look at him, Narto sighed again. "Sasuke, look at me," Naruto cupped Sasuke's face in his hands to force the boy to look into his eyes. But the ebony orbs looked away. "Look at me, Sasuke," Naruto commanded. He seldom used that tone, but once he did, Sasuke realized he was dead serious. He gave up and intense black clashed into soft blue.

"I'll be fine. What we've been through all this year… it made us grow up faster than we should have. I want you to trust me, Sasuke; like you've done all this while." He leaned in. Sasuke's anger ceased as the blue eyes got bigger and bigger with every inch Naruto moved forward.

"Can you do that, Uchiha Sasuke?" Naruto whispered, hot breath fanning the other's lips. He was so close that Sasuke could smell him. The addicting scent that sent his senses jumbled up and uncontrollable.

Sasuke's only answer was a hard press on his lips. As he parted his lips to the desperate pressing, Naruto got his answer: 'I trust you. I trust you with everything I have. But don't break the promise, Naruto… Don't ever break it…

Please.'

The night before Naruto' planned departing, he spent it at Sasuke's place. One of the few reasons why he was there was because both Iruka-sensei and Sarutobi jiisama didn't agree with his plan. Sasuke was there to help Naruto explained and persuaded them, but both adults were bent that Naruto should remained in the small town, at least until he's a bit older.

Secretly, Sasuke agreed with the two adults. And since then, he had been thinking a lot.

Now, both were quite awake from their light nap after a more… let's just say pleasurable activity. Itachi was once again gone and to the younger Uchiha, it was no longer an odd routine in the house. If his brother wanted to shut himself from Sasuke, he could do so. The younger heir could no longer care.

Why should he be if the older one didn't even give a damn about it?

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered, hand rubbing the other side if Naruto's ribs.

Something was up, Naruto thought lazily, enjoying the caress of the pale hand. He shifted on the bed, trying to get to a more comfortable position. Something was up.

"Don't go."

He was right, wasn't he? "What do you mean, Sasuke?"

"I mean, don't go. Wait till you're 16. There's no restriction if you want to move out at 16."

Naruto growled. He was tired of this. Of Sasuke's worrying over nothing and over Sasuke's possessive actions. He's no longer a damn kid!

"No." Naruto said firmly. The hand on his side froze.

"I won't do it, Sasuke. We've been over this a million times. It doesn't matter about the law. It doesn't matter about my age. The only thing that matters is if I don't do it now, I will never have the courage to do it later!

"But-"

"No buts, Teme. You've promised me, and I've given you my words!"

Sasuke sighed. He left it at that, intending to continue it the next morning. Yeah, he would just have to persuade Naruto in the morning, before he left.

But before he could do that, Naruto was gone.
He overslept, after another round of distraction from Naruto.

Damn it! Sasuke punched the wall and his right knuckle bled.

TBC...
Now you know exactly what the promise was. Naruto's getting on a plane's ride next... and met Gaara along the way.

I know some readers hate this, but review please, topped with cherry and Naruto? Make me feel loved! XD