I woke up the next morning feeling like I had broken ribs. Maybe I did.

The night before had been the worst of the entire month. There were three men. I had been threatened at first, but then the work with their fists began. I had never tried to fight back, because they could lie and say I attacked them. Besides, whatever they did to me, I wouldn't kill them for it.

I couldn't get out of bed. Every attempt to lift my chest had resulted in small bursts of pain. Finally I bared it, getting out of bed and wincing at the ache. After I was up moving around though, it didn't hurt as much.

I wasn't looking forward to training at all.

"Naruto, you look dead." Sakura pointed out. I was last and late to the training.

"Ha, I'm fine! it's nothing!" I gave her a thumbs up. "Just slept in late, that's all!"

By the expression on Sasuke's face, I could tell he knew better. Now that we were with Sakura, My starring had come back.

"Think you'll win today, Usuratonkachi?" He was gloating now.

"Yeah, I'm gonna beat your ass, Teme!" I challenged.

Sakura scoffed, "No way, Naruto! Sasuke always wins!"

"Whatever!"

So the training and fighting went on just as it had the day before. But today, I was more distracted. Whenever Sasuke was defensive or when he stopped, I was staring at him, still going unnoticed.

The same time as two days ago, Sakura called us off.

"Sasuke won again!" Sakura gigged.

"NO! Gr…" Someday I would beat him.

"Good job though, anyway." Sasuke added. He was being nice in this situation, unlike Sakura.

I was staring again, and I hate to keep concluding this. I'm always starring whenever there is an opportunity.

I still wanted to know why, and I came up with an experiment to try tonight, if no one was…There.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Sakura headed off, just as usual.

Then, to my surprise, Sasuke was instantly on my case. "What happened?" He demanded.

I turned. "What do you mean, what happened?"

He glared at me. "You looked like a wreck this morning, and your fighting had been the worst it's been in weeks. What did they do?"
I swallowed, "They did nothing, I was just tired."

Sasuke sighed, anger turning into aspiration. "It's okay, just tell me."

I wrapped my arms around my torso. "They…they punched me a few times in the ribs."

By the way I was shivering, Sasuke could guess to what extent I meant by punching. "Then why…don't you stay with Iruka?"

I closed my eyes, "Because I don't want to put stress on him! They find out I'm with him, and he might get hurt!" I yelled. "It's none of your business so…" I started to walk away. "Just stay out of this!"

He didn't answer so I kept on going.

No one was waiting for me tonight, I hoped I wouldn't have to deal with much after that.

Now, for my experiment.

I wanted to know just how I stared at Sasuke. Maybe that would help me figure out why. I rummaged through my drawer for a hand mirror that probably didn't exist. Finally, I found one. Round with a handle.

I closed my eyes. Picture Sasuke. Snow white skin, midnight black hair. Onyx eyes that were sometimes bloody red. All I needed was his face. Now Imagine he's right in front of you, and your staring at him. The way you always do.

When I first opened, there was just my concentrated face.

"This is not a mirror. This is Sasuke." I whispered out loud.

I concentrated, opened again, and saw my expression for a split-second before I was shocked. I looked…like I was in ecstasy. My eyes were half-lidded and my mouth was open slightly. So little you almost couldn't tell. And I was…Blushing? What the hell?

I put the mirror down slowly, and heard knocking.

Iruka!!

I was at the door instantly. I loved this routine. Once or twice a week, there was ramen and some conversation.

"I almost decided to come tomorrow, I see your glad I didn't!" I pulled on my jacket and came out, so ready for more ramen.

"So…Anything new?" Iruka asked.

"Mm…Not really!"

"With Sasuke?"

Damn, for once I had hoped to avoid that. "He's…being friendly. He's not treating me so bad anymore."

We got to Ichiraku and the conversation continued there.

"Why the sudden change?" He asked.

Iruka did not, could not, know about the violence. But he did know about Kyubbi.

"I told Sasuke…the secret."

Iruka answered a moment to late for comfort. "What was his reaction?"

"He said he didn't care about what was inside my body, he just thought I was Naruto, either way."

We finished two bowls, the conversation still going when we finished.

"Do you know why you stare at him yet?" Iruka asked.

"Um…Lots of reasons. But I don't know the overall reason, no." I shifted in my seat. "But…I saw the way I stare in a mirror. It's so…weird." Did my look of total ecstasy explain my feelings? I don't know. I don't know what this is.

"Naruto…?" Iruka noticed me zoning off.

"I hate it Iruka," My voice was weak suddenly. "What is this?"

"What?" He asked, catching the tone in my voice.

"What is this, this…thing, feeling, problem, whatever…what is it?" I managed.

Iruka sighed, he paid for the ramen and got up to leave. I followed him. "There are a lot of things you could be going through right now, but I don't want to say one thing and have it be another."

I didn't answer, so he walked me all the way home.

"Kakashi should be back in two days." Iruka said as I opened my door. "Then you'll probably have another mission."

I nodded, unable to say anything but the usual, "Thanks for the ramen."

I looked around, heading towards my room. No one to hurt me tonight.

I felt weak, curling up into my sheets with normal clothes I didn't bother to change out of. I wasn't sure why I felt that way either. I hoped that when Kakashi got back, and I got my mind into a mission, or some hard training, I would be able to shake my attitude and be myself again.

Kit, what's wrong with you? I can't sleep.

Shut-up Kyubbi, I don't know.

It's about the Uchiha boy, isn't it?

You're making it worse, Kyubbi!

So it is. Relax and forget about him for the night. I'd like to sleep, and your body's mood is not helping.

Whatever.

I really did want to sleep, but much to Kyubbi's annoyance, I didn't get Sasuke out of my head. I fell asleep to imagining his face.

What is wrong with me?

Why is Sasuke the only thing on my mind?