Just hold on a chapter more. I'm going to get Naruto and Sasuke back together somehow. But despite that, I hope you find Suigetsu's little act entertaining and the story enjoyable. I'm particularly proud of the writing in this chapter and hopefully you see the difference :)

Anyway, thanks for reading and comments=love!

Next chapter will be up at the soonest Thursday night and at the latest, Sunday. Consider these 3 chapters in one week an early Easter gift ^_^ I hope I get a chocolate bunny...

Sasuke was bored. Iruka-sensei paced back and forth across the front of the room rambling on about something to do with grammar and syntax; appropriate as he was the English teacher here. He already knew this material and his eyelids started to droop.

Someone whispered loudly from behind him, startling him back into alertness. "Sasuke!" He felt something light hit the back of his head, a piece of rolled paper to be exact. "Psst!"

He turned around, eyes skimming for whoever was calling him. It was Suigetsu, some kid with dental problems as his teeth looked razor-sharp and who had short, startling white hair.

"What?" Sasuke mouthed.

"We going to Ichiraku's after school. Game?"

He nodded and Suigetsu leaned back into his chair smiling.

There had been some changes since he left Naruto, not that they were ever really together anyway. He, Suigetsu, a big orange haired kid named Juugo, and some girl named Karin who he swore was almost a rapist, all started to hang out a little more. Also, he was being completely ignored by Naruto, they wouldn't even glance at each other, and Sasuke spent his classes with Naruto frowning instead of looking indifferent as he did in other classes. He doubted if Naruto felt the same way, but the way things were between them, it tore Sasuke's heart apart. Even more, knowing he had intentionally caused things to be the way they were, but somewhat consoled by the fact that it was protecting the blonde. The last change was getting his own apartment, one in a different complex than Naruto's of course. He didn't realize how much he'd miss walking to school and back with the blonde.

When he was absolutely sure Itachi wasn't there, he returned to the house formerly shared by Itachi and himself right after visiting Naruto the day Sasuke broke it off. He grabbed everything he could then. He took hidden amounts of cash, credit cards, photos of his parents, clothing, his belongings. It took him a few trips, but ideally Itachi was gone on another "trip" and wasn't going to disturb him. At first he stayed in a hotel, but promptly found an apartment and moved in. He had enough money to last a few months and he quickly found a job. He led in a way, a more lonely life now - and also a more haunted one.

Ichiraku's was a favorite hangout spot for Konoha High. It was close to the school and everyday once school was over, students flocked to and piled themselves into that small store. Somehow, Sasuke's group procured a booth by a window in the back. And of course, Karin had to sit next to Sasuke, close enough she was practically draping her legs over him. He rolled his eyes as she batted her eyelids at him and he went back to listening to Suigetsu's ramblings over the noise of the crowd.

"So I said she ought to jump off a cliff."

"You're so blunt, Suigetsu," said Juugo.

"Like I care." He shrugged. He turned to look at Sasuke. "You should seriously think about dating someone too, Sasuke. Can't have those good looks going to waste can we?" He winked.

Karin practically squealed and tugged on Sasuke's arm.

"No thanks, Suigetsu and I'd appreciate it if we left it at that."

The girl's grasp on him lessened in clear disappointment while the corners of the white-haired youth's mouth turned upwards into a playful grin, revealing those pointed teeth. "Oh come on, Sasuke. You need to get out more. Just choose anyone in this room – anyone."

What was the point if he was already in love with a certain dobe? Just to placate him, his eyes wandered the room until they unexpectedly fell upon a familiar color of blonde. Naruto. His heart clenched painfully. He sat with his back to him, eagerly slurping up a giant bowl of ramen while three others conversed around him. Sasuke recognized the one in the green jacket and ridiculous haircut as Rock Lee and the two others as a canine-like boy named Kiba, and his quiet but pretty girlfriend Hinata.

"I meant me, idiot."

And he felt himself yanked forward to mesh lips with someone he did not want contact of any kind with. He brought his hand up and with a dull thud, a punch was made. Suigetsu clutched the side of his face, a Cheshire grin upon his face, and Sasuke could only glare back for a few seconds before glancing over at Naruto's table to make sure no one saw that ridiculous display. Thank God he didn't, and no one around seemed to really have noticed as it was too quick and everyone was busy with their own affairs.

"You fucking jerk!" Sasuke hissed.

Suigetsu only shrugged before answering with, "Worth a shot."

"I'm going to strangle you, you little bitch!" Karin yelled angrily as she reached across the table for his throat.

He only leaned out of reach as he started to laugh, pissing off both Sasuke and Karin even further, and Juugo could only helplessly watch the unfolding spectacle, occasionally trying but failing to make peace between the two sides.

Sasuke returned to his apartment afterwards, still fuming a bit over Suigetsu's little act, and immediately started up on his homework. His apartment was pretty bare considering he had just moved in and had close to no money. Any money he earned was spent was on food, keeping this apartment, and a few pieces of furniture such as a mattress to sleep on and a table and chair to eat on.

When bedtime rolled around, he undressed to only his boxers and like every night since leaving Naruto, fell asleep shivering even though he had on every blanket he owned on top of him, wishing for that warmth and comfort of another body, knowing tonight was going to be like every other night these past couple months – a night spent in terror.

It was cold. So very cold. He couldn't feel his fingers. It froze his blood and chilled his soul. He hunched against the harsh wind, bitter snowflakes slamming against his face, simply walking, trudging through deep snow. He was so weary already, but he painstakingly endured on – just for a while longer until the last of his strength would give out. To where though? What was the point? He could never find that warmth he so desperately sought, that sanctuary. Just then the wind threw itself harshly against him, sending him backwards into the snow, the snowflakes so cold they burned his face. He turned his back so it faced against it. He couldn't do it. It was impossible. He crouched there, head hidden under his arms, unable to cry as his eyes were frozen, as snow gradually covered him in a thin white blanket.

The snow turned to hail. It thudded against his back, further pounding him into the snow. He would either be buried alive or freeze to death, but he didn't want to die. He refused to give up, yet he was helpless. How could he fight against Nature? It was just that – faithfully, unfailingly there, destined to bestow perpetual cycles of both unwanted and wanted seasons of ice and sun. At the moment It choose to ignore the latter and he cried out for help – someone, anyone. Yet the ghostly breaths of Nature muffled his pleas and It absorbed his cries of abandonment. His cries fed It, nourished It, Its power ever increasing the more he cried, Its full and uninhibited potential to come down upon him as unmerciful and cruel as ever. Those abusive hails started to fall sharply upon his back. They felt to have molded themselves into pointed spears- Nature's weapon of choice against him. They imbedded themselves into his body. His blood stained the snow around him, frozen puddles of a faded red. The pain couldn't be silenced, and beyond that he was so cold - and so utterly alone…

Sasuke woke to the shrill sound of an alarm clock, his sheets drenched, and himself trembling so uncontrollably. So shaken, he lay there for an eternity, wondering whether the reason he couldn't move was because he was so cold or something else – afraid?

A nightmare. Just a nightmare.

Attempting to force himself out his induced paralysis, he managed to pinch himself in the thigh. He couldn't feel it. He did it again. Nothing. It was as if his nightmare had not only frozen his body but his senses as well for he also couldn't see anything, just complete darkness, and it was so erringly silent after his alarm clock finally ceased to make its racket, his shudder quickly masked by his trembling. He started to panic.

Am I going to stay like this forever? A prisoner of my own body? Tears drifted from the corners of his eyes onto his pillow. My sun is gone. My warmth is gone. Naruto is gone. He lamented sorrowfully. How did it come to this? I never needed anyone. Never cared for anyone, and now I spend only less than a day with someone I hardly know and he becomes everything to me. A sob escaped his lips, yet he didn't hear it. I hate Itachi. I hate that bastard. I HATE HIM, he yelled vehemently in his head. He did this to me – to us. And yet I can't do any fucking thing about it. I love Naruto too much to leave and get stronger; he'd never forgive me if I did anyway. But if I don't leave to get stronger I'll never be able to kill Itachi. He will forever parade his arrogant ass all over the city, all over my life, no matter what I do, where I go. Naruto and I will never be together either way and I'll always be that little brother that cringes in the shadow of his older sibling - I'm trapped, he concluded. He continued to cry silently for a few more moments, despairing over the unfairness of life, and from not having Naruto by his side to warm his body and comfort his beated soul.

Slowly, the spell of terror from his nightmare eased itself off Sasuke's mind and body. The warmth of his sheets finally started to seep into him. Every few seconds a new part regained movement- from his fingers, to his arms, to his thighs and legs, and finally his head. He hadn't realized his eyes were closed. He lifted the heavy lids tentatively, guardedly, as if the cruel world of his thoughts were cruel enough to strike him the moment he set eyes on it.

It didn't.

He blinked against the beam of sunlight from his drawn windows. It felt easy and strangely soothing against his pale skin. Slowly and weakly, he sat up and brought his hand up in front of his face. Rays of light passed through his fingers and he stared, fascinated by the way his hand seemed to glow around the edges. He turned his hand around, moved it up, down, sideways, turned it again so that his palm faced the light - and swiftly closed it into a tight fist. He brought it closer to him, removed his fingers, and found his hand empty. He sighed dejectedly, as if he had honestly believed the little beam of warmth was something tangible. He thought of a certain annoying blonde then and smiled, relived knowing that in a way it was – but unlike the little beam, unreachable.