Now that didn't take too long now did it? Sorry to leave you guys off at such a rough place, I got a bit of a yelling from some of you lol. It's a good thing I felt like writing today, and late last night when inspiration kind of hit me. Well, I hope you enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Concrete Angel

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Chapter Thirty Six:

There across the lake he spotted the brunet tossing pebbles into the glistening water. By his posture and his expression, he looked to be deep in thought about something that was obviously upsetting him.

Slowly the Uchiha made his way over to him with his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans and his feet dragging as though his body was protesting this union in its own way.

Even as he got closer, close enough for his footsteps to be heard and for him to be within the Inuzuka's line of vision, Kiba appeared resistant to acknowledge his presence. So Sasuke silent made his way up to his friend's side, standing there as Kiba threw one last rock into the rippling water. It was strange how two people once so close could just stand beside one another staring straight ahead and seemingly unaware of each other's existence. Even though they both knew the other was where they were and what reason they happened to be there.

"Hey," Sasuke muttered, figuring he should be the one to speak first. Not to mention the awkward silence was strangely making him uncomfortable. Perhaps that was only because whenever he was with Kiba, there was never any absence of sound.

"Hi..." Kiba responded, shifting his feet uncomfortably.

Normally it would irritate Sasuke that Kiba wasn't speaking or starting up a conversation since he'd been the one to ask him here to talk, but in this situation he guessed he didn't really have the right to be angry with Kiba's lack of words. It was an oddly complex topic.

With a reluctant sigh, Sasuke turned his head to look at his best friend. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Kiba's eyes flickered in his direction for a moment, but other than that he didn't respond at all. His head stayed positioned to watch the lake, his body didn't even twitch, and his eyes quickly fell back onto the water.

"I know you don't think it's complicated. Easy enough to tell your best friend that you're gay when you already told him your parents were murdered before your eyes."

That caused the brunet to wince, but he didn't speak or turn towards the raven.

"But honestly, I never really thought about it before I saw Naruto. I just thought I didn't like girls because of... well... you know what I have to put up with."

A small, quiet snicker escaped Kiba's lips. Not much, but it was a start.

"It's corny, but the moment I saw Naruto... something just clicked, and I became fascinated by him. I caught myself wandering off to watch him, and slowly I found myself falling for him. You can't honestly think that it would be easy to tell you of all people. Just walk up to you and say 'Oh, by the way Kiba, I found out I was gay today because I'm in love with the serial killer's son that you all hate.' You can't blame me for keeping it secret for a while, can you?"

Still no response, but now Kiba's eyes were fixed on the Uchiha and he was positive that a smile flickered across his lips at his exaggerated confession.

"Besides, I had to be sure of myself. I was still doubting it since I never would have imagined it would become mutual between Naruto and I. The abused kid falling for someone he probably thinks is a popular snob? I didn't think Naruto would trust me, let alone love me back."

"You didn't even tell me that you were hanging out with him." Kiba's voice held a certain sourness to it, but he didn't sound completely angry with him anymore. "That's what you were doing right?" Now Kiba finally turned his head to look Sasuke in the eyes. "All those times that I'd ask you to study or hang out, or when I couldn't find you at lunch. You were with him."

Sasuke nodded.

"And then when Naruto started hanging out with Gaara, he was neglecting you. All those glares you gave the two as they walked by or when I was sure it looked like you were about to corner the Sabaku and stab him... that was because you were jealous?"

Again Sasuke nodded. He had been out of his mind with jealously. It was slightly amusing that Kiba had picked up on all that, of course he never would have known the reason before yesterday, but Sasuke wasn't aware that he outwardly glared that much at the satanic redhead. "So you made that connection did you?"

Kiba scoffed comically, "Yeah, I wasn't sure why you were always glaring daggers at him at first, but I did notice every single time you were zoned out scowling at him. Just a couple days ago, when I found you in your house completely spooked, I figured that must be why you hate him so much. But now, well... it was pretty damn obvious after you told me that you and Uzu- uh, Naruto are going out."

Sasuke didn't have a reply for that one, he felt bad for lying to Kiba, but it couldn't exactly be helped. So he merely nodded in agreement.

"You were afraid for Naruto then... with Gaara. You were afraid he was going to do something like what happened to you?"

Sasuke averted his eyes. Bullseye. He certainly had been extremely worried about Naruto's wellbeing when he was around Gaara, and he'd been right all along. All his worries were confirmed the moment he found Naruto broken on his front steps.

"So much stuff makes sense now... now that I actually know the truth."

Inwardly Sasuke winced at that, but refused to show that physically, damn him and his deep rooted secrets.

"So... I guess I can't blame you really... I mean, I know I'm just being jealous but I figured since I was your best friend that I'd be the first to know the most important things about you. And you can't tell me that you being gay isn't important, it's kind of need to know information about you. Like, what if I tried to set you up with some hot ass chick, the whole time you'll be wishing her boobs would shrink and she'd grow a dick under her skirt. Though I don't take you for the cross dressing type I mean-"

"Get on with it, Inuzuka." Sasuke nearly snapped, sure he was glad Kiba was back to his usual self but it was getting rather annoying, maybe he never should have told Kiba about his sexual orientation.

Kiba just laughed but moved on nonetheless. "But anyways... I just thought I'd be the first to know that stuff before anyone else. Though I suppose I really can't be angry that you told the person you loved that you love them before you told me that you loved him."

Sasuke again didn't respond verbally, he wasn't good at this whole making up thing, but he did smile an actual genuine smile.

"But really man... that's some complicated fucked up choice."

Sasuke's eyebrow rose threateningly, if he was about so say something about Naruto, he would have to punch him just to get his point across.

"Did you have to pick the only person on the planet that could be your equal in angsting emo land of the loners?" Kiba's smirk was wide and sarcastic, obvious he was only teasing him again.

"Fuck you Inuzuka." Sasuke in turn smirked, laughing along with his best friend once he started up. A strange way of forgiving each other, but hey, they were strange friends and people to begin with. At least now they were on good terms with each other and Kiba seemed like he was warming up to the idea of regarding Naruto as a human being, and possibly accepting him for who he was.

"So what's your plan for this afternoon?" The brunet asked once their laughter had died down.

"I have to head back to make lunch for Naruto and I." Sasuke stated, but before the disappointed look which threatened to take hold on Kiba's face, he added, "Do you want to join us?"

"No, I can't, sorry. I already made plans to have lunch with Hinata and Shino. I was going to ask if you wanted to come with," Kiba paused awkwardly before adding, "and Naruto?"

Sasuke shook his head. They both definitely couldn't go with them. For one, Naruto wasn't permitted to leave his home, but he wasn't going to tell Kiba that. Secondly, "I don't think Naruto's quite ready to come out into the open yet."

"He isn't or you aren't?" Kiba asked a very unexpected question for himself that shocked the Uchiha for a moment.

Sasuke thought about it before laughing quietly to himself. "I think we both aren't ready. But him more than me. I mean, I can deal with people disliking me about being gay, I'll just ignore them and go on my way since I'm such an anti-social emo to begin with," he shot an amused look at Kiba, making him laugh in turn. "But Naruto... he's been through a lot with people hating him and this will only add one more thing onto the pile. I don't think he's ready to handle it yet."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Thankfully Kiba sincerely agreed with him, he wasn't pretending to think it was a serious issue at all. "I won't spread the word, no worries. But what about you huh?" A mischievous smirk bounced onto Kiba's lips. "Can I start telling all the girls that you're a fairy now? Maybe you guys can arrange a playdate and do each other's hair and nails, talk about the cute boys and have pillow fits."

Sasuke glared darkly at Kiba's humorous effeminate voice and the stereotyped flick of the hand. "Inuzuka I swear I'll drown you in this lake if you say one more thing." He knew he was only joking and it was obvious that Kiba had absolutely no grief about his orientation, but Sasuke wasn't about to play along and pretend to be the stereotyped feminine gay guy that he wasn't.

"Oh calm down Uchiha and pull that thong out of your ass," Kiba's smirk grew but it soon disappeared to be replaced with a wince and a pained look. "OUCH! That's hurt!"

"Then shut up," Sasuke was now the one to smirk, a little violence and a fist to the arm solved many things.

"Fine, fine. I'll stop for now, but as your best friend, I legally get the right to tease you about being gay in a completely non-discriminant and non-harassing way."

"Wow, Inuzuka, did you work all night on that sentence?" Sasuke laughed to receive a glare from the brunet.

"Shut up! So I'm not good with the whole English thing, that doesn't take away from the fact that I can bug you about this and not feel guilty!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Man his best friend was immature, but he had confidence that Kiba would keep it low key and not tease him or mention anything of the sort when they were around other people, especially Naruto. Naruto didn't really understand sarcastic teasing, and he would probably find most of Kiba's humor offensive. He'd have to slowly get him used to it so he didn't freak out.

"So I'll give you a call later then, alright?"

"Yeah sure, just make it a reasonable hour."

"I'll try but I can't make any promises."

"Whatever Kiba." Sasuke dismissed him easily, digging his hand out of his pocket to wave to his friend. "Later."

Kiba nodded, giving a short wave before turning around. "Yeah, see ya."

With that they parted ways, Kiba heading back into town and Sasuke back to his house. Finally, some resolution to his problems. Things were definitely starting to look better.

----

Naruto stood frozen before the answering machine as it beeped to confirm it was finished. Now he could only stare at the blinking red light of the device, informing its owner that they had a new message.

Did... he just say... little brother? And... my name? That was the currently processing in his mind. That meant that the person who left this message was Sasuke's... older brother. The one who killed his family before his eyes just to 'test his skills' and now he was calling Sasuke and... he knew Naruto was there... alone. Which could only mean he'd been watching them for a while... and Naruto's eyes grew to an extreme width. Itachi had probably called before... this was the reason Sasuke was so paranoid of the phone ringing! Realization hit him full force, he was in a great deal of danger, more so than when he was in the alley with the Sabakus.

There he was alone and vulnerable in Sasuke's house with his homicidal brother nearby and obviously threatening both of the boys. It was like Itachi was setting this message up so he could kidnap or dispose of Naruto and have Sasuke come home to an empty house with nothing but that message on his answering machine.

That could not happen. He could not be the cause of misery to his boyfriend and he refused to be toyed with by Itachi.

Moving up to the end table, Naruto searched the drawer, keeping a skeptical threatening eye on the phone, subconsciously sending orders not to ring to it. It was written on a piece of paper somewhere in here, Sasuke had told him it was there just in case he had to call.

Naruto sighed in relief when he found the slip of paper with Tsunade's number on it. Swiftly he picked up the phone and punched in the numbers. His finger was just about to press the last number when the phone came to life in his hand.

Naruto jumped backwards in terror, dropping the phone onto the floor where it continued to ring loudly. His whole body began shaking in fear, he hadn't been this terrified in a long while and with each ring he realized how much at risk his life was.

"Hello, you've reached – Sasuke Uchiha –please leave your message after the beep."

Naruto's heart stopped beating as he winced at the loud beep, awaiting the horrifying message.

"Uchiha I swear if you don't learn to pick up your god damn phone I'm going to come over there and surgically make it a part of your face! Pick up your fucking phone!"

The blonde let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding when he heard the pissed off voice of his doctor. And then it dawned on him how dire his situation was and quick bent down to retrieve the abandoned phone.

Before Tsunade gave up on this call attempt, Naruto pressed the talk button on the telephone and held it to his ear. "Tsunade!"

"Uzumaki?" Her voice was confused but still irritated due to her lack of patience. "What are you doing answering the phone? Where is the Uchiha? Why aren't you resting?"

"Tsunade listen! On the answering machine-"

"What's wrong Uzumaki? What happened? You sound terrified?" Her voice was immediately concerned and assertive, it surprised Naruto a little, but he was glad she picked up on it.

"He just left a message on the answering machine! He-" Naruto's breathing was rushed, he didn't think he'd been this frightened but now he was well aware that his terror was blatantly obvious.

"Who Naruto? Who left a message on the machine? Who's calling you? Did they threaten you? Did they-"

Suddenly the phone was torn out of the blonde's hand and he missed the other questions Tsunade was screaming at him through the phone. He hadn't even heard the door open, nor did he hear or sense anyone behind him but the sudden action caused him to jump out of his skin and he turned swiftly to face the intruder.

----

Sasuke never imagined that he would return to his home and have it in his manor or chaos. The moment he stepped in the door and called to Naruto, informing him that he was back, he sensed something was off. It felt just like the time he'd come home to hear his brother on his answering machine.

Taking a deep breath he looked around, breathing loudly through his phone when he received no answer from his boyfriend.

Approaching the living doorway to the living room he nearly had a heart attack to see his beloved boyfriend shaking wildly with the phone pressed to his ear. Rage ran through his body, all of it directed at whoever was on the other line and obviously scaring his blonde shitless.

He never moved quicker in his life as he did when he marched up to Naruto's side and ripped the cordless phone out of his hand.

"Who is this?" Sasuke hollered into the receiver, seemingly ignoring the frightened look Naruto threw at him when he turned to gaze upon the person who disrupted his conversation. But he couldn't ignore that look. Naruto had to be scared out of his mind, if he had been unable to hear Sasuke come in and yell to him, he obviously wasn't in the right frame of mind. His eyes looked wider than an anime character's and the disturbed shade his normally calm blue eyes turned had even Sasuke scared on the inside.

He didn't think he'd been as furious as he was now at any other point in his life. He was going to strangle the hell out of the person who caused his boyfriend to possess such a look.

"Uchiha? Where the fuck did you come from? Put Naruto back on the damn phone!"

Sasuke automatically registered the pissed off, excessively swearing person on the other end to be Tsunade-sama. And if it were under any different circumstances Sasuke would have questioned why Tsunade had referred to Naruto by his first name, but this was different. "What are you taking about Tsunade? Don't call here and scare the shit out of Naruto! He looks spooked out of his mind! What did you say to him?"

"What are you talking about Uchiha?" Tsunade yelled at him with just as much power but not nearly enough anger. "Naruto was scared about a message on your answering machine!"

"What are you talking about? What message?" Sasuke's eyes widened, awareness of the situation dawning on him. No, it couldn't be. He completely forgot about the answering machine. If he'd called and Naruto heard that... "Nevermind Tsunade, I'll handle it."

"Handle it? Obviously you're not doing a fucking good job of protecting him! If you let someone find out he was at your home and they're calling to threaten him I will personally hunt your ass down! Do you understand me Uchiha?"

"I don't care! I can take care of it!" Sasuke snapped, he honestly couldn't care less about Tsunade's threat. It wasn't nearly half as terrifying as the possibility of his brother calling here while Naruto was there to overhear.

"How the fuck do you expect to do that, dumbass? You've already messed up your job! He's coming with me, I'm coming to get him!"

Sasuke's eyes widened both in shock and anger, he couldn't believe Tsunade was saying this to him. "No you're not! I'm not letting him out of my sight!"

"I don't care what you want Uchiha! You're not doing what I asked of you and I will not allow you to put him in danger!"

Sasuke winced at this, she was speaking perfect logic, but he couldn't let Naruto out of his sight until this was solved. Taking a rather deep and long breath, he attempted to calm himself down. "Look, give me a few hours with him to calm him down, and then I'll call you back. I promise I didn't let anyone know that he's here and if someone found out I'm sure they can't do any harm to him."

Silence was all that was on the other end of the phone and Sasuke took this opportunity to glance over at his boyfriend who was frozen solid in fear, his eyes fixed on Sasuke and the phone. He didn't think the blonde was at all comfortable with Sasuke's last sentence which meant Naruto felt he was in harms way.

Sasuke was about to say something to make sure Tsunade hadn't left the phone or anything when the old blonde doctor spoke.

"If you don't call me, I'm coming to get him in two hours." And then she hung up without so much as a goodbye and leaving Sasuke with no chance to reply.

The raven sighed as he hung up his phone, placing it back on the receiver where he spotted the flashing red button. He didn't even turn to look at Naruto before pushing the play button.

"You have one new message. Beep... Little brother you have to learn to treat your guests better. Leaving them alone and injured is very irresponsible of you. Isn't that right, Uzumaki?... Beep."

Sasuke's blood ran cold and a chill shivered through his body. He could barely comprehend what Itachi had said to him... and to Naruto. He felt claustrophobic, like his brother was watching him from every single angle and closing in on him with each second that passed.

A hand rested on his shoulder and Sasuke jumped for one of the first times in his life. He whipped his head around quickly to see Naruto standing there, reflecting the same amount of fear that Sasuke had, if that was even possible.

He had to calm himself down. He couldn't let his guard down for Naruto's sake. He had to protect him.

"Don't worry Naruto," Sasuke pulled the blonde into a tight embrace, holding him close, hoping to stop the boy's body from shaking. "He's not going to hurt you. I promise. I'll keep you safe."

Even if it means sending you away...