Chapter 7 tadaa! Holy crap, the story is by now almost 50 pages in Word, and has more than a thousand views! I'm so happy I didn't hide it away on my pc like most of my other stories :D

Enjoy!

To say that there was tension between them would be the understatement of the year. They avoided eye contact and spoke only when necessary.

Sasuke didn't know if he should feel relieved that Naruto hadn't snuck out in the middle of the night never to return, or grieve the loss of their bond. He wanted to talk about what had happened but couldn't muster up the courage. What would he have said anyway? He didn't even know what he wanted to happen from now on. He couldn't make up his mind and it was hard trying to convince someone else, if you couldn't even convince yourself

If it had been a normal workday, they would at least have been able to be apart and cool down. But no, of course it had to be a friggin Sunday where his boss for once decided not to bother him with some social arrangement. Naruto had barely left his room and it was awkward as hell being in the apartment.

Sasuke tried to occupy himself with just about anything, but none of it could keep his thoughts from going around in circles about the… the incident. At last he decided to go for a run to relieve some of the stress and told Naruto he was leaving through the closed door to the guest room. Well Naruto's room.

He had never thought about it before, but it was rare for the boy to close his door. Most of the time the teen was bouncing around, bothering him or keeping himself entertained in the living room. Having returned to the pre-Naruto silence of his home was eerie.

He ran towards the closest park to get away from the hustle and bustle of cars and people. It was raining lightly so he only had to share the park with people walking their dogs. He ran and ran, breathing in the air heavy with moisture and slowly felt his head clear. Things were still not simply, but there was only one solution.

If he could make Naruto understand that it wasn't okay for them to be together in that way, he could stay. If not… There wasn't really a plan B, but that was how it was. Sometimes hard choices had to be made, to make things work out for the best.

But for how long? Asked a traitorous voice in his head. For how long can you keep him as your little puppy, ignoring the world outside?

He halted to a stop, not wanting to leave the little fantasy world he had build around him and Naruto. He was usually a very practical man, who prided himself in being realistic and not getting swept away. Where had all that gone? How had he ever fooled himself into thinking that he could be everything Naruto needed?

Cold and defeated he kept running. Though what he was running from, he wasn't quite sure anymore.

Days passed in unbearable silence. Naruto might be dense at times, but he had not needed any further explanation to understand that he had been rejected. They went about their daily routines the best they could, but every time Sasuke left the house he was afraid to come home and find it empty. He eliminated all thoughts about the blond when at work, but as soon as he left the building a cold panic would creep up on him and he had to force himself not to speed all the way home. He would breathe a sigh of relief, when he saw the lights were on in the windows.

Naruto had his own house key now, so he wouldn't have to wait for Sasuke to get home.

When Friday came around Sasuke didn't know what to do anymore, because surely something had to be done. They couldn't spend an entire weekend together like this, it would be too much. The tension would explode in their faces and Sasuke was afraid of how that might end.

He steeled himself for the conversation he would have to initiate when he got home. Jeez, since when had he become such a chicken shying away from confrontations? Going through what he would say, he almost missed what he had kept an eye on the other days when driving home. The windows.

There was no light glowing out through them. The small hairs on his neck stood on end in alarm.

It's Friday, I'm a little earlier than normal. He is probably on his way home. He'll be here in a minute. If I start cooking now, it'll be done when he gets back.

He entered the dark apartment and changed out of his work clothes. His eyes glanced at his wrist watch.

He should be here soon. There's nothing to worry about. I'm out of eggs; maybe I should go by some? No I'll just wait 'til he's back. He would probably like to come with me, as long as I don't spend too much time on picking out vegetables.

He heard a sound from the entry hall and froze. "Naruto?"

Nothing. It was just one of his neighbors scrambling around outside.

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As he sat down at the table with the food ready there was still no sign of the boy.

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When the food had turned cold, the only sound to be heard was the ticking clock on the kitchen wall. He waited with growing dread.

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The hand on the clock passed nine and he slowly got up to put away the food. There was no way he could get any of it down; it felt like he had been punched in the gut with a sledge hammer.

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He had left the dining table in favor of the couch, but the TV was turned off and he just stared into space.

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He's not coming back.

The stars where visible in the sky, but though it was clear weather, the wind was howling outside.

I really fucked up this time. I should have done something sooner. It's too late now, he's not coming back.

It was odd how shocked he felt. He had thought that somewhere in his mind he had prepared himself for the separation he knew would come eventually. The worst thing wasn't that Naruto wasn't here with him though. No what was worse was that the boy was somewhere out there in the cold, alone and no longer with a place to take refuge. Sasuke knew that things were bad between them, but he hadn't really believed Naruto would leave.

Now I was too late. He had found the boy once before, but had no doubt that it was only because Naruto wasn't actively avoiding him, which would be the case now.

He couldn't bring himself to go to sleep, but the past week had left him emotionally drained. He wasn't used to feeling much at all. Feeling so much, both good and bad since he had met Naruto, had left him exhausted. He dosed off.

The tell tale clinking noise of keys brought him back to full consciousness. He was absolutely still for a moment, not believing what he heard, but then a light scuffle of shoes, convinced him. He scrambled up from the couch and into the hallway.

It was Naruto. That was all his brain registered, before he brought the teen into a tight embrace. He gingerly let go when Naruto made noises of complaint.

As he took in the appearance of him, his eyes widened in horror. Blood had darkened several locks of blond hair and the right side of Naruto's face was swollen and a mix between red and purple. His clothes were disheveled and torn at elbows and knees.

"What in the world happened to you?!" he almost shouted.

"I got mugged. Some stupid street thug, who couldn't tell me apart from the rich kids. He got really mad when I didn't have anything he could steal, that son of a bitch." Naruto answered and winced, because talking pulled at his split lip.

Sasuke felt rage boil in him. Oh how he wished he had been there so he could give that mother fucker a piece of his mind and preferably punch him to a bloody pulp. All the years at the gym would finally pay off.

But Naruto didn't need a rescue mission. He needed to get his wounds cleaned and probably an icepack.

"How bad is it? Have you broken anything? Are you hurt anywhere else? "

"My ribs hurt, but I don't think-"

"Where does all this blood come from?!" He tried to locate the cut on Naruto's head, which was still bleeding, with little luck.

"Ow Ow! It hurts!"

"I'm going to get the first aid kit." Sasuke said and turned around for the bathroom. Then he stopped in mid step and turned back around. "Come here, we need to wash the blood off."

"Oka-"

"Can you walk by yourself? I can help you-"

"No it's fine, I can walk."

"Okay." Sasuke let out a deep breath and rubbed his forehead with one hand. "Okay."

The immense relief of seeing Naruto back had been replaced with worry. He stumbled around trying to get the icepack, gauze, disinfectant and cotton balls all at the same time. He helped Naruto get his shirt and pants off and tended the wounds. He felt for broken ribs, not even knowing what he was supposed to feel for. Naruto hissed in pain and he pulled his hands away quickly. The cut on the head was small, but bled way too much in Sasuke's opinion. He fussed about Naruto and asked him a thousand questions about the different wounds and where it hurt.

Bandaged all over Naruto looked like some broken toy that had barely been fixed.

"You don't think you went just a little overboard with the gauze, do you?" The boy asked with a tired grin on his face. "Kinda reminds me of when we met, huh?"

Sasuke stopped for a moment and relished in the warmth of that smile, he had missed so much. Then he let a small one graze his own lips. "Yeah I guess it does. You really need to be more careful." He said teasingly.

"I need to be more careful?! Puh-lease, you were the one who ran me over!"

Sasuke couldn't even bring himself to continue the banter, he was too damned relieved. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt any worse than you did." He said and pulled Naruto into a hug. It was gentler this time, and he was careful not to put pressure on Naruto's wounded side.

"I'm glad you managed to get back here at all." He murmured against the blond mop of hair and felt Naruto slowly relax in his hold.

The wall that had been built between them crumbled as Naruto let his hands grab a hold of Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke never initiated hugs, but for today he would make an exception.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah."

"Good, me too."

It seemed like something had been repaired and mended between them when they let go of each other. Sasuke went to the kitchen and reheated their dinner in the microwave. When Naruto saw the two plates of untouched food and understood what it indicated his eyes widened a little. His lips started trembling and his blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Sasuke watched the change happen and hurried over.

"I'm sorry!" the boy choked out. "I was late for dinner and-"

"You idiot! That was not your fault!"

"I'm so sorry Sasuke, I didn't mean to."

"Shush, don't be ridiculous! Come on now don't cry." He said and made a second exception that night. Oh, to hell with his stoic Uchiha image, the boy did need him.

Naruto sniffled and a sob escaped him

"I know that I shouldn't have done it…"

"What are you talking about? You couldn't know you'd get mugged."

"I'm sorry."

"Christ, stop apologizing already, I told you it wasn't your fault."

"I'm sorry that I kissed you."

The hand that had been awkwardly patting Naruto's back stopped and Sasuke didn't answer.

"I know, it's not right and I won't do it again." Another sob interrupted what the boy was trying to say. "I promise."

Sasuke felt sick to his stomach. So very, very sick that he felt like throwing up. He was absolutely disgusted with himself, for not correcting the misunderstanding currently taking place.

Naruto thought he was mad about the kiss. He thought he was the only one feeling that way, and that the kiss had been a major screw up on his part. And Sasuke being the emotionally stunted bastard he was, had done nothing to make him believe otherwise.

"It- it's all right. That was not something you should feel… sorry… about."

"Huh? It's not?"

"It was just as much my fault. You wouldn't have done it unless you thought I'd react positively to it, right?"

A sniff. "I guess not…?"

"I should have been more aware of what was happening and not let it get so far."

Naruto looked confused and still somewhat hurt. "What do you mean?"

"I- I was aware," Sasuke stammered out, "That we were getting too close. That things were getting out of hand."

Naruto brows wrinkled. "I don't understand…"

"We can't be together like that Naruto."

There, it was said and finally out in the open. The older male felt a lift weight from his shoulders at having done the right thing, though it did hurt to do so.

The blond stood stock still and silent as his brow slowly smoothed out and his face underwent a transformation. He went from confused to understanding and then an almost happy, or was it a hopeful look that sparkled in his eyes?

"So you like me too? I mean if you knew already you must have felt it too-"

Sasuke wanted to smack his head repeatedly against a hard surface. This was taking an unexpected turn. That was not what Naruto should get out of this conversation. He should simply understand that there was no way anything romantic was going to happen between them. No matter what either of them might, or might not feel.

"That is not what I said." His burning cheeks completely betrayed him. Damned be his pale complexion.

"But you do, right?" there was way too much hope in that voice.

"Naruto." He said sternly. "It doesn't matter. You are sixteen."

"When it comes to love age doesn't matter." Naruto said and sounded like he quoted some cheesy chick flick.

What. The. Hell.

"It most certainly does matter." Sasuke growled. "I'm not going to discuss this with you anymore. I'm glad you're safely back, now go and brush your teeth and go to bed."

"What!? You can't just- you can't pretend it's nothing and start treating me like a baby!"

"I own this place and can do exactly what I want to. Bed. Now."

He stomped away from the flabbergasted Naruto, angry that his whole plan had been shot straight to hell. Here he was trying to do the right thing, and it was pretty much just making everything worse. Another sleepless night was sure to await him, filled with thoughts about this new development.

Had that little shit thought they could just merrily frolic around under the rainbow without anyone batting an eyelid? Sasuke had known he was gay since his early teen years, but one thing was being gay, another was being with a homeless boy eleven years younger. There was just no fucking way that was going to happen. He should consider himself happy, if the social services didn't get him arrested for taking advantage of an underage boy.

He tried to direct his anger at the mugger instead of at Naruto, since being unnecessarily mad at each other wasn't exactly constructive to their living arrangement. He imagined all the ways he would make that sorry excuse for a human being suffer. It didn't really help in calming himself down. Then another thought came to mind and he felt a cold chill down his spine.

Naruto had gotten away without major injuries this time, but what about the next? It didn't even have to be an assault, it could be an accident. What would he do if Naruto needed to go to the hospital at some point? He hadn't thought about it until now, but he should have gone to the police about the mugger. He would have, if it had been anyone but Naruto.

It was alarming to think about how none of the public services were available to help if Naruto got in trouble. He might give the boy better living conditions by letting him stay, but was he really safe?

And what about education? What about the future? The thoughts kept coming back, but now it felt like he needed to make a decision. The mugging had simply made it more urgent. The whole revelation of their feelings for each other didn't make it easier either.

Shit, I don't know what to do. No that's not even true; I know exactly what to do, I just don't want to.

His sleep was fitful that night and he woke up with a start from a horrible nightmare. It had begun nicely; he and Naruto were walking on the streets holding hands, and though he remembered nothing of what they had said to each other, he was sure that they had been happy. They had turned a corner, and then one more and the atmosphere had turned menacing. It felt like they were walking in a labyrinth of alleys and shady streets. Suddenly someone had jumped out from the dark and attacked Naruto. While Sasuke was watching helplessly, Naruto was stabbed again and again and blood colored all his clothes red. Sasuke couldn't move or scream; he could only watch it happen.

An ambulance and police appeared at the scene, but neither would help him. They just talked and talked:

"We don't have his personal number."

"What is his name? Who is he?"

"He doesn't exist; I can't report a murder of someone who doesn't exist."

"What is his blood type?"

"Are you immediate family?"

"I think he's dead."

"Oh, then we should leave."

So they left Sasuke alone on the roadside with the Naruto slowly bleeding to death in his arms.

Sasuke tried to yell at them, but could only get wheezing sounds out. He was covered in sweat when he finally woke up.

I have the next chapter ready, but it is a little shorter than the rest. (Sorry!) I will probably post it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.