As I promised; chapter 8, somewhat shorter than the rest. but it had to end were it did. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, faved or followed this story :)

Enjoy!

Naruto tried to bring the subject of their discussion up again the next morning, but Sasuke cut him off. Then he tried again when at lunchtime, and again in the evening. When he tried to talk to him through the door as Sasuke took a shower, he yelled at him to shut up and give him a moment of friggin privacy. It hadn't helped either that Naruto's injuries prevented him from leaving the house, because he was sore everywhere. The day after was little better.

He hadn't accounted for Naruto being so persistent about it. There was no possible future for them, why couldn't he see that? Besides Sasuke had already made up his mind when he woke up from that nightmare.

Every hour he spent in the company of the blonde just made him more certain about his decision. Not because he couldn't stand being with the other, or was annoyed, no quite the opposite. The temptation to just give in and let things happen was too great. He could feel himself slipping and he wasn't as firm in his resolve as he wished to be. Definitely not as stubborn as Naruto either. He would be fighting a losing battle and he knew that it was only a question about time before he would give in.

The thought of having something more with Naruto pulled at his heartstrings. Choosing his partners had always been about physical attraction, now that feelings were involved his heart soared to grab the chance. It had been starved for affection for so long that a hunger unlike any other had built up and if he took one bite he would want to have it all.

There was no longer a middle way. No compromises could be made, and he had been foolish to think so. But he also knew that Naruto didn't share his opinion and would do everything to fight it.

For Naruto it must have felt like he already got that first bite, when Sasuke accidentally admitted that their feelings were mutual. Now Naruto wanted more and he was sure that he could get it as well.

It was odd how he had wanted them to be close and comfortable with each other again for almost a whole week, but when it did happen everything had gone south. Now they were getting too close. He let Naruto talk and ask, but only answered very few questions. He enjoyed the way the tanned cheeks turned dark pink when the boy tried to convey that he really, seriously wanted them to be together, but it was a bittersweet feeling. Sasuke's arguments were halfhearted, but none the less true.

They were both in unknown territory and it was only because Naruto's eagerness won over his embarrassment that they talked about it at all.

"Even though our ages are a little apart, I'll be eighteen soon and then it won't matter at anymore."

"Two years is not soon."

"We don't have to… like do… stuff…"

Oh dear lord are we really talking about having sex? Sasuke wanted to clasp a hand over Naruto's mouth to stop the words from coming out, at the same time as he wanted to shoot himself for ever allowing Naruto to get that far with his happy little fantasies.

"No we don't."

Naruto's eyes lightened a little at being agreed with, but his expression deflated at the next comment.

"We are not going to do any kind of 'stuff' no matter what."

"But there's nothing wrong with just kissing-"

Both of them were red as tomatoes at this point and if it was possible to die of embarrassment, Sasuke would have been six feet under by now.

"Naruto, please stop."

There was a long silence with the TV as the only background noise. Naruto pouted a little, but then seemed to get another idea.

If I was religious I would say this is some kind of test…

The boy had sat across from him at the dinner table, talking while Sasuke tried to hide behind his laptop. Now he rose and sat next to the raven instead. The stare from those blue eyes was very intense and difficult to ignore. Sasuke shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Naruto was sitting unnaturally close to him with their shoulders touching.

"What are you working on?"

Huh? Talk about a change of subject.

"Sending e-mails. Why?"

"Hmm, no reason."

Sasuke shot him a skeptical look and after an entire awkward minute passed, where Naruto only stared at the screen he reluctantly began actually checking his mails. He knew something was up, and got his suspicions confirmed when he felt a warm hand slowly cover his own. He gave Naruto a sharp look.

"What" the teenager croaked. "I'm not doing anything."

Sasuke refrained from replying in words and stared and the tan hand holding his pale left hand, then shifted his eyes back to Naruto's face.

"What? It's normal for friends to-"

One final glare shut him up and the hand went back to the lap of its owner. It left a tingling and cold sensation on Sasuke's skin. He felt a small shudder down his back. Naruto's attempts at seducing him were laughably innocent, but got to him none the less.

Just one bite… It would be so easy.

"Naruto I think it's time that the laundry is done, will you give me a hand with it?"

The youth sighed. "Sure thing."

They both knew that the laundry could bloody well wait another ten minutes, but left for the basement anyway. This everyday chore had suddenly taken a new meaning to Sasuke after his decision. He tried to burn every little detail into his memory, though he knew they would fade eventually.

They went grocery shopping afterwards and he let Naruto get all his favorites. Some people stared at the bruised up boy. The set of clothes that had been torn up, was the one Sasuke had bought him, so now Naruto wore his old baggy pants and hoddie. The grocery shopping turned into shopping for clothes and they spent the entire Sunday afternoon at the nearest mall. Lucky thing it was the first Sunday in the month and all the shops were open until late.

Naruto had only wanted one new set, but Sasuke got him three and a pair of shoes. As revenge Naruto kept asking Sasuke if he looked hot in whatever shirt he was trying on or if the pants made his butt look good. After one too many weird looks from the sales ladies he whacked the blonde over the head on the uninjured side.

It should have been more awkward between them with everything taken into consideration. But as long as they stayed clear of actually voicing their problems, they could enjoy their time together.

They ate out that evening at Naruto's favorite place and had returned to a point where they could talk normally with each other again. Naruto shamelessly tried to flirt with him, and Sasuke could only shake his head at the cheesy pick up lines as he felt his heart growing heavier and heavier. He tried to smile a little, but it became nothing more than weird grimaces.

At last they finished their meal and got back to the car with everything they had bought. Naruto looked out the window and cranked the volume on the radio up. He hummed the melody of some new pop song Sasuke didn't know. It took a while before Naruto caught on and grew curious.

"Hey where are we going? This is not the way home."

Home.

"You'll see."

They were getting to the outskirts of Konoha, where vegetation began to replace grey concrete and asphalt. They went past the town sign and into a forested area. Sasuke's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he pulled into an almost empty parking lot.

"Uh, Sasuke where are we? Are you sure you haven't got us lost?" Naruto asked with a cheeky grin.

"No, this is the right place."

"Okaaay, what are we doing here?"

"Come with me." He said and stepped out of the car. He left everything in it; there would be time enough for that later. As they walked side by side along a high hedge towards their destination, Sasuke grabbed Naruto's hand in his.

He could have killed himself at the look of happiness and embarrassment that lit up Naruto's face. He squeezed the hand lightly and Naruto squeezed his back harder.

This is for the best.

They got to the end of the hedge and an entrance to a big red brick building came into view. It was an old style building surrounded by huge green areas and with a big black iron gate. A gravel road went from the gate to the entrance. Sasuke opened the gate and Naruto hesitated at his side.

"I don't think we can go in here, it looks pretty official, ya know." He said uncertainly.

Sasuke just squeezed his hand in response and pulled him along.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't answer. Wasn't sure if he could. Luckily for him Naruto was so focused on him, that he didn't see the place for what it was, until they were a few meters in front of it.

"Sasuke, come on, I want to leave. I bet someone is going to get pissed that we just walked in he-"

Naruto stopped mid sentence when he saw the big white letters over the entrance spelling:

"Konoha Foster Home"

Sasuke might forget how Naruto looked folding laundry or eating his favorite dish someday, but he would never be able to forget how Naruto looked at him then.

Disbelief. Hurt. Betrayal. Desperation. It was all there in one look. Naruto tried to pull his hand away and whimpered.

"No!"

Sasuke did not let him go.

"Naruto, this is for the-"

"NO!" Naruto screamed. "Let me go! Let me go you lying fucking bastard!"

The entrance doors opened to reveal a police officer and what Sasuke assumed to be the leader of the foster home, whom he had spoken to on the phone earlier that day.

At the sight of them Naruto's eyes filled with panic and he struggled as if fighting for his life to get free. Sasuke held him close to his body so he couldn't move.

"Let me go! I hate you! I hate you! You liar, this is not for the best!" Naruto half screamed half cried as he hit and kicked with all his might. It was not enough. Sasuke was much stronger, and one could even say it was easy for him to hold the teenager in a tight grip, if they didn't know any better.

His heart was breaking at the desperate cries of Naruto, and it took all his willpower not to let him run. He felt like taking a feral cat to the vet, telling it everything would be better soon, when he in reality knew it was going to be put down.

Though it might be for the best in the long run, he knew a part of Naruto's spirit would be broken that day. He had thoroughly betrayed his trust and didn't doubt Naruto's hateful words thrown at him. He could feel the sobs wracking the young body in his arms and would have cried too if he hadn't felt like stone all the way through.

He had to leave his own emotions behind to get this done.

The buff police officer came up to him and grabbed Naruto firmly by the arms. He slowly removed the boy from Sasuke while Naruto clawed at the raven like some wild animal.

"You can't do this to me! You can't! You were supposed to protect me!" he cried.

Sasuke took a step back and forced himself to keep on looking. That was the least he could do. Naruto kicked and yelled until the friendly looking foster care worker stepped in between them.

"Hi Naruto." The brown haired man's voice was calm and soft. "I'm Iruka."

Naruto seemed to deflate and was suddenly just a crying boy held in check by a big police officer. He looked like someone who needed to be rescued more than restrained.

"We're going to take care of you here from now on." Iruka said with the most non-threatening smile in history. Naruto's eyes weren't on the brown haired man at all though, they were focused on Sasuke. Tears streamed down his cheeks and his sobs were reduced small wheezing gasps.

"You're leaving me."

He couldn't say anything; his voice was stuck in his throat. So he gave a stiff little nod instead.

"You're leaving." A loud sob. Sasuke turned to Iruka, his eyes pleading for understanding. He hadn't told the entire story about him and Naruto, but Iruka seemed to understand enough. They had agreed to meet later so he could explain why leaving this way was the only option. With a last look at Naruto he turned to leave.

"Sasuke please! Don't go! Don't leave me here!"

His steps grew faster.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, I'm sorry!" Naruto sobbed "I won't bother you with it anymore! Please don't go!"

"I promise to stop being annoying, Sasuke! I promise not to do anything anymore! Sasuke! I promise, don't leave!"

The farther away he got the louder the yells got and the more desperate.

"I won't ever forgive you if you go! Come back! Come back you bloody bastard! I hate you!"

"Sasuke! Sasuke don't go! Sasuke! You can't just leave me! Come back!"

The screams didn't stop when he turned around the hedge and out of sight. He could hear them all the way to the parking lot.

"Sasuke!"

He felt wet cold streaks down his cheeks as he got into the car and started the engine. Even with the windows up, he could hear Naruto's cries. As he drove past the gate he saw Naruto run towards it. The last thing he saw was Naruto hands sticking out between the iron bars in the rearview mirror.

Like a wild animal clawing to get out of its cage.

The End

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Just kidding, there's no way I could leave it like that. Unfortunately I just got back to school (Why holiday, why? couldn't you just be a little bit longer?)

So can't make any promises about the next chapter. I already more than a third of it done, but I might be busy from now on, so who knows when I'll get the time :/