A/N: Do I rock or what? I did this yesterday, after posting the fourth chapter of Entertainment. I hope that you're all doing good and are still interested in reading my stories. The next chapter is already in the making, so expect it soon.

Please review, comment or send me some constructive critism. I would love to hear what you all think, even if it's just a word or two!

State of Shock

Volatile

Naruto woke up with his back aching. The dull ache was not unbearable, but it had him grimacing in displeasure. He rolled over on his stomach, silently blaming Sasuke for letting him sleep on the sofa. Whenever Naruto slept there, the next day was doomed to be bad because of the back ache he would get.

He sat up slowly, opening his eyes only to come face to face with his lover. He inhaled sharply in surprise, seeing as Sasuke was sitting between his legs, very close. The pale hands of Sasuke's moved to cup Naruto's face, pulling the blonde in for a soft kiss.

Their lips moved, and Naruto briefly wondered what brought the sudden affection on. He didn't get to think for long, as Sasuke put his hands on the small of Naruto's back to pull him closer. He wrapped his long legs around Sasuke's waist, their lips never parting.

They sat there, on the sofa, Naruto with his legs wrapped around Sasuke's waist and Sasuke's legs under him. He opened his eyes when Sasuke broke their kiss, and leaned his forehead against Naruto's.

Strong fingers moved in under Naruto's shirt, massaging the small of his back. It felt so good that the blonde threw his head back and parted his lips in a silent moan. Sasuke wasn't particularly careful, even though he could feel Naruto's hipbones perfectly against his palms.

Never had he complained about Naruto's body type. He would take Naruto as he came, and the blonde knew that perfectly well. Yet, now, Sasuke's eyebrows knitted together. Maybe it was time to put his foot down and tell Naruto what went and what didn't.

It was Sasuke who was in charge, after all.

Naruto was unhealthy, and Sasuke wouldn't accept it. His finger moved over Naruto's back, over the smooth skin, feeling Naruto's bones all too well. His spine, his shoulder blades and the back of his ribcage. Now, with Naruto still tired and his back aching, Sasuke was in the perfect situation to tell the blonde his thoughts.

"Stop this," he whispered. "Stop this, Naruto."

Naruto leaned his forehead against Sasuke's shoulder, silently telling to keep touching his back. Sasuke's rough fingertips didn't tickle, but left a trail of pleasure on Naruto's body. It made him lightheaded.

"I don't want to take this anymore..." His voice was low and challenging, daring Naruto to protest. "I don't need to take this anymore. I've accomplished both my dreams and reached my goals. Now, all I'm asking for is a normal life."

Naruto looked up; mind a bit dazed from the pleasure that Sasuke was causing him. He gave the Uchiha a sceptic look, because we will never be normal.

"One day, you ask me to show you all my love. You ask me to show affection and to love you more than a sex toy. Then, the next day, you deny me this. You tell me to keep us secret, while you still want me to be the perfect lover. What is it you crave from me today, Naruto?"

Naruto looked up, unsure if he dared to look Sasuke in the eyes. He saw nothing special in those dark orbs. What told Naruto about Sasuke's anger were the minimal wrinkles between Sasuke's eyebrows. What told Naruto about Sasuke's impatience was how the fingers massaging his back were getting harsher.

"I have given you everything I have. I've done everything I was supposed to. Now, I want something back. You better give it to me, Naruto. How can you be so selfish when I've given you everything? Tell me, future Hokage."

Neither of them spoke. Sasuke continued to massage Naruto's back as if he wasn't fuming with rage. Naruto kept silent, not able to speak his mind. The idea of being selfish upset the blonde. He knew more than well that he had taken more than he had given, but he would never be the only selfish one in their relationship.

Relationship.

How it could be called a relationship was foreign to both of them. Both were egocentric and inexperienced – Sasuke didn't even know what he wanted Naruto to give him. Naruto didn't even know what Sasuke had given him.

UAUAUA

Labile.

It was a pretty word. Sai had countered it plenty of times in his books, often partnered with its opposite stabile. It didn't matter how many times he read the word 'labile.' He would always find it pretty in a way he couldn't understand.

Stabile wasn't as exciting as labile. Maybe his fascination with the word 'labile' was the reason as to why he found Sakura so interesting. She wasn't attractive to him, nor did her personality enchant him. In a way, he could actually see why she was still all alone.

No one but Naruto and Rock Lee had found her beautiful. Not even Sasuke, the only one she had shared a bed with. Not that he cared about her looks. She was a good friend, at one time. Now, she was only labile.

Labile. Interesting. Unstable. Exciting. Unpredictable.

Maybe that was why Sai found himself at Sakura's little house to take care of the screaming nuisance that was her child. The boy wasn't annoying all the time, but Sai was sure that he could have done better – more important – things than babysit.

Yet, sitting here and drawing as little Itachi slept heavily, he wondered where Sakura took off. She was away for much longer time than she worked at times, and only Buddha knew where she went. Though, ever since last week, she came home straight after work.

Why she didn't stay out longer anymore was much more interesting than why she had stayed out in the first place. At least to Sai.

His dark eyes followed his pencil, watching how his hand drew cheekbones. They weren't very visible – more hidden under full cheeks. After the head followed tussled strands of hair. The hair was chopped and not taken care of. Even without a face, it was evident on whom it was.

Sai closed his eyes to picture sea-green eyes and a round nose. He recalled the little scar under Sakura's lower lip, which trailed up to the corner of her lips. It was only visible when she smiled, so he hadn't seen it in awhile. It didn't matter though, because the Sakura on his paper was going to be younger.

It was a Sakura that Sai had never met, only seen on pictures and photos. He had seen the one on her nightstand – the one of old Team Seven. He had seen the identical one at Naruto's place, on his nightstand.

Opening his eyes, Sai wondered if Sasuke kept one on his nightstand.

UAUAUA

Hinata kicked the larger stone away from the gravel path, angered with herself. Once again, she had been waiting for the Uchiha at the small training ground. She had been sitting there for three hours before realising that the sky was turning red.

Now, walking home, she was disappointed with both herself and Sasuke. She had counted on him to come and train before the evening, as he did most Sundays. It appeared that today was one of those days when Sasuke was already with Naruto.

Otherwise, after the Uchiha's training, Naruto would show up. And when Naruto showed up, Hinata got to see him. She knew that she was greedy – she already met him on Monday mornings, with Kiba.

Now, walking home, she never expected meeting them both. Her desire to see Sasuke train disappeared, and in its absence, the wish of Sasuke's vanishing appeared. She blushed prettily upon the sight of her love.

Naruto was walking fast, Sasuke jogging after him. The look on Naruto's face told her that he was not in the mood to see her. Yet, she couldn't help but pipe out a "hello."

Naruto spun around as he had already walked past her, and almost stumbled over his own feet. He didn't offer her his trademark grin, nor did he give her a polite smile. His attention and focus were else where, with Uchiha Sasuke.

She sent a discreet, and very meek, glare at the much taller man. Sasuke had caught up with them, and nodded towards her in acknowledge. It was a surprisingly polite action, coming from the man she despised so strongly. It made her feel guilty, that she had thought less of him.

"Good evening," she offered. "I-I'll see you tomorrow, N-naruto-kun."

As the words left her lips, they both noticed that Naruto had already run away. Sasuke cursed under his breath, not bothering to bid his goodbye to the Hyuuga Heiress as he took off to find his lover.

UAUAUA

There were moments when everything just seemed to fit. Naruto appreciated those moments, and would always treat them as they deserved. Naruto appreciated that Kiba had stood up against his mother and moved from the Inuzuka Compound.

Knocking on Kiba's door, he expected it to be slammed open.

And as he expected, the door was slammed open violently.

"Who the fuck– Oh. Naruto." Kiba's posture was straightened a little, and he ran a hand through his messy bed-hair. Naruto was ushered inside, and the blonde made himself comfortable on the couch. "What's wrong?"

Naruto only sent him a tired look, begging Kiba not to ask questions. The look didn't work, since it was still pitch dark in the apartment. Kiba reached for one of the lamps, lighting the room up a little.

"Why aren't you at your place?" Kiba, who was stupid enough to expect an answer, was disappointed when no one else spoke. "I'm guessing that Sasuke has something to do with this."

Naruto nodded slowly, lying down and correcting the pillow behind his head. He closed his eyes, listening to Kiba's soft muttering. He couldn't make out the words, but guessed that it was theories on what the Uchiha had done.

When Kiba stopped muttering to himself to question Naruto's presence once more, the blonde was already asleep.

Rolling his dark brown eyes, Kiba stood up to leave. He hesitated though, wondering if he should put a blanket over the thin body. Deciding to let Naruto sleep in a real bed, he picked up his best friend and carried him to the bedroom.

After that, Kiba leaned against the doorframe, wondering if it was okay that he slept in the same bed. It took him five minutes to decide that it was the safest to sleep in the couch.

He didn't want Sasuke hunting him down.

UAUAUA

What made Sasuke go to the hospital was still unknown. The sudden urge to visit the house of life and death simply couldn't be denied, however, and he had gone there early in the morning. He hadn't gotten any sleep last night, because he knew where his lover had been.

At Kiba's.

Whenever Naruto was there, Sasuke felt unsure if the blonde was as loyal as everyone made him out to be. One would think that Sasuke would go there to apologise, to get his not-so-secret lover. Even though Sasuke had thought about going there – not to apologise, but to drag Naruto away from there – his feet had led him the other way.

The hospital looked as it always had done after it had been rebuilt. White walls, sky blue floors, big windows. Nothing special, except for the fact that the security had been heightened, along with the medics' skills.

"May I help you, sir?"

A nurse – dressed in the compulsory, white nurse outfit – walked up to him. Her legs were long, looking pale with those white stockings. Her feet moved gracefully over the floor, even though she was wearing white pumps. Her brown hair was put in a tight knot, which gave her a strict look.

Had Sasuke not been who he was, he might have backed off a little.

"Haruno Sakura." Even though it was said with outmost boredom, she seemed to suspect that he had not planned his visit.

"Of course, sir. Follow me." She took off, her long legs giving her speed. He walked behind her, staring at nothing in particular. They walked up two sets of stairs before they reached the right corridor. "Wait here, please."

She disappeared inside of the room before them, and he leaned against the wall as he waited. His patience had grown during his stay at Orochimaru's, but he was in no mood to handle Sakura. Why he had blurted out her name, he didn't know himself.

When he saw her coming towards him, he was close to merely give her a nod and walk back home. His pride – as wounded and small as it was, if it ever existed – told him to stay.

She wasn't as pretty as she had once been – the pregnancy had apparently taken more than it had given her. She didn't blush as she reached him, but he noticed the shiver that ran over her body. He waited, knowing that she would be the one to speak first.

As most times, he was right, and she spoke – sounding tired and frustrated. "What are you doing here, Sasuke?"

The way she spoke his name – so sarcastic – made him frown inside. He didn't answer, and noticed how irritated it made Sakura. She leaned against the pale wall next to him, a wrinkle apparent between her eyebrows.

Acting spontaneous – maybe even foolish – he told her what was had unconsciously brought him here. His lips parted, smooth and well-chosen words floating out to meet her delicate ears. "I want to tell you. Why I did... everything."

She closed her eyes, unsure if she liked the idea of Sasuke trusting her enough with the truth. A part of her wanted to listen, listen and then run off to explain the truth to everyone that mattered. The other part, the rational part, knew that she would dislike the truth greatly – and that she would be so ashamed that no one would ever hear of it.

Sasuke knew what part would win, she realised. He knew that she would be ashamed – for he had taken advantage of her, and she had let him. He knew that she would never tell anyone to keep the little dignity she had left.

"We can use this room for awhile. I doubt anyone will disturb us," Sakura finally muttered. Sasuke smirked in victory, even though he wouldn't have cared much if she had told him that she didn't want to know.

Victory was always sweet.

To Be Continued

A/N: A question before you leave a review: Is this length too long or too short? Would you like me to make a filler chapter with someone's first POV? And if yes, whose POV should it be?