Author's Notes:

Thanks for the wonderful reviews, alerts and favorites! I'll work hard so I can get the updates out faster. A million thanks to my Beta for helping me clear this chapter of mistakes and thank you all for reading. Enjoy~


Sakura raised her eyes from the book at hand and scowled at the sleeping blond beside her. She was aware that he had been busting his ass with training these past few days, but still, he could at least honour her with a word or two. As far as she could see, any time they spent together, Naruto would fall asleep two minutes later. She didn't want to admit it, but it was getting on her nerves. Sure, he liked basketball, but one shouldn't allow a mere sport to dominate over his life, putting him in a careless mess that only saw places to sleep in. She wanted her best friend back for heaven's sake!

"Naruto…"

Sakura called softly to wake him up without disturbing the students nearby, but her words fell on deaf ears. She sighed, closed the book in her hands and nudged him hard to wake him up. Sleepy eyes peeked at her from the arms their owner used to lean on.

"What is it, Sakura-chan?"

"It's time for you to get up; class will begin in five minutes."

"Then wake me up in five minutes."

"We need five minutes to reach the classroom, Naruto. Get up!"

Grumpily, Naruto raised his head up, stretched his numb arms in the process and slumped his head back on the table indicating just how worn out he was getting. Sakura pushed the chair she was sitting on to the back quietly and stood up. Collecting the books in front of her, she whispered to Naruto as not to attract any attention from the students who were still studying to her.

"I'm going to return those to their places, you wait for me outside."

Naruto nodded to her and watched as she disappeared into the bookshelves. Lazily he carried himself out of the quiet library, cursing at the way each bone in his body seemed to complain at the movement. Apparently, these days, it had become a habit of his to accompany Sakura into the library. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't turning into a bookworm, but a sleep-worm. The first time Sakura had dragged him there to study, he kept on whining. But once inside, he came to see why it was her favorite spot for reading.

The library was serene. It was quiet, no sound except the coolness of the AC as it poured over their sweaty forms and the now and then usual shuffle of pages. Naruto sneezed at the sudden change of temperature, making him notice how the outside was warmer than the inside of the library. Minutes later of standing there like a snoozing idiot, Sakura came out, holding the same book he saw her read inside. Naruto rolled his eyes at her, she was probably the only person he knew of that would spent each free minute they had reading.

"Shall we go?"

He tagged along beside her as they made their way to the classroom.

"Sakura, the Culture Festival is close by, right? What is our class going to do?"

"Naruto…you really are unbelievable!" She took a deep breath and tried not to release the frustration inside, 'cause even if she did, nothing was going to change. "But then again, how the hell would you know if you've been sleeping through everything!"

"Umm…I wasn't sleeping all the time."

"Yeah, not all the time, just in lessons, when you are with me or when our class is having discussions about something important in a free period!"

"As I said, not all the time." At the glare, he dropped the smart-ass attitude. "You know I can't help it, Sakura. The Interhigh Tournament is just around the corner and I need to prove myself to them, so they can let me play."

"You can't be serious, you have just made it into the team and now you want to snatch a position?"

"But I can! Sakura, I'm way better than that Thick Eyebrow guy they have on!"

"Thick Eyebrow guy?"

"Yes, he has these thick black eyebrows with circular round eyes," Naruto shivered. "Just thinking of him sends chills all over my body."

"Hmmm…now I'm interested in knowing him, mind if I came by later to check him out?"

"I don't mind, but don't you have club activities today?"

Sakura dismissed the notion with her hand. "I can slip away for one day, they aren't that hard headed about missing one or two voices."

"But your voice is the lead one in the choir."

"Not really, there is another girl….her tone-control is way better than mine. And to tell you the truth, I think there is a silent competition going on between us."

They took a turn and Naruto moved a little so that the girl who came running didn't bump into him. "You think?"

"Well, she didn't say anything about it and neither did I, but I can feel the competitive energy she is generating. She wants to steal my position."

"Wow, I didn't know choirs could be so scary."

Sakura gave him a smile. "I think they are like any other sport, we do have competitions as well, Naruto."

"With other choirs, not amongst yourselves."

"Yeah, but this girl is making it between us. Still it doesn't really matter; since she can't beat me in a matter of one day."

"I'm afraid that this one day will be your downfall."

"Stop saying stuff that will jinx me!" She slapped him with the back of her book. "And whatever you say, I'll come today to watch you. Since I've developed an interest about the thing that got you sleeping through everything that was supposed to make our high school life fun."

"Sakura," Naruto sweat dropped. "Classes don't make life fun, they make life frustrating!"

"But learning does."

"You and I have two different views on what's fun."

The pink haired girl tugged a stray lock behind her ear, and gave him a little chuckle. Naruto slid the door open to their class, relieved that they had made it in time before Kurenai showed her face. He didn't hate the teacher, but she was too stern at times. Why couldn't she act a little bit more friendly and less cold? Almost all of her students were afraid of her. The blond took his seat and glanced out the window, if he was thankful for one thing she has done for him, it would be giving him a seat that had his best friend at the right side and a big breezy window at the left one.

"Kyaaa! Look, look! It's Sasuke-Senpai!"

"Where? Where?"

"There! His class is having a track contest! Look, Gosh he is soo hot! I would die to become his girlfriend!"

"He wouldn't look at you, ugly! I'm more his type!"

Naruto's eyes turned to the windows of the class opposite of them, he watched as a fight emerged between the girls to see who would triumph as Sasuke's girlfriend. He sighed then sent a silent glare to the guy setting up to run at the tracks. His glare soon changed to that of awe as Sasuke ran like lighting across the track, beating his rival in a heartbeat.

It was obvious that the one competing with Sasuke wasn't on the same level. Still, something felt a bit off with the raven, Naruto's eyes couldn't pinpoint the exact thing, but he knew there was something wrong, almost out of place happening. Switching his attention to the board, Naruto shrugged the subject off; this wasn't his business to worry about. And as the door opened revealing an oddly happy Kurenai, he sent that flicker of worry to the back of his mind.


Naruto drew his jacket closer and twirled the ball with his index finger. His club practice has finished and it was time to get going home. He spared a glance back, then turned around and continued his walk. Sakura hadn't shown to the practice at all, he had waited for her as long as he could, but after getting kicked out by an annoyed Shikamaru, he had no solution but to call it a day and go home without her. He did make a little trip to the Choir though, but they informed him that she had left early with a friend. Thinking that his best friend would have a good reason for ditching him, Naruto stopped thinking about the matter.

The roads were almost empty; with no one to walk except people coming late from their day jobs, and of course, cram students. He shivered at remembering the horror of that last year in Middle School and how hard he had worked to pass that difficult entrance exam of Konoha High. Naruto smiled, it was all worth it. Finally getting to the bus station, he pulled off his backpack and sat on the bench, waiting for the bus to come.

At the loud squeal emerging from his right, his attention was jolted out of his thoughts about the bus schedule; and turned to see what was exactly going on. When his eyes met with those onyx nightly ones, he wished if he hadn't. So, he ignored the pale raven and pretended as if he didn't see a thing. Yet, his ears couldn't help but set to hear the conversation.

"It would be lots of fun, Sasuke-kun."

"Yeah, you finished with your club, right? Then just come with us, we have been waiting for you since the beginning!"

Excited squeals followed as the two girls clapped their hands on either sides of Sasuke.

"I didn't ask you to."

The cold tone was evident to Naruto, and he could sense the way the girls must've flinched at it. Truthfully, he didn't know why the jerk was being such an ass. It wasn't like gorgeous girls come on to you each and every passing day….right?

"Sasuke-kun, you meanie~"

"We could show you a really good time, too."

And now, seductive scents were vibrating. Naruto held his ball close to him, and tried to have his mind return to calculating the bus schedule since it was running a bit late instead of eavesdropping on an annoying conversation.

"I don't really have time to play with you, girls.'Cause my date has been waiting."

"HUH? Date? I didn't see any girls waiting beside us."

"You don't have any date, Sasuke-kun; you're just bluffing with us."

"Am I now?"

Footsteps were getting closer to Naruto, and before he could know what was going on, he was being snatched up by the hand and held against a firm chest. He gazed with wide eyes at the raven who was daring enough to pull him into his problems.

"You can't be serious! He is your date!"

"Yes he is, right Naruto-kun?" Sasuke turned with threatening eyes to the blond and whispered in his ears. "Say otherwise and you're dead!"

"Eh…umm…y-yeah…"

"See? I'm sorry, but I won't be able to accompany you this time, we'll have to put a rain check on this."

"Aahhh! Not fair! We were waiting this whole time, too!"

"Yeah, you can't prefer him over us!" A disgusted look was given to Naruto, which he ignored.

"And I didn't, but I promised him to accompany him tonight in a game, now you don't want me to break my word and become a liar, or do you?"

Sasuke flashed them a charming smile that melted the girls to the ground, they shook their head with hearts floating around.

"Of course not, Sasuke-kun~"

"Good, then we'll take our leave. Let's go, Naruto-kun. And see you later, girls."

The blond didn't know what to make out of the sickly sweet tone he was being addressed with or what came over him to actually help the ass out, but he did. He took his backpack from the bench, twirled it over his back then followed behind his supposed date. He gave a little glance to his back and the glares given to him could kill. Naruto puffed his cheeks and fell in stride with the other.

"You could have dealt with that without pulling me along."

"I could, but seeing that look on your face was priceless."

"Ass!"

"It takes one to know one."

They walked a little then Sasuke stopped beside his car, he flickered the alarm off and went into the driver's seat. Without being told to, Naruto took the passenger seat.

"You sure are rich, right?" Recognizing his sudden question and how it would appear to others, Naruto continued to elaborate. "I mean, you have this amazing car, and I don't think a mere high schooler will be able to afford it."

"Took you long enough to notice."

"No, it didn't. I thought it, but didn't voice it."

"Hn."

Sasuke started the engine and they set to go. As the raven made a different turn from that to Naruto's house, Naruto was starting to wonder just where they were heading exactly. It wasn't the road they had taken the previous night Sasuke had drove him home. But he didn't sweat, since he knew the roads they were on right now. His eyes glanced at the stoic face beside him, looking at the other more intuitively; he could see why he was called handsome. His features were well cut and his black hair looked soo smooth as it fell so softly on either side of his pale cheeks.

Leaving Naruto to wonder why, even though that complexion was so pale that it was close to the dead's, he didn't feel any disgust while looking at it. But the opposite really; it made the being beside him look more unearthly and beautiful at the same time.

"Don't stare."

Getting caught off guard, Naruto turned to the glass blushing. "I…I wasn't staring."

Sasuke gave him a smirk. "Sure, you weren't."

Naruto felt his embarrassment deepen at the smirk. So, discomforted, he glued his face to the window and ignored the evilness beside him. As he did so, he noticed how they were now on a road that he didn't recognize.

"Umm…Sasuke, where are we going?"

"There is a game going on tonight, they're our first opponents. We are going to check it out."

"Oh, I did some research on them, too. They don't seem all that tough, last year; they lost on their first game."

"That was last year, this year they have recruited a strong player. Till now, they had three official games and won them all. One of the teams they've beaten had reached the finale of last year's Interhigh." A wave of eagerness wrapped around Sasuke. "My fingertips are blazing just by thinking I'll be playing such an opponent."

It was the first time since their challenge that he had seen Sasuke in such a condition, Naruto smiled, happy that the fire was still lit inside the other's heart.

"Don't go challenging strong players and lose, you hear me? You're mine to defeat!"

"Says the idiot who was stumbling through his dribbles this afternoon. And there is no way I'm losing."

Naruto puffed his cheeks and started playing with his fingers; he really had hoped that none notices his little misses today, but of course, nothing can pass those sharp orbs that seemed to see through everything. But in fact, it was all due to his anxiety. It was the first time he was practicing with the eyes of the regulars glued to him. Sure, he played games in Middle School and he was always the center of attention there. But he felt a bit uncomfortable today.

"I….I wasn't stumbling; I think I was just nervous."

Sasuke spared a glance at the fumbling blond. "Of?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't really know, but I think because I had finally obtained the dream I was working so hard for, I'm getting a bit scared of handling it. I know it sounds stupid, but…..I was just too nervous today, with all these remarkable players watching my performance, it was….scary."

"Only idiots would get scared of something like that."

Naruto released a small smile. "I had a feeling you'd say something like that."

"Good, then you know you're an idiot!"

"And you're an ass!"

Sasuke took a cigarette out of his pocket and placed it on his lips, using his left hand; he lit it with the car's lighter, then returned the lighter to its original place. At the foreign smell, Naruto turned just in time to see the raven take his first drag off of the deadly nicotine. Quickly his hands went to snatch the cigarette away, but Sasuke's was swifter.

"Na, uh, uah. No touching."

"No touching my ass! That thing will kill you, and as a fellow basketballer, I can't live with myself knowing that you're slowly taking your own life!"

Naruto tried a second time at taking the drug, and this time, Sasuke used his left hand to grab Naruto's wrist. Pressuring at the veins, he warned.

"Next time, you'll be kicked out of the car."

Naruto pulled his hand free after it was let go off, he glared at Sasuke and nursed his aching wrist.

"Suite yourself. I won't touch it; smoke your life away for all I care!"

"That's more like it. Now get out, we are here."

Abruptly the car stopped moving and Naruto took a look outside the window, he felt his anger evaporate at the shining lights, and soon his face broke out into a huge grin when faced with the big flashy stadium.


Naruto held out his bag and then swung it over his shoulder, with his ball in his left hand; he steadied the door not to close just yet with his right.

"You know, you can always come inside. Dropping me off like this each time seems like we're doing something bad. Iruka would love to meet you, too."

Sasuke pulled up his sunglasses and looked with stoic eyes at the blond.

"I think you've got the wrong idea here. We're not friends, never have been and never will be. And I have no interest in getting to know you better or developing any fuzzy, cozy feelings with your family. I was simply finishing my business and getting you home since it was my fault this has happened. Now, do us both a favor and close the door, I had enough of looking at your lousy face for one day."

Naruto felt his relaxed expression flare in a mere second; and his angry mode switched back in. He slammed the door shut and raised the finger to Sasuke's face.

"Fine, Teme! I won't grace your stinking ass with even a syllable!"

"Most appreciated."

With that Sasuke drove off, leaving a steaming Naruto. It took everything Naruto had not to slam the front door and release the anger that was still messing with his insides. Who did that ass think he was? Sure, they had a great time and Naruto made the little mistake of maybe thinking they were on the road to becoming friends. But he was the one who started it! Naruto didn't go out of his way to seek the company of the asshole! He was the one who asked for it, and where does he get off now blaming it all on Naruto? As if Naruto was the one doing the stalking!

He roared as he walked up the stairs to his room. In his fit of anger, he ceased to see the shadows of the two adult men kissing on the kitchen table. Five minutes after he trashed his room in anger, Naruto decided that a cold shower would be very helpful to solve his little problem, and then, maybe he would try some shooting, yeah, playing basketball was always a way to calm his nerves.

The shower's cold water helped him clear up his foggy irritation and with each drop, his mind tried to make peace with the raven and he began putting himself in the other's shoes. It wouldn't be good for Sasuke to befriend an underclassman of course, and one who was always on his neck on how they should do a match. Nagging nonstop till he got what he wanted, like a little kid. Yeah, now that he thought about it, he did come off as a bit of an annoyance.

But even so, those words Sasuke threw at him were really hurtful, he didn't do anything wrong, just wanted to be friends with the guy. Was it all that bad really?

Naruto switched the shower off and got out holding a towel to cover his lower half. Feeling the sudden thirst for water, he switched to the kitchen instead of his room. If he had anything on his hand right now, Naruto was sure he'd drop it. Yes, it wasn't a big deal to see his so called father make out with a man, but they didn't have to go on jerking each other on the kitchen room table! Jesus that was where he eats his breakfast for crying out loud!

"Iruka!"

Startled out of his ecstasy, Iruka looked with surprised eyes at his so called son.

"N-Naruto….what are y-you doing here?"

"That should be my line! God, Iruka this is the kitchen table! We eat here!"

Iruka blushed and pushed the man who acted as if the crying teen was in another dimension away from him, quickly trying to hide his erection from Naruto.

"Ummm…s-sorry."

"Listen here kid, we are still at the beginning, anything you have to say to Iruka would have to wait! Iruka, show me the way to your bedroom."

Still clouded with ecstasy, the brown haired man had nothing to do but point the direction as his silver haired date led the way.

Watching the two men leave his sight, Naruto sighed with a heavy heart and looked at the bulge in his towel. Blushing at his own perverseness, he returned to the bathroom, cursing his raging teen hormones at getting affect with each little sexual act in front of him. He let himself get off in the bathroom then returned to the living room after cleaning up himself. As he did so, he wondered if jerking to the sight of two penises rubbing against each other was really how a teen should be jerking off.

About half an hour of the unfortunate incident, Iruka stepped out of his room heading downstairs. He saw Naruto sitting like a good child on the living room with a basketball game playing and made his way beside him.

"Naruto….I need to explain wha-"

"You don't have to," Naruto turned the volume down with a smile directed to his guardian. "I'm old enough to know about these things by now, Iruka. And I know that you haven't had any sex for about a month and a half now. So, I'm not really judging. But next time, try not to do it on the kitchen table. It kinda takes my mood off of food."

Iruka pulled the smiling blond into his arms for a crushing hug. "Aww, I don't know how I got to get such a wonderful son like you! And don't worry; I'll make sure he doesn't make us do something like that again."

"Which reminds me, who is he anyways?"

"You mean Kakashi? He is the date I've told you about."

Naruto frowned at the man beside him. "Wait, what happened to the 'I don't bring men to home on the first date' rule?"

Iruka smiled sheepishly to his kid. "Well, technically, this is the second date. And he kinda insisted on coming here to get to know you, since I spent most of my time talking about you, he wanted to meet you."

"I bet he just wanted to meet your dick, not me."

Blushing, the brunet hit his kid on the shoulder. "Naruto! Please, language!"

"Yeah, yeah….But it is the first time you've done something like this, even if they insisted. You don't usually bend."

Iruka nodded with a sweet smile. "Yeah, he is special, and I have a feeling he won't harm you in any way. You see; when I'm with him, I get a nice feeling of being safely sheltered, and I haven't felt like that in a long time, so, Naruto please, try to get along with him. He is a good guy. Besides,"

Naruto scowled. "What else?"

"He has a cousin who is in the same high school as you."

"A cousin." Naruto wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I bet he or she would be as perverted as he is!"

"Naruto, firstly, it's a he, a sophomore. And secondly, Kakashi isn't a pervert."

"Hum….you had just had sex with him. You are still affected. Wait for a few more days and you'll see how much of a pervert he really is!"

Iruka sighed and decided to ignore Naruto's sentences altogether. "Regarding his cousin, you should know him, since he is on the same basketball team as you are."

"You mean he is a regular?"

"From what Kakashi told me, he is the best player on the team, their Ace Player or something."

At this, Naruto felt his breath hitch. "Iruka…what was the name of this guy?"

"Oh, it's Uchiha Sasuke. Why? You know him?"

And the anger that was buried by the cold water half an hour ago surfaced to fill Naruto's already troubled stomach with unwanted heat.


Gaara had always learned how to play life cool and stop getting affected with every little thing that faced him. He had reached a place where he could only care about a few things, and he could count them with on one hand. Yet, it amazed him really how Naruto would switch from being on top of the heavenly clouds one morning to between blazing hells the next. But, he learned from Sakura, apparently Naruto's childhood friend, that when Naruto flips his moods, Gaara is to take shelter. Or if he was really up for it, try and reason with Naruto, not that it would do much good she said.

"Listen, I think Naruto should not take part in practice today."

Neji raised a brow at the red-haired before him. "Ooh, and why is that?"

"It's just….he doesn't look too good."

"Looks fine to me."

"Neji, try to get out of your little sadistic zone for a moment, and look at things as they truly are."

The lilac eyed beauty rolled his eyes but took Gaara's advice anyway and took a good hard look at Naruto's form. Blood-shot eyes, knotting eyebrows, slouched form and a dark aura that seemed to radiate from every cell in Naruto's body.

"You're right; he doesn't seem all that well. What happened?"

"I tried to squeeze the info outta him, but it was like squeezing dry a piece of wood."

"Maybe it has something to do with Sasuke."

"Sasuke?" Gaara quirked an invisible brow. "What's Naruto got to do with Sasuke?"

"Appears like the two of them know each other, I still don't have all of the details on the subject, but from what I know, Naruto met up with Sasuke one evening and the two had a match. Of course, Sasuke beat the crap out of poor Naruto."

"And how is that connected to Naruto's condition?"

"Remember the get-together that I was supposed to take you to?"

"Yeah."

"I took Naruto instead, and in the middle of our conversations, he and Sasuke seemed to just disappear. We figured Sasuke would be the one to drive Naruto home, so we took off with Kankuro. But…"

"You suspect something happened."

Neji nodded. "I have a hunch, but this happened the day before yesterday, and Naruto was fine yesterday. So, it may have nothing to do with Sasuke at all."

Gaara gave him a skeptical look. "But you don't know."

"Yeah….still for it to hit Naruto so hard, it must have been something. He always hit me as the perky one. But it seem even those have their off days. Anyhow, you want me to spare him this practice, right?"

"Yes. He has been training like crazy for the Interhigh, and we have our regulars beside Kiba, Shino and I to fill in for each of them if anything were to happen in the game. Besides, I hardly think one practice could make all the difference ther-"

Neji placed a hushing finger on the other's lips, ignoring the way it made him look to the other players present.

"Gaara, Gaara, Gaara. How many years have we known each other?"

Not knowing where the other wanted to get with this conversation, Gaara answered. "Coming on our thirteenth year by July."

"And, through all of these years, have you ever seen me giving a favor without anything in return?"

Gaara sighed at the evil smirk. "What do you want?"

"Always the sharp one, eh? Alright, here's my condition; you know that vacation you and Kankuro were planning to take without my knowing? Cancel it. We are going on a trip on our own!"

"Wait, first, how the hell did you know about that! It was a secret! And second, are you kidding me! Kankuro spent all of his paycheck on those tickets and the reservations! He'll slaughter me if I canceled on him now!"

Neji licked his lips smirking. "You should know by now that nothing hides from me, dear Gaara. And stop being such a drama queen, Kankuro won't harm you; he loves you too much to do it. And if it's about the money, I'll be more than happy to compensate him. So, want the deal or not?"

Gaara felt the beautiful picture of spending some quality time with his big brother and enjoying a nice brotherly vacation darken before his eyes. He took a look at the clearly pissed off blond and sighed. Naruto sure as hell was going to pay him back for this.

"Fine, I agree."

"You don't have to sound so sad about it, we'll have fun!"

At the way Neji skipped to Naruto with, Gaara sweat dropped, knowing whatever fun Neji had in mind was bound to break something in him.


"Naruto, I'm so sorry for yesterday! I had to escort this girl that I've met in the choir home since she was sick, after getting to her house; the time was already too late so I had to head home."

Sakura announced as soon as she saw the face of her friend. Naruto gave her a small smile then sat back on his seat. Since he was dismissed from his club activities, he had nothing to do but go see what was going on in his classes. It was true their school was a sports one, but it also paid attention to academic records, and he needed to keep his attendance points perfect, at least.

"Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan. I wasn't doing very well that day, it's best that you didn't come."

Sakura directed worried eyes at him, still not convinced that he'd forgiven her. "I….I'll make sure to come the next time you have practice, so…don't get upset."

"Sakura, I'm not upset with you. I know you couldn't help it. I'm just pissed at Iruka's new boyfriend."

"Oh, Iruka-san got a new boyfriend? Good! I hated that Yoshinari guy, he was too rude. Iruka-san deserves a better one."

"Yeah, I thought so, too. But this new one, I just can't swallow him."

Sakura grinned. "And it would be very weird if you could,"

"Sakura…" He warned. "I'm being serious here."

"Sorry, just thought to lighten up the gloom in here a bit. So, tell me, what is it about him that you hate so much?"

Naruto put his head on his desk and mumbled. "It's not really hate as much as annoyance. For example, yesterday, I walked in on him and Iruka almost having sex on our kitchen table, and I'm sure it wasn't Iruka's idea."

Sakura widened her eyes, but soon, she started holding her stomach trying to contain her laughter.

"Sakura! This isn't the time to be laughing!"

"I know, but…I just imagined the look on your face when you walked in on them. Classic!"

Naruto pouted and waited for his friend to come out of her laughing spree. Sakura stopped a few minutes later, knowing that she will have her fun afterwards, and that right now, Naruto needed her assistance.

"Is that all? You're annoyed with him just for that?"

"Not just that! He treats me like a brat, and thinks that he knows everything!"

"Well Naruto, logically speaking. You look like a brat to him, tell me, how old is he?"

"Iruka said he was twenty six."

"And you are only a sixteen years old high schooler; you will come off as a brat."

Naruto felt his pout deepen, why did Sakura always have to look at things from the right angle!

"Even so, he shouldn't be treating me like that!"

The pink haired girl put a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder, drawing his attention to her, with a sweet voice, she eased.

"Naruto, I know you. This isn't what's really bothering you. You have had worse experiences with Iruka-san's lovers, and you never complained. So, this is a camouflage for what's really bothering you…won't you tell me?"

Naruto raised his head from the desk and sighed facing her.

"You know me so well, Sakura, that is scares me sometimes."

Her reply was a melodious chuckle to his ears. Naruto felt a clam come over his body and he tried to convey to her what had happened to him these past days. The colors on her face along with her expressions seemed to change as he continued telling the story. He didn't recognize that he had wanted a person to speak to about Sasuke till he did. And the words just slid out of his mouth like a waterfall.

By the end of his story, Sakura had a clear idea about what was disturbing her friend, and also, a good advice to give him, although she was a bit suspired that the person Naruto had met the first night he came to their school was the same person who her heart seemed to drive to, she didn't show it to Naruto. For the last thing he needed was her telling him she had fallen in love with the Ice Prince.

"Listen Naruto, I think you should know something about Uchiha Sasuke before you start on deciding to cross him and hope he dies."

"What?"

"As you might have known, getting to know him and being on his good side isn't very easily done, but Naruto; there is something I think you should better know now."

"Will you stop with trying to stall for time and just come right out and say it? What is it about him that I don't know?"

"Uchiha Sasuke came to this school for a period of two years. One was already spent, and this one is already reaching it's half."

At her words, something in Naruto shook. With confused eyes, he questioned her. "What do you mean only two years?"

"That was his condition to come to this school. You know that our school relies on good players, and goes out of its way to recruit them. They bargained with Sasuke and he agreed to fulfill the period to two years only, because after, he was quitting basketball altogether."

"Quitting basketball? Why?"

Sakura shook her head, unable to provide the information Naruto wanted.

"No one really knows the reason, and till now, it's only a rumor. Nothing solid has been said by him. But there is no smoke without fire."

"So, you think it's true?"

"I have my doubts, but my initial guess is that it's true."

Naruto closed his eyes, took a deep breath and reopened his eyes again. "Sakura-chan, thank you."

With that, he ran out of the classroom, leaving the girl to wonder as to what came over her friend and had him run out of the class so fast ignoring their upcoming class.


Naruto tried to run as fast as he could, feeling the emotions inside his body explode and he had no idea what to do with them. His little secret place –his bedroom roof – was a bit impossible to reach at the moment, and the only thing close was this building's roof. Running against gravity was really hard, Naruto evened his breathing with his running and finally, he flicked the door to the rooftop open. Cold air met his skin the moment he did so, and he slumped on the ground taking a deep breath.

Naruto looked up at the sky and sat with his hands supporting him. The once clear morning sky was already blazing with clouds, and he thought about the possibility that he could shout all his worries and not being heard at all, for the clouds could absorb his screams in their darkness.

Minutes later, small drops of early rain began to fall, cooling the air around him. Naruto took the sudden chance of tranquility and lay on his back, facing the dark heavens.

"Why? Why does he have to leave?"

It wasn't directed to anyone, and he knew that if he were to ask this question to Sasuke, then all that he'll get were abusive words. Still, he wanted someone to answer him about Sasuke's and about the emotions that were burning in his chest.

Feeling as if there was really no one beside him to ask about Sasuke except the silver haired boyfriend of his guardian, Naruto released a growl.

He did want to know about Sasuke, but he didn't want to come in contact with such a man for doing so.

"Shit, my cigarette isn't lighting any. Fuck stupid rain!"

Without meaning to, Naruto felt his nerves shake at the deep voice that he came to recognize so well, and hoped that at whatever cost, the other doesn't see him. Looking for a place to hide, Naruto crawled softly towards the big boxes where the engines for the Air Conditioners were placed in, then hid behind them.

Seconds later, Sasuke hopped down from top of the small room that was placed on the rooftop, and made sure not to trip on his two legs. His green jacket was nowhere to be found, and his black hair seemed to stick to his face from the rain drops. Naruto shook his head again remembering not to get fascinated and stare. So, he turned his back to the engines and looked forwards, ignoring the failed attempts behind him to light the death stick.

"Fuck!"

The sound of Sasuke kicking the wall in frustration flinched Naruto to reality, making him aware of the fact that he was overly conscious of the teen behind him. But as his ears were picking up on every little movement Sasuke's body took, his desire to speak with the latter was growing by the second. He did remember the words to stay away, the warning as not to get closer. But…but…

He wanted to get closer.

"You Dobe! Still playing hide and seek at your age?"

Naruto's fingers grew cold from the cringing voice calling him. He calmed his racing heart and took a deep breath. Seeing no need to hide anymore as he'd already been spotted, he revealed himself.

"I wasn't playing."

"Yeah right…I bet you weren't."

Naruto's eyes widened at the object in Sasuke's left hand, from his position earlier, he couldn't see it, but now….his brows knotted in disagreement and he made his way towards the swaying teen.

"Sasuke, give that here!"

"Give what?"

"The beer, give it."

"Fuck off!"

Naruto ignored the obviously drunken raven and tried to take the can by force, still Sasuke was tougher than he was and sent him falling to the ground.

"You know what will happen if they catch you with that? You'll be kicked off the team and perhaps even suspended from school! The Interhigh is around the corner! We can't lose you now, just hand it over!"

Sasuke sent a death glare to the righteous blond on the ground. "Shut the fuck up! What do you know! All you care about is playing fucking strong players and winning! Where do you get off telling me how to live my damn life!"

Naruto stood up and tried to take the can out of Sasuke's hands again.

"I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life. I'm helping you not to ruin it! Just let go of the damn can!"

"I told you to fuck off!"

He was sent back again to the hard ground and Naruto knew that forcing his way wasn't the best solution there was. And honestly speaking, he didn't know why he even bothered. He could have just gone down the stairs and forgot what was happening to the idiot up there. But he couldn't do it, be it whether he had a good kind heart or he just didn't want the team to lose their Ace Player. He just couldn't take off and leave Sasuke in such a condition.

"Sasuke, okay, keep the can, but stop drinking from it, how about that?"

"Are you stupid? Of course I'll drink from it!"

Naruto sighed. "Alright, this leaves me no other option, I'm sorry beforehand."

Charging head on, Naruto delivered a head butt alongside a punch to Sasuke's stomach, making the raven clutch his now hurting organ in pain. Naruto used this chance and threw the can Sasuke was drinking behind the engines. A voice inside him told him to check the place Sasuke was sitting in, and sure as he did so, five empty cans looked back at him. Naruto climbed down the small ladder and looked with disapproving eyes at the teen passed out in front of him.

"Just what did I get myself into?"

He asked the sky as he slowly swung one arm of Sasuke over his shoulder and was steadily making his way out of the school, making sure that there was no teacher to catch them, because he knew that if anyone –student or teacher – were to find them, Sasuke was doomed.

Fortunately, Naruto was able to pull it off 'till the bus station, and as if someone was taking mercy on him, there was a bus that was about to take off. He got on and pretended that Sasuke was passed out sick instead of drunk, in which the bus driver took little interest in. He reached his house just before the sky started pouring. And having no energy left in him for dragging Sasuke's lifeless body to the inside, Naruto shouted for his guardian to help.

Iruka was shocked to say the least, but he helped Naruto take the drenched kid to his bedroom, clean him up then change him into warm clothes and leave him to sleep. Then over some hot chocolate, he sat to question his son about what was really going on.

Naruto told Iruka the story, and how Sasuke got himself dead drunk, causing him to use unwanted measures to bring him back to his senses before he made a mess out of himself. Iruka smiled when Naruto finished his story.

"I think your decision was correct. All we need to do now is to let his family know his whereabouts. I'll contact Kakashi; he is bound to have Sasuke-kun's parents' home number."

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "I hate to ask you this, but could you not contact him right now? I kinda want Sasuke to get some sleep first, 'cause he seems too tired. And if you did call them right now, it will be a problem if he didn't wish for them to find out that he was drinking."

Iruka frowned not liking the words coming out of Naruto's mouth.

"Naruto, I don't think that hiding such a truth from his parents is good, they should know what their son is doing so they can help him."

"But I know him, he isn't a drunk," Naruto lied through his teeth. "I'm sure something must've come up to get him to drink, please, Iruka."

The brunet's frown lessened a bit; he put the chocolate mug on the table and looked with serious eyes at the pleading blond. "Even if I didn't tell them about him drinking, I'll still have to contact them, they'll worry when he doesn't get back home."

"I know, and I'm not asking for you not to contact them the whole day…just give him five hours. School is over in three, and we have club activities today after, too. So, he shouldn't be home till later. I beg you; give him this little time to rest!"

The brown haired writer cracked, he was never good with Naruto when he used the begging style.

"Fine, after five hours, I'll call them. And if he wakes up sooner, I'll call them."

"Yay! Thank you, Iruka. That's all I'm asking."

"Anyways, since you're back early, and you didn't have your breakfast this morning. I'm going to heat something up for you. You go clean up and get out of these damp clothes before you come down with something."

Naruto nodded and grinning jumped up the stairs.


Sasuke opened his eyes at the weird sound his ears were picking. Laughter. There was no laughter in his house, in fact, that word was so cruelly wiped out of his dictionary of life. He felt the way with his right hand and the switch for his bedside lamp was no where to be found, wait, even the lamp was no where to be found. Now wide awake, Sasuke took a good look at his surroundings. His eyes knotted in confusion. This wasn't his room, not his house. Where the hell was he?

As he removed the warm blanket away from his body, Sasuke felt a huge headache hit his head. He winced in pain and tried to feel his way through the small room 'till his hand got a hold of the light switch. He turned it on and took a good look at the room, ignoring his headache.

Basketball posters of famous international and Japanese players were on the warm blue colored walls, the small but comfortable bed, the huge fox plushie that was beside the bed smirked up at him, the cozy room that had chills run down Sasuke's spin, was totally different from his. And his question to know the owner of the room thickened. Voices laughing pulled his attention from the sweet room he was in to the outside. Curiously, he pulled the knob opening the door.

As his feet led him though the small hallway to the stairs, he was once again reminded of how different this house was to his. He followed the laughs and went downstairs. Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle fell into their respective places when he saw the pleased face of Naruto alongside another brunet.

"Ahem…" Sasuke coughed to catch the attention of the two strangers.

"Oh Sasuke! You're up!"

Naruto left the sofa he was on and rushed to the raven's side, while Iruka switched the volume of their favorite comedy show off and stood, walking to the wakened teen.

"Yeah, how long was I out?"

"I'd say four hours by now," Naruto answered with a smile.

"That long, ha? I'll need to go home then."

"Nonsense! Dinner will be ready in five minutes! You won't leave until you eat something. And with that hangover you're having, you need some water to take care of the dehydration and lessen your headache!" Iruka's voice beat Naruto to the objection first.

"I'm sorry, but I really can't do that. I'm to be expected at home at eight o'clock today."

"I'm sure your family will understand. You know what, let me call Kakashi and have him come over, that way you won't be so shy with us!"

Iruka left with that, leaving Naruto to fill in the blanks for Sasuke and introduce him to the new character. So, not wanting to delay the information any further, Naruto started speaking.

"Iruka is Kakashi's acquaintance; and they are kinda close, he mentioned that you were his cousin."

Sasuke turned his head to the side trying to get a good look at the cooking man. "And he is your….big brother?"

Naruto shook his head, still grinning. "Not really, although he acts more like it. He is my guardian, as you see, I don't have any parents. He took me in when I was five, and we have been together ever since."

"How can you say that with such a happy face?" Sasuke muttered under his breath.

"Sorry, didn't catch you there. What did you say?"

Sasuke turned and started walking back up the stairs. "It's nothing. Can you bring me my clothes; I'll need to leave in them."

"Umm….how would you get home? I mean it's late, and I don't think there are buses here that come this time at night. You should just spend the night."

"That, I can't do. Kakashi is coming, right? I will get a ride with him. So go get me my clothes."

Feeling a bit sad about being shut down like this, Naruto nodded and headed to the washing room. He had washed and dried Sasuke clothes even ironed them. But as he clutched the freshly ironed clothes in his hands, he felt the urge to burn them and stop Sasuke from leaving, shackle him. Naruto shook his head and went to give Sasuke the clothes, but even if he couldn't burn the clothes, he didn't hide the fact that he really did want Sasuke to spend the night at his place. Not as friends, since the other seemed to hate that naming, but as fellow playmates who loved the same sport.

Naruto knocked on his bedroom door then opened it, finding Sasuke in the middle of removing the pants that Iruka had put on him. Turning from the pale, magnificently toned body, Naruto handed the clothes to their owner and left the room before the other could speak a word.

Once down the harmonious voice of his guardian called his name, he went to the kitchen to see what the other needed.

"Naruto, go set up the table for four people, Kakashi will be here in fifteen minutes."

"Do I have to? I really, really, really don't want him here!" Naruto held the plates pouting.

Iruka stirred the soup and rolled his eyes at him. "Stop whining, you agreed to get along with him. And don't forget, he is Sasuke-kun's cousin. And you wouldn't want to be rude to your friend's cousin, now would you?"

"But~"

"Go set the table, Naruto!"

Taking the plates alongside the forks and spoons, Naruto arranged the table. Footsteps made their way from his room and he looked to see a fresh looking Sasuke nodding to him. Naruto's face soon broke into a smile.

"I see you've finished dressing. Take your seat."

Sasuke looked at the small table, so much different from his grand one and at the one fork and spoon, eating with so little utensils would leave no room for mistakes or confusion, a small unnoticeable smile played on his lips.

"I haven't decided I'd stay for dinner, yet."

"Oooh, but Iruka did, and believe me; you don't want to anger Iruka. So, choose a seat."

Sasuke took the first one on the left side. Joyful, Naruto placed himself beside him, leaving the two empty seats for his guardian and his boyfriend. Soon after, Iruka started getting dishes out of the kitchen, calling Naruto to help in the moving. When nine o'clock had hit, all three males were sitting on the dining table looking at their delicious looking dinner and waiting for a very late silver haired man.

Just when Naruto was about to say hell with Kakashi and start eating, their front doorbell rang, forcing the blond to go and hope it was Kakashi. Sure thing, the one eyed male grinned down to Naruto.

"Yo, there chibi. You're as short as I left you yesterday."

"And you are as detestable as I left you yesterday."

"Little smartass."

Kakashi pinched Naruto's cheeks and made himself at home. Quickly going to the dining room and giving his love a deep kiss that sent Naruto to panic land. Why did the ass have to expose their relationship when Naruto had no idea how Sasuke viewed homosexuals!

"Sasuke, you really are here! I thought Iruka was kidding when he said you've stopped by. Have you stopped being the antisocial ice-prick loner?"

"Kakashi, you're as vulgar as ever, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

"You know me too well, dear cousin."

Sasuke ignored the presence of the silver haired male from that point on, and focused on getting this dinner over with. While Naruto was still trying to get over the shock that Sasuke had no objection to the kiss he had just witnessed. Not wanting to cause any problems by pointing it out, Naruto went to his chair and started eating, forgetting himself as soon as the tasty food slid down his throat.

"Iruka, you've topped yourself with this one!"

The brunet haired man smiled. "Glad you like it, Naruto. It's a special recipe from an Indian friend of mine. It has a bit different choices of spices to my linking, but it turned out good, right Sasuke?"

"Yes, very flavorsome."

"Thank you. Eat your fill! There is a lot of food here."

Sasuke nodded and continued to observe the inhuman way Naruto was swallowing down his food. It wasn't even swallowing; it was more like junking, putting objects over objects and just cramming them together. Like a pig being introduced to his first dish. Sasuke tried not to laugh and cause questioning eyes to follow that strange melody that has never left his mouth.


Sasuke was the first to leave the warm house; he took steady steps to the black car outside. It had been a while since he last came in contact with Kakashi. Ever since the silver haired man had left their house that stormy night in anger, he lost all contact he ever had with him. Sasuke turned and caught a good look at the house. It wasn't as big as his, no, in fact, he was sure this house was smaller than his servants' residence. But it gave off a warm feeling, a nice fragrance that Sasuke had missed for a long time, it seemed as if it was the perfect little painting one should hang over a hearth. Sasuke ignored the silly ideas running inside his head and made his way to the car, figuring out that this was what normal people called a home.

"Sasuke, wait a minute." Iruka came out of the house holding a covered dish. He walked to the uncaring raven and stretched his hands. "Here, a small gift for coming to visit."

Sasuke looked at the dish passively. "But I didn't come to visit, Naruto forced me here."

"Even if, you did come. Take it, I guarantee its deliciousness."

Sasuke kept looking at the dish without making any notion to take it. He didn't know what to make out of the other's kindness. Was it because he wanted him to befriend Naruto? Well, that won't work with a simple offering of food. Or was it maybe his way of telling Sasuke that he was welcome to come again? But that didn't fit. Why would a total stranger want him to come over to visit him again? People always did things because they needed something back. He knew from experience that true kindness was only found in fairy tales. Then what was the true purpose the other had?

Iruka felt his spirit drop a little at the way Sasuke was refusing to take the dish and was eyeing him as if he'd put poison inside the food. But before his smile could disappear, the dish was snatched from his hands by a grinning Kakashi.

"No worries, Darling. I'll be sure he eats it!"

The brunet blushed at the calling but nodded his silent thanks to his recent boyfriend.

"Alright then, I hope you enjoy it, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

Kakashi grabbed his young cousin by the collar and directed him towards the elder brunet. "'Hn' Sasuke doesn't do in a situation like this! You should say a proper 'thank you', because he went out of his way to shelter and feed your drunken ass!"

Sasuke never liked being around Kakashi, and it wasn't because the other was too obnoxious for words, no, it was because he could make him do stuff that he didn't like doing, for example, forcing him into a thanks that he really didn't want to give. And he always knew that if it came down to a fight, he didn't stand a chance. The tight hold on his collar and the evil grin that was coming from the man behind him told him that he had a little chance of running away or fighting his way free.

With a sigh, he bowed. "Thank you for all of your trouble."

Just when those words left his mouth, Naruto made his way from inside the house, having already cleared the dining table. He stood in surprise at the words that he'd heard. He was familiar with the fact that he wasn't the one being thanked, but to know that the arrogant bastard had in him a small humble soul that was able to give thanks when needed, made a big bright smile plaster on Naruto's face.

"You are very much welcome." Iruka replied with happy eyes.

Naruto came to stand beside Sasuke as Kakashi pushed the dish into this cousin's hands and pulled Iruka to the side with a sinister smile on his lips. Figuring that whatever the silver haired man had in his mind to do with Iruka, it wouldn't be a very good idea to let Sasuke see, Naruto tried to direct the attention to himself rather than the background but Sasuke's mind was set.

"When did they hook up?"

Startled by the sudden question, Naruto gave an honest answer. "Counting today, three days."

"They don't look like they've known each other for only three days."

"See….Iruka didn't really tell me the whole story, but I think they've been friends before.'Cause they are just too comfortable with each other for people who have only met three days ago. But anyways, I'm sure he'll tell me with time."

Sasuke nodded. He turned towards the black car and opened the passenger seat, getting in and closing the door behind him. Naruto came and knocked on the glass, making Sasuke roll the window down.

"You forgot your car keys. Here," He handed him the set of keys. "When I washed your pants I kinda emptied your pockets, but forgot to return the keys inside. Your car must still be at school."

"Yeah…thanks."

Even though the 'thanks' he was getting felt more like a passing word in a conversation than a word that held a meaning and lacked the gratefulness Sasuke had showed earlier to Iruka; Naruto cherished it all the more.

"Don't mention it, but….I would really want you to quit drinking and smoking, if possible. They will only wreck your life."

"Believe it or not, I don't really drink. Today was a special occasion. And my smoking, I can't give up on that since it calms me down."

"Then, then if you find another thing to clam you down, would you quit it?"

Sasuke took a look at the teen for the first time since they stepped out the house. The enthusiasm inside those blue orbs made him lose any words of sarcasm he wanted to drop at the other and speak with him truthfully.

"I don't know."

"Then there is a possibility, right? Since you don't know!"

"Naruto, I don't want you to get carried away by this, I'm very comfortable with my cigarettes. I don't want anything else."

"But they are bad for you! Your body won't be in perfect shape because of them, and your stamina will drop since your lungs will deteriorate."

"It doesn't matter. I'm quitting basketball by the end of this year, anyway. So, there is no need for you to go search for replacement to my smokes."

"But-"

"Good night, Naruto."

Sasuke rolled the window up on the now bummed-out blond. Seconds later, Kakashi hopped inside the car, put his keys into the engine to start the car and started driving. When he was sure they were at a safe distance from his love's house, he let the nice smile on his lips drop.

"Stay away from that kid, Sasuke. He doesn't need you to mess up his life."

"I know."

Sasuke sent a glare to the other man, but remained silent the rest of the ride. His onyx eyes hooked on the yellow lines drawn on the road and restlessly waited for the time he'd be dropped off.


Finished! What do you think peeps? I tried to give some information about the upcoming chapters in this one! And gave a little screen time to Kakashi =3, I just love him with Iruka! Don't forget to review~