The Burning Mines
VI: Frictions and Life Stories Part I
"It just can't be."
Sasuke sat at the bar of the large diner, hands folded in front of him and head down at the menu when he heard the woman's voice. He looked up.
Ino Yamanaka.
The blonde woman exhaled breathlessly, eyes staring wide at Sasuke. "Oh, I'm so sorry sir. It's just that you look a lot like an old friend."
Sasuke leaned back in his chair, gentle smirk already finding a way to his face. "Was that old friend named Sasuke Uchiha?" He answered easily, turning the smirk into an easy smile. He knew that look in the woman's face. He'd been getting it all day, ever since Kakashi decided to park his pick-up at the edge of this district so Sasuke could see some of the new things in town.
Sasuke knew what he looked like. Time had been good to him. Turning his attractive boyish features into one of an incredibly handsome adult's, strengthening his jaw, broadening his shoulders, raising his height. He was 21 when he left Konoha. He was 27 now. He was a man now.
Ino Yamanaka just kept staring at him.
Sasuke chuckled, and he knew it was the kind that melted girl's hearts. "Will you be the one to take my order?" he asked, picking up his menu.
Ino, whose mouth had been on the floor a moment ago, snapped her jaw back up, closed her eyes and gave Sasuke a dazzling smile. "Of course, Sasuke." She said, bowing her head and looking put-together in a way she didn't before. "What can I get you?"
Sasuke narrowed dark eyes at her, before he put the menu down. The contents were new but he knew what he wanted. "I'll have the veggie burger. No cheese, no mayo."
Ino ducked her head for a moment to laugh as she wrote into her pad. "Same order as always I see. You haven't changed a bit."
"I'd like to think that I hav—"
"Would you consider tryin' some of our melon pie?" Ino interrupted, turning to Sasuke with a smile that absolutely beamed.
Sasuke blinked. "Uh…no. I don't really like sweet things."
"Yeah, I remember you not havin' much of a taste for sweet things…" she trailed off, eyes looking searchingly in Sasuke's. Finally she blinked and stood straight. "Which is why I think you'd like this pie a lot." She said, walking to the end of the bar. She took a pie out of a clear glass dome and brought it over.
Sasuke raised a hand and an eyebrow when she brought it. "Uh…No, please. I don't like pie in general." He laughed delicately, trying to mask his slight bemusement.
"Naw, you'll like this one." Ino countered, taking a knife from beneath the counter and cutting the man a small slice. "You see the melon in this pie is pretty sweet, and I know you hate sweets. But it's the way you serve the pie that'll really give it that flavor. And I think you'll really like it once I—"
Sasuke didn't have nearly enough time to react, when the woman, who'd finished cutting one piece of the pie, took that small piece aside, then took the remaining tray of dessert and aimed in right at Sasuke's face.
"— serve it just right!" she exclaimed when she was done.
She held the tray in the brunette's face for a long time, twisting it for good measure, before she pulled her hand back and let the tray fall on Sasuke's lap.
He heard small gasps around the diner, which was empty for the most part, and a few people started laughing, Ino being the loudest.
Sasuke on the other hand, was at a lost for words. He kept his eyes closed, and he kept his mouth shut.
But he could still smell the sweetness of the dessert, caking up on his clogged nose.
In the thirtieth second of his old friend's relentless giggling he decided to take a hand and swipe the cream and fruit custard off of his face. He didn't smile, and he didn't frown. His face was stoic as he stood up from the stool chair in front of the bar.
"What's going on here?"
Sasuke didn't even glare at Kakashi, who was finally out of the restroom.
"I leave you alone for a few minutes and you're already in this much trouble, Sasuke?" he laughed.
"You knew he was here?" Ino asked him between laughs. "I thought I was imagining things."
"Then we're both imagining the same things—"
Sasuke abruptly left the idiots at their small talk and made his way to the bathroom. His face was calm but he was seething inside. Obviously Ino hadn't matured one bit. He would expect this bullshit from someone like Naruto six years ago – maybe even now. But not fucking Ino. Pregnant or not.
"I think we hurt his feelings." He heard Kakashi say as he disappeared inside the bathroom.
Sasuke went to the sink first and foremost, and glared at his reflection. He didn't even want to think about what the white custard looked like, caked all over his hair and his face. He sighed and turned on the sink, frowning when he saw how meek the discharge of water was. Glancing around the bathroom he found more reasons to sneer.
What the place needed was a maid. Or a make-over – because although nowhere near as ridiculously filthy Yamanaka diner was when he was younger, it was still small, it still had dust on the floor, it still smelled slightly off, and was that a fly he saw in the corner of the bathroom?
He sighed and washed his face. It took about ten minutes, which was an enormous deal since it had taken Sasuke two hours to get ready before he allowed Kakashi to take him out. And now all that work of doing himself up was gone to waste.
The button down shirt he had on was a hot mess, and trying to clean it was almost as disastrous as trying to take the pie off his hair had been, so he just took it off and threw it in the trash, grateful that he'd worn an undershirt underneath. His black pants were a mess, so it was no use doing much with it except try to take as much white off of it as possible.
He left the bathroom looking like he'd lived in Konoha County his whole life, and had never left. Wife beater undershirt, dark pants with stains on them, damp dark hair. He heard more than a few people sigh pleasantly when he walked back to where Kakashi was, only choosing to sit one seat away from where he sat before. It would be up to Ino, and whatever staff she had, to clean the mess of pie she made on the stool chair and floor.
"Well look at you." Ino commented. She was half leaning on the counter and talking to Kakashi. "Tall, dark, and handsome. You got all the ladies runnin' after you in the city?"
Sasuke didn't look at her. "When will my order be ready."
"Ho, ho – did I get you all frazzled up when I slammed that pie in your face?" she asked, smirking. "Tell me Kakashi, did I frazzle him?"
"Sasuke, don't be rude."
Sasuke tore his head to the side to glare at his old mentor. "Don't be rude?" he asked disbelievingly.
Ino came up in front of him. "Kakashi tells me you're here for the funeral," she began quietly. "Naruto see you yet?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her, hoping the glare in them would make her go away, the way it used to when they were much younger, but the woman only smiled at him, expectant of the answer.
"He was the second person I saw after Kakashi." He replied, sighing angrily and giving in.
To his surprise the blonde's eyes widened in some kind of shock. "Really? You guys back together again or something?"
"Of course not." Sasuke couldn't believe she would even suggest such a thing.
Ino squinted at him. "That's funny. 'Cuz I woulda bet my money you wouldn't have been able to stand on two legs if you showed your face to Naruto after all the these years."
"Well you would have lost your money," Sasuke countered angrily. "Listen, if you're going to be this way, I can find someplace else to eat—"
"Oh, Sasuke—"
"Now, now," Ino said, interrupting Kakashi, standing back and raising her hand in a small surrender. "Let me just try to understand a few things." She began. "You show your face here after all this time and expect not to be hit in the face with one of Yamanaka's special melon pies?"
Sasuke glared at her. "We're adults now, Ino. If you don't want me here, just tell me to leave."
"Well if Naruto forgave you I should forgive you too." She shrugged.
Sasuke squinted. "The dobe is far from forgiving me."
Ino stared at him. "Then how you even still alive?" she asked, and the question sounded genuine.
"Because murder is illegal in every County – even this dump." Sasuke retorted easily.
Ino's eyes glowed. Literally glowed. She turned to Kakashi with a smile that looked insane. "Kakashi, did he just say what I think he did?"
"I—"
"Tell me, Sasuke," Ino interrupted the white haired man and turned back to the brunette. "When you say dump, you meanin' my diner, or Konoha in general." Her hand fumbled underneath the counter before she took out a knife and raised it. "Be careful what your answer is, or else we both gon' be findin' out just how illegal murder is Konoha County."
Sasuke stared at the woman. She wasn't really going to stab him. Was she? He looked at Kakashi. The older man was looking lost and apprehensive.
"Now, Ino – no need to get violent in your own diner."
Ino twitched but didn't tear her bright eyes away from Sasuke's.
Sasuke had officially decided. This woman was crazy.
He stood up from his chair noisily, eyes still on the blonde. "I think..." He began slowly, careful not to let the fear show in his voice or his face. "I'm going to take my business elsewhere."
Ino looked at him, eyes turning further and further into slits, before she suddenly pulled her head back and started laughing her heart out.
Point proven, Sasuke thought disbelievingly, referring to the woman's insanity.
"Sit back down, you big oaf!" Ino exclaimed, putting the knife down with a clank. "I ain't gonna hurt you." she ducked her head and raised her eyes so the green orbs looked large and sympathetic. "Sorry If I scared you. But the Sasuke who left wouldn't have had none of that, I tell you—"
"The old Sasuke is still here." Kakashi interrupted, smiling lightly at the two of them. "Somewhere. He'll come to his roots before the week is over."
Sasuke glared at his old mentor. What the hell did that mean? Come to his roots?
"From suit to drags," Ino murmured, looking at the brunette's attire. "Kakashi told me you went to some school to be a businessman in the City. I for one couldn't stand to see you in that damn suit." She leaned back and smiled something sweet and genuine. "But you look pretty good now if I do say so myself."
Sasuke scowled and sat back down angrily in his chair. "Hitting someone with a pie just because you don't like the way they're dressed isn't very becoming of—"
"Oh, God, no, Sasuke. We get plenty of people in suits 'round here. Yesterday was full of em' – you know it's time for the summer minin' season, right? People gotta apply—"
"Yes, I know all about it. What are you trying to tell me."
"I'm tellin' you that I didn't discriminate you 'cause you was wearin' a suit."
Sasuke squinted at her. "Uh…okay?" he offered.
Ino nodded. "I discriminated against you 'cause you're a rotten asshole, Uchiha Sasuke." She clarified. "And I just want you to know, the only reason why I haven't stabbed you in the forehead with this knife, is because I want Naruto to have the first jab."
She said all of this with a soft unnerving smile, so Sasuke found himself trembling a bit in his seat.
"She doesn't mean that—"
"No, I mean every word." Ino said, countering Kakashi once again. "Now, Kakashi your order will be up in a few minutes. Sasuke," she turned to smile at him. "Sit tight, it's gonna be a while."
Sasuke glared at her, but she turned away and went through two double doors before he could catch her eyes. The brunette angrily turned to his mentor. "Let's get the hell out of here." He whispered harshly. "Coming here was obviously a bad idea."
"Relax, Sasuke. She's only just joking. She's trying to look out for Naruto."
Sasuke huffed. "Naruto can take care of himself – and I thought you told everyone I was here already."
Kakashi shrugged. "I thought it would be a nice surprise for everyone. Not everyone will be as mean – especially since Naruto hasn't done anything to hurt you yet." The man hesitated a moment. "You know…Naruto didn't tell them the whole story. Not really."
Sasuke raised a cautious eyebrow at the older man. "What do you mean?"
Kakashi leaned on the counter and rested his chin on his folded hands. "Well…the days following your…departure…he didn't speak to anyone really." Kakashi's voice was quiet, so no one else would overhear. "He kind of went about his day normally. Except he would go home earlier. He preferred to be alone most of the time… When someone eventually asked where the hell you'd gone, Naruto said that you two had been having on-going fights about your futures. He said you wanted to go away, and that he wanted to stay. He said that you guys finally made a decision to go separate ways, and that you'd left to fulfill your dreams in the city."
Sasuke's eyes widened and kept widening. What? Naruto hadn't told him…
"No one knows about the letter you left him. No one knows that you left without really saying goodbye. No one really knows that I was the one who…" Kakashi paused. "Except I think Shikamaru knows, somehow. He figured something was off and asked Naruto, and finally beat the information out of them. They're sort of best friends now, those two."
Sasuke stared ahead, disbelieving. Naruto hadn't even told everyone the whole truth. "So…everyone just thinks it was a mutual break-up?"
Kakashi nodded.
"Then why the hell is Ino threatening to kill me?" he asked though his teeth.
"'Cause Naruto wasn't right when you left, and people need someone to blame." Kakashi responded easily.
Sasuke relaxed as much as he could in the stool chair, making him look a bit like a hunchback.
"Plus you gotta remember what you did to Ino before you got together with Naruto…" Kakashi murmured.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. It was ridiculous to think that far back, and to attribute it to what was going on now. The fact that he'd made the female blonde believe he liked her that long, and then suddenly decided he loved Naruto instead wasn't something he could have helped. She should have been over it by now. "She's married, and with child. She can't be thinking about that."
"Far as I can tell, I think that's all she's thinking about. You two weren't on friendly terms six years ago either."
"Her and Naruto are on friendly terms though. Even when Naruto and I started dating."
"Not in the beginning …" Kakashi murmured, scratching the back of his ear.
Sasuke glared at him, and looked at the sky to show his annoyance. "I don't know why we have to eat here of all places."
"Because this place has the best tasting food." The older man replied easily.
As if on cue, Ino came from the back of the room with a tray in her hand. Unsurprisingly it was Kakashi's order and not Sasuke's. The brunette looked a this watch. It was already 4:50.
"You got somewhere to be, Sasuke?"
"Away from here." He didn't even look at Ino.
Kakashi laughed nervously. "We'll be going to the Gracetown Bar after this." He clarified. "At this rate we'll be there at the same time all the workers come in, at like 6, 6:15. First day of mining so I'm guessing the diner will be shutting down soon as well." He predicted, nodding at Ino.
"In about an hour or so."
Sasuke remembered now, how big of a deal the first day of mining was. Nearly everyone would be in Gracetown, getting drunk at the two bars and celebrating another season of work. The same thing would happen again once they hit the first point of oil, then again when mining season was over.
Sasuke thought it was a stupid waste then, and he thought it was stupid waste now. People going crazy over oil mining? It was just an excuse to party it up, get drunk, and get laid by some lonely woman who wanted to feel the muscles of a foreign man who worked at the mines. Why was he going again?
"Naruto made my staff work all night yesterday tryin' to make lunch bags for those hard workin' souls. Busted nearly all my fingernails. But what I'd give to see the look on their faces when Naruto said they'd be givin' em' food for their hard work!" She beamed at the both of them.
"You're going to be making food for them everyday?" Kakashi asked disbelievingly.
"Not everyday." Ino clarified, wiping her hands on her apron. "Probably once a week or so – but every day for the little kiddies – did you hear there are boys as young as thirteen workin' over there?"
"I heard. They get younger every year, you know."
Ino nodded, and leaned over on the counter. "Anyway, I'd love to make them meals everyday but there just ain't enough money, or time for that. But I'll tell you somethin' –" her voice became hushed. "I think Naruto's got a fortune hidden somewhere."
Kakashi leaned in as well, eyebrow raising. "What fortune?"
Sasuke on the other hand, narrowed his eyes. Fortune? Were they talking about the money Naruto was forcing him to pay to live at the house?
"Yep," Ino nodded. "Naruto paid for every single bag of lunch up front, you know. Every single one. Handed over the bills like he had money comin' out of his ass."
Sasuke hesitated. That…couldn't be his money, because Sasuke hadn't even paid yet.
"I think it has something to do with Sarutobi dyin'." Ino whispered, leaning back and looking sad. "There probably was a premature will readin' we don't know about. I think Naruto inherited a lot of money."
"Sarutobi wasn't rich…" Kakashi murmured, looking down at his food. "Was he? And if there was a will-reading I wasn't invited to it."
"That's the thing. Sometimes the will already says who the deceased person wants to be allowed there. It was probably only Naruto. And I think all of Sarutobi's things went to him…"
There was silence between the three for a long time.
But Sasuke was seething inside. Naruto had money, and was taking money from him anyway? What the fuck kind of person did that? Sasuke was well off but he was sucking Sasuke dry for the week – and that would have been fine in the long run because he'd thought Naruto didn't have a lot, and Sasuke was always generously replenished of his savings after a weeks-worth of business. But the fact that Naruto somehow had some money on the side and was leeching from Sasuke anyway?!
"V-veggie burger, no cheese, no mayo." Called a voice from the side.
When Sasuke looked up he saw another familiar face.
He raised his hand and the dark haired woman fumbled over to where he was. "H-here's your food, sir."
"Don't you recognize him, Hinata!?" Ino asked, slapping the girl's back. "It's our Sasuke come back from the city to grace us with his royal presence!"
The girl blinked at the brunette, before the realization came to her eyes. "O..oh." she replied lamely, but nodded to Sasuke anyway.
Sasuke forced himself not to roll his eyes. How could Hinata still be this shy after so many years. "Your cousin and I run into each other sometimes." He offered. The Hyuuga family owned a lot of Konoha county's business's, including a small part of the oiling industry. But he and the Hyuuga often did business with the finances Hyuuga had a hold of outside of Konoha. Mainly in Sound City.
Hinata's face, for someone reason, heated up. "O..oh."
Sasuke thought he knew why. Neji and Hinata were in some kind of one-sided competition to inherit the title of head financial liaison or figurehead for Hyuuga finances. Sasuke was pretty sure Hinata just gave the position to her cousin, even though she was directly next in line and the actual daughter of the previous figurehead. She wanted to live a simple life instead.
Sasuke wasn't so sure she and her cousin were on the best terms.
"Eat up, Sasuke. We'll give you another, on the house. It'll help you soak up the alcohol you'll be drowinin' in tonight."
Sasuke ignored Ino, and took his burger into his hands. It looked fantastic and juicy, in a way that only Konoha County could make it.
But he wasn't going to tell anyone that.
"Put your shovels and axes down, we are done!" Naruto followed his exclamation with his fists in the air and head to the sky.
There was a continuous roar of happiness and the sounds of tools clanking haphazardly on the ground.
"To the Gracetown Bar!" someone down below shouted, and cheers and fist pumps followed.
Naruto grinned down at the crowd who was fooling around with each other and heading out of the fields. It was a thirty-minute drive to the bars and several county buses were already waiting on the main road to pick the men up. Some people would get off early and decide not to go to the bar, but most would, as was the norm for the first day of mining.
Naruto hopped down from the boulder he stood on and landed quite gracefully on the ground.
He was excited, to say the least.
He looked around for a familiar head of red hair, but didn't find it. He frowned. He should have stayed up and watched out for Gaara from above. But now all he saw was a cluster of people, getting along, patting each other on the shoulder, and making their way to the buses.
No one had red hair.
Naruto squinted, looking around some more. He'd hoped he would be able to offer Gaara a ride…
Shrugging his shoulders, he made his way to the front of fields, where Kiba would be waiting for him. He'd promised he would give the man a ride to Gracetown since he'd crashed his car not even two weeks ago.
Kiba was there of course, talking to Shikamaru when Naruto arrived. Shikamaru saw him first.
The pointed look in his eyes was anticipated. "You plan on getting drunk tonight, Naruto?" he asked when the blonde was in hearing range.
Naruto grinned at the man, but it felt more like he was grinding his teeth. "I dunno, Shika – are you?"
"Course not. 'Cause you see I got a wife that I need to take care of and drive tonight. She's a priority, and she's the reason I can't drink." Shikamaru glared at him. "But you wouldn't know anythin' about priorities now, would you?"
"Why you—"
"Hey, hey." Kiba interrupted the both of them and stepped in between them. "You really think it's the best time to start anything? People is way to excited. God knows what they'll do when they see you two fightin'."
Naruto didn't stop glaring at Shikamaru from behind Kiba. In the distance he could hear the first buses starting to driving away.
"Now, Shikamaru tells me that there's someone we need to look out for in the fields?" Kiba turned to the blonde fully then, and squinted him. "You got somethin' you wanna tell me, Naruto? Somethin' havin' to do with a guy you shoulda never hired—"
"Oh, for God sakes!" Naruto exclaimed, turning away from them both and raising his hands in frustration. "Are we really talking about this again?! Shika, I done told you, to trust me on this one." He growled, turning to the man. "And Kiba – did he tell you who the man in question was? Well he was workin' in your part of field. Did you see any foul play? Did anyone look suspicious—?!"
"Any man with half a brain won't make an enemy of himself on the first day," Shikamaru countered, trying to step up to Naruto but being blocked by Kiba.
"I think that's besides the point," Naruto said, getting quiet. "You know what else I think? I think it's about time we look at some facts." He pointed a finger at Shikamaru." Those facts bein' that I was hired to be the head hirer, overseer, and boss to this operation, therefore what I say, is what goes, until this fucking season is over, or something bad happens. Until then, I don't wanna hear none of this!" he ended with a shout, and stepped back. "I listen to you Shika 'cause you always got sense, but right I think you need to shut the hell up and just let me run this shit."
Naruto's breath was coming out heavy. He didn't even know why he was so angry. All he knew was that he wanted to go the Gracetown. Get a bottle. Get drunk.
Naruto blinked. "Now that that's settled…" he breathed, trying to smile at the both of them. "Let's go Kiba. See you at the Bar, Shika."
He began to walk away, and when he looked at the main roads he saw that all the busses had already left for Gracetown.
"I'm only tryin' to keep everyone safe, damn it!" Shikamaru yelled behind him.
"I'll see you. At. The bars, Shikamaru." Naruto enunciated with frustration, turning around for a moment. He caught Shikamaru glaring fiercely at him, and Kiba looking confused between the both of them. The blonde waved a tired hand and kept on walking. He really, really did not have time for this.
"Hey, Naruto wait up!" Kiba was running after him. When he caught up he put a hand on the man's shoulder. They kept walking. "Toad…you ain't still got that…drinkin' problem right?" he asked tentatively, and the sounds of their shoes on the ground were louder than his voice.
"I ain't an alcoholic no more." Naruto replied curtly. "I can manage now. Ain't gonna be like before – I can hold my liquor."
There was silence from Kiba for a few moments, before he nodded his head. "Good." he said, shrugging his shoulders. "That's good, Naruto." He shook the blonde a bit, and grinned at him. "I thought you were over it too, y'know. I knew it was just a phase. Naruto? Drinkin' problem? Naw."
Kiba kept talking. Even as they got into Naruto's car. The blonde only half listened. He didn't know why Shikamaru's voice kept spinning in his head.
No one ever stops being an alcoholic.
You only get better at holding your liquor.
Naruto was in a sour mood all the way to Gracetown Bar.
Naruto was on cloud nine.
Or rather—
Cloud number eight.
He would reach cloud nine once he had one more drink.
Just one more.
A woman who was much older squealed in his ear as he tried to make his way back to the bar and danced around him. The blonde laughed aloud and took her hand, spun her around once, before letting her go on her way.
Everyone was laughing.
Everyone was dancing.
The two Gracetown bars were right across from each other, and they were both absolutely packed, dozens inside the bar, and close to hundreds littering the streets in between them.
It was like a festival, what with the lights that lit the outside, and the music that played so loud they'd decided to bring the speakers outside so it would be like one big party.
No one had anticipated so many people would be working in the mines this year, and one thing led to another and here they were.
Partying it up Konoha County style.
Naruto lost count on how much he had to drink. He and Kiba had started lightly, since the bar was so packed with sober workers and the mood didn't call for heavy drinking yet in the beginning. But as soon as everyone began to feel the first buzz, there were drinking games, competitions, mini-brawls—
It was amazing. Naruto wished every night was like this. With everyone just loose and happy.
He'd lost Kiba a long time ago to some woman in a corner, but he'd found some of his old friends.
Then he'd lost them too.
And then he made some new friends.
Naruto laughed aloud when he was shoved to the side by an older looking man. Said man started laughing too when he saw that the blonde was, and so they just stood there laughing for some time.
"Don't have a hernia, Toad!"
Naruto felt rough hands on his shoulder turn him around.
"Kiba!" Naruto exclaimed, positively gleeful. He hugged his friend. "How was that girl!?" he had to shout over the music.
"Nothin' to brag about – she didn't even let me feel her up!"
Naruto laughed like Kiba'd said the funniest thing and hugged him again.
Kiba pulled his back and held the blonde's face so he was staring into his eyes. "How much did you have to drink?!" he yelled over the music.
"Not enough!" Naruto shouted back.
"Ain't that the truth!"
"To the bar!" the blonde cried, throwing his fists in the air.
Kiba roared with him, starting to head over with his friend, when he paused.
"Wait," he called out turning around.
Naruto blinked. "What?" he looked around confused.
"Do you hear that?"
Naruto looked at his friend, confused when—
Sometimes, it's hard to be a woman—
His eyes widened. "Oh my God!"
Everyone seemed to get the same idea, and there were cheers from all the women as they ran outside of the bar to go outside where the music was louder. Everyone was already singing along.
Doin' things that you don't understand—
"If this song don't get me laid I don't know what will!" Kiba exclaimed, following after the crowd.
"Wait, wait – ain't we gon' get drinks first?" Naruto asked, pulling at his friend and looking a bit like a lost puppy.
"But the ladies, Toad, the ladies," Kiba pleaded with his eyes.
The blonde laughed and let his friend go. "Don't swing that way remember?!"
Kiba visibly hesitated. "Oh, shit I forgot." He said in wonder. "You wanna try it?" he asked suddenly. "I'm sure if you just get your hand on a nice titty, you'd start swingin' my way Godspeed—"
Naruto had to duck his head and brace himself with the laughter that racked through him. The blonde waved Kiba away, grin still on his face. "Go get your ladies, Kiba."
The brunette seemed to pause, before he actually saluted him, and ran outside.
Naruto turned back around, and saw that the bar was still crowded despite so many having gone outside. All he would have to do is walk over there, have the people see his face and they'd give him an order of his usual three shots of whiskey on the rocks. He made his way over, grinning at the people who bumped into him, twirling around the dancing couples—
And he almost didn't catch the head of red hair that hovered at the very end of the bar, with broad shoulders that accompanied it, hunched and alone.
The lazy smile Naruto had on his face fell.
He swallowed.
It was like a sudden wind picked up inside the bar and sent a small chill along his arms, starting goose bumps there.
Naruto exhaled once.
He'd nearly forgotten all about the Gaara. He'd come into the bar so angry, and then he started drinking and…time got away from him.
He made his way over.
And it was like everyone parted aside without him even having to ask, or shove, as if they knew how fast Naruto's heart was beating, and how important this moment was for him.
And the moment felt slow. Gradual. As if he was gliding towards the redhead, floating instead of walking.
And Naruto had no choice but to believe he did float, because he was already there. Right behind Gaara.
He did the only thing his inebriated mind allowed him to do.
He shoved his way next to the man and turned to him, grin wide.
"Hey, handsome."
Gaara's movements were slow. He had his cheek lying on his hand, and his eyes turned to face the blonde slowly without moving his head. He seemed slightly surprised when he saw Naruto there, and sat up. Unbelievably, the redhead looked around him, then behind him, as if the blonde couldn't have been talking to him.
"Gaara!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'm talkin' to you." he laughed then, then laughed some more when the taller man still looked slightly confused. Over at the bar the music wasn't as loud, so Naruto didn't have to yell so much. "You enjoyin' yourself so far?" he asked, nodding at the drink he saw in Gaara's hand. "Makin' any new friends?"
Gaara blinked once. Before he shrugged. "Mos...…elf."
Naruto cupped his ear when a sudden chorus of sounds drowned the man's words. "What was that?!" he asked.
The man before him hesitated, before he leaned in to say the words in Naruto's ear instead.
And Naruto almost didn't hear the words again, he was so caught off guard. Gaara was so close to him at that one moment. And he smelled like the earth when the sun was peeking over the horizon after a night of rain.
"Said I mostly keep to myself." The man repeated into the blonde's reddening ears.
Naruto's body ached when Gaara leaned back again.
"Aww, that don't give the girls who must have crowded around you all night much of a chance!"
Gaara raised the ghost of an eyebrow at the blonde. "You're the first person to talk to me all night."
Naruto tried, and predictably failed, to hide his glee. "What?" he tried to act upset. "Now, I don't believe that! Well, I'm here now and I'll give you company 'till it's time to go home."
"You…don't have to do that."
"Nonsense," Naruto waved a hand. "I want to. Gaara," he said, leaning closer to the man, and trying to really catch his eyes. "I'm really glad you're here."
Again, Gaara seemed not to know what to do with that information, or the sweet smile Naruto gave to him. "I don't—"
"Oh – wait!" Naruto exclaimed, looking at the sky. "Just listen to that, Gaara." He closed his eyes and sang, "Stand by your man! Give him two arms to cling to!" he missed more notes than he hit, and when he opened his eyes he saw the redhead with his head down, and a secret smile.
"Now don't make fun of me! I've been told I've got the voice of an angel!"
The look in Gaara's eyes said he cautiously doubted that, and the small quirk of his lips was enough to make those intoxicated butterflies flap in Naruto's stomach.
"You know, what?" Naruto started, trying to keep his nervousness at bay. "Somethin' tells me you ain't nearly as drunk as I am – Hey! Over here!" Naruto called out to the bartender.
The female went over to them, flustered and eyes wide. "You want the usual, Toad?" she asked quickly.
"Yea, two for me and my friend here."
"You got it."
"That ain't necessary," Gaara began, but it was already too late. The bartender was already filling the glasses and slamming them on the table in front of the two.
Naruto took his cup, and raised it. "You can take your liquor, can't you?" he asked, a mischievous smile on his face.
Gaara seemed to realize the challenge in Naruto's eyes, and his own eyes narrowed a bit before he picked up his own drink. The only thing that made it not so malicious was the redhead's own somewhat mischievous half-smile. "Experimented with a bit of white lightnin' when I was a kid…" he murmured, and Naruto could only hear him because the song died out just then.
"White lightnin'?" he mouthed back, eyebrows raising. "You mean, moonshine?" He laughed then. "Well I bet I can still drink you under the table, mister Gaara Sabaku." He bowed his head gracefully then, and took the drink to his lips.
Gaara looked slightly astonished. "We got work tomorrow…"
Naruto smirked at him. "Oh, if you too chicken…"
To his surprise, Gaara glared at him once, before he downed the brown mix he had in his glass. He didn't even wince when he'd come to, only put the glass on the table and look at the blonde with what Naruto could only describe as a smug look.
Naruto's laughter was choked out of him. "W-well!" he exclaimed, disbelievingly. He drowned his own glass in a quick motion, and slammed the glass back on the counter as he hissed out the sting in his throat.
He wiped his mouth, squinted through the tears in his eyes, and coughed once.
The knowing look in Gaara's face was too much to bear.
"Oh, you're on!" he declared, pointing a finger at the redhead. "Bartender! Two more right here!"
Naruto thought he heard something like a low chuckle come from the redhead, light and barely there – more like a breath than anything else.
The sound was enough to make Naruto melt.
Now, he was on cloud nine.
Sasuke didn't know how the hell any of these people were drunk. Did they come with their own drinks? Because every time he made his way towards the bar he was pushed backwards, or the bartender would ignore him for several minutes trying to get to the dozens of people with outstretched hands and money bills in their hand.
His only saving grace was the countless drinks that suddenly appeared in front of him, bought by some other woman at some other part of the bar. He accepted the drinks without looking around, so he wouldn't have to catch anyone's eye.
Six sweet mixtures of alcohol later, he considered himself just a tad inebriated. He didn't' drink often often when he lived in Konoha County for his own personal reasons, but those reasons seemed not to matter when he was in Sound City. People got together, celebrated big deals, merging cooperations, weddings – and alcohol was always served. After a while drinking alcohol with the rest of everyone became something that he had to do to uphold an image at executive socials. Sakura taught him that.
So he supposed he was drunk. But he could hold himself together. He decided he was done for the night, which meant there was literally nothing left for him to do here. But he'd lost Kakashi in the very beginning of the festivities to a woman who was even younger than Sasuke was. That would mean he would either have to find his own way home, or actually wait until the old man showed up.
Both choices were unacceptable.
Sasuke was outside now. He'd been pulled by a woman when that God forsaken old wive's song had come up, and taken outside. He'd pulled away from the woman and just shoved her into another man's arms, annoyed that after all these years Konoha County women still went crazy for that stupid song. Said song was almost as old as the town was, and it always meant the festivities were close to an end.
Twenty damn songs had passed since then, Sasuke thought bitterly. He was just standing around, trying to catch a head of white hair in the outdoors. But there were many. He didn't know Kakashi to be much of a drinker, so maybe he was looking for Sasuke too?
"See? I told you."
Sasuke turned around.
Then he groaned.
Here it comes.
"Holy shit." And that was Kiba, looking a mess as always, with dark hair that spiked all over the place and his canine-like teeth. "Is it really you, Sasuke?" he asked, disbelievingly.
A familiar bowl-cut individual stood behind him, pulling Kiba back so he could move ahead and really peer into Sasuke's eyes. "It is him!" Lee exclaimed.
The raven-haired man narrowed his eyes at him. Lee hadn't really grown up with the rest of them. He'd moved to Konoha County from somewhere up north when they were all teenagers. He was slightly older than all of them. Sasuke had no idea why Lee of all people would act like he'd missed Sasuke or something. They did not start on friendly terms and never sought to build any friendship after their first encounter.
Ino and Shikamaru were behind the two of them. Ino looked like she was enjoying herself. She had a glass of something bright in her hand that Sasuke hesitated to call alcohol since the woman was pregnate.
Shikamaru looked just a he did six years ago. Bored and tired.
Sasuke nodded, however reluctantly, at them all. "Kiba. Lee. Shikamaru."
"Welcome back, my friend!" Lee exclaimed, but the other two didn't look as enthusiastic.
It was obvious Kiba was drunk beyond the point of no return, as he pointed a wavering finger in Sasuke's direction. "You really gon' show your face 'round here affer all dese years?" His words were almost slurred beyond comprehension, and Sasuke pulled back when the other man's famous dog-breath hit his face.
"I'm just here for the funeral." He said, and he was glad the music wasn't as loud as before, allowing him to speak normally.
"Yea? Not even to see the friends you abandoned?" Kiba asked, his voice surprisingly comprehendible. "You got any idea what you did to Naruto when you left?" he growled.
"Kiba, Kiba," Shikamaru said, coming up and pulling at Kiba's arm. "We don't need to start somethin' now. You know some of these people got guns."
"Well when can we then!? 'Cause I'm just about ready to knock this guy's teeth out!"
Sasuke took a step back, eyes widening at the anger he saw in the other man. He wanted to blame most of it on the alcohol but he knew he couldn't. Kiba was just expressing feelings he would have probably repressed if he were sober.
"Take a walk Kiba, go blow of some steam elsewhere." Shikamaru was saying.
Sasuke was trying to step back from the four of them. He really didn't need the drama. "If you guys are just going to yell at me I think I'll just be on my way—"
"Hold up, Uchiha." Shikamaru again. "Lee, go with Kiba. Sasuke, come with me."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the man, asking if he really thought he could just make Sasuke come with him by just asking. But the look in the older man's eyes made him reconsider his attitude for some reason.
Shikamaru began walking away, obviously expecting Sasuke to follow. His wife looked between them for a moment before shrugging and following after her husband.
Sasuke growled under his breath and trailed after them too.
And he didn't even know why. He shouldn't have had to follow them.
Shikamaru took him a little ways away from the festivities, but their convening probably didn't look suspicious.
Shikamaru turned around and looked at Sasuke with his hands in his pockets. Sasuke stopped a few feet away from him. He felt awkward with his empty glass of alcohol still in his had. "Well?" he asked, when the man didn't begin for a while. "What is it?"
Shikamaru narrowed brown eyes at him. Finally he ducked his head, and shook it. "Now, I don't know what Kakashi is doin' paradin' you all around town and makin' you run into people from your past," he murmured. He looked up then, eyes not malicious but Sasuke could still see he underlying threat in them. "But I think it would be best if you stayed down low 'til the funeral…and went on your way back to the city like you were never here." He finished.
Sasuke made a small sound at the back of his throat, before he stepped forwards, slightly angry. "You don't think that's exactly what I've been trying to do!?" He asked disbelievingly. "I wanted to pass by here like a breeze, but Kakashi—"
"Pass by here like a breeze?" Shikamaru actually chuckled. "That why you decide to impose in on Naruto's home instead of get your own hotel room?"
Sasuke hesitated. "I…I have my reasons for doing that. All of which are none of your damn business."
"Of course not." Shikamaru murmured, eyes looking searchingly in Sasuke's eyes.
Sasuke stared back at him, trying to catch his breath – where had it even gone?
"Sasuke." Shikamaru said suddenly, taking his hands out of his pockets. "Do you…have any idea what you even did to Naruto?"
The brunette sighed loudly, exasperated. "Everyone keeps asking that. Oh, what you did to Naruto this, what you did to Naruto that – he shouldn't be hung up on a break-up that happened six damn years ago!" he exclaimed. "None of you should! You should be glad, fuckin' left, 'cause the way I was feelin' back then I woulda shot down every goddamn person in this town if I couldn't get away!"
Shikamaru stared at him.
"Sasuke your accent."
Sasuke turned to Ino quickly. He'd forgotten she was even there. His accent? What the hell was she talking about?
To his surprise Shikamaru surged forwards and pointed a finger at Sasuke's chest, seemingly un-phased by Sasuke's confession. "I don't care why you left, Sasuke." He hissed at the man. "Just know that Naruto ain't right when you're around. He's irrational, he ain't thinkin' right, and he's drinkin' all the time 'cause it makes him feel good – but once you leave again, it's just gon' be him and the damn bottle and we don't need that—"
"The bottle?" Sasuke squinted down at Shikamaru. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Shikamaru stared at Sasuke. "Your leavin' turned Naruto into an alcoholic, Sasuke. He's good at hidin' it from other people but since you're livin' in his home I thought you would have figured that alrea—"
"He's a what."
Sasuke didn't even bother hearing the rest of Shikamaru's words. The heat in his face had nothing to do with the alcohol, nothing to do with the weather, but everything to do with anger. "Don't fucking play with me." he warned quietly. "Naruto's a fucking idiot, but he's not a damned weakling."
Shikamaru breathed heavily out of his nose. "That's right." he began carefully. "I remember. Your father was an alcoholic wasn't he?"
Sasuke jerked away from Shikamaru and turned around. "Where the fuck is he?!" he growled, stalking back towards the bar.
"What the hell do you plan on doin?!" Shikamaru called out from behind him.
Sasuke ignored him and surged past the crowd.
There was no way.
There was just no way Naruto would be so weak as to fall for alcohol when he knew how much of mess Sasuke's father was, how much Sasuke suffered under the hands of an alcoholic.
He didn't know why but he knew the blonde would be inside the bar somehow, because he would have been able to see the shock of blonde hair outside and he didn't see any of that. He didn't know which bar he would be in, so he guessed and went to the one with the least amount of people. He vaguely heard Shikamaru calling out from behind him again.
"Naruto!" he shouted when he was inside. A few people gave him weird looks, but most laughed, or didn't hear him because the crowd conversation drowned out his yell. He called the idiot's name again, but nothing.
Growling, Sasuke shoved passed more people, raising his head so he could see the familiar head of spikes.
Nothing.
People moved against him, laughing and scowling, having fun, and wanting to leave. Faces were shoved against his and Sasuke was almost knocked off his feet a few times, but he would find the blonde and find out some real answers if it was last damn thing he did.
Naruto, an alcoholic?
Fucking impossible.
He whipped his head back and forth, just about ready to give up and try the other bar when he found it.
The shock of blonde, spiked up and moving in what had to be laughter, at the very end of the bar.
Sasuke felt the anger surge into him again, and he charged through the people in his way. There were considerably less of them on that side of the bar, and he found himself in an area where men and women just stood by the wall and casually slipped their drinks. He suddenly had a clear view of Naruto sitting at the bar, spinning in his stool and laughing—
With another man.
Sasuke's hesitation was almost violent. He pulled back a bit, eyes widening – not at what he saw – but at his reaction to what he saw.
What?
Sasuke took in a difficult breath.
The other man. He had his head ducked, and a strange soft smile on his face while Naruto out-right burst out laughing in his face.
The other man. He watched Naruto's hand every time it landed on his knee, every time it appeared before his face to flick his red hair or his nose with eyes in wonder.
The other man. He was tall. Handsome. And kept his hands to himself as Naruto practically slobbered all over him, eyes like stars, and movements sloppy—
Sasuke twitched.
He didn't even realize when he found himself less than ten feet away from the man.
"Plastered out of your brains is unbecoming of you, Naruto." He growled out.
He thought the blonde wouldn't have been able to hear him, but Naruto paused in whatever nonsense he was telling the man he was with to suddenly turn and face him.
Their eyes caught. Dark brown with crystal blue.
Blue eyes widened, and looked over at the brunette, no doubt thinking of how Sasuke looked with his simple white t-shirt and stained jeans, before they dimmed to accompany a lopsided smile. "Sasuke."
Sasuke seethed. The fucking idiot.
He hated that smile, he hated that fake fucking smile.
And the memories of his and Naruto's first encounter came back to him, with the blonde in the kitchen pouring glass after glass of glowing gold Whiskey –
He made his way up the blonde so their faces were only inches apart.
"Tell me it's not true, Naruto." He hissed.
Blue eyes blinked at him. "What ain't true?" And the confusion in his eyes was genuine.
"Tell me that you're not a fucking weak piece of shit, who would sink so low, as to allow a break-up to drive you into fucking alcoholism!" His voice had gotten so loud by the end that most of the conversations around them had suddenly stopped, leaving the muffled sound of the music from outside and the left side of the bar the only things in commotion.
Naruto's face fell like shattering glass, and the blue in his eyes could only shake in their orbs as he stared at Sasuke.
"W..wha—"
"Why am I even fucking asking?" the brunette hissed. "When I saw it with my own two eyes. I can't believe Shikamaru had to tell me before I realized it for myself!" Sasuke was so angry he couldn't even breathe right. "How could you do this, Naruto?! When you knew what my father was like? When you knew how much I hated him? What's your fucking excuse, Naruto – 'cause it's not like your wife died."
Sasuke felt the alcohol really inflating him then, making him see red, and filling his mind with the incredible disappointment he felt towards the blonde.
He wasn't going to leave here before he taught Naruto a lesson.
Anger…
His anger choked him.
Naruto's eyes were so wide he felt they would fall out his sockets.
And Sasuke's final words…
When you knew how much I hated him.
"H..how dare you." his voice was shaking and barely above a whisper.
What's your fucking excuse.
"How fuckin', dare you," and there was that growl he wanted, appearing at the end of his voice and punctuating his sentence for him.
Not like you wife died.
He didn't realize when he was standing from the chair, forcing his ex backwards and getting even more in his face.
"You tellin' me—" And Naruto couldn't even say the words, he couldn't breathe – "You tellin' me I should have some respect for your drunkard father's memory?" His voice died in the end evaporating into a breath. "You sayin' I can't have a problem, 'cause it offends you?"
Sasuke didn't hesitate with the retaliation like Naruto expected. His response was quick. "That's exactly what I'm saying, dobe." He seethed. "You're fucking pathetic, more pathetic than the man I left behind, if all it takes is someone leaving you to turn you into a damned alcoholi—"
"You God damned, asshole," Naruto said through his teeth, suddenly shoving Sasuke's chest with both hands.
The brunette stumbled back but didn't fall. "Look at you," he growled. "You fucking disgust me; too fucking inebriated to even throw a decent—"
"You wouldn't want me to fuckin' punch you, Sasuk—"
"No, no, I want you to!" And Sasuke sounded almost as crazed as he did. "Your hits will be as, if not more pathetic as they were six fucking years ago, and you wanna know why!?" he shouted, bringing a finger back into Naruto's face. "Because you haven't grown one bit, Naruto! I thought you'd changed – I thought you'd matured – but you've fucking regressed, Naruto, you've fucking –!" he shoved Naruto back, and his eyes looked as wild as a boar's. "As if you weren't on the verge of being a fucking degenerate before, you've somehow managed to degenerate even more, by becoming a damned ALCOHOLIC!"
He shoved Naruto back then, with the intent to hurt him, but something caught the blonde before he could bang against the bar, and then there was a broad back standing in front of him instead.
"And who the fuck are you?" he heard Sasuke spit ahead of the person blocking him.
"I think it's best you leave now." Was the deep tenor that sounded before him.
Naruto clenched his fists. Gaara.
Gaara trying to protect him.
"Why don't you back the hell away from me so I could talk to my fiancé?" Naruto heard Sasuke growl.
Something snapped in the blonde. "You fucking—" Naruto shoved Gaara aside so he could glare at the brunette with crazed eyes. "You god damned bastard, what the fuck did you just call me?"
Sasuke showed no fear still, and Naruto could tell from the redness of his eyes that he probably wasn't being himself. But still, "You got no damn right," he hissed. "No god damned right to call me that no more—"
"Naruto—"
"Stay away from me!" he yelled, pushing passed Sasuke too. "All of you just fuckin' leave me alon—"
"D…dobe! Where the hell are you goi—"
"I'm goin' the fuck home!" he shouted, making his way towards the door and shoving passed people to get there.
"You aren't going anywhere until you—"
And then there was a hand grabbing Naruto's shoulder, and it was like something steam powered forced Naruto spin in in one motion, fist already pulling back, then spring forward to sock the unfortunate face in it's way. And it was like rubber burning on cement, only his fist was the cement, and Sasuke's face was the rubber.
Sasuke – who was falling on the floor, screaming and cradling his cheek.
Naruto left the bar in a flourish, and people let him pass without him having to shove them. There were scuffles behind him but he didn't care.
He just wanted to go home.
Fuck Sasuke.
Fucking, fuck, Sasuke.
Tonight had been such a good night—
"Naruto? Naruto!" called out a new voice.
Naruto felt the anger bristle across him again, full force. He turned around and started walking backwards so he could face the man. "You," he pointed an accusing finger, "you fucking stay away from me, Shikamaru!" he screamed, before turning back around again. He was already away from most of the crowd, making his way his truck parked at the end of street.
"Naruto, slow the hell down!"
Naruto turned around again, "You really had to tell him that, Shika?!" he yelled, and his voice betrayed the tears that were welling up in his eyes.
He saw Gaara right behind Shikamaru, passing the man and making his way towards Naruto faster than him.
"He didn't have to know what I been through!" he shouted. "He didn't have to know what he did to me!"
He was by his truck now, and he stood in front of it angry out of his mind and holding the tears in for the life of him. "And all ya'll think I'm some kinda pathetic fuckin' idiot! All ya'll think I'm like this 'cause somebody left me –" his voice was a mess now, with him sniffing, but damn it he would not let the tears fall. "Didn't any of you think, for one second, that maybe it ain't 'cause that one person left, but because everybody fuckin' left?! I can't trust nobody to stay with me 'till the end – not my parents, not my fiancé, not fucking Sarutobi—"
"Naruto,"
The blonde whipped his head to the redhead's who was standing but a few feet away from him, eyes cautious, and slightly wide.
"What?!" Naruto screamed at him. "You gon' give me that alcoholic bullshit too?!"
"I just think someone oughta take you home, is all."
"Naruto let me drive—"
"For the last time, you stay away from me, Shika—"
"At least let somebody drive you home, Naruto—"
"I'm FINE—"
"I'll do it."
"Not you, outlaw." Shikamaru ordered disbelievingly. "What is he even doin' here, Naruto?"
Naruto paused in front of his truck to put his face in hands and sigh in exasperation. "Fuck this," he declared tiredly, before he just decided to ignore them both and make his way towards the driver's seat.
"Get in the passenger seat, Naruto." And that was Gaara, still close to Naruto but bringing the blonde no pleasure with that fact.
"Just because I'm drunk—"
"You're angry." Gaara's voice didn't sound pleading, only factual.
"I've drivin' drunk and mad before." And Naruto, suddenly feeling like he couldn't fight anymore, leaned against his car door and stared up at the redhead above him. "Ain't no trick to drivin' pissed."
"Ain't safe."
"You're drunk too." Naruto moaned, flopping his head to the side and pouting like an angry child. He was just so damned tired of all of this. "Please, just let me—"
"Let me take you home."
Naruto turned his head back around to stare into the green eyes that bore into his.
Another exasperated sigh left his lips, and he made his way to the other side of the vehicle, the passenger side.
"Naruto, wait!"
The blonde ignored Shikamaru then, too fed up to do anything. He was tired. He was mad. And he was tired.
Tonight was a disaster.
And it was a shame because it was only a small part of it that made it that way. Ninety percent of it had been fantastic. Because—
Gaara was looking at him expectantly.
Naruto exhaled tiredly and handed the redhead his keys. "Just make a U-turn and follow the road 'till you see Konata…" he murmured.
Gaara took the keys and started the truck without preamble, and he graciously ignored the tears that Naruto couldn't hold in anymore. He didn't grimace or sob. He only let them fall.
In the distance, he saw Sasuke running out of the bar, turning his head from side to side trying to spot Naruto.
"Fuckin' hell." Naruto muttered, laying his forehead on his hand and turning his eyes away.
He couldn't even enjoy the company he had with him in the truck.
Only Sasuke could ruin something so monumentally for him.
When he peeked his eyes out the window once more he saw Sasuke's eyes land on the truck as Gaara made the U-turn, and the lost look in them, the betrayal he saw in them, made Naruto bite his tongue and look resolutely away.
Fucking hell.
End of Chapter
Authors Note:
TNT. We Know Drama.
Haha, so yeah. That's that. Sasuke gets with his roots, Naruto and Gaara have a cute little drinking contest, Sasuke goes overboard, Naruto cries – BUT NOT IN FRONT OF HIS ENEMIES – and Gaara takes him home.
Again (I don't know why I do this) but this chapter was gonna have a lot more happening – having to do with exchanging life stories and such – but once it hit 10,000 words I was just like – okay Sapphire, this isn't LFFB jeez, put a lid on it. But I think a lot happened in this chapter!
The "Life Stories" part will be in the next chapter and we'll learn a lot of Gaara's & Naruto's life while they're in…very close quarters ; ). Just remember I like to take relationships slow and steady so don't get too excited haha.
Peace & Love
Oh yea, and since your answers really help me figure out what to write for the next chapter:
1. Anybody hating Shika right now?
2. How do you think Sasuke should redeem himself once he sobers up in the next chapter? ; )
3. Aaaaaaand – I probably should have made Ino do a lot worse than throw a pie at him, shouldn't I? =/
Till next time : )
P.S I apologize for grammatical errors! =/ I know they're in there. all UP in there.
P.P.S I have a strange and emmense array of country songs in my iPod and my favorite is Tammy Wynette's, "Stand By Your Man" - I'm not sure if it was ever a popular song, or if anyone even likes it anymore, but I figured I'd use that in this chapter.
P.P.P.S - IM REALLY SORRY, but I might have to take a break from Burning Mines and Danse Macabre (after DM's next update, which will probably come later today) TO WORK ON LIGHT IN THE FIFTH FLOOR BEDROOM. =/ Soo, yeah.