WARNING - Lime in this chapter. It doesn't get particularly graphic, but if you're offended by that type of content, well... you've been warned.
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, here's the next chapter. It's a bit longer, but that's just more to enjoy! I'd like to thank you all for reading and reviewing, and without further ado, on with the chapter!
23. The Only Living Boy in Konoha
It was raining that Friday morning in Konoha Cemetery. Resting just beside the local park, the somber rows of graves lay just atop a hill, looking out over the city. On a clear day it would be a very peaceful sight, watching the sunrise over the town while the dead enjoyed their eternal rest – a bittersweet union of beginnings and ends. Today, though, it was only dreary. Thick, gray clouds loomed overhead, pouring down on the tombstones and causing nearby flowers to droop under the weight.
Thus, understandably, there were no visitors at the cemetery that morning save one. He stood completely motionless over one particular grave, staring blankly at the epitaph. The way he seemed completely unfazed by the rain, combined with his glossy-eyed gaze, made it appear as if he were dead himself. A zombie, numb to the rest of the world.
This particular man carried a bouquet of lilacs in one hand, the rain running off their petals and dripping onto the grave below. He also wore a distinct mask over the lower half of his face, which had turned almost black in its damp state. Even as the rain matted down his hair, obscuring his vision of the epitaph, the man remained motionless, and it was only the sudden crack of thunder that seemed to snap him out of his daze.
Of course, the man didn't jump or anything – in fact, he seemed to move after the lightning strike merely by coincidence. With a sigh, he bent down and laid the lilacs on the grave and brushed his hand over the lettering – Obito Uchiha.
"What do you want me to do, Obito? Is it really okay to start over again?" the man asked calmly as he rose to his feet. "I know you can't answer me – but still, I'm not sure if I'm ready yet. I can't just wait forever, though, right?"
The rain continued to fall, its roar providing the man with his only answer.
"It's my own fault, I know. If I hadn't been so foolish, you'd still be here today," the man continued. He chuckled half-heartedly. "I suppose you don't need me to tell you that, though, do you?"
More rain. The pause was considerably longer this time.
"I don't want to replace you – I know I can never do that. But… I look at Sasuke, and I see how much happier he is now with Naruto. Your little cousin, Obito – he's in love. Probably wouldn't admit it, but he is," the man laughed a put a hand over his mask. "I wonder if that's how I've been these past few years, though. Have I been like Sasuke, turning a cold shoulder to the world? I'm just afraid I'll wake up one day forty years down the road and realize I'm all alone."
Rain.
"I really wish you could hear this. Well, for all I know, maybe you can. I just want to know how you feel about this – should I try to do what makes me happy? Am I even worthy of that?" the man paused, and turned away from the grave. "Thanks for your time, Obito. Sorry to keep you."
With that, the silver-haired man started down the hill towards Konoha High, his clothes thoroughly soaked, and his conscience burdened with guilt.
xxxxx
"Sorry about the other day, by the way," Sasuke said to Naruto as he fumbled through the items in his locker. First hour had just ended for that Friday, and he was preparing to run off to his next class while spending a few, quick minutes with his boyfriend.
"No you're not," Naruto replied, crossing his arms over his chest with a humph. "I told you to stop multiple times, but you just kept on going."
"Yeah, you're right," the Uchiha said with a smirk, slamming his locker shut. "Still, I never knew you were so ticklish down there. Just a little lick and you're giggling like a schoolgirl…"
"I have sensitive feet, all right? It's nothing to be ashamed of," the blond snapped, his cheeks reddening. "I mean, you can lick them if you want to, but at least wait until I'm off the phone with my dad. That just feels… wrong."
I can't believe we're actually having this discussion in the middle of the hallway. Then again, I'm the one who brought it up. Am I enjoying this? Is it that sense of danger that someone might overhear us? Is that why I kept sucking on Naruto's toe, even though he was trying to talk to Iruka?
"Why? Does it make you feel dirty?" Sasuke asked, his voice dropping to a whisper as he leaned into Naruto's ear.
Or maybe I just like making him squirm for a change…
Naruto's blush had deepened significantly as he backed away, and he hurriedly covered his cheeks with a free hand. "No! It's not that! It's just… well, he doesn't really know about us yet. I'm not sure how he'd react."
"I see. So you're ashamed of me, then?"
"What? No! No!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes widening as he waved his hands wildly. "It's nothing like that, I swear!"
Sasuke chuckled. "Wow, you really need to lighten up, Naruto. Ever since that thing with Gaara you've been too tense."
"And you've been too upbeat," the blond retorted, sticking out his tongue childishly.
"Well, I have been feeling pretty good since that little fight," Sasuke admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I don't have to worry about Gaara killing you anymore, I won a battle over you I didn't even know I was fighting, and I got to punch that redheaded bastard right in the face. It was the perfect day."
"Humph, even so, I want to make it up to you. Over what happened between me and Gaara, I mean," Naruto concluded, looking a bit frustrated.
"Is that what you've been worried about? What, you think I'm going to leave you because I'm jealous or something?" Sasuke asked jokingly, only to notice the look of concern in his boyfriend's face. "Look, Naruto, you're worrying over nothing. If anything, I'd leave you because you're so serious all of a sudden."
"Very funny. You didn't think I was that serious when you were trying to eat my toe, now did y…" Naruto began, only to come a halt mid-speech as he had a brainstorm. His lips curled into his usual, wicked grin, and Sasuke gulped.
Oh boy – now I've done it…
"You know, Sasuke, I do feel kind of bad that Iruka interrupted us the other day," Naruto began, tugging gently on his boyfriend's blue shirt. "Kiba has track practice after school today, so he'll be a little late. We'll have the apartment to ourselves if you want to continue where we left off…"
Sasuke felt his mouth run dry as he stared down at the blond's flirtatious smirk. How the tables were so easily turned was beyond the Uchiha, but he could definitely feel the color rising in his cheeks as he backed up against his locker. Suddenly, he became painfully aware of the other students watching him curiously.
He nodded. "Y-yeah. That'd be great…"
With a satisfied grin, Naruto took a step back, causing Sasuke to heave a sigh of relief. Before the blond could comment on the new arrangement, however, he and Sasuke heard someone clear his throat behind them. Turning their heads to the side, the couple found Shikamaru standing with his arms crossed, with Choji waiting a few steps behind.
"Am I interrupting something important here?" Shikamaru asked, shooting to two teens a suspicious glance.
"We were j – "
"No, not at all," Sasuke answered quickly as he cupped a hand over Naruto's open mouth. "What's up?"
"You haven't seen Kakashi today, have you?" the Nara said in a lowered tone. "Choji says he never showed up for first hour today."
Sasuke shrugged. "He's probably sick. It happens to everyone, sooner or later."
"That's just it – there was no sub or anything," Choji interjected as he waddled to his friend's side. "Tsunade called his apartment, but he didn't answer. It's like he vanished."
Yeah, "vanished." He probably just had some car trouble…
"I wouldn't be too worried. You know Kakashi – the only time I'd be concerned is if he actually showed up somewhere on time," the Uchiha concluded with a laugh. Overhead, the bell rang, and the surrounded students began to shuffle towards their next class. Sasuke joined them, knowing his friends would follow.
"You can't keep on ignoring this, Sasuke! I know you've noticed it, too," Shikamaru said, rushing to the Uchiha's side as they made their way down the crowded hallway. "He's be acting strangely all week. I tried talking to him about it, but he tried to play it off like it was nothing."
"So he's been acting a little funny. So what? Maybe it's just a new medication."
"I think Shikamaru's right, Sasuke. Kakashi has seemed more distant than usual," Naruto suggested, a hint of urgency in his voice. "He barely even notices we're there – it's like his mind is elsewhere."
"Not you too, Naruto! I told you, Kakashi's fine, so just drop it!" Sasuke exclaimed, spinning around to address his assembled friends as a whole.
No sooner had he done so, however, than he noticed the silver-haired man walking through the main entrance, soaked from head to toe with his feet covered with mud. Many students stopped to stare at the eccentric teacher. Some were concerned, some were amused, but most were simply scared. Sasuke was among the latter.
Damn it… they were right. He really is in bad shape…
Indeed, Kakashi actually looked like a zombie at the moment. He looked quite pale, and his movements seemed sluggish from his heavy clothes. Most shocking, though, were his eyes. Even as they met Sasuke's, they never once showed any glint of recognition. To say they looked dead would not do them justice – Sasuke could see more emotion in that stolid gaze than in the teacher's brightest smile. It wasn't sorrow, or depression. It was emptiness.
Sasuke knew that feeling well.
"You see what I mean, then?" Shikamaru said, placing a hand on the Uchiha's shoulder. "He's not gonna talk to me. If he sees that he's even got you concerned, though, he might just come clean."
"I don't know. What can I do? I'm only sixteen! It's not my place to talk to Kakashi about life," the raven-haired teen replied with a shake of his head. "I can't do it!"
"What're you talking about, Sasuke?" Naruto spat as he approached his boyfriend, only to be gently pushed back by Shikamaru.
"Wait, Naruto. Let me handle this," the Nara said with a serious tone. The blond seemed ready to resist, but stopped when he saw the look of warning in the other boy's eye. The message was clear – this was not Naruto's place to interfere.
"Sure." Naruto nodded and stepped back to wait alongside Choji.
"Thanks. Now as for you," Shikamaru began, shifting his focus back to Sasuke. "You're going to have to think of a better excuse not to talk to Kakashi than 'I'm only sixteen.' You're probably more qualified to talk to him than any adult in this whole building."
"What? No – I don't know what kind of problems he could be having…"
"That's a lie and you know it. I've only seen that look in Kakashi's eyes once before, and I'm pretty sure you know where. You've been through some things that most people go their entire lives without experiencing firsthand. Do you honestly think I knew how to react when you first told me about your parents?"
Sasuke was silent.
"No, of course I didn't. I still listened to you, though. I tried to help," Shikamaru continued, his tone almost scolding now. "But I wasn't the first person you talked to about it, was I? Unless I'm mistaken, you'd already talked with someone who could relate to your loss."
The Uchiha glanced up, meeting Kakashi's distant gaze once more. He felt his heart sink. "I treated him like dirt, but he was always there to listen. What if I can't help him, though?"
"He's been waiting to talk to you about it, I'm sure. He's shared your loss with you, he knew what it was like. All that time you worked through the death of your parents, though, whatever loss he's suffered has been eating him up on the inside. Now he has to face it, but he's afraid. He needs your help, Sasuke."
Sasuke turned to his friend with a smirk. "And what makes you such an expert all of a sudden?"
Shikamaru laughed and patted the Uchiha's shoulder. "Are you kidding? I have both you and Naruto as friends – I could write a book on this stuff by now."
"Then why don't you?"
"Too troublesome," the Nara replied, resting his hands behind his head. "Now quit stalling. Kakashi's waiting."
Sharp as usual, I see…
With a sigh, Sasuke gave his friends a quick wave goodbye and started toward his teacher, who was still shambling through the hallway, looking almost possessed. The Uchiha met with no difficulty approaching Kakashi, however, for all the other students were scrambling to get as far away from the man as possible. Sasuke couldn't blame him – even though he had known Kakashi practically his entire life, he felt apprehensive about talking to him in his current state.
When Sasuke finally did make it to Kakashi's side, the teacher simply brushed past him as if he hadn't even noticed his presence. Somewhat disconcerted, but still determined to get through to the man, Sasuke cleared his throat.
"Ahem… Kakashi? Can I talk to you for a second?"
Without even turning his head to look at the teen, Kakashi responded monotonically, "Sure, Sasuke. Can it wait until after class? I'm running a little behind, as you might've noticed."
"Tsunade couldn't get a hold of you this morning – chances are she already called in a sub for next hour. I think you have time now," Sasuke replied sternly, latching onto the teacher's wrist. "Let's go."
Kakashi turned, a weak smile hidden behind his mask. "Shikamaru talked you into this, didn't he?"
"That's right – I'm his trump card. Now are you gonna stand there all day, or are we going to talk this over?"
The silver-haired man shook his head and sighed. "All right, you win. Let's go to the teachers' lounge – we'll have some privacy there."
Together, Sasuke and Kakashi walked down the hallway, now thinly populated by tardy students, and made their way to the teachers' lounge by the main office. There, Kakashi cracked the door open and, seeing it was empty, ushered his young guest inside. He then quickly locked the door shut and closed the blinds on the surrounding windows, effectively sealing the two of them off from the rest of the school.
Sasuke took a moment to look around the room. He couldn't believe how absolutely boring the fabled teachers' lounge was – it was completely bare save for a few magazines, a microwave blinking 12:00, and a coffee maker. It was like an interrogation room, in a way, complete with a bright, fluorescent light buzzing overhead.
I'll make him talk. He'll sing like a canary…
Taking a seat at opposite ends of the chipped, plastic table, Sasuke and Kakashi stared at each other for a moment, neither one saying a word. Finally, the Uchiha leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, studying the other man intently.
"So, were you visiting Obito's grave again this morning?"
Kakashi was silent and simply looked away. It was enough of a response for Sasuke.
"You'll be lucky if you don't catch pneumonia, you know? Just look at you, you're soaking wet! Did you really plan on teaching like that today?"
"I'll dry off eventually," the teacher offered meekly.
"Not like that, you won't," Sasuke said, sounding quite frustrated with his subject. He looked around the room before noticing the radiator in the corner. "I take it you walked to school today, too. Am I right?"
Kakashi shook his head. "It just wouldn't feel right, driving to visit him…"
"Well, we have the blinds closed. Hurry up and take off your wet stuff. We'll set them out on the radiator to dry," the Uchiha offered with a sigh, rising from his seat to assist the teacher.
It was surprisingly difficult getting Kakashi out of his sopping wet clothes. Even with Sasuke tugging on the shirtsleeves while the teacher tried to slip the collar over his head, they found that the moisture made the cloth stick to Kakashi's skin. Sasuke couldn't help but feel like he was taking care of an infant, the way he had to struggle just to get Kakashi undressed.
Once the shirt was off, however, it was much easier to take off the socks and pants, as there was much less resistance. They even removed Kakashi's signature mask, adding it to the pile on the radiator, leaving the man in just a pair of black boxerbriefs. Satisfied that Kakashi could finally warm up, Sasuke headed back to his chair to resume his interrogation.
Before he could ask another question, however, the Uchiha noticed that Kakashi was shivering. At first he assumed it was from being wet and nearly naked – that would've made sense, after all – but upon closer examination, Sasuke found it was something much worse. Kakashi, the man that had practically raised him for the past five years, was crying.
My god… what the hell's going on?
Of course, Kakashi wasn't weeping openly or anything. To a casual observer, he would've looked like your ordinary teacher sitting in the teachers' lounge in his underwear. Sasuke could tell, however, that Kakashi was struggling to keep it all together. The few tears running down his cheeks could easily have been mistaken for rainwater dripping from his hair, and his shivering was subtle, but it was the teacher's breathing that said it all. As he stared at the table before him, Kakashi's breaths were short and quick, as if he might hyperventilate at any moment.
Sasuke had no idea what to say. He only felt fear as he stared at the man he thought he had known so well. Kakashi, the cool, collected teacher who was always there to give advice and listen to Sasuke vent, was now sitting before him on the brink of an emotional breakdown. Even the teacher's appearance seemed alien – actually seeing his face without the mask, not to mention his pale, gaunt frame. It looked as if Kakashi hadn't eaten lately, either.
Shikamaru was right. How could I have missed this? Or did I just choose to ignore it? What kind of a friend am I?
"Kakashi… you have to tell me what's going on. Talk to me. Please," Sasuke urged in a soft tone.
The silver-haired man glanced up at the Uchiha, only to jerk his head quickly to the side once again. It was almost as if it burned to look at the teen. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. Just forget about it. I'll be fine."
"You'll be fine? You'll be fine?" Sasuke exclaimed as he jumped out of his chair. "Are you fucking kidding me? Look at yourself! There's no way in hell I'm leaving this room until you tell me why you're such a mess all of a sudden!"
Kakashi chanced a look back at Sasuke and smiled feebly. "You look like him, you know."
Sasuke shot the teacher a confused look. "Like who? Obito?"
Kakashi nodded. "It's probably just me, but I can't help but think of him when I look at you. Even though you were only cousins…"
"So this is about him, then," Sasuke concluded as he calmly sat back down. "It's been six years, Kakashi. I thought you worked through this already?"
The silver-haired man shook his head slowly. "I wanted to – really I did – but I just ignored it. I thought it would go away on its own in time. You see, after he died, your parents were the ones who tried to talk to me about it. They were the only family I had, in a way."
"That's why you were around so much?"
"It helped. Even though seeing you made me think of him, I didn't want to forget. It was painful, but it brought me some comfort, seeing you and Itachi – like a part of him was still with me, somehow."
Sasuke gazed down at the floor. "But then…"
"Then your parents died," Kakashi said softly. "That was a shock for me, too, but I didn't have time to mourn like I did with Obito. I felt it was my responsibility to watch over you and Itachi. No, it wasn't an obligation – it was a need. I couldn't bear to see the two of you suffer, so I did what I could to help. Itachi seemed to cope with it well enough, but you became so distant. That hurt me, to see you like that. It was like you were dead inside."
"A feeling you know quite well, I'm sure."
Kakashi forced a laugh. "I guess you could say that. I knew how you felt, and I wanted to help you, like your family had helped me."
"But all the while, you had Obito waiting in the back of your mind," Sasuke added, nodding sagely.
"I don't think I was trying to ignore it – you know I was always visiting his grave – but I wasn't concerned about my own problems. For those few years, all I cared about were you and your brother. Maybe I thought it was what Obito would've wanted – someone to look after his family in his place," Kakashi began, before shaking his head vigorously. "No, that isn't right either. That makes it sound like the only reason I cared for you was because I felt guilty. It's more than that…"
"I know, Kakashi. It's complicated – I understand."
"In a way, it was like how you and Naruto became closer. You met each other through chance, but you saw something in each other – similar experiences, or whatever it was – and you built a bond out of it," Kakashi continued before pausing. His voice broke as he spoke once again. "That's what's been the hardest about this past week. I see you with Naruto, and I can't help but think of him. It's like looking into the past…"
Suddenly, it all clicked. Sasuke leaned forward, studying the silver-haired man carefully. "Wait – I think I understand now. Ever since Naruto and I have been together, you've finally had to face your problems with Obito, and it's eating you up inside. Am I right so far?"
Kakashi nodded, biting his lower lip to fight back oncoming tears.
"You probably realize that you need to move on and try to find someone new, but it's too hard. You just can't bear to forget about him."
Finally, the teacher broke. Burying his head in his open hands, Kakashi let the tears fall, trying to make an intelligible response. "I… I loved him, Sasuke. And he's gone! And it's my own fault! How can I move on from that? How?"
"You can't," Sasuke concluded, realizing this was exactly what Shikamaru had been talking about. This was where his experiences finally became useful. "Obito's gone – that's something you'll live with for the rest of your life."
"Then how can I try to love again? I'll just end up hurting them too…"
"No matter how much you blame yourself, Kakashi, he won't come back. There's no sense in beating yourself over it any more than you have. Obito wouldn't want that," Sasuke said, rising from his chair to comfort the other man. "That being said, you shouldn't just forget about him, either. You loved Obito, and nothing you do will ever change that."
"I know that, Sasuke," Kakashi said in frustration as he stifled his tears. "Of course I still love him, and I know he would only want me to do what makes me happy, but… it's hard."
"No one said it would be easy," the Uchiha continued, placing a consoling hand on the teacher's shoulder. "But that's what you have friends for. Talk to some of the other teachers – you get along with Gai and Asuma, right? Have them help you out. Maybe they know someone, or can at least help ease you back into it. And as soon as you find the right person, never let him go. Learn from your experiences with Obito and forge a new love that'll bring you happiness."
Kakashi was silent for a moment. He'd stopped shaking, and though his eyes were red from crying, he'd managed to regain his composure. Sasuke removed his hand and began to gather the teacher's clothes, which had dried somewhat. After setting them on the table, the Uchiha started for the door, so that his mentor would have some time to think everything over.
"Wait, Sasuke," Kakashi called, still staring blankly at his desk. Sasuke froze, his hand on the doorknob. "Do you really think it's possible? Can I find the right person a second time?"
"You'll never know if you don't try," Sasuke replied, shooting the silver-haired man a grin.
Kakashi returned the smile, albeit a much softer, but genuine one. "Thanks, Sasuke. See you in class."
The Uchiha laughed to himself as he started out the door. "Welcome back, Kakashi."
xxxxx
Shikamaru Nara stood outside the Konoha Theater that night, trying to look as relaxed as possible as he leaned against the wall, occasionally checking his watch. It was 7:55 – assuming Temari was punctual, she would be there in only a few minutes. Until Shikamaru picked her out of the crowd, though, he had no choice but to stand there and fight the uphill battle to remain calm.
It had been bad enough getting through the Kakashi incident earlier that day, but this anxiety was bound to give the Nara an ulcer sooner or later. He could remember the time when he wouldn't get involved with any of this stuff – the days when all he had to worry about was getting through the day.
They were simpler times… but Shikamaru knew they were long gone. Somehow, in just the past few years, he had found himself getting involved more and more with other people. Friendships snuck up on him, bonds were formed, and soon the lazy genius was working harder than he ever had before to keep track of everything.
It was a pain in the ass, having to bend over backwards just so other people's lives wouldn't fall apart, but deep down, Shikamaru loved it. He had never felt so fulfilled before and, as much as he hated to admit it, he liked having something to do. Maybe he'd only been lazy before because he couldn't find the right thing to challenge him - chess matches could only push his brain so far, after all.
Well, I've certainly got enough on my mind now, don't I?
Shikamaru chuckled nervously to himself as he examined his watch once again. It was now 8:01 – Temari was late. With a sigh, he dug his hands into his pockets and continued to wait as other couples shuffled into the theater.
At least Sasuke's little pep talk with Kakashi seemed to work. Still, I wish he'd tell me what the hell he said…
That was one thing that always irritated Shikamaru: secrecy. He could see through his friends' lies quickly, and that usually told him enough about a situation so he could form his own conclusion. There remained that doubt, however, and Shikamaru did not like having to consider the minimal possibility that he was wrong.
He was almost certain that whatever Kakashi and Sasuke had talked about had involved some sort of loss on the teacher's part. Not a recent loss, but one that had been lingering in the back of his mind for some time. The question, of course, was what that loss was.
Clearly, Sasuke must've known, because he knew how to handle the situation. Perhaps it was something they had discussed before, or maybe Kakashi had mentioned it in passing. In any case, the Uchiha knew, but he refused to tell Shikamaru.
What could that mean? If it's so important that Sasuke has to keep it a secret, then it must be pretty big. Could I have misread him? Could it have been guilt? Maybe Kakashi did something many years ago that's been haunting him… a robbery? Murder? No, Kakashi's not the type. He couldn't possibly kill someone in cold blood…
Shikamaru placed a hand to his chin, drowning out the din as he contemplated the situation.
It's more likely that Kakashi somehow wronged someone he cared about in the past. I can see why hurting an innocent person would get to you, but he looked too ill for it to be just anyone. What was it? A lie? Did he never get to tell his parents he loved him? No… still too small. I'm getting closer, though – it's definitely that kind of regret. Something he did must've caused someone dear to him a great deal of pain.
A sibling? His parents? A friend? No… I'm ignoring the most obvious fact. This change in Kakashi started just after Sasuke and Naruto got together. Kakashi was the one who tried to push Sasuke into that relationship – clearly he wanted to see Sasuke fall in love. But why? What does it matter to him if Sasuke lives the rest of his life cold and distant? Because Kakashi sees himself in Sasuke. It's the only logical answer… it's his lover! That's what's been bothering him!
"Hello~ Shikamaru? Dozing off again, are we?"
Snapping back to reality, the Nara looked up to find a blonde with four ponytails staring back at him. His jaw dropped open. As much as he wanted to say something, he couldn't seem to say anything other than a few stupid syllables as he looked his date over.
Temari had decided to flaunt her assets that night, apparently. She wore a black, low-cut shirt that exposed her bare belly bearing the image of weasel with a sickle in its mouth. In addition, she wore only a short, black skirt, with fishnet stockings covering the rest of her long legs. She bent over to stare her date in the eye, a mischievous smirk on her face.
"Well, well – you just can't stop staring at me, can you? It's gonna be hard to follow the movie that way, you know," she chastised, lightly tapping the Nara's chin with her finger.
"Oh, no! It's not that!" Shikamaru stammered with a blush. Realizing it was useless, however, he simply scratched the back of his head. "I mean… you look beautiful tonight, Temari."
The blonde grinned, and picked her date up into a hug. "Now that's what I wanted to hear! You know, you don't look half bad yourself, Shika."
After Temari set him back down, Shikamaru glanced down at his apparel, having forgotten what exactly he was wearing. He had picked out his favorite mesh undershirt, which he wore beneath an unzipped green jacket. As for his pants, he'd simply picked out some clean, black jeans that were on top of the pile – nothing special.
Note to self – pay more attention to clothes next time…
"Oh, thanks," Shikamaru replied, not quite sure how to take the compliment.
"No problem," Temari said, pulling the Nara close before finishing in a whisper. "Although, I have to say, I enjoyed your outfit at that party a lot more…"
Shikamaru flushed. "Ssh! Do you have to tell the whole world about that?"
"Hey, no need to get so embarrassed. Who knows? Maybe you can give a repeat performance tonight," Temari said with a wink.
"R-really?" the Nara asked, his eyes widening.
"No, you silly!" the blond laughed, dragging Shikamaru towards the marquee. "I don't move that fast. But if you play your cards right… well, let's just say you already have a few things going for you, okay?"
Shikamaru had no idea what to say, so he decided just to keep quiet. Once they were up to the box office, the Nara briefly glanced up at the movies before laying down a $20 bill. "Two for Pirates of the Caribbean, please."
"All right, that'll be in theater #4 on your right. Enjoy the show!" the usher replied, sliding the tickets beneath the window.
As Shikamaru picked up the tickets and started towards the theater, he heard Temari whisper once more into his ear. "You're off to a good start, Shika."
His heart racing, Shikamaru led his date into the dark theater, where they found their seats. Temari had been right – he didn't follow the movie at all. While Johnny Depp swashbuckled across the screen, his eyes were cautiously studying the girl beside him, while his hand slid closer to hers. When their hands met, they stared at one another briefly before leaning in for a kiss.
Shikamaru was glad it was dark – it at least gave him an excuse for being awkward. He had no idea what to do with his hands, or even his lips, but it was all right. Temari didn't seem to care, and the fact that she was not immediately repulsed gave the Nara some much-needed confidence. They only kissed for a few moments, their lips meeting just long enough for them to get a taste for each other, but Shikamaru was on cloud nine as he stared into his date's glossy eyes.
For some reason, Shikamaru's mind briefly jumped back to Kakashi, love, and Sasuke, before he leaned in for a second kiss. It was strange, but he could not help but wonder if Sasuke was having as much fun at that moment as he was.
If only he had known…
xxxxx
A few hours prior to Shikamaru's date, Naruto Uzumaki was leaving school feeling a strange combination of excitement, worry, and relief. On the one hand, the whole incident with Kakashi had been unsettling, and for the entire hour that Sasuke was gone the blond's nerves were rattled.
All the possible causes of Kakashi's grief ran through his mind – running from a simple cause such as stress, to the most outrageous scenarios Naruto could think of. What if Kakashi's uncle was being held hostage, and he was scrambling to find the money? What if he'd been abducted by aliens and they'd tampered with his memory, and now he was having nightmares about the event, which made him think he was losing his mind?
Of course, when Naruto finally saw Sasuke again in gym class, his fears subsided quickly. It was obvious that Sasuke had managed to console Kakashi at least somewhat, though the Uchiha refused to reveal any details of their conversation. Unlike Shikamaru, however, Naruto was perfectly fine being left in the dark. Sure, he wanted to know what had happened to Kakashi, but he figured Sasuke would tell him when the time was right. There was no need to rush those personal things.
What was occupying the blond's mind the most, however, was the night he had planned with his boyfriend. Ever since their conversation that morning, Naruto had been conjuring the perfect evening with Sasuke in his mind. He was a little concerned that Sasuke might back out of their arrangement, given the craziness with Kakashi, but somehow he doubted that would be the case. After a stressful day, Sasuke needed a chance to unwind with Naruto more than ever.
Thus, it was with all three of these emotions swirling in his head that Naruto left school that day alongside his boyfriend. It had stopped raining by this point, with the afternoon sun just beginning to peak through the thinning clouds, though the streets were still covered in puddles of varying depth. Naruto had a tendency to jump in these puddles as they made their way towards his apartment, inadvertently splashing Sasuke in the process.
"Would you cut it out?" Sasuke asked after the blond jumped in one particularly deep puddle. He wiped some of the water from his face as they walked along. "I'd rather stay dry, if at all possible."
"Oh, come on. I thought you liked getting wet?" Naruto asked with a grin, his pants soaked to his knees, turning them a darker shade of orange. "Remember that time under the bridge?"
"That was different!" Sasuke stammered, though his apparent frustration only filled his boyfriend with glee.
"Maybe you're right. But don't worry – you won't be in those wet clothes for long."
Sasuke eyed the vulpine boy suspiciously as they crossed the street. Most of their peers had long since passed them, rushing towards their respective homes as quickly as possible. For what Naruto had planned, he was moving at a surprisingly leisurely pace, as if he was simply going for a morning stroll. It wasn't like him at all. "What are you planning, exactly?"
"You'll see," Naruto replied, flashing a smile over his shoulder. "You might want to call Itachi – tell him you won't be home tonight, you know?"
"I'll be fine. He knows he can call me if he needs me. Not that he'd care anyway," Sasuke answered, only to realize afterwards the blond's implication. "Why won't I be home tonight, anyway?"
"I was thinking we could give the sleepover thing another try… with just the two of us," the blond said coyly. "I want to make tonight special."
Not another word was said on the matter, much to Naruto's relief. He had been afraid Sasuke would offer some resistance to the idea, but it seemed the Uchiha had decided to go along with it. Satisfied, Naruto immediately turned onto the next street, causing Sasuke to look at him in confusion.
"Where are you going, Naruto? Your apartment's the other way…"
"I know – like I said, I want to make this special. I have to build the suspense, right?" Naruto said as he stomped into another puddle, his boyfriend wincing as the water splashed upward.
A few blocks later, the duo arrived at the Konoha City Park. It was mostly empty, likely due to the rain, which had left the ground soft and soggy, with the grass covered in a glistening dew. Taking his boyfriend by the hand, Naruto walked down the path alongside the trickling stream, where a few ducks swam past.
Something had been bothering Naruto for the past few weeks – something that he had been dying to get off his chest, but had never been able to put to words. He knew, before he and Sasuke progressed any further in their relationship, he would have to come clean about it.
Not that it was anything particularly bad – it wasn't like kissing Gaara, where he his guilt had forced him to come clean right away – but it was still bothering him. Something like what Kakashi had been going through, a lingering presence in the back of his mind that could only be ignored for so long. Looking around the empty park, Naruto knew this was the perfect opportunity. It was time to confess.
"Peaceful, isn't it?" the blond asked awkwardly as he scanned area, trying to enjoy the tranquility.
Sasuke only nodded as he, too, took in the sight. They continued on in silence until they reached the bridge, where Naruto came to a halt. He turned and stared down at the mouth of the stream, where it joined the park's small pond. He sighed.
"Something on your mind?" Sasuke asked, leaning over the railing.
Naruto glanced up in surprise. "What? No, it's nothing. I was just thinking…"
"Exactly. That's what worries me," the raven-haired teen responded, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "What's bothering you?"
Guess he saw right through that one…
"Earlier today… you said I was ashamed of you. Because I didn't want Iruka to know about us," the blond said as he watched the passing ducks swim out into the pond.
"Naruto, I said I was joking," Sasuke replied, patting his boyfriend on the back. "Don't tell me that's been bothering you this whole time?"
"Well, not exactly. I know you didn't mean it, but it got me thinking – I've only really told a few of our friends about it. Other than that this whole thing's been a secret. Whenever we kiss, it's always in my apartment or under this bridge, or somewhere else where no one can see us."
"And… your point?"
Here it goes…
"I don't like it! It makes it look like I'm trying to hide you from the rest of the world when I don't want to. Really, I want to tell the whole world about us… but I'm scared," Naruto confessed, covering his face in shame. "I know it's ridiculous, but I don't know what'll happen if I do. Something's bound to change, and I just want things to stay the same…"
Sasuke sighed and sat up on the edge of the railing, so he could get a better look at his boyfriend. "Naruto… as I recall, I was the one who wanted to keep our relationship a secret to begin with."
"You only beat me to the punch," the blond interrupted, shaking his head. "I know I act all confident, but it's just an act. I may act like I don't care what others think, but deep down I'm terrified that I'll be an outcast again. Like when I was in the orphanage…"
"Then why do you take such risks? Why did you make out with me under this bridge? Why did you flirt with me in school, or hang around me in general?" Sasuke asked, gesticulating into the air. "You don't have to do it for me, Naruto. I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with."
"I know! But that's just it… even though it scares the hell out of me sometimes, I want them to know that I care about you. Even if I can't bring myself to announce it to the world, I at least want to be seen with you. To let people know that Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are more than they seem."
"So you want to continue as usual?"
"Yeah… I guess so. I didn't want you to think that I hadn't thought about it, though…"
"I appreciate that," Sasuke replied with a soft smile, the breeze blowing through his hair. "Someday, when we're both ready, we can tell the rest of the world about us. Until then, though, we'll keep it among our friends. The others – Ino, Sakura – they're not worthy of knowing just yet."
"Right," Naruto laughed, his trademark grin returning to his face. "There was one more thing I wanted to do while we were out here, though."
"And what's that?"
Pulling on Sasuke's collar, Naruto brought the teen down to his level and into a sudden kiss. Even though there was no one else around, Naruto felt his heart racing as their lips met. This was what he wanted – to show his love for Sasuke to all. To hide it from no one. It was just an illusion, sure – a public display of affection with no actual public – but that was enough for that moment.
Their kiss was brief, more of a gesture than anything else, and when they pulled out of it, Naruto helped his boyfriend down off the railing and smiled. "Thanks. I needed that."
"Anytime."
Suddenly, Naruto felt a small drop of water pat down on his head. Glancing up, he found the clouds were gathering once more, releasing a light sprinkle on the ground below. He turned his attention back to Sasuke and laughed.
"Should we make a run for it?"
"Sure. I'll race you there," Sasuke replied before breaking into a sprint. Naruto followed close behind, and together the couple raced back to the blond's apartment, hoping to avoid the inevitable downpour.
Fortunately, the park wasn't too far from their destination, and they only had to cross a few streets before arriving at the apartment building's parking lot. After bounding up the stairs, they skidded to a halt just outside Naruto and Kiba's apartment, where the blond quickly unlocked the door. Together, he and Sasuke scrambled inside just as the torrential rain began.
They both collapsed on the carpet, breathing heavily from their sprint, and let their sore muscles relax. After a few seconds of listening to the rain beating against the window, however, the couple found themselves laughing uncontrollably, neither one knowing why.
"That was a close one," Naruto said with a sigh, wiping a joyful tear from his eye.
"What? The race, or beating the rain?" Sasuke asked as he sat up, dabbing at his sweaty brow with his shirttail.
"Both."
"Ha! You wish," the Uchiha replied confidently, kicking his shoes off. "I'm not sure if you noticed, but I was the one who had to wait for you."
"Only because you got a head start," Naruto said defensively as he rose from the floor, removing his shoes as well. "I managed to catch up quite a bit, too. If we'd been racing to Shikamaru's place I would've caught you."
"Please, I was holding back. I didn't want to completely demoralize you."
Naruto glared at the other teen for a moment before extending a hand to his boyfriend. "Well, whatever. I want a rematch sometime, though."
Sasuke grabbed the outstretched hand and pulled himself to his feet. "All right – you just say the word."
Suddenly, the Uchiha's stomach began to rumble audibly, causing Naruto's own gut to react in kind. They both stared down at their complaining bellies and laughed. "Looks like we'll have to find something to eat, first. I don't exactly have a lot of food…"
"You have ramen, right?" Sasuke asked as he followed his boyfriend into the kitchen. "We could have some of that."
"Oh yeah – I always have ramen," Naruto replied, his eyes brightening at the thought of his favorite dish. He flung open the kitchen cabinets, only to have his heart sink. Sitting on the top shelf was a single package of top ramen – the rest was completely bare. "Except for today, apparently. I guess we forgot to stock up this week…"
In a momentary panic, Naruto began to dig through the other cupboards in the kitchen, tossing out numerous empty boxes of cereal as he scoured the room for something edible. Sadly, he came up empty handed – then he remembered why there was no food in the apartment.
"I forgot – this weekend is parents' weekend. Kiba's mom and dad are coming up tomorrow, and they're going to take him shopping then." Removing the top ramen from the shelf, he sheepishly handed it to his boyfriend. "This is all the food we have, apparently."
"Can we share it?" the Uchiha asked, glancing down at the package curiously. "I know it's not a lot, but it's better than having one of us go hungry."
"Are you sure? I mean, I can survive without food for a while," Naruto began, only to have his grumbling stomach interrupt him. He acknowledged the Uchiha's immediate glare with a nod. "I'll get cooking, then."
Scrounging around in his cabinets for a few moments, Naruto pulled forth a pot, which he filled with water and placed on the nearby stove. Once the stove was on and the water began to boil, he dumped the dried noodles inside and began to set the table while they cooked. It was a very meager looking setup – just one bowl, two glasses of water and two spoons sitting on the somewhat wobbly table – but Sasuke didn't seem to mind. He simply took his place and waited, looking almost guilty for letting the blond do all the work. Apparently Sasuke knew that Naruto would never let him lift a finger, though, so he didn't even ask. It wasn't worth the effort.
After a few minutes, Naruto wandered back to the stove, where he found the noodles were nice and ready. He lifted the pot from the stove and poured them into the single bowl on the table, announcing with a flourish, "Bon appetit."
Taking a seat across from the Uchiha, Naruto began to dig in, eagerly scooping the noodles into his mouth. Occasionally he'd glance up, to make sure Sasuke was getting his share as well, before returning to his noodly goodness. Before long, there was only a bowl of salty broth left on the table, with a single, lengthy noodle floating in the middle.
"It's all yours," Naruto offered, motioning to his boyfriend.
"No, you take it. It's your ramen, after all."
Naruto considered this for a moment, before a smirk crossed his face. "Say, have you ever seen Lady and the Tramp?"
"You're not thinking of the spaghetti thing, are you?" Sasuke asked, shooting the blond a skeptical look.
"You mean you don't want to try it? We did say we were going to share this meal, after all. Might as well share the last noodle, too."
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders, "Fine – let's give it a try."
Scooping up their respective ends of the noodle into their mouths, Naruto and Sasuke leaned forward and proceeded to inch their way towards one another. Before they could reach the middle, however, the tension broke the fragile noodle, and they both slurped up their ends. Naruto felt somewhat disappointed, until he glanced up and met his boyfriend's gaze. The Uchiha was still inching forward across the table, his lips curling into a smile.
"You know, Naruto… I didn't see it break."
Clambering onto the table, Sasuke bent his head down and pressed his lips against the blond's. Naruto quickly returned the kiss with pressure of his own, digging his hands into the Uchiha's hair as he closed his eyes. They enjoyed the mingling flavors for a moment, savoring the lingering taste of ramen on their lips along with the now-familiar taste of their lips. Before their kiss could progress beyond this beginning stage, however, Naruto pulled out and gazed up at his boyfriend in concern.
"Let's take this somewhere else. That doesn't look particularly comfortable."
Sasuke glanced down, starting at his legs straddling the steaming bowl of ramen broth. He laughed. "I suppose you're right. This could get pretty messy."
Hopping off the table, the raven-haired teen almost immediately grabbed Naruto once again, pulling him into yet another kiss as he backed out of the kitchen. The blond offered no resistance, but simply closed his eyes once more and let his lips go to work. Both boys seemed more than eager to kiss the other, each applying pressure with every meeting of their lips, almost as if they were locked in a fierce battle to conquer the other's mouth. Clearly the ramen had done little to satiate their true, burning hunger.
However, they seemed to let their passion blind them to their surroundings, for as they continued to kiss, with Naruto gently sucking on Sasuke's lower lip, the Uchiha backed into a nearby end table. Almost immediately, he lost his balance, causing the couple's lips to part as they tumbled to the ground.
Seeing that they were both in once piece, Naruto initiated yet another kiss, lying atop Sasuke as he explored the area just below his chin. While the Uchiha let out a slight moan, feeling the ripple of pleasure run through his body, the blond made his way down from the chin towards the base of the neck, where he soon met with a bit of cotton. He backed out of the kiss, and placed his fingers around the hem of Sasuke's shirt, tugging at it slightly.
Without so much as a word, Sasuke lifted his arms above his head, allowing Naruto to slip the shirt off with ease. With his boyfriend's bare torso now revealed, the blond tossed the shirt off to the side, and resumed his kissing frenzy, covering the Uchiha's collar almost entirely. Before Naruto could move any further south, however, Sasuke interrupted him with a tap on his shoulder.
"Wait… before you go any further."
"What?" Naruto asked in a combination of frustration and concern.
"Let me make you feel good," Sasuke asked as he yanked the blond's own shirt over his head.
Oh… I see where this is going…
Raising his arms above his head, Naruto helped his boyfriend strip off the shirt, before flinging it atop the nearby couch. Bowing his head down, the blond rested his head on the Uchiha's shoulder and inhaled. He had never paid much attention to Sasuke's scent before, but with his focus no longer on kissing, he found himself taking it in. It was pleasant – a masculine musk, most likely from the teen's somewhat sweaty state. Before he could dwell on the odor for long, however, the blond felt a strange, almost ticklish sensation on his neck. He fidgeted.
"Just hold still. I told you it's my turn," Sasuke chastised before resuming his own exploration of the vulpine boy's neck.
Naruto complied, trying his best to keep still, though he found it incredibly difficult. Every subtle movement of Sasuke's lips made the blond's blood pump all the more quickly. He found himself breathing deeply, taking in that scent as his own sweat mixed with the Uchiha's.
I… I want him…
Bending his head forward, Naruto proceeded to lick the Uchiha's shoulder, carefully tasting their sweat as he moved up towards the neck. Soon, the boyfriends were kissing one another, looking like two lovebirds joining together. As they kissed, Naruto could feel Sasuke's finger sliding down his chest, gently feeling the blond's muscles just beneath the skin. Naruto wanted to join him, to touch the Uchiha's body as well, to share his sensations, but found he could not. Both of his hands were needed to support him on the floor, lest he end up crushing his boyfriend under his weight.
"Sasuke… mmm… let's move," Naruto asked between sensual kisses.
"Again?" the Uchiha asked, shooting the blond a frustrated glare. "Do we have to?"
"Please? It's just a short walk to my bedroom."
Sasuke groaned and removed his lips from Naruto's neck, leaving a distinct, red mark in its wake. Meanwhile, Naruto crawled off his boyfriend and helped him up, only to cave instantly with yet another kiss. Somehow, the blond found his hands sliding down to the Uchiha's shorts as they stumbled into the hallway. There, Naruto's fingers went to work, unfastening the raven-haired teen's belt, which he discarded in the middle of the hallway, before moving on to the shorts. Moments later, Sasuke used a free hand to push the shorts down to the floor, leaving him in just his black boxerbriefs.
Sasuke apparently wished to return the favor, as Naruto soon felt the Uchiha's hands exploring his shorts as well. While the blond struggled to open his bedroom door with one hand, his mind still focused on kissing his boyfriend, Sasuke's fingers delicately unbuttoned his shorts. Once the door opened and they backed into the room, Naruto's shorts fell to his ankles. With only his light red boxers left, the blond tumbled back onto the bed, dragging Sasuke along with him in his arms. After rolling around briefly to the center of the bed, Naruto stared down at Sasuke, resting with his elbows on either side of the Uchiha's frame.
"Well, then. Shall we continue?"
With a free hand, Naruto proceeded to carefully run his hand over his boyfriend's bare torso while his lips went to work on his nipples. Sasuke moaned and bucked slightly as Naruto tickled the nipple with his tongue, sending waves of pleasure through the Uchiha's body. Meanwhile, the blond's hand slid down to Sasuke's leg, where it began to rub against the thigh, massaging it at a steady rhythm.
"Oh… right there…"
Heh… he likes it. Well, we're just getting started…
As Naruto switched over to the other nipple, where he again tickled it with his tongue, he suddenly felt Sasuke's hands press down on his back. They worked their way from his shoulders on down, brushing against Naruto's adolescent muscles as they went, before reaching the blond's boxers. There, the Uchiha's hands suddenly clamped down on Naruto's butt, causing the blond to inhale sharply in surprise.
Rather than stop what he was doing, though, Naruto merely paused in his sucking of the nipple and let Sasuke have his fun. It was certainly a bit distracting, feeling the Uchiha's hands clinging to his butt, but it was by no means a bad thing. In fact, it was actually quite nice, to know that Sasuke had found a favorite body part. The fact that it was Naruto's butt only gave him something to tease his boyfriend about later on.
Suddenly, the blond felt a slight tug. Glancing back, he found Sasuke's hands moving down, sliding Naruto's boxers off in the process. Again, though, Naruto didn't resist, but actually helped kick his underwear the rest of the way off, sending them flying to the corner of the room. There he was – lying on his bed, completely naked, pressed up against his boyfriend. Needless to say, Naruto found himself suddenly excited, with a distinct twitch between his legs responding accordingly. With Sasuke still clinging to his now-bare butt, Naruto soon found himself quite hard, and quite distracted.
"Sasuke… do you mind?" Naruto asked, tugging on the leg of the Uchiha's boxerbriefs.
"Oh… y-yeah, sure," Sasuke replied, removing his hands from the blond's backside before grabbing the waistband of his underwear.
In an interesting move that involved Naruto rising a few inches off Sasuke while he bucked his hips, the couple managed to remove the last article of clothing between the two of them. It soon joined Naruto's boxers in the corner, leaving them both completely naked, and, as they soon discovered, quite eager for more than kissing.
"A little excited, are we?" Sasuke asked with a smirk, staring down at his boyfriend's crotch.
"Look who's talking!" Naruto replied with a laugh, sitting cross-legged on the bedspread. "You're hard as a rock!"
Sasuke turned a bit red as he glanced down at his erection. "W-well… you were playing with my nipples like that. I wasn't kissing you at all!"
"Yeah, but you think I didn't notice you squeezing my ass like that?" Naruto replied with a grin. They both laughed, and sat in awkward silence for a moment, before the blond finally broke the tension. "So… what should we do about this?"
"You mean… these?" the Uchiha asked, taking another quick glance at his crotch. "Do you mean…?"
"Should we?"
"If it's all right with you…"
"Well, I'll do it if you want to…"
"No one's making you…"
Suddenly, Naruto ended the conversation abruptly with a kiss, catching Sasuke completely off guard. He lay down beside the raven-haired teen, wrapping one arm over his shoulder and pulling him into an embrace. Sasuke followed suit, draping his free arm over his boyfriend, where his hand soon found its way back to the blond's butt.
It was awkward. There they were, two teens lying face to face, their bodies pressed against each other, tingling with excitement. Neither one knew quite what to do first – they were trying hard to control the twitches down south, which required most of their mental strength. Finally, though, Naruto's free hand inched its way down, running past Sasuke's belly button, until it reached its destination. Tentatively, the blond's hand grasped the other boy and, much like with Sasuke's thigh before, began to stroke.
Almost immediately, Sasuke moaned quite audibly, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself as waves of pleasure pulsed through his body. As Naruto continued to work, however, the Uchiha managed to regain some control, and he found his free hand wandering down Naruto's front. Within moments, he, too, had grasped Naruto, and began to stroke slowly, trying to make the experience as pleasurable as possible.
Oh god… mmm…
"Sasuke… just like that…" Naruto moaned, closing his eyes while he continued to caress the other teen.
The Uchiha made no reply, but instead pressed his lips against his boyfriend's, allowing them to kiss while their hands continued to work. As the minutes passed, their strokes became faster and faster, their breaths becoming almost desperate, and their bodies glistening with sweat. Before long, they could not even continue their kiss, as their attention was entirely consumed by what was going on below. Then, as the throbbing pleasure became almost painful, Naruto felt it, and he stared into Sasuke's eyes.
"Sasuke… are you?"
"Almost…"
"Oh… I'm gonna…"
And there it was. His entire body consumed with pleasure, Naruto felt a sudden release. Seconds later, he felt Sasuke do the same, his body shuddering in bliss. As they moaned in ecstasy, their bodies covered with sweat and love, the couple breathed deeply gazing at each other in exhaustion. After a moment, Naruto gave a combination of a laugh and a sigh, his lips curling into a smile.
"That was fun."
"Yeah… felt good, too," Sasuke said, wiping some of the sweaty hair from his face. "You were great."
"You too…" Naruto whispered, fatigue getting the best of him.
Thus, lying naked with his boyfriend in his arms, Naruto drifted off to sleep, feeling utterly at peace.
Well... yeah, hope you enjoyed that. It was certainly fun to write! What'll happen with Kakashi, now that he's being forced to address his problems with Obito? And what about Naruto and Sasuke - how will things be the morning after? And what of Iruka? Will he have any luck in solving his current unemployment dilemma? All this and more in the next chapter. Until then, remember - review!