Naruto: Ballad
Paring: SasuNaru
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. Don't sue me because I don't have money to pay.
A/N: I will be using the 24 hour/ military time when I refer to specific time of the day so don't be too confused of the sudden appearance of the four digit number appearing.
Recap: Sasuke finally went and did Naruto, what will happen to this pair?
Chapter 6:
Sasuke filled with a mixture of regret, and despair decided to shoulder all the problems that may come their way. He decides to protect Naruto from everything that may harm his young lover. But deciding it is easier than done.
Club room at Sasuke's school, 1800.
'So what happened?' Neji asked sitting across the dark hair's seat. He couldn't bear to watch and stay in silence anymore seeing the gloomy expression that Sasuke has almost kissing the table. 'You called me here to accompany you.' He eyed the cans of beers on the table, five cans empty. He took all five cans alone huh, he thought. He turned his attention to the other cans on the table; there were a dozen and half more left on the table. He sighs, lifts an empty can of beer and waived it before Sasuke's face. 'Come on now. Spit it out! I dislike the fact that I have to look at a male's face during my vacant time.'
Neji recalls when he got called by Sasuke to spend time together, though he understood that something is wrong about how Sasuke sounded on the phone and how late it is that Sasuke had suddenly wanted a company.
Sasuke stares at Neji. He suddenly took a can of beer he had opened and drank from it in one swig.
'Oi!' Neji surprised took away the can of beer immediately off Sasuke's hand. He looked at the empty can of beer he took from Sasuke and then threw it aside on the floor. He glares at his companion getting drunk with sorrow. 'Geez! Just tell me what's wrong! I won't know what to do with you.'
'Do you think… Do you think I can handle it?' Sasuke spoke in a low voice. 'Protecting Naruto…' He bent his head, had his face on the table as to hide his expression to his companion.
'What do you mean?' Neji stares at Sasuke slumping on the table. 'Wha… What did you do?' He waited what the dark hair male would say.
'I… I confessed to him.' Even though drunk, he is shameful to say it to his closest friend.
Neji gawks at Sasuke. He wondered if he misheard his male companion. 'Confessed you say? To who?' He wanted to clarify it with Sasuke. He hoped that it isn't what he is thinking.
'Na..ru..to..' Sasuke mumbled his answer. He is prepared to the mock his friend might give to him, he waited in anticipation.
Neji's eyes widened. He stares at Sasuke speechless. He had hoped that Sasuke would continue to repress the feeling the dark hair male's feelings towards the young blond male. Now you have done it, he thought. He eyed Sasuke, he couldn't blame directly the male seeing the depressed look Sasuke have. 'So you are talking about protecting him.' He spoke, his voice sounded as if he had given up to giving advice to Sasuke. 'What now? You are not gonna leave his side are you? How will you handle your sister?'
Sasuke looked stunned at how Neji reacted. He couldn't help raise his head and look at Neji. He felt that Neji, despite sounding reluctant would try and listen to him, give advice even.
Meanwhile, Naruto loiter around the park. He had the park all to himself as he sat on the swing with a sad expression while recalling the expression that Sasuke had leaving the house. He could tell that Sasuke looked troubled. Did I do wrong? I don't understand. I just thought if I didn't do anything I would lose Sasuke-nii. He gripped on the swing's chain making his palms red.
'What are you doing here alone?' a male asked Naruto.
Naruto raised his head. He saw two people who looked the same age as him, a male and a female. They approached him, close enough to see his face.
'Ah! You're that Uzumaki guy!' the male stated.
'Huh?' Naruto stared at the male pointing a finger at him.
'O... Oi Nara.' The female called eyeing her companion wanting to correct the manner he showed to Naruto. She faced Naruto and smiles. 'I'm Tenten and this is Shikamaru. You can just call us Ten and Shika. We are in the class next to yours.'
'O..Oooh.' Naruto said remembering something. He recalled the post of ranking in his school, the second name written. 'By Shikamaru, do you mean THAT Nara Shikamaru?'
Tenten smiled sweetly seeing how Naruto reacted to Shikamaru's name. 'Yeah. I guess you would know his name. Shika did quite have a fame being always in the top 3 despite never studying.' She shrugs the topic about Shikamaru. 'Well you are not far off as well; good looks and always in top 5 ranking. The girls all admire you from the distance.'
'Huh?' Naruto eyed Tenten with a blank look.
Tenten stares at Naruto's reaction. She couldn't believe that Naruto could be dense. She couldn't help find the blond cute.
'Don't play around Ten.' Shikamaru called noticing that his female companion looked like plotting something. He glanced at Naruto, recalled the expression he glimpse on the blond. 'Say, you have a problem? Better let it all out. I don't know what it is eating you up but you better say it out.'
Naruto looked at Shikamaru.
Ugh, Shikamaru begun to regret saying anything. He could tell that Naruto wants to ask him something but reluctant because of Tenten's presence. 'Yo… You wanna come along? I'm just walking Ten back home.'
Naruto smiled. He could tell that Shikamaru looked reluctant to invite him but did so anyway. He realized how foolish it is for him to ask a male he wasn't close with. 'Thank you! I'll be fine!'
Tenten took Naruto by surprise. She dragged Naruto off the swing, wrapped her hand around Naruto's arm. 'It's only natural that I need more than one escort! Shika is too weak to protect me. If there are two then it is for the better.'
Shikamaru thought that Tenten had done something unnecessary. Well at least the result is the same, he thought. He glanced at Naruto. He felt a little relieved that the blond managed to show a smile.
'So what is it?' Shikamaru asked as soon as he and Naruto parted ways with Tenten. 'Well we might not be close but I might be able to give you some advice.'
'Uhmm well... It is a bit hard to talk about.' Naruto is smart enough to understand that what he did with Sasuke is something that shouldn't have happened. He couldn't even understand himself standing beside Shikamaru and consulting the male regarding his male. He glanced at Shikamaru, Maybe I am hoping he will be able to understand. 'Can we just walk a little bit more?'
'Alright.' Shikamaru understood that Naruto is preparing to speak.
Naruto told Shikamaru bits of his life – how he ended becoming an orphan, how he lived with his new family and then how his brother spoke of love to him. Sparing his new friend of the fact he made love with his brother.
Shikamaru looked a bit bothered to hear Naruto's confession. 'Well do you love him?' he asked. 'If you do then just do what you think is right. Try to understand why you would do everything so you won't separate. Well I can't say much because I don't have that kind of experience. But, I'll back you up if you need me. I'll be here to give you a beating if you need.'
Naruto stares at Shikamaru thinking, I wasn't expecting to hear him say such things. He couldn't help laugh at his new friend.
TBC…