Hello everyone! I'm back with the third chapter of this little story of mine. I know it took a while, and I'm really sorry about that. BUT I did finish my book I was writing (yay me) and also I had some computer issues. I had written about half of the chapter when my flashdrive erased it. -.- So I had to start all over, but I think it came out way better the second time anyways! So without further adieu, here is the next part of the story!

Warning: There is a boyxboy lemon story. You have been warned! Mwhahahaha
Disclaimer: -sips tea- I do not own Naruto…-sips more tea-

Chapter 3: The Trouble with Tea

The bon fire was a success, excluding the weirdness of my best friend. Even after the weekend I heard kids going on about the memories they had made that night. But with that big fundraiser out of the way, my mind was set completely on the future. And with the week quickly flying by, the days dwindled before the most important day of the year. By Thursday's soccer game, I was hardly able to contain my excitement while kicking the ball between myself and Kiba.

"It's about time you finally tuned eighteen." I grinned over to my friend, who knew exactly why I was so pumped for tomorrow to come. He almost got the ball by me with his quick feet, but I trapped the ball under my cleat.

"Not to mention it's on a Friday. How lucky is that? Now we don't have to worry about a school curfew. We can party all night!" God must have liked me a little more than most to bless my eighteenth birthday on a Friday.

"Speaking of partying, you finally figure out what you want to do for it? The big day officially starts in eleven hours." Even though I was more than pumped to be a legal adult, I had yet to settle on an idea for my party. When I got the no from my parents for a party at the house, I had sorted through sixteen other options for my celebration. None had seemed to fit quite right for me. But my hope was not lost.

"I figure that we can't really do anything until after school. And our photo for our superlative is set up for tomorrow anyways, right? Add to the fact that almost every one of us has extracurricular activities tomorrow…" I was so caught up in my musing, that I didn't bother to look where I kicked the ball. I heard Kiba yell a warning before the ball smacked into something. Looking up, I laughed to see that I had hit Sasuke square in the chest with my kick, an annoyed look imprinted on his face.

"Watch where you're aiming, idiot." I ignored the insult while he kicked the ball back, realizing that he was much later than normal.

"Jeeze Sasuke, what took you so long? I'd say I was worried that you'd miss the game, but with me and Kiba on the team it's no biggie."

"You got that right!" The two of us bumped forearms and laughed, puffing our chests out at the mention of our skill. Sasuke didn't seem quite as amused, but nothing seemed to make the stubborn jerk smile.

"I had business to take care of with Sakura. We went over the new inductees of the History honor society over tea." I blinked at the explanation, slowly scowling without reason. Since when did Sasuke drink tea? And with Sakura, of all people? Last time I checked, he wanted nothing to do with the girl. The only reason I thought he still talked to her was because of me. Since when did they start getting so close?

"So you're finally hooking up with someone? About time you got yourself out there; for a little while I just assumed you were a eunuch or something." Before Sasuke could reply to Kiba's blunt statement, the coach called out the brunette's name and waved him over. "Got to run, looks like the coach wants to talk some plans over with me. Don't forget to figure out the plans for tomorrow, Naruto!"

"It's my birthday, who could forget that?" I laughed as the older teen rolled his eyes and moved away from Sasuke and myself, leaving us to finish warming up. Easily I kicked the ball to him, going back to what Kiba had said before he left. Was Sasuke really thinking about Sakura as something other than an annoyance?

"You still aren't aware of your preparations for tomorrow?" I looked up at the guy in question, shrugging my shoulders.

"Sometimes the best things aren't planned, you know? Besides, as long as I'm with my friends I don't really care what I do." I stopped the ball under my foot as I gave him an arched brow. "You better not bail on me tomorrow."

"I've already cleared my schedule out." The confirmation made me grin, probably more than I should have. He arched an eyebrow before crossing his arms. "You have nothing set up, yet demand people to make sure they are free."

"You're actually the only person I asked."

"Why?"

"Because you're my important person." Why was that so hard for him to understand? Even now he was looking at me like I was lying or something.

"Hn." I didn't like his response, but I continued with the conversation anyways.

"I kind of just assumed that everyone else would get the time off without me bugging them. But with you, it's much harder to get your undivided attention." Unless you're Sakura. My eyes slightly narrowed at the statement, putting more energy into my kick than I intended. We both watched the ball whiz past Sasuke's hip and crash into Lee's back. I blinked at my own strength as the lean boy stumbled, though quickly caught himself. Rubbing the back of my neck apologetically, I called out to Lee. "Sorry!"

"Don't fret my youthful friend!" Such a typical response from the happy kid. I caught the ball he threw back at me, dropping it to the grass and muttering to myself. When I looked back to Sasuke, I decided to prod a little more than I probably should have.

"So what's the deal with you and Sakura? You two sure have been chummy the past couple weeks."

"She's in three different AP classes with me, as well as two clubs. Not to mention she continues to follow you around, though I can't imagine why."

"But it's not like you just hang out with her in school. I've never even seen you drink tea; what's up with that?" I didn't know why I felt so irritated with the situation. Maybe it was because I was worried that he was going to hurt Sakura again. Or the fact that she seemed to get to spend more time with my best friend than I did. What seemed like such a challenge to me was easy for Sakura, who got to see him several times in school as well as out of it.

"We both like tea, and there is a shop within walking distance from the school. Is there a problem with me liking tea?" I fumed at how casual he sounded, like his behavior was normal. If anything, I knew Sasuke despised hanging around girls! Never mind one who used to cling to him like a wet piece of paper.

"You never told me you liked tea, you know,"

"Was I supposed to?"

"No! Drink as much tea as you want with her, I don't care. I mean, it's not like we're married or anything," I muttered, not exactly sure why I was so hung up on this tea thing. He scowled at me, slowly making his way toward me while he spoke.

"Maybe your constant talk of marriage is why people think we're a couple." I blushed as I looked up at him, sputtering to try and say something back. Whenever he brought up the topic of our superlative, I always seemed to get tongue tied. And it wasn't just him either. Ever since the bon fire, I lost the ability to speak when people mentioned our pairing. It didn't help much that Ino took great joy in getting me all flustered in public that way. Why I continued to be friends with her, I couldn't imagine. I looked up at him, hating how obvious it was that he was taller than me. He was so close now, that I could actually smell the Axe body soap he used. Despite how much I mentally denied it, I always liked the scent.

"Don't…talk about it," I muttered, not liking how soft my voice got.

"Hn." If he noticed he remained quiet about it, leaving us in an uncomfortable silence. Okay, maybe God didn't like me so much.

"Naruto!" Thankful for any type of distraction, I turned away from Sasuke to see Ino running across the field. She easily jumped over a soccer ball being kicked before she stopped in front of me, placing her hands onto her knees and panting heavily. "Jesus I used to run this field? I seriously must have been crazy freshman year."

"You're pretty out of shape there for such a little body." She glared over to me, finally rising to her full height and throwing something at my face. Orange blurred my vision before I yanked the fuzzy obstruction out of my way, looking down to the headband in my hands.

"Next time I find this thing on the ground, I'm not going to come bring it to you."

"You found my lucky sweatband! I was looking all over for this thing in the locker room."

"I saw it in the cafeteria on my way here. Knowing you were the only one who would wear such an obnoxious color, I figured I'd come bring it to you." I smiled at her, securing the band on my head.

"I must have dropped it when I stopped to talk to Hinata about my birthday. If you hadn't found it, who knows how I would have played in today's game." Despite knowing how good I was, my lucky headband was always a comfort to have on for each game. I had first worn it my sophomore year, getting my first hat trick the same night. Ever since, I had always worn it for good luck. "You are truly amazing Ino. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Oh stop that, you don't have to give me compliments. But, if you feel you must, who am I to stop you?" Her coy response made us both laugh, knowing the Ino was not shy when it came to praise. She was a girl, after all. Our good mood got sliced when a bitter voice entered the conversation.

"To rely on something for skill makes you an even bigger idiot than I thought." Well wasn't Sasuke such a ray of sunshine. He turned his attention to Ino, barely giving her a glance before turning away. "I suggest you get your friend off the field before she gets you in trouble."

"Nice to see you too, Sasuke," Ino muttered, her hands finding her hips as the moody guy walked away. Irritated at being ignored, the blonde let out a huff of air and turned to me. "What is his deal with me? We've never had a problem until a couple weeks ago. I have gym with him and Shikamaru, and he refuses to even make conversation with me. It's like he blames me for his haircut or something. That would put me in a bitchy mood too."

"I think it has something to do with the Eifel tower being lodged in his ass," I replied, used to the mood swings he always had. I turned back to her, mumbling. "He'll probably just bitch to Sakura about it over six cups of tea."

"Yeah, I noticed he's been hogging my best friend's attention lately. She even ditched plans with me yesterday to study after school with him." Well that made my eye twitch. Just how many things could the two of them seriously have in common? Ino leaned closer to me, her voice lowering to a whisper. "You don't think he's cheating on you, do you?"

"No, Sasuke's not the kind to chea—HEY!" By the time I realized what she was suggesting she was gone; Ino jogging back across the field. Even from here I could hear her laughter, which embarrassed me more. Trying to rub the blush out of my face with my palms, I headed back to my team while the whistle for the game to start went off. I knew it was stupid, but I made sure to keep my distance from Sasuke. Though I knew that I should have been happy that he was finally letting other people into his life, I wasn't. It was a complex feeling that I was experiencing, and no matter what I did the puddle of jealousy in my stomach refused to drain away. Thinking of myself as selfish made it impossible to face him, so I avoided him throughout the entire game. I knew he noticed by the glances he sent to me whenever we ran past each other, but I refused to make eye contact. Even when he kicked the winning goal in the game (who expected less), I avoided the team's joint congratulations in order to pack up my stuff. Hell, I even offered to put away all of the equipment just to stall for time. His locker was right next to mine, after all.

I waved by to Kiba as I walked across the parking lot, mentally cheering when I realized most of my teammate's cars were gone. My ingenious plan came to halt when I saw the only car that was left was Sasuke's. Stupidly I forgot that Sasuke always took the longest after games, refusing to leave without taking a shower. And since puberty, he refused to shower unless there was nobody else around. Well, so much for my moment of brilliance. I took a deep breath while I entered the unnaturally quiet locker room, my cleats announcing my arrival. I walked to the area that my locker was in while praying Sasuke was still showering. No such luck came to me when I noticed the duck butt hairdo staring straight at me.

"You're worse than a girl," I spat out, angrier at myself than him. He looked up from packing his uniform, and I begrudgingly noticed he had yet to put his shirt on. A towel was wrapped around his neck in a way that screamed athletic. Or maybe that was his muscle tone; I wasn't really trying to think about it.

"Hn." He turned back to his packing, and I moved next to him while yanking my shorts down. I kicked the garment into the corner and opened my locker at the same time, feeling good about multi-tasking. Once I got my locker open, I made a move to take off my shirt when Sasuke's voice broke the silence. "There are changing stalls for a reason."

"Says the guy who was shirtless when I came in. Besides, it's not like you have never seen me naked before. I mean I understand you worrying about my body looking better than yours, but I'm sure someone will go for your scrawny features." As I said it I shrugged one arm out of my jersey, yanking the whole thing over my head and with my other stuff. I looked over to him, slightly amused by his discomfort. Even though I still had boxers on, I could see the lack of clothing bothered him. Good, it was about time he wasn't so cool and confident with himself.

"I thought I was alone." I scoffed at his reply while starting to put my shirt on.

"I'm half surprised Sakura isn't in here with you." The black shirt had just passed my eyes when something hard shoved me into the lockers. I cried out in protest when something pinned the shirt and my arms above me, causing the hem to press just under my eyes. I was blind, but knew it was Sasuke who was in front of me.

"You idiot." My breath came out shakily when I could feel his words vibrating in the chest that was pressed to mine. Maybe it was because I never really saw Sasuke de-clothed anymore, but he sure had filled out the past few years. I struggled to get the fabric off of my eyes, but his hand kept my shirt from budging an inch.

"W-What the hell has gotten into you? I swear I'm going to kick your ass!"

"Why are you so threatened by Sakura?" His blunt question made me tense, the same thought process going through my head all day. What was he a mind reader or something? See, this is why I was trying to avoid him! Knowing that too much silence had gone between us, I fought to get out of his hold while trying to answer.

"I'm not threatened!"

"You're acting ridiculous then."

"Why the hell would I ever worry about her? You've already said no to her once, I'm not stupid. It's not like she's going to rep-replace me or anything! I mean…I'm always saying how important you are to me; you know you're my best friend. No girl or nothing comes between us, right? So why should I care if you two like tea? Or you're both super smart and have lots more in common. It's not like I…" like I'm scared to be forgotten by you. I bit my lip as I felt myself stop fighting against him, unwillingly letting my cheeks brighten. This was so stupid. My insecurity was so bad I was starting to sound like Hinata. There was no way to get out of this looking manly.

"…Moron." Great, just how I was hoping he would reply. I finally shook my head enough to get the cloth off my eyes, glaring up at him. My plan was to yell a bunch of bullshit and run out with what little pride I had left. I instantly became dumbstruck when I got a glimpse at something I knew he hadn't wanted me to see. Within a second his hand was over my eyes, but it didn't stop them from widening in shock. I was so dazed by the scene, I didn't even notice him grabbing his stuff and silently leaving the locker room. My back made a squeak against the lockers while I slid to the ground, unsure of why I couldn't stop the butterflies from going frantic in my stomach. Or why I was still blushing. Or why my arms tingled from where he touched me. But the one thing I was sure of was making me grin wider than I ever had before.

"That bastard was definitely blushing."

By the time I had gotten dressed and all of my thoughts under (semi) control, I finally left the school and threw my gym bag into the back of my car. Once getting comfortable in my driver's seat, I checked my phone to see I had a text message from Sakura.

"Don't worry about your party; Ino and I have been planning it all along. Dress up in some nice clothes and meet at Ino's house at seven." After reading her text, I felt a bit guilty for the negative feelings I had been thinking about all day. Really it wasn't her I was mad at so much as Sasuke. And even with him, I wasn't sure if the emotion was really anger. Deciding that thinking about Sasuke again was not a good plan, I turned my car on and headed home. I had just gotten through the door when my mom's cooking hit my nose. I sighed in contentment at the same time my stomach grumbled.

"Hello dear, how was school? Did you win your game?" I looked up at my mom, her exotic hair pulled back into a bun. Now I could see clearly she was finishing sloppy joes, making me lick my lips.

"It went good; we won. That bastard got the winning shot again." I winced when she suddenly hit my forehead with the back of the spatula.

"Don't swear!" She was the one who I learned it from! Still, I decided not to risk saying that in order to focus on the real prize.

"You make enough for me to eat too? I haven't eaten since lunch and I'm starving."

"Of course I did. Your father didn't want to wait, but I figured you'd be hungry."

"Like the old man really needs any more food in him," I mumbled, snickering when I hear a loud crash in the other room.

"I heard that you know." Eyes that matched my own peered around the corner to stare at me.

"You fall out of your chair again, sweetie?" Mom closed her eyes when he walked over and kissed her cheek, placing a loving hand against the small of her back. I hated watching them be mushy, though I knew it was because it made me feel slightly empty. I was lucky to have parents whose biggest fight was the amount of money they spent on each other for Christmas. It was true love they possessed, the kind that everyone secretly wanted. A part of me worried that I would never find it, despite how young I was.

"It's because of that crack in the wood; my wheel always gets stuck. I should fix that soon." He nuzzled her neck and then moved to sit across from me at the table. "So, you excited for tomorrow?"

"Way more than you think. I'm so ready to be an adult!" Both of my parents chuckled at my excitement, which made me scowl. "What's so funny?"

"You really shouldn't wish your childhood away so fast. Even if you're legally an adult now, you still have time to enjoy your teen years. We won't make you grow up anytime soon."

"Says the one who moved out of his house two days after turning eighteen," My mother said, giggling while placing our plates in front of us. I dug in quickly, completely famished from earlier. My father simply smiled before responding.

"I was young and in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. I wanted to start my life with her as soon as I could."

"I thought it was because your dad was going to start charging you rent?" I asked through a mouthful of food. I couldn't stop my grin when my father tensed.

"Little details like that don't matter," He answered quickly. My mother arched an eyebrow to him, though her smile showed she wasn't truly angry.

"Naruto, do me a favor. Wait until you and Sasuke have good paying jobs to move out. The years we spent living off ramen and tuna sandwiches were not one of your father's brighter ideas." The mention of her previous life made her seem to savor the next bite of her food.

"What's wrong with ramen? That sounds like a dream to me! Then again, Sasuke would have to fill the fridge with tomatoes and I don't think they would taste good together." I rubbed my jaw in thought for only a moment and then continued to eat my food. I didn't notice the glances my parents exchanged across the table or the predicted future my mother had just made for me.

"He definitely gets that from you," my mother said, both of them laughing while I stared dumbfounded at the statement.

"Don't you think this is a little too much?" I yanked at the giant bow around my neck, which matched the rosy red color of the fake nose I now sported. A rainbow colored wig rested on my head, as well at the guy beside me. Just how stupid did we look? Then again, it was for the 'class clown' superlative. Dressing up as clowns made sense.

"I think you guys look cute," Tenten said, smiling while she fixed Kiba's flower pinned to his shirt. Once we were positioned the way the photographer wanted, she ran behind the camera. "Okay, now hold the pies pans like you two are going to hit each other and I'll take the picture."

"Are you sure I can't really hit him with it? It is his birthday after all. And it is just whipped cream." I could see by the way his hand was twitching that he was itching to actually do it too. I smirked, gently shifting my own pie pan as if challenging him to make the first move.

"Now boys, let's not make a mess. I'm sure that we can be adults for just a little while longer. After I get the shot, you can do whatever you want. Just remember you have to clean up. And since I know about this really cool party tonight, I don't think you want to spend your night here playing janitor." Damn, Tenten had a point. I looked over at her, seeing this as an opportunity to get some information.

"You don't happen to know exactly what this party is going to entail?" She laughed while she took a shot of us. After a few more snaps, she lifted her head to look above the camera.

"I'm not saying a thing. But trust me when I say we're going to have a blast tonight." Well, there was still one hope left…

"Don't even bother asking me; I've been sworn secrecy by the girls. If I say a word, they're going to keep me away from Hinata all night. And at a party like this, I'd rather have her wrapped around my arm." Was he trying to send me a hint? I thought about the statement, trying to decipher what he was saying. What kind of party would Kiba want to be near Hinata for? Guess that ruled out bowling and laser tag.

"Just relax Naruto. Don't you trust us?"

"It's not that; I just hate being kept in the dark!" The two laughed at my whining before we switched positions, pretending to shoot each other with the water flowers. Despite looking like a fool, I had to admit that this photo shoot was pretty fun. And I had two more to do? Good thing I had a killer smile.

"And done! I think we've got enough pictures for the yearbook."

"Ah, Tenten. I see you've found a profession perfect for these two baboons." I glanced over to the arrogant voice, instantly knowing it was Neji. Despite our last conversation, he still seemed to have a huge chip on his shoulder. The only improvement I had seen from him was his willingness to help improve ideas that Hinata suggested at meetings instead of simply bashing them into the ground. With the two of them working as a team, it was amazing how efficient everything was becoming. While me and Ino took cake of publicity and school boards, Neji and Hinata figured out time schedules and budgets for each event. If they kept this up, who knew how much money our class could get by the end of the year.

Still, the guy needed to loosen up.

"You know, I think I may have to risk being a little late for that party tonight." At my wicked smile Tenten blinked before a sudden realization dawned on her.

"Naruto I don't think—" Too late. Before she could finish I launched at Neji, who easily evaded the fist I sent at him. What he missed, however, was the pie conveniently placed just to side of him. When he turned I grinned, feeling his face hit straight into the whipped cream pan. Kiba howled and Tenten gasped at something only I could dare to do.

"That, Neji, was the best birthday present I could ever ask for." And despite the extra hour I was stuck at the school (between running for my life and cleaning up my mess) it would be one of my favorite memories of high school.

I carried the energy of the day into the night, heading straight to Ino's from the school. Once at the lavish house I showered and dressed myself exactly as Sakura had asked. I combed my hair the best I could, taking one look in the mirror before giving myself a low whistle. Wearing a red button up shirt, I had rolled up my sleeves up to my elbows. I had left it open with a white tank top underneath, along with black slacks and black dress shoes. My hair was still a mess, but all in all I looked good enough to woo a few girls. A silver watch hung from my wrist, a present from Sasuke last year. Running my fingers over the face of the accessory, my thought stumbled over my best friend. I wonder what he'd look like tonight.

"Hurry up Naruto! We don't have all night!" At Sakura's shout, I moved out of the bathroom. I tugged at the collar of the shirt nervously. I didn't know why, but I certainly knew who I was so nervous over.

"Happy birthday Naruto!" I scanned my group of friends at the bottom of the stairs, amazed at how remarkable everyone looked. When we wanted to be, we sure were an attractive group of people. I faltered on the stairs when I caught sight of Sasuke, making instant eye contact. Dressed similar to me, his open shirt was made of black silk that screamed how wealthy his family was. Underneath peeked out a grey tank top, which left little doubt that what I felt against me last night was an illusion. His pants were similar to mine, a black belt keeping them around his hips. The blush I had seen before was completely gone, an impassive look meeting my own.

"Jesus there's a lot of us isn't there? How many cars are we going to need?" I asked, looking to the two grinning girls. From what I could count, there were about eleven of us in the group.

"Don't worry about the ride; we've got that figured out." And true to their word, they did. My mouth dropped open at the sight of a white stretched limousine pulling in front of the house.

"Holy shit, how did you guys get this?"

"Um…" I looked back to Hinata, who was flushed as she spoke quietly. "Because o-of my family's business, I as-asked for a fa-favor from one of our clients. She wa-was happy to help out your birthday surprise."

"Hinata you rock! I've never been in a limo before." I barely had time to admire the outside of it before Ino was grabbing my hand, yanking me quickly inside. We crawled across the huge seat, which left room for everyone to pile in. Even as Chouji shut the door, we all had plenty of room to spare. Having friends in high places seemed to pay off at times. Though the fridges were only supplied with sparkling cider, we all took a glass and pretended it was the real deal. I didn't know where we were going, but so far the night had been a blast. I got a kick out of watching Ino link arms with Shikamaru while drinking from her glass, which got the boy blushing. Neji constantly glared at Kiba's arm around Hinata, but did not ruin the night by speaking about it. I even convinced Lee to stick his head out of the moon roof and proclaim his everlasting love to Sakura. That got me a few birthday punches.

When we finally stopped at whatever place they were taking me, I was caught off guard by the sound of water. It took me a second to realize just where we were.

"No wonder I had to dress nicely," I muttered, looking at the Italian named restaurant in front of me. It was a banquet styled restaurant known for their exquisite food. I wondered why they would choose such a big place, but instantly understood when I walked into a room full of people. My parents, as well as everyone else's were there, along with a huge group of kids from my school. I noticed that our principal Jiraiya and vice principal Tsunade had even joined into the festivities. They all cheered out 'surprise' when I walked in, some popping party streamers and others clapping. Despite my surprise I laughed, astonished at how far my friends went for my birthday. How the hell had they planned this all without me knowing?

"You really are the most oblivious person, you know that?" I glared over to Neji, who still seemed sour about my earlier prank. He rolled his eyes and continued. "They planned this whole thing right under your nose. Even Kiba caught on before you did."

"It was really hard to say no to you about your party, but we didn't want to ruin your friend's plans. Plus, this kept our house intact," My mother said, taking the glass of wine my father handed her and smiling.

"Even you two knew about it? Was there anyone who was in the dark?" I asked, feeling stupid as well as amused.

"Not really," Sakura said, smiling proudly at me. And she had every right to be. I looked around the room, amazed at how many people there were. Now this was the kind of party fit for Naruto Uzumaki!

"There's a dance floor and a terrace that leads to the ocean," I looked up at the new voice, surprised to see my history teacher in a tux. Instinctually I looked to Sasuke, who honed his eyes on the silver haired man. I looked back to Kakashi, who now presented me with a small wrapped gift. "It's not much, but I'm sure you'd like this."

"And here I thought giving a student a present would be against school rules." Still I opened it, seeing couple pieces of paper folded neatly into a square. When I opened it, I stared in shock at what I saw. "I got a ninety five on the test?!"

"Plus two points." He smiled with his eyes, which seemed contagious to me.

"Congrats Naruto!" My friends patted me on the back, and I shoved the test into my pocket while bowing to Kakashi.

"Thank you for bringing this to me."

"It's not polite to come to a party without a gift. Then again, when your function hall is holding the event, I guess this small present will suffice."

"You own this?!"

"I inherited money from my father's passing. One of the things I had always wanted to own was my own restaurant. But, since I'm not much for management and business is too structured for me, I co-own with Sasuke's father. We actually worked together in my father's company while I was in graduate school, and had spoken of his desire to manage his own business. I seized the chance, and here we are. I am a very busy man, as you can see." No shit. A teacher as well as an owner of a highly successful restaurant? Just how did he have time for it all? It made my head hurt just thinking about it. Kakashi snagged an appetizer from a waitress that passed by, eating the cheese and meat combination quietly.

"So that's how Sasuke knows you," I said, finally piecing together their connection. I looked over to Sasuke, but blinked when I realized he was nowhere to be found. He really didn't like to be around Kakashi, did he?

"Sasuke has known me almost his entire life; I am his Godfather after all." What? Was that even allowed between the student and teacher?! I stopped when I realized quickly my Godfather was Jiraiya, who was above Kakashi. This was an extremely close knit town.

"So if you're so close to him, why does he hate you?"

"Because my father's business was the one who offered Itachi his job in Japan. At my request." Well yeah, that would probably do it. I remembered that very depressing time in Sasuke's life; back when we had first started to become friends. When Itachi had finished high school, he had amazing grades and got accepted by many different colleges. Sasuke had always admired his brother, and tried to follow him wherever he went. That all changed when Itachi announced that he would be attending a college in Japan, in order to major in electronics. There was a business there that had offered to pay for all of his schooling if he would work for them afterwards. Sasuke had been hurt badly, but refused to admit that he felt abandoned. Since then the two had drifted apart, and Sasuke barely spoke to his brother anymore. From what I knew Itachi was doing extremely well in his position, and had married. The man had not come back to the states since, but kept close contact with his parents.

"So he thinks you're going to take me away too?" Kakashi took a sip of his champagne and smiled in a way that told me he knew something I didn't.

"Sasuke doesn't like to share his property with anyone else. Especially me." Well that was a weird way to put it. I squirmed at the idea of being owned. What was I a dog or something? Somehow, I kind of felt like that wasn't how it was intended. I turned my attention back to Kakashi, who leaned forward and gently clicked his drink against the one I had brought in from the limo. "I think it's time I make my way around the room. You should as well; this is all about you after all."

"Yeah I guess…" Still, I felt a little unsettled at the ending of our conversation. I walked around the room, trying to let myself get swallowed up by the atmosphere of the party. Dinner was perfect, as expected from such a high quality restaurant. I laughed and joked around with everyone, getting shocked again when Hinata brought out a cake made for a king. I had received tons of presents and then spent some time on the dance floor with Tenten and Sakura. Even the music was to my liking. This party was perfect.

So why I found myself pushing open the terrace doors to escape from it all, I wasn't sure. The cool ocean air felt amazing on my skin, which was overheated from all the moving around. I shrugged off my red shirt and left it with my socks and shoes on the wooden deck. The sand was still warm from the sun earlier in the day, and I wiggled my toes in it. It only took a few seconds of walking to hit the water, yanking my pants up so they wouldn't get wet. At peace with the silence around me, I closed my eyes and tried to figure out the meaning behind Kakashi's words.

What Sasuke and I shared wasn't normal. Sure, we were best friends in middle school. It had been fine then. But after entering high school, something did change within us. Our bond grew to something different. What that was seemed to be hard to define. I would do anything for Sasuke, and he knew that. If we didn't see each other for a while, I got lonely and it hurt. Whenever he entered a room, it made me smile like an idiot. And recently, my body had even started to react to his closeness. Not to mention we were nominated for something that should have grossed us out way more than it did. In fact, I hadn't really felt any ill feelings other than embarrassment. It didn't ruin our friendship at all. And now Kakashi claimed Sasuke "owned" me? Was that truly what a best friend was?

"Waves coming." As soon as I heard the voice, a cold splash of water soaked the bottom of my pants. I swore, then backed up slightly to hit into the owner of the warning. I tensed, but tried to play it casual as I glanced up to Sasuke. I didn't turn around, keeping my head tilted back while I spoke.

"What are you doing out here? I thought you hated the beach."

"I saw you and came to see why an idiot would leave his own party to stand in the ocean." I stared at him, wondering if his insult was to cover the fact that he was looking for me. Damnit, why was I thinking like this?

"I just needed some space."

"There's enough in your head."

"That's not what my test says!" As if the paper would prove I had a brain, I yanked it out and showed him again. He scoffed, looking away.

"That proves nothing."

"What do you mean?! Just because it was from—" I stopped myself, bringing the topic back to the man who sent me out here. I let out a slow breath, trying not to yell. "I just needed some time to think."

"Anything in particular?" How was I supposed to say what I was tossing around in my head? I didn't even really know what I had concluded. It was like the water, dark and completely unknown. Would telling Sasuke change any of that?

"I guess not."

"That sounds convincing," he replied, which made me look away. I felt a hand press to my arm, the dark voice barely softening. "And you say I'm too secluded."

"That's because you're afraid of social contact." That was a lie. A sharp bite of jealousy struck me when I imagined Sakura laughing across a table from Sasuke. I had never hated a beverage as much as tea.

"We should head back. You'll freeze to death at your own party," It was when I felt the warm of his touch leave me chilled skin that I spoke.

"Do you think we fit into the category of best friends?" I know I sounded crazy, especially from the way he stared at me. I refused to back down, taking a step closer to him. I shivered when the ocean's air hit my exposed skin, regretting not taking the shirt with me. "I mean, what do you think a best friend really is?"

"Where is this coming from?" At his question I blanked. So much for my previous resolve to stand and fight. Was I seriously going to ask Sasuke if he felt something…intimate for me?! Panicking I waved my hands in front of me, trying to erase the awkward atmosphere around us.

"Sorry, I let Kakashi get in my head! Just forget I said anything. Best friends until the end, right?" But life was never that easy for me. Before I had a second to react he reached for me, yanking me back into him. I seriously wanted to argue with him as well as my body for shivering against his. I jumped when a hand slipped underneath my shirt to rest on my back a second before my lips were ensnared into a kiss.

Well, this was new. Like someone had lit a firework off in my stomach, I felt fire and sparks inside of me like never before. Sasuke's kiss was definitely different. He didn't wait for my approval as he pushed his mouth against mine, coaxing me to part my lips to him. It was demanding and aggressive. Alluring and passionate. Something girls would demand for their first kiss. Something that made my entire body quiver with intense feelings. I cupped his face in my hands, determined to give just as much back as I was receiving. Water continued to soak my pant legs, but it barely crossed my mind before his tongue erased it. Where had this guy learned to kiss so perfectly?

His hand grasped at my back, proving he wasn't happy with something I said. I retaliated with a bite on his lower lip, parting them enough for my own tongue to wage war. My hands were now in his hair, which was so much softer than I thought. I had to stand on my tiptoes to keep the same height as him, but for once it didn't bother me. I moaned softly into his mouth when his free hand brushed the sensitive nerves of my exposed hip, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. Sasuke was nothing but pure energy and in that moment I wanted to capture him for myself. No more Sakura, no more Kakashi, and no more God damn tea!

It was only when we started to pull away from each other that reality hit into me. What the heck was I doing?! Or even thinking for that matter? Did I just kiss Sasuke? Did I let Sasuke kiss me? Frantically I moved away from him, rubbing my lips with my fingers to try and erase the tingling feeling left by Sasuke's mouth. Just what did the limo driver put in that sparkling water? I looked up at him, but I was at a loss for words. He stood silent, his serious expression not telling me what he was feeling. Was he even affected at all? This couldn't be happening.

"I-I've got to…" I couldn't form another word. Unable to face my feelings I ran past Sasuke, closing my eyes and praying he wouldn't follow me. Forgetting my lack of attire I re-entered the banquet in a daze. I scanned the room, unsure of what I was looking for until I saw a blonde ponytail swaying in front of me. Ignoring the fact that she was in the middle of a conversation, I yanked Ino away from her lazy counter partner to stare into her shocked eyes.

"Naruto, what's wrong? Did something happen to you? Where are your shoes, and your shirt!" I wanted to tell her to shut up and forget about the little things. I needed to shout how I was feeling. How the kiss felt amazing and maybe I felt something a little more than friendship in the way his hand touched my hip. That his eyes still burned inside my head, and all I could smell was his cologne on my skin. How if I thought about it for more than a nanosecond, I would probably wanted to go back and kiss him again. Seriously I wanted to tell her that. But when my mouth opened, fear changed my train of thought into something completely different.

"Will you go on a date with me?"

….How's that for an ending? I know some of you will probably kill me…but if you do there will be no more SasuNaru! So how did you like this chapter? I would LOVE for someone to draw the Kiba/Naruto superlative picture, because it would be so cute! I would, but I am not blessed with artist skills . So anyways! Will Ino accept Naruto's date request? How will Sasuke react? Will their friendship be ruined? And who else enjoyed Neji getting creamed? For all the answers and more, wait for the next chapter! See ya soon!