19. The Best Friend and the Scratches

Sighing, Naruto leaned back against the brick wall of one of the university buildings in the more secluded areas on campus. He took a moment to catch his breath and dropped his bag to the ground as he closed his eyes. He had never realized how persistent people could be when they really wanted something. And half the university wanted a glimpse of him, the rumored lover of Sasuke Uchiha. It was bordering on obsession. The media was still speculating over if he truly was Sasuke's lover or not, but most had taken it into their own hands to decide what relationship they had whether or not anything had been confirmed.

Which was why Naruto had been swarmed by people as soon as he had stepped foot on campus. He had managed to get away and hide out in the library between classes, coming late to almost all of them, but as he was trying to make his way unnoticed to where the driver would pick him up he had encountered a sea of students and hadn't known what else to do but turn and run in the opposite direction. His friends tried to help, but there was only so much three people could do against hundreds.

He pulled his phone out to contact the driver and try to figure out another place they could meet when there was a tap on his shoulder. He nearly jumped out of his skin and managed to stop himself before he let out a yell and attracted attention. Heart pounding, he turned to the person who had come up beside him and his breath caught in his throat.

"Gaara?"

Before him stood his childhood friend, Gaara. His red hair had grown a little and was falling into his eyes, but otherwise he looked much like he had when Naruto last saw him, only a bit more mature.

"You really know how to pick them," Gaara said in way of greeting.

Naruto let out an incredulous laugh and threw his arms around his friend. Gaara patted his back.

"I missed you!" Naruto said and pulled back. "What are you doing here?"

Gaara raised his eyebrows.

"Making sure you're out of trouble," he said. "I've been following what's happening for a while, but it seems as if things are really getting out of hand. I tried to contact you but you changed your number and I couldn't find the new one."

Naruto grimaced.

"Oh, yeah sorry," he said. "I did last year and forgot to register it to my name." He laughed a little. "Lucky I guess, since no one can find it now."

Gaara gave him a withering look so familiar Naruto couldn't help but grin. He had often been on the receiving end of those looks from Gaara when they went to school together, whenever he annoyed him or got into trouble. Which was a common occurance.

"So, how long are you staying?" Naruto asked.

Gaara shrugged.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm staying at a friend's place, and they said I could stay as long as I need so…"

Naruto smiled.

"So?"

Gaara glared at him.

"So I guess I'll stay until I know you'll be all right," he muttered.

Naruto laughed and pinched his cheeks.

"Aw, aren't you just the bestest friend ever! I wuv you!"

Gaara scrunched up his face in disgust and slapped his hands away.

"You know what?" he grumbled. "I think I'll leave tonight. It was nice seeing you."

Grinning, Naruto grabbed onto his arm to keep him from leaving.

"C'mon, you know I'm kidding," he laughed.

Gaara scowled at him but didn't try to get out of his grip.

"I clearly forgot how annoying you can be over the past year and a half," he muttered.

Naruto laughed even harder. He had missed the banter he and Gaara always got into. However, his teasing retort was interrupted by his phone ringing. He mouthed an apology to Gaara, who shrugged, and put the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Uzumaki I believe I have found a place for you to get to the car safely and unnoticed," came the voice of the driver. "If you would please hurry before we are once again discovered."

Naruto glanced at Gaara, who looked back expectantly.

"Okay, where?" he said and the driver described the location. He thanked him and turned to Gaara once he had hung up. "I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm picking Emi up."

"It's fine." Gaara waved a hand dismissively. "I'll come by here tomorrow and we can talk."

Smiling, Naruto pulled him into another hug.

"I would love that," he said. "Man I missed you!"

Gaara smiled a little as they pulled apart.

"You have my number right?"

Naruto nodded.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then. Stay safe," Gaara told him and turned to leave.

Naruto watched him leave and then waited a few seconds before he peeked his head around the corner to check if the coast was clear. He could see a few stragglers of the mob he had been running from, but they had apparently moved to another part of campus by now in their search for him. He hoisted his bag up on his shoulder and took a deep breath before he ran at full speed to the meet up point the driver had told him about.

He didn't take a proper breath again until he had tumbled into the backseat, relief washing over him. The driver gave him a sympathetic look in the rearview mirror and put the car into gear, quickly peeling out of the campus grounds.

"Are you okay, sir?" he asked as they left the university behind.

"Yeah, thank you," Naruto breathed.

The driver hummed.

"If this continues I think we should agree on different pick up points every day," he mused. "For your safety and convenience."

Closing his eyes, Naruto leaned his head back with a sigh. His shoulders slumped and his eyelids felt heavy. He hadn't realized how tense he had been the entire day but now tiredness seeped into his muscles, making his limbs fall limply to the car seat.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "Sounds good."

The rest of the ride was silent, except for the faint notes of the radio and the hum of the car, and Naruto dozed off. He startled when the door on the other side of the backseat opened and the driver let Emi into the car, buckling her into her car seat. He hadn't even realized they had stopped. Sitting up a little straighter, he stretched a little, trying to ease the strain his neck had been in.

"Hi sweetie." Naruto smiled at her as the driver made his way back to the front, doing his best to look alert. "How was your day?"

Emi kicked her feet a little and didn't look up, which had Naruto frowning.

"Emi?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

Emi looked at him, then glanced at the driver before she shrugged.

"Nothing," she mumbled, looking down at her feet, her face shielded by her hair.

Naruto's frown deepened and something heavy settled in his stomach. He reached over to brush some of her hair away so he could see her properly and froze. There was a scratch on her cheek and down her neck, as if someone had dragged their nails over her skin.

"Emi, what's this?" Naruto asked, gingerly touching the scratches.

Emi flinched away.

"Nothing," she repeated.

"Emi," Naruto warned. "It's not nothing. Who did this to you?"

Emi fell silent for so long that Naruto thought he would have to force the answer out of her.

"Akira," she finally said. "I bit him so he scratched me."

Naruto gaped at her.

"You bit him?" he asked, his voice raising an octave. "Why on earth would you do that Emi? You know that's wrong."

Scowl falling over her brow, Emi crossed her small arms and she turned her face away.

"But he said my family is disgusting!" she angrily said to the window. "That I'm not normal because I don't have a mom!"

Naruto could simply stare at her, speechless. He didn't have time to think of a proper response as his phone rang. He reached over to caress Emi's hair before answering.

"Naruto," Sasuke greeted. "Have you picked Emi up yet?"

Naruto glanced at her sullen form.

"Yeah," he murmured and Emi looked at him. "We're on our way home."

A heavy sigh left Sasuke.

"I just received a call from one of her teachers saying she bit another child," he said. "Has she told you?"

Naruto hummed.

"Yeah." He glanced at Emi again. "I'll let you talk to her so she can tell you herself what happened."

He held the phone out to her and she took it in both of her small hands, pressing it to her ear.

"Daddy?" she said.

Naruto listened to her retell the story of what happened and his heart sank even further. Apparently she, Yuki and Akira had been coloring at the same table as they waited to be picked up and Emi had told Yuki that Na-chan was picking her up. Akira had then proceeded to say she shouldn't be happy another man came to pick her up and lived with her, that her Na-chan was disgusting and she was disgusting as well. It had prompted her to grab his arm and bite him as hard as she could and Akira had yelled at her that she was like that because she had no mom while he clawed at her to make her let go.

Naruto bit his lip and looked out the window to hide how much pain the story inflicted on him. Luckily, Emi spent the rest of the way home talking to Sasuke, or rather saying yes and no while listening to Sasuke talk. Once they were back, Naruto was forced to gather himself. He thanked the driver and helped Emi out of the car, carrying her bag up the front steps.

"Do you want something to eat?" Naruto asked as they entered the house, trying to sound normal. "How about apple slices with peanut butter?"

"Okay," came Emi's muffled voice, as she was bent over trying to get her shoes off.

He waited for her to put her shoes away so they could make their way to the kitchen together.

"Do you want to continue reading?" he asked as his eyes fell upon the open picture book she had left on the kitchen table that morning.

Emi shook her head, so he deposited her on her usual spot on the counter instead. Then he brought out a cutting board and apples. Emi had fallen very silent and Naruto tried to make her feel better while peeling apples by humming her favorite song. Still, she mostly sat looking at her feet.

"Are you mad at me?" she finally whispered after he had made it through the entire song twice.

Naruto stopped what he was doing to come stand before her and pull her into his arms.

"No, I'm not mad," he murmured and decided not to let her know he was actually extremely worried. "But Emi, you know you shouldn't bite people."

"But he was being mean!"

"Yes, he was," Naruto agreed and pulled back to look her in the eyes. He brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "But if someone is mean, you tell them that they hurt your feelings and that you would like them to stop. And if they don't listen, you will just have to look them in the eye and tell them again. Always use words Emi, not violence."

Pouting, Emi pondered for a bit. Naruto waited patiently.

"Okay. I won't bite him again," Emi said in a small voice. "But why did he say that? I wasn't mean to him."

Naruto sighed.

"I think Akira just said what he heard his parents say," he said. "I'm sure you've never been mean to him."

Emi frowned.

"Are Akira's parents bad people?"

"I don't know," Naruto said. "I've never met them."

Emi crossed her arms.

"But if they made Akira mean they have to be bad!"

"You can't say that Emi." Naruto returned his attention to the apples, cutting them in bite sized pieces. "You haven't met them either, right?"

"But why?" she protested.

"You shouldn't say bad things about people you haven't met," Naruto continued. "You don't know them yet."

Emi sighed.

"Fine," she agreed.

Naruto smiled at her and kissed her head as he moved past her to get the peanut butter. He handed her the jar and helped her down from the counter.

"Go put that on the coffee table and chose something to watch," he said. "I'll be right there."

He watched Emi scurry off with a small smile before he picked up the plate of apples and a spoon. Deciding he could as well study while Emi watched whatever she had chosen to distract himself, he snatched his bag from the entrance on his way to the living room.

They didn't speak more about the incident. Instead Emi curled up against his side as she watched her movie and Naruto studied, a peaceful silence settling over them. Emi carefully applied peanut butter to her apple pieces, occasionally offering one to Naruto.

Soon the tiredness Naruto had felt in the car settled over him again and before he knew it, he had dozed off.

When Sasuke entered the house later he came upon the sight of Naruto sleeping with his head leaning onto the back of the couch and Emi curled up next to him, eyes trained on the silent TV. There was a plate with a few apple slices on the coffee table beside which a jar of peanut butter stood and Naruto's economics book had slid to the floor by his feet.

Sasuke smiled softly, some of the tension leaving his body at the sight of them. He silently took off his shoes and jacket, depositing his briefcase just beside the entry to the kitchen. That's when Emi noticed him and she made a sushing motion when he looked at her. Sasuke's smile widened and he chuckled quietly before he made his way over, stepping over Naruto's schoolbag and sitting down beside her. He made sure he didn't move the couch cushions too much and wake Naruto up.

Emi extracted herself from Naruto as gently as her little body let her and moved over to Sasuke's lap.

"Hi daddy," she whispered.

"Hello princess," he answered in a murmur. "How long have you two been sitting here?"

Emi glanced at the TV.

"I watched two movies and this is half of the next one," she said. "Papa fell asleep in the first one."

Sasuke glanced at Naruto and his heart clenched a little. He had heard from the driver about the commotion at the university as he proposed the new strategy he would use to pick Naruto up for approval.

"I see," he said softly and picked Emi up. "Let's make some dinner and let him sleep a little longer."

Emi nodded and giggled softly as Sasuke bent down with her still clutched to his side to pick up Naruto's book and put it safely on the coffee table before he pulled a blanket over him. Then he gently brushed some of Naruto's hair out of his face, turned the TV and lights off and carried Emi over to the kitchen. He put her in her chair, in front of her book before he moved over to the fridge to find something to make.

Emi diligently continued reading, mouthing the words to herself, and Sasuke felt pride well up in him, drowning out the worry that had taken residence inside his chest for the day. She was still his little girl; kind, considerate, intelligent and curious. He had to force himself to look away and into the fridge where he found a container of a day old rice. There were also a lot of vegetables so he settled for making plain and simple fried rice. He had just cut everything and gotten it into the frying pan when he heard shuffling feet and turned to see a groggy Naruto appear in the doorway, squinting a little.

"Sasuke?" he rasped and Emi looked up as well. "When did you get back?"

Sasuke turned back to the frying pan to stir the rice.

"About forty minutes ago," he answered. "I didn't want to wake you."

Naruto hummed and moved up behind Sasuke to lean his forehead on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I didn't make dinner," he mumbled, fingers twisting in the back of Sasuke's shirt. "What are you making?"

Sasuke smiled down at the pan.

"Just fried rice," he answered and looked down when a small hand grabbed the leg of his pants.

He felt Naruto chuckle as Emi hugged one of their legs each before he bent down and picked her up.

"Are you feeling left out?" Naruto asked and Sasuke looked over his shoulder, catching the amused smile on his lips.

Emi shook her head.

"You're the best parents," she said instead. "Even if Akira is mean to me."

Sasuke heard Naruto's breath stop and his own heart did a skip. Naruto's eyes shone a little with held back tears and Sasuke took the pan off the stove before he turned to them fully. He reached out and caressed Emi's hair before he kissed her temple.

"I love you Emi," he murmured.

Emi beamed and Sasuke wanted her to always smile in such a carefree and happy way. But he was afraid there were more events like today's to come, and he dreaded them.

"I love you too, daddy," she said before she wound her arms tighter around Naruto's neck, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "And you papa! I love you too!"

Naruto laughed breathlessly and hugged her to his chest.

"And I love you baby," he said, voice warm and soft.

His eyes moved up to meet Sasuke's and Sasuke smiled faintly at him, raising a hand to let his thumb caress his cheekbone. Naruto leaned into the touch, small smile on his lips though worry shone in his eyes, before he hoisted Emi a little higher in his arms.

"Shall we let your daddy finish making food?" he said.

Emi nodded.

"Can you read with me?" she asked.

Naruto nuzzled her cheek and she giggled.

"Of course I can," he answered and carried her back to the kitchen table.

Both he and Naruto had seemed to come to a silent agreement to have dinner in peace without bringing up what had happened, choosing instead to focus on more positive events of the day. It wasn't so much to shield Emi more than it was that neither of them felt ready to tackle the feelings of fear and worry it would bring.

Later, when Sasuke entered their bedroom after Emi had fallen asleep, he found Naruto already under the covers, fiddling with his phone. He swiftly made himself ready for bed and slipped in behind Naruto, pulling his warm body flush against himself, their legs tangling together.

"What are you doing?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to the skin at Naruto's neck exposed by his sleep shirt, his hand splayed against Naruto's stomach.

"Messaging a friend," Naruto murmured back. "Well, actually my best friend who came all the way here to make sure I'm all right."

Though he couldn't see it, he was sure there was a wide smile on Naruto's lips. He hummed and pressed another kiss to his skin, this time behind Naruto's ear.

"That's nice," he said softly.

Making an agreeing noise, Naruto put his phone on the bedside table and pressed back into Sasuke. His hand came to rest on top of Sasuke's over his stomach and he laced their fingers together.

"Did you have a talk with Emi?" he asked, voice low.

"Yeah," Sasuke breathed. "We talked it out as I put her to bed. I'll have to go to a meeting with her teacher and Akira's parents so I need to know every little detail."

"Well, she promised she wouldn't do it again," Naruto murmured. He let out a heavy breath. "You know, as much as I told you to ignore what other people said I can't help but feel guilty. They can say whatever they want about me, I wouldn't care, but when it hurts Emi I just… If I wasn't here Emi would never have gotten into that fight."

"Stop," Sasuke growled. "It's not your fault."

Naruto sighed.

"Well…" he whispered but stopped when Sasuke tightened his hold on him. "Okay."

Sasuke pressed kisses up and down his neck and Naruto's fingers tightened around his.

"Sasuke," he breathed.

"I love you," Sasuke answered quietly, lips brushing against Naruto's skin.

Naruto shivered in his arms.

"I love you too," he murmured and turned his head so he could kiss him.

Sasuke used the hand on Naruto's stomach to pull him impossibly closer and he could feel Naruto's pulse quicken as his fingers dipped dangerously low. He nipped at Naruto's bottom lip before claiming his lips again in a slow, deep kiss way to sensual to not leave both of them slightly aroused.

"Are you…?" Naruto panted as they broke apart, voice trailing off.

Sasuke kissed his shoulder.

"Whatever you want," he whispered.

He saw Naruto's throat move as he swallowed, eyes dark, and then Sasuke's hand was guided down to the front of his pants. Sasuke buried his face in Naruto's neck, pressing small kisses to his skin as he let his hand slip into Naruto's pants and underwear. Naruto was half hard already and Sasuke stroked him until he was fully hard, reveling in the small whimpers it elicited from Naruto as he curled into the sheets, making his own cock harden. He rolled his hips into Naruto gently, satisfied when he got an aroused moan in return. He did it a few more times as he continued stroking him.

Suddenly Naruto moved away and Sasuke felt cold and confused until he heard him fumble with the drawer in the bedside table. Soon Naruto was once again pressed against him, pushing lube into Sasuke's hand and his ass against his dick.

"Please," he whispered.

Sasuke propped himself up on his elbow to lean down and press a kiss to Naruto's cheek before he helped Naruto pull his pants and underwear halfway down his thighs. He lubed up his fingers and let them slide in-between Naruto's cheeks, rubbing his entrance gently, leaving Naruto panting and squirming. Then he slowly pressed one finger inside. Naruto gasped and leaned his head back a little as Sasuke began pumping the finger in and out. Sasuke took the opportunity to kiss up his jaw to his ear and bite it lightly.

"More," Naruto breathed and Sasuke complied, smiling as Naruto's hand came up to grip at his forearm.

When Naruto began moving into the motion of Sasuke's fingers he added a third one. He had barely moved them in and out a few times before Naruto was grabbing at his hip to pull him closer, pressing back against his clothed erection.

"Why aren't your pants off?" he panted and Sasuke chuckled. "I need your pants off."

Naruto groaned softly as Sasuke pulled his fingers out, but didn't protest. Sasuke pulled his pants and underwear down, biting back a moan as his erection came free. He pushed his fingers back into Naruto. Naruto's hand came back to grip his member, lazily stroking it, which put a stutter in the movements of Sasuke's hand.

"Do you think you're ready," Sasuke murmured after a moment of stroking and thrusting.

Naruto nodded and handed Sasuke the lube as he pulled his fingers out to coat himself in it. He felt Naruto shiver as he lined the head of his cock up against his hole and they both let out soft moans when Sasuke began pushing inside the warmth of Naruto's body. Naruto turned his face into the pillow to muffle his voice. Sasuke let his hand move up under his shirt along his waist, fingers ghosting over Naruto's nipples and making him shiver before it moved down to grip at Naruto's hip, pulling him back into him as he continued to slowly push inside.

He let out a shaky breath when he was fully sheathed, and Naruto's entire body was trembling. Sasuke nuzzled the crook of Naruto's neck, making him let out a soft moan muffled by his pillow, and put his arm around his waist to hold him close. Naruto's stomach was rising and falling rapidly, and Sasuke could feel his pulse against his lips. He bit into it gently and soothed the spot with a kiss after. Then he began rolling his hips against Naruto, pulling out and pushing in in an excruciatingly slow pace. He wasn't in a hurry. He just wanted to feel Naruto close, have his warm body pressed to his.

He continued this for a few minutes, hands roaming all over Naruto and leaving him panting and trembling.

"Sasuke," Naruto said in a broken voice.

"Hm?"

"You're–," he broke off in a gasp and a shudder went through his body. "T-there," he breathed.

Sasuke smiled into his shoulder and rolled his hips in the same angle, eliciting another gasp from Naruto. He continued in the same slow pace, aiming for the same spot while he lazily stoked him.

As soon as he noticed Naruto was close however, he changed his angle ever so slightly and stopped stroking him. He wanted to savor this for a little while. He repeated the process a few times and it didn't take long for Naruto to become a pliant, warm, shaking mess in his arms to do with as he pleased, Sasuke's name falling from his lips in small gasps and moans.

Sasuke decided that he wouldn't hold Naruto off anymore. After a few more rolls of his hips a violent shudder went through Naruto and he was coming, teeth biting into his pillow, hand twisting into the sheets. Sasuke moaned as the heat around him clenched, and pressure built up in his abdomen and balls. He bit into Naruto's shoulder as he continued pushing into him for another few thrusts before he too came. Naruto shuddered again as Sasuke's come spilled inside him and Sasuke held onto him, tight and desperate.

Though they were both damp with sweat they stayed pressed together, breathing heavily. Sasuke had his forehead pressed to Naruto's shoulder and Naruto's hand came up to his hair, gently carding through it. Sasuke tightened his hold on him.

"We need to change the sheets," Naruto whispered after what felt like eternities of silence, turning his head to look at him.

Sasuke hummed, not feeling like moving at all. But he gathered his strength, kissed Naruto and pulled out to roll over and get to his feet. He pulled his pants and underwear up again as Naruto moved to the edge of the bed and stood on unsteady legs. Sasuke smirked a little to himself.

"Trouble?" he asked.

"A little over stimulated," Naruto answered, his face flushed as he pulled his own pants and underwear back up.

Sasuke went over and put an arm around his waist. Naruto shot him a tender smile and then wrinkled his nose at their sweaty clothes.

"Shower?" he suggested.

Humming in agreement, Sasuke pressed a kiss to Naruto's lips and led him over to the bathroom where they undressed and stepped into the shower together. Sasuke pulled him into his arms underneath the warm spray of water, kissing him softly.

"You're clingy," Naruto chuckled against his lips.

"I just need you close right now," he murmured. "It's been a worrisome day."

Naruto's arms came up around his waist and he stepped closer into his hug, his lips pressing to Sasuke's collarbone in a gentle kiss.

"Yeah," he agreed. "But we have to believe it'll be fine."

Sasuke wished he could. However, he had the nagging feeling this was just the beginning of many hardships to come. And he didn't like it one bit.

A/N: Hi!

I'm sorry I haven't answered any comments on the last chapter. I usually try to answer every comment, but I really sick and couldn't and couldn't really come up with a proper answer to any of them... Sorry :( But at least I got more time to write while I was bedridden, so there's that! So here's another chapter! I hope it's good!

Okay. See you in the next chapter! (Whenever that is).