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Alternative Education	By : Ljiljana Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1207 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Part Nine

The knock was light, hesitant; Sasuke was surprised when the
answering noise came from inside almost immediately. Muffled voices had
exchanged a few words. A dull thud followed. Then the door opened and because
of the street light coming though the windows, it was brighter inside than in
the hallway where he was.

Next to the open door, with one hand on the knob, Naruto�s
roommate, Inari, was standing. He had rubbed his eyes and huffed before Sasuke
could say anything.

��s fine, I told you.� The kid spoke � though obviously not
to Sasuke. �It�s for you.�

�No,� Naruto groaned from inside, sounding still asleep. �I�m
not dragging anyone up, I wanna sleep��

Without answering, Inari moved away from the door, leaving it
open. Sasuke walked in without invitation. He needed to get out of that hallway
and sit down. The warmth after the coldness outside was making him a little
dizzy and climbing the stairs had left him tired and breathless. The room
smelled faintly of chamomile and something sharper. Maybe apples.
�

Inari had climbed half way up the ladders to stretch out and
gather his blanket. With his pillow over his head, Naruto was laying in the
lower bunk, trying to get back to sleep. Sasuke was pretty sure that would not
work, because Naruto thought that someone came to ask for his help. He�s just
not someone who�d stay in bed knowing that there are people in need.

Just as Inari stepped back down, Naruto groaned in the
pillow, �Agrh, right, alright, just close that door
so I can put on some�.�

Half way up already, Naruto opened his eyes. He was looking
for Inari, but he froze entirely when he saw Sasuke standing in the middle of
the room.

�Never said someone wanted you to help with anything.� The
kid said grumpily. Naruto�s attention snapped back at him.

�Where are you going?�

�Next door.� Inari answered over
the mountain his blankets were forming in his arms.

Naruto frowned and sat up further. �There are no empty beds
there, get back up.�

�I can fit in bed with an elephant.� Inari threw over his
shoulder before pulling the door with his feet closed behind him. Naruto was on
his feet in an instant. Because he was asking for privacy to dress, Sasuke
didn�t expect him to be in pajamas, but he was wearing the bottoms � same pale
green ones, if tricky light was not messing with his eyes.

Naruto opened the door and watched down the hall until the
door somewhere in that direction opened and, after several seconds, closed. Everything
was dead silent again. Sasuke really wanted to pull the chair closer, sit and
put his head down on one of the desks, but Naruto was turning around, most
likely to demand answers.

�Sasuke?� After several seconds
Naruto finally asked, as if checking his own vision. �How did you get here?�

Well, trust Naruto to ask the stupidest of all possible
questions. �Through the chimney.�

�We have a chimney?� Naruto asked stupidly - okay, maybe
more distractedly. He was walking in small steps around Sasuke to look at his
face in the light coming through the row of windows. �You look like fried
shit.��

Sasuke opened his mouth and closed them without saying
anything. It wasn�t that he couldn�t think of anything to answer. At least
three retorts popped up to his head instantly, all sharp and insulting. But
with them forming so quickly in his head, Sasuke finally felt better, relaxed. Superior.

Like himself.

�Thank you for the cracked soup bowl.� He finally decided to
say.

Naruto answered, pointedly ignoring sarcasm, �You�re
welcome.�

Sasuke let Itachi�s coat slide of his shoulders. It was
getting too hot in it. His eyes, completely used to the light now, found where
the odor was coming from as he let the coat fall over the chair. On one of the
desks, there was a plate with apple slices and two empty mugs.�

�That�s Itachi�s coat.� Naruto remarked. �Why are you
wearing Itachi�s coat?�

Sasuke discarded the wooden chair as uncomfortable and
instead set on the edge of the bed. His shoes felt like he had shackles
attached to his ankles, so Sasuke had started to untie the laces even before
bothering to answer. �Because it looks better on me.�

Naruto snorted. Sasuke glanced up. He thought he was too
tired to deliver the appropriately powerful glare, but Naruto raised his hands
anyway. �Hey, he�s drop dead gorgeous, it�s not like that�s a secret. Nothing could look better on anyone else � though I wouldn�t be upset
at all if you decided not to inform him about what I think about that.�

�And somehow, that did nothing to help Sasuke stop wanting
to crack Naruto�s chin. With his feet. But he didn�t
have to show that it bothered him, right?

�I borrowed the coat.�

Naruto made a face. �Has he borrowed your jacket? Cause that�s be weird.�

It would be funny, actually. Sasuke was smaller than Itachi,
in shoulders and in height. Itachi would maybe manage to zip it up. Maybe.

Naruto was quiet after he had straightened his face. The
mattress was soft and inviting. Sasuke adjusted Naruto�s pillow and leaned back
into it. The freaking thing smelled like Naruto�s stupid nettle shampoo and he
couldn�t help himself but inhale the lungful of scented air.�

Naruto answered with a sigh of his own. He shifted closer to
bed. Sasuke felt irrationally annoyed with the questions that were about to
come. Of course Naruto had to ask them. It was his room. It was his bed. Naruto
might get in a world of trouble for not kicking him out in the first place �
not that Sasuke had any way of knowing that that was ruled out just yet.

�You can�t sleep like that.� Naruto said instead of asking
anything. �There is no place for me.�

�There�s bed up there.� Sasuke told him, without pointing
out the upper bunk or opening his eyes.

�Inari took his covers with him.� Naruto informed him, even
though that would have been hard to miss and Sasuke definitely saw it. But he
was warm and comfortable, so Naruto could go sleep on the chair and cover
himself with Itachi�s coat, he wasn�t moving.�

Naruto wasn�t about to ask him again. He had grabbed
Sasuke�s legs and moved them on the bottom end of the bed. They would stick if
there was no a chest with drawers blocking that side. Sasuke had to drag
himself some after all and he took the pillow with him. He carefully made sure
to leave space behind him, next to the wall, because the bare thought of
sleeping there, surrounded by two walls, that chest and Naruto was making him
uneasy.

�Why are you here?� Naruto asked as soon as he got under the
covers behind Sasuke. He was careful not to lean too close, but it was a bed
made for one person. No matter how far he moved, Sasuke would still feel him. Sasuke
decided that he might as well save himself from embarrassingly doing it in his
sleep by accident and shifted until his back was against Naruto�s chest.

But there wasn�t anything sexual or romantic in the comfort
the warmth and the smell of nettle were. There was just some sort of light
rocking of the bed that Sasuke was almost completely sure he was just
imagining, from the tiredness and alcohol. It was shushing him into sleep fast.

�Sasuke?� Naruto prompted, quietly.

�Keys came with the coat.� Sasuke said as clearly as he
could. His entire soul was already half asleep. His mouth was too dry.

�And you�ve decided to leave your bed in the middle of the
night and come here?�

�No.� Sasuke managed.

Naruto waited for a bit, maybe hoping for something more.
Nothing came, so he shifted closer yet, covered them both better and left his
arm rest over Sasuke. �Fine, sleep, but you will tell me in the morning.�

Sasuke doubted that he would, but he welcomed Naruto�s
generosity for the moment. The silence was heavenly sweet. It was never easier for
him to relax and fall asleep; Sasuke drifted into darkness wondering if he
should find and buy that nettle shampoo.

***

Almost as a rule, no one was ever waking Sasuke by shaking
him. He was light sleeper; maybe someone entering a room would not wake him up
every time, but calling his name would definitely do the trick. So when he woke
from the shaking grip on his shoulder, Sasuke thought �that moron� and elbowed the warm body behind him. His hand was
burning beneath the rapidly vanishing pain from the smack, but he ignored it.

The kick he got in his ribs � and how the hell Naruto had
managed that in such tiny space? - was the almost instant response.� Only a full second or five later, Naruto
mumbled, �...The fuck?�

�I cannot decide if that was amusing or disturbing.�

The voice saying it had been smooth and soft, amused despite
the words, but Sasuke froze, inside and out. He hasn�t wanted to talk to
Itachi, not yet. Not for a long time, if possible.

But it obviously wasn�t Naruto who had woken him up, it was
Itachi.

He opened his eyes. In dim light of the early morning, he
could see his brother drag a chair - the one that hadn�t had his coat on it -
closer to the bed and sit. Naruto was awake despite of being quiet. His hand
was flat against Sasuke�s back, still and warm. Comforting,
in a way.

�I thought you went back home.� Itachi said. Sasuke stared
back at him. Home was the place he wanted to be the least at the moment. �But mother
called me at 6 A.M. to make sure that you are okay. She told me what happened.�

As if the confirmation that something had happened triggered
it, Naruto�s hand pressured harder into Sasuke�s back. Maybe the gesture was
unconscious, but it was also pleasant. It somehow helped him push his voice
out. �It was nothing.�

�It wasn�t nothing if you had decided to leave the house while they
were fetching first aid kit without a jacket after you were sick for a month.�
Itachi said. You could almost feel the anger vibrating just on the edge of the
words.

�Well, I thought that I had a brother who�d take me in for a
night when I�m having problems.� Sasuke said. He sounded like a small child,
even to himself. It wasn�t as if Itachi had said at any point that he couldn�t
stay, he was in the bathroom. �But you were busy.��

�I was in the shower.� Itachi answered, still talking
softly, despite the anger.

And it was all Sasuke could take. �You lied to me.�

�We never even talked about it.�

That was Itachi�s defense? That was his explanation? That is
what he had to say, even though it has been five years?

�You let me believe something that is not the truth. You let
father believe it!� The last bit came out just a little too loud, so Sasuke
stopped and took a breath before finishing, �I believed that at least you had a
good reason for not returning home, but you don�t.�

While he was talking, Naruto set up in bed. He tucked his
legs beneath him, glaring at Itachi.

�I do have a reason.� Itachi answered. Same
tone. Same emotion. That
heartless bastard.

�What is it?� Sasuke demanded. �Was the alleged
homosexuality just an excuse to get out of the house permanently?�

�It was not.� Itachi answered, not that it was much of an
answer.�

�Er.� Naruto chipped in. �Alleged? As in,
not real?��

Sasuke thought that he should be annoyed for him butting in.
He was relieved. He had an excuse to look away from Itachi. �He has a
girlfriend.�

�Oh.� Naruto said, sending a quizzical look to Itachi.

�We should have this conversation in private.� Itachi said,
not even glancing back to Naruto.

�Like your apartment?� Sasuke offered, bitterly. �Where your
girlfriend is?�

�There�s no one there right now.� Itachi informed him. �So
yes, we should take this conversation there. As in opposite of having it here
while your boyfriend is glaring at me in his pajamas.�

Even though he knew that Itachi was just being an ass about Naruto
to distract him from being an ass for years, Sasuke stiffened. Naruto felt it
instantly and groaned. �The hell, Itachi? Now he�s
gonna swallow a lightning rod and shoot thunder at me again!�

Sasuke turned to look at him,
vaguely aware that Itachi was doing the same. Naruto was blinking at the two of
them, in confusion. How the hell can you make it to the last year of high school
and say something like that - even if it was very early in the morning?

Slowly, exaggeratedly, Sasuke
explained, �Thunders are the noisy part of a storm, Naruto. That sounded like
you�re expecting me to fart at you.��

Naruto colored a little on Sasuke�s superior tone. He
muttered, �You�d do that, too, if you thought it would scare me off. And I
think I�m starting to see why.�

The last part was for Itachi,
apparently. In amazement, Sasuke watched as his brother focused his hardest
stare and Naruto and Naruto glared right back, without shitting his pajamas.
Well, not shitting them noisily at least � and that was a miracle in itself.

�But as long as he is here�� Itachi
finally said, as if nothing was verbalized in the room after he had finished his
previous sentence. �Were you the one who introduced my brother to Sai, Naruto?�

�Er,� Naruto said, thinking it over
like it was a homework question. �Sai came to school once, and he sort of�
Why?�

�He sort of what?� Itachi said, dangerously, with his jaw just a little too
tight, his voice just a little too low and eyes focused but shadowed. Jesus,
the drawing was humiliating and it made a mess out of everything, but there was
no need for anyone to die over it.

�Well, I�ve warned your brother to stay away from him.�
Naruto said, defiant. He seemed to be thinking that Itachi was mad at him, but
Sasuke didn�t think so. It was just Itachi�s protective mode; he was making
sure he�d get the truth from Naruto. �If he had bothered to listen to me, he
wouldn�t be in whatever shit he is in now.�

With Naruto not looking at him, Sasuke couldn�t be sure, but
he sounded worried and angry at the same time.

�I�m not in any shit.� Sasuke said. �You told me to be nice
to him.�

�I warned you not to be rude
to him,� Naruto corrected, though Sasuke couldn�t see the deference. �And you
refused to allow me to finish. What�s he done?��

Sasuke waved vaguely around, to point to the drawings on the
walls of the room, �That, apparently.
Only without censure. My father has been at his place,
for work, and saw the drawings.�

�You have to talk to father, Sasuke, or he will be sure that
you are guilty.� Itachi advised, standing up.

But Naruto snapped up at him, �Guilty about what? That guy�s
crazy, you know that.�

�I know, but I am not talking to my
father, so Sasuke has to tell him.� Itachi said, took of his old coat off and
replaced it with the one Sasuke had brought. Sasuke could feel the keys of the
Home in his pocket, he didn�t have to reach and check. If Itachi doesn�t ask,
he had no intention of giving them back. Itachi added, �If it doesn�t go well
home, Sasuke, come to my place. Konan won�t be there.�

And that about dried the last of what Itachi had so say to
him. He walked out, leaving Sasuke the way he found him, in Naruto�s bed, not
feeling any better.

Itachi didn�t say anything Sasuke had wanted to hear. He didn�t
bother explaining himself. The only reason he�d came was to assure Sasuke that
he was still welcome in his home. It was thoughtful of him; it�s not as if
Sasuke wasn�t appreciating it. But he would rather go home and hear the rest of
what his father had to say, especially after they had a chance to calm down
than go to Itachi - which his brother must have realized, for he had said that
Sasuke should come to him if things went
bad at home.

�I don�t get it. Why would your father think you were guilty
of anything?� Naruto finally asked. He hadn�t moved at all since Itachi walked
out. His eyes were puffy from sleep; face still a little red on one side. �How
can you be guilty for someone drawing you?�

The light was brighter outside. Some steps passed down the
hall and a couple of doors opened and closed. Even though he knew he should go,
at the moment, Sasuke was more willing to answer Naruto�s questions than those
his father had left.

�It�s hand-drawn porn, apparently, all over your friend�s
room.� He said, not able to help but be amused with the way Naruto�s eyes
widened. �My father seems to think that because I came home once drunk, I am
probably posing naked on a random whim as well.�

�That�s not funny.� Naruto said. Sasuke wasn�t even aware
that he was smirking, but that wasn�t because he was making jokes; it was the
way Naruto had flushed pink like he was the one whose father had seen his naked
pictures. He recovered quickly, glanced down to where Sasuke�s shirt moved up
to show a little bit of skin and grinned. �But maybe you should consider it, in
case they kick you out. I bet you�d earn fortune.�

It was a compliment, so Sasuke probably should�ve expressed
his gratitude or something. But the words �kick out� felt as if someone kicked
his stomach. �That�s not funny either.��

�I need to head down for breakfast soon.� Naruto said after
a moment. �Are you going home?�

Yes, Sasuke
thought and said, �I�m staying here.�

Naruto didn�t seem surprised; he simply climbed off the bed over
Sasuke�s slightly bent knees. From the chest at the bottom of the bed, he
retrieved some clothes. Paying no attention to Sasuke - though even a moron would
know that was for the show - Naruto changed right there, not bothering to seek
privacy in any way. Watching Naruto�s tanned skin shine like gold on morning
light also felt like a kick in the stomach and the pain was purely emotional as
well. Sasuke was too drained to react in any other way.

Naruto grabbed some things from another drawer, offered a
worried smile and walked out. There was a solid sound of key clicking in the
lock as soon as the door had closed, and then steps walking away. Sasuke
wondered what was wrong with him for not protesting against being locked inside
of Naruto�s room without being consulted about it, was the fever getting back,
was he that tired? But aside from odd loneliness he wasn�t accustomed of
experiencing, he was feeling fine.

Fine enough to drift off, anyway.

Sasuke�s first month of dreaming about Naruto had been all
about sex, the one they had and a lot about things they never even talked
about. Those dreams were short and hot and were leaving him feel better, for
awhile. After the thing with Sakura � and as a result of it
in some insane way, kissing in Itachi�s office - they had rarefied and
softened. Sasuke was more than ready to take it as a sign that he was
regaining his sanity.

With the pneumonia fever, things had changed. His dreams had
changed. Though still mostly about sex, those dreams were long and full of
touches, words, kissing and looks, they were crowded with feelings that were
not real, just fever induced illusions and nightmares. It was the kind of
dreams that make a breakfast taste like it was made from the sheets of a
history book, without spices; the kind that you wake up from more exhausted
then you were before you went to sleep. The leftovers lingered for hours,
sometimes even days � and thank God they were not regular.

If Sasuke had any dreams while he was sleeping in Naruto�s
bed, for the first time ever and with Naruto with his arm around him they had disappeared
under the forceful presence of Itachi who woke him up. It was probably for the
better, considering.

But now, when the messing around with the lock on the door
from the outside startled him up from the morning nap, Sasuke could clearly remember
what he was dreaming about � not least because he was hard under the covers
because of it.

He could see himself, moving over Naruto in a strange bed
that felt familiar and comfortable, but he could also feel it, ever small
touch; he could hear every gasp and moan and it all smelled like nettle and
apples. The expression he saw on himself in the dream was the one he saw on the
drawing his father had brought home, everything that he felt, everything that
he was and all he had wanted on that dreamed bed, it was all so clear on his
face. It was all there.

When Naruto walked in and quickly closed the door behind
him, eyes bright and hair wildly sticking up, there was no doubt in Sasuke�s
mind about who was there on that picture with him, in reality. Just because
Sasuke didn�t want to consider it didn�t mean that people around him would miss
how insanely, stupidly lovesick he was.

�What?� Naruto asked. Sasuke had flattened his expression to
the best of his abilities before shaking his head. The edge of the cover
brushed over his chin, and a bit of light disappeared from Naruto�s eyes.� �Listen. Are you planning on going home or
not?�

Of course I am,
Sasuke formed as the answer in his head before saying, �No.�

He figured Naruto would tell him that he could get in
trouble, or something. He won�t make it easy, for nothing more than because he
was sleepy and it was warm under the covers, on the pillow that probably
smelled like nettle even though his nose was too used to it to distinguish it.
He wanted it to last just a little bit longer.

Naruto set on the edge of the bed, gathering one leg underneath
him. He looked uncertain which was in odds with Sasuke�s expectations. You
don�t kick someone out looking uncertain, or � Naruto wouldn�t look like that.

�Your parents must be worried.�

�I left Itachi�s number on the fridge two years ago.� Sasuke
answered, slipping a bit to the right in case Naruto needed more space. �It�s
in very ugly red, hard to miss.�

Naruto forced the flicker of amusement off his face, �Your
mum had already called him.�

�If he�s that much on an ass not to call her back, she will
call him again.� Sasuke answered. There was something behind that conversation
that did not sound like a �get out� demand. �All she needs is a good excuse,
anyway.�

�So you�re not going home.� Naruto asked again, though it
didn�t sound too much like a question. �And I guess you don�t feel much like
going to Itachi�s.�

�No.�

�But you can�t stay here.� Naruto finally said. �I�d get in
trouble.�

�Do you have raids and check
ups?� Sasuke asked. He didn�t want to get out of the bed, but he couldn�t stay
if people were coming in to check on Naruto.

�No, what do you think this is
an institution for young offenders? We�re just orphans. But there are twenty
seven kids, most of them living on this floor, walls with elephant ears and Snow
Football Tournament in the back yard before noon.� Naruto said. �Well, we renamed
it to �Wet Tournament�; there is hardly enough of snow outside for a winter
game. But you see the problem.��

Oh, Sasuke could see the problem clearly. The problem was he
didn�t want to go home. Worse than that, what he wanted was to stay in Naruto�s
bed, preferably with Naruto next to him. They were too close and he wanted to
touch. They were all serious problems and he was lacking the will to deal with
them.

But he could see Naruto�s
problem, too, so he moved to stand up. He�s been a coward long enough anyway.
It was time to go home and tell his father that his plans for future did not
involve him working as a nude model for extra money � not even for an
undercover assignment, if a thing like that existed outside of the movies.

Naruto stopped him, placing hand flat against Sasuke�s
chest. Sasuke froze and looked up as his heart rate increased with a painful
twist. Naruto didn�t seem to have noticed.

�The thing is that if all you need is to get out of the
house for a couple of days, I have a place you can stay at. It�d be like short
vacation.� Naruto said in a rush, almost like so he wanted the offer out before
he could change his mind. �But I don�t want trouble with your father, so you�d
have to call them � or send a message - and tell them where you are.�

I should go home,
Sasuke thought. He knew better this time, though, so when he opened his mouth,
he knew that was not what would come out. �Fine.�

Naruto looked startled, like he wasn�t expecting Sasuke to
actually agree. But he recovered soon enough and stood up. �Hurry, then, while
everyone is still in the canteen.�

�Can�t I go to the bathroom first?�

�Uh,� Naruto said, glancing to the door like they had
instructions. �If you really, really have to.�

��No, it doesn�t
matter.�

In his school backpack, Naruto threw a couple of things
Sasuke couldn�t see. He was putting Itachi�s coat on. His hand was hurting him
some, it was red and swollen so he had to put it though the thick sleeve
carefully.

�Hey,� Naruto said, ready to go with his backpack over his
shoulder and facing Sasuke in the middle of the room. �You�re hurt!�

Sasuke dismissed him, buttoning up his coat. �It�s nothing.�

But Naruto was already reaching, so he caught Sasuke�s hand
before it fell down. His touch was careful, gentler than a feather, not even
brushing the painful blister. He swallowed, and Sasuke thought, please don�t, knowing it was useless.

�How the�,� Naruto started and than changed his mind. �Was it
your father?�

Sasuke was not quite as angry as he thought he would be, but
he jerked his hand away just the same. Naruto�s fingers were still alive on the
sensitive skin as he snapped. �My father would never do a thing like that. It
was an accident; no one was even on the same part of the room with me.�

His voice was so angry that the words were barely more than
a hiss. There was nothing but profound relief on Naruto�s face. �Sorry. This
place � I guess��

�I don�t need you to save me.� Sasuke interrupted.

On this, Naruto�s eyes flickered with anger, �What you need,
I can�t give you.�

What was it that he thought Sasuke needed had stayed unsaid,
because Naruto jerked his head that they needed to leave and Sasuke didn�t care
to ask. It was likely some bullshit anyway.

With Naruto knowing exactly in what direction to look and
where to be careful, they were out on the icy wind in no time. Most of the snow
from the previous night had melted leaving everything wet and mostly gray.
Sasuke followed Naruto�s lead, not asking questions. He had the impression
Naruto was angry, although he had no right. Just because he was in position to
hear more sad stories than others didn�t mean he could make assumptions like
those. It was just a burnt hand, it could have happened at any time.

He noticed somewhere along the way that the houses were
starting to be a rarity in the area they were going through. He didn�t say anything
and when Naruto approached an old, rotting train wagon, still covered in snow
on some laces, Sasuke regretted it. What the hell was Naruto thinking?

�What is this?� He asked when Naruto pushed the door until
they slid open and stepped up.

�It�s, like, Home�s shared hiding place.� Naruto said. He
glanced back, saw Sasuke�s face and laughed. �But don�t worry, princes, I have
a slightly better place in mind for you. It has working faucets and even a
couple of books, though I�m not sure you�ll like them.�

With the feeling of profound relief, Sasuke followed Naruto
inside. It turned out, though, that it wasn�t so bad. It wasn�t much warmer
than it was outside, but all the windows were closed, even somewhat clean. Old
curtains were still workable, gray where the remains of dark green were not
visible. Seats in the compartments were well preserved; pale in color but
looking intact otherwise. There was no dust; the place was certainly used a
lot.

�Hey,� Naruto said, not looking back. �You�ve said you had
keys, did Itachi take them back?�

�No, I still have them.� They were in his pocket, because it
felt safer to keep them there than in the wide pocket of Itachi�s coat.

Naruto glanced over his shoulder, �You think I could, er,
borrow them for a couple of hours?�

�Why?� Sasuke asked, wondering if Naruto would actually say
it. He thought he knew, though; Naruto wanted to cut a set for himself. That,
considering that guy Naruto was afraid is hurting some children, was not a
terribly bad idea.

�Cause I like keys?� Naruto offered.

Sasuke took the set out of his pocket. Every key was neatly
labeled. He took off the one that was for Itachi�s office and gave Naruto the
rest of it.

The compartment in front of which they had halted opened
without a warning, startling them both. Sasuke stepped back instinctively, but
it took only a stray glance to recognize pale face on the other side of the
open door.

�Sai!� Naruto barked, in surprise
and anger, making the guy retreat a little back to the compartment.

My colleagues saw them! Sasuke heard
echoing in his head as he stepped forward. He had never before used his left
hand to hit someone, but it had worked out well enough, even with the pain that
shot through his arm. Sai was down on the floor.

�Do you have more of those pictures?� Sasuke demanded. He
could see anger and danger on Sai�s face, that he was deciding that he should
stand up and fight. It didn�t matter, Sasuke stepped closer.

�No.� Sai said, but only after glancing at Naruto behind
Sasuke. �Your father had burned them all.�

�Every last one?� Sasuke wanted to
know for sure, to confirm. The compartment was full of things. It looked like
Sai had moved in.

�He had burned everything I ever kept on paper, including
landscapes.� Sai answered, full of resentment.

�Good.�

Sasuke wanted to hit him again. He had a little problem with
hitting someone who wasn�t bothering to stand up, but the voice of his father
was yelling in his head, so the anger spiked up in his stomach�

Then Naruto pulled his hand around him and yanked him backwards.

�Come on, it�s not like he knew you�d get in that much
trouble, it�s just what he does.� Naruto said, holding Sasuke firmly against
his chest. The anger melted somewhat, but Sasuke still had an urge to free
himself and hit the fucker that got him in
that much trouble. For nothing but the itch to fight, he wanted to check if
what his father was saying about Naruto was true, was really as capable as all
that � but that should probably wait for a time when he didn�t have both his hands
hurting. �Find someone else, Sai, and think about skipping town. Itachi�s just
about ready to kill you.�

Naruto closed the compartment door before he let Sasuke go,
but Sasuke took the look of pure fear on Sai�s face with him. It was the first
emotion he recognized on that face. It gave him even greater satisfaction than
hitting the guy had.

�Come on, I need to get my key.� Naruto sighed as Sasuke
examined his hand. Half turned already, he grinned, �Remand me to show you how
to hit some time.�

Naruto opened a door at the end of the line and disappeared
inside. Sasuke peeked in. It was just another empty compartment, but Naruto
leaned over and pulled out a single key from someplace Sasuke couldn�t see.

When he showed it, grinning, Sasuke informed him, �There is
nothing wrong with the way I hit.�

�Well, no, there�s not,� Naruto said pushing his way back to
hallway, �If you�re six years old and a girl.�

Well, so much about waiting until his hands healed. �I doubt
you can really tell if you haven�t had a chance to experience it.�

Naruto stopped. Slowly, he turned back to face Sasuke, that
grin still in place, but with sharp, challenging edge. Slightly dizzy, Sasuke
recognized the surge of adrenalin; even it was not induced by anger this time.
Naruto took a small, automatic step forward, but then he stopped.

�Maybe some other time, when you�re not
hurt.� He said and Sasuke remembered to take in some air. Naruto�s grin
lost that predatory quality, but it was still slightly challenging. �It�s
unfair enough when both of your hands are not disabled.��

�Are you sure you are not just looking for an excuse?�
Sasuke asked, even thought the moment had clearly passed. Naruto turned to lead
the way, because there was only one way out. The train wagon was apparently too
damaged on the other end; a couple of compartments were completely wracked, closing
the passage on the other exit.

�Could be.� Naruto admitted over
his shoulder and stopped in front of the compartment Sai was in. �It�s too
early and I have too many things to do today to drag you to the hospital now.�

Naruto opened the doors again, just as Sasuke caught up with
him, ready to answer. Open worry on his face threw Sasuke off, so he just
glanced inside. Sai was sitting under the window, looking at his swelling eye
in a small mirror.

�Why was the police in your apartment anyway?� Naruto asked
when Sai looked back, flat and disinterested expression back on his face.
�Where is Suigetsu?�

�He was arrested. For possession.� �

For possession of drugs? Sasuke�s
father had said they went there on a raid. They had found what they were looking
for � and more.

�Brilliant.� Naruto muttered, and then added, �I meant what
I said. Find a mouse hole and stay there; I�ve never seen Itachi so angry
before.� ��

Sai answered nothing.

Twenty minutes later, they entered a small gate. The house
in the unkempt yard was small, only one story.�
It looked better than a train wreck, so Sasuke waited - as instructed -
while Naruto went down the stairs and used the key he retrieved. Moments later,
Naruto emerged back and unlocked the front door.

�It�s probably a little cold inside, but I turned the
heating on.� He said apologetically. �I wasn�t expecting to be at the house
until the tournament is over, in about two days from now, so I turned it off
yesterday morning. It shouldn�t take long, though.�

There was a small hall that was leading right into the
living room. To the right, the kitchen was visible and there were three more
doors leading from the room. Everything was clean at the first glance � aside
from the small mess on the table � TV guide, some school stuff, chocolate
wrapper; it was nothing severe. It was far better than Sasuke was expecting.

�What is this place?�

�It�s my � it�s the house I lived in with my parents after
we had moved here,� Naruto explained. There was no emotion traceable in his
voice, but he wasn�t looking at Sasuke when he was talking. �First to the left
was my room, but it�s just the crap room now. The next is the bedroom, straight
up is the bathroom � if you�re going to take a shower, the towels are in the
cupboard inside. Kitchen is there.�

A shower sounded amazing. But the thought of putting on back
the same clothes Sasuke was sleeping in was unpleasant.

�Does anyone live here?�

�Well, I do. Sort of. I was
supposed to move back in as soon as I was eighteen � that was why my Godfather
fixed everything and found someone to clean it completely � and again before
the holidays. But things changed, I won�t leave Home, not until I have to.� Naruto
explained, letting his backpack fall on the couch. �I still come here as often
as I can; I was here for the most of the break, even some nights.�

Probably the nights that Kabuto guy was off duty.

�There should be some food in the fridge, but it is probably
safer if you don�t eat it if you don�t have to.� Naruto added when Sasuke failed
to say anything. �I�ll bring something with me later.�

�Fine.�

Naruto grinned, returning to the door toward the exit where
Sasuke was still standing. �And I have to go now, so there is only one thing
left.�

What thing? Compensation?

�That should not have triggered those mental pictures. He was hopeless.

Naruto put his cell phone out of the pocket and offered it.
�I will pick it up later. Just � call them, or send a message. Anything.�

Sasuke took the phone. Naruto was looking at him a moment longer,
before he turned to the door. �Okay, then. There are clean sheets somewhere in
the closet if you don�t want to use mine, so try to sleep away those terrible
circles around your eyes. I�ll be back as soon as can.�

There was no pause to fit any answer before the door closed
behind Naruto. Sasuke checked the backpack he had left behind � as he thought,
it was some clothes inside. The room wasn�t very warm, but there was a neatly
folded blanket on the couch. Sasuke set at the edge and did what Naruto had
asked; he sent a message to his father and shut off Naruto�s phone, just in
case they called it back.

Bathroom first, with shower; sleeping
after that. He�d better avoid the refrigerator altogether, though.
Knowing Naruto from his lunch breaks at school, it was probably empty or full
of garbage.

And later, maybe, he would look for those books Naruto had
mentioned.
- 10
- 11
- 12
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Alternative Education