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Of Sacrifices and Love - COMPLETE!!!	By : Tsukineko9 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1562 -:- 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
- 12
- 13
- 14
Title: Of Sacrifices and Love

Author: Cecilia Tsukineko and Kirei Kitsue

Rating: NC-17

Genre and Pairing: yaoi, SasuNaru

Notes: For further reference here is a key to help you follow the story:

::this:: is a character's own personal thoughts

*this* is mindspeech

DISCLAIMER: We don't gain anything but amusement from these writings, so please give credit to Kishimoto Masashi-sama for the characters and all things canon!

Chapter Thirteen

----------Next afternoon, Naruto's apartment, training room----------
Thunk! The sound of the kunai striking the practice dummy was very satisfying, but Naruto drew no comfort from it. He was positively seething as he recounted the events of the previous day. First Tsunade had refused to listen to him, then she'd sent Jiraiya to play baby-sitter, and instead of leaving him alone like he should have the pervert had chased Naruto all around town before catching him. And then Jiraiya had had the gall to threaten him with house arrest if he tried to leave again without permission! When all he wanted was to get away from Sasuke! Was that too much to ask?! Did they all want his life to be ruined again?! Naruto grabbed another kunai, planning to throw it at the dummy, but a knock on the doorframe changed his mind. This time the kunai ended up lodged in the doorframe. �That was your warning. Next time I won't miss,� he growled without looking at the intruder.
Undaunted, Inuzuka Kiba, along with his partner in crime Akamaru the nin-pup, came in anyway. �Get up and get some decent clothes on! It's time for lunch!� he demanded and his grin was large, but on the inside... on the inside he was worried again.
Naruto shot him a sidelong glare and continued to fire kunai at the dummy. �Not going.� He did NOT feel like socializing.
Kiba growled a little, but reined in his temper. He was getting better at not being so brash. �Yes. You are. Get dressed and get moving.�
�Make me,� Naruto challenged dangerously, his eyes stormy with building anger.
�I don't have to.� Kiba shot back and snarled a little. �You should come because it's better than sitting here sulking like an idiot. Come on, idiot... Get your ass out the door.� Kiba wasn't taking no for an answer.
�No. Go away,� Naruto growled. Why wouldn't anyone leave him alone?!
�No. Come with me,� argued Kiba. �Sulking isn't getting you anywhere.�
�I'm not sulking! I just don't want to eat with everyone today, alright?!�
That was it!! His patience was gone!! Kiba strode forward grabbed Naruto by the scruff of his neck and literally propelled him out of the apartment. But he didn't stop there. Oh, no. He just kept moving and pushing, Akamaru quietly moving along behind them having grown too big to be carried.
�Kiba!! You bastard!! Let me go!!� Naruto dug his heels into the ground and pried Kiba's hands off him.
They were already down the hall of the apartment and had made it at least halfway tot he stairs. �Are you going to come or do I have to throw you over my shoulder?� Kiba snarled back.
�I. Don't. Want. To. Go! Alright!!� Naruto roared, spinning on his heel to go back the way they'd come.
Kiba did exactly as he had warned. He moved forward and before Naruto knew what had hit him the blond was dangling over the taller dog-boy's shoulder. �Too bad,� he muttered and headed for the Bar-B-Q.
�The hell?! Kiba!!� Determined to get away Naruto quickly made a couple seals and disappeared in a puff of smoke, reappearing in his apartment.
Frustrated, Kiba stomped his way to the Bar-B-Q where most of their friends had already gathered and were waiting to order. �He's being a dick.... Sakura...� he didn't have to say who, and he didn't have to do more than implore her.
Sakura looked around the table and then stood slowly. �I'll be right back...� she murmured and with a heavy expression headed for the door. Kiba sat and began griping almost immediately as she left, but she didn't even try to hear what he was complaining about. She was more worried about Naruto.
Sakura arrived at Naruto's apartment and knocked politely at the door calling, �Naruto.... It's Sakura....�
He didn't answer. He was yet again taking his frustrations out on the long-dead practice dummy. :: Damn Kiba, gonna kill him....::
Receiving no answer, and with a small amount of fear gripping her heart, Sakura tried the knob and found it open. Cautiously she stepped into the apartment and called again, �Naruto?�
The only answer was the sound of a shuriken digging into the wall and then Naruto's curses at the fact that he'd missed.
Sighing with a small amount of relief - at least he hadn't slit his wrists or anything even though she knew it wouldn't do him much good anyway - Sakura moved over to that part of the apartment and stepped into the doorway saying, �Naruto.� more firmly to get his attention.
�What is so hard for you people to understand about the fact that I want to be left alone?!� Naruto growled, not pausing in his practice to look at her.
�Because it isn't like you... You're the one who's always doing anything to get attention. It's who you are. So when you turn a complete one-eighty Naruto... you make the people who know you best and care about you the most worry.� She stepped up to him and laid a hand on his arm stilling his next throw gently. She just hoped, as she did it, that he wouldn't either jerk away or snap and turn on her as he had almost done shortly after he couldn't stop Sasuke from leaving.
He didn't. He just stopped, breathing harshly as he tried to reign in his anger. After a moment he glanced sideways at her and felt his anger melt (just a little) at the worry in her face. �God damn it...� he ground out, letting his legs fold under him so that he sat down cross-legged. �I don't wanna go...� he grumbled, whining a bit.
Sakura knelt down next to him. Things had become a little different between herself and the number one loud mouth ninja of Konoha. Since Sasuke's impromptu and improper hiatus, Sakura had gotten closer to her other teammate. She even looked at Naruto as more of a brother than as a teammate, or even a friend. Her hand found his folded arm again and her brow furrowed a little bit at his pouty expression. �Naruto... if you want to talk... even if it's about Sasuke... You know I'm here to listen to you...� ::I feel like I'm at the academy again, some what... all the drama, but none of the stress. Poor Naruto. I wonder if it really is Sasuke that's bothering him. He's only acted like this once before.::
Naruto snorted softly. He didn't think Sakura would like very much to hear that Sasuke had been hitting on him almost every night since he got back. That might send her away in tears and he didn't want to do that to her. While he didn't have a crush on her anymore he was slowly beginning to think of her as a sister and you don't hurt family, right? Suddenly wanting the comfort she was offering he leaned towards her to put his head on her shoulder. �Thanks, Sakura-chan,� he said softly.
The pucker between her brows eased immediately and she wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. �Anytime, Naruto,� she murmured, conviction behind the soft words. Lightly she stroked the back of his head her touch meant to be comforting and soothing.
They sat like that for a long while before Naruto pulled away. �You'd better get going. They're all expecting you to go back.�
�I'm not going back if I have to go back empty handed,� she said firmly smiling at him with a little bit of mischief. �So do I have to drag you... or will simply asking you to come be my company be enough?�
Naruto knew that Sakura was the only one of his friends that he couldn't stay mad at for very long, but Kiba was very good at getting on his nerves and sometimes Ino's voice got just a little too harpy-ish. And no matter how bad a mood he was in, Naruto did not like yelling at his friends. He sighed. �Then I guess you might as well stay here. I really don't feel like seeing everyone today.�
Sakura nodded after a moment's thought and then smiled brightly. �Well, you're at least going to eat. How about I go and get some groceries and I'll come back and make you some homemade ramen. My mom taught me... I haven't done it before, but since you know ramen, you'll be able to tell me the truth about my cooking, ne?�
That finally got the tiniest of smiles out of him. �I'd like that. Thank you.�
She nodded and stood up slowly. �Alright. You get the bowls, hashi and the cooking stuff together and I'll go out and get the ingredients.� She ruffled his hair affectionately. �Everything's going to be ok, Naruto. No matter what's troubling you... it'll only hurt you here,� and she laid her hand over her heart. �If you let it. You always have a choice...� She went from serious to chipper in 0.7 seconds flat. �At least that's what my dad has told me! I'll be back in a bit!� And with that she turned on her heel and headed out the door leaving it unlocked so she could come right in when she returned with the supplies.
Shaking his head at her in bemusement Naruto got up and went to the kitchen to get everything they would need. While he waited for Sakura, he thought about what she'd said, his expression quickly becoming stormy again. He had a choice as to whether it hurt him or not...?! How did he have a choice?! His best friend had managed to steal his heart only to hand it back to him in shreds on a silver platter! He didn't choose for that to happen!! Naruto didn't even notice when Sakura walked back in, he was so steeped in his thoughts.
�Naruto!!!� she sing-songed not immediately noticing the dark mood that hung about her normally cheery teammate. She thought she had mostly dispelled it. �I found the best ingredients for your favorite! Miso Ramen!� she exclaimed and set the bags down on the kitchen table.
�Huh...?� Naruto blinked and turned his head to look at her, a little disoriented by the interruption of his train of thought. �Oh... okay...�
She went from all movement and smiles to calm and still instantly at his tone. �Naruto... please, will you at least confide in me a little bit?� she took a step forward and then looked to the floor her voice small. �I don't like seeing my best friend like this. I want to make you feel better... but I don't know what to do...�
�You can tell Sasuke to get the hell out of my life permanently. Or get the old hag to let me leave this damn village,� Naruto growled.
The growl made Sakura start a little and take a step back. �Naruto... I thought...� ::No, that would be a lie. I knew it was Sasuke that was making him unhappy... I can't stand to see him like this... I - I have a feeling that he and I are in the same boat on some level... where Sasuke is concerned... I don't know exactly why I think that but... it just feels right.:: �Naruto...� Sakura moved to a chair and sat down slowly figuring maybe he would do the same. �If there is one thing that I have learned in being a part of team seven it is this. Sasuke... has hardly even passed a glance to me or even Ino. It was always you that held his attention and that he kept in his sights. It was always you that he trained with, that he contested against, that he fought to be equals with at the very least,� her voice trailed off... she didn't know how to put it exactly, but she hoped by saying what she had she might have gotten her point across.
�That he tried to kill,� Naruto added as he hopped up to sit on the counter, his voice thick with anger and hurt. Somehow Sakura was the only one he could be truly honest with. Probably because they had been through just so much together.
�But Naruto... he wasn't wholly sane at that time. It doesn't make it right, but it wasn't really his fault. I mean... Itachi had messed with his mind so much, ever since he was just a baby really. What eight-year-old can handle having his family, his whole clan destroyed by his once-beloved older brother? It was building from that day forward. He was bound to snap sometime... I sound like I'm making an excuse for him but I'm not. I care about you both. I just want us to be a team again... but it's even more than what I want... it's what I think is right. I ... I know how you feel Naruto. Sasuke didn't just throw you out the window when he left. He tossed everybody out. Me, you, Kakashi-sensei... the whole village was without a true Sharingan user...� she closed her mouth then deciding that she was probably babbling and not really doing Naruto any good by venting herself.
�No, you don't know how I feel. No one knows,� he said softly, sadness joining the mixed emotions on his face. �You weren't there when he tried to kill me immediately after calling me his closest friend... or when he left...� He paused when he felt something wet in his eyes. ::Dammit! Not again! I promised myself I was done crying over that bastard!!:: Not wanting Sakura to see him crack he left for his room.
Sakura followed after a few minutes of both collecting herself and making sure she, herself, didn't start crying. She had seen through Naruto's attempt to hide the tears. She found his bedroom door closed, but simply leaned against it. �I'm sorry Naruto. I didn't mean to make you hurt more...� There was only silence on the other side of the door, but she spoke one last time anyway. �If there's anything you need... or if you want to talk more... My window will be open. Rain or shine.� And then she turned and went into the kitchen. An hour and a half later, with the Miso ramen made and stored in his fridge and one bowl in her own stomach, Sakura left, locking the door and closing it behind her softly. She didn't want to disturb him any more than she already had.
TBC...
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Of Sacrifices and Love - COMPLETE!!!