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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
- 4
- 5
- 6
Part five

Naruto and Sakura had stayed together much longer then
anyone expected them to. At first, there was that awkward air when they were
around each other, like they didn�t know each other for years already and had
nothing to talk about. It was making people cringe around them. But little by
little, they were talking more � really talking, not just Naruto
babbling; Sakura was laughing often and it was odd and sickening and Sasuke
wished very much that he could just ignore him, but he couldn�t.

Most of the time he was seeing him, and that was every day
in school, they were spending their short and long breaks at Sakura�s desk,
which was just behind Sasuke�s back. Ino and Sakura have been sitting there for
over three years now, in all classes they had in their classroom and some they
had in the specialized cabinets. So all it would take was for Sasuke to turn
and he would see them talk, touch, probably even kiss. He wasn�t turning. He
wasn�t turning for weeks.

He almost got used to it, it almost
made sense to see them like that, to see Naruto happy all the time. It even
almost started to make sense that he was seeing someone, kissing someone,
probably even fucking someone. Or at least, it became a little bit easier to
think it made sense.

But then he turned.

It was the first bright day in forever. The winter was so
close, the coldness was threatening even from the too brilliant sunbeams with
their frosty teeth. But the light made people smile and talk more, plan where
they would celebrate New Year�s, be marry little shits with their happy little
lives.

�You�re not going out, Sakura?� Naruto asked, cheerfully and
loudly, like he didn�t just barely manage to avoid the
lowest possible grade five minutes ago. �Want me to get you something?�
�No, I�m fine.� Sakura answered. Moment later Sasuke could hear
the overly loud, overly enthusiastic smack Naruto gave her, and something broke
in him. He turned.

Naruto was wearing his hideous orange jacket,
Kiba was trying to drag him away from where he was still holding Sakura�s hand.
Naruto must have caught the movement, because he was looking back at Sasuke.
The laughter so obvious in his voice the minute earlier disappeared as if it
was wiped out of his face. He let go of Sakura�s hand.

Sasuke turned back quickly as Naruto let Kiba drag him out.
It couldn�t have lasted more then half a second, but it was much harder to
breathe, even after the door of the classroom banged close behind Shikamaru,
who was the one to get out last.

It was � lonely, maybe. It was that Itachi was not letting
go even though Sasuke had told him, flat out that he has to, because their
mother was freaking out after having neither son at the house for an entire
week of Sasuke�s field trip. It was that everyone kept asking if he was sure
about his career choice, over and over again, like he was twelve and still
unable to decide for himself. It was that math teacher was insisting Sasuke
tries this year to get up till the state competition, because winning it would
provide him to enter any university that had math for enter examination without
taking it at all, even though Sasuke said many times that he was going to study
sociology of law.

And it was that he still had dreams, almost every night now,
vivid and draining and full of Naruto.

Sasuke stood up when he heard Sakura asking him if he was
aright and walked out, pushing through the crowd chatting in the hall. Even
though it was sunny, it was too cold to sit outside. Sasuke sat anyway, on the
highest of three steps in front of the students� exit door. He should have
brought a jacket with him.

And he shouldn�t have turned. Why was Naruto looking at him,
anyway? It wouldn�t have been so hard to breathe if he wasn�t.

It shouldn�t matter, because he was the one who made the decision.
Naruto had offered, and he didn�t even want to listen. Moreover, if he got a
second chance, he wouldn�t do anything differently.

The familiar softness of his jacket slipped on his
shoulders. Sasuke didn�t have to look up to know it was Sakura, but he looked
anyway. She was having insecure smile on her face, looking as if it was forced
there.

�Are you okay?� She asked. Again.

�Fine.�

�You don�t look so fine. Is there something wrong?�

Sasuke didn�t bother. He already told her he was fine, what
more did she want? It was not as if he could tell her �well, I�m not exactly
fine but if you break up with your boyfriend I will be�. Maybe he was selfish,
maybe he was unreasonable. It didn�t matter; it�s not as if just wishing them apart
would magically separate them.

Sakura set down on cold concrete next to him. She was quiet.
After several minutes, he almost forgot she was there.

�You are acting really weird lately.� She finally said,
breaking the illusion of solitude.

He had been hoping it was not obvious. It apparently was. �Weird how?�

�I don�t know. Twitchy?� She put it
more as if checking if it was the right word than stating, but Sasuke gave her
a glare anyway. He was not twitchy. If he father heard that, it would be
ten times worse than if he had found out Sasuke was lying about something.
Sakura waved her hand, like she was refusing he word after all. �Just� weird.�

She was frowning, in that worried, annoying way Sasuke�s
mother usually did. She was trying to help without stepping over her
boundaries. Trying to talk without triggering him to send her
away. Why was he bothering with him anyway? They were never friends. And
whatever crush she had� It didn�t go away when she started dating Naruto, the
fact this was the first time she was even trying to talk to him should be the
proof for it. She was still looking, but it surely wasn�t as intense as it was
before. She was, after all, with someone.

But then again, there she was, freezing on the cold
staircase, trying. Again. Sasuke almost felt sorry for
her, because she really needed to move on. And then he heard Kiba, just around
the corner of the building, groaning loudly.

�I hate her! And she hates me, too � that answer was for at
least one grade higher, I was studying sooo hard last
night��

Kiba was coming and Naruto was with him, like always. And
Sakura was still frowning lightly, biting her lip and looking at Sasuke. It was
not a matter of choice any longer, so he simply leaned in and kissed her.

She didn�t gasp, or made any noise at all, just kissed back
like it was her birth right. It was easy. It was actually pleasant, especially
because there was no actual body contact between them.

It wasn�t so pleasant for Sasuke to miss the group shutting
up completely after turning the corner. And when a single set of steps
approached, Sakura heard it as well and broke the kiss. Sasuke wiped his mouth
with a back of his hand, and looked up. He didn�t get to see anything, because
the fist connected to the side of his face.

It didn�t really hurt, not right away, but it kinda felt
like his brain was stuffed in a shaker. His heart was beating wildly, and
adrenalin was almost high enough to make Sasuke stand up and fight back. He had
stood up, but Naruto had the right to be pissed, so he didn�t do anything else,
just waited. Naruto was beyond angry, which gave Sasuke some satisfaction.

But Naruto wasn�t hitting him again. He was just standing
there, angry and hurt. Sasuke licked his lips, looking back as flatly as he
could.

�I really can�t decide,� Naruto said, too low to be
overheard by all those people in the hallways, peeking though the windows, but
the little group in the yard had no problems with it. �Which one of you I hate
more right now.�

Maybe he couldn�t decide, but he was looking at Sasuke, not
Sakura.

The door opened and Ino walked out, followed with several
people. It was the cue for all hell to break loose; everyone was suddenly
talking and moving. Sasuke didn�t have to break the eye contact with Naruto to
realize Sakura was crying. She could have slapped him. She didn�t. She had no
one to blame but herself.

Maybe Naruto gave up on waiting for an answer. Maybe he just
gave up. The day was just as freezing cold when he turned and walked inside.

�You fucking bastard.� Ino hissed. When did she get so close
to spit words into his face, anyway? Sasuke must have been too busy looking
after Naruto to notice.

It wasn�t really an effort to smirk. �Jealous?�

�It was a really lame thing to do.� Ino said, ignoring the
bait.

�It was what she wanted.� Sakura sniffed in the background.

�And you�re such a heart to give her what she wanted, aren�t
you? Like Santa Claus.� Ino narrowed her eyes. �I don�t get it, I really don�t.
What�s your gain in this?�

He shrugged. There was no gain. It was selfish and
pointless. Naruto was happy and he ruined it. Maybe Sakura was learning how to
be happy with him, too. Though if she was, it wasn�t stopping her to linger in
the yard, sobbing and watching Ino scold Sasuke, instead of following Naruto
inside and try to salvage things.

It was Rock Lee and Hinata Hyuuga who followed him inside.
For his credit, Kiba didn�t because he was still considering if he should
decorate the other side of Sasuke�s face. But not Sakura.

He didn�t bother answering, so Ino took Sakura�s arm and
lead her inside. When they walked next to Kiba, he unglued his glare off Sasuke
finally to give a share to Sakura and followed them. He was just as mad at her,
it seemed. Well, if nothing else, Naruto can take this all as a test of
friendship.

Chouji and Shikamaru were the last to walk by Sasuke, who
was still standing on the middle stair. Shikamaru halted and Sasuke braced
himself mentally. If any really painful blows were to come, that was the time
and source.

�Took you long enough.� Shikamaru
said, quietly but clearly. Sasuke inhaled sharply, but said nothing. It wasn�t
really a surprise that Shikamaru knew more than he was supposed to. It wasn�t
really a surprise he kept it to himself until then, either. It was, however,
very surprising he was not concerned about Naruto.

The bell ringed just a couple of seconds after Shikamaru
walked inside through the door Chouji was keeping open for him, so Sasuke
followed. The hallway was mostly still full of people, and they were looking at
him in an even more annoying way that usual. Spur-of-the-moment decisions never
completely paid off.

In the classroom, his class was split in two groups. One,
the larger one, was gathered around Naruto, at the back of the window row and
the smaller one at Ino�s desk, near the door. They had left the entire middle
of the classroom empty, so Sasuke took his seat and waited. The teacher arrived
soon enough, but even that short time was quite unpleasant with the glares that
often burned his back.

Ten minutes into the class, Mr. Umino knocked and entered.

�Excuse me,� He said to his colleague. �I need to borrow a
few of your students.�

Their Geography teacher, a substitute whose name no one had
bothered to remember but all thought it had one thing or another with stars,
eyed Sasuke and something behind Sasuke�s back he assumed was Naruto. Bad news
travel fast indeed.

�Of course.�

Mr. Umino called out their names, but it wasn�t before they
were both standing in the hallway, behind the closed door before he settled his
half scorning and angry, and half worried look on Naruto. �Principal wants to
see you right away. Apologize and keep your mouth shut.�

�At the same time? I�ll give it my
best.� Naruto asked, but he was already walking down the hall.

Mr. Umino gave him a frown that said all about how that is
exactly the type of thing he shouldn�t say and then followed. Sasuke, even
though he wasn�t told anything, did the same. Naruto took a turn to the office
area, and Mr. Umino glanced to make sure Sasuke was still there when he opened
the door of the teacher�s boardroom.

Sasuke was never before inside, though he had come to ask a
question or something to the door before. It was too big, all the chairs were
around on a huge table and all the windows were looking out on the yard. It was
amazing how little punishment and involvement into all the crap students were
doing was at the minimum. The seats teachers were having tickets for the show
has been equivalent to the first row.

�Sit down.� Mr. Umino ordered. Sasuke didn�t think he ever
saw the man this upset. There was nothing else, so he got a little towel soaked
in cold water. It felt blissfully good against his cheek. �It doesn�t look too
bad. Do you want me to take you to the hospital anyway?�

�I�m fine.� Sasuke said. �Is Naruto in a lot of trouble? I
don�t remember someone being sent to the principal�s office because of a minor
fight before.�

The principal couldn�t be bothered with something like students,
anyway. He was too busy meddling into local politics for it.

Mr. Umino sighed. �Naruto is from Home, Sasuke. The kids
living there are not usually��

Good? Sane? Trusted? It took a few seconds,
but even then, the only thing Mr. Umino said was: �It would be better if he was
a good student.�

�He�s not that bad.� Sasuke answered, not quite sure
why was he sounding defensive. But Naruto really wasn�t that bad � if he
liked the subject; as if that had something to do with studying it. But even
with the subjects he didn�t like, Naruto was always managing to have at least
passing grade.

�It would be even better,� Mr. Umino continued, just as if
Sasuke hadn�t said anything and wasn�t in the room at all. �If
he wouldn�t run his mouth off. Are you sure you�re okay?�

�Fine.�

�Could I ask you something then?� Mr. Umino said. He was
frowning and he was worried. It seemed as if he was about to ask for a personal
favor. �I don�t expect you to lie, of course. Just � when you go home � if your
father��

�I wasn�t planning on talking about it with my father at
all.�

Mr. Umino, who was pacing in small circle sighed and set
back into the chair. �Naruto is in Home because he is still in school, but he
is of age. Having someone like your father mad at him� this is a small town,
after all.�

The last part might have had some resignation in them, as if
the men remembered that the word will spread, even if Sasuke didn�t say a word.
It would definitely not be a good thing if Sasuke�s father wasn�t sweet on
someone. He was in the force for far too long, and after three generations of
Uchihas making contacts through the job all over the place, he was too
connected. Sasuke never saw or heard his father using that power for anything,
but if he wanted it so� Naruto could be in trouble.

Not over a hit Sasuke considered nothing but small price,
though.

�My father wouldn�t waste his time because of something like
a schoolboy fight, Mr. Umino.� Maybe he would if it was Itachi, before they had
a fight. But not because of Sasuke. And while the
thought, perhaps slightly unfair, made his chest tighter, Mr. Umino looked
relived.

�It was quite� unexpected,� He said, giving Sasuke a curious
sideways look. �To see the two of you fight over a girl.�

�Why?� Sasuke asked quickly. He didn�t get an answer, just
another look, a smile smeared with some sadness. What the fuck? Shikamaru, okay
� but what, was it in the paper that morning?

�Maybe you should go home?� Mr. Umino asked after several
minutes. �You have a very good excuse, after all.�

Sasuke thought about the sounds his mother was making in the
kitchen every day, cooking and cleaning obsessively and climbing up the stairs
every so often to ask him if he wanted something. It was more than enough he
had to listen to that every afternoon. School was his time out.

�I�ll just go back to class.� He answered finally. Mr. Umino
nodded and gestured he was free to go.

Glares were just harder when he returned to the classroom.
Sakura was sitting back in her place, right behind his. Naruto was not back
yet.

So Sasuke returned to his place, not for the first time
satisfied he doesn�t have to look at anyone, and focused on the lesson.

***

Two hours, that is how long he made it before taking his
things and going over at Itachi�s to spend the rest of the day and the night.
Sasuke didn�t know what to say to his mother to calm her down. Father came home
quite a few times over the years with bruised face. She had to know it was
nothing serious, and worse yet, only several months
before, she wouldn�t have been so persistent in checking if he was okay. If he
had any idea she was going to be in the constant panic, he wouldn�t have signed
up for going on the field trip at all. It would have saved both of their sanity
and some money on top of it.

Itachi didn�t say anything when Sasuke showed up on his
doorstep unannounced. He just made coffee with enough milk and sugar in it to
kill a baby elephant, despite knowing Sasuke didn�t like it that way.

The downside of staying at Itachi�s was that he had no
computer at home. The upside was, he wasn�t talking
much. He didn�t say anything when Sasuke shut his book and decided to do the
essay, due next week anyway, some other time. He didn�t say anything at the
pointless changing of channels every five seconds. But when the evening came
and the swelling on Sasuke�s face started throbbing more persistently, he had
asked: �So what happened?� As if that wasn�t obvious.

�I fell down the stairs.� Sasuke answered.

Itachi gave him a patient look. �I didn�t mean who beat the
crap out of you. I meant, what happened at home?�

Yeah, trust Itachi to get to the bottom of things in first
try. Nothing actually happened, though, and the atmosphere is hard to describe
to anyone who wasn�t present.

After several seconds of considering how to put it, Sasuke
muttered: �Mum needs a hobby.�

Itachi hadn�t asked anything else. There was nothing worth
watching on TV. Out of sheer boredom, Sasuke fell asleep before seven in the
afternoon and was awake around twelve. It was the phone ringing what woke him
up. From the other room, where Itachi was talking, Sasuke didn�t pick up on
what was being said, but he was wide awake when the conversation was over.

�I need to go to work.� Itachi said, sitting shortly on the
couch next to Sasuke to put a sock on.

He seemed in a hurry. �Something happened?�

�Kurenai has to go home, her mother
is not well again. Someone has to stay with the kids at night.� Itachi
answered, putting on the other sock.

It�s boring, Sasuke thought, laughed at himself and
asked: �Can I come?�

He was at Home once or twice before, when he needed Itachi
for something while he was working. He was only in the entrance hall, where
there was always some kid to send up.

If Itachi found his sudden desire to go around the town in
the middle of the night and then sit at his workplace until morning suspicious,
he didn�t show it. �You can use the computer in my office if you want.�

The Home wasn�t far away from Itachi�s apartment. It was a
four story building, not very old, but not new either, painted in an odd shade
of grayish-green with white frames around the long, barred windows. If it
wasn�t fenced only with the live hedge and had a glass door, it could have been
mistaken for a prison easily.

The first floor was locked and unavailable. On one side, it
was the kitchen and dining room, and on the other storage for whatever help
they got, like cloths and school supplies. Second floor were the offices of the
social workers. Itachi unlocked the first left from the staircase that neatly
spelled his name.

There were two desks inside, but only one chair. And next to
the computer there was a frame picture of a younger Itachi holding a five year
old, pouting, Sasuke. It was a cute picture, but Sasuke hoped not many people
peered too closely. He wasn�t put out enough to ask his brother to remove it.

They took an extra chair from an office that had no name on
it while Kurenai greeted them briskly, putting her coat on. �There is some
juice upstairs but I�m afraid there�s no more cake. And do take a walk or two
around the hallways upstairs, they are starting to think they can get away with
murder with you around.�

�There was a birthday party?� Itachi asked, not confirming
that he would do as she said. �Have they cleaned up after or did you it
instead?�

Just as swiftly as Itachi ignored her suggestion, Kurenai
ignored his accusation. They seemed to know each other well.

�I�m sorry to drag you out of your bed, but I�m not sure if
I would survive another shouting match with Naruto if I asked Kabuto.� On the
sound of Naruto�s name, Sasuke�s attention jumped from mildly curious to eager.
�Why do they hate each other that much, I have no idea.�

She wasn�t really asking, Itachi wasn�t answering at all, so
Kurenai walked out, leaving Sasuke to wonder if that Kabuto had something to do
with how worried Naruto was for other kids on the field trip. He didn�t ask
anything either.

The connection was lousy, but at least it was working.
Itachi was doing some paperwork at the other desk and like the robot he was, he
wasn�t giving any signs of being tired, even though it was well into the night.
There was only a little bit of talking between them. Sasuke was starting to get
sleepy again.

In the quiet building, the quick steps descending the stairs
snapped Itachi�s attention efficiently long before the knock on the door came.
Sasuke looked up, wondering if there could be more then one idiot in the world
who skips more then two steps at the time while going down the stairs.

But it was Naruto after all. He was wearing ridiculous pale
green pajamas and puffy red eyes that widened when he opened the door.
�Hey.� He greeted, speaking to Itachi. �I thought Kurenai is
on duty tonight.�

�Family emergency.� Itachi
explained.

�Oh.� Naruto said, rubbing the corners of his eyes with his
thumb. �I need some sheets. And maybe some tea?�

The last part sounded more like a plea than something Naruto
had the right to ask for, but Itachi nodded. �Inari?
Have you tried talking to him?�

�Yeah. He won�t tell me a word,
just�� Oddly enough despite the obvious worry, Naruto didn�t sound any more
awake. �Just what I get to hear before I wake him up.�

Oh. It was nightmares. Probably someone
who shared the room with Naruto. What were the sheets for, though? Bed wetting?

Itachi got up on his feet.

�I�ll try again. I know it�s late, but can you give us some
time?� Itachi pushed the chair he was sitting in moments before to stress
Naruto should stay there.

Naruto glared at Sasuke, for the first time actively
acknowledging him since he walked in. �That should be loads of fun.�

No, it probably won�t be. But it sure didn�t seem like
Naruto had lost a lot of sleep over what happened earlier.

�Your handiwork?� Itachi asked,
taking his coat off the hook to give it to Naruto. The heat was on minimum in the
office and he was in the thin pajamas; he would probably need the coat.

�Yeah.� And then,
defensively. �He deserved it.�

Before he walked out, Itachi smiled, just a tiny quirk of
his lips, pass Naruto to Sasuke. �I�m sure he did.�

It was more affection than his brother showed for the last
five years combined, so Sasuke couldn�t help but smile back. He did his best to
make it look like a smirk, though.

Then Itachi was on the other side of the room and the only
thing left was Naruto, with his hands crossed on his chest and a scorning look
that was more� a pout.

�You could say you�re sorry, you know.�

The smirk Sasuke already had in place hurt by then, but he
couldn�t take it off. Naruto wasn�t really mad, just� very upset. �But I�m not
sorry.�

�Then you could explain yourself!� Naruto snapped, though he
didn�t raise his voice. �What possessed you to kiss my girlfriend, in front of
the entire school, no less? Because I know you don�t like her.�

Idly, Sasuke wondered if Naruto is realizing just how much
he is letting things up when he was upset. Regardless of all his babbling, you
couldn�t hear anything personal or important from him. Not unless he was upset.
Like now. What was bothering him was that he was
embarrassed in front of the entire school, not because of Sakura.

�She�s a stupid, annoying brat.� Sasuke said. He�d almost
said �bitch� but that would be pushing it. Naruto waved his hand, as if to say �there you go, I was right�. �And she kissed me back.�

Naruto groaned and took Itachi�s chair, the last of his
anger melting away. �Just shut up, forget it. It�s not like you�d ever get it,
anyway.�

�I heard that one before. Is it some attempt to defend her
without having any valid arguments?�

�No, it�s not. She�s just acting exactly as I expect her to.
I can�t get mad about that.� The hell he couldn�t. She�s not a trained dog,
she�s making her decisions on her own, and she is responsible for them. �It�s
you I can�t comprehend at all.�

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow.
�Comprehend?�

Naruto exploded, almost literally from the way he waved his
arms. �Like that! Since when you�re taking something
that�s important to people and make a mockery out of it? What�s up with
that? What�s wrong with you?�

�I think you�re thinking too much about me.� Sasuke said,
because really, that sounded like something from a character study. The entire
truth was, Sasuke had a lot of fun with that
conversation. Naruto was doing so well, too.

And he blushed a little under that heated glare. �Oh, just
fuck off. You�re such a waste of time.�

Such denial was as good as confirmation and it made Sasuke
feel better than he was in long weeks

It was as good time as any to ask. �What did principal
said?�

�Nothing.� It was a lie, of course.
But if Naruto got in some serious trouble, Sasuke would�ve heard about it. �I
think Iruka has been fighting on my side again.�

�He seems very fond of you.� It was usually Sasuke teachers
loved. But Mr. Umino adored Naruto, it was very
obvious even when he was yelling at him.

Naruto smiled a little. �He grew up here,
I think that�s why he likes me.�

Sasuke turned back to the computer. It made sense, if Mr.
Umino was somehow seeing himself in Naruto, to be fond of him.

A little later, a small boy entered the office without
knocking. He was scowling deeply and Naruto smiled so brightly at the sight of
his messy dark head, it showed all his teeth.

�I want the chicken game.�

�Itachi told you that you can come here?� Naruto asked
sternly. Sasuke thought that he would have sounded exactly like Itachi
if he wasn�t still smiling.

�Until I feel like sleeping.� The
kid nodded, but he obviously waited Naruto�s approval as well. �The chicken one?�

Naruto got up.

�Yeah, I know, the chicken one.� He
pushed Sasuke�s chair away from the computer, without a warning and placed his
own chair for, what Sasuke was guessing was Inari, to sit. �Where�s Itachi?�

Inari snickered just as the big chicken appeared on the
screen in intro animation. �Karin snuck someone in. She�s in sooo much trouble.�

Naruto snickered as well. �For her credit, it was supposed
to be Kurenai�s night.�

They fell into game controls discussion, and Sasuke found
that he was enjoying himself a lot. And it was funny Kurenai was scolding
Itachi on how kids thought they could get away with murder when he�s there,
when they obviously considered her a weak link.

Naruto brought another chair from somewhere, and placed it
so he would be able to reach and help Inari, but there was not a lot of space.
He had to lean over Sasuke to do it. Sasuke could�ve moved, of course and
avoided it. He didn�t want to, and in Itachi�s office, with an eight-year old
kid close by, it wasn�t a big deal.

Some time later, when the kid was starting to rub his eyes
more often, they switched places. Sasuke refused to play the game, but Naruto
took the opportunity to do it. Inari leaned heavily on the back of Sasuke�s
chair, to see better and rest his head. It didn�t take long before he was sleeping
soundly, his hand under his ear and the face into Sasuke�s sleeve.

It was a little odd. He had his share of falling asleep on
someone � mostly Itachi � but it was the first time someone fell asleep on him.
But what was he supposed to do, shrug an eight-year old kid that just had a
tough night off when he felt the weight on his arm? At least there was no
drool. But the kid�s head was in an awkward angle, so something had to be done
about that.

�Naruto?� He called, trying not to
be too loud.

�Mhmm?�
Naruto mumbled in response, before glancing sideways. His face split in another
one of those amused, honest smiles when he caught the sight of the boy trying
to get more comfortable using Sasuke�s arm for a pillow.

�Shut up and take him off me.�

Naruto just smiled wider on the muttering, but he stood up
and picked up the tiny figure.

�I�ll take him up, can you get the doors?� He said, already
starting toward the door, looking odd and funny with a child in arms and
Itachi�s long coat over the green pajamas.

Sasuke let him out. He thought about saying no to going
upstairs and open what ever doors came in their way, but he wanted to see
Naruto�s room. And besides, it was somehow nice, watching Naruto take a kid up
in the bed. It was nice to know that even if you end up in a place like this,
you might end up with someone to look after you.

Two floors up, Naruto turned into the hallway on the left,
and gestured on the second to the last door. It was all painted the same way,
oily olive color the lower and plain white the upper side of the walls. Inside
of the room, even on just the light coming through the door, everything was
darker. It took a couple of seconds of getting used to it before Sasuke could
see it. The walls were full of drawings. Someone painted all the walls.

It took some inspection, but it soon turned out it was all
boys. Some like from an anime, some like a Marvel superheroes, some looking
realistic, but all boys. It was creepy.

Naruto was taking off Inari�s pajamas on the upper bed when
Sasuke asked: �Who did this?�

�The walls?� Naruto asked, after
glancing over his shoulder. �It was my previous roommate. He doesn�t live here
any longer.�

Was he kicked up for being a sick fuck? Sasuke didn�t ask,
but he was sure that must have been it. The drawings weren�t bad or sick, but
who�d draw just boys, and on the walls? It was obsessive. Regardless of the
nice, clear lines and all the artistic skills of the artist, looking at the
walls made Sasuke�s skin feel like things were crawling underneath it.

�All realistic ones are me.� Naruto spoke again, apparently
done with Inari. �I look younger on most of them, but it�s me.�

Sasuke opened wider the door to get more
light. It was easy to see it, once Naruto had pointed it out. It was all
him on the realistic pictures, Naruto sitting at the table, Naruto sleeping,
just Naruto�s face, nothing special about the expression, Naruto laughing,
Naruto frowning. There was a lot of them, always
different, but done with the same supplies, looking so alike as if they were
done in the same day.

�Fucking disturbing.� Sasuke
finally vocalized his opinion. �You should paint this over.�

Naruto, standing there in the middle of the dark room, just
shrugged. �I asked. There�s a painting schedule. And people usually go with
�cool� when they see it first.�

�It�s creepy. Couldn�t he throw in a tree or a windmill or
something?� Naruto just chuckled. �Who�d want you all over the walls, anyway?�

�Someone with a good eye obviously did want me all over his
walls.� Naruto answered, narrowing his eyes. He didn�t sound offended, though,
but he added in an even quieter whisper: �He thought I was hot, and if I agreed
to pose naked, he would�ve put that up there, too.�

Sasuke leaned on one of two small writing tables bungled up
together. �Why didn�t you?�

Better not make any comments on the �he thought I was hot�
part. Better not ask for the name and current address of the ex roommate,
because that might not end up completely� bloodless.

Naruto cocked an eyebrow. It looked really good on him. �You
don�t show your ass if you don�t want to get fucked around here. If we had an
unofficial rulebook, that one would be at the top of the list.�

�Charming place.�

�They call it Home, but it�s just a place to put all the
kids removed from problematic families. They come here messed up, and the fact
that people working here rarely care is not going to help them get better.�
Naruto said quietly. The words sounded far too mature for him, Sasuke couldn�t
even imagine him saying something like that in school. Or in
daylight. �Promiscuity is just the most obvious sign they are all fucked
up.�

They are all fucked up? And what
about you, Naruto? �And you?�

Naruto opened his mouth, but a door opened somewhere further
down the hall. They�ve listened steps approaching, loud clicking that must have
been from high heels, and a figure shaded the light, blocking he door.

�Ha! I thought I heard something! You�re having someone over
as well!� Sasuke had just enough time to wonder if the girl was completely
insane, yelling like that, before Naruto was pushing her back into the hall.

�Keep your fucking voice down!� He hissed when Sasuke closed
the door behind him. �Inari�s asleep!�

�And you have a kid in the room with you, too! How is that
fair, I have a room for myself and I just got a month of bathroom duty!�

What was it, what was the name Inari mentioned before, when he talked about the girl Itachi had to deal
with? Karen? Well, if the worst thing she got from a scolding from his brother
was month of detention, she was one lucky girl. Sometimes, just the look Itachi
would give you when he wasn�t approving of your actions was enough to make you
consider suicide.

�That�s Itachi�s brother, Karin. He was helping me get Inari
in his bed.�

At least she finally stopped using her overly loud voice,
but the narrow look she gave Sasuke felt like �Hair; checked! Eyes: checked!
Nose; checked � would you look it that, you actually do look alike�.

She sounded suspicious when she said: �Hmm. If you say so.�

It would be really, really bad if Naruto started with
elaborate denials now, which was something Sasuke wouldn�t put past him.

�Why are you all dressed up anyway?� Naruto asked warily
instead. �And what is that thing?�

That thing was something that looked like a bag made of an
old sheet. Just like in old cartoons with homeless people, only much bigger.
Karin threw it over her back, still holding two ears of it in one hand.

�I�m out of here. Right now.�

Sasuke was confused for a moment. Out, where? But Naruto
grabbed the �bag� from her with frightening speed. �The fuck you are!�

�I won�t scrub toilets for a month! Give me that back!�

�What are you going to do, work the road tavern until
you get kicked out of school and lose your place here? Don�t be stupid, go back to your room.�

�I have someone waiting for me, for your information. We�re
gonna live together.�

Naruto untied the sheet and started throwing the things out
of it around the hall. Not having the slightest idea why was he getting
involved; Sasuke put himself in the way of the raging girl and him, as a
physical obstacle.

�I know the story.� Naruto was growling, throwing a bra up
the hallway. �You�re not going to marry, but you are going to have five
children because the love of your life can�t feel anything through a condom and
at some point, while you two are busy beating the crap out of each other or
drinking yourselves into oblivion, they will also end up here.�

Karin was red in her face like a lobster by the time he was
finishing. Naruto was not a fortune teller, but he sure knew how to wind her
up. It sounded horrible, just thinking people could end up like that.

�Get off your high horse and stop acting like you�re
everyone�s daddy around here!� Karin yelled over Sasuke�s shoulder. They were
getting really loud. �It�s my life, I can do whatever
I want!�

�I don�t give a fuck about what you are going to do with
your pathetic life, I really don�t. But you�re not going to make any trouble
while Itachi is on duty, you ignorant bitch! We need him!�

The doors started opening, heads were peeking out. Not even
Naruto was holding his voice low any longer.

Karin shouted back: �Don�t be a moron, he won�t help you!
You�re just fooling yourself again.�

�Is there a problem here?�

Despite of knowing he hadn�t done anything, Sasuke
straightened a little of the absolute deadliness in his brother�s voice.
Several doors shut instantly. Karin stepped back and swirled around to start
picking up her clothes. But Naruto just kicked something that fell on his
slipper and dashed down the hall, past Itachi.

�Karin is on her way to live happily-ever-after with her
boyfriend.�

�Fucking snitch!� Karin yelled
after him, but she went red once again when she caught Itachi giving her a very
flat look. She was in so much trouble, she should as well be afraid. Sasuke had
more important things to do but listen to what Itachi will have to say, though.

He followed Naruto, who went down the stairs. He was really
quick, but since he went back to Itachi�s office, it wasn�t hard too find him.
He was putting Itachi�s coat back on the hook right behind the door, and he
didn�t turn to see who walked in.

�Is it always this exciting around here?� Sasuke asked. �Late night chicken massacres and runways?�

�No.� Naruto said, with his arms wrapped around him. He was
shaking a little, but that probably wasn�t from the cold. �You are just lucky.�

�Hn.� Sasuke said, leaning back on
the closed door and it wasn�t much, but Naruto at least knew he was heard.

�I overreacted.�

�She�s probably better off staying.�

�Yeah, but� Yelling won�t change her mind.�

This time, when Sasuke recognized the will to wrap his arms
around Naruto, it wasn�t sexual. It would probably freak him out the next
morning, but right then, it was just painful to watch Naruto shaking, clearly
upset.

�Maybe Itachi will help.�

�Maybe. He�ll get her to stay at
least.� Without much hope, Naruto shrugged. �She had it bad, you know. A
fuck-up father, he was raping her. She wasn�t even sure what the fuss was all
about when her teacher saw the bite marks all over her neck and called the
social service. She wasn�t even trying to hide it, it
was going on for so long.�

What to say on that? She had it bad. Probably everyone here
did, it was the place where the service put the children taken away from their
families, after all. Sasuke wondered what Naruto�s story was, but he didn�t
ask. Instead, he offered his hand.

�Come here.�

Naruto looked at the offered hand for a moment as if it was
a part of alien aircraft, before carefully putting his own into it and
squeezing hard. Sasuke yanked him closer. As ridiculous as it was, the familiar
closeness and wary look Naruto was giving him through his thick eyelashes made
him feel better. He wrapped the hand Naruto wasn�t gripping around him.

�What are you doing?� Naruto asked, but he was already
relaxing against Sasuke�s chest, not showing the tiniest sign he would try to
fight the gesture. His heart was violently banging in his chest, probably from
the excitement and his breath was not as sweet as Sasuke remembered.

�Apologizing.�

Kissing Naruto was every bit as good as it was before, and
then some. Sasuke relaxed against him in turn; it wasn�t a matter of choice. He
couldn�t control it. It was just� too warm. It untied that painful knot he was
wearing in his chest for the past month.

�That�s not good enough.� Naruto said some minutes later,
after leaving a small kiss on his neck.

�It�s all you get.�

Naruto smiled sadly and shook his head. �I better go back
up. You?�

Sasuke let his hand fall down, but Naruto was still
squeezing the fingers of the other one. �I�ll stay here.�

Not saying a word more, Naruto cupped Sasuke�s cheeks
shortly, which was painful on the side that was swollen, placed another fast
kiss on his mouth and squeezed out through the crack he managed to open in the
door quickly. It was for the best really. He was in pajamas. And Sasuke was
already regretting his stupid need to try and comfort him. A pat on the
shoulder would�ve sufficed. Or whatever, it was his brother�s job to do it anyway.

That it wasn�t anything sexual made it worse. It felt as if
the entire month of hard struggle was wasted, as if he undid everything he was
trying to do. But thinking back on the feeling of Naruto against him wasn�t
exactly leaving him immune; some very sexual thoughts were lurking around.
Maybe, if it wasn�t so late�

He was not about to let himself think about it. His dreams
were too much as it was.

Sasuke unglued himself from the door to sit back at the
desk. The computer was still running the game, and it seemed like fun earlier
when Inari and Naruto played it, so he continued where it was left off. A
distraction should help with fighting the urge to follow Naruto up.

Besides, it wasn�t such a bad day, all things considered. It
started okay, at least.

tbc
- 4
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- 6
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