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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
Part Six

Out of all four years, there were twelve of them on the
annual math competition from Sasuke�s school. They had a bus take them to the
town where it was organized early in the morning from the school�s gate and the
same bus brought them back. It wasn�t even noon, so there was more than two
periods left.

Sasuke wasn�t in a good mood. He didn�t take that
competition seriously, because he didn�t need it for the collage he chose, and
that was stupid. Now he had at least
two problems wrong. One he couldn�t even finish, and the second he had no time
to re-do, but he saw at the last minute that it was wrong. All that would not
be so important if there wasn�t this one guy who just gave them all a superior
and confident look on his way into the hall where the tables were already set. That
was irksome on its own, but it was worse that it obviously wasn�t without
leverage. After less than two hours � out of three � that guy had finished and
walked out.

The problems were not too hard. If Sasuke only took a little
bit more time to practice�

But he didn�t.

Technically, they were allowed to go straight home for the
day, but only two girls from the second year passed
the school gate and disappeared down the street quickly, in a hurry to avoid as
much rain as possible. Everyone else, including Sasuke, entered the school
grounds. He didn�t want to go home until he had to, and besides, he had his
breakfast still on him, untouched.� It
was already noon. He was hungry.

When the rushing group turned left to the main entrance,
Sasuke turned right, to the side building that had students� bathrooms in it.
Even though inconvenient, the bathroom separation was something school was
proudly pointing out. It was one of a few still functional reminders of how old
the school was, the first high school outside founded outside of the capital at
the beginning of the last century. In was renovated since, of course.

Sasuke walked inside quickly to get out of the rain. His
hair was a little damp regardless of the hurry, and the itching that would
follow probably wouldn�t help his mood. On the sink near the door, he left his
things to wash his hands, glancing sideways in the direction some voices were
coming to see who else was there.

And wished he went straight home. Naruto was there. He
wasn�t alone, there was someone with him.

Sasuke reinforced his grip on the faucet, but he couldn�t
look away for an entire second. They were standing too close. They weren�t
touching, but the other guy was saying something to Naruto in a way that had
Sasuke�s stomach tie up in a painful knot.

In fact, the sudden wave of annoyance and anger was so
strong, it took until Sasuke had washed his hands and drunk too much water he
didn�t feel like drinking at all before he realized that Naruto did not look
very happy about whatever was it that he was listening to. Sasuke straightened
up, this time looking purposely at the two of them. The closeness still
bothered him, but at least he was in time to see Naruto use the hand he had to
keep the other guy in safe distance to push him away.

�Hey,� Naruto said when he met Sasuke�s gaze across the
small hallway.

The other guy followed his example and took notice. He had
very dark, short hair and he was dressed all in black. There was something
about his eyes Sasuke didn�t like at all � and it was not for an esthetic flaw
of any sort. If anything, the guy was� good looking.

With the thought, Sasuke narrowed his eyes, �Aren�t you
supposed to be in class?�

�Aren�t you supposed to be � wherever?� Naruto shot back,
not very eloquently. He stepped further away from that guy, who didn�t seem to
notice. He was watching Sasuke with an odd expression that was like a careful
observation of someone who was not interested in the subject, but wanted to
know everything about it anyway. �

�Hello.� That guy said. �My name is Sai. Are you a friend of
Naruto�s?�

Sasuke cocked his head, trying to figure out what was wrong
with it. The tone was perfect, mildly curious. The choice of words was normal.
He � Sai � was politely waiting for Sasuke to answer. Everything was alright.
So why was he analyzing it so carefully? What was it that was giving out that
peculiar feeling of wrongness?

And why the fuck Naruto looked so anxious?

�No.� He answered picking up his things

At the door, he heard Naruto say: �I have to go back to
class now, Sai. I�m sorry I can�t help you.�

There was something off with that, too but this time, Sasuke
knew exactly what was it. Naruto was using polite words, but he was not very
happy about something. Sasuke left them there.

The rain had stopped almost completely in the meantime. �He rushed off across the wet school yard, but
somewhere in the middle, steps caught up with him. Naruto seemed to have
managed to get rid of his friend.

�Hey,� He said again, �Wait up a bit, will you?�

Sasuke stopped and turned to him, gritting his teeth. If
Naruto was under the impression that he was jealous and he needed reassurances
� in the middle of the school yard � he was insane.

�Look, Sai is�� Naruto started, but Sasuke cut him off.

�I don�t care.�

He was turning to leave, but Naruto grabbed his arm. The
grip was strong and painful. Sasuke slowly turned back to tell him to fuck off
and let up his arm.

Naruto was still anxious and angry when he said. �Sasuke, just listen. Sai is� Well you saw the walls of my
room in the Home. He�s not� uh. Normal.�

So Sai was Naruto�s ex-roommate. He was living with Naruto,
drawing him obsessively� in that place, where promiscuity was a like a
requirement. And now he was seeking Naruto up in the school.

Still. Naruto should let go. Sasuke had every intention of
telling him that, but what came out was, �What did he want?�

�Money � it�s what he always wants.� At the last part,
Naruto stopped and then gave it a quick grin. �Well, not really. But that�s why
he�d come to look for me at school.�

Sasuke forced his arm out. Naruto kept talking, following
him to the entrance door. �Look. If you � see him somewhere
on your own, in town or whatever� Try not to piss him off too much.�

�I�ve no intention of talking to him at all.�

Naruto groaned. �Yeah, I meant, by doing a thing like that.
Can�t you - not be so rude?�

�No.�

�Now that�s a lie.� Naruto said. �Just��

Whatever he wasn�t to repeat, Sasuke really wasn�t in a mood
to listen. �Naruto. I can decide on my own if and how
I will talk to other people. And I don�t think I will ever be in a mood to talk
to your boyfriend there. I don�t like him.�

When the words came out, Sasuke winced inwardly. That was
not the best way to say it. He disliked that guy because he was strange and
because those drawings in Naruto�s room were almost sick in its obsessiveness. But
Naruto might think it�s something else � and call him on it.�

There was a glint in Naruto�s eyes that he was thinking
something like that, so Sasuke turned away from him before he managed to speak.

But all that Naruto said behind him was, �Boyfriend�s not
the right term.�

The big clock in the hallways showed that there was ten more
minutes left of that period. Their class had biology � no wonder Naruto was
wondering about the school. Iruka Umino was far too considerate to him, even
with the similar background that was triggering the teacher to bond.

Sasuke walked inside first, and he was in his place just in
time to see the goofy, apologetic smile Naruto gave Mr. Umino, as he passed by.

When the class ended, someone set on the empty chair next to
Sasuke�s. Sheet of paper slid on the table in front of him. It was his
chemistry written test, with a big fat A on the top of it.

�I wasn�t sure if you�d come to school.� Hinata said. �I was
planning on stopping by on my way home to give it to you.�

That wouldn�t be too much of a trouble. She was living in
the same street, at the other end of it. Sasuke�s mother would certainly be
happy to see her.

�Thanks.�

She was a very private person, so once she delivered what
she promised she would to the chemistry teacher, Sasuke expected her to leave. She
was still in the seat, so he looked up to see her biting her lip. �I got a B.�

Sasuke glanced back at the paper she was holding. There was
really a B mark on it. He just couldn�t understand what it had to do with him
for a long moment. �You have problems with some part?�

Having B�s in Hyuuga household wasn�t a pleasant experience.
Hinata�s father wasn�t the type to yell and punish, but after Neji, who was
once in a lifetime student � according to every single teacher in the school,
Hinata�s occasional B�s were frowned at. She could probably get in any collage
she wanted to, between her grades and the family�s stable financial status, but
that wasn�t enough.

�I�� Hinata said, clearly uncomfortable but also with some
annoyance. �My father said if I can�t handle chemistry, he would hire me a
tutor. It�s just one area��

�We don�t have chemistry again until Monday.� Sasuke
interrupted. Hinata�s presence would brighten his mother up a little, and it
wasn�t as if she was one of those annoying, clingy types. �Come by over the
weekend.�

Hinata nodded quickly and stood up. Tutor for a couple of
little lower marks? Sasuke, alongside with everyone else who knew their
situation, couldn�t make up his mind if Hiashi was trying to humiliate her
completely or forcing her against her nature and talent to be better than Neji.

He took in his nephew after the car crash in which his
brother and his wife died together. People had questions about what exactly the
two of them were doing alone in the car in the middle of the night, but if
Hiashi was curious about it, no one ever knew about it. He certainly wasn�t
letting the rumors and suspicious circumstances get in his way while raising
his brother�s son like one of his own children after his mother took off.�

Sasuke watched as Hinata moved to a side to wait for Lee to
demonstrate the newest karate move he learned. It would take not a second to
push next to him so she could return to her place, he probably wouldn�t even
notice. But she was just smiling lightly and waiting for him to finish.

It took about thirty seconds before Kiba noticed and pushed
Lee further up the aisle toward the front of the classroom. Hinata peered worriedly
to make sure everyone were alright before letting Kiba walk behind her to her
sit.

Lee stumbled a little, then straightened up and noticed
Sasuke looking. He grinned. �Sasuke! What are you
doing this weekend?�

***

A light knock announced when Hinata arrived. It was almost
four in the afternoon. Sasuke was going over the latest history lesson for
Monday morning when she came inside, several books in her hands. His parents
haven�t walked her up; they just let her climb the stairs on her own.

�Hi.� Hinata greeted, peering carefully around the room with
a light frown. �As Spartan as ever in here.�

�I like it Spartan.� Things had places to be on. He didn�t
have to trip over them all the time.

Hinata cocked her head. �And you have a nasty, fading bruise
to prove it.�

Sasuke brought his hand up to touch his cheek, where he knew
that the bruise Naruto gave him was yellow around the edges. It wasn�t a particularly
good choice of the subject, not when it was more than likely that Hinata was
firmly on Naruto�s side on the matter. But she wasn�t saying anything else, and
it was nice to have her talk like a normal person.

�You are very annoying when you don�t stutter.� He told her.

It wasn�t that often any longer. But even nowadays she would
stumble on a word or two when she was nervous, usually while answering to
someone with authority. And around Naruto � something Sasuke would absolutely
not think about.

�I remember you telling me I�m very annoying because I stutter.� Hinata smiled. �Make
up your mind already.�

It�s hard to set proper boundaries with people you know your
entire life. If he snapped at her, she would be angry and hurt� and then she
would start stuttering in his presence again, and that really was annoying.�

�What if I just decide you�re too annoying anyway and refuse
to teach you chemistry?�

Hinata actually grinned. �Bah, that�s easy. I�ll tear up and
tell on you. Your parents rather like me, you know.�

Like she summoned it, those words were followed with a knock
on the door and Sasuke�s mother came inside with a tray in her hands. She gave
him a disapproving look for making Hinata join him on the floor, but didn�t say
anything about it. She gave up trying to break him out of the habit to study on
the floor a long time ago. He was only doing it at home anyway.

Hinata promised they would, when she was commanded to freely
say if they needed anything so Sasuke�s mother walked out with a sincere smile
on her face. It was a good thing he called Hinata over.

As the steps echoed though he hall down the stairs, on the
floor in front of him, Hinata turned the books to face up. They were math
books, not chemistry.

�Aren�t we supposed to be doing chemistry?� Sasuke asked.

�Er.� Hinata said, putting a long strand of her hair behind
her ear. �I figured that out last night, actually. Besides, I�d be crazy not to
use that apparently brilliant math head of yours.�

Like Sasuke�s going to let himself be sidetracked by that.
�So what are you doing here?�

Hinata lowered her head to hide the blush, and said. �Neji�s home for the weekend.�

Neji was living in the city, doing his first year of
college. Knowing him, he will probably spend the entire weekend at home to talk
about how unbelievably well he was doing. It�s no wonder Hinata wanted out of
the house.�

Deciding that was not something he wanted to talk about �
just like Hinata didn�t, Sasuke changed the subject. �It was only the second
place.�

�Of hundreds of the smartest
people from the entire region, who are actually interested in math? What was I thinking;
you must be the dumbest person alive.�

The guy who ranked first in the competition was very lucky
competitors hadn�t met before the test. If he delivered that smug story about
his plans for future and gave Sasuke that ugly smug smirk just several days
before, he would have been crushed.

�I should have done better.�

�Hmmm.� Hinata answered and pointed
out a list of problems. �I�ll do this page for exercise and you look over it
later. Is that okay?�

She did well. There were only several mistakes, all of a
benign kind. There was nothing that suggested she didn�t understand the
material. So this entire session really was nothing more than her escaping the
house for several hours.

It was already very dark outside when there was another
knock on the door. They didn�t open until Sasuke called that it was free, first
sign it wasn�t his parents.

It was Neji. He walked in, still in his long posh coat with snowflakes
already melting, immediately giving a scrutinizing look to his surroundings.

�Your mother said I can come right up.� He said instead of a
proper greeting. �Don�t you have a desk to study on?�

Sasuke gestured toward the large oak desk in the corner,
identical to the one in Itachi�s room. They were bought for the two of them
long before Sasuke had a need for it, but he couldn�t use it well for the first
several years of school. It was adult-size. Floor seemed easier than sitting on
three pillows � it�s how the studying on the floor habit came about.

�Ah.� Neji acknowledged, sitting on the edge of Sasuke�s
bed, the closest available thing to sit on to where Hinata and Sasuke were on
the floor. �Aren�t you supposed to be doing chemistry?�

Hinata�s already red face flushed violently. Why the fuck
was he doing looking at their books, what does it matter what were they
studying? He will just make Hinata nervous.�

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, but Hinata spoke first, �I � I
just thought, as long as I�m c-coming over��

Neji actually ignored her and asked Sasuke. �So, you�re
doing well in school?�

�Very well.� Sasuke told him.

�Have you decided what are you going to do after high
school?�

Coming from anyone else, that would be a perfectly innocent
question; everyone was asking it those days. Coming from Neji, it was a
provocation, just like the previous question wasn�t polite inquiring but a
taunting of the �you don�t actually think you can beat my records� kind.

Which meant that Neji wasn�t going to get
a real answer. �I have.�

�Hinata needs more time.�

Sasuke wished she wouldn�t bend her head like that. Neji was
just barking; she would have been better off if she wouldn�t show him how much
it affected her. He shrugged. �She has
more time. We don�t have to apply until late spring and entry exams are in the
summer.�

�Have you come to pick me up?� Hinata asked her cousin, a
bit bolder.

�I was on my way to town. Uncle thought you should come with
me. �

Hinata opened her mouth, probably trying to think up an
excuse and closed them without saying anything. Instead, she lifted her head
just enough to give Sasuke a pleading look. He wasn�t going to fall for it, of
course. He had no reason to keep Neji busy the entire evening so he wouldn�t
focus on Hinata.

�Any particular destination you have in mind?�

Neji smiled a little. �I believe I was missing our local
Italian food a little bit too much to miss an opportunity to have some. Are you
coming with us?�

He wasn�t even considering that Hinata might not want to go,
and she clearly didn�t. Just a glance on her face was more than enough to
confirm it, even if Sasuke didn�t know she didn�t like her cousin too much. Sasuke
didn�t really want to listen Neji�s haughty voice the
entire night, and he definitely didn�t want to hear Hinata stutter again when
Neji decides to poke around another sensitive subject.

But he, like everyone else in town, loved the food from that
restaurant. And the chances were, Neji would act much
better in public.

Besides, Hinata was still giving him that fucking pleading
look.

�Yeah.� Sasuke said, closing the
book in front of him.

***

The snow wasn�t deep yet, just a few inches. The streets
were cleared by the slow traffic, but everything else was white, looking clean
and pretty.

They were going on foot. Sasuke�s house was too near the square
in the center of the town to bother with it, but Hinata left her books in
Neji�s car before they walked up the street into familiar and pleasant lights
of the main street. The restaurant was just across the street, a little
establishment that wasn�t anything special from the outside.

Well, it wasn�t anything special on the inside either. All
that came out from the overenthusiastic owner�s attempt to decorate his
restaurant so it would look like it was somewhere in Italy was an odd and not
overly pleasant mixture of too much color and walls covered in pictures of
dishes. The food was brilliant, though.

The three of them took one of two available tables, the one
that wasn�t in the middle of the room. It was too close to the door for
Sasuke�s taste, not that his opinion would change the fact all the better
tables were taken.

At least Neji really acted a little better in public. He was
talking about his first year in collage, the apartment Hiashi bought for his
children so they can finish school in the city and life he was having there in
general. It wasn�t too boring, but mostly because Sasuke was about to do go up there
in the fall as well. He was curious, though some of Neji�s stories were surely
exaggerated.�

Some time later, when only Hinata had something left on her
plate, a group of people coming into the restaurant caught everyone�s
attention. It wasn�t a wonder, really. When a guy is trying to make a huge white
dog stay outside by yelling loudly, it was sure to make people pay attention.
Kiba was holding the dog off and opening the door for a tall, vaguely familiar,
dark-haired girl. She was telling him he won�t be touching the food after handling
the dog. Behind her, Naruto came inside, his usual huge grin all over his face.

Sasuke felt his stomach drop suddenly and heart beat painfully
several times. He should have considered it better before leaving the house
with Neji. Bastard or not, Neji was quick and observant, and once Kiba saw
Hinata, nothing in the world would stop him from coming to their table. Hopefully,
Naruto would behave. Sasuke couldn�t afford him not to.

The group didn�t see them while going to the counter. The
girl talked about something to one of the workers, but they weren�t sitting
down. They were picking up an order, then.

Kiba and Naruto blissfully ignorant still, talked to each
other. There was no way to tell for sure, but they seemed a bit too� bright. Like they were drinking. It was the girl how looked around,
saw their table and walked quickly to them with wide smile on her face.

�Neji?�

Neji had his back to her, so he had to turn to see her.
�Hello, Tenten.�

On the closer look, Sasuke recognized her. She was Lee�s
friend � which explained how she knew Neji. Lee had failed the final year of
school and he was repeating it with Sasuke�s class. First time he was going to
the forth year, along with the first three, he was going to the same class as
Neji. And Tenten must have been in it with them. She was coming around the
school to visit Lee sometimes.

�I didn�t know you were in town.� Tenten said as Kiba and a
little behind him, Naruto followed her to the table.

�It was a sudden decision.� Neji answered, cool smile in
place. He was probably lying.

�Ah. Well, if I knew, I would have invited you to come.�
Tenten said.

�Some celebration?� Neji asked.

�It�s Lee�s birthday, of course.� Kiba said over her
shoulder. �We�re picking up the food now. Hi, Hinata.�

Neji sharply glanced at her. Hinata blushed so violently, it
was almost funny. �Hi.�

Tenten rolled her eyes a little at Kiba � and Sasuke felt
with her, before continuing to talk to Neji. �Maybe you could stop by now? He
would be happy to see you.�

Across Neji�s perfectly calm face a flicker of annoyance passed.
Lee definitely didn�t seem like someone Neji would spend time with. Low socials
status, bad student � and way too enthusiastic about birds, sports and life in
general.

�I am not sure if we have time.� Neji said, automatically
including not only Hinata, but also Sasuke with it.

�Oh, come on � you should have been there in the first
place, why aren�t you?� Kiba asked, still talking to Hinata exclusively.

Hinata was uncomfortable. She probably wasn�t at that party
because Neji was in town anyway. Hiashi wouldn�t be too pleased if she left for
a party when Neji was back home for the first time since he left, that was why
Hinata had to came over for a study session to get some time away, even after
she didn�t need it. Lee had invited the entire class, each person separately;
she wouldn�t want to insult him. And Neji was already glaring at Kiba, not even
trying to hide his protective � or controlling - side.

Sasuke was stuck between risking Naruto�s good sense to stay
away and using this obviously perfect opportunity to irritate Neji. But Naruto
was behind Kiba, blissfully silent and not showing any signs he was planning to
change that soon, so the other option it was.

�We weren�t doing anything that�s more important then
wishing Lee a happy birthday.� He said, earning puzzled frowns from everyone
present. �What do you think?�

Hinata, because the question was for her, smiled and nodded.
��Yes, I was so sorry when I thought I
wouldn�t be able to make it.�

The waiter Tenten talked to earlier called. A wall of pizza
cartons was waiting for her on the counter; it was no wonder she took Kiba and
Naruto with her.� Neji paid for the meal
the three of them had, Sasuke paid for half of the Tenten�s order. He wasn�t
planning on going to Lee�s party, so like this he at least didn�t have to go
empty handed.

Of all weird and unusual things, once they were all outside,
following Naruto who hadn�t said a word and was carrying the biggest part of
that pizza wall, Hinata attached herself to Sasuke�s arm. She never before did anything
like that, not in private and not in public. He let her, but it took several
moments to understand.

Kiba was walking on her other side, his dog in toe. Hinata
didn�t need protection from him, he was always all over her and she was
handling him fine, but Neji was walking a few short steps behind, watching them
like a hawk. Sasuke was safe enough, as someone who was yet to take advantage
of her after so many years, and it was affectively keeping Kiba on the distance
� although annoyed - which was probably good for his health.��

Ten minutes of walking later, they were in front of a small
white house with a hand made obstacle course that was going from the front of
the house, to all he way around it. All lights were on and the house was full
of mostly familiar people. Lee was happy to see them, and watching Neji�s face
when he challenged him to a �friendly measuring of muscle strength� was amusing
enough to make up for dealing with all those people and noise.

Sasuke had spent the entire evening in trying to shake Neji
off. It was as if he was convinced Sasuke and Hinata were the only people safe
to talk to, and some other girls from their class dragged Hinata away in the
first five minutes. It wasn�t that Sasuke couldn�t sympathize; most of the
people present were drunk, or half drunk. He was just afraid that sooner or
later, Neji would notice that he couldn�t get through more than five minutes
without looking around to check on what Naruto was doing.

There was only that little alcohol he drank to blame for the
scary lack of control despite of Neji�s dangerous watchfulness. But between
placing the blame and stop staring at Naruto dancing and laughing on the other
side of the room there was a world of difference; the first one was easy to do,
the second one impossible. Neji maybe had no idea what to look for, so he was
drinking and talking about things blissfully random, but Naruto noticed. Just
like whenever Sasuke failed not to let his gaze linger he could feel it, Naruto
turned every single time. Even in the middle of slow dancing with some
unfamiliar girl, he looked back.

For the first time, Sasuke noticed just how much attention
girls were paying to Naruto, especially the girls that weren�t in the class
with them. In his mind, Naruto was for everyone but him the same awkward boy
who was always too loud and attention starved, like he was in the first year
when they started high school. It made no sense, Sasuke thought while Neji was
trying to express in the background just how beautiful the view from his
terrace in the city was. Why was he so sure he was the only one with functional
eyes? Because he wanted to be?

He was certainly using his eyes more than he should have
right then, because Sasuke was perfectly aware that Naruto was on his way to
replace dancing with drowning in the mountain of jackets in the side room if he
kept drinking like that. Like the clear liquid Kiba was pushing into his hands
every so often was water, Naruto was downing it without changing his expression.

When someone tripped over cables, the music died away for a
confused moment and everyone looked that way. Even then, Sasuke couldn�t look
anywhere but at Naruto, so he saw it when Naruto used the moment to grab his
jacket and head out, not saying anything to anyone. He was probably just
catching some air. Maybe he was sick from the alcohol. �He�d surely said something to Lee or Kiba if
he was planning to leave. So he would be back.

It was very selfish, yes, but after five minutes of staring
at the door, Sasuke hinted that neither Hinata nor Kiba were anywhere in sight.
Neji finished his forth drink and went to find his cousin before she did
something unimaginable and talked to a boy who liked her while he was around
and responsible. Because Kiba most likely was on the same place as Hinata, he
was probably in for discussing his family and plans for future with Neji
Hyuuga, which meant that he would remember that party for the depression that
will follow that conversation and for feeling utterly useless for many days
after.

No, he wasn�t feeling any guilt, but when Sakura appeared in
his way, eyes bright and satisfied smile on her face, Sasuke wished he had
found a path to the door that was less direct.

�I wouldn�t expect you to show up here.�

It was the first time she said anything directly to him
since the kissing incident. He hoped she wasn�t too drunk. �So?�

�So I spent my night watching you.� She waited for him to
react. Sasuke had no idea what to say. If she was watching�
�God, I was so stupid. I was watching you stare at him and all I could do is to
think how incredibly stupid I was.�

The short hallway was mostly empty, and Sakura�s voice was
low under the music, but the very idea someone overheard that made Sasuke
glance around. He didn�t care, exactly, about what people thought about him.
But Neji was there. The word would reach his father even more quickly than
otherwise.

Sakura seemed oblivious of his nervousness, but she
thankfully kept her voice low. �But you know what�s really stupid? I gave up
long before tonight, I only feel relief now, but I still had you tell you that.
I couldn�t just keep it for myself. I had to let you know.�

So what, it was an �I�m over you� speech? �The thought made Sasuke a little nostalgic.
Sure, Sakura was annoying most of the time. But somehow, she was always there.
It was unbelievable, but was going to miss her.

�Is there something else you just have to let me know or can
I go now?�

Sakura flattened that unreasonably bright smile of hers a
little. �No. But I do hope you�ll do better than me. With Naruto, I mean.�

She maybe was done, but she wasn�t moving - too busy waiting
for an answer, perhaps - so Sasuke walked around her and out.

Even with the snow still falling, it was too cold outside
for most of the people. The yard seemed dark despite of the snow and empty. It
took him several minutes to locate Naruto, because someone turned the outside
light off. Naruto was sitting on the concrete cube that was a part of an
obstacle structure on the side of the house, his head low, prompted on his
hands. �

�Are you sick?� Sasuke asked when he was close, because
Naruto was showing no signs of hearing him.

�You.� Naruto answered. Then he
added, peering up. �I�m not drunk.�

�Of course not.� Sasuke answered.
�You just can�t keep your head up because you ate too much cake.�

�No, I�m sick because of the cake.� Naruto made a face. Lee
had a carrot cake, and it seemed as if Naruto didn�t know how to appreciate
it.� �I can keep my head up just fine.
It�s just a little � heavy.�

Well, he didn�t sound too drunk. And he was doing a good job
of keeping his head high enough to meet Sasuke�s gaze. �Maybe you should take
that thing off of it, then.�

�What thing?� Naruto muttered, going over the top of his
hear with his hand. He couldn�t find anything, but it was amusing to watch him
do it. He saw Sasuke�s suppressing a smirk and rolled his eyes, �Oh, funny.�

Sasuke stepped into the untouched snow in front of Naruto
and took off a long glittery cord, probably from a balloon. Naruto blinked at
it several times, trying to make out what it was in the dark. Then he widened
his eyes up at Sasuke. �Shit. You�re drunk, too.�

Whatever could have triggered that? �I�m not drunk. I�m not even tipsy.�

�Bullshit.� Naruto said. He suddenly seemed angry about
something. �And talking about bullshit, since when you�re so close with
Hinata?�

Sasuke thought about it. �Probably since when we were seven
and I helped her plan how to leave her baby sister with the gypsies.�

Alright, so he probably was a little bit drunk, after all.
There was no way he�d just walk out so calmly and talk to Naruto in public
after what Sakura just told him and share that story otherwise. Or that he
would feel so light about it.

It was just a stupid childhood thing; he was barely even
talking to Hinata for many years now, but Naruto didn�t seem to find the answer
amusing, he was practically glaring. �I never saw you together before.�

It was a very interesting reaction. It made Naruto�s eyes
bright even in the dim light. �Were you looking carefully?�

�Yeah,� Naruto snapped. �I fucking well was. Do you know��

Sasuke was really curious about what was it that he was
supposed to know according to him, but Naruto cut his sentence off, and took a
breath. Too bad it was working and he was calming down, the anger looked very good on him.

�What?� �

�Forget it.� Naruto grumbled. He didn�t quite sound as if he
wanted Sasuke to forget it, or at least he just couldn�t keep the annoyance out
of his voice. �It doesn�t matter now. And you should go back inside; you�re
going to get sick.�

It probably was too cold to stand outside just in a shirt
that was already getting dump from the melting snow. But there was smoke
inside. Horrible music. Neji. And on the other side, there
was Naruto outside, just a step away, wrapped in his bright jacket, blinking up
on the sky and letting snowflakes get caught up in his eyelashes.

Not much of a choice.

�No.� He answered. Naruto opened his mouth, but not to
respond. He was letting the snow fall into his mouth and melt on his tongue.
�That�s not very clean.�

�I had worse things in my mouth.�

�You also had better.� Definitely drunk.

Naruto lowered his eyes to him, smirking at the blatant
innuendo. �Yeah, and it definitely wasn�t Lee�s birthday cake.�

�Oooh, now I�m curious.� A voice from behind said. Sasuke
had just about time to see Naruto was also startled before he turned, not
nearly upset that conversation was overheard as he should have been. �Was it
something salty? A sausage, maybe?�

The light was still off in front of the house, but the
street one from lower down the street was more than enough to see clearly three
people standing not far away, on the undisturbed snow closer to the gate.
Sasuke didn�t hear anything, not steps, not the gate opening before they
approached. He recognized two of the three when they came closer � it was Naruto�s
ex roommate, Sai and Karin from Home. It was the third person, a guy whose hair
looked almost blue in the awkward winter light, who spoke.

Naruto stood up.

�Of course.� He said, with not a
little sarcasm in his voice. �You know me.�

The guy grinned back, wicked and ugly. �We all do. You gonna
introduce us or what?�

We all do. Sasuke
thought back to his first time with Naruto, how he fought and how insecure
about his reaction Sasuke was. The more he was finding out about him, the more
it was turning around that Naruto was just a typical resident of Home, a little
fuckup who apparently fucked around a lot, with whomever he pleased. Sasuke
couldn�t decide if he was feeling more jealous of or over him.

Naruto stepped closer, almost leaning on his shoulder. There
was nothing sexual in the gesture, but from the way the guy asking for
introduction widened his smirk, it felt like claiming of sorts. Cold and with
his four glasses of gin messing up with the clearness of his thoughts, Sasuke
leaned back into him.�

�Sure.� Naruto answered. �Sasuke, you remember Karin? And Sai?� He wasn�t waiting for an answer. �Suigetsu also
lived with us until recently.�

Getting her red hair out of her face, Karin said with her
eyes narrowed, looking right at Sasuke, �And it�s your brother�s fault he�s not
living with us any longer.��

Despite of Naruto�s comfortable warmth and the lull his
voice had triggered seconds before, Sasuke froze. Naruto snickered next to his
ear and aid quietly enough to make sure Sasuke understood it was meant for him.
�That day was one of the funniest in my life.�

Suigetsu was giving Karin a dark look. He wasn�t very happy
she brought that up. Sasuke relaxed again into Naruto, now curious.

�I am enjoying the show.� Sai said. He was holding his head
slightly cocked and was watching evenly where Sasuke wasn�t even aware until
that moment Naruto�s hand was holding his elbow. �But we are going to be late.�

Naruto squeezed shortly, before he stepped away. He still
couldn�t shake off the low and amused laughter. �Yeah, let�s go.�

But when he turned to give a little wave to Sasuke, the
worry was evident even through the smile he was wearing. Suigetsu hissed
something to Karin, and they both looked back at Sasuke before turning toward
the gate. It was Sai, however, with his blank eyes, who gave Sasuke the
uncomfortable feeling. He was still staring, despite of warning the others they
had to go seconds ago.

�What?� Sasuke snapped, even though Naruto was already
returning to catch Sai�s sleeve and drag him along.

He didn�t get an answer. They left. Sasuke was alone in the
yard, colder than ever. The snow had stopped sometime through the conversation.
He needed to find his jacket and possibly Hinata and Neji and go back home.

And maybe grab another drink before that.
- 5
- 6
- 7
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