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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Homeward
(Naruto�s pov on events in Alternative Education)

Interlude I, part two

Naruto had kept
quiet about her getting married, but there was just no way that had Karin kept
her mouth shut in turn, because the next morning, Sai turned up in Naruto�s
school. It would be too much of a coincidence if he came by for maybe the
second time in years just after Karin figured the thing with Sasuke out. He
found the window of Naruto�s classroom, and stared evenly inside until Naruto
had to ask Iruka to let him use the bathroom.

Thanking God that Sasuke wasn�t around that day, because
Karin was right and there was no way to predict how Sai would react, Naruto ran
to the bathroom, trying not to get wet in the rain. There was also no doubt Sai
would miss it. He wasn�t vocal � or empathetic in the classical sense - very
often, but he could read Naruto like no one else.

The bathroom was empty and all the stalls were open wide.
Naruto doubted that Sai had checked on that before he approached him from
behind and wrapped his arms around Naruto�s waist.

�Karin�s getting married.�

�I know.� Naruto answered. He relaxed into the hug
instantly, on autopilot that was still functioning after many months.

�I have to make her a gift. But I can�t afford a frame right
now.�

Naruto sighed as he felt first the hot breath, and then lips
tracing his neck. God, but it felt good. �I don�t have any money; I used all my
credits to go on that field trip.�

�Nothing left?� Sai asked as he slipped his thumb into the
edge of Naruto�s waist belt. �Did you have fun at least?�

That sobered Naruto a little. It has been a while, but shit.
He couldn�t do that in school bathroom, especially not when Iruka just let him out
for a couple of minutes. And he definitely couldn�t do that with Sai; he needed
his record clean, and Sai was letting Suigetsu pull him into all kinds of crap.
Not to mention, he didn�t really want to, regardless of his hormones jumping up
on the chance.

Naruto pulled away, but couldn�t help but grin at the
memories of the field trip. �Like you wouldn�t believe.�

Sai let his hand fall down, narrowing his eyes a fraction.
Naruto was about to thank God Sasuke wasn�t in school once again, when the
quick steps approached. They both glanced sideways to see when just as Sasuke �
out of about four hundred people, call it Naruto�s fucking luck - walked inside.

Naruto flinched away from Sai, like staying so near would
burn him. But Sai shot up an arm and grabbed him to keep him close, and they
both stared as Sasuke, who was wet from the rain and flushed from the hurry as
he took his backpack off in one smooth motion. Naruto forced his arm out of
Sai�s grip.

�That�s him?� Sai whispered right next to Naruto�s ear. He
didn�t sound upset, but that didn�t mean much. Naruto just frowned. He wouldn�t
lie, not to Sai. But he didn�t want to confirm it, either. He had promised,
after all, that he wouldn�t tell anyone.

Sasuke washed his hands and drank some water out of his hand
before straightening up and taking notice. His face was very flat, which
usually meant there would be a show.

�Hey.� Naruto said.

�Aren�t you supposed to be in class?� Sasuke said instead of
greetings. His face was still expressionless, but he couldn�t keep the emotion
out of his voice. He rarely managed that.

Even as Naruto answered, �Aren�t you supposed to be �
wherever?� he pushed away from Sai again. If he had to choose only one of them
not to be upset with him, he�d take Sasuke. School could turn to hell
otherwise.

�Hello.� Sai said. Naruto wanted to groan at his fake mild
tone. �My name is Sai. Are you a friend of Naruto�s?�

Sasuke picked up his things, snapped �No.� over his shoulder
and walked out. Sai snickered as he leaned to leave a small kiss on the tip of
Naruto�s ear. Peeking at the same time to make sure Sasuke didn�t see that,
Naruto pushed Sai once again and gritted out, �I have to go back to class now,
Sai. I�m sorry I can�t help you.�

He ran after Sasuke. There was not much hope that Sasuke
would listen, but he had to at least try to warn him. Sai had an amazing nose
for closet cases, and he liked to play. The more Sasuke would try to be
unpleasant and drive him away, like he was doing with everyone else, the more
Sai would want to mess with him.

It wasn�t working, because, of course, Sasuke wouldn�t listen. He was far too busy trying to
convince himself that he wasn�t jealous. If Naruto just said to him to be
careful if he met Sai someplace because he would try his very best to fuck him,
right there, in the middle of the yard, that wouldn�t go over very well. Besides,
if he, who knew him so much better, was findings Sasuke so interesting, what
actual hope Naruto had to make him less interesting for Sai?

But even while trying, he just couldn�t help but tease a
little. Maybe it was mean of him, but seeing Sasuke go livid when he insinuated
sexual relationship with Sai was the highlight of Naruto�s week.�

***

Sai was waiting for him after school. He had an actual
reason for visiting Naruto in school, and it wasn�t just his present for Karin.
She had no one, and if she was getting married, the four of them needed to see
her off. No one else was there.

Before Sai and Suigetsu had to leave, there was only the
four of them older than fourteen living in Home. Now that Naruto was eighteen,
they were all of age. He cared a lot about Inari and the rest of the kids, but
he actually had things in common with these guys. They were always there to
smack him back to normal when he would fail to fit in with the people from his school.
They were there to pet his back when he freaked out about Kabuto and also way
back, when he was young and stupid and missed his parents and Jiraiya so much
that he would cry himself to sleep every night. It was as if they were - not
exactly friends, more like� unwanted
and really annoying family; they somewhat bonded by the circumstances they were
sharing. None of �that
helped Naruto like any of them very much.

Karin was planning to get out on Saturday, just after
midnight. She needed to be there for the curfew, so they would not call the
police before her appointment in the court, just in case. Sai and Suigetsu
would come, and Naruto would have to go back early from Lee�s birthday. He
would check in on curfew as well, and help Karin get her things out of the
window of the storage room, which they were using whenever there were sneaking
out.

She was very lucky that Saturday wasn�t Itachi�s night. It
was scary and creepy, the nose that guy had for when the kids were making
trouble in Home.

***

Naruto had a good time on Lee�s party. He talked to Sakura a
lot, like they were really good friends. Maybe they were really good friends. When Tenten asked him to help her, he
didn�t want to go. Kiba did, though, because he had Akamaru with him, so Naruto
went. He had to hear the obligatory �why Hinata is not here?� whiny speech,
before Kiba withered and died from trying to keep it inside. �

Even though Naruto was barely listening, he was still glad
when they saw Hinata in the restaurant Tenten had ordered food for Lee�s party.
They entered laughing about Akamaru trying to get into the restaurant with
them. The dog whined when it realized Kiba won�t let him, his eyes were huge
and pleading. If it was Naruto�s responsibility, he�d probably soften up and
let him in, even if that would cause him to get booted out.

�Ooh, man, I love how this place smells!� Kiba said when
Tenten approached the counter.

Naruto grinned and confirmed, casting a short glance at a
table near the back of the room. His parents loved that restaurant. When they
discovered it first, they brought Naruto every day for a week, until they all tried
all the meals on the menu. It was new and exciting and Naruto loved it; they
would always sit at the same table, that table in the back of the room.
Whenever he came to that place, it reminded him forcefully of his parents, in a
different and a more uncomfortable way than their house. He was always ready
for it when he went home. But here� somehow, it was one of those things you
forget, and then they hit you with the force of a sledgehammer.

He missed completely when Tenten left his side. He almost
missed when Kiba did the same, too.

�Hey, look.� Kiba told him before walking away. Naruto
couldn�t see anything in that direction from a waiter who was serving a table nearby,
so he simply followed.

Hinata was there, sitting at the table. No wonder Kiba was
drawn to that direction like the table had a gravitation field of its own.
Naruto prepared to grin and ask why she wasn�t at Lee�s, ignoring some
conversation that was going on between Tenten and a guy with long hair who was
sitting at the table, when he saw Sasuke was there as well.

Sasuke was as good as glaring at the guy at the table with
him � Naruto recognized him from close up, it was Hinata�s cousin. They met
once, when he came to their classroom for some reason in the year before. Naruto
had no idea Sasuke knew him, or was friendly enough with Hinata to share a
table at a restaurant. Well, to be honest, he wasn�t sure Sasuke knew it was
possible to get out of the house for non-school related things. Seeing him like
that, leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed at Neji, in a worn out gray
shirt, was really good.

Naruto caught himself about to smile about it, and stopped.
Not a good idea. Better not to show any reaction to Sasuke with so many people
around, even if they weren�t paying attention. Just in case.

But if seeing Sasuke with Hinata and her causing was
surprising, then when he smirked suddenly and announced that they are going
back to Lee�s with them was a shock. Naruto should have known he was in for a
long, hard night right away, but he was kinda too busy being happy he�d get to
see Sasuke in a little bit more relaxed environment.

Akamaru jumped excitedly when they came out. Kiba, lost for
everything else while looking Hinata, petted him and the dog waved his tail
happily. Naruto took as much as he could to carry to leave Kiba free to talk
and lead the way. When he turned to check if he was maybe walking too fast,
there was a surprise waiting. Hinata had her arm under Sasuke�s. They were
walking together, like � like a couple.
Worse than Sasuke simply letting it happen, he was smiling. It was one of those
distant, amused little smiles Naruto was sure Sasuke was unaware he�s sometimes
wearing when he thinks about some pleasant things. At that moment, Naruto
disliked Hinata a lot. He never got that much, not even in privacy. Sasuke was
always in �fuck and move on� mode.

People stared a lot when they entered the house. Naruto took
the boxes in the kitchen, passing Ino on his way.

�Is that Sasuke? Heh.� She commented,
peering out of the room. ��Who�s the hottie with him?�

�Don�t care.� Naruto snapped. Ino gave him an annoyed look,
but Sakura followed Naruto in before she managed to say anything.

�I thought Hinata wasn�t coming. She said she couldn�t.�

Even though it wasn�t his problem any longer, and he didn�t
want it to be, Naruto looked at her carefully. She clearly saw that Hinata was
practically hanging off Sasuke�s arm; she was walking out of the bathroom when
they walked inside. There was no jealousy in her words or on her face. Sakura
actually seemed a little amused.

Ino repeated her question and this time got an answer, so
Naruto left them to gush about Hinata�s cousin. He had a good time before
Sasuke came, and he wasn�t about to let it stop now. He would just ignore
Sasuke, Sasuke would do what he did best and forget Naruto was alive and so the
party would continue to be� somewhat bearable.

Of course, it didn�t quite work out.

First, it was hard not to look. It was even hard for him to
even pretend he wasn�t watching, because he wanted to look very much at Sasuke,
see what he was doing, if he was having a good time, was he with Hinata again�

And second, it was even harder to act as if you�re not
noticing when someone you like very much is staring. And shit, but Sasuke was staring. His eyes were like hot beams on
Naruto�s skin whenever he was in the huge living room, where Sasuke was
standing and talking to Hinata�s cousin the entire evening. It was making him
happy and horny and very frustrated. It made him drink a little bit more than
he intended both alcohol and water, but that was okay. Naruto could handle a
lot of alcohol; it was a thing he was sure he had inherited - in some weird and
unexplainable way - from his godfather.

When the time came, Naruto was sorry he had to go. It was
past eleven already, and Sai said he and Suigetsu would pick him up on their
way to Home. Naruto wasn�t sure if he would be able to return, so he didn�t
want to say anything. Everyone were half or completely drunk, anyway.

So he wouldn�t have to wait on the street, Naruto set on a
concrete block on the side yard that had a little gate that was leading on the
small lane. It was still snowing, everything was beautiful and white. Naruto
felt the long day catching with him, he was sleepy.

The steps announced that someone else was out, but Naruto
didn�t want to look up, just in case he was wrong in his stupid and
unreasonable hope and it wasn�t Sasuke. But it was, and the first thing he had
to say after all that staring was, �Are you sick?�

Naruto grinned quickly at where his footsteps ruined the
snow. He was very, very happy at that moment, and Sasuke�s slightly disgust
tone caught up with his brain a second too slow. He peered up to be convincing
when he claimed, �I�m not drunk.�

Amazingly enough, the conversation they
had after that was light and on the edge of flirting. It was fun; alcohol
relaxed Sasuke wonderfully. He had had just enough to be easy to talk to - to
be even more likable, with his quick fleeing smirks that were more like grins,
shivering in his dark gray shirt against the white night. If Naruto wasn�t
already in over his head, there would be no way that he�d escape it then.

So when Suigetsu interrupted some stupid innuendo filled
exchange, he was practically mad at them for showing up, even though he knew
they would come. The way Sai was watching Sasuke wasn�t helping, either. Out of
sheer possessiveness, he leaned into Sasuke and it was real thrill when Sasuke
leaned back into him, openly, in the back yard. He wasn�t too drunk, he knew
what he was doing and Naruto couldn�t help it but whisper to him when Karin
said that thing about Itachi.�

When they left Sasuke in the yard, Naruto knew there was no
way he wouldn�t be coming back, no matter how small the chances of him seeing Sasuke
again that evening were.

As soon as they were on the street, Suigetsu hissed at
Karin, �What the fuck was that?�

�What?� She laughed. �Naruto said the kid�s a snake - I just wanted to see him
bite.�

�You could have found a way to say that Itachi�s an asshole
without involving me.� Suigetsu seethed. �It�s not necessary for the entire
world to know I got kicked out.�

�It�s not my fault you�re ashamed of yourself. I was just
probing.� She tuned to Naruto. �But he didn�t say anything. Maybe they are not
close or something?�

�You didn�t say anything specifically insulting.� Naruto
answered, thinking how rigid Sasuke went against him even though Itachi wasn�t really insulted. Karin figured
him out well enough. �Besides, he�s drunk.�

�I think he�s hot.� Sai said. They were on the crossroad,
where the traffic light was showing red but no one was waiting for it to
change.

Suigetsu glanced around, not very carefully, and stepped on
the street first.��

Naruto looked back at Sai in the meantime, and snapped,
�Yeah, I noticed that.�

Sai looked at him flatly.

�Oh, geez, man,� Suigetsu groaned over his shoulder. �Don�t
ruin this wonderful evening of us getting rid of this goose here with a lovers�
spat.�

He got an insult Naruto didn�t bother to overhear and an
attempt from Karin to hit him for what he said. Sai hurried past Naruto to
catch up with the two of them, answering, �It�s more like� rivals� spat.�

He was teasing, Naruto knew that. Yeah, he probably thought
Sasuke was hot and would go after him given half a chance, but right then, he
was teasing.

Naruto was pissed anyway. �You go anywhere near him without me around and I�ll rival you into the
frozen river.�

Sai smiled as Karin snickered. �Maybe if you find where your
boyfriend buried Sai�s gnawed bones. Frigid little thing, isn�t he?�

Naruto let out a sound of disbelief and stared at her. Why,
in the name of God, would she think Sasuke was�?

Oh. Probably because she wasn�t in the room when Sasuke
threw Naruto over him in his bed and proceeded to get off unapologetically.
Yeah, Naruto also though he was a frigid little bitch until he saw his face and
heard him croaking and gasping that night, didn�t he?

Naruto closed his eyes for a moment, letting the memory wash
over him. Starting to walk again slowly, he answered Karin. �You�re sooo off on that one.�

When he opened his eyes to keep his balance, everyone else had
stopped; looking back at him, but no one was talking for a moment. Then
Suigetsu and Karin burst out at the same time, �Warn a guy if you�re gonna have
orgasms in the middle of the street!� and �You almost gave me a heart attack!�

Naruto grinned at them. They were overreacting; he surely
wasn�t that far off in the memory land. But he was actually having fun with
them that evening. It was rare. It was good.

�You have a curfew, lust puppy.� Sai reminded him, so Naruto
hurried to catch up with them once again. They were not too far from Home.

***

There were no problems, Karin and him
got out just fine through the window - so it wasn�t even full thirty minutes
later that Naruto was walking back through Lee�s gate. The lights were still on
in the house, but the music wasn�t nearly as loud as it was for the most of the
evening.

Inside, people were mostly talking to each other or napping
on the couches and the carpet. Lee was still dancing enthusiastically, though,
all alone, next to the stereo. In the big armchair, Hinata�s cousin was saying
something to a smiling Tenten. Judging by the wild hand gestures, he was
probably not entirely sober.

Naruto looked into the kitchen. It was mostly girls, sitting
around the table with coffee mugs in front of them. Ino was doing something
that looked very complicated with Hinata�s hair. It was a wonder Kiba was not
there � and a bit of a waste. Hinata looked good. Naruto couldn�t tell for
sure, but it was likely that she had makeup on.�

Sasuke came with her and her cousin. It was possible he was still
around, but Naruto couldn�t see him anywhere. He checked the side room and
bathroom. The only place that was left was the small room where the jackets
were.

There was no light in that room, Naruto knew that from when
he left his jacket on the bed without a mattress earlier, but he automatically
reached for the switch. Nothing happened. The room was looking to the front
yard, so the light from the street was illuminating the narrow space well
enough to see after a second of adjusting.

Sasuke really was
there, sitting on the floor under the window. The curtain was falling just low
enough to cover his eyes, and he was letting it, like he was hiding behind it.
His knees were gathered to him, arms resting on top of them. Naruto closed the
door behind him.

�You okay there?� He asked, moving further into the room. He
saw a bottle and a glass on the floor next to Sasuke. It was too dark to make
sure if they were empty.

Sasuke jerked his head to move the cloth out of his eyes and
glared up at Naruto.

�You left.� He accused. There was no doubt about it, the
unfocused glare, tone of voice � he was very, very drunk.

Naruto set down on the floor next to him. �Just for a little
while,� He said when the curtain fell back on Sasuke�s face and he pushed it
forcefully off, annoyed. �I didn�t know you�d drink yourself stupid over it.�

��I�d be smarter than
you if. Half of my brain was� removed.�

If the world was a fair place, Sasuke wouldn�t be able to be
so eloquent in his insults when he couldn�t really focus on Naruto�s face,
regardless to the effort he obviously invested in both. But in such place,
Naruto would be able to simply put his arms around him and make sure he was
warm, because there was no way he wasn�t cold, leaning against the wall in just
his shirt, shivering. There were dozens of jackets not three feet away. Sasuke
wasn�t bothering to find his, even though his fingers trembling.

�And yet,� Naruto said, touching Sasuke�s fingers with
detached fascination. They were icy. �I�m not the one who�s going to need help
to get home tonight.�

Sasuke frowned down at where Naruto, instead of letting go,
as he intended on doing, wrapped his hand around Sasuke�s fingers to warm them
up. After a moment, Sasuke twisted his wrist and entangled his fingers with Naruto�s,
murmuring, �I don�t want to go home.�

Red alarm went off in Naruto�s head when he squeezed. It was
nice and all, but Sasuke was too drunk. Trying to sound uninterested, but not quite
succeeding in it or in the attempt to take his hand away, he asked, �What do
you want, then?�

�Stay. Here. But,�
Sasuke waved to the place next to him with his free hand. �No more alcohol.�

�I think you had too much already.�

Sasuke moved to kneel, not letting go and snorted. �I�m sure
I will.� Just that simple movement got him so close, Naruto lost his breath. �Think
so, too. In the morning.� He shouldn�t have set down,
or at least, he should�ve had kept his hands to himself. �But now��

Against the street light, Naruto had to squint to see
Sasuke�s face.� His focus was somewhere
below Naruto�s chin � and it soon became clear when was he leaned in with all
his weight and put his messy head in to the crook of Naruto�s neck.

�Oh, whoa,� Naruto gasped at how cold Sasuke�s cheek was,
and how hot was his breath as he murmured something faintly. �What are you
doing?�

Sasuke wasn�t answering, he was just� breathing heavily. It
was awakening Naruto�s entire body like a bucket of water ended up emptied on
his head, only in a much more pleasant way. Sasuke finally let go of his hand,
only to slip his arm around Naruto�s back and snuggle closer so forcefully that
Naruto ended up on his back.

Sasuke snickered, but ended up on top just as closely
nestled in Naruto�s neck.��

�Alright, alright,� Naruto gasped, trying to push him off
and away. But even Sasuke�s sides were cold though he soft cotton of his shirt,
so that ended up with him wrapping his hands around Sasuke. To
warm him up. �You need to get off of me before someone walks in.�

Sasuke kissed his neck, wetly. He moved lower, leaving the
uncomfortably damp trail against the cold air until there was Naruto�s shirt
between his mouth and Naruto�s skin. Sasuke continued regardless like he hadn�t
noticed the difference at all, which should have cooled Naruto down, only it
made him itch for more contact so much that he opened his knees and let Sasuke
nestle between them.

He untangled his fingers into Sasuke�s hair and pushed him
up, groaning. �Why do you have to be so fucking drunk now?�

�Shut up.� Sasuke answered before kissing him. The taste was
acidly strong but intoxicating quality of it had little to do with alcohol. And
it lasted just a moment, because Sasuke was much more interested in kissing
Naruto�s chest over his clothes. If he had his thick jacket zipped up, Sasuke
probably wouldn�t have minded it at all. Naruto raised his hands up to put them
on his own head, laughing.

�Get off, Sasuke.� He tried to sound firm. It came out like
a whine, so Naruto moved to get up. Sasuke moved back up instantly, unfairly quick
and steady, kissed him sloppily until he was flat on his back again and
returned down to worship Naruto�s shirt.

Naruto resisted the urge to at least push him lower if he
couldn�t drag him higher and used enough force to push Sasuke off for long enough
to stand up. Sasuke tipped over and set down on his feet.

�No one�s here.� He pointed out, as Naruto readjusted his
pants so that his erection that most likely won�t be going anywhere for a while
was not as glaringly obvious.

�That is a fact you will be most grateful for in the
morning. Let�s find your friends, before someone else walks in here and you
start making out with their clothes.�

Sasuke was barely cooperative as Naruto gave his best to
drag him up on his feet. He was too busy frowning. �Why�d I do that?�

�Fuck me if I know what�s in your head.� Naruto muttered and
let go experimentally. �Tell me you can walk.�

�Of course I can walk.� Sasuke assured him indigently and
wrapped his arms around Naruto�s waist, to keep himself
upward. So much about that.

It took a lot of effort to find his jacket with Sasuke attached
and even more to get him to let go for long enough for Naruto to put it on him.
It would be so much better if he would just fall asleep, but Sasuke didn�t seem
sleepy. Someone else could really come close, and as out of it as Sasuke was�
Yeah, tomorrow he would have a really horrible morning. Better to get him home
as soon as possible.

Sasuke really could walk. He just didn�t want to do it too
fast, because according to his own words, it was making him dizzy and nauseous.
Because having Sasuke�s puke was a completely different matter than having his
spit all over his clothes, Naruto considerately guided him slowly out of the
room.

People noticed, of course. The house had no back door, so
Naruto had to take Sasuke though the corridor that had all the rooms connected
and then through the living room. Hinata�s cousin � Neji � stood up from the couch as soon as they walked in. He looked
carefully at Sasuke and then at Naruto, frowning.

Instead of getting to his senses because of the others being
round, Sasuke snorted and leaned more heavily into Naruto to say right into his
ear, �Neji has a terrace.�
�
Naruto flinched a little. It was too loud. Annoyed, he
muttered, �Is it really high? Can I drop you from it?�

�You don�t want. That.�
Sasuke answered smartly. �You want to fuck me.�

That was also loud, Naruto realized with a hint of panic and
a very clear picture of Sasuke going on a rampage and killing off every single
person that was in the room to hear that. And even though Sasuke was smiling
before he followed those probably soon to be famous words with a harsh bite
into Naruto�s earlobe, there was no doubt about who was going to be the first
one to go.

�Did he just say�?� Kiba demanded from somewhere behind
Naruto.

Neji cut him off, his eyes narrowed and angry. �He�s drunk.�

Naruto didn�t turn, but he doubted even Kiba would take that
as a valid excuse. �He�s also heavy, so if someone would actually help here��

Neji was moving before he finished. He tried to take
Sasuke�s other arm, but got pushed away so forcefully, Naruto barely managed to
keep himself and Sasuke upwards. Help or not, he needed to move Sasuke out of
people�s sight as soon as possible. Naruto moved again, not nearly as
considerately slow as before. Sasuke�s puke on him sounded much better
suddenly; definitely better than a killing spree.�

Neji helped despite of Sasuke�s determination to keep him
away, by opening the door and picking up keys that fell out of his jacket.
Naruto couldn�t understand why Sasuke disliked the guy so much, he was maybe a
little stiff in the restaurant, but he seemed nice enough. Though he seriously
didn�t like Kiba; at least that obvious after that night.

Lee waved them off the doorstep happily, with everyone else
peeking over his shoulders. If the group had managed to miss when Sasuke tried
to snuggle his hand into Naruto�s pants before he settling to just let it rest
on his ass, they had only Naruto�s big yellow jacket to thank for it.

Sasuke didn�t react any better when
Hinata gently tried to help, when they were already out on the street. He
wouldn�t allow anyone to touch him but Naruto. The cold air didn�t sober him;
unfortunately, it made him sleepy, so he slanted even more toward Naruto. The
walk to his house, that in reality wasn�t long at all, took long enough for
Naruto not to feel a thing in the arm Sasuke was using to hold himself up.

At the high gate made out of iron, Neji and Hinata both
stopped. The light was off in the house.

�Sasuke?� Hinata said carefully
getting closer after exchanging a look with Neji. �We�re here, you have to let
go of Naruto now.�

Sasuke, who used the pause to nest himself better under
Naruto�s arm, cocked his head just a little to peek at her. Then he let his
forehead fall back against Naruto�s neck, saying, �She�s jealous. It�s funny.�

Naruto didn�t see anything funny in it. Hinata�s face flushed
from the cold went even redder and she wouldn�t return his gaze, so Naruto
instinctively reinforced his grip around Sasuke, earning an encouraging murmur
that brushed against his skin and made his shiver.

�Sasuke.� Neji said firmly. �We
can�t just drag you upstairs while your parents are sleeping. You need to pull
yourself together.�

�Parrot.� Sasuke said, or Naruto
thought that�s what he said as he gave Neji a helpless look. �Also
jealous. I have to hide you. In a box.�

Neji and Hinata exchanged another worried look. Naruto was
pretty sure that if everything else would maybe go over as drunken nonsense,
that obvious possessiveness and the fact Sasuke was talking exclusively to
Naruto was a dead giveaway. He sighed.

�Is he always like this when he�s drunk?� He asked, not
wanting neither one of them to know the answer, especially if it was a yes.

�No.� Hinata said. �He had a lot for his birthday this
summer, but all he did was� Well, he was like
he�s with us now, only with everyone.�

�We can�t just wait here until he gets sober.� Neji said.
�He�ll act better when he sees his parents. I�ll ring the bell.�

Naruto carefully directed Sasuke through the gate Hinata was
holding open. The house was huge, and looking like something from a fairy tale
with the snow untouched in the roof and the balconies. He wondered where the
window if Sasuke�s room was facing.

By the time they reached the front step, the door was
already opening. It was Sasuke�s father who opened them, but his mother was hovering just a few steps behind.

�Sasuke?� His father said after
looking over them all to take in the situation. Sasuke hadn�t moved at all, so
he turned to Neji. �What is this?�

�I�m afraid he�s very drunk.� Neji explained.

�Why is he�?� The man asked, waving toward Sasuke and Naruto,
but he was still talking to Neji.

�I�� Neji answered, uncertain for a moment before straightening
up. �He almost fell before, so he�s��

�Not.� Sasuke said, of course too loud. �Smells
good.�

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Naruto watched in
fascination the emotions that were flickering over the face of Sasuke�s father.
Some fight was taking place inside of him, and Naruto had no way of knowing
what would win. If that man decided that he wants it so, he could fuck up all
the plans he had for his future. Even Iruka said so. But other than pushing
Sasuke away � Sasuke, who was drunk and cold, and for once, Naruto�s to touch
in public � he couldn�t do anything, so he stared back.

The tall woman in the back gave a small smile to them behind
her husband and put a hand on his shoulder. It was amazing to watch how quickly
most of the tension wore off from his back, as he barked an order to Naruto,
�Help him inside.�

Sasuke wasn�t letting go, but he was holding his head a
little higher when Naruto pushed him to step up. The door closed behind them,
leaving Neji and Hinata on the other side. That made Naruto a little nervous.

Maybe because they knew Sasuke didn�t like being touched
when drunk, or because of some other reasons Naruto didn�t want to think about,
neither on of his parents tried to help. His father disappeared through a door
and his mother led the way up the stairs, occasionally looking back at the two
of them to make sure that they were doing alright.

�No more stairs.� Sasuke announced on the landing.

�I wish.� Naruto muttered. �Come on, one more flight.� Or so
he hoped.

At the top that they reach after a while and with a lot of
effort, Sasuke�s mother said, �The second door on the right.�

As Naruto moved them in that direction, she walked to the
opposite direction, down the stairs. It seems like she was going to trust
Naruto to take care of Sasuke. Or maybe she just wanted to go back to her
husband as soon as possible.

�Itachi�s� room.� Sasuke told him
when they passed the first door. �Not one single thing. Is moved. Like
he�s dead.�

Naruto stopped. There was so much emotion in that broken
sentence. He looked down at Sasuke�s face. He was frowning at Itachi�s door.

�Or maybe they are just waiting for him to come home.� He
whispered, hoping with all his might that he was right.

Sasuke looked up at him, his eyes bright under electric
light. �Your eyebrows are yellow.� He announced lightly. �My room�s there.�

Naruto laughed as Sasuke actually made the effort to move on
his own. He wasn�t letting go of Naruto, though, so they entered the room
together.

His smile widening, Naruto thought how it was just like
Sasuke to have a room that looked like something from a furniture store. There
were a couple of books left on the bed, but everything else was either bare or
in perfect order.

�Tell me you have spider webs under your bed.� He said.

Sasuke let go to lean on the closet nearby. �Hn? Porn.�

Naruto grinned. �Alphabetically sorted, no
doubt.�

�Sorted by. Size.� Sasuke told him, forcing
Naruto into a snicker. �I sleep naked.�

Naruto took his forearm to help him to the bed. �Now you�re
just being a tease.�

Tease or not, he helped Sasuke take of first his jacket and
then his shirt. It was pain to get him to pull his hands out, but Naruto
enjoyed the view. Sasuke had a simple while shirt under, and it moved to show
his stomach when he fell down on the bed. ��Done.�

�You�re not done. You still have your shoes on.�

Sasuke lifted his right leg and let it fall into Naruto�s
lap as the only response. His shoes looked like they were just washed, because
of the snow outside, but they were high enough too keep Sasuke�s pants dry. Naruto
untied it without a word. By the time he was done with the other one, Sasuke
was dozing off.

Naruto looked at him at the moment. He had one arm under his
head; the other on his stomach and his expression was relaxed. It was such a
waste Naruto got to see him like that just because of so much alcohol.� But it was a good thing not just anyone could
see him like that, because it felt intimate and like a privilege.

But Sasuke�s parents were just downstairs, maybe measuring
the time Naruto was talking in seconds. Naruto moved to take a better position
and dragged Sasuke under the covers with a lot of effort. Sasuke opened his
eyes to look up. �Think they�re waiting. For him?�

Naruto couldn�t understand for a moment. They, if Sasuke
meant his parents, were waiting for Naruto to come downstairs, probably� But it
came to him after a moment. Sasuke was thinking about his brother. �I hope so.�

�Okay.� Sasuke said. He turned away from him to the other
side, gathering his hands under his cheek.

Naruto sighed as he turned to the door. Okay, then all that
was left was to hope Sasuke�s father didn�t leave earlier to get make
preparations to kill him without letting the blood ruin the carpet or the
furniture.

He walked back down the stairs, trying to be respectfully
quiet but quick at the same time. Was he too long in Sasuke�s room? It took
some effort to take his shoes off, surely his parents won�t find that an excuse
or something. And hell, but if Sasuke was planning to make sure his parents
don�t find out about him� being more like his brother than they wanted him to
be, he really should consider an Angelina Jolie poster or two. Or in his case, ten.

Under the huge window between the stair flights there was a
small oasis of potted greenery. Over the tips of the highest plants, the view
on the side of the yard covered in undisturbed snow and illuminated by the
front light was perfect. Naruto liked Sasuke�s house. It was very homey, in the
way his own never was, not even when his parents were alive.

On the kitchen door, Sasuke�s mother was standing, waiting
for him, by the way she was looking up. Naruto gave
her a smile, but he knew it was a nervous one. She unexpectedly smiled in turn
and waved him to follow her. Naruto took a deep, deep breath and entered the
kitchen after her.

She set in a chair at the table, next to her husband. There
was a glass of orange juice at the opposite side. Naruto guessed it was for
him, so he slipped into the chair and waited.�

�I don�t think that we ever met you before.� She said. �Have
you been� friends without son for long?�

There was no missing the hesitation on the word
�friends�.� But that doesn�t mean Naruto
had to acknowledge it.

�We�re not really friends.� He said carefully, truthfully.
Whatever they were; whatever it was that made him want forcefully to make the
next morning less painful for Sasuke, it was not friendship. He ignored the
disbelieving glance they exchanged to add, �But we are in the same class at
school.�

�How has he gotten�� So drunk? Naruto finished mentally as
she gestured toward the second floor. �Like that?�

Naruto resisted responding in harmony with the tingle of
annoyance and snapping that there was a lot of alcohol involved. What kind of
question was that, anyway?

�I�m not sure.� There. That was better, and also honest.

�Were you the one who gave him alcohol?� Sasuke�s father
demanded. �It�s not like my son to come home drunk like this, on��

He cut himself, but Naruto swallowed heavily anyway. God,
but he sounded angry and unhappy. Was Sasuke in real trouble because of that
evening? What was it the rumor about Itachi coming out to his parents, he got
kicked out of the house? Disowned? Naruto always thought that because Sasuke
was allowed to spend time with Itachi, that it wasn�t that bad. But maybe it
was.

Fuck. He needed to fix this.

�I wouldn�t say it�s like your son to drink just because
someone gave him alcohol � and that wasn�t me anyway.� He said, carefully trying
not to show his anger and fear. �He must have been� I don�t know. Upset about
something? I really don�t know him all that well.�

It seemed to have been the right thing to say, Sasuke�s
father sighed and relaxed a little more into the chair. Naruto wondered if it
was the first part, about Sasuke not being weak-minded or about Naruto no
knowing him well. He hoped it was the first one.

�Are you also drunk?�

Naruto didn�t feel drunk at all. But had
been drinking. �A little bit. Sir.�

That last part surprised even him as it escaped his mouth.
He never called anyone that. There was undoubtedly an air of authority around
Sasuke�s father, but just that never made him be so respectful, especially
after he was practically accused of getting Sasuke drunk.

But then again, he never wanted quite as much for someone to
like him. Meeting Sakura�s parents didn�t come even close, especially because
she wasn�t in any trouble just because Naruto was around.

�Are you driving?�

Naruto shrugged. �I don�t have a car.�

He knew how to drive, Jiraiya thought him much earlier than
it was appropriate, but he thought wasn�t the question.

�I�ll drop you off.��

Naruto stood up and followed in silence, giving a good bye
smile to Sasuke� mother on his way. He wanted to walk, to use that time to
think and clear his head, but Sasuke�s father didn�t look like he was giving
him a choice.

Naruto got into the passenger seat. He couldn�t understand
why they weren�t moving until Sasuke�s father said, �Belt.�

A little embarrassed for being so stupid to forget to do
that simple thing in the car with a cop, Naruto fastened his seatbelt quickly. �

It stopped snowing outside in the meantime. The streets were
empty and only on some places completely cleared up, so they had to move slowly
and carefully.�

�Were do you live? Maybe I know your parents?�

�Er, they are dead. Sir.� Naruto
answered, once again surprising himself. �I live at Home.�

The car made the right turn in silence. Naruto slumped a
little in the seat, waiting for either pitying or fearful look that had to come
at that point. All adults always gave him at least one. But after several
minutes it was clear that Sasuke�s father would be an exception. When he
finally answered, it was with, �Than you must know my other son.�

�Yeah.� Naruto said, smiling a
little. The man was talking about Itachi. He was calling him his son. So it
wasn�t as bad as he was afraid after all. A brilliant thought struck him, so he
added. �He�s helping me get into college.�

Saying good things maybe could help, if this man was looking
for a way, an excuse to re-bond with his older son. And damn it, but Naruto had
some good things to say. Itachi was
helping him, so his father might as well know that.

Sasuke�s father glanced sideways, to give him a mildly
curious look. No disbelief, more like� a prompt to keep talking, so he
explained. �My grades are not good enough for scholarship and I can�t afford to
pay for it.� Well, he could sell the house, but� both Itachi and Jiraiya
thought he shouldn�t, not yet. �But Itachi found this social service
program�� The government would sponsor
me, as an orphan and a dependant of social service, if I meet all the
conditions. But I have to work for a public institution for five years at least
after I get my diploma.�

�That means you can�t choose whatever collage you want.� �

Yeah, but it was better than finding a poorly paid job and
working crazy hours just to keep himself alive and not hungry. �There are
several options, but I like the most the Law Enforcement program, even though
it�s only two years. Itachi said that it�s probably suited better for me
anyway, because of the physical requirements.�

There was nothing mild about the curious look he got for
that. �You need a clear record for that.�

�My record is
clear.�

�I can check that.� Sasuke�s father said simply, looking
back to the road.

�I know you can.� Naruto wondered if there is anything about
the time he put Kabuto in the hospital in it. Itachi had checked and even if
there was a mark about it, it won�t be in his way. But who knew what this man
would think about it. �I need my record to be clear just to get into the
program, and Itachi wouldn�t waste his time on me if I was some kind of a
criminal, anyway.�

The silence was heavy after that. Naruto realized that his
tone must have been a little snappish, but he couldn�t help it. When they made
the final turn for the street Home was in, Sasuke�s father finally said, �So
he�s good at his job.�

Naruto relaxed. He was thinking about Itachi. And he sounded
kind of wistful � in that gruff, stern sort of way.

�I can�t really imagine either one of your sons not being
good at something.� Naruto said. It was the bare truth; he really couldn�t
imagine them being bad as something - if it had nothing to do with emotions, that
is.�

Those words got him an actual smile, so Naruto grinned. The
way this guy was when he saw Naruto first, it was a real accomplishment to talk
like that with him and make him smile. People could say whatever they wanted;
he obviously loved his children very much. Maybe the thing with Itachi was some
unfortunate misunderstanding.

�In the end, you and Sasuke are going to end up working in
the same field.�

�What?� Naruto asked, confused. Sasuke � what was it that he
said to the teacher when he didn�t want to go to that contest? �But I though he
was going to study Sociology. That�s what he told our teacher.�

�Sociology of Law.� Sasuke�s father
corrected as he pulled over to the side walk across from Home. He sounded
pleased Naruto didn�t know that. �And then he�ll finish criminology. We�re
here.�

Naruto opened the door, but he couldn�t help but ask, �But�
What would that make him?�

The program he was going to finish, Naruto was going to be
an inspector with the police, not just a regular cop. But you can get a higher
position than that only through promotions, there was no school for them.
Itachi explained that.

The question made the man frown. �Some
kind of expert.� I�m not
completely sure; our town�s low enforcement budget is too small to employ
someone with that kind of education.�

�Oh,� Naruto answered, finally getting out. So Sasuke will
have to find a job in the city, if he wanted one to fit the education he had
planed � which was the point of planning in the first place, right? ��Thank you for the ride.�

Naruto closed the door and walked quickly across the empty
street. The ride to the Home took about the same time as taking a couple of shortcuts
on foot would, but with the snow stopping, at that late hour was colder than it
was that entire week. Besides, he was grateful he had the opportunity to talk
to Sasuke�s father, both because of the opening to say a good word about Itachi
and to hear about Sasuke�s plans.

And thinking about Sasuke, drunk and freezing in Lee�s
backroom, saying that he doesn�t want to go home, Naruto though that he knew
what that entire future plan was all about. He picked the police job - because
it was a police job, no matter how fancy � to make his father happy and at the
same time making sure it would take him as far away from home and his family as
possible. It was both brilliant and fucked up.

As far as Naruto could see � and for that one thing, he had
good eyes after years of living in the Home - there was nothing about his
parents to make Sasuke that afraid and emotionally unstable. They seemed like
nice, reasonable people. They obviously cared about their sons a great deal. Despite
of the well known falling out with Itachi, Sasuke�s father was asking about him
and he sounded pleased that Itachi was doing well. He gave the impression of a
loving, proud father.

So what was wrong? What went so wrong in their family and
why?

Naruto turned to check, but the car was long gone. He
sneaked behind the building and through the window of the storage room that was
left ajar. Tired and puzzled, Naruto still took a long warm shower before going
to bed � there was no one to complain about the late hours, the attending
social worker was on the second floor, in his office. Finally getting into his
bed, under the familiar covers, he was wondering if Sasuke�s going to remember
anything in the morning and how badly he would react.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Alternative Education