Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Homeless Harlot ❯ Decision Time ( Chapter 17 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A.N: Thank you very much for reading and reviewing and voting. Karin, I hate seeing people sad so of course they're going to get together, but I'm only kidding haha. The reason its a Kakashi/Sasuke to me is because they're the main focus, but no they won't be a couple. I know I said that this is the last chapter, but my mental tv is fried so I'll have one more and then its over. Thank you again for reading. Enjoy. Fantasy.

.....................


"And this is where I used to sleep." Sasuke points out.

He and Naruto went for a walk after they finished with their homework. Sasuke could barely understand Naruto's poorly written notes, but thankfully he'd written down the examples that the teacher had left. Sasuke figured that if he needed further help he could just go to the man's home and ask. It pays to live in a teachers neighborhood. Naruto was always so curious about his past, so Sasuke figured it would be something nice to do with the male, to smooth over any hard feelings that may still exist between them. He's seen it on dozens of shows; give something personal to a person and they'll feel special, which will let you off the hook from anything you've done. Its simple.

"Right here on the street?" He frowns. Blinking, he looks from the cold sidewalk to Sasuke then back.

"What? I had a box."

Naruto shakes his head. "I'm just trying to picture you, this strong. Sasuke.... I'm sorry you had to grow up this way."

The street teen waves it off. "Its not a big deal." He then shrugs. "I got used it, I guess."

"But it sucks that you're used to it." Looking into Sasuke's eyes; all the sincerity and warmth in the world projecting into the dark orbs with his own light. "I don't think I could be strong enough to do it."

"You never know, there's a lot to learn about surviving but once you've got that down you're fine." He starts to walk towards a soup kitchen he once frequented.

"Yeah, but could I apply it when the time came?" He follows after him, arms behind his head. "To beat a guy up with real intentions to harm him."

Sasuke looks at the blond wondering how he can say that when Naruto had knocked out one of his teeth not long ago. He guessed it was different when it was matters of the heart over just pounding a guy because he might wanna kill or fuck you. The two walk in silence, drinking in the steadily approaching evening sky of dark blue and purple hues mixed with a bit of yellowish orange from the setting sun.

"Where are we going?"

"Soup kitchen."

"Eeeee, are we gonna get something to eat?"

"If you want." The dark haired male smiles. Naruto, regardless a lot of annoying things about the happy blond, could always make you smile even if you don't really want to. He wondered how a person acquires such a talent or skill. He could probably never apply it, though, with the way he looks alone it doesn't exactly strike friendly into anyone's mind.

"My dad's grilling some seafood tomorrow, you should ask Kakashi-sensei and Gai-san to come over and have some. We can even swim if you want to."

"We'll see, but don't be let down if we don't come." He stuffs his hands into his pockets. "Gai might not be in the mood for so much moving about now that he has a cast on his leg."

"The full leg?"

"Mhm." He nods. "It was a nasty fall."

"That's really too bad. Its like how Lee got hurt and had to walk with a cane until it felt better." His arms now hang at his sides. "Its just not right for active guys to be inactive, you know?"

Sasuke didn't answer. He grabs the door of the building to hold open for Naruto to enter.

"Thank you my good man, there will be an extra slice of bread for you at our table." He laughs.

"Ahaha." He pushes Naruto between the shoulder blades. "Just go."

Kakashi arrives home to an empty house. He's thankful for that because he wanted to check up on Gai's theory that something had been placed at the top of the stairs. There was just no way Sasuke would do something like that, not after all Gai has done and wanted to do for the boy- not over something as stupid as having sex with him. Its just too hard to believe. Slowly, as if to prolong the truth, he stalks up the stairs one at a time, kneeling when at the top, Kakashi's breath catches in his chest.

'The paint is peeled away in three places!' Their home is in pristine condition, there would be no way something like peeling paint would happen anytime soon with the care they take of the place. It could only happen from something pulling it away. Kakashi felt his stomach turn and his fist ball. Going back downstairs, he checks in the supply closet for the ducked tape. Gai always cuts the tape with a special type of scissors that cause little rounded ringlets to be left behind, anyone else would just use the slicer provided with the tape dispenser. The door is pulled open and the item retrieved. 'Gai was the last one to use the tape, so the rings should-...' He isn't surprised to see a clean slice of tape waiting to be pulled away from the whole. 'He did it? Sasuke really set a trap for Gai.'

Kakashi felt his moral senses spin. How could he allow something like this to happen? and because of him of all reasons. He could see if Sasuke was just a mental patient of some sort but to want Gai out of the way just to have him to his self? He can just see his fist meeting the teens, pretentious, self serving, smirking face. He'd like to send him out on his ass, but he remembered what Gai had said to him at the hospital about not wanting to see the brat on the streets now that they know him, and in some ways care for him. Cared, in Kakashi's case, he can't see himself being so forgiving from this.

'I wonder where Sasuke has gone to? He wouldn't dare stop at the hospital to try something.' He at least had to hope that Sasuke wouldn't.

The front door opened just then, closing loudly.

"I'm home!" Called Sasuke's voice. "Kakashi, did you come back yet?"

He thought about not answering, about hiding out to maybe spy on the male a moment to see what he would do if he thought that no one was watching, but as he painfully discovered his and Gai's beloved home isn't exactly sound proof. Perversly he wondered how well a tape recorder would pick up his and Gai's sounds of ecstacy but when he hears Sasuke moving around the home he snaps out of his fantasy. Setting the tape back on the shelf where he had gotten it, Kakashi closes the door with a loud slam. He'd meant just to shut it but his prickled nerves wanted otherwise. Walking into the living room, he enters just as Sasuke hits the last step, returning from having gone upstairs.

Smiling at him, Sasuke says. "Hey." Wrapping his arms around the man, he notices the stiffness within the hug. "What's with you? Where's dinner?" He asks after further inspection of the man and his lack of groccery bags.

"Where were you?"

"Out with Naruto. I wanted to show him all the places I used to-" He mentally thumbs for the right word. "live, before you guys took me in."

"Oh really." He said in a tone that sounded less than pleasing.

Furrowing his brows, hearing the tone from the man, he replies. "Yeah, really." Cocking his head he asks again. "What's wrong with you? You're acting really uptight all of a sudden." Looking over his shoulder as if to see the person responsible, he asks. "Did something happen when you were at the store?"

"No. No, nothing happened." He clears his throat. "Just having a bad day, realizing that Gai is gone. It really hit me."

"Gai's gonna be all right, remember, he'll be home tomorrow morning as soon as we go get him."

"As soon as I go get him, you have school to get to."

"So do you?" He says in a know-it-all tone. Was it not Kakashi who told him that skipping was a bad idea right before telling him that he could call in a substitute for his class.

"I'm telling the sub to stay another day."

"I could miss another day of school, too." He gives the man a knowing look, reminding him of the days' activities in the bedroom and office. He hoped to have another earth shattering experience somewhere else in the home tonight, maybe the kitchen.

"That isn't the best idea Sasuke, school will be out before you know it and its better to keep on the right path so that you can grow up and go away."

That kind of stung a little. Sasuke's smile faded to a flat expression. "Why would I wanna leave? I'm not some kid to be proud of as he moves on with life. I... I can still go to college and remain here- I'll just go back and forth. ...Don't you like having me as a roommate?"

Sasuke honestly sounded as though he wasn't talking about sex this time, but that he really truly hoped to remain with Kakashi and Gai. That dream would have come true if it weren't for the fact that Sasuke can't control his feelings for him to the point of harming Gai. This time it was a fall down the stairs, what's it going to be the next time? Or the next? And how is he going to be sure that he, Kakashi, doesn't slip up somehow because his own damned body won't stop craving the child! Why can't his head rule out all those improper, impure, and wrong thoughts to keep his body under control.

"You're taking a really long time to answer." Sasuke glares with a tight frown upon his lips. "If you're intending to kick me out after this year than say so!" He snaps. "Don't just..." His words falter over tears. "Don't just fucking toy with me and send me on my way when I get comfortable!" A shocked yelp slips out of his mouth when Kakashi's hand came across his face. Surprised, he looks at the man. Sasuke wanted to say something, to ask what Kakashi had thought he was doing, but he instead sneered at the man; hand lowering from where it had absently come up to the sting on his face.

"You were hysterical," He lied. He couldn't help what he'd just done, just like he couldn't help what his body always forced him to do. Sasuke's mature enough, he can just deal with it in his own time. "Gai and I have no intention of throwing you out after this year of school. I only meant, before, that most eighteen year olds want to leave from under their mother's apron and get out in the world."

Sasuke looked like he could kill if he wanted to, but calmed himself, his pissed expression softened to one of calm and controlled. "I've already had my fair share of freedom.... I think I'd like to stay under my mother's apron for as long as I can." Turning to the stairs he starts up them, saying over his shoulder. "Don't bother calling me down for dinner, I'm no longer hungry."

The last thing Kakashi heard from Sasuke, that night, was the sound of the teen's bedroom door closing.

In another part of town.

"Tadaaa." Deidara lifts the drawing from the table, turning it around so that Itachi can get a look at it. "Perfect, right?"

"He looks like a cartoon pig." Replies the angered male. He thought that his friend could do it. Deidara spends his free time making the most beautiful sculptures and yet he can't seem to draw a simple portrait! He can't be too mad at him, its not as if he can see what his brother looks like just from having the teen's features described to him. Its not his specialty, he's no composit artist. Never-the-less, he's still frustrated at their lack in progress. "Draw it over!" He barks. "Make his nose smaller, and his eyes are closer together than what you did." He points.

"Alright, alright." He waves a hand defensively, setting the drawing back onto the kitchen counter, that acts as their table, Deidara mutters to himself as he erases the mistakes on the drawing.

"The sooner we get copies of this picture out in the city, the better our chances of rescuing Sasuke."

"Rescue Sasuke, rescue Sasuke." He repeats. "What makes you think he isn't in a really good place, nn?"

"I wouldn't care if the Hokage's were watching him, he doesn't belong with them, he belongs with me."

"Nn. You ever think that maybe you want your brother so badly for your own purposes, that safety has nothing to do with it."

"Assuming I know what you're getting at, you're very wrong." He takes a seat beside the blond. "Sasuke.... Sasuke has been my only living family for a while. Losing him was a mistake that I thought gravely about everyday since moving here with you. So, yes, I do wish to remove the pains of my mistake from my existance, but I also only wish to have my brother back."

"Mmm." He brushes his hand over the eraser shavings. "So many mistakes;" He shakes his head. "glad I was an only child."

Itachi only blinked.

"I'm not sure if this is right, but, we can at least put up a 'good enough', right? Someone might be able to dechiper Sasuke out of it." He shrugs. Hearing his friends sigh, he again shrugs. "You're in such a rush." He continued drawing the picture long after his moody roommate walked out of the room. Next time he'll choose someone who can be a little less cranky in dire situations.

...............

Sasuke found himself down in the kitchen later that night after he was sure Kakashi had gone to bed. He's starving and was unsure of what the man had made for dinner since he didn't smell anything delicous wafting around in the vents. Searching the fridge he frowns. Kakashi must have made a sandwich, there are no leftovers. Grabbing sliced ham and a slice of cheese he walks over to the counter then returns for the mayonaise before closing the refrigerator. Grabbing the bread from the bread box he removes two slices then fixes a sandwich right off the counter; why dirty a plate when he didn't need to, wasn't the knife enough?

'Why is Kakashi being so cold to me? He can't honestly be pissed about Gai all of a sudden when he was more than willing to sleep with me earlier. He must really feel guilty for being with me when he's still attached to him. I said I would lay off after I had my chance inside of him and I meant it, he's the one that grabbed me during lunch for an afternoon fuck session.' He couldn't help smiling at the memory. 'I'm positive that Kakashi just said he wants to get rid of me; I should be happy that he finds me that hard to resist but its not exactly a comfort if he's willing to stay with Gai and ignore his feelings for me.' Sitting at the table he takes a bite out of his dinner, pleased with the taste. Gai always makes the best sandwiches, Kakashi made his lunch once but it wasn't the same, and he's never tried because the better cook was always so willing to do it. 'I'm so stupid, I can't give all this up for a roll in the sheets with a man who can easily shove me aside to get to someone else. I just need better distractions, that's all.' Taking another bite he nods. 'Starting tomorrow, I'll be on the straight and narrow.'

Happy with his decision, he finishes his late dinner then returns upstairs to his bedroom after placing the items back in their rightful places. Climbing into bed, he grabs his journal from beneath the mattress then starts to write in it about his day.

* * * * *

Sasuke was dropped off at school while Kakashi went on his way to the hospital. The teen couldn't help but notice that Kakashi didn't say goodbye to him as he normally would. Instead of getting pissed, though, he chose to ignore it. He may be pulling himself away from his feelings so that he doesn't end up sleeping with him again. Sasuke sincerely hoped that it worked too, because there is no way he can resist Kakashi and he would easily go anywhere the man asked of him and do anything, minus leaving the home. He can't slip up with anything, the ground is too volital to be fucking things up for himself. He'll be the perfect example of a good child and then when everything returns to normal, he can calmly tell Gai about how he feels for Kakashi and maybe they can work something out. Besides, he'll be seventeen, he's practically of age to date whomever he likes.

"Oi!! Sasuke!" There was Kiba.

He smiles to the male waving his hand before the brunet catches up to him. "Where were you yesterday? Everyone knows a guy only has two reasons for ditching school." He answers before Sasuke can question him. "One, you're faking sick because you want something in the outside world, or two, you had an oppointment of some kind. So which is it? Tell me its the first thing."

"Fine, its the first thing." He shrugs.

"Yeah, the first thing. I had to stay home to fuck the teacher for being naughty in class the other day."

Kiba's eyes went wide, then his face faded into an amused smirk. "Yeah, sure. What were you really doing?"

"Kakashi's husband fell down the stairs and he took him to the hospital, he was there all yesterday and I stayed home just because. Its no big deal."

"Really?" He thought about that for a moment. "That sucks, huh?" Over his shoulder he doesn't see the man's car and asks. "Is he going to stay at the hospital again today?"

"No, this time he's picking Gai up to take home."

Pulling open one of the double doors to enter the school, Kiba holds it open for Sasuke to pass through before himself. "That's good, I hate the reading subs, they always call on me for some reason."

"Maybe that's because you sit in class making pencil mustaches."

..............

"I'm not a wheelchair man, ma'am." Gai says to the nurse from before. "I have crutches."

"Sorry, its policy that everyone whose stayed over night must leave in a wheelchair." Patting the seat she says. "Come on, have a sit, Gai-san."

Ready to push the issue, he smiles when Kakashi enters the room.

"Giving the nurses a hard time, that's not like you Gai."

"Being on time and earlier is not like you, Kakashi." He leans out of the kiss leaning his way, waving a hand to the man's put-out look. As Gai has said, sex before was only to see how Sasuke would react to it, he hasn't yet found his physical forgiveness towards his cheating husband, regardless his verbal kindness. Emotionally he can forgive but the breach of intimacy they share with one another will last for a bit- not too long- but a bit. "How are things at home?"

"Cold with patches of black ice on the road." He takes the handles on the chair into his hands. "Come on, Gai, the sooner I get you home the better I'll feel."

"That makes two of us." He sits down. Waving goodbye to the nurse, when they hit the hall he asks. "Sasuke at school?"

"Yup, dropped him off this morning. He seemed to be in a good mood until he realized that I was ignoring him."

Gai snickers. He really didn't think that Kakashi could set aside this affair with the teen soon enough to be so cold to him, but once again his lover and rival surprises him. "Can you believe they're making me leave like this? I'm perfectly capable of walking with the crutches." He looks at the unused aids sitting across his lap.

"I know, you're all man, you don't even feel that broken leg. Oops." He says when Gai grunts after having his busted leg pop gently into a chair that's placed against the wall. "See, you didn't feel a thing."

"I get it, I get it." Gai would kill to have something that reaches far enough to scratch his foot, but he'll worry about that once he's at home.

...................

Sasuke found himself in the hall during lunch, the receiver of a payphone in his hand, change in the other. The coin plinks into the machine then he dials the number to Kakashi's cellphone. He had a sneaking suspicion that the man was very mad at him, and aside from wanting to know why, he also wanted to see that Gai was all right.

"Hello?" Came Kakashi's monotone voice.

Sasuke could tell that the man was wondering who was calling him from the number that showed up on the cell, it was nice to have an element of surprise sometimes. "Kakashi, its me."

Suddenly the indifferent voice to the unknown caller dipped to one of almost distaste. "Sasuke, shouldn't you be in class?"

"Its lunch time, so I thought I'd call and see how Gai is doing." He waits a silent moment before speaking again. "Is he around, can I talk to him?"

"What?"

"Gai, is Gai around, can I talk to him?"

"I'm sorry, Sasuke; if you can hear me, I can't hear you- must be a bad connection. I'm gonna hang up, talk to you later."

"O-.." The phone went dead before Sasuke could get the rest of his response out. "kay." Hanging up the phone, he lets out a sigh. Turning his head toward the exit of the building, he considered walking out. What difference did it make anyway, school is over after a week in June, and what's one missed afternoon compared to all the days he's stayed. 'There's no testing going on.' His feet begin to move him towards the door. 'All the classes I actually will need in life are over.' His hand grabs the long bar of a single side to one of the double doors.

"Excuse me, youngman." Says a teacher from an empty classroom just a short ways back. "Where do you think you're going?"

He thought about saying something smart to her, but instead turned away from the door and headed to the cafeteria where he should have been; the woman's concerned, confused, questions follow his back. The day seemed to drag on and on that by the time the bell to actually leave sounded, Sasuke wasn't sure if it were real and started for his first class all over again. He's been thinking heavily about a lot of things that have been going on today and yesterday and has come to the conclusion that Kakashi is angry with him over their relationship and is going to kick him out. He didn't even know if the man planned to pick him up from school.

"Sasuke?" Zabuza called at the dazed teens side. "Swim practice, we're going into competition tomorrow, remember."

"Oh?" He forgot. "Right."

"Did you bring your suit?"

"Yeah."

The man side-eyed the teen for a second wondering what had gotten into the usually mellow male. He didn't question it, though, and walked with him to the school's pool.

* ** * **

Naruto is chomping on a thick cheese burger that he stopped off to get from McDonald's on his way home from school. There is nothing more delicious than a freedom snack, that was forsure. Swallowing each bite he voices it with a long winded "mmmm, so good!" He wasn't spoiling his dinner either, Naruto always had room for seconds and thirds. Maybe he should stop at that one shop and get a bowl of orange jelly, maybe the guy behind the counter will give him extra peach bits if he pleads well enough for them. Finishing his meal he crumples the paper wrapping then stuffs it into his pocket until he could come across a trash can to toss it. Intaking a deep breath through his nose, he lets it out with a pleased sigh. Humming, he then adds a few words to the song, singing them out loud.

"If it faaaalls catch it before it breeeaaks, I'll keep holding oooon at my paaace."

Passing by a poster of some kind, he sees the words: Have You Seen Me? written across the top of a picture that looked to be drawn. He's seen many missing posters before but this one was weird. It looked like a poorly drawn cartoon. Maybe a mix of a bull dog and a giraffe. Stopping before another one not too far away from the other, he looks the picture over. Maybe its a chicken of some kind, and a wild pig, he'd guess by looking at the nose.

"Weird to see people draw a picture of their pet." He says to himself, hand cupping his chin in thought. "Maybe if I walk around whistling the animal will come to me." His mind wanders to the thought of a spliced animal coming his way. He shivers knowing that he'd run for sure if anything like that poster came rushing towards him. Better to leave the matter alone.

* ** * **

Sasuke arrived at home after nearly drowning himself while trying to sort his thoughts out during swim practice. He had expected to hear Gai's happy voice coming from the living room or maybe the kitchen or bedroom, but instead he found the house empty. Looking around he checked for a note but found nothing.

'Hn. Don't tell me they didn't make it back from the hospital yet. Its not like them to not leave me a note.' He remembered the few times he'd come home late after school and found some sort of note telling him where they'd gone and when they'd be back. 'Its four o'clock, they didn't even stick anything in the oven for dinner. I guess I should wait for them then.' Removing his work books he digs into his homework assignments, glad that he isn't behind from the one day missed.

The clock ticked away and Sasuke made quick work of his schoolwork; the two men hadn't come back yet. Deciding to play some video games while he waited he realized that alone it just wasn't very entertaining and soon tired of it. Taking a seat on the couch he lays his legs across it, closing his eyes.

'I wonder if I should start to worry. Maybe I should call them?' He grabs the phone from the table beside the couch. Dialing the number he looks at the clock. 'Six.' Waiting out the ringtone, he smiles when the phone is answered. "Where are you?"

"We're on our way home. Where are you?"

"At home. Kakashi, you and Gai didn't get back from the hospital yet?" He asks with concern that maybe the car had crapped out on them or something gave them a hold-up.

"No, we came home." Kakashi's words are tight and clipped as they had been the previous day. "Gai and I decided to go out to eat to celebrate his getting out of the hospital."

"And you didn't wait for me?"

"How did we know if you had to stay after school or not?"

"You have my schedule."

"That's right." The man said thoughtfully.

Sasuke didn't appreciate the lack of apology for leaving him out; Kakashi didn't even seem to care. "Can I speak to Gai?"

"Gai."

Listening as the phone is being passed he smiles and greets the man. "Hey, are you feeling all right?"

"Top notch, thank you."

"That's good. Maybe you'll be back on your feet in no time."

"Maybe is so vague, I'll give myself a good rest of the month before I scream to have this cast removed."

Sasuke chuckled. At least Gai is acting normally. "Can you guys bring dinner home for me if you don't feel up to cooking anything. I might end up burning down the kitchen if I try to cook something on my own."

"How would you benefit from that? You're a big boy, figure it out." Gai hangs up shortly after that.

"Figure it out?" He cocks a brow. Hanging up the phone, he looks down at the couch with a heavy heart. "Its true then, they do want me gone. They figure keeping me is too much of a hassle and pain, they were kind to me before by talking all this nonsense about futures and parties, anniversaries from when I came to live with them. And now they've just changed their minds and plan to send me away. At least they have enough sense to feel bad about it, they can barely stand talking to me because of their betrayel." Looking up into the kitchen entry way, he sighs. "Guess I'd better try my hand at cooking." Getting off the couch he walks toward the kitchen. "They wouldn't let me burn the house down, they'll no doubt supervize. I really should learn how to cook on my own anyway."

...............

"See ya, Neji."

The older male waved a hand to his exiting friend. Naruto had to visit the guy, he hadn't been out of the house after school in days, Naruto was starting to think that he had been in some kind of trouble but Neji had only started taking lessons in French because he plans to study abroad next year and it was occupying all of his free time. Naruto couldn't image going to school in another country, what would people be like? He was sure he'd have a great time but after so long he'd miss his friends back home and sometimes letters and visits back aren't enough. True, he had to be educated enough for that sort of thing as well, so chances of it happening for him were slim as it was.

"Isn't that the blond kid from before?"

Naruto heard the sentence before he saw the person who had spoken it. Turning his head he jumps from start as two men come rushing at him. He won't be caught so easily. Taking off he darts between this ally and that to escape his persuers.

"Wait!" They called out after him.

"Go around the other side." Said a deeper tone than the first one.

'Crap, they're gonna block me in! Neji doesn't even live in a bad neighborhood, so why is this happening to me?!' He grunts before falling onto his back after being chopped in the neck before he could turn the corner.

The two men grabbed him, pinning him to the ground by his arms. He wriggled and bucked.

"Let me up! Heeelp! Heeeelp!" He cried out, hoping that someone would come to his aid. Maybe he could get a hand free and beat them up. Its been a while since he's been in a drag out fight, but he was sure he could hold his own. There's only two of them after all. "I'll beat you both to a pulp if you lay one hand on me!" His tough words falter as he adds. "Well... beyond what you're doing to me right now."

"Calm down, kid. We just wanna ask you something, nn."

Suddenly a light illuminates the growing darkness, further shadowing his captors faces but highlighting that ugly poster he had seen earlier with the animal.

"We saw you before when you came to the factory, do you know where this boy is- and think hard about it."

"Kid? That thing is a kid?" He continues to struggle. "It looks more like a chimera of mostly pultries."

"I told you it was ugly." Said the deeper voice.

"Shut up! Its fine!"

"The person in this picture is named Uchiha Sasuke. Do you know where he is?" Asks the other man, tone serious, almost bone breaking should Naruto say, 'no'.

"Sa- Sasuke? Who wants to know?" He put on a tough voice. No one is going to hassle him out of information just so they can instead pick on his friends. It just wasn't going to happen. They could torture him if they dared, but he wouldn't talk no matter what they said.

"His brother, Uchiha Itachi."

Except that.

....................

Sasuke had gotten it wrong again. When Gai and Kakashi returned home, all smiles and happiness with each other, they said little to him before heading into their bedroom. Maybe he should talk to them, ask them- no, beg them to stay! How can they be so cold as to get him all false hoped and let him down? Damn it all.

Heading upstairs, he knocks on their bedroom door. Waiting for an answer, he wonders when that had started and instead just turns the knob and heads in. "We need to talk." He says firmly, closing the door behind him.

And talk they did, it went on for a good hour and forty minutes until Sasuke was reassured that the two men weren't planning on putting him back out on the streets again. He was still unsure of where their attitudes came from; Gai could be upset about how his broken leg will keep him inactive for a while and Kakashi, well, Kakashi could be beating himself up for sleeping with him and the guilt has finally won over the whole pleasure endusing situation. He can give him space, he needs a breather himself, actually. This whole, out-on-the-streets scare still has his insides turning as he climbs into bed, pulling the covers only half up since its been warm all day.

June 17th.

Naruto is kepping a secret. He's keeping the secret that he's seen Sasuke's brother- if that statement were true- until he decides how Sasuke feels about it. He managed to get away from the two men by telling them that he didn't know where Sasuke lived, but he could find out and so far he's managed to buy a good enough amount of time as he thought of what to do. On one hand that guy could have been telling the truth, in which case Sasuke would want to go and live with him- wherever that may be- and he might not get to see him again. On the other hand, the guy could be some weirdo off the streets looking to hurt Sasuke in someway, and for that reason he kept his mouth shut about it. Sasuke's proud, he'd wanna seek the male out if he were some creep that came calling for trouble, he'd never just hide out. But asking Sasuke has been a challange because Sasuke has been in a foul mood since May ended and June began.

Right now the small group is at the mini market gathering snacks and things for a daylight camping trip in the woods. They planned to do it after school had ended but with Sasuke going to swim practice and meets it was hard to get in the right time for all of them to be together. Naruto fell behind in his steps so that he and Sasuke are walking at the same speed; luckily, Sasuke is so caught up in his thoughts that he's walking considerably slower than everyone else.

"Sasuke?" He started when the addressed jumped causing him to jump as well. "Are you all right?"

"Thinking."

"About?"

"Stuff."

" What kind of stuff?"

Sasuke shrugged, a far off look in his downcast eyes.

"Sasuke, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Your brother... what does he look like?"

"Why do you care?" His monotone carries a bit of anger in it now.

"I just wanna know!" He waves his hands defensively. "I'm not starting a fight or saying anything, just asking."

Sasuke thought about it. But it was hard to see him, a little bit. Its been years and all he can see of the male is his long hair. "He has long hair, he usually wears it in a ponytail."

Naruto thinks about that. Both men had long hair from what he could see as they spoke barely under a street light, once the weirdos let him up. They were at least nice in that sense; he really thought that they intended to beat him up, but as the blond one said they only wanted to talk. To ask about Sasuke. "Oh... what color?"

"Black."

"Oh."

They're silent a moment.

"Naruto?"

"Hm?"

"Am I..." His words trail off starting again with another sentence. "Do you think I'm irritating?"

Naruto smirks at that. "Yes." Seeing the hurt look in Sasuke's eyes he adds. "But what guy isn't with something that they do that other guys don't." Seeing that that didn't seem to help he goes on. "When I was younger I sort of... well, Shikamaru once told me that if a boat were lost at see and the light house didn't help them, my voice could bring them to shore if they followed my screech."

Sasuke smiled faintly. Naruto must have been a nightmare to listen to when he was younger, if his tone now was any indication. But he likes Naruto's voice, its distinctive.

"Why do you ask?"

"After Gai broke his leg, He and Kakashi have been treating me like an outsider, like I'm not even there." He says quietly but not so the others don't hear him, but because saying it outloud always seemed to make it hurt more than keeping it in. "They've been eating without me, going places without saying to where, they didn't even want me at the hospital when Gai got his cast removed."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing that I know of.... beyond that." He can call it 'that' and know that Naruto knows what he means.

"I see. Maybe... maybe you should apologize for it. It couldn't hurt."

"And it couldn't help. What if that isn't why Gai is mad at me, and then I only end up hurting him more by bringing it up? I haven't been-.." He caught his raised voice lowering it. "doing that since it stopped when you asked me too." He lied unintentionally, but that time when he'd stayed home from school Naruto doesn't need to know about. It was then that Sasuke's thoughts travel back to when he was in the hospital with Gai and Kakashi the first time and what he'd whispered to the man. "That's it. I know what the problem is! I'm so stupid!"

"I've been saying that for months!" Kiba called from somewhere up ahead.

Naruto chuckles at that feeling a hand come down on his shoulder, he looks at Sasuke with confusion.

"I have to go apologize to Gai, take my stuff for me. I'll catch up with you guys when I can."

Taking the pile of junk into his arms, Naruto nods. "Okay. Good luck."

"Thanks." He was going to need it.

Leaving the group, he hurries back the way they came, hoping that his roommates or at least that Gai was at home so he could talk to him.

"Long, black hair, huh? Then he must be telling the truth." With a nod, he takes out his cellphone. 'I'll do the right thing, then. But I'll tell them to meet me somewhere so that I can ask them about Sasuke.' Looking ahead, he calls out. "Sorry you guys, but I have to take care of something. I'll catch up with you later!"

"Alright." Says Shikamaru.

"So much for traveling together." Kiba mutters before whistling the mining song from Snow White.

Handing over his stuff to Shino, Neji, and Lee- since he had Sasuke's on top of that, he then darts away to make it back into the main part of the city.

..................

When Sasuke got home, he thought that the house was empty but light footsteps sound from upstairs coming from where his bedroom is. Heading up the stairs, the hairs on his neck prickling for some reason, he steps lightly down the hall so not to disturb the person rummaging through his bedroom. Reaching for the knob he gives it a slow turn but shoves it quickly open.

"Gai?"

The man is sitting on his bed, journal in hand. He doesn't seem the least bit bothered that Sasuke is standing in the doorway, or that he had said his name to get his attention. He just turned to the next page reading quietly before speaking. "It seems you've been doing a lot of things that I've been unaware of, Sasuke." He closes the book.

Walking into the room, he holds out a hand for the book that unwillingly shared his private thoughts with another persons eyes. "I came to apologize, not fight. So please, let's not have it turn out that way."

Gai snickers. "I've always liked that about you, you're very mature for your age. Which is more than I can say about someone who is actually mature but makes childish, impulsive decisions like screwing a teenager."

"Why continue to love him if he's hurt you?"

"Its because of you that he's chosen to hurt me, that much I know. I don't blame you, Sasuke, but that doesn't let you off the hook for having me fall down the stairs."

"I'm sorry about doing that, and for saying that it should have been your neck at the hospital." He can't help but feel static in the air, like he'll be beaten or jumped from behind. Its just too still.

"Are you?"

"Yes. I... I was speaking out of my feelings for Kakashi, I set aside how I feel about you when I said it and for that I'm sorry. I do love you Gai, maybe even more than Kakashi-..."

"That doesn't make me feel better and it doesn't erase the situation." Gai interrupts.

"I know, but I'm still sorry for doing it. I care about you, and I never want to see you hurt again."

"Until another flare up over Kakshi makes you do it." He hands over the book to the teen when he's close enough to reach it. "I read it all, even the part where you 'accidentally' got Lee hurt. Lee.... who's done nothing to you, and all so you could be alone with Kakashi."

Sasuke lowers his eyes, nodding.

"I want you to tell him what you've done and why, then apologize to him with sincerety."

Sasuke looked shocked by that. Why tell Lee? Why tell anyone, does he really want this to get out? Although, what does it matter to Gai what a few bratty kids know about the situation, in the end its He, Sasuke, that has the shame put on him. Not Gai. Sasuke is embarrassed already. To have people looking at him in a certain way over something as.... "But..."

"Will you not do it? You said that you're sorry to me, if you mean that then let your actions speak it. Let your own self judgement be the deciding factor of how I take your apology, Sasuke."

"What?"

"If you choose not to do this to yourself, to feel ashamed of your actions, then we have nothing more to say to each other and you have to go. But, if you can do that... then I'll forgive you of everything. You're a good person, Sasuke; young, but good. I don't want to see our friendship fall because of embarrassed pride. I can be forgiving, but I can also be very cruel. So which will it be?"