Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Taking Your Life Back ❯ Come to Terms: Face the Facts ( Chapter 20 )

The next morning, I awoke to cramps in my back, seeing as a certain someone had fallen asleep on top of me and I was crushed into the couch springs, which were not at all comfortable. His sleeping face lay just above my shoulder, his hot breath quietly sending a tingling sensation through my nerves. I slowly brought my hands up to his chest to push him off, and as he blinked sleepy half-mast eyes, he rolled off with a loud groan of displeasure. I smiled.

 

“I'm sure you would have liked to sleep on me `til I disappeared into the couch all together,” I said. He glared, and I realized his eyes were lined with insomnia bags.

 

“...You know I wouldn't-”

 

“-Shush,” I interrupted, leaning over to kiss his temple. He blinked slowly, and I was certain that was all he could do in his state. He proceeded to fall back down to sleep, but my foot nudged him in the thigh. He groaned again and flipped onto his back to find myself in the privilege of seeing a half-ridden up shirt to expose his taut pale-as-paper stomach. And finding myself in the midst of uncomfortable air and a silent setting, I jerked down to lick it just below the belly button quickly before jetting out the door, followed closely by an angry and obviously shot-down Sasuke.

 

---

 

“...Why should I?” he asked. I clasped my hands together to beg.

 

“...Because you're my only hope!” I had hoped my pleading eyes would faze him even just slightly, but it didn't. He stared at me with as little emotion as possible, crossed arms resting across his chest like usual.

 

“Who says? Just go do it yourself, lazy ass.”

 

“It's not that I'm lazy it's just...Well, I'm not the greatest with the ladies!”

 

I heard snickering behind me, and I jerked toward the sound. Kiba was staring at me with his reddened face and a hand over his mouth. I sneered.

 

“...What's funny this time, huh?” I asked. Gaara blinked lightly at the man and waited for our private convo to continue in peace.

 

“...Dude, how can you not get the ladies?” he said, trying to hold a straight face. I glared in response.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“In 8th grade, Ino Yamanaka asked you out after stalking you for about 2 years. You turned her down, and now she's one of your best friends.”

 

“...Continue,” I called out, “That's only one.”

 

“10th grade, the girl named Tayuya hit on you like a pro. Her mouth was dirty, and you seemed to like it that way, but you turned her down anyway.”

 

“Two,” I reminded him. He huffed, continuing.

 

“Also 10th grade, a girl hit on you...I think her name was Kin. She used to threaten you, and after she asked you out and got rejected, she transferred schools.”

 

“Three.”

 

“Man, isn't that enough? Even Sakura had a little crush on you before Sasuke came along.”

 

I shivered at the thought of both of them. Kiba shifted.

 

“...Or...You could have liked...Naruto, maybe?”

 

Next thing I knew, my back felt like it was set on fire, and turning towards Gaara, I could see the flames of hell flashing in his little eyes. I gulped audibly and turned back at Kiba, who was now at the top of my hit-list.

 

“...Go away,” I growled. He took the hint quickly, scurrying away with cowardice, while I turned to the little bundle of fury before me. I could see his fists clench, and if it were just my eyes playing with me, his hair just got a little bit redder. I sighed and looked away from his angry eyes.

 

“...Yeah...I did have a little crush on Naruto...But it wasn't that big, and I didn't get attached as much as I did. He became one of my best friends, and at one point, I decided I wanted to tell him. He only smiled...He said it was nothing special, but he wasn't ready for that...”

 

I smiled a little, and Gaara's eyes flickered into nothing but a dull burn.

 

“...I didn't come back to school for a whole week after that. I felt so bad, I couldn't face him. Shameful, yes, but I wasn't a total coward. I got off my ass and Monday the next week, I brought a bouquet for him. Man, was he surprised. He kept stuttering and blushing all day...After a while, it just...Stopped, I guess. He started talking to me in a different tone, and I just went along with it. Soon, we had forgotten all about anything involving love.”

 

I blinked at him calmly, and his frown grew wider.

 

“...I'm hoping that answered any doubts, questions, and got you updated.”

 

“...It did,” he answered after hesitation, “and thanks.”

 

“Anytime.”

 

We stood there silently for a few moments before I fished out the handkerchief from my pocket. Holding it in front of me, he thrust forth his hands to take it. He took it with a flash of something unknown in his eyes, and as it left the recesses of my palms, I stuffed my hands back into my pockets. I looked away.

 

“...If she wants it back, give it to her.”

 

“...But don't you want to give it to her?” he asked quietly. I shook my head lightly.

 

“...No, you're her little brother, and I'm just another boy.”

 

I walked away, and after he looked over at me for a moment, unfolded the cloth to come upon the note I had put in there. He stared down at it for a long moment, but as I kept walking, I couldn't tell. But he kept staring at it, until I saw the light movement of refolding the cloth to hide the note. I smiled, and continued on my way the same as he.

 

I know you don't know me, and I don't know you, but I love you more than anything, and that's the truth, no matter how hard you try to deny it. I love you.

 

-Shikamaru

 

---

 

Every inch the convertible zoomed closer to school, the worse my stomachache got...And it was getting worse fast.

 

Sasuke glanced over at me before returning to the road.

 

“...You didn't have to go to school today, you know,” he said softly. I glared at him.

 

“And what, let you be bombarded with sobbing girls and stupid jerks? Pfft. I'm the one they want to kill, not you.”

 

“...I see,” he answered quietly. I curled slowly into myself as my body warned me of the abuse it'd be put through once I got to school. I was ready. Really, I was. But everything I had told myself was backfiring.

 

Maybe it's better if I don't love him.

 

The brake gave a small squeal as he parked it in his usual spot. The parking lot was empty, but we weren't late for class, or early. He looked at me, and I looked to him, silently asking the same questions.

 

“...Better get going then...” I nodded softly as I exited the car. He walked almost as slowly as I did, and I was walking pretty slowly. Now it was every step I took towards the building, my legs were set on fire repeatedly. My stomach hurt from nervousness, and as my legs burned, I claimed a sweat as well. He glanced over at me, but I didn't glance back. Then he reached down to hold my hand, and I grew steady. His pale cold fingers laced with my warm tan ones, and I found myself safe. We had stopped, now, as his other hand slowly went for my unoccupied one. It was also laced, and I stared up at the calming face of Sasuke. He leaned down to kiss me, a light touch to the lips, and press his forehead to my own. We stared at each other for what seemed forever until his lips barely moved.

 

“...Don't be afraid...I'll protect you.”

 

My eyes narrowed and he quirked a smile.

 

“...That's what you said last time.”

 

He shifted closer to me until we were flush together.

 

“And that's what I mean to do, so I will...Don't doubt me,” he whispered. I frowned.

 

“I do doubt you,” I whispered back. His smile grew wider.

 

“...Think what you like, but don't worry...Don't worry at all...”

 

He released a single hand to rub a thumb across my cheek, and I closed my eyes to revel in the soft feeling. His other hand slipped from mine to slither to the small of my back, where the fingers swirled in circles of comfort. I leaned into the ministration. My head against his chest, I could feel his faint heartbeat and the breath above my head, and I knew this love was alive. My hands knotted in his shirt, and his hands didn't stop moving. Blinking my eyes shut again, I spoke out.

 

“...I believe you...”

 

I could hear the smile in his voice as he replied.

 

“...So glad...”

 

Slowly did we make our way up the stairs and to the big doors of entrance. He gripped one handle, while I gripped another. But we were holding hands, still, as we flung open the big doors to see the faces behind, faces that held no remorse or sympathy, compassion or understanding. They held nothing in their eyes but horror, anger, and humor. I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

 

It was now or never.

 

---

 

A red paper was forced to my eyes, and I squinted in pain from the bright color it sported. I took it slowly and looked up to its owner, a bright grin interrupting the red tattoos trailing from his eyes down his cheek. His cat eyes twinkled.

 

“...What is this for?” I asked simply. I didn't feel like reading it, as the paper was still hurting my eyes.

 

“It's a DANCE, MAN!” he shouted. I scowled and turned my head in my folded arms.

 

“...I don't care, Kiba.”

 

He jumped a little to slide beside me in the desk. I grunted in displeasure as he reassured me.

 

“But dude, you can invite people from other schools! You can get that Temari girl you like!”

 

My eyes hardened on him as he spoke her name, and I turned away completely.

 

“...She barely even knows me,” I said. He pressed on.

 

“So? Get to know her! It's a dance, man. It's a way to get ladies, and in the mean time, perk them up with chatter. C'mon, you can't possibly turn this down.”

 

“I think I just did,” I replied stiffly. I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

 

“...Man, I just want to see you with a girl. Hanging with Naruto is really doing a number on your lady skills-”

 

I swung around to grab him by the collar and push him face down on the desk. He squirmed and mumbled loudly above the cement, as I held him there.

 

“...Don't you say a WORD about him, Kiba. I swear, if you don't stop talking about him like that, I'll personally make sure you can't produce offspring.”

 

He struggled, and his muffled voice shot out to me.

 

“Okay, okay! I give! I'm sorry! Just let go!” he screeched.

 

I let my hold go, and he jerked back into a sitting position, taking a deep breath. I glared at him before turning away.

 

“...I told you no, I meant no.”

 

He watched me for a moment before standing sharply and heading for the door.

 

“...That's too bad, because I already arranged it...”

 

My head shot up to stare at him widely. He didn't have a usual smile. He was frowning in a way I'd never seen. His eyes narrowed, and as he walked out the door, he finished.

 

“...Jerk.”

 

I was left alone in the empty classroom, as the class poured out to the lunch bell. Each one passing me glanced, just wondering how I could get the boy to frown. Did he threaten him? Did he insult him? Questions they could ask circled my thoughts, as I stared blankly at the door where Kiba had departed, likely to start up a fight or sulk off to the roof. Both, it left me sickened. He was just trying to help, and I had tossed him away. I would know how that feels, being Naruto's best friend...But I had never really done it myself. I slowly picked up my sickened self and trekked to the door only to fall into the sea of students that flowed the halls, the despair kicking in.

 

So this is how it feels...

 

---

 

Oy, Happy Halloween! Hope you all had a good one. Aha, I'm still allowed to go trick or treating x3 How old am I....14? HO-YEAH. And I'm gonna do it next year TOO! Ahaaa, are any of my reviewers still young enough to trick or treat? I'm going to do this until I'm 20 XD I got one good haul! Atleast, like 15 pounds! Yesssssss.