New Beginnings NOW COMPLETE

Naruto was still ignoring Sasuke.
He hadn't even acknowledged him since he'd gotten his clothes back. They sat on opposite sides of the fire.
Sasuke was staring at the blonde who was cheerfully chatting with Iruka and Sakura, Kakashi was attempting to read his book by firelight. This meant Sasuke had time to do his least favourite activity of late, thinking. He just couldn't get the moron out of his head. In a place where everything else had changed their relationship had become oddly.... comforting. Of course stealing his clothes and climbing into bed with him probably weren't the best way of showing his appreciation; but it was so much fun! His expressions were just too cute. Obviously he didn't like hurting him but... things were difficult. After it's not like Sasuke Uchiha could be gay.

Sasuke's eyes widened, had he even just considered that?
He slapped his forehead earning odd looks from everyone but Naruto who was still seemingly oblivious to his existence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kakashi asked softly.

"There's nothing to talk about," Sasuke growled, "It's not gonna happen and that's all there is to it!"

"Are you sure about that?" the jounin asked raising an eyebrow, "It looks like something is already happening. You've been staring at him ignoring you all afternoon."

"I have not," the Uchiha muttered, denying access to the blush that threatened to engulf his face.

"Fine whatever you say," Kakashi shrugged, "After all he's your boyfriend."

Sasuke tore the book from the man's hand, his sharingan activating automatically. "He's not my boyfriend," he said in a low dangerous tone.

"You'd better not have lost my page. I was just getting to the excellent part," Kakashi commented lazily. The brunette threw the book at him and glared into the fire.

"Moody bastard," the jounin muttered.

"I'm going to find some more wood," Sasuke said darkly as he left the clearing. Naruto visibly relaxed and let out a sigh, poking the fire with a stick. Iruka and Sakura exchanged glances. Should they be getting involved?

"Naruto can I talk to you for a second?" Iruka finally asked standing up.

The blonde sighed and followed him, they sat up in a nearby tree.
"Naruto what's wrong?" Iruka asked worriedly, looking their gazes.

"Why does something have to be wrong?" Naruto evaded, blushing.

"You've been ignoring him all afternoon," the teacher reminded him.

"And you've been avoiding Kakashi-sensei," the blonde replied somewhat smugly.

"Touché."

The reply startled Naruto and he almost fell out of the tree.
'Touché dobe, touché.'

"Arrgghh! Why does everything come back to him?!" Naruto almost wailed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Iruka asked gently.

"What, so he can be a moody bastard with problems but I can't? Why does everybody want to talk about everything? I'm so sick of all of you!" Naruto exploded.

The older man pulled back as if the words had been a physical blow.
"You don't have to talk Naruto. You just seemed out of sorts that's all..." he trailed off softly and slid down out of the tree, "But if you don't want to talk that's fine too."

"Iruka wait! I'm sorry I just... I can't think right now. Give me time to think things through first," the blonde explained from his seat in the tree. He couldn't physically follow and apologise at the moment, he had enough trouble apologising verbally. He ignored the overtures of peace and stayed where he was. His whole body was shaking and he had no idea why.

The ferocity of the outburst surprised Sasuke. The Uchiha had watched the event from nearby. As far as he knew the blonde had never spoken anything like that towards his father figure in his whole life. He felt incredibly bad knowing it was all over him but there really wasn't anything to be done about it. Unless of course he returned to how he always used to act. That could be the only real answer. His newfound sense of fun seemed to confuse everybody and his emotions only caused trouble. If he could manage to pretend he was the same ice prince they were all used to the others could return to a normal life where Naruto would never hurt Iruka like that ever again. And Sasuke would not have to deal with his new found emotions.
But spending the night in the tent together would test him.
He groaned, why did the perfect opportunity have to come up just as he decided to be a good boy? Hopefully they wouldn't have to sleep next to each other, there was only so much he could take. After all he's only human.

Luckily for Sasuke it was not to be.
"Ok we'll draw straws for duties, I have marked each one with a job to do. No cheating any of you!" Iruka told them.
They each picked a stick out of his hands and looked at it.

"Mine has a one on it," Sakura said.

"That means you have the first watch tonight, I've got the third watch, who has the second?" Iruka asked them looking around.

"I do," Sasuke said softly holding up his stick.

"Mine has a b on it, what does that mean?" Naruto asked him.

"That means you are on breakfast duty which must mean Kakashi is cleaning up after breakfast," Iruka explained cheerfully, "Now we'd better all get to bed. I'll have to sleep at one edge so I won't wake anyone when I have to go on watch, Sasuke you sleep on the other edge and Naruto you sleep next to me so I can wake you up for breakfast."

Both of the boys relaxed visibly at the turn of events.

“Well I’m going to go to sleep,” Naruto said, stretching rather theatrically, “Good night everyone.”
The blonde walked over to the tent and climbed inside, closing the fly screen behind him.

“I might turn in too,” Iruka said, “I’d better get some sleep before my watch, and so should you Sasuke.”
The teacher followed Naruto into the tent leaving the other three outside.

Kakashi sighed and walked around to the other end of the tent and went inside.

“Sasuke,” Sakura whispered gesturing the boy over. She waited until he was close before she said, “You won’t hurt him will you?”

The Uchiha looked surprised, “What do you mean?”

She stared down, “He’s not as tough as he seems and I just don’t want to see him hurt. He’s my friend too you know.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” the brunette asked flatly.

“I’ve seen the way you look at each other. And how you react to one another and I’m glad but I don’t want to see him hurt. He’s had enough of that,” she smiled a small smile at him, “Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to see you hurt either…”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” he told her stiffly. He walked off to the other end of the tent. He stopped and looked back, “Thank you for you concern though,” he said formally and ducked into the tent. She smiled.

The night passed peacefully and they made their way home silently. The tension was almost a sixth member of their little party. Sakura was forced to watch them all ignore each other and sighed. This was not as much fun as she had expected.
Sasuke glared at the world and said nothing, ignoring all of them.

Kakashi had tried to manoeuvre his way closer to Iruka but the other man had avoided him on every attempt until he had somewhat sadly given up on it.

Iruka stayed as far away from Kakashi as he possibly could, he stayed between Naruto and Sakura and every once in a while said something cheerful sounding to them.

Naruto was in his own little world. The Uchiha had been ignoring him, even after the blonde had ceased to ignore him. He was sick of the silence but didn’t really want to say anything. He didn’t know how to start with Iruka and Sakura seemed hesitant to bring anything up. So he walked. In silence.

Sasuke opened his locker, he had no idea how he was going to avoid Naruto all day. They had way too many classes together. He sighed inwardly. This was where some other friends would have come in handy.

“You know, purple is the colour of sexual frustration,” a voice observed from behind him as he picked up his purple bag.

“I know that annoying voice from somewhere,” Sasuke said glaring, “And not just my nightmares either.”

“Hello to you too,” the blue haired girl smiled, “I didn’t introduce myself last time. After all I figured what was the point seeing as I already knew your name. But I suppose you need a name to put with the nightmares.”

Sasuke chuckled and she offered her hand, “I’m Nico.”

“Sasuke,” he said taking her hand, “At least now I’ll know what to put on the headstone in my nightmares. You’re less annoying without a head.”

“So I’ve been told,” she said wryly.