The Restricted Section

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not own the basis for the story idea 'The Restricted Section.'


The Restricted Section
By 11


Chapter 11

"... Various small insects, spiders, flies, and the like. This is the diet for a typical gecko. This small reptile has also been known to eat bits of fruits as well as small worms on occasion. ..."

-From some science-y-or-geographic-magazine, Article 3A by Some-Guy WithHisNoseUpHisOwnAssNoDoubtAboutThat.

Sasuke perused the article with some disinterest, rolling his eyes; before turning to the identification index. Many of the gecko species seemed more dark colored brown or black or grayish even; some actually came from deserts.

Ed was a slightly greenish blue color, and the only picture even somewhat matching the colors Ed portrayed was that of the rainforest resident, Tokay. Hm, so then Ed; was in all likelihood; a Tokay Gecko with the prevalent blue color.

Well that was all well and good, but Sasuke had been sitting at this park now by the trashcan with a rotting banana peel for over 20 minutes and there was not a single fly for 200 miles.

Where did all the bugs go when he actually wanted them around? Sasuke could never figure that much out.

Ed however, was perhaps the only one of the pair that was decidedly unperturbed about not having an early dinner. He had already eaten quite thoroughly at Shino’s. In fact he had gotten at the ant farm and managed to eat every last member of the colony.

This was no doubt why Shino suddenly grew so much more desperate to be rid of the scaly insect/pet-eating monster with scales. Since then Ed had accustomed rather quickly to residence in Sasuke’s hair.

It was much softer than Shino’s which made it much easier to dart in and out from under the thick locks so as to sun himself and then crawl back under to protect himself from the cool drafts that so plagued the heads of humans.

It was all because their heads were up too high in the air. Would the response if one were to ask a professional opinion of the lizard.

“Fruits, flies, or worms…” Sasuke muttered again, dejectedly thinking of other places that he had encountered annoying insects. Other than the park, near trashcans; where he was without a single insect in sight.

“Fruit it is.” Sasuke decided. He was bored, and it didn’t really matter if the lizard had to put up with fruit for a few days anyway, right? How much protein could it possibly get from a bunch of bugs anyway.

Ed’s threaded feet latched down with it’s body close to Sasuke’s head as the host critter began to move at a brisk pace away from wherever it had been stationed so wonderfully still for so long. And Ed had wanted to sun a bit more!

It was so nice to sit in the sun at the top of the soft dark hair, especially in that one crook before the softness gave way to skin that sloped downward – which would be the human’s face no doubt.

The top part where Sasuke’s bangs parted had already become a favorite sitting spot for the gecko; the hair on either side preventing most light drafts and not blocking the sun at all from any angle.

Then the sun was gone entirely! No where did it go! Oh, right; the inside. Shino had something like this too but… um. Okay, where’s the food? It used to be flying all over the place; why was this human-home so bare and lack of food?

Sasuke sighed as he walked over to the counter and picked out a can of mandarine oranges; those would be soft enough for the gecko to eat. Geckoes didn’t have teeth after all, did they.

No, they did not; just those powerful snapping jaws that could only damage an insect and possibly a fingertip if the lizard in question really, really tried. Sasuke reached up to scoop the tokay into his palm to move him to the counter to see about eating bits of fruit.

Ed sniffed the fruit tentatively before shaking his head and turning away, he pondered climbing over the counter; it wasn’t that far; and if he made it to the floor there might be a table he could climb up with an ant farm on it.

“No way.” Sasuke muttered, scooping up the gecko and putting it back over by the fruit; “If you want to eat, you eat this. There isn’t anything else.”

Ed seemed to glare up at Sasuke balefully. Sasuke’s dark eyes narrowed slightly at the lizard; “I’m not ‘trying’ to be insensitive this time.”

Yeah, ‘this’ time. It wasn’t like he wanted to be callous to others; he was human; he was capable of empathy… somewhere.

The lizard seemed to quirk it’s head in skeptic question and Sasuke scowled. “It’s just too easy to do; I mean look at how spoiled you’re being!”

The gecko turned its head as if to ‘hmph’ and then ignore him. Sasuke felt a stab of anger and quickly cooled it off – what was he doing arguing with a lizard with no sentient thought anyway? He was talking to ‘himself’ here!

“Whatever, it makes me too much like him. I don’t want to be like him, we’re totally separate people anyway.” Sasuke grumbled, forgetting about the oranges and the stubborn gecko, which possibly wasn’t even hungry in the first place.

Ed looked back at him, wide lugubrious eyes staring intently, questioning. It was almost comical and Sasuke felt the tug of a smile; they were such wide innocent eyes. He remembered eyes like those – but they were blue, gorgeous, and full. They radiated light wherever they gazed.

No. He was over moping; it was pointless to dwell on it. He had to put it behind him; focus on moving forward, somehow. “Who? Just my stupid brother.” Sasuke shook his head, Ed was still staring at him.

“Don’t worry, Ed. I won’t make you eat your fruits; but you’ll get hungry sometime.” Aw, and the little critter’s eyes just got that much wider. “Tomorrow I’ll go buy a can of worms, okay.”

For a moment the lizard blinked and seemed to consider the thought before it nosed at the fruit and tentatively bit off the end and swallowed it. The yellow of the pulpy fruit could be seen at the sac of the lizards neck as it slid down into its gullet.

Sasuke probably made a mistake opening a whole cane; looked like maybe one or two of those small bits would be enough to last the picky eater all day.

`

It was one of those rare days; when someone that generally didn’t frequent Tsunade’s diner on Green Street showed up for lunch. Sure she’d called ahead, but still; that was a common courtesy. She’d only called an hour or so before she waltzed in.

“So has Sui already told you guys about what happened Hebi last weekend?”

“There was a huge mess when Jugo took the dance floor; he had three girls on each arm or something, right?” Temari mused; Suigetsu had probably said something about that last time she’d seen him, but she didn’t remember the details.

No one remembered the gory little bits of information like Karin did. “That’s right, and one of the girl’s was the girlfriend of this big guy who was totally smashed at the time,” Karin started to regale.

“He totally pissed Jugo off; I mean he was really drunk. Even ‘I’ didn’t know some of the words he used.” And she did seem genuinely shocked that she was no aware of every single profanity in existence.

“It turned into a brawl; you know how Juju gets sometimes.” The dark-haired girl waved her hand, “He might have killed the guy, ruined the night for me and Sui; since we had to stop him before he murdered him and get him away before the cops got there.“

“Don’t even ask me who phoned the cops to crash a club; I don’t know which brain dead bimbo did that.” Karin sneered, “But I bet it was probably that sleazy girlfriend of the stupid drunk jerk.”

“Jugo seems to cause messes at parties a lot.” Hinata noted.

“He’s just so damn big.” Karin shrugged, “A lot of guys feel like they have to be mean to him to make themselves feel bigger; and Jugo isn’t that great and just letting things go. I mean, he used to be a pro-wrestler come on!”

“Can’t blame the two-timing tramps though; he is a nice piece of man meat.” Karin grinned to herself, finishing off her pasta salad.

“Don’t let Suigetsu hear you say that;” Temari advised, “If it was me, I’d dump you for blasphemous thinking.”

Karin shrugged, and then her dark eyes looked up; glittering with something wicked. She leaned forward conspiratorially. “So, word is on the street that Sasuke got dumped;” Karin confided, “by a bombshell – that true?”

Temari frowned; of course Karin would inevitably steer the conversation towards Sasuke; he was her obsession – the one that got away.

For Karin, Sasuke was the only one who wouldn’t date her. Or rather she was the only girl he wouldn’t date; but that was back when her hair looked like she cut it with a lawn mower.

“I’m thinking it likely is true. You know he hasn’t been to a single party or club in almost four weeks? That’s almost a month! You’d think he’s in mourning for his mother or something.” Karin confided.

“Speaking of mourning, have you seen Neji around?” Hinata asked, artfully changing the subject.

“Yeah, it’s around finals. He usually gets so stressed; he making the dorm into a morgue again this year?” Temari asked.

“No idea, I am glad to report!” Karin grinned, “I switched dorms this semester! I am not putting up with that grouch yelling at us to turn down the music because he’s studying the same text for the 53rd time again; just ‘cause he’s a total perfectionist spaz!”

“Yeah, I think he has another study night tonight too.” Hinata mused, half to herself; half as input to the conversation.

“Oh lovely.” Temari shook her head. Thankfully her Hinata wasn’t that spastic about things. The girl may be a bit fastidious in her work, but she wasn’t so obsessed that her and Temari couldn’t go enjoy themselves when they had time.

Karin frowned suddenly. The door to the diner opened behind her, “Hey, you guys changed the subject-!” she started before she was interrupted by the exuberant youth that entered the diner.

“Joy! The universe has been returned to its natural state!” Shino practically glowed; three pairs of female eyes watched him with growing curiosity. “I am here to report what I previously thought impossible!”

“What?” Karin asked, her voice sharp; this jerk had interrupted her after all. “What is it, bug boy?”

“Well act like that and I’m not telling you.” Shino crossed his arms.

“Fine. So leave.” Karin suggested, huffily.

“No no! Shino, we haven’t seen you all week! Tell us what happened. Something good?” Hinata asked excitedly; something to make even Shino happy given his current pet-circumstances; had to be pretty fantastic.

“I finally got all my colonies back in order! Thanks to Sasuke and no-Ed.” Shino beamed happily. It had taken him the better part of the week but his fly colony was now fully functional and his ant farms had been re-cultivated as well.
Sasuke and no-Ed… uh…

“Sasuke? What happened to Ed? What do you mean no Ed?” Hinata asked, refusing to assume the worst.

Maybe the gecko had died of entirely natural causes… like food poisoning.

“A few days ago, Sasuke agreed to take care of Ed.”

Oh no.

“You’re kidding; Sasuke now has the lizard for his pet?” Karin asked, this new bit of gossip slightly more shocking than that rumor she had heard about the player being played.

”That’s right!” Shino grinned, exceedingly happy with himself. Finally his house was back to the way it was before Ed so rudely intervened into his lifestyle and house.

“Oh… Sasuke agreed to take care of Ed?” Hinata now knew what was meant by ‘take care of’ but still… shocking, but still a relief.

“Wow, that is unheard of…” Temari breathed; she didn’t quite look as shocked as Hinata felt; and the pale-eyed girl wondered if her own surprise registered so indistinctly on her own face as well. The door to the diner opened again; that soft ring.

“So you changed the subject? Did Sasuke or did Sasuke not get dumped?!” Karin pressed her attention shifting easily from Shino back to the girls once he joined them at the table.

“Why so curious Karin?”

The girl whipped around, and Temari and Hinata both gave a start before looking up at the onyx-eyed youth. Shino grinned up at him from his chair. Sasuke arched a single fine eyebrow at the dark-haired girl.

Karin grinned and adjusted her glasses, a bit anxiously; she hadn’t expected Sasuke to walk right up then. “So Sasuke, is it true you were dating some hot blond for about a month prior to your sudden disappearance from all things social?”

“Obviously you didn’t commit suicide; so was it that you were dumped or did she just cut off your balls like a lot of guys seem to think?” Karin asked, apparently serious.

Temari’s eyes widened slightly and she glanced at Sasuke. Even if it were her she’d have slapped Karin for that. The girl could be so tactless! Sure some of the crazy horror stories about Sasuke were true - but not all of them!

Sasuke’s mouth seemed to work over a few words without spitting them out. A normal outburst a few weeks ago may have been something along the lines of : “Get lost Karin you little four-eyed creepy-ass bitch. No one wants to hear that putrid shit that spews from your mouth.”

Therefore you can imagine the general surprise of something civil falling from the youth who so obviously wanted to scream profanities. “Well Karin if it is any consolation to the female species; I am not, and never was, a eunich. Go find a better rumor; these are awful.”

Karin’s grin grew impossibly wider and her ruby lips pulled back over white teeth; she laughed and then stood up. “Wow, I do believe you’re warming up to me finally; aren’t you Sasuke?”

Not on your life four-eyed monster!

“Not at all; I could never do that to Sui.” Sasuke bit out, sliding into the newly vacated seat next to Shino. Karin frowned, obviously thinking she could get Sasuke to go with her somewhere else, other than the diner; but she was of course mistaken.

The dark-haired girl pursed her lips and turned to the other two girls, before she picked up her purse to leave; “Well it was nice talking with you; I have to go to lab in a half hour anyway.” She headed for the door, waving to Temari and Hinata, “I’ll call you later.”

“Yeah,” Hinata agreed. The girl meant well; she was just a gossip queen and didn’t often have a lot of tact as far as making people angry or upset with her.

It never did figure how Suigetsu managed to be so patient with her, but go figure. Karin was still a nice girl on the whole.

“Later!” Temari called before the door to the diner opened and swung shut signaling the girl’s departure.

“You okay Sasuke?” Hinata asked. Sasuke hadn’t let it show; but surely that subject was still fairly touchy to him, wasn’t it?

“No, I’m fine. A bit ‘annoyed’.” He stressed the word, glaring after Karin, before facing back to the table, “But I’m okay. It’s not like I want to bash her head in at least.”

“Yes gratuitous violence is never the answer.” Temari shrugged.

“Unless it’s a video game!” Shino pitched earning him a hard look from the blond female. “What?” he cowered, leaning back against the chair. As long as it was away from Temari’s withering gaze.

“Anyway; that is an improvement.” Hinata agreed, ignoring Shino entirely. “Ah my malt!”

“Here you are.” Shizune smiled as she set the malt the girl ordered down; she glanced at Sasuke with a frown, but decided not to comment. No doubt Tsunade would have; but that was why Shizune was busing the tables right now and not the blond woman.

“You have Ed with you?”

“Yeah he’s right here,” Sasuke poked beneath the strands on the left side of the top of his head, and the tiny lizard twitched away from the intrusive hand, raising its head to blink blearily about – it was in the middle of it’s nap. Why disturb it?

“Aw! That is so cute!” Hinata cooed, as she swirled her spoon into her malt, pale eyes regarding the lizard like it were the sweetest little keychain in a novelty store.

“But he wasn’t cute when he was in my hair?” Shino wondered.

“Shino, ever consider it was your hair and not the gecko that scared her that time?” Temari asked, with a light smirk; not at all serious in the content of her words.

“It’s just he looks so comfortably with Sasuke! And his hair is so glossy so Ed looks kind of like a sea coral hair piece or something.” Hinata mused.

“So you think it looks like jewelry?” Sasuke asked, un-amused, as his hand reached across the table for Hinata’s malt. The cherry was still sitting right on top; a perfect target, he was practically conditioned to steal.

Sasuke’s hand paused half-way there; out of the corner of his eye he caught Hinata’s lamenting gaze. She wouldn’t stop him, but she didn’t want him to. Sasuke’s hand drifted past the malt to the straw receptacle. He pulled one out.

“Use a straw, you always use a spoon.” Sasuke offered, feeling lame; and drawing back his hand as soon as possible. That would have been a nice recovery except that there was no way anyone could use a straw for malts – spoon required.

Hinata just sat a bit surprised regarding the straw Sasuke gave her and the small red cherry still sitting beautifully untouched on top of her malt. “Thanks, Sasuke.” She accepted, not giving him room to feel embarrassed.

No doubt Temari caught on; she wasn’t sure about Shino though; it was possible, it just depended on what he was paying attention to a moment ago. It did surprise her though, and she smiled to herself.

She glanced up at Sasuke after she put the straw in her malt – even if she used the spoon, the straw made a nice decoration. Pondering on the significance of that; and the embarrassed darkening of Sasuke’s cheeks Hinata could have giggled with happiness.

Sasuke; embarrassed – just like a regular person; he was really trying. Sasuke was trying to become a nicer person…

“You know Karin, said you actually haven’t shown up at any clubs or parties lately,” Temari mused, “It almost sounds like you’re turning into a hermit.”

“I’ve been abstinent for a while; so what?” Sasuke shrugged. As if it wasn’t a big deal. No it wasn’t a normal change; it wasn’t gradual; he was making a conscious effort to do certain things. To not do others – it was entirely because of Sasuke and his will alone.

Hinata smiled to herself again as she ate the cherry off her malt. “You been okay, though?”

“I’m going okay.” He answered, nodding slightly; so as not to disturb Ed who had finally nestled down into a nest of hair and started dozing again.

“That’s good.” Temari smiled lightly, taking a drink of her soda. Sasuke looked at the food on the table and frowned. He glanced back at the counter; Tsunade wasn’t there; probably somewhere in the back.

If he wanted t get food here, he had to hurry before Tsunade came back out and decided he didn’t deserve to be fed. “I’m going to get some food; and then I have to run to Physics. I’ll see you guys.”

Shino started slightly as Sasuke got up and glided away over to the counter to order some food from Shizune. “Wait, he’s attending classes now too?”

“That so surprising?” Hinata wondered.

“Well, Physics? The only reason he even went to the art classes, before at least, was to hit on the models.” Shino shrugged. “I think… he’s forcing himself.”

“He’s trying, it’s a conscious effort; I don’t know if it’s really a matter of ‘forcing himself’ or not.” Temari shrugged and returned to her fries. “Maybe he’s trying to make himself into a better person.”

“Hope he succeeds.” Hinata said fondly, a light smile touching her mouth as Sasuke thanked Shizune and headed for the door; Ed still perched somewhere on his head under dark locks.

Shikamaru and Sasuke passes each other at the door, with barely two words between them as Sasuke hurried out and Shikamaru stalked in. Oddly enough the normally lethargic and lazy youth had a happy tilt to his head and bounce in his movement.

“Well don’t you look like the cat that got the canary.” Shino noted somewhat amazed. “I thought you were still in distress about that blow to your not-so-full-now wallet a while ago.”

“That was then,” Shikamaru nearly grinned as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a pair of manilla envelopes and set them on the table. “This is now. Temari, Hinata, it’s your share. I already deducted 20% each for my painful position on this account.”

“$160?” Temari wondered at the bills. “What for?”

“Me too.” Hinata considered the bills, “What is-?”

“I got back my $180 as well.” Shikamaru seemed smug.

“$500 total,” Shino wondered. What was going on? Shikamaru handing out cash? But he’s always such a- …. OH!! “Naruto gave the money back.” Shino breathed. Shikamaru did not contradict him.

“Naruto?” Temari asked aloud, in shock. HInata’s wide pale eyes reflecting her friend’s feeling.

“No way,” Hinata whispered, fingering the bills again. The crease in the middle didn’t come from Shikamaru’s wallet though. “He didn’t take the money… then?”

Temari suddenly laughed aloud, “So he really did feel like a whore about it.” She laughed to herself. “See Shika, no reason to worry about losing the cash. It came back.”

Suddenly the girl at her side was gone, rushing out the door. Hinata’s malt wasn’t even a fourth gone. “Hey. Hinata?” Temari called after her, but the dark-haired girl was already out the glass doors sprinting down the sidewalk.

“What was that?” Shino wondered aloud. Well Shikamaru’s mood was ruined now; and Temari was just plain puzzled.

Hinata could see Sasuke just at the next block, he was going to head across at the next signal. She called out to him, but she was too far away. But every step brought her closer.

Naruto didn’t keep the money. He gave it back, all of it. It didn’t even matter that Shikamaru didn’t distribute it fairly. Naruto didn’t keep it. What did that mean? It didn’t necessarily mean anything really.

She didn’t really know why since it probably didn’t mean anything really. But somehow Hinata felt this was very important that Sasuke knew. Because, possibly, it meant that whatever Sasuke and Naruto had wasn’t an entirely baseless relationship.

Just maybe.

“Sasuke!!”

He looked up this time and stopped at the corner to wait as Hinata caught up to him. He glanced at his watch as she came up to check the time he had until his class.

“Naruto didn’t take the money.”

Sasuke seemed to stiffen, but it didn’t matter to Hinata that she had used his name. It was only important that Sasuke know. “What?” Sasuke asked, his voice slightly constrained, as if he wanted to start shouting at her. A testament to his will perhaps.

“Naruto, he didn’t take the money; he gave it back. I just saw it; Shikamaru brought it in just now,” Hinata gasped out all at once. “Naruto didn’t take the money.”

Sasuke’s eyes looked incredulous a moment considering, thinking, reflecting. Then it was as if all the previous tension drained from his body. He breathed out and stared at Hinata; still trying to catch her breath.

“Thanks Hinata.”

Hinata let her body fall forward to her knees now, trying to better suck air into her lungs. Sasuke would have gone on then. But then she thought too soon. She voluntarily stood back up when Sasuke came forward to her closing the short distance between them.

He caught her body in a warm embrace, instantaneous, and short. No sooner had she realized Sasuke was hugging her than he was gone hurrying across the street before the light changed.

Hinata looked after him in a light daze, from the sprint, from the shock and from the pleasant scent of soap and snow.

Hinata breathed in deeply, her breath and mind returning to her as she watched Sasuke vanish into the crowd. Sasuke had hugged her, an act of honest affection where a few weeks ago he was calling her names and refusing to acknowledge her as a friend.

Even before that he used to treating her as less than a person, one who occasionally crossed his path. So him she was more of a wall ornament than a living being. He had changed; but he hadn’t.

Many things were the same, but small things were subtley shifting away from how he once had been. Hinata smiled to herself, and looked after him until he was gone from her sight, before she turned to head back to the diner.

She sincerely hoped that things worked out for Sasuke, for him and that adorable blond male she now saw so seldom.

`

Physics had let out earlier, and homework would be dealt with closer to midnight than the time of now.

This situation left Sasuke walking the streets with no general purpose; other than the idle thought that sometime that week he might want to buy a can of worms from the fish shop. Or crickets; they sold a jar of those somewhere too didn’t they?

Live crickets? The chirpy ones that were a totally unnecessary creature only there to keep people awake at night during summertime? Yeah, those.

So absorbed was Sasuke in the thoughts of the creepy and the slimy that he neglected to realize that his reputation, or possibly just his appearance, was being upbraided by every passerby noticing the little blue lizard on his head.

They pointed, they stared, they gaped, and wondered; and no one could come up with an answer as to why a perfectly attractive youth was walking around downtown with a lizard perched on his head and in his hair.

Ed of course had no concept or real care as to the thoughts of the humans; instead he was quite happy to pleasantly sun himself on Sasuke’s hair and if that meant he got to sit at the top and was awake to look around; it was on no account of his that Sasuke looked foolish.

Now Sasuke was aware he had a gecko on his head; how could he not? He could feel the little reptile every time it moved near his scalp. But like Ed he didn’t really care too much at this point and of course he was busy thinking about bugs and where to get them other than Shino’s flat.

It was only the singular flash of gold that startled Sasuke from this stupor.

Naruto.

Dark eyes shot up towards the color. The blond was only a block away, heading up the opposite side of the street at a leisurely pace. His eyes were vacant and his features lax. He hadn’t seen Sasuke, but the darker-haired youth had seen him.

Already Sasuke’s heart began a steady thumping against his ribs. His body was frozen, immobile in indecision. Should he ignore that he had seen him, or should he go to him? Would he be hurt again if he did attempt contact?

Three seconds. Sasuke turned, and waited for the blond to pass, and the temptation to go to him as well. But if he waited, he had the horrible feeling he would regret it greatly.

Without a second thought Sasuke turned and sprinted down the street; ignoring the startled passers by as he reached the stoplight before it turned; to dash across and follow Naruto across the next intersection.

Despite all that had transpired between them, there was still a part of Sasuke that could not give up for the blond. He had to do something to mend things, even if that meant they had to start over from scratch. He would give anything just for that.

Sasuke ran up beside Naruto; he paused abruptly slowing to the blond’s pace. “Hey Naruto.”

The blond started, his whole body jerked alert. His head whipped to the side to see Sasuke; his blue eyes were suddenly alert and staring in shock back at him.

Deep blue, like sky and sea melted into one until there is no difference between the two hues. Those expressive sapphire orbs that he had so missed.

“Sasuke.” Naruto responded, his voice echoing his shock. Sasuke nearly sighed at the sound; he hadn’t even realized how many aspects the blond possessed that left him so at peace.

Then Naruto’s expression hardened slowly into something resembling annoyance. Sasuke felt a swell of old pain and pushed it down. He wouldn’t walk away this time, he wouldn’t make a mess of things. This could be salvaged… surely.

“What are you doing here?” Naruto asked, that same silken voice now bearing an edge of tension to it, as he stopped walking to regard Sasuke, in no small amount of confusion.

“I’m sorry.”

Naruto’s eyes widened again, his face stiffening in something not unlike remorse. Why should Sasuke apologize? Naruto had done him more wrong than Sasuke had done him. There was no reason for him to apologize to him.

“I know things were a mess before.” Sasuke explained, “I’d like to start over again.” Naruto’s eyes narrowed slightly in doubt. “I just want to be friends. I want your friendship if nothing else. Please.”

They had had fun when they used to hang out before. Even without the innuendo and the ‘dating’ aspect, just being together. That had been enjoyable, right? Surely that could count for something. Surely they could be friends if nothing more.

Naruto looked at Sasuke uncertain. Sasuke refused to show anything on his face, but if the blond youth refused even this much he truly would be without any base to support himself.

He couldn’t stand not seeing him; even just this much contact; already he felt more alive. To never see him ever again, to have the blond absent from his existence would be an excruciating punishment.

“Sure.” Naruto shrugged eventually, looking away; a darkening to his face. “It’s not like there’s anything stopping you. I’m the one who should be sorry anyway. So just-!!”

Naruto started again, as Sasuke’s body lunged forward, arms trapping him against the paler youth’s solid form. A hug, that was all it was.

Sasuke couldn’t stop himself; a smile came unbidden to his face, and he felt a heavy weight lifted from him. A weight he wasn’t even aware he had been carrying before now.

“Dude!“ Naruto protested in a hiss, pushing Sasuke’s arms away. Sasuke managed to contain his grin and released the blond. Naruto brushed himself off hurriedly, glanced around and glared back at Sasuke. A dark flush of embarrassment across his cheeks. “Awkward.”

Sasuke didn’t care, as long as Naruto agreed that they could be friends, he did not have to abstain from this one true addiction of his blond companion. Naruto blinked suddenly, staring just past Sasuke’s eyes with an odd puzzled expression.

“Hey… uh…” Naruto started still staring, chewing his tongue trying to find the right words to express himself. “There’s a gecko in your hair.”

Oh yeah! Sasuke had almost forgotten the little guy, after seeing Naruto!

“Yeah, this guy is called Ed.” Sasuke responded, unable to keep the pull from the sides of his mouth from manifesting on his face.

“Huh.” Naruto acknowledged, blinking back at the Tokay gecko before turning his attention back to Sasuke. It had been too long since he’d seen the pale youth’s face in anything close to mirth. He missed that expression.

He always did like Sasuke’s smile. He couldn’t stand that his last memory of such a perfect face was contorted in betrayal and hurt. Sasuke at least seemed better now; and perhaps there was even a chance of mending the gap of pain caused between them.

Naruto could never have asked such a thing of the pale youth given his actions. But since it was Sasuke asking Naruto would have had to be out of his mind not to accept, when he had so much to atone for.

“Right, well,” Naruto tore his eyes away from the oddly mesmerizing gecko, “we can be friends if you want.” He consented, “But no queer stuff.” He had to at least lay out the boundaries this time.

“Of course.” Sasuke agreed unable to keep the curl of a grin from his mouth. He fought the urge to seize the blond again in a hug. He hadn’t wanted to let go before; it felt so good to hold him again.

But this time he had to be a friend; in order to keep Naruto he couldn’t treat him like before otherwise things might result badly again. He didn’t want things the same as before either. But at the least, he did want to retain this closeness.

If his will required more exercise to keep this so, so be it.

“So where were you heading?” Sasuke asked, walking in step with Naruto down the street as the blond started walking again.

Naruto glanced at his watch and then back to walking ahead, “I’m going to meet Kiba, Deidara and Sasori for lunch. Feel free to join us though. It’s at the Lakeview bar, just so you know.”

“Sounds fun.”

`

“Hey. So where’s Kiba?”

“He forgot to do his engineering exam yesterday so he’s doing it now.” The reader responded without looking up.

“Psh. That sucks.”

“So,” The blonde girl – eh guy – started, Naruto as he and Sasuke found their way to the table and took a seat, “who’s your friend?”

“This is Sasuke,” Naruto introduced offhand, not really paying attention to it. “Have you guys ordered nacho’s yet?”

“Not yet. Just got here.” The redhead answered without looking up from the small brown book he sat reading.

“Wait, ‘Sasuke’?” The blonde guy asked suddenly very much on edge. “You mean you’re ‘the’ Sasuke?!”

Sasuke frowned slightly looking over ‘Deidara and Sasori’, a blonde guy with his hair slightly long, a pony-tail in the back that didn’t catch all his hair and a long wave to cover his one eye; the other visible one darkly outlined in kohl.

He still looked anxious about something. Geez, and which rumors did this guy hear that he was so freaked out?

The redhead looked fairly quiet, he had been sitting at the table calmly reading a book until Naruto arrived. He was putting the book away into his bag now though.

“Deidara, chill; he’s cool.” Naruto told the youth, half-glaring at him until he finally seated himself back down next to the redhead. “Hey Sasuke, pass me a menu will you?”

“Sure.” Sasuke passed one of the binders to the youth beside him.

“Thanks.”

Naruto reached for it at the same time as Sasuke’s hand brought it up. Naruto’s palm bumped the back of Sasuke’s hand for an instant before moving to take the binder, and all contact was broken again in the space of a thousandth of a second.

Naruto’s golden fingers almost nearly curling around towards his, and Sasuke had only been truly aware of the moment of contact; that warm touch ghosting on his skin. But Naruto hadn’t seemed to notice it even happened.

“Okay, lets get some nachos first and then – ooh, they brought back the fried onion whirl; let’s get one of those too!” Naruto decided.

Naruto didn’t think anything of it. Of course who would, it was a simple accidental contact; it was neither intentional nor sexual in nature.

“Hey, I thought this time we were going to try and ice lettuce appetizer, come on.” Deidara protested to Naruto’s choices.

“Then let’s get all three.” The whiskered youth shrugged.

If Naruto didn’t think anything of minimal contact, then it was safe. How much would be considered normal though?

“We won’t eat that much!” Deidara exclaimed in exasperation, “We did that last time and there was enough food left over we didn’t get anything else!”

How else could he achieve contact without incurring wrath? Sasuke shook his head at himself. What was he thinking? He’d just gotten the blond to agree to be his friend; now he was thinking of ways to jeopardize that?

But it was impossible to think of anything else; he was not otherwise engaged, and the other was less than a foot away from him. Heat radiating away from him and into Sasuke, and that scent he could breath in again.

That intoxicating mix of sun and green and gold, and Sasuke was intoxicated again, without even meaning to. He wasn’t tense, it was worse than that; he was totally at ease. He should be worrying probably; he could mess things up if he kept thinking about things like this. But Naruto was right beside him; how could anything go wrong?

Of course things had gone wrong before, but it was impossible to think of them or how they may occur. It was like contentment with the vague burn for something more. It was a burning that Sasuke itched to gratify.

“Then we’ll order a lot and only eat parts so there’s lots of leftovers; of everything.” Naruto rolled his eyes.

“Naruto? We had this discussion; there are starving children in-!” Deidara started increasingly annoyed with the tanner boy.

“Yes I know! Which is why if we have leftovers, I’ll be taking them home; because my stomach, unlike yours, is a bottomless pit. Okay? It won’t be like last time.” Naruto rolled his eyes, waving aside Deidara’s concerns.

It wasn’t too late in the day, but already it was getting to be 6:30 and more and more people filtered into the bar area and throughout the dining area. A couple guys brought dates, most came alone, a few groups of girls, three or more, wandered in chatting in their circles.

Apparently a couple of guys had already reserved the pool table. So billiards was out as far as ways to get physical contact with Naruto.

“Right; isn’t that what you told me last time, but you got full?” Deidara asked accusingly.

“Won’t happen this time, I promise.”

“Your promises are garbage to me.”

“Fine then lets get the onion rings and the nachos only. That good?”

“Oh for Pete sake! You can live without your onion rings, we’re getting the ice lettuce this time!”

“Deidara, has it occurred to you that the platter is just that – ice lettuce – that’s it!” Naruto asked, “I’m not a rabbit and I don’t think you are either.”

“It comes with sauces oh-intelligent-one.”

“I’m not a rabbit!” Naruto protested, at this point just interested in getting his way and annoying Deidara than for any deep love for deep fried onion rings.

“You insufferable-!”

“So you’re Sasuke?”

Dark eyes glanced back over at the redhead who hadn’t said much from the start as opposed to the two talktative/argumentative blonds. “Yeah.”

“I’m Sasori, if Naruto didn’t already tell you that.”

“He did.”

“You must be done with classes for today?”

“Yes. I got out of physics a little under an hour ago.”

“You do attend classes then.”

“I didn’t used to so much. I’m trying to get back in the habit – keeps me busy.”

“I never did understand how you managed to get decent grades when your attendance was often as low as 20% in most classes.” Sasori noted, eyes unblinking, in a way not so unlike a certain reptile Sasuke carried with him.

It wasn’t a question, but there was definitely the hint of one. Rumors of course said that Sasuke slept with all his professors, or else the boards of directors on occasion though there were still some who were skeptical, despite the masses who took it as gospel truth.

Sasuke suppressed the urge to glare until the jerk turned away and questioned him no further. “What can I say, I’m a natural genius.” He relaxed himself and shrugged it off.

It wasn’t a total lie in any case; all he had to do was skin the assignments, turn in half the work online or by drop-off at the offices, take the exams and he’d pretty much breezed through. It was like that for some people; Sasuke just happened to be one of them.

“’Natural genius’ huh?” Sasori repeated, “Like your brother?”

Sasuke’s calm drained replaced by the icy urge to silence the bastard that dared, “What was that?” to compare him with that worthless scum.

“Okay!” Naruto shouted angrily, as his and Deidara’s argument came to a close and they sat back to inform the other two of their decision. “We’re getting the nachos and the ice lettuce platter.”

Naruto glared at the other blond in half-hearted irritation, handing the menu back over for Sasuke to put back in the stand.

“You won’t regret it, it’ll be good; and if it’s not I’ll pay the next three times - okay.” Deidara offered, still smug from his victory.

“Hah! I’ll make you eat those word-” Naruto started, but cut off for the instant where Sasuke’s fingers brushed purposely through and under his own. “-s.”

“We’ll see about that.” The paler blond leaned back crossing his arms in satisfaction. Naruto glanced at Sasuke. The dark-haired youth didn’t seem out of sorts.

It wasn’t as if the action was visible from someone watching, even across the table; just the quick catch of hands passing an item along. But surely Sasuke wasn’t so clumsy as to-?

Maybe he was reading into it too much. Sasuke had agreed he wouldn’t try anything. Naruto trusted that. He trusted Sasuke more than he trusted himself, just a simple enough touch sent a thrill of electricity through him.

So small a thing and he wanted that contact again; no surely it was just the familiarity of the touch. That was all, it was just familiar, just a small comfort; nothing deeper than that. What was he thinking anyway?

The touch was one of comfort; he hadn’t even thought about it too much; he was busy wondering what Sasori had meant by that comment. How did he even know if he had a brother or not? For all anyone here knew about him he was probably an only child – that’s what selfishness meant generally, right?

The warmth of threading his fingers past Naruto’s, even in so small a touch, had returned the ease Sasori previously ripped away. He was restored.

In addition it seemed Naruto still hadn’t noticed that there was anything else he was doing beyond the normalcy of a friendly dinner. “Drinks! Gimme my Mary!” Deidara exclaimed happily as the waitress set down the drinks.

Only Sasori and Deidara had just ordered for themselves.

“Hey, we’d like the nachos and the onion rings; and can you get me a twister?” Naruto started, the waitress smiled, and he grinned back at her, “Thanks!”

“Hey no!” Deidara noticed the change in food items: “We don’t want the onion rings, replace that with the ice lettuce platter.” Deidara amended the mistake with the waitress, and she corrected the order.

“Sasuke?” Naruto prompted as far as drinks.

“You got twisted lure?” He asked. She nodded, and marked him down.

“Thanks.” Deidara said as she started back for the bar. He then settled for glaring at Naruto who refused to acknowledge that anything had happened. “Jerk.” He spat at the bronze youth as he sat back in his seat and folded his arms.

“So what’s everyone planning for spring break?” Naruto asked, just to clear the air and change the subject. “It’s coming up in a few more isn’t it?”

“Yes, almost a month from now, but yes.” Sasori reported.

“So? I heard Kiba’s going back for the first four days to see his family and go to the beach with his friends back home.” Naruto informed, prompting reciprocation.

“I’ll probably stay here. Try and rope some of the guys from the theater to make a short film. The script is almost done too, so it’d be nice to put it up for the summer arts show.” Deidara shrugged sipping his Bloody Mary.

“What about your sculptures?”

“They’re okay, but I prefer the more transient arts,” he shrugged. “Sasori? I asked you earlier, you don’t know yet?”

“If I wind up staying, I’ll help you with your film if you want me to.” Sasori responded without commitment. “Or I might hang out with my cousins more; or go with Konan and Pein shopping or whatever she wants to do.”

Now who did Sasori remind Sasuke of so vividly?

“Is your cousin Shikamaru by any chance?” Sasuke asked aloud.

“No.” Sasori responded.

“Ah drinks! Finally. Hey thanks,” Naruto said as he took the glasses from the waitress, she told them their food would be out shortly then left.

“They got that out pretty quick actually.” Sasuke said as he rested his arm on Naruto’s shoulder to reach across and get his drink. He did not remove his arm after he sat back again, and took a quick swig.

Naruto froze a moment, glancing at Sasuke briefly. That arm bled heat into him, and made the rest of his suddenly how aware it wouldn’t mind to be entirely covered as well. “What’s in that anyway?”

“Bunch of stuff, mostly vodka and scotch I think.” Sasuke said off-hand. “That looks like straight vodka though.” He nodded to Sasori’s drink.

“It is.” The other confirmed, offering no further information.

“I’m still not letting you live down that sabotage Naruto!” Deidara growled. “You really thought I was so dumb I wouldn’t notice you changed the order?”

“Well… you are blond?” Naruto offered, attempting a bad joke.

“You’re blond too, idiot!” Deidara reminded him.

“Oh yeah.” Naruto seemed to seriously think about it. “Guess that’s why I didn’t get away with it.”

“Not that that means anything.” Sasuke shook his head, taking another swig.

“Being blond? Of course not, I know several blond’s who are very intelligent.” Sasori concurred.

“You wouldn’t know by looking at them but these guys are actually not so bad off in their classes.” Sasori informed. “Deidara may be a art major but he’s got his minor in mathematics.”

He was smiling and holding his end of the conversation, but Naruto was seriously in a state of panic. He shifted his shoulder slightly, but Sasuke didn’t remove it like Naruto hoped he would.

It was getting to the point where it was hard to concentrate, all he wanted to do was sit and breathe in Sasuke’s musk; and – oh but that was entirely for… aesthetic reasons.

Sasuke actually smelled really good. Naruto wasn’t so much a bonehead he’d deny when a person smelled nice. Though Sasuke really smelled much more than nice… shoot this wouldn’t be good soon.

“Sh, don’t tell people – my friends will abandon me!”

“Really?”

“No. They’ll bombard me with requests to do homework if they participate in my films – and that’s not a fair trade for me!” Deidara rolled his eyes.

Sasuke noticed when Naruto jarred his shoulder, but he didn’t know if he was just shifting because he was physically uncomfortable, or if he had somehow noticed that Sasuke had less than honorable reasons to maintain constant contact.

It wasn’t so bad like this though was it? Yeah, and Naruto still seemed normal, it was probably nothing. Still, if Naruto was starting to catch on he’d have to avoid that. So regretfully, after a moment he removed his arm, and rested it on the table instead.

The cool tabletop was nothing like the warmth of Naruto’s body under his. He would have to be patient. Hey was Ed-?

“AAH!!”

Deidara suddenly jumped up from his chair, wide eyes bugging out at Sasuke, or more precisely somewhere above Sasuke’s eye level. “Oh my god – what is that?!!”

Oh it was Ed. Hm… this was very likely another opportunity, but he had to act fast to make it seem like a real ‘accident’.

“What? What is it?” Sasuke jerked his head abruptly in the wrong direction. He felt Ed’s little feet clamp to his hair – but Sasuke conditioned regularly – so the little lizard fell off the well-conditioned strands towards Naruto.

Ed landed ever so gracefully on Naruto’s hip, high up next to Naruto’s crotch. “THAT!!” Deidara cried pointed towards Naruto’s lap now, watching the progress of the strange creature.

The commotion at their table however was lost in the loud hubbub of the bar crowd and the music that had turned on since the clock hit 7pm.

Naruto stiffened when he felt the lizard on his lap. That wasn’t so bad in and of itself, it was the knowledge that Sasuke’s hand was already reaching to take the lizard back that unnerved him. Not when he was this bothered already!

It was insane, he shouldn’t even BE bothered, but he was, and if Sasuke’s hand went anywhere near his nether regions – no not even thinking about that! But he couldn’t stop him by picking up Ed himself either; Sasuke was too close as it was. Oh shit.

“Oops.”

And then he was hit with a trail of heat, so close to his member. Naruto nearly jerked his seat, but refrained from moaning at the slightly-lengthier-than-necessary-contact.

Suddenly all his blood wanted to rush south, and he resisted using his will alone, because for the life of him he couldn’t turn his thoughts from anything but Sasuke sitting so close, with his hand on his crotch.

“What is that?” Deidara asked, still pointing anxiously at the tiny blue lizard.

Sasuke held Ed up, large liquid eyes glaring at him as best they knew how. Sasuke tried to send an apology message using his eyes alone to the gecko; how do you explain to a gecko it was the unwitting ploy and participant in a concealed grope attack.

Sasuke also tried to put a little gratefulness into the look so that Ed would know how very happy he was with the results

“It’s a gecko; his name is Ed, I’m holding him for a friend of mine.” Sasuke explained, “Sorry he startled you.”

“Why are you carrying a GECKO on your HEAD?!” Deidara asked aghast, “Don’t they have cages or something for those things?”

“Dogs and cats don’t need cages.” Sasori pointed out.

“But it’s a gecko! It’s tiny! It could get lost!”

“Which is why I keep him on my head.” Sasuke provided. “Ed doesn’t mind.”

“Ugh!” Deidara threw up his hands and sank back down in his chair with a scowl. “You’re hopeless – you make no sense, you know that?!”

Sasuke only smiled in apology; food arrived shortly and the accident was simply that – an accident. But something in blue eyes told him that the bronze blond probably knew what he was really doing.

Sasuke figured he was being pretty good for the things he’d rather be doing – but of course at this point such things were impossible. It was alright with him, but without the contact he didn’t think he could stand it.

He still desired him as much as he did before, if not more. He smiled to himself mirthlessly; he was already breaking his word after only a few hours. But how could he deny himself something that every part of him wanted more than breath or light.

He couldn’t kiss him, but at least, even as friends, he could still touch him.

Light giggling was the only warning of their approach. The one tall with wavy brown hair and thick lashed green eyes, her companion was slighter, with a wide smile red lips and bleached hair twisted into an elegant coil across her shoulder.

“Sorry, could we bother you a minute?” the brunette asked cocking her head and hips at an angle.

“Are you gay?” her companion asked Deidara, still grinning widely; they were both probably a little drunk.

“Say what?” Deidara asked angrily, glaring heatedly at the girls’ audacity. Naruto burst out in laughter, and Sasori snickered. Sasuke added a snort; it was fairly comical the way the blond’s eyes bulged and his whole body went rigid.

“Well, are you?” the brunette pressed. The girls giggled together watching his reaction in anticipation.

“No!” He spat at them, “I am not! Go away, freaks!”

“That wasn’t nice!” the bleach blond laughed aloud, covering her mouth when the sound offended.

“Hey if you kiss red, I’ll give you $20, gay or not.” The brunette offered, holding up the green bills in front of her; smiling as broadly as her companion.

“WHAT?!!” Deidara asked angrily, standing up this time. He was too excitable, poor guy must be annoyed with people on a regular basis.

“Well, will you?” The brunette pressed, still grinning at him.

“$40.” Deidara turned back at her.

“Wait, what?” Sasori started. Naruto broke into a new wave of laughs, hunching over on himself to avoid Sasori’s vivid glare.

“$40, take it or leave it.”

“$30.” The girl bargained.

“$35.” Deidara returned.

“Done!” the girl agreed pulling out an extra ten and five. Deidara took the bills. Sasori gaped. Naruto and Sasuke looked on in amusement.

In a quick movement, Deidara leaned down and presses his mouth to Sasori’s. Sasori jerked away immediately, spitting and cursing profusely. Naruto laughed and Sasuke felt himself smirking.

“Gross!! You’re sick!!”

“Aw! That was way too short!!” the bleach blond girl protested, and the brunette pursed her lips in a half frown half grin. “Come on!”

“Deidara you bastard! I hate you!”

“No you don’t.“ Deidara sat down and handed him fifteen. Sasori counted the bills then shrugged.

“Whatever.”

“What, no drama even?” the brunette asked, “What a rip off!”

“Hey – I wanna see you girls kiss.” Naruto suggested with a smile; the girls’ attention shifting to the other side of the table. “How about it?”

“Yeah… we don’t want to.” The bleach blond said cocking her head, and resting her arm on the brunette’s shoulder. One hand went to play with her coil as she eyed Naruto appreciatively.

“How about this,” Sasuke suggested to them, drawing their attention, “If me and him kiss, then you girls kiss?”

“Okay!” the blond instantly agreed. The brunette just grinned and the girls exchanged mysterious-girl-looks.

“Hey!” Naruto turned to face Sasuke, his face a mixture of emotion; something like incredulity, something like anger, and something… like arousal.

Sadly it was probably at the thought of the girls, and not of kissing him. Well, he could at least pretend it was; for now.

“What are you thinking?!” Naruto hissed.

“I’m helping you out,” Sasuke rolled his eyes, “You want to see them kiss right?” he asked referring to the girls.

Naruto glanced back at the girls, they were hot; but if he had to kiss Sasuke… just the thought made his heart pound and blood rush faster. His pants seemed to shrink a nearly imperceptible amount.

But sadly it wasn’t because of the thought the two attractive females kissing. He nodded sure that he would regret this decision later. But it was okay, he was a little drunk right now, he’d had two twisters after all.

So when Sasuke moved to lean over him an sealed his lips against his own; it was okay to feel a spark of fire thread through his veins. It was all right that he moaned into the touch. It was all right that he pressed forward ever so slightly to meet him.

It was okay that when Sasuke’s tongue touched to his lip that he swallowed him. It was okay that his tongue met Sasuke’s, that his eyes closed and he moved his mouth against him.

He tasted just as he remembered if not sweeter; chocolate snow, deep rich and cool, it pulled him in. He couldn’t get enough, how often had he kissed Sasuke? Not enough, he’d wasted when he could.

No… don’t pull away.

“So?” that thick husky voice that made the rest of the bar so silent and thrilled every cell across his skin and body.

One of the girl’s gasped, and Naruto shifted his attention; he couldn’t keep staring at Sasuke. No matter how perfect his face was, no matter how intense those dark eyes could be.

No matter how much he would have rather just leaned up and pulled that mouth back to him.

“That was so hot!” the bleach blond squealed, her face flushed; her legs shifting together slightly. The brunette’s breathing seemed to have picked up too.

“Nicely done. Guess it’s our turn now.” The brunette smiled as she turned to her companion, their lips brushing together.

Thick long strokes together, their mouths moving over each other. Naruto’s eyes were fixed on them but he saw nothing. He was too absorbed in the tingling sensation across his lips, and the taste of Sasuke’s tongue moving over his own.

It shouldn’t be in his mind, in his head, in his thoughts. But Sasuke’s chest was still against his shoulder. He knew it wasn’t right, it wasn’t sane, it wasn’t what he should be thinking about, or wanting.

But somehow all he could think of was permanently engraving the taste of Sasuke into his mind.

The girls pulled away after a moment and looked back at the boys with lusty eyes. “Well?” the brunette asked, her companion still breathless beside her.
Naruto didn’t respond, so Sasuke leaned toward his ear.

The blond felt the ghost of his heated breath against his ear, and those words that echoed into him. “So how was it?”

“Too short.” Naruto breathed, not even talking about the girls; he hadn’t even been really watching when they’d kissed. He’d seen sure, but he hadn’t actually watched them; he’d had his thoughts on other thing.

They smiled at him coyly, and laughed. “Too bad!” the girls giggled as they turned and hurried off into the crowded bar area, lost to the sight of the four males.

“Hmph. Girls.” Deidara sniffed. A wonderful species to be sure, but so incomprehensible to the mind it was difficult to understand how men and women ever got along long enough to last a few thousand years.

Naruto looked after them longest, lost to his own thoughts. “Girls are so weird.” Naruto shook his head, finally drawing himself back to the present.

“Yup.” Everyone at the table concurred.

“Of course they are, if they weren’t weird they wouldn’t be girls. It’s like some weird abstract scientific law about the world – just weird.” Deidara shrugged. “Aw, now your show is over and I still have cash; who got the better deal?”

“Shut up Deidara.” Naruto smirked back at him. So it was entirely forgotten, there was no meaning to it; and there shouldn’t have been. It would be better if Naruto found he could feel just a little sick with himself…

Even though Sasuke instigated, and it was a ‘trade’ it wasn’t something that should have happened given what had happened between them not too long ago. Wasn’t it still too early to start blurring the lines of friends?

And really why was he so averse to it? He still wanted it; it excited him. Sasuke was still the only male who ever made Naruto feel.

---

Review.