An Interwoven Web Of Deceit

Well, this is an attempt at another chapter. I’m a bit wary of writing any slightly sexual scenes so your comments will be greatly appreciated. All other notes are at the bottom of the page.

I do not own it. I borrow it, use it, then put it back.

An Interwoven Web Of Deceit

Emotional Showdown - Part 1

Sasuke sat alone in his room on the middle of his large bed, staring downwards with a bemused expression on his face. His curtains were drawn over his windows, blocking out the light of the setting sun. The desk light was on next to his bed so the room wasn’t completely dark. On the white sheets in front of him was a book. It was orange and had tell tale markings on it that showed it as one of the books that Kakashi carried around with him all of the time, although this wasn’t Kakashi’s book.

It was Sakura’s.

The conversation that he had with Sakura, before she had lent him this book had been slightly scary:

Sakura leaned her chin on one of her hands and stared at him in curiosity.

“Have you thought about beyond kissing him?”

Sasuke gave the girl sitting beside him a blank look. “Thought beyond?”

“Yeah. You know, other things. Surely you have,” here, Sakura stage whispered, “urges!”

“I’m not sure what you’re implying.” The expression didn’t stray from his face. Sakura stared at him incredulously, her eyes wide.

“You are joking? You’re a teenage boy and you’re telling me that you don’t think about sex?”

After being put as bluntly as that, Sasuke realised exactly what Sakura meant and he felt his cheeks warm up and then blinked in annoyance. He was blushing, damn it.

Sakura grinned. “See, I knew it.”

“Knew what?” Sasuke growled, “I didn’t admit to anything.” When had Sakura become like this? It was like she had a split personality or something.

“You may as well have done, “Sakura nodded at him, then stood up, brushing down her skirt. “You’re face totally gave you away. Completely innocent!”

Sasuke muttered a few choice words under his breath and then stood up as well.

“I’ve got the perfect thing that you can borrow,” Sakura clapped her hands together as if she had just thought of the of the perfect plan, but she was a bad actor. It was obvious to Sasuke that she had been scheming from the beginning of the conversation. “Come with me.”

She didn’t drag him this time, probably because Sasuke moved his arm out of range before Sakura could grab it. He followed her nonetheless, all of the way to her house in genuine curiosity. Upon reaching it, Sakura dove in and out very quickly, then handed him a book.

The same book that was now in front of him. He had read it. It did take him a little while, due to him being totally shocked by the contents, but he did read it. More than once in fact.

It was a very detailed book, he decided. He wasn’t sure if he should feel revolted or embarrassed by certain scenes.

Sakura had been right when she had stated, ‘having urges,’ although, before his feelings for Naruto had been realised, he never had ‘urges’ but since then, he had wanted to touch the blonde, hold the blonde, kiss the blonde. These thoughts had been disturbing but had grown in appeal. Even so, he had never thought beyond them This book though, had given him thoughts and images involving Naruto which were completely new to him.

Thoughts of sex.

Sasuke shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself. The jolt that had ran through him when he thought of Naruto in one of the positions in the book had scared him slightly, but had felt very pleasurable. Just lately, he had felt a slight throbbing pain in his lower regions that had grown stronger throughout the day. That book had given him a rough idea of what to do to get rid of it, but he was still unsure. He had tried rubbing himself through his trousers, but that had simply caused the problem to escalate and had caused the fabric to tent out slightly and embarrassingly. Since this problem, he hadn’t ventured outside. The pain had made walking awkward. The only thing that he had found that worked was an ice cold shower. Well, worked for a little while but as soon as he had spotted the book on his bed, the sexual imaged of Naruto had entered his mind again and the throbbing had started again.

He was becoming frustrated!

He was also going to kill Sakura for doing this to him!

Shifting slightly on his bed, he decided that the only thing he could do was to confront the blonde boy and see if there was a way of removing the problem.

He would go over to his apartment, remove Ino from the vicinity and take out his frustrations on Naruto!

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“Let me get this straight,” Shikamaru stared at the girl sitting opposite to him. “Sasuke is in love with Naruto. Ino is in love with Naruto. Naruto is dating Ino but has kissed Sasuke.”

Sakura nodded.

“You want my help on assessing Naruto’s feelings for the two of them?”

Sakura nodded again. Shikamaru sighed.

“This is so bothersome.”

They were sitting in the fried beef restaurant. Shikamaru had asked Sakura to join him for dinner, his treat. Sakura had been surprised at the generous offer and had agreed. She would have gone anyway, considering she enjoyed the boys company. Her feelings towards Shikamaru had escalated more and more, ever since she had begun speaking to him and getting to know him properly. He was intellectual and he actually listened to what she had to say. Also, contrary to a lot of people’s beliefs, especially Ino’s, he was interesting and a lot of fun. This boy had helped her pull away from her childhood crush on Sasuke and opened her to new possibilities.

She wanted to date Shikamaru. She had feeling for Shikamaru.

“I knew you would say that,” Sakura leaned over the table slightly, taking care not to burn herself on the small stove between them, “but I really need your help. They are my friends and I don’t like them acting like this. Sasuke is obsessed, Naruto is confused and Ino is oblivious. This needs resolving and soon.”

Shikamaru sighed and rubbed his temple. “Of course I’ll help you Sakura, but really, shouldn’t they be sorting this out themselves? I mean, none of us are children anymore. We should be able to tell someone that we like them without all the beating around the bush. It’s all so tiresome.”

Sakura blushed slightly at that. Shikamaru’s words felt like a stab at her, even though they were meant for her three friends.

“Anyway, have you finished? If so, I’ll ask for the bill.”

She nodded and stared at the table as Shikamaru called over the waitress. She wanted to tell him that she liked him. Why? When it had been so easy showing Sasuke that she liked him all of the time, could she not do the same with Shikamaru?

“Shall we go?”

Sakura looked up and saw Shikamaru standing by her seat and holding out a hand for her. Blushing slightly but mustering her resolve, she took hold of it and pulled herself up but didn’t release his hand when it loosened. Instead, her grip tightened and her fingers linked with his own.

“Sakura?”

Sakura tightened her grip but still didn’t say anything. She wanted to though, but also she wanted for Shikamaru to take the initiative. She heard him sigh next to her, then felt his grip tighten on hers then she was tugged outside and down the street.

They walked in silence for a few moments, a light breeze buffeting them slightly. Sakura’s short hair brushed against her down turned face and she lifted it slightly., sneaking a glance at Shikamaru.

He was blushing! It was only slight, a tinge of colour dusting his cheeks, but it was there. Sakura grinned, her confidence in the situation coming back to her slightly and her decision to resolve their own relationship tonight had been cemented.

“Hey Shiki, I have a question.” The pet name slipped from her mouth easily and she watched as the boy’s blush grew more pronounced.

“What is it?” Shikamaru asked quietly.

“Why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

The question was so blunt and so direct, that Sakura was surprised at herself for asking it. Even so, she didn’t take her eyes from the boy next to her. Shikamaru stopped walking and the grip on her hand lessened.

“Wh… What?” The blush on the boys cheeks had flared and it was very obvious now that the boy was nervous.

Sakura smiled and lifted the hand that wasn’t gripping Shikamaru’s up to the boys face. She was shaking with nerves and her hands were trembling but she was determined.

“Are you ever going to kiss me?” she asked again, gently running her fingers over the boys cheek. It continued upwards, into his hair and behind his head. She liked how he was taller than her. Liked how she had to pull down his non resisting head so that he was at eye level. “Look at me.”

Shikamaru’s eyes, which had been steadily avoiding hers, slowly moved until they were looking directly into her own and her smile grew.

“Are you?” she asked again.

Her nervousness and thoughts were all banished away as finally, Shikamaru closed the gap between then and pressed their lips together.

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Delicious smells were wafting into the sitting room from the direction of the kitchen and Naruto was politely trying not to let his mouth water in anticipation. He was sitting in the Yamanaka household, playing Shogi with Ino’s younger brother, loosing badly. Ino herself was in the kitchen helping her mother with the cooking and her father was out on patrol. (He had left not ten minutes earlier, after a drink and a serious chat with the blonde.)

He had been very relieved to discover that Ino hadn’t disappeared on him. All she had done, she explained when she came back to his apartment the same evening Naruto found he missing, was move back into her parents house. She had resolved her differences with them and had missed them. It was also to give himback his space. She told him that she felt guilty for practically re-arranging his home to suit her tastes.

In a way, Naruto was extremely grateful. He had needed to think about things after the scenario with Sasuke and having Ino there would have made him loose his focus.

He was still confused. That much was certain. With his own feelings due to Sasuke’s advances and Sasuke’s advances themselves. The only thing that he was sure of, was that no matter what, he wouldn’t hurt Ino. He absolutely refused to do that. If that meant that he had to lock away his confused emotions and never study them, so be it.

Ino had been the first person to truly acknowledge him, for him. Not as the bottom of the class, the class clown or a monster. In doing so, she had stripped away her selfish and uppity attitude and became herself. She had changed and he had opened up to her.

Although to be fair, he had opened up to Sasuke long before Ino and he had actually told Sasuke about the monster within. Ino had found out, not been told.

The other problem was, Sasuke was a guy! He couldn’t be in a relationship with another guy, could he?

“Makoto,” he heard Ino call out from the direction of the kitchen. “Will you come and set the table please?”

“Coming,” Makoto placed a game piece on the board, finishing off the game and winning spectacularly, then left the room.

Naruto stared blankly at the game board for a few seconds, then sighed and scratched the back of his head.. He then stood up ans slowly headed in the same direction that Ino’s little brother had taken, to where he could hear muffled voices.

Ever since he had entered Ino’s home, he had felt slightly uncomfortable. Both Ino’s parents had been pleasant and welcoming, both taking the time to ask him how he was and how training was going but he still felt like tolerated intruder. The only one who he had felt confortable with was Makoto. The little boy had practically hung off his arm from the moment he had stepped through the front door, asking him questions with a big smile.

“Ino dear, could you pass the salt?” Naruto heard Ino’s mother ask. He was now standing outside the kitchen door, debating on whether or not to go in.

“Sure,” was Ino’s reply, then, “mother. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course you can.”

Ino sounded hesitant. “Why are you giving Naruto the third degree? I mean, I could see him squirming slightly while he was talking to Dad. I thought you said you would make him feel welcome.”

Naruto stiffened. Ino had noticed him doing that?

“I thought that was obvious dear. We are simply trying to get to know your boyfriend. We would have done the same to any boy you brought home. I wasn’t trying to be nasty or make him feel like he wasn’t welcome here. In fact, I found him to be quite charming.”

Naruto heard Ino sigh and he copied the gesture.

“Makoto seems to like him too.”

“Of course,” he then heard Makoto’s voice. “Naruto nii-chan is fun and nice. Can we invite him over again after today? Please?”

“Ask him if you want,” Naruto heard the smile in Ino’s mothers voice, “he’s just outside the door!”

Naruto jumped in horror and blushed bright red, then pushed the kitchen door open to see three gazes on him. One shocked, one amused and one happy.

“Naruto nii-chan,” Makoto ran over to him. “Did you hear? Will you come over again?”

Naruto looked sheepishly over to Ino’s mother, who had a large smile on her face. “Well, that’s up to your family.”

“Mother?” Makoto asked beseechingly. His Mothers smile widened. “If he wants to, he is very welcome.”

Naruto nodded down at the little boy, who cheered and then went back to his task of setting the table. Naruto looked over at Ino’s mother, who was still grinning away. “Yamanaka-san..”

“Call me Arie, Naruto-kun.”

“Arie-san. Are sure this is okay?” Naruto’s voice shook slightly, “I mean, you just caught me eavesdropping and…”

“It’s okay, Naruto-kun.” Arie grin gentled. Come and sit down and we’ll dish up.”

The evening passed pleasantly. Talk at the dinner table was boisterous, with laughter and badly told jokes, then after dinner games and drinks occurred, until Naruto decided that it was time he went home.

“I want to see you at our dinner table at least a couple of times a week,” Arie told him, while pushing a food pack into his arms. “I mean it. I’ll get Ino to drag you here if I have to.” She then surprised the blonde haired boy by dropping a kiss onto his cheek. “Goodnight, Naruto-kun.”

Makoto gave him one last hug, before being ushered upstairs. Ino walked him to the door and stood by him as he pushed his feet into his shoes.

“Was it okay?” was Ino’s blunt question when he had finished. “I mean, you didn’t feel too uncomfortable, did you?”

“Not at all,” Naruto reassured her with a smile. “I had fun Ino. Thanks for inviting me.”

Ino leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Naruto’s neck. She pressed her lips against his and initiated the kiss by pushing her tongue into Naruto’s mouth. After a few seconds of frozen surprise, Naruto closed his eyes and kissed back, wrapping his arms around Ino’s waist.

It felt wrong! It shouldn’t have, but it did. The sensation, the taste, the fragrance and the presence. It just all felt wrong. The kiss itself was nice, warm, sweet and gentle. He loved Ino. He really did. He silently cussed at Sasuke for confusing him like this.

Ino pulled away first and smiled at him, not sensing anything amiss. Naruto back at her and gave her a gentle hug, then whispered goodnight and left the house.

He took the long route back to his apartment, thoughts spinning in his head. Why did he feel like this? Why had Sasuke done this to him? What was going on? He kicked a stone and watched it spin down the road and break against a wall He shouldn’t feel this way about Sasuke. He had Ino. He was happy. Why did this have to happen to him? The familiar headache was back, only lightly but enough to make his already jumbled thoughts confuse him even more.

A few minutes later, he arrived at his apartment building and climbed the stairs to his floor, fumbling in his pocket for his key. In his moment of distraction, he missed the presence and Chakra signal from next to him until he had opened his door. When it had finally registered that ‘someone’ was standing beside him, he turned quickly to see the source of all of his confusion, leaning on the wall with his arms folded.

“Sasuke!”

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I want to thank all of you for your reviews and for taking the time to read this story. Also, I would like to apologise again for how long it has taken me to update. I growl at myself!

Anyway, next chapter is gonna be good! (Insert twisted grin and evil laughter.) I mean, If I can write it. Keep an eye out.

Anyway, please add a little comment for me. I appreciate all but flames

Rie

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