New Beginnings NOW COMPLETE

“Hey Nico?” Sasuke began at lunch the next day, obviously preoccupied.

“Yeah?” she mumbled chewing on something which appeared to be covered in chocolate.

“Would you think any differently of me if I were gay?”

She choked, coughing up chocolately crumbs, “Is this a trick question?”

“No,” the Uchiha told her very seriously.

“Sassi I already knew you were gay you big queen. Why would I have a problem with it?” she laughed.

“I don’t know, that just seems to be what happens in the movies,” he said awkwardly, clearly on unfamiliar territory.

“Its not really my opinion you’re worried about is it?” she asked shrewdly.

“Probably not,” he admitted.

“Blondie?” she asked sympathetically.

He fought down a blush, “Why would that matter?”

Nico raised an eyebrow, “Don’t play coy with me. We both know who turned you. I doubt you find any other guy even remotely attractive.”

“Not really…”

“Well?”

“Well what?” Sasuke asked, confused.

“Are you going to tell him?” she clarified.

“I don’t know, it’ll make things awkward and…” he trailed off.

“Come on you love the guy right? What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem with what?” Naruto asked sitting down.

“With helping me with English. I don’t get the problem, I mean I wouldn’t even take up his time. All I want to do is borrow his book,” Nico told him huffily.

“Yeah he wouldn’t let me do that either,” the blonde told her ruefully, “Since you guys wouldn’t join us I thought I’d come join you over here.”

“Does that mean your whole stage crew and roadies are coming too?” Nico asked wrinkling her nose.

“I have a stage crew?” Naruto asked raising an eyebrow.

The girl shrugged, “Close enough anyway. No offence Naruto, you’re a nice guy and all but I hate followers.”

“Yeah I’m not so hot on them myself. And we both know how the Uchiha feels about them,” he said glancing sideways at the brunette, he had barely moved since the other boy sat down. Through his head all he could were Nico’s words from the day before Why don’t you just go jump him and let him know how you feel?
He fought down the urge to laugh. What would Naruto think if the reserved Sasuke were to jump him in cafeteria full of people?

“Hey Sassi you listening?” Nico asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Oh sorry I spaced out,” the brunette apologised, “What were you saying?”

“I was just saying that we could go check out the dojo now if you guys wanted to. I’m pretty sure it would be fairly empty at the moment if you guys would like a quick spar. Naruto hasn’t seen it yet and I didn’t have time to show you the inside yesterday,” Nico explained with a meaningful look.

“Oh yeah sure,” Sasuke replied lamely, “Sounds good.”

“You know we never did finish our sparring the other day,” Naruto reminded him cheekily.

Why does it feel like I’m being ganged up on here? Sasuke thought to himself.


“The change rooms are just through there,” Nico told them pointing in one direction, she headed off in the other direction.

“What aren’t you changing too?” Sasuke asked innocently.

“Uh those are the guys change rooms Sassi,” she replied raising an eyebrow.

“Oh that’s right, I keep forgetting you’re a girl,” the Uchiha commented lightly.

She glared at him, “Oh you are so going down.”

“Wow I could say so many things there but I won’t,” Naruto chuckled, “Come on bastard, let’s get changed.”

As he turned around Sasuke saw Nico wink and give him the thumbs up and inwardly groaned. One of his best friends was trying to set him up with his other best friend. This could only end badly.

“So, Sassi huh?” Naruto commented unbuttoning his shirt.

“If you ever call me that I will kill you,” Sasuke replied watching him, the brunette slowly undid his tie and unbuttoned his own shirt.

Naruto lifted his tie over his head and looked at him blushing slightly looking away quickly, “What’s wrong Sasu-kins? I think it’s cute.”

“Wow coming from a guy wearing teddy bear boxers that means a lot,” the Uchiha commented lazily as the other boy took off his school pants, “Why don’t you ever undo your tie?”

The blonde blushed and turned away, “Because otherwise I’d have to get Iruka to do it up again,” he mumbled quietly.

Sasuke rolled his eyebrows, “You’re such a dobe. I can do it for you, it’s easy.”

“Nah it’s alright I just leave it done up,” Naruto said shrugging into the looser gym clothes.

“Are you pansies going to come fight or not?” Nico called into the dressing room.

Sasuke sighed and quickly finished dressing.
“Are you going to take that?” Naruto asked, amused at the reaction.

“It’s Nico, I’m used to it,” the brunette said sighing, “She’s like a disease, you either die or get used to it.”

The blonde boy raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He wandered out into the dojo.

“So would you guys prefer to three way or take turns?” Nico asked grinning as Sasuke exited the change rooms glaring.

“How about gang up on Nico?” the Uchiha suggested glaring at her.

“Or we could gang up on the bastard,” Naruto suggested evilly.

“Exactly what I was going to suggest,” the girl said, her eyes glinting.

“Fine,” Sasuke sighed, “After all I’m probably the only one out of us who could defend against both at the same time.”

“Cocky bugger isn’t he?” Nico commented lightly as if he wasn’t even in the room.

“He always has been,” Naruto told her, “For as long as I’ve known him he’s always been totally up himself.”

“And it’s always been justified dobe,” Sasuke smirked, “Have you ever beaten me?”

“The odds are in my favour today,” he grinned. Naruto launched himself at the brunette aiming a punch at chest height, Sasuke quickly blocked and then ducked as Nico’s foot came flying at his head. He grabbed her leg and threw her onto the ground and caught a foot in the stomach from Naruto. The Uchiha grabbed the offending leg and spun the boy around. Nico rolled away and stood up catching Naruto and pushing him back towards Sasuke. The Uchiha threw a few punches between blocking Naruto’s blows.

“Well what have we here?” a voice said from the doorway.

All three teenagers froze. Nico turned and looked. In the doorway stood a tall tanned boy with curly green hair and hazel eyes.
“Diran!” she cried running at the door and hugging the person standing there, “Where have you been?”

He shrugged, “Ah Mum was going away so I went with her. It was kinda unexpected but fun anyway. These must be the new guys I’ve been hearing about.”

“Oh right Sassi, Naruto this is Diran a friend of mine, and my regular sparring partner,” Nico beamed.

“Sassi?” the tall boy asked raising an eyebrow.

The brunette sighed and walked over, “I’m Sasuke. Unfortunately Nico decided to rename me. That’s the least embarrassing of her nicknames.”

“Ah yeah, she does that,” Diran winced, “And watch out for Torya.”

“Yeah I know, although apparently I’m too feminine for him,” Sasuke told him laughing.
Naruto slowly walked over and joined them.

“And this must be Naruto if that is your real name,” Diran joked.

“Yup that’s mine all right,” Naruto smiled slightly, this was a side of Sasuke he had only rarely seen.

“Yeah Nico hasn’t managed to come up with anything more embarrassing yet,” Sasuke explained, “But give her time I’m sure she’s working on it.”

Nico poked her tongue out, “Hey I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you guys all come over for tea tonight? As a sort of welcome home thing for Diran.”

Sasuke looked at Naruto, “Do you think we’d be allowed?”

“I don’t know, what about Sakura?” Naruto said uneasily.

“Bring her along,” Nico smiled, “any friend of Sas-gay’s is a friend of mine.”

“Nico,” Sasuke growled, “I told you not to call me that.”

“Oh and everybody wanted to meet the new people so that would work out perfectly,” Nico said clapping.

“Sure I’ll be there,” Diran shrugged, “I’d go Ria’s cooking any day.”

“Yeah we’ll be there. I think,” Sasuke told her, “I’ve never tried her cooking.”

“It’s the best,” the green haired boy assured him, “And I’ll bet Torya can’t wait to meet Naruto. He has a thing for blondes.”

“Well he definitely expressed an interest in meeting him,” the Uchiha said watching Naruto look away uneasily, “Don’t worry Naruto he’s taken, he just likes to ‘enjoy the view’ as he put it.”

“Right well if you all come around at about five thirtyish,” Nico told them, “Now we’d better get changed or we’ll be late for class.”