The Better Half

Author Notes: Sorry for the bump, I rewrote this entire chapter from the original draft.

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Now on with the story...

Chapter 2

What the hell am I doing? Naruto thought as he tugged at the hem of his skirt. He gave a terse nod as a car door was opened for him--a door which happened to be connected to a Porsche SC-911. Sleek and blacker than the night with an equally dark leather interior, the classic German car was in perfect condition both inside and out, not to mention it had a sound system the stuff of wet dreams. Even though Naruto expected something like this from a Konoha Gakuen elite he was still impressed.

Covertly adjusting himself he climbed into the vintage beauty closing the passenger door almost reverently. He did so more out of respect for the car itself than for its owner.

The door on his left opened and a swish of cool crisp air washed against him as the driver got in.

Awkward silence filled the car as the driver situated himself adjusting the rear-view mirror and flipping on the dashboard lights. Naruto tried to smile at him and failed.

“Uh... nice car.”

The driver ignored the compliment as he fiddled with his navigation system.

“Where do you live, Nayami-san?”

Back to honorifics, eh?

Naruto frowned before answering. Sure, he had made a mistake or two, or three in his ‘go home and change’ plans, but the guy next to him was supposed to be interested in him, so what the hell was up with the zero-degree attitude?

“What did you say?”

Naruto repeated the address, refraining from adding ‘jerk’ at the end and glared as the boy beside him nodded starting up the car. He let a small huff escape and turned to the window. The street lamps surrounding the parking lot flickered and hummed in a pale yellow hue, but all else was quiet in the night.

As the crunch of gravel could be heard while driver pulled out of his parking space, Naruto could only think to himself that this was not the way things were supposed to go.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

“Neji!”

Neji braced himself as he was suddenly tackled by a flash of blonde. 'Soft' came to mind as supple arms embraced him, full breasts pressed against his chest, and a silky cheek rubbed against his neck. He responded by wrapping his arms around his affectionate attacker. Turning his head, he saw that his girlfriend was observing the demonstrative greeting with an amused grin. Neji was lucky that she was not the kind of girl to feel threatened easily, but then again, she knew that he didn’t care much for blondes anyway. Naruko pulled away slowly, beaming at him.

She looked so much like her brother.

“Naruko, it’s been a while.”

Pigtails flailed as Naruko’s head bounced up and down in agreement.

“Yes, it has. Just how long has it been?”

Tenten moved over to where they were standing, sidling up to him and slipping her arm around his waist.

Apparently, long enough to be forgotten he mused letting his own arm wrap around his girlfriend’s shoulder.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

After finishing his beer, Neji had left Sakura’s den in search of another drink and had wandered into the kitchen where his girlfriend, Sakura, and Naruko were immersed in conversation. The first thing he noticed was Sakura because she looked genuinely happy for a change. Neji had not seen such a look of contentment on the girl’s face in months, not even when she was with the Uchiha or his best friend Lee. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation Neji had turned to leave when Naruko spotted him and attacked.

So much for consideration.

“Neji-kun, what a coincidence.” Tenten cooed as she pressed closer to his side. “You came in just when Naruko was about to tell us how you met the lovely Nayami.”

“Nayami?” Neji’s fine brow arched in question at the name.

“You know…Nayami.” Naruko said with a face-splitting grin, “My other half.”

His brow arched higher which seemed to delight Sakura as she giggled. While the brunette was relieved to see Konoha’s princess sincerely amused for a change, he didn’t think he cared much for it being at his expense.

“From what I recall, ‘Nayami’ was anything but ‘lovely’.” He answered coolly.

Sakura's laughter reverberated throughout the kitchen. “I already heard the story, Neji-kun! But really... really I didn’t believe it until now.”

Neji smiled at her. Perhaps Sakura’s amusement at his expense wasn’t so bad after all.

Tenten pouted. “Yeah, yeah, but I haven’t heard it yet.”

“Well you see, when Neji was thirteen, he and Hinata spent their obon holiday in Fukuoka where Naruko and Naruto slash ‘Nayami’ are from. And there, Naruto…”

Sakura’s laughter got the better of her. Naruko was beside herself as well; she reached out and clutched Sakura’s hand as she tried to continue, “Naruto, he…”

“…beat me to a pulp.” Neji finished.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Sasuke was not so much annoyed as he was frustrated. He couldn’t help but think as he started his car and pulled out of his parking space that this was not the way things were supposed to go.

It started with them getting lost.

What was supposed to be a brisk five minute escort with perchance the exchange of numbers, ended up being a forty-five minute odyssey with the exchange of insults. Nayami had led him in circles twice before he asked the girl if she knew where she was going. She insisted that she did and when he pointed out that they were back at the same spot they had been twenty minutes ago, she scoffed at him.

“For crying out loud, you’re walking a chick back to her car and complaining about it. Are all guys at Konoha this courteous?”

After her outburst, the pair continued to walk in silence which afforded Sasuke the opportunity to scrutinize her peripherally. He had originally assumed that she was a model of sorts, but now he was certain that this was impossible.

Nayami was the most ungraceful and awkward thing he had ever seen.

While Sasuke was used to young girls walking inelegantly in Western heels due to their habit of turning their toes in geta-style, Nayami walked with her feet turned out--which was rather boyish. However she still managed to look as though she was trying out her legs for the first time. She also swung her arms while walking and didn't seem to know how to hold her bag.

They walked for another five minutes before Nayami began to mutter under her breath. Sasuke would have thought she was trying to ignore him if not for the occasional glances wherein she’d grace him with a fake smile.

It made her look constipated.

After ten minutes, if their eyes met at a glimpse Nayami would frown and immediately look away affecting to search for her car. This might have made Sasuke laugh if he was laughing sort; instead he just smirked and waited for her to admit that earlier she was very much wrong, and that he was very much right, and that they were very much lost.

But she was stubborn, so they continued to wander.

Sasuke was stubborn too.

After fifteen minutes, he began to wonder why he had bothered offering to escort the blonde in the first place. After all--looks aside--she far from ladylike as well as one of the most ill-mannered girls he had ever met.

It was odd that, despite this, Sasuke felt comfortable around her.

It was as though Nayami was something he felt that he could handle.

As a child Sasuke loved gazing at his mother's glass menagerie case. He was simply enchanted by the way the zoological figurines sparkled and glittered in the light. However once while lifting an elephant from that case he accidentally snapped off one of its tusks. With the tiny glass shard in his hand, he had bawled until his father reproached both him and his mother insisting that boys should not be allowed to play with delicate and girlish things in the first place.

To Sasuke, high school girls with their fragilities and insecurities were like that precious elephant, and not wanting to break them he maintained a respectful distance.

At a glance Nayami rivaled that old menagerie, but what Sasuke decided attracted him the most was her rough and unpolished edges. It made him want to reach into her case, turn her over, examine her, and watch her glitter in the light.

Another part of him, the part which was questioning his ability to reason that night, wanted nothing more than to tell her where and how far to shove it.

And there was still no sign of her car.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The third time they came full circle, Nayami stopped in front of a Boss vending machine with red graffiti spray on the side.

“We’ve already been here, haven’t we?”

Sasuke nodded no longer surprised at the colorful language which followed his affirmation.

“Nayami-san, what exactly does your car look like?”

“Hnh, like you could find it.”

Sasuke felt his teeth clench and immediately forced himself to relax his jaw. He stared at the girl expectantly.

“Fine… fine. It’s a gray Micra C+C. Top up.”

'Typical chick car,' Sasuke thought absently as he tried to recall whether he had seen one. He figured that it would have stood out as there were very few domestic cars in this neighborhood. Most of the teens were chauffeured to the party or they drove foreign exports from America and Europe; the Nissan model was not even a top model. He wondered if the girl drove it solely because it was cute.

“Let’s try looking one more time. Together.”

“Whatever. I’m sure I’ll find it first.”

Sasuke bit back a retort, shoved his hands in pockets, and started walking--intent on finding the car first just to spite the girl.

“Oi! Wait a sec!”

Oi? Sasuke realized that the girl’s earlier comment about liking girls might very well have been true, as no female could be this masculine unless she was gay or in the Flower Troupe. Unfortunately, either of those possibilities was slightly unsettling.

He turned and immediately his hands flew out of his pockets.

Any person with instincts and reflexes other than those of an Uchiha would probably have ended up with a Boss can smack in their face, but Sasuke caught the drink right before it connected with his nose.

And that was the last straw.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” He snarled. Had the warm can been empty, he would have crushed it in his grip as he glared at now wide blue eyes.

“I…”

“Are you retarded or are you trying to get your ass kicked?”

Sasuke knew nothing could compel him to actually hit the girl, but it did not stop him from making the threat or for that matter wanting to carry it out.

Who threw coffee cans at the heads people who were trying to help them?

The wide blue eyes narrowed into dark angry slits.

“I was trying to apologize, asshole!”

Sasuke didn’t recognize the sound that came out of his throat, but he hoped that it conveyed just how livid he was.

"And I'd like to see you try to kick--"

“Shut up!” He turned around again his body slightly trembling in anger. “Just.Shut.Up!” He tried to calm himself recalling all the things he had learned about the way one should treat the fairer sex--or as in Nayami's case, the unfairer sex. The girl had been antagonistic from the start.

Enough was enough.

“Find your car on your own.”

“Fine… It's not like I asked for your help anyway!”

And with that parting shot the pair split and went in opposite directions. Sasuke forced himself to walk away casually, refusing to stomp like Nayami was doing. The minute he got back to the party, however, maturity be damned; he would slam enough alcohol down his throat to drown out every memory of this evening. And he did not care if it resulted in waking up the next day with a death-rendering hangover and a random naked girl in his bed--just as long as condoms were used and the girl was not Sakura.

A thump and a curse from behind brought both him and his smoldering thoughts to an abrupt end. Turning around he saw Nayami on the ground.

“Stupid shoes. Stupid skirt. Stupid… stupid…” The girl’s shoulders sagged and Sasuke could barely make out the frustrated: “Where the hell is my car?”

What he wanted to call his rational side insisted that he ignore her and continue on with the evening's plans. But as he watched the girl in her vain attempts to stand up, he felt as though he had overreacted. Despite her macho antagonism, Nayami was still a girl.

He walked back over to her and noticed a Boss can lying on the ground next to her right hand.

She had bought them matching drinks.

It would have been incredibly cute and the highlight of their evening had she not thrown his. Sasuke wanted to laugh at the irony; the first girlish thing Nayami did that night almost resulted in them brawling like elementary school boys at a local playground.

He crouched down in front of her.

“Nayami…”

Expecting to see tears, he was surprised only to find angry blue eyes glaring at him in defiance. Instead of feeling offended, Sasuke felt something warm pool and stir within his gut.

What is it about you that makes me feel this way?

Not wanting to follow his train of thought, he figured that it would be best if they started walking again.

“…let’s find your car and get you home.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“I know that.”

Sasuke was not sure why he bothered acknowledging this, but it seemed to be the first thing that he said right the whole evening as the girl’s angry expression slackened in surprise and then relaxed.

He rose and looked away politely as Nayami righted herself. When he looked at her again, he noticed that there was a dark scrape on her knee.

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s no big deal.”

Sasuke ignored Nayami's bravado as he knelt down and gently wiped her knee with the sleeve of his shirt. When he stood up, he could see in the pale light of the moon that she was blushing. She smiled at him, a genuine smile and it was as though he were a five-year old again and peering at that beloved menagerie on the sunniest of sunny days.

They stared at each other quietly for a moment, before Nayami chuckled.

“That was smooth.”

Sasuke fought down his own blush. “Whatever.”

“It’s Uchiha Sasuke, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry… about the coffee. I…” the girl blushed a bit more. “I just wanted to buy you a drink to say thank you.”

“Yeah. Some thanks.”

“I wasn’t aiming for your head, you know!”

Sasuke smirked. “It’s okay, Nayami-chan.” The blonde eyed him suspiciously.

“It’s not your fault you throw like a girl.”

Her blush deepened before she stuck her tongue out at him.

“I wouldn’t have bought it in the first place, Sasuke-chan, if you weren't acting like such a girl.”

Sasuke’s eyebrow arched. “I’m not the one in a skirt.”

Nayami stiffened for a moment, cerulean eyes darting to the left before she started--her eyes widening.

“Hey, that’s my car!” she exclaimed pointing across the sidewalk to the model she had described earlier.

Sasuke felt a grain of disappointment that their banter had been cut short. It was almost as though they were flirting. Emboldened by this thought, he reached for Nayami’s hand.

Only to have her yank it back.

The blonde immediately looked contrite and embarrassed due to her reaction; nonetheless, the rejection still stung.

“Uh… shall we?” she said a little awkwardly.

Sasuke shrugged feigning indifference.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

When they got to the car, Nayami gave him another sincere smile.

“Sasuke, thanks.”

Sasuke didn’t reply.

Apparently uncomfortable with his gaze, she attempted to hide it by focusing her attention on her small Vuitton. Opening it, she perused its contents.

“I mean it, you’re a nice guy.”

He waited trying not to cringe at the ‘nice guy’ comment. Hadn’t Sakura used that line on Lee before?

“If you promise not to get mad at me, I’ll tell you a secret…”

He knew where this conversation was leading.

“The truth is… I’m--”

“--gay. I know.” Sasuke answered softly. “It’s okay.”

The girl froze for a moment and blinked at him.

“No! That wasn’t what I was going to say!” Red-faced, she looked into her bag again. “Wait a sec.” Flipping the bag upside down, she spilled the contents onto the top of her car.

Sasuke watched as she shifted through cash, coins, mascara, and lip gloss; he noticed that she shoved her id in the bag almost immediately.

“I’m an idiot.”

Sasuke frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“N-- drove.”

“Your sister?” Sasuke had already forgotten the other girl’s name.

“It means she has the keys.”

Sasuke didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or strangle the girl in front of him. For almost an hour she had led him on an emotional jet coaster, and all of this was done just so that they could go back to the party--all for nothing.

“Fine.” He muttered. “Let’s go back to the party, idiot.”

Nayami ignored the playful jab and looked as though she was on the verge of a break down.

“I can’t go back there! There is no way in hell I’m going back there. N-- just wants to embarrass me. She didn’t even pay for all of the ramen. And the guys there… ugh… they’d probably try to screw me if I stripped down naked in front of them--stupid horny bastards. Are the girls here that ugly that they have to hit on me? Shit shit shit. I want out of these rags now and out of this Cinderella on crack story."

She violently shoved her items back into her purse. "You don't understand, Sasuke. I can’t go back there. There is not enough money or alcohol in the world... Shit. Why am I such an idiot?”

Sasuke didn’t understand what the girl was ranting about because although he refrained from dating them, Konoha Gakuen girls defied the very concept of ugliness. Furthermore, as far as Sasuke was concerned, if a guy didn't take advantage of a naked Nayami, he would have to be freak of nature. The girl's body practically screamed: Impregnate me or die trying. He envied her shower walls.

And what was that about Cinderella and ramen?

“Nayami-san, my car’s parked about ten minutes away from here.”

Nayami stopped mid rant. “Eh?”

“I can give you a ride home.”

That seemed to sober her, although Sasuke didn’t care for the studied look she was giving him. He tried to appear as nonchalant as possible but it was hard the way she was scrutinizing him.

“Sasuke.”

Sasuke could almost hear his heart beat in the moment. His palms were sweaty.

“I’d like that.”

He knew that there was more to come.

“But I don’t like you like that.”

So there it was--the formal rejection.

Her eyes were staid and somewhat cold, and Sasuke turned his head to hide his blush.

Uchiha Sasuke, the most sought after guy at Konoha Gakuen got rejected twice by the same person in one night.

It was embarrassing the way things had escalated.

After all, he had never once chased after high school girls; they chased after him. He vaguely wondered if his present state of emotions was how the girls had felt when he repeatedly refused their letters, chocolates, and confessions.

Many of them had cried.

Many of them had reminded him of the little glass tusk wrapped in black velvet and hidden in the depths of his desk drawer to remind him that boys should not play with delicate and girlish things in the first place.

Sasuke also wondered how the night would have turned out had he been his older brother, but immediately cursed himself for that thought.

“Don’t mistake my intentions.” he replied coolly hoping that his affected indifference masked the tempest within. Palms damp, he clenched his hands in his pockets.

He could almost feel the girl relax at his remark.

“Hehe… thanks.” She said, “And don’t call me an idiot. Jerk!”

Sasuke did not--could not--respond, so he simply turned and started walking towards his car.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

“I still can’t believe that you used to bully Hinata-chan.” Tenten said snuggling next to Neji on the couch.

They were in the movie room with its creamy carpets and plush chairs epitomizing wealth and luxury. The walls were shelved walls housing film and DVDs from the silver ages of Hollywood to French documentaries to contemporary Korean dramas. The Korean dramas were apparently a new addition. Sakura's mother was a foreign film enthusiast, and while she particularly loved and collected American movies, she had recently caught the Korean drama bug which had already infected thousands of middle-aged Japanese women throughout Japan. There seemed to be no cure. In fact Sakura's mother was in Seoul at the very moment, probably wining and dining one of her latest Korean idols.

She had purchased a five million yen diamond for her last favorite, and that had earned her several private dinners and a permanent friendship. What actor wouldn't want a fan like Haruno-san? Apparently she never said the traditional fan things like "I love you." or "Sign please?" instead she said things like, "If you can figure out which car these keys go to, it's yours. And by the way, my number's in the glove compartment."

Haruno-san's hobby made her one of the most powerful women in the Japanese media industry. To every 'six degrees' of some Western actor whose name Neji could not remember, there were 'two degrees' of Haruno-san.

The pictures on the walls were of the many Japanese, American, and Korean movers and shakers in the media business. Most of pictures were taken with them in casual dress, and those same pictures were taken in places familiar to Neji--like the Haruno's Japanese garden or their living and dining rooms.

Neji didn't care much for movies in general. But he particularly disliked the ones made in Hollywood and their imitators. He despised the way those stories defied what common sense would see as destiny. One man and a busty blonde armed with a single gun already half empty of bullets in a building with forty bad guys armed with enough weapons and explosives to stock the next world war, and by the credit roll, there would have been at least three exposed bust shots, and the man would have proverbially saved the day. In his opinion that was simply bad writing, and if he were allowed to edit the scripts, the guy and his blonde would be dead within the first five minutes--allowing for at least one bust shot.

Sakura had kept this room locked, and Neji figured that she didn’t trust the rowdy crowd to not spill, or break, or steal things in here.

When the kitchen became crowded again as another round of pizza and sushi orders were placed. Naruko complained that she couldn’t hear over the noise so at Sakura's suggestion they relocated and Neji finished recounting his brief summer friendship with the Uzumakis.

“We were just kids then,” he reminded Tenten.

“Yeah, but still...”

Neji squeezed his girlfriend’s arm.

Although he and Tenten rarely ever squabbled, the few times they had argued were when she accused him of having a cousin complex. He figured hearing this story reassured her that the love he had for his cousin was entirely filial--which is why he didn’t mind telling it.

“Naruko, why did you guys transfer to Konoha?”

Naruko who was lying on her stomach shifting through DVDs with Sakura, looked up at him.

“Actually, only Naruto is transferring.” Neji’s eyes widened momentarily. “I’m going back to Fukuoka the day after tomorrow.”

Neji noticed that Sakura’s expression dimmed at Naruko’s words. Naruko seemed to notice this as well, because she smiled at the girl.

“That’s why I want you and Sakura-chan to take care of him.”

“Don’t worry about that, Naru-chan.” Sakura replied, “So long as he’s in our circle, no one will mess with him.”

Tenten giggled and Neji rolled his eyes.

“Thus spoke the princess of Konoha.”

“What? It’s true!” Sakura pouted. “Being popular isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but it does have some benefits.”

Neji smirked.

“Whatever you say, Sakura.” He looked at the blonde again.

“Naruko, I’ll try to leave a lasting impression this time.”

“Thanks, you guys.”

“So when do I get to meet this Nayami?” Tenten teased.

“I’m pretty sure he already left.” Neji answered earning himself surprised looks from both girls lying on the floor.

“What?” He asked.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

They had been driving in silence only for a few minutes, but it was already beginning to toll on Naruto's patience. It was hard to pretend to ignore a person who was less than an arm’s length away.

“So… Sasuke...”

“What?”

“What’s with the stick up your ass?”

Bingo.

Naruto grinned as the knuckles on the steering wheel whitened.

“Nayami-san, you do realize that I’m doing you a favor?”

“It’s because you looooove me.” Naruto cooed batting his lashes and making a kissy face when Sasuke glanced over at him in mild shock.

“You want to have my babies.”

He felt some of the tension ease as Sasuke’s mouth twitched upwards.

“You really are an idiot.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever, Sasuke-chan, you didn’t answer my question.” Naruto was relieved that Sasuke was willing to talk to him again.

It put them back on quasi-friendly territory.

Despite their rough start, Naruto realized that he liked this Sasuke guy, and he was more than amused to discover that the Tokyo-bred Adonis was an absolute social retard towards the opposite sex.

When they had arrived at his car, Naruto had planned on telling Sasuke that he was a guy and afterwards assuring him that his sister was single and a hundred percent female, because as far as he was concerned, Sasuke had earned a slot on Naruto's short list labeled as: 'Those Entitled to Date Uzumaki Naruko Without Getting Their Teeth Knocked In.'

That said, he was glad realized he didn’t have his keys before he made his confession, as he doubted the boy would’ve offered to drive him home.

Naruko would just have to wait to be introduced to the socially awkward Prince Charming.

“Hn.”

“Ah, so I see.” Naruto nodded his head speaking with mock seriousness. “Thank you for that detailed explanation.”

He grinned as the raven-haired boy’s mouth twitched again.

From that moment on, they were able to ride in a comfortable silence--that is until Naruto attempted to turn on Sasuke’s radio. It wasn't his fault the boy possessed the sexiest sound system Naruto had ever seen. The action resulted in a heated debate about how car guests should be treated versus how they should behave and Sasuke earning the dubiously honorific title of ‘Bastard.’ Naruto wasn’t dubbed ‘Moron’ until a couple minutes later when he pointed to an Uchiha Systems Corp. billboard and bet ten thousand yen that it was Sasuke’s company.

He was right.

It was like that the entire way home, comfortable silence intermittently followed by playful banter and conversation.

And what a conversation they had. With only a little creative editing to fit the circumstances, Naruto related most of the trials and tribulations of his life in Fukuoka. He talked about his about his favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku, and complained about not yet finding a good vendor in Tokyo. Sasuke goaded him throughout his narration, and he returned the courtesy as Sasuke related his own experiences.

Naruto found it hard to maintain his Nayami pretenses, but he made a conscious decision to wait until the start of school and then to play the night off as a joke.

After seeing Sasuke's expression when he made it clear there would be no chance for them, he figured it would be better if he gave the dark-haired boy a chance to forget or at least gloss over his initial attempts to hit on--what he assumed was a--‘her.’ Naruto didn't want anything to squelch what he had hoped was a burgeoning friendship.

He hadn’t told his sister about his fears of not being accepted at Konoha.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

When Sasuke pulled up to his driveway, Naruto felt a tinge of regret that the car ride was over. Reacting on a hunch, he asked Sasuke a couple questions related to the new school year to which the boy replied before asking a few questions of his own about Naruto’s old school. Naruto, in relief, answered.

His unspoken request to delay their parting had been accepted.

And so they parried questions, jokes, and insults in front of his house for almost two hours before Sasuke’s mobile phone rang.

Naruto snickered as Sasuke scowled at the sub-display before answering.

“What?”

He could hear party noise blaring from the phone.

“HEY. SAKURA WANTS TO KNOW WHERE THE HELL YOU ARE.”

“Tell her I went home.” The dark-haired boy said his eyes locked on Naruto’s.

“YO! SAKURA-CHAN, HE WENT HOME.”

Naruto laughed as Sasuke pulled the phone away from his ear. He received a mock glare for finding damage to the other's eardrum a fine source of amusement.

“HEY, DID YOU TAKE NARUTO HOME?”

Crap. That wasn't supposed to happen.

It was as though Naruto forgot to breathe when Sasuke repeated his name.

“Naruto?”

“WAIT A SEC... WHAT, SAKURA?... THAT'S WHAT I SAID, NARUTO... MAYBE HE DIDN’T SAY.... HUH? WAIT A SEC, SASUKE.”

There was silence as Sasuke waited. He smirked at Naruto and made a pretense of rolling his eyes. Naruto could only grin back at him weakly and try to ignore the fact that his heart was racing wildly.

“SORRY, SASUKE. MISUNDERSTANDING. NAYAMI, NARUKO’S SISTER. DID YOU TAKE HER HOME?”

“Yeah. I did.”

Naruto let out the breath he had been holding and smiled at Sasuke when the boy looked over at him again.

“WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK TO THE PARTY?”

“Kiba, I’m hanging up.”

“WAIT--”

Sasuke closed the display.

But the spell had already been broken.

Naruto sighed; the night had really been like a Cinderella story on crack. He only wished that it was someone other than him playing the princess role. In fact he would not have minded much if the current roles were reversed.

“Sasuke, thanks. You’re a real life saver… a bastard in shining armor.”

“Moron.”

Naruto chuckled at the response, and Sasuke returned a fraction of a smile.

“One sec.” Sasuke said unbuckling his seat. He climbed out of the car and within a few short strides Naruto’s passenger door was opened.

Sasuke held his hand out.

“Arise, fair Idiot.”

Naruto laughed. “Jerk.” He took Sasuke’s hand with eyelids fluttering playfully and stepped onto the curb and towards his home.

Or that’s what would have happened had his heels not betrayed him a second time that evening.

What actually happened was a clumsy trip which resulted in his weight bringing both him and Sasuke down.

Releasing the boy’s hand Naruto tried to break his fall, which is how he found himself trapping Sasuke underneath him. His knees were together and between Sasuke’s legs and his arms were braced at either side of the boy’s lean torso.

Sasuke seemed dazed at first but Naruto watched as the boy slowly became cognizant of their positions. He couldn’t help but be fascinated by the way the boy’s dark and expressive eyes drew him. Hell, if Sasuke had been a girl, Naruto would have asked him out that very moment with the intention of marriage. Small but full lips were parted slightly and Naruto could feel the boy’s cool breath fanning across his chin. His eyes flickered down for a moment to appreciate their shape. They were so close that Naruto could see the light flush across the other's cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

Sasuke really was a pretty boy.

He contemplated how to ask Sasuke whether he had an available sister, or cousin, or any female relative--excluding grandmothers--without sounding offensive. Who could say that Sasuke didn't have his own short list in regards to his female relations?

Maybe he’d ask the following week after ribbing the boy for falling for his Nayami act.

He smirked absently at the thought.

“Nayami-chan…”

“Hm?” Naruto asked still lost in his musings.

“That was smooth.”

“What do you m--mmph!”

Naruto didn’t have time to think as warm lips pressed up and against his.

So this is what they call shock.

The press of lips deepened for a moment before he could feel them retreat slightly. They rubbed against his own lips and he dimly registered words being spoken.

“Nayami… can I?” the lips pressed forward again. “Is it okay?” And again. And again. He felt them shift and press against the corner of his mouth.

“Please?”

Apparently lack of response encouraged the boy beneath him, as a tongue flicked out and ran against the bottom of his lip.

Naruto shivered and almost yielded before stiffening in realization.

Hey, Uzumaki! Uchiha Sasuke is kissing you.

The realization triggered his motor skills and Naruto finally reacted.

Seconds later he was stumbling towards his house without looking back.

Now pressed against the back of his door, in the pitch dark hallway of his house, Naruto replayed the kiss and all the events which led up to it in his mind.

In one week, he’d have to face Sasuke again--this time as a male.

That thought alone made his stomach turn.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Sasuke winced as he touched his left eye. There was definitely going to be a bruise.

Who would’ve thought a girl could pack a punch like that?

With his good right eye open he looked up at the sky. But like every night in Tokyo, there were no stars--only drifting clouds and a pale half moon. It was if the immortal heavens contemptuously turned their backs on the mortal city which dared to rival their illustrious shine.

But Sasuke could care less about the empty firmament or his abused eye, because he knew that for a moment--a moment as brief and transitory as life itself...

...Nayami had responded to his affections.

In one week, he’d see Nayami again--this time as his classmate.

That thought alone made his stomach tingle.

TBC