Watching

I'm SO sorry this has taken so long. I moved into my dorm, then I went to Otakon, and things have just been crazy. Classes started this week, too, so I've been a bit overwhelmed.

Anyway... more SasuNaru sarcastic, cliche goodness for all of you. Things heat up a little in this chapter (if you can even call it that), so I hope that you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and am making no profit from this story.

***

Alright, I'm not the only one who noticed the pervert molesting me in the middle of his kitchen, right? I mean, okay, he only touched my cheek, but who does that to another guy? No one!

No one but creepy stalker man, anyway. Yes, that's what I'm calling him in my head now. Leave me alone.

But if you thought the invasion of personal space in Sasuke's kitchen was bad, you're not gonna believe what he's about to do now. Read on and pity me.

...Or envy me. Ya know. Whatever.

***

"I knew you were gonna have me picking up trash, Kakashi! This is why you wanted me doing the damn project."

"That's Mr. Hatake, Naruto, and I told you we'd be doing some community service. Besides, picking up trash builds character."

Naruto scowled, blue eyes narrowing and focusing on his teacher. "Then why aren't you doing anything?"

Kakashi smiled brightly from his spot leaning against the wall of a nearby building, arms crossed over his chest. "I already have plenty of character."

"Oh, is that what you call it? Because--"

Sasuke interrupted Naruto, scowling darkly. "Shut up and keep working."

The pale boy was sweating just as badly as Naruto, sleeves rolled up and a trash bag in hand. Kakashi looked from Naruto to Sasuke, then to Sakura, fresh from one of her many breaks which she maintained were a "feminine necessity."

"Why don't you and Sasuke take a short break, Naruto?"

Naruto nearly dropped his bag in surprise. "Really?!"

Kakashi sighed. You'd think he was forcing them into slave labor, the way Naruto was acting. "Yes, really. Five minutes, starting now."

This time Naruto did drop the bag, then plopped down happily on a conveniently located bench, stripping off his shirt and dropping it to the ground next to him. "Jeez, Kakashi. Working outside this close to summer... you're trying to kill us, aren't you? I mean---gyah!"

Naruto yelped as Sasuke, who had set his bag down next to Kakashi before striding calmly over to the blonde, yanked him out of his newfound resting spot and began dragging him away from the other two. "Come on."

Sakura and Kakashi watched, one in amusement and the other in confusion, as Sasuke tugged the shorter boy between the building they were working in front of and the next one down from it, effectively hiding them both from sight.

"Hey! Let me go, you weirdo! You're hurting my wrist! Besides, who gave you permission to touch me?! And---!"

Naruto was cut off as he was suddenly pushed against the wall, hard bricks behind him shoved into his back, scraping, but he didn’t care because there was something much more important going on. Lips against his, harsh, wanting, opening, and his mouth was open, too, and he didn’t remember why it was or if it had been like that in the first place. It didn’t matter, though, because there was something inside his mouth, soft and insistent at the same time, and he knew it was Sasuke’s tongue, but it was so different, different from the few times he’d managed to get a girl to kiss him, different because this was Sasuke, and Sasuke was a boy, wasn’t he? That should matter, it should, and he tried to remember why, but he couldn’t, not with this perfect feeling that he’d been wanting without knowing he’d been wanting it, and how was that possible, anyway?

Thoughts ran together, thoughts and tongues and bodies and Sasuke’s hands were on his shoulders, holding him, and with this realization came the realization that he could touch Sasuke, too. And maybe he should, because they were touching everywhere else and it was so good, even though it shouldn’t be, should it?

His hands moved and found firm shoulders, but that wasn’t right because there was material covering them, and he wanted skin, soft skin, and Sasuke’s skin was soft, he felt it when he ran his hands down to his bare arms, so soft and hard at the same time. Smooth skin over hard muscle and it was different, again different, girls were smooth all over, not really hard, not like this, not in all the ways Sasuke was hard right now (and there were at least two).

And then the mouth was gone, Sasuke’s mouth, that wonderful feeling taken away and Naruto knew he was murmuring some sort of protest, but he couldn’t hear it, and that was weird but it was okay because now those lips were on his cheek, soft kisses that weren’t like the first one but were still good, in their own way. Little kisses, light kisses, moving down to his jaw, words mumbled against his skin that mattered and didn’t at the same time. Lips that he could now tell were slightly chapped and scraped just a little, but that was good, too, because girls’ lips didn’t usually feel like that, and why was it good that these lips didn’t feel like girls’ lips?

Then that thought left, long gone, because those lips found his neck and a spot right under his jaw that felt good, so good, and how did Sasuke know about that spot? A slightly harsh bite reminded him that of course Sasuke knew about that spot, because didn’t Sasuke know everything? Couldn't his eyes see right through Naruto, those dark eyes looking into him and through him and finding his every weakness, his every want and need?

There was something against his thigh, and he knew what it was but he couldn’t think it, he couldn’t, because then he’d have to admit that it turned him on, it turned him on that kissing him made Sasuke hard, and that made him gay, didn’t it? Sasuke, definitely, but also Naruto, and that couldn’t be right, because people already had enough reasons to hate him. Enough reasons, and they didn’t need more, Naruto didn’t need more, more reasons for them to hate him or for him to hate himself, it didn’t matter because they were both the same, and oh God, but it felt good.

The lips were gone, and Naruto wasn’t sure whether he was glad or not, or maybe he didn’t want to think about it, but he did open his eyes to see what had happened, because it had to be important. Voices, he could hear them now, and Sasuke was looking that direction, eyes narrowed, no longer focused on Naruto, and why did that bother him? And now he was on the ground, and it took him a moment to realize that it was because Sasuke had let go of him, so he’d just fallen, fallen without Sasuke to hold him up. That couldn’t be right, he wasn’t that weak, was he? And damned if he was going to be the girl in this relationship, but it wasn’t a relationship, was it? Sasuke had kissed him, but--

“Naruto? Naruto, are you okay?”

A girl’s voice. A girl that he’d thought he’d wanted, but right now he didn’t want to hear that voice. He wanted a deeper voice, a voice that had just been whispering things lowly against his skin, while he touched him, touched him all over and why?

“Naruto, are you even listening?”

He blinked, once, then twice as Sakura’s face came into view, his thoughts finally finding some semblance of order.

“…Huh?”

…But obviously not enough order.

A sigh, and he was pulled to his feet by hands that were far too soft and gentle. What kind of fucked up person didn’t like soft and gentle?

“Where did Sasuke go? You two have been gone for about ten minutes, and Kakashi-sensei only gave you a five minute break.”

Naruto vaguely wondered how Kakashi of all people could complain about someone’s tardiness, but then Sakura’s first words sunk in and he looked around almost desperately for Sasuke, because surely he wouldn’t leave right after something like that. But obviously he had, because the alley was empty, just cold brick walls and trash, wire stretched between two windows above him for maybe a clothes line? He wasn’t thinking clearly still, he knew, because a possible clothesline really wasn’t important at the moment, but why would Sasuke just leave?

Because he was embarrassed, of course. Ashamed, as Naruto should be ashamed, for doing something so disgusting. And it was his fault, the jerk. He’d kissed Naruto, not the other way around, so Naruto felt that he would be justified in blaming Sasuke for stirring up all these feelings and not emotions--emotions were for girls-- but things, and hopefully Sakura wouldn’t notice how tight his pants were at the moment.

He could blame Sasuke for that, too, he decided. And he did, cursing him in his mind because that, at least, was normal. Cursing Sasuke, not tight pants.

“He probably ditched us, the jerk. We aren’t even half finished, I think we should tell Kakashi.”

Good. That sounded like himself, not someone who had just been kissed by Sasuke. Definitely not.

Sakura’s eyes were skeptical, but force of habit is a strong… well, force, and chiding Naruto was definitely a habit.

“If he left, he had to have had a good reason. And why didn’t you try to stop him?”

Naruto’s face scrunched up and he scowled, crossing his arms. “I’m not his keeper.”

Sakura slapped the back of his head, and that wasn’t soft or gentle, but it didn’t make him feel the way Sasuke had, either. That was probably good, though, because if he got turned on by being slapped, he had even more problems. Liking Sasuke lips was bad enough.

***

Naruto layed in his bed that night, just thinking. He'd come home after a long day of picking up trash downtown (which the evil Sasuke had skipped out on during the middle, the bastard), stripped his sweaty clothes off, changed into pajamas, and crawled into bed. But sleep wouldn't come.

The kiss. That's how he referred to it in his head. It sounded big and monumental like that, like it wasn't just any kiss, but the kiss. And it was big and monumental, wasn't it? It wasn't his first kiss, but it was a first of sorts. His first with another guy.

That should bother him more than it did. And in a way, it did bother him, but not for the reasons it should. It bothered him because he knew that it would make him even more of an outcast, because he had liked it.

He had enjoyed being kissed by another guy.

Admitting it to himself didn't make him feel any better. In fact, he felt a little worse. Did liking being kissed by another guy make him gay?

No. He had liked kissing girls, too. Besides, you can't really tell if you're gay until you've done... more, right? So no way was he gay, because no way would he like doing more with another guy, least of all Sasuke. Right.

Sasuke was probably just screwing with him, anyway. The next time he saw him, he'd let him know that he hadn't appreciated the other boy sticking his tongue down his throat in a public place, and that would be the end of it. Problem solved.

But he still couldn't sleep.

***

End Chapter Three
oOKeairaOo

Yeah... I have no idea how long this is, because since my computer was dead, the Geek Squad had to wipe my hard drive, so I no longer have Word. I wrote this in Notepad. If it's short... sorry. That just felt like the right place to stop. As for the kissing scene, I was sort of drawing off of my own first kiss, except for the part about Naruto's being with someone of the same sex, since my first kiss was actually with a guy (surprise, surprise). But anyway, I was trying to incorporate the whole dizzy feeling that comes with it. That's why Naruto's thoughts sort of run together and he doesn't make much sense. ^^; Hope you don't hate me for the way I wrote that, but I thought it was more realistic.

Now... review responses! I really can't thank you guys enough... fifty reviews for two chapters. Once I got my computer back and got the internet working so I could actually check my reviews, I thought I was gonna die.

Shingo the Pest: Oh, honestly I love Sakura. I don't like how in most SasuNaru stories she gets turned into Uber Bitch. I mean, yes, it's nice to have the fangirly villain, but I love Sakura too much for that. She's actually one of the few females in anime that I do like. Naruto is like that, it's weird. I like all of the women in Naruto, they're great. I'm glad you like the way I'm portraying Sakura.

yukiko: I have absolutely no problem with short reviews ^^ I'm just glad you did review, so thanks a lot! I'm not good with reviews either, actually, unless something in the story just really catches my attention.

Anon: Thanks! I was overwhelmed by all the reviews, how could I not update quickly? I guess I made up for it by the amount of time it took me to update this time, though ^^; I'm glad you like the way I'm writing Naruto. I was afraid I was getting him out of character by making him too "funny" (or my attempt at funny), but Naruto is a sort of goofy character. That's what I like about him, so I probably exaggerate that when I write his character.

blisblop: o.o No no no, you didn't say anything in your review to offend me! You made an honest... well, I wouldn't call it criticism, but observation, and I explained it, that's all. I like reviews like yours that point out things about the story, that just means you were really interested in it and noticed something. ^^; I'm sorry if I somehow sounded offended, I really wasn't. I just felt the need to explain Sakura, since I adore her. Thanks for the review!

Pink: *laughs* I love your enthusiasm! I'm so glad you like the fic, and I hope you like this chapter just as much!

MultifactedTune: A friend of mine actually told me the other day that I'm lucky to be getting reviews from you. ^^ She said you're a great reviewer, and I have to agree. I'm glad you like the title, I was honestly worried about it. If you think it's good, though, then I'll keep it as is. I've gotten used to it now. Enjoy the chapter!

Ariane: Oh no, Kakashi's definitely not stupid. I wouldn't say he's putting them together, but he's definitely nudging things along. Of course, in Naruto's paranoid mind, Kakashi is scheming behind his back to make him have "teh gey smex0rz."

Sora Jr: That's why I adore Shikamaru: the laziness. My friends and I have this joke about how I want him to have my lazy anime babies. Of course, I'm female, so that would be a bit difficult, but I shall find a way! *raises fist*

Horizont: I'm so glad you like Naruto, I was really worried about the way I was writing him. I'm glad you like my explanations, too, I was really trying to use something that would make sense but hadn't already been overdone. That's why I came up with Naruto's father being in prison still, because I don't remember that ever being done before. Usually his father is dead. Besides, I want to use him later in the story.

Sasuke Fangirl #343: @.@ You're such a nice reviewer. And yes, I love your name! o.o If you don't mind me asking, what name do you post under? (Feel free to say, "None of your business, biotch!" XD)

WynterMajik: I'm trying not to rush myself, but I am a little bit. I wrote this chapter in short little bursts over the past three days, except for one part which was written out several weeks ago. But yes, I was in the, "Dammit, I have to get this done!" writing mode.

Nora Shu: Nope, definitely not original. I intended for my first real SasuNaru to be a cliche plot, because that makes it a bit easier on me. ^^ But I'm glad you think it's well written! Yeah, I just didn't want to take the chance with fangirl Japanese. I'm not Japanese, nor have I taken any classes in it (unless you count a few lessons in an internet course), so I'd definitely mess something up. Better safe than sorry. ^^; Besides the fact that fangirl Japanese can be annoying, depending on who you're talking to.

XD I'm glad you approved of Sasuke's life story. Short and sweet. I don't imagine Sasuke would want to get into details. He's not exactly talkative.

Emina: Thanks! It's good to know that I'm keeping them in character, that's hard to do in a "romance" story, especially with two male characters. Usually one inevitably because the girly boy, and the other the manly man. That gets annoying to me, because neither Sasuke nor Naruto is overly girly or overly manly.

kayoko: Thanks for the review, and also the link to the beta's guild! I'll check that out.

silverfox: Thanks a lot!

YaoiloverS: *laughing* Your review amused me. Yes, we must protect Naruto from the horny Sasuke... or sit back and watch the yummy-ness.

hogo-chan: Witty, really? Wow, that makes me feel good... @.@ thank you.

Diayma: Really? I may e-mail you when I finish the next chapter, then, if you don't mind. Let me know ^^

akuma_river: Thanks!

Demon: Thanks a lot! ^^

insert_fetchy_name_here: Wah, I love Puss n Boots! He was my favorite character from Shrek 2. I loved the big chibi cat eyes, they were adorable. I'm glad you like Sasuke's in-character-and-yet-not-ness. ^^ Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Sukara: Fic: *squeaks and blushes*

ky0kichi: Pretty anime boys in girls' clothes is always amusing for some reason...

Whew! There, finished. Wow, the review responses are harder than the story itself ^^; Well, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and thanks again for the amazing amount of reviews! They really keep me going with this story.

::EDIT::

Okay, I got a review (sorry, I can't remember who it was from at the moment, and I am FAR too lazy to look it up ^^; ) that I thought I should address right now, instead of waiting for the review responses next chapter. This particular review basically said that Hatake was actually Kakashi's FIRST name, not his last. Well, I freaked out, doubted myself, and went to double check about a million times. I found that, first of all, in the anime Kakashi is referred to as Hatake Kakashi, with Hatake coming first. In Japanese, as far as I know, the last name always comes first. Second, I found a reference in the manga to Kakashi's father, which went, "Kakashi is the son of the genius ninja Hatake Sakumo, known as the 'Konoha White Fang'." That's from chapter 240 of the manga, page 17, in case anyone wants to check it out. Now, seeing as they both share the name Hatake, which comes first in both instances, and Sakumo is not a part of Kakashi's name, which rules it out as his last name or surname, then I think it's safe to assume that Hatake is in fact Kakashi's last name.

WHEW. T__T You had me worried I had made a REALLY stupid mistake. ^^ Glad I could clear things up.