The Guardian

Chapter 3:

Naruto was pissed. This was fourth time he’d been called to meet the principle of Sasuke’s school. The boy had gotten into so many fights, that the teacher had called to talk to him. Sasuke refused to give him any reasons and just stayed shut like a clam. He’d bailed the kid out so many times, that he couldn’t help seething with fury.

He parked and walked into the building heading for the principal’s room, he’d gotten the way memorized by now, and didn’t have to think as he walked. The secretary opened the door for him, and he went in. Sasuke was sitting on a chair looking bad tempered, he had a split lip, a few bruises and a long gash on his right cheek. God only know what other injuries sprinkled his fair torso.

The principal Kuri-san gave him a cold stare. “Uzumaki-san…why don’t you take a seat? Uchiha-kun here, refuses to tell me, why he beat four boys up very badly. He has caused two of them to be sent to the hospital. I am sorry, but I’m going have to suspend Uchiha-kun for a week. Maybe he’ll learn something eh?”

Naruto hated that condescending tone, which seemed to imply that he was the cause for Sasuke's behavior. He grit his teeth a little to keep it all in inside. “Yes, I’m sorry Kuri-san; I’ll talk to him once more. I understand about the suspension and I promise you’ll he won’t do it again once he comes back.”

The principal just nodded…and Naruto concluded he was dismissed and bowed. He made sure that Sasuke followed him out. They walked in silence to the car, Naruto’s fists were clenched. He had his own fucking problems; he didn’t need Sasuke acting up! He beat back the urge to shake the asinine boy! The drive back home was quick. Naruto slammed the car door and made his way to the front door, Sasuke followed him like a little black shadow.

Once they were inside, Naruto called Kiba. “Hello, Kiba? I think I’ll be taking the week off. Please get me the notes and …it has nothing to do with Sasuke. No don’t tell Sakura a thing please; I’ll talk to her myself. Yeah see ya around.”

Then he just sat down on the couch. Sasuke stared at him for a moment, and then sighed. “Why don’t you just get over with yelling? I don’t have all-day!”

Naruto stared at him. “You want me to yell at you? You fucking want me to yell at you? It’s the fourth time! Why don’t you just tell me what I’m doing wrong? I have enough on my plate without having to deal with this! Or with you! Fuck it, Sasuke, I want to understand but you’re not going to tell me anything are you? You don’t want me to understand you, you don’t want anyone to fucking understand you! You know why? Because if they did, you couldn’t brood about anything! You would have to stop feeling sorry for your pitiful ass!”

Naruto was snarling almost. “You know what…just forget this. I don’t want to understand you…hell if I could I wouldn’t even have gotten to know you!”

He looked at the hurt that flashed through Sasuke's eyes and sighed. He looked away and walked to his room. “And Sasuke, don’t go out today…you’re grounded.”

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Sasuke stood there like marble as Naruto’s words washed over him. He knew the blond was angry, he knew that the blond would never have said those things or else. But they hurt all the same. They hurt more than anything. He had never cared about anything anyone ever said until he saw Naruto’s defeated look and heard his angry tirade. He made his way up to his own room throwing himself on the bed.

He wanted to tell him…he wanted to tell Naruto why he had fought today. But he couldn’t. He felt that old fear well up inside him, and bit his lip hard. The day’s events had bought back his worst memories. He let his mind wander.

(Past memories, present memories.)

Kabuto one of the seniors from school sneered at him. Kabuto’s gang hated him, they were his biggest rivals. He had been careless today, they had surprised him. Two of them were holding his arms, making him helpless though he tried to break free. Kabuto was staring at him, a weird look in his eyes, Sasuke could categorize it as lust. He knew that look, the look Itachi had given him before…

Kabuto had come towards him, slipping a hand into his hair, and stroking his head. “My, my Sasuke-kun…what do we have here? Never thought I’d find you, all helpless. Scary isn’t it, the thought of what I could do to you…”

Sasuke spat in his face. He kept his arrogant expression, trying to rile Kabuto up. He wasn’t going to give in. something was raging inside him, he was trying to keep it shut up. Then Kabuto had slipped his fingers into Sasuke’s shirt, letting them run across the hard abs…something snapped.

With a howl of rage, Sasuke kicked him. He began to fight not even thinking, about the consequences, as the other memories, took him over….

He was asleep, dreaming of school and the fun he would have there. Suddenly something woke him; he looked up into his brother’s dark eyes. “Niisan?”

“Hey there, Sasuke…” Itachi’s voice sounded weird and there was a sparkle in his eyes. Sasuke couldn’t help feeling scared…in all the nine years of his life he hadn’t seen, Itachi behave like this. His older brother smiled, slipping his hand into the boy’s shirt, letting his fingers glide across the baby soft skin there.

Sasuke wiggled, this didn’t seem right. “Niisan, what are you doing? Stop it…” but the fingers didn’t stop, until they made it to the waist band of his pants. Sasuke’s eyes widened as Itachi captured his lips. He felt a sudden burning pain on his thigh, and pulled away in shock. Red blood was flowing from his thigh…Sasuke screamed, trying to get away from his brother who was holding a bloody knife.

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A scream, had Naruto jump out of his chair, knocking it over. He ran out, looking for the source, it was from Sasuke’s room. Naruto opened the door, to see Sasuke scrunched up, into a tiny ball, whimpering. His throat sounded raw. “Niisan, Niisan, don’t! Kaasan! Okaaaaaasaaaan!”

Naruto shook the dark haired boy, trying to get him to wake up. He must have dozed off and was having a nightmare. “Sasuke! Wake up!” Naruto almost yelled himself when the boy’s eyes opened. They were large with fear and unshed tears.

He looked into Naruto’s concerned blue eyes, trying not to cry and to catch his breath. Naruto just pulled him close holding him firmly, stroking his dark hair. Sasuke buried his nose into Naruto’s chest, trying to get closer to the warmth. Naruto murmured softly trying to calm him down.

Sasuke pulled away after a while, just lying back on the bed. Naruto stared at him for a few minutes and then reached out taking his hand. “Look I’m sorry I said all that Sasuke. I didn’t mean it; all right…I guess I just wanted you to be able to trust me. But I guess I’m pushing it too soon, after all it’s only been a month and a half…”

Sasuke wondered why the dude was apologizing to him. He was in the wrong wasn’t he? So why would Naruto be all nice to him? He tried to understand what the hell was going on when the blond grinned. “What shall I cook for you?”

Sasuke smirked. “God, you are such a dobe!” Naruto squawked at him angrily. “I’m being nice and that’s what you call me?”

Sasuke shook his head. “How about chicken teriyaki, dobe?”

“That’s easy! Fine then….and don’t call me dobe!” Naruto stomped out.

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Sasuke walked through the store trying to figure out what to pick up. Naruto was in a really good mood, humming as he worked and had asked Sasuke to get the groceries with a very adorable look. Sasuke was also trying to figure out, what the happy feeling was that he got when he was around Naruto. And the great news was that the pink whiner hadn’t been around for the past three days.

Sasuke walked to the frozen food isle, and did the last of the shopping, before paying and walking out. He decided to take a short cut and stopped suddenly. It couldn’t be…but that pink hair….he frowned. Sakura was leaning against a wall, her tongue moving in an out of this dark haired guy’s throat. They broke away and Sakura saw Sasuke glaring at her. She looked a bit flustered and tried to smooth her hair, the dark haired guy was staring at him.

Sasuke wrinkled his nose ion distaste, beginning to walk off, when Sakura came running after him. “Sasuke-kun! How was your day?”

“I don’t think you give a shit about my day. And if you’re going to ask me not to tell Naruto, then forget it.” Sasuke continued to walk.

Sakura glared at him, before smirking. “Do what you want boy…it’s not like he’ll believe you…”

Sasuke smirked and left. He fumed all the way home and let himself in. Naruto was at the kitchen, he smiled as Sasuke entered, shooting him a thumbs up.

“Good timing Sasuke! Just when I really needed those!” he took the bag from the dark haired boy and turned to the counter, busying himself with removing things and chopping them.

Sasuke helped him, making the salad and garlic bread. He wondered when to bring up Sakura… Naruto just seemed so happy right now. Sasuke didn’t want to see him sad. He watched as Naruto moved around the kitchen, noting the way his muscles moved under the wife beater he wore.

Sasuke quelled the urge to reach out and touch the blond. He tried to concentrate on what he was doing, but couldn’t help sneaking glances at the blond. A sudden pain in his finger made him gasp and look own. He’d cut his finger as he chopped the vegetable for the salad.

Naruto looked up and frowned. “Sasuke! Are you ok? Let me see that…” he held Sasuke’s hand under the sink and reached for the first aid drawer which was right next to the sink. Pulling out a band aid, he taped it around Sasuke’s finger.

“You should be more careful…but I shouldn’t be one to talk, I’ve done that so many times!” he gave Sasuke an adorable grin, making Sasuke feel like jumping him. Sasuke nodded and turned back to his job.

Naruto was his guardian….he shouldn’t have these feelings for him! He shouldn’t want to jump him! He shook his head a little, before mixing all the ingredients in with the mayonnaise. Naruto finished cooking and set the table.

They sat down, and began eating slowly. Sasuke bit back a few moans of pleasure, the food was so good. He looked at Naruto who seemed calm and peaceful and decided to bring the subject up.

“Um…Naruto…I, well I saw Sakura-san today…” Sasuke ventured, Naruto looked a little happier at the mention of his girl friends name. Sasuke gulped. “Well she was kissing…kissing this dark haired…”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear this ok Sasuke? I don’t care what you saw…” Naruto’s voice was firm. “Sakura-chan is a good friend of mine and my girlfriend. I don’t want to hear anything bad about her…”

Sasuke sighed and went back to eating. Naruto was such a moron, how the hell was he supposed to explain. He let it go and tried to pay attention to the blond’s conversation. Naruto seemed deliriously happy, about something or the other.

After lunch they watched some TV, to be more specific, they fought over the remote, because Sasuke stated that he would walk out if Naruto watched anything with scantily clad girls in it. At last they both settled on watching the Konoha vs. Oto tennis match, though Naruto grumbled because they were watching men and not females….nothing he said was better than girls in short tennis skirts running around.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. After three hours of staring non-stop he started to doze. By six, Naruto noticed that he was fast asleep. Smiling the older man, picked the boy up and carried him to his room. It was funny how Sasuke had snuggled into his chest. Carefully lowering Sasuke onto his bed, Naruto bent down to cover the boy and tuck him in.

Suddenly Naruto found two hands in his hair. He looked down at the still sleeping Sasuke, who sighed. “Naruto…” and then before Naruto could react, two soft lips pressed gently against his.

The blond gasped in shock, Sasuke tongue took the opportunity, slipping inside. The kiss on the whole was gentle; Naruto resisted all he could before kissing back softly. Then suddenly the mouth moved away and the hands let go. Sasuke snuggled into his covers, a small smile gracing his lips.

Naruto straightened staring at the boy, before reaching out to brush back the dark hair falling over Sasuke’s face. Then he left and closed the door behind him. Naruto leaned back against the door, his fingers coming to rest on his lips as a confused expression flitted across his face. After a few minutes he walked back downstairs.

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A/N: that’s it for now. I liked the way the kiss scene went; it was supposed to be like that….I didn’t want to rush it. And it’s being written from the feelings I felt at one time. Thank you all for being so loyal! I love you, my sweet reviewers!

Taka