I've loved you since I've known you

Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews. They are truely the fuel that lights the fire under my ass and keeps me writing. I am such a procrastinator.
You all really made my day again. Seriously, I've been walking on clouds since I started this story. So, onward, and hopefully I won't disappoint.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. The title for this chapter is from a Buffy episode. Props to Joss Whedon, living god amongst us mere mortals.




Chapter 4


The boys stumbled through the front door, arms full of purchases. Naruto got in first, followed by Sasuke, who had to kick the door shut behind him. They deposited their loads onto the kitchen table and dragged themselves to the living room, collapsing on the couch.

“Remind me to bring a hand truck next time.” Sasuke raised a hand to rub his temple. He felt so tired for some reason. Absolutely exhausted, which was odd, because he never got tired this time of day. ~Must be all the excitement…and Naruto is very hyper when shopping apparently.~

“Yeah, we bought way too much stuff…but you have to admit, it was pretty---” he stopped when he saw Sasuke rubbing his head. “Are you alright? You don’t look so good.”

“I am just really tired for some reason. I’d better lay down for a little bit. I think cat shopping will have to wait. I’m really sorry.”

Naruto looked at him with concern in his eyes. “Hey, don’t worry about it! I’d rather you feel better.”

Sasuke tried to get up, but his body would not respond. ~What the hell? Why am I so exhausted? ~Must be all the running around. And all the kissing probably didn’t help.~ He blushed.

“Umm…Naruto? Would you help me up? My legs are apparently on strike.”

“Hey, no problem…we did a lot of walking today!” He leaned down and put an arm around Sasuke’s waist. He almost had to completely lift Sasuke up. Sasuke held on to Naruto, arms around his neck.

“Wow…you are tired. Off we go…” He swept Sasuke up into his arms and carried the black-haired boy off to his bedroom.

“Na—Naruto!” He exclaimed, blushing brightly, “this is not necessary…” But obviously it was, because Sasuke could hardly hold onto the blonde.

Naruto set Sasuke on the bed and grabbed a pair of clean pajama bottoms from a drawer. He looked at Sasuke, questioning without words if what he was about to do was okay. Sasuke nodded slightly before falling back onto the bed.

Naruto undid Sasuke’s jeans and slid them down his legs. He blushed furiously, but was determined not to be a lecher when Sasuke was obviously not feeling well. He quickly got Sasuke’s feet through the legs of the pajamas and slid them up. He pushed a hand under Sasuke’s back to gently lift him up, working the pants over his hips with one hand.

Once that job was completed, Naruto pulled back the covers and got his friend situated under them. He tucked Sasuke in and sat down next to him. Sasuke looked up weakly and smiled.

“Thank you, Naruto…”

“Anything else I can do?” ~Anything for you.~

“No…” Sasuke whispered, his eyelids drooping down.

Naruto leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, smoothing his bangs away from his face.

“Okay, I’ll let myself out…get some sleep.”

He stood, but a hand grabbed his wrist weakly.

“Would you stay with me for awhile?”

He turned to see Sasuke looking at him. ~I can’t resist him.~

“Sure.” He made to sit down again, but Sasuke stopped him.

“Lay with me?”

“Okay.”

Naruto pulled the covers back and laid next to Sasuke. He pulled his friend into his arms, holding him close. Sasuke laid his head on the blonde’s chest. Naruto played with his hair as he fell asleep.

“Thanks…” Sasuke mumbled, drifting off.

“Anything for you…” Naruto whispered into his hair. He closed his eyes and let Sasuke’s gentle breathing put him to sleep as well.


* * * * *


Naruto slowly drifted into consciousness a few hours later. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the clock on the nightstand. ~5:00. Wow…I was more tired than I thought I was.~ He looked down at Sasuke’s head, still resting on his chest. ~Oh, shit! I’m supposed to be at Iruka’s for dinner at 6:30. I need to get ready and head over there, now!~ He slowly lifted Sasuke’s head from his chest and tried to slide quietly off the bed, but was stopped by hands holding tightly to his waist. He looked up to see Sasuke grinning at him.

“Where are you going?” He smiled lazily, pulling Naruto closer to him.

“You’re certainly feeling better, aren’t you?”

“Yes, a nap was exactly what I needed. Now, where do you think you’re going?” He leaned in and nuzzled Naruto’s neck. Naruto smiled into Sasuke’s shoulder. He pushed Sasuke back so that they were laying facing each other.

“I have to go…” ~I don’t want to leave you…~

“Why?” ~I don’t want you to leave me…~

“Iruka invited me over to have dinner with him and Kakashi. I need to go home and get ready.” He frowned at the disappointment that danced across Sasuke’s face. “If you’re feeling better…would you like to join me?”

“Do you think they’d mind?” Sasuke asked softly, cheeks tinged pink.

“Not at all. They always make too much food anyways.” ~And I don’t want to go a minute without you…~

“Okay. I feel better, definitely.” Sasuke smiled brightly at Naruto.

“Alright, well, I still need to go home and shower. Do you remember where Iruka’s house is?”

“Yes, dobe. I think I can remember the way to his house. I did go over there a few times when you were still living there.” He smirked.

“Well then, I’ll meet you there. Dinner’s at 6:30, okay?” He leaned over and kissed Sasuke lightly. “Don’t be late!” The blonde jumped up and out of reach of Sasuke as the black-haired boy attempted to grab him again. Naruto laughed.

“You better get up and get ready! That pretty hair of yours is all messed up!” He ran out of the room as a pillow hit the doorframe where his head had been a moment ago.

* * * * *


Naruto opened the front door of Iruka’s house without knocking and proceeded toward the kitchen. Iruka was standing by the island countertop flipping through a magazine, pots on the stove, steam rising toward the ceiling.

“That smells so good, Iruka! When’s it gonna be ready?”

“Hello to you too, Naruto,” Iruka said dryly. “ Kakashi is picking up some bread at the store. You’re a bit early…what gives?”

“Well, I wanted to warn you, I invited Sasuke for dinner. I didn’t think you’d mind.” He watched Iruka hopefully.

“Of course not! It’s been ages since I’ve seen him! How is he doing?”

Naruto blushed bright red. “Umm…he’s good…” He said, praying Iruka would miss his burning cheeks. ~Really, really good.~

Iruka did not miss Naruto’s embarrassment. “Okay, spill. I know something is up.”

“No, no…nothing…nothing is up,” the blonde said, “everything is totally down. Nothing of interest here!”

“Now I know something is definitely up. Spill it now, or face the consequences…”

“No---you wouldn’t!”

“Oh yes, I would, and you know it’s the truth. Speak. Now.”

“…”

“Naruto…” Iruka said threateningly.

“Okay. I have a friend. His best friend and he kissed and now I am not sure what’s going on.”

“You mean your friend.”

“Yeah, yeah, my friend, thanks…anyways, he’s happy that it happened, but I don’t know what it means.”

“Do you like him?”

“I mean my friend doesn’t know what it means!” Naruto said frantically.

“Naruto, as amazing as it is, I am not as dumb as you seem to think I am. So…Sasuke kissed you?”

Naruto blushed again. “Yeah…I sorta kissed him too.”

“Really? Wow, my boy is growing up so fast…” He smiled brightly. “And?”

“And what?”

“And what happens now?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I am not sure about. What does it mean? I never thought about Sasuke that way before yesterday. Now I can’t think about anything else.”

“Well, I’m not an expert, but I think you like him.”

“Well, duh, Iruka! What does that mean? Is he my boyfriend now?”

“Uh, I think that is something that you need to talk to him about.”

“I know…it just seems so…unbelievable right now. Sasuke’s my best friend. But now I see him in a different light, and…”

“Pretty overwhelming, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Wonderful.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you know that whatever happens, I’ll support you.” Iruka pulled Naruto into a big hug. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Naruto hugged him back tightly.

“Ahem…are we interrupting?” Kakashi stood in the doorway of the kitchen, Sasuke by his side. Iruka quickly kissed Naruto on the top of his head and went back to the stove, stirring the spaghetti sauce.

“Kakashi, can you get the bread in the oven while I start the pasta?” Iruka asked as he sprinkled a bit more spice into the sauce. Kakashi walked over to him.

“Only on one condition…” Iruka turned around and grabbed Kakashi’s face, kissing him deeply. Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other and blushed. The men parted, and Iruka slapped the loaf of bread against Kakashi’s chest. Kakashi laughed as he grabbed a cutting board and some fresh garlic.

“I hope you like spaghetti, Sasuke!” Iruka smiled widely at him. “I made it because it’s one of Naruto’s favorites!”

“Yeah, that sounds really good. I’m starving…” Sasuke smiled back. He pulled out a stool at the island bar and sat down, watching Iruka finish dinner.

“Mmm…Iruka, that smells wonderful…” Sasuke inhaled deeply.

“Hey, I’m helping too!” Kakashi feigned offense.

“Mmm…Kakashi, your bread smells good too…”

“Thank you…I have been slaving all day over this, I’ll have you know!” He laughed loudly as Naruto proceeded to dust his nose with flour.

“Yeah, you’re a real killer in the kitchen, huh, Kakashi?” He grinned brightly as Kakashi pulled him into a headlock.

“Now, is that anyway to treat me? I, who have looked after, molded you into the man you are today, taught you everything you know…”

“Hey, now, I did have something to do with that, too!” Iruka exclaimed, laughing brightly. Kakashi kissed Naruto on the head and shoved him away.

“Now, leave me alone, brat. I have to get this bread in the oven or Iruka will hang me by my thumbs.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Naruto sat down on the stool next to Sasuke. He leaned forward on the counter. He blushed when his knee touched Sasuke’s, and even brighter when he looked up and saw Iruka grinning at him. He sat up and crossed his leg over the other. Sasuke smiled at him and placed his hand on Naruto’s knee under the counter. Naruto’s heart skipped a beat as he smiled back, covering the hand with his own, as they waited patiently for dinner to be ready.

* * * * *

They all leaned back in their seats, happy and full. The candles burned brightly on the table, lighting up their faces.

“That was really great, Iruka!” Naruto exclaimed.

“Yes, thank you very much, Iruka, Kakashi.” Sasuke added.

“Yes, love, excellent dinner,” Kakashi said, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

“How about dessert?” Iruka glanced around at the frowns surrounding him.

“No more just yet, please!” Naruto held his stomach. “I am way too full.”

“What happened to ‘dessert goes into a different stomach’?”

“Iruka, that was when I was, like, eleven. Duh,” Naruto smiled.

“Okay, okay. Then how about filling us in on what’s going on with you two?” He reached over and held Kakashi’s hand.

The two boys turned bright red, stuttering and stumbling over their words, trying to say that nothing was going on, absolutely nothing…

“How’s school?”

“Huh?” They said in unison. They quickly recovered. “Oh, it’s good.” “Yep, no problem.”

“Good. Kakashi, can you help me with dishes? You boys go make yourself at home.” They stood and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sasuke and Naruto stood and walked to the living room. Sasuke veered off course and went down the hallway, looking at the pictures that were hung up. Naruto came up behind him.

“What are you doing?”

“Just looking.” He pointed to a picture of Iruka and Kakashi, a young Naruto standing in front of them. They were all smiling brightly. “You all look so happy.”

“They are great parents. I was lucky that they took me in when my real parents died.”

“I’m happy for you. They are lucky to have you.” He said quietly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah…I just wish sometimes that I had a family like yours.”

“Come this way,” Naruto said, pulling Sasuke down the hall a bit further. “Look at this one.” He pointed at another picture. Naruto and Sasuke, arms around each other’s shoulders, dressed in their baseball outfits, covered in dirt. Iruka and Kakashi stood behind them, beaming.

“See, you are part of a family. Mine. Ours. Iruka and Kakashi love you just as much as they love me.”

“Really?”

Naruto turned Sasuke around to face him. He reached up and held Sasuke’s head.

“Yes, really.” Sasuke smiled, practically glowing with happiness. Naruto leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. Sasuke eagerly deepened the kiss, pushing Naruto against the wall, running his hands down the blonde’s sides. He slid his hands up Naruto’s shirt, earning a gasp for his efforts. He ran his fingers over Naruto’s smooth skin, all the way down to his hips. He smiled into the kiss as Naruto moaned, and couldn’t help rubbing against him, moaning himself as he felt Naruto’s hips against his. They panted into the kiss, hands frantically roaming as they became more aroused. They parted for breath, sucking in air deeply, hands still moving.

Until something went very wrong. Sasuke pushed Naruto away from him as he began to cough violently. He doubled over as his face turned red.

“Sasuke, what’s wrong? Are you choking?” Sasuke shook his head back and forth as he began to slide down the wall, still hacking. Naruto was immediately at his side supporting him. Sasuke grabbed onto him, coughing onto Naruto’s shoulder as the blonde held him. Finally, they subsided and Sasuke was able to catch his breath. He clutched his chest.

“It hurts…” he wheezed. Naruto looked down at his friend. His eyes widened when he saw blood at the corner of Sasuke’s mouth. He looked down at his shirt to see more blood stained there.

“Oh, god…Sasuke, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” he said hoarsely.

“Well, we’re going to the doctor right now.” He walked with Sasuke slowly to the living room as Iruka and Kakashi came rushing from the kitchen.

“Is everything okay?” Iruka asked, worry etched in his face.

“Sasuke had a coughing fit and he coughed up some blood. I’m going to take him to the doctor right now.”

“Okay, we’ll drive you.”

“It’s okay, I think that I’m fine now…” Sasuke whispered, Iruka already out the front door, Kakashi helping the boys out the front door.

“No. I am taking you now. I’m not taking any chances.” ~I can’t have anything happen to you. Not when I just realized that...I love you.~