It started at the Shonen-J Diner

Chapter Four: Another Trip to the Mall


Naruto and Akira stood before the door. Akira was thinking and Naruto was watching him.
"We don't have to. If you don't want to," Naruto began. Akira looked up at him.
"What? Oh, no. It's not that. I was just thinking what I would like to do, when we get in there. I want to see where you live. Let's go to your place this time." Naruto nodded at the suggestion and took Akira's hand. The green haired boy, smiled at his blond friend. They opened the door and stepped in.


Ken and Sano had separated and set out to complete the mission. Sano intercepted a dark haired boy while Ken slipped up behind a chubby boy with blond bangs. It was easier than either thought to convince the boys that they were trying to help. It was true, Ken thought to himself. He was trying to help Naruto and Akira.
Now they led the way and the two boys were standing in front of the Crossover door.
"You mean the Dobe went in there?" the dark haired boy with red eyes said.
"If Akira went in there, how will we find him?" asked the blond bangs.
"It will be easy, that it will." said Ken as Sano opened the door. "They are looking for you, that they are." Ken continued gently pushing the boys forward. Soon they were through the threshold and Sano closed the door behind them.
"Yo, Kenshin?" Sano asked the redhead.
"Mmmm?" Ken answered.
"You ever want to go in there?" Sano continued.
Ken looked up at his lover, and smiled. Sano was always a sucker for that smile. "No, Sano. I like my stories simple. I don't mind if I play minor parts in these dramas. But I like to stay with my loved ones, with you my Sanosuke." and Sano was dragged down the hall and into the ever familiar RK door.

The village was quiet, peaceful and warm. It was a summer day, and no one was doing much.
Naruto led the way down the streets and Akira followed.
Akira watched the faces of the people as the blond passed. The emotions that followed his friend confused the go pro. He himself had never cared for the praises of the populous, and didn't actively seek out the friendships that seemed to come to Hikaru easily. But the atmosphere of the small village was hostile to the point of discomfort. And it seemed directed at Naruto. Akira watched his friend make his way down the streets, greeting all he met and waving at those too far away to call to. The boy knew everyone and seemed immune to the feelings of the people. They just didn't matter to the blond idiot. Akira shrugged and followed listening to Naruto tell of the places they passed and the people they saw.
Soon they came to the edge of town and a wide-open field. This Naruto explained was the training field. Here he did his ninja training with Sasuke, whom he was calling 'the other guy', for Akira's benefit. And here was where he spent a lot of his time.

Akira watched as Naruto executed a few of his better moves against a training dummy and even laughed when the blond missed and fell onto the grass. It was a fun afternoon and as they sat under a tree and relaxed when Naruto wore himself out, they talked about the things that were different about them.
"I wish I had your energy, Naruto. I just feel so quiet and shy compared to you. You just shout out what you feel and don't worry about who hears you." Akira confessed.
"But you are so smart, and you can concentrate for hours on that game, and then beat the other real smart guys who you play with. I could never think that far ahead of someone. You would be a good ninja, Akira." Naruto complimented him. Akira shook his head and smiled at the grinning fool before him.
"Hey! What are you doing here? This is for ninja's only." came a call from the side. Akira looked up as Naruto went pale.
"Sasuke," he said, turning slowly. "What are you doing here, you bastard?" he called back at the dark-haired ninja.
"I came here to train with you, Dobe. Don't you do that, anymore?" and Naruto was up and clenching his fists. Akira rose and touched his friend's arm lightly. Naruto turned to see Akira and shook himself.
"I don't feel like fighting with you, Uchiha Bastard. I have a guest in the village, and I am going to take him out for ramen." and with that he took Akira's hand and led him to the edge of the field. Sasuke stood back and watched, fuming quietly behind impassive eyes.

Hikaru stood in the back of the room and watched the group of men in front of him argue over the task that had been assigned. He didn't understand how he had gotten here, but the scene was foreign to him. This was not Tokyo, and he had no idea how he was to get home. And what was with these strange clothes he was wearing. A woman who was old enough to be his mother's older sister, came up to the confused boy and spoke to him.
"We have decided on the team that will escort you back to your home, young man. They are some of our best ninja's and I am sure that you will be safe. Until then, please accept the hospitality of our village." And Hikaru nodded. He didn't know what else to do.
The older woman took him to a room to sleep and he climbed into the bed. He was tired and all this confusion was just too much for him.

Morning found the two ninja's meeting with the Hokage. Akira was waiting in the hall, as he was not allowed to view official business and the only reason he was here was as Naruto's guest.
Naruto and Sasuke stood before the Hokage and listened to the mission they were being assigned. The details were simple; they were to take a young man to the village farthest to the west and return when he was with his family. No threats for him, but his family was paying good money for the special attention. He was special to them, so was special to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Naruto waited until Sasuke was nearly out the door, before he spoke to the woman.
"Tsunade-sama? I have a guest in the village. I don't want to leave him behind, alone. May I bring him along on this mission?" and the Hokage stared at the boy for a moment thinking this through. She leaned forward and spoke for the boy only. Naruto smiled and followed Sasuke out the door.
"What was that about, Dobe?" the Uchiha asked the blond.
"She said it was okay," Naruto informed him as Akira came into view. Naruto leaned toward the go pro and shared the rest of the comment. Akira turned to the open door and the visage of the Hokage and smiled an awkward smile. Hokage nodded to him, and the young men closed the door.
"Let's go meet this guy we have to take home. Then we can go pack for the trip." Naruto said, pulling Akira along behind him. Sasuke stared at his back and watched his retreating form for a few minutes before rushing to catch up. They stopped before the door that the Hokage had told them was housing the boy. Sasuke knocked gently, but loud enough to be heard. After a few minutes the door opened and a hesitant face peeked through. Blond bangs exposed a nervous expression.
"You are Hikaru of the Hidden Mist village?" Sasuke asked. The boy nodded, and opened the door the rest of the way.
"We are to be your guides. And this is a friend who will accompany us. I am Naruto, and this statue is Sasuke. He don't talk much, so don't take it personal." Naruto informed the boy.
"hnn." was all Sasuke said.
"We have to pack, but we should be leaving around five, be ready." and he bowed once before dragging Akira down the hall.
Sasuke stood watching for a moment, then turned to the Mist villager and said, "Five."
"Okay," was all Hikaru could respond at first, but then something came to him, "Is he always like that?"
"Yes." Sasuke said and then he walked down the hall, following the path of the others.
The four boys met at the gates at five exactly and started down the road. Naruto and Akira took the lead; Hikaru was behind them and Sasuke followed at the rear. For a while the trip was uneventful and they were all very bored. Well, except for Akira who was being subjected to Naruto’s continuous talking and Sasuke who was never bored, that would be an emotion.
But Hikaru was bored, and though he was listening to the blond ninja talk, he was not brought into the conversation, so was not really interested.
Around nine they decided to camp, so as Akira and Hikaru waited, Sasuke arranged tents, and Naruto went to gather wood for their fire. While he was doing this he also managed to catch a good-sized rabbit for dinner and was smiling happily when he arrived back at the camp. Sasuke had already started the fire with what wood was near the campsite, and Naruto dropped his load nearby.
"Look Sasuke! I caught it, you cook It," he said, dropping the dead animal at the dark haired shinobi's feet.
"hnnn," was all the response it got him.
Hikaru and Akira were sitting aside talking as the two ninjas finished preparing dinner, and they were startled by Naruto's call.
"Hey, come and eat, okay?" the two rose and crossed to the fire, seating themselves in the open area.
"Naruto, did you know that Hikaru is a battle strategist. He is pretty smart." Akira said as they lifted their plates.
"I'm not that smart," Hikaru replied, smiling down at his plate. Sasuke looked over at the strange boy, and then up at the other two. He was feeling strange having these three on this mission and wasn't sure what was bothering him.
"I'll take first watch, Dobe," he said as he put his plate down. "You do the clean-up."
"Sasuke! Fine, I'll clean up, then you get to make breakfast." and Naruto resisted the urge to give the stoic ninja a raspberry.
Hikaru leaned over to Akira and whispered to him, "Is he always like that?" Akira chuckled.
"Yes, pretty much. Just don't mention Ramen around him."
"Why? What's wrong with Ramen?" Hikaru said, frowning
"Ooops, Sorry." Akira said, taking the empty plate from the other.
Hikaru shrugged standing and crossing to the tent he had been assigned and crawling inside. Akira handed Naruto the plates and smiled at the back of the Mist villager.
“So, why don’t you go to bed, I’ll be done in no time.” Naruto asked, as he began cleaning the dishes.
“I can wait. Hey, what’s with him?” Akira asked pointing to the back of the dark haired Shinobi who was currently standing on a tree limb and looking at something in the distance.
“He’s checking the perimeter. He’s okay. I’m done, let’s get some sleep.” And the two climbed into the tent they were sharing for the trip.
Akira lay on his sleeping bag and watched as Naruto slid out of the jacket and vest he wore. Once down to the black mesh tank top, and cargo pants he flopped back on his sleeping bag and looked over, his customary oversized smile replaced by something cannier.
“What is that look for?” Akira asked as he sat up.
“Well, that other guy is asleep, and the Teme is off checking for dangers, so . . .” Naruto said, leaving the end hanging on his statement.
“You thought that maybe we could do something, in this tent?” Akira said gesturing to the walls around him, as he pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it aside. Naruto shrugged and lay back on his hands and shifted one knee up. He never saw the attack coming.
Akira was now directly over the gawking blond, holding his elbows so that his hands were trapped behind his head, and his legs parted by the intruding hips. Naruto sputtered.
“I thought you said?” and Akira smiled.
“I didn’t say we couldn’t” and his lips contacted the other, pressing hard against Naruto’s teeth and forcing them open with an aggressive tongue. Naruto accepted this, and when their tongues met, the real battle began.
Akira slid his hands up to catch hold of Naruto’s, and pulled them to the sides of the blond’s head. His hips shifted sharing with Naruto the firm growth pressing insistently on Akira’s zipper.
Naruto gasped and pulled away as the feeling sent shivers of anticipation through his body. Akira looked down and smiled.
“Changed your mind?” he asked, as Naruto grinned in response.
“Not likely, Akira-chan.” He responded, shoving his hips up into the other and pressing their erections together. Akira took his turn at gasping, and proceeded to reattach to Naruto’s lips.

On the tree above the tents, Sasuke settled in to guard the camp when a sound came to his ears. He was confused by it, and dropped out of the branches to investigate. Near the tents he heard a gasp and leaned closer to see who was in distress.
Hikaru’s head popped out of his tent, and Sasuke turned to him. “Shhh,” he said, pointing to the other tent. Hikaru nodded, as Sasuke moved forward. He leaned close to the flap and peeked inside, only to back away quickly and fall to the ground. Hikaru’s eyes went wide as the stoic ninja landed on his butt, and looked like he had seen his own grandmother naked.
A loud groan filled the night air and Sasuke’s face flushed with pink. Hikaru turned his wide-eyed stare to the other tent and realization colored his face as well.
“Wow. I didn’t know ninja’s did that.” He said, as he shifted back into his tent. Sasuke stared after him for a while, before he stood and brushed himself off.
“Neither did I. But, now I do.” He said as he turned and walked away, to ‘check the perimeter’ again.