The Top Floor

Chapter 4!

Disclaimer: We don't own Naruto, or any of its characters. If we did, the boys would be getting it on. And ninja uniform would be no uniform.

OoOo.

Creak-creak.

Creak-creak.

Creak-creak.

Cre-

"Kiba would you stop that?" Sasuke asked, mildly irritated.

Kiba sat backwards on a chair and was riding it like a rocking horse, his face bored as he let all four legs of the chair back on the ground. Sasuke let his head thump against the wall; this couldn't go on much longer. It had been a week and a half since the accident, and although Shikamaru was back, Naruto was still in the hospital. Shikamaru had all but locked himself in his room since he had returned, and sheer boredom threatened to drive Sasuke and Kiba to insanity. (He refused to see the irony in that.)

Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh. He had been originally very apprehensive when he heard Shikamaru was to return, considering his rather dramatic exit. But Shikamaru hadn't spoken to either Sasuke or Kiba, and he only came out of his room to go to the bathroom. And…despite that fact that the boy had threatened both himself and Kiba…the look on his face when he did manage to leave the room made Sasuke's heart break. It was blank, so painfully emotionless. Sasuke didn't know what had happened while Shika had been in the hospital, but he figured it had something to do with Neji.

It would be like me losing Naruto, only worse, Sasuke reasoned in his mind. Those two, Neji and Shikamaru, had been inseparable, for who knows how long. He didn't know the fate of the white-eyed boy, but he could only guess…

Creak-creak.

Creak-creak.

"Kiba, (creak-creak) how many times do I have to tell you-,"

"WAH!"

THUD.

Kiba lay in a heap on the floor, the chair on its side. He let out a huff and threw an offended glare in the chair’s direction.

Sasuke wasn't aware of his laugh until it escaped him in a surprisingly loud snort. Kiba's head snapped up, and he giggled, hearing Sasuke's laugh. Sasuke couldn't stop himself as he began to laugh in earnest, holding his stomach as he did. Kiba laughed with him, not entirely sure why they were laughing, but hey, they were both overdue for some laughs.

The soft click of a door promptly shut them up. They watched from their spots on the floor as Shikamaru slowly emerged from his room, his steps slow and lazy. He ignored the two boys’ stares as he dragged a chair up to the TV and turned it on.

The two boys eyes met for a second, then they looked back to Shikamaru, watching his back as he slumped slightly in his chair. Kiba detangled himself from his chair and slowly walked over to Shikamaru, his eyes wide with caution. He approached the boy slowly and stopped a foot away from him. It was only when Kiba poked him with a wary finger that Shika took his eyes off of the TV and paid him any attention.

“What?” Shikamaru ground out. Kiba continued to stare at him with round eyes, motionless. With no verbal response from the boy, Shikamaru turned back to the news program he had been watching. Sasuke watched the interaction with mild interest. He wasn’t sure what had changed to make Shikamaru seek their company, although he knew Shika would probably never admit to actually wanting to be near them.

Still, it was obvious that he was lonely and bored enough from his self-induced isolation to venture out into the common room. Sasuke shrugged, then stood from his seat on the floor to walk over to where Kiba remained standing. He knew Kiba wanted some kind of reassurement from Shikamaru that things were alright, that he would be returning to his usual self, but perhaps Shikamaru didn’t need them prodding at him right now. Besides, Sasuke knew Shika would not be returning to normal anytime soon.

So Sasuke opted to at least make Shikamaru’s surroundings as normal as possible, which meant minimal talking on his part. He walked past Kiba and sat down on the couch to watch television with Shika. Kiba swiveled his head to watch him sit, with his confused look firmly in place, to which Sasuke responded by patting the cushion next to him and motioning for Kiba to join him. Kiba sat down next to Sasuke on the couch, glancing from Shikamaru to Sasuke, then to the television and back to Shika. Finally, after receiving no visual attention from either of the boys, Kiba settled back to watch with them. Sasuke allowed himself a smirk knowing Kiba wouldn’t last a minute watching the news. True to form, within thirty seconds he had bounded off the couch in search of his toys.

The drone of the television filled the quiet of the room. Sasuke risked a few glances at Shikamaru. The boy did not look good. His hair hung limply in its tie, and the nearly purple bags under his eyes stood out on his lifeless face. His blinks were slow, and his eyes drooped.

“Shika…”

The boy didn’t turn to him, or even acknowledge his voice as he stared blankly at the screen.

Sasuke bit his lip and turned back to the television. Kiba came bounding around the couch and plopped down next to Sasuke, holding his precious sock-monkey loosely in his hand. He waved to toy in front of Sasuke’s face, commanding his attention.

“Yes?”

Kiba’s face was serious. “This”, he pointed to the toy, “is Nar-nar. Say ‘hi’ to Nar-nar.”

Sasuke felt a smile twitch the corners of his mouth at the name of the toy. “Hello Nar-nar,” he said with complete and solemn respect.

Kiba grinned and hugged the toy tightly. He glanced at the silent boy to his right. “Shikamaru already knows Nar-nar,” he informed Sasuke. “Don’t cha Shika?” he chirped, turning to face him.

He was ignored.

Kiba frowned slightly, but he turned his attention back to Nar-nar, grabbing the monkey’s arms and making him dance on Kiba’s lap. Kiba hummed quietly as Nar-nar danced, spinning and flipping around the couch.

The trio sat in relative calm for a few more minutes, Kiba continuing his dance with his monkey friend and Shikamaru and Sasuke watching the news. Neither seemed to be terribly interested in what was being reported; Shikamaru was just trying to pass time and Sasuke was there supporting him in his typical silent way. He shook his head slightly, pondering the changes in himself. Before he had come to this place he hadn’t cared about anyone else’s well being, but now he found himself acting as both a surrogate mother and an emotional backing.

Sasuke turned back to the television he had been ignoring for the past two minutes and was greeted with the image of a house blocked off with yellow tape that screamed “caution!” to any passerby. A female reporter appeared in front of the house in the typical blazer and skirt, her hair remaining plastered to her head despite the wind.

“Multiple homicide here last night, between the hours of eleven and twelve. Police found the bodies of Hitoma Akito along with his wife Yukio and his children, Hajiki and Misa, here early this morning. There appeared to be few signs of struggle.”

Sasuke watched in horrified fascination as the reporter continued to callously outline the details of the murders.

“Shikamaru, is there a way to call a nurse in here?”

Shika pointed at the wall by the door without turning away from the television. “Green button.”

Sasuke all but ran to the wall and pushed the button, swallowing down the near panic that was rising in his chest. The news story had sounded a bit too familiar.

Ten Ten came bustling through the door. “Hi Sasuke!”

“I need to use a phone,” Sasuke hurriedly informed her.

Mild surprise shows on the nurse’s face. “But why?”

“It’s important. I need to call someone right now.”

Ten Ten opened the door and peered down the hallway. When she saw no one she turned back to Sasuke.

“Well, I guess it’s okay. But I have to stay with you the whole time.”

Sasuke nodded quickly and followed her out of the common room and down the hall to the nurses’ station. Ten Ten reached around the desk and pulled out the phone, setting it on the edge next to Sasuke. Sasuke snatched up the receiver and swiftly dialed a memorized number. After a few rings the call was answered.

“Obito!”

“...Sasuke?”

“Yes, it’s me,” said Sasuke in a rushed tone. “Listen, I was watching something on the news about a family that was murdered last night, and it reminded me of...I mean I just need to know—“

“Sasuke,” Obito interrupted from the other side of the line, “he was apprehended two weeks ago. The police have him in custody.”

Sasuke took a deep breath, part of him wanting to argue with Obito, to demand proof, but he knew that Obito was right.

“Okay.”

Ten Ten waited as Sasuke finished his call in a hushed voice. He hung up and gave the phone back to her.

“So, is everything alright Sasuke?”

Sasuke nodded, his eyes on the carpet. “Thanks, Ten Ten.” She patted his shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture and led him back to the common room. Sasuke returned to his seat on the couch, trying to keep his face blank. His tense body betrayed him, however. Shikamaru sat observing him discretely.

“You don’t wanna watch this?”

Sasuke was slightly startled by the overt concern Shikamaru’s question held but kept his face emotionless, shrugging in what he hoped was a nonchalant way.

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

Shikamaru astutely changed the channel to an obnoxiously flamboyant game show that only belonged on daytime television. Sasuke glanced at the other boy who nodded briefly. Sasuke nodded back, thankful of Shikamaru’s discretion. He suddenly realized that Shikamaru probably knew all about him already and understood why the story had upset him. If Shikamaru had had access to Naruto’s file, he would have had no problem acquiring Sasuke’s as well. It made him feel…exposed, and he suddenly knew why Naruto had been upset at learning that his file had circulated.

Kiba bounded up to Sasuke, blissfully unaware of the previous brief exchange between the two silent boys.

“We should watch a funny movie,” he announced.

“Why?” asked Sasuke.

Kiba pointed at Shikamaru. “Shika needs to cheer up! Ooh, I know, we’ll watch 101 Dalmations!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands together.

Shikamaru snorted with unsuppressed irritation. Sasuke, seeking to stop the impending confrontation between the hyper boy and the irritable Shikamaru, put his hands on Kiba’s shoulders to stop him from bouncing.

“Kiba, I don’t think Shikamaru wants to watch the movie.”

Kiba pouted. “But it’s funny! It will make him laugh!”

Sasuke nodded but kept his grip on the boy firm. “Shikamaru is lonely because his best friend is gone,” he glanced at Shika briefly. “I know you want to help him, and it’s very nice of you to try to make him happy, but it might take a while for him to cheer up,” if ever, his mind supplied. “Right now we just need to let Shikamaru be, and let him decide when he wants to be happy again.”

Kiba nodded solemnly, looking rather forlornly at Sasuke. “Will he get happy soon?”

I hope so. “Yes, Kiba, as soon as he can.”

Kiba nodded again, this time looking over at Shikamaru, who had been watching the television as though his moods weren’t being discussed right in front of him. Kiba looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, purposefully, he strode over to Shikamaru and thrust his sock monkey in Shikamaru’s face. Shikamaru tilted his head to look around the toy at Kiba, slightly annoyed.

“You take Nar-Nar,” Kiba told him. “He can be your new friend. He helps me when I’m sad.”

Shikamaru stared at him blankly for a moment, then he gave an acquiescent nod, accepting Kiba’s gift. Kiba grinned and ran to the corner of the room in search of a new toy. Sasuke allowed a small smile to flit across his features at the exchange between the two boys; then he frowned slightly.

God, I miss Naruto.

The bright eyed blonde had always managed to keep the peace in this social scene. Sasuke appreciated for the first time how demanding a job that was.

~

The sound of drawers slamming and the clank of metal startled him out of his slumber. He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he saw a figure walk quickly past his door, towards his parent’s room. He stood slowly, a dark feeling washing over him for some unknown reason…

He poked his head out of his room into the hall, when he heard noises coming from down the hall.

A soft rustling, the sounds of someone just waking up...

A sudden gasp, followed by…he strained his ears…gurgling? His head snapped up in alarm.

He heard the faint noise of cloth rubbing against cloth and then a startled cry. His mother’s voice.

“Itachi! Oh my-Itachi, what have you done?--AHH!”

He was sprinting down the hall now, his breath in his throat.

“Mom?!”

He heard the sound of struggling, of limbs flailing on cotton sheets, then-…

That same creepy bubbling noise, and an eerie silence as all sounds of resistance ceased.

He had reached the door when it hit him-the smell. Blood.

He saw his older brother bent over his parents’ bed, a red stained knife grasped in his hand.

“I-Itachi?”

Sasuke couldn’t look away from the knife still hovering over his mother, tiny drops of her blood falling from it onto her pajamas. Itachi straightened to face his younger brother. It was only then that he saw his parents.

Twitching on the bed, gurgling as blood spilled from their slit throats, their eyes wide with panic as they clutched the sheets in their fists-

Sasuke bolted upright in bed with a loud gasp. Sweat dripped down his neck as he tried to calm his erratic breathing.

It was only a dream, it was only a dream, it was only a dream.

He felt his pulse slowly return to normal, and he forced himself to lie back down, grimacing at the dampness of his sheets. He jammed his eyes shut, forcing the images of his dream out of his head.

It was only a dream.

He slowly drifted off to sleep.

It was only a dream…

~

Sasuke stirred awake for the second time that day. He glanced around his room cautiously, making sure that it was his hospital room and not his dreams again. He sat up and collected himself when he heard laughter from the common room.

It wasn’t a dream then.

He felt a stir of alarm suddenly, when he realized: He had left Kiba to his own devices for hours. And he was laughing. That couldn’t be good.

When he reached his door, he half expected the room to be wrecked or on fire, or some other disaster. But, when he saw the source of Kiba’s laughter, he let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

Naruto.

Kiba and Naruto sat on the couch, both cross legged and sitting opposite of each other. Naruto held out a finger, in a ‘just wait’ motion. Kiba squeezed his eyes shut tightly until Naruto tapped him.

His eyes flew open and he squealed and fell into a loud fit of giggles. Naruto had his eyes crossed, eyebrows furrowed and was holding his cheeks wipe apart. He looked like a confused Frankenstein, and Kiba loved it.

“Okay, okay!” Kiba exclaimed, motioning for Naruto to close his eyes. Naruto did and waited patiently while Kiba thought.

Kiba’s face lit up with an idea and he pulled on the corners of his eyes, making them stretch long, and he stuck his tongue out. “Otay!” he called (his tongue still sticking out of his mouth).

Naruto opened his eyes to see Kiba several inches from his face.

“Boogablaopthbbt!” Kiba shouted monster noises at Naruto, trying to evoke a reaction.

Naruto burst out laughing so hard that he fell backwards on the couch, holding his stomach as he did. It was only when Sasuke felt a soft laugh escape him that Naruto turned quickly to see him in the doorway.

“Sasuke,” he said, his eyes brightening. “I was wondering when you would wake up.” He patted the couch next him and Sasuke walked over and sat down carefully next to him.

He was painfully aware of how happy he was to see the boy. He couldn’t dwell on it, though. Sasuke and contemplating the deeper meanings of emotions just didn’t go together.

“Where did Shikamaru go?” he asked Naruto. Naruto pointed at the closed door of Shikamaru’s room. “I don’t think he was very happy to see me.”

Sasuke nodded, suddenly understanding. It probably would be difficult to have to greet the person who was the reason for his best friend being taken away from him.

“So it might be awkward for a while then.”

Naruto just nodded. Sasuke could see a hint of guilt in his eyes, but before he could say anything Naruto had turned to Kiba, happy smile in place.

“So Kiba, we have a while until dinner. What do you want to do?”

Kiba paused, feeling the weight of the decision on his shoulders. “Well…” he mulled over his options in his mind. His head snapped up. “Lets play hide and SEEK!” he shouted, clapping his hands together in excitement.

“Hide and seek? In here?” Sasuke questioned dryly, taking a quick look at their surroundings.

Naruto quickly shushed him with a disapproving look and turned to Kiba. “Okay, hide and seek it is! I’ll be it. You get one minute to hide!” he said, covering his eyes dutifully with his hand.

Kiba squeaked and ran off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

So discrete.

Naruto uncovered his eyes. “That’s a pretty lame hiding spot, Sasuke.”

Sasuke frowned.

“Oh come on, go hide.” Naruto playfully pushed him away as he closed his eyes again.

Sasuke let out a sigh, but did as he was told. It was Naruto’s first day back; he couldn’t be giving him a hard time just yet.

After a while, Naruto shouted out “Ready or not, here I come!” which was followed by a very audible giggle from Kiba, who hid in his room.

So very discrete.

Naruto found Sasuke laying on his bed, his arm covering his eyes.

“Sasuke…” Naruto scolded, folding his arms.

Sasuke grunted and pulled the covers over himself. “There.”

“Thank you,” Naruto said as he moved off to Kiba’s room. “Now where could he be?” (another loud giggle from Kiba)

He never saw the small smile that played on Sasuke’s lips as he hid under the covers.

A few moments passed until finally--

“Found you!”

“Aww!” Frustration was evident in Kiba’s voice. “Next time, you won’t find me!”

Naruto laughed and walked back out into the common room, his finger tapping his chin. “But I wonder…where can Sasuke be?”

Kiba perked up, now he got to seek! He dashed from his room, to Neji’s empty one, to Sasuke’s, then he stopped next to Naruto. “He sure is a good hider,” Kiba said, nodding.

Sasuke snorted softly in laughter.

Kiba’s ears perked, and he dashed to Sasuke’s room, Naruto following him. Kiba surveyed the room carefully, knowing the boy was near. Suddenly, his face lit up, and he jerked back the sheet and revealed Sasuke who feigned shock.

“You found me?”

Kiba grinned and held his head high as he trotted out of the room. “Gosh Naruto, you couldn’t find him? You’re not a very good finder are you?”

Naruto laughed at the fact that Kiba himself had missed Sasuke earlier, and he pulled the reluctant Uchiha out of the bed and back into the common room.

The game went on for almost an hour. Several things were revealed, number one being that Kiba couldn’t be the seeker. After barely thirty seconds of trying to find Sasuke and Naruto, he got bored and turned on the TV. And when he had said Naruto wouldn’t find him the next time, he hadn’t been kidding.

They only were able to find him when they slumped to the couch in defeat and they heard a squeak from below them. Yes, Kiba had (god knows how) fit under the couch.

Despite himself, Sasuke found himself having fun, and he couldn’t say he was completely relieved when Ten Ten came in, carrying their dinners.

“Naruto, will you go tell Shikamaru that dinner is ready?” she said as she placed the trays on the table. Naruto looked slightly worried.

“Maybe Shikamaru can eat in his room tonight.”

Ten Ten shook her head as she tried to keep Kiba separated from the food. “I really want him to eat out here tonight.” She slapped Kiba’s hands away from the red jello on one of the trays. Naruto nodded in submission and walked over to Shikamaru’s door, hand poised to knock, but before his fist could connect with wood Sasuke appeared at his side and grabbed his wrist.

“I’ll do it.”

Naruto looked at him, surprised at the sudden gesture.

“It’s okay,” Sasuke assured him. Naruto smiled softly then, taking a step back when Sasuke released his grip on his wrist. Sasuke nodded and shoved Naruto lightly towards the table where Ten Ten was busily trying to distract Kiba while she set up dinner.

Sasuke knocked on Shikamaru’s door. He waited for a few seconds and opened the door slowly when there was no response, peeking his head around the edge. He found Shikamaru sitting against the wall with his knees pulled to his chest.

“Shikamaru?”

The boy seemed to snap out of his trance at his name. “I’m not hungry.”

“Ten Ten says she wants you to eat with us tonight,” said Sasuke a little nervously.

Shikamaru returned to staring at nothing, seemingly ignoring Sasuke’s presence. Sasuke was sure he would refuse and was about to leave the room when Shikamaru stood up abruptly, tossed something he had been holding in the corner and walked past Sasuke out the door. Sasuke glanced to the corner and was surprised to see Nar-Nar lying in a heap.

He wasn’t sure he would ever figure Shikamaru out.

Sasuke returned to the common room to see Naruto and Kiba sitting at the table, Naruto doing his best to keep Kiba productively occupied. Shikamaru had taken his tray and went to sit in the far corner facing the wall. Sasuke thought it would be best to leave Shikamaru on his own for now and went to join the other two boys at the table.

“Why is my jello a different color?” Kiba asked, frowning.

Naruto swallowed the food in his mouth and replied, “Because you get special jello. We get stuck with the boring jello.” He wrinkled his nose and looked over to Sasuke with a wink. Sasuke got the message.

“Uh, yeah. Red jello is boring. I wish I had green.”

Kiba poked at his jello, clearly unpleased. “I hate green.”

Naruto grinned. “Nah, green is cool! Like an alien!” Kiba’s eyes got big at that. He returned his interest the jello, this time poking it more carefully as if to dissect it. Naruto leaned closer to Sasuke subtly.

“Sugar free,” he whispered.

Sasuke snorted but quickly covered with a cough at Kiba’s curious glance. He sent a prayer of thanks to any deity listening that someone had thought the hyper boy’s diet through. He wouldn’t want to be the one forced to deal with Kiba on a sugar high at two in the morning.

Kiba managed to get through the rest of dinner without any major mishaps, mainly due to his new fascination with his jello. He saved it for last, poking it warily once before quickly shoving the whole blob in his mouth and swallowing, looking immensely satisfied with himself.

Naruto and Sasuke ate in comfortable silence, at least until Kiba was done eating. He bounced in his seat a few times, looking rapidly around the room. Then he leaned over towards Naruto, balancing precariously on the edge of his seat. Naruto managed to keep his face solemn as Kiba cupped his hand around Naruto’s ear and whispered loudly,

“Can we watch a movie?”

Naruto eyed the steamed carrots on Kiba’s tray. “Are you done with dinner?” he whispered just as loudly. Kiba nodded solemnly, big eyes pleading.

“You should eat your carrots.”

Two heads whipped around to look at Sasuke, who was looking down as he continued to eat.

“But they’re GROSS!” protested Kiba loudly.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “You know Ten Ten is going to make you anyways, so you might as well eat them now and get it over with.”

Kiba made a huffing noise and looked to Naruto, who was glaring at Sasuke. Sasuke flinched. He never would have guessed the blonde to be capable of giving off such an angry aura.

Naruto turned to Kiba. “You don’t have to eat your beans, Kiba. Go find a movie.”

Kiba grinned in triumph, but when Sasuke stood and fixed a dark stare on Kiba, the grin quickly faded.

“I mean it, Kiba. No movie until you eat your carrots.”

“No!” Naruto jumped up from his seat too. “Kiba, you don’t have to listen to him.” To Sasuke, he fiercely whispered, “What is your problem?!”

Sasuke didn’t know what was coming over him. He couldn’t seem to let this go, apathetic mask falling as he scowled angrily across the table.

“He can’t always get his way!”

“Since when do you make the rules here?”

“Since when do you?!”

Kiba watched the crossfire between the two boys, confusion appearing on his face and growing with each passing second. Finally he appeared to give up any hope of understanding what was going on. As voices continued to escalate he grabbed his dinner tray and scampered over to Shikamaru’s corner and plopped down beside him.

“Hi.”

Shikamaru glanced over at his new companion and grunted. Kiba played with the carpet while Shikamaru continued to eat, carefully separating the mushrooms from his scalloped potatoes.

“He’s right, you know,” Shikamaru told Kiba around a mouthful. Kiba looked at him, puzzled.

“Who is?”

“Sasuke. Ten Ten will make you eat them.”

Kiba wrinkled his nose and glared at the offending vegetables. “Carrots are yucky. Besides, she’s going to make you eat your mushrooms too.”

Shika just stared, wondering what that had to do with anything. But then he realized that Kiba was right; Neji had always eaten his mushrooms for him. And god, how he despised mushrooms...

“I tell you what,” he whispered conspiratorily to Kiba. “If you eat my mushrooms, I’ll eat your carrots. That way Ten Ten won’t get mad, those two can stop yelling, and you get to watch your movie.”

Kiba’s eyes went wide as a sneaky smile slid across his face. He peeked over his shoulder slyly and, finding Naruto and Sasuke still completely engrossed in their argument, quickly made the transfer. Shikamaru and Kiba scarfed down the vegetables quickly before the other boys could notice. Kiba grinned.

“Thanks Shika!” he whispered. Shika nodded.

Naruto and Sasuke were still yelling at each other when a small form stepped in between them.

“Look, I ate my carrots!”

Sasuke looked down at the tray Kiba was shoving proudly in his face, then back to Naruto, the gloating unmistakable in his eyes.

“Fine,” Naruto practically seethed.

Kiba turned troubled eyes on the blonde. “Are you mad at me?”

“No!--” Naruto stopped, realizing he was still yelling. “No,” he said more softly, “I’m not mad, Kiba. It was good of you to eat your vegetables.”

The look he was shooting at Sasuke said otherwise. Kiba, however, remained oblivious to the now palpable tension in the room, tugged on Naruto’s hand.

“Okay, let’s watch the movie then!”

Ten Ten entered the room just as Kiba dragged Naruto away towards the television, already babbling about the 101 Dalmations and how this time he needed Naruto’s help to count the puppies and see if there were really one hundred and one, because geez that’s a lot!

Shikamaru rose from the floor and handed Ten Ten his tray. Ten Ten looked at it bewildered.

“Shikamaru, did you eat your mushrooms?”

Shikamaru nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets, face expressionless. Ten Ten glanced at his pockets apprehensively.

“They’re not in your pants, are they?”

Shikamaru snorted and turned out his pockets.

“But you hate mushrooms,” said Ten Ten, puzzled. Shikamaru shrugged and walked to his room. Sasuke’s eyes followed him, narrowing suspiciously.

“Huh,” Ten Ten muttered. “Kiba ate his carrots, too.”

~

Kiba shrieked as Cruella DeVille laughed evilly and puppies scampered in fear. He was sitting in Naruto’s lap on the couch with his hands over his face, fingers splayed and eyes peeking through. Naruto patted his back comfortingly.

Sasuke smirked from his chair. Kiba had been waiting to watch the movie all day. Now he would probably be up all night scared of the crazy lady with a fetish for dog pelts.

The tension had faded a bit between Sasuke and Naruto but was still hanging in the air between them. Sasuke sighed tiredly and reclined a little, stretching his legs out to rest his feet on the low table in front of him. Hopefully it would pass by the time morning rolled around...

Sasuke could hear a dark roar of laughter from his side but couldn’t see anything. Then Naruto’s face loomed at him from the darkness, eyes crinkled shut as evil sounds of mirth came tearing out of his mouth.

What?

Suddenly it wasn’t Naruto anymore. Itachi was rushing at him, grinning wickedly while brandishing his already dripping knife. Sasuke panicked and jerked his body to the side out of the way of Itachi’s path, but Itachi kept going. Puzzled, Sasuke looked over his shoulder, curious why Itachi hadn’t kept after him.

But then he saw, the reason Itachi had kept on running maniacally. He tried to jump out grab his brother, stop him, trip him, anything, but he couldn’t stop the knife from leaving Itachi’s hand and tearing through the air towards Naruto.

Naruto, just standing there, eyes wide with fear as he watched his end come hurtling at him...

“Naruto! MOVE!” Sasuke shouted.

But Naruto didn’t move.

And suddenly, he didn’t have to. The knife was no more; a puppy was now flying at Naruto in it’s place.

Wait...what?

“Sasuke!”

Sasuke jolted awake, eyes opening wide to see Kiba smacking him with his balled up sock.

“Kiba, sto—eew, put that back on your foot,” he muttered sleepily with his eyes half open. He saw the shadow of the sock coming at him again and flinched, waiting for the soggy piece of cotton to hit him in the face once more. But the sock never landed.

Sasuke looked up to see Naruto standing over him and Kiba holding the sock in mid-swing.

“Kiba. Sasuke asked you to stop....GROSS Kiba! This is wet!”

Giggles erupted from above him as Naruto dropped the sock as though it had scalded him.

“Put that back on. No, no, never mind, don’t put that thing back on your foot. Eww. Put it in your laundry basket,” Naruto ordered, looking thoroughly disgusted. Kiba, still giggling, picked up the sock and ran to his room to do as Naruto told him. Naruto wiped his hand on his pants repeatedly, muttering something about too much energy and overactive sweat glands.

Sasuke chuckled as he reached for the remote and paused the movie. A pissed off Naruto loomed over him.

“Why the hell are you laughing?”

Sasuke swallowed but kept his gaze steady. “I never thought you would be such a...germ freak.”

Naruto backed up a bit and looked thoughtful. “Really?”

“No, I would have guessed Shikamaru before you.”

“Nah, Shika doesn’t pay attention to stuff like that,” said Naruto, scratching his neck. “You could dump him in a pile of sponges and he wouldn’t even care.”

“What’s wrong with sponges?”

Naruto’s eyes widened. “Bacteria! That’s what’s wrong with them! They’re breeding grounds!” he spluttered incredulously.

Sasuke smirked watching Naruto started to pace as he continued his rant, his voice steadily increasing in pitch and volume.

“Okay, alright, I’m sorry. I’ll never touch a sponge again,” he said as though trying to placate a small child. Naruto would have none of it, however. He ran back to the chair Sasuke was still reclining in and shoved an accusing finger in his face.

“What happened at dinner? Why were you so mad?”

Sasuke slapped the offending digit away from his face and sat up. “You started it!”

Naruto gasped. “I did not!”

“Yes you did. I tried to encourage a sense of responsibility, and you got pissed.”

A loud hmph surfaced and Naruto crossed his arms across his chest as he plopped back down on the couch. “Your claim has no basis.”

“My claim has no basis?” Sasuke wrinkled his brow. “Why don’t you argue like a regular person and talk normal?” he added under his breath, closing his eyes and shifting in his seat.

A brief moment of silence followed, prompting Sasuke to glance sideways at Naruto and smirk at the heated scowl aimed in his direction. He hadn’t realized how amusing it could be to try to evoke reactions from people. If everyone reacted the way Naruto did, it would have to become a new hobby. Sasuke almost laughed out loud in derision. Sasuke, with a hobby? What was happening to him?

“Fine,” Naruto’s low growl interrupted Sasuke’s thoughts. “You have no right to boss around my Kiba!”

Sasuke’s eyes widened at Naruto’s slip. Naruto slapped a hand over his mouth, realizing what he had just said. Suddenly Sasuke realized what was bothering Naruto.

Of course Naruto was upset. He had been the one taking care of Kiba for the last...well, Sasuke didn’t know how long Naruto had been here, but potentially a very long time. Naruto had left the wing for three days, and in his absence Sasuke had evolved from an uninvolved presence to concerned caregiver to Kiba.

Naruto seemed to be realizing this as well, his eyes mirroring shock. Sasuke wanted to say something, anything to convince Naruto that Kiba had just been acting out of self-preservation, but Kiba chose that moment to reemerge from his bedroom. He bounded up to Naruto grinning.

“I put on clean socks! Now can we finish the movie?” he asked innocently. Naruto looked down at the bright pink and green socks on Kiba’s feet and smiled softly.

“Absolutely.”

Kiba squealed softly and clambered up into Naruto’s lap. Sasuke smiled a little as Naruto’s arms slipped around the boy, enjoying the show of affection.

“Sasuke! Push play!”

Naruto poked Kiba in the shoulder. “Please.”

“Push play pleeease!”

Sasuke smirked and did as he was so politely asked. The movie continued and was granted Kiba’s rapt attention once more. Sasuke glanced sideways at Naruto to find him looking at him. They maintained eye contact awkwardly until Naruto half-smiled at Sasuke, who nodded back before returning his eyes to numerous scampering puppies.

By the end of the movie, Sasuke had truly relaxed for the first time since Naruto had returned to their wing. All was well in his world: Kiba, almost asleep (a welcome relief); Naruto absently stroking the younger boy’s hair with a peaceful expression on his face.

The sound of a door opening and feet padding out into the common room reminded Sasuke of Shikamaru’s presence and the fact that all was, in fact, not well. Naruto was back, but peace would likely be elusive for the next few days as Shikamaru dealt with the daily reminder of the reason Neji had been taken from him.

He and Naruto watched as Shikamaru made a wide berth around the TV area and headed to the bathroom, avoiding eye contact. Naruto sighed dejectedly.

“How long do you think he’s going to be like this?” Sasuke asked softly as to not awaken Kiba.

“I have no idea,” said Naruto, shaking his head. “I deserve it, though,” he added in a whisper. He looked up at Sasuke with the beginnings of a sad smile.

“I’m going to put this guy in bed,” he said before Sasuke could say anything. Carefully he extricated himself from underneath Kiba and lifted the boy in his arms, Kiba’s limbs instinctively wrapping themselves around Naruto’s torso.

“...buh wanna watsh the muby,” whined Kiba incoherently. Naruto rubbed his back, shushing him as he made his way into Kiba’s bedroom.

Sasuke stood and stretched, turning off the television and DVD player and returning the remote control to the top of the TV. Shikamaru emerged from the bathroom and started back towards his bedroom, this time not making such an obvious effort to avoid Sasuke’s corner of the room.

“Shikamaru--”

Shikamaru looked up at Sasuke and shook his head before Sasuke could get out any other words.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t be around him yet.”

Sasuke nodded in understanding.

“I miss Neji...” said Shikamaru softly, looking away for Sasuke for a few seconds. When he returned his eyes to Sasuke, they were moist. “Just tell Naruto I’m sorry. I know he didn’t do it on purpose.”

Sasuke nodded again, at a loss for anything to say. Shikamaru swallowed thickly and quickly returned to his bedroom.

A few minutes later Sasuke was standing outside Naruto’s room, staring in through the open doorway. Naruto had gotten Kiba to bed without incident and was now sitting on his mattress with his back against the wall, his head leaning back and eyes closed. His face looked exhausted. Dark lines laced his eyes, and with his facial muscles relaxed he looked older than fourteen. Sasuke frowned slightly as he leaned against the doorpost.

Naruto opened his eyes then and smiled when he saw Sasuke. Sasuke was relieved to see the dark lines disappear but then realized they hadn’t disappeared. In fact, none of the signs of fatigue that he had just observed were completely gone. There was just something about Naruto’s cheerful expression that made him look past them.

“You don’t have to force your smile with me, Naruto,” Sasuke quietly informed the boy. Naruto looked as if he was about to protest, to say that he wasn’t forcing anything and that he was in fact perfectly fine, but something about the concern evident in Sasuke’s eyes forced him to stop. He nodded and let his head fall back against the wall, eyes closing once more.

“Shikamaru says he’s sorry,” said Sasuke as he made his way towards the mattress. Naruto’s eyes snapped open.

“He’s sorry?”

Sasuke nodded, sitting down on the bed. As soon as his weight was fully resting on the mattress his eyes went wide and a startled gasp flew from his mouth. Naruto watched as Sasuke’s lips formed a large “O” and his eyes slid shut.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Sasuke opened one eye and glanced sideways at Naruto, who was now staring at him as though he had sprouted antlers.

“Your bed...oh my god,” he said reverently, then continued in a slightly annoyed tone, “Why the hell didn’t I get one of these?”

“Oh, yeah, I have to have a special bed because there can’t be any metal in here,” said Naruto nonchalantly. Sasuke closed his eyes again, this time having the grace to close his mouth. Developing suicidal tendencies was starting to look very tempting.

The boys remained like that for several minutes, each to his own thoughts. Neither had realized how much they had missed the other’s company, but even now that they were in such close proximity they didn’t feel the need to talk.

“You’re wrong, by the way,” Sasuke stated into the silence.

Naruto whirled his head around to face him. “No I’m not!” he said defensively, despite the fact that he didn’t know what Sasuke was referring to. Sasuke ignored his protest.

“You don’t deserve how Shikamaru is treating you.”

Naruto’s eyes dropped to his knees. “Yes, I do. It’s my fault that Neji is gone,” he said sadly.

Sasuke shook his head. “Naruto--”

“No, it is. I knew Neji’s past and exploited it. I used him! This is completely my fault.”

“How can you say that?” asked Sasuke incredulously. “Even Shikamaru said he knew you didn’t do it on purpose.” Naruto looked like he was going to object again, but Sasuke just jabbed him lightly with his elbow. “You would never had done what you did if you had any control over the situation.”

Naruto sighed. “I’m a horrible friend.”

Sasuke had had enough and knew full well that Naruto would just continue to beat himself up if he didn’t manage to change his mind. He reached out and took Naruto’s chin gently between his thumb and forefinger, lifting slightly to see the boy’s face.

“You are not a horrible friend. You didn’t know what you were doing. And at the end of the day, Neji made the decision to do what he did, not you.”

Soulful blue eyes searched his charcoal ones, crying out for something to latch on to to drag himself out of this self-imposed guilt.

“Okay?” Sasuke asked. Naruto nodded, freeing his chin from Sasuke’s light grip. He closed his eyes and rested his head against Sasuke’s shoulder. Sasuke’s arm found its way around Naruto’s back seemingly on its own accord, fingers rubbing gentle circles between shoulder blades. Naruto let out a deep breath.

“Thank you Sasuke.”

Sasuke couldn’t say anything so he settled for a nod that Naruto couldn’t see. This boy had come to mean a lot to him, although he wasn’t sure why. All he knew was that he never wanted to see Naruto’s face so sad ever again.

~

The next morning found the boys in the common room with an hour before their group session started. Shikamaru and Sasuke were watching television idly while Kiba sprinted laps around the room with Naruto on his heels. Sasuke was relieved the boy had decided to attach himself to Naruto that morning. After falling asleep sitting upright against Naruto’s wall the previous night, his back wasn’t quite cooperating. That, and the fact that he was most definitely not a morning person, made him thankful he was not the one having to run in such a confined space at breakneck speeds.

Kiba suddenly stopped short, Naruto almost running into him and having to throw himself into the wall to stop himself from hitting the small boy. A slow, conniving smile spread across Kiba’s face, scaring Sasuke more than he would ever verbally admit.

“What?” Naruto asked warily. Kiba just darted into his bedroom and returned after a few seconds, two pillows in tow. He stopped several feet short of Naruto, quickly tossed him a pillow and turned and dashed away giggling. Naruto grinned, taking the hint and chasing after him. After a few well placed hits he had Kiba shrieking in laughter.

Sasuke and Shikamaru remained stoically on the sidelines during the fight. Sasuke was watching, a completely bored expression fixed upon his face, at least until Kiba had decided to throw his pillow. As the pillow sailed through the air, something snapped in Sasuke’s mind. The pillow morphed from a cushion to a glinting, blood stained knife. Sasuke felt the room freeze as the knife shot towards Naruto’s face. He saw Itachi standing in Kiba’s place, a small smirk on his face as he waited for his weapon to hit. Sasuke’s body moved on its own.

He let out a sharp cry and he shoved Naruto to the ground, out of harms way and leapt at Itachi, screaming as he did. His fist had almost come into contact with Itachi’s face when he felt arms wrap around his waist, hauling him backwards, away from Itachi.

“No!” Sasuke screamed at the shadow holding him back, thrashing wildly. “Let me go!”

Naruto watched the scene before him from the floor with wide eyes. Sasuke had suddenly attacked Kiba, and he would have landed a blow if Shikamaru hadn’t held him back. The boy was fighting Shikamaru, screaming at Kiba (who looked like he was going to pee his pants).

“You bastard! How could you do this to me?! You fucking BASTARD!” Sasuke was screaming his lungs out at Kiba, trying to lunge at him over and over.

Sasuke watched as Itachi smirked. “Is that all you got little brother? You couldn’t to anything that day, and you can’t do anything now!”

“Shut up! Just shut the fuck UP!” Sasuke screamed in rage. “You KILLED them! How could you fucking kill them, you sick bastard!”

His vision of Itachi was suddenly obscured as someone moved between them. He screamed and kicked at the thing holding him swiftly.

“Ow, Jesus!” Shika shouted as he let go of Sasuke, causing the boy to ram head on with Naruto.

Naruto quickly grabbed the boy by the shoulders. “Stop Sasuke,” he ordered as calmly as he could.

“Naruto, get away from him!” Sasuke cried, trying to push Naruto out of the way, but Naruto would have none of it.

He held his grip on Sasuke. “Get away from who Sasuke?” he asked. “The only person there is Kiba.”

Sasuke’s eyes were wide as he shook his head, still trying to push Naruto away. “He’ll hurt you!”

“Who will hurt me Sasuke? There’s no one there!” Naruto’s voice had begun to rise as he felt Sasuke slipping away from him.

Sasuke saw Itachi grin psychotically before lunging at Naruto, a knife held in his outstretched hand.

“NARUTO!”

“Sasuke!” Naruto’s shout was accompanied by a sharp slap to Sasuke’s face.

Sasuke stumbled back a few steps, his hand flying to his reddened cheek. “Naruto, wha-…what happened-…”

It seemed to come back to him in a flash, and he felt himself stumble backwards until his back hit the wall. His body slumped to the floor.

“Sasuke!” Naruto cried softly, kneeling beside him. “Are you ok? What happened? Sasuke!”

Sasuke stared ahead blankly, blinking slowly, not reacting to Naruto’s voice. Naruto turned to Shika, who watched the scene with furrowed brows.

“Get a nurse in here,” he instructed before turning back to Sasuke. “Sasuke, can you hear me?”

The boy still wasn’t responding as Naruto gently shook his shoulders. Shikamaru watched for a moment, before going into his room and closing the door behind him.

A few moments later, a nurse rushed in, gently pushing Naruto out of the way as she took Sasuke’s pulse. “What happened?” she asked hurriedly.

“He just snapped…he started screaming, and I think he saw someone that wasn’t there,” Naruto said softly, watching carefully as the nurse gently shook Sasuke.

“Sasuke,” she called lightly. “Sasuke, I need you to stand up for me.”

He gave no sign that he had heard her, but when she (along with Naruto) hauled him to his feet, he seemed to be able to stay upright by himself. She slung his arm over her shoulder.

“Walk with me, Sasuke” she said, walking slowly ahead as he stumbled to move his feet along with hers. She reached the door and Naruto spoke up.

“What…are you going to do?”

“Don’t worry Naruto,” she said, shifting Sasuke’s weight a little. “He just has to talk to some doctors. He should be back before tonight…”

They walked out the door together, the nurse and Sasuke. She turned back.

“Shut the door behind me boys ok? I’ll be back to check on you in a minute.”

Naruto did as he was told, watching Sasuke shuffle down the hall for a minute before shutting the door. It was only then that he realized that Kiba was standing near the wall, watching him. Naruto walked quickly to his side, thinking the boy must be scared.

But Kiba surprised him by asking in a level voice. “Is that Sasuke’s sickness?”

Naruto nodded. “I think so, Kiba.”

“He used angry words…” Kiba’s eyes watched the carpet as he heard Sasuke’s screams echo in his head.

Naruto squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. “He wasn’t saying them to you Kiba. He thought you were someone else, I think.”

Kiba looked up, confused. “But I’m me.”

Naruto smiled softly. “I know Kiba. I’m sure Sasuke will explain when he gets back.”

“Ok.” Kiba seemed to accept this.

But even as they settled down to play a game of catch, Naruto couldn’t keep his mind off of Sasuke, off the look of complete fury and at the same time fear.

He couldn’t help but wonder what Sasuke had seen.

~

Shizune entered her office to see Sasuke Uchiha sitting across from her chair on a couch, staring at his knees. She sat in her chair and addressed him.

“Sasuke?”

He looked up.

“I heard you had a bit of an episode today.”

He nodded.

“Could you tell me what happened?” she asked gently.

She was almost surprised when Sasuke opened his mouth to tell his story.

“My family was normal…Or at least it was. My mom and dad were both successful in their jobs, and my brother was excelling in his schooling. Things seemed to be going great. Well Itachi, my brother…”

Shizune noted that his tone darkened with the mention of the name.

“He began to distance himself from the family. My parents thought it was him just trying to show his independence or something, so they paid no attention to it. Well…” Sasuke took a breath, still staring steadily at his knees.

“One night he came home late from a party, went into the kitchen and got out a knife. He walked into my parents room and slit both of their throats. Just like that.” Sasuke could feel his emotions beginning to rise in him again as he recalled it.

“He just waltzed into my parent’s room and killed them both. Without batting an eyelash. He had woken me up, and I went to my parent’s room when I heard noise…then I saw them.”

Shizune watched the look on his face change from sadness to anger and back to sadness in a cycle.

“It took me a second to understand what had happened. I couldn’t believe that my own brother would do that…I wanted there to be some other explanation. But by the time I had processed it, he had walked past me and out of the house. I couldn’t to a god damn thing.” Sasuke gripped his knees tightly as he tried to reign in the anger he could feel rising in his gut.

“Eventually the police caught him, and he pleaded guilty in court. I had to go too, as a witness. And the horrible thing was-,” There was that anger again. “He didn’t even feel any remorse. The judge asked him why he did it, and he said because he had wanted to. He said the same thing when he was asked why he left me alive…”

Shizune shifted I her seat slightly, listening intently to his story.

“They sentenced him to life in prison. I wanted him to die for it. For what he did to them, for what he did to me. I couldn’t cry at the funeral. I couldn’t cry at my fucking PARENTS funeral. I hate him for that so god damn much.”

Shizune didn’t even bother to scold the swearing. She was seeing a whole other side to the boy. Even though she had heard the story from others, hearing it from his point of view revealed so much about him. She could get inside his head for once.

He seemed like he was done talking, so she began.

“You’ve made a major breakthrough today, Sasuke. I want you to know that.”

He seemed less than convinced. “I feel like an idiot,” he admitted quietly.

She smiled slightly. “Well, this is the first time you’ve ever…let yourself accept what you are truly feeling. What you have done before this is hold your emotions inside yourself and deny their existence. I believe it was partially the reason behind your explosion today. You never got a chance to tell your brother what you really felt, and you never had anyone to tell. So when you saw him, you let him have it. What you did today was very healthy, and things will get better. Trust me.”

Sasuke nodded. It surely couldn’t get any worse, right?

“Well that brings us to your treatment. Are you ready to discuss it?”

He nodded, looking her strait in the eye for the first time that day.

“They will be putting you on a drug that should control your hallucinations completely. It’s very safe and it should also leave you completely…the way you are.”

“No fake happy?” Sasuke asked.

“No fake happy,” she confirmed, nodding. “They’ll start you on a regular dosage, and if you still experience symptoms, they’ll up the dosage. Just two pills a day. Is that alright?”

He nodded. “When can I go back?”

Shizune stood, smoothing out her blazer. “Whenever you feel ready. Don’t force yourself to go back if you don’t want to.”

He stood as well. “I want to go back.”

She smiled knowingly and opened her door, motioning for him to follow her out. She led him to his room and shut the door behind him after he entered.

The boy might not have known it, but he had made a major breakthrough today, and she was proud of him.

~

Sasuke heard the door lock with an audible ‘click’ behind him. Naruto looked up from his place on a chair, a relieved look crossing his face. “Welcome back.”

Sasuke nodded and asked, “Where’s Kiba?”

Naruto pointed to Kiba’s room. “Just be straight forward with him,” he instructed Sasuke.

He nodded, and knocked on the door gently.

“Yeah?” he heard Kiba say from behind the door.

“Hey Kiba? Its Sasuke. I was hoping we could talk-,”

The door opened and Kiba stood face to face with Sasuke. They stood for a moment, staring at each other. Kiba gave Sasuke a look that clearly said ‘go on’.

Sasuke took a breath, glanced at Naruto (who nodded) and then back to Kiba. “I just wanted to apologize for my behavior today. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, or used those bad words. I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

Kiba listened to his apology, shifting his weight as he thought it over. He waited so long to speak that Sasuke thought he might actually be mad. He was relieved to hear Kiba respond.

“It’s ok. I forgive you. Naruto says you didn’t mean it.”

Sasuke nodded. “I didn’t mean it. Thank you Kiba, for forgiving me.”

Kiba suddenly looked sheepish. He looked up at Sasuke and asked quietly, “What happened?”

“I…my mind made me see you as a different person. Someone I’m very upset with. I said all those things to the person I thought you were, not to you.”

Kiba’s voice was small. “So you’re not mad at me?”

Sasuke let a relieved smile settle on his lips. “No, of course not. How could I be mad at you?”

He seemed to accept this after a moment of thought. A small mischievous grin flitted across Kiba’s face. “From now on though-,” he said, standing on his tip toes and poking Sasuke in the chest, “I am me!”

Sasuke laughed at this. “Fair enough,” he said.

Kiba gave Sasuke a rogue grin before turning back into his room. Sasuke was surprised at how easy that had been, but he was relieved. Naruto called his name, grabbing his attention.

“Now you get to tell me what this morning was all about,” he said seriously. Sasuke nodded, smiling slightly. He led the way to Naruto’s room, closing the door softly behind his friend. Sasuke walked purposefully to the bed and sat down, taking a brief pause to enjoy the incredible comfort only memory foam can provide. Naruto took his seat at the foot of the bed and crossed his legs.

Sasuke suddenly didn’t know what to say. How was he supposed to just start talking about something as awkward parents being murdered and crazy psychopath brothers?

“Why don’t you start with what happened this morning?” Naruto prodded after a minute of silence.

“Do you remember how Kiba woke me up last night during the movie?” Sasuke asked. Naruto nodded, grimacing at the memory of the sweaty sock. “Well, I was having a dream when he did. But I guess to understand that you’ll have to know what happened...”

So Sasuke proceeded to repeat to Naruto what he had told Shizune, minus the swear words. Naruto eyes were wide, but not with the pity that Sasuke had expected and been prepared to shun. To Sasuke’s relief the blonde had accepted every detail Sasuke gave him without interruption or condemnation. Then Sasuke retold his dream, about how he had dodged Itachi’s attack, how Itachi had assaulted Naruto instead and how Sasuke had been unable to stop Itachi’s weapon.

“I think this morning something finally clicked into place. All this time I haven’t really been able to feel anything. But all of a sudden I saw it all happening, and I knew I couldn’t stand by and let another person close to me die because of him.”

Naruto nodded, his fingers fiddling with the blanket covering his bed. Then his eyes met Sasuke’s. He held them for a moment, making sure he had the Uchiha’s full attention.

“But you do realize that your parents’ deaths were not your fault, don’t you?”

Sasuke dropped his gaze. “That’s what I’m told. And that’s what I try to tell myself. But it doesn’t change the fact that I chose self-preservation over--”

“Sasuke,” Naruto interrupted, “you didn’t choose anything. You were asleep when your brother did it! By the time you got to the room, it was too late for you to help.”

Sasuke nodded, his eyes still downcast. Naruto waited for any other response but the raven-haired boy before him remained sitting with head bowed. Naruto sighed and stood up, walking over to where Sasuke sat and grabbing his wrist. Sasuke looked up then with slight confusion painted over his facial features. When Naruto tugged on his wrist, he stood up and was suddenly enveloped in the warmest embrace he had ever received.

“You can talk to me whenever you want, okay?” came Naruto’s voice, muffled by the slightly taller boy’s shoulder.

“Okay.” Pale arms tentatively wrapped themselves around the blonde boy’s back.

Naruto pulled his head back a little to look at Sasuke.

“You are special to me too, you know,” he told him with a slight smile. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the sudden announcement. Naruto complied willingly as he was pulled back into the embrace, both boys’ arms tightening around the other.

~

Things were pretty calm, considering the events of the day, as everyone sat in the common room. It was also refreshingly quiet, Sasuke noted.

Naruto and Kiba sat on the couch, cross legged and facing each other. Naruto was showing Kiba how to tie knots in his (clean, Naruto had made sure) socks to create a companion for Nar-Nar.

“I want a giraffe,” Kiba announced to Naruto.

“A giraffe? Alright, one giraffe, coming right up!”

Naruto went to work on it, stretching a sock for the neck. He finished soon, and held it out for Kiba’s inspection.

Kiba held onto it gingerly, shaking it lightly before announcing, “No, I don’t like this one. Nar-Nar doesn’t like giraffe’s.”

Naruto let out a shaky sigh. “Okay,” he started. “What would Nar-Nar like?”

“I dunno…” Kiba said, thinking deeply. He suddenly lifted his head and shouted in the direction of Shikamaru’s room, “HEY NAR-NAR! Who do you want for a friend?”

Sasuke watched with a slight grin as Kiba waited patiently for Nar-Nar’s reply. They sat, unmoving for a few moments. Kiba spoke.

“Yeah, Nar-Nar doesn’t know what he wants.”

“Okay…” Naruto said, grasping for ideas. “How about a mouse? I could make that.”

Kiba shook his head quickly. “No. He wants a deadly friend.”

“Are you sure? I mean, wouldn’t Nar-Nar want a…-peaceful friend?” Naruto asked, trying to convince the boy.

Kiba wrinkled his nose in an ‘ew’ fashion. “No. Why would he want that?”

Sasuke held in a laugh. He could see what Naruto was afraid of. Undoubtedly, there would be a fearsome showdown between the two toys, and one of them would probably end up dead, at least in Kiba’s mind. Which would lead to crisis lockdown mode in their house as Kiba mourned. He couldn’t blame Naruto for wanting to avoid the whole fiasco.

“You don’t think Nar-Nar would want a girl monkey to keep him company?” Sasuke asked, raising his eyebrows.

Kiba gasped, a blush rising to his cheeks at the innuendo. “No! Nar-Nar isn’t like that, stop being gross!”

By now even Shika had looked up from his dog-eared novel to watch the scene.

Sasuke was having fun now. “Okay, so would Nar-Nar want a boy monkey to keep him company?”

Kiba’s eyes widened in panic and he squealed, “NO! Nooo, Nar-Nar doesn’t want that!” he insisted, shaking his hands out in front of him. He was clearly flustered and embarrassed.

Naruto leaned in close to him. “How does a dog sound?”

“Good,” he eeped quietly, hiding behind his blush.

Naruto smiled, sharing a grateful look with Sasuke before turning to finishing the toy. In a few minutes he did, and he held it out to Kiba for inspection. Kiba took it in his hands, inspecting it carefully. After a moment or two, he grinned. “It’s good.”

Naruto looked at him expectantly, and Kiba sighed, remembering. “Thank you Naruto,” he said exasperatedly.

“You’re welcome Kiba. Now, lets-,”

He was cut off by the door to the hall opening and Ten Ten popping her head in.

“He’s here you guys!” she said with a grin.

They all froze. “Who is here?” Sasuke asked slowly.

An incredulous look crossed Ten Ten’s face. “You mean they didn’t tell you? You guys get a new roommate today.”

Their jaws fell collectively.

“No one told us…” Naruto started, feeling apprehensive. Just when they needed things to settle down a bit.

Ten Ten glanced down the hall quickly and then back into the room. “Well, he’s here now, so there’s not much we can do. Just…be nice ok?” she pleaded.

“Of course…” Naruto’s voice trailed off as she disappeared from the door.

A few seconds later, the door swung wide open. Ten Ten walked back in, holding a few suitcases, and heading to Neji’s empty room with them. Their attention was suddenly brought back to the door, their eyes widened in fear when a voice called out:

“Ah! Your eyes are so wide and full of spirit! Such a radiant expression of YOUTH!”


Holy hell, long chapter! Hopefully that will make up for it being a little bit late. We got done writing it and we were like, wait 22 pages? Are you sure? Are you sure, Mr. Microsoft Word?

Next chapter we have our new resident! I’m really looking forward to writing him and Shika together. Should be...interesting. And I can promise that the SasuNaru goodness will be progressing from here on out. Tune in next chapter for some...good good stuff. I’m so excited to write it.

Ningi drew fanart for us! Yay! Check it out at
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b32/ningiakimbo/naruto_thetopfloor_blue.gif

Review Responses!
Ladygizarme: Why, yes, I think you may have, but feel free to say it again! ;) And now you know all about Sasuke. And thanks for the help with the italics! You are my star!
Trollmia: Glad to see you’re still on board. Thanks very much!
Pam: Hmmm...we’ll see. :)
Rei: Good, I’m glad!
Psylocke: Oh, I’m glad you liked it. ::hands out tissues:: And mega thanks for help with the italics!
Rasengan22: Aww! You are too sweet. ::hands out more tissues:: I’m glad you thought that end part was funny. I don’t feel so crazy now. Still crazy, but not so crazy. And we got Sasuke opening up to Naruto, finally. If I was Naruto, I wouldn’t be so patient. I’d be like, hey! You get to know everything about me! Give me something! But Naruto’s a sweetheart like that.
Tora: Thanks! And SasuNaru coming your way real quick here.
Reno’s_Lover: I’m glad you like it!
Briryan: Thanks! I’m glad it like!
Artemis: Wow, thanks! We’re trying...
sango2sakura: Stop, you’re making us blush.
Ningi: We bow to your awesomeness. Thanks so much for drawing! I think I actually squealed when I saw it. Mwah!
CJ: Wow, two reviews! lol I’m glad you’re liking it.
Naruto: Thanks for sticking with us!
Germaine: Thanks! I have to give KandKL complete credit on the fluff. I do the SasuNaru fluff, and she takes care of the NejiShika stuff.
dancingkitsune: Yeah, that would really suck lol. And we welcome you to the ranks of sick humor! ;)

More sillies! We were talking about how if we could go back, we would make Kiba narcoleptic. Wouldn’t that be incredibly hilarious?! He’s the only person that would work with, too.

When we were brainstorming for the last part of this chapter where Kiba gets a friend for his sock monkey, we were trying to think of an animal. First we were like, let's do something sweet like a rabbit or a mouse! And then we, well actually mostly I got weird:

Mirandler43: I think Kiba should ask for a warthog.
KandKL: or...
Mirandler43: or a giraffe! or a komodo dragon!
KandKL: or a piranha
Mirandler43: one of those jellyfish man-of-war guys
Mirandler43: he could be watching animal planet or something and be all wide eyed, "Naruto, Nar nar needs a friend."
"Okay, how about a rabbit?"
"No. He told me he wants a deadly friend."
"Oh. Well, no, I don't think so."
"Yeah. Yeah, he said that. You wouldn't know, you weren't there...make me a man-of-war, clown!"

Oh, there's a special place in heaven for whoever ends up marrying us...


Peace and love y’all!