Learn to Love (Complete)

Chapter 4:

Kakashi had heard all about Sasuke’s last meeting with Naruto from Tsunade and Shizune. He actually felt quite pleased, it seemed to be working. Sasuke hadn’t gotten into a fight in ages and he was a little civil even if he still was completely emotionless.

He glanced at the dark haired boy, who was for once talking to someone, Ino of all people. He wondered why Sasuke would talk to Ino! They seemed to have reached some kind of agreement, Sasuke had nodded firmly. Then he glanced at Kakashi and frowned. Kakashi sighed, oh well even if it was just a bit…Sasuke was getting better. Then he looked at his watch it was almost time.

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Naruto was just finishing a couple of problems when the door opened with a bang. Looking up he saw a two bunches of flowers, a potted plant and some packages. The flowers were beautiful purple lilies and some pretty white roses. The plant was really cute too it was a small tree. He glimpsed Sasuke as the plants moved towards him.

“Sasuke? What the hell?” Naruto said looking at the ‘plant’ man walking towards him.

“Thanks a lot dobe, I loved your reaction.” A growl came from behind the lilies.

“No I didn’t mean it that way. I just was surprised…what’s all this for?” Naruto asked.

Sasuke set the potted plant on the bedside table next to Naruto and then handed the flowers to Naruto. “Nothing, I just thought you needed more colour in your room. Do you like them?”

Naruto smiled at him. Actually he felt touched that the stoic boy had gone all this way for him. He’d stopped getting flowers two weeks after his accident. “Yeah, they’re lovely. How did you know I liked these flowers?”

“I called Kyuubi. He did leave his number with me you know…” Sasuke looked pleased, though he didn’t actually smile or anything. “The plant is for you to look after. It’s a cherry blossom bonsai… which will bloom in a week or so, that’s what the guy said. I even bought you this small, watering can, so you don’t really have to do much. Water it a bit everyday, and then you should change the mud and bowl if you want it growing larger. Someone should be able to do it for you.”

Naruto looked at Sasuke speechless. He really didn’t know what to say…Sasuke was the first person who had realized he might have liked something to take care off. Sasuke frowned slightly.

“Are you ok, dobe? Don’t you like it?” Sasuke asked him worriedly. Suddenly two arms grabbed him and he was pulled into Naruto’s lap and into a suffocating hug.

“Thank you so much, Sasuke…” Naruto whispered into his hair. A sudden cough interrupted them. Sasuke moved back like he’d been burned, turning around his eyes widened with surprise.

“You! What are you doing here?”

Kakashi smiled. “I was tutoring Naruto in his math…you see the book of sums on his lap? I thought you’d have gotten a look at what you had been sitting on a few seconds back!” Sasuke blushed a bit as he glared at Kakashi. Inner Kakashi danced in glee, he had seen Sasuke blush…this could be used as ammunition.

Naruto grinned at Kakashi. “Look at what Sasuke got me! Yay I have something all my own to take care off now. And he even got me my favorite flowers!”

Kakashi glanced at Sasuke. So that’s why he was talking to Ino! He smiled…or it seemed like he smiled under the mask. “Well, that’s good. now if you’re done Naruto-kun, I’ll leave. I have more important things to attend to right now.”

Naruto pointed at him with a mischievous smile. “Oh, yeah…did Iruka-sensei like the dildo you bought him?”

Kakashi’s eyes widened. He saw Sasuke’s shocked and then wicked look. Oh no…now he has ammunition too…damn brat! He looked at Naruto. “That’s none of your business Naruto!”

Naruto just smiled. “I’ll bet he fainted…how you could buy him that for his birthday…! Gosh, you’re such a pervert!”

Kakashi glared at him and picked up the book. “Yeah whatever, I’m going now. Oh and don’t forget to use protection!” with that parting shot he disappeared leaving two red embarrassed boys behind.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, and sat down next to him on the bed. “So what are you going to name the plant?”

Naruto scratched his head. “Um…I don’t want to call her Sakura…it’s too obvious and stupid. How about Yumeki? A kind of short form for Tree of Dreams.”

Sasuke snorted. “Whatever, dobe. Did you know they used to say that bonsai’s store magic and spiritual power? Maybe if you make a wish…when she’s gotten to know you better, it might come true.”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, maybe I will. So what else Sasuke? What shall we do today?”

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Sasuke walked up to Kakashi’s desk two days later. “Kakashi-sensei, can I have a word?”

Kakashi looked up, wondering what this was about. “Yes you may.” He noted that Sasuke waited for all the other students to clear out. Then he cleared his throat.

“When was the last time Naruto actually got out? Anywhere?”

Kakashi blinked. “Well, yesterday…you took him out yesterday didn’t you?”

Sasuke shook his head, a bit of impatience lacing his words. “No. I mean, when was the last time he got out of the hospital itself?”

Kakashi thought about it for a while. “I think it was for his mother’s funeral. That was eight months back. He doesn’t like going out too much, the stares he gets unnerves him.”

Sasuke had a very thoughtful expression. “Um…so the only reason he doesn’t go out is because he doesn’t like the stares? No medical problems?”

“No, medical problems, not really. They have established a routine where he goes to the bathroom and stuff so there isn’t much problem. Why are you asking about it?” Kakashi asked curiously.

Sasuke shook his head. “Oh nothing, just wanted to know. Oh and if you’re going there today, just tell him I’ll be a little late would you?”

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Ever since that fight Sasuke hadn’t approached his father, though the man had been home all the time. He was relaxing, in his retirement. Sasuke steeled himself and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

As he entered his father looked up. He glared at the boy. “What do you want?”

Sasuke reminded himself that he didn’t care. He was not here to fight. “I wanted to ask you for a favor.”

His father grunted, telling him continue. Sasuke held back a sigh of relief. “I would like invite a friend of mine for dinner, tomorrow. Would that be all right, please father?”

Fugaku, looked his son over, almost flinching at the formality he used to address him with. “A friend? So you have a friend at last? What is he some trouble maker like you?”

Sasuke grit his teeth, but shook his head. “No, he’s the boy I work with at the hospital. He’s paralyzed…actually, he can’t walk. I just thought I could bring him out of that place for a bit you know…something different. He’s not like me…you’ll like him I think.”

Fugaku was a bit hurt at Sasuke’s implication, that he didn’t like him. “What’s his name?”

“Uzumaki Naruto.”

Fugaku’s eyes widened. “You mean he’s Uzumaki Arashi's son? He used to be my business partner before that accident. All right you may invite him then.”

“Thank you, father. This means a lot to me.” Sasuke let himself out of the door, leaving his father staring after him looking hurt.

Fugaku couldn’t understand the boy. He didn’t understand what the problem was…they’d given Sasuke everything he wanted, but he never opened up to them. He used to be so different as a child. Fugaku sighed, sometimes he just felt like going to him and telling him, that he loved him. But then Sasuke never let anyone approach him. Why is my family growing so distant?

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Sasuke stared out the window, for a while. He and Naruto were discussing some stuff about sport. He wondered how to invite him. He turned and looked at the blonde.

“Naruto, would you like to come home for dinner tomorrow night?”

Naruto looked at him in surprise. “Huh…why?”

Sasuke looked a little uneasy. He straightened his collar a few times and then looked away a little. “Well, I just thought you might like to get out of here for a while. I mean…I really want you to come…but if you don’t want to…”

Naruto interrupted him with a small smile. “I want to. But how, I can’t…people will stare.” He finished softly.

“No they won’t dobe. I’ll come get you in my car and then I’ll drive you right up to the house, so no one will look at you. Will you come?”

Naruto looked at him and then smiled. “Of course I’ll come. Thank you Sasuke!”

Sasuke went a bit red near the cheeks. “Um…thank you for coming…” he murmured.

“What was that?” Naruto asked. “Come here, if you’re going to murmur will you.” Sasuke did come forward, but he didn’t say anything.

Naruto looked at him a bit concerned. “You look tired…come on next to me, we can lie down for a bit. Their version of lying down, was Naruto on Sasuke’s lap, a little diagonally, so both got some pillow. Sasuke did so and was fast asleep in a few minutes, giving Naruto time to watch him sleep once more.

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Itachi wondered what to order. It was annoying, but he didn’t want to go back home for lunch. He didn’t want to go back home for anything. He asked for a sandwich and water. He wished he wasn’t feeling so angry at the world. But things at home sucked. He knew that father would divorce mother soon, if their animosity towards each other continued.

Sasuke was staying away from father and mother was trying to be sickly sweet to both of them, when they both knew that the smile on her face wasn’t real. Itachi wished he could forget the propriety drummed into his head for once and just slam his fist down on the table and scream.

“Never thought you’d look so beautiful when you smiled…” a husky voice said in his ear. Itachi shivered slightly and turned to look at two beautiful golden eyes staring him amused.

“Kyuubi-san…I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Somehow that man seemed to fluster him, making it so hard to hold the stoic Uchiha front.

“I didn’t think you were…you didn’t exactly know I worked here did you? Well my shifts over for the day…mind if I join you?” the man ran his fingers through his hair, making Itachi feel the need to jump him.

Itachi nodded. “I’d like that…you work here? Didn’t your father own a company?”

“Yeah, he did. But I just go there to check up on things, Jiraiya-sama will look after it until he gets back to it. Things weren’t too great between us you know…” Kyuubi called another waiter.

“Hey, Shukaku, get me a roll would ya?”

Then he turned back to Itachi. “So you wanna tell me why you’re lookin all disgruntled an all?”

Itachi noted the way Kyuubi spoke when he was here; the perfect English was suddenly gone. “Well, thing aren’t going too well at home. Feels like my family’s going to break apart.” Itachi had no idea why he was spilling his guts to this beautiful red head.

Kyuubi nodded understandingly. Itachi continued. “I can’t get through to Sasuke anymore…he hates me. Last time he told father that he acts the way he does, because we’re assholes who deserve…almost like he’s not part of our family. Dad hit him…it was the first time dad hit anyone. But he wouldn’t let me get near him, to talk or to comfort him. And mother and father are not getting along. They fight all the time…it’s only a matter of time…and the partners at work, they want me to act all nice and I don’t know what else to do…I think the pressures getting to me.”

The sandwich had arrived and Itachi had finished it without realizing. Kyuubi was giving him a sympathetic smile. “Tell you what Itachi-san…I think you need a break. So forget work for now. Cancel all your meeting, you’re coming with me and we’re going to do something really wild!”

“Kyuubi-san…I can’t. I have really important meetings today and if I cancel then…” Itachi looked Ta him in surprise.

“Then what? You’ll have to send your apologies and re schedule for another time is all. Lemme persuade ya, ya need the fuckin break. And quit callin me Kyuubi-san…Kyuubi or Kyuu will suffice.” The man smiled a sweet smile at Itachi.

Itachi stared at him torn between both the decisions. “Oh to hell with the meetings. Fine I’ll cancel and come with you, Kyuubi.” He was about to add san but stopped. The smile he got in return for that was a wide happy one. Itachi looked at him dazed.

He called his secretary and asked her to cancel and then followed Kyuubi to the small parking lot. Kyuubi had a gleaming, beautiful motorbike. The red head handed him a helmet. “First I think we should get you out of hat stuffy suit. Leave you car here, we’ll pick it up later. We can also go see Naruto later.”

Itachi nodded and wondered what Kyuubi meant. The red haired man suddenly grabbed him and pulled his coat off. Then he pulled the tie of as well. Itachi actually squawked. “Kyuubi, what the hell?”

Kyuubi grinned. “Wait a bit.” Then he undid a few buttons on Itachi’s shirt and mussed it up a bit. “Gosh it’s so difficult to get you to look a little casual…whatever I do you look bloody neat!” then Kyuubi pushed him up against the wall and kissed him, burying his hands deep into Itachi's hair, undoing it, so it lay in tresses on his shoulders.

When he pulled away, Itachi was staring at him with half lidded eyes. “Huh?”

Kyuubi grinned. “Now you look loads better…and a lot more casual. So shall we leave?” Itachi nodded, trying his hardest not to blush. He got on behind Kyuubi and they zoomed off.

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Naruto ran his fingers through Sasuke’s hair again. He loved doing that, he knew Sasuke liked it and somehow Sasuke relaxed when he did that. He wondered what this funny feeling he got was. Dinner with Sasuke’s family might actually be nice. It had been ages since he’d got out. He watched as Sasuke stirred softly and a pink tongue came out to lick pink lips.

Naruto sniggered; Sasuke looked like such a kid, when he was like this. For once, he looked his age instead of like a bastard with a stick up his ass. The door opened and Sakura peeked in.

“Oh my god, Naruto…what are you doing?” she asked, whispering when Naruto shushed her.

Naruto smiled at her. “Shh, he’s sleeping. Doesn’t he look so adorable like this?” Sakura nodded and whipped out a camera and clicked a few quick pictures.

Naruto frowned at her. She waved her hands in front of her. “They’re for you guys…and you know I love cute things…I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

Sakura sat down on a chair. “The flowers look pretty…did he bring them for you? That must be why he had to talk to Ino!”

Naruto looked a little curious. “Who’s Ino? Is she that blonde friend of yours who used to come over? She seemed nice.”

Sakura grinned. “Yeah, she is nice, but she’s a Sasuke groupie. Sasuke usually avoids her like the plague, but he surprised everyone in class two days back by not only talking but being really civil to her as well. We were all shell shocked. You must be pretty close for him to have gone through speaking to her!”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, he isn’t being such a prick anymore. I missed you, Sakura-chan you didn’t come for two whole days!”

Sakura shook her head. “I have been a bit busy…mom wanted me staying home. Have you visited your father yet?”

Naruto shook his head. “I guess I will sometime. Kyuubi came by…I think he has a thing for Sasuke’s brother Itachi. I feel sorry for the man…we wont know him once Kyuubi's done with him.”

Sakura chuckled. “Yeah…well, Neji’s getting out tomorrow. He wanted to come see you, but TenTen is guarding him, she actually threatened to hurt him, if he moved. She said she would sue that switch blade she carries about to disembowel him. “

Naruto smiled. “Poor Neji. That’s exactly why I don’t date women these days. You’re all ok as friends, but when it comes to mates, you’ll kill us for the smallest thing.” He moved his head as Sakura tried to clout him.

Sasuke whined a little, and burrowed his head into the pillow and Naruto’s shoulder. Sakura almost cooed over him. Naruto smiled down at him. “I think I will get some sleep too.”

Sakura nodded. She could see where this was heading. She hoped it would work out…she didn’t want either of them hurt. She wished she could help them get together, but then it was better if this was a slow thing. That way they’d care more. She waved to Naruto and slipped out.

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A/N:

Taka is slammed into the wall by Itachi who kisses her fiercely.

Itachi: what the hell? You let Kyuubi-asshole manhandle me?

Taka: Gods, your so bloody possessive, seriously, it’s just a story! You’re the one I love… (Apart from Hoshi-sama) . so stop acting so weird.

Itachi: fine. I’ll just leave you alone shall? You’re mine! You belong to me, regardless of whether I belong to you or not.

Taka huffs and walks off. Itachi follows.

Sasuke: I hope you guys liked it. Sorry if there’s not too much of me and Naruto, but there will be in all the coming chapters. So review and make taka happy otherwise she’ll grouch about and Itachi will go mad and they’ll have make up sex like they’re doing now….and I’ll be the one suffering, they’re so goddamn loud! So out of pity for me…review!

Naruto: all the reviewers get Taka’s awesome brownies…she makes the best ones in the world!

Sasuke: no wonder you’re stuffing yourself dobe. You’re already so podgy!

Naruto glomps Sasuke and cries and they off to make up too.

Review!