Snapshots: Like Trying to Hold Water

9)



Kakashi was still half smug from his conquest the next day. He waited at the bridge for his team, looking down from a comfortable seat in a tree at the edge of the forest. He had his face buried in his little orange book, but he wasn't really reading. He just stared at each word for a second, reliving his glorious experience and at the same time imagining the delicious looks of impotent rage and hatred, sorrow and jealousy that must have played across the Uchiha's face when he figured out what had happened. He was also waiting for the blond to show up.



He'd been on the boy's roof last night, peeking in through the window, but he hadn't been in bed. Kakashi had scanned the room before opening the window, cracked against the unseasonable heat, and slipping in. Naruto was nowhere to be found though, and it had worried him briefly. He'd checked by the river though, and the boy was gone, so he must have woken up and gone somewhere. He was probably safe then, but Kakashi couldn't really relax the rest of the way until he saw the familiar smiling face with his own two eyes.



Make sure he's okay when he shows up though, you know that things can happen to the best of us, without warning really. He nodded absently to the whisper in the back of his mind, his foot trembling in the air with nervous energy. He only saw Sakura by the bridge though, alone, and it was well past time to meet. He scowled slightly when he sensed another presence nearing, but it wasn't Naruto either. His mood lightened a little in preparation for the view of Sasuke's face. He was disappointed to find it a schooled mask of indifference, like every day. Well, he is an Uchiha after all, he's good at hiding things, just like his brother. They're both right bastards, you know. Whole lot of them, or at least what's left of them.



The joke made him smile, and he heard the echoes of that familiar laughter in his own head. He missed it, didn't hear it often anymore. His friend was serious, often to a fault now. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the insights and help, he was quick to point out, but he missed the boy who laughed and smiled and made everyone else happy. You never appreciate the things you have until they're gone, do you? Kakashi was done wishing he could go back now, though he really did still, somedays, because it didn't do him any good to wish.



He sighed, disappearing from the tree in a puff of smoke, not noticing the dark head that turned towards his ill concealed chakra burst.



X





Sasuke glared at the tree. He'd felt their sensei's chakra there for a moment, a pulse, then it was gone. He was sure the man had been there somewhere, watching them, probably gloating over whatever it was that he'd done to Naruto the day before, after he'd packed Sasuke off to get himself fixed up. He pushed the bubbling rage down behind his apathetic mask. He'd made Naruto stay in bed this morning, telling him he wasn't well enough to come out, and smirking when he told the boy they'd probably just be doing some horrible D-mission, raking out pig styes or planting vegetables and the like. Naruto had stayed down after that, not wanting to trade the warm bed for physical labor.



He'd been tempted to stay home himself, crawl back into bed beside Naruto and watch him sleep but he knew that would look too suspicious. If neither showed up, Kakashi would just come looking for them, and he didn't want Kakashi to come near his only friend, not after what the bastard had done.



He turned quickly when said bastard materialized behind them, trying to hold back the wave of killing intent that came off of him. He didn't want Sakura becoming suspicious after all. Sasuke met his sensei's eye with a glare of pure hatred before it faded to cold indifference, his mask back in place. Kakashi smiled at them.



"Naruto-kun is late I see, that boy needs to work on his timelines." Sakura scowled at him this time.



"You're one to talk sensei." Sasuke interrupted her before her rant could get started though.



"Naruto isn't well today, so he couldn't come out. He asked me to tell you that." Sakura looked at him with confusion, like he might have gone crazy, but Sasuke ignored that, focusing on Kakashi. He met the man's smile with a cold glance, steady as rock.



"Is that so? Maybe I'll go check on him after practice then, make sure he's okay." Sasuke's eyes narrowed, making it clear that he wasn't about to let the man do any such thing.





10)



Sasuke slipped back into his apartment through the window, panting slightly. He'd run all the way home from training at top speed, wanting to make sure he could get there before Kakashi found out where Naruto was. His body was strung like a bow, tense and ready to snap when he saw that Naruto wasn't on the futon where he'd left him anymore. He swore quietly, racing down the hall, towards the little noises he heard from the kitchen.



He burst through the door, kunai already in hand, ready to pin Kakashi to the fucking wall. It wasn't Kakashi though, just a wide eyed Naruto, tanned hands shaking a bit in surprise. Sasuke pushed the kunai back into his pouch with a relieved sigh. Naruto was by his side in a moment, concern in his eyes.



"Sasuke, what's wrong? Is someone hurt?" Sasuke shook his head, hands tightening a little on Naruto's shoulders. Naruto scowled.



"Everything's fine, I just thought maybe there was someone else here is all. I was just worried when you weren't in bed." Naruto pulled away from Sasuke's hands, abandoning the pot he had simmering over the stove.



"I can handle myself, bastard. I'm not weak. I couldn't stay in bed all day, now could I?" Sasuke watched the boy storm out of the room, his heart sinking. Now he just felt like shit.



X



Sasuke found himself feeling even worse when Naruto had stomped back in, ordering him out of the kitchen so he could finish making them dinner. Sasuke had sulked around the living room then, sneaking in to grab some dishes and set the table. He couldn't let Naruto do everything, especially not when he'd clearly hurt the boy's feelings.



When they sat down, Sasuke just picked at his food. It wasn't that it wasn't good, it was delicious, but he just felt so bad. He didn't even feel like scowling, he just didn't have the energy after everything that had happened. He just didn't want Naruto to leave him.



A tanned hand covered his suddenly, the one that laid on the table next to his plate, and his eyes snapped up, startled, to stare into blue ones. Naruto looked worried now, which wasn't what he was going for. He bit his lip, keeping his eyes on Naruto's as he slowly turned that hand over, lacing their fingers together.



"Look, Naruto. I'm sorry, I know you can take care of yourself and everything, you're strong, but finding you out by the river like that. I just couldn't help but worry, you know? I-I don't want to lose anyone else." He looked away then, his face flushing red from the admission. Naruto squeezed his hand reassuringly.



"I know. I'm sorry I yelled. I just... I feel so vulnerable. I don't even know what happened..." Sasuke's eyes went wide as Naruto practically threw himself into the Uchiha's lap, arms around his neck. He just sat there, arms wrapping around the blond's trembling back, and let the boy cry. Somewhere during the next hour, the boy's sobs petered out to a quiet shaking, and then to nothing. Sasuke just waited until he was sure Naruto was really asleep, then carried him gently to bed.