It Started Out with a Kiss

[b] BETA’ED[/b]

A/N This chapter is now Beta’ed by one of my two Beta’s. I give my thanks to my lovely beta msuzumaki. She has been an enormous help. My other beta is still having computer issues.
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Angel- Thank you for such a wonderful review on this story. It’s these types of reviews that keep me motivated to write. I am really sorry it has taken me so long to update. I’m glad you like the story though =]

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Naruto was curled up in a ball on his bed. Even though he had known there was no hope in a relationship with Sasuke it still hurt to find out that the one he truly loved was currently out with some girl. It hurt him that Sasuke played with his heart, and didn’t even tell him that he was going to shatter it. Maybe if he had some type of warning it wouldn’t hurt so much. Naruto rolled over and stared at the clock. It read three o’clock in the morning. He let a sigh rake his body. His brain had been in hyper mode since Sakura had come back over a week ago. He knew something was wrong when he opened the door and she instantly hugged him. It was the confirmation he was hoping never existed.

[i] Naruto opened the door to feel a smaller body instantly latch to him in an endearing hug. “Naruto let’s sit down. I think you should tell me what has been going on between you and Sasuke, maybe I can help somehow.” Sakura had a reasonable assumption about what had been going on, but she wanted to hear it come from Naruto.

Naruto sighed and shook his head. He hadn’t expected Sakura to come back so quickly, but it was helping to sooth his anxious nerves. He decided that maybe it was alright to have someone else share this burden with him. “I love him. I have always loved him and always will love him,” Naruto didn’t know how to explain himself, but he thought that this was a good place to start. He currently felt like a lovesick teenage girl, as he felt slight tears fill his eyes at his confession. “He’s the thing that keeps me going through the day, and I told… well I didn’t really tell him that, but about a week or so ago I kissed him while we were training. I freaked out and ran off, and the very next day the bastard takes me up to the Hokage Mountain and we just sit and talk, and he starts kissing me!” Naruto was starting to get exasperated. “To make matters worse a couple days went by with Sasuke acting weird, and then he just freaked out and told me that he could never be with me because of Itachi, and because I can’t fulfill his goals in life. I can’t give him the children he needs to rebuild the clan.” Sakura was now staring at Naruto shocked. Her emerald eyes were the size of saucers and her mouth was a little agape.

“You kissed Sasuke-kun and didn’t tell me about it!” Sakura said a little angry, but more excited. “Is he as good of a kisser as I know he probably is?” Naruto looked at Sakura confused. He was having issues right now and all she wanted to know was how great of a kisser ‘Sasuke-kun’ is. Naruto just sighed and nodded his head to please Sakura.

“What do you think I should do?” Naruto said curiously. He wanted to know how the pink haired girl was going to help. “Do you still think I have a chance with Sasuke-teme?” he asked hopefully.

Sakura nodded her head, “We just have to make Sasuke realize that, but I can’t guarantee anything Naruto-kun. This will be Sasuke’s decision in the end, and I can’t force him to be with you…well I could but it probably wouldn’t help out your situation. I definitely will help though I will do a little match making. I’m sure I could get all of our friends to help out if you life.”

Naruto bit his lip nervously he wasn’t sure if he wanted so many people to know “I don’t think I’m ready quite yet for that many people to know,” he said in a defeated tone.

“Cheer up Naruto-kun; I definitely think Sasuke still cares about you deeply. Even the girl he is dating looks like a splitting image of you. Well, if you were a girl,” Sakura laughed, but had a big smile on her face. [/i]

Naruto sighed once again and shook his head. It had been a week and he still hadn’t heard from Sakura. He knew this was all a waste of time. Maybe he should just try and find a girlfriend like Sasuke-teme did. He shook his head vigorously at the thought, “I could never put myself in a relationship with someone I didn’t truly love. It’s not fair for either of us. Plus they would eventually find out. I’m too easy to read.”

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Sasuke was currently sitting at dinner with Reika, her family, and Itachi. The dinner was quiet except for chopsticks clicking against dishes as they ate. Itachi sat across from him staring at him. It took all of Sasuke’s will power not to shudder at the sight. As much as he loved his brother, Itachi still gave him the creeps. Those eyes that can see nothing bore through him and in reality could see everything. He knew Itachi could see his true emotions, could sense them as if they were his own. Itachi knew that he was going through an inner dilemma, as to whether he should go with his heart, or go with his family. Sasuke also knew that Itachi loved him dearly, but he swore that Itachi got off on his brother’s emotional insecurities. He sometimes hated having a sadistic older brother. Sasuke took his eyes off his brother and glanced to his right where his current girlfriend was quietly eating her rice. This was the quietest he had ever heard the girl, and it almost made him glad to know that she could be silent. He looked the girl over and internally sighed. He was still being abused with thoughts of Naruto. He usually caught himself thinking about the other boy, or walking past the boy’s apartment. His usual routine had been evaporated, and replaced with a fresh one. The minutes passed by until it was finally announced that dinner was over and that the “children” should leave the table. It was kind of ironic to think of Sasuke and Reika as children, when they both knew Reika’s parents and Itachi were going to talk about marriage arrangements. That being so, Sasuke and Reika got up from their respective spots at the table and walked towards the living room. They sat down on the couch together quietly.

“Sasuke-kun,” Reika said in a small whisper, “Who is it that you really love?” Sasuke looked at her confused wondering how she could read him so easily.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Reika,” Sasuke blatantly lied. He was trying to cover up his true feelings as much as possible. He couldn’t let it split that he was still debating whether he was gay or not, or if he was possibly in love with his best friend.

“Sasuke-kun, don’t take me as stupid, I can see it in your eyes. When you look at me you see someone else. I can not get involved with a man who is covering up something. I don’t want to get stuck in an arranged marriage with someone that doesn’t love me and never will. I can see it all in your eyes. You’re in love Sasuke-kun I’m just curious who it is.” She sat in her spot determined to get an answer. She didn’t seem upset at the fact that Sasuke-kun didn’t love her. It seemed more like she wanted to help him be with the one he loved.

Sasuke looked at her and shook his head. “I haven’t figured out my own feelings yet and here you are telling me I’m in love. I wish it was that easy for me to decide. I can’t decide on anything at the moment. All I know right now is that I truly care for someone, but I do not know if I’m in [i]love[/i] with them. Even if I was I could never be with that person. Itachi already told me that it was disrespectful to the family.” Sasuke’s face looked distraught it was the most emotion that Sasuke had ever showed Reika.

Reika nodded while Sasuke talked she was starting to understand a little more. “Let’s take a walk Sasuke-kun, you know get away from ears that should not be eavesdropping.” She got up from her spot and grabbed Sasuke’s arm “Come on,” she said with a strict tone.

They made their way out the door and walked towards the city. They were quiet for fifteen minutes or so when Reika said, “Who is he?”

Sasuke looked at her incredulously, “What do you mean by he?”

“Well it must be a man if Itachi disapproves. At this point I think Itachi wouldn’t care who you were with as long as it was a female who could bare children.” Sasuke blushed at Reika’s words.

“I don’t think I really love him, maybe just curious. It’s all his fault anyway the stupid blond kissed me first.” He winced at his words he shouldn’t of said that much. She was surely going to figure it out soon especially with the blond comment. There weren’t many blond haired guys in this city, and not many he choose to be around.

“You like him?” Reika started, “Doesn’t he annoy you? I mean I have no problem with him, but I know he can get under people’s skin especially someone as quiet as you.” Reika looked down at her feet, but then continued, “Were you just using me to fill that void. I understand that I do look very similar to him.”

Sasuke’s face turned redder by the moment, “No! It wasn’t like that at all. Actually Itachi picked who I was going to date, maybe he was trying to show me that it was just a physical attraction I had with Naruto. I’m just not so sure anymore.” Sasuke spotted a tree trunk on the side of the road and sat down. “I don’t know how we are going to get out of this arrangement. Moreover, I have no clue what is going on in your blonde little head but it’s not a good idea to try and get me and Naruto together I’ve hurt him to much already, and it doesn’t help that I have no idea if I even like him that way.”

Reika sat next to Sasuke and smiled, “Well, I guess you will just have to find out.” She leaned over to him and pressed her soft lips to his. She rested there for a moment and then licked Sasuke’s lower lip. He opened his mouth slightly and felt a small pink tongue caress the inside of his mouth. Sasuke and Reika made-out for a few minutes and then they broke apart. Sasuke looked at her quizzically and got up from his spot on the tree truck. He shook his head back and forth. There was a hurt but shocked look on his face. Reika realized that she had done her job. She could tell by his eyes that he had made his decision, and Reika could tell it wasn’t her either.

“I don’t know what to do. Itachi’s going to hate me. He’s done so much for me to be here and not be placed in prison or to be the towns little man whore. So that Kohona can have as many little Uchiha babies as they want. I’m almost ashamed of myself.” Sasuke had a look of panic on his face.

Reika stood up and walked next to him. “Well, if Itachi loves you as much as he says then he will eventually forgive you, and maybe even understand. Your life is not over just because you love a man Sasuke. Your life has only begun, but now for my plan.” She said with a smile on her face.

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Naruto was finally dragged from his bed by a pink haired lunatic. Sakura promised Naruto that she would castrate him before she would let him mope around in bed all day. He knew not to take her threats as a joke. Naruto knew that she was capable and had the power to do such a thing, so unwillingly he got out of his bed, showered, and dressed. Now Naruto and Sakura were at the training grounds. Naruto was expected to spar with Lee today, but he wasn’t in the mood to be dealing with Lee’s non-stop energy. He gave Sakura a pleading look, but she just turned around. “I have something to do Naruto. You stay here and spar with Lee. I’ll be back,” as Sakura said this Lee appeared and she disappeared.

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Sakura walked on the path out of the city. The woods became thicker and darker until she reached a clearing. She leaned against a tree waiting for someone. Sakura didn’t have to wait long within a few minutes there was rustling in the trees and a blonde haired blue eyes girl stepped through the trees. “Hello Sakura,” the girl Said with a bright bubbly smile.

Sakura got up from her leaning position and an equally big smile reached her lips. “Hello Reika how have you been? How’s the plan for Sasuke and Naruto coming along?”

Reika laughed and smiled, “Well, as it seems he finally admitted his feelings for Naruto; he just doesn’t know what to do about them. Moreover he feels as it he is being disrespectful to his dead and living family. That’s really going to be the problem. If only Sasuke knew that I was really in love with his brother. I’m hoping I help him maybe he’ll help me. Sasuke should be here soon so be prepared to cheer up an angsty Uchiha.

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A/N I am perfectly aware of how long this has taken me to upload. I’m sorry to the few people who have emailed me asking me when this will be finished. I didn’t mean to lie or anything I just didn’t expect it to take me this long, or the amount of problems I have been going through. My mother passed away from her cancer a few months ago so my life has been hell. I’m nineteen, I have my own house that I live in with my brother, I’m currently going to college pursuing two degrees, and on top of it all I have to go through the grieving part and get use to having so many responsibilities (like taxes and property taxes) So I am really sorry for how long this took me. I do intent to eventually finish this story I’m just not sure how long it will take me. I’m sorry for this long rant.