Life's Little Changes

Okay... this chapter is my favorite so far...^^... I will admit that...^^;;

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The sound of the doorbell woke both boys, neither having slept well to begin with.

“Whadda dey wunt? Mm’ sweepin’”

One dark eyebrow rose as Sasuke chuckled at the mumbling blonde before getting up and pulling on a pair of pants and grabbing a shirt before he headed downstairs.

“What do you want?”

Yeah, Sasuke wasn’t very polite when awoken early on a Sunday morning and dragged from his nice warm bed with an extreme case of bed head.

“Sasuke-kun!”

A groan escaped as he finally realized what four people stood on his door step.

“Well, what do you want?”

“Not even going to invite us in?”

With a growl he stepped aside, allowing them to enter the living room though not looking pleased about it.

Ino finally spoke up about their reasoning.

“We haven’t gotten to see your brooding good looks that much this weekend so thought you could join us on our shopping trip to the mall!”

She was by now hanging on his shoulder as Sakura glared from mere feet away.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

All eyes turned to the blonde coming downstairs in only his boxers, rubbing at his eyes and not fully awake. The girls continued to gawk in confusion as Kiba and Neji’s gazes instantly locked onto Sasuke, both with a smirk.

“Go get dressed, idiot.”

“Huh?”

That was when he finally looked around, blushing severely before dashing back upstairs.

“Late night, Sasuke?”

Dark eyes locked on Kiba.

“Shut up. It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh?” Neji smirked triumphantly. “If I recall correctly, Kiba couldn’t stay here last summer because you only have the one bedroom and no cot. Has that changed?”

“You know it hasn’t.”

Neji glanced at the living room.

“Well it seems he didn’t sleep on the couch, nor did you.”

“Mind your own business, Hyuuga.”

“Hey guys, you usually show up so early?”

Naruto came down grinning and dressed this time.

“We came to see if Sasuke wanted to go to the mall.”

“No, we’re busy so you can leave now.”

“But I thought you said last night that we were going there today?”

Naruto got a dirty look that instantly shut him up as he realized that he had obviously stuck his foot in his mouth. And the four others were looking at Sasuke, Neji looking especially smug.

“Not wanting to go to the mall with us or planning to drag your boyfriend back to bed first?”

Both girls looked ready to attack Naruto who took a step back.

“Not much choice now, have a seat while we get ready.”

He turned and shoved a sputtering and blushing Naruto back upstairs.

“Why do they keep saying I’m your boyfriend?”

“Think about it, idiot.”

He slammed the bedroom door behind them as he shoved the blonde towards the bathroom.

“What?”

“They know I only have one bedroom and one bed, then you come downstairs in just your boxers.”

“Why didn’t you set them straight?!”

A pale arm reached in, turning on the shower before beginning to strip off clothing.

“Like they would have believed us.”

“Whoa, what are you doing?!”

A blushing Naruto turned to face the door.

“Taking a shower, hurry up and strip, I don’t want them unsupervised in my house for long.”

“You want us to take a shower together?!”

The Uchiha was already climbing in.

“Why not, we do it in gym all the time.”

“Yeah, but that’s different!”

“How so?”

“Because it’s gym.”

His excuse sounded weak to his own ears and he knew by the snort that the other found it so.

It was with a very red face that he kept carefully away from certain areas on certain people that he joined in the shower, both boys setting a new record in getting clean and back out.

It was just under fifteen minutes later that they came back down, cleaned and dressed to go.

“All ready? How about Naruto ride with us and one of the girls can ride with you?”

Both girls instantly started to shove each other to be chosen.

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“Naruto is riding with me, now get out so I can lock the door.”

It was with a superior smirk that Neji led the others out, Sasuke almost slamming the door on Kiba before locking it.

“Why don’t you want me riding with Neji?”

“Because he’s an ass and I don’t like other people in my car.”

Naruto couldn’t help but smirk as he slid into his seat.

“Just the two of us, huh?” He batted his eyes before adopting his most feminine voice. “Why Sasuke-kun, I didn’t know you cared.”

“Just shut up, idiot.”

It wasn’t until they all sat down to each lunch in the food court that Neji had another chance to talk with the blonde.

“So, Naruto, just staying the weekend?”

“No, kind of a long story though.”

“Food.”

Both looked up as Sasuke almost slammed the tray down, obviously meaning it to end the conversation.

“Is Naruto living with you now?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I see.”

A glaring contest was instantly under way, neither boy willing to back down until a tanned hand moved between them, breaking the gaze.

“What’s up with you two? I thought you guys were friends.”

“Uchihas don’t have friends.”

Dark eyes glared at the other boy.

“Shut up, Kiba.”

“What? You know it’s true, having friends requires emotion and we all know you don’t have any.”

“Hey!” All eyes turned to the now irate blonde standing over the table. “You don’t know anything about Sasuke, so shut up!”

“Oh?” Pale fingers steepled in front of even paler eyes. “Care to fill us in?”

“Shut up and sit down, idiot. You’re causing a scene.”

“But…”

“I said shut up.”

Naruto glared but sat back down, digging into the food on the tray that Sasuke brought over, much to both girls dismay, especially since he kept stealing food from Sasuke’s plate and vice versa.

It was another hour before the Uchiha grabbed Naruto’s arm, pulling him quietly away from the group as their entire attention was on some display.

“What’s up?”

“Getting away from them, come on, we have to get you clothes.”

“Oh, okay.”

He couldn’t help but glance at the dark haired boy, his mind already going at a million miles an hour. Last night he said they were coming here to get him clothes, but when the others showed up this morning he said they were busy. So then he meant for them to come here but didn’t want the others with them.

Was it because of him? Did he embarrass him that much?

“Hey, Sasuke?”

“Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you want the others with us at the mall?”

“Because they annoy me. What size do you wear?”

Blue eyes blinked before he noticed they were already standing in from of a jeans display.

“I’m not exactly sure. I don’t annoy you?”

Sasuke looked at Naruto’s pants, noticing the size tag was long gone. Figured.

“Not as much, just find a style you like and grab a couple sizes.”

“Oh, okay.”

It didn’t take long and both boys had arms full of clothing while making their way to the dressing rooms. Surprisingly there wasn’t an attendant and no one else there, a rack of clothes to be returned gave Naruto an idea as he grabbed a discarded article, hiding it before heading into a booth.

The blonde figured out what size he wore, after that it was actually fun for him. He had never gotten to try on clothes like this. Sasuke had one more outfit to try when Naruto decided to play his joke and slipped into the pilfered clothing.

How women fit in these were beyond him! And itchy! What kind of an idiot designed this?!

There wasn’t too much lace, majority of it was a blue satin and black sheer, though he gave up on pulling out the g-string after three tries. Peeking out, he watched Sasuke just a few feet away, looking in the full length mirror at an outfit, and made certain they were still alone before smirking and stepping into the view of the mirror.

He stood there with a smirk, he was certain even Shikamaru would turn beet red and die if he pulled this on him and figured that maybe a good laugh would help the stressed Uchiha.

Only he didn’t get laughter as dark eyes locked on his reflection, blinked, blinked some more and then their owner slowly turned around, eyes moving from top to bottom a couple times.

“N-Naruto?” Finally the lips twitched, one side moving up as he fought off a smile. “You really are an idiot.”

He couldn’t help but grin, sauntering over to the other in his best imitation of a female walk before falling into the voice the dark haired boy hated. “Oh, but Sasuke-kun, don’t you want me to wear this to bed tonight?”

“Only if you plan to sleep on the couch.”

One pale hand moved out to touch the sheer middle, tugging experimentally on it.

Of course that was when someone else came in, making a strangled noise at the sight the two boys made before turning and leaving the room.

It was only minutes later that two blushing and laughing boys came out of the dressing room and hurried away before anyone came to kick them out. Sasuke took Naruto’s pile of chosen clothing and put it with his own, keeping a garment snagged on their way out carefully hidden.

The Uchiha was glad when the blonde became sidetracked, leaving him alone at the register with the blushing girl who was trying and failing to flirt with Sasuke. Her eyes grew as she came across the blue and black garment.

“I’m certain your girlfriend will love it, did you want it boxed?”

“No, just put it with the rest.”

He noted the girls crestfallen look with some satisfaction, though it never showed on his face.

Of course they were only able to hit one more store before the others found them, yelling out happily to the dark haired boy.

“They’re never glad to see me.”

“Be thankful and stop grumbling.”

When the Uchiha starkly refused to go see a movie with them, Neji suggested they did what they had on Friday, rent movies and watch them at Sasuke’s house. Everyone aside from a growling dark haired boy agreed and Naruto found himself almost having to pull the other from the mall, getting death glares every inch of the way.

“Why don’t you want them over?“

“I already told you, they annoy me.”

“But I thought they were your friends.”

“Hhn.”

“Is that even a reply?”

“We sit how we did the other night.”

“What?”

“If you make me sit by either of those girls you will be sleeping in the garage.”

“Fine. Sheesh, you really don’t like girls, do you?” A dawning look of shock covered the blonde boy’s face when he wasn’t answered. “You don’t like girls, are you serious?!”

Last thing he needed was the blonde screeching that in his ear and around town.

“Just shut up, idiot, you’re giving me a headache.”

That night they only watched two movies, but Neji noticed the odd looks that Naruto continually gave to Sasuke.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Obsidian eyes turned to slits.

“Do you ever mind your own business?”

Neji sat back, a smug grin on his face.

“Well, it was hard not to notice how Naruto kept looking at you.”

Those same dark eyes turned to the blonde who suddenly found the floor very interesting.

“It doesn’t concern you.”

“Naruto, you know if you and Sasuke are having a fight, we do have a spare room at my house you could stay in.”

Pale fists clenched as he swallowed, something that the blonde did notice before he looked up, his normal, bright grin plastered on his face.

“Naw, I’m fine, he just cheated at rock, paper scissors and I have to make breakfast.”

Dark eyes blinked at him in surprise, Naruto knew and he was still staying here, even with the sleeping arrangements?!

“I see. Leave it to an Uchiha to find a way to cheat at that.” He smirked at the evil look sent his way before standing. “We should be going, school tomorrow. Will you be joining us for lunch, Naruto?”

Kiba looked ready to try and attack Naruto on the spot, as well as both girls who the blonde was certain that his life would be in danger if they had weapons.

“Well, I usually spend lunch with my friend.”

“Feel free to join us if he isn’t there, then.”

That said the others left, Sasuke visibly relaxing as he locked the door behind them.

“That Neji guy is creepy, what is up with him?”

“Long time rivalry, he wants to be the best and I am.”

“Oh, okay. Come on, I’m beat.”

It wasn’t until they were both in bed, that the silence was broken, each had spent the entire time in thought.

Sasuke spent it wondering why Naruto was still there, given how he reacted every time someone asked if he was Sasuke’s boyfriend.

Naruto’s mind was still trying to wrap itself around the concept that the Uchiha was homosexual and exactly what it meant that he had invited the blonde to stay here, in his bed no less. Was he hoping for a… relationship? But Naruto wasn’t into guys, well except that dream but there was no way he was going to admit to having that!

“Naruto?”

The sudden voice broke him from his mental war.

“Yeah?”

“Why are you still here?”

“You kicking me out?”

There was a deep sigh in the barely lit room.

“No, but Neji offered you your own room.”

“Yeah, but that guy gives me the creeps.”

There followed a chuckle.

“I see.”

“Sasuke?”

“Hmmm?”

“Does this mean I have to worry about you trying to molest me in my sleep?”

“Idiot.”

He couldn’t help but smile since he could hear the laughter in the other’s voice.

“Alright, night Ice Prince.”

“Night, idiot.”

Both boys finally fell asleep, this time a deep restful sleep, one that neither had been lucky to have in years. The sounds of their even breathing filling the room, with the occasional mumbled words, though Naruto usually stopped talking when Sasuke nudged him.