Inbred

Chapter 6

"Your partner?" Naruto echoed utterly dumbfounded. Actually it would have made alot of sense, it would finally explain why Sasuke kept shooting down all the girls that kept throwing themselves at him.

"Yeah, my lab partner. We're working on a class project together," he grinned. "Why dobe, what did you think I meant?"

Naruto gave Sasuke a tired look. He had fallen into that one and he had to admit, Sasuke had him going there for a second but he wasn't going to let his little prank throw him off. "I thought you were fucking him," he stated plainly watching to see what Sasuke's next expression was going to be.

The brunette remained expressionless. "Well, I'm not." ...'Anymore' he added to himself. It was true, while Neji and he were 'involved' at one point the other guy broke it off for one reason or another without so much as an explanation to the Uchiha. He was pissed and wanted to wring the little shit's neck but he knew Hyuga, he knew Hyuga better than anybody and he knew that he always had his reasons for doing what he did. He just wanted to know why and what he had to do to get back together with the irritating little bitch.

Even thinking about him now riled him up and Sasuke clenched his fists at his side. He had to remain calm because every fiber in his being screamed at him to storm down the hall kick down the door across form his and MAKE Hyuga tell him what his fucking problem was.

"Tsk, I feel sorry for you, man" Naruto sympathized and shook his head, his blond locks almost flickering like a flame. "Getting stuck with him as a partner."

"Actually," Sasuke chuckled. "We volunteered to team with each other." This was true but he didn't do it for the obvious reason. Yes, Sasuke liked spending time with Neji especially since all they ever did was fight or fuck but that wasn't the reason. He knew how to put his priorities in order and completing this assignment went towards 40% of his final grade. The real reason he worked with Hyuga Neji was because Hyuga Neji was the only one he could work with. They were both very serious about their academia and the only time they weren't at each others throats (or each others necks) was when they were working together. They put all their feelings and emotions aside and concentrated on the task at hand and he admired that professionalism in the Hyuga above everything else.

His teachers tried to encourage him to work with other students but he refused to put in the effort. All the girls ever did was drool over him and they never did concentrate when he was around. He didn't like working with the guys either because they were mostly intimidated by him. He'd work well with Shino or Shikamaru since both boys didn't speak much to him and he didn't speak much to them either but the aim of these projects was communication and team-work which were qualities Sasuke lacked among all the other students except one. Eventually the professors caved and allowed Sasuke to work with Neji on all their group assignments, much to the disappointment of all the girls.

"You must be a masochist, Sasuke," joked Naruto and Sasuke wondered if his friend was right. He kept punishing himself over this, believing that it was his fault that Neji was no longer on good terms with him. He wanted to apologize for nothing, he wanted to apologize for anything if only the Hyuga would just talk to him. But his pride wouldn't let him. His pride wouldn't let him confront the other boy. His pride refused to let him believe that the problem lay with him and it was probably just Neji. His pride told him that Hyuga was probably trying to play some stupid mind-game, his pride convinced him that he didn't want to play along and that he should give the boy his space. But his pride didn't keep him warm at nights, his pride didn't care that his heart was in turmoil, his fucking Uchiha pride didn't miss Neji as much as Sasuke did.

He groaned and put a weary hand to his head. He didn't want to think about this now, he had a full plate today and he needed to be about his wits if he was going to get anything done. He had to get Naruto registered at the main office then take him to buy uniforms. He had also wanted to show Naruto around and get him familiar with the campus so he'd probably have to do that before leaving to take him to the mall.

He waited for Naruto to get some breakfast. How that dobe could eat instant ramen first thing in the morning was a mystery to Sasuke.

Naruto got dressed and headed out first, they had agreed to meet downstairs while Sasuke got ready when he came across Neji who was just exiting the room across the hall. That was the door that Sasuke was glaring at when he brought up his bags yesterday. 'So, that was Neji's room, no wonder he had looked at it like that.' Naruto nodded to himself as he put the few pieces of the incomplete puzzle that was Sasuke's relationship with this guy.

"Ohayo, 'Neej-eye'," he teased and approached the other boy who had successfully locked the door and slid the key into a pants pocket.

Neji folded his hand over his chest and straightened to his full height. "Naruto, as of this moment you are to address me as 'Neji-sempai'."

He saw the volatile expression splayed across the Hyuga's face and his voice informed the blond that he was speaking to him in an authoritative manner. What the hell brought this on?

"C'mon Neji, don't get your boxers in a twist," interjected Sasuke as he pulled his door closed behind him and ambled over to the two. "Naruto's just teasing, sometimes he calls me 'Sa-soo-key' but he doesn't mean anything by it. Besides, he's only doing it because he knows we're friends but he's not stupid enough to try it with complete strangers, right Naruto?" He put a pale hand on the blond's shoulder and squeezed a little too tightly as if to let him know he better not try that shit with anyone else.

Naruto nodded silently.

Neji closed his eyes into slits before becoming annoyed at their presence and sulking off down the hallway. Sasuke noticed his hips had a little more sway in them than usual. He could tell the Hyuga was upset about something but if he wasn't careful then he'd reveal alot more about himself that he was trying to keep hidden. Well, if he didn't need him anymore he was going to have to take care of himself. Hehad promised himself he wasn't going to give himself an ulcer worrying about that spoiled brat.

Registration took longer than he had expected, Iruka-sensei was the one doing the interview and he was asking too many unnecessary questions. Sasuke didn't hold it against him though. Iruka-sensei was one of the friendliest teachers on campus, anyone could go to him if they had a problem and he maintained their confidentiality. He immediately seemed to take a liking to Naruto and Naruto opened up easily to the older man. Sasuke was glad that Naruto finally found someone that could talk as much as he did but it didn't help Sasuke who was forced to sit through the men drone on about everything from ramen flavours to popular ring tones. He wanted someone to blow his brains out.

They either ran out of things to talk about or Iruka-sensei noticed the time before he called in the next exchange student. God, please have mercy on that kid's soul.

Sasuke then took the opportunity to show Naruto around the campus but Naruto was more interested in finding out where the girl's dorms were. Sasuke told him he'd have to find it himself, there was no chance in hell Sasuke was going to walk in front of the girl's dorm especially since classes were out.

It was a bright day and it didn't look like there was going to be any rain so Sasuke took the risk and decided to walk to the shopping plaza. The streets were fairly crowded today and he was grateful for that, it was easy to get lost in a crowd.

He bought Naruto seven uniforms, one for each day of the week and although he knew Naruto didn't have classes everyday he thought it would be best if he had extra because Sasuke knew Naruto well and he knew the blond could be very messy and some of the more strict professors frowned down upon untidy uniforms and as an after thought he decided to buy two more.

He treated Naruto to lunch (did that boy eat anything besides ramen at all?) and allowed his hyperactive friend to drag him into an arcade where they played 'King of Fighters' and almost broke out into an actual fight themselves. Time was starting to slip away and he had promised to do some research with Neji this afternoon but he didn't want stop hanging out with Naruto just yet. Naruto wasn't ready to go back to campus either but he assured Sasuke he was going to be alright, he had remembered the way back although Sasuke was very doubtful. After leaving him some money and making Naruto explain the directions to him twice (and satisfied that the dobe actually did know what he was talking about) he left him in the plaza and made his way back to campus.

Naruto felt like a kid in a candy store. The unfamiliar sights and sounds stimulating his senses. People were friendly enough and very patient with him as he tried to form sentences and ask questions. Sasuke had given him plenty of yen, actually he had given him more than enough and while Naruto knew Sasuke wouldn't care if he spent all of it his conscious prevented him from doing so, besides he only bought some comic books and little souvenirs for Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Oh crap! He'd been here for almost two days now and he hadn't even let them know he had arrived safely. Naruto groaned, he was going to have hell to pay and with this new mission objective Naruto left the building and made his way back to campus. As he rounded a corner he saw a familiar figure from the corner of his eye, he did a double take and recognized it almost immediately. It was that girl from the airport. He knew because she was wearing the same clothes from that day.

Naruto called out to her and crossed the street to meet her on the adjacent side-walk but when she looked up at him and seemingly recognized his face she took off. She didn't get very far though because in her haste she bumped into another pedestrian who barely muttered an apology and stepped around her and the object that she had cradled in her hand clattered on the pavement. They both reached for it at the same time and their fingers touched, Naruto felt a jolt of electricity race through his arm and continue along his spine. He looked over at her but her head was down. She raised it slightly and Naruto couldn't remember looking into such beautiful, lavender eyes, although...they looked...familiar.

She was more stunning up-close. She must have known the boy found her attractive because a deep blush made it's way across her pale cheeks.

Time seemed to stand still for Naruto as he lost himself in her gaze but she broke the spell with a gasp and neglecting the object on the pavement she turned and ran. Naruto was going to run after her but she had already been swallowed up by the sea of people. The world seemed to fade back inand when he came back to his senses he realized that his other hand had raised itself as if to caress her cheek. That was probably what scared her away. He swore under his breath and made a move to get up but noticed the item at his fingertips and he picked it up to examine it closely. It appeared to be a lady's comb or something and it looked to be extremely valuable, at least, what he could tell from the intricate carving and bejeweled surface, not to mention the fact that it must have been made from a pure metal because it felt alot heavier than it looked. Naruto pocketed the item and decided he'd hold onto it and return it to her later because he knew he would see her again...

***

He almost got lost, almost but he knew the name of the school so it wasn't hard to ask for directions. It was amazing how much one encounter had thrown off his sense of direction and muddled his memory. He raised his knuckles to knock on the door but quickly realized that it was slightly ajar. He let himself in then almost wished he had knocked, at least to alert the two boys who were making out against wall...

What...the...fuck!