Torrid

A/N: Loving your feedback, it's inspiring me to keep going. Enjoy the chapter and, as usual, please tell me what you think!

*******

Neji knew he should have just stayed home and worked out there. Instead, he had decided to take a walk and now he was in some random bookstore playing hide-and-seek, hoping Naruto wouldn't spot him. Luckily, Naruto's back had been turned when Neji saw him, the blond's attention fully trained on a small, laughing toddler. That little girl was going to have a blond complex for the rest of her life, Neji mused as he had stood there watching. The little girl's mother giggled as her daughter forcefully shoved her prized lollipop into Naruto's mouth. The man smiled and the child gazed up adoringly. Yep, another one bites the dust.

He didn't think he was ready for Naruto yet; still smarting from their 'date' the week before. He had been horrified to find out that in the space of a few hours, he could go from being way too hot, to being too cold- freezing up when Naruto had been trying to comfort him. Naruto probably thought he was some kind of psychopath by now. When it seemed as if Naruto was going to turn around, Neji had quickly ducked into the nearest building, a bookstore, hoping that Naruto would go away.

He moved deeper into the store, hoping to put as much distance between the two of them as possible. He squinted, trying to see if Naruto was still outside; but it was impossible to do so anymore. He kept backing in deeper and deeper, feeling ridiculous, but living to fight and flirt another day.

"Looking for a 'Mild doesn't have to be bland' cookbook?"

Neji almost climbed right out of his skin. He spun around to face the source of the teasing voice.

"Wait…how did you…when did you…WEREN'T YOU JUST OUTSIDE?!"

Naruto licked his lollipop thoughtfully. "I was outside, now I'm inside. Fear my elite ninja skills."

Neji sighed, so much for a graceful retreat. "How'd you get behind me? I was watching the door."

"Ah, so you're hiding from me. Socially retarded- another hallmark of my type. I came in through the side entrance; so there's no need to call NASA to investigate."

'Bloody hell' Neji narrowed his eyes in exasperation before slumping to a graceless defeat. Naruto was smiling serenely at him, clearly aware of just how infuriating he could be, and probably aware of just how irresistible. Giving thanks for small mercies, at least Naruto was using his charisma for being silly instead of just pure evil. Neji decided to forgo any apologies for his behaviour at the end of their last meeting. This last bit of embarrassment made them even. Even, that is, until Naruto spoke again.

"And hey, your lisp is gone!"

Neji rolled his eyes. "Indeed it has, I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Naruto pouted cutely, clearly hoping that he could extract a few more laughs. "Is it totally gone?"

"She sells sea-shells on the sea-shore."

"Curses!" Naruto muttered, popping his fruit-flavoured gift back into his mouth. The act caught Neji's complete attention, watching with shameless sexual interest as Naruto twirled and licked the lollipop.

"For the love of decency man, we're in the children's section. You're not allowed to have dirty thoughts about me and the lollipop that Natsuki-chan gave me."

Neji smirked, feeling relieved that he was back on steady ground and moving on the offensive.

"On the contrary, I was simply being appreciative. It was really brought home, during my convalescence, just what an amazing and intriguing organ the tongue truly is…" Neji's eyes trained deliberately on Naruto's lips and the tip of the pink tongue which peeked out every so often. "…Capable of doing so many wonderful things."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, lips twitching, amusement stamped all over his face. He removed the lollipop, and then proceeded to lick it slowly, holding Neji mesmerized. He leisurely inserted the lollipop deep into his mouth, trailing it along his tongue, watching as Neji's lips parted in anticipation, hearing his breathing grow uneven. With his audience completely captivated, Naruto smiled, before loudly, deliberately, crunching down on the lollipop. Neji winced painfully.

"That was cold. That was just…cold."

Naruto laughed before wagging a finger in front of Neji's nose. "No dirty thoughts in the kids' section. Besides, I told you already. I'm-"

"'Involved', I know. You're in a complicated involvement, and you know, I could go a long way in helping you to uncomplicate things."

"Heh" Naruto was about to respond when his cell phone went off. He blinked in surprise at the number and quickly opened the text message.

"A message from the complication I take it?"

'No, a message from the complication's wife.' Naruto slipped the phone back into his pocket and shot a smile at Neji.

"Glad your tongue is better. See you around Neji."

Neji smirked as Naruto brushed past him and exited the store. Neji hated to admit it, but there certainly was a thrill to the chase. Romantic scheming would have to come later, however. Right now he had to get the hell out of the children's section.

*******

Sakura sat on the bed glaring daggers at the black men's suit, which hung innocently on the front of the closet. Right now that suit represented Sasuke: beautiful, unyielding and something she desperately needed to figure out how to change. The cancer benefit was in a few hours, and it would be her first event as Uchiha Sakura.

Held to raise money primarily for children suffering from leukaemia, it was one of the social events of the season; where the rich and business class of Japan could assuage some social service guilt, while wining and dining in style. This year, the benefit would take the form of an evening cruise on a luxury liner, and as one of the newest acquisitions of the Uchiha Clan, Sakura would be on display. It wasn't confirmed, but Fugaku had mentioned that she and Sasuke might be asked to present a donation to some of the children and their families on behalf of Uchiha Corps; a calculated move, no doubt, on the patriarch's part. Her marriage was going to be in the spotlight, and her husband seemed intent on going dressed as the Grim Reaper.

She drummed her fingers on her knees in consternation, racking her brain, trying to figure out how to tone down the severity of the outfit. She had made soft suggestions since he took the outfit out, but to no avail. He had politely and firmly brushed her off, assuring her that the suit was more than adequate. She considered taking an authoritative approach and ordering him to change; basing this move on her right as a wife. She then shuddered at the ensuing carnage that would result. She was nowhere near that stage yet.

She sighed as she considered her options. If she couldn't get Sasuke to change a simple outfit, how was she going to get him to accept her and their marriage? She needed to find a way to conquer this small challenge, which would give her hope for the fierce one to come. Who was she kidding, this wasn't a small task. The last person to get Sasuke to change his mind about anything was-

Sakura blinked. Why on earth hadn't she thought of that sooner? She needed to find her cell phone and fast.

*******

Naruto hesitated before knocking on the door of the apartment. He hadn't set a foot in the marital home since it was purchased, and wasn't sure if he was ready to now. Steeling himself, he knocked softly, almost imperceptibly at the door and was almost knocked over when it was flung open and Sakura launched herself at him.

"Naruto! I've missed you." Sakura chortled, hugging Naruto so hard, it was cutting off his oxygen. "I can't believe that I haven't seen you since the wedding."

She finally released him just before he started to turn blue, and dragged him inside, not giving him a chance to respond or gather his scattered wits.

"You haven't seen the place at all have you? I need to give you the grand tour, isn't it amazing?"

It was amazing; Naruto doubted that it would have been anything but amazing. The three bedroom condominium was tastefully furnished and decorated, managing to balance Sasuke's love for the dark, minimalist style with Sakura's penchant for flowers and colour. To the left was the sunken living room, which connected to, among other things, Sasuke's study. As if on cue, the study door opened, and Sasuke stepped out, lured out by Sakura's squealing and the distinct sound of Naruto's voice.

For Sakura, it was already a small victory. Usually it would take nothing but the smoke detector being set off to get him out of that room when he was home; and she had already done that twice.

"What are you doing here? You haven't been over here since we bought the place." Sasuke asked lightly, as he retrieved a can of tea from the fridge.

"Sakura-chan called me over. Not sure why yet…"

"I called you over because I missed you and I haven't seen you for weeks!"

"You were going to see him tonight at the benefit anyway." Sasuke pointed out, watching Sakura with a hint of suspicion.

Sakura giggled nervously, hating how perceptive Sasuke could be, and also hating the fact that the onetime her husband looked at her, he was trying to figure out what she was up to.

"Hey, he's my friend too and I wanted to see him. Come on; let me show you around the rest of the place."

At least she wasn't giving him enough time to feel awkward and Naruto was grateful for that. He was grateful, that is, until she pulled him into the master bedroom.

"So, what do you think? Isn't it great?"

Naruto swallowed convulsively, feeling like some wretched interloper. Sakura smiled up at him and he nodded, smiling weakly as he tried to remember what his normal response should be.

"It's awesome, Sakura-chan." He shot her a cheeky grin as he locked his hands behind his head. "If these walls could talk, huh?"

Naruto felt his heart sink at Sakura's blush, misreading it entirely. Sakura, for her part, felt embarrassed at the incorrect insinuation. If these walls could talk, they wouldn't have a thing to say unless to state how bored they were. The Sasuke with whom she lived was an entirely different person from the one on the honeymoon. Since they returned, he seemed to have no interest in speaking to her, let alone touching her; and she was completely at sea as to how she could bring honeymoon Sasuke back.

Looking around the bedroom, Naruto finally did what Sakura had wanted him to, and spotted the black outfit hanging on the closet.

"Is that the suit Sasuke's wearing tonight?"

Sakura gave herself an internal high-five at Naruto's incredulous tone. "Um, yeah. It's what he picked out."

"Seriously? He's going to go to a benefit for sick kids looking like a death god?"

"Well, you know how Sasuke is; I tried to suggest some changes but…" Sakura shrugged, summing up her ineffectualness in the simple motion. Naruto snorted and headed back to the kitchen, where Sasuke now sat, softly swearing at his malfunctioning laptop.

"Hey, Sasuke, is that suit hanging in your room really what you're going to wear tonight?"

Sasuke didn't look up as he waited for this laptop to reboot. "Yes, and what of it?"

"You're going to a benefit for sick kids looking like death. Are you serious?"

"There's nothing wrong with the suit and I'm not changing it."

He was digging his heels in, Naruto could sense it. It was what Sasuke always did when he was criticized.

"Change the damn suit. You look like you're going to a funeral and it's not going to make a good impression. After all, it's all about public relations with you right? Maintaining the image?"

Sasuke did look up then, and Sakura shrank back further into the background, feeling the atmosphere in the room suddenly charge to sparking point. She'd seen it a million times before with them- how they could be placid one minute and then trying to beat the crap out of each other the next. She didn't always understand what happened in those moments, like now. She had hoped that Naruto would convince Sasuke to change the outfit without much fuss, instead, apprehension coursed through her as Sasuke's eyes locked unto Naruto's.

"I'm not changing anything. Not the shirt, not the tie, not anything." Sasuke enunciated the last two words almost painfully. "I don't know where you get off offering your opinion where it isn't wanted, but I'm not changing; not for you, not for anyone."

Sakura bit her bottom lip, hoping she could just call this whole thing off, especially when she saw Naruto square his back. She waited, breathless for the explosion, and then waited some more. Stunned, she watched as Naruto just shrugged his shoulders. Evidently, it surprised Sasuke too, since he was obviously anticipating further argument.

"Fine Sasuke, whatever- just do what you always do. Be the 'you', you always are. I just don't care anymore. You're seriously starting to bore me out of my fucking skull."

Sakura had been witness to it a million times, when Sasuke would say something awful and crushing that shut people down instantly. He could be horrible sometimes; she knew that, especially to Naruto. But then, as kids, most people treated Naruto as an outcast. As she grew older, she had grown ashamed of the part she had played in it, although she never reached the point where she could stand up to Sasuke about it. She could only be grateful for the fact that none of the really harsh words had been directed at her, knowing she probably wouldn't be able to recover from them the way Naruto seemed to. She was glad that Naruto had the ability to forgive and forget; instead of being broken down by it.

What she hadn't seen a million times though, was Naruto's ability to reciprocate the barbs; he didn't have the venom in him, and was more likely to physically lash out than anything when he got to that point. Every once in a while though, it happened- Naruto would say something to Sasuke that hit, and hit hard. You could tell when it happened easily, because Sasuke didn't have the practice Naruto had with masking it.

Just like now.

Naruto's last sentence had been said softly, unclear whether he had intended to be heard or not. But Sasuke heard it, as did Sakura. She watched as the hurt flashed quickly across his face as he sat motionless, watching as Naruto walked towards the door. He glanced over at Sakura and quickly schooled his features to smooth impassiveness, before focussing once again on his computer screen. His lack of response to the insult was just as telling as that look had been. Unsure of exactly what had just transpired, Sakura quickly followed Naruto to the door.

"Naruto…"

"This whole thing reminded me that I've got to get things ready myself. I haven't even gone through my closet yet." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and quickly shrugged on his jacket.

"Naruto, what just happened? Is everything okay?"

Naruto seemed surprised by the question. "Everything is fine, Sakura-chan. He'll change the suit. Don't worry about it. Now I've got to go. I'll see you guys tonight."

*******

Sakura finished showering and headed back to the bedroom. She paused at the door as she saw Sasuke staring into his closet with a look of such hopelessness and ignorance; it broke her heart for him. He noticed she was standing there and tried to regain his usual stoicism.

"I, um, decided to change…the suit I mean. But all of my clothes look the same. I didn't even realize it until I looked, but all my clothes look the same. How does that even happen? It's kind of ridiculous right?" He shot her a quick, nervous smile and her heart squeezed in her chest. He looked back to the rows of dark clothes, and continued speaking softly; more to himself than to her. "I want to change, but I don't know if I can... I couldn't even if I tried. And all my clothes look the same."

Sakura moved to stand beside him, looking into the closet and running her hands across the rows of clothing.

"Not all your clothes look the same, and the suit's not bad. It just needs a little something to look less severe. I can fix it."

Sasuke looked at her then, and she couldn't help feeling that it was the first time since they got back from Paris, that he was really seeing her.

"Then you'll fix it for me. I trust you, Sakura. You're one of the few people I can trust."

She smiled and looked away quickly, her stomach knotting at the soft words. After Sasuke left the room, she quickly got to work.

*******

The setting was beautiful, the ship was aglow against the moonlit water and the glitterati of Japan were all in attendance. Sakura felt a little like Cinderella at her first ball. That is, except for the brooding and sullen prince at her side. It took some clever manoeuvring on her part to stop people from talking to her husband, who had the tendency to be very rude and dismissive when he was in this kind of mood. Well, even more so. Sasuke had spent the last three minutes glaring ice daggers at Naruto, who for his part seemed completely oblivious to all the cold fury he was incurring.

Naruto had to admit that this Tsunade-proxy thing definitely had it benefits. The set-up was nice enough, and it was a bit too ritzy for him, but the food was amazing and it was all free. He was just about to zone in on the guy with the hors d'oeuvres, when a now familiar voice stopped him.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah well. Baa-chan is pretty big on charities and she's still stuck in Vegas trying to reheat her hot streak. So it's proxy to the rescue."

Neji snorted his understanding of the situation before glancing around. "So is your complication here or what? Or perhaps you don't like your complications on a boat… does your complication involve a goat?"

Naruto almost spit up his champagne. "Can you get any weirder than you are right now? And how dare you bring Dr. Seuss into this?"

""I guess this is what happens when one gets left high and dry in the children's section of a bookstore. I must keep in mind that there are sickly, impressionable children about."

"Yeah, about that… is it really a good idea having a bunch of ailing kids on a night cruise. Whose idea was that?"

Neji shrugged and cast a meaningful glance about the boat. "You have to understand the reasoning. It looks that much more touching to the press to hand off big checks to the grateful children and their parents than to give it to some appropriate institution. They're just lucky they aren't on a dinghy out of here after the pictures have been taken."

Naruto snorted and shook his head- this was definitely not his world. He was about to make another go at the hors d'oeuvres waiter, when Sakura materialized next to him. She greeted Neji politely before asking for a moment with Naruto. Neji raised a questioning and suggestive eyebrow as soon as Sakura's back was turned to him, and Naruto shook his head at the implied question. Close but no cigar… although technically, Sakura was a big contributing factor to the 'complication'.

"Sakura-chan, you look great! Can you believe how huge this boat is and how many people are here? I haven't even had a chance to come say hi to you guys yet." Not exactly true, he had been avoiding the newly-weds like the plague since they came aboard. Thankfully, playing proxy had him chatting up most of the people on board, giving him a safe excuse.

"Thanks," Sakura smiled prettily. "It complements the wonderful suit my husband decided to wear."

"Heh, I told you he'd change it. How's he handling the party?"

"Well that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. He's kind of broody."

Naruto was surprised. He didn't think Sasuke would still be pissed off about what happened earlier. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, he was even rude to one of the moms of the recipients tonight. Luckily, she was too happy to realize it."

"Man, he is so high-maintenance, it's not even funny sometimes. Where is he?"

"He stepped outside, unto the deck I mean. He said he'll be back in a little while."

"Don't worry- I'm on it."

That was just the thing- Sakura didn't want Naruto to be 'on it'. She wanted to be the one to alleviate Sasuke's bad moods. What she had wanted, while it may only be marginally better than Naruto doing it himself, was for him to tell her what to do. Before she could clarify though, Naruto was gone, already in search of his wayward friend.

*******

The minute Naruto got home he was going to hit Google and remind himself of why gargantuan ships like this one didn't sink. It was taking a year and a day to find Sasuke, who once he got it in his head to hide, was pretty damn good at it. Just when Naruto was losing hope of ever seeing family and friends again, he found Sasuke aft of the ship, lounging against the wall.

"Oh thank the gods, there you are. I was beginning to think you'd fallen overboard."

Sasuke didn't respond, maintaining an icy silence as Naruto approached him.

"Sakura says you're still mad. What are you still mad about?"

Sasuke did look at him then, with the unique mixture of incredulity and disgust that only Sasuke could really pull off. He rolled his eyes before starting to walk off. Naruto blinked in surprise for a moment as Sasuke walked away. Now determined to find out what the problem was, he quickly caught up and grabbed Sasuke's arm.

"Hey, what's the matter with you?"

Sasuke only shrugged him off, hissing at him to get off him as he continued stalking away. Now Naruto was pissed. He quickly grabbed Sasuke's shoulder and shoved him against the wall, Sasuke glaring sulphurously up at him.

"What the hell is your problem, Sasuke?"

"Get the fuck off me."

"I don't know what the hell you're so mad about; but you don't get to be mad- not at me, not now! You don't get to be mad, so calm the fuck down!"

It had to be the most ridiculous demand ever made- simply ordering someone to stop being angry was surely doomed to fail. Despite Naruto's erroneous logic however, Sasuke found himself deflating. For the entire evening he had been buoyed by that one emotion and now Naruto had taken it from him. Sasuke didn't know what the expression on his face was then, but it was enough to rob Naruto of his anger as well. Naruto stroked his face, visibly alarmed by the change in Sasuke's demeanour.

"What's wrong? Did something happen? Tell me…"

Sasuke didn't say anything then, opting instead to drag Naruto against him, pulling him into a kiss. Naruto pulled back quickly.

"What are you doing? Someone could see."

Sasuke wasn't listening, hauling Naruto back against him. "I don't care. I don't care anymore."

"You are really choosing the wrong place to go off the deep end." Naruto muttered as he pulled away from Sasuke and starting dragging him away from the high-traffic area. Mercifully, he managed to locate one of the ship's janitorial closets and shoved Sasuke inside. Sasuke wasted no time in trying to continue what he had started, but Naruto kept him at bay.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you or what?"

"Nothing, I'm not mad anymore…"

Sasuke bit back his frustration at Naruto's lack of cooperation and slowed his pace; gentling his approach as his arms encircled Naruto's neck. He softened the kiss, sighing as he finally received the response he was looking for. He trailed kisses along Naruto's jaw-line, sliding his hand up his thighs to cup his groin.

"See?" Sasuke whispered. "You're getting hard already. I know what you like. How can you get bored of this?"

Naruto pulled back so abruptly, Sasuke almost pitched over. "THAT'S what this is about?"

Sasuke floundered a bit, caught, and tried to scoff the accusation away; but it was already too late.

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"I can't believe it upset you like that." Naruto turned Sasuke's face to his forcing him to look into his eyes. "I was mad when I said it, and I guess I went too far. You're a lot of things Sasuke, but boring is definitely not one of them. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise, idiot…"

Naruto smiled down at Sasuke, trying to smooth out the ruffled feathers. Sasuke was looking like a kicked puppy and Naruto would take his arrogant expression over that any day.

"Why not? How would you know I'm sorry if I don't apologise? What's wrong with me apologising just this once?"

Because it made Sasuke feel like shit that's why. He knew he was overreacting, taking Naruto's goading too much to heart. He wasn't some hysterical woman who needed comforting and he knew he didn't deserve any. The apology brought back so many times when Sasuke had said or done something himself that he knew he should have apologised for, and never did. Naruto apologising just made him seem that much bigger a person, pulling that much further away; stretching the red thread that bound them that much closer to its breaking point.

"Just don't apologise. It's so stupid."

"I'm not trying to push you away Sasuke. I'd chase you to the ends of the earth, you know that." Naruto wasn't sure why he felt the need to say this, but he did. Apparently, it was the right thing to do, because the miserable expression on Sasuke's face dissipated. Soon Sasuke was all over him again, rubbing his body against Naruto's; building up the passion again.

They couldn't afford to do this now, not with Sasuke having to make a presentation who knows when. As Naruto tried once more to disengage, he then realized he couldn't exactly send him back out the function in that condition either.

He spun Sasuke around, and the brunet was pressed against the door of the closet. Sasuke rested his forehead against the cool of the door, gasping and shuddering as Naruto unzipped his pants and took hold of him.

"Do not drag this out, or else." Another comical threat from Naruto as far as Sasuke was concerned. But then, the way he was feeling now, with the harsh, fast strokes of Naruto's hand along his hard length, Sasuke wasn't going to last long anyway.

"Aren't you going to-?"

"No, I am not fucking you. I'm taking care of you and that's it. Please don't tell me you're developing a kink for doing it in all the wrong places; because I will toss you overboard, I swear."

Sasuke thrust into Naruto's hand, moaning as he felt his orgasm build. The erotic moment was thrown into panic however at the sound of Uchiha Takeru, a family cousin and friend of Fugaku- no doubt leaving the party to smoke one of his foul cigars. Naruto felt Sasuke tense and go quiet, struggling to keep his voice in. It took Naruto a moment to locate the source of Sasuke's alarm.

"A few minutes ago you didn't care if they found us or not." Naruto whispered hotly into Sasuke's ear as he ground against him, rubbing the tip of Sasuke's rock hard erection slowly. "You want me to stop?"

Bastard. Sasuke was shaking with the force of keeping his orgasm in. He could still hear Takeru outside the door, and Naruto was relentless. He couldn't hold it in any longer. Unable to scream, he sank his teeth in Naruto's hand with which he had braced himself against the door as he leaned against Sasuke. He groaned deeply as he spilled into Naruto's hand.

"Very classy Sasuke." Naruto watched bemused as the other man tried to compose himself. At length, Takeru's voice faded, and after tidying up, Sasuke ventured outside the closet. He looked around for a minute before giving Naruto the all clear to exit; and soon they were back to the party.

Neji sipped his champagne as he watched the scene unfold on the deck below him. From his vantage point, he could see that Naruto hadn't been exaggerating.

Things certainly did look complicated.

*******

Sakura wasn't the least bit surprised when Sasuke was restored to her in good spirits. She didn't know what Naruto did, but right now, she was just relieved he had done it. Her friend had definitely saved the day for her. When Naruto remerged in the ballroom, she shot him a grateful smile.

Naruto responded with a quick, weak smile before quickly turning away.

"We're very different you know. A lot of people think we're the same; look at the obvious similarities, draw the usual parallels; but we're entirely different."

Naruto blinked at Neji's odd statement as the man drew abreast of him. Neji continued not bothered by Naruto's obvious confusion.

"The Uchiha and Hyuuga Clans have been rivals for centuries. People think it's because we are too much alike and that causes friction- they couldn't be further from the truth. The Uchihas hate us because they know we're better; we Hyuugas hate them because they like to consider themselves our superiors. We have always been faster, stronger and smarter; and most importantly, we have better eyes."

"I don't get where you going with this…"

"The point I'm trying to make is that you're doing that same thing. You don't have a type; you're just looking for a carbon-copy of him." Neji spoke coolly, inclining his head towards Sasuke who stood on the other side of the room chatting to a politician. "I understand the parallels you've drawn, but I can't take kindly to the comparison because, frankly, I'm better than he is…"

It was the first time Neji had had the opportunity to see Naruto get angry, clearly offended on the part of his lover. It was the beginning of a glorious transformation, but Neji didn't have time to be intimidated or entranced, he had a point to make.

"I'm better than him. I'm not some spoiled little boy, angst-filled over how privileged I am, and all the responsibilities I have. Oh, and my daddy-issues are so much more interesting than his. I'm better than him, because I have better eyes. I've just met you and I see you for who you are a lot better than he does. I just met you, and I already know that you're worth more than some clandestine tryst in a broom closet."

Naruto paled then, coming to the full realization that someone had seen them. "It's not what you think, it's-"

"I'm not judging you, Naruto. I can only guess at the type of history you two have. Don't worry, no one else saw you; but you should tell Uchiha the next time he transgresses, he shouldn't just look around, but above too. All I'm saying is, you deserve better than this; better than him… and I'm better."

TBC