Why

{AN} Well I tried to get this chapter out sooner, but... we all know how that is. I hope you like this chapter, because i'm tired of working on it andI actually got a beta for it. So I hope its better than the chapters before. thank you all for reading and my reviewers who keep me writing . next chapter will take a while to be written as i'm celebrating my birthday.{AN}


warnings in first 2 chapters

disclaimer in first chapter

beta: Vampchic

WHY

Chapter 7

Norm pov-

“Sakura, I want you to do some research for me.” Tsunade informed her apprentice.

“And what is it you want me to research, Tsunade-hime?” Sakura asked as she sat in a chair in the Hokage’s office.

“You’re to research on demons and half demons! I want to know how human and demon chakra’s are different along with everything you can find.” she informed.

“Is this about Naruto?” Sakura asked, getting a little more serious now that it most definitely had something to do with someone she considered a brother.

“Yes, it’s on Naruto and Sasuke! I’m afraid that something happened during the merging, and Sasuke was affected by it. The only thing is, we know so little about it that we don’t know if it’s harmful to him or not. There’s not much we can do about it now. We just want to know if this will have any ill effect on him.”

“How is Naruto doing?” She asked, worried since she hadn't had the time to go see either Naruto or Sasuke.

“He seems fine. He's had some changes to his outward appearance, but we have no idea how it has effected him as a whole.” Tsunade informed, trying to stay neutral when it came to Naruto, not wanting to show how much he meant to her. He was like a little brother, the way she felt for him.

“I will do as Hokage asks.” Sakura said with a slight nod of her head.

“Sakura, I’ll be having Naruto come to get checked in a day or so. I wish to have some information by then if it is at all possible. He is worried about what this has done to Sasuke.”

“Hai. I will try. Are there any others who will be working on this?”

“Hinata will be coming in to help with the scans, and I will be asking her to help with the research as well. You’ve requested from other villages about this, have you not?”

"Yes. I have sent out request to other villages and have received many scrolls already. It only takes the time to go through it. Hinata-hime will be much appreciated in researching this Hokage-sama." She said, knowing how important this was.

"Sakura, thank you. This is a very important thing you are doing in researching this for them."

“Hai, I know. And I will begin as soon as I leave here.” With a nod from the Hokage, she left the office to get back to researching for her friends.


.....


Sasuke pov-

We’ve been home for a few days and he hasn’t taken it easy at all. He just jumped right in and started training hard. It’s like he can’t stand still. He doesn’t sleep anymore, even with me there. He’s always up moving around, like he has to be doing something at all times. The only time he’s ever still is when were sleeping He just snuggles up closer to me, like I’m a life line. One he has to breath in and form around.

I don't know what I’d do if he ever decides he doesn't want to share a bed with me. I’ve grown quite used to his weight settled on and around me. Breathing in his sent as I fall asleep each night. Wild flowers and a summer breeze, that's his sent. And I feel that is very much who he is.


....


Norm pov-

Out in the training fields, you can hear the heavy panting and the destruction one blow from Naruto had done.

“Gyaaahhh…..” Sasuke let out before grunting when he hit a near by tree with his side. “Shit Naruto…. When did…. you…. Learn that?” Sasuke panted as he looked up at Naruto. “I haven’t seen you work on that move at all!” He said once his breathing was more under control.

“Last night. Are you okay?” Naruto asked, worried as he hurried over to him.

“Last night! Shit, I’m fine. Just remember I’m not the enemy.” Sasuke huffed as he started to pull himself up off the ground.

“I’m sorry!” Naruto whimpered, crouched next to his friend as he watched him start to get up.

“It’s okay.” Sasuke said, bringing his hand up to the others cheek in a reassuring manor.

“Sit out for a while. Let me get it under control, alright?” Naruto said, worry marking his face as he helped Sasuke stand fully.

“Okay, as long as we spar later!” Sasuke said, trying to lighten the mood he knew the other was starting to fall into.

“Of course.” He says with a large smile breaking his face.


....


-Somewhere else in Konoha-

“Ah, Iruka sensei, how are you today?” Sakura asked as she spotted her old sensei.

“Sakura san, I’m well. And you? How have you been?” the teacher asked, a friendly smile crossing his face.

“Oh good. I was about to see if the boys wanted to go to lunch with me. I haven’t seen them for a week; thought we could catch up.” She said, returning the smile. “How is Kakashi sensei? I heard he got back from a mission this morning?”

“Actually, I was about to meet Kakashi for lunch.” Iruka said, glancing down at his watch. “I should be going. He said to meet him an hour ago so he should just be getting there.” Iruka said with a smirk.

“Ah yes, he never could show up for anything on time.” She said, slightly amused.

“Well, tell them hello for me and that I’ll see them later this week.” Iruka said before starting to walk away.

“Will do, Iruka sensei.” She returned, heading off towards the training grounds she knew she’d find the two males.


....


Back with Sasuke and Naruto -

A few hours go by and Sasuke is still watching Naruto reign in his control as he moved from one Jutsu to another, hardly breaking a sweat as his body moved as if like liquid.

“What’s going on?” Sakura asks, walking up to Sasuke.

“He’s training!” Came the simple, awed reply.

“Training…? What does he look like when you’re sparing?” She said, amusement playing in her eye’s as she watched the smaller male move around the training area.

“Even better.” Sasuke said before realizing. “I mean...” he said, his eye's wide with disbelief of what he just said.

“Don’t worry, I know.” She said with a slight chuckle.

“You know what?” Sasuke asked with a raised eye brow.

“That the two of you have the hot’s for each other." She said with a knowing look. "You know, if I didn’t know it was him, I would have sworn some chick was doing one helluva demolition job topless!” she whistled.

“Heh, he looks better than any chick topless… damn it!” Sasuke cursed under his breath, closing his eye's for a moment.

“He certainly has you wound up, doesn’t he? I’ve never seen you this way.”

“He has no idea what he does to me!” Sasuke sighed.

“So, how long has he been at it? I thought we could go for some lunch!” she said, changing the subject.

“Its lunch already!” ‘Naruto, lunch!’ Sasuke said through they’re link.

Naruto stopped all movement then turned, flashing the most stunning smile that Sasuke had ever seen, holding his breath a moment before his heart starting to race. Naruto quickly jogged over to them as he began to pull his shirt on.

“Where we eattin?” He asked Sasuke with a smile still on his face. “Oh Sakura-chan, how are you today? How’s the research going?” He asked once he noticed the pink haired girl.

“Oh, I’m good. It’s getting there; there hasn’t been much information here on demons, so I’ve sent out requests to other villages.” She said, trying to

reassure him.

“Have I thanked you lately for doing all this for us; for me. I’m suppose to go back in to see baa-chan about the scans in a few days. She said she was waiting on some information of some sort. I hope she gets it. I’d really like to know what’s going on.” He said, looking past both Sasuke and Sakura, as if lost in thought for a moment.

"I’m sorry, Naruto. I’ve been looking. I just... I’ve only found a small bit, and I know there’s got to be more out there. We just have to look, ne. How have you been, Naruto? Is there anything else I could do?" she asked, worry present on her face.

“No, I don’t think so. But thanks." He sighed before putting on a small smile. "So, what’s for lunch?” Naruto asked, hoping to change the subject.

“What, you’re not going to beg for ramen right off?” Sakura asked, shocked.

“No. I’ll have you know I do eat things other than ramen. Ramen just happens to be the cheapest and fastest to make.” He said with an almost sad smile.

“So it’s not your favorite food?” She was now intrigued to find out more of her friend she thought she knew.

“No.” He said, shaking his head and shrugging. “I know, why don’t we go back to Sasuke’s, and I can make us something to eat.” Naruto suggested.

“I didn’t know you could cook!” she exclaimed with a slight tilt of her head.

“He can definitely cook. I swear he’s going to make me fat with the way he cooks. I don’t know how he’s kept so thin.”

“Well, when you spend half your life running from villagers, and the other half training with little food to actually eat, does help in the thin department. But with Kyubbi being part of me, I tend to burn off most of what I eat fast. I can’t seem to keep still for very long. There’s always something I could be doing. I just can’t seem to figure out what that something is yet.” Naruto said with a weak smile and a sigh.

“Shit, Naruto that’s not…”

“It’s all good. I’ll make your favorite, kay? And I was thinking stir fry, or we could have sushi. I started cooking like crazy this morning. So, there’s lots of leftovers.” Naruto said, trying to change the subject.

“No wonder I woke up so hungry!” Sasuke smirked, meeting violet eyes for a moment.

“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep!” Naruto said softly, knowing the lecture he knew by heart was coming, hearing it from both baa-chan and Sasuke all the time.

“Again? Naruto, you need to get more than three hours rest a night, with your training." Sasuke sighed, frustrated. "You’re training extremely hard, and still you’re cooking us three meals a day and doing over half of the household chores! And you know what Tsunade-sama said. If sleeping together isn’t helping, then I don’t know what else we’re to do.”

“Sasuke, it is helping, more than you know. I’m thankful for the little rest I get. I don’t think I would get that much if it weren’t for you. Look, I’m trying, okay? A little nap here and there will help; will that make you happy?” He asked with a hopeful look.

“I suppose for now that’s all I’m gonna get, isn’t it?” Sasuke sighed, running a hand through his ebony hair in frustration. This would be the one argument they had almost daily, that no matter what they did, they couldn’t figure out a way to fix.

“Hey, I’m sorry okay? Why don’t we go home and I’ll fix your favorite, okay? And then I promise I try to take a nap, how does that sound?” Naruto said, slightly pouting because he knew it frustrated Sasuke that he wasn’t getting enough sleep, and knew Sasuke couldn’t resist his pouting.

“Damn it, stop with the pouting! I hate when you do that!”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Naruto said, frowning as he began to turn away.

“Naruto, stop apologizing! We’ll go have lunch, and then we can do whatever; we don’t have to train twenty four-seven.” Sasuke said softly, trying to show that he wasn’t angry at him, even if he was angry that he

wasn’t getting enough sleep.

Turning slightly, Naruto smiled, meeting Sasuke’s eye’s briefly “Alright, I’ll go get lunch started!” Naruto yelled, running ahead of them.

“God, you two are too cute! Just ask him out already. I mean, you already live together, and you both have a thing for the other.” Sakura said, hanging back and talking with Sasuke.

“Sakura, drop it!” Sasuke hissed as he watched Naruto disappear through the door into the house.

“Are you scared to ask him out?” She asked, looking over at him as he looked anywhere but at her. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re afraid.” She said, almost shocked at the idea.

“Hn, I’m not scared of anything!” He said, turning his head, raising his nose, slightly huffing.

“Yes you are, otherwise you would have already asked him out. What happened to Uchiha Sasuke the avenger, who doesn’t let fear stop him from what he wants, and who will one day kill his brother?” She spouted off his old way of thinking with a smirk.

“Nothing has happened to me, just.. Drop It!” He hissed angrily before walking in the door.

By the time they made it to the kitchen, Naruto was halfway through making lunch.

“Oh my, Naruto, when you guys said you could cook, I didn’t think you…”

“Meant it! Of course, this is what happens when you leave me alone in a kitchen for too long...I go a bit over board.” He said sheepishly.

“Yeah, so if you ever want to come over for dinner some time, I’m sure he’d be overjoyed. He loves to cook, and the more people that are here, the less fat I’ll become.” Sasuke said, laughter present in his voice as he spoke.

“Yes, I’ve read every cook book Sasuke has, and practically everyone at the book store.”

“Don’t you need the books to cook it?” Sakura questioned, arching an eyebrow.

“No, I have it all memorized. Not to mention what Iruka taught me. You and the whole gang should come by one night and I’ll cook for us all.” Naruto said happily as he bustled around the kitchen, seeming quite in his ‘own world’ there.

“That would be wonderful.” Sakura said, amazed at how fast he works in the kitchen; how at home he suddenly seemed there. Looking over at Sasuke, she leaned over and whispered. “Sasuke, you have to do it. If you don’t, I’ll do it for you.”

“Sakura, don’t!” Sasuke said quietly, his eye’s widening as she brushed his reply aside.

“Just give me a sec. And I’ll find out if right now is right. You two need the help, and everyone is tired of watching and waiting. We want to see you both happy.” She said in her best sisterly voice.

“Eh? Who all knows about this?” Sasuke said, unsure how people had figured it out when they hadn’t even spoken to each other about it.

“Naruto, do you have a second?” Sakura asked, not bothering to answer Sasuke’s question.

“Sure Sakura, what’s up?” He said, looking up from what he was doing over at the stove.

“In private?” She said, motioning towards the door with her head.

“Um, yeah. ‘Suke, watch the food, will ya!” ‘What’s this about, Sasuke? She has that look in her eyes again?’ Naruto asked as he followed her towards the door.

“Uh, yeah, sure.” He said, frowning as the two left the room. ‘Um… its nothing, just humor her. She seems set in whatever idea she’s got cooking.’ He replied to him


....


Other room…..

“Naruto, how do you feel about Sasuke?”

“What do you mean? You know how I feel!” Naruto said with a tilt of his head.

“Do you love him?” she asked, looking into his eye’s.

“What is love? If love is to always want the other to be happy, to do anything in your power to see them that way. To be by there side and help them however you can, then yes, I would say I love him. But this is coming from a person who has never known love.”

“Do you feel that he loves you?”

“I can only hope that he loves me. I know he has never shown me love, but he does care, that I see everyday. I wish there was more, but I know I can’t give him what he needs and wants. So I’ll be happy being his friend and watching from the side, if that be the case, even if that’s not what I want.”

“Why would you think you can’t give him what he wants or needs?” she asked, frowning at this.

“Well, there are just some things that a man just can’t give another man.” He stated calmly with a sad smile, as if she should already know the answer to that; she was a medic-nin was she not?

“Naruto, for some, they don’t need that! And if you love each other….”

“No, your right.” He butted in. “Some don’t. But he does. He always has. That’s why I don’t... that’s why I think…. I think its time that maybe, I should go back.”

“Go back?” she said, furrowing her brow in alarm.

“Home. To my apartment.”

“But I thought that you were happy here?” She said, her eye’s widening at what he said. “You love him!”

“I do love him. And I am. I’m more than happy. But it’s not my happiness that I’m focused on, it’s his. He’s done it enough for me that I should repay it. I mean, it’s hard to find a wife when you’re sleeping in a bed with another guy.” He said with an innocent, yet not so innocent smile as he thought of all the mornings he had woken in Sasuke’s arms, his sent surrounding them, keeping him in a slight fog.

“Naruto, you dolt! He loves you! You can’t just leave…” she said in disbelief at how this whole conversation had gone.

“I should get back to lunch, make sure that it’s not burnt or nothing. I did leave Sasuke in charge, and while he does know how to cook some, I don’t trust him enough not to burn it just for making him wait for his

food!” He said, walking away from her, a smile playing on his lips even though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Sitting there dumbfounded, she didn’t know what to say. How could that have gone so upside down on her? She didn’t know! All she knew was when Sasuke came in to get her for lunch, she still looked dazed.

“Sakura…” He tried again

“Huh? What?” she said, coming out of her daze.

“I said lunch is ready. What happened?”

“He loves you. But I’m afraid if you don’t do something quick, you’re going to lose your chance at ever having him!”

“What?” His eye’s widen at her words.

“He thinks he can’t give you what you want or need. And he’s going to go back to his apartment so you can find yourself a woman to love, so you can have what you need. Well, he didn’t even say love, but that it was hard for you to find a wife if you’re sleeping in a bed with another man… Sasuke please say you’re going to do something about this!”

“I… I… he loves me!” He said, a little dazed.

“Yes! But he’s not sure how you feel. You need to tell him how you feel, Sasuke!” She said firmly.

“Where are you two? Lunch is getting cold! Okay, so half of it is made cold, but you know what I mean.” Naruto laughed from the door way to the kitchen.

They turned to look at Naruto, not surprised to see a smile on his face as he turned to go back into the kitchen.

>>>

The three sat in silence, eating until Naruto couldn’t take it anymore.

“What is going on with you two? You both look like you had your hearts ripped out and stomped on!” Naruto said to lighten the mood.

“In a way, I have!” Sasuke said, looking up with so much emotion in his eye’s that Naruto gasped, unable to look away. Never had he seen such emotion in the others face.

“Wha… What do you.. mean?” Naruto said, uncertain if he wanted to know, but knowing he had to know.

“Naruto…I think we need to talk!” Sasuke said, putting his chopsticks down. Hearing this, Naruto looked between Sasuke and Sakura, knowing something had happened while he was back in the kitchen.

“Alright, what is it we… ‘need’ to talk about?” Naruto said, biting his lip.

“Um, I’ll talk to you two later! Thanks for lunch, Naruto. It was great.” She said, furrowing her brows as she quickly left the house of her two closest male friends.


...


Looking up a bit worried, Naruto sighed before he spoke. “Um, ‘Suke?”

“Naruto, I know I’m a prick, and I don’t know how to show how I feel very well, but I’m trying. Please tell me that you’re not leaving me! I don’t know what I’d do without you here!” Sasuke questioned pleadingly.

“’Suke, I... Sakura told you what we were talking about, didn’t she?” He said, a bit exasperated at how the day was turning out. ‘’Suke?’ He questioned again when he got no response.

“I already knew before she pulled you away what the topic was going to be! But that’s not what I’m talking about. Please, just give me a straight answer.”

“It’s funny that you would use the word ‘straight’.” Naruto said, slightly amused that he could ruffle the ebony haired male up so much.

“Naruto… I’m being serious here.” Sasuke said, getting frustrated and worried that Naruto would slip away from him before he got a chance to show him how he felt for him.

“I know you are, but if you want the truth... yes, I did tell her I was going to move back to my apartment soon.” Naruto said with a sigh.

“Why? I don’t understand!” Sasuke looked pleadingly at him.

“I know how I feel for you and it hurts me to leave, but you won’t be able to gain what you want in a relationship with me. I’ll only end up more hurt in the end when you leave me.” Naruto said, shocked at all the emotion he was seeing in the other. Never had someone seen so much emotion from him.

“What do you mean I won’t be able to? You are all I want. Do you know how hard it has been for me to hold you in my arms each night, and not tell you how I feel? I wasn’t sure how you would react to that, so I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want it to end, the feel of you there. I just kept my mouth shut, trying to hold in how much you mean to me.”

“Sasuke, you wanted a family! You wanted to have children! How are you going to do that if I stay in your arms?” He pleaded, sadness etched across his face.

“Naruto, I don’t want children if that means I lose you. And in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have feelings for any of the women here, or elsewhere, for that matter. The closest I feel for one is Sakura being my closest female friend. The idea of ever sleeping with one... really kinda turns me off! I don’t see how I could ever have children with one. You on the other hand, I get hard just seeing you fully dressed!” He sighed, knowing it was the truth. He was in love with Naruto, and no matter what anyone said, he would always be.

“Sasuke, I don’t know what to say!” Naruto said, biting his lip as he looked away from the confessing Uchiha. “Why does everything have to be so difficult?”

“Naruto, you are like air to me; with out you I would surely die. You’re the reason I’m here now instead of being a brooding bastard trying to kill my only living relative. I couldn’t love another the way I love you. I want to go to sleep each night with you in my arms. I want to grow old with you” Sasuke said, sighing he looked at his love and continued mentally. ‘Look what you’ve reduced me to, saying these things, professing my love to you; and you won’t even look at me. Am I wrong with how I feel? When I have never felt so happy before in my life than when I’m with you? Are you really going to leave me because you think I want something I don’t need? All I need is you!’ “I love you.” He said out loud, almost desperately, as Naruto looked up to meet his eye’s for the first time.

“’Suke…” The now violet eyed male looked up, shocked at all he had heard in a matter of moments, his eye’s starting to shine with the unshed tears he didn’t even notice had begun to collect; slowly they began to roll down his face unnoticed.

“Naruto, I love you. I think I always have. I’ve just been too stubborn to realize.” Sasuke said, reaching up to brush away a stray tear that escaped.

“I love you too!” Naruto said, looking up into onyx colored eyes.

Bringing his hand up to graze a whiskered cheek again, he looked into the shocked violet eye’s before bringing his lips down in a chaste kiss, showing the other that he meant what he said, poring as much love and passion as he could in the brief moment that they shared; there now second kiss of there lives.

With his cheeks now brightly flushed, Naruto felt dizzy as his eyes closed. When the other began to pull away, he brought his hand up, running it through the raven locks before bringing him back down to crash their lips together in a fierce kiss. A kiss filled with all the passion, lust, and love he felt for the other.

Finally pulling away, Naruto sighed and leaned his head against Sasuke’s chest. Minutes seem to pass before either spoke. Finally breaking the silence, Naruto yawned.

“You’re tired, you should rest!” Sasuke murmured.

“’M’not tired.” Naruto said around another yawn. “And you always say that!”

“Sure your not! Go up to our room and rest. I’ll take

care of the dishes, okay.”

“Oh the dishes! I forgot about them.” Naruto said as he went to move towards the kitchen.

“Where are you going? The bedroom is up stairs, love. Go rest, please? You said you would. We’ll talk more afterwards.” Sasuke said, brushing his lips against the others before walking towards the kitchen.

“Your being awfully persistent today, ‘Suke.” Naruto said, smiling at the care Sasuke went through for him.

“Only because I care. Please just rest.” Sasuke said, pausing briefly when he was only a step away.

“Only if you come and join me when you’re done with the dishes.” Naruto said around yet another yawn, his body suddenly realizing it was okay to rest a little.

“Of course.” Sasuke said, leaning down to kiss Naruto gently before walking towards the kitchen, looking over his shoulder only once to make sure Naruto was, indeed, going towards the stairs.


....


Sasuke pov-

I walked into our room and I find him sleeping peacefully. ‘Finally’ I think as I walk over to the bed.

Stripping off my shirt and pants, I climb under the covers next to him, smiling when I feel him shift to lay his head on my chest. ‘How does he do that? Just know when I’m next to him?’ I think as I run my hand through his soft hair.

‘Because I can sense you even in sleep,’ came the reply from the sleeping beauty on my chest.

‘Are you asleep?’ I say in my head

‘Yes. Well, for the most part.’ He said, sounding hopeful.

‘How can you know it’s me and not someone else?’

‘You’re sent. I can almost always tell where you are in this house, even sometimes when your not.’ “You smell like lavender!”

‘Hmm…’

Opening sleepy violet eye’s, they peered into onyx.

“Go back to sleep love!”

“I will. I just wanted to look into your eyes before I do.” He smiled as his eyes began to droop again. “I love you” He said as sleep took him, never hearing the other reply with ‘I love you too.’

…..

Chapter 7 end

thank you again for reading and please do review.

as always, somewhere

lost in a thought