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DISCLAIMER: I DON'T own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo. This is a work of pure fiction for my amusement and for those who read this.

WARNING: The following contains Shounen-ai and maybe a bit of yaoi of NarutoxSasuke, which means homosexual content. If you are not a fan of that sort of thing, PLEASE don't read this and PLEASE don't yell at me for expressing myself creatively.

I had an argument with my English teacher…. She told me that commas, periods, exclamation points, and question marks always go on the outside of quotation marks and I disagreed with her. Long story short, she showed me some examples in the book and proved me wrong, basically meaning that I have been doing a lot of things wrong for years now…! So it should look like this "end." and not this "end". By the way, that's for when someone isn't speaking. Me angry!

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Better than Ramen Chapter Ten: The Duck-Butt's Anger and the Cat Wannabe's Frustration

Guess What? Still Naruto's Point of View

"Eh…?" I asked dimly. "Sorry, could you repeat that, Sasuke?"

"I said there's no way in hell I'm letting you go to your apartment alone if it involves crossing streets, so I'm coming with you," Sasuke repeated defiantly as he picked up my book bag containing all of my schoolbooks and homework. "Roads got you into this mess and they're not going to do it again."

I laughed lightly, waving good-bye to Nurse Haruno as we stepped out of the doors. "I think you might be taking this a bit far, but that's cool, dattebayo. I've been needing someone to clean up for me."

"What makes you think I'd clean your apartment for you, Usuratonkachi?"

"Because I've seen your room and there's no way you don't clean in there every day if something's out of order." I chuckled happily at the thought of finally having a clean living place. "You're gonna be pretty busy at my place."

"Idiot."

Surprisingly, what Shikamaru had told me about Sasuke being as straight as Edward Cullen didn't affect how I acted around him. If anything, it may have just strengthened our ongoing friendship. Because I didn't want to let on that I knew he liked me, I wanted to act as casually as possible and maintain what we had until that point. I didn't want to break his heart by telling him that there was no way on this green earth that I would ever return his feelings, especially since he was a guy, so I thought it was best if I kept mum about what I had found out. Besides, Jiraiya had given Sasuke a hard enough time the past few days without my help. He was still hell-bent on never forgiving Sasuke for, er…somehow causing me to become injured like that (seriously, how was this Sasuke's fault?!) and openly displayed his distaste for Sasuke whenever he could. I just wished that they would get along…!

A few terrible Twilight puns later, we arrived at the building where my apartment was. It was a really rundown building with cracks in the brick walls and dead plants near the stairs with rusty mailboxes for the seven apartments. I lived on the top floor and was one of two residents. My neighbor was a loud and angry man named Deidara who lived on the bottom floor and loved experimenting with firecrackers. There was a reason rent was so cheap, believe me. However, despite that fact, the other facilities weren't all that bad. Sure, the only faucet I had leaked at an irregular rhythm and I had an old wood stove, but how much could a guy with such a low income ask for, especially since I couldn't work at either of my jobs because of my broken arm?

Sasuke looked tremendously uncomfortable when he stepped inside and saw the couch with a hole in it in front of the piles of crumpled papers and dirty clothes. He looked even more uncomfortable when he stepped on the notice of my overdue rent that had been slid under the door while I was away at the hospital. He nervously picked it up and handed it to me. I took it, embarrassed, and proceeded to get sodas from the fridge. I was glad that the overall condition wasn't as bad as the outside. In fact, this was about half as good as Sasuke's room. There were only three cracks in the walls and other than that, everything about this apartment was great.

"Guess since your mom gave you the boot," I began, awkwardly taking a seat on the couch, "you and I are in the same boat, 'ttebayo."

Sasuke sat down next to me without looking me in the eye. "Looks like, except I can actually afford to live on my own." He didn't said this with malice and I didn't take any offense because…well, it was the truth. "Naruto, how can I help you?"

I took a sip of soda. "Look, just because I let you pay my hospital bill doesn't mean I'll let you pay for everything else in my life."

"Then…" Sasuke's face turned a deep shade of red. "Then, why no--"

"Listen, I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me, Sasuke, but I can find my own way of living without anybody's help."

"But- -"

"Relax. I'll figure something out, dattebayo."

It looked like he was about to protest, but he changed his mind and we just sat there in silence for the next ten minutes. Unable to stand the lack of movement, I decided to get up and grab another soda since I had chugged mine in my nervousness. I stayed in the kitchen for longer than necessary because I found out that the milk, the cheese, and the bread had all gone bad in the time I had been gone. Not too disappointed that I'd have to live on instant ramen for the next month, I threw away the spoiled food and returned to the living room with a have empty can of soda, only to find that Sasuke was dozing on the couch. He was still sitting up, but his arm was propped up on the edge of it with his upturned palm serving as a pillow. His can of soda was positioned on the floor, untouched.

Guess he was tired.

I silently approached Sasuke and was about to sit down again, but something stopped me. As I was passing Sasuke, the moonlight streaming in from the window made his black hair shimmer slightly and turned his pale skin to a lighter color. His lips were pursed in his sleep and he looked so calm, as if we hadn't been on the verge of an argument not fifteen minutes earlier.

I don't know how it happened, but I somehow found myself kneeling in front of Sasuke and moving his bangs out of his eyes, vaguely noting that his eyelashes were fairly long considering he was a guy. My hand lingered by his face until my fingers were brushing his smooth cheek and I suddenly felt lightheaded. I was leaning forward with my lips parted before I knew it and the only thing that stopped me from proceeding was my phone vibrating in my pocket. I fell back away from him in shock, thankfully not waking him, and checked my phone. It was only Itachi asking if I had made it home alright. I sighed with relief and returned my gaze to Sasuke as I sat there stupidly on the floor.

What the hell was I doing, dattebayo? Is it because of that dream when I…started making out with Sasuke?!

I shuddered involuntarily and dashed to my room, closing the door behind me. I replied to Itachi's text message by telling him that Sasuke had fallen asleep at my place and asked if he wanted me to take him home. Itachi told me that that wasn't necessary and that Sasuke could stay at my place if it was all right with me. After what I had just attempted with Sasuke, of course it wasn't all right that he stay the night, but Itachi wouldn't reply to any of my text messages after that and it became official that Sasuke was spending the night. After coming to terms with that and after having a very heated argument with myself, I left my bedroom and found Sasuke still sleeping on the couch. Something told me that the old couch with multiple broken springs wouldn't be as comfortable as my twin-size bed. I picked Sasuke up so I wouldn't wake him and carried him to my bedroom, and it was easier than I thought, considering I had a broken arm. He didn't even make a noise as I put the blanket over him. It was with great difficulty that I tore my gaze away from him and proceeded back to the couch. I spied Sasuke's unfinished can of soda on the ground. I picked it up and cast a backward glance toward my bedroom where I could here his easy breathing. I returned my attention to the can and smirked slightly.

"Indirect kiss," I muttered and took a drink.

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I had the worst sleep in my entire life that night. First of all, the couch was so unbelievably uncomfortable that I kept on waking up every other hour. Second, I couldn't get Sasuke out of my mind for some ungodly reason! Every time I woke up, I would walk over to my bedroom and stand in front of the door debating whether or not I should enter just to catch another glimpse at his cute sleeping face. Whenever I got up, I would immediately think I was being a stalker and return to the couch, only to have my mind wander back to that moment when I nearly kissed Sasuke. Because of this, I ended up staying awake since two in the morning and I decided to kill time by finishing up some schoolwork. Sadly, I was finished in half an hour since it was all math and science homework. I ended up searching the newspaper I had picked up at the hospital for jobs that wouldn't require two hands. I came up empty in my search and I knew I wouldn't be able to search the Internet because I didn't have a laptop. I could have easily accepted Sasuke's money offer, but both my conscience and my pride wouldn't allow it, no matter how desperately I needed the cash.

At half past three in the morning, I was having a mental breakdown. I had started to think that I was actually developing feelings for Sasuke, my best friend and another guy! Shikamaru told me that it was clear as day that Sasuke already liked me, but he could have been lying just to make a joke, right? However, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to be true that Sasuke was gay and had a crush on me and that caused me to worry all the more. It was true that I liked Sasuke to some extent (the limit of my liking him was still being analyzed), but surely not in the way that he wanted! But…if I were wrong about that, what would that mean for us? I didn't want to think about it, but it was all I could think about at the same time. I felt like my mind wouldn't be at rest until I found definite answers to all of my questions, though the question about my own feelings for Sasuke would most likely remain unanswered for quite some time.

I spent the next few hours contemplating the above over and over again until the door to my room opened and Sasuke emerged, appearing well rested and confused. He spied me slouched on the couch in the afternoon and his confusion grew.

"What are you doing up so early, Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

I panicked slightly as I sat up erect and glanced around myself for a good excuse. Thankfully, one was lying to the left of my feet in the form of a newspaper opened to the ads for jobs. I coolly pointed at the newspaper and replied, "Job hunting."

Sasuke's expression changed only slightly to pity before it was replaced with, big surprise, confusion. "Er, when did I…get into your bed?"

Casual, Naruto! Just stay calm and answer him without getting his hopes up, dattebayo! "When I put you there because you fell asleep."

"O-oh…."

Gaah, the poor, gay guy wants to think something else happened!

I stood up and walked to the kitchen, asking him as I went, "You hungry?"

"Yeah, I guess." He followed after me. Why did he follow after me?!

I opened one of the cupboards and pulled out two different types of instant ramen. "Pork miso or beef?"

"You don't have anything else?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Well…nobody's been here to look after the place or the food that wasn't spoiled, so…"

Sasuke gasped audibly at his mistake. "Naruto, I didn't mean to…I mean, of course you wouldn't have a lot--oh, that's not right either…I meant, um, I hope I didn't offend you--ah, that's not to say you're offended easily or something--"

"Sasuke."

"Ah, y-yes?"

"Stop talking," I told him and my smirk was enough to show him that I found his fumbling over words amusing and added as a joke, "If you feel that bad about it, you can go ahead and buy me some groceries, 'ttebayo."

Sasuke's eyes brightened and he smiled hopefully. "Okay, sure! We can go right now if you want, but I have to stop by my new place to pick up some clothes first."

What? "Er, Sasuke--"

However, Sasuke had left the kitchen before I could say I was only kidding and retrieved his cell phone from beside the couch. I quietly reproached him for not listening to me, but followed him nonetheless. As much as my pride wouldn't allow me to accept handouts, I knew I needed food to survive.

After Sasuke changed his clothes at his new apartment (which was more like a five-star flat than anything else!), he allowed me to take us to the super market on my '87 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan* with him sitting behind me. Now, I know what you're thinking. How did I, a teenaged boy with absolutely no cash, get my hands on such a vintage item? Well, my uncle, Pain, was a hardcore grease monkey and he gave me the motorcycle before the death of my parents. Jiraiya held onto it while the bank was repossessing everything and I was able to keep it so I could get around in the big city. And the reason why I didn't live with my uncle instead of by myself is because Pain was arrested a few months ago for assembling illegal firearms. My bike ranked number three on my Favorite Items list, right behind ramen and my family. Sasuke apparently didn't like my motorcycle as much as I did because he kept on quivering every time we sped up and, though I could tell he didn't quite want to, he would sometimes let out a little whimper and hold onto me for dear life. I would have found it funny had I not been reminded of his gayness that was so strong it was practically palpable. Oh, and how did I navigate this motorcycle with one hand? Well, the answer is…very carefully!

The time we spent grocery shopping went by faster than I had anticipated. Sasuke bought all of the essentials and even a chocolate bar for me (maybe to get me to like him?). After dropping all of that off at my apartment, we decided to go out to eat some breakfast/lunch. I refused to call it "brunch" because Sasuke was gay enough without adding a term like that to his unnecessarily extensive vocabulary.

We met up with Chouji, Lee and Sai at Ichiraku and decided to eat together for our lunch. All of them were thrilled to find out that I was finally out of the hospital and they wouldn't stop bombarding me with questions about the accident that caused my injuries. I wasn't much of a help with the explaining, but Sasuke was since he was the only one who could remember it properly because he didn't have a concussion. Then the subject changed when Sai asked, "Naruto, I've always wondered…what are those lines on your face?"

I expressed confusion. "Lines? What lines?"

"Dude, the three lines on your face," Chouji elaborated through a mouthful of ramen.

"I don't know what you're talking about, 'ttebayo."

"Chouji," the owner of the ramen shop shouted, surprising everyone there. "How many times have I told you that it's time to pick up your tab?!"

Chouji slumped in his chair. "Ah, crap…"

"Do not worry, Chouji," Lee told him while standing with him. "I'll help you cover it and so will Sai!"

"I will?" Sai asked, but was dragged away before he could get an answer. I meanwhile, was stifling my laughter while Sasuke looked at me questioningly.

"Did you really not notice those lines on your face, Naruto," Sasuke asked hesitantly.

"No, I noticed a few months ago."

"What are they from?" Sasuke leaned across the table to get a better look at my cheeks. "They look like scars."

I smiled sardonically and touched the markings on my face. "They are. When…I got them when my mom pushed me out the window after we crashed, and…I dunno, they won't go away, dattebayo."

Sasuke's empathy was visible on his face and he frowned deeply. "I-I'm really sorry I asked."

Suddenly, a potentially dangerous thought occurred to me. Sasuke was sympathizing with me…because he liked me or because he actually did feel sorry for me? Or maybe it was a little of both? Or…gaah, I didn't know anymore!

"Naruto?" Of course he would notice that I had spaced out.

"I can't take it anymore," I nearly shouted and then leaned forward to whisper, "Sasuke, I gotta ask you something." He waited for me to continue. "Are-are you gay?"

At first, there was no reaction, but then his face flushed in rage and he jumped up from his seat, yelling at me, "What the hell kind of a question is that?! Of course I'm not!"

I was taken aback from his answer, and not his reaction. "Seriously?! But…you know, you kind of give off all the signs, what with how you always keep your eyes on me and--"

"So that's your question! You think I like you?!"

"Eh…? Don't you?"

It was all of a sudden possible for a human voice to break the sound barrier. "DON'T BE SO FULL OF YOURSELF! BESIDES, EVEN IF I WAS THERE'S NO WAY I'D LIKE A DIMWITTED, SANCTIMONIOUS, AND IMPERTINENT USURATONKACHI LIKE YOU!"

I glared at him from where I sat. "I may know only one of those words, but I'm pretty sure the others were insults!"

"Damn right they were, you…you…you cat wannabe!"

With that last rather perplexing insult, Sasuke dashed out of Ichiraku, leaving me sitting where I was feeling almost as outraged as he.

"Damn," Chouji whistled from across the ramen shop. "What a duck-butt."

Lee sighed. "Haa, the numerous emotions of youth…."

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*I asked my daddy what kind of bike he had when he was young (way back in the day ) and he said this long name. I like it because of the reference to Star Trek!

:D (Big Grin) — Description
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo. This is a work of pure fiction for my amusement and for those who read this.

WARNING: The following contains Shounen-ai and maybe a bit of yaoi of NarutoxSasuke, which means homosexual content. If you are not a fan of that sort of thing, PLEASE don't read this and PLEASE don't yell at me for expressing myself creatively.

I had an argument with my English teacher…. She told me that commas, periods, exclamation points, and question marks always go on the outside of quotation marks and I disagreed with her. Long story short, she showed me some examples in the book and proved me wrong, basically meaning that I have been doing a lot of things wrong for years now…! So it should look like this "end." and not this "end". By the way, that's for when someone isn't speaking. Me angry!

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Better than Ramen Chapter Ten: The Duck-Butt's Anger and the Cat Wannabe's Frustration

Guess What? Still Naruto's Point of View

"Eh…?" I asked dimly. "Sorry, could you repeat that, Sasuke?"

"I said there's no way in hell I'm letting you go to your apartment alone if it involves crossing streets, so I'm coming with you," Sasuke repeated defiantly as he picked up my book bag containing all of my schoolbooks and homework. "Roads got you into this mess and they're not going to do it again."

I laughed lightly, waving good-bye to Nurse Haruno as we stepped out of the doors. "I think you might be taking this a bit far, but that's cool, dattebayo. I've been needing someone to clean up for me."

"What makes you think I'd clean your apartment for you, Usuratonkachi?"

"Because I've seen your room and there's no way you don't clean in there every day if something's out of order." I chuckled happily at the thought of finally having a clean living place. "You're gonna be pretty busy at my place."

"Idiot."

Surprisingly, what Shikamaru had told me about Sasuke being as straight as Edward Cullen didn't affect how I acted around him. If anything, it may have just strengthened our ongoing friendship. Because I didn't want to let on that I knew he liked me, I wanted to act as casually as possible and maintain what we had until that point. I didn't want to break his heart by telling him that there was no way on this green earth that I would ever return his feelings, especially since he was a guy, so I thought it was best if I kept mum about what I had found out. Besides, Jiraiya had given Sasuke a hard enough time the past few days without my help. He was still hell-bent on never forgiving Sasuke for, er…somehow causing me to become injured like that (seriously, how was this Sasuke's fault?!) and openly displayed his distaste for Sasuke whenever he could. I just wished that they would get along…!

A few terrible Twilight puns later, we arrived at the building where my apartment was. It was a really rundown building with cracks in the brick walls and dead plants near the stairs with rusty mailboxes for the seven apartments. I lived on the top floor and was one of two residents. My neighbor was a loud and angry man named Deidara who lived on the bottom floor and loved experimenting with firecrackers. There was a reason rent was so cheap, believe me. However, despite that fact, the other facilities weren't all that bad. Sure, the only faucet I had leaked at an irregular rhythm and I had an old wood stove, but how much could a guy with such a low income ask for, especially since I couldn't work at either of my jobs because of my broken arm?

Sasuke looked tremendously uncomfortable when he stepped inside and saw the couch with a hole in it in front of the piles of crumpled papers and dirty clothes. He looked even more uncomfortable when he stepped on the notice of my overdue rent that had been slid under the door while I was away at the hospital. He nervously picked it up and handed it to me. I took it, embarrassed, and proceeded to get sodas from the fridge. I was glad that the overall condition wasn't as bad as the outside. In fact, this was about half as good as Sasuke's room. There were only three cracks in the walls and other than that, everything about this apartment was great.

"Guess since your mom gave you the boot," I began, awkwardly taking a seat on the couch, "you and I are in the same boat, 'ttebayo."

Sasuke sat down next to me without looking me in the eye. "Looks like, except I can actually afford to live on my own." He didn't said this with malice and I didn't take any offense because…well, it was the truth. "Naruto, how can I help you?"

I took a sip of soda. "Look, just because I let you pay my hospital bill doesn't mean I'll let you pay for everything else in my life."

"Then…" Sasuke's face turned a deep shade of red. "Then, why no--"

"Listen, I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me, Sasuke, but I can find my own way of living without anybody's help."

"But- -"

"Relax. I'll figure something out, dattebayo."

It looked like he was about to protest, but he changed his mind and we just sat there in silence for the next ten minutes. Unable to stand the lack of movement, I decided to get up and grab another soda since I had chugged mine in my nervousness. I stayed in the kitchen for longer than necessary because I found out that the milk, the cheese, and the bread had all gone bad in the time I had been gone. Not too disappointed that I'd have to live on instant ramen for the next month, I threw away the spoiled food and returned to the living room with a have empty can of soda, only to find that Sasuke was dozing on the couch. He was still sitting up, but his arm was propped up on the edge of it with his upturned palm serving as a pillow. His can of soda was positioned on the floor, untouched.

Guess he was tired.

I silently approached Sasuke and was about to sit down again, but something stopped me. As I was passing Sasuke, the moonlight streaming in from the window made his black hair shimmer slightly and turned his pale skin to a lighter color. His lips were pursed in his sleep and he looked so calm, as if we hadn't been on the verge of an argument not fifteen minutes earlier.

I don't know how it happened, but I somehow found myself kneeling in front of Sasuke and moving his bangs out of his eyes, vaguely noting that his eyelashes were fairly long considering he was a guy. My hand lingered by his face until my fingers were brushing his smooth cheek and I suddenly felt lightheaded. I was leaning forward with my lips parted before I knew it and the only thing that stopped me from proceeding was my phone vibrating in my pocket. I fell back away from him in shock, thankfully not waking him, and checked my phone. It was only Itachi asking if I had made it home alright. I sighed with relief and returned my gaze to Sasuke as I sat there stupidly on the floor.

What the hell was I doing, dattebayo? Is it because of that dream when I…started making out with Sasuke?!

I shuddered involuntarily and dashed to my room, closing the door behind me. I replied to Itachi's text message by telling him that Sasuke had fallen asleep at my place and asked if he wanted me to take him home. Itachi told me that that wasn't necessary and that Sasuke could stay at my place if it was all right with me. After what I had just attempted with Sasuke, of course it wasn't all right that he stay the night, but Itachi wouldn't reply to any of my text messages after that and it became official that Sasuke was spending the night. After coming to terms with that and after having a very heated argument with myself, I left my bedroom and found Sasuke still sleeping on the couch. Something told me that the old couch with multiple broken springs wouldn't be as comfortable as my twin-size bed. I picked Sasuke up so I wouldn't wake him and carried him to my bedroom, and it was easier than I thought, considering I had a broken arm. He didn't even make a noise as I put the blanket over him. It was with great difficulty that I tore my gaze away from him and proceeded back to the couch. I spied Sasuke's unfinished can of soda on the ground. I picked it up and cast a backward glance toward my bedroom where I could here his easy breathing. I returned my attention to the can and smirked slightly.

"Indirect kiss," I muttered and took a drink.

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I had the worst sleep in my entire life that night. First of all, the couch was so unbelievably uncomfortable that I kept on waking up every other hour. Second, I couldn't get Sasuke out of my mind for some ungodly reason! Every time I woke up, I would walk over to my bedroom and stand in front of the door debating whether or not I should enter just to catch another glimpse at his cute sleeping face. Whenever I got up, I would immediately think I was being a stalker and return to the couch, only to have my mind wander back to that moment when I nearly kissed Sasuke. Because of this, I ended up staying awake since two in the morning and I decided to kill time by finishing up some schoolwork. Sadly, I was finished in half an hour since it was all math and science homework. I ended up searching the newspaper I had picked up at the hospital for jobs that wouldn't require two hands. I came up empty in my search and I knew I wouldn't be able to search the Internet because I didn't have a laptop. I could have easily accepted Sasuke's money offer, but both my conscience and my pride wouldn't allow it, no matter how desperately I needed the cash.

At half past three in the morning, I was having a mental breakdown. I had started to think that I was actually developing feelings for Sasuke, my best friend and another guy! Shikamaru told me that it was clear as day that Sasuke already liked me, but he could have been lying just to make a joke, right? However, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to be true that Sasuke was gay and had a crush on me and that caused me to worry all the more. It was true that I liked Sasuke to some extent (the limit of my liking him was still being analyzed), but surely not in the way that he wanted! But…if I were wrong about that, what would that mean for us? I didn't want to think about it, but it was all I could think about at the same time. I felt like my mind wouldn't be at rest until I found definite answers to all of my questions, though the question about my own feelings for Sasuke would most likely remain unanswered for quite some time.

I spent the next few hours contemplating the above over and over again until the door to my room opened and Sasuke emerged, appearing well rested and confused. He spied me slouched on the couch in the afternoon and his confusion grew.

"What are you doing up so early, Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

I panicked slightly as I sat up erect and glanced around myself for a good excuse. Thankfully, one was lying to the left of my feet in the form of a newspaper opened to the ads for jobs. I coolly pointed at the newspaper and replied, "Job hunting."

Sasuke's expression changed only slightly to pity before it was replaced with, big surprise, confusion. "Er, when did I…get into your bed?"

Casual, Naruto! Just stay calm and answer him without getting his hopes up, dattebayo! "When I put you there because you fell asleep."

"O-oh…."

Gaah, the poor, gay guy wants to think something else happened!

I stood up and walked to the kitchen, asking him as I went, "You hungry?"

"Yeah, I guess." He followed after me. Why did he follow after me?!

I opened one of the cupboards and pulled out two different types of instant ramen. "Pork miso or beef?"

"You don't have anything else?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Well…nobody's been here to look after the place or the food that wasn't spoiled, so…"

Sasuke gasped audibly at his mistake. "Naruto, I didn't mean to…I mean, of course you wouldn't have a lot--oh, that's not right either…I meant, um, I hope I didn't offend you--ah, that's not to say you're offended easily or something--"

"Sasuke."

"Ah, y-yes?"

"Stop talking," I told him and my smirk was enough to show him that I found his fumbling over words amusing and added as a joke, "If you feel that bad about it, you can go ahead and buy me some groceries, 'ttebayo."

Sasuke's eyes brightened and he smiled hopefully. "Okay, sure! We can go right now if you want, but I have to stop by my new place to pick up some clothes first."

What? "Er, Sasuke--"

However, Sasuke had left the kitchen before I could say I was only kidding and retrieved his cell phone from beside the couch. I quietly reproached him for not listening to me, but followed him nonetheless. As much as my pride wouldn't allow me to accept handouts, I knew I needed food to survive.

After Sasuke changed his clothes at his new apartment (which was more like a five-star flat than anything else!), he allowed me to take us to the super market on my '87 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan* with him sitting behind me. Now, I know what you're thinking. How did I, a teenaged boy with absolutely no cash, get my hands on such a vintage item? Well, my uncle, Pain, was a hardcore grease monkey and he gave me the motorcycle before the death of my parents. Jiraiya held onto it while the bank was repossessing everything and I was able to keep it so I could get around in the big city. And the reason why I didn't live with my uncle instead of by myself is because Pain was arrested a few months ago for assembling illegal firearms. My bike ranked number three on my Favorite Items list, right behind ramen and my family. Sasuke apparently didn't like my motorcycle as much as I did because he kept on quivering every time we sped up and, though I could tell he didn't quite want to, he would sometimes let out a little whimper and hold onto me for dear life. I would have found it funny had I not been reminded of his gayness that was so strong it was practically palpable. Oh, and how did I navigate this motorcycle with one hand? Well, the answer is…very carefully!

The time we spent grocery shopping went by faster than I had anticipated. Sasuke bought all of the essentials and even a chocolate bar for me (maybe to get me to like him?). After dropping all of that off at my apartment, we decided to go out to eat some breakfast/lunch. I refused to call it "brunch" because Sasuke was gay enough without adding a term like that to his unnecessarily extensive vocabulary.

We met up with Chouji, Lee and Sai at Ichiraku and decided to eat together for our lunch. All of them were thrilled to find out that I was finally out of the hospital and they wouldn't stop bombarding me with questions about the accident that caused my injuries. I wasn't much of a help with the explaining, but Sasuke was since he was the only one who could remember it properly because he didn't have a concussion. Then the subject changed when Sai asked, "Naruto, I've always wondered…what are those lines on your face?"

I expressed confusion. "Lines? What lines?"

"Dude, the three lines on your face," Chouji elaborated through a mouthful of ramen.

"I don't know what you're talking about, 'ttebayo."

"Chouji," the owner of the ramen shop shouted, surprising everyone there. "How many times have I told you that it's time to pick up your tab?!"

Chouji slumped in his chair. "Ah, crap…"

"Do not worry, Chouji," Lee told him while standing with him. "I'll help you cover it and so will Sai!"

"I will?" Sai asked, but was dragged away before he could get an answer. I meanwhile, was stifling my laughter while Sasuke looked at me questioningly.

"Did you really not notice those lines on your face, Naruto," Sasuke asked hesitantly.

"No, I noticed a few months ago."

"What are they from?" Sasuke leaned across the table to get a better look at my cheeks. "They look like scars."

I smiled sardonically and touched the markings on my face. "They are. When…I got them when my mom pushed me out the window after we crashed, and…I dunno, they won't go away, dattebayo."

Sasuke's empathy was visible on his face and he frowned deeply. "I-I'm really sorry I asked."

Suddenly, a potentially dangerous thought occurred to me. Sasuke was sympathizing with me…because he liked me or because he actually did feel sorry for me? Or maybe it was a little of both? Or…gaah, I didn't know anymore!

"Naruto?" Of course he would notice that I had spaced out.

"I can't take it anymore," I nearly shouted and then leaned forward to whisper, "Sasuke, I gotta ask you something." He waited for me to continue. "Are-are you gay?"

At first, there was no reaction, but then his face flushed in rage and he jumped up from his seat, yelling at me, "What the hell kind of a question is that?! Of course I'm not!"

I was taken aback from his answer, and not his reaction. "Seriously?! But…you know, you kind of give off all the signs, what with how you always keep your eyes on me and--"

"So that's your question! You think I like you?!"

"Eh…? Don't you?"

It was all of a sudden possible for a human voice to break the sound barrier. "DON'T BE SO FULL OF YOURSELF! BESIDES, EVEN IF I WAS THERE'S NO WAY I'D LIKE A DIMWITTED, SANCTIMONIOUS, AND IMPERTINENT USURATONKACHI LIKE YOU!"

I glared at him from where I sat. "I may know only one of those words, but I'm pretty sure the others were insults!"

"Damn right they were, you…you…you cat wannabe!"

With that last rather perplexing insult, Sasuke dashed out of Ichiraku, leaving me sitting where I was feeling almost as outraged as he.

"Damn," Chouji whistled from across the ramen shop. "What a duck-butt."

Lee sighed. "Haa, the numerous emotions of youth…."

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*I asked my daddy what kind of bike he had when he was young (way back in the day ) and he said this long name. I like it because of the reference to Star Trek!