Log; Complete

[cursed-ninja.livejournal.com]

When; Jan.24th [Dirty Secret Day]
Rating; PG-13
Characters; Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto
Summary; After Sasuke's confession of loving Naruto, the two of them meet up and try to figure out how they both feel about each other.
Log;

After his confession earlier today about Naruto, Sasuke felt a little anxious about the whole situation as he waited for Naruto to get back. Honestly, he didn't even realize he felt that way about him until he actually said it, because he wasn't one to feel like that about anyone, and that only confused him more.

Okay. So cue one very...complicated talk. Seeing his fathers' earlier note had clued him into the fact that there seemed to be a curse going around. That message alone had caused enough trouble. But now...

What exactly was the curse? Was it a case of those affected simply saying random things?

'But Sasuke said it was...' Rubbing his head harshly, Naruto stared ahead at the familiar door, unable to do anything more. On the other side should be the one person he really...didn't know what to say to just then. But he couldn't back out of it, could he? Not now. Sasuke deserved at least that much.

And so, the door was opened as he made his way inside...

Hearing the sound of the door open, he urned to see Naruto coming inside. He wasn't exactly sure what to say to him, so he just waved at Naruto, "Hey..."

Heading inside, Naruto gave a weak smile in response. He turned, taking his time to close the door as he tried to think of something, anything, to say to lighten the mood. "........" And for the first time in ages, Naruto had found himself stuck for words. Turning back, he slipped off his shoes, before heading into the room. "Uh...have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah, I did actually, just a little while ago before you came" Sasuke said, quietly, he tried to say something else, but he had nothing. Stupid curse, he really wished he hadn't said anything, it was only making things worse.

Nodding his lightly, Naruto tried once again to think up something to break the tension. ...it really wasn't happening any time soon. And so... "Look, about what you said before..." A deep breath and he looked seriously back at Sasuke. "...do you mean it?"

Sasuke paused, as he thought about what to say. He could deny it, he could even blame it on the curse whatever it was saying it was making him say stupid things, but that really wouldn't help the situation either, would it? "I...yeah," he said, avoiding looking at Naruto.

"...why?" The fact that Sasuke even cared about him had been enough of a shock. But to find out that the feeling went as far as love...? "...how?" It was clear from his voice that he was simply confused about the situation.

"Honestly...I don't even understand it myself especially since you're probably the only person I do care about that much" Sasuke shook his head, "I mean, after everything that's happened, I guess I just do..."

"But how do you know it's...love?" It was an emotion he'd only ever known in the loosest of terms. The love he had for Iruka, and now his father. The crush he'd had on Sakura. And the love for his friends. But this...was completely different.

"I...I can't explain it,I think I just knew somehow" Sasuke said, his voice just barely above a whisper.

And he himself. What did he know? Everything he knew about 'love' and 'relationships' he'd learnt from seeing other people, or a certain series of books...which didn't seem to fit with what was happening. Which left him with having to try and rely on his own thoughts, which seemed to want to do nothing more than spin in circles. "...I don't know...what I'm meant to say..." An apologetic look. "I mean, I know I care about you. More than anything. And I know it's...different to anything else. But...I don't know what that means..."

"Maybe it's the fact you you do care so much about me, more so than anyone else I've known...that when you left, I guess I just missed that. I missed you, it made me realize how much you mean to mean, really" Sasuke shrugged,"It's...okay though. You can just forget I said anything"

He shook his head, quick to disagree. "No. I can't. I won't just forget about it." His voice grew quieter as he smiled back at Sasuke. "Not now. You're my best friend, no matter what happens." And a slow blush began to appear as he ducked his face away. "...but I think I...No, I know I care for you more than just like that."

Sasuke was just about to say something, when what the last of what Naruto said finally registered in his mind. "...Wait, you do?"

A nod. "...yeah. But I don't know exactly what that means. Not yet. Just that I...I know that I..." Ah great, his brain just didn't seem to want to co-operate. "...you're the only person I feel right around..." And that included his father this time.

"I...You know, that's sort of how I feel about you" Sasuke said, feeling more hopeful about the situation after hearing that.

"But how do you know that it's...love?" Deja-vu. He still didn't understand what the distinction was between the two, and from the looks of it, he probably wouldn't find out. Not yet at least. Though one good thing had come from it. At least he knew he wasn't going to scare Sasuke away because of what he did feel.

"I told you that already..." Sasuke began, "I guess I can attempt to explain it. I mean...I don't get it either, but I do know I care enough about you that I would do anything for you...at least when you started to mean more to me than my revenge on my brother does right now"

He looked up, unable to do anything more than simply...watch...Sasuke for a long time. He really cared for him that much. Coming from Sasuke, he knew that it was a big deal. And to him, it meant a lot. More than he could even explain. The trouble was, caring about others more than himself was something that came naturally to him. He didn't know it that would mean the same coming from him. The trouble was, there was one big difference between his friends and Sasuke. He would do whatever he could for his friends. But for Sasuke, he would to whatever he had to do. "...that much..."

"Yeah, now that I think about it, why else do you think I agreed with majority of things you asked me to do or make me promise, and what I told you?" Sasuke nodded, "You know more about me than I've ever told anyone. And considering that I normally ignore that sort of stuff and don't let people get close to me, with you it's...different"

"...how?" The word was muttered, but more for himself than as an actual question. Even if he wasn't the same one from his own time, it was still Sasuke. And he knew that he would do whatever it took to protect the other, even if that meant hurting himself in the process. He knew that he cared about them both, no matter what that meant. But there was one difference. The Sasuke here, the one he'd been living with for months, was returning those feelings. He was also able to give a name to them. "...I think I...do too." He wouldn't let that chance slip by. Not while it was still there.

All these things he was saying, with today's curse it's like he couldn't shut up about it. He sighed softly, before turning to finally look at Naruto "I...huh? You think you feel like that about me, you mean?"

Nodding his head gently, Naruto gave a haphazard smile. "I...care about you more than anything in the world." It was why he'd been so quick to agree to the terms of Itachi's deal. Sasuke's safety in return for his own 'ignorance' and a tracking seal. "...I don't know if it's love, but I know it's more than anything I've felt for anyone else before. And I...I want to stay with you." Even after the City set them free.

All this talk about love, ...who knew it would even cause him to act like this,especially over Naruto, it was weird. Though for the first time that day, he smiled at him "Yeah...I want the same thing too, but...that's not possible though"

"That's why I..." He shook his head. "We've got a while before we have to think about that, don't we?" As long as possible, if he had any say in the matter.

Sasuke nodded, before going over to sit on the sofa nearby "Yeah,..I guess you're right."

Following on after Sasuke, Naruto dropped into the seat, his legs crossed in front of him as he faced the other. "So, uh..." The blush was back. "...what happens next..." He was pretty sure the others had seen what Sasuke had said already, so it wouldn't be a problem talking to them about it. But other than that...

Sasuke lazily stretched him arms to get comfortable, then turning to face Naruto he merely shrugged "I...don't know, didn't think you'd actually feel the same way about me, so I haven't really thought that far ahead"

"I wanna stay here, with you. But I...I don't know if we'll find a way for dad to come back either. I wanna be there too." He was torn in two, Sasuke having made it pretty clear that he wasn't comfortable around Arashi. It meant that Naruto didn't want to push him into moving any more than he already had. A small smile and Naruto reached out to take ahold of Sasuke's hand. "We can keep living here though."

"I want to stay here with you too" Sasuke said, the sudden feel of Naruto's hand on his, making him blush slightly "Living here...but I thought you wanted to move?"

"I do, but I don't." Yeah, he realised he wasn't making any sense, but that didn't matter to him just then. He'd stay wherever Sasuke decided to stay. Obviously he had preferences, but Sasuke's own ideas invalidated his own.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sasuke asked, "I...because if that's what you want to do, move, I mean...then I will. I didn't say I wouldn't, you know"

"I wanna go, but I...I want you to want to go too. If you don't want to stay with him, I'm not gonna force you to." A nervous laugh. "I just wanna stay with you."

"I want you to stay here too" Sasuke shook his head "But I told you, I didn't say anything about not wanting to go though, did I?"

"But I thought..." He shook his head. "Do you want to move in with dad then?" And a smile, followed by a gentle squeeze on his hand. "Or is it just 'cause I want to?"

"I..." Sasuke let out a sigh, "Okay, so maybe it is because you want to,...but that's only because my reason for not wanting to is kind of selfish on my part"

His interest had been piqued by that. Which was why he was now sitting, head cocked, in confusion. "Selfish? So why don't you want to?"

"Do you really have to ask, after what I just said to you?" Sasuke couldn't help but laugh, as he moved slightly closer to Naruto "I just want it to be the two of us"

"You...? Oh." Well, that explained a lot. "But, yanno, even if we do go to live with dad, it's not like I'm gonna just leave you alone." Even if that meant having to drag the Uchiha along with him and Arashi when they did anything.

"See. I told you. That's why I was going to go because you wanted to" Sasuke shook his head, "Hm. Yeah, I you won't...but it'll still be kind of awkward"

"Well, how about if we try it for a bit? If it doesn't work out, we can come back after." If that was what had to be done, then Naruto was willing to do it.

Sasuke nodded, "Sure, that's fine with me"

That was a relief to him. It meant that he could at least spend some time with the two of them together. Even if it was only for a few days, he was willing to take it. "I'll tell dad about it, when you're ready."

"Whenever" Sasuke shrugged, " I don't really care when we do, so whenever you want to go, I'll go with you too"

"Uhh..." He paused, looking down. He wanted to leave pretty soon, but that would mean having to move. Right now though... His feet slid out, moving to hang off the edge of the sofa as he shifted over to sit right alongside Sasuke. "...I wanna stay here for a bit longer first."

Sasuke just smiled at Naruto, "You're the one who wanted to leave. I'm perfectly fine with stayer here longer if that's what you want"

"For a little while at least, okay?" Staring down at their joined hands, Naruto rested himself against Sasuke's side, content for the first time in ages.

"Sure. I have no objections to that," Sasuke smirked, as Naruto was resting as his side, while Sasuke put one arm around the other "Especially since that means I'll have you all to myself a little while longer"

Tilting his head back enough so he could see Sasuke's face, Naruto simply smiled back at him. The entire situation felt...right to him, and he wouldn't let himself forget it. Of course, it also wouldn't be the last time either. "I guess we finally got a good curse then."

"Yeah...I guess we did" Sasuke said, in agreement, actually happy for the first time in a while.

Turning silent again, Naruto simply relaxed against Sasuke, his hand refusing to let go of the others'. After a few moments though, he shifted, this time moving up to place a gentle kiss on Sasuke's cheek once again. "Thank you..."

As Naruto moved to kiss him on the cheek, Sasuke blushed "Huh?...What for?"

"Everything." A sigh. "Even after all the stuff that happened before, you're...you feel like this about me. And...you've told me so much about you. I'm just glad you even trust me that much."

"You're kidding, right? You're the first person I've felt this strongly about, so of course I trust you, more than anything. I'm the one who should be thanking you, actually." Sasuke shook his head slightly, "Maybe I didn't start out feeling like I do now about you...but after all you did to help me after what my brother did, by staying with me, even putting up with me despite the things I'd say to you, I just couldn't help but feel like that this about you..."

His eyes were on the blank screen, somewhere to look as Sasuke spoke. For some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to look at the other just yet, merely listening silently to his words. Everything he'd done for Sasuke, he'd done because he wanted to. Because there was only one person he was willing to go to that extent for. If things were in reverse, he too knew that he could rely on Sasuke. He didn't even need to ask himself that question. And it was down to a lot more than trust. Was it...? "...Sasuke. I think...I...love you too..." That had to be the right feeling.

"You love me too...? Really?" Sasuke blinked, completely taken aback from hearing Naruto say those words to him.

"I think so. I mean, that's gotta be what I'm feeling, right?" A question he wasn't sure he'd ever get an answer for. But from what he knew, what Sasuke had told him, the name seemed to fit the feeling.

Sasuke just smiled at Naruto, as he spoke. He leaned closer and pressed his lips against Naruto's briefly, for the first time, before pulling away only moments after, "Yeah...I'm glad you love me too Naruto"

His eyes widened at the unfamiliar feel of lips against his own. "I...you..." Shaking his head to try and snap himself out of his stupor, he tried again. "I guess you really are stuck with me now."

Sasuke nodded "Yeah, I know that, and I wouldn't want it any other way"

Smiling back at Sasuke, Naruto settled himself back against his side again. "I'm not goin' anywhere."...now that sounded familiar.

Letting go of Naruto's hand which was still holding onto his, he shifted slightly and then put both his arms around Naruto "Good. Because I don't want you to"

It felt only natural for his own arms to reach round and return the hug. "...I won't." Though how long he could keep that promise, he didn't know. It wasn't something he wanted to think about right then either.

Feeling Naruto hug him back, he relaxed slightly "Thank you..."

"Don't need to thank me either," he murmered offhandedly. Afterall, everything he did always seemed to have repercussions that benefited him in some shape. Sasuke's happiness was one such way.

"Yeah, I do. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I'd actually be happy right now" Sasuke said, quietly.

"I'm not the only person here who wants to see you happy. The others would do whatever they had to too." Though it seemed there was more reason than that as to why he'd been so quick to help. "But...it's okay. I just wanna make sure you stay happy, okay?"

"I guess...but it's mostly just because of you," Sasuke smiled, "Yeah, I know, and I will because you're here"

"I...uh..." The pink tinge returned as Naruto rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder. "You only ever have to tell me, yanno. How I can help with stuff."

"Of course, I know that," Sasuke said "You know I trust you already, so you'll be the first one to know if I do need anything, but right now, just knowing you'll be here and that you feel the same way about me, it's enough"

His arms relaxed a little as he manouvered into a more comfortable position. "s'not gonna change either." Other than growing, as had been the case for a long time it seemed.

Sasuke merely just nodded, remaining silent as he leaned against Naruto to get more comfortable.