Log: Complete

[relimited.livejournal.com]

When; 27th March
Rating; PG
Characters; Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke
Summary; With the upcoming fight against Akatsuki, the boys have a little discussion about what's about to happen. Fluff ahoy~
Log;
It was already the afternoon, the day before the fight with Akatsuki. Even now Sasuke still couldn't believe he'd actually agreed to go with Naruto and fight them too, but somehow he did. After all, he didn't want Naruto to get hurt again, but most of all he didn't just want to sit around in the apartment and worry about him while he did go off. He let out a sigh stretched his arms before heading off to look for the other.

As had been growing more common as of late, Naruto had spent a good portion of the day outside. Days filled with just training were something he'd not done since arriving in the city. But today wasn't a day he could afford to waste all of his energy on. Not with the upcoming battle the next day. Akatsuki, the people behind almost everything that'd happened those past few years. Now they were ready to fight the people that'd started it all.

Stepping out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam followed him as he began the task of drying his hair. Towel hanging over his head, Naruto padded across the hallway and toward the main room, only to pause midway. Something more important to do first. Boil the kettle. He needed his lunch first!

It wasn't long before he saw the Naruto walking down the hallway, he smiled slightly and called out to him "Hey Naruto, where're you going?"

Glancing back toward Sasuke, it didn't take long before Naruto found himself smiling. It was the effect that the other always seemed to have on him. "Lunch." The one simple word, and he was making his way into the kitchen.

Sasuke shook his head and soon followed after Naruto "Hn. I should have guessed"

It was only a matter of moments before the kettle was filled and put on to heat. Pulling out a couple of packs of ramen, he finally turned round to face Sasuke again. "Hey! It's not like I can help it." A grin and he motioned to the packets. "Did you want some too?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know that" Sasuke nodded, smiling back at the other "And sure. I'll have some too"

The pile grew at another was added to it, one of the various gifts that remained from those few weeks ago. Reaching up to the towel that still sat draped over his head, Naruto tugged it backward, grinning. "Where've you been?"

"Huh? Shouldn't you know that already?" Sasuke said, confused.

Okay, so maybe instead he should've asked, "how'd it go then?" Though with less than a day to go, he doubted the answer would be anything but good.

Sasuke shook his head, not sure what Naruto was talking about "You're not making any sense you know, what do you mean?"

"Huh?" And now Naruto seemed to be equally confused. "What did you do this morning then?" Perhaps it would've been best to have just asked him first.

"I just went for a walk...what'd you think I did?" Sasuke turned to look at Naruto.

"You...oh." And now it all made sense. "I thought you'd gone off training too. I didn't know you'd..." He shrugged his shoulders a little, his smile returning. "Still, how was it?"

"Yeah...well I was going to do that actually, but I decided to do train later" Sasuke shrugged, "It was alright though"

Nodding his head, Naruto turned his attention back to the boiling kettle, moving away from facing Sasuke just then. Making lunch seemed to be more of a cover just then as a frown escaped him. "...are you ready?"

Naruto's question, even he wasn't sure himself. Sasuke paused before answering the other "I'm not sure...I guess I am, how about you?"

Was he ready? He was just as unsure as Sasuke. Given the short amount of time, he knew he was as prepared as he could get. But was that going to be enough. Hand hovering over the handle of the kettle, Naruto paused. "You know...if things get..." Sighing, he finally began pouring the water into each packet. ".....you can't get hurt..."

Sasuke let out a sigh "I...not just me...you can't get hurt either"

Leaving the food to cook, Naruto remained turned away from Sasuke, a small nod being his only response for a few moments. "...nothing's going to happen to me." Not with the way his father had already reacted about him wanting to join the fight. But that was him, and not Sasuke. Which was why he was so set on making sure the other would keep out of danger. Or as much as you could when you were fighting. "...I just...don't want anything to happen to you."

"Hn. That's exactly what you said before, and something did happen," Sasuke looked down, pausing before looking back up at Naruto, "Besides, as much as you don't want anything to happen to me, I don't want anything to happen to you either, you know..."

Shaking his head, Naruto finally turned round to face Sasuke, his eyes on the floor. "I already promised I'd leave if things got bad. But...you..." His voice dropped quieter, as though ashamed about what he was about to say. "...if something happens, and you're...if they..." Why was it so hard to just say? "I wont be able to leave if you're in danger."

"Yeah, I know that...but still, it's because I'm worried about you that I'm even coming along with you" Sasuke nodded, as he reached to take hold of Naruto's hand "I...I'll be fine though, I won't let anything happen, not like before."

His gaze shifted, moving to their joined hands. "I just want this over with." As much as he knew he wanted to face the members of Akatsuki, the sooner it was over with, the better. "...I want things back how they were."

Sasuke nodded, ""Yeah, I know...this will all be over with soon though"

"...I hope so." Gently tugging on Sasuke's hand, Naruto stepped forward, his free arm wrapping itself around the others waist. "Just make sure...make sure you don't get hurt. And that..." Shaking his head, he smiled weakly. "Nothing can happen to you. Not again."

"It will be, and I won't let anything happen to me, I already told you that" Sasuke said, as he leaned against Naruto slightly as he felt the others arm go around his waist.

"Sometimes..." His head rested against Sasuke's shoulder, voice growing quiet as he spoke. "...sometimes you don't get a choice." As had been proved for both of them already.

Now that was something he couldn't disagree with. Sasuke just sighed holding Naruto close as he put an arm around him soon after, just remaining silent, not sure what to really say to that.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto glance across to Sasuke's face. As long as he could remain by the two people he cared most about, then everything would be alright. He had to believe that. No matter what happened, as long as they were both okay, things would be okay.

Sasuke pulled away slightly, smiling at Naruto "Let's not worry about that, at least not right now,..."

He nodded slightly, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to stop worrying. Not about Sasuke. Not about his father. It wouldn't ever change. "...let's just have lunch."

"Yeah, sure..." Sasuke nodded. Talking about it only made him worry about Naruto even more, so having lunch then was a good idea.

He remained as he was for a few extra moments, before finally pulling away. Try to ignore it for now. It was the best plan. "Can you get the drinks and I'll bring the food through?"

"Sure, anything in particular you want to drink?" Sasuke said, as he turned to face Naruto just before he went to get them.

"I don't mind," he answered, an almost forced grin in place. Turning to the food, he began stirring each pot, making sure that they were all cooked. One of the very few things he seemed to be able to cook.

Sasuke nodded, and got some glasses out of a cupboard nearby and then headed towards the fridge to find something for the two of them to drink.

Glancing briefly over at Sasuke, Naruto picked up the pots. Making his way out toward the main room, Naruto looked between the dining table and the sofa. A quick nod of his head, and he moved to the sofa, placing the two pots down on the table, before taking a seat at one end.

With the drinks in his hand, Sasuke soon followed after Naruto towards the main room, placing the drinks on the table in front of them before sitting down beside the other.

Turning in his seat, Naruto pulled one foot up onto the sofa, an arm reaching out toward Sasuke in offer to pull him over toward him. As much as he may've been planning to eat, there were more important things he wanted to make sure of first. But first things first, he wanted to just stay close to him for now. "...come here?"

Sasuke just smirked both at Naruto's word and at the others arm reaching out to pull him closer. That was one thing he didn't mind doing, so in response he moved closer towards the other.

Relieved. Pulling Sasuke to his front, Naruto wrapped his arms round his waist, a sigh of contentment escaping him. "You're not going anywhere else today, are you?"

Sasuke shook his head, "No, I'm not going anywhere"

"Good," he muttered, head turning to nuzzle into Sasuke's neck. "I just wanna stay here with you." Not to mention the fact they needed to rest before the upcoming fight.

Sasuke smiled slightly as he momentarily glanced towards Naruto, "Hm. Yeah, so do I..."

Turning silent again, Naruto simply sat as he was, his arms holding onto Sasuke in an almost protective manner. As much as he'd like to try and ignore everything that had and was going to happen, he knew there was still more they needed to talk about. But right then, he only wanted to enjoy the moment while it lasted.

With Naruto's arms around him, Sasuke felt like he could stay like this for a while, to just forget about everything that was going to happen the very next day at least for now. He looked towards the table in front of them, surprised that Naruto hadn't really eaten anything just since it was his suggestion "Didn't you say you wanted to eat?"

Grinning slightly, Naruto shook his head. "Yeah, but I don't wanna move." Not while he was that comfortable. It was the same feeling he seemed to get whenever he was around Sasuke, but it didn't mean he was going to break it off for something as trivial as eating. ...even if he knew he was hungry. And even if the scent of cooked ramen was driving him mad.

"Really, now?" Sasuke said, still surprised that Naruto wasn't going to eat the ramen he made just because of that "You sure about that?"

His gaze shifted to the steaming pots for a moment, before he was turning back to Sasuke. "It can wait." His stomach disagreed as a low growl escaped it. "Still want to stay like this."

"You made ramen, and you actually saying it can wait even though you're hungry?" Sasuke shook his head slightly, of all the things he would have expected Naruto to say, he didn't expect that. "Well...if you want to just stay like this, that's fine with me"

"...yeah. At least, I think so." He'd undoubtedly end up regretting that choice later, when he ended up either eating cold ramen, or throwing it out, but that didn't matter to him right then. "Have you eaten though?"

Sasuke was just about to say something when Naruto's question registered in his mind. "I..uh, no I haven't actually"

He frowned a little, before reluctantly letting go of his hold on Sasuke. Shifting onto his feet, albeit an awkward position, he reached toward the table, grabbing one of the cups of ramen from it. Sliding back, he held it in front of Sasuke, his expression serious, even as his free arm returned to being wrapped around him again. "Eat now then."

Just as soon as quickly as he said that, the next thing he knows is that Naruto had moved to get some ramen for him to eat. Sasuke frowned, "Oh sure, just because I say I haven't eaten, you get up and some for me...really, it's okay, I'm fine, you're the one who should eat it since you're hungry"

He shook his head, holding the cup up more insistently. "I want you to eat instead." Even if Sasuke was old enough to look after himself, Naruto wasn't going to stop worrying. And hearing that he hadn't eaten simply meant it was down to him to make sure he did. Or at least, that was what he believed.

"Hn. If you really want me to eat, I will..." Sasuke sighed, "Just as long as you do you, since you're more hungry than I am right now..."

"...okay." Pushing himself up once again, his hand slipped free, reaching for the second pot. Sitting back down, he left a gap, a frown appearing in response to its mere existence. Well, the sooner he ate his, the sooner he could move back. Holding one of the cups out to Sasuke again, he grinned.

From Naruto's initial response to eating, it still seemed weird to him, but he ignored it and took hold of the cup of ramen Naruto was holding out to him and started to eat.

Content that Sasuke would keep to his word, Naruto turned his attention to his own cup, the noodles soon disappearing as he practically inhaled the meal. Well, it was ramen, afterall. Certain things wouldn't ever change.

Several moments later, Sasuke soon finished the meal as well and placed the cup on the table, before he stretched his arms and leaned back against the sofa.

Cup finished, it was soon put back on the table. Watching Sasuke finish up, he waited for him to get comfortable, before repositioning himself alongside. "Was that okay?"

Sasuke nodded "Yeah, it was just fine"

His hand moved to Sasuke's, fingers entwining with his as he pulled his hand over into his lap. "Sasuke..." He bit his lip, staring down at Sasuke's hand. "...how are you? Really. I mean...after everything...you know." Shaking his head slightly, he rested against Sasuke's side, still not looking up. He'd seen a version of events, heard more from things that Sasuke had told him about earlier meetings. But most of the things, Sasuke seemed to be taking...well. "...you can tell me anything, you know."

Feeling Naruto's hand take hold of his as he talked, Sasuke just listened to the other. He paused at first, looking down, not really sure what to say. "Of course I know I can tell you anything. I'm fine though, Naruto...especially after everything that's happened, I'm just trying not to let it get the better of me. I don't know what else you want me to say..."

Nodding his head, Naruto still didn't look up. He wasn't going to tell Sasuke what to say. Especially not if he was so set on trying to put it behind him. "I just wanted to make sure. That's all." A weak smile. "As long as you're okay, that's all that matters."

"Well I am okay, so you don't need to worry about that, Naruto" Sasuke nodded, smiling back at the other "Besides, if you really do want me to tell you, I can...I'm just not sure how to say it or how much you'd really want to hear..."

"You already know I'm gonna worry about you, no matter what you say." Sighing to himself, Naruto tried to weigh up the options. If Sasuke was saying he was okay, then Naruto wasn't going to push it. But if he was going to try and explain everything... "...does that mean there's something you think you should say?"

Sasuke shook his head "Not exactly...I'm just saying that if there's something you want to know specifically then I'll try and tell you as best as I can from what I remember"

Finally looking back over to Sasuke, Naruto frowned. There wasn't anything about what'd happened that he wanted to hear about again. It'd been bad enough the first time round. "I only want to know what you want to tell me. Nothing else."

"You're really not making this any easier, especially since I don't know what to really say...that's why I was asking you" Sasuke sighed, "I...uh. Itachi...he told me he showed you...did he?"

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to. That's...all I mean." At the offered question, his head ducked back down, fingers tightening a little around Sasuke's hand. "...yeah." He'd seen. Or at least, he'd seen Itachi's version of events. He knew by now not to take anything he said or showed at face value. But it didn't make matters any easier.

"It's not that I don't want to...I just don't want to say anything you don't want to hear, that's all" Sasuke felt Naruto's hand tighten it's grip on his hand from the question, he pulled the other closer to him "I don't know what he showed you...but after it all happened I couldn't exactly remember, so I thought what he was saying was true, but I now know it wasn't, it...was because he made me. Remember how I looked kind of beaten up? That was from trying to get him to stop, but because of that, he was saying if I resisted he'd come after you as well...and you should know, I couldn't let him do that..."

He shook his head slightly, before relaxing against Sasuke's side. "I want to hear whatever you want to talk about. Even if it's...stuff I'm not gonna like." He'd already promised he wouldn't go after Itachi again. Not alone at least. His eyes widened a little as Sasuke continued, his gaze slowly shifting back to him once again. "You mean..." He swallowed, their hands being drawn closer as he shifted enough to let an arm slide round Sasuke's waist. "I knew that. I mean, why you were so hurt." Sasuke wouldn't be the kind to just sit back and let it all happened. But the rest... "...Sasuke."

"Yeah...I just wish I'd remembered that sooner," Sasuke sighed, tightening his arms around Naruto.

"Sasuke...what..." A sigh. It wasn't really a question he wanted to know the answer to. But at the same time, he needed to know. "...what did he say to you?"

"What did he say to me about what?" Sasuke said, not really sure what the other was asking him. "You mean about you?"

"You said that you thought what he was saying was true." Another nervous shift and he looked away. "What did he say?"

"Oh...he was saying I did all that because I wanted him in that way" Sasuke frowned "It's not that I thought what he was saying was actually true..." Sasuke paused, "It was more like what he said just made me confused as well as make me doubt myself since I didn't fully remember what happened at that time..."

Nodding his head slightly, Naruto turned quiet for a few minutes, instead letting his relief take over. He'd thought...well, he didn't know what he'd thought. But at least it hadn't been worse. "But you're okay now, right?" Considering everything.

"Of course I am, all because of you, you know..." Sasuke nodded. Seeing that Naruto was still looking away from him, he moved one free arm and reached over to turn Naruto's face towards him before leaning closer to press his lips against the others.

"'cause..." His words were cut off at the feel of Sasuke's hand on his face. Easily guided, the kiss was a welcome surprise. Grinning slightly, it didn't take long before he was returning the kiss, his hold tightening around Sasuke carefully.

Despite what Naruto was probably going to say, from everything that had happened, Naruto pretty much the only the reason he was okay and that wasn't going to change. He smiled slightly as Naruto returned the kiss and tightened his hold around him, and as much as he knew he should pull away right then, he just continued kissing the other instead.

The need for air soon overtook him, causing the blond to have to pull away a little. Resting his forehead against Sasuke's, he was silent for a moment, save for the breaths he was forcing into him. Considering that, just a few moments ago they'd been talking about...a bad memory, things had quickly taken a turn for the better.

As Naruto pulled away slightly, he took the opportunity to quickly catch his breath as well, before smiling as the other as the other rested his forehead against his.

"I really do love you, yanno," he murmured, grinning happily. Even after everything that'd happened over their time in the City, the feeling never seemed to weaken. Not once. Even time spent away, simply reminded him of the fact. "s'never going to change, no matter what happens."

"And I love you, just as much" Sasuke said quietly, "Hm, yeah. I know...my feelings for you won't change either"