Linked

By The Ambitious Blank

Disclaimer- Naruto isn't mine.

---Thursday- And So It Ends…

"Mmnh..."

Sasuke awoke to the soft noises that Naruto was making, blinking tiredly, the world swirling and dimming as they adjusted to the morning light streaming in through Naruto's window. He blinked a few more times, trying to clear his vision. Naruto grumbled something, and Sasuke turned his head to look at the sleeping blonde.

"Sasuke, you bastard..." Naruto groaned, rolling over so his face was toward Sasuke. For a moment, the muscles in his face relaxed, and he shifted a little, moving closer to Sasuke's warm body. Sasuke felt his face warm slightly at how close Naruto's face was getting, and he scooted back. Naruto grumbled again.

"Won't... let you win..."

Sasuke scowled, reaching over to wake Naruto up, not particularly wanting to listen to all this for the rest of the morning until the Uzumaki finally awoke. He sighed, grasping Naruto's shoulder. Naruto suddenly smacked his hand away violently, and formed a seal with his hands. Sasuke flinched.

"I'll defeat you... Oiroke no Jutsu!"

"Shi--!!" Sasuke didn't have time to leap back, as suddenly a rather large-chested, fully naked girl appeared in Naruto's place. The smoke cleared, and Sasuke deadpanned. Naruto had fallen back asleep again, but remained in the form of the girl. He sighed, reaching over to shake him... her... whatever... again. But this time, he had a completely different reaction. Naruto (or would it be Naruko?) grabbed his wrist in a much firmer grip than she seemed she would have, and dragged him forward, holding him tightly to her. Sasuke's face was pressed into her chest, which was a rather uncomfortable position for him. She muttered something incoherent and continued to snore and drool, her grip on the Uchiha tight and unrelenting. Sasuke squirmed and struggled, trying to get away, but the more she squirmed, the tighter she held him, and the less he could breathe. Finally, he sighed and sulked, though... it was rather difficult to sulk when his face was pressed into a woman's chest.

Crap... crap... you know, Naruto, for most guys, this would be a turn-on, but this is not funny...

Sasuke paused, rethinking that statement. If he were a normal boy, wouldn't he be enjoying this sort of thing?

I mean, most anyone else would. Except maybe Iruka, but Iruka's with Kakashi, so...

Argh, did that mean he liked boys?

His face flushed, and not because of the closeness of the other body. Deciding to stop that train of thought before it went any farther, Sasuke sighed and tried to shift into a position where he could breathe more easily. He looked up at the sleeping girl's face, and suddenly those bright blue eyes shot open. It took Naruto perhaps half a second to realize what was going on, before he immediately transformed back into his normal form, his cheeks coloring as he noticed he was still holding Sasuke against him. Another half a second, and then he shoved the darker-haired boy away from him, making Sasuke topple off the bed and land with a thunk on the floor.

"Wh-what the hell?!" Naruto yelped, his face still a deep red color. Sasuke was cringing, waiting for the blonde to land on top of him when the handcuff dragged the Uzumaki down with him, when he suddenly noticed that there wasn't any strain on his wrist anymore. He blinked, looking down at his left wrist, scowling in faint confusion.

The chain was gone.

Staring, Sasuke's eyes widened as he gaped incredulously at his freed, pale wrist. Naruto seemed to have realized the same thing, when he didn't end up on top of Sasuke a few seconds after he'd shoved the Uchiha away.

"Uhm... Sasuke..?" He said, slowly. Sasuke answered, just as cautiously, as if they both thought that if they rejoiced, the chain would just reappear.

"I know, Naruto," Sasuke said, frowning, "Kakashi must have snuck in during the night and freed us. But... why?"

"Well, we were getting along better yesterday," Naruto answered.

At least until we got back here... Naruto thought, wilting at the memory of his cold rejection the previous night. Sasuke was thinking the same thing, his cheeks flushing in shame.

"Well, uh..." Naruto began, ending the awkward silence quickly, "Maybe we should go try to find Kakashi-sensei and ask him what's up?" He suggested. Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

The two of them stepped off together, more out of habit by now than anything else, and when they realized what they were doing, Naruto grinned sheepishly and took the initiative, leading Sasuke out of the apartment. Kabi growled in goodbye as the two of them passed, and Sasuke closed the door behind them, Naruto locked it quickly, and they ran off.

Three hours passed, and it was proving to be yet another futile search for the silver-haired Sensei. He was nowhere to be found, as usual... Naruto and Sasuke had even tried splitting up, but it hadn't worked. They met again, both of them tired and panting by this time.

"Usuratonkachi..." Sasuke hissed under his breath, "That was a waste of time."

"I know, I know, Sasuke! Stop being so dumb!" Naruto shot back angrily, trying to catch his breath. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Look who's talking," he growled.

"It's not my fault we couldn't find him!!" Naruto shouted back, blue eyes burning with rage. How could Sasuke even dare do this now?!

It's totally NOT my fault I'm on edge because he rejected me after I finally realized what I was feeling!! Naruto thought angrily, and then faltered despairingly. I mean, he completely led me on, the stupid bastard! It's not my fault I fell for it... it's... it's not my fault I thought he'd actually care about me.. His shoulders slumped.

Sasuke watched the expressions change on the blonde's face, the blue eyes swirling with varying emotion as each thought passed through Naruto's mind. He frowned a bit.

Maybe I was a little too harsh on that last night. I mean, it's not like I was honest about everything. I-- I care about him, I really do, it's just... I can't admit it. I shouldn't.

Click.

The two boys' heads snapped up as they felt cold metal enclose their wrists in a terrifyingly familiar fashion. They looked down to see the exact same pair of handcuffs being snapped around their wrists, and looked behind them to see Kakashi standing there, smiling down at them.

"Well, it looks like you two need a bit more time, hmm?" He asked, almost lazily. Both boys opened their mouths to protest, but Kakashi only chuckled and patted them both on the head.

"Maa, maa, let's not get angry again. Just learn to get along, you two. Try to be good friends by the end of the day and I'll take them off again."

The two shinobi exchanged glances as their sensei vanished in a puff of smoke, and both of them groaned simultaneously and dropped to their knees on the ground.

"Well, shit." Naruto muttered, rubbing his head.

"Not again…" Sasuke moaned, running a hand through his hair. The pair glared at each other, "hmph"ed, and turned away.

They were right back where they started from.

----

"This sucks, this sucks, this SUCKS!" Naruto whined as they walked down the road. Sasuke sighed, irritated.

"Shut up, dobe. At least we get until the end of the day... he did promise to take them off again by then," he said, staring at the ground as they walked. Naruto stopped and yanked him back.

"Yeah? Well, what are we supposed to do to prove that we're 'getting along' or whatever??" He demanded, glaring, "Don't expect me to make out with you or anything, prettyboy!" He snapped, only realizing what he'd said two seconds after he'd said it. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Why the hell do you have to keep bringing that up?" He growled out. Naruto's heart pounded hard in his chest... he'd spoken too quickly, he hadn't thought about what he was going to say... none of that seemed like a valid excuse...

Naruto's mind ran a mile a minute as he struggled to think of a way to keep the Uchiha from pounding him into the dirt right then and there. Sasuke had raised a hand, and Naruto flinched away like a scared dog, but Sasuke took a deep breath and lowered his hand.

"Sorry," he muttered. The blonde looked up from where he'd been hiding his face. Sasuke looked... guilty? Blinking, Naruto straightened himself and tried to brush off the apology.

"It... it's fine," he said, trying to keep his composure, but knowing he was failing miserably in that department. The Uchiha was still refusing to meet his eyes and was staring at the ground uncomfortably. It wasn't like he was one for apologizing.

There was a long, drawn-out silence, where neither ninja could find anything to say. Naruto spoke first, always having hated those uncomfortable silences.

"Can we just... go back to your house for a little while or something?" He suggested, and Sasuke nodded, eager for something else to do besides stand there in such a tense silence. So, the pair walked down the street, heading back toward the Uchiha manor where they could brainstorm a way to get out of this situation for a second time. Once they reached the house, Sasuke unlocked the gate and they headed inside, removing their sandals with practiced ease despite the chain around their wrists (they were fairly accustomed to it by now) and stepping up onto the carefully polished wooden floors of the house.

"Want anything to eat?" The Uchiha asked, quietly. His tone was careful; as though he were afraid Naruto would explode or break down at any second. Naruto frowned at that, but didn't comment on it, instead asking for some ramen, and the two went to the kitchen together to make the food. They moved quickly, Sasuke got out the packages of the noodles, while Naruto ducked down a few feet away to pull out a cooking pot and a measuring cup. Not once did either of them yank the chain too hard or have to pull the other in one direction or another. They'd gotten so used to being chained together that all their motion was fluid and everything came so easily to them it was almost like they'd been like that forever.

Sasuke had noticed the ease of the motions, even if it was just something simple like making two batches of ramen. Not once had either of them had to snap at each other for any reason. Sasuke leaned casually against the counter, while Naruto kept an eye on the pot, waiting for the water to boil.

"Ne… Sasuke?" Naruto began, awkwardly. Sasuke glanced up, having calmed down from earlier.

"Aa?" He asked.

Naruto bit his lip. He wanted so badly to ask if Sasuke had meant all those things he'd said the previous night. He wanted to try and make those boastful things he'd said to Kiba true. He hated the coldness that always surrounded Sasuke. The Uchiha was the only one that he really wanted to acknowledge him at the moment… before, he would have taken anyone to just smile at him and tell him he was doing fine, that he'd be a great Hokage someday. Now, all he wanted was Sasuke's approval. Not even a compliment, not even a single word needed to be said… he just wanted to see something other than that awful, disapproving scowl. He just wanted a small, honest smile. A smile that meant he was more to the Uchiha than just some bothersome usuratonkachi. Naruto felt his shoulders slump slightly.

I think all of that is just wishful thinking…

"What? What do you want? Don't just stand there and stare at nothing, idiot." Sasuke said, frowning as he studied the oddly thoughtful look on Naruto's face, noticing the slight decline of his shoulders and the way his blue eyes suddenly weren't shimmering with that typical optimism and boundless energy the blonde usually possessed.

"Nevermind, Sasuke..." The Uzumaki said quietly, staring hard at the ground. Who was he kidding? He'd never be able to say stuff like that to his cold-hearted companion. Sasuke had made it very clear what he felt for Naruto, and what he felt was nothing but that stupid rivalry they'd had ever since the day they'd been put on the same team.

Sasuke ran his free hand through his hair. He sighed.

"Really, usuratonkachi, you shouldn't do things like that. It's rude."

"Sorry," Naruto said, still not looking up. The Uchiha raised a brow in concern. It wasn't like the blonde to be so down. It concerned him, and he idly wondered if his strange behavior all of a sudden was a result of the things he'd said last night. He felt his heart clench tightly in his chest and winced, lightly touching the place over his heart. He glanced back at Naruto, whose eyes were still downcast. He looked so sad; it was almost painful to look at him.

Well, it wasn't like Sasuke had been exactly honest last night. He'd been a little freaked out, was all. Emotions scared him. He wasn't used to them, wasn't used to feeling anything but that burning hatred and icy temper he'd carried with him for so long.

Naruto was so different from anyone else he'd met. Naruto didn't fall all over him and go starry-eyed whenever Sasuke so much as glanced in his direction. Naruto didn't squeal if Sasuke said something to him, didn't try to flatter him with compliments, and he certainly didn't try to change himself or his opinions just for Sasuke's approval. It wasn't like what all the girls did.

Sakura and Ino would always do idiotic things just try and get Sasuke's attention. They'd agree with him in a heartbeat, no matter what he said. They'd try to say things to gain his favor, try to impress him with their stupid womanly antics. But Naruto never did anything like that. No, Naruto was always himself around everyone, especially Sasuke… and if Sasuke refused to pay any heed to him then, he wouldn't change, he just kept persisting. But he never once changed himself, never once backed down, and never once faltered. Even when he was threatened with losing Sasuke's interest in him, he never showed a trace of fear. Sasuke… admired that determination.

But it was more than just admiration for Naruto's persistence and his stubbornness. There was something more to Naruto that managed to catch Sasuke's eye. Perhaps it was the shining blue eyes that were always glimmering with boundless energy and happiness, or the way he would smile whenever he ran to morning meetings, even if it was always for Sakura, rather than him.

Naruto, I…

"Naruto…" Sasuke's voice was speaking before the Uchiha had a chance to stop it.

…I think that I really do…

Naruto looked up, blinking when Sasuke was suddenly standing right in front of him, their faces close and noses almost touching.

…like you.

Suddenly, Sasuke's lips were covering Naruto's. The blonde felt his heart stop for a few good seconds in his chest, and then begin pounding so hard he was sure Sasuke could hear it. But Sasuke's heart was pounding away as well. He let his arms slide around the Uzumaki's waist, drawing him closer. Naruto could feel his lungs running out of breath, but he couldn't have cared less. Sasuke was so warm, and his lips were so soft… he felt like he could lose himself in those strong arms. He leaned up, kissing back, albeit a bit awkwardly, but Sasuke smirked lightly against his lips and pressed closer.

The pot on the stove hissed as it began to boil over, but neither of the boys paid it any heed.

---

"You see, Iruka-sensei? I told you they liked each other."

"I… umm…"

"Aww, you're cute when you blush like that."

"S-shut up, Kakashi!!"

"We should leave before they catch us out here."

"I feel like some sort of stalker!!"

"I've got to go catch everyone, anyway, and collect my money for this."

---

The two went out later in the evening after they'd cleaned up the water that had boiled over from the forgotten pot on the stove. The sun was almost setting, and they walked down the street, fingers intertwined with one another's.

There was a soft click, and both boys turned and looked up. Kakashi was standing there, holding up the handcuffs in a hand, having released them from the two wrists. He dropped the cuffs into Sasuke's hands, smiling from beneath his mask.

"Well, congratulations, you two. I'd say you've learned to get along pretty well," he said, patting them both on the head. Noticing the fact that a few bills were hanging out of his pocket, he quickly stuffed them back down with a sheepish grin.

"Anyway, good work and good luck explaining this to Sakura!" He beamed and vanished in a puff of smoke.

"O-OI!! Kakashi-sensei!!" Naruto cried, reaching out to stop him, but grabbed nothing but air. He sighed.

"Well, that was… weird." Sasuke commented, looking down at the pair of handcuffs in his hand.

"Nothing we shouldn't expect from Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said sourly, moving close to Sasuke and wrapping his arms around the Uchiha's slim hips, "You should have kissed me sooner."

"I did," Sasuke pointed out, "Remember that day at the Academy?"

"Oh, yeah. That didn't count!" Naruto said, beaming and leaning up to peck Sasuke's lips again. Sasuke smiled and then looked back down at the cuffs in his hand… and suddenly, an impish smirk overcame his features as he looked back to Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto… you didn't happen to see how Kakashi-sensei got these off us, did you?"

"Well, no, Sasuke, why—KYAH!!" Naruto's question was abruptly cut off as Sasuke snapped the cuffs back onto their wrists and tackled him to the ground.

This time, Naruto didn't complain.

---Fin.

Author's Comments- So, how was it? Not too terrible, I hope. Apologies for how short this chapter is, I tried to make it longer, but if I added anything else it would have seemed stupid. ; Also, credit for coming up with how to end this fic goes to The Carpet Shampoo (sankyuu)

KAH! I'm finally done with this one, and it's good to put it to rest, because now I can focus on Kaerizaki and also start up a few more ideas I've been planning for a long time. So, please leave some reviews, and see you again soon!

-TAB