I know I shouldn't post author notes between chapters, but I just had to post this one. If you have been watching the news recently, you might know the crisis Egypt is passing though. I am inspired, disappointed, terrified, and pessimistic. A revolution seeking empowerment has turned into a series of destructive events. It was a wake up call to every Egyptian, I think. We will never be the same again. It took less than a week to bring down a country, but I am sure it will take years to rebuild it.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I might not be updating very soon. I had really planned to update, but with everything that's happening... its hard to get my mind straight.

Finally, please pray for my country. Please pray for the vandals and opportunists to remember that Egypt has given them a home once, and let them realize that the answer is not bulldozing that home over the heads of other Egyptians.

That said, I am proud of every Egyptian who fought for his freedom, defended his/her neighborhood, and fought for a better Egypt.

Sorry if ranted too much.

This is a short story I already published before, but I am adding it here since their is a rule on the not to add author notes without chapters.

"Red, Orange and black"

Valentines Day, furniture dressed in red. Couples planting balmy kisses on each other's lips in restaurants booked weeks earlier. A few cuddled together at a favorite coffee shop as if they using their body warmth to escape winter's bite. That girl over by the counter blushed; she had just tainted his cheek with her cherry red lipstick. The guy who sat at the table was boasting, wiping the print with his thumb.

In the corner a blond sat by himself, his table covered with valentine souvenirs his single friends exchanged with him earlier. He examined each one smiling when he realized how his friend's personalities showed even through their gifts. Warmth crept inside of him, it was almost heartbreaking. Valentine had always had that effect on him; Nostalgia.

The phone rang.

"Naruto here... Hey Kiba!" He paused then added, "No No, you go. I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight... A paper... What do you mean? I always study!"

He rolled his eyes at a comment the other made, "Fine fine. Have fun."

The blond slid the phone back into his pocket. Silently, he lingered. He shifted in his seat, biting his knuckles. He shouldn't be alone or he would do the terrible thing he had avoided all year, he knew that.

He picked up the phone again dialing his friend's number when the gadget vibrated in his palm. The name flashed, forcing him to look away anxiously. Seconds dwelled like years as he resisted the urge to answer. The flashing stopped.

Suddenly, he tackled his phone like a maniac, pressing the green button twice. Redial. It rang twice before he could hear the other's throaty voice.

"Naruto."

He steaded his voice attempting to sound as natural as possible. "Hey, Teme, haven't heard from you for months now!"

"Hn," the other grunts out. "You didn't call either."

He chuckled loudly in pretence, "You sound like my baby cousin."

A long heavy silence follows.

"So, what's up with you these days?"

"I'm back."

"Back..." It wasn't a question.

"Back in Konoha."

"I see," he fuddled with the button sawn on his jeans thigh. "Welcome back then."

He could just hear the gapping mouth on the end of the line, lost for words. No, no, he wasn't lost for words. He knew what to say, but...

"..."

"We should meet up or something then."

"I am free now."

"It's valentine."

"Oh," it slipped out of the other's heart. "I... I shouldn't have called. You probably have a date."

"No! No! I am... just finishing a paper," He lied. He couldn't tell him the truth; sitting at their special place.

"A paper? Since when-"

"Not you too," he chuckled sincerely this time. The other too.

"Read any books lately, Sasuke?"

"Why? Writing papers and reading books. Are you the same Naruto I-" He froze. "I knew?"

"Intimidated by my new lust for knowledge?"

"Let's stay realistic here."

"Hey, did you know books are like sex for the brain?"

The other laughed, "What kind of books are you reading exactly?"

"Hey don't mock me," he teased and then added, "May be I shouldn't have taken recommendations from Kakashi sensei."

The chuckles came to an end, the conversation drying up.

"S-so, it was nice catching up-"

"Sasuke!"

"..."

"On second thought, why don't you come over?"

"Are you sure?"

"Naruto doesn't go back on his word, Teme."

"Naruto speaks in third person."

"Shut up," he blushed. "You used to love when I did that."

"I sti- Well, it kept you tied to the bed post."

"Perve."

"'Sasuke' is good boy," he hinted at an inside joke they used to share.

"Sasuke is a bad boy. He's a pervert."

"Not any more."

"Haven't noticed."

"A bit rusty."

"Sasuke," he said in a seesaw voice. "I am not getting this conversation anymore. When are you coming over?"

"Answer your door."

"Oh... You're infront of my door?" He heard two knocks through the phone. "I am not there."

"Where are you then?"

"Where am I?"

"Hn."

"Library..." He gulped.

"Which library?"

"The big one with the books-"

"Naruto," the other snapped.

"Fine, at 'Presto'."

"..."

"They have nice coffee," He knew that Sasuke knew he didn't drink coffee. "And awesome apple pies."

"I'll be there."

Two hours later, Naruto was in the raven's car singing "Oh my gosh! Oh Oh oh"

"Oh my God, you still think you're voice is actually good, dobe?"

"There so many ways to love ya!" He leaned against Sasuke laughing.

The raven teased, "Did someone spike your drink?"

"You played the song first. You should've known."

He pushed the off button quickly as Naruto tried to stop him. Hands brushed against each other, and suddenly everything was back to awkward.

"Nine months is Suna, and I still can't get over the trauma of hearing you sing the last time."

"Hey, how long have you been back for?"

He froze, "A few weeks."

"Vacation?"

"No."

"Fired?"

"Resigned."

"I thought you like it there."

"I thought so too."

"What happened?"

"I couldn't get over it," He paused. "The cold, I mean. I like the weather here better."

"Oh, he has feelings."

"Imagine that," the raven pursed his lips. "And he is an Uchiha."

"His family must be ashamed!"

"His family is."

"Are they still homophobic as well?" Naruto joked a bit too sourly. That killed the fun.

"..."

"Just joking."

"About that-"

"You don't have-"

"I do."

"Sasuke."

"I am sorry I left-"

"Don't please."

"I should-"

"It won't change anything. It will just make me mad thinking that you consider a sorry enough to make up for it. So, let's just forget it. Okay?"

"Teme, listen to me."

"..."

"My father-"

"Is a jerk!"

"Hey! He is my father."

"Sorry."

"My father is a jerk. But, I... I didn't fight hard enough."

"We shouldn't have had to fight for it."

"But we did. And I thought..." He took in a deep breath, "I thought I would forget about it. That I can will it away."

"This is starting to sound like a cliché scene out of a cliché movie."

"It was either moving or getting married to an acquaintance of my family."

"I see. I really don't want to here this."

"So I thought, if I leave at least I will get a chance to chose who I want to be with... but-"

"I can't-"

"Then I realized if it wasn't you then-"

"I can't do it all over again."

"I told father to shove it!"

The sapphire eyes blinked a few times in confusion.

"This is not just an apology. This is a... pleading. I can't take back what happened, but I have suffered for it believe me. Not one day passed without thinking about y-"

"You know what these are? The words of a lonely single guy on valentine. Tomorrow, once the decorations are down, you won't feel the same way."

"Fine! Then I'll go home today. But tomorrow, if I ask you, will you take me back?"

"That's snobby, expecting me to be there whenever you want."

"Do you remember what happened when we were kids and that bully pushed you off the swing?"

"Whatever."

"Ten years later, I hired him just to get back at him."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Threat- No! I am just letting you know I won't let it go."

"Your business," he looked out of the car window, carving his initials on the wet vapor against the glass.

"Naruto."

"No!"

"Naruto."

"No, Sasuke no-" He turned around, lips meeting him mid way. He slid down his chair feeling the other's warmth tickle his face. For the next twenty seconds, the sound of kisses echoed inside the car.

Backing away and sniffling, lips swollen from excitement. The blond gasped for air. Suddenly, he was trying to get over Sasuke's lap bumping against the horn a few times. Uncomfortable, the other pushed him into the side seat, and climbed on top of him, adjusting the chair.

"I h-hate you," Naruto muttered between kisses, almost desperate.

"I love you," the raven started to fuddle with the other's buttons. "I love you, okay."

"Sasuke," The blond groaned painfully. "You can't do that to me. You'll just break my heart again. You can't do that to me."

"I promise you no. No. Next time we part is the day I die."

"Jerk... What if I die first? Huh. All words."

"Idiot, you think I could live after you..."

- The Beginning-