Spiral Falling - Chapter 5 - Hot Chocolate

Title: Spiral Falling
Author: Becca Amon
Genre: AU
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke
Warnings: Shounen ai, yaoi, lemon, language, possible NCS
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Contact: Free_Fall00@hotmail.com
Archiving: Please ask author for permission.
Author’s note: My first Naruto and NC-17 fanfiction. Be kind, enjoy^^.
Feedback: Always welcome, especially constructive. If you just e-mail me to tell me you’re enjoying the fanfic, that’s deeply appreciated.

“….” - dialogue
* - scene change/ time pass
Italic - Memory

“So? How did it go last night?”.

Attendance has been taken and the students were told to gather in their respective groups to work on the term project. The screech of the desks metal legs against the floor were accompanied by shuffling papers and quiet discussions. Sakura questioned a drowsy Naruto as they made their way to Sasuke's desk.

“It was alright, we got some stuff done”, he yawned.

“You guys didn't fight did you?”, she paused in her bee-line toward the dark-haired youth, concerned. She knew how both had the shortest tolerance for each other. She was tempted to stay last night, just so there was someone to supervise the pair.

Naruto flushed and felt his aching jaw. There were no bruises but it still ached. When he got home last night, he assessed his injuries, he flushed even harder as he realized that the most distinct bruising were on his hips. Where Sasuke had--

“Naruto you okay?”, Sakura’s voice broke through the sudden cloud that blanketed his mind.

“Huh?”.

“Where were you?”, her pink eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she tugged him forward to continue walking.


Under Sasuke, his mind provided. “Ummm nowhere”, he laughed, embarrassed.

“Hmmmmm?”, Sakura looked unconvinced but let it drop when they reached Sasuke's desk.

“Morning Sasuke kun!!.”, she gushed.

They received a nod from the class president and any further discussion that followed only concerned the project. They shared notes, assigned each other's responsibilities and plans for the presentation. Amidst the discussion, Naruto noted the distance in Sasuke’s demeanor. Not toward himself, he would never be concerned with something so petty, but the distance the dark- haired boy expressed toward the student body in general. He seemed so aloof, out of reach.

“Oh!!”, Sakura spoke in a short lull in discussions. “After school why don't we go for some ice cream!! Ne Sasuke kun? Just hang out a little...”, she offered, a twinkling hope in her eyes. “We should go over to my work place...I’m sure we would get a discount!”.

Sasuke shrugged, always seeming unconcerned. “Sure”, he said.

Sakura drew in an excited breath.

“Seriously?!”. Please don’t be joking, her voice almost said. At his affirmative nod, her eyes sparkled at the prospect of a date with her crush. Well Naruto will be there, but Sasuke will only be hers. She need not share with any of the other girls. Her expressions where clearly drawn on her face. Naruto briefly wondered why Uchiha never showed even a slight interest in his friend. She painted a picture of naiveté and a shy kindness, when she wasn’t being influenced by outside forces. She was only vindictive when faced with the other girls, but wasn’t that what competition influenced?

Under the table, Naruto was startled as his foot was nudged softly. He thought it was Sakura, but noticed the girl was still chattering about the ice cream parlor. He furrowed his eyebrows perplexed. A second later, he felt another kick and was positive it wasn't Sakura when she stretched both legs on the aisle. He glanced at Sasuke, but the boy looked to be ignoring the world in general. Naruto shrugged and went back to copying notes from the textbook.

“So Sasuke-kun? What's your favorite flavor?”, Sakura asked.

“Uzumaki”, was the unsuspecting reply.

“Eh?? Uzumaki flavor?”, she tilted her head, mystified. Naruto sputtered, red coloring his cheeks.

“’Uzumaki”. Sasuke continued. “What's your favorite flavor?”.

Naruto glared and refused to acknowledge the innuendo even if his earlier sputtering had done the acknowledging already. A smirk tugged on the other boy’s lips.

“Hmm? Naruto you like chocolate don't you?”, Sakura helped, ignorant to the daggers he was glaring at Sasuke. Good, he thought. She's a smart girl, but around Uchiha, she was always struck stupid.

“Yeah”, he ignored Uchiha's growing smirk. He didn't want to know what he was thinking in that sick mind of his right now.


*


“Oi!! Naruto!! Hurry up and change already!!!”, he heard Shikamaru call from somewhere in the locker room.

“I'll be right out!” , Naruto answered. He changed later than the guys today. He usually bore some kind of bruise or other abrasion on his body that could simply be explained and dismissed. However, he flushed, this time Sasuke left some rather interesting marks on his chest that would be difficult to explain and was sure would not immediately be dismissed. His hips were hidden under his sweats, but he was still careful. He had a sudden urge to leave marks on the pale boy's body just to be vindictive. See how the class president will deal with a few marks on his neck, he thought. Then he realized that Sasuke was hardly seen with a particular girl. They were all careful not to be too close. Then was there any particular guy that hung around Sasuke all the time? So who would the public suspect?, he pondered. He gulped. Heh, lately I’ve been around him more, he cringed at the startling discovery.

His thoughts were interrupted as a warm hand touched his bare chest, palm pressed onto his skin, fingers splayed. The person of his meandering thoughts stood in front of him, shirtless. The hand moved from one mark to the other. Five dark ones and three lighter in shade. He looked at the other boy’s unmarked chiseled chest. A pendant hung from a long silver chain. They stood in silence as Sasuke caressed his abused skin and Naruto tracked the pendants every subtle shift as Sasuke moved. Following Naruto’s gaze, Sasuke held the object of the boy’s attention and hid it in his fist, hidden from sight.

“Do they notice?”, the blonde quietly asked.

“Who? Notice what?”, Sasuke inquired in return as his fingers traced the bumps of Naruto’s abs, then moved lower to play with the waistline of the grey gym pants.

“Anyone that's seen you shirtless” , Naruto answered, “that you wear the chain I've worn all my life”.

Sasuke frowned, then turned away to walk to his locker and threw a shirt on.

“No.”, he murmured loud enough for Naruto to barely hear. Then he left the room. Naruto stared after him. He missed the familiar weight the pendant possessed and felt naked without it. He drew a small spiral over his chest. The same design etched on the coin sized pendant.


*


“Man!!! It's freezing!!!” , Naruto howled as an angry gust of wind whipped at his bare blond head.

“I know..” , Sakura looked sideways at Naruto as they walked across the school yard.

“Damn early snowfalls”, she complained as her teeth chattered noisily. If she knew it was going to be this cold, she wouldn't have worn her knee socks, she thought with bitter resentment. Actually she shouldn't have worn the damn skirt!! What? She asked herself; finally wear the standard girl's uniform pants? She remembered the pant style with distaste. Ewww. Never mind she'd freeze her legs first. Up ahead she saw several girls braving the cold wearing the school kilt. Yeah, no one wanted to be seen by their crushes wearing those horrid pants. The sensible part of her mind that would have called her an idiot froze a long time ago.


“Damn... I hate the cold”, Naruto whispered.

Sakura blinked as several snowflakes landed on her eyelashes. She looked over at her friend as they trudged through the snow covered school yard. She was tempted to brush away the white snow collecting on his blond hair but quelled the maternal feeling she always felt toward the blue eyed boy.

That's right, she thought, in the snow, Naruto's family--

“Naa, Sakura-chan”, he spoke up over the howl of the wind suddenly.

“Huh?! Oh...Umm..Yes Naruto?”.

“We're almost done with the project, Na?”.

She blinked at the odd topic. Naruto hardly spoke of school related stuff. Especially the project they shared with his hated rival.

She gave his question some thought. The trio had worked almost every night together. Sakura had to give up a little of her social life to accommodate the project. They spent those night together over at Sasuke's place most of the time. She recalled being invited to stay for dinner. It was, she observed, looking up to the grey sky, much colder than this day. No, she shook her head. They were very kind toward herself and Naruto, but they acted as if Sasuke, their own child was non-existent. She snorted; they were kinder to the furniture.

“Sakura chan?”.

“Oh!”, she grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Umm yes we’re almost finished, why do you ask?”.

“Heh”, he laughed. “I forgot now… ern.. just wondering how long I have to put up with Uchiha I guess”, he shrugged.

“Oh! That reminds me-- WAH!!”, she stopped suddenly and failed to notice a patch of ice. She almost slipped but fortunately Naruto had caught her. She smiled, thanking him.

After steadying herself she continued. “Have you heard from Sasuke-kun?” , she saw Naruto lift an eyebrow. Right. He should be the last person she should be asking, she thought embarrassedly but continued in her inquiry. “Ernnn.. Have you notice he hasn't been in class for three days?”.

“Aren't you Sakura, member of the Sasuke fan club, member number 25? Shouldn't you know these things?”, he countered. Sure I've noticed, he thought, haven't had a fight these last three days.

“Yeah, sorry again. I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately”.

“Yeah, you’ve been spacing out a lot”, he snickered.

“Shut up!”. He effectively dodged what would have been a painful swipe at the head.

“I’m only concerned. He hadn’t shown up in three days and the project is almost over. I don’t know if he had finished his part—“

“Is that all?”, her friend asked.

“Well no. I wonder if his alright. Ino said he was present before class began talking to sensei, but he wasn't there during class or lunch today and also the other days. I guess I’m just worried”, she contemplated out loud.

“I’m sure he’s finished his part of the project and don’t worry he’s a big boy, he can take care of himself”, he said, reassuring her more than giving the subject actual consideration.

As he turned away from observing how pink her cheeks were turning from the cold, he saw the older library he would be spending his period in.

“Okay Sakura chan...I have a spare for third and fourth. I'll probably see you after school, well that's if I don't decide to go home before school is over”, he grinned impishly.

“What!? How the hell did you get two periods off!!?”, she squawked indignant at his luck.

His grin grew wider transforming into a pleased smile. “The teachers had field trips for their other classes. We were assigned work and told to find a place to stay”.

Sakura pouted. “Lucccky... I wish my teachers went on a field trip..” , she sighed then waved as Naruto walked backwards waving at her. Then she watched his retreating back as he stupidly, in her opinion, ran to the building. She waited nervously until she saw he didn’t slip on a patch of ice and break his skull. She sneezed, cursed her skirt and hurried to the warm building.


*


Naruto leaned back on the edge of the desk, feet braced against the floor. His notes were scattered on the large desk’s surface. Work sheets had piled up after working the last two nights. Deciding that the spare periods given to him were ample opportunity to catch up, he got to work immediately.

After a while however, his motivation began to diminish and boredom began to invade his numbed senses.

“I guess I could go home”, he conversed casually with the empty library.

“…but it's too quiet there....”, he murmured after a moment of consideration. He snorted when he realized he was alone in the old library as well and the only sound he heard was the flipping of pages from the book he read and the moaning of the early winter wind outside the window.

“…but there's a difference ....”, he amended. He put down the book, squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration and sighed. Yeah, a world of difference, he thought almost miserably. The three buildings that surrounded the one he occupied were filled with people.

“…well my apartment were also surrounded by a lot of people....”.

I guess there was really no difference then, He thought.

Beyond the glass windows, he saw the snowflakes dance with the wind. An enchanting dance that was so blithe. For a moment he wished he was a snowflake.


The meaning of my existence would be to form into an elaborate and unique shape, fall down from the grey skies, dance with the winds and pile on top of the rest of the snowflakes to be stepped on or plowed or maybe I might help cap a street sign white. Or perhaps join the more vindictive of snowflakes and form with them to become a mean well aimed snowball, he chuckled.

His eyelids slowly lowered pensively.

“Or simply flutter down from the sky, tango with the wind, then melt on someone’s happy tongue”.

Naruto laughed out loud at his absurdity.

Maybe I should just go home, he wondered, shaking his head.

In the distance, he heard footsteps ascending the spiral staircase, but wasn't sure where they were headed since the carpeted flooring muffled each step. He tried to watch for anyone’s approach but the sparse yellow lights in his wing provided little illumination. Most of the light came from the window, but even that was no help. Only dim grey light streamed through the foggy glass. He checked the ancient clock nailed above a book shelf. He'd only been there for twenty minutes. He wondered who would be out of class in the middle of a period.

He picked up his book once more, deciding to ignore the new presence, but dropped it when a figured appeared at the corner of his eyes. The sound of the book hitting the floor echoed throughout the wing. An expression of his surprise, the only thing he gave.

“Uzumaki”.

Naruto observed as the pale boy strode slowly toward him. He furrowed his eyebrows when he noticed the boy wore no coat, so the shoulder of the white uniform was wet with melting snow. Water droplets fell from wet chunks of dark strands.

“Uchiha. What are you—” , the boy stood in front of him as unsteady hands reached for his bare arms, he only wore the short sleeved shirt today causing him to flinch as freezing fingers wrapped around his forearms.

“Shit!! You're freezing!!!”, he exclaimed but didn't pull away.

“Shut up dobe…”, Sasuke's voice shook, perhaps, from the cold. Naruto peered into dark dull eyes, the boy’s face looked strained. Perhaps, from another reason altogether.

Freezing lips descended on his neck as a greeting he supposed. He shivered at the contact.

“God…you're freezing...”, he moved away but was pulled roughly forward.

“Don't!....don't resist me.....”, Sasuke’s eyes glowed with something angry for a moment before he lowered his head to lay languid licks and kisses on his jaw and neck.

“So warm...”, Sasuke whispered, voice seeming far away, almost unaware. Naruto's eyes grew wide as the boy burrowed himself against his body, head tucked under his chin.

He gulped and looked down at the still shivering body.

“Idiot. Where's your coat? It's freezing out there”, he froze when the arms only grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. What was going on here? He laughed inwardly, unsure, he never knew what to expect from Uchiha.

Cautiously he rested his cupped palms over the boy’s shivering shoulders.

“Uzumaki... I...”. A shudder went through the slim frame.

Closing his eyes, Naruto wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulders tentatively. The wet cloth soaked into his shirt. He drew the body close against him, between his legs. He brought one hand up to brushed off the melting snow on top of the boy’s head. The snow fell on the carpet and began to melt. Silence reigned for long minutes as he held the boy in his warm arms. After a while, the shivering subsided, but neither moved. Naruto rested his cheeks on the boy's damp head. When he opened his half lidded eyes fully he barely recognized the fingers that ran through that dark damp hair were his.

“What's wrong Uchiha..?”, his question was but a whisper, compared to his loud, rapidly beating heart.

'”Where have you been?”, the dark haired boy asked after a moment of silence.

“I would ask you the same thing if I cared”. He said the words, but it sounded hollow to his ears somehow. It lacked conviction, perhaps it lacked truth. He wasn’t sure nowadays, he just let the wind carry him. I guess it’s no different from being a snowflake, he thought. He continued to run his fingers through the boy's hair, his actions contradicting his words. He stared ahead, into distant space.

“I was on the roof, pretending I was a snowflake, I wondered if I jumped off the edge, if I would flutter down”. Naruto stilled for a second, not knowing what to say, so he said nothing and continued to stroke the dark hair.

Nimble fingers began to unbutton his shirt then shortly after when the fabric were parted, soft kisses adorned his bare chest.

“Why don't you tell me to go away?”.

Naruto stilled once more at the question, he snorted, “You wouldn't listen to me, even if I did”. Then in a softer voice he said, “besides it's not the worst scenario one could be in”.

“Most people would call it a non-consensual situation”. The rasping voice whispered in bitter humor.

Naruto thought of all the situations he'd found himself in pertaining to the dark haired boy. True, most people would probably call it that. However…

He tilted his head to allow Sasuke access to his neck, as a hand caressed his inner thigh.

However, if he never really wanted...

He sighed as the talented tongue caressed the vein in his neck. A ripple of electricity spread throughout his frame. He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the feeling.

If he never really wanted it, he would have stopped it. He wouldn't stand for such a treatment.

The hand that caressed Sasuke's hair ceased its movements. His fingers buried through the dark hair. He brought his other hand up to run it along the boy's moving jaw.

No, he wouldn't stand idly by and allow anyone to use his body. He would fight it.

“Why don't you tell me to go away?''.

Sasuke's question from earlier rang through his pondering mind.

Because....

He opened his eyes and held Sasuke's head still, meeting the shadowed gaze. Dark eyes bathed in lust watched him silently. He watched fascinated as his thumb caressed the side of the swollen lips. Slowly he brought his head closer to those lips. Close enough to touch. He whispered, their warm breaths mingling.

“I wouldn't call this non-consensual”.

Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction as Naruto swiped a tongue over his bottom lip. Then he tilted his head as the blond boy lapped his way to his neck. He caught his breath as Naruto licked and sucked the skin with slow deliberation.

Sasuke allowed himself to be pushed back as the pair sought the solidness of the library wall.

Naruto brought his body against Sasuke's, a familiar situation, but also quite different. He teased the vein on Sasuke's neck as he ran a hand down to the other boy's awakening desire. His other hand buried in the dark hair. He stroked the growing bulge, invoking a moan from the boy.

He smiled against the pale skin when he felt that same thrill when he heard the boy moan. He boldly unzipped Sasuke's pants, reached beneath the boxer and fisted the now hard shaft. He ran his thumb over the moist tip as Sasuke grunted and pressed himself harder into Naruto’s grip.

“Ahh! Uzumaki… What are doing?”, he asked breathless.

Naruto laughed lowly against Sasuke's neck and then brought his head up to look the other boy in the eye. Sasuke's heavy lids threatened to close over his glazed eyes as Naruto stroked his aching arousal. Naruto was surprised at how the other boy’s moans and gasps were affecting his own arousal.

“Is this how you feel when you're jerking me off in the middle of the hallway?”, he asked, concealing an almost grin.

There was a small smirk on the pale face.

“You taste like snow...”, Naruto murmured.

Sasuke gasped, Naruto was bringing him higher and higher.

“Suck me off dobe”.


“You want me to?”. Naruto wet his lips as he saw a glimmer in the boy’s dark eyes. He observed as the unfamiliar tormented haze began to recede and a more recognizable and confident gleam sliced through.

“Yeah”, Sasuke gasped in surprised anticipation.

In a move not all his own, Naruto kissed the snow scented skin of Sasuke’s neck.

“Alright”, he whispered.

He slowly kissed down Sasuke’s body, kissing both skin and cloth. When his knees touched the floor, he lowered Sasuke's pants and boxers down his thighs freeing the swollen erection.

Naruto felt Sasuke’s intent gaze on his as pale fingers buried themselves into his equally pale hair.

Excitement thrummed in his body as he held Sasuke’s hard desire in his hands. He gave a tentative lick at the pre-cum off the head, tonguing the tiny slit. Growing bolder as he felt Sasuke shudder, he then lapped on the underside as his hand pumped from the base of the boy’s cock. He allowed the desire to pleasure Sasuke drown out the mild nervousness that vibrated in his stomach before he took what he can of Sasuke’s cock into his mouth. He concentrated on the feeling of the warm member in his mouth and his breathing instead of the urge to gag. Slowly he swallowed a little more, his nose burrowing into the soft black curls at the base. He breathed Sasuke’s scent in, feeling his own erection throb at the musky masculine scent.

“Ahhhhh!!! Fuck!”, Sasuke bit the side of his bottom lip as his hips bucked at the sensation. Naruto's warm mouth and stroking tongue were driving him insane.

The blond held Sasuke's hips steady as it fought to thrust into his warm mouth. He sucked harder, wanting to hear Sasuke moan and feel his body shudder in pleasure.

'”Gods...dobe...nnnnn”.

Naruto caressed Sasuke's balls, massaging lightly, thinking of what he would like if he was in Sasuke’s place. His other hand stroked along the length and coaxed more moans from the usually silent boy.

He looked up at the dark eyes as he sucked and stroked the throbbing flesh thoroughly.

Sasuke wet his suddenly dry lips as he stared down at the sky blue eyes, watching his length disappear into the warm mouth.

“Uzumaki”, he whispered before allowing himself to give into the pleasure and came. He clutched at the head of blonde hair as his voice screamed hoarsely. He pumped into the wet mouth and the other boy allowed him.

Naruto shut his lids tightly and winced as the other boy’s fingers pulled at his hair. He felt the body tensed as hot cum hit his throat. Mildly startled, he swallowed the hot liquid and at Sasuke’s scream of pleasure, he swallowed more greedily. A feeling of almost pleasure buzzed along his veins as he looked up at Sasuke, knowing he had caused Sasuke’s momentary lack of control. He caught Sasuke’s body as the boy’s knees gave out and guided the exhausted body to sit on the floor.

The pair stared at one another as Sasuke caught his breath that threatened to abandon him. He watched Naruto wipe the side of his mouth with a shirt sleeve, catching the pink tongue licking the swollen lips.

Sasuke tucked himself in slowly and pulled his pants up, zipping it close. He looked down at the obvious bulge in the other boy's pants.

“You're hard’, he spoke softly as if astonished.

Naruto met Sasuke’s wondrous eyes.

“Yeah, You're an unbelievable sight when you come”, he said evenly.

“Am I?”, Sasuke asked, amused and wondering.

“Yeah”, The blonde boy grinned truthfully.

“Let me see you”.

“Haven't you seen me come enough times?”, Naruto fidgeted, suddenly nervous at the unfamiliar soft command, almost a request.

Sasuke got up on his knees and was eye level with the also kneeling Naruto.

“No not enough”.

He slid the zipper open and reached in, feeling the hard member on his callused fingers. He wrapped his long fingers around and pulled the shaft out. It felt heavy in his hands.

Naruto moaned as Sasuke stroked him teasingly a few times, then bucked forward as Sasuke’s fist began to stroke quickly and almost painfully. His desire and excitement grew at the almost possessive touch. It occurred to him to consult his inner voices as to what gave him such an impression that Sasuke’s touch felt possessive, but the voices only mewed at the pleasure.

“Look at me Uzumaki”, Sasuke’s enticing voice commanded.

Gasping at the overwhelming pressure and fighting from hunching and losing balance, Naruto growled. “Kinda...hard, he said, incapable of saying anything else.

“Naruto!!! You in here?!~”.

Their heads snapped up at the sing-song voice.

“Naruto !!! Wanna go out for some hot chocolate?! We have a break too!!”.

The blonde groaned out a mix of disappointment couple with a groan of pleasure as Sasuke continued to stroke him, unmindful of their unexpected company.

“Sakura ..ahh!..and Ino”, he gasped, identifying the owners of the voices.

Uncaring, Sasuke pulled Naruto to his feet then pushed him against the wall.

“What are you doing?!”, the blonde hissed . “They're coming!”.

Sasuke stroked him harder mischief shining in his eyes.

“Yeah...let's see who comes first”.

Naruto's eyes widened at the implications.

“Think about it…”, Sasuke whispered. “Their crush is jerking their friend off. They'll come up here soon. They know this is where you usually are”.

He stroked faster feeling Naruto’s approaching release as the boy’s body grew tenser. His other hand ran up and down Naruto's side, feeling warmth radiate from the flushed skin beneath the cloth.

“When they find you, provided they don't walk in on this”, he smirked. “You're going to speak to them. With the mouth that just gave me a very good blow job. You're going to have hot chocolate with the taste of me in your mouth”, he hissed.

Naruto smirked as he felt the oncoming orgasm. “A very good blow job?”, he taunted with a quivering and hoarse voice.

“Yeah...”. Sasuke drew closer and licked Naruto’s bottom lip sensuously. His lips hovered over Naruto’s briefly, before moving down his neck and nipped at the soft skin.

Naruto's eyes widened, then closed tightly as his body was wracked with pleasure. He bit his bottom lip to keep from screaming as he shot his hot load into Sasuke's waiting hand. He breathed deeply and desperately as he reached a hand out to grasp Sasuke 's shoulder for support. Hazily, he watched as Sasuke brought a pale wet hand to his lips and ran a pink tongue over the palm and fingers licking them clean. Naruto’s throat felt dry as he swallowed deeply.

“Gods..you're sick...”, he shuddered, fascinated as each digit was sucked clean.

Sasuke smirked as he tucked Naruto’s softening member into his pants and buttoned the disheveled shirt close.

“I'll see you later”, the pale boy said, then paused before continuing in a softer tone.

“I...today...”, he faltered and pressed a kiss to Naruto's neck. “You always smell like sunshine, you...you were always warm”, was the cryptic remark which was followed by a more lingering kiss on the other boy’s neck. He ran his hands over Naruto’s clothed covered chest one last time then moved away, leaving.

Naruto watched Sasuke disappear into the dark aisles surrounded with shelves of books. He unsteadily made his way to the desk and then flopped on the chair, exhausted. Admittedly, he told himself, it was a good type of exhaustion. He laid his arms on top of the desk, cradling his head and stifled a sigh of contentment from forming on his lips.

“Mou…Naruto there you are!!”, an exasperated voice huffed.

He brought his head up to watch his friend approach the desk.

“Gods, I always get lost in this place”.

“Sakura!! D'you find him?”, Ino walked in from the history section, fingers running along the book spines. “Oh! There you are!!! You could have yelled out you know? Save us the trouble from trying to find you in this rat maze?”. Naruto quenched the urge to laugh and allowed her to continue. He didn’t think yelling out in ‘passion’ was quite appropriate.

“So wanna come with?”. There was that word again, he thought, laughing inward.

“What? Where?” , he asked, feigning cluelessness.

“Hot chocolate!!”, Sakura squealed, beaming from across the table. “I heard Sasuke-kun will be there with the other council members!!” she practically bounced. In fact, Naruto eyed his friend; she was vibrating in barely contained excitement.

“Yup!!! Apparently he hasn't been around much because he's been planning with the council concerning the overnight trips!!! And I think because he stayed home for the other days…”, Ino interjected. Naruto recalled the visits to Sasuke’s house, a not so pleasant experience.

“We heard some of the council members talking ‘bout the cafe!! They're meeting up with
Sasuke- kun in a couple of minutes they said!!!”.

Sakura nodded excitedly. “Aaaaaand?”, she prompted Ino on.

Obligingly, Ino announced. “And! No one knows about it but us!!”.

“Wait wait”.

Naruto waved his hand as if clearing away invisible floating words in the air. His head was still a little muddy after the 'encounter' with Sasuke.

“So why are you inviting me?”, he asked standing up and began gathering his things.

“Isn't it obvious? You're prop!”.

“Prop”, he echoed dryly, asking for her to elaborate, but he kind of got the idea.

“Yeah”, Ino explained. “We can't look like stalkers—“

“--heavens no!”, Sakura placed a hand over her chest as if insulted.

“--so.. We need you to look like we're just a group of friends going for hot chocolate”, Ino beamed.

“Ahh”, He nodded in understanding. “Sure..”, he said a moment later, shrugging.
“...I am thirsty…”.

The girls looked shocked at his willingness to play along.

“…but! You're buying mine”, he smirked slyly.

“Che..”, Sakura frowned. “Should have known there was a catch. “Fine fine…I’ll treat you”.


*


The trio braved the cold and trudged through the snowy streets to the cafe. Muttered curses floated with their visible breaths on the freezing air as they tried to avoid slipping on the hidden patches of ice.

They sighed as a wave of heat hit them upon entering the warm and welcoming cafe. The girls quickly spotted Sasuke with sharp obsessive eyes only infatuated girls possessed. He was sitting among the group of the school council members sipping a hot beverage. The usual bored expression graced his handsome face.

“Ack!”, Naruto squawked as he was dragged to a table by Ino as Sakura walked up to the counter to get their drinks.

"I suppose this is strategic seating?”, he asked, amused at Ino's flustered state.

“Yes”, she agreed, finger combing her long blond hair that have been mussed by the winter wind.

Naruto found himself sitting faced directly with Sasuke from across the room. Ino sat on his right and an empty seat on his left was for Sakura.

“Why don't you want to sit on my seat?”, he asked.

“…because!!”, Ino answered, exasperated. She waved her hand about as if emphasizing the importance of her point. “We couldn’t have him seeing us drink or eat face on!! What if we looked horrible!”. Naruto doubted Sasuke would even care but what did he know?. He said nothing and only nodded, because it seemed the situation called for simple nodding. Thinking too much into their logic would only cause him aching headaches he had no desire of attaining.

“And Sakura and I would fight over the chair”, she finished, voice filled with resignation. Spoken from experience, Naruto grinned.

“Ahh. I see”, he nodded once more. “And so you can sneak peeks innocently and not look like you're all out staring”, he concluded, not really understanding their silliness but willing to play along.

“Precisely”, Sakura said, catching the end of the conversation. She handed out the drinks and they sat immersed in small talk. Naruto watched as both girls snuck quick looks at a seemingly oblivious Sasuke. He watched how they seemed to have a planned and choreographed system. He found it unnerving.

To distract himself from thoughts of the oddness of the other sex, he brought his cup up to take a sip of his hot chocolate.

Within a span of a few seconds, as the hot liquid hit his throat, as Sakura and Ino looked down into their cups, while the council members looked anywhere else but Sasuke, his eyes met the other boy’s dark ones, an amused smirked flickered on the pale face. His eyes widened in shock as Sasuke made a fist with his hand and mimed pumping the air up and down.

“You're going to have hot chocolate with the taste of me in your mouth”.

Naruto coughed violently as he choked on the scalding liquid, hearing Sasuke’s voice in his head.

“Naruto!! Are you alright? You're turning red!!”, The table was suddenly a flurry of activity. Sakura handed him a napkin as Ino thumped his back. Not helping! he thought, wincing as Ino slapped his back once more.

“He’s red cuz he's chockin ya ditz!!”, Ino chastised.

“I'll get a cup of water!'', Sakura ran to the counter.

Amid the chatter of the cafe and the loud hiss of the espresso machine, Naruto heard Sasuke's clear laugh ring throughout the establishment. Presumably from a joke someone told, but his eyes caught Naruto's murderous glare and smirked knowingly..

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