Babysitted by the Uchiha Avenger

The Seventh Chapter

My heart was fluttering excitedly.

Ichiraku was the place I had spent most of my childhood dreaming about visiting. It was amazing. Not only was I going to have the most famous (and most delicious) ramen in the world, I was about to chow down with Sasuke Friggin' Uchiha and Naruto Motherfucking Uzumaki. Nothing could kill my mood, not even the extremely awkward tension between Naruto and Sasuke.

Naruto had given me a piggy-back the rest of the way to the city, with Sasuke following behind; I swear I could feel him staring daggers at Naruto. I didn't say anything though, in case I was wrong.

Of course you were wrong, Luce. As if Sasuke would be jealous of Naruto for giving you a piggyback.

I laughed internally at myself. Really, I could be so stupid sometimes.

We wandered down the street, Sasuke and Naruto on either side of me. They weren't looking at each other, and I was just grinning silently like an idiot. We must have looked pretty strange to anyone looking on. And boy, were people looking on. Sasuke and Naruto were gorgeous.

Fairy lights hung above us across the cobble stone street, reflecting a rainbow pattern on Sasuke's raven hair. I gaped at it unconciously, until he turned to me, blushing slightly.

"What the hell have you been staring at for the past five minutes?"

I shut my mouth and looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry. Your hair is pretty in this light."

Did I really just say that—

I bit my tongue angrily.  Of all the things to say to Sasuke, you did NOT compliment him. He didn't care. Now I'd probably just get a scolding like Sakura would. I sighed internally. Sometimes, I really hated myself.

"Uhm...thanks."

My eyes widened in surprise. I snapped my gaze back to his face; too late, he had already shielded his expression with his hair. I could hear the smile in his voice though.

"N-no problem."

Naruto tugged on my t-shirt. "What about my hair?"

I laughed, "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen ever."

Naruto grinned, running a hand through his blonde spikes. "Aw, shucks."

" 'Shucks'? What are you, eighty?" huffed Sasuke. Naruto's grin flew to a scowl at an incredible speed. "What was that, you bastard?" he retorted, irked.

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least they were speaking again.

A biting wind suddenly cut through the street, raising goose bumps on my arms. I shivered and hugged myself, trying to stay warm, but it didn't help much. I hadn't had time to grab a jacket before leaving (shockingly, Naruto had caught me by surprise) so all I was wearing were shorts and a t-shirt. Not the best attire for a cool summer's night.

Naruto wrapped a warm, strong arm around me. I almost flinched; he was unnaturally hot. I wondered if it had anything to do with being a jinchuriki.

Whoa. I was standing next to the Kyubii.

He grinned goofily down at my surprised expression. "Sorry, I've got no jacket to offer you." I swallowed and smiled. "Thanks, Naruto."

"We're here."

I looked up, my heart beginning to flutter again, and felt a huge smile creep across my face.

The sign read, "Ichiraku".