Because I care // SasuNaru

13. Did I want him to confess ?

Still Sasuke p.o.v

They went back home in a rush. Everything looked normal except it clearly wasn't. Naruto wasn't doing anything silly, and couldn't seem to look him in the eye, which for some reason was disappointing.

They arrived in no time and after a brief talk with Tanaka they decided they should probably go to Ito's house. He said he sensed a weird aura from his wife, and that having Sakura go with them might not have been safe. He also said he'd come with us, because it was time he and Tanaka both talked again, even if only for a little while to distract him.

Kakashi decided that they'd ride the car today, they had already spent enough time in the trees, and his allergies were kicking in.

Naruto ran to the front seat like his life depended on it.

"I call shotgun!!" He shouted while Sasuke quietly sat on the back.

"Children in the back" Kakashi calmly stated

"BUT-"

"Back"

"Ugh ok" He sighed getting out again, defeated.

He jumped in with a thud and almost hit Sasuke with the impulse. He looked around almost laughing, then, realizing who he was sitting next to, abruptly stopped. They both looked around and sighed in union. It was a small car. So small they could barely fit in together. So small their shoulders were permanently touching and there was no way out.

Tanaka turned on the car and they started their voyage.

"We'll be there in some good 15 minutes." Tanaka said, turning on the radio and starting a conversation with Kakashi.

Sasuke looked at Naruto again.

"Is everything...ok?" He asked him.

"I" Naruto started, but didn't seem too kin on finishing.

"You can tell me"

This made him laugh a bit. Sarcastic, but an improvement.

"I really can't"

What could it be that had so drastically changed Naruto?

"I won't judge"

"You? Not judge?" He gave another small snort "oh Sasuke, you're getting funnier by the minute."

"You know, I can be a good listener and supporter"

He looked back at the window and stared at the window. Small drops of rain started falling, and if Sasuke hadn't been already shoulder to shoulder with Naruto, he would've wanted to be.

"Not for this" he sighed.

————

By the time they got to Mr Ito's house the slow rain had turned into a full blown storm. Usually Naruto would look as strong as that rain, ranging with thunder, but he looked really thoughtful instead. Like he needed someone to lay his head on. But Sasuke knew he couldn't be that person.

They got out of the car.

"I'm going to ring the doorbell" Tanaka said "you guys go around the back. I know you guys said he'd be out of the house tonight so let's hope he hasn't left yet"

And so they did. Naruto put his hands on top of his head in a futile attempt to get less wet, and ran to the back door with Sasuke behind him.

Sasuke took a deep breath and took out his 'opening door clip', having it open silently in mere seconds.

They got inside what was probably a small library, and while Naruto was closing the door behind them, Sasuke skimmed through the titles on the bookshelfs.

"I really liked this book when I was younger" Sasuke whispered, looking at a copy of the Norwegian wood by Murakami.

"What did you like about it?" Naruto asked, suddenly next him.

"I don't know. You don't really need a specific reason to like something. You just need the feeling to be there."

Naruto took a few steps closer to him, standing just centimeters apart from him, also looking at the book "How does that work? Liking something without knowing why?"

"You... just do. You feel drawn to it. Liking something isn't about the specific bits of it, it's about how it all comes together into something you like."

"Yeah" Naruto sighed, grabbing the book  and flipping through a few pages "But does that apply to everything?"

He didn't know honestly. He knew he had liked the book, loved it even, yet he couldn't quite point out a specific scene or phrase that had made him love it. It was a bit like how he felt about Naruto, he thought. He hated him, but he still felt compelled to give him a chocolate when he was hungry, or catch him when he was falling.

"Yeah" He finally answered "I think so"

Naruto took another step closer to him, and Sasuke's heartbeat started speeding up-

"The thing is -" He bit his lip.

Oh god. What if he said? Sasuke took another step forward too, wiping his sweaty hands on his shorts. Maybe he should take a step back. Maybe their closeness was as damaging to Naruto's brain as it was to his. He took a step back. Naruto took a step forward. Ok then.

Abruptly, the door to the library opened. Both Sasuke and Naruto got in their fighting positions, ready for anything.

On the other side of the door was Joseph.

"Sasuke" he gasped more to himself, letting his mouth fall open in shock.

"Oh! Hi Joseph!" Sasuke answered, turning to his friend to greet him "How are you?"

The best way to play off something when you're wrong, is confidence. No one notices you're doing something wrong if you're confident enough about it.

"How is your tomato research coming along?"

"It's- are you supposed to be in my house?" Joseph asked, confused and lowkey scared.

"Yes! Don't you remember? We said we'd meet up here to talk some more"

Joseph looked hesitant, but soon enough Sasuke saw the tension leave his shoulders as he walked deeper into to the room.

"I suppose we did..."

Sasuke was prepared to play it cool and was about to go sit at the tea table when he felt something on his sleeve. In the midst of all the panic he had almost forgotten about Naruto!

As he noticed his friend, so did joseph.

"Oh. You brought the rat. How unclassy of you to bring an uninvited guest."

He heard Naruto's teeth gritting against each other, as his hand left his sleeve and turned into a ball.

Oh boy.