To My Readers: So the past two-three years of working on this fic has been a rather bumpy road writing it. I know you’re all thinking this is starting to sound like one of those A/N’s that authors leave at the last chapter, but don’t worry! This story is still far from over. I’m just saying this because my intentions at the start of this fic… were none, really. I didn’t have a plan. I just thought: this will be a pointless, fun, sexy fic full of sexy things. I suppose I accomplished the ‘fun,’ just not the ‘sexy’!

Unfortunately my lack of planning is rather obvious after 17 chapters of pure… crack, I guess. What I’m trying to say is, I am very grateful to everyone who has honestly and genuinely enjoyed reading the chapters up until now, because while nothing particularly interesting has happened, I did write this hoping to make people laugh and smile and enjoy themselves. And for those of you who stuck with me since the beginning with hardly any SasuNaru, I thank you all very much.

So… I like to think, after several chapters of building Sasunaru interactions, that I am finally going somewhere with this fic, with the SasuNaru; that everything is finally coming into place. The patience of you readers astounds me. I feel very grateful.

PS: Since Naruto and Gaara had their shower scene, I thought Sasuke deserved one too.

Warning(s): A tad bit OOC-ness, but blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol

welcome to yaoi high – 17. denial is too troublesome - eftee

“…Are you even listening?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah…” Naruto mumbled distractedly. Once more he came to school early with Iruka and ran into Sasuke. Since he was early and had a few questions on his math homework, he decided to bother the young teacher. Unfortunately his mind kept drifting off at random intervals – particularly to the memory of the haunted hospital. He could still remember the sight of the figure that appeared at the window. It was far too creepy for him to forget so easily. And because he couldn’t forget such a creepy sight, he was plagued with nightmares of the figure suddenly leaping out the window to strangle him with bright, red eyes. Naruto shuddered.

Sasuke sighed. “Well, school is about to start anyway,” he said, turning to his wayward student.

“Ne, sensei –“ Naruto started to say, turning to face the older man as well, when blues met onyx and Naruto suddenly realized how close they were. The question he was going to ask instantly died on his lips as his mind chose that moment to malfunction.

It was also at that moment that Sasuke realized several things as well. Firstly, Naruto’s eyes were impossibly bright and blue. Secondly, Naruto was very close. Thirdly, he was bombarded with images of the boy changing in the locker room. Fourthly, he recalled what Iruka told him of the boy’s past, and it made him wonder how, even with such a dark past, the boy’s eyes were so open and bright. It made him want to grab Naruto, shake him, tear him open if only to find out where Naruto kept all that pain hidden; dissect him to better understand how he could be so happy, so smiley, so fucking, unbearably bright all the damn time. The fact that Naruto was so honest and yet so closed off at the same time made Sasuke want to know the real Naruto.

Was the Naruto who interacted with his friends real? Was the Naruto who constantly taunted and provoked Sasuke real? Was the boy sitting in front of him, with wide, blue, blue eyes real? Probably. But there were other sides to this boy, Sasuke knew. He knew deep down, there was anger and pain, and he wanted to see that; to understand it.

At the back of his mind, Sasuke knew he wanted to do more than just understand what was inside Naruto’s mind, if the constant image of a naked and wet Naruto popping into his mind was any indication. The fact that Iruka had trusted him to tell him about Naruto’s past made him wonder what the man would do if he learned of Sasuke’s indecent thoughts towards his young charge who was no doubt like a son to him.

He was always too aware of things. He saw the pink muscle in Naruto’s mouth dart out to lick dry, chapped lips, and suddenly Sasuke’s mouth went dry as well. They were close enough that if Sasuke just tilted his head a little further their lips would meet. It would be a quick kiss, just to satisfy his curiosity. He wondered what the boy would taste like. Ramen, maybe, since Naruto liked ramen so much. Would he feel the same jolt he felt when they made eye contact? Hopefully. Perhaps it would be more electrifying…

“Aa…” Naruto stammered out unintelligently, obviously trying to remember what he was going to ask in the first place. His lips opened and closed repeatedly, leaving Sasuke with the insatiable urge to shove his tongue down that idiot dobe’s mouth.

And then reality came slamming back on to Sasuke. This was his student – who Iruka obviously trusted him around – that he was thinking indecent thoughts about! It was wrong! Wrong in so many ways! Gritting his teeth, the man quickly turned his head away, effectively breaking whatever spell the two were in. He cursed himself for his stupidity as he stood up and pushed the desk back into its proper position, lined properly with the other desks. The bell rang, signaling the start of school. “Get to class, Uzumaki.”

“O-oh… yeah!” Naruto quickly gathered all of his papers, stuffed them into his bag and practically ran out of the classroom and to his homeroom; his cheeks flushed an embarrassingly bright red. What the hell had just happened back there?! One minute he was going to ask his teacher something, and the next he couldn’t even speak, let alone think properly! As he slowed down to a walk, Naruto found his heart was racing erratically in his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was from running, or from the close proximity he was in with Sasuke. Inner Naruto decided to point out it had absolutely nothing to do with running since he hadn’t been running that long. Stupid voice. It needed to go away.

It looked like…for a moment there… that he was going to kiss me, Naruto couldn’t help but think as he remembered how close they had been, how smoldering Sasuke’s eyes were, how nice it would have been to close the gap between them. “…Gah! What am I thinking?!” he burst out, grabbing blond locks and shaking his head vigorously. Sure he admitted to his crush on his teacher, but that didn’t mean he should encourage himself further by thinking such bad thoughts! Sasuke kissing him would never happen! Not even in his wildest dreams!

Naruto dropped his hands from his head, his shoulders sagging in defeat as he sighed. He lifted his head to continue on to class when he realized he had stopped in the middle of a crowded hallway and that people were currently staring at him strangely. He turned redder – if possible – and quickly hurried to homeroom before he could embarrass himself further.

Naruto ran into homeroom, but faltered momentarily as he made his way to his seat. Gaara was there, sitting at the back corner, staring at the window with his usual blank, indifferent expression on his face. Naruto hadn’t seen the other boy since Friday when he practically violated him in the shower. He wondered why he hadn’t seen Gaara at the party or for Halloween, but deep down, Naruto had been relieved. He didn’t want to reenact their last encounter at all, thanks.

It was convenient that Gaara didn’t go to the party, or with them when they went trick-or-treating. But now, almost three days later, there was the devil himself, sitting as if he had no care in the world (“As if he hadn’t violated me!” Inner Naruto roared with a shake of his fist, demanding righteous revenge). Naruto pursed his lips, wanting nothing more than to take said righteous revenge by slamming his fist into that emotionless face. Maybe then he’d get a reaction out of Gaara… With a sigh, the blond reluctantly trudged his way along the front of the class and down the row, pointedly keeping his gaze down as he finally made it to his seat and sat down.

He could feel Gaara’s eyes boring into the back of his head.

Naruto frowned when his sensitive ears picked up the sounds of shifting from behind, and then tensed when he could feel Gaara lean over his own desk, closer to Naruto. A warm breath ghosted over his earlobe and neck from behind and Naruto resisted the urge to shiver. “We need to talk.”

“Like hell –“ Naruto muttered angrily.

“At lunch. On the rooftop.”

“No—“

“Naruto.”

“…fine,” he acquiesced reluctantly. Naruto managed to relax when he heard Gaara give a satisfied grunt as he slid back in his seat. We need to talk, should have been Naruto’s line, the blond thought grumpily. And since when did Gaara ever want to talk to anyone? Perhaps he should bring Shikamaru with him… just in case… No. He didn’t want to appear weak in front of the redhead. If the need should arise, Naruto would fight Gaara. The blond sighed at the thought. He felt silly for thinking Gaara as dangerous, when the boy didn’t physically harm him in the shower. Deep down Naruto knew Gaara meant no harm, that Gaara just didn’t understand what was allowed and what wasn’t. He wasn’t one for words or heartfelt confessions, so by kissing Naruto, Naruto figured that was him explaining what words couldn’t.

Regardless, his actions weren’t acceptable. Gaara needed to learn that and by the Gods Naruto was going to drill that into his hormone-driven mind, dattebayo!

Ten minutes after the second bell rang, Kakashi came sauntering into class as cheerful as ever. Speaking of Kakashi and Iruka, Naruto had a bone to pick with those two as well! Why was Iruka at that pervert’s place before?! The last time he saw them together, Kakashi was violating Iruka! What if that pervert was violating Iruka in his house again?!

Without realizing it, Naruto was doodling away in his notebook, drawing violent pictures of Kakashi and Gaara being strangled (Gaara) or trampled to death by a horde of cows (Kakashi).

The first half of the day went by too fast for Naruto’s liking. The next thing he knew it was lunchtime and he was standing on the rooftop of the school building (were they even allowed up there?). He spotted Gaara standing where the metal fence was, his fingers looped through the links as his other hand was tucked in his pocket. He was slouched over the slightest bit, jade eyes trained on something, or nothing, it was hard to tell. The sound of the door closing pulled the redhead out of his musings and he turned ever so slightly to face the blond.

Naruto was wearing his jacket since it was chilly outside, but Gaara wasn’t. He didn’t seem fazed by the cold wind that played with his hair and rustled his clothes. Naruto looked a bit irritated by that revelation. How was it that Gaara could remain unfazed by anything and everything?

“Listen buddy,” Naruto started, taking a defensive position as he readied himself to Kung-fu Gaara to the moon if he tried anything funny. His eyes were narrowed suspiciously. “Can’t say I exactly trust you at the moment…”

The redhead student raised his hand in a pacifying gesture, saying solemnly: “I swear I am not here to engage in… invigorating actions with you.”

Naruto gaped. More like sexual harassment you jackass! “With? You make it sound as if it was consensual!”

“I am just here to talk. I give you my word.”

The blond continued to eye him suspiciously before grudgingly giving in. “Fine. Then talk.”

Gaara nodded and gestured Naruto over, sitting on a large, box-like structure. He reluctantly walked over and plopped himself down on the hard floor. He was sitting so his back was leaning against the box, Gaara facing one direction as he himself faced another. Naruto pulled out his bento box in order to eat his lunch that he had prepared for himself earlier that morning rather than buying lunch at school. The nightmare he had woke him up exceptionally early so he wasn’t rushing to school for the first time that year.

Mostly out of politeness than anything else, Naruto offered Gaara some of his lunch, but the redhead shook his head in negative (because really, Naruto may be nice and all, but he was rather greedy when it came to his food). As Naruto dived into his food, Gaara dived into some sort of explanation, obviously out of practice in speaking long paragraphs.

“That night you were with me… when those two guys dressed as students confronted me,” he said, “you were… unintentionally dragged into this mess.” His voice was low, hardly a murmur, as he talked. Naruto paused with food sticking out of his mouth so he could tilt his head questioningly at Gaara. “It could have happened to anyone. But you were with me that night, and because they saw you, they’ll associate you with me. Perhaps they’ll even try to come after you to get to me.”

Naruto gulped his food down loudly. “What…do you mean? What exactly are you involved in?”

“My father was the Kazekage of Suna,” Gaara explained. “When I was younger, he used to abuse me and my siblings—“ Naruto choked on his food as he gaped wide-eyed at Gaara but the boy plowed on, voice mechanical, “Him and my mother did. They hated us, and yet gave birth to us anyway. I killed my mother –“ Naruto pounded his fist against his chest to get oxygen flowing, “because I couldn’t take it anymore. After, my father would try to have me killed by putting me in fights…as I got older, he grew more desperate and hired assassins. I suppose he worried I would overtake him one day as Kage.

“But then I ran away here… to Konoha. A few years ago I received word that my father was assassinated. My uncle is the current Kage. Knowing my uncle, he had my father killed. He always wanted the position as Kage. But I did not care. I washed myself of Suna, broke ties with that place, with my siblings. I wanted nothing to do with that place anymore… and then those guys… my… ‘friends,’ I suppose you could say, showed up, demanding me to return. And next thing I know I am being confronted by those two, the blond one and the masked one.”

Naruto stopped eating in order to stare at Gaara. He paused in his explanation, still not used to saying more than a sentence, before he continued, “After the confrontation, I went to find those guys – Not the ones who tried to kill me but my, ahh… friends. I wanted answers. I found out my uncle wanted me dead. Apparently he shares the same sentiment as my father that I am dangerous to his position as Kage, seeing as how my siblings or myself are the rightful heir as the next Kage. But it also made me wonder about my siblings… Kankuro and Temari. If he’s after me, did that mean he got to them? No. They told me Temari and Kankuro are still alive, but that they ran from Suna as well when it became apparent our uncle was trying to take them out.

“They are here, in Konoha, as well. I met with them. I also spent this past weekend…with them.” He didn’t elaborate further on the topic of his siblings after that. Naruto understood now why Gaara had disappeared for a few days. There was silence as Naruto stared unseeingly at his food, before Gaara spoke again, “…I thought it would benefit you to know the truth, seeing as how guys like the blond and masked ones are dangerous. They are ruthless killers, Naruto. They will use whatever means necessary to take down their target. And since you were with me when they confronted me, they will no doubt associate you with me.”

“Killers?” Naruto repeated numbly. It sounded so surreal, farfetched and preposterous, but Naruto knew Gaara wouldn’t over exaggerate, nor would he lie. And when he met the blond man and the masked one, Naruto’s instincts told him those two were dangerous. He just never realized how dangerous. “…I see. Thanks, for warning me then, Gaara. But I’ll kick their asses if I ever run into them!”

Gaara closed his eyes, a barely perceptible smirk tugged faintly at his lips. Naruto was taking the situation more lightly than he thought he would, but then again, this was Naruto he was talking about. He shouldn’t be surprised. There was a more comfortable silence that hung between them as several black birds fluttered by. Naruto watched them take off into the gray sky.

“…What are you going to do now?”

“With my uncle after me, I can’t return to Suna…” Gaara said, “…at least not yet.”

Naruto smiled at that. So Gaara was considering returning to Suna after all.

“The upcoming fighting tournament… there are others like them. They will no doubt participate in the tournament after me and my siblings challenged them.” Naruto gaped at him.

“Can you really do that?”

“We already did. So the tournament has turned into something more now… if we win, my siblings and myself can return to Suna unharmed. From there I will probably exercise my right as the heir since Kankuro and Temari have no interest in the position as Kage.”

“And… if we lose?”

“…Losing is not an option.”

“…” Naruto stared at the jade eyes gazing back at him steadfastly. With a jerky nod, Naruto’s lips split into a wide grin. “No, it isn’t! We’ll definitely win!”

There was conviction in Naruto’s smile; determination in his eyes. It made Gaara want to believe for once in his life. To believe in someone, Gaara thought, was to trust. He had lost the ability to trust others besides his siblings a long time ago. To believe in something was to dream. He used to think dreams were fantasies brought on by one’s foolish imagination due to one’s own naivety that dreams could come true, when, in reality, fantasies were to remain as they were: fantasies. But Gaara thought at that moment maybe he could believe in someone; he could believe in the future, in the possibilities.

There was something else Gaara wanted to say – wanted to ask – but he decided he didn’t want to ruin the moment. The clouds shifted and the sun burst through, illuminating Naruto’s already bright smile whilst making his golden hair shine boldly. And even though it was nearing the end of fall and heading to winter, that smile warmed him to the core. It very well could have been summer, Gaara thought, staring into those cerulean blues.

It wasn’t until after lunch was over and the two went to class that Naruto realized they hadn’t talked about the shower incident.

That bastard!

It was amazing how quick Naruto was to accept his crush towards his very male teacher. Didn’t he used to be straight before he came back to Konoha and its blasted all-boys school? Naruto frowned thoughtfully. Who knows? Maybe I’ve always been gay and I just didn’t know…

He tilted in his head in wonder as he watched Uchiha Sasuke engage in a sparring match with Hyuuga Neji. While Neji was a very skilled fighter – Naruto gave credit where credit was due – the blond teenager was much too entranced with the older man’s movements to pay attention to anything else (or to realize he was practically staring at his teacher with a longing and very dreamy expression). Sasuke moved with such fluid grace and deadly precision it was hard to look away. Not to mention all he was wearing were a pair of sweat pants so watching the movements of Sasuke’s upper body as his torso twisted and his lithe muscles shifted and strained beneath pale, ivory flesh… was doing strange things to Naruto’s stomach.

Inner Naruto blasted through the atmosphere with a heavy amount of blood gushing from his nose.

Considering how acceptingNaruto was of his manly feelings towards his (male) teacher, it made it easier for Naruto ogle said (male) teacher without kicking himself for it. Really. Denial was such a pain in the ass… acceptance was much easier. But then again, acceptance led to ogling, which led to further – er, complications. Such as the feeling in his stomach that felt like something was twisting away uncomfortably at his gut. And noit wasn’t a fluttery-whatever feeling. It was most definitely not something so girly. For manly men did not feel such womanly emotions. The only thing men’s stomachs felt was hunger.

Like the hunger to devour Sasuke-sensei? Inner Naruto leered in a singsong voice (having crash landed back in Naruto’s brain after his blast off into the atmosphere).

EH? NO! Naruto was quick to mentally shriek (at himself), his face flushing at what his Inner self had implied. Where did such a perverted thought come from anyway?! There was no way he was a secret pervert!

Maybe Sasuke-sensei brings out your inner pervert? His Inner voice continued to taunt with evil glee. BAHAHA! YOU’RE A CLOSET PERVERT!

I AM NOT! Naruto mentally screamed, his face turning redder and twisting into a dark scowl. I WILL HURT YOU!

Too bad I AM YOU so technically you’d just be hurting yourself.

AUGH! GO AWAY!

“—Uzumaki!”

“YES?” Naruto snapped, not realizing he raised his voice so loud. He was just so furious with that stupid voice in his head! When he realized it was Sasuke who had addressed him, he paled dramatically. “Er, I mean… yes…sensei?”

“It’s your turn.”

“Aa—“ Naruto blinked, slowly processing the fact that Neji was no longer up their fighting Sasuke, but taking his place with the rest of the students in order to observe. “Right!” He jumped up and hurried on to the matt, skittering in order to take his position across from Sasuke. He felt jumpy and nervous for some reason that had absolutely nothing to do with the realization that he was going to be fighting his half-naked teacher who had pale, ivory skin… who he also had the biggest crush on…

There really must be something wrong with me to be accepting my feelings so easily.

“You’re letting your mind wander, Uzumaki,” Sasuke reprimanded as he took advantage of Naruto’s mental distractions and made the first move. He lunged his right palm in an uppercut, jutting the younger boy beneath his chin. Naruto cried out from surprise as he stumbled back none too gracefully. His feet clumsily tangled together as he stepped back and twisted to the side, barely missing the punch aimed at his head before falling to the ground as Sasuke didn’t waste a second to send another punch at him. Without missing a beat, the raven-haired male lifted a leg and slammed it down. Naruto reacted quickly – but clumsily – as he rolled on to his knees and caught the man’s ankle before the heel of his foot could slam down on the crown of his head.

Gritting his teeth, the blond shoved his opponent away and swiped a leg out in an attempt to sweep Sasuke off of his feet. Sasuke easily avoided the attempt with a smooth jump and a kick. Rather than rolling to the side, Naruto rolled underneath the few feet beneath the matt and Sasuke. In a matter of seconds, teacher and student were on their feet, exchanging determined and challenging stares before Naruto made the next move. Sasuke caught the fist barreling for his head, as well as the second fist.

The two males locked hands and braced themselves as they tried to overpower the other by sending each other back. It was obvious that all though Naruto was smaller, he could easily hold himself against Sasuke with physical strength alone. But then the close proximity made Naruto’s eyes wander to the muscular torso in front of him, made him notice the way the muscles beneath toned arms strained and shifted, made him much too aware of the older man in front of him…

“There you go again, spacing out, dobe,” Sasuke taunted as he suddenly dropped down – dragging a confused blond with him. He planted a foot on Naruto’s stomach as he rolled on his back and kicked his student over, sending a yelping Uzumaki Naruto sailing over him and through the air.

Naruto cursed as he landed in a heap at the edge of the matt. He had to scramble on to his feet before his teacher could take advantage of his disgruntled state yet again. It was true what Sasuke was saying about his mind wandering, but Naruto couldn’t help it! He wanted to yell at the bastard that it was his fault Naruto kept getting distracted, but then how was he going to explain that one? Especially in front of his fellow classmates.

“You’re too open, dobe,” Sasuke’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts just as his fist connected with the boy’s stomach.

“Fuck,” Naruto cursed, being forced to his knees when Sasuke jabbed harshly at the back of his neck. He dived between the older man’s legs and came up from behind. Before he could even think of attacking Sasuke while his back was turned, Sasuke kicked back and Naruto was forced down yet again.

“You’re not paying attention.”

“Shut up,” Naruto snapped, pushing himself up and glaring as the man turned to face him with calculating obsidians. He already felt humiliated as it was. He didn’t need it further rubbed in his face when he knew exactly why he was so distracted. “I’m not done yet.”

“Hn. You must be a masochist, Uzumaki, to allow yourself to continue to get beat up.”

“I don’t know what that even means but knowing you it’s an insult so shut up and bring it on, bastard!”

Sasuke smirked. He didn’t need further prodding as he ran, the sound of bare feet pounding against the matt sounding in the dojo. Naruto intercepted the punch with a smooth brush of his arm before returning the gesture. Teacher and student fell into a familiar rhythm of exchanged punches and kicks, except this time Naruto was able to compose himself enough to push his distractions to the back corners of his mind. There was always a difference when Naruto set his mind to something. Sasuke would know. Even in school Naruto performed better when he faced things head on with conviction and determination. His mind became sharper. He was more attuned to what was around him. He actually used that neglected brain of his. His reflexes were sharper. He was more perceptive, quicker, stealthy, stronger.

And if there was one thing Sasuke learned about the blond was that he was a quick learner as well as not forgetful. Every time they sparred – or he sparred with the other students – Naruto would take the lesson from each spar session in order to learn more about his opponents, to better himself, to use what he learned to his advantage. While every fighter did that, Naruto was much more sharp and perceptive than the average fighter. He may not look it, or act like it, but he was smart. And if Sasuke was being honest with himself, he’d go as far as saying he always looked forward to the next time he would fight with Naruto, because Naruto always tried something new, and he always, always got better each time.

But, Sasuke thought, while Naruto is getting better, he’s still not as good as me.

After that thought passed through his mind, the Uchiha figured his mind might have spoken too soon as Naruto suddenly twisted around, holding one of Sasuke’s arm over his shoulder. He bumped back, forcing the man to double over the blond’s slouched back. The next thing Sasuke knew he was being flipped over Naruto’s shoulders and on to his back with a painful thud. Before Naruto could gloat over his momentary triumph, Sasuke grabbed Naruto’s ankle and pulled – sending said blond stumbling on top of him. Rather than being disgruntled and taken aback by the action, Naruto sprung into action, as did Sasuke, and the two started to wrestle in order to overpower and pin the other down.

The hustling only lasted for a couple of seconds before Sasuke managed to pin the other down and claim victory – yet again – in their sparring session. The two were panting from the adrenaline rush and the exertion, Naruto scowling as he realized he lost – yet again – and Sasuke smirking in smug satisfaction. Naruto had to turn his head a bit (for Sasuke had his face shoved flat in the matt) and he glared at Sasuke from the corner of his eye, his cheeks flushed and mouth open as he panted and struggled to regain his breathing. It took a while for their position to register in either of their heads, but when it finally did it seemed as if the whole world froze and the two forgot to breathe.

Naruto was beneath him on his knees, his head held firmly down by the pale hand gripping blond strands. The other hand that wasn’t holding his head down was clasping two tanned wrists behind Naruto’s back. Perhaps the position wouldn’t have been so bad if Naruto had been lying flat on his stomach, but the position they were in – Naruto’s ass raised high and Sasuke knelt and pressed firmly behind him as he held him down – was both incriminating and suggestive. And was it them or was it suddenly uncomfortably hot in the dojo?

It also didn’t help that an image of Naruto in the same position beneath him – albeit naked and wet and panting from pleasure – suddenly flashed in Sasuke’s mind as he remembered seeing the boy nude in the locker room. He had the inexplicable urge to grind against the cute ass raised against him and pound said ass into the matt. It was such a sudden thought that it left Sasuke confused and hot. And so, just as quickly as the thought passed through his mind, he released the younger male and stood. He needed to remove such indecent thoughts from his head before other problems developed further south, or worse, him actually putting his thoughts into action.

He extended a hand out to Naruto and pulled the blushing blond up. It seemed Sasuke wasn’t the only one all too aware of their suggestive position if the way Naruto avoided eye contact and the embarrassed blush he was sporting was anything to go by. Thankfully the other students didn’t seem to notice anything amiss by the way they applauded politely for Sasuke’s victory.

“You all did well today,” Sasuke said. “I’ll see you all tomorrow again.”

Naruto texted Iruka as soon as they were dismissed, and after he finished changing into his clothes, he went over to the front of the dojo to wait for Iruka. It was raining outside, unfortunately. It had started pouring shortly after school was let out and the rain didn't look like it was going to give out anytime soon. He was so caught up in watching the rain and the cars driving by that he was startled when Gaara questioned him from behind.

"Do you need a ride?"

"Nah, Iruka said he'd pick me up after class if it was still raining," Naruto waved him off. He raised an eyebrow at Gaara, looking very curious. "Speaking of which... wouldn't you need a ride home since you always walk home?"

"I have a car," the redhead shrugged as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

Naruto's mouth fell open. "Seriously?! Then why the hell do you always walk home?"

"Gas pollutes the air."

Naruto stared.

“Seriously?”

“…well it does.”

“Yeah but I didn’t peg you as, er, environmentally-friendly.”

Gaara shrugged.

…Actually, when Gaara left Suna, he had an evil plan to get back at his father by withdrawing from his father's bank account a lot of money (insert large sum here). With that money he bought a car and his own place to stay at (and still had enough up until then to continue paying for rent and car insurance; he paid off the whole car when he bought it). His evil plan involved buying a car but not really using it.

He was just a natural at being an evil genius.

He was sure his father -- ever the unenvironmentalist and always into his money -- was rolling in his grave.

"Man! If I had a car I would be driving everywhere!" Naruto stated, looking enviously at Gaara. "You're totally wasting your car away by not using it every chance possible!"

"Oh well."

A blond brow twitched. "Tch. There is something seriously wrong with you, my friend. It's like every teenager's dream to own their own car."

"That is... not my problem."

"Ser-i-ous i-ssues. Ser-i-ous-ly."

Gaara shrugged, not really caring. He knew he had issues. But what evil genius didn't? It came with the package. "See you around."

"Yeah, yeah, see ya," Naruto muttered distractedly. As Gaara left he was still muttering about 'issues,' 'people who let their cars rot' and 'damn environmentalists.' He was removed from his ranting when he felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket with a text message. He pulled it out and flipped it open to see the text was from 'Irukaaaaaaaaaa.'

meeting running late. r u able 2 get a ride from someone?.

Naruto quickly looked outside to see if Gaara was still around (hopefully that offer for a ride was on the table), but he didn't see the redhead around any longer. Naruto bit his lip. Everyone else was already gone with exception to Sasuke... He replied to Iruka's message before sighing and slipping his phone back in his pocket.

yea. dun wry. c u l8r.

He really didn't want to ask his bastard teacher for a ride home, but he didn't want to catch the bus home in the rain either. Getting wet outweighed having to talk to said bastard teacher so Naruto marched back to the locker rooms in order to find Sasuke. He didn't see the man at his locker and frowned, wondering where the bastard had gone off to, that is, until he heard the sound of a running shower. Naruto's frown turned questioning. Was that prissy man really taking a shower? Couldn't he have done that at home instead of making Naruto wait for him so he could ask for a ride?! How inconsiderate!

For some reason the blond teenager thought it was a good idea to head over to the showers in order to give Sasuke a piece of his mind about being so prissy. Perhaps he was caught up in the moment. Perhaps he was just really that stupid. Or perhaps he just really wanted to catch a glimpse of his teacher naked (or so his Inner self leered suggestively)... whatever the reason, Naruto realized he probably should start thinking things through before putting said thoughts into action. It wasn't until he was already standing in front of the showering area that Naruto realized calling his teacher a 'priss' wasn't such a good idea, especially since he needed a ride from him. He also realized marching there thoughtlessly wasn't a good idea either, especially when he got an eyeful of a naked Sasuke, standing beneath the shower head, steam rising all around him as he showered on unaware of his audience.

Naruto's jaw unhinged itself as cerulean eyes gazed at a wet, toned back, wandered to the head of damp raven hair sticking to neck and shoulders, and further down... Naruto gulped, his gaze subconsciously heading further south before warning bells went off in his head that his eyes were heading into dangerous territory, so he quickly (painfully) tore his gaze back to Sasuke's back. His back was nice, Naruto decided. It was nice to look at. He knew it was nice to look at when he first walked in on Sasuke changing his shirt one time. It looked nicer when it was all wet and slick like that... He had the sudden urge to walk over to Sasuke so he could run his hands up and down his back and around his torso to his front where he knew he would feel just as toned abs (his fingers twitched at a certain memory of riding with Sasuke on his motorcycle...).

It was strange for Naruto seeing Sasuke naked. Half naked was one thing, but seeing Sasuke completely nude and dripping wet was doing strange things to Naruto. It felt like a circus was parading around in his stomach, and the room felt ten times hotter than it should. His cheeks were flushed and eyes a hazy, darker blue than usual. He drew his bottom lip between his teeth and worried it without realizing what he was doing. Anticipation started to build in his belly when he saw Sasuke turning around. As soon as he did, Naruto high tailed it out of there, the thought of rain suddenly becoming appealing to his flustered state.

He didn't stop running until he was outside of the dojo standing beneath the awning. The rain continued on several inches from his position. It was dark out, but the rain clouds over head blocked the moon and stars, making the sky appear pitch black. But he wasn't thinking about that. He was thinking about Sasuke, and the fact that he saw his teacher naked! It should have burned his retinas from his eyes completely. He should have been disgusted. He should feel sick! Traumatized! But he wasn't any of those things! He was hot and bothered and completely flustered from head to toe! The voice in the back of his mind taunted that he had wanted to join Sasuke in the shower... and Naruto knew that voice was right.

Naruto was panting as he leaned back against the front of the building in order to regain his breathing. He felt like his heart was beating so fast - almost as fast as the fluttering of a hummingbird's wings - that he feared it was going to burst from his chest any moment. What a gruesome thing that would be for his heart to burst from his chest. Painful too, probably. He winced at the thought. It wasn't until after his breathing and heartbeat returned to normal that the teenager was finally able to relax and realize that he was outside and it was rather chilly, even with his orange hoodie on. Naruto looked up and down the sidewalk as he thought over what his best approach home would be. He did not want to go back in the dojo and face his teacher otherwise the memory of the man naked would invade his mind like it was again...

"Gah! Don't think about it!" Naruto scolded himself, dashing out into the rain in order to reach the bus stop at the corner of the sidewalk. He took shelter beneath the arch and slumped down on the bench with a sigh. Naruto wondered if it was possible to be utterly infatuated with an older man, but then he thought of the fanboys (and fangirls who came all the way from Konoha's All Girl's High School just to see Uchiha Sasuke), and thought it wasn't impossible.

But I'm not a crazy fan stalker, Naruto thought to himself, scowling in frustration at the wet asphalt of the street. But I've never... really liked other people, like that. I've liked Sakura-chan but now I just see her like my sister. So there's nothing to compare this feeling to... I'm so confused.

Naruto smacked his hands to his cheeks and squeezed them. "Get yourself together, Uzumaki Naruto! You're acting like a lovesick woman! Dattebayo!"

He was a man, who felt manly feelings towards another man. It was just a phase... definitely.

Feeling more confident about his feelings (or lack thereof), Naruto was finally able to relax as he looked up and down the street for any signs of the bus. Not much time had passed since he ran out of the dojo, so the fact that it was cold and raining outside when the only warmth he was receiving was from his hoodie, was finally catching up to him. Luckily it didn't take long for the bus to come. Naruto hopped in, paid the bus fare, and turned to take his seat. He wavered when seeing how dingy and dirty the bus was in comparison to others he's been on. The bus wasn't crowded, but the few that were in it looked shady. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Naruto hurried down the row just as the bus gave a jerk and started up again.

After five minutes on the bus, Naruto was starting to think perhaps taking the bus wasn’t such a good idea if the unnerving stares the shady people that were on the bus was any indication to go by. He would have rather undergone certain embarrassment by going back to the Uchiha and asking for a ride home than stay on that bus another minute longer. It also didn’t help that the man sitting across from him looked creepy to the max. The man appeared middle aged, had a messy, unkempt appearance, along with a moustache and a goatee and a wicked gleam in his eyes. Everything about him screamed PEDOPHILE!

That sick bastard probably thinks I’m a kid… Naruto thought, sending the man a withering glare that temporarily threw said man off guard. Ha! Serves him righ—Ehhh? He’s coming over here!!

Cue inner panic.

The creepy-pedophile-looking-lecherous-old-man occupied the seat next to him.

“Hello little boy,” the man greeted, positively beaming as if he was merely doing a good deed by, perhaps, approaching this child who may be lost and possibly need escorting to his (the man’s – er, the young boy’s – home). “You look lost.”

Naruto scowled dangerously at him. “I don’t think it’s possible to be lost on a bus. Now scram you old geezer before I bestow you with my Fist of Justice.”

“Feisty, huh? I li—admire kids who are feisty.”

I’m sure you do! Naruto wanted to scream, but ended up screaming instead: “I’m not a kid!”

Naruto grinned victoriously at the pervert’s crestfallen expression. “You’re not?? But you’re so—so—“

“Don’t you dare call me –“ Naruto started to warn in a growl.

“—small!”

“I AM NOT SMALL!”

Not a minute later Naruto found himself kicked out of the bus (by the driver after he punched the man to the end of the bus) and into the rain. He watched angrily as the bus drove away and kicked at a puddle. “Stupid pedophile! He should have gotten tossed outta the bus, not me…”

Naruto furiously blinked the rain water from his eyes as he pulled his hood further over his head and turned to start walking, that is, until the sign blinking in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He looked up to see he was standing right in front of the Clownfish.

“I feel like I’ve been here before…” Naruto muttered, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Did Iruka ever take him there? Nah… Did he go with his friends? He didn’t think so…

“Oh yeah!” Sasuke-bastard took me here before…

It was funny how his thoughts always seemed to wander back to Sasuke. Not.

Naruto pushed his way into the restaurant. He realized he was hungry anyway.

Uchiha Sasuke hated the rain. He hated cold and unbearably hot temperatures. He hated bad weather in general. He hated a lot of things, really. He particularly hated that it had to rain on the same day he got his car washed. Why did it always seem to rain when he got his car washed? The Gods must hate him… Either that or they were envious of his beautiful ride. But who could blame them? Sasuke would be jealous if he were anyone else. But Sasuke didn’t do jealousy. It was a petty emotion that Uchihas never stooped down to. Ever.

And for some reason people lost the ability to drive whenever it rained. It seemed as if a little bit of rain warranted people to drive thirty miles below speed limit. That or there was just an awful lot of elder people driving that night. Sasuke turned his car off in relief once he finally made it to his destination: Clownfish. Teaching all day really gave him an appetite.

He also failed to pay his electricity bill on time since it was underneath the pile of other junk mail he received and hadn’t seen it till the other morning when nothing in his apartment worked. Without electricity, he couldn’t cook, and his food was probably spoiling away in his refrigerator… (then again electricity or not, Sasuke wasn’t the cooking type, but the get-takeout-food-all-the-time type). Needless to say Sasuke had been too busy (lazy) since the previous morning to pay his bill.

Sasuke walked quickly through the rain and into the restaurant. The usual bored-looking hostess greeted him as he removed his wet jacket and she took it, hanging it on a hook to let it dry.

“Seat at the bar?” she asked, Sasuke being a usual customer that she easily remembered where he preferred seating.

He nodded.

“Well you know the way,” she gestured with a yawn.

Sasuke doubt her boss would let her get away with talking to customers like that. But he did know the way and she knew he did so there was no point in her guiding him there. As he stepped around the bamboo walls and into the restaurant, he noted it was practically vacant save for someone else occupying the bar, and another person sitting on the opposite end against the wall. The atmosphere itself was peaceful with a mellow song playing in the background. He made his way to the bar and sat a few stools down from the other bar occupant.

Sasuke took his time browsing the menu as he waited for the bartender to approach him. As if on cue, the bartender came out from the back, saw he had a new customer, and walked over to him. “Good evening. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“Mm…sake,” Sasuke said as he closed his menu. “I’m also ready to order. I’ll have tendon…”

The bartender nodded and took his menu. The other occupant at the bar lifted his head at the sound of Sasuke’s voice and turned to look, squinting.

“Eeeh? Sensei?”

Sasuke looked up only to see a certain Uzumaki Naruto sitting a few seats down from him. Damn. And here the man thought he was going to have a nice, peaceful dinner by himself. “Dobe.”

Naruto blinked and scowled. “Bastard!”

“What are you doing here?”

“Weeeell…” Naruto trailed off thoughtfully. He really didn’t want to talk about how he got kicked out of the bus. “This is a karaoke bar-restaurant… thing… and people come to restaurants to eat…”

Sasuke didn’t know why he asked a question with such an obvious answer. After all, it was a free world and Naruto could eat wherever he wanted. But did he have to eat where Sasuke ate at the same time?

“Here you go, kid.”

“Thanks!”

Sasuke watched in morbid fascination as the boy wolfed his noodles down and somehow managed to take a chug of his own sake in the process. “Aren’t you a bit young to be drinking, dobe?”

“Ife sefenfeen,” Naruto said with a mouthful of noodles. Sasuke’s lip curled in disgust.

“Don’t talk with your mouthful, dobe.”

Naruto swallowed his food. “I’m seventeen. I’m obviously legal otherwise the bartender would never have given me sake!”

The drinking age in Konoha was seventeen. No one really knew why, but Naruto heard it was due to the fact that long ago Konoha used to be a shinobi village. Back then children became shinobi at the age of twelve and it was decided that since children could go on dangerous missions that sometimes involved killing, why shouldn’t they be allowed to indulge in alcohol? Back then there was no age limit. Over time it changed to fifteen, then sixteen, then seventeen as society became more modern and advanced.

…Or at least, that’s what Kakashi told Naruto the other day. Considering what a lying pervert that man was, Naruto wasn’t sure if he could trust that story.

But it sounded cool. Ninjas. Naruto wished he was a ninja…

Sasuke noticed Naruto had already finished off a bottle of sake some time before he had gotten there. He also noticed that the blond’s cheeks were becoming flushed as he finished his second bottle. He figured the teenager was already getting drunk if the way said teenager suddenly froze mid-bite, eyes glazed over in thought, before suddenly snapping back to reality and finishing his bite was any indication of his inebriated state.

In the next ten minutes Sasuke relished in the silence, surprised Naruto hadn’t tried engaging him in conversation. Within that time the bartender had brought him his drink and his food. Teacher and student ate in companionable silence. Sasuke knew from the last time he ate ramen with Iruka and Naruto that Naruto was a heavy eater. But the amount of times he had the bartender going back and forth from the kitchen with a fresh, steaming bowl of ramen never ceased to bewilder him. That boy truly was the personification of ‘bottomless pit.’

“I wanted to be a ninja,” Naruto suddenly said after his fifth…sixth – Who knows? Sasuke lost count… – bowl of ramen.

“What?” Sasuke asked, eyeing Naruto oddly. Where did that come from?

“Just thought I’d let you know,” Naruto said matter-of-factly, “since we’re on the topic.”

“…What?”

“You know…” Naruto tapped his head before lowering his voice to a whisper. “Ninjas, bastard. There used to be ninjas in Konoha… They could still be around…” He eyed the man sitting alone on the other side of the restaurant suspiciously. “They could be anyone…” He eyed the bartender. “A-ny-ooonnee…” He eyed Sasuke.

“…”

Naruto suddenly perked back up. “I wanted to be one when I was a kid! What did you want to be? Huh? A lawyer? You look like the type who’d want to be a lawyer.”

“Are you judging me, dobe? I was not aware of you being the judgmental type.”

“Nah I’m just sayin’. You seem like the type who’d make people crack. Like you’d call someone to the stand and you’d be all eyeing him down coolly and you’d be all,” Naruto twisted his face to one of seriousness as he drawled out: “’So did you do it?’ And that’s all you’d have to do is ask that one thing and you’d continue starin’ the guy down and he’d be sweatin’ in his seat and all you’d need is that evil stare and you’d make the guy crack and he’d spill everythin’! …That’s all.”

Sasuke couldn’t help but look amused at Naruto’s (drunken) logic. “I see. If you must know… I did not want to be a lawyer.”

“Have you always wanted to be a teacher? Do teachers just know they’re gonna be teachers when they’re like, kids?”

“No, dobe,” Sasuke chuckled. He felt loose and in an unusually good mood. It was probably his sake. He had to be on his, what, third, fourth bottle? But Naruto was on his fifth…then again, who’s counting?

“You sound nice when you kinda laugh,” Naruto stated.

“Hn.”

“So answer my question, bastard. Quit distractin’ me with your kinda-laughs and stuff.”

“’And stuff’?” Sasuke repeated, his eyebrow quirked.

“Yeah!” Naruto was leaning towards him and Sasuke noticed how the dimness of the restaurant and the flush on tan cheeks made his blue eyes appear darker. It reminded him of the rain at night. “Your eyes…distract me sometimes. ‘Cause they’re all dark aaaand… some people say they’re soldering.”

“Soldering? Do you mean smoldering?”

“That’s what I said.”

“No, you said… never mind. You… think my eyes are smoldering.”

“I did not say that.”

“But you were thinking it,” Sasuke lowered his voice teasingly. Was he flirting with his student? It was hard to tell. He was just mocking him as usual. If his voice came off as sultry and husky it wasn’t intentional…

“And what are you? A mind reader?” Naruto demanded hotly. He clamped his hands over his ears. Sasuke looked incredulous.

“Why are you holding your ears?”

“So my thoughts won’t leak out so you can’t hear ‘em! Duh.”

“You were thinking it then.”

“No way!”

“Idiot.”

“Hey! Don’t call me names!” Naruto reprimanded as he jabbed a finger at the older male. “Bastard.”

“I’ll stop calling you names if you stop calling me bastard.”

“It’s kind of your name so I really can’t.”

“Then I can’t stop calling you idiot.”

“Bastard.”

“Idiot.”

“You distracted me again!”

“Hn.” Sasuke smirked. “I don’t remember what I wanted to be when I was younger.”

“You’re such a liar! How can you forget? I can’t forget. I still think ninjas are cool! And so did my dad! We used to play ninjas all the time…” Naruto suddenly trailed off and became lost in his thoughts. “I can’t forget…” he repeated the next second with conviction.

Sasuke’s drunken tongue wanted to ask what else the boy remembered about his father, but even in his intoxicated mind realized it would be much too cruel. He was also starting to think that referring to Naruto as ‘boy’ wasn’t exactly proper, for even though the teenager was short, he was far from a child. People have constantly told Sasuke that there was something about him that made him appear older; the look in his eyes, his mature personality, his cool demeanor, his intelligence… He could see what people meant when he looked at Naruto.

And the remembered feel of a smooth, tan stomach against his hand wasn’t something he cared to feel from a boy. He also didn’t think about little children in incriminating positions, or remember them bending over wet and naked after a shower… Gods. I sound like a pedophile.

Since when did he stop looking at Naruto like a child who needed constant reprimanding?

And since when did Naruto move over chairs that they were suddenly sitting next to each other?

“What, dobe?” Sasuke asked, disgruntled as Naruto stared at him.

“…Shh,” Naruto hushed as he pressed a finger to Sasuke’s lips. “I’m trying to read your thoughts.”

“…”

“That proves it,” Naruto said after a few seconds of concentration. His expression was solemn. “Your mind is as blank as your expression.”

“Dobe,” Sasuke growled, grabbing the hand in front of his face. “You’re smashed.”

“No kidding,” Naruto flashed him a cheeky grin. “So are you.”

“No I am not. I can hold my liquor, unlike you.”

“Shut up. I just became legal recently,” Naruto pointed out.

“Legal or illegal has never stopped teens from drinking.”

“Aren’t you being a hippopotamus to judge me and put me in that category?”

“…I believe the correct term is ‘hypocrite.’”

Naruto looked confused. “Isn’t that what I said?”

“No,” Sasuke chuckled.

Naruto wondered if it was Sasuke’s chuckle or the alcohol that made him feel warmer inside all of a sudden. It was then he realized Sasuke was still holding his hand and that warm feeling increased.

“You’re blushing, dobe,” Sasuke murmured, his breath warm against Naruto’s fingertips.

“No ‘m’not,” Naruto disagreed. He thought he should pull his hand away because Sasuke was holding it way too longer than was necessary, but who was he kidding? He wanted Sasuke to keep holding his hand. Sasuke may seem like a cold bastard most of the time, but for such a cold bastard, his hands were surprisingly warm. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed when the older male relinquished his grasp. “You know what? Gaara kissed me a few days ago in the boy’s locker room.”

Both of Sasuke’s eyebrows rose. Was that why he saw the redhead storming out of the locker room that one day? “…I see.”

“Yeah,” Naruto made a face. He didn’t know why he was telling Sasuke what happened, but he didn’t know why he was saying a lot of things. “And then earlier today we had a talk and he made it sound as if it was conventional or somethin’! Can you believe that prick?!”

“…Consensual,” Sasuke corrected.

“What?!”

“You said ‘conventional.’”

“No I didn’t.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Why was he even bothering trying to correct someone so drunk?

“I didn’t want him to kiss me.”

“Who do you want to kiss you?”

“I’m not that drunk to go telling you that,” Naruto reprimanded with a grin. “Silly bastard.”

“Hn.” Sasuke glanced at his wristwatch in order to distract himself from his curiosity. Apparently alcohol made him more curious than was natural for an Uchiha. “It’s late, dobe. Shouldn’t you be getting home before Iruka-san worries about you?”

“Naaah,” Naruto waved his hand. “He hasn’t even texted me… He’s probably with that Kakashi-pervert… I think they’re going out.”

“You think?”

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke resisted the urge to smack his forehead (a very un-Uchiha thing to do). “How are you getting home?”

Naruto shrugged.

“…How did you get here?”

“The bus. But then I got kicked out because this stupid pedophile thought I was a kid and hit on me so I hit him and for some reason I got kicked out…”

“…I see.” Sasuke got off his stool as he pulled his wallet out and set enough bills on the table to cover both his and Naruto’s food and drinks. He justified his actions by telling himself that Naruto was too drunk to figure out how to pay for his food and drinks.

Naruto blinked owlishly. “Are you leaving?”

“Hn.”

Sasuke remained completely oblivious to Naruto’s ‘I-really-need-a-ride-home-so-please-offer-me-a-ride!’ look as he slipped his wallet back into his coat pocket and turned around to leave. Drunk or not, Naruto figured his admittance to taking the bus would have somehow hinted to the Uchiha that he didn’t have a ride home and could really use one! Was that man dense or what?! And didn’t he ask Naruto how he was getting home? And didn’t Naruto shrug?! Was he really so cold-hearted he was going to turn away and let Naruto walk home in the rain?!!

Sasuke was already out the restaurant by the time reality caught up with the blond.

“HE REALLY DID JUST LEAVE!”Naruto burst out aghast. “W-WAIT! BASTARD!” Naruto jumped off his stool and darted after his teacher (nearly tripping in the process); hurrying to catch up to the man before he was gone and Naruto would really have to walk home in the downpour. Sasuke had only managed to walk a feet away from the door when Naruto came bursting out panting. “HEY! DON’T LEAVE!”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

“Wait…just wait!” Naruto held up a hand to stop him as he caught his breath. “And must you always do that eyebrow thing?! It’s annoying.”

“Tch.” Sasuke turned to leave.

“Wait!”

“What, dobe?” Sasuke asked, looking at him from over his shoulder.

“I need a ride home!”

“…Huh.”

“…”

“…”

“Can I get a ride home?”

“…You can…”

“…What the f—“ A vein in Naruto’s temple twitched. “May I get a ride home?--” Oh Evil One.

Sasuke glanced up at the sky, looking like what he was about to do was going to pain him to do so. “…Fine.”

Naruto wasn’t sure what possessed him. If anyone by chance found out, he would just tell them it was the alcohol’s fault. It made him more excited (if possible, since the teen always seemed excited) than usual. It also didn’t help that being around Sasuke made him feel high. He wasn’t sure why. But giddiness plus alcohol plus happy-that-he-didn’t-have-to-walk-home-in-the-rain really shouldn’t have meant he jump on his teacher and plant a big smackaroo right on his lips.

But, he did.

At the moment he regretted it once his actions caught up to his slow, intoxicated mind.

Whether he regretted it later on was a different story.

To be continued.

BAHAHAHAHA. Sorry. Cliffies are just second-nature to me, ya know?? It comes al-natural. I don’t mean to do it. I somehow write myself into a cliffhanger. Sorrysorry. But I am sooo extremely excited to write the next chapter you have no idea… maybe once I’m done studying for my two psych exams…and when my reflection paper is finished…and other hw oii. Taking five classes in college plus work is killer, let me tell you.

AND ALSO HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY TO BLUEBELLA/RAISEL (my dear illustrator for yh). This chapter is for you for all of your awesome drawings the past year. Time sure flies by! –throws confetti-)

OKAY TIME FOR ME TO GO WORK -RUNS AWAY-