BASS LINE Chapter Seven.

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A/N: Forgive me for it's extreme lateness.

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There was wind at his back, whipping his hair about, watering his eyes and buffeting his clothing all around him. His cloak had little hope of staying close to his body: the buttons were all broken, the holes for them torn open too wide to be able to hold properly anyway. His scarf kept his neck warm, hiding the smooth expanse of skin from the harshness of the wind. His hair was held back by a thin black hair elastic, his fingers numbed by the cold as he had lost his gloves in the winter of the previous year.

But he didn't care how cold his hands were, if his eyes were watering or how much his cloak fluttered. His heart was aflutter more-so than his cloak and it had nothing to do with the wind. It had everything to do with the fact that the place that he had now arrived at was the residence of the very person who had set his heart trembling.

The only problem was that it didn't look to Haku as though Sasuke was home at all. The lights were all off, the curtains drawn, and an old newspaper sat beside the fresh one on the front step of the little flat. Sasuke would never leave a used paper on the doorstep. He wouldn't even leave a fresh one there.

Haku, standing on the sidewalk, shivering and licking his dry lips, figured that the Uchiha must be at Naruto's place. The feminine boy had assumed that when the Uchiha had called the previous week that Sasuke had been home, but now understood that the lesser quality of the phone line on Sasuke's end had been due to the fact that it had been Naruto's phone line. Sasuke must be staying there for a while.

The blonde was a very close friend to Sasuke, and while the jealousy scratched irritatingly at the edges of his mind and heart Haku knew with a certainty that the friendship the two other boys shared bordered more on brotherhood than sexual liaison.

With Naruto's residence in mind, Haku turned from Sasuke's flat, shoved his hands in his pockets, and braved the storm once more.

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Sasuke hung up the phone in frustration. It was a week after he had initially called Haku, and now the feminine boy wasn't answering his phone. His mobile was off, his home phone kept ringing out. And to make matters worse, a storm had situated itself directly over the town. Rain pelted into the tiny window at the side of the apartment. Sasuke shivered. Naruto's clear voice drifted out of the bathroom, singing.

Sasuke didn't know how he could be bothered. Rain made Sasuke unbearably exhausted. The rhythmic sound of rain drops pattering on the window alternately softly and harshly. The soft rumble of thunder, resonating through the room. It all just made Sasuke rather sleepy. And yet, he missed Haku terribly. The ache for his feminine friend swamped over him and had grown progressively since their last phone conversation.

But it wasn't as if Sasuke was actually going to go outside when there had been a storm raging for the past week. Sasuke had been staying at Naruto's house because of it. He wouldn't actually go into it. No way. Not even for Haku. Absolutely no-

Sasuke walked to the door, grabbing his coat on the way. This was going to be cold.

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Outside, Haku stalked along the footpath, on his way to Naruto's little apartment. The wind had only strengthened as he walked and now it battered against him, as if attempting to break through his exposed pale skin. He hunched himself against it and walked on. Sasuke was at the end of this little journey and Haku would do anything to see the Uchiha right now. Even if he had to walk through a storm in order to achieve that goal.

But the wind was really releasing its rage, now. His cloak was in serious danger of being ripped off of his back, his hair was seconds away from being torn from the band that was holding it and he was being buffeted backwards three steps for every one he took forward. To make matters worse, a heavy fog had settled over everything around him, making it impossible to see anything further than twenty feet in front of him.

And Haku no longer had any sort of indication as to where he was.

He was utterly lost.

How was he ever going to find Sasuke now? How would he tell him the most significant thing that he had ever felt the need to tell anybody previous to this moment?

Absolute helplessness washed grittily over Haku, and he slumped to the frost covered ground, cloak billowing wildly around him, hair coming lose, and eyes watering. Utterly defeated.

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Meanwhile, Sasuke was having similar problems. While his coat was secure around him, his hair was whipping into his eyes. Despite having gloves on, his hands shook with the cold that penetrated the worn wool. His pyjama's weren't doing much in the way of keeping him warm under the coat, either.

And he had forgotten his shoes.

Nevertheless, Sasuke was determined to get to Haku's place and not only because of the warmth of the hearth. It was warmth of the heart that he was in search of. So, on he trudged, through the frost covered grass, over the cement that laced the empty streets.

The fog descended upon him when he was close to his own little flat, obscuring his vision and chilling him to the bones so fiercely that he shook violently with the shivers that resulted.

Nothing, he figured, could be worse than being stuck out in the cold, shivering himself to death, torn from a young man whom he had realised that he was inadvertently in love with, now not having a clue as to which direction his house, or anything, was actually in and his eyes watering for a reason that had nothing to do with the wind whipping brutally into him.

And then it started to rain.

And Sasuke started to sob. His chest heaving, rain hammering onto his vulnerable and shivering form, he fell to his knees on the cracked pavement, wiped tears that would reappear a moment later off his cheeks, Sasuke cried for the first time in ten years. And all the while, Haku was the only thing on his mind. The person that he loved. The person that he cherished above all others. One of Naruto's closest friends. One of his. His precious person, somewhere unknown, somewhere that Sasuke wouldn't be anytime soon. Far away from him.

He covered his face with slender hands, his heart seeping out of him in his tears, in every sob and in every shiver. Utterly defeated.

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Naruto emerged from the bathroom to be confronted with a shockingly empty apartment. After having lived with Sasuke for the past week, holed up with him because of the storm, he had grown accustomed to the raven haired boy's presence around him every day. And despite their time at school together, he had found himself growing closer to his friend than he had previously ever been. Naruto had never had a brother, but in his opinion, if he had ever had one, he would have liked him to be exactly like Sasuke. Heck, he would have had his brother actually be Sasuke.

And now the Uchiha was nowhere to be found. Naruto looked everywhere. Even, childishly, under the bed. And in the closet. Even in the fridge. But without a doubt, Sasuke wasn't in the apartment. And outside, the storm was still running rampant.

Naruto looked at the door, contemplated going after his friend, wherever he had gone. He looked out the window, decided against it.

Where was the phone? On the couch, where he'd left it the night before after his seven hour phone conversation with Gaara. He picked the small, orange thing up and speed dialled Sasuke.

Naruto was distracted slightly by a strange ringing noise emitting from the bedroom, and was about to investigate when he realised that Sasuke must have left his phone behind. He hung up, sighing as his suspicions were confirmed: the ringing ceased as soon as he had hung up.

But, where could Sasuke have possibly wanted to go in the middle of a storm on a Saturday night? Perhaps the band was holding a gig that Naruto didn't know about, and Sasuke had gone to watch? But Gaara surely would have mentioned that on the phone last night. Maybe…Maybe Sasuke had a secret girlfriend?!

Naruto jumped up at the idea, a grin spreading across his face. He had an idea, and a damn good one it was, too. He raced to his room, slipping his phone into his pocket, and opening Sasuke's sleek silver one once he had found it resting on the pillow of his futon. Checking who Sasuke had called or messaged last was the perfect way to see if he had any love interests. Nobody that Naruto knew didn't communicate via mobile phone. Hell, nobody that Naruto knew didn't own a mobile phone!

The last call listed was to…

Naruto opened the list. It was to Haku! Haku, slight little feminine guy, the very person who had stuck up for him against his friends' playful teasing at school all those weeks ago. The very person who he hadn't seen since the beginning of the school holidays!

But…why was Sasuke calling Haku? The last fifteen or so calls that Sasuke had made were listed as being to the feminine boy. Did…did Sasuke have a crush on Haku? Was that it? Naruto entertained the thought with glee. Another two of his dearest friends paired up and the happiest that they could be together? What a ridiculously wonderful idea!

Naruto had to find Sasuke, now. He couldn't leave him out in the storm when the raven haired boy had finally fallen in love! In Naruto's opinion, ardour for another person merited the highest regard from everybody. Nobody in love could be stuck out in a storm! Oh, and Naruto was getting awfully worried about his friend's wellbeing being in jeopardy.

He would venture bravely out into the storm, the zealous hero, the saviour of all of humanity! Or, at least the saviour of Sasuke.

He grabbed his coat, and was in the middle of slipping it on and heading to the door when his mobile rang. The song emitting from the small orange device could only mean one thing: his love was calling! His very own Mr. Darcy, his very own Romeo, his very own Prince Charming- well, more like Prince of Beautiful Darkness- his very own Jack from Titanic, Mr. Bingly, Casanova, Rock God, Sex God, God of everything entailing sex and sexy things…!

Naruto was getting a little carried away. He picked up the phone, answering in a tone tinged with an exaggerated English accent, "My, Mr. Darcy, to what to I owe this fabulous pleasure of hearing your beautiful, erotic voice?"

"No."

"Huh?" Naruto was awfully confused, "No what?"

"No." Gaara's tone was unwaveringly stubborn.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto sighed, frustrated with his Mr. Darcy, "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I'm saying," was his reply, "No. You are not going out into the storm, for any reason."

"But Sasuke is ou-!"

"No reason. No."

"Gaara! Wh-"

"Just no!"

Naruto whined loudly, "Mr. Darcy would never be like this!"

A dial tone met his incessant wailing.

It looked as though Naruto wasn't going anywhere just yet.

How did Gaara do that?

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He was running, now. The wind whipped past his slight form as it had before, but this time it's violent assault went unnoticed. Everything that had hindered him beforehand was ignored, or overlooked. He needed to get to Naruto's house- to Sasuke. The soles of his shoes were tearing off, weakened by the weather and the cold. He was far more concerned with the ground that they were treading on, careful to stick to cement, not to waver off his path and onto somebody's front lawn.

Every so often, a street sign would loom and Haku would stop briefly to examine it, make sure that he was on the correct path. He was almost there, he was sure of it! Exhilaration welled up inside him, its immensity almost matching that of the feeling he held for Sasuke. He would be with the beautiful raven haired boy soon. And even if Sasuke didn't return his feelings, all would be well if the feminine boy was in his presence, bathed in their friendship and under the gaze of those beautiful dark eyes.

He spotted another sign ahead, and was peering up at it when he tripped.

Sprawled out on the hard concrete, his head pillowed on his arm, he heard crying. At first he believed that it was himself making the heart-rending noises, but soon realised that it was somebody else entirely. In fact, the person crying was the very thing that Haku had tripped over.

When Haku stood and crept up to the person, he realised with a significant sense of elation that it was Sasuke!

But, why on Earth would Sasuke be huddled in the middle of the footpath, crying his beautiful heart out with his tears? Haku was quick to gather the black-clad Sasuke into his arms, cradling the sobbing boy to his chest.

It didn't take too long for Sasuke to recoil and take in the person who was comforting him. And when he did, his eyes widened in surprise and delight, and he threw himself into Haku's arms once more.

"Sasuke…"

When he had finished crying, Sasuke looked up at Haku, his beautiful gaze making the feminine boy blush. Haku continued what he had begun to say, "Sasuke," a deep breath, "I love you."

The raven haired boy's answer was more than enough to make the situation clear. Haku's blush spread as the one thing that could make him cry in delight happened.

A kiss.

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Morning brought another stormy day, filled with violent wind and torrents of never ending rain. Sai couldn't care less. He had Neji in his arms, was sated in the sexual department for the morning, and was snuggled up and warm. Who cared about the weather?

Neji did, obviously, as he was wrapped around Sai so tightly that the guitarist was beginning to wonder if he had been a parasite in another life. He was certainly leeching all of Sai's body heat. But it was more of a symbiotic relationship than a parasitic one: Neji kept warm, Sai got a lot of sex.

However, despite revelling in their sexual activities, Sai also found his romantic feelings for the white eyed man growing immensely. Every morning he found himself in Neji's bed, and every morning he found himself thinking of the day's complement that was to be paid to his lover.

What would he tell him today? It had to be truthful, but then there was a million beautiful things about Neji that were truthful. But Sai found himself wanting to out-do all of his other materialistic complements that he had been giving Neji for the past storm-ravaged week.

Complements about his hair, eyes, smile, sex, voice, musical talent, body and his over-all beauty had all been given and Sai found them all very boring and repetitive. Surely Neji knew all of these things and that Sai found him to be the most beautiful thing alive! He shouldn't have to tell him things that, to Sai, seemed pointless to be saying when they were already known.

What if…he said something that he had thought every single morning, at every single glance at the bassist, every touch, every climax, every breath and smile? The thought was daunting, but not altogether unpleasant.

The only problem was that Neji had fallen asleep almost as soon as he had climbed off the top of him. And Sai knew from experience not to wake Neji, for he would erupt into a frenzy of kicking, swearing and slapping that was near unstoppable until he had fully awoken.

Neji's soft face was pressed gently against Sai's chest, his eyes closed so that his long, soft lashes touched his silken cheek. His slender hand rested next to his face, laying where it had been caressing shortly before the owner had given way to slumber. His silk-like hair fanned behind him, and his milky legs were entwined with his lovers' snugly, as though he did not ever wish to be parted from him.

Sai found a sentimental smile creeping, and quickly wiped it off his face in favour of a leer. He couldn't fool himself, though. He was falling in love with Neji. And rapidly, as quick as he had climaxed upon this exact thought this morning.

He waited until his creamy, pearl-eyed lover awakened, so that he may tell him the best complement of all.

And, when large creamy eyes blinked open under a half-lidded gaze, accompanied by a smile so infectious that his lover could not help but return it, Sai dropped the bomb.

"Neji," He began, "I am in love with you."

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Iruka bustled about the kitchen, his bare feet cooled on the tiles beneath his feet. He and Kakashi had just enjoyed a prolonged and very passionate love making in the bedroom. As a result, even despite the immensely cold weather, was warmed from head to toe, in his body and in his heart.

His love was currently in the shower, his deep voice weaving melodies that resonated throughout the entire apartment and washed over Iruka in shivers that threatened to set more than is hair on edge.

He had half a mind to join his sensual lover while he bathed. This past weeks' events had been altogether the most erotic, sensual and passionate moments of Iruka's twenty-seven years of life. The lovemaking was mind-blowing, the kisses lingering and filled with such affection that with every one, Iruka was besieged with an overwhelming urge to burst into joyous tears.

It seemed that after their recent separation, Iruka's love for his man had grown into a sort of enormous, purring dragon. If it was petted, it was content. If disturbed or threatened, well…it's wild, dangerous side kicked in.

But right now, Iruka was thinking that he wanted to take his newly reclaimed (on so many levels) lover out somewhere to celebrate. He didn't have work at the bar for another week yet, and Kakashi was blissfully on holidays from teaching at Konoha Academy. But, where could they go to do their celebrating?

Masquerade? But he worked there. Perhaps there was another bar or club around that would be just as comfortable?

"Nope, Masquerade's the best," Kakashi waltzed into the room, and Iruka realised that he had been thinking out loud, "No better place in Konoha! Well…except here. And wherever you are."

Iruka laughed, embracing the taller man, "You want to go somewhere, then?"

Kakashi's eyes softened, and a gentle smile graced his features, "I want to be wherever you are, always. I don't care where it is: everywhere is boring anyway. You brought the party into town, baby! There's nowhere better than in your sexy, toned arms. Especially now that you've buffed up a little!"

Iruka blushed, but tried his best to look unfazed nevertheless, "We can stay here, then. I mean, if…if you want to."

Kakashi smirked and kissed his lover gently on the cheek, "Are you sure? Because it seems to me as though you want to go somewhere. Besides, I'll start singing if you don't take me out. I swear. I will. Don't think I'm bluffing."

"I like your singing, so it wouldn't matter," Iruka replied, snuggling into Kakashi's chest, "I like all forms of youor singing."

A laugh.

"Wherever did you get the idea that I had more than one form of singing?"

Kakashi's innocent ploy worked hard to, but didn't quite, work against Iruka, "Last night, perhaps. In bed? Do you remember that?" he laughed again, "I could do that again, you know. Make you sing."

"I'd sing for you anytime baby," Kakashi nuzzled his face into Iruka's neck and growled, "I love you, Iruka."

"And I love you, Kakashi."

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A/N: I cut it short, but there you go. Hopefully it did well in momentarily satisfying you all. :)