So….last chapter. I know this depresses a lot of you, but I also have my story The Life that is going on. 27 chapters and still more to come. Go check it out if you want more SasukeXNaruto goodness. Besides, some stories are better short. I really hope you guys like this chapter, though! Oh, and please review!

Disclaimer: I own no part of Naruto, only this story idea. Thanks.

Chapter 4: Will He Blush?

Sakura was extremely skilled at holding grudges against people. Extremely skilled. For some reason, however, this didn't always include Naruto. Sakura guessed it had something to do with the fact that though Naruto was an absolute dobe, he was her dobe. Plus, over the past few years, her and Naruto had grown closer, so that they were almost like siblings.

Which was exactly why Sakura found herself walking the familiar route to Naruto's house at seven AM the next day. She had slept horribly, waking what felt like every five minutes to once again picture Naruto's face after he had kissed Sasuke, or should she say, after Sasuke had yelled at him and stalked off. The look of disappointment on the blonde's face had been heart-wrenching.

Sure it had came as a shock to her that two guys she had thought were straight were actually gay, or at least bisexual, but she wasn't a total bitch. She was a nurse after all. Some people were just born that way. So now here she was, heading to Naruto's house to offer an apology or comfort or whatever the hell Naruto needed in these desperately trying times. He had been rejected after all, and every girl and woman knew that was one of the worst things to happen to a person.

Within a few moments she was staring up at Naruto's apartment building. She bit her lip, and bounced her left leg in contemplation. She could still leave...it wasn't too late to go home.

No, dammit, She thought. Don't be such a coward, Sakura. It's just Naruto.

Mind made up, Sakura stomped over to the stairs and climbed them, feet pounding into the concrete. Her face was that of an amazonian warrior, brow furrowed and jaw clenched. Her eyes were stony, nearly hidden beneath tired lids. She was a force to be reckoned with. If Naruto was too upset, Sasuke would pay.

Just like that she was at Naruto's floor. She turned the corner and his door was in sight, a plain wooden slab but as daunting as an armed enemy. Sakura walked closer to her foe, wondering if Naruto was even home. Ten feet from the door Sakura froze. It was opening, slowly, quietly, as if whoever was opening was trying to avoid detection, much in the way a skilled ninja would.

And out stepped Sasuke. Sakura's jaw dropped at the sight of the raven. Used to seeing him dressed impeccably in his dark shorts and shirt, she could only stare at him as her brain fried. He was only wearing his boxers, though even as Sakura watched he closed the door behind him and hopped on one foot in an attempt to pull his pants on, wincing at each jump. His hair was ruffled, as if he had just woken up, but what really shocked Sakura were the light bruises peppering his arms, shoulders, and torso. A dark-reddish mark practically glowed on his neck and his pale skin was gleaming with a light sheen of sweat. All in all, he looked very...very...what was the word? ...Sensual.

His pants on, Sasuke took one last glance at Naruto's apartment door and then walked hurriedly in the direction of the stairs, a noticeable limp accompanying each step. Staring at the floor he ran straight into Sakura. Sasuke jumped and then stared at his friend as if she were a hungry lioness about to eat him.

"Sasuke? What the - ?" Sakura began, her voice seemingly loud in the early morning silence.

"Shhhhhhhhhh!" The raven hissed, placing a single finger on her lips and then staring back at Naruto's door. He had a weird look on his face as he grabbed her arm and pulled her down the corridor and around the corner, towards the stairs. His grip was hard, fingers biting into Sakura's arm. She winced and then gasped as he practically slammed her against the wall. His own bare back slapped the plastered surface audibly. A moment later he peeked around the corner at Naruto's door.

"Sasuke!" Sakura stage-whispered, unable to take it any longer. "What the hell is going on?" Sasuke turned back to her, dark eyes wide.

"I….I think I broke Naruto!"

Sasuke led Sakura through Naruto's apartment, past the kitchen table and then paused, peeking his head through the doorway to the living room. He sighed and turned back to Sakura.

"He's in there, on the couch." A slight pink blush painted his cheeks. Sakura ignored Sasuke and pushed past him into the living room. True to Sasuke's word, Naruto was lying on the couch, face-down. He was stark naked. In his birthday suit. Nude. Exposed. Sakura felt a blush transfuse across her face and all the way down her neck. Even her ears burned.

Naruto is tan all the way down...wow. Sakura shook her head quickly to clear her thoughts. After all, Naruto was most definitely with Sasuke, now. Glancing back at the raven, Sakura recalled what he had said in the hall.

"What do you mean you broke him?" Sakura asked, disbelieving, as she was fairly certain humans couldn't 'break', like a child's toy. The raven bit his lips - which were already swollen and tender looking, though Sakura tried not to think about that - and blushed profusely.

"Well...we were...together….last night. And uh...he got weird."

"Weird, how?" Sakura asked, once she got over the initial confirmation of Sasuke and Naruto having, well...sex. Oh, and once she banished the sinfully delicious images that paraded across her mind. She tried to keep her eyes from wandering over Sasuke's toned upper body, smooth and white where there weren't bruises. It had taken her a second to realize that Sasuke was talking.

"Naruto's eyes turned red, like they do when he loses control and the kyuubi takes over...and then he called me his…" The raven swallowed and blushed again, avoiding Sakura's gaze. "His...mate." The raven finished, staring at the floor and twiddling his thumbs. Sakura's eyes widened, and her mouth opened into a little 'o' shape at that little tidbit. Sasuke's head jerked up so quickly that Sakura nearly jumped.

"Now, he won't wake up! I've tried everything. I even slapped him a little," Oh, I bet you loved that, Sakura thought, before blushing herself. Who would have thought that this all started with a small game to make someone blush? Now, they both couldn't stop blushing!

Sasuke licked his lips before continuing, "He's breathing and his pulse is steady, but in all other ways he is dead!" Sasuke's eyes flicked back and forth between Sakura's.

"So you were just going to sneak out and leave him?" Sakura intoned a moment later.

"I was panicking, all right?! I was going to get help, but then I was also like, fuck, what the hell did I do? What will people think? And then I ran into you."

Sakura had just stared at Sasuke. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Sasuke wasn't always completely aloof and cold, all the time. Here he was, standing in front of her, and it was as if he was a totally different person. Even in battle he never looked this ruffled.

His normally perfect hair was sticking up in adorable tufts all over his head, his dark eyes were filled with some unknown emotion, and his voice wasn't monotone or harsh. In fact, it sounded like he was close to crying. His voice was low and husky, but he kept breaking off with a swallow and then his voice was simply thick. The fact that he was only half-dressed added to the image.

Sakura had to face it: Sasuke cared for Naruto….a lot. Sakura had ordered Sasuke to lead her to Naruto, and now here she was, staring down at her naked and seemingly unconscious teammate and friend.

"Lets, let's get him turned over, okay?" The normally commanding raven seemed to need to be commanded right now. He nodded, and hurried forward to flip the blonde, discreetly placing a small couch pillow over his hips. Sakura silently thanked him and cursed him at the same time.

She crouched beside the couch, grabbing up Naruto's wrist in her hands. Sasuke was right, his pulse was strong. She scanned his body, searching for an injury that could cause his deep sleep, prodded his head to be sure that he hadn't hit it. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sakura sat back on her heels. Sasuke was leaning against the wall, watching her worriedly. The pinkette paused.

"You said his eyes turned red?" Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah, and they went back to blue afterwards. Why?" Sakura leaned forward and pulled up one of Naruto's eyelids. Sky blue eyes peered back. Sakura sat back on her heels again, thinking deeply. Sasuke stared at her, one brow arched. He had finally found a shirt to put on, one of Naruto's more normal ones. He had no idea what had happened to his.

"Well?" Sasuke finally asked. His voice was going back to normal, and he sounded almost annoyed with that one word.

"Shhh!" Sakura growled. Her face scrunched up for a second and she worried her bottom lip. Mint green eyes popped open a moment later and she stood up effortlessly, turning to face Sasuke with a smile. "I am an absolute idiot!" She exclaimed, smacking her palm against her forehead. "I've read about this several times when I was first studying with Tsunade... I just wasn't expecting it, you understand, so of course I didn't recognize it."

"Oh, yes, of course," The raven growled sarcastically. eyes narrowed. He was going mad from not knowing. "What is it?! What's wrong with him?!"

Sakura sat down on the other couch and smiled widely, extremely pleased with herself.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong with him, Sasuke." She looked down at her lap then back up at him. "Jinchuuriki are luckier than us normal people. You know why?" She asked, even though she knew the answer and Sasuke most definitely didn't. She didn't wait for an answer anyways, just carried right on.

"Because they literally know who their soul mates are! Most people will spend their whole lives struggling to find 'the one', you know, who we want to spend the rest of our lives with. But jinchuuriki instinctually know, once they find them. Sometimes it takes a while, or they don't recognize their instincts, but it's there, underneath. Sometimes it can surface as a seemingly illogical sense of protectiveness….," She paused, watching Sasuke's reaction. He blinked at her, lazily. Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Anyways! Once a jinchuuriki finds their other half and they...sleep together…" Sakura said slowly. "...they fall into a coma afterwards to refresh the energy they used to place a seal on their...mate." At this, Sakura smiled widely. Sasuke was starting to see where she was going with this.

"Are you saying that Naruto and I are soul mates? We have been ever since we met years ago?" Sakura was nodding, smiling wider and wider with each word. "And - and that he placed a seal on me when he bit me last night?" Sasuke asked, rubbing the dark mark on his neck and wincing. Sakura nodded one more time.

"The seal is to protect you. Naruto literally fed some of his chakra into you with that bite. Now, any other jinchuuriki will smell him on you, and know that you're his. And if you're ever in danger, Naruto will know immediately."

"Oh, kami…." Sasuke breathed, sinking down to the ground, his head against the wall. It was just so much to take in. How in the world had they never realized?

"I, for one, think it's kind of sweet." Sakura said, standing with the grace that most ninjas possesed. She brushed Naruto's bangs off his forehead and turned to stare down at Sasuke. The raven shook his head and then looked up at her, his own unruly bangs falling over his eyes.

"When is he going to wake up, then?"

"Probably in the next couple of hours. Just explain to him what I told you, and you'll both be fine, alright?" Sakura was already making her way out of the living room and to the front door. Sasuke sprang after her.

"Wait! You can't just leave me here with him!" Sasuke shouted, following her into the kitchen.

"And why not, Sasuke?" Sakura stared over her shoulder at the raven, one brow arched delicately.

"Well, because I….because I….because I'm just not good at talking to people, or to being a 'soul-mate', or a mate-mate, or whatever the fuck that means!" Sasuke burst out.

"In fact, I'm no good with people at all! I-I love Naruto, I really do, but I just know I'm going to screw this up. And if I am his mate, like you say, I'm just going to hurt him more than anything before….and I don't want to hurt him, Sakura." Sakura had never seen Sasuke more anguished in her life. Today was a day for firsts, she supposed. Her heart broke for her friend and she stared at him for several long moments, thinking of the best answer, one that wouldn't drive the raven off.

"Sasuke, I - …" She began. Her words were abruptly cut off by one extremely disheveled, extremely naked blonde walking into the kitchen. He rubbed tired blue eyes and blinked sleepily.

"What are you guys yelling about so early in the morning?" He asked huskily, shuffling over to the coffee maker. Sakura's mouth dropped open and the skin from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes turned bright fuscia. Sasuke instantly became defensive, stepping in front of the blonde and blocking his body from Sakura's view.

"Naruto, you dobe," Sasuke said, lightly touching one tanned and toned shoulder. "Why don't you go get dressed and I'll make you some coffee, okay?" The insult was murmured so tenderly that it wasn't an insult at all. The blonde blinked at Sasuke for a moment then looked down. His own face turned bright red, even more so when he looked up and over Sasuke's shoulder to see Sakura staring. Sakura finally had the decency to look away.

"Right." The blonde rumbled with a nod of his head. "That's a - that's a good idea... Sasuke, what would I do without you?" The blonde was obviously still half asleep but Sasuke let a small smile crack across his face.

"Walk around completely naked and scare people, it looks like. Not that I mind…" Sasuke murmured at the end, their faces close enough that their breath mingled. Naruto's breath hitched and he licked his lips, staring into Sasuke's eyes. He felt as if he was missing something, as if Sasuke and Sakura had been discussing him. But he nodded and snatched a dish towel off the counter, covering himself with it as he rushed from the kitchen. Sasuke released a large breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. His eyes found Sakura's.

"What were you about to say?"

"I was going to say that I just didn't know, Sasuke," She murmured. "But now I do. Just now, that right there, is why you will do just fine. You may not be good with people, but you're definitely good with Naruto. Just like you said, you love him. And he obviously loves you. You guys are soul-mates, made for each other, remember? Even if the whole world falls apart, I know you guys will be there for each other. So, don't say anything else, Sasuke. You have nothing to complain about. You're better off than most people in this world, you lucky bastard. And that's all I have to say." Sakura finished, nodding sharply and crossing her arms.

Sasuke stared at Sakura, mouth open. A moment later his lips twitched, and then he was laughing harder than he had in years, a smile so wide across his face that his cheeks hurt. He crossed the room in two strides and picked up Sakura, spinning her around.

"Sakura Haruno, you are marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!" Sakura couldn't help but laugh, Sasuke's joy was so infectious. Just then, Naruto walked back into the kitchen, perfectly toned body safely tucked away inside his usual billowy jumpsuit. Hard to believe he and Sasuke were only 17, or that even a few days ago she had still considered them immature boys, kids even. They had grown up more than she'd realized.

"Hey, hey, what am I missing out on here?" Naruto asked with a confused laugh. Sasuke dropped Sakura and swept up Naruto into a tight embrace, kissing him right on the lips. It was messy but it was hot. Naruto groaned as their lips crashed together, and pulled Sasuke closer, tongues tangling and breath mixing, chest to heaving chest and hips to straining hips. Sakura once again found herself blushing furiously. The two broke apart a moment later, chests heaving and lips shining. They stared at each other, until Naruto began laughing.

"I still have no idea what is going on, but I like it!" Sasuke smiled and kissed Naruto on the lips, the cheeks, and then the forehead.

"It doesn't matter, not really. Just as long as you know that I love you so much." Sasuke wasn't used to being this sappy, and was pretty sure he hadn't said love this many times since he was five, but it was all worth it for the smile on Naruto's face. "Oh...and we're mates, now." He added bluntly, eyes mischievous.

"W-what?!" Naruto cried in shock. He obviously didn't remember his own words just the night before. Sasuke laughed, teeth flashing.

"Well, then...I'll leave you guys to it, now…." Sakura murmured, letting herself out the door. They both ignored her, and Sasuke led Naruto into the living room to sit down so he could explain. "They'll be fine…" She told herself, as she shut the door and walked down the corridor to the stairs.

Six Months Later

"Where the hell are they?!" Screeched Ino, half-standing in their booth to look around the restaurant. Sakura rolled her eyes, leaning against Neji, and the others just laughed, Choji pulling the blonde against his side with a small smile.

"Relax, Ino. They'll be here soon, I'm sure." Sakura assured her, although she had to admit she was getting hungry as well. Neji smiled slightly and kissed Sakura on the forehead, feeling a little smug. He had recently been 'training' her to have better patience, and so far she was improving.

"Kami, relationships are so troublesome," Shikamaru yawned.

"Says the boy in a super, super long-distance relationship with some girl he barely knows." Kiba remarked, smiling snidely, sharp fangs peeking over his bottom lip.

"Hey! I know Temari just fine! Besides, Kiba, you're the one dating your dog…" Shikamaru rebounded. Kiba frowned and crossed his arms at this, pouting. It wasn't true, of course, but Kiba had yet to produce evidence of a real girlfriend - or boyfriend, for that matter - so the whole group had taken to saying he was dating Akamaru. Hinata, sitting at the other side of the table, blushed furiously, and began playing with her cutlery. Neji, wanting to draw attention away from Kiba and therefore his cousin, chimed in.

"Well, then, when is Temari's birthday, Shikamaru? What's her favorite color? Favorite season? Favorite food? Hmmmm?" Each of these questions were met with a blank stare from the lazy 19 year old. Neji smirked. "See? You don't know her at all."

"I know her bra size and what position she likes. I think that's enough for both of us." Shikamaru snapped. Everyone froze, mouths dropping open one after another. Shikamaru had the decency to blush a moment later. Fortunately, before the subject could be breached further, Sasuke and Naruto arrived, hands clasped. Ino finally relaxed.

"Hey guys!" Naruto greeted with a gleaming smile and a wave. He sat down at the end of the booth, Sasuke beside him. "We're not late, are we?"

"You can hardly be late to your own birthday party, Naruto." Sakura said with a smile.

"Oh. Well...good!" The blonde smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. Sakura couldn't believe this was the same boy who had acted so shamelessly around her just a few months ago. Sasuke couldn't believe how adorable Naruto was when he acted innocent, or how quickly his pants were tightening because of him.

Choji flagged a waitress, his mind forever on food. The woman approached their table, a slightly, no, a very fake smile plastered on her face.

"Hi there! What can I do for you? Are you ready to order?" Choji nodded quickly in appliance, and the waitress spent ten minutes trying to get the correct orders wrote down for everyone seated at the overflowing table. Naruto ordered ramen, unsurprisingly. Finally, she pocketed her notepad, hands cramping from writing so much. I better get a huge tip for this, she thought.

"Anything else I can get you guys? Is it a special occasion, perhaps?" Naruto smiled, immediately catching the pretty waitresses attention for the first time.

"It's my 18th birthday!" He beamed. She smirked, her eyes undressing him slowly.

"Oh? Really? Legal drinking age, then." She licked her lips and cocked her head. "Perhaps you'd want to go drinking with me sometime?" She asked with a coy smile.

"Actually," Sasuke cut in, dark eyes flashing. "It's more than his 18th birthday." He tangled his hand in Naruto's below the table, then lifted them up for all to see. "It's out six month anniversary." The raven smiled tenderly at the blonde, and kissed the back of his hand. Naruto blushed and practically giggled, the waitress steaming. She trounced off, grumbling to herself.

"And may there be many more to come." Sasuke murmured, glad she was gone but paying no attention to anyone other than Naruto.

Neji, Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru, and even shy Hinata couldn't help but smile at the faint blush gracing Sasuke's features. The group politely diverted their eyes - except Hinata, she had a nosebleed - as the two kissed sweetly.

"We did it!" Ino stage-whispered a moment later, clapping her hands together. "We got him to blush!"

"No…." Sakura said, leaning her head against Neji's shoulder. "We didn't…. Naruto did."

END!

Well? What did you guys think? Good? Bad? So-so? It's midnight and I finally finished this….ugh. Good thing I don't have school tomorrow. Kami bless snow days, eh? Anywho, thanks for reading! Please review guys and check out my story The Life.

With Love,

Happysue115