Author's note:  I'm struggling with writing college essays right now, so I decided to take a breather and experiment with a Naruto fic. Here's what I got so far. 

Dominos

by jellox

I see you look at me every now and then whenever you think nobody is watching.  And really, you're right.  Nobody is watching.

You glance over in my direction.  Like now, for example.  I can feel your eyes on my face…trail down, on my neck, on my chest, and finally on my stomach.  You linger there for a moment, narrowing your eyes.  And I know what you must be thinking.

Sometimes I think we're the same, you and me.  We're orphans after all.  We both know what it's like to wake up screaming in the middle of a nightmare with nobody to calm us down.  We freak out like the freaks we are.

So I wonder why we don't know each other.  Why can't we, for a moment in our lives, just sit down and…

You know, if you let me, I would lift up my shirt for you.  You could do it yourself, of course, if you wanted to.  Do you want to?  Then maybe you can understand and see for yourself what I am -- who I am. 

I wonder…

"Sasuke." I break the silence. "What is it?"

For a moment, you're startled out of your reverie and take a few blinks before you glaze your eyes over once more.  "Nothing."

"Hn."

I guess the problem is… I don't try, either.  And if we both lack initiative, how can anything ever get done?  There has to be some kind of spark.  Something that ignites the other...

Or perhaps it's like a domino effect.  There's all this tension, you see.  The tension is built up with gigantic walls that are stacked neatly next to each other.  It makes a pattern of some sort, I don't know what.  But one of us will knock it over one day.  Then all the walls will fall and all that will be left is us two, staring at each other from either side.

"Do you always come here when you're thinking about things?" you ask, finally.  It comes out in one breath, one rush.

It is my turn to be startled, eyes widening as I stare into my full bowl of ramen.  "Huh?  What did you say?"  I heard you perfectly, of course.  No matter how fast you speak, I think I'll always understand you.  You were just too blunt, is all.  I look up in your direction.

"I said, do you always come here when you're troubled by something?  And why aren't you eating anything?"

"I don't know, why aren't you?" I shoot back.

I notice that you don't have anything placed on the counter in front of you.  So you've just been sitting there, and…? 

"Not always," I say.  "This is just one place I like to go…you know, since it has my favorite food and everything.  I can't tell you where the other place is, though, otherwise you'll follow me there, too."

And it's funny because you don't deny it.

In your silence, I slurp down the bowl.  After I finish, I stand up.  Then you stand up.  We face each other.

"Well, I'm finished," I announce obviously.  You nod and stare at my face.  I try not to look away, but honestly, it's starting to weird me out.  You haven't stared this much before!  What's up?

"Um…"

Eh?  You've never been this awkward, either… but there's always a first in everything, I suppose.

"Yesss…?" I urge.  "Sasuke wants… Sasuke wants…"

"Sasuke wants…" you repeat, absentmindedly.  I laugh.  I think you're thinking too much.

"What does Sasuke want?" I tease.  I am smiling now, thanks to you, and I'm about to tease you more when I realize how lost you actually are.  You are crinkling your forehead, struggling with your words.  Hmm…

"Listen, why don't you just come with me?" I offer.  "We can do something… I don't know…"  

"Okay," you respond, cutting me off, and I laugh.  You laugh as well. 

So we go off in one direction together.  I don't know where we're going, but I'm glad it's somewhere.

TBC