Chapter 12: Starry, Starry Night

"Why are you going to Chouji's," asks Takuya as he starts the engine. "Some project?"

Sasuke doesn't answer him so Takuya asks again. "So?"

"There's a party," the boy finally replies.

"That's strange," he comments. "You don't like parties. What's with the sudden change?"

"That's strange," is Sasuke's reply. "You don't usually talk that much. What's with the sudden change?"

Takuya doesn't reply at this and shuts his mouth during the entire trip. Yes, he thinks, there's something wrong with him.

When they arrive at the Akimichi's residence, Takuya wonders if he should ask what time to pick him up, but stops mid thought.

"I'll get my way back," says Sasuke. He looks to the boy in the rear view mirror and just before he gets out of the car, he hears softly. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Itachi about this."

There is a pause and Takuya understands that the boy is waiting for some sort of acknowledgement. At that point, he doesn't know what to do.

"Itachi-sama is leaving for Hokkaido soon." The moment of tension is thick. "He wouldn't even know you went out."

There is a nod for, perhaps, gratitude and despite himself, Takuya smiles. When the door is shut and he sees Sasuke walking towards that loud estate, Takuya doesn't immediately drive off. He leans back on the seat and opens the roof window.

There are stars shining brightly tonight and perhaps it is the change of song in the background, but Takuya decides to stay there for just a while longer. He closes his eyes then re-opens them again. The stars are truly magical, he thinks. Takuya ponders on the cosmos for a while longer before starting the engine. Who am I kidding?

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Sasuke hears a familiar techno remix of a song playing.

On a night like this

Just wanna stay forever

Stay forever

He never really liked Kylie.

He walks through the crowds of people, all of which too drunk or too busy to know his presence, and into the house. Once in, he immediately remembered why he never really attended these outings in the first place. Music blasted his ears and the smell of cigarettes and pot filled the air. Somewhere, he could make out that disgusting stench of a person's vomit. Yuck, he thinks.

Deciding not to stay any longer in the place, his eyes immediately search for the boy. His eyes scan here and there then come to a quick conclusion that the boy must be upstairs.

He goes to the second level. It is lesser packed but, again, he could not find the boy. He walks around the place, his height giving him a good advantage, but amongst the many bodies, the familiar mop of blonde hair could not be found. His mind thinks: perhaps he didn't come after all. He releases a sigh, perhaps of relief, and walks back downstairs. But as his foot reaches the first step, there is a tumultuous round of applause. And he pauses now because he knows that this must be it.

Suddenly, his legs feel heavy and his hands are sweaty; he cannot move.

"Woo! Oh yeah!"

What should he do?

For the longest while we jamming in the Party

And you're wining on me

Pushing everything

Right back on top of me

"Ha Ha Ha!"

What should he do?

He doesn't understand why he is caught in a moment of indecision. Then, bodies push against him forcing him to move as they make their way downstairs. He is reluctant. Didn't I come here to get him out of this?

He walks down slowly but stops halfway. Because halfway is all it takes to see the whole commotion.

But if you think you're gonna get away from me

You better change your mind

You're going home...

You're going home with me tonight

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

There is something that Naruto feels he has no control over. As if detached, he sees bodies, many bodies surrounding a person moving in entire sync with the music.

Let me hold you

Girl caress my body

You got me going crazy - You

Turn me on

Turn me on...

Vaguely, he remembers that he likes this song.

Let me jam you

Girl wine all around me

You got me going crazy - You

Turn me on

Turn me on...

And there it is again: the same body dancing against another and then another round of cheers and laughter.

He didn't know that he could dance like that.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Sasuke pushes through the crowds of people towards the centre. What did they feed him? When he makes his way there, he is then conscious that people are now staring at him. There are hushed noises and whispers of: "Sasuke?" That much he is aware. Then he turns to Naruto. But he knows from the look in those eyes that this is not him.

Girl Just Hug Me, Hug Me, Kiss Me, Squeeze Me

Hug Me, Hug Me, Kiss and Caress Me

Hug Me, Hug Me, Kiss Me, Squeeze Me

Hug Me, Hug Me, Kiss and Caress Me

Naruto is now dancing in front of him –head spinning, hands moving seductively down his own body. The boy is inching closer and closer until it is clear that he is now dancing with him. Then the music stops abruptly. But Naruto doesn't stop dancing and again, there is a horde of laughter. Sasuke doesn't try to find the culprit; instead, he grabs Naruto's wrists and forces the boy out, passing the now parted crowd.

"Sasuke?" He hears Sakura and turns to face her.

He looks at her but doesn't say anything. Somehow, though, the girl seems to understand and the camera that Sasuke assumes she was using is dropped from her hands. There are hushed noises that he can hear in the now silent room but Sasuke leaves them all behind.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

When Sasuke is out and makes his way to the main road to hail a taxi and be away from all the commotion, he feels his hand being violently shaken off.

"What are you doing!"

He eyes Naruto and replies calmly: "I'm getting you home."

"I don't need you to get me home!"

Naruto walks uncoordinatedly away, his upper body occasionally tipping over.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get ice-cream!" Naruto laughs a little then hiccups.

"That's ridiculous," Sasuke says and runs towards the boy. He attempts to hold him lest he falls but is shook away again.

Naruto's head is turned upwards towards the sky then back down to eye him.

"Did you know?" he says rather slurred. "How many stars you see up there represents how many tears that you've shed?" Naruto laughs but it is a pitiful sound. "The amount differs amongst people. The bigger they are means the more heartbroken that time must be." He leans in on Sasuke as if hugging. "But I don't get it," Naruto says softly now, "I don't allow myself to cry… but why do I see so many?"

Sasuke takes this time to hold him. It is silent save for the occasional cars that drive past. "Because that is false," he hears himself saying. "Stars are just stars. They are the remnants of comets that exist in the galaxy. I would've expected you to know better, idiot."

He is pushed away softly this time but Naruto continues his solitary walk. He now hums a song and Sasuke recognizes that it is the same one as before. Then he sings.

"Let me hold you

Girl caress my body

You got me going crazy…

"Do you think," he suddenly asks, "I'll ever get laid?" He spins around to face him but Sasuke doesn't know what to say.

Then there is a laugh. It is a fake one, Sasuke notices and the boy dances again by himself on the empty street. He concludes that the boy is on a high.

He searches his wallet looking for how much he has but is shocked to find it not there. Suddenly he remembers that he'd forgotten about it. The boy continues to dance and laugh hysterically so Sasuke uses this time to check his pockets. There are a few coins, which he is glad. $3.55, he thinks. That can get us to the city. From the city to school, is a 10-minute walk. From school to his house is a 20-minute walk–30 minutes. Add 20 for delay. It's half-past 9 at the moment; that will make it 10:20 to get there –"Why am I calculating?"

He stops then and looks around for a taxi. When there is one he tells the driver to wait for a while. Sasuke goes over to grab Naruto again, forcefully even, and gets him to go in the car. The high still hadn't worn off but he knows that it will soon come. He closes the door.

"City centre, thanks."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Naruto feels himself being ushered out of a car. "Stop it!" he yells. "What are you doing?"

His vision is suddenly flooded with many lights, many people, many gasps. Why? Oh, why do they always have to be like that?

"You got a problem? Do you? I'm Uzumaki Naruto! You've got a problem with that, huh? Don't look at me like that!"

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

The boy is being completely unreasonable yelling at strangers like that. Sasuke grabs a hold of him and tries his best to avoid all the strange looks directed to them. He bows an apologetic bow and moves away as fast as he can. He places the boy's arm over his shoulder but the boy shoves him away.

"Why do you always stare, huh? Why!"

The boy is screaming at the people around them again and Sasuke resists the urge to punch him in the face. "Come on," he whispers.

"You're all faggots, I'm telling ya! Go die! What the fuck did I ever do to you, huh? What!"

"Just shut up, Naruto."

When the boy still continues his yelling Sasuke decides that this is the end of it. He elbows the boy in the stomach hard enough to make him collapse. Still aware of the looks he is receiving he quickly places Naruto on his back and heads in the direction of the school.

"Idiot," he says.

After a while, when they finally reach the residential area of Naruto's home, Sasuke begins to walk slower. He is getting tired from piggybacking Naruto for more than 20 minutes and wonders when they'll ever arrive at the boy's place. Then he decides to stop for a while.

Placing the boy carefully down, he lets him rest against a wall. He sits next to him too, shoulders touching accidentally. There is a rush in his body, but he is used to this now. Sasuke looks at him, at Naruto with the blonde hair, the peaceful face and without knowing, he smiles. If only…

His hand reaches out but quickly retrieves it when the boy stirs. Naruto's lids slowly open and he feels a pang of guilt for the to-be action before. Idiot. He continues staring though, but Naruto doesn't seem to be looking at him –he stares to the ground.

"Why do they always look at me like that?" the boy says softly.

And Sasuke thinks: he's still thinking about that.

"I don't get it. Why? Why do they always…"

"We don't usually get everything," Sasuke says unknowingly.

Naruto looks up and they lock gazes for a moment. A tear slides down a smooth cheek and Sasuke's breath hitches.

"I've tried everything. I did. I don't do physical sport 'cause I'm afraid that somehow, by some peculiar reason, I'll hurt someone." The boy's voice is breaking. "I don't fight back 'cause I'm scared that if I do I might lose control. I don't force people to like me. But why? Why do people treat me like this? Why can't anyone just acknowledge me? Acknowledge the fact that I do try?" Sasuke hears sobs now and something inside of him feels pained. Something that wrenches his heart making it uncomfortable to breathe. In that moment all he wants is to make the tears from the boy stop. He wants him to feel good, better than right now.

"I'll-I'll acknowledge you," he says. "If you want me to, I'll acknowledge you." But the boy continues to cry and he is pained once more. "Naruto, I acknowledge you."

Sasuke feels his wrists being squeezed but he does not complain. After a while, when Naruto stops sobbing, he laughs again. "What am I? A drama queen?" He looks up again at the night sky and Sasuke feels compelled to follow. "They're pretty."

"Yes," Sasuke agrees.

Naruto sniffs. "Hug Me," He then begins to sing. " Hug Me, Kiss and… Caress Me…"

When the singing stops, Sasuke turns to look at the boy.

"Who are you?" the boy suddenly asks and Sasuke becomes speechless. There is a smile and a little laughter before Naruto's face looms towards his. "I can't see your eyes."

Sasuke feels his fringe being parted and then the boy's eyes staring intently in them. He is shocked. Frightened. Afraid. His heartbeat quickens and again it is difficult to breathe.

"You look just like…"

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Sasuke. He looks just like Sasuke.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Naruto doesn't finish his sentence. Instead, he stands up –awkwardly –and is about to trip over except his feet gains back balance.

"Where are you going?" asks Sasuke when he catches his breath back. He stands up to be by the boy's side.

"I can get back home myself," Naruto says.

Sasuke doesn't know what to do so he stays standing where he is. He watches Naruto, with the open arms and the attempted straight-line walk, and his mind wonders who it is that he sees. Is it me? he thinks. Is it? But why do you walk away?

"For the longest while we jamming in the Party." He is struck back with Naruto's off key singing. "And you're wining on me… pushing everything… right back on top of me, yea - hey- ai… but if you think you're gonna get away from me… you better change your mind… you're going home... you're going home with me tonight."

You like this song don't you.

"Let me hold you… girl caress my body… you got me going crazy – you… turn me on… turn me –urgh-! "

Sasuke runs to the boy; he is vomiting. "Ugh! Urg! Blerrr!"

"Idiot. You okay?" He begins rubbing the other's back in a soothing up and down motion. He sees the vomit –an abnormal white –and wonders back to the amount of drugs they must've fed him. "You okay?" he asks again.

But the boy doesn't answer him instead he just laughs. In hast, he wipes his mouth with the end of his sleeves and continues his walk –and singing –again.

"Let me jam you… girl wine all around me… you got me going crazy – you… turn me –"

He falls and Sasuke rushes to him again. "Bloody hell," Sasuke curses. He doesn't hear the boy's soft continuation of the lyrics. "Stop being a fucking drunkard." He slowly lifts the boy up. "I hate it when you act like a complete idiot."

"Turn me on…"

"Is it in your nature or something? Being so idiotic most of the time? Why can't you just be mature once in a while, huh? What the hell's so good about you anyway? Why do I ha–"

Lips suddenly press against Sasuke's. He is cut short. His sentence doesn't finish. The words he wants to say will never be said.

Like on playback, like some sort of de ja vu, it happened. He falls backwards, Naruto with him, and lands on the concrete. But Sasuke has no time to think on the pain in his back. He has no time to think what on earth is going on. Neither has he the time to compare differences of situations.

No, Sasuke right now has to think how he is to react to Naruto's lips against his. He has to think what to do now that he feels Naruto's tongue inside his mouth. He has to suppress the thought that this is clumsy –too clumsy –and make use of the fact that Naruto is kissing him now. A real kiss. A beginner's kiss.

He starts moving his tongue, slowly, trying to meet up with Naruto's. He tastes a bit of vomit somewhere in the boy's mouth but it no longer matters. He moves, he licks, he sucks and when before it was slow, now it is quick and desperate. As if neither of them would survive once this is all over.

Sasuke can feel Naruto's hands in his hair. Can feel it being tangled on the sides. He can feel Naruto's body pressed hard against his. Can feel both their groins grinding in sync with each other. Can feel both of them growing hard.

He moans –a pleasurable moan –and thinks: why didn't we fucking do this earlier? They continue the fight of dominance with their tongues, each unrelenting, until Naruto suddenly stops. The grinding stops. The hardness grows limp. And then Naruto's mouth is removed from his.

Sasuke thinks: what's wrong? Did I bite you? Why are you stopping?

He feels Naruto's head on his shoulder and when he lifts himself a bit to see the boy, he sees that he has fallen asleep. His body drops down.

Sasuke chooses to look at the sky now. He chooses to stare at the stars because he thinks that, by doing so, it can clear his mind. But it does not. What he thinks is the softness of the other's lips, the sweetness of the other's mouth and the pleasure of intimacy. And he comes to one conclusion.

I need to get laid.

TBC....

Songs:

1)Kylie Minogue - On a Night Like This

2)Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On (sorry for overusing it)