Authors note: It's been a long time since I've written anything (nearly three years now), mostly due to personal reasons. I do want to apologise to anyone who was following my fanfics on here or AFF.

This is a story that's pretty much going to be NarutoxSai (which, yes, means that there's going to be gay smex) but there will be other secondary pairings (that may be yaoi, yuri or het). I don't really want to name them all because I like for there to be a little element of surprise for the readers. As for warnings, I don't really want to get into them for the same reason that I don't want to elaborate on pairings too much. However, I can promise that there's nothing nasty that would catch anyone off guard (like shota, loli or non-con).

Anyway, on to the story itself:

oOo

Naruto sat in his usual seat at Ichiraku waiting impatiently for his miso ramen and fiddling with the zipper on his top. He cast an anxious glance at his watch and saw that there was still another ten minutes before seven o'clock. Ten minutes before Sai was supposed to show up for their first "date".

It had seemed like a great idea at the time, Naruto thought to himself as he remembered Sai's sudden and unexpected request just as they had returned from their most recent mission. Naruto's expression turned sour as he thought about the embarrassment that he'd suffered, especially since Sakura and Kakashi had both been there at the time. He took another look at his watch, only to see that less than a minute had passed since he had last checked. He slumped a little on his stool and felt his mind drift back to the exchange that put him in this situation in the first place.

oOo

Naruto stopped and stretched dramatically as they crossed the gates back into Konoha. It had been a long three weeks away from home and he was looking forward to turning in his report, getting his pay from Baa-chan and spending his hard earned money in Ichiraku.

Just as he was about to start walking again Sakura called out to him.

He turned around and saw her, beckoning him over to where she and Sai had stopped just outside of the entrance. He made his way back to them (with Kakashi-sensei following close behind. He obviously couldn't resist finding out what was going on) and began to feel a little suspicious. Sakura and Sai were both blushing and it was only just occurring to him just how strange it was that the two of them had spent most of the trip home whispering to each other just out of ear-shot. He also distinctly remembered hearing Sakura giggling instead of the yelling that he usually heard whenever she spoke to Sai for any extended period of time. Actually, now that he had thought about it, he was a lot more than a little suspicious, nervous even.

"Now, Naruto" Sakura started, and her overly friendly tone made more alarm bells go off in his head. "Sai was talking to me about some of the things that he's been reading about relationships"

"Okay…?" He really didn't know where this was going. He didn't know if he wanted to know where this was going.

"And he said that he's interested in trying a relationship that's deeper than friendship" she said, sweet smile still in place.

"What? Do you want me to bring you cruising for chicks or something?" Naruto asked, his eyes squinted in suspicion as he turned his attention to Sai. But his only response was one of those fixed fake smiles; Naruto looked back to Sakura hoping for enlightenment.

"Well, I spoke to Sai about it and we both agree that his first romantic relationship should be with someone who knows that he's still learning when it comes to human interaction… Someone understanding of his situation as a former member of Root" her speech was becoming more rushed and her face more flushed with every word, like she was embarrassed but enjoying herself regardless. Naruto was lost.

"What does this have to do with-"

"I would like to take you out to dinner, Naruto" Sai cut across him.

Naruto froze, Kakashi even stopped pretending to read his book to openly stare at the impending spectacle, Sakura managed to be even more red faced and Sai just stood there looking completely serious. There was total silence for all of thirty seconds before Naruto remembered how to move his mouth in ways that didn't resemble a fish gasping for air.

"Eeeeh?" he screeched, his voice high and panicky (although he managed to tone it down a notch or two when he noticed that he was drawing more attention to the situation. The last thing he need was more witnesses) "Why would you ask me on a date?"

Sai looked honestly confused by his teammate's reaction. "Sakura already explained my reasons for choosing one of you as-"

Naruto didn't let him finish "Why ask me? Why not ask Sakura-chan? She's a girl!"

"I did ask Sakura, but she refused. In fact, she was the one who suggested-"

This time Sai was cut off by Sakura laughing nervously. "Never mind that!" she said "Naruto, come here for a second". She gripped his upper arm tight enough to bruise (she really didn't know her own strength… That or she just didn't care) and pulled him aside just far enough away that Kakashi and Sai wouldn't be able to hear them talking.

"Sakura-chan! How could you do this to me? I'm not going on a date with a guy!" Naruto spluttered frantically.

"Naruto, calm down, okay? What harm could it do to go out for a few meals with him?" He was about to start protesting again but she raised her hand and stopped him "Look, he needs the practice so that he can go on real dates. With girls. All you have to do is correct him when he says something really stupid and eat all of the free food that he's going to buy for you"

"Why can't you do it?" Naruto crossed his arms and sulked, although he was beginning to come around to the idea. The prospect of free ramen will do that to a guy.

"If I'm seen with him, people will think that we really are dating. If they see you and Sai together it will just look like two guys hanging out, nobody would even look twice"

Naruto was reluctant to admit it, but that did kind of make sense. And free food aside, Sai was his friend and Naruto did want to help him… He ran a hand through his hair and let out a resigned sigh. "I'll give it a shot, Sakura-chan, but if this back-fires then I want you to take me out on a real date. Promise?"

She smiled genuinely at him then, some of the colour returning to her cheeks "Promise".

They returned to Kakashi and Sai who had been standing together awkwardly and obviously not really knowing what to say to each other. It served them both right as far as Naruto was concerned, Kakashi-sensei for obviously delighting in his discomfort and Sai for putting him in this situation in the first place. Naruto looked at Sai, and Sai just stared back at him expectantly. He tried to un-scrunch his face from its frowny position and reform it into something like a smile. Unfortunately, the best that he could manage was a grimace. Better to just get it over with then, he thought glumly.

"Okay, Sai, I'll give this a chance. Meet me at Ichiraku on Saturday at seven… And you're paying."

Sai's face lit up with one of his rare real smiles and that was enough to make Naruto feel like this was a good idea after all. Probably.

He shot a look at his former sensei from the corner of his eye and saw that Kakashi was just watching them with one eyebrow raised (well the one eyebrow that Naruto could see anyway) in what Naruto assumed was amusement. Naruto aimed his best death glare at him, daring him to say something. Kakashi just smiled back at him before returning his attention to his book.

"Okay!" Sakura chirped, clapping her hands together in a businesslike manner "Let's go report to Tsunade-shishou!"

The walk to the Hokage mansion was more or less silent and incredibly awkward. Giving their progress report in the Hokage's office was even worse, especially because Kakashi kept making little quips about how he hoped that Naruto and Sai would work on their "teamwork", while Sakura snickered in the background. For once, Naruto could not wait to be alone.

oOo

It was coming up to seven now and every time Naruto saw a shadow he felt his heart jump in his chest and start beating a mile a minute. Why was he so nervous? It was just Sai! The same Sai who he had eaten ramen with hundreds of times before! He shouldn't even be getting nervous about eating ramen with a guy anyway, what the hell was wrong with him?

He was really beginning to work himself up when a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of him, the smell making his stomach grumble and pushing all thoughts of Sai out of his mind. With a smile on his face he broke his chopsticks apart and tucked in.

Of course it was typical that just as the first mouthful of noodles graced his tongue that he would feel a hand on his shoulder, causing him to almost inhale his food. After a few seconds of red-faced coughing and spluttering he finally turned to face his "date".

Sai was wearing his civilian clothes, and if nothing else that was something that Naruto was grateful for. Sai's bare midriff could only have made the situation even more gay than it already was. Regardless of what excuses Sai made about wearing the short shirt for tactical purposes (something about presenting an obvious weak spot so he always knew the enemy's point of attack) Naruto had always had his doubts.

"Hello, Naruto. These are for you." Sai smiled and, much to Naruto's dismay, offered him a bunch of flowers. Flashes of Sai in the Yamanaka flower shop buying the bouquet and telling all of the customers (who were in Naruto's mind all attractive, female and available) that he was getting them for his big date with Naruto. Sai had been here all of two seconds and Naruto was already sure that this was not going to end well.

"Sai, you don't give guys flowers. Okay?" Naruto started, trying to keep his voice level and stay civil "Guys don't like flowers."

"I like flowers" Sai responded, his tone matter of fact "And the book said-"

"Never mind what the book said!" Naruto cried, completely exasperated "Most guys don't want flowers. Flowers are fine if you're on a date with a girl, but you're here with me and I don't want flowers!"

Sai looked confused, and so did the people behind the counter. Naruto began to panic a little, why did he think it was a good idea to bring Sai here again? Where people knew him? Where he planned to come back again at some point in the future? He reached out in a panicked, jerky movement and snatched the flowers out of Sai's outstretched hand and sat them on the stool beside him.

"Sit down and order something already!" Naruto said, still trying to avoid the eyes of the people behind the counter.

At least Sai did what he was told, ordering a seafood ramen and some sake before taking the stool on his other side. Naruto decided that the best thing to do was to focus on his food and just try and treat this like any other time they had been at Ichiraku together.

It was a good idea, in theory, but in practice it didn't really work. There was a deathly silence between them and he caught Sai staring at him several times as if he was trying his best to think of how to break said silence without saying something wrong. It made Naruto feel terrible really, to see his friend struggling (especially since he was the one who had freaked out and caused the awkwardness in the first place) but he couldn't think of anything to say either.

Three bowls of ramen later and Sai finally spoke up "I've come to the conclusion that the books that I've read on the subject may not be appropriate to this situation. I don't think that I can follow the advice on how a man should behave when he is on a date with a woman or the advice for how a woman should act when she's out with a man."

No shit, Naruto thought to himself with a sigh and turned on his stool "Sai, those books aren't going to actually help you learn about dating. When you're on a date with someone you should treat it like you would if you were just spending time with them as friends. At least at the beginning anyway"

"But then what makes dating any different than being with your friends?"

"Well, you know…" Naruto blushed and his voice dropped to a whisper "you get to do stuff"

Sai just blinked back at him. "Stuff?"

"You know… " Naruto felt like his face was on fire. "Sex stuff".

"Oh!" Sai said, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise "Did you want to do 'sex stuff' with me?"

"No!" Naruto screeched, jumping up from his seat and nearly knocking Sai from his "We're both guys! You retard!" And now everyone on the street had stopped and was staring at them. Shit, he really didn't have anyone to blame for this particular embarrassment other than himself.

He looked around and laughed nervously before sitting back down again. He waited for the crowd to start going about their business again before he spoke "Sai, I'm not interested in guys in that way." Sai frowned at that "Not that there's anything wrong with it" Naruto added hastily "but I like girls, okay?"

"Look, I'll help you learn about dating and I'll even help you find a girl when you're ready… or a guy if that's what you're into" he smiled easily then, glad to be able to clear things up "But that's all it is, okay? One guy helping another."

Sai smiled back at him shyly. "Thank you, Naruto. You're a good friend."

Naruto grinned and turned back to his ramen. Sure, they had gotten off to a rocky start but maybe this would be as easy as Sakura-chan had made it out to be after all.

oOo

Over the next few weeks Naruto's "dates" with Sai became a regular occurrence, and now they had even progressed beyond visiting the Ichiraku Ramen stand to having a meal in Sai's apartment (although he was still having ramen. Naruto would not compromise on that front).

While Sai was busy in the kitchen Naruto sat in the living area. He looked around the room curiously and couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. The fact that the living area was almost as large as Naruto's entire apartment and much more nicely decorated made him feel kind of inferior. It was a stupid way to feel but that didn't stop him feeling it. The furniture was expensive looking and the walls were covered with art (that he assumed Sai had painted himself), one wall in particular was almost completely taken up with an abstract painting that was amazingly intricate but also made him feel like he'd go cross-eyed if he started at it for too long. There was no way that he could ever have a nice place like this one unless he married some girl with good taste and better money saving abilities than he had. It made him wonder what Sakura-chan's apartment was like, probably all pink and girly and cute… the kind of place that he'd stick out like a sore thumb in.

Thinking of Sakura made him think about her "master plan" that he and Sai were currently caught up in. He sighed and slumped a little in the comfortable chair and thought about how far they had come since that first awkward meal at Ichiraku. It had been a bumpy ride (having to deal with Sai attempting to call him "Naruto-chan" had been particularly trying) but it had also been a lot of fun. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but at some point he had stopped dreading meeting up with Sai for these little get-togethers and started looking forward to them. Not only that, but he could see that Sai was beginning to change. He was hopeful that he would be able set Sai up with someone without worrying too much about him saying something totally inappropriate and getting himself in trouble.

He sat up straight as Sai came into the room with a very large bowl of ramen in one hand and a plate of yaki soba in the other (unlike Naruto, Sai was not content to eat ramen for every meal). Sai set the ramen down on the glass (and probably expensive) coffee table in front of Naruto before sitting down on the couch beside him to eat his own food.

"Itadakimasuuu~" Naruto said with a grin as he started to shovel the ramen into his mouth. "This is delicious!" he exclaimed through a mouthful of food "Almost as good as Ichiraku's, Sai!"

Sai smiled, and it was simple and genuine (something that was becoming more and more common, Naruto had noticed) "Thank you, Naruto. I was a little worried because it was the first time I had prepared ramen. I had read that the best way to prepare the chicken is-"

After Sai finished explaining every detail of preparation and work that he had put into the meal (Naruto would be lying if he said that he did anything more than half listen), they ate in a relatively comfortable silence and when they were nearly finished, Naruto surprised himself by accepting the offer of sake from Sai. He had never been a big drinker. Travelling with Ero-sennin for three years had shown him just how undignified drunk people could really be.

In the next hour they spoke of their most recent mission, their friends, and Sai's art. They also finished a bottle and a half of sake between them… Well, it was more like Naruto had drank a whole bottle and then started stealing some from Sai; he had begun to notice that his cheeks and ears were feeling a little hot. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling though, and he figured they were at the stage now where he should talk to Sai about the next step in their little 'help Sai get a date' plan.

"Sai, I think you're ready to try going on a real date now" he began, and couldn't suppress the laugh that bubbled up in the back of his throat when he heard how far away his own voice sounded. "So, now we have to talk about what your type is"

Sai frowned a little and looked into his sake cup as if he could find the answer in there. Naruto noticed that Sai was also suffering from a case of red ears and cheeks and tried not to giggle. "I don't really know what my 'type' is, Naruto… I don't know if I have one"

"Ah, c'mon. You have to have a type! Everyone has a type!" Naruto slurred, before he was hit with devious inspiration "What do you think about when you jerk off?"

Sai looked shocked, and to Naruto's surprise, even a little embarrassed. He hadn't thought that Sai could be embarrassed, just like he hadn't thought that he'd like to see Sai blush and squirm uncomfortably. Yep, that was definitely new.

"I don't know…" Sai mumbled, his tone uncertain "I don't know if I want to talk to you about that. Or if you'd want to hear it…"

"What? Do you think about dudes or something?" Naruto tried to sound nonchalant, waving a hand in dismissal "You can tell me, I'm cool with it"

Sai gulped audibly, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down with the action. "Sometimes… I think about having him in my mouth…" He let out a shaky sigh and kept his eyes firmly rooted on his sake cup. He looked like he was about to say something else (maybe to clarify who exactly 'him' was) but changed his mind at the last second.

Naruto's eyebrows shot up, not because Sai had finally admitted that he jerked it to men (Naruto had pretty much come to terms with that possibility already) it was just that he hadn't really been expecting a description of what Sai wanted to do, more who he wanted to do. Add to that another interesting development: Naruto didn't know whether to blame the booze or his hormones (not that that was much of an excuse, he wasn't a kid anymore) but his heart was pounding in his ears and he was as hard as a rock. Shit.

"Having what in your mouth?" he asked, playing dumb. Sai normally pale cheeks were bright red now and he looked away in frustration. Naruto took pity on him "Having his cock in your mouth?" Sai nodded jerkily and continued to keep his eyes trained on the carpet. Naruto grinned an evil grin; Sai was almost cute when he was like this.

"Who do you think about?" he asked at the same time that his mind screamed at him that this was dangerous, that he liked women, that this could fuck everything up and that he already knew the answer anyway. But that last one wasn't really true; he wouldn't know the answer for sure until he heard it come from Sai's mouth.

Sai looked at him directly for only a second before breaking eye contact; Naruto took the opportunity to scoot a little closer across the couch. "You can tell me, Sai. I won't get mad" he said, trying to sound calm and understanding and not at all creepy and predatory. Naruto didn't really think he'd succeeded. He watched Sai lick his lips nervously and all he could think about was how much he wanted to see Sai put those full lips to work. Oh God, he was such a bad friend.

"I…" Sai started, his voice was shaking. "I think about you, Naruto"

He hadn't thought it was possible but he felt his heart pound even faster, this was it. "What if I told you that I wouldn't mind, Sai?" Sai raised his eyes to Naruto's again, his expression was equal parts uncertain and hopeful. There was no turning back now. "What if I said that I want you to suck me off?" his voice sounded so much calmer than he felt.

Sai moaned quietly and shifted in his seat, Naruto couldn't help but notice the tell-tale bulge in his friend's pants. He was surprised (there was a lot of that going around tonight) that rather than repulsing him it managed to turn him on even more.

"B-but, Naruto, I've read that sexual relations can ruin frien-"

Naruto cut across him by leaning in and kissing him roughly.

It was only the fourth time that Naruto had ever kissed someone (and he wasn't sure that the time with Sasuke really counted anyway) and this would be the first time he got further than a hand job with anybody. To say that he was nervous would be an understatement. The kiss was a little awkward, with too much teeth and kind of messy but it was also pretty much the hottest thing that he'd ever experienced.

He moved from beside Sai to straddle him, kissing him the whole time. Sai's hips rose to meet his and Naruto moaned deeply and ground back down against his friend. He felt Sai's hands at the waistband of his pants, unbuttoning and unzipping them quickly before a warm hand slipped inside his boxers and wrapped around him. Naruto broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Sai's, pleasure shooting through him as Sai started jerking him off slowly, his thumb teasing the slit at the top of his cock, smearing the little bead of pre-cum that had formed there. Naruto was more than a little shocked that the shy Sai of less than five minutes ago was so quick to take the initiative, not that he was complaining. Sai used his other hand to pull down Naruto's boxers, exposing him, before grabbing his ass and making him raise his hips.

Naruto watched raptly as Sai leaned down and ran his tongue in a lazy circle around the head of his cock. "Fuck…" Naruto breathed. In his dirtiest of fantasies he had not imagined that it would feel this good just to have someone lick him. So, it was understandable that when Sai suddenly took Naruto's entire cock into his mouth in one go that he had to try very hard not to lose it right then and there.

Sai was very, very good at this. Naruto might have spared a thought as to why he might be so good at giving head if his brain hadn't been completely turned to mush. He forced his eyes back open and looked back down again to be treated to the sight of his friend running his tongue up his entire length before engulfing him in that hot mouth again. As Sai's mouth bobbed up and down on his cock he did something with his tongue that made Naruto's eyes roll back into his head and had him fighting the urge to thrust back.

Naruto moved his arm, from where it had been hanging slack at his side, so that he could run his fingers through Sai's hair. The black strands were soft and silky to the touch, not at all like his own stiff and spiky hair. He tugged softly on his friend's hair and Sai opened his eyes to look up at him, slowing down only a little. His gaze was intense and clouded with lust, and when Naruto ran his thumb across Sai's cheekbone he thought he saw something else in those black eyes. Something soft that he would never expect to see on Sai's face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared; so fast that Naruto couldn't be sure that he'd really seen anything at all.

Sai's other hand had gone to the waistband of his own pants and he deftly freed his own erection, pumping it in time with the movements of his mouth. It wasn't long before he was moaning loudly around Naruto's cock and his movements started to become erratic with approaching orgasm. Naruto tried to hold out as long as he could and felt a little surge of victory when Sai came first, semen shooting onto Naruto's pants leg. The sight of Sai coming combined with the sounds that he was making and what he was still doing with his talented mouth were enough to shred any control that Naruto might have had left. He felt like every single muscle in his body clenched and let go at once, again and again as the strongest orgasm of his life hit him hard and left him shaking.

Naruto watched Sai's throat move as he swallowed and felt another shiver of pleasure thrum through him. He couldn't contain the small gasp that escaped him as Sai licked him clean. Still breathing heavily, Naruto tucked himself back into his boxers and buttoned himself back up before moving to the side to return to his earlier seat on the couch. He blinked sleepily and smiled, he opened his mouth to say something (he wasn't really sure what exactly) but before he could get a word out Sai had gotten up and retreated into the kitchen. He wasn't quite sure if he should be worried, but his legs felt way too wobbly to pursue.

He listened to his friend rustling around in the other room and the sound of briefly running water before Sai came back into the room and offered him a wet cloth. Now he was just confused.

It must have shown on his face because Sai smiled at him and said "For your pants" gesturing to the wet patch just below Naruto's right pocket.

"Oh, shit! I totally forgot about that!" Naruto exclaimed, laughing nervously and accepting the cloth. He scrubbed at the area as best as he could before setting the damp cloth down on the glass surface of the coffee table. Sai sat back down beside him and Naruto figured that they should probably talk about this, but his head still felt muggy from the sake and more than a little tired from all the 'physical exertion'.

"Can I stay the night?" he asked, only realising how easily misunderstood the question was when Sai looked at him like he had just grown a second head. "I mean, to sleep. I'm just tired, I promise!"

Sai looked indecisive for a moment before relenting "I suppose that it would be okay considering what we just did" Naruto giggled at that "I read that-"

"Seriously, Sai, you have to forget about those books!" laughing and reaching out to poke Sai in the side "Now, let's go to bed". Sai showed him to the bedroom which was Spartan compared to the rest of the apartment, black and white and furnished only with a double bed and a wardrobe. Naruto would have to ask Sai about that some other time, when the room wasn't spinning so much. He felt a little better once he flopped down on the bed and nuzzled his nose into the soft sheets.

oOo

Sai stood at the sink in his bathroom looking at his reflection in the mirror, preparing himself to go back in there. He heard the sound of the bed springs creaking under Naruto's weight and what sounded like muffled laughter.

He hadn't prepared for this eventuality in the slightest and he certainly hadn't had the time to do the reading, but he was almost positive that it was not appropriate to engage in sexual activity with someone who was inebriated… especially when you were more or less sober yourself. And now Naruto was in his bed, he may have said that he just wanted to sleep but what if he initiated something again? Would he be betraying his friend's trust if he accepted? Had he already betrayed Naruto's trust?

Sai turned the tap on, brushed his teeth quickly and splashed water on his face. He took a deep breath and headed back to the bedroom.

He stopped dead in his tracks at the door, Naruto was laying face down on the white bedspread and he was completely and utterly naked, his orange and black clothes in a heap at the foot of the bed. His eyes roamed of their own accord, following the natural contours of muscles honed through years of living as a shinobi and covered in unscarred, golden skin.

Sai finally managed to move from his spot in the doorway, approaching the bed cautiously. Naruto's eyes were closed, his face smooth and free from expression in sleep. "Naruto?" he asked quietly, there was no response, he was out cold. Sai had become aroused again but it barely even registered, he had a much more pressing urge to deal with as he went to retrieve his sketchbook and inks.

When he was all set up and his pencil hovered above the white paper, ready to make the first stroke, he hesitated for a second. Was what he was doing appropriate? Was it another betrayal of trust? He worried his lower lip between his teeth as he deliberated over the problem.

His eyes were drawn back to the striking contrast of tanned skin against white sheets and he decided that Naruto didn't necessarily need to know about this piece. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him after all (he was sure that he had read that somewhere).

Conscience silenced, his hand moved across the paper quickly and with practiced ease.

Okay, so that's the first chapter. It shouldn't be too long before I can get the second one up.

Reviews are much appreciated. ^^