A/N:
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, not me.
Warnings (!) : Misspelling, bad language, boy x boy, fluff, mature content, future m-preg, maybe future character death. This is rated M for a reason, you know.
To all that hasn't left, hope you enjoy! ^^
How could I possibly know?
Chapter 1:
The plateau
"Wait, Naruto!" Sasuke called as he leaned back against the rock wall. The blond turned around and came walking back to him, a worried frown on his face.
"Are you all right, Sasuke?" he asked as he got nearer and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"No, I'm not. If I'd known that a five days hiking would've been what we were going to do, I wouldn't have come with you." he sighed and Naruto chuckled.
"Bastard, we're not even half way yet. Are you thirsty?" the blond asked and Sasuke nodded.
"Here."
Naruto held out his full water bottle and Sasuke took it with a nod as thanks, quickly uncapping it and drinking almost half of the bottle in one go.
"Hey, take it easy." Naruto said and Sasuke glared at him.
"I'm not weak, Naruto, but you know how easily I get dehydrated!" the raven exclaimed and Naruto sighed as he took the bottle back when Sasuke held it out for him.
"Yeah, yeah. I've got more water so it's fine. And we'll reach the falls soon enough."
"What falls?" Sasuke asked with a frown and Naruto's eyes widened and he turned around and began walking again as he called,
"Nothing!"
"Dobe, what falls?" Sasuke asked again as he hefted his backpack with their sleeping bags and extra clothes up a little better as he began following after the blond.
"You've must have heard wrong, Sasuke, I said walls!" Naruto called as he reached a particularly steep bit of the path they were walking on.
Naruto easily climbed up, despite carrying on their food supplies, the tent and having the belt with water bottles around his hips. Sasuke studied him, making sure to see every spot Naruto's hands and feet stepped on.
"Come on now!" Naruto shouted when he reached the top and Sasuke sighed but began climbing and soon he pulled himself over the edge, glaring at Naruto who cheekily grinned.
"Could you please tell me where the hell we are going?" Sasuke growled as he rose and Naruto shook his head.
"Nope! Then it's no surprise!" the blond laughed and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
It was surprisingly easy to be himself with the infuriating blond moron, something that always surprised the raven haired teen. He rarely felt the need to put up the walls he otherwise always wore when he was with Naruto and if his brother had seen him he hadn't believed his eyes.
"Teme, keep up!" Naruto called and Sasuke looked up, realizing that Naruto was almost a hundred meters ahead of himself. He quickly caught up to the blond and they walked under a comfortable silence for a while.
"Sasuke?" Naruto suddenly asked low and Sasuke shot him a surprised look, the blond was never quiet.
"Hn?"
"Why did you come with me here?" Naruto mumbled then looked down as Sasuke frowned at the strange question.
"Are you all right? It's not like you to ask such a thing when we've been hiking through the mountains for days already." he replied and Naruto turned his head away, looking out over the landscape.
It was a beautiful place, emerald green hills and small lakes that shimmered in the sun. Far away really high mountains made the horizon look jagged, closer to them were smaller giants in all shades of cloudy gray to deep purple. A band of pine trees and spruce mad a half circle around the place and Naruto noted that they would have to get through the forest before sunset, it wouldn't be fun if they got lost in the dark. Suddenly pale fingers gripped his shoulder in a light squeeze and Naruto looked back at Sasuke.
"Are you okay, Naruto?" Sasuke asked low, his eyes filled with concern even though his face was indifferent.
"Yeah.. I'm fine. Just a little tired." Naruto lied and Sasuke reluctantly let go of his shoulder, a doubtful look appearing in his eyes.
"Really, I'm fine." Naruto reassured and Sasuke nodded.
"Well, then." the raven mumbled.
"See those trees?" Naruto's voice was back to normal tone and volume and he was pointing towards the band of trees. Sasuke nodded again.
"We have to get through them before sunset so we have time to set up the tent."
"Let's go." Sasuke muttered as he continued to walk and Naruto grinned.
"That's the spirit!" he cheered and Sasuke let out a exasperated sigh.
"Jeez, dobe! Where do you get your energy from?" he said and Naruto gave him a light shove as he ran past him.
"Tag!" the blond shouted and Sasuke groaned but ran after the blond. Since he was faster than Naruto he quickly had caught up again and as he pushed the blond lightly, he called,
"Tag."
"Hey, unfair!" Naruto exclaimed and Sasuke snickered as he sprinted off, making sure to keep on track as to not get lost.
Naruto wasn't a slow runner either and it wasn't long before Sasuke was chasing the blond again, Naruto laughing joyously as he ran. They kept running and chasing each other until Naruto threw himself down onto a hill side, still laughing as he shouted,
"I give up! You win!"
"Finally!" Sasuke groaned as he flopped down beside the blond, both panting and sweaty.
Sasuke grabbed a water bottle from Naruto's belt and began drinking from it again. Naruto rolled onto his stomach, putting his elbows on the ground and his chin in his hands as he studied Sasuke with a bright smile on his lips.
"That was fun!" he murmured and Sasuke chuckled lightly.
"Hn. But now we both smell sweat, even worse than before." he dryly said and Naruto sighed.
"Yeah. Come on, I know a lake we can take a bath in! It should be warm, the sun's so hot even I'm a little tired of it!" the blond then beamed as he jumped up onto his feet and held out his hand to Sasuke, who took it and let Naruto pull him up.
"Do you even know where we are, dobe?" the raven asked and Naruto looked around, realizing they'd ran much further than they needed and was almost in the middle of the plateau.
A few hundred meters ahead of them were a large grove of aspen and birch and without hesitation he grabbed Sasuke's hand again and tugged him along as he began jogging towards the woods.
"Follow me!" he called as he let go when they neared the grove and he began running. A minute later they both burst out on the other side and Naruto stopped and breathlessly said,
"Ain't it amazing?"
Sasuke looked up and unwillingly gasped. As it was now, in full daylight, it was stunning. Before them a small lake with absolutely clear water laid like in a cup between hills with softly swaying green grass. Forget"me"nots was spread in the grass and dwarf birch began showing up on the hills, growing in a random pattern. Not so far away, the first mountain rose towards the sky and the forest thinned out, giving the land up to the dwarf birch.
"We'll camp here, Sasuke. We won't get to our next camping place before sunset." Naruto said and Sasuke nodded.
"Set up the tent, I'll go and get fire wood." he replied as he turned on heel and went back into the grove.
After some minutes wandering, Sasuke had found five sticks and he was beginning to become irritated when he stumbled over a fallen tree. When he regained his balance and turned he found himself staring at a low pile with hundreds of smalls and bigger logs neatly stored.
"What the …?" he muttered with a frown but bent down and took several logs until he couldn't carry more. When he straightened up, he was met with baby blue eyes and he jerked back in shock.
"Hi!" Naruto smiled and Sasuke growled.
"What are you doing here, baka?" he asked with a glare and Naruto's smile fell.
"I thought I'd give you some help." the blond murmured and Sasuke groaned.
"Oh, for heaven's sake! I'm not a child!"
"I know that! I just wanted to-..!" Naruto cut himself off as he lifted his arms in a frustrated gesture then let them fall again as he sighed.
"Hn. Grab some wood then explain why the hell all of it is collected here." Sasuke muttered and waited until Naruto had taken an armful wood, then he began walking back towards their camp.
"Last time I was here, I stored all the wood I could find there. I figured it would be easier to find that way. Sorry about that, I forgot to tell you." Naruto said as they walked and Sasuke nodded.
"Hn. Are you done with the tent?"
"Yeah, and I've put up a ring of stones so we can light the fire." Naruto answered.
"Good. I want to bath before dinner, we stink." Sasuke muttered and Naruto burst out laughing.
"Yeah, certainly!" the blond chuckled and Sasuke smirked.
"Come on. We're almost there." he said as he caught a glimpse of their tent between the trees.
Naruto dashed pass him and Sasuke rolled his eyes as he followed the blond to their tent, setting down the pile with wood beside the tent Naruto had put up just inside the grove so they'd be a little more sheltered. Naruto had already dumped his logs beside the circle of stones and now he was running towards the small lake still fully dressed. Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Dobe! Stop! You've got the mat-"
*Splash!*
"Fuck!" Sasuke groaned then took out the sleeping bags from his backpack before he made his way down to the lake where Naruto just broke up through the water's surface, a happy grin on his face.
The blond flinched under the murderous glare Sasuke sent him.
"What did I do?" Naruto called and Sasuke sighed.
"You've got the matches, dobe." he shouted back and Naruto looked frantic as he began to search his pockets, treading water to stay fleeting. A second later the blond lifted his hand, holding a plastic bag.
"Here!" Naruto yelled as he threw the bag to Sasuke. It landed about a meter away and Sasuke went to pick it up, sighing in relief as he realized that the matches still were dry.
"Iruka made me keep them in a plastic bag!" Naruto shouted and Sasuke smirked as he emptied his own pockets and placed the stuff into the backpack before stepping down into the water, also he still dressed.
"He probably knew that you would do something stupid." the raven said as he swam over to Naruto who shot him a glare.
"I'm not stupid, teme!" the blond exclaimed and Sasuke sighed.
"Really." he dryly said then yelped when Naruto splashed water at him with a pout. "Hey!"
"Bastard." the blond muttered as he turned to float on his back in the pleasantly chilly water, staring up at the cobalt"blue sky.
"Soap." Sasuke said as he put the soap he'd put in his pocket before he got down into the water onto the blond's chest.
"Thanks. If the clothes are dry tomorrow, I've just gotten us a free wash!" Naruto chuckled and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Wash, before I do it." the raven threatened and Naruto quickly laddered his hair and clothes before he obediently gave the soap back to Sasuke who did the same then threw the soap back up on land, noticing that it landed beside his and Naruto's towels and extra clothes with a satisfied smirk.
Suddenly a hand gripped onto his ankle and he sucked in a sharp breath right before he was pulled under the surface. When he came up spluttering, Naruto was swimming some meters away, laughing hard at the raven's expression.
"Oh, God! You look ridiculous!" the blond shouted and Sasuke glared at him then dove under the surface.
He could see clearly in the water and when he caught sight of Naruto's slowly moving legs, he quickly swam over to him and gripped his ankle, pulling the blond under. He continued to pull the blond down until they were face to face, Naruto's cheeks puffed up by air. Sasuke smirked and Naruto blew out a long row of bubbles with a grin.
Sasuke's eyes widened when Naruto's expression turned thoughtful and the blond's hand came up to gently move through the hair floating around his head. Then the blond's fingertips rested against his cheek in a gentle caress, blue eyes startlingly electric as they gazed at him. Sasuke lifted his own right hand and carefully fitted his palm against Naruto's cheek, fingertips lightly moving in small circles over the older teen's tanned skin.
A moment later, they simultaneously moved apart and swam up to the surface.
"Let's get up now! Else we'll freeze to death when the sun goes down." Naruto said and began swimming towards the shore. Their little moment wasn't mentioned by either of them.
Sasuke sighed as he peeled his soaked clothes off then wrapped himself in the towel. Naruto was almost done dressing and a second later, Sasuke found himself blinded as Naruto made a short process of getting his jet black hair dry, messing it up mercilessly. The blond then swung the towel around him before saying,
"I'll go and start the fire, get dressed."
"Hn." Sasuke nodded briefly and Naruto smiled then turned and walked up to their tent again.
Sasuke looked at him for a moment then began rubbing himself dry with the towel before he slipped his dry and clean clothes on, letting out a satisfied sigh. He collected his own and Naruto's clothes then walked up to the grove again and found a tree with low branches he could hang the wet clothes and towels up on, the light breeze would help to dry them.
"Sasuke?" Naruto suddenly called and Sasuke went back to the tent, the much lighter backpack slung over one of his shoulders.
"What?" he asked as he got nearer and Naruto looked up from the fire.
"Where's my fishing rod? I need to go fishing downstream if we're going to have any dinner." the blond answered and Sasuke sighed.
"Put up a trap too. I'm getting tired of fish." he muttered as he took of his backpack and picked out the fishing rod and rope and gave them to Naruto.
"You'll skin and prepare any thing we catch in the trap in that case." Naruto replied as he took the items then rose.
For a moment they stared at each other, anticipation suddenly heavy in the air. Naruto lifted his hand and briefly touched the Uchiha's cheek before he abruptly turned and walked away, leaving Sasuke to stare after him as pale fingers reached up to touch the same spot. Sasuke sat down beside the fire with a tired sigh, suddenly feeling emotionally worn out. He watched the fire, feeding it with small sticks until it was crackling nicely then he put one of the larger logs on. He stared out over the landscape, hearing nothing more but the water that streamed from and to the lake, bird's singing and the light breeze that rustled the leaves and the grass. For a moment he smiled slightly at the peaceful atmosphere it brought.
Naruto was standing on a flat rock in the creek, a concentrated look on his face as he stared at the cork. It disappeared under the rippling water's surface and with a snatching move, Naruto jerked it up out of water, grinning at the fish squirming on the hook. He quickly took the fish off and broke it's neck, throwing it up onto land beside two more. He started all over again but as he was waiting, he snapped his head up and stared back towards the tent.
"Sasuke..." he whispered, eyes wide in worry. Something was wrong, something was coming closer to his Sasuke!
He could hear it. Sasuke looked around startled as small snaps was heard around him. Something was moving closer to him. The sun began to set and the shadows grew slightly longer, seemingly creeping closer to him. It was crazy, he was standing beside the fire, he should have made the shadows, they should have moved away from him! Quickly taking his knife that he carried in his belt, Sasuke swirled around when the presence of another being showed up behind him. His eyes widened abruptly as a hand caught his wrist as he was pinned down by a hard glare from emerald green eyes circled by black shadows.
The man before him was obviously older than himself, maybe being a couple of years older than Naruto too. He was pale and had short red hair and a kanji sign that Sasuke recognized as 'love' above his left eye, it was made out of several crisscrossing scars. The man was obviously strong since he so easily had caught Sasuke's arm. He felt cold and bony fingers circle his neck and blinking in light confusion, Sasuke realized he was being strangled as the fingers quickly tightened.
"What ar' you do-doin'?" he gasped and the man tilted his head slightly in surprise but didn't answer.
Sasuke felt his nose and lips begin to tingle and he felt his pulse quicken. It wouldn't have been unpleasant if it hadn't been this stranger trying to kill him!
Despite his blurring vision Sasuke saw a flash of silver then the man stiffened as the tip of a knife pressed against his neck and a tan arm wound around his neck too. From rage red eyes gazed at the man.
"Hurt him and I'll kill you, Shukaku." Naruto hissed, his voice tense and trembling with fury.
The man gave Sasuke one last glare before he let go, making the raven fall down onto his knees as he coughed, forcing air down into his lungs.
"Kyuubi. I didn't know that this one was with you." the redhead mumbled and Naruto sighed, slowly moving his knife away.
"Step aside, Shukaku." Naruto muttered and the redhead did. Sasuke looked up at him as the blond crouched down in front of him.
"Don't say that you're friends with that." he growled, his voice hoarse and Naruto laughed nervously, his hand coming up to rub the back of his head.
"Um.. I guess I am. Are you all right?"
Sasuke thought about it for a second. He had just been almost choked, he was hungry, freezing and there was a crazy man here! No, he was not all right!
"No." the raven replied along a death glare and Naruto sighed.
"Let me see your neck." the blond murmured and reached out towards Sasuke who scowled and leaned back.
"I'd rather see that you wash your hands. You smell fish." he said and Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on!" the blond sighed as Sasuke rose.
"Did you put the trap up?" he asked and Naruto looked up as he shook his head.
"Did you catch any fish?"
Naruto nodded.
"So where is it?" Sasuke asked and crossed his arms in annoyance and no, he didn't do it for comfort, absolutely not!
"I forgot it by the river." Naruto answered and Sasuke groaned.
"And the fishing rod?"
Naruto looked down as he muttered,
"I may have dropped it in the creek.."
"Jesus." Sasuke sighed as he let his arms drop as he closed his eyes. Naruto winched violently at how disappointed the raven's voice was.
Immediately a feeling of anger and irritation on his behalf tugged at him and Shukaku's growling voice filled the blond's head,
"Can I kill him now?"
"No!"
Naruto shot a glare at Shukaku then Sasuke opened his eyes and Naruto ignored the other half demon's grumbling as he looked back at the raven and said,
"Sasuke, wait-.."
"No. I'll go and get the fish." Sasuke muttered and Naruto quickly rose.
"No, let me." he said softly but Sasuke snapped.
"You still think of me as a kid, don't you?" he growled as he showed Naruto, making the blond stumble backwards a step.
"Brat."
Shukaku growled in his head and Naruto slammed up a mental wall around his thoughts, blocking the raccoon's voice momentarily.
"No, I just-" Naruto began but Sasuke cut him off.
"Just what? Just wanted to help? Well, I don't need your help!" the raven angrily said.
"Sasuke-.." Naruto started but not now either did Sasuke let him finish talking.
"No! Don't! I can mange by myself, idiot!"
"Listen to me, Sa-.."
"No!" Sasuke growled as he walked pass Naruto and the blond reached out and caught his arm, his lips parted to speak but the punch Sasuke landed on his stomach made him lose his breath and let go of the raven who stalked away into the night, muttering low to himself.
"Baka. Why didn't you let me kill him?"
Shukaku asked but there was a light amusement in his voice too.
"He's mine. If you touch him again, I'll tear you apart, brother or not."
Naruto possessively growled and Shukaku's chuckle rang through his head as those green eyes looked into startlingly blue.
"You're smitten, Kyuu. I can feel it."
"Am not!"
Naruto huffed as he sat down by the fire again. After a second he silently invited the other to sit with him.
"Well, Kyuu. It was a long time since last time. What have brought you here?" Shukaku asked and Naruto sighed.
"Say Naruto if we aren't alone. My name may be more appropriate but he doesn't know it." the blond muttered and Shukaku nodded.
"Alright. But why?" the red-haired man replied and Naruto knew that he wasn't asking about his name.
"Well, I wanted Sasuke to see this place. And I guess I felt a bit homesick after all these years. I see that you've kept my fire wood untouched." Naruto answered with a small sigh.
"Yeah. How come you're smitten with him? What is that brat to you?" Shukaku questioned and Naruto stretched his hand out into the fire, watching in amazement as a small flame crept up into his palm.
"I was lonely. So was he. We were rivals and he proved to be more of a challenge than anyone that I've ever met. He intrigued me."
the blond replied and the bond between him and Shukaku vibrated with affirmation. Naruto wryly smiled then let the flame jump back into the fire with a soft sigh.
"He made me feel like I was worth something, Shukaku. Like Neji do to you."
"Neji don't intrigue me. And I'm not smitten with him."
Shukaku indignantly replied and Naruto snorted, laughing lightly.
"Oh, come on. I can practically feel your attraction to him, Gaara."
"I'm not smitten. I just. Like to be with him."
"That sounds pretty much like what I told myself when I started being Sasuke's friend."
"Whom you are smitten with."
"Am I smitten with you?"
"No."
"See! I feel exactly the same for you as I do for Sasuke. Only stronger."
"Okay. Your word is my command. Our topic's back by the way, and he's got the fish."
the last sentence was said with obvious glee and Naruto rolled his eyes, knowing Shukaku felt his annoyance.
"Hi, Sasuke." the blond mumbled and he heard a sigh.
"Sorry that I yelled at you." Sasuke replied quietly and Shukaku smirked at the happiness that filled his friend's being.
"It's okay." Naruto replied as Sasuke speared the fish on two sticks he'd carved away the bark from and gave one to Naruto and one to Shukaku who took it, surprise evident in his eyes.
Naruto grinned brightly.
"Thanks, teme!"
"Hn." Sasuke smirked as he put his own fish onto a third stick then sat down a little bit away from the blond, holding his fish against the flames but not in them.
"Is it smart to taunt him if yo-.." Shukaku began but as Sasuke looked up in interest, Naruto cut him off.
"Shukaku, shut up!" the blond shouted and the man flinched.
"I haven't told him!"
"Sorry."
"No, let me hear what he was going to say." Sasuke said and Naruto shot Shukaku a glare.
"I just wondered if it's clever of Naruto to taunt you when you bring food back to him... and me." Shukaku said and Sasuke nodded curtly.
"Hn. I've asked the same, he's never made any sense when he answered." the raven replied, a smirk curling his lips and Shukaku lifted an invisible eyebrow.
"Okay." he answered Sasuke as he mentally asked Naruto,
"Now I see why. But ain't it a strange way to court someone?"
"I'm not courting him!" Naruto yelled out in frustration then he blushed beet red when Sasuke and Shukaku stared at him, both wide eyed.
"Excuse me?" Sasuke exclaimed and Naruto rose then turned and stalked out into the evening as he over his shoulder angrily and embarrassed shouted,
"Forget it!"
Sasuke stared after him, his mind rapidly going over every possible thing Naruto could have meant until Shukaku coughed lightly.
"You'll burn your fish."
"Shit." Sasuke quickly pulled it out and blew at it. Shukaku watched him with his head tilted as he chewed on a piece of the white meat.
"What's your name?" Shukaku asked silently even than he already knew it.
"Uchiha Sasuke." the raven replied then glanced at him. "Yours?"
"Sabaku no Gaara. Or, as Naruto calls me, Shukaku." he answered and Sasuke nodded.
"I'll call you Gaara. How do you know Naruto?"
Shukaku, Gaara, shrugged.
"I've always known him I guess."
"Childhood friend?" Sasuke muttered and the red-haired man nodded after a moments hesitation.
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
Naruto muttered in his head and Gaara sent a calming pulse to the blond who currently was a mess of emotions. Well, he always was but now it was worse than normally.
"Gaara?" Sasuke asked and he looked up at the teen. "What are you doing here?"
Gaara sighed then looked around before staring into the fire again.
"I guess it's for the same reason as Naruto is here." he finally said and Sasuke frowned.
"You know why Naruto brought me here?"
"No."
Sasuke started when there was a sigh behind him then Naruto mumbled,
"I guess I should tell you that at least. I come here as often as I can since I feel.. well, one could say homesick."
"Shukaku, where's Utakata? I can't find him."
"He's wandering."
Gaara replied and Naruto sighed as he flopped down between them again.
"Shit. I wanted to talk to him."
"Who?" Sasuke asked annoyed and Naruto looked at him tiredly.
"Utakata. A friend."
"More strangers?" Sasuke growled and Naruto bristled.
"Teme, don't play with me now." the blond said, his voice tense and Gaara placed a hand onto his shoulder.
"Easy, Kyuu. You're scaring him."
"Pff. I've never met anyone who could scare Sasuke, apart from his father and brother."
"I'm not playing with you, I'm asking questions." Sasuke replied as he ate the last of his fish.
"You're stepping on already strung nerves, Uchiha. I don't recommend that you talk to him for a while." Gaara mumbled as he made pulse after pulse of calm and easiness travel into the blond's body, coaxing Naruto to calm despite the irritation turning into fury that boiled in him.
Sasuke shot him a glare but fell silent. After a while, Naruto relaxed and sighed, murmuring quietly in Gaara's mind,
"Thanks, Shukaku."
Gaara only nodded, suddenly he was exhausted and felt slightly annoyed himself.
"I'll go home now. I need to rest."
"I'll see you around. Night."
Naruto smiled at the red-haired man and Gaara nodded, then he rose and disappeared out into the dark. Naruto realized with a start that night actually had fallen and that the fire had burned out. When he looked around he noticed that Sasuke was almost asleep, his eyes heavily lidded as he leaned his head in his hand. Naruto rose and went over to the raven, gently lifting him up. Sasuke didn't protest more than at being woken up and moved closer to Naruto's warm body as the blond carried him to their tent and ducked in through the opening, somehow managing to not drop Sasuke. The blond moved in the darkness that his eyes adapted to quickly as he knelt with Sasuke in his lap, using his free arm to spread the raven's red sleeping bag out before he put him down. Then he took Sasuke's shoes off carefully, not wanting to wake the teen. He took his own off too before he placed both pairs outside the tent then he unzipped his own sleeping bag before lying down beside the raven and spreading his blue sleeping bag over them as a cover. With a sigh, the blond closed his eyes and went to sleep.
~Written by Kickilia, 2011, Changed by Kickilia, 2012~