the Spiral and the Fan

Title: Portraits of Silence
Author: StarsofYaoi
Summary: A simple cute SasuNaru Christmas shot. Beware of cliché and fluffiness. Naruto is up to another lonely Christmas, but that's not what Sasuke wants.
Genre: Romance

---

Naruto didn't like this new Sasuke; three years could change a person, Naruto knew that, but this much, and Sasuke… no.

For one, Sasuke was acting differently with him. Naruto had expected coldness, because the raven had seen his hopes to defeat his brother shatter away, he had expected Sasuke to glare at him (he had even prepared himself for that) but… Sasuke acted just like before.

As if nothing was wrong between them… as if nothing had changed, as if Sasuke hadn't betrayed Konoha for a psychotic, paedophile snake.

And what was worse, what made Naruto the more distressed was, Sasuke was kind of touchy, now. At least with him.

Slapping away Sasuke's hand from his shoulder, Naruto stepped back defensively, glaring at the raven haired teen in front of him.

He didn't like it, he didn't like the touching and the smirks and the fact that it should have been ok for him to see Sasuke was still… human.

But it wasn't.

Because to Naruto, Sasuke meant everything and even more, or he wouldn't have spent years strengthening only to take him back. It was not for Sakura, in the end, nor for the village.

It was for himself and Sasuke.

Naruto's feelings for Sasuke were a lot more than one could say he had for a friend, a rival, or a teammate… much more. And he didn't stand Sasuke because it was clear that for the raven haired teen the touching, the smirks, and the usual acting meant Naruto was nothing for him but something to play with.

Just like in the past.

Just like always.

If there was something Naruto would never accept, was Sasuke playing with him. It hurt too much.

"Go away" he hissed slowly, turning around and starting to walk away.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed a bit as the raven haired teen moved in a flash to walk next to the blond, easily falling into the same speed. Naruto found out he couldn't really make him go away, as Sasuke never listened. At least not him.
There were times Naruto wished he would be able to go back to the time when Sasuke was still his rival, almost friend, when their relationship had been simple and clear.

Shaking his head, Naruto forced his smile to return to his face, knowing he would have to go to the Hokage to try and convince Tsunade to leave him alone.

Blinking, he allowed his eyes to look at his side, where Sasuke was walking silently staring at him. His blue eyes met dark ones and he glared, looking forwards again. Sasuke kept staring at him, and in his eyes unseen by Naruto, flashed a bit of uncertainty.

"Don't Forget To Swallow"
desolate butterfly

A strangled noise emerged from Sasuke's throat and he tossed the carton down onto the counter, where it bounced once and tipped over on its side. Clearly visible on its front was a picture of a smiling rooster and bright red characters proudly displaying the words Cock Flavoured Noodles.

Naruto calmly picked up the carton and ripped the top open. "Careful," he said, taking a kettle from the counter and placing it on the stove. "You'll break it and get noodles everywhere and I'm not cleaning up your messes, got that?"

"What the fuck is that?" Sasuke hissed, feeling the blood rise to his cheeks once again.

"Lunch," Naruto declared, pouring the now boiling water into the carton and swirling it around with a pair of chopsticks. He offered the carton to Sasuke, who immediately backed away, a look of disgust on his face.

"You can't seriously expect me to eat that," the Uchiha said, eyeing Naruto warily as the boy shrugged and lifted some noodles to his lips, blowing the steam off them before slurping them noisily into his mouth.

He smiled happily and fished around in the carton for another mouthful, ignoring Sasuke's twitching eyes.

"It's good," the blond finally replied, licking a bit of broth from his lips. "You should try it. I bet you'd like it."

"in waking"
lokogato-sama

nine hundred and seventeen(. zero)

Naruto is glinting gold and shining lapis and everything Sasuke remembers, only taller, and between the hot rush of Naruto's breath against his ear and a moment of coarse hair against his neck Sasuke barely remembers: indifference, killing, breath.

Title: Onion
Author: NoNoWriter
Summary: Sasuke hides them well, but Naruto knows there are unshed tears.
Genre: Hurt/Comfort

---

He replaces the lettuce with an onion he has brought just for this purpose. Sasuke’s hand is still holding the knife, stiff and trembling slightly for reasons beyond Naruto. But it does not matter, because Sasuke hadn’t barbequed him yet and Naruto does not see the angry red that has spread through Sasuke’s face.

Naruto’s grip on Sasuke’s hand tightens, Sasuke’s hold on the knife tightens. And then they cut the onion in half together, neatly and beautifully, building their own rhythm of chopping that Sasuke has never felt before. Naruto starts to think of this kind of like they are doing something erotic together, both of their hands working together to bring one of them into satisfaction.

But that is not it, they are just cutting an onion together. And soon the smell of a thoroughly killed onion would spread over to their faces. Naruto thinks that onions must be the most empathetic beings on earth to have that kind of reaction on the ones who want to eat it.

Sasuke tries to close his eyes. It stings and burns his eyes so badly that the tears are ready to rip his eyelids apart just to get out. He has always hated them, onions. And he hates them even more when this one forces the first tear to roll out of his eye.

Naruto is feeling the effect too, letting his own tears fall out without fighting back, ignoring the sting and focusing on the little he can see of Sasuke’s face. He has to blink a lot, because his sight keeps blurring. He doesn’t want to miss the fascinating sight of Sasuke’s forced out tears.

The onion has served its purpose, and Naruto lets go of Sasuke’s hand, retreats off the boy's back completely to see the fruits of his efforts in full scale. He can feel the effect of the dreaded onion already leaving him, the tears are stopping their running.

Sasuke’s however, wont stop, and Sasuke doesn’t know what to do. He hasn’t cried in so long, and now something as stupid as an onion has made the buried nuisances come to surface and he does not know how to stop them.

Along with the tears comes thoughts and memories that make it seem like he really has a reason to cry and so he cries even more although he does not want to.

"Happy is What Happens"
SpiritsFlame

For one moment he glanced towards the back. And a body that was perfect enough, skin that was pale enough, hair that was soft enough, hands that were always just enough, and eyes that said everything with nothing met his own. Those fantastic lips lifted in a small smile, and that wonderful head tilted down in a small nod of acknowledgement. And he was happy.

"Exploring Your Textuality"
Marochre Iatrone

As the bus pulled away from the stop, Sasuke let his eyes roam back to the front again, and caught the eyes of the blonde boy, who by then was fiddling with the faded keys of his silver mobile phone. It was only for a split second, as the boy had to look back down at the key pad to continue composing the message, but Sasuke detected a knowing look in his glance. The boy slipped the phone back into his pocket, and rested his elbow on the window ledge, carefully evading a piece of dried gum that paled with age and sunlight exposure.

Sasuke knew it would happen before it did, but his mind didn't quite register the possibility before he felt the vibration in his own pocket, feeling it more strongly than he had any other time during the conversation between himself and Naruto. He flipped the phone open and focused on the text, his eyes blurring over at first.

Well, you could come and sit next to me and give me an excuse to not go to school either. That could be fun. –Naruto

Title: Love, Love Me
Author: Insomnia Productions
Summary: Sasuke explains infatuation and love to a puzzled Naruto under a willow tree.
Genre: Romance

---

Naruto has once been Sasuke’s most important person. It sounded, now, as if he had been replaced. Maybe Sasuke had let one of the girls who had been ‘infatuated’ with him for all these years into his heart.

But he sounded so unhappy about it.

“Are you in love, Sasuke?” Asking that question made it final. Naruto’s stomach clenched—Sasuke had been his first friend, and he didn’t like sharing.

That quiet again, the stillness that made Naruto squirm. He could hear nature above them and industry in the distance, and those small sounds comforted him only slightly.

“Yes.”

Naruto’s heart twisted and he smiled broadly. “Well, that’s good! What’s she like? Are you going to get married to her? I bet she’s so smug! After all, she snagged the most wanted bachelor in Konoha!” When Naruto had nothing to say, he talked too much.

“...she doesn’t know.”

Naruto’s eyes widened and his smile slipped. “Why not?! You’d make her the happiest girl in the world!”

How dare Sasuke give hope to the hopeless.

Sasuke tilted his head to the side. “I don’t think so. I think she would turn me away.”

“Are you insane?!” Naruto stared at him, appalled. “Is she insane?! Come on, Sasuke, everyone wants you.”

“Everyone? You think so?” Sasuke smiled slightly, and Naruto swallowed. It was a rare sight indeed, to see that slight curve of the lips. “She’s a bit insane, yes.”

“That explains it.”

“She always has to be right, but never is.” Sasuke was staring into the distance at really nothing at all, still smiling almost fondly. “She’s a complete ditz and kind of an idiot, and has bad taste in everything, from clothing to food.”

Naruto snorted. “Sounds like a real catcher. What’s her name?”

“Naruto,” Sasuke said.

“Yes?”

"Call Me When You're Sober"
Ahja Reyn

The journey home is filled with my pointless chatter as I ignore your awkward fists and mumbled attempts at silencing me. Yeah right, asswipe. Like I'd really give you the chance to fall into your inner thoughts. Last time that happened you ended up trying to kill me, remember?

As we draw near your place, my rambling turns to ramen toppings, which appears to be the last straw with you.

"Don't you ever shut up?" you snap, sending me a glare with eyes that are (for the most part) actually able to focus on my face.

"Hey! That sounded almost sober!" I congratulate mockingly, seeing as how I'm still supporting you. "Look on the bright side, Sasuke, with these nightly runs, you now know more about me than anyone! You should feel honored! This is your future Hokage we're talking about!"

You glare at me a moment longer before looking back down in defeat. "I hate you." And we're back to mumbling.

"No you don't," I say without giving much thought as I open your door. "You love me."

The pause your body takes after that statement is a little too long and I grow worried. "Ne, Sasuke?"

"…Yeah. Pft. I…" You push yourself away from me and do your best to walk into your apartment without bumping into anything. "You're wrong, dobe."

I blink at the desperate edge your voice takes as you say that.

"You have to be wrong…"

"Fan and Whirlpool"
NoNoWriter

Sasuke stares at the ring Naruto had brought him. He's sitting next to him, smiling and tells Sasuke that a ring symbolises eternity.

Sasuke merely glances at Naruto, solemnly telling him that he couldn't promise the boy an eternity. And his Naruto gently smiles at him, his eyes telling Sasuke that he knows that already.

That doesn't stop Sasuke from wishing he could.

Title: All the umbrellas in London
Author: eftee
Summary: Sasuke watched him leave; watched as the door swung open and closed; listened as the bell chimed, sounding another customer departure; sounding Naruto’s departure from his life.
Genre: Romance/General

---

“Welcome home, Sasuke!”

“Hn,” Sasuke grunted lightly. There was always something… nice about coming home, knowing there’d be someone waiting for him. It had always been nice. Sasuke had gotten used to it over the years; used to having Naruto around.

“Are you hungry?” Naruto asked. He was already in the kitchen rummaging through the cabinets. “I’ll make us dinner!”

Sasuke snorted. He rolled up his sleeves and followed the blond into the kitchenette. “All you’re capable of making is ramen. I’ll make dinner.”

Naruto pouted. “But we haven’t had ramen in ages!”

“Correction: You had ramen for lunch. Do not say otherwise, because I know you did. I haven’t had ramen in ages, and I would like to keep it that way.”

Naruto made a face at him. “Fine, whatever teme.”

Sasuke smirked at him before busying himself with preparing dinner. Naruto, meanwhile, followed him around, trying to help him every now and then, only to get a ladle thrown at him, or his shin kicked. Sometimes both. Eventually Naruto settled down at the table, looking like a kicked puppy as he sulked over his aching hand that Sasuke had smacked with the wooden stir spoon. “That’s what you get, dobe,” Sasuke chastised.

When dinner was ready and the two were eating at the table, Naruto recounted his day to Sasuke, telling him in enthusiastic detail how little Sarah practiced very hard the other night to learn the piece Naruto had assigned them. Her dutiful practicing was noted by Naruto when he saw how much better she played. Sasuke looked amused as he listened (and watched) Naruto retell his day. The blond was very expressive – always making hand gestures – and Sasuke could hear the pride in his voice as he talked about Sarah and his other students.

Naruto loved them with all of his heart.

Wouldn’t that be enough for him to come back from Germany? Sasuke wondered.

“Well, I’m gonna take a shower,” Naruto said after he patted his stomach gratefully. “Thanks for dinner!” He took his plates and placed them in the sink before disappearing down the hall. When Sasuke placed his own dishes into the sink, he could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom. He was about to start washing the dishes when he paused and stared blankly at the two plates, the two cups, the two spoons and the two forks sitting innocently, waiting to be cleaned.

When Naruto leaves, it would be Sasuke making dinner for himself. There’d be no orange, blue or red dishes mixed with his plain ones (Naruto was adamant on having colorful dishes).

Sasuke would make dinner for himself; wash his own dishes; not get Naruto’s laundry mixed with his; not have to clean up after the blond idiot.

For 365 days, 52 weeks, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds, Naruto would be in Germany, and all those nights in between, Sasuke would have dinner by himself.

For 365 days, 52 weeks, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds, Naruto would be gone.