In the Moonlight

---

Finally, I got the inspiration for the second sequel to the 'Dreams' series, which really should have come first, but was postponed due to lack of inspiration and my hentai muse Yami-chu. Like the other two...this is of course a SasuNaru piece....but nothing exciting...just a few kisses...it's my first attempt at a complete 1st person POV ficcy...so I'd rather like some constructive criticism on what minna finds to be my shortcomings...also OOCness abound!

~~~ Mochi-chu

In the Moonlight

Two weeks of blissful sleep without a single dream of him. But it has been two weeks of constant anxiety and a living nightmare of how to go about keeping the damned promise I had made. It's not that I haven't had the opportunities to tell; I've had several...but they were either interrupted or I just couldn't. He was right...I really am a coward.

Just about everyone has noticed the idiosyncrasies of my behavior lately, even him. Am I being that transparent? It was Sakura who finally got me cornered. At first she thought I was talking about her. It hurt me to hurt her like that. Needless to say though, she was definitely surprised when I told her who. But she got over it and she was genuinely happy for me. It was nice to finally tell someone, but I was still at square one as to how to go about telling him how I felt.

Sakura said not to worry; she'd take care of everything and make sure we got together even if it was the last thing she did. Women...scary creatures, that's for sure. The plan was simple, she and I would meet up at the Harvest Festival, which was in two days. I would leave at around midnight when the pace of the party would really begin to pick up and wait at this small lake...quite a romantic location according to her. She'd take care of bringing 'the object of my affections' to me, but I had to take care of the rest.

So here I am, sitting on my bum at the base of a gnarled old tree, staring out across the lake. But it really was a beautiful spot. The sky was spotless of clouds and a perfectly crescent moon graced the dark expanse. It was a majestic site and everything seemed to glow with an ethereal light. All of this would have been perfect if I weren't so nervous. I /still/ didn't know what I was going to say to him!!! I think if I didn't do something I would start to hyperventilate at any moment! Skipping stones...that sometimes helped me think. The first one skips once and sinks, the second and third just sink straight, the fourth skips once and sinks, and the next three just sink as well. Did I mention that when skipping stones doesn't help me think, it just irritates the hell out of me?

Itachi had been trying to teaching me how. He used to do it at the pond in our clan home whenever he had an important decision to make. I wonder if he did this before he decided to partake in the murder our entire clan. I drop the rocks in disgust, when suddenly a stone flies past me, skips three times and disappears beneath the surface.

"That's what you wanted see right? I can teach you how if you want."

My heart jumps up to my throat and the feeling in my stomach gives me this feeling of vertigo and euphoria.

"I'm not interested." I groan inwardly. My voice sounds cold and irritated. Why do I always wear this mask with him? This is definitely not starting out on the right foot.

"Well just an offer."

"I'll pass." My tone is clipped. I guess when you dig yourself into a rut it's hard to get out, but then again that would be the point of a rut. He comes and sits next to me; hugging his knees and resting his chin on them, staring out across the lake as I had been moments ago. He looks so beautiful and I want to touch him; the two feet we sit apart though feels like an ocean. We don't talk, but I can't say that the silence is exactly comfortable. He looks out into the darkness, while I study him from the corner of my eyes.

"Na...why do you hate me so much?"

Hate him? The question takes me by surprise. I turn my head to look at him directly, but he continues to watch the water. I've never seen such a look on his face before, but it's only for an instant. Pain and loneliness. How had he managed to survive for so long? Without the love of a mother or father or any real friends. Being abhorred by everyone and yet somehow managing to forgiving them.

He never ceases to amaze me. I was first in our class...but it was really me who was last. Hate him...I may have at one point...but so much so that I fell in love with him. I touch the curse seal, it's a throbbing pain in my neck...literally...it marks me as an avenger...but it just reminds me that I have a lot to learn from this boy. "I don't hate you..." It's the only think I can manage, but it make him turn towards me.

My throat is so dry..."It's just that I'm not too good with these things..." He's listening to me attentively, but it's only making me more nervous and I'm fidgeting. "Expressing myself...with words...I'm just not used to it..." I trail off.

"So....what you are trying to say is that when you say you hate me...you actually mean you love me!" ^-^

"Yes...what?! No!!!" Leave it to him to turn around a situation. He's grinning like an imp and I think I'm redder than a tomato.

"Then you do hate me!"

"Of course not!!" Surprise crosses his features at the force in my voice. "No...it's just that I don't want them to see me..." He's silent. "I get...scared...I'm not brave enough to face them...not strong like you..." The last part I whisper...it's not for him to hear.

"Arigatou." There's a soft look etched on his face. One of happiness and understanding. He always acts so abrasive, that I think I missed this side of him too. But of course, I can only stare dumbly at him.

"I didn't do anything."

"Baka!" He reaches out and pokes me on the forehead with his forefinger, before moving to kneel beside me and offering me his small finger. I don't understand. "Like this!" Bringing my right hand up, he curls our little fingers around each other. "Ready?" I nod. "Okay. It's a promise, made forever. Can't be broken no not ever. We. Are. Friends!" Releasing me, he laughs softly. "There we go! Now we'll be friends forever...no matter how much we hate each other!"

"Why did you do this?"

"Why not?"

"Answer the question."

Is that a blush? "Because you let me see you and didn't make me a part of 'them.' So that means you must trust me to some point. And I already know I can trust you." He grins. "Especially, since you are such a tight-lipped bastard, you wouldn't tell anyone anything I told you anyway!"

"Itai!!" That had earned him a smack on the arm.

"You deserved it."

"Oh come on! You know its true!"

"Pft. What are you doing here bothering me anyway? How did you find me?"

"Oh that? Well I was with Iruka-sensei when Sakura-chan came and dragged me off. She said you needed to talk to me about something. Besides we are all worried about you, me too. You've really been acting weird. And also Sakura-chan said that if I didn't come here immediately she'd beat me up worse than that first time when we...you know..."

"Not really."

"Baka! That day when the three of us were assigned to the same team...when that guy bumped me and we...you know..." Exasperated he sits back on his folded legs.

"Oh. Why didn't you just say so?"

"I did. Hey, why aren't you pissed off?"

"Why should I be?"

"You were forced to have your first kiss with me! Didn't you ever dream of sharing it with the one you loved?"

"I did."

"What?" Crap...did I just say that aloud?!

"What I mean is that I did dream about it...but what's done is done."

"Oh."

We lapse into silence for a moment.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Does this have something to do with what's been bothering you lately?"

Silence reigns again; I don't answer. I'm surprised when he begins to idly play with my hand, moving the fingers to and fro, gliding his hand across my palm, rubbing it. His face is hidden by the shadows and I can't discern his expression. What is he thinking?

"You know you can tell me right? That you can trust me? I won't tell or mention it, if that's what you want. You know I won't!"

"Yeah." I take his hand in mine and press it against my cheek. He seems surprised, but doesn't pull away. His hand is soft.

"Then?"

"Nothing."

"We made a promise to be friends...doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Of course. But a promise is just words stringed together to create a commitment...it can be easily destroyed if another action or word is sharp enough."

"I won't go back on my word!" Such fierceness. So many possibilities between love and hate...oh well, as they say...nothing wagered, nothing gained.

"Have you ever loved someone so much that you'd die for them without hesitation...so much so that you'd happily give up your soul to the devil to be by that person’s side one just one more day?"

"No..."

"I thought so." I wrap my other hand around his wrist and bury my face into his hand. I can tell they are trembling...just slightly. I think I'm making him somewhat nervous. "I finally found someone like that."

"But you haven't told her yet..."

"Iie."

"Why not?"

"What the two of us have now is too precious to me....I don't want to throw it away." Is this the only way I'm ever going to show my feelings towards him? With double-meanings?

"I'd bet safe money that she loves you."

"Really? And what makes you think I'm talking about a 'she' and not a 'he'?"

"I...well...that is to say....you aren't talking about Sakura-chan?" The flabbergasted expression he wields is enough to make me want to laugh, but then I'd be wrecking the mood, so I just take to studying the lines that meander his palm.

"So...ummmm...who is this guy?"

"If I just said it, it'd be telling." I might as well have some fun.

"Is it Gaara?"

"What?! No!! Where did you get that?!"

"Well, you were obsessing about fighting him..."

"..."

"Rock Lee?"

"No, besides he has a Sakura complex...if it were him, I would give up without trying!"

"You sure? Cause you were obsessing over him too..."

"Just because I want to fight someone doesn't automatically mean that I've gone ga-ga over them!!"

"Must be some piece of work for you to use 'ga-ga!' So is it Kabuto-san?"

"No."

"Well he is a good fighter. Nice. Older. Plus he's really good looking!"

"It sound more like you are after him." If looks could kill, I think Kabuto would be dead right about now!!

"Iie!! Iie!! Just trying to make sure you weren't holding out on me!"

"This is getting old. I'll give you a clue and after that one last chance to guess. If you can't, you won't find out."

"Deal!"

"Ok this person is right under your nose, but you can't see him. Who is he?" He looks so cute when he's thinking hard. But it was more than likely he wouldn't get it...my clue was probably a bit too vague. Not that he isn't smart...but it was about time for us to go back and I was loosing my nerve and it was too late for another opportunity to show itself.

"Yes!! I know!! Your in love with Kakashi-sensei aren't you?!!"

"You know, I can't believe you said that and even with a straight face! But the answer is no...you lose."

"But- but- but- That's not fair!!"

"All is fair in love and war."

"Fine! You leave me no choice but to use my secret weapon!" Without warning he launches at me, hands going to my sides, tickling me! I try to pry him off, but he's a slippery little thing. Plus I have the disadvantage of being wedged between a tree and him. A snicker escapes me.

"St-stop already!" But he continues.

"Not until you say you'll tell me!" Like hell! If one thing, I can be just as stubborn as him. I finally manage to push him off, but we titter off balance and roll down the small slope, coming to a stop near the bank. I land on top of him, but before he can come to his senses I move my leg to hold down both of his and capture his smaller wrists in my larger grip.

"They do say, turn-about is fair play. I wonder what I should do?" I play my fingers down his sides; applying just enough pressure to let him feel it through the material of his yukata. He shivers ever so slightly.

"Tell me who he is?" He's squirming now, but resolute in his conviction. How many times have I dreamt of something like this?

"Close your eyes and I'll show you." He obediently does what I ask. I bring my hand to a rest above his heart and I can feel it speeding up. I'm really going to do this. I'm going to kiss him.

It's chaste, nothing but a crush of our lips together. I feel as if I'm witnessing a miracle and committing a sin by that action alone. It only lasts for a moment before I release him.

"Suki da."

He opens his eyes and looks at me in incredulity.

"Baka." His voice cracks and tears form and fall down his cheeks. He sits up, causing me to straddle his lap, before he pulls me down and kisses me.

We lay in each other’s arms for some time, exchanging kisses and light caresses. He doses off near dawn; I pick him up and take him back to his house. He rouses when I lay him down on the cool sheets.

"Sasuke?"

"Go back to sleep."

"Stay with me." A request or a command...it doesn't matter, I really don't want to part with him yet. As I climb in he fits himself to me. It's perfect.

"Sasuke?"

"Hmmm?"

"Can I keep you forever?"

"Yes." And for however long after that...

Owari.

I started writing this at like 11 in the morning. Right now it's 3:30 in the morning on Tuesday Jan 14, 2002. This is the end ppl....the last sequel to the Dream series!! Yay! I don't know how I came up with the idea....but I wanted to write something nice and soft and with no sex!!! I've been reading /way/ too many Harry Potter yaoi ficcys over at ff.net....and a hefty portion of it has been in the NC-17 category....so I just needed something mellow. This was my first attempt at writing something completely from 1st person POV...but I think I did a pretty good job, considering of course my decrepit fiction writing skills. I'm not happy with some parts because the mood change is too sudden....maybe I'll rewrite it...but not today! Either ways I'm happy for now as this is my first fic in the year 2002! Well hoped you liked it...c & c, flames, pipe bombs, and what not...send 'em over!! ^-^

BTW, sorry for any Yami-chu fans....but he's busy being stuck in a magical mirror...hehehe...Mochi-chu is happily reading D.N.Angel vol. 5 ^o^

And one more thing (I sound like Uncle from Jackie Chan)...if I do come of sounding a bit on the English side (i.e. the use of the word bum)...it's only because I've completely ODed on Harry Potter...sorry >___<


Back to Novels