Archive of Our Own

Megumi was one hundred percent convinced that he was making the worst mistake of his life.

Which was saying something, considering his life included cursed spirits, multiple near-death experiences, and Gojo Satoru’s continued existence.

He had never in his life considered himself an easily influenced person, but the sheer level of enthusiasm Yuuji was displaying had worn him down. It had taken months of nagging and pleading and bargaining, and the moment he relented, he could have sworn the world brightened around Yuuji like the sun.

Stupid Yuuji. Stupid sun. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Megumi had never been a fan of manga, anime, or any of the like. His life had no time for them. He didn’t hate them, either, he just simply had better things to do. Cartoons made for children held no appeal to him, even if said cartoons were, according to Yuuji, the most important thing ever to exist in the history of ever.

Any argument Megumi could make was shut down by Yuuji, who countered each of his points. He even had an argument prepared for every single one of Megumi’s objections, as if he knew exactly what Megumi was going to say before he could say it. It was frustrating, but more than anything, it was exhausting.

Exhausted. Yeah. That was the word for it. He had given in to Yuuji solely because he was so exhausted. He could think of no other reason. Most certainly not the look in Yuuji's eyes or the way his smile spread across his entire face when Megumi had, grudgingly, agreed. Definitely not that.

It was also most definitely not the fact that he thought this might be the perfect excuse to spend his evenings in close proximity to Yuuji, curled up on the couch, their shoulders touching. And continue doing so, for...

"How long is this series again?"

Yuuji didn’t turn his head, too absorbed in the action on the screen, but he grinned widely.

"Seven hundred episodes!"

Megumi's eyes widened in horror. Surely he had misheard. There was no way anyone could possibly create seven hundred episodes of something as dumb and childish as this. He was being tricked. This was a joke. It had to be.

"Seven hundred..."

Yuuji nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You're gonna love it!"

He would not love it. Not in the least. He had barely enjoyed the first five minutes of the show and, quite frankly, he had been counting the seconds until it was over. The main character was loud, annoying, and a complete moron, and he would not tolerate him for the next...

"Seven hundred... episodes."

Yuuji, seemingly unaware of Megumi's growing dread, gave him another huge grin and patted his shoulder.

"Trust me, Fushiguro, you'll be addicted!"

Megumi sighed. Seven hundred episodes.

Oh, he was screwed.

-

Megumi would never ever admit it, not even under threat of death, but he had grown a little attached to the dumb show.

It was still terrible, the main character still annoying and the animation far below Megumi's standards, but there was a certain charm to it. The characters were well-rounded and, despite the show being made for children, had some surprisingly deep moments. And, of course, there was the main character's unwavering determination, which reminded him of Yuuji.

Yes, Yuuji had a lot in common with the main character. Both had a big heart and were willing to go the extra mile for others. They both had a sunny disposition, despite having suffered a lot. They were both loud and annoying.

Not that Megumi paid attention to Yuuji's mannerisms or anything. Not at all. He didn't think about Yuuji all the time.

That would be weird.

Either way, Megumi would have had no problem with the parallels between Yuuji and Naruto, if it weren't for one crucial detail.

"You're literally Sasuke, Fushiguro!" he said, pointing at the TV, where Sasuke was glaring at Naruto.

Megumi frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Yuuji didn't tear his eyes off the screen. "You know. He's broody, you're broody. He's grumpy, you're grumpy. He's a loner, you're a loner. You even have the same hair. See, right there! Look at him!"

Megumi looked at the TV. Sasuke was scowling at his team. Megumi scowled at Yuuji.

"I'm not like him at all."

Truth was, Megumi really, really hated Sasuke. He hated the way he acted and talked, his attitude, his constant sulking. It annoyed him to no end. He could not fathom why so many people were obsessed with him. He was a terrible character.

It didn't help that Yuuji constantly compared him to the asshole.

"Fushiguro, you don't get it! Sasuke is so cool!"

Megumi raised an eyebrow. "Cool?"

"Yeah, cool!"

"How is he cool? He's always brooding."

Yuuji shook his head vehemently. "No, he's cool! He's super strong, and he has his cool techniques and he's a genius, and he's cool!"

Megumi frowned. "A genius? How?"

"Well, I mean, he's super good at everything. He's a fast learner, and he's the best student in the academy. Everyone loves him, but he doesn't care about anyone."

"So basically, he's a dick."

"Fushiguro!" Yuuji whined.

Megumi sighed. "What? He is."

"He's not! He's a great guy! And, his relationship with Naruto is so sweet! Like, they're rivals, but they care about each other a lot! Naruto was the only person to ever really try to be his friend, you know. He was the first person who tried to get through to him, the first person who actually believed he could be a good person. That's a very important bond."

"Sure," Megumi said.

The episode was over and the credits rolled across the screen. They were sitting side by side, thighs almost touching. Their arms were resting against each other, their fingers mere inches apart. Yuuji turned to face Megumi, his eyes bright and warm. Megumi could feel himself grow hot under his intense gaze.

"Do you want to keep watching?"

There were so many reasons not to say yes. He had no interest in watching this dumb show. He didn't have time. He was tired. He didn't care.

And yet, his lips moved of their own accord.

"Sure."

Yuuji's answering smile was worth it.

-

Although the Land of the Waves arc almost, almost had Megumi re-evaluating his opinion of the dark-haired bastard, he was back to disliking Sasuke by the time they had reached the end of the chuunin exams.

"He’s insufferable," Megumi muttered, watching Sasuke glare at Naruto again for absolutely no reason. "Why is he always acting like he’s the only one with trauma?"

Yuuji, tragically, looked pained. "But Fushiguro, he is suffering. You just don’t get it yet."

"I do get it. He said it. Like, five times. In every scene. While monologuing about revenge with glowing eyes."

Yuuji let out an exaggerated sigh and threw his head back, covering his eyes with his forearm.

"You are so mean."

Megumi was not mean. He was honest. If anyone was mean, it was Sasuke, who had done nothing but treat everyone around him like dirt, including his friends. He was even a dick to Kakashi, and that man was the most tolerant person in the whole universe.

"You know," Yuuji said, "I used to hate Sasuke too."

Megumi's mouth fell open.

"What?"

"Yeah." Yuuji's face scrunched up, and he looked as if he had smelled something disgusting. "Back when I was younger, I thought he was so full of himself. Always brooding, always angry, never letting anyone get close to him."

"And now?" Megumi asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Yuuji smiled softly. "Well, he's still not a particularly nice guy, but it makes a lot more sense now. He had a shitty childhood, and he's trying to deal with it the best he can. Which, granted, isn't very healthy, but... I feel for him, you know. He just wants to find peace."

Megumi could understand that, even though he still felt that Sasuke was an ass. He, too, was constantly trying to find peace. He just wanted to live a quiet, normal life, away from cursed spirits and all the baggage that came with them. He was, however, not actively pushing away the few people in his life who cared about him.

"It's the same for everyone, you know," Yuuji continued. "We're all trying to find some semblance of peace. Naruto wantsto be Hokage. Sakura wants to date Sasuke. Hinata just wants to be strong. Shikamaru wants to take a nap."

Megumi was listening, he really was, but Yuuji was so close to him, and it was hard to concentrate on what he was saying. His words were drowned out by the pounding of Megumi's heart.

Yuuji turned to face Megumi, his warm brown eyes staring at him, making him feel things he didn't want to feel.

"Do you want to watch the next episode?"

Megumi nodded.

-

Three episodes later, Megumi had had enough.

"This is so stupid," he snapped, sitting up straighter on the couch, arms crossed. "Why would you leave the village to go find the creepy snake man who literally branded you like cattle? What kind of genius plan is that?"

Yuuji winced. "Well, Sasuke–”

"No, don’t defend him," Megumi said sharply. "He got the cursed hickey and immediately started acting like he knows better than everyone. Orochimaru is clearly evil. Visibly evil. Like, his face says, 'I am evil, I am plotting something evil.' But no, the almighty Sasuke has to go follow him because he is a genius and his stupid brother is a villain and he needs to train or whatever. I hope he dies the next episode. It would serve him right."

Yuuji was giving him a weird look. It was a mixture of confusion and awe, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes wide. He stared at Megumi for a long time, the look making him squirm.

"Fushiguro... You're ranting."

Megumi's eyes widened. "What?"

"You're ranting." Yuuji was grinning. "I'm not used to hearing you speak so much. I can't believe you're so invested in this. It's amazing."

Megumi flushed, embarrassment creeping up his neck. He had not meant to sound so worked up. He didn't want to sound like one of those weird people who got too into these kinds of shows.

"I'm not... It's just... It's a stupid idea," he mumbled, unable to meet Yuuji's eyes. "I don't care, it's just stupid. I hope Naruto kicks his sorry ass and drags him back to the village."

Yuuji's face did something complicated. His expression changed from one moment to the next, his grin slowly slipping away. He stared at Megumi for a few seconds, and then he started laughing.

Megumi's face burned. "What's so funny?"

"I just tried to imagine what your face is going to look like when you see what happens next. I hope you don't murder me in my sleep."

Megumi blinked.

"What?"

Yuuji winked.

"You'll see."

-

Well, Megumi supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. That dumbass Sasuke went and tried to kill the one person in the world who loved him unconditionally, who was willing to forgive him and be his friend, no matter how many times he had wronged him.

Yuuji had been surprisingly quiet during the fight at the Valley of the End. He didn't comment on the fight itself or the way Naruto and Sasuke had brawled and screamed and bled, the latter's face contorted with rage, the former's face filled with sadness and resignation. He didn't say anything when Sasuke left the village, not even looking back.

When the credits started rolling, Yuuji was the first to break the silence.

"Do you get it now?"

Megumi stared at the black screen. "Get what?"

"The importance of their relationship. Sasuke is Naruto's first real friend. They were rivals, but they cared for each other deeply. It's important, you know. They're two sides of the same coin. They complete each other."

"That sounds gay," Megumi said.

He immediately regretted his words. That was the stupidest thing he had ever said. It was a miracle that the earth didn't crack open and swallow him whole.

Yuuji's been comparing himself to Naruto and Megumi to Sasuke. Megumi implying that the parallels are romantic is the equivalent of saying 'hey, we could be gay for each other'.

"Is it?"

Megumi turned his head. Yuuji was looking at him, his expression unreadable. There was no trace of laughter on his face, his lips pressed together tightly. He was staring at Megumi with an intensity that made his heart pound and his hands tremble.

Abort mission. Abort. Abort. Abort.

"No, it's... I just... It's a figure of speech, or something," Megumi stammered, feeling himself turn red. "There's nothing, uh, gay about it. It's just..."

Yuuji laughed, the sound breaking the tension between them. He gave Megumi a crooked smile.

"I'm just messing with you, Fushiguro. We all know you're not the homoerotic subtext type."

Megumi swallowed, his throat dry.

"Of course."

-

The three year timeskip was the best thing that could have happened to the show.

"This is my favorite part," Yuuji said excitedly. "Sakura is finally becoming a badass."

Megumi couldn't help but agree. He had never been a fan of Sakura, who had spent her time being in love with a guy who clearly wasn't interested. That, and her character was, quite frankly, boring. No wonder she and Sasuke were soulmates. They were both insufferable.

Even though he hated being compared to Sasuke, Megumi was glad that at least Yuuji didn't compare Nobara to Sakura. Unlike her, Nobara had personality, and was a genuinely great person. She was smart, fierce, and could kick ass with her eyes closed.

And, of course, she wasn't in love with him.

Thank god for small miracles.

Either way, Sakura had made a lot of progress. She had learned a lot, become much stronger, and was starting to actually use her brain instead of relying on her teammates all the time. Not to mention her insane healing ability. Megumi had always loved a character with medical prowess.

"She's basically like Ieiri-san," he noted.

Yuuji's face lit up.

"Right! She's just as good!"

Megumi had to bite back a smile. There were a lot of things about Yuuji that he found endearing, and his tendency to get excited over the smallest things was one of them. It only took Megumi the smallest mention of the the anime for him to jump out of his seat and start ranting, gesturing wildly.

He was cute.

Not that Megumi thought about Yuuji's cuteness a lot. It's just an objective fact. The sun was hot, water was wet, Yuuji was cute.

"I'm happy," Yuuji said softly, interrupting Megumi's thoughts.

"Happy?"

Yuuji nodded, his eyes focused on the TV, the light reflecting off his skin.

"Yeah. About Sakura. She's finally doing something, you know. Being useful. Proving her worth."

Megumi understood the feeling. It's the same reason why he trained so much, day and night. He didn't want to rely on someone else's power. He wanted to be useful, strong enough to stand his ground. To protect the people he cared about.

"That's a good reason."

Yuuji smiled, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"Yeah. It is."

-

They didn't stop watching Naruto, but they had other things to do, so they didn't spend every night sitting side by side on the couch. They had missions, and schoolwork, and training, and life.

Megumi found himself missing the warmth.

He wasn't sure how it happened, but he had grown used to Yuuji's presence, and when they were apart, he felt cold. Lonely. It was like Yuuji was a bright ray of sunshine, and Megumi had lived in the shadows for too long.

When they were together, everything was fine. Everything was good. Megumi's skin buzzed with excitement, his chest felt warm, his face flushed, his heart pounded.

Megumi would have been content with continuing like this, sitting side by side on the couch, fingers almost intertwined. He didn't want to risk their friendship, and he had no interest in pursuing anything else.

It didn't matter if Yuuji's hair glowed golden under the fluorescent lights, or that his eyes twinkled like stars. It didn't matter that the sound of his laugh made Megumi's knees go weak, or that his touch sent electricity running through his veins. It didn't matter.

It didn't.

"So, did your opinion about Gaara change, Fushiguro?"

Megumi raised an eyebrow. The show had gotten much more intense over the past few weeks. Gaara's story had been heartbreaking, and it had made Megumi reconsider his opinion of the character.

"Yes, I suppose," he replied. "I was wrong about him. He was not evil. He was just a victim."

Yuuji looked incredibly proud.

"Yeah, I knew you'd understand! It's really sad, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is."

During the last couple of weeks, Megumi had given up on trying to seem indifferent to the show. He couldn't deny that he had gotten invested, especially after the timeskip. He didn't have the emotional energy to pretend that he wasn't.

And, well, Gaara's friendship with Naruto had struck a chord with him.

Naruto had seen past Gaara's evil persona and his murderous intent. He had seen him for who he was, a child who had been hurt beyond measure. He had recognized his potential, and he had saved him.

Naruto seemed to be doing a lot of that, lately. Saving people. He was just like Yuuji in that sense. Always looking for the best in people, always ready to extend a helping hand, no matter how many times it had been slapped away.

Naruto was kind. Too kind. Megumi wished he could be a bit more selfish. He was too good, too pure, too bright. The darkness surrounding him was bound to consume him.

Well, maybe Megumi was projecting a little. Coincidentally, he had been thinking the same thing about Yuuji.

"Hey, Fushiguro."

Megumi glanced at Yuuji, who was staring at him intently.

"What?"

Yuuji smiled. It was a slow, soft, lazy smile. It made him look a little drunk, his eyes hooded and his cheeks flushed. He was smiling at Megumi as if he had heard his thoughts, and he knew, he knew, exactly what Megumi was thinking.

"Can we watch the next episode? Please?"

Megumi could do nothing but nod.

-

The first time they fell asleep on the couch, it was entirely accidental.

They were both tired after a long mission, but Yuuji had insisted on finishing the arc they were on, claiming that the ending was super important. Megumi was too tired to argue, and had agreed to stay for just one more.

Megumi's head was lolling to the side, his eyes closing against his will, and he had lost track of the plot a long time ago. His limbs were heavy, and he could feel the exhaustion tugging at his consciousness. He was just about to tell Yuuji that he was going to bed, when Yuuji's head suddenly dropped on his shoulder.

Megumi froze.

Yuuji had fallen asleep, his cheek resting against Megumi's shoulder, his mouth slightly open. He looked peaceful, his breathing slow and even.

Megumi was acutely aware of his heartbeat, and the fact that Yuuji was leaning on him. His entire right side was tingling, and he could feel every single inch of Yuuji's body pressed against his own. He was so warm. It was so unfair.

This was bad.

Yuuji was cute when he was asleep. He looked younger, less like a warrior who could crush his enemies with a single punch. His face was smooth and unmarred, his lips full and pink. Megumi had never been this close to him.

Megumi swallowed.

He should wake him up. It was getting late. They needed to sleep.

He couldn't move.

The show was still playing. Megumi registered that Naruto was just seeing Sasuke for the first time since the Valley of the End, and there was some tension in the air. By that, Megumi meant that Sasuke was trying to murder everyone, including his so-called best friend.

Megumi rolled his eyes.

It was hard to concentrate when he could feel the rise and fall of Yuuji's chest, the soft flutter of his eyelashes. Yuuji was a solid, heavy weight against his side. Megumi wanted to lean into his touch.

It was probably a good thing that he was half-asleep, because his ability to reason was severely compromised. If he was fully awake, he would have probably considered the awkwardness of the situation, and would have done the rational thing, which was waking Yuuji up and telling him that it was time to go to bed.

But, as it were, his inhibitions were gone, and the only thing he could think of was how nice it felt, being so close to Yuuji.

And, well, the couch was rather comfortable.

So, without thinking, he rested his head on top of Yuuji's, and let himself fall asleep.

-

Megumi woke up with a crick in his neck, and an uncomfortable numbness in his left leg. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes, wincing at the sunlight streaming through the curtains.

He was on the couch, in the common room, and...

Oh.

Yuuji's head was still on his shoulder. He was curled up against him, one of his hands wrapped around Megumi's arm, his chest rising and falling slowly.

Megumi's face burned.

There was something incredibly intimate about the way they were tangled up together. The sun was slowly creeping over the horizon, bathing the room in soft light, the rays gently caressing Yuuji's cheeks.

Megumi's eyes traced his profile, taking in his full lips and the slight upturn of his nose. He looked angelic, the sun giving him a soft halo.

He was so pretty.

Megumi wanted to brush his hair away from his forehead. He wanted to run his fingers through his pink strands, trace the shell of his ear, cup his cheek.

His skin looked soft.

"Oh my!"

Megumi jumped, and the sudden movement startled Yuuji awake. He jerked up, hitting his head against Megumi's chin, the impact making Megumi bite his tongue.

"What the hell, Gojo-sensei?" Megumi hissed, his tongue stinging.

"Oops, sorry." Gojo didn't look sorry in the slightest, his smile far too bright for someone who had just walked in on his students sleeping together on the couch. "I didn't know you two were so close!"

"We weren't." Megumi was painfully aware of the heat of Yuuji's body, his thigh burning through the thin fabric of Megumi's pants. "We fell asleep watching anime."

Gojo's grin grew impossibly wider.

"Since when do you watch anime?"

Megumi could feel the blush creeping up his neck, the tips of his ears burning.

"Just recently. Itadori likes it."

Yuuji was silent beside him, and when Megumi glanced at him, his face was a deep shade of red.

"Well, isn't that adorable!" Gojo sing-songed, clapping his hands together. "What are you watching, then?"

"Naruto," Megumi mumbled, looking down at his lap.

He couldn't meet Yuuji's eyes.

Gojo gasped.

"No way! My favorite! Who's your favorite ship, then?"

Ship? Like, boats?

"Uh..." Megumi could see Yuuji tense beside him, his hands curling into fists. "There are no ships in Naruto, Gojo-sensei. The whole premise is about ninjas and bonds, apparently."

Gojo laughed. "No, silly, I'm talking about romantic ships! Like, who do you think the best couple is?"

Megumi blinked. "I... I don't think anyone is dating in this show, sensei."

Yuuji was still suspiciously quiet.

"Oh, my sweet summer child." Gojo shook his head, tutting softly. "They don't have to be dating for there to be ships. I, personally, love the NaruSasu. What about you, Yuuji-kun?"

Yuuji flinched.

"Uh..."

He glanced at Megumi, his face turning an alarming shade of red.

"Well, uh..."

Yuuji had never looked so nervous before. He was shifting in his seat, his eyes darting between Megumi and Gojo, his hands fidgeting. He was blushing, and he looked a little uncomfortable, like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

Oh.

It was clear that Gojo had stumbled upon a sensitive topic. Yuuji hadn't been shy about his opinions regarding the anime. Though Megumi wasn't sure what was it about ships that made him so anxious, it was obvious that he had something to say about them.

What even was NaruSasu? Why did the name sound like a salad?

Wait, that also sounded suspiciously like a mashup of Naruto and Sasuke.

Megumi frowned.

That was an interesting thought. He would have to google that later.

"So?" Gojo pressed.

Yuuji took a deep breath.

"Well, I think it's an interesting concept," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual. "I mean, I can definitely see why people ship those two."

Gojo wiggled his eyebrows.

"Do you?"

"Uh, I suppose?"

Gojo grinned, the smile so wide that it almost split his face in half. He was bouncing on his heels, and the excitement was rolling off him in waves. He was so happy, he looked like he was about to burst.

Megumi didn't understand why the mere idea of a fictional character dating another fictional character was enough to make his teacher lose his shit, but he figured that it was better to just ignore it. Gojo was weird like that.

"I'm so glad you think so, Yuuji-kun," he said. "It's a shame Megumi doesn't see the appeal. Maybe we can get him to change his mind, huh?"

Yuuji was still blushing, and he was chewing his bottom lip, his teeth digging into the plump flesh.

"Yeah, maybe," he mumbled.

Megumi had never felt so confused.

"Right." Gojo rubbed his hands together. "Well, now that I've interrupted your little slumber party, I'll be on my way. You boys enjoy the rest of your morning."

With that, he left the room, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

It took Megumi a few moments to collect himself. By then, he realized that Yuuji was still half-lying on him, his knee pressing against his thigh, his face a few inches away.

Megumi's heart started beating wildly in his chest.

"Um, I guess we should... We should probably get up."

"Yeah, I..."

Yuuji looked just as dazed, his cheeks rosy, his hair sticking up. He looked a little bit like a mess, but a cute one, the kind that made Megumi want to smooth his fingers over his skin.

"Right. Yeah. Sorry."

Yuuji stood up abruptly, taking a step back. He looked down at Megumi, his hand running through his hair.

"Um, I'll just... I'll go to my room. Sorry for falling asleep."

"No, it's fine, I... Me too."

Yuuji smiled, his expression soft.

"I'll see you at breakfast, yeah?"

Megumi nodded, and Yuuji turned around, walking towards his bedroom.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Megumi buried his face in his hands.

This was bad. This was so, so bad.

-

That evening, Megumi did the only logical thing he could think of. He googled NaruSasu.

Apparently, it was a term used by fans who liked the idea of Naruto and Sasuke being together. Romantically.

Huh.

Well, that was interesting.

Megumi wondered why Yuuji was so embarrassed about his opinion. It was clear that he supported the idea of the pairing, even though it made him blush like crazy.

Maybe he was just embarrassed by the fact that as a guy, he was rooting for a gay couple. From the research Megumi had done, he understood that most shippers were female, so perhaps Yuuji was worried that his interest would be seen as odd.

Or maybe he was ashamed.

Megumi hated the thought.

Either way, it didn't matter. Even though Yuuji seemed to like the idea of two guys being together, that didn't mean that he wanted to be with a guy himself. He had never said anything about being into men.

But he had also never said anything about being interested in women.

Megumi groaned.

Why was he overthinking this? It's not like there was a chance that Yuuji could be interested in him.

Megumi sighed.

It was just a silly anime, after all.

-

It was not just a silly anime.

Megumi was not gonna cry. He wasn't. He refused to shed a single tear.

He wasn't going to do it. He wasn't. He wasn't.

Fuck.

Was it really necessary to kill off the only father figure in the show? Couldn't they just leave Jiraiya alive? The man was a pervert, but he wasn't a bad person. He didn't deserve to die.

Megumi wasn't crying. His eyes were just... Sweating. Yes. They were sweating. That's all.

He sniffled.

Yuuji on the other hand was openly crying. He had been crying since the episode began, and now he was sobbing loudly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Man, this scene gets me every time," he sobbed, his voice breaking.

"Yeah, I bet," Megumi muttered.

It was hard to be cynical about it when his eyes were starting to water. He had no idea why he was getting so emotional over a damn cartoon.

He wasn't gonna cry.

Megumi didn't really like Jiraiya, and he hadn't cared much about him during the show, but there was something heartbreaking about his death. The scene had been beautifully executed, and the emotions had been so raw and intense that it was hard to remain indifferent.

"When does Naruto find out?" Megumi asked, wiping his eyes.

"A couple of episodes." Yuuji's voice was raspy, and he looked a little worse for wear, his eyes rimmed red. "It's gonna be brutal."

Megumi's chest clenched.

"Right."

Naruto was definitely not for children. Megumi had expected it to be light-hearted, and fun, and he had not expected the story to be so sad, and heavy, and heart-wrenching.

It was a good thing that he was used to the pain, otherwise he would have lost his mind a long time ago.

-

Sasuke's fight against Itachi was brutal.

It wasn't just brutal. It was cruel. Itachi had no mercy.

Megumi couldn't look away.

He couldn't look away from Sasuke's anguished expression, from the agony on his face, the hatred burning in his eyes.

He couldn't look away.

Itachi's words had been cutting, his tone cold and detached. Megumi couldn't understand how someone could be so heartless, could hurt a child so mercilessly, could destroy their soul, and break their mind.

He felt a pang of sympathy for Sasuke.

He knew what it was like, having a fucked up family. But this was something else entirely. This was beyond the realm of reason.

It was painful to watch, and yet Megumi couldn't stop.

At the end though, the scene was not what Megumi expected.

"He touched his forehead," he said, staring blankly at the screen.

"Yeah," Yuuji replied.

"And said something to him. Why was it not shown? What did he say?"

What the hell was that, and why did Sasuke look like he was about to cry?

"Oh, right. You'll find out everything about it in the, let's see... next three episodes or so. But, you said we should go to bed after this episode. You're tired, right?"

"Huh?"

Why the fuck did it matter if he was tired? Megumi was dying of curiosity here. What did Itachi say to Sasuke?

"Unless you're not?"

What the fuck.

"I'm not. Show me the next episode. Now."

"But I'm sleepy..."

"Don't care."

Megumi was too tired for Yuuji's shenanigans. He wanted to know what the hell had happened.

"Ugh, fine. You're so demanding."

-

Megumi was staring blankly at the wall.

Itachi's death had been devastating. Now, with all the context, his last moments were heartbreaking. The love he had felt for Sasuke had been immeasurable. He would have done anything for him.

And in the end, that had been his undoing.

The revelation had been shocking, the revelations, to be precise. And Sasuke's breakdown had been devastating. Megumi had no idea how someone could survive that. He was sure that the trauma would stay with him forever.

Sasuke had been broken. Completely, utterly shattered.

The story was getting darker and darker, and the stakes were higher and higher.

Megumi's feelings were all over the place.

"Why did you make me watch this show?" he muttered.

Yuuji laughed softly.

"It's fun, isn't it?"

"It's not. I hate it. I hate everything about it."

"Liar."

"I do."

Megumi had never had such a strong emotional reaction to a piece of media. He was invested. He cared. And it hurt.

"You don't. I can tell. You have this little crinkle between your brows whenever you're worried. It's adorable."

Megumi flushed.

"Shut up."

"Adorable!"

Yuuji poked Megumi's forehead, the action making his heart stutter.

"Hey! Don't touch my forehead! What is that supposed to mean anyway?"

"I don't know." Yuuji smiled sheepishly. "I think it's a form of affection. Like, Itachi's way of showing his love for Sasuke."

So, Yuuji saw him as a brother? That was... good. Great. Totally fine.

Megumi was not disappointed. Not at all.

"Oh."

Yuuji's expression softened.

"Don't look so glum, Fushiguro. Come on, let's go to bed."

-

Nobara must have noticed that something was up.

Megumi was helping her put everything away in the kitchen after dinner. She was watching him closely, her lips pursed, her arms crossed over her chest.

She didn't say anything for a while, but eventually, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Alright, what's going on between you and Itadori?"

Megumi flinched, almost dropping the glass he was holding.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, the two of you have been spending an awful lot of time together lately. What's going on? Are you guys dating?"

Megumi blushed.

"No! Of course not. We're just watching Naruto. That's it."

"Just watching Naruto?" Nobara's expression was skeptical. "Seriously? That's the only thing you're doing? Fushiguro, you said, and I quote, 'anime is stupid'. Now, what changed? What was it that made you suddenly agree to spend hours upon hours of your time binge watching a series with Itadori?"

Nothing.

"Uh... I don't know."

"Liar."

Megumi looked away.

"It's a good show," he mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"The show! It's a good show. You would be surprised how well-written it is. It's funny, and sad, and exciting, and..."

"Fushiguro." Nobara shook her head. "I know Naruto is good. I've seen it. The point is, you would rather get a cavity filled than watch TV. So, I'm asking you again, what the hell is going on?"

Megumi didn't reply.

"Fushiguro, come on, you can tell me."

Megumi's cheeks burned.

"Kugisaki, what do you think about NaruSasu?"

Nobara raised her eyebrows.

"Whoa. Didn't think you were into that. Well, I personally ship it. They have so much sexual tension, you know. And, the way Naruto is always running after Sasuke? So cute! I think they're perfect for each other. Why are you asking, anyway? Did Itadori put you up to it?"

"No! He just, uh, mentioned the ship, and I didn't know what it meant, so..."

Nobara sighed.

"That boy is obsessed. He's a diehard shipper. He will literally fight you if you disagree with him. Maki once told him she ships Naruto with Gaara and he went into a rant for an hour. An hour, Fushiguro! Can you believe that?"

Huh. That was not how Yuuji had reacted when Gojo had asked him.

"So, you're saying, Yuuji likes the idea of Sasuke and Naruto dating?"

"Not just the idea, he is completely convinced that they're destined to be together. I've seen his ao3 account. There's no stopping him."

"Ao3?"

"Fanfiction website. If I were you, I would stay away from it. You don't want to see some of the things people write. Let's just say, the fanbase is thirsty as hell."

Megumi's mouth was dry.

"You... You think Itadori has a crush on Naruto?"

"Naruto?" Nobara laughed. "No, silly. He has a crush on Sasuke."

-

That night, Megumi couldn't sleep.

He tossed and turned, the blanket twisted around his legs. He tried counting sheep, but they kept morphing into Yuuji, and Megumi couldn't bear it. He tried counting stars, but he couldn't even see the sky through his window.

His mind was running in circles, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

Was he overthinking this? Probably. Was he overreacting? Most likely.

Still, Megumi couldn't help but wonder.

Did Yuuji have a crush on Sasuke? Was that why he had been so embarrassed when Gojo had mentioned ships? Was that why he had blushed, and fidgeted, and stuttered?

It made sense.

Sasuke was handsome. He was tall, and muscular, and brooding. He was stoic, and cool, and mysterious. He was also an asshole, but Megumi was pretty sure that assholes were a type, especially among men.

Yuuji probably had a thing for assholes.

It was obvious, now that Megumi thought about it.

Sasuke's character arc was compelling, and his story was tragic. He had been betrayed by his brother, had been lied to, had had his childhood ruined. He had been a victim of circumstance, had had no control over his own fate.

His pain had been a direct result of his family. His tragedy had been caused by the people who were supposed to protect him, to love him.

He had been left alone, abandoned and angry.

Megumi was familiar with that kind of anger.

Megumi hated Sasuke. And yet, his story was compelling, and his character was complex. He had flaws, and strengths, and weaknesses. He had a tragic past, and a dark future.

He was a mess.

Sasuke was a mess.

Yuuji probably liked his messy ass.

Fuck.

Megumi needed some air.

-

"Can't sleep?"

Megumi nearly jumped. He had not expected anyone to be awake at this hour.

"Oh, hey, Fushiguro. Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

Yuuji was standing in the hallway, a glass of water in his hand. Megumi was just about to turn around and leave when Yuuji smiled, a small, tentative smile, the corners of his lips barely curling.

Megumi couldn't walk away.

"Uh, yeah. I just... I couldn't sleep. I'll go back to bed."

"Or, we could hang out for a bit. I'm not sleepy either. You wanna watch an episode?"

"Uh..."

Yes, he wanted to watch an episode. Yes, he wanted to spend more time with Yuuji.

But, at the same time, Megumi knew that the longer he spent with Yuuji, the more he liked him. And the more he liked him, the harder it would be to walk away.

"I don't wanna risk falling asleep in the common room again. My neck hurts."

"Oh, right. Uh, maybe you could just come to my room then. You know, so even if we fall asleep, at least you won't get a crick in your neck. We'll be more comfortable."

Yuuji was biting his lip, his teeth digging into the plump flesh. He looked nervous.

Megumi shouldn't have accepted.

"Sure, okay."

Yuuji grinned.

-

Megumi was fucked.

He had been in Yuuji's bedroom plenty of times. He had sat on his bed. He had eaten with him, had chatted with him, had watched movies with him.

But he had never been in Yuuji's room at night, when they were both half-asleep, and the lights were off, and the shadows were dancing across the walls.

It felt like they were doing something wrong. Something forbidden.

"You know, I think you're gonna hate Sasuke even more after this arc," Yuuji said, his voice soft.

"Why is that?"

"Well, he's kind of a jerk. Even by my standards. A huge jerk."

"So, worse than he was before?"

Yuuji snorted.

"Yeah, much worse."

"Great. Looking forward to it."

They were sitting on Yuuji's bed, their backs against the wall, their knees brushing. Megumi could feel the warmth of Yuuji's skin through the thin material of his pants.

He tried not to shiver.

"Are you cold?" Yuuji asked.

"No."

Megumi was definitely not cold. His body was burning, the fire spreading through his veins, his heart racing.

Yuuji shifted slightly, moving closer.

"Is this okay?"

Megumi's mind was reeling.

"Yeah, it's fine."

Yuuji smiled, leaning his head on Megumi's shoulder.

"Good."

The episode started, but Megumi could barely concentrate. His attention was focused on Yuuji, his eyes tracing the curves of his face, the sharp lines of his jaw, the smoothness of his skin.

Yuuji was so beautiful.

Megumi swallowed hard, trying to calm down his erratic heart.

"Fushiguro, are you sure you're okay? Your heartbeat is going crazy."

"Sorry, I just..."

I'm a mess. I'm a complete disaster. I'm in love with you.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

"Hm."

Yuuji snuggled closer, his hair tickling Megumi's cheek. He smelled nice, a mixture of his citrus shampoo and something else, something deeper, and warmer, and more subtle.

Yuuji smelled like comfort.

Megumi's chest ached.

He was not going to make it.

-

Sasuke was a fucking asshole.

It wasn't news. But this was different. This was bad.

Although his fight and subsequent revenge on Danzo had been justified, the way he had treated Karin had been appalling. It was clear that she was in love with him, and Sasuke had taken advantage of that. He had used her, and discarded her, and hadn't cared at all about the way his actions would affect her.

Not to mention all the samurai. They had died because of his vendetta, and Sasuke hadn't even flinched.

"He's an asshole," Megumi muttered.

"Yep," Yuuji replied.

"A total ass. He doesn't care about anyone."

Yuuji would usually defend Sasuke, would come up with some convoluted reason why he was justified in his behavior, but this time, he just nodded, his expression pensive.

"You okay?" Megumi asked.

"Yeah, just thinking. You're right, he's an asshole. But, I can't hate him. Not entirely, anyway. He's been through a lot. And he's not really a bad guy, not at the core. He's just... Misguided. And angry. And sad."

"He's selfish," Megumi snapped.

Yuuji frowned.

"Maybe. But he's been alone for most of his life. It's no wonder he doesn't know how to handle his emotions. He doesn't trust anyone."

"He could trust Naruto."

"Yeah, but he's not there yet. Maybe later. After all, the road to redemption is a long one."

"Do you think he deserves it? To be redeemed, I mean."

"I think everyone deserves a second chance."

Megumi huffed.

"You're too kind, Itadori."

"You're too harsh, Fushiguro."

"Says the guy who's been defending Sasuke."

Yuuji laughed, the sound echoing in the darkness.

"True. Anyway, I'm tired. Are you gonna stay?"

Huh?

"You could stay," Yuuji continued, his voice soft, hesitant. "Like a sleepover. It could be fun. What do you think?"

What did Megumi think?

Well, he thought that spending the night in Yuuji's bed, with his scent surrounding him, and his body pressed against his, was a terrible idea. It was torture. It was a slow, agonizing death.

It was what he had been dreaming about for months.

"Okay," Megumi croaked.

Yuuji beamed.

"Awesome!"

-

If the universe was even a little bit just, Megumi would have died in his sleep.

But alas, the universe was cruel, and unforgiving, and Megumi was forced to live through the agony of having Yuuji cuddle up against him, his warm body wrapped around Megumi's, his breath hot against Megumi's neck.

This was hell. This was absolute hell.

Megumi couldn't believe he was still alive.

He didn't remember falling asleep, and yet, somehow, the morning had arrived, and the light was pouring into the room, and Yuuji was sleeping soundly, his arms wrapped around Megumi's waist, his hair tickling Megumi's cheek.

It was torture.

Megumi had no idea how long he had been staring at Yuuji, his heart pounding, his cheeks flushed. He could have stayed like that for hours, could have spent the rest of his life admiring the curve of Yuuji's nose, the softness of his skin, the smoothness of his lips.

Megumi couldn't look away.

And then, Yuuji stirred, his eyes fluttering open, a soft groan escaping his mouth.

Fuck.

Megumi's breath hitched.

Yuuji looked up, his gaze meeting Megumi's.

"Fushiguro?"

"H-Hey."

Yuuji's eyes widened, and suddenly, he was pulling away, his arms loosening around Megumi's waist, his warmth leaving Megumi's side.

"Sorry!" Yuuji said, his face red. "I, uh, didn't mean to fall asleep like that. I'm sorry."

Megumi blinked.

"It's okay."

"Right. Yeah. Of course."

They stared at each other for a few moments, the silence stretching between them. It wasn't awkward, but it was charged, and heavy, and it made Megumi's stomach clench.

"Um, I should probably go," he muttered.

"Yeah, sure. Uh, thanks. For staying. It was... Nice."

"Uh, yeah. No problem. Anytime."

Anytime?

Megumi needed to get the fuck out.

"Bye."

"Bye."

-

"You're an idiot."

"Thanks, Kugisaki. Your support means the world to me."

"Ugh, whatever. It's not my fault that you're being an idiot. What the hell were you thinking, staying over at his room?"

Megumi groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"I wasn't. I wasn't thinking."

"Obviously."

Nobara was right. Megumi had no excuse. He had known that staying over was a bad idea, had known that he wouldn't be able to keep his feelings in check, had known that the line between friendship and romance was too thin, and fragile, and easily broken.

He had crossed it. He had stepped over it, had leapt over it, had jumped across it.

And now, there was no turning back.

"I'm screwed, aren't I?"

Nobara sighed, patting his back sympathetically.

"Yeah, you are. Sorry."

-

Megumi did what any responsible, rational person would do.

He avoided Yuuji like the plague.

It was difficult, since they lived next door and went to the same classes, but Megumi was a professional at avoiding people. He had years of experience. He had been born and raised in a household that taught him how to ignore people, and he had perfected his skill.

It was easy, in a way.

Megumi ignored the stab of guilt when Yuuji gave him a puzzled look, his eyes wide and hurt, his brow furrowed. He ignored the pain in his chest when Yuuji tried to talk to him, his voice low and soft, his words hesitant.

Megumi ignored it all, his heart breaking a little more every time.

But Yuuji, the little shit, refused to be ignored.

Megumi was just passing through the common room, when he heard the familiar opening song. His feet stopped, and his heart stuttered, and his body moved on its own, carrying him towards the source of the noise.

"Hey, Fushiguro!"

"Hey."

Yuuji was sitting on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in his lap.

"What are you doing, Itadori?"

Yuuji raised his eyebrows.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

It was obvious what Yuuji was doing. He was watching Naruto. But Megumi knew that there was more to it, that Yuuji was sending him a message, a very clear, and loud, and annoying message.

"Are you going to watch the rest of the show without me?"

Yuuji smiled, a small, tentative smile, the corners of his lips barely curling.

"Depends. Are you going to avoid me for the rest of the semester?"

Damn. Yuuji was smarter than he looked.

"No," Megumi mumbled.

"Then, sit your ass down and let's finish this show."

Megumi was powerless.

He sat down.

-

Things were... awkward, to say the least.

There was a tension between them, a strange, new kind of tension, something neither of them was used to. It made Megumi's skin crawl, and his palms sweat, and his throat dry.

Yuuji was acting strangely. He was jumpy, and fidgety, and nervous, his voice cracking whenever he spoke, his eyes darting around the room. He kept licking his lips, his tongue darting out, and Megumi couldn't stop staring, couldn't stop imagining how those lips would feel against his, how they would taste, how they would fit.

It was a special kind of agony. 

"I can't believe this guy had a legitimate panic attack because he realized they wanted to kill Sasuke," Megumi muttered.

"This is one of my favorite scenes," Yuuji replied. "It's so intense. You really get to see the depth of his feelings."

Right. Naruto's feelings. Which, according to Yuuji (if Nobara could be trusted), were not entirely platonic.

"Do you think Sasuke would feel the same way if the situation was reversed?"

"Huh?"

"Would he be willing to risk everything for Naruto? Would he give up his whole life, his future, his plans, just to protect him?"

Yuuji laughed nervously.

"Well, the way he is now, probably not. But, once he gets his head out of his ass, then, yes, definitely. That's the point of the series, after all. Sasuke needs to realize that he doesn't need to be alone. That he can rely on others. That he can trust people. That he can have friends, and a family. He's a stubborn idiot, but he'll get there eventually."

"I still hate him."

Yuuji giggled.

"I know."

-

The more episodes Megumi watched, the more he liked Naruto.

He was a mess, that much was true. He was loud, and obnoxious, and his taste in friends was questionable at best. But, underneath all that, there was something else, something deeper, something raw and pure.

Naruto had a good heart. He was loyal, and brave, and kind. He had suffered so much, had lost so many people, and yet, he still fought for the sake of others, for the sake of his village.

He was selfless.

"I think he would make a good Jujutsu Sorcerer," Megumi commented.

Yuuji gasped.

"Oh my god, yes! He totally would!"

"He would be a Special Grade with all that chakra and those shadow clones. Not to mention Sage mode and the Kyuubi."

"Yes, exactly! He would be so strong!"

Yuuji was giddy, his eyes bright, his grin wide. Megumi smiled, unable to resist his enthusiasm.

"He would be your partner," Megumi continued. "I bet the two of you would make an excellent team."

Yuuji tilted his head, his brow furrowed.

"Hm. I wouldn't want him as a partner."

"Why not?"

"Because you're already my partner."

Megumi blinked.

"I-Is that so?"

"Of course. I wouldn't want anyone else. It has to be you, Fushiguro."

Oh.

"Plus, he'd like you better anyway. You're more like Sasuke. So, I'm sure he'd rather work with you."

Why the hell does Yuuji keep comparing him to Sasuke? Megumi is nothing like that bastard. Plus, according to Nobara, Yuuji has a crush on Sasuke, which means...

Does it mean anything?

Probably not.

Probably.

Fuck.

-

Megumi's life had officially become a trashy romance anime.

He was spending more time with Yuuji, watching Naruto with him, talking about the show with him, and laughing with him, and arguing with him, and just being with him, and Megumi had never felt happier.

The touching had been dialed back, though.

Yuuji had kept his distance, had made sure not to get too close, not to invade Megumi's personal space. And Megumi had been grateful, had felt relieved, had felt like maybe, just maybe, he would be able to survive this.

It was clear that Yuuji didn't want a repeat of Megumi freaking out on him, and the distance, however frustrating, was also welcome.

It was a win-win situation.

Until, it wasn't.

The war arc was particularly intriguing.

"Oh my god," Yuuji squealed. "This is my favorite fight scene. Look at them go! They're amazing!"

"Naruto and Sasuke, finally working together. Took them long enough."

"I know, right? But, look at how in sync they are! They're incredible!"

Yuuji was leaning against Megumi's shoulder, his body vibrating with excitement. He'd probably forgotten that he was supposed to maintain some distance, was probably too absorbed in the show to remember the boundaries.

Not that Megumi minded.

"So basically, since they are the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura, they complete each other, and they're strongest when they are together?"

"Yes!"

"But they are also destined to destroy each other?"

"Yes! Isn't it great?"

No. Not really.

"So, it's a tragedy. Their story is doomed from the start. There is no happy ending for them."

Yuuji grinned.

"But, that's the thing. There can be. They can change their destiny, their fate, if they want. It's not set in stone. They can choose a different path, can create their own ending."

Megumi's brow furrowed.

"Is that a spoiler?"

"Sort of."

"Damn."

Yuuji laughed, the sound vibrating through his body, shaking Megumi's bones.

"Anyway, let's keep watching. The war is not over yet."

-

At the end, after several painful moments where Megumi was struggling to hide his tears, and Yuuji was sniffling quietly, Sasuke and Naruto has their final battle.

They fought, and they struggled, and they bled, and even when they were barey standing, they still didn't give up, they didn't surrender.

They fought with everything they had.

But the real painful part was the end, when they were laying on the ground next to each other, one arm each blown off, blood and dirt staining their faces.

And then finally, finally, Naruto's words broke through Sasuke's wall.

Megumi couldn't really explain why that scene, that moment of Sasuke's eyes softening, of his face crumbling, had affected him so much.

But it did.

A memory welled up, unbidden.

Yuuji's last word to him, a lifetime ago, before he died.

"Live a long life."

That moment had done something to Megumi. It had carved itself into his soul, had made a permanent home inside his heart. And seeing that process, that same process, happening in front of his eyes, was more than he could bear.

Megumi didn't even try to hide his tears this time.

Yuuji sniffled and smiled at him.

"Sasuke finally gets it. He realizes that there is no reason for him to be alone. That he has a choice. That he can change his destiny."

Megumi sighed, trying to pull himself together.

"Well, it took him long enough."

"I don't blame him, though. It must be hard, when you've been alone your whole life, to suddenly trust someone. It's difficult, opening yourself up, being vulnerable."

"Hm."

"Sometimes, it's easier to run away, than to take the risk and open your heart."

Yuuji was now staring at him, his gaze unwavering.

"Maybe."

Megumi knew he was not talking about Sasuke anymore.

He swallowed hard, his chest aching.

"What happens to Sasuke and Naruto in the end?"

"Oh. Sasuke marries Sakura. Naruto marries Hinata. They have kids. Everyone is happy."

Megumi choked.

"What? They don't actually, uh, get together?"

Yuuji's eyebrow quirked.

"Nope. Are you saying you would prefer it if they did?"

Yes. Yes, he would.

"No. Just curious."

Yuuji's expression didn't change.

"Fushiguro... Why did you avoid me before?"

Oh.

Shit.

"Um, well..."

"I thought maybe you were mad at me. Or that you hated the show, and you were only watching it for my sake. But, I guess that wasn't it, right?"

Megumi was trapped.

"Yeah, I... I don't hate the show."

"So, then what was it? What made you avoid me like that?"

Megumi couldn't answer.

"Was it because of the cuddling?"

Yuuji's voice was small, barely above a whisper.

Megumi's heart was pounding.

"No, I, uh, didn't mind. It was... nice. Really nice."

Too nice.

"So, what was it then?"

Megumi shook his head.

"It's nothing. Just Kugisaki messed with my head. She said stuff about you having a crush on Sasuke, and Sasuke is a guy, so I just... I thought maybe, maybe you were... It was stupid."

Megumi could feel his face burning, his skin crawling.

He wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

"Oh. I see."

There was a moment of silence, and then, Yuuji started laughing.

"Why the hell are you laughing? This isn't funny, Itadori."

"It's not," Yuuji said between laughs. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh, but... Damn, Fushiguro, you had me worried. I kept telling her how Sasuke reminds me of you, and I guess she wanted to give you a hint. But, it ended up making things worse. How unfortunate."

"Hint?"

Yuuji grinned.

"I do have a crush on Sasuke, yes. A normal, healthy, platonic crush. Because he's an interesting character. A lot like you, actually."

Megumi frowned.

"I still don't get it."

"It's fine, Fushiguro. I'll give you another hint."

"Another- What? Hey!"

Yuuji cupped his cheek, his thumb stroking Megumi's skin, his fingers warm and soft.

"Fushiguro," he whispered. "I have a crush on you. A big, unhealthy, unprofessional crush. And, I have for a while now."

What?

What?

"You... have a crush on me?"

"Yes."

"As in, a crush-crush?"

"As in, the biggest crush ever. Is that enough clarification for you, Fushiguro?"

Megumi couldn't believe it.

Yuuji's fingers were still on his cheek, his eyes searching Megumi's.

"Say something," he whispered.

"Uh. I. Wow."

Great job, Megumi.

"I used to think you're not interested in anything like that," Yuuji admitted. "I didn't think you liked me in that way. But then, the cuddling, and the sleeping over, and the way you looked at me, and... I thought maybe, maybe we were on the same page. I was hoping."

Megumi stared at him. He desperately needed to say something, so he opened his mouth and hoped for the best.

"We are. On the same page. Same chapter. Same paragraph. Hell, I'm pretty sure we're the same fucking sentence."

Yuuji giggled.

"That's good to know."

"And, if that's not enough clarification for you, I have a crush on you too."

"As in, a crush-crush?"

"Yes, dammit. A crush-crush."

"Oh. Well, in that case..."

Yuuji's hand moved to the back of Megumi's neck, his grip firm and steady.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he murmured, his breath hot against Megumi's lips.

"Finally," Megumi breathed.

The first press of Yuuji's lips was gentle, barely a brush.

It was not enough.

Megumi reached out, desperately, his fingers curling around Yuuji's jaw.

More.

He wanted more.

Yuuji giggled against his lips, and then, his hands were in Megumi's hair, his lips pressing harder, firmer.

More.

More.

It was better than Megumi could have ever imagined. It was like coming home, and flying, and falling, all at the same time. It was everything Megumi had ever wanted, and more.

Yuuji was a good kisser, but the inexperience on both sides was clear. Megumi didn't mind, though. He didn't need experience. He just needed Yuuji.

When they finally broke apart, Megumi was breathless, and dizzy, and his brain was melting, but Yuuji's smile was the brightest thing he had ever seen, and Megumi's heart was full.

"That was nice," Yuuji whispered.

"It was," Megumi agreed.

"We should do it again sometime."

"Definitely."

Megumi leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Yuuji's, his thumb tracing Yuuji's cheek.

"By the way," he murmured. "I'm nothing like Sasuke. He's an idiot."

Yuuji smiled, his eyes bright and happy.

"You're right. Even though I like Sasuke, he has nothing on you. You both went through some shit, and you were lonely, but you never let it get to you. You're better than him. And, you're my favorite person. Nothing and no one can compare."

Fuck.

Megumi's face burned.

"You're such a sap."

"Guilty as charged."

-

Omake

"Hey, you're not gonna make me watch Boruto, are you?"

"Of course not! Don't worry. I already watched it, and let's just say, I'm glad we stopped when we did. Now, I want to find a way to erase that part of my memory."

"I can help with that."

"What do you–"