Sasuke taps eagerly on the wooden table, waiting for [Name] to visit him. He sent her the address to his home, told his family that a friend is coming over, and set an extra spot at the dinner table for her too. All he must do is wait, but he's becoming nervous.

The food is almost ready, and [Name] still hasn't confirmed when her arrival will be. Sasuke begins to bite his nails down, his anxiety setting in already. It bubbles in his stomach and gives him the jitters. He bounces his leg and gives glances towards the door.

Naruto waltz down the stairs from his bedroom and gives his brother a quizzical look before heading into the kitchen with his mother. Sasuke overhears their conversation as he sits at the dining room table.

"Ma, he's like freaking out. What's wrong with him?" Naruto tries to whisper, but he sucks at it.

"Nothing is wrong with him! He's just a little nervous. When was the last time he had a friend over? Hm?" Kushina snaps.

"I don't know-"

"Exactly! He's just excited to see them is all!"

"But ma, he's like, biting his nails off."

Kushina sighs.

That's when Sasuke hears stomping coming towards him, and fast too.

WHAP!! WHAP!!

Kushina smacks Sasuke's hands with a wooden spoon. He hisses but doesn't cry out. The red marks form on his pale hands, and he stuffs then between his legs to prevent any further damage.

"Stop biting your nails! Last time you did that, your fingertips were bleeding! And I'm not trying to go through a whole box of bandages again!" Kushina nags Sasuke until he says Sorry and Okay a billion times.

Kushina huffs and returns to the kitchen to finish off dinner. Once she leaves, Sasuke raises his fingers to his lips again, but once he spots the red blemishes on his hands, he stops. His hands drop to his sides, and he stares towards the door. His leg bouncing continues.

Naruto exits the kitchen and approaches his brother. He pats Sasuke's shoulder, making him jump and cease all movements. "So, a friend? Girl or guy?"

"Girl," Sasuke answers quickly, unable to look at his brother.

"A girl? Surprised Sakura is okay with that," Naruto jokes, but Sasuke doesn't smile. Sasuke understands that if Sakura knew about [Name] coming over, she'd throw a hissy fit.

"What's her name?" Naruto asks, taking a seat next to Sasuke.

"[Name]," he answers simply. "She's the one that painted that picture in my room."

"Oh, cool, cool."

The conversation goes dead afterward. As much as they love each other, the two couldn't connect like other siblings could. Sasuke couldn't put any effort into formulating a relationship with his new brother after Itachi died; since afraid of losing him as well. So Naruto is more like a distant friend to him rather than a brother.

Naruto takes care of Sasuke, but Sasuke can't do the same for Naruto.

In that moment of silence, Sasuke's phone jingles. He snatches it up in a second, reading the message from [Name].

"She's here," he mumbles and shoots up from his chair. "She's here, she's here!"

Sasuke hurries to the front door. Before he opens it, he flattens down any stray hairs.

"[Name]!" He greets, his arms open wide. A big smile graces his face, and [Name] is happy to see him happy.

"Hey!" She says back, accepting his quick embrace. She steps inside, and the savory aroma of food enters her nose. "Mmm, the food smells good."

"Yeah, come sit," Sasuke says, leading her to the dining room. [Name] spots Naruto and waves.

"Hi, I'm [Name]," she quickly introduces herself.

Oh, God, he's cute. [Name] thinks as Naruto stands to shake her hand.

"I'm Naruto. It's nice to meet you."

Naruto is all smiles, and his dazzling grin causes her heart to flutter.

Sasuke sees their interaction and notices something different in the way [Name] reacts to Naruto.

And he doesn't like it one bit.

...

[Name] fits in like a puzzle piece. She laughs, jokes, grins, and empathizes with the Uzumaki family.

Kushina suddenly brings up the painting Sasuke brought home, taking an interest in her art.

"So I heard from my darling son here that you paint," Kushina says. "He adores the one you gave him."

"Mooom!"

"Oh, yes. My mother taught me how," [Name] says with a laugh. "It's my passion, and it helps me make a little bit of money on the side."

"Little bit of money? Hmm. I don't know if you're interested," Kushina says slowly as if she's building up to the big reveal. "But next weekend, I'll be setting up an art show. You could possibly auction off your pieces."

Sasuke notices how [Name's] eyes light up, and the fork wobbles between her fingers.

She's at a lost for words, but she's able to stumble out, "I'd—I mean I really would—I'd be honored, Mrs. Uzumaki!"

Kushina claps her hands at the good news. "Oh, lovely! Come over tomorrow and bring your pieces. Sasuke, you'll help her, right?"

Sasuke, with his mouth full of food, nods his head. "We can stuff it in my car."

"I'll come with and help carry some big ones," Naruto offers, and [Name] accepts his help before Sasuke can deny it.

Sasuke tries not to glare, but regardless he stares at his brother. The edges of his eyesight seem to turn red, and his mind goes dark with images of Naruto's lifeless body.

He shakes free of these thoughts when [Name] grabs his hand.

"Hey!" She starts with a smile. "If you don't mind, can I use the ballet girl in the gallery? I promise not to sell it."

Sasuke runs his thumb over her skin, and gives her a weak smile. "Yeah, of course."

Seeing that grin on her face brings butterflies to his stomach, and all he those dark feelings whisk away into nothingness.

...

It's bright. So bright.

Endless white extends before the man covered in smoke and ash. Even the black dirt that flakes off of him withers into white.

He can't make out anything, but he knows something is there. More than one thing to be exact. He feels it all around him.

Although stagnant, he's being moved. The sensation is like people on a busy street bumping into him. The soot from his body sticks to them, and he can watch the little patch of dirt drift away from his form, far into the white nothingness.

A flicker of black catches his eye, and for some reason, it brings him comfort. He's not the only oddball.

Being the only dark thing in an endless landscape of white makes him stand out. But there's another thing, or person, with black surrounding them too.

Whatever it is flickers not too far from him, and he draws closer to it. He doesn't move but, the black thing, the thing covered in soot just like him, comes closer. Not like walking, but teleporting.

And soon, he's right in front of it.

It takes the shape of a woman, her back facing him. A familiar figure. He recognizes it from the waking world.

"You're just like me," he says to her.

She turns, beautiful cerulean tears drip from her face, coloring the ground beneath them. It's refreshing to the man to see something other than black and white. "You did this to me! I am covered in your mess. In your soot and ash!"

"Yes, and now you're just like me."

"Why?"

The man lifts his hand and brushes the black tar away from what could be her face. Beneath all the black and grime, is color. A beautiful pastel beneath the consuming black.

"I won't be alone anymore. You. Are. Like. Me."

...

A/N: oof oof yikes. I think we're finally getting to the Yandere part.