You're still too weak.

You don't have enough...

...hate.

Sasuke shot up in bed, then immediately curled in on himself; memories of the past making his seal throb in pain.

Soft gasps left his body, cheeks flushed and hair slightly damp from the cold sweat. This was the 4th time this week.

A quiet snore came from Sasuke's right, and the noise of bedsheets shifting. Sasuke smiled.

He ran his fingers through the fluffy blonde hair, pushing off the silly sleeping cap that the other insisted on wearing.

Naruto was everything Sasuke wasn't: a hero, a friend, selfless, caring, loving, sympathetic, and kind.

And what was he? Heartless, cruel, uncaring, cold.

How someone like Naruto could fall for someone like Sasuke was beyond him.

No. He couldn't keep doing this. He couldn't keep loving Naruto. It was a sign of weakness.

It's distracting me from my motive. My dream. My revenge.

Sasuke licked his lips, the salty taste of his tears greeting his taste buds.

He leaned over towards Naruto's ear, ignoring the tears that fell onto his friend's cheek.

So here we are, fighting and trying to hide the scars

I'll be home tonight, take a breath and softly say

"...Goodbye."