Sasuke settled himself in front of the small stone, sitting with his arms on his knees. The small flower in his hand set over the engraving. He let his fingers trace it like he had many times before, deafening silence hitting his ears and making him feel warm. In the beginning, this very silence shook his core, but now it left him feeling a warm lonely.
A small smile graced his lips as he watched the dark leaves fall around him, the beginning of autumn bringing a small chill to his skin that didn't matter.
If he were here, he would set his jacket on Sasuke's shoulders, telling him that he was warm enough.
He licked his dry lips, looking back down at the glossy stone, it way too small for a hero like him. The Hokage had wanted a monument dedicated to the boy, and Sasuke had agreed. The few days after he was gone was the worst of it, bringing him a feeling that he didn't know. Of course, the raven knew of love, the love that broke you down and held your soul.
Sasuke also knew who he loved, but not until the day he'd slipped away, with both Sasuke's and his soul alike.
Bitterly, he laughed, flicking away a small insect walking upon his love's stone. He'd been so blind from even childhood, so desperate to not have emotions. The boy had always been the one to break him over and over again, making them come back, giving Sasuke a reason to hate him.
That boy made him feel.
And even now, while his body was under his feet and soul no longer present in this world, he still made Sasuke feel. He would forever be under his skin, making him feel those sickening emotions of love and anger and sadness.
He swore that he'd turned his back on those feelings, but the blonde had always made him face things head on, to act with his heart and not his head for once.
How very much he missed that, that feeling of being alive and limitless. Was that always how he felt? Every time he spoke to Sasuke, every time he acted to bring him back?
Was this what it felt like for him? The Uchiha so desperately needed to know, but his only mean of getting the real answer was under the dirt he was sitting on.
Running his fingers through the dirt, he grimaced. It had been weeks, and still, barely any grass had grown over this plot. It probably didn't help that Sasuke was back each day, sitting in this spot and not leaving his friend's side any longer.
"You said you'd die with me," Sasuke whispered, surprised at hearing his voice; not ever had he spoken. "Looks like you were wrong."
Sadly smiling, his eyes pricked, and he could hear the boy's voice telling him not to waste his tears. That thought only made his vision blur and a chuckle come to his lips.
"I'm not crying, dobe," he shook his head and tilting it up to the sky, making them fall down the side.. "Don't flatter yourself up there,"
Gritting his teeth and looking down, he cursed, digging his nails into his palm. It wasn't supposed to be like this anymore.
It wasn't supposed to hurt like this to have him gone. It was never supposed to hurt.
But it did, and he felt it in his chest, the ache of him missing beside him.
One last time, Sasuke ran his fingers over the words, "Naruto Uzumaki", and stood up, walking home.
