Sasuke wandered the streets Konoha at dusk. The rainwater was filling the street drains akin to the sorrow filling his heart. No one was around. Sasuke was free to drown himself in memories of a former self.

As he walked through the village, he imagined the feeling of love and warmth that comes with family and friends. His family was gone and he pushed away his friends constantly. He didn't know how to accept companionship, let alone love, anymore. It was all lost those many years ago.

Not that he hadn't tried to open up to people and make friends, he simply didn't know how to convey his emotions. With Sakura, he didn't know how to deal with her constant affection; he ended up pushing her away and crushing her desires. With Kakashi, he didn't know how to accept his fatherly attributes; after the incident, he found it difficult to embrace any new father figures. With Naruto... he had such a carefree attitude and a cheerful perspective on life. To be honest, Naruto brightened Sasuke's gloomy existence. Naruto was the sun, peeking through the dark clouds of his past.

Naruto was very important to him, though he'd never admit it. He felt ashamed of this yearning he felt towards the blonde boy.

He was aimlessly wandering, yet he found himself near Naruto's house. Is this a sign? Was his subconscious telling him to visit the energetic ninja that had been plaguing his thoughts?

Sasuke looked up at Naruto's window.

A few days ago, he and Naruto had an argument. They were both fatigued from their earlier training session; Naruto had explained that he felt Sasuke had been too aggressive and selfish, Sasuke responded with saying Naruto had been reckless and had left himself wide open.

"That's no excuse for scraping my arm with a kunai!"

Sasuke had looked away, "That was an accident."

"What about the other time you burned Sakura! Or that time when you left us behind on that mission!"

"How many times have we failed missions because of your idiocy?"

"You never cooperate with us! You're selfish!" Naruto had started taking steps towards Sasuke.

"We've never failed a mission on my account."

"That's not the point, we need work as a team and you just keep ignoring us and going off on your own!" Another step closer.

"Success is more important than cooperation."

"You could get hurt running off like that!" Another step. Naruto was less than a foot away.

"What business is it of yours if I get hurt?"

"Of course it's my business! I care about you!"

"Why would-"

Naruto stopped him mid-sentence with a sudden joining of their lips.

Sasuke shook away the tender memory of Naruto's lips. After the kiss, Sasuke backed away and ran deep into the wooded training ground. He hasn't spoken to Naruto since.

A spiky-haired silhouette that could only be Naruto paced by the window. Sasuke's heart raced. The silhouette disappeared and he heard the door slam shut. The front door opened. Sasuke's eyes widened in panic. Naruto appeared in the open doorway.

"Sasuke?" Naruto took a step forward, "Sasuke I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"No, I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't how to react."

"So we're cool?"

Sasuke let out a breath of relief, "Yeah we're cool."

"Do you wanna come in and dry off?"

He shivered, remembering how cold he was, "That would be nice." Sasuke followed Naruto into the house.