Home

Sometimes he stopped to wonder what home was.

His eyes were closed, a pale hand pressed against his cheek and dark hair tickling his wrist.

He could faintly hear Karin yelling about something or another, but knowing her, it was something stupid and pointless. It had to be after sundown by now, judging by Juugo's snores from down the hall of their temporary home.

Home...

What was home?, he wondered, onyx eyes opening slowly, ready to face the cold stone of his room.

But instead of white stone and empty spaces, he saw green grass, three poles and three kids seated in front of them.

One was tied up, pouting and glaring at the sky, while the other two were munching on bento boxes.

It was, he realized, 3 and a half years ago, after graduating from the academy.

He was handing the loud-mouth blonde some of his food and by doing that, they had passed the test.

Teamwork.

It had been their first lesson as Team Seven.

The scene changed, showing a wet blonde boy seated in the middle of a small river.

He stood up slowly, those blue eyes determined to never be defeated.

He saw himself extending a closed fist, smile in place and the other two teammates behind him.

Friendship.....

It had been their second lesson in their hometown.

What was home again?

It was them touching fists as the sun had begun to set.

It was childish nicknames and explosive fights.

It was never ending ramen lunches, sleeping over when the others electricity went out and training nonstop on mission breaks.

It was standing with his arm slung around his neck, trying to get the other to admit that they liked them.

However, It wasn't standing above his unconscious form in the pouring rain and knowing it was wrong to just leave him behind.

It wasn't that old empty district he had left behind to kill Itachi.

It wasn't standing above his former team and knowing the dark-haired boy beside them was his replacement.

He stood up, walking across the room and stopping in front of the small window. It faced towards Konoha, something he must have done without realizing. Karin's shouting got louder and he let out a sigh.

It wasn't anything he had now.

Because, Sasuke concluded sadly, forehead resting against the cold glass of the window, Home was with Naruto.

Owari

I wrote this last year.....and just now found it. -.- I'm working on Guardian Bay as we speak. I'm going to have a few weeks in a month or two to just WRITE. SO prepare yourselves.

Blessed Be,

Angel