Sasuke looked at the portrait on his desk, the one with a grinning stupid blonde idiot on the front. The one he looked at everyday, with such pain and longing. Sometimes he would feel him, standing behind his chair, rubbing his shoulders, asking, "Why are you so sad, Sasuke?"
"I'm sad because I miss you, Naruto."
"But why, why are you sad, it's not like I'm dead."
And somehow Sasuke never had the heart to tell him that he was. And Sasuke would just pretend, pretend that everything was all right. Sasuke would pretend that Naruto hadn't died because of a car accident, and that he hadn't been at Naruto's side, when it happened. No, Sasuke hadn't even reached the hospital in time; he had tried. But Naruto didn't wait for him, Naruto died alone. He left the world just as he had entered it, without any loved ones to support him. And Sasuke wished he'd been in that car with Naruto. At least that's better than hallucinating. Anything would be better than this. And Sasuke wonders, if Naruto is there to keep him sane, or drive him to madness.
Perhaps, it was a divine punishment, to have your loved one so close, but so far away. Perhaps a second chance… perhaps. And no matter, in life or death, Sasuke never had the courage to tell the idiot, that he loved him. He had missed his chance, maybe if Naruto had waited, and hadn't been so selfish as to die. Maybe had the timing been right, Sasuke would've had the chance, but he didn't. And now it was a little bit too late.
And on evenings like these, when he's alone, Naruto is with him, even if only in his head. He is usually watching Sasuke, bored, and distracting him. And on nights like these, when Sasuke is relaxing, he holds Naruto close, like he never had in real life. He holds Naruto who feels so real, but somehow is always gone in the morning, replaced by the sunlight streaming through his window. It makes him remember, that Naruto isn't real at all. He's only in his head; he's only in his head. And on evenings like these, Sasuke utters those words, which he never got a chance to.
"I love you, Naruto."
And sometimes, that's all Sasuke would say, because it's all that was left unsaid.
Naruto would grin that stupid grin of his, which seemed to have an inner light that shone through even the darkest corners of any room. And so he would smile, Naruto never replied to this. Maybe it was because Sasuke never said it to him, that he didn't know what Naruto would say. So his mind didn't know his answer. Or maybe Naruto smiled because he couldn't say I love you back. Maybe he was still stubborn after death.
And so, Sasuke would spend his evenings with Naruto, each one filled with sadness and regret. Soon, Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to move on.
"Naruto, why are you here?"
"To be with you, Sasuke."
"Naruto, why can't you just leave me? Please, I just want to move on."
"Do you want me to leave? Do you?"
"Naruto, you're driving me insane. I can't take it anymore! Yes, please. Just go."
"You know, all I wanted was a kiss. Give me one kiss, and I promise I'll go."
And with that said, Sasuke kissed Naruto, a simple innocent kiss, but one that lasted a lifetime. With tears in his perfect aqua eyes, Naruto finally said, "I love you too, Sasuke." And he disappeared…