Just Breathe

By Tione

He had me backed into a tree and I watched the hard contour of his lips move, speaking frantic words to me. His eyes were wide and scared and he kept whispering the same thing over and over.

I couldn't comprehend what he was saying. This person – my rival – saying these things. This was the person I hated, I loathed, the person I cried tears for because he wouldn't acknowledge me.

"Oh god, Naruto, I love you. I love you so much it hurts…"

His forehead was touching mine and I could see the faintly glimmering tears in his eyes. They wavered but didn't fall. They would never fall, just like Sasuke would never ever fall.

Why had this enigma given his love to me? A bumbling loud dumbass with the stupid dream he'd never achieve? He could have anyone. Anyone. He could have Sakura – the prettiest and smartest girl I know. She'd die for him. Or Ino, the sexy girl that could tie with Sakura in a match. She would do anything for him.

"You're my light. You shine so bright and you make me want to feel…"

He looked terrified and so very small and one misstep on my part could crush him into little tiny shards and there would be too many to pick up and he would never be whole again…

I barely heard the words that ghosted from my mouth. "Why me?"

He jumped at the sound of my voice, and then laughed bitterly. "I don't know. I don't care. At first I did. But now I don't. You're so open and innocent and I want to know what it's like…"

Slowly, oh-so-slowly, I lifted my head and silently brushed my lips against his. He grabbed me and clutched my tightly to his body. I felt him whisper against my lips, "I'll never let you go."

[You're everywhere to me. And when I close my eyes it's you I see…]