Summary: The beautifully tragic one-sided love between Sai and Naruto as Naruto heads toward Sasuke, as always.
Softest Cruelties
"Please don't go." Naruto stopped, surprised at the emotion in Sai's voice and a little wary, ready to evade him if Sai tried to keep him from the battle. "If you keep going…if you face Sasuke, you'll die. I can't- I don't wish to lose you."
Naruto's heart hurt for his friend. He may be naïve, but over time he had come to realize how Sai felt about him. The former Root member saw Naruto as his light, the one who'd saved him and the one he'd sworn to protect in return. His feelings were real, but in this situation…
Naruto's voice was gentle, his eyes kind.
"Sai…" the dark haired nin shook his head and smiled; a real smile that still hurt to look at.
"It's alright, Naruto. I love you. I don't need you to love me back."
Blue eyes brimmed with tears, creasing Sai's forehead into a furrow of concern. Naruto stepped closer and raised his hand to the other boy's face. The blonde smiled at Sai, tears spilling over as he stared the other in the eyes.
"…I wish I did."
It was as more than Sai had ever expected and he stared with resigned and grateful eyes as the blonde took off after Killer Bee toward Sasuke.
Naruto would never stop loving Sasuke, trying to save him from his hate; and Sai would never stop loving Naruto, trying to save him from himself. No matter how distorted, there were bonds of love between them all, twisting and twining and poisoning. And it would kill them all.
Sai could ask for nothing more.