Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters affiliated therewith. Neither do I own "Everything You Want" or any material relating to Vertical Horizon in any way or form.
Dedicated to Dal, my Maple fiancé. I pray we'll be happy together forever.
Somewhere, they're speaking
It's already coming in.
All of it's rising
At the back of your mind…
He watched her go. Watched her retreating back silhouetted against the sunset even as the Kyuubi within him flared with sadness.
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
And now you're here
And you don't know why…
"She loves him… She loves Uchiha Sasuke…" the 25-year-old Naruto thought sadly, trudging wearily up the steps that would take him to the very top of the cliff where the former Hokage's faces were etched.
But under skinned knees
And the skid marks
Past the places
Where you used to learn…
Just as he got to the top step, a cool wind slapped the distraught young man in the face, as though mocking him for his actions that occurred just minutes previously.
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels
Who won't return…
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke were having their weekly get together dinner with their sensei, Kakashi. The two latter decided to go home early, and Sakura also wanted to join the impassive Uchiha on his way home. But Naruto requested she stay for a few minutes.
He's everything you want.
He's everything you need.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be…
"I love you." Just those three simple, heartfelt words had earned him a cold, if somewhat dazed, rejection from the jade-eyed kunoichi Naruto loved, respected, praised, so highly.
He says all the right things
At exactly the right times.
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why…
"What did I do wrong?" the blond asked the wind. Rustling leaves and a frigid howling were all he received in answer.
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You waiting for someone
To push you away…
"Does she… really hate me…?" The unanswered question remained at the tip of his tongue like a sore that wouldn't go away. Sapphire eyes glistened with pained tears as Naruto watched the sunset, his heart aching.
There's always another
Wound to discover
There's always something more
You wish he'd say…
"I guess it's to be expected," he whispered to the trees as he sat down on the stone jutting out from the cliff's edge. "Nobody but Master Iruka has ever really given me a chance… Never acknowledged… even my existence…"
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what
You're asking for…
Sakura wandered aimlessly around the twilit streets of Konoha, the beating of her heart so loud, she was sure every passerby could hear it.
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what
You're waiting for…
"Did Naruto really say… what I think he said?" the medic-nin asked herself incredulously. Wrapped in her thoughts, she didn't see where her feet were taking her…
Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where
You might have turned…
Unknown to the other, Naruto and Sakura looked up and found the first star appearing in the darkening sky. Each made a silent wish to apologize, start over, and truly get to know each other a little better.
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels
Who won't return…
"Naruto?" Sakura's eyes widened as she found herself atop the Hokage's cliff. His normally mulish eyes were filled with silent tears and the pink-haired woman was taken aback at this display of weakness.
"He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be…
"He says all the right things
At exactly the right times
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why…"
"Isn't that right, Sakura?" Naruto whispered over the dying wind. The young Haruno stood there, regretting her cold-hearted rejection back at the ramen shop. Naruto stood up, brushing the tears from his eyes. As he passed the medic-nin he admired most, he whispered what Sakura knew in her heart was true:
"I am everything
you want.
I am everything you need.
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be…"
Sakura wished she wouldn't have to hear his words. Yet, she a part of her wanted to hear nothing else. It was true; all these years of falsely crushing on Sasuke was just to mask her true feelings for Naruto. But the village couldn't, shouldn't, know that. After all, the majority of the population of Konoha still detested him.
"I say all the right things
At exactly the right times.
But I mean nothing to you,
And I don't know why…"
"Naruto… I'm so sorry…" At last, Sakura broke down and wept as her secret crush passed her on his way back home. Pausing for a mere second, he looked back at her and whispered, "I'm sorry too," before continuing down the cliff. Glancing back at the only star in the sky, they vowed to make amends at a later time. And maybe, just maybe, both would come to terms with how the other felt. But for now, the two teammates had enough to contend to.