Sasuke couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe that Naruto was… dead. Well, not really dead, he was in a coma… but Sasuke thought that it would just be easier for the doctors to say he's dead. He's probably gonna end up that way anyhow. He'll be taken off life support soon, obviously. The doctors won't care. They won't care that another person will die in their hospital. They'll just say it's how life goes.
But… Sasuke… he did care. He cared about Naruto, because… they're best friends, whether they deny it or not. And now, Sasuke seemed to realize how much of a friend he is, and maybe so much more. He punched the wall he was just recently leaning against. He could feel his eyes well up and start to leak salty tears over his eyelashes and across his face.
"I'm… crying?" He said it to no one in particular, maybe he was hoping he could answer himself… or maybe a miracle would come and he would get an answer from the boy in the coma. No, no way in hell… could he actually be crying?
He turned back to look at the motionless blonde body lying on the hospital bed behind him. Naruto, who was usually so full of energy, now looked like all that energy had been drained out of him. His skin was pale, paler than Sasuke's. His arms and legs were thin and frail, like twigs that could snap if you're not careful. His chest barely rose as his lungs struggled to give him oxygen. But his eyes... they were just simply closed, they didn't show pain, and this made him look so calm... so peaceful. He doesn't know what fate has in store for him.
And suddenly, a thought wormed it's way into Sasuke's head. He realized, suddenly, that he wouldn't be able to speak with Naruto ever again… he won't be able to tell him how much of a friend he's been, no matter how much Sasuke tried to hide it. He won't be able to thank him… something he always felt he needed to do, but he procrastinated, and now… now he never can.
Oh no, not the tears again. He can't stand crying, it doesn't suit his image….
'What?? I can't believe I'm thinking about the importance of my image when Naruto is lying here, barely surviving his last few hours...' Sasuke mentally kicked himself. Nothing matters right now… except Naruto.
And suddenly Sasuke did something not even he himself can believe. He sat down in Naruto's bed and put his arms around the blonde's neck, being cautious of the medical equipment around him.
"I'm… so sorry, Naruto. You really are my best friend. Thank you." He closed his eyes as one last tear fell from the tip of his nose and disappeared as it hit Naruto's shoulder. He did manage to say thank you, but it was never heard. How he wished Naruto could hear it. He held Naruto in the hug until he began to drift off to sleep. Right before his mind was lost in a dream, he though he could feel a hand brush against his cheek… ever so faintly.
A/N: Well, this is my first fic submitted, ever!!! Yay! Comments are loved, but be nice, okay? Flames are uncool.