Hello! I just have some few things to say, so bare with me.

1. Mermaids are real! I knew I hadn't imagined it! I knew it. it came on the news and Discovery that they discovered a mermaid and had valid proof to back it up. My friends called me crazy, but I don't care. I need new evidence to believe they aren't real, they don't have it, so they can go drown. Heh, heh!

2. I'm having a season of plot bunnies and have been writing non-stop. Yeah.

So, please, enjoy this two-shot. It came out of nowhere, but then again, most of the things I write come out of nowhere, I swear. I hope this was to your liking; thanks to everyone who reads this, it means a lot.

Edited-July 28, 2012

Also, I made it longer. You know what would be awesome? If you find any errors, please tell me.

And, the next update will be by next week, hopefully. :D I work and when I get home, I have little time, like 4hrs, to write and do my doings of the day, so please be patient if the next update isn't for this story or if there isn't any update. Thanks.

Uzumaki Naruto knew perfectly well when offended by an adult ever since the mere age of two. He knew when he had received a compliment, when they mocked him, and even more so, when they insulted him.

Their eyes would turn to ice, their facial appearance would be hard, their lips would be in a thin line, or at least, that is how Naruto would remember them, each and every one, when they looked down at him in disgust. But with all that, he still remembered the simple curving of lips, the warmth that would evade their eyes and how their faces would relax when with him.

And, although he didn't see much of those soft expressions often, he never did forget them. Even with all the years that passed by him, he didn't forget. Not once.

So, yes, Uzumaki Naruto knew how to read most expressions.

Unlike most days in his life, there was one in particular that he remembered most without vagueness. The day he met his, and had, his very first friend, Uchiha Sasuke. It was really all a coincidence that he even met him at all. But just like a child would get a warm sensation when getting a new toy, Naruto felt that way with the young Uchiha. And he kept feeling that, that is, until he realized that his feelings for the boy went beyond friendship love.

When he realized his feelings weren't right. Because in absolute honesty, Uzumaki Naruto, even within all his will power, his feelings were only of a half.

Because his feelings weren't returned.

And never would.

And just like he soon realized this, he came to also understand that he could no longer stay by his friend's side any longer. To get lost in those coal eyes that had the power to render him defeated, that could turn his - that could make his heart go wild with hard beats, and make him hitch his breath.

And most importantly, how his heart would ache every time he was so damn close to the Uchiha but couldn't reach out and touch him, to lean in and whisper out his heart's flowing emotions, how his sapphire eyes would restrain with so much effort not to look bereaved.

It was too much.

"Hey, Naruto, you're back early." Sasuke put his book down to look at his blond friend. "Did you get out already?" he asked.

Naruto threw him a weak grin. "Heh. Yeah. The teacher let us out early today." He walked over to his bed, coal eyes following his movements as he let himself fall back on the mattress. "You know how it is." He placed his arm over his eyes and sighed.

He couldn't take it anymore.

"Hn, Dobe," was the simple response of the Raven. He went back to his book, but couldn't really focus on the words it would read. He almost couldn't with the blond, ever.

"Bastard." Naruto sat up and looked over at his friend. He didn't know what attracted him to the Uchiha. No, wait, he did. Those stupid smirks, his simple answer of 'hn' that he'd learn to read, those one-of-a-time smiles that made his legs weak, that low, soft voice that he would give anything to hear, that pale skin that would have a magnificent glint under the moonlight.

Yes, he liked how perfect he was.

Sasuke gave up with the book and closed it, placing it over to the side, and turned to look at the blond who was looking straight at him. He didn't know what, but for some time now, years, there was something behind those blue eyes that he would every now and then show and it irritated him because he couldn't read what those eyes were saying. He didn't know when it started but, he didn't care - he wanted to know what they said. Why it made the blond look so... so lonely. But he wouldn't dare ask.

He couldn't ask. Not when the possibility that he was linked to the pain Naruto would show. He didn't know if he could be capable of handling that.

Naruto smiled - a smile that didn't reach his eyes, but a smile nonetheless. He took his gaze away and let his head fall. He felt like a coward. Always running away. From Sasuke, and also from himself even more. To forget.

Because it hurt so much.

"Naruto."

Because it was overwhelming.

"Mmm?"

It hurt so much to want and not get.

"I was asked out today." His voice was hardly above a whisper. Naruto shrugged. There wasn't much to say when most of his life knowing Sasuke involved fan girls head over heels for his friend.

"Oh, really?" Pathetic. Is that really all you can manage to say, Uzumaki? Heh, he thought to himself. And most of all, he couldn't bring himself to lift his head and look at his friend.

The light from the room dimmed, allowing Naruto's expression to be hidden from the Raven. He really didn't want to know what kind of look awaited him if he looked up. And for the first time in his life, he realized that his ability to read others from just looking at them had failed him.

He pulled out his cell from his pocket to look at the time when his friend's voice came to life. He closed his eyes. "Yeah. It was your cousin, Uzumaki Karin." There was something in his voice that the Uzumaki couldn't come to catch up on, like waiting for him to say something all possibilities of it being true.

Sasuke didn't take his eyes off of the blond. He gritted his teeth silently. He hated it when the other showed no difference to what he had to say, when he would hope Naruto would tell him otherwise, he didn't do so. It irked him to no end. Say something, you dobe, he thought to himself. Say something!

"Really? Heh. She always did like you. Honestly," he was whispering by now, "I remember how she would always talk about you every time we were together. How she would say you were so beautiful, and how perfect you were. That she would give anything to be with you. She was crazy about you. She would tell me-"

"Naruto..." Sasuke tried to cut in.

"-how one day she would finally have you for herself. She would get annoyed when I told her that you weren't that perfect , and say that I was just jealous of you." Naruto pressed his lips in a thin line as he felt a knot in his throat build up.

Sasuke clenched his fist. "Naruto, I-"

"Maybe I was just jealous of you. I mean, who wouldn't, right? You were everything I wasn't, had everything I didn't. How you would just want and you'd get it, while I didn't. So, again, who wouldn't want to be in your place? I never hated you, though. I actually praised you. There was actually the time I told myself I wanted to be you." Naruto chuckled - a chuckle that was of pain and solitary.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled. "Stop it. Just. Stop. Please. Stop it." He took his gaze away and looked down at his thighs. "You have no idea, you idiot. I wanted to be like you!" He looked at Naruto who was now facing him with surprised eyes.

"Sorry, Teme. I... didn't mean to say any of that. What were you saying? Karin asked you out, right?" He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. He wanted to... Sasuke wanted to... He must be bluffing.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Dobe, don't you see? he thought. "Hn. I said yes. To Karin. I said I would go out with her." C'mon, Dobe.

Naruto restrained from letting his bewilderment show. "Huh? You agreed? That's new, Teme. Well, I hope you're happy together. Karin must be overflowing with happiness." Naruto flashed him a false grin, while standing up and stretching out his muscles. "Anyway, I need to go talk to Tsunade. I'll be back later." He walked over to the door, not giving his friend a second glance but was stopped by the low voice of his.

His heart felt tightened. It hurt so much. He didn't want to hurt anymore.

Sasuke would be happy. And seeing that, it broke him in more ways than one.

"It doesn't bother you?" Please, say yes, he wanted to say.

"Nope! It's great that you guys are going out. Really!" Because, at least you'll be happy.

Sasuke didn't say another word as Naruto walked out, and punched the mattress in frustration. He took his book and threw it across the room. "You idiot..."

Tsunade Sanin was happily drinking her sake when a knock interrupted her. He knitted her brows, thinking that if she ignored whoever it was, they would go away.

Sadly, Luck was not on her side this time.

!

"Who is it? Tsunade isn't here!" she yelled in annoyance.

"Tsunade..." came the soft reply.

She widen her eyes slightly. "Naruto?"

"Can I come in?"

She quickly put away her bottle of sake. "Yeah, Brat." The door opened and in came a blond with a face that broke her heart to pieces. "Naruto, what's wrong?" she asked cautiously.

Naruto made his way over to one of the chairs and sat down. "I need to ask you something." He looked at the blonde woman intensely. "Something important."

He knew it was better, or at least, it would be.

"What is it?" she asked.

"...I want a transfer of university."

Because if he was far, he wouldn't hurt.

Naruto gripped his pants as he kept his gaze firm. Tsunade gave him a look, asking if he was crazy - oh, how he would like that to be true. But as he pondered on it, maybe he wasn't sane.

Because who would be sane enough to love another when it was palpable that it was pointless?

Tsunade tapped her fingernail on her desk, the only light in the office coming from the lit lamp on one corner of the desk. She swore, this boy would continue to awe her till exhaustion. To the point where she would want to plunder a sword through her chest. And with a sigh, she said, "You must be deluded, Brat. I can't possibly give you that glory." She leaned back on her chair and lifted her feet to the top the desk, one crossed over the other.

Naruto opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out, and instead, he slid it shut.

TBC...