It took some craziness on my part to get this done in time, but here it is. Happy B-Day Naru-chan! This is also a thank you fic to everyone who sent me such nice messages in response to the stuff going on in real life. So hope you all enjoy it. This used to be two separate stories/songfics on my computer that I never uploaded. And since I'm in the mood for something sappy (in a typical Naruto and Sasuke way, of course) I did some creative revamping the last couple of days to make it all into a two shot story. Song I was listening to when I wrote this: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.

Summary: Sasuke thought he had severed his bonds with Naruto. So why was he still sneaking back to Konoha just to get a glimpse of him?

Disclaimer: I haven't, don't, and won't ever own Naruto.

Not So Broken Bonds

Part 1 - Stay


The first time he came here after officially being labeled a traitor, it was on a whim. He'd wanted to see how his teammates had done without him. Well, actually, specifically one teammate. It had been almost three years to the day that he left. For some reason, he hadn't been able to sleep or to get the boy with spiky blond hair and striking blue eyes out of his head.

Lately in Orochimaru's underground hideout, he had been stuck with bouts of insomnia. Maybe it was because he had been thinking too much about Itachi, or maybe of how to get rid of Orochimaru. Or just maybe he was thinking of a certain someone.

It had been a cloudy night and he used it to his advantage to sneak out of the hideout and speed toward Konoha. He sat on a rooftop across from the other boy's apartment and watched him sleep until the first hints of dawn made itself manifest in the sky and then he disappeared.

The next time had been after the team, minus Kakashi and plus his replacement, had come to try to make him return to Konoha. He'd found out about the Kyuubi being sealed in Naruto. At first he was jealous of the extra power and insulted Naruto by saying that it was where he'd gotten his power. But he knew it wasn't true. The fox's chakra was vile, much like the demonic power behind the sharingan, but so much worse. Naruto was far too pure to constantly use such power. As far as he knew, there was only a few times the dobe had ever drawn on that power.

Once he knew about the Kyuubi though, the dobe's mistreatment by the village made sense. All the looks of disdain, the label of monster, the fact that he lived in the worst part of town, that he was always thrown out of stores...it was all because the village knew what, obviously, the younger generation didn't.

And for some reason, on that night, he had the pressing need to see if the blond would be okay.

That night it had been warm and Naruto had the window open. So instead of sitting on the roof across the street, he had perched himself in the window and watched him sleep. He wasn't sure what it was about the blond, but just watching him sleep made him calmer. He stayed there the rest of the night, content to watch, until the first light. And then he was gone.

Time went by and Orochimaru got weaker. He trained harder for two reasons...one to kill Orochimaru (there was no way he was going to let that man use his body) and two, to kill his brother. Only one thing kept him sane, one thought. Through all the training, through all the pain, through all the nightmares, and even through the times when he was powerless to stop the snake from having his way with him.

Naruto.

Deep in his heart, where his emotions lay hidden, but not showing, he began to think of the dobe as his guardian angel. The one who kept the ghosts of his family away, kept the memories that haunted him at bay. That's why even after he gained a new team and started scouring the countryside for Itachi, every time he was anywhere near fire country, he ditched his team for the night just so he could see Naruto.

And Naruto would never, ever know.

Itachi was gone now. He had finally gotten his revenge.... But after he found out the truth, he wanted nothing more than to burn Konoha to the ground for what they did.

Except, what about him? Would he kill him too?

He felt a sharp agonizing pain in his chest at the thought.

What made it worse was that he knew his only living relative had no qualms about killing the host of the Kyuubi in order to get the fox's power back for himself.

Could he really allow Madara to kill Naruto?

Actually, if he was honest with himself, he already had his answer.

It was after the capture of the eight tails that he ditched his team again and ran to Konoha. He didn't understand exactly why, but he felt like he had to. He couldn't rest...couldn't breathe until he saw Naruto. It was almost like he needed confirmation that the only jinchuuriki left was still alive and well.

Which takes us to where he was now – on the sill of Naruto's bedroom window. There were so many questions that plagued him on the way to the leaf village. But the moment he reached the open window and saw the angelic face buried in the pillow in the lonely apartment, the questions were answered. Being close to Naruto somehow soothed his tortured soul and showed him what he had to do. He loved to watch him sleep. It always amazed him that someone who was so annoying when awake could look so peaceful in sleep.

Naruto understood him. It was something that had taken him years to admit to himself. He understood like no one else could. It wasn't just the fact that they grew up alone, that neither had family, that both had tragedy in their lives. It was more than that. Naruto knew him. Knew what was in his heart, in his soul, knew exactly what he was thinking...sometimes before he knew himself.

He stared at the serene face. The moonlight gave the tanned skin an ethereal glow. His fingers itched to stroke the whiskered cheeks but he never left his spot on the windowsill.

He chuckled quietly. It was ironic. If Naruto was an angel, then he could probably be considered a devil.

Maybe that was why he was here every possible night watching him but not disturbing him. He was afraid. Afraid of tainting him with his darkness. Naruto was light. The last thing he wanted was to surround him with darkness.

Besides, he didn't even dare to think that he and his best friend would be going the same directions when they died. There would be no wonderful afterlife for him. But maybe, at least for now, Naruto could be his heaven.

Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes, just for a moment. Then he breathed deeply, taking in the intoxicating scent that was completely Naruto...a mixture of ramen and earth. It was a strange combination and yet he couldn't imagine him smelling like anything else.

The first signs of light came far too soon for him. He could've sworn he'd just gotten there. And with the sun already peeking out over the horizon, Sasuke knew his time was short. Naruto would wake soon for training with the rest of his team and Sasuke would have to go catch up with his own team before they woke. The last thing he needed was for them to somehow let it slip to Madara that he had left them for any length of time. He didn't need the man suspicious of him. So, he stretched and glanced once more at his blond angel and spun so he was in position to jump out the window and land like a cat.

"Wait."

Those with normal hearing wouldn't have heard the low whisper, but Sasuke had excellent hearing. He stopped.

"Sasuke...don't leave." Sasuke closed his eyes and gripped the windowsill tightly. He needed to leave. He had to leave. It was for the best, after all. Dammit, the dobe wasn't supposed to wake up yet! He tensed up again, about to leap away.

"Please?" The earnest plea was too hard to ignore. He took a deep breath and climbed back inside. He didn't even look at Naruto. He didn't want to see the blue eyes look at him accusingly when he saw the familiar cloak. He felt guilty enough already. He stood right in front of the window, ready to leave. He knew he didn't have more than a few minutes left.

"Sasuke?" Naruto beckoned him closer and pulled the blankets lower in silent invitation.

"Dobe...I-I can't."

"Why not? Do you hate me that much?"

Sasuke glared, although the spike of anger that flared was directed at himself for making Naruto sad. "Usuratonkachi. I don't hate you. I..." He looked away, slightly annoyed at the rising blush he could feel. He just hoped it couldn't be seen with the coming light.

The blond head raised and sleep hazed blue orbs stared into his own, mesmerizing him with their beauty, their emotions, their innocence. Sasuke looked outside at the ever brightening new day. He had to leave...now.

But he wanted to stay. Kami, he really wanted to stay.

"Naruto..."

"Stay...Sasuke."

Sasuke swallowed. It was impossible. He couldn't stay. But, oh how he wanted to. He was starting to feel like he needed Naruto like he needed air to breathe.

Why was this so damn hard?!

He heard the rustle of covers and knew, without looking, that the blond had moved into a sitting position. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tanned hand reaching out to him.

"Stay with me...please? I-I love you...Sasuke..."

Sasuke's eyes went wide at the unexpected revelation. And for a moment he was indecisive. But that one statement was all it took to make his original plan crumble to dust. With a slight smile, he gave in to his rival, his teammate, his dobe.

Naruto was already breathing deeply once again by the time he stepped out of his sandals and tentatively got into bed. At first he was tense...he wondered if Naruto would even remember any of this when he truly woke for the day. He felt him slide closer. The comfortable warmth coaxed Sasuke into wrapping his arms around the angelic creature beside him. Then he whispered in his ear.

"I love you too, Naruto."

He almost chuckled when Naruto lazily smiled and mumbled something unintelligible. The warm body melted into his own.

Just a few minutes more wouldn't hurt....

- - - - - - - - - - -

The bright sunlight streamed into Naruto's open window. But the blond slept on peacefully.

Pounding on the door woke him suddenly and had him groaning.

"NARUTO! HURRY UP! IF YOU MAKE ME LATE I'M GOING TO HURT YOU!"

Naruto groaned louder and buried his face under his pillow hoping to block out the voice of his pink haired teammate.

'Wait...Sasuke!'

He sat up swiftly and looked around with wide, almost wild eyes for any sign of his former teammate. Jumping out of bed, he went to the bathroom, then the kitchen, hoping for a sign of the person he loved with all his heart. But, unfortunately, everything looked normal. Nothing was out of place. He sighed sadly.

'Just another dream...'

- - - - -

a/n: So cruel, I am for leaving poor Naruto sad. Don't worry, you'll get the second part on Saturday.