It was raining.
The cold rain dripped down Sasuke's clothes, he was cold, tired and emotionally dead. Before him lay the one the only person he ever admired, without hinting or saying it though. It was over. He had to leave and seek more power. His revenge was even further then before with him now knowing how truly weak he was. Deeply hurt by everything he had to do to Naruto and only guessing what he would feel after he was gone Sasuke decided to spend a few more minutes with him. Naruto was unconscious and just laying in the water. Sasuke shivered - it was really cold, and looked into his closed eyes. If only he could peek inside his soul and see it all understand how much Naruto will struggle the next years... but he couldn't. Sharingan wasn't that powerful. It wasn't only rain down Sasuke's face. He hasn't cried since the night Itachi killed their family. It was such a strong emotion, the feeling of being powerless and alone. It would get worse he knew it. It was he last time he would touch Naruto. Last time he would see and talk to him for a long period. Last... the word hurt him so deeply, like it was cutting deep inside his soul. Leave Naruto, it sounded so absurd. How could he leave Naruto?
"Naruto." Saying the name brought a bit of warmth to him for just a second before the thoughts sinked in again. It's the last time you're saying this name, he thought to himself. His hand reached for his cheek, caressing it slowly. The whisker marks, the blonde hair – now soaking wet and messy. How he'd miss talking to him if it was only snarling and fighting – he loved the sound of his voice, the way his blue eyes sparkled a little at the sight of him. Or did he want to see something that wasn't there? He ran his fingers through Naruto's hair, deeply regretting all the hurtful things he said. Naruto was the only one trying to understand. Could he? No time. No time at all. Naruto always healed fast and was slowly coming to his senses. He flinched a bit - the movement sending electricity through Sasuke's body. With pain he never thought he'd experience - Sasuke stood up and for a second his knees almost gave out.
"Damn." he snarled at himself. "I have to go, Naruto. I know you won't understand..." he hushed quietly. It was still raining. Sasuke could hear the little splashing noise behind his back - Naruto was waking up. He hurried, following the path deeper in the forest. Timing was vital. If Naruto would come to his sensces soon enough, he'd try to stop him. Then, it ripped his soul in half.
"SASUKEEE!" It was scream, filled with so much pain, ,anxiety and desperation that it was almost unbelievable.
And it was Naruto.
The growl that followed was one of a deeply hurt animal - with no other way to deal with it.
"I have to," He said again to himself. The scream kept echoing in his ear. It was the most horrible thing he had ever done and doubted that it could get any worse. Naruto kept screaming in that same, horrid way, with every step Sasuke took the sound quieter and quieter, before finally fading away. So did Sasuke. Naruto kept flinching, growling, screaming.
"No! He's not gone. He is not gone. It can't be true. He can't
leave. No."
It was pointless and he knew it. All he saw around himself proved that Sasuke was really gone. Naruto glanced at his headband - it now had a big stripe across it - laying on the ground. The sight of it shook his entire body.
"Gone? You're gone?" He fell on his knees, weeping loudly.
"Sasukeee! Come back! He can't hear me anymore. He can't see me." Uttering that word was also painful.
Gone.
It was too much to think where he was, who he was with. Naruto was left to hope that Sasuke won't die somewhere alone. Die? Die meant no more Sasuke. No way of getting him back. Why have I been so stupid? Why didn't I say anything? Why didn't I wake up sooner? My fault, he though still kneeling on the ground, if I had done only I said I love him. If I was braver. Then he noticed he was bleeding, then the psychical pain sunk in. Then he fainted, hoping that someone would find him before he lost too much blood. He had to stay alive and find Sasuke. At all cost. And it still rained. No birds in the sky, no people on the street, no sound of anything living.
No Sasuke.
Another sunrise.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and as every morning for years he glanced at the picture on his bedside table. They looked so happy, the four of them. It felt so nice being with Sasuke.
Why do I do this to myself? He tried so many times to forget Sasuke. But then some little thing - the sound of someone's laughter - or the place they used to train together at... Naruto sighed and thought about the day ahead. Sasuke had a replacement. Naruto protested so much on this. No one could ever take Sasuke's place. What was the point in trying to? And everyone tried to fill the empty space in Naruto's heart. Sai was mere shadow of what Sasuke could now be. The blond despised him, Sakura and even Kakashi. They continued living their lives while Naruto never got the chance. It was just a dull, painful existence. Without Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun. Time to wake up." Kabuto's voice sounded. Sasuke quickly opened his eyes and slipped out of his bed. It was yet another day and it would be the same as all that were before and just like the ones that would follow. Train, eat, sleep, suffer.
"I'm awake. Now get out." He growled at Kabuto before opening one of the drawers in his table next to his bed. With a quiet sigh he smiled. In his hand he held a picture of Naruto. He was laughing in his dumb, cute way - his grin reminding Sasuke of the past. A grin he never saw, voice he was starting to forget and look that had definitely already changed.. It was that picture, and that picture only, that kept him sane.
