Hi, i fixed the spacing, but haven't been able to put up the next chapter yet. promise i'll have it up soon.
Disclaimer: naruto is not mine.

I Know

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. He was supposed to come back, have me be pissed at him and kick his ass. Then I was supposed to live a happy, fairly normal life with some girl and all my friends. That's what I'm supposed to say, right? That's what you want to hear, right? Well I'm sorry to say but I can't do that. I knew it was going to end like this. I knew he was never going to come back, but I lied and kept the facade on. I knew for the longest time, even before I promised Sakura-chan that I would bring him back. I just couldn't tell her-I couldn't dash away her hope . . . at least not then. When I told Ero-sennin that I would do anything to bring him back, even without that pervert's help, that I would rather be the fool, I knew he wasn't going to come back. Oh how I wanted to be the fool though. I would have done anything to be the fool that everyone took me for, but I couldn't. I knew this ending was inevitable ever since we fought on the rooftop of the hospital. Yet, I still played the fool, after all that's what was expected of me. If I could have faith in Sasuke then surely the whole village could too. Ironic really how it takes the despised outcast to keep the hope alive for the loved prodigy. I knew it when Shikamaru took us on that mission to bring him back. That was a meaningless thing to do, but I let us go. I could've stayed, if I did I know that Shikamaru might have stayed, because he knew. He knew that without me there definitely wouldn't have been any hope of bringing him home. I still believe that he knew somewhere deep in that lazy brain of his that I left with them half-heartedly. He may have even suspected the truth. Shikamaru, after all, does look past the facades and shadows into the truth, he just doesn't always acknowledge it. He fought with his all that day, and so was I when I saw him, but did he know that I meant to miss that last blow? That I meant to hit the Konoha forehead protector instead of him? No, I don't think he knew. But I'm sure he heard what I said to him before I passed out. The last thing I said to him as he fell atop of me. My last words to him resonating in his mind for the next eighteen months, "Sasuke, I love you."

It was eighteen months before I saw him again. Eighteen months of rigorous training with Ero-sennin. I was walking through the woods one day and lo and behold who should I run into in the middle of nowhere? Of course Sasuke. He was shocked when he saw me in that forest, though I can't say too much about him seeing as how I was in the same predicament. We stood in a frozen daze as our eyes locked. Suddenly Sasuke rushed towards me and pinned me against a tree. As he glared at me I saw fierce emotions running in his eyes; confusion and anger. He growled at me then demanded coldly, "Why are you here, Naruto?"

Tired of living this lie I told Sasuke the truth, "Training. I'm training with Jiraya to bring you back, or so I would have everyone believe." I paused to examine his expression; Sasuke was confused, "Confused? I guess it makes sense, I did make it sound out as if I was going to betray the leaf, but don't worry I'm not betraying them. I just meant that I'm not going to try to bring you back to Konoha. I know you won't, and even if you do you'll probably leave again anyways, so what's the point."

Sasuke loosened his grip on me and asked quietly, "What happened to you Naruto?"

My grin widened more so as I replied, "Nothing's happened Sasuke. This is who I am-who I've always been. You've just never noticed," I lowered my eyes as my grin faded as I quietly added to myself, "no one has ever noticed me."

"You're wrong." Sasuke said firmly and I raised my eyes to him as he continued, "You're not this way. This isn't who you are. You're suppose to be happy with that stupid grin of yours. Yeah, y-you're not always cheerful, you get sad all the time. Behind that cheerful mask of yours you hurt too, but no matter how hopeless the situation you never gave up. So why? Why give up on me now?"

I was surprised at how much Sasuke knew about me. I thought he never even noticed me as anything more than a sparring partner. With a forlorn smile I said, "Thank-you. Thank-you for seeing me Sasuke. It makes me happy that you know so much about me. But you missed something. Although I don't give up that easily, I also don't foolishly cling onto empty hope. I do know when to stop chasing after certain goals. Sasuke, I know bringing you back is hopeless, but you defeating Itachi isn't. Maybe not now but you will get stronger and if you don't believe you can do that in Konoha the I will let you fulfill your vengeance with Orochimaru first. After that, then I will take the necessary precautions to end everything." As I finished speaking Sasuke let go of his hold on me and I began to walk past him, planning to return to Ero-sennin.

"Naruto." Sasuke said suddenly as I walked past him. Stopping in my tracks I turned toward him expectantly, "Did you mean it then?"

"Nani?" I questioned, not understanding Sasuke.

Turning toward me Sasuke started again, "Did you mean it when you said that you love me?"

Fully turned around now I could see Sasuke fully, his back still towards me.

"Yes, I love you." I answered bluntly.

"How much?"

"I love you more than all the girls in Konoha think they love you combined. I love you so much it hurts when you're not around. I love you so much that I'd let you go do what you want to, even if it means hurting me. I love you so much that I changed all my priorities from getting acknowledgment from the villagers to just having you acknowledge me as at least a rival, though I want so much more."

Looking at me with wide eyes Sasuke asked, "How long have you felt like this?"

"I'm not sure, but it's been along time. Why does it matter? It shouldn't, after all it's not like you feel the same."

"That's just it! I do like you. I've like you for a long time too. I-I've always like you. You're constantly on my mind, that's one of the reason why I left Konoha. If I stay near you for to long I'm afraid that I'll forget about defeating Itachi. If I let myself stay to close to you Itachi might come after you too."

I was shocked to hear that from Sasuke, I mean I knew Sasuke hadn't left just because he wanted power, but I never thought I was part of why he left.

"How long have you felt like this?" I say, mirroring his earlier question.

"I only realized it after our accidental kiss, but I'm sure I liked you before then, because I've noticed you for forever. I can't remember not thinking about you for even a day."

Seeing the slight blush that crept onto his face I couldn't help but think of how adorable he looked. Without realizing it I slowly began inching my face towards his. My lips captured his in an innocent kiss, lips moving against each other. Lifting my lips from his I looked into his eyes. Seeing the consent in them I once again leaned towards him, only this time into a heated kiss. Unconsciously my hands moved to his waist and I vaguely noticed his hands in my hair. My lips moved against his and I tentatively licked his lips asking for entrance. Complying with my silent request Sasuke opened his mouth for me and my tongue sought out his. Pulling away from him Sasuke let out a whimper which turned into a moan as I suckled his neck. One of my hands slipped under his shirt and began to rub his nipples, the other rubbing him elsewhere.

"N-Naruto." He moaned making me want him more.

Vaguely I notice a distant voice but dismissed it.

"NARUTO! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!"

Instantly I separated from Sasuke and cursed, "Kuso. It's Jiraya."

I was about to turn away from Sasuke and head to Ero-sennin to Jiraya but hesitated.

"Nee, Sasuke."

"Nani?"

"I just wanted you to know, you don't have to worry about Jiraya knowing you're here. Like I said I'm not going to force you to come back."

"Hn."

"One more thing."

"What now?"

"Don't think I'm gonna go easy on you just cause I found out you like me too."

Sasuke smirked, "I wouldn't expect any less from you, dobe."

I looked at Sasuke for a moment and said in a light-hearted, yet serious tone, "I'll kill you too if I have to."

"Same here." He replied in the same voice.

"I know..." I said quietly to myself as I headed back to Ero-sennin.

Plastering on my mask as I neared him I yelled out, "What do you want, Ero-sennin? I was having myself a good nap."

His eye twitching, "What do you mean 'Having a good nap.'? You're suppose to be training you moron, or are you not serious about being stronger?"

"Of course I'm serious! I just wanted a little nap."

"Yeah, whatever. Well now that you're up lets get back to training."

Another eighteen months past. Sasuke and I met almost once every week. We'd spar against each other, or delve into other strenuous activities. I'm sure Ero-sennin was suspicious at the appearance of me after every meeting with Sasuke. I was either tired out and bleeding everywhere or I was thoroughly ravished with hickeys. Yet Sasuke and I never had sex until our last meeting. I found out that Ero-sennin and I were to leave in one day, he let me have that day free from training. That day I ran to where Sasuke and I met every time. It wasn't for another two hours before Sasuke showed up.

"Jiraya and I are leaving soon." I said as soon as I saw him.

Sasuke faltered in his steps as I told him the news. Secretly I was glad that I made such an impact on him.

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

A thick atmosphere of tension filled our secret place as silence filled the air. Sasuke quietly walked towards me and sat next to me. For a few minutes the silence continued then Sasuke, surprisingly enough, said something first.

"...I'll miss you."

I turned my head towards Sasuke in shock. I never expected to hear those words from Sasuke, maybe something like '...So I guess this is good-bye.' or even, 'Well it's been fun, but now I guess we really have to be complete enemies.'

Sasuke's eyes were so honest and clear. For once I could read every emotion in them easily. Then I noticed it, there were tears in his eyes. The tears hadn't fallen yet but they were there. I sat there staring into his onyx orbs only moving when a tear slipped from his eyes. My hand instantly wiped away the tear and I brought my lips to his. Sasuke responded immediately, with more desire and need than he'd ever shown before. Needless to say I spent the night with Sasuke all night long.

Waking the next morning I watched Sasuke sleeping next to me. Sasuke looked so peaceful.With the sun just barely rising and the morning dew still on the grass. I never wanted to leave this place. This is where I met Sasuke after I left with Jiraya, where we met every week, where we consummated our love, where we could be ourselves without any inhibitions.

Remembering that I was to go back to Konoha with Ero-sennin I gathered my clothes and dressed. After dressing myself I dressed Sasuke too. Hesitant to leave I spoke softly to Sasuke's sleeping form, "You know, I wish I really was the fool I made myself out to be. If I was then I'd at least have more time to spend with you. You'd probably come back to Konoha for a while too. I'm going to miss you Sasuke. I'll be waiting in the battlefield for you. Sayonara Sasuke. I should return this back to you too."

I put Sasuke's Konoha forehead protector in his hands and silently left him. The next time we would meet would be on the battlefield as enemies.
Tbc...

Hope you like it, i'm sure it's easier to read now. Please review, i'll upload the next chapter sooner if i get reviews.