"Never contact me again."
"Sasuke-"
"I hate you."
"I love you."
Slam.
Quietly. "I promise. Never again."
So thin, so pale. "Naruto. Oh god."
"Sasuke." A breath.
"Sakura told me-"
A sigh. "I told her not to bother you. I'm sorry."
Bother me. Oh god. Hands clench.
"What'd she say to make you come?"
Oh god. Fingernails draw blood. "You're dying."
Lips quirk. "That's it?"
Oh god. A step forward. "Why didn't you come to me?"
Eyes widen. Blue. Incredulous. "I promised."
Oh god. "You knew only I could-"
"Baa-chan and Sakura were working on it."
"-suppress Kyuubi. You were going to let yourself die for a promise?"
Silence.
Oh god.
A sigh. "You can go."
"I'll stay."
"Go, Sasuke."
"I love you."
"Don't kid yourself. You hate me." Not bitter- stating a fact.
Oh god. "I love you."
A half-smile. Regret? Pity? "It's alright, Sasuke. It's too late. I'll be gone tomorrow. I promise."
Oh god. "Call me a bastard, a fucking jerk." Legs pressed against the metal hospital bed.
"No."
"Tell me you hate me." Hands tangled in golden hair, bringing a whiskered face up.
"No."
"Hate me." A sob.
"I can't. I love you."
Oh god. Oh god.
A kiss. Burning, drowned by tears.
A heartbeat. Slowing, slowing. Eyes closing.
"I love you."