A/N: So, I made a prompt request on tumblr because I've been short of inspiration lately, so everything I post here is based on their ideas! The SasuNaruSasu ones will be coming to this folder, while others with other pairings will be posted as one-shots.

This is my fic for 9essence's drabble prompt ! She wanted Sasuke's confessions in his deathbed, and this is what I came up with. I hope you like it even though it's just so… well, you'll see.

I… dreamt about this. And it was painful. Writing it was very emotional. I cried a river while typing and I'm not making this up. This was very painful to write, but also… it gave me peace? Because I think this is how such a situation between those two would go. I didn't want it to be yaoi, so I tried to keep it as canon as possible with obvious hints of their feelings for each other.

WARNING: Character's death! Beware of the feels ahead! This shit is heavy, people, so if you're oversensitive, don't read. You'll be depressed for days.

Disclaimer: 'Naruto' and co. belong to Kishimoto Masashi and I made no profit from the writing of this fic, unfortunately.

Not betaed.

Drabble 1

For You

Sasuke's illness had taken over him without warning. He was 45 and, in Naruto's point of view, far too young for such an early threat to his life.

With tears in her eyes, Sakura had said that there was no possible cure, only medicine that the Uchiha could take to delay the inevitable as much as possible. If he did a few treatments, he would still have a few more years to live, but that would only be of use to slow a deterioration that, otherwise, would consume him in a few months at most.

In spite of Naruto's desperate yelling and pleading, Sasuke had had no desire to be treated. In fact, to the Hokage's immense frustration, Sasuke was calm and seemed very accepting of his fate. He thought that his condition might've been something similar to what Itachi had died of, so he thought himself rather lucky that he had lived so long when his brother had died at 21.

Still, Naruto couldn't accept it and had tried to talk him into at least fighting for as long as he could, but Sasuke had merely said that he had no reason to. Everything he had ever wanted to accomplish for his life had been accomplished, and he found himself fulfilled enough as it was. He was at peace with himself.

Naruto was reminded of that time after their battle, when Sasuke thought that he was going to die and had basically delivered the fate of the world and his eyes into his hands. Even back then, with so much still to be done, Sasuke had been accepting. Now, that the world was at peace and there was nothing else to fight for, it would be useless to live a life of pain and prolong his suffering for the sake of other people's feelings. Naruto's feelings. Sakura's feelings. Sarada's feelings. But Sasuke didn't care about their feelings, he was just tired and didn't want to end his days fighting for an illness that would still kill him in the end.

They were all being selfish in asking him to fight, and Naruto knew it. But he couldn't help it. He had thought that he'd always have Sasuke in his life until he retired and they grew old. He thought they'd see their grandchildren play together, and that, together, they would support all the following Hokage. He thought…

But now he didn't know what to do with himself. So he did what his heart told him to do.

Sasuke didn't want to be in Konoha, so Naruto left the village with him. Like with all his Sasuke driven decisions, no-one questioned it. It was spring, and Sasuke wanted to be in a place that was important and significant to him, so they set camp near the wreckage that still lay at the Valley of the End as historical proof of two of the greatest battles of all times. It was a tourist must see spot now, mostly, and Sasuke would always scowl at the thought.

The days passed by in a quick daze that Naruto didn't want to let go of. There was peacefulness and silent companionship. Then, too fast came Sasuke's crisis. There was a lot of coughing, vomiting and blood. The nights were filled with pain that Sasuke tried to hide with much effort. He didn't want medicine to alleviate his suffering, so all Naruto could do was hold him so as to offer comfort as his best friend shook and grunted in a bundle of weakened sweat while whispering tales of their past in his ear to distract him.

As things got worse, he was there to help Sasuke eat, drink, wash up and even walk. When Sasuke couldn't anymore, he carried him. These things that people would consider an arduous task were something he did eagerly and with as much gentleness and affection as he possibly could. He wanted Sasuke to be well taken care of, so doing it gave him peace and a sense of connection with the other that he didn't think he'd ever be able to have with another person again. These tasks were only draining to his heart, because it pained him to see Sasuke withering away in his hands without him being able to do anything to stop it.

The end came far too soon, or so Naruto thought. Even though he knew that they had gone there so Sasuke could perish quietly, he couldn't say that even with all the quietude and simultaneous anguish of the Uchiha's disease that he had been ready for it. He knew he never would be.

"Why are you here?" Sasuke asked gently, his voice tired and weak, but still smooth, like liquid silk. Naruto adjusted his back against the rock behind him and his eyes looked away from the piles of stone of Hashirama and Madara's statues to look down at Sasuke's oddly clear grey eyes that curiously, but exhaustedly, looked up at him. His friend was lying over a thick blanket on the stony ground, his head resting over his lap, and Naruto found his breath catching in his lungs. Even at such an age, and as deteriorated by his illness as he was, Sasuke was still a handsome man.

"I… I wanted to be here for you," Naruto muttered, swallowing the lump in his throat down and awkwardly running the tips of his fingertips through a few strands of Sasuke's greying hair. "I couldn't leave you alone at such a time."

"Because you are my friend?" Sasuke asked sarcastically, with a very feeble smirk.

For some reason, Naruto's heart clenched more and he found himself blushing as tears filled his eyes. Sasuke knew him far too well, and still, he teased him with his own words. "Yeah…"

Sasuke sighed. "I didn't want you to see me like this," he confessed, with a small, weak frown. "You left everything behind for me. But… thank you."

"I'm doing it because I want to," Naruto whispered, putting his free hand over Sasuke's heart, feeling the slow beat there. "This is where I want to be right now."

With a nod, Sasuke closed his eyes, his expression strained with pain but also strangely calm. "You know," he started gently, taking a deep breath. "I have made many mistakes in my life that I… probably shouldn't have made. I never had normal dreams or ambitions because I never knew what it was to want normal things like… girlfriends, kids, and a good career."

In spite of himself, a tear streamed down Naruto's face, but he didn't bother to wipe it away. He had cried many times during those long days and nights, and his feelings weren't something that he would ever hide from Sasuke, least of all now, that all he knew how to do was love him and ache for him.

"But… I don't think I ever needed that," Sasuke proceeded, his hand moving to grab for Naruto's over his chest. "All the things you thought I needed were actually… the last thing on my mind, most of the times. Still I… have no regrets. I had you, through it all. Even now." He actually released a tiny chuckle before becoming serious again. He licked at his dry lips. "What are you going to do from here on, Naruto?"

Naruto all but sniffed, shrugging like a lost child. He had no idea. He only knew what he'd do or how he'd react once Sasuke was gone. But, right now, he felt as if his own life was leaving him along with Sasuke's if that was any indication. Actually, he wished that it could be that way. That his own heartbeat could beat in tempo with Sasuke's and stop at the same time Sasuke's did. For some reason, he always thought that it would be that way.

"I guess…" Naruto sniffed harder this time, tears falling helplessly. Still, even if his voice shook, his words came out naturally. "I'll go back to Konoha and… make sure everything is taken care of. My f-family, the village… and then I'll… I'll wait."

Naruto felt lost. He couldn't imagine a life without Sasuke in it somewhere, and he knew, deep down in his heart, that his soul wouldn't be able to live through the grief. He had everything he had ever wanted, and yet, it was as if nothing made sense anymore if Sasuke wasn't there to look at him, to watch over him and to follow him as he moved forward. It was a feeling he had no idea he would ever feel until this very moment.

He was too righteous to commit suicide, maybe too hypocritical, as well, but he knew he didn't need to. Time would give him what he wanted willingly, he was sure.

Sasuke nodded his understanding. "I see," he mumbled, his voice low and almost sounding as if he was drifting off. Naruto was thankful that he didn't tell him to live for him and all other stupid things like that. But then again, that wasn't who Sasuke was. "If it was the other way around and you were the one dying right now… I don't think I'd be that patient, though. But you're not like me, so…"

Naruto hiccupped, and it hurt his chest. He buried his shaky hand in Sasuke's hair while the other gripped Sasuke's shirt over his heart. He couldn't find the strength to talk anymore, his body curbing over his friend. His tears fell over the other's features, but Sasuke didn't seem upset or annoyed by it. Naruto wondered if he even noticed anymore.

Naruto desperately wanted to look at him but his eyes were watery and he couldn't do more than cry and sob, but through it all, he felt that Sasuke remained peaceful, eyes closed and expression simple and almost content, almost as if about to fall asleep.

"I just… hope that… somehow… we can meet again, Naruto, in different circumstances," he said, with a soft sigh. "Over and over again… I want… I'd really like that."

Naruto wanted to tell him that it would happen for sure and that everything would be better. He wanted to tell him that he'd always look for him, no matter what, when or where, and that, next time, things would be different. Next time, he would make sure to not let him out of his sight.

Next time, they'd be… they'd finally be…

But he couldn't. All he could do was cry, his fists shaking and his heart aching so much he thought he'd never be able to breathe again. He hoped that he could suffocate, and he prayed for it, too. He prayed so hard, but as Sasuke went still, his grip on his hand lax, a sudden gush of air made its way inside Naruto's lungs and he panted, hiccupping violently, as every breath he took hurt more than anything he had ever felt in his life.

And he would've cursed himself, and the gods, and nature if he could think about anything other than the endless void inside of him and all the pain and regret that consumed him like wildfire.

He had never thought that such a devastating pain could exist inside a single human being. He thought that death was definitely better than this, and now, more than ever, he understood many things about Sasuke's love and grief and felt like he was wearing it like a second skin.

His Sasuke… his beloved friend…

He didn't know how many hours he spent there, weeping and holding on to the empty shell of his life's purpose in his arms until his hell of a world seemed to go quiet and he was able to collapse from emotional exhaustion. It was night when he came to, and he looked up at the stars that shone beautifully over him. Sasuke loved the simple beauty of starry skies; he'd be delighted to see this. This almost made Naruto smile, but he couldn't. He didn't think he'd ever be able to again.

Sasuke's body felt different in his hands, and he knew it was time to move. He felt strangely calm all of a sudden, and yet, his feelings were stronger than ever. He felt like he was able to understand Sasuke's resignation to his fate now, because Naruto himself understood what would happen to him from here on and was strangely at peace with it.

He had always been selfish when it came to Sasuke, and this time would be no different.

We'll definitely meet again, Sasuke.

The End

I know, I know. I warned you. Still, I hope you guys enjoyed it!

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