This chapter is going up for Sunshine Asylum, because you also had a shitty day, so I want you to have another chapter.


Sasuke was sitting at the dining table with Naruto, who'd spent most of his time sucking up to Ino while she bustled about the kitchen making them tea. To think, he'd been so happy when they walked into the apartment and Sadie started barking like crazy. Unfortunately, after only a couple sniffs of Naruto's fingers, she jumped right into his lap. One more reason for Sasuke to hate that dog.

"That's so funny," Ino said. "She still barks at Sasuke and he's here all the time." She set down one mug in front of him and the other in front of Naruto.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"Naruto, did you need any sugar or anything?" Ino asked.

"No, this is fine," Naruto answered.

It was on the tip of Sasuke's tongue to say something biting about Naruto being the type to dump a cup of sugar on an already sweetened cereal. Maybe taking his tea plain made him feel more sophisticated? Tch.

"I'll take Sadie with me, and we'll go see what's on TV, won't we?" She bent over Naruto while in her low-cut pajama top and cradled the tiny dog in her arms. "Try not to kill each other. I'll be in my room if you need anything. Make yourselves at home."

With that, she was gone, leaving the two of them alone. What the hell was he supposed to say?

Quietly, Naruto was sipping at his tea, eyes downcast at the table. He didn't look like he wanted to do this any more than Sasuke, and if that was true, why had he agreed to come here at all?

"You two," Naruto said suddenly, "Really aren't dating?"

"Why would we lie about that?"

"It's just a question. You seem close. I don't remember you being close in high school."

"Things change," he said. "People change."

Naruto sighed. "Listen. Why don't we get straight to the point. What is it you want to talk to me about?"

He eyed Naruto for a while, trying to discern whether he was playing dumb on purpose, or maybe he was just trying to piss Sasuke off.

"I didn't," he said. "This is Ino meddling and sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

"I wouldn't say that," Naruto argued. "She's worried about you. What's so wrong about that?"

"Why are you like this?"

"Like what?"

"You're acting like you don't remember anything about back then. As if it's not unusual for someone to up and disappear like that."

Naruto appeared to flinch. "I didn't... disappear."

"Really. What would you call it?"

"Sasuke, I - " But Naruto stopped and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "If you want an apology, then, yeah. I'm sorry. I didn't do it intentionally. I mean, I didn't do it with the intention of wanting to hurt anyone." He ran his thumb along the curve of the mug's handle. "Especially you."

"This is stupid."

Naruto looked up at his words. "That was a long time ago."

"I guess that makes it okay then, huh? Great. Well, you apologized, so that's that. Good for you."

For some reason, Naruto had the audacity to laugh.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"This reminds me of how we used to be. I guess I'd forgotten. I lead a busy life now, so there's hardly time for me to think. I... honestly tried to put this place out of my head, and now, well." He made a vague gesture with his hand. "After I turned 21, people stopped arguing with me, you know? I have employees and advisors, and - "

"Are you really bragging right now?"

"No, you ba- " Naruto, shaking his head, clamped down on his words, but Sasuke knew what he'd been about to say.

"What is it you want to say?" Sasuke asked, ignoring the nostalgic feeling of their bickering and name calling.

"The way you used to talk to me. The way you talk to me now. No one talks to me like that."

"I'm so sorry that I have no interest in kneeling at your feet just because you happen to have more money than I do."

"Then tell me, Sasuke," Naruto said seriously. "You seem to think I've done you so wrong because I left. But you're no saint either. After all, you decided to date Sakura. You didn't even like her when the three of us hung out. I guess all of the times that you tried to tell me to break up with her make sense now."

"Maybe I felt bad for her," he said condescendingly since Naruto's accusations made Sasuke want to punch him in the face. "You leaving is something we had in common. I suppose you could say you're what brought us together."

"But you aren't together anymore," Naruto responded matter-of-factly, which insinuated the two of them had done more than dancing last week.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "So what you're saying is you heard I dated Sakura and decided to get back at me by sleeping with her last weekend?"

Naruto blinked at him several times. "Is that what you think?"

"You were always a terrible liar. I heard from a friend that the two of you were at the club and apparently all over each other."

"I see." Naruto nodded. "That's one thing that definitely hasn't changed about you. You have an opinion on everything whether you know all of the facts or not."

"Then, please. Enlighten me."

Before Naruto could answer, they were interrupted by a mechanical series of beeps, which apparently was a notification sound on the other man's phone. Naruto pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered.

"Not now," he said. "I'll call you later." Naruto was staring at him while he spoke, but then he looked off to the side. "For fuck's sake, Kakashi. No."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, remembering that name from the restaurant.

"Tell them whatever you need to tell them to make it happen. Listen, I'm with someone. Yes. I'm hanging up. Fine. I'll worry about it later. No. Later, later. Not 10 minutes later. Jesus Christ. I'm turning off my phone."

Naruto did turn it off and angrily stuffed it into his back pocket.

"Friend of yours?" He asked.

"My partner."

"Partner?"

"Partner. You were saying."

Sasuke was fairly sure Naruto meant business partner, but there was something off-putting about his tone and their way of communicating. It was oddly familiar.

"If you're that busy," he said. "There's no need for you to stay."

"Listen, Sasuke. I've apologized. What more do you want from me?" Naruto's tone reflected exhaustion, frustration, and resignation.

Was he supposed to feel bad for him because he overworked himself?

"Tell me why."

"Huh?"

For just a second, Naruto looked like an idiot kid again. The way his eyes used to squint shut when profoundly confused.

"Simple enough question," he said. "Why did you leave without saying anything? I went to your house two days after graduation, and they said you were gone. I thought that meant a week or two. Maybe you'd gone on one of your stupid trips you sometimes took after you fought with Sakura. Then I thought maybe you'd be back after the summer was over, but years went by, and I never heard from you."

Naruto's fingers brushed across the table and then he fingered a particular spot where there was a long scratch from Sadie's nails.

"I did have a fight with Sakura. I didn't realize that was a thing I did. Or that you noticed."

"So, what? She broke your heart and that was all it took to abandon everyone?"

Naruto's brow furrowed. "You mean you. You keep sayin' I abandoned everyone else, but you mean you, right? I abandoned you. That's why you're mad. Not for anyone else's sake."

"Fine. Yes. I thought we were friends, but I guess we weren't."

Naruto looked taken aback, even his face seemed to lose some of its color.

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"It's nothing." Naruto shook his head and, like he used to do as a teenager, chewed at the side of his bottom lip. "Heh. It's just funny, I guess. I don't remember you ever callin' me that when we were kids. I mean. I was pretty sure we were, but you never said it."

Sasuke didn't get his point, so he remained silent.

Naruto breathed out a heavy sigh and scratched the back of his head, looking anywhere but at Sasuke.

"So," said Sasuke. "What is it you fought about with Sakura that you felt the only solution was to run away to Cambodia or Haiti, or wherever it was you ended up?"

"Somalia," Naruto murmured. "It was a mission trip that I tagged along on since I'd donated money to the church. Honestly, it was one of the best things I ever did. It changed me. Seeing people living like that and knowing I could make a difference. Now I have a foundation based around providing medical equipment and supplies to villages that need it."

He had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. "I'm glad to hear you saw the light."

Naruto snorted. "I know how it sounds, and I know that's not what you want to hear. I guess being able to stay busy meant I didn't have to think about what I'd done or that me bein' gone would have an effect on anybody."

"We've all done just fine without you. Obviously. I did. Sakura did. Everyone."

"That's good," Naruto replied softly. "I didn't go away wishing anything horrible on people, Sasuke. I just thought I had to get away. I was stupid and didn't know how to handle the situation at the time, but after I finished traveling, I needed to go to school. I needed to graduate from a decent university so that I could take on dad's work and do good things. I needed people who'd follow me, who shared my vision."

"People like your partner?" Sasuke nearly spat.

"Kakashi?" Naruto brushed his fingers across his lips. "Yeah. He used to work under my dad. Or, more like my dad was his mentor. He's someone I can trust."

He didn't understand the bitterness and anger rising within him. Why was it so easy for Naruto to discard him for this other life? It was okay for Kakashi to be at his side, but no one else was worthy? No one else could understand the burden of being a poor rich boy who felt a responsibility to make the world a better place for those who had less than him?

"I've heard enough," he said.

Naruto gazed at him as if he'd been somewhere far off. "What's wrong?"

Sasuke held onto the edge of the table. "I don't know why I let this bother me for so long. I knew you were fickle and temperamental, but I also thought you weren't the type of person who'd abandon the people you cared about. Then again, maybe you never cared at all. Now I understand, and I can say it wasn't worth the thought I put into it."

"You're still this angry?" Naruto asked as if it perplexed him.

"I'm not anything."

"Sasuke... it's been so long. I... don't wanna go back there again."

He watched, unsympathetic, as Naruto started to fidget with one of his cufflinks. "I'm sorry that you and your girlfriend had a fight. What, was she pregnant?"

Naruto's look of astonishment caused Sasuke's heart to drop into his stomach. Although he'd dated Sakura for nearly a year, they rarely spoke of Naruto during that time. It's not like they had to considering just seeing her reminded him of Naruto every day. How could he look at her and not think of him and sometimes get angry all over again?

"No," Naruto answered eventually. "We rarely, you know, did anything. It was clear, even back then, that she was in love with you. Good for her, though, that she was able to get what she wanted in the end."

"What are you talking about?" He asked. "You two were always all over each other."

"Is that how you remember it?" Naruto stroked his chin. "Pretty sure that we fought all of the time. Almost as much as you and I did. She was the first girl I ever liked, and I guess I thought that's what guys our age are supposed to do."

"So what are you saying? The two of you... fought over me?"

Naruto waved a dismissive hand at the question. "This was a long time ago."

"You keep saying that, but I know you were with her last weekend."

"So?" Naruto sounded like he was losing his patience. "I ran into her at a club, big deal. She seemed like she was in a good place. She told me she dated you. I was pissed and confused at first, but... I thought, fuck it. I don't care about that drama anymore. I've seen a lot of things in this world. I don't want to hold grudges or live in the past."

Sasuke scoffed. "You're saying I'm living in the past?"

"Why are you always putting words in my mouth?"

"Probably because you always talk big, about making a difference. But when it comes down to it, you're as shallow as she ever was. It would've made sense for you two to be together again."

Naruto picked up his mug and held it close to his lips. "Is that what you really think?"

"It is."

"Then maybe you never knew me at all."

"Isn't that what I've been saying this entire time?" Frustrated, he picked up his mug and, walking to the sink, tossed what was left out before rinsing it clean. He felt a presence behind him, and, as he turned, came face to face with Naruto.

"You have no idea, do you?"

"No idea about what?" He asked.

"You live in your own world, Sasuke. You always have. You've always had these rigid principles. You'd always categorize people so easily based on your narrow world perspective. I'm sorry that I hurt you. In fact, I thought I was doing you a favor. Back then, I - "

Sasuke waited, his heart pounding in his chest. He held his hand over it, wondering why it was racing so hard.

"Do we have to only talk about this stuff?" Naruto asked, and, much to Sasuke's relief, walked away from him to lean against the refrigerator. "I don't even know what you've been up to all these years. Well, except the whole dating Sakura thing."

He eyed Naruto warily. "Does that really bother you?"

"A little, yeah. Maybe more than a little."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"It's weird to me is all." Naruto crossed his arms and gazed toward the ceiling. "You didn't like her when I was with her, but then you dated her after college. I don't know what to think about the fact we've been intimate with the same woman. It makes me wonder. When you were with her, how could you not think about it?"

Sasuke's gaze narrowed. He most definitely didn't want to think about it. "Like you said. It was me she wanted all along."

"Then I guess I'll consider you a philanthropist," Naruto said lightly, though it ultimately sounded sarcastic to Sasuke. "For giving yourself so freely."

"I hope that doesn't mean I have to start hanging out with your inner circle of rich white men who have nothing better to do than dump money bags on the less fortunate."

"Hm." Naruto appeared amused by his response. "I don't think you'd fit in with them. For a lot of reasons. By the way, where do you live now? Not with your parents, I'm guessin'."

Sasuke moved from the sink, brushing past him to take a seat at the table again. "You don't need to know that."

"Too late. One of your friends told me. The shaggy-haired kid with the tattoo who doesn't understand the concept of personal space?"

Sasuke knew exactly who he meant. "You met Sai."

"Right, that was his name. He looked a little like you now that I think about it."

He sent Naruto a glare.

"Definitely not as good looking as you, of course." Naruto smiled mischievously. "Not Sakura's type, that's for sure."

"If she's into good looking men, I suppose that explains her indifference toward you back then."

"Asshole." But Naruto didn't appear offended. "Does that mean I'm more good looking now?"

Obviously that comment didn't warrant a response.

"So, he told me you bought a house," Naruto said.

"I doubt that's an astounding feat to someone like you," he said, watching Naruto as he walked around the room, nosing at things and picking stuff up.

"On the contrary, I'm impressed." Naruto flipped through one of Ino's magazines he'd found on the counter. "And Itachi?"

"None of your concern."

"Do you really want me to go?" Naruto's tone didn't show any indication that he was taking him seriously at all.

"You're free to do as you please."

Naruto set down the magazine and came toward him. "I wanna see your house."

"No. Absolutely not," he said firmly.

"No?" Naruto was grinning, but he didn't get why. "Then let's go for a drive like we used to."

"If you want to go for a drive, call your driver. Or your partner, Kakashi. He seemed like he had something urgent to discuss with you."

He knew that sounded childish, but he didn't care. Plus he hated the fact that Naruto sounded so cocky, as if he was completely confident he could get Sasuke to do whatever he wanted.

Naruto slipped a hand into his pocket. "Kakashi knows I had business to take care of. He's just trying to butt in because he's not met any of my friends from high school."

"Why would he want to meet your friends from high school?" Sasuke asked curiously, still trying to wrap his head around their relationship.

"Why wouldn't he?" Naruto asked so plainly that Sasuke didn't know what he was supposed to think.

"Does he know that you're out at the clubs every night, picking up strange women?"

Naruto looked amused again, which Sasuke found incredibly patronizing.

"I don't go out every night," he said, teasing him. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

"You're annoying."

"You used to say that all the time. C'mon. Let's go for a drive. I won't be in town forever, and even if you hate my guts... I don't dislike you."

"What the hell kind of apology is that supposed to be?" Sasuke asked, sitting forward in his seat.

Naruto bent over him, one hand on the table, and the other on the back of his chair. It was too close for comfort.

"I already apologized," he said, voice low. "I didn't think you'd ever be that upset by me going away. Half the time I had no idea how you felt. You always called me names and thought you were smarter than me. I know you thought I was an idiot for dating Sakura."

"You'd always say I was jealous if I brought up the fact that she was just using you for - " Sasuke stopped mid-sentence. He didn't want to go there. He didn't want to say such a cruel thing.

"Not gonna finish that sentence?" Naruto straightened up, moved back a step, and stretched his arms above his head, fingertips nearly touching the ceiling fan. "I'm not as dumb as you think I am. I was aware of a lotta things back then. ...I'm aware of them now."

He didn't quite get his meaning, and out of curiosity had to ask, "...Where is it you want to drive to?"

Naruto regarded him for a moment. "Wherever. It never mattered before, did it? We'd just drive. For hours. If it's okay with you, I'd like to forget about work and responsibility for the night. You sound like you're always busy, too. Maybe you could use a break?"

"I'm fine, but thank you for your unsolicited concern."

"Don't be that way. Arguing for us was always like foreplay," Naruto mumbled, reaching up to hit one of the fan paddles, making the whole thing spin.

Sasuke felt blood rush to his cheeks. "You can't just say things like that, idiot."

"Well, it was. Wasn't it?" He looked directly at Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't know what to say. Had Naruto been this cool back then? He didn't think so.

"What about Ino?"

"I guess if she's into threesomes," Naruto grinned widely at him, "She can come with? Obviously you're not averse to sharing women with me." Then he cleared his throat after the dark look Sasuke sent his way. "Ahem. Bad joke, sorry. I'm not mad about Sakura. I'm sure in your head, you probably thought I deserved it for leaving."

"Are you saying I only dated Sakura to get back at you?"

"Honestly?" Naruto tilted his head in thought. "I considered it, yeah. It's a lot easier to think of it that way than - Well. It doesn't matter now."

Sasuke studied him suspiciously.

"What's with that look?" Naruto asked.

He shook his head, ultimately befuddled by Naruto's behavior. "Should I take you to your house?"

"Nah." Naruto folded his arms behind his head. "It's big and empty. I've been avoidin' it like the plague since I've been here."

"Mansions not good enough for you anymore? Would a palace be more sufficient?"

"I'd rather go to your house. I'd like to see where you live. I want to see the home that you chose for yourself. Even if it's a hundredth the size of my place, I'd guess it's better. I'd guess it feels more like home than mine ever did."

Sudden flashes of them as teenagers bombarded him. Memories he'd forgotten of all the times Naruto seemed sad or lonely. When he was so desperate he'd come find Sasuke at his house and force him to drive them around the city for hours, just so Naruto wouldn't have to go back home and be alone.

"This one time," Sasuke said. "Only because after tonight, I'm sure we'll never see each other again. I'll accept your apology. Even if I don't understand it. Or you. Not like I used to."

Naruto appeared to lose some of his confidence and humor at his words. In fact, he looked really hurt by them, but Sasuke didn't feel all that bad about it. He got up from his chair with the intention of letting Ino know they were leaving.

"I'll tell Ino," he said. "Don't forget to wash your mug out and put it away. We don't have any maids around here to clean up after us."


While on their way out of the apartment, Ino walked them to the door. She carried Sadie in her arms. The dog licked at Naruto's fingers while he scratched the traitorous animal behind the ear.

"Have fun you two," said Ino, waving to the both of them. "Naruto, let's do dinner or grab a drink before you leave, okay? I don't want it to be another six years before I see you again."

Naruto kissed her on the cheek. "Sure. I've always got room in my schedule for a beautiful woman."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but Ino apparently found it endearing. She laughed and blushed and did all the things Sasuke found so annoying about women.

"Goodbye, Ino," he said, waiting impatiently by the door.

"Call me tomorrow, Sasuke."

Once Naruto finally finished flirting, they headed to his car. He thought about driving off and leaving Naruto here, but he'd probably just go back inside Ino's place, and - well, who knows what they'd get up to. He unlocked the car and had his fingers on the key, ready to turn the ignition.

"Are we really doing this?" He asked.

"What? Driving?" Naruto started playing with the temperature. "Don't you think it's cold in here?"

He swatted his hand away. "Could you not change my settings?"

"Ow. Do you have to be so violent?"

"When I'm around you, I can't help but be violent."

"Tch. I wonder what that says about you," Naruto muttered. "Fine."

Once Sasuke was sure Naruto intended to keep his hands to himself, he started the car.

"Now, where is it we're going?" He asked.

"Dunno." Naruto was staring out the window as Sasuke pulled away from the side of the curb. "Remember that spot we used to go to by the airport?"

"That's trespassing."

"Didn't bother you back then," Naruto replied, glancing at him.

"You were always trying to get me in trouble."

"I wasn't," Naruto argued, although he was grinning impishly. "I just... happened to get in trouble a lot, and you sometimes happened to be there when I got caught."

"Right. It's never your intention for anyone else to be hurt by your actions. How could I forget?"

Because he wasn't all that eager to be stuck alone with Naruto in his house (or even for Naruto to know where he lived), he began driving in the direction of the airport. When they were teenagers they would sometimes go there and park just outside the fence that bordered the end of the runway. It wasn't a big airport by any means, and there were only two airlines that had no more than a handful of flights each day. They would sit on the hood of Sasuke's car and watch planes fly overhead. Sometimes they would talk, but a lot of times they just sort of sat there, watching the sky.

During the drive, Naruto kept mostly quiet, which made him anxious. He looked over once or twice, but Naruto appeared preoccupied.

"Are you positive you shouldn't be doing something else?" Sasuke asked. "I'm sure being a very important person, there are better ways for you to spend your time."

Naruto didn't immediately respond, but after a minute, he turned to him. "How long are you going to stay mad at me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm confused, I think. I wouldn't have expected you to still be mad after all this time. The weird thing is... I know you want me to feel bad, and I do. I did. I felt like I'd run away - "

"You did run away."

"Okay. I did. If you wanna look at it that way. I also did what I had to do. I couldn't have stayed here and been able to build what I have over the past years."

"I don't see why you couldn't fulfill your father's dreams for you and also have the courtesy to tell people that you were leaving. Yes, especially me. Before you say anything about me speaking so generally. At least you could've told me, Naruto. I'm sure I looked like such a fool to everyone else who thought I'd be the one to know what happened to you."

"Since when have you ever cared what other people think," Naruto mumbled, sounding more like a petulant child than a successful businessman and philanthropist. "You're really not gonna tell me what Itachi's up to?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I always liked your brother."

"Itachi thought you were a jerk."

"He did not!" Naruto actually sat up in the seat and leaned over into Sasuke's space, pointing a finger at him.

Sasuke smirked. "I was kidding."

"Bastard." Naruto pouted again and crossed his arms.

"...No one's ever called me that but you."

"I find that hard to believe," came Naruto's immediate reply.

Sasuke accidentally laughed.

"This feels like a fucking time warp," said Naruto.

"It does." He had to agree. "Itachi's engaged. I guess that's new."

"Seriously? To who? Anyone I know?"

"I doubt it. She was one of his firm's clients. He went to a meeting in Switzerland, and she was presenting to the board. They've been together for three years with him flying back and forth to Europe at least a couple of times a month."

"Wow, so is she moving here, or is he moving there?"

"That's a good question. The wedding isn't until next year."

"Itachi Uchiha getting married. That's amazing."

"He's always had a string of accomplished girlfriends, even since high school."

"Yeah, true. They were always smart and nice and usually pretty funny. I've heard plenty of people in my circle drop his name."

"I'm sure your circle is always in need of a good lawyer."

"They are," Naruto agreed. "I won't even tell you how much I spend on lawyers every year."

"All of those sexual harassment suits catching up to you?"

"Ha!" Naruto laughed. "Yeah, right. Women have always been the least of my problems."

Sasuke glared.

"Well, I mean besides Sakura. Not that she was really a problem per se."

"And you're still not going to tell me what the two of you fought about?"

"I thought we already discussed this," Naruto said.

"You indicated the two of you fought about me, so I assume you were pissed off that she, what, wanted to break up?"

"I wish it was as simple as that." Naruto sighed.

"You're not making any sense."

"I don't remember you bein' this chatty when we used to drive around."

Well, that shut Sasuke up for a while. They arrived at the dirt path next to a plowed cornfield that bumped up against the fence at the end of the runway. With all of this dust, he'd have to get his car washed tomorrow. They came to a stop, just outside of where the airport lights could reach. He'd already turned off his headlights.

Naruto, without waiting for him, got out of the car first. Sasuke stared at him through the window before opening his door.

"I wish there were more stars out," Naruto commented.

"It's cloudy tonight," he replied, "What do you expect?"

"I should've had us stop and get a bottle of wine. Although, you already had half a bottle at dinner." Naruto looked at him over his shoulder and grinned. "It reminds me of that one time at my house. It was my 16th birthday, and, hm, who was it? That guy who was a year or two younger than Itachi? What was his name, you know, he had blond hair and really hated your guts?"

"Deidara," Sasuke answered, frowning at the thought of him.

"Oh, yeah. He was weird. I thought he had a thing for you. He was tryin' to get you drunk, and then I remember he called Itachi to tattle on you. Itachi came over to get you, but I told him you were passed out in my bed upstairs, so he stayed and partied with us. He knew it was my birthday, too. He brought me a card and everything."

He shoved a hand into his pocket. "I don't remember any of that except that Deidara kept telling me the drinks weren't strong. I don't remember passing out in your bed."

Naruto walked around to the front of the car. "You didn't. You passed out in the bathroom, and then I carried you up to the bedroom 'cause I knew no one would bother you in there. Asshole. Didn't even last until midnight, and it was my birthday."

"Well, sorry for getting in the way of your plans with Sakura."

"Sakura left early that night, remember? She had to go with her mother to Atlanta the next day. It was her grandmother's 60th birthday."

"How do you remember these things?" Sasuke watched as Naruto climbed on top of the hood and sat facing the runway.

Sasuke debated whether or not he wanted to join him, but standing around like an idiot didn't sound super appealing. He climbed up and sat beside Naruto, enough distance between them to be comfortable. What annoyed him was how easy and familiar this felt, like they were picking up from senior year. The night was mostly quiet, the only noise coming from the cars passing behind on the main road. There was a truck driving on the tarmac, but they wouldn't have been able to spot the car from there. Idly, he wondered if they'd see a plane land before they ended up leaving.

"Sasuke."

He was looking up at the sky. "What is it?"

"Did you date much in college? I mean, besides Sakura. You started dating the end of your senior year, right?"

"Something like that," he answered. "And no, I didn't date all that much. Why?"

"Just curious."

"Is this you going on about how me dating her was some form of revenge?"

"It was simple curiosity," said Naruto. "No need to get your panties in a twist."

"Is that the kind of sophisticated language you use to persuade big businesses into giving their money to your foundation?"

Naruto crossed his legs at the ankles. "Heh. My candidness has worked pretty well on a lot of those people. Believe me, when you have as much money as them, or even more, then they're the ones who wind up kissin' your ass. Plus those guys can write it off every year. They save money by givin' money. If I didn't know as much about all that financial stuff, all of the loopholes and tax breaks, we wouldn't have been able to accomplish half of what we do every year."

"I'm sure the poor people of the world thank you for your sacrifice of being forced to socialize with the wealthy while also being wealthy."

"Poor people don't always care where the money comes from, Sasuke. They're just glad to have clean drinking water and vaccinations so their kids don't die of malaria."

Sasuke glanced at him, surprised by his tone.

"What? Apparently I can't do anything right in your eyes. You hate me because I left, you hate me because I have money. What can I possibly do to please you? Obviously your standards are so high, I'll never be able to reach them in this lifetime."

"You don't have to go that far," he mumbled. "...And I don't hate you. You're exaggerating as usual. You were always a drama queen."

"You're the only person in the world I know who can appear to be apologizing while also insulting a person."

Sasuke scowled. "I wasn't apologizing. I was simply refuting a false accusation. I never said I hated you. I wouldn't go that far."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at him. "They say there's a fine line between love and hate. If you've been pissed at me for this long, it would mean you either hate my guts or you're - "

"Don't even finish that sentence."

"I would've had to have done somethin' really terrible in a previous life for a cold-hearted bastard like you to fall for me."

"I could say the same about you."

"What?" Naruto sat up in a huff. "You'd be lucky. And did you just call me cold-hearted?"

"Of the two of us, who abandoned his friends without thinking twice?"

Naruto heaved a sigh, pushing his fingers through his hair as he fell back against the windshield. "Fucking frustrating you are," he said. "You act like it was so easy for me."

"Wasn't it? You admitted you ran away."

"I didn't - " Naruto turned to him. "I wasn't running away how you think. I... wasn't afraid of anything. I was frustrated, mostly with myself. I didn't see any other alternatives. Maybe I even thought I'd be back or maybe I'd give up halfway through on my plan, just like I always used to when we were kids. If shit got hard, I'd whine and complain and run to you to ask what I should do next. But I didn't want to run to you anymore. I couldn't - "

"It's fine," said Sasuke, keeping his tone short. "You don't owe me any explanations anymore. You've already made it clear that you were doing what you had to do."

Naruto made an angry sound in his throat. "God, I want to shake you. I wish I could tell you all the things I was feelin' at the time. It's not like I didn't fuckin' miss you like crazy." His tone became gentler. "I was glad that there weren't phones or internet, because then I wouldn't email you or call you up and force you to talk me out of livin' in the fuckin' middle of nowhere Africa."

Sasuke absorbed his words slowly, trying to reconcile what Naruto was saying with the anger he'd held in his heart for so long. He wanted to keep believing that Naruto never gave him any thought from the moment he left town. It annoyed him that he felt flattered by Naruto's admission of having missed him. It was also validating to know his opinion had such a big influence on Naruto, after all. He'd always thought so to some degree, but he was never sure how Naruto truly felt since that's not something they talked about. Naruto spoke of liking Sakura in the way teenage boys do about their crush or girlfriend, but they never talked of their own friendship. Sasuke knew Naruto was important to him as a friend, especially now that he was older, but how was he supposed to know how Naruto felt?

"There were times," Naruto said after a while, his gaze intense while it rested on him, "That I thought of you over the years. When I traveled to new countries, when traveling was still kind of new and exciting and not completely tiring like it is now, that I talked to you in my head. I wondered what you'd think, about some of the amazing people I met, or some of the sights. Like when I was at Victoria Falls, and I thought... Jesus Christ I wish Sasuke was here to see this, he'd get exactly how a place like this should be appreciated by people."

He tried not to show that he was affected by such a confession. "Well, it sounds like you had a companion to keep you from getting too bored or lonely."

"Huh? Who?" Naruto asked.

"Kakashi."

"Oh. Yeah. I guess. It's true that we didn't get along at first, but... now we're really close. Probably more close than two people should be."

Sasuke felt an odd pang of jealousy that he wrote off as not being so much jealous as being annoyed at how easily he was replaced.

"Good for you," he said snidely. "Be sure to send me an invitation when the two of you get engaged."

"Wow, Sasuke." Naruto laughed. "I thought you were way more progressive than that. Since when did you become a homophobe?"

"I don't think there was anything homophobic about my statement," he said, taking offense. "Just amusing that you were fine investing in building a relationship with him simply because he could advance your career."

"I'm confused." Naruto shifted around until he was sitting cross-legged, facing him. "Why do you act like you're jealous of how he's been at my side this whole time? You're acting like I rejected you or something. Did you confess to me at some point, and I completely blacked it out? Because I'm pretty sure I would've remembered something like that."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Don't be a child."

"So you're sayin' you don't sound like a jilted lover?"

"Tch. You're delusional. As always."

"Right, right. I suppose I should be flattered." Naruto spun around and leaned back again, stretching his arms toward the sky.

"Why's that?"

"I always thought you were a passionate guy. You were quiet mostly, but you always said what you thought, you always stood by your opinion, and, honestly, I never thought you could do wrong. I believed in everything you said like it was God's word. I always looked up to you and wanted to be like you, and I know if I tried to tell you, that when I thought of the image I had of you in my head - it was what kept me going when I felt like it was all too much or I wanted to give up. I thought: What would Sasuke say if I gave up here?" Naruto shook his head. "It was probably best to put some space between us. I'm sure I was as infatuated with you as Sakura was."

Sasuke looked at him in surprise, his chest constricting in an odd way. How could Naruto say those things so easily? Didn't he know how it sounded?

"You make it sound like you were in love with me," he said with the intent of mocking him, but, instead, it came out more like a question.

Naruto shrugged. "It was a long time ago."

He didn't know what to say and suddenly felt strangely light-headed. Hopefully closing his eyes would help. In the distance, he could hear the low hum of a plane's engine.

"Maybe we'll get to see one land, after all," Naruto murmured.

"I think I'm ready to go," he said.

"Huh? You don't want to stay and watch it come in?"

"No, I'm ready to go." He felt an urgent need to leave, and when Naruto touched him on the arm, he jerked away from the blond man.

"What's your deal?" Naruto asked, taking the rebuff personally.

"Nothing," he said. "I just want to go."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He slid off the side of the hood and pulled his keys out of his pocket.

After a minute, Naruto got off the hood, too. He stood there, watching Sasuke with concern.

"It's nothing," Sasuke told him, and, realizing then that he didn't think he could drive them safely back to his house, passed the keys over to Naruto.

"Why am I driving?" Naruto asked.

Without replying, Sasuke went to the passenger's side door, but Naruto followed and caught him by the arm, pulling him close.

"Are you sure you're alright, Sasuke?"

"Naruto."

"Yeah?"

Sasuke only need look at him, and Naruto, after searching his face, gave a nod.

"You'll have to tell me where you live, though."

"It's in the GPS," he replied.

Naruto let go of his arm. "Alright then."

Sasuke got into the car. He didn't really care whether Naruto was confused. He just wanted to sit down and lean his head against the cool glass of the window. Eventually Naruto got in, too, and set the GPS to "Home".

"I remember that neighborhood," Naruto said as he started driving them down the dirt path. "That's not too far from where my godparents used to live."

Sasuke didn't comment. He knew Naruto would remember the house once he saw it. Meanwhile, Sasuke rested his head against the window, thankful that, for once, Naruto knew to keep his mouth shut. Back then, Sasuke had always been the one to drive them around like this, and now Naruto was the one at the wheel.

Maybe they really had reversed their roles. Naruto was successful, popular, and had seen parts of the world that Sasuke could only dream of seeing. It made him feel small. It made him wonder if he really was jealous, not like Naruto had put it, but jealous that Naruto was leading an amazing life while Sasuke'd remained in their hometown. He knew that the differences between them - including the fact that Naruto grew up rich - were out of his control. Sasuke didn't want money or fame. Even looking at Naruto, he knew that it wasn't an easy life. Maybe it was more the fact that Naruto could accomplish all of these things without him that bothered him the most.

Obviously Naruto had always been capable of great things, so no wonder he could leave Sasuke behind. He supposed had he been in Naruto's shoes, he would've made a similar choice. He wouldn't have given a second thought to leaving this place and all of his friends behind to chase after some extraordinary ambition. It was amazing for Naruto, really, but for Sasuke, it only left him feeling empty and useless.