Complete 180
Naruto and it's characters do not belong to me.
"Just leave me the hell alone! I don't want your pity!"
He looked like a wounded animal cornered and unable to protect itself.
There was so much anger and sadness both in his voice and his eyes.
His blue eyes were pools of sorrow that I couldn't even begin to understand.
"Naruto…"
I reached out for him; wanting to comfort him somehow.
He slapped my hand away. He sat up and scooted away.
He reached his hand up to his mouth to wipe away the blood.
He hid his face so assumed he was crying again.
"Naruto, what happened? Let me help you."
I touched my hand to his shoulder and he jerked away.
He rounded on me; shooting the deadliest glare my way.
"What part of leave me the hell alone don't you understand? I don't need or want your help. Just stay the hell away from me!"
Before I could retaliate, Gaara came running around the corner.
"Naruto…"
He stopped short when he took in Naruto's appearance.
"Shit. Come on bud. Let's get you to the nurse's office. Everything's okay now."
I expected him to push Gaara away just like he had done to me.
He didn't. Instead he sagged into Gaara's arms and let the red head help him.
Garra shot me a smug look before turning the corner.
The bell rang signaling lunch was over.
I didn't move.
I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened with Naruto.
All I had done was try to help and he acted like I was bothering him.
There was so much anger and malice emanating from him.
That couldn't have been the same guy that hugged me all the time and always greeted me with a smile.
It was like he was a completely different person.
Had I done something? If so, what?
I skipped my last two classes and went to the roof to think.
Even when the bell rang signaling school was over I didn't budge.
Seeing Naruto act like that had really unnerved me.
I knew I barely knew the guy but even I could tell that wasn't like him.
Unless the way he had acted before was an act, but would the point have been.
My head ached from thinking so much.
I wasn't even sure why it bothered me so much, but it did.
The thing that bothered me most was that he had adamantly refused my help, but when Gaara offered it he accepted it without question.
I knew the guy was his best friend, but why had he refused me?
Another pain racked through my head.
When I got home I would take some Tylenol and try for a nap.
The door to rooftop slammed open and I didn't have to look to know it was Neji and Kiba.
"What do you guys want?"
I kicked at the railing I was leaning against before turning to face them.
They both had worried expressions on their faces.
"We were worried about you. You just disappeared after breaking up that fight. What happened?"
I shook my head and turned back to looking down at the ground.
I was watching people leave the school.
I was mad to find that I was searching out a familiar head of blond hair that never showed.
I hope he's okay…
He had just treated me like the plague and I was worried about him.
I had some serious issues.
"I'm fine. Just didn't feel like going to class. You skip all the time Kiba. I don't question you about it."
I hoped they would go away and leave me in peace. I knew they wouldn't.
"Yea, but you never skip. That's why we're worried. You sure everything's okay?"
I sighed and tried to reign in my patience.
"Everything's just peachy guys."
I was unsuccessful at holding back sarcasm.
"I just really want to be alone right now. Okay?"
They both hesitated before saying okay and leaving me there to drown in my thoughts.
I watched the crowd thin out into nothing as everyone left to go home.
Not once did I catch a glimpse of that bright blonde hair.
I was sure I hadn't over looked him.
I was all too painfully aware of how aware I was of him.
I didn't know why though. I didn't know him at all.
He was just a name and a face to me. Someone I'd never talk to again.
I kicked at the railing again.
"Dammit! What's wrong with me?"
I sighed in frustration when I heard the door to the rooftop open behind me.
It had to be someone who hadn't left yet or a teacher.
I didn't budge. I had been here first and planned on staying for at least another hour.
"…Sasuke…?"
I jumped a little when I heard that voice.
The last time I had heard it had been filled with hate and anger.
Now it was quiet and hesitant, back to the way it had been when we first met.
I turned to make sure I wasn't mistaken.
Sure enough, Naruto stood in front of me.
He looked nervous and scared. Fidgety.
I wasn't sure what to make of it. His behavior had taken another change.
I was still upset about earlier and I was unintentionally rude.
"What? Not done yelling at me? God forbid I try to help you. Anything but that right?"
He flinched back when I said that and hung his head.
"I'm sorry… I can explain… If you'll let me."
He really was giving me a choice and I could tell he so desperately wanted to explain.
I sighed and slid down to the ground to sit.
I hadn't realized my legs had turned to putty after standing so long.
"Explain away."
He gave a hopeful smile but it quickly died, as if he was afraid to get his hopes up.
He took a step forward, but then stopped.
"Can I sit next to you… Or should I stay here?"
He sounded unsure and conflicted. I felt the same.
"Do whatever you want Naruto. I don't really care."
Sadness filled his eyes and he nodded in understanding.
I knew I was being mean but I felt like he deserved it after how he had treated me.
"I have a lot of… issues Sasuke. A lot of things wrong in my life."
I wasn't sure what this had to do with him pushing me away but I listened anyways.
"My parents died when I was a baby. I was an orphan before I even knew them. A family friend took me in. Iruka."
A tiny smile touched his lips when he said the man's name.
I felt a little twinge of something inside of me in reaction.
Then I realized he was just like me. No parents. Just a burden to a relative.
"I'm sorry Naruto."
He shrugged his shoulders in a what-can-you-do-about-it way.
I still wasn't sure what this had to do with anything so I waited for him to continue.
"I didn't really think anything of it as a kid. I never knew them so it was hard to feel sad about it. I just felt alone a lot which isn't all that bad. Most of the time. Sometimes I would get lonely, but Iruka was there. He was like a friend a brother and a father to me all in one. Then I met Gaara and everything balanced out."
I understood what he meant about being alone. I always felt alone.
With my friends and my brother. Even in the crowded school. I was always alone.
A complete change from last year.
I hadn't realized it until now, but I guess I had secluded myself after my parent's death.
That had been my choice. Naruto never had the choice.
I instantly felt bad for him. Then I remembered him saying he didn't want my pity and I reined that feeling in.
"When I was 8 people started bugging me about not having any parents. They were always asking me how it felt to have dead parents. I didn't really mind that. I ignored it most of the time. Also, because I hung out with Gaara so much, people started calling me gay and saying we were fags. I didn't really understand what it meant at the time so I ignored it too."
I liked hearing more about him, but I hated the sadness in his voice. His face.
I wanted to tell him to hurry up but I couldn't bring myself to interrupt him.
"One day, this guy wouldn't stop bugging me. I'm not sure why but he was always mean to me. I was trying my best to ignore him, but I couldn't ignore what he said."
He was trembling by the time he finished his sentence.
I was scared to ask but curiosity got the better of me.
"What'd he say Naruto?"
He looked at me as if he had forgotten I was there.
He took a breath before answering.
"He said that I was such a horrible son that they… killed themselves to get away from me. Obviously it's ridiculous and untrue, but when I heard that something inside of me snapped. It's sketchy. I don't really remember what happened. They guy had to go to the hospital. I was expelled. I should be a sophomore."
I should be stunned to hear that the guy before had put someone in the hospital when he was 8.
Instead I wanted to hurt the guy that had caused him so much pain.
I wasn't sure where this irrational feeling to protect Naruto came from, but it was there and very hard to ignore.
"Anyways, after that doctors diagnosed me with having a multiple personality disorder or something. I wouldn't call it that. I'd say that I have severe anger issues. If I get really mad a flip is switched and I can't control myself. I barely remember what happens when that happens. I take medicine that keeps it at bay, but if I don't take it or get really mad I go berserk."
We were finally to the core of what had happened.
I hadn't done anything after all. He wasn't mad at me. I instantly felt ten times better.
"The guy I was fighting… I remember him saying something about me being unwanted. He said that I was annoying and a nuisance to everyone around me. I'm not sure why he said it. I had never seen him before, but what he said really got to me. The only people I'm close with are Gaara and Iruka and the last thing I want to be is a burden to them and I snapped and started beating him up. It gets hazy after that. Gaara said I was really mean to you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything that I said. I think."
I suppressed a laugh when he said that and shook my head and stood up.
"Don't worry about it Naruto. I feel a lot better after hearing that. No, I meant that you didn't mean what you said! Not that you lost your parents and that you have a disorder. That's bad. Really bad. I'm just glad to know I did—"
I was interrupted by his laughter. I gave him a weak smile and he smiled back.
I buried my head in my arms. I felt like a total prat for acting like this.
"Hey Sasuke?"
I looked up a little at the guy that got to me so easily.
"Yea?"
He fidgeted a little bit.
"I got blood on your blazer in the fight, so I'm gonna have it dry cleaned before I return it."
I had forgotten he had my blazer. I waved him off.
"Forget about it. You can have it. I have another at home."
He seemed shocked at first but then smiled.
"Thanks! You're a good friend."
He balked when he said that and backpedaled.
"I didn't mean to assume we were frien—"
It was my turn to laugh and smile at him.
"That's right. We're friends."
He beamed and I couldn't hold back my return smile.
Reviews please. :O)
