Disclaimer: …
Changing
Chapter IV: Silences
"Thanks you so much Sasuke," she said with a smile- not flirtatious, but with friendly warmth.
Yes.
She was only a friend.
We walked side by side through the crowded street, the city full of people rushing to and fro.
"I don't know what I'll do if you weren't here to help me."
Her smile became a wide and playful grin.
"Come on. I'll treat you."
"It's okay. It wasn't that much of a big deal. Just give my regards to your boyfriend."
"But you help me out so much. I wouldn't be able to pick the right clothes if you weren't there to help. You and my boyfriend are basically the same height and size.
Since it's the first birthday since we started going out, I don't want to mess it up."
I chuckled to myself.
"You guys seem to be so much in love."
I sounded rather wistful despite it all.
"Aren't you as well? You do have a beautiful girlfriend after all."
"Huh? Sakura- how did you know?"
She gave me a wink and laughed.
"I was there, you know? I saw that big confession that middle school girl gave to you some months back. You guys are still together right?"
"Ah..."
I didn't really know how to answer that.
"Well, yeah. Kinda…"
"Eh? What is it? Is it not going well?"
I really did not wish to talk of it but I knew that Sakura could be rather persistence in such situation.
"No… how should I put this…"
I was silent a moment, deep in thought, and my face in a frown.
I seem to be doing that a lot lately.
With a sigh, I raked my fingers through my hair as I gaze off to the side, unsure of what I was going to say.
"It just seems like... like we keep missing each other."
Before I could say more, I felt a tighten grip upon my hand and in a moment's notice, I was being dragged away.
"Eh?"
All I could see at that moment was Sakura's stun expression before I turn to gaze ahead of me.
To the hand upon my wrist and to the face whom it belonged to.
"Naruto?"
For a moment, I was perplex by his actions but it soon dawn upon me.
Ah.
I get it.
"Hey, Naruto?"
This guy…
"Naruto… Naruto!"
He's misunderstanding.
When he finally stopped, he turns to look at me with such a troubled face that had my heart aching; hurting.
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"If you have something to say then say it."
"…"
"You are not a girl. Don't keep quiet."
"You…" He coughs.
"Eh?"
"You…" He coughs again and places a hand to his throat and his eyes growing wide with fear.
His voice.
Deeper.
… different.
Looking down he seems to force himself to continue.
"You… you like girls after all!" More coughing follows.
Somehow it frightened me.
"You're voice," I said, a frown upon my face. "It's not a cold is it?" I ask, not realizing the truth of the matter yet.
We hadn't seen each other in days.
He didn't want to see me, to hear...
Was this why?
A momentary confusion before realization hits me as I continued to gaze up at Naruto's face.
Why hadn't I seen it, notice it when we've been together for such a long time?
How could I have been so blind?
Why? How?
He has grown taller.
His features has changed.
His voice... changing.
"Ah... I didn't notice."
All that time we spent together, it shouldn't be possible for me to not notice his growth.
"I will not speak," he said quickly, panic in his voice.
What did he mean by that?
"I will not speak like this in front of Sasuke anymore."
I could hear the trembling in his voice, the tears that were welling up in his eyes.
He clung to my hand desperately.
"So please- please don't leave me."
He is still afraid; still unable to believe that I love 'him'.
His whole self.
For me, it is no longer about appearances…
To me, as long as it was 'Naruto,' I will like it.
However.
We just kept missing each other.
Everything a misunderstanding.
I do not think I can survive much longer like this.
-x-
From that day on, not a single word fell from his lips.
He kissed me, his body atop mine, his hands cupping my face as we lay upon that bed.
"Naruto."
I spoke once he pulled away.
Reaching up, I placed a hand tenderly upon his cheek.
I am still amazed at the softness of his skin.
"Hey Naruto? Let's break up."
I gazed up at him calmly, not willing to show any emotions that was daring to spill forth.
I watch those beautiful blue orbs grow wide in fear. That troubled and pained looked once again upon his face.
And still… he uttered not a single word.
I sighed and smiled wearily up at him.
"Even at a time like this, you really are not going to speak anymore?"
Sitting up, my hand still upon his cheek, I leaned forward to rest my head upon his shoulder.
"At the end, at least- your voice..."
A murmured sound and I felt then wetness upon my hand.
He was crying.
"Let me hear your voice."
"Wh..why…?" So hoarse from unused. So deep. Different.
But it was his. It was such a nice voice.
"Is it- be..because my voice has become like this?"
He takes a hold of my hand and place a kiss upon my palm.
"Is it because I'm no longer the 'me' who Sasuke fell in love with?"
"That doesn't matter."
"Liar!"
Why, I wonder.
Why do we keep missing each other and are unable to understand one another?
"You mistook me for a girl at first and... you don't like guys…"
"Although I don't like guys, I like Naruto."
"Then... why do you want to break up?"
I pulled away.
"It's my fault…"
For mistaking you for a girl then.
I thought this, unable to say it out loud.
With hand upon his cheeks, I pulled back before leaning up to place a soft kiss upon his lips.
I could taste the saltiness of his tears.
"I like Naruto."
I stroke a finger gently across his tear stain cheek.
"Even though you've grown bigger, your voice deeper, your face different, I like you.
But no matter what I say you still will not believe me and continue to be precarious of all that has happen.
But in order to do it again someday…
That's why…"
In order to keep our relationship from dying before there was no turning back…
"Let's break up."
-x-x-
Chapter V: Once Again (excerpt)
The wind blowing; tree leaves rustling.
A familiar, yet unfamiliar voice calls out to me.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Stopping in mid stride, head turning, a sudden heavy gust of wind blew by.
My hair obscures my view of the person for a moment when I tries to see who it was that had called my name...