Chapter 6: To Finally See
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a head of blonde hair resting on his chest. He weakly tried to lift his hand, but couldn't move. Naruto was gripping one of his hands tightly and the boys upper body was pinning his other arm to the bed.
The bed? He looked around. I'm in the hospital.
Sasuke again tried to move his arm. Naruto, apparently feeling his feeble attempts to move, turned his head, opening one sleepy eye.
"As soon as you're better, I'm breaking your arm."
"Wh…" He winced as his voice broke.
"Here." Naruto said, sitting up and grabbing a cup of water off a table. With one hand he helped Sasuke sit up and remain sitting up. He held the cup to his lips with the other, carefully helping him sip from it. "Better?"
Sasuke nodded slightly.
"I think so." He said. His voice was raspy, but at least he could speak. "Why do you want to break my arm?"
Naruto made a sound of annoyance at what he'd been asked.
"Do you have any idea why you're here?"
"No. That was my second question."
"You overworked yourself. You completely exhausted your body. I was told that if you did anything remotely difficult, you could have killed yourself. And you aren't any better right now. Do you know how mad I am at you?"
Sasuke shook his head, nearly knocking himself over. Naruto sighed, helping him lay back down.
"I was worried about you." The blonde said softly. He sat back in his chair, fingers finding the zipper of his opened jacket. He began fiddling with it, not raising his eyes to Sasukes.
He was really worried. He's still worried.
"I'm s-sorry." He whispered. He was losing his voice.
Naruto started, staring at him.
"Did you just apologize?"
Sasuke nodded his head, just enough to get the point across to his friend.
"I'm sorry I made you worry."
Naruto blinked slowly.
"It's fine. Don't you go worrying about me worrying. There's only room for one person to worry here, and that's me."
Sasuke smiled faintly. Naruto looked thoughtful for just a second.
"Right before you passed out, you… uhhh…said something."
"Hmmm?"
He heard!
"What did you mea…never mind. I don't think I heard you clearly. Just get some rest and get better." Naruto started to stand up. "I'll leave and let you sleep."
The blonde was at the door when he glanced back at Sasuke. The dark haired boy was staring flatly at the white sheet covering his body. Some emotion must have betrayed his thoughts, because Naruto walked slowly back to the bedside.
"Unless you want me to stay."
Sasuke turned his gaze up to Naruto's.
"Please?"
"Alright." Naruto sat back down, deep in thought.
What happened to him? This isn't the same person from this morning.
He watched absently as Sasuke tried to move his hand. He shifted his chair closer, hesitantly taking his hand. The dark haired boys eyes were closed, but he smiled. He tightened his fingers, gently gripping Naruto's hand. Then he sighed, starting to fall asleep.
This could be a problem. I can't get to sleep if I'm not touching Naruto...
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It was two days later, and Sasuke was going to be leaving the hospital that night. Naruto and Sasuke were talking. Or rather, Naruto was talking and Sasuke was basking in his company.
"Of course he's going to pick me…" a voice said outside the door, interrupting their conversation. The two boys began listening.
"Why would he pick you to take care of him for a week?" That would be Sakura.
"Because he likes me." And that would be Ino.
"He likes you!" Sakura sputtered. "How did you figure that?"
"Well, he obviously doesn't like you. I mean, who would? Anyway, that leaves me. So he likes me."
Naruto nudged Sasuke.
"They're talking about you, you know?"
Sasuke flashed him a troubled look.
"You don't really care for either of them, do you?"
The girls were still talking in the hallway, but the two boys were starting to ignore their loud conversation.
"I care for them," he said with a frown, "but not in the way they think. Or want."
"Do you have your eye on anyone in particular?" The blonde asked mischievously, a twinkle in his eyes. Sasuke frowned a little deeper.
"I-"
At this point, the girls interrupted them once again.
"Sasuke likes a guy, for all you know!" Sakura screamed angrily.
The entire hospital must have heard. Sasuke felt a huge blush rising to his cheeks. Forget the hospital. The entire village must have heard.
"Wow," Naruto said, eyes huge. "You're right. They are embarrassing."
You think?!
They both jumped as the door slammed open. A furious Sakura stormed in, glaring at them, making them flinch. Ino was still standing in the hall, frozen, in shock. She recovered quickly, though, scurrying in, glaring kunai at Sakura.
"Sasuke," Sakura said, anger disappearing as she tried her best to flirt with the dark haired boy. "Have you decided who you're going to have take care of you? Your doctor said you needed to have someone with you at all times for at least a week. So, have you decided?"
"Yeah, have you? Hopefully you've made a good choice. Knowing you, you did. Who is it?" Ino had turned on her 'charm'.
"You know," Naruto began.
"Stay out of this!" Sakura and Ino snapped. Naruto stood, backing away until the backs of his legs hit the bed.
"Naruto." Sasuke said.
"Yeah?" The blonde asked, turning his head toward his friend, but not taking his eyes off the girls.
"No. I wasn't asking something. You're taking me home. You're taking care of me."
"What?!" Naruto's eyes turned to him in surprise. The girls were glaring full force.
"Naruto! What did you do to Sasuke?"
"I didn't do anything to him!"
Sakura took a menacing step forward, cracking her knuckles.
"I didn't!"
Naruto cried out in alarm as he was grabbed around the waist from behind. He was pulled into a sitting position in Sasuke's lap, their bodies pressed tightly together. Sasuke rested his chin on Naruto's shoulder so he could see the girls.
"What are you doing?!" Naruto squeaked.
"Protecting you." Sasuke hissed into his ear. He then smiled sweetly at the girls, who still looked about to kill Naruto.
"If you want to hurt Naruto," said blonde ninja made a pathetic whimpering sound, "go ahead."
"Hey!"
"But keep in mind, I'm not letting go of my friend, so you'll have to hurt me as well."
"Sasuke, we would never hurt you. We couldn't so that."
"Wishing Naruto harm is the same thing as wishing me harm. I suggest you stop."
Ino's murderous expression lightened. Sakura was frowning thoughtfully, studying them.
In that memory/dream thing, Ino said Sakura knew about us liking each other before we did. Maybe she's seeing that right now.
"Okay." Sakura said. "Come on Ino. Neither of us were picked, so we should stop bothering Sasuke."
There was almost a…finality...to her words.
Sakura prodded Ino, forcing the blonde girl to leave. As soon as they were gone, Naruto spoke.
"Thanks for saving me. But it was your fault I needed saving in the first place."
"I know." Sasuke turned his head and caught himself before he started kissing the blondes neck.
This is so hard!
"Why did you pick me?"
"You were the first person I thought of."
Naruto looked a little dejected at this. He must have been hoping for something more.
"You're also my best friend and you're the only person I trust enough to let my defenses down around."
Naruto pulled away from him, just far enough to put a small space between their bodies. He peered over his shoulder at him.
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke smiled a small, genuine smile at him.
"You'll find out." He closed his eyes, burying his face in the blonde's back.
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"It wasn't like I wanted you to carry me home."
"Oh please. You fell flat on your face two minutes after you walked out of the hospital. I couldn't drag you home. Well, I could have. But your fangirls would have killed me, I think."
Naruto was lying stretched out on Sasuke's bed. Sasuke himself was seated on a large chair that had been dragged to the edge of the bed. Naruto had carried him home after he had ungracefully tripped over his own feet and slammed his face in the dirt. The blonde had complained about carrying him just as much as he had complained about being carried. Neither had really minded, though they wouldn't admit it.
"You know, on the note of me being weak and pathetic-"
"You're not weak and pathetic. You just need to get some rest."
That's what I was going to say…
"Which is why I'm here. So you don't overwork yourself." Naruto turned his head to grin at him. Sasuke sighed, sliding off the chair and slipping into his bed.
"Hey!" Naruto cried as he was pushed toward the edge. Sasuke grabbed the blondes' arm, allowing him to regain his balance and roll to the center of the bed. Nearly on top of Sasuke.
"Sorry." Naruto sat up, crawling across the bed to get to the chair. "I'll sleep over here."
Sasuke growled, grabbing the blonde and pushing him down beside him. Naruto struggled, but stopped almost immediately.
"I can't thrash around and fight with you. You'll wind up in the hospital again and I'll be labeled as unfit to care for anyone."
"Well then, don't fight with me."
"Then can I ask what you're doing?"
Sasuke had released the blondes' arm and was now trying to pull a sheet over him.
"You've been sleeping in a chair for three days. Sleep in a bed for a change. Besides. I'll be cold if you don't."
Naruto looked doubtful.
"You'll be cold? That has to be the worst…" He trailed off, peering at the dark haired boy. "Fine."
Sasuke wanted to cheer, but decided Naruto would probably find it odd. The blonde shifted, pulling all the covers up to his chin.
Why is he so tense? Naruto thought, watching as Sasuke fidgeted. He's probably nervous because he hasn't been this close to anyone for a long time. Figuratively and literally.
An action that was totally uncalled for at this moment would be touching. So, he surprised himself by reaching out and brushing his fingertips down Sasuke's neck. The other boy, rather than be mad, relaxed. Naruto let his hand drop onto the bed, watching his friend. A few minutes later, the dark haired boy was sleeping.
Naruto, who was deep in his own thoughts, was startled back to where he was when Sasuke rolled over. He was now beginning to feel uncomfortable. His arm, which was now trapped under Sasukes body, was in an awkward position and starting to hurt. And he could feel Sasukes hot breath on his face. He considered his options.
Wake him up.
Deal with it.
Or…
Naruto pulled Sasuke closer. The dark haired boy was pressed against his chest. Naruto looked around helplessly, wondering what he should do next. He didn't really have much of a choice. He wrapped his arms around the other boy. Sasuke made a sound-a sigh?-and snuggled closer to him.
Great, he thought. This will be fun to explain to him when he wakes up.
However, when the next morning rolled around, and they were still holding each other tight, Sasuke didn't seem to mind at all. Naruto wished he knew what was happening. Sasuke was being very…sweet. It was confusing him. Sasuke didn't do sweet. He was a tough, almost completely unemotional individual, who was bent on avenging his murdered clan.
You just couldn't say someone was an experienced, well trained ninja, who happened to like holding hands and being held close. Could you?
Naruto found out a lot of things about Sasuke that he didn't already know during that week. He would never have guessed that the other boy hated being alone more than anything else in the world. Sasuke had always seemed to hate being around other people. Naruto had then found out that Sasuke was terrified of being left behind by someone he cared for. That was the reason behind him pushing people away. Mostly, after this one big discovery, Naruto just found out other small things.
Like the fact that Sasuke hated overly sweet tasting foods, but treasured the taste of most fresh fruits. His favorite season was Autumn, just as the leaves were changing colour. His quiet, dark personality gave way to a sweet-there's that word again- sometimes talkative one. Every once in a while, he would take on a very timid personality that would make Hinata seem talkative and bubbly. This one surprised him. Naruto found that Sasuke was like this right before they went to sleep, for the most part. Actually, this timidness was what prompted him to sleep in Sasuke's room every night.
Sasuke was absolutely adorable when he'd just woken up in the morning. Naruto made him laugh a few times, and decided he loved the sound of his laughter. And he loved his smile. And…
What am I doing?! I can't think of him like that! It's not right for me to think of him like that. Or to feel like I think I'm feeling. Besides. He doesn't feel like that. Especially not toward me. No one could feel that toward me.
Today was the last day Naruto had to stay with Sasuke. He'd gotten up early, careful not to wake the dark haired boy. He'd wanted to see him come shuffling out of his room, appearing to be half asleep, raven hair askew, with the cutest expression on his face one last time.
As he had wished, Sasuke walked slowly down the hall. He stood in the kitchen doorway, squinting because of the light. When his eyes had adjusted, they rested on Naruto, and he smiled slightly. Naruto saw a brief flash of something in his eyes.
What was it? Was it…no one could feel that way toward me. Or could they?
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Sasuke nodded in answer to some questions and shook his head no to answer others. Most of his fan club was surrounding him and Naruto, asking question after question. Sasuke didn't really want to talk. The sun was out, and he just wanted to sit and relax…with Naruto. Was that too much to ask?
"What don't you understand?!"
Naruto was shouting.
Sasuke had to start paying attention.
"We sat around and talked! That's it! There is no conspiracy!"
"You sat around…and talked?"
"About what?"
Naruto growled in frustration.
"About a lot of things. For the most part we just got to know each other better."
"You got to know each other better? How so?"
Naruto cast his eyes around. They fell on Sasuke, and the blonde raised his arm, pointing at him.
"That. See that expression? He's very, very annoyed right now. In about another two minutes, he is going to walk away."
"Seriously?"
"Yes! Why don't you leave, so I don't heave to run around like an idiot to find him?" There was a short pause, then:
"Alright. We'll leave." With that, there was silence. Sasuke sighed, a small smile on his lips.
"You should have started yelling ten minutes ago." He said.
"I wasn't annoyed enough." The blonde wrapped an arm around his shoulder, drawing him closer. "So, my friend, where shall we go on this fine evening?"
They had been cornered on their way to the bridge. Actually, about two steps away from it. They leaned against the rail together, taking in the scenery.
"What do we want to do?" The blonde frowned, deep in thought. "Well, that's assuming you would like to do anything with me. I'll be fine if you don't want to. I'll leave you alone if-"
"I thought we went over this already. Don't I have separation issues? Don't I hate being alone?"
Naruto blinked in surprise.
"Sasuke, I'm sorry." The blonde went back to thinking. "Whatever we do, we'll do it together. So let's see. We could-"
"How about we go on a date?" Sasuke started blushing the second the words passed his lips.
Naruto turned wide eyes on him.
"A…date?"
That was so bad! I must have been rejected the first time I asked him! I never thought I'd want the voice of my future self back in my head! Then I could ask!
"A…date…with you?"
Sasuke nodded. Naruto stared for a little while longer. Then a huge grin spread across his face.
"Yes!"
It was now Sasuke's turn to be completely shocked.
"You're serious? You'll go on a date with me?"
"Yeah." The blonde said, nodding. "To tell you the truth, I think I've liked you for a while. I could never…"
Sasuke couldn't believe it. It was happening just like it had in that memory. Did that mean everything would be the same? No. He would change things. He would do it better this time. He knew he could trust Naruto. Sometime in the future, the two of them would be married. They would spend the rest of their lives together.
I might as well start now.
They walked home, arm in arm. Sasuke could feel eyes on his back. He knew who they belonged to. And it didn't bother him.
And this would be 'The End'.
For anyone who would like to know, I have started another story. I don't have a title yet, but I think the summary will be something like this:
Naruto Uzumaki is your average Sophomore in High School. But when he meets a troubled ghost, is his life going to change?
I even have the first chapter done! I'll be putting it up as soon as I'm positive I can figure out the plot.