Author's Notes:
I'm extremely sorry for the delay – I've been apologizing a lot lately – I started hospital work again that's why I didn't have time as before to update regularly or as early, so sorry T_T. ANYWAYS, here's the chapter, I LOLed a lot at the reviews. Guest-sans, please log in or register, I'd loved to discuss my chapters with you all, but when you review like that, I don't know where to answer or how to even (;-,-) ~
A big thanks to my cute beta, SimplyCliché, for her edits, I love you so much, darling. Here enjoy~ Looking forward to your thoughts, everyone! :D
"It's the fourth dish he's messed up, Sakura-chan. Please do something."
Sakura spared a glance at Naruto's sighing figure and exhaled. The chef had been out of sorts the past few weeks. She didn't know what was wrong with him or what had happened to spur on such a condition, but it was clear that his brain was elsewhere. Looking back at the cook, Choji, Sakura commented with a troubled smile:
"It's alright, Choji. Naruto's going through something right now so just double check everything after him. We'll have to put up with it until we find a solution."
The chubby male frowned. "I've been doing that, but he needs to get back on the saddle. I'm not telling you to talk to him simply because of work – I'm also worried. Naruto's our positive energy; he's the soul of this place, that's why we need him back. Staying like this is not good… for him and for us."
A gentle smile came over Sakura's face and she glowed. "I understand. I'll talk to him."
"Thanks, that's all I'm asking."
The chef left Sakura and returned to the kitchen. The waitress scratched her head. She had no idea how to approach this situation. Talking to Naruto might be the correct method, but the blond was clearly in the 'stay away, I don't want to talk about it' phase, not to mention that Neji still hadn't filled her in on what was going on. She sighed again. Everything was going wrong and she had no way of knowing how to act.
"…Maybe I should just wait until he phases out of all this."
She whispered to herself, shaking her head vigorously in the next moment. Naruto was her best friend and, like it or not, he needed help – needed to talk about what was bothering him. Her philosophy in life was to always keep a clear heart, and the best way for that to happen was by talking. Decision made, she mustered up her courage and walked the short distance separating her from the chef.
"Naruto," She called softly; his eyes never moved from their spot on the wall. Sakura watched him sigh and ignore her presence. Keeping the self that told her to just walk out and leave him in check, the waitress tried calling once more, a bit louder. "Naruto, hey, I'm calling you."
This time she caught his attention. Forcing a smile that hurt her to see, the blond greeted. "Sakura-chan, sorry, I didn't hear you there. Did you need something?"
Sakura looked at him carefully, before she spoke with a gentle tone. "I just wanted to see if you are free tonight."
"I am, but what for?"
Leaning on the frame of the door, the beautiful waitress explained: "It's been a while since we went out, so I thought we could do something fun tonight."
A sad expression came over his face for a second, but it was gone before she could decipher it. The chef nodded, figuring that an outing with Sakura wouldn't be the worst decision to make. So far, all his days were filled with senseless thinking and he needed a break from the burden on his broken heart.
"Sure thing, are you inviting someone else or it would just be us alone?"
"Just the two of us. Is that a problem?"
Naruto shook his head and answered: "Not at all. I can come pick you up at nine, how does that sound?"
"Fantastic," She grinned. "It's a date, Uzumaki Naruto."
"It's a date."
"Well then, I better go – my shift has yet to finish."
The blond waved back as he watched her leave. Sakura allowed the fake cheerfulness she was met with to pass and concentrated on finishing her work. After all, whatever was bothering Naruto, she would make sure to find out and help abolish. Naruto was not going to continue to be so lifeless for much longer.
The night air was refreshing and the quiet surrounding them was nothing short of heavenly. It possessed a sense of comfort and security. Naruto felt some of the pains in his soul evaporate with the stillness of the night while his friend chose to chase after a fallen star with her eyes. He liked their current location; it was a place that always made him feel safe. Nonetheless, although he appreciated it, the chef failed to see why his best friend thought to bring them there. Fondly looking at the skies above and the town below, Naruto questioned:
"Sakura-chan, why are we here?"
Sakura's eyes left the star she was tracing and turned to look at him. "Because you love this place, Naruto. Every time something bad happens in your life, you come here to relax. No one knows about this place besides me, and I'm the only one who finds you when you run here to hide. It was my honor that you shared this place with me. That's why I wanted to have this conversation here, in a place that has wonderful memories for the both of us."
His eyes grew soft at her words. Naruto felt his lips force a question, which his heart already knew the answer to. "What conversation?"
The pink haired girl looked at the ground, before steeling herself again and locking her gaze with his. "What happened between you two, Naruto? Between you and Sasuke-san?"
A sad expression was her answer as the chef sat on the hard ground. The location Sakura was talking about was the rooftop of their high school building. They'd had an escalated system that consisted of a primary, intermediate and secondary school. The rooftop had always brought him smiles; it was like his little energy source. Looking back, he realized that it had been a while since he last came to vent or recharge. Maybe that was one of the reasons his body felt so heavy.
His azure eyes looked away from the ground and to the jade ones of his friend. There he found genuine worry and trust. He knew that whatever he told Sakura, she'd whole heartedly believe it, even if he were to lie and evade telling her about what went down between him and Sasuke. But he didn't want to do that. He felt too alone with his worries; perhaps sharing some of the burden with her might show him a different path. Because, so far, he'd exerted every method he knew of and it was all to no avail.
It was nearing the three week point since his last conversation with Sasuke. He's used all means of communication, but Sasuke had made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with him or his friend, Neji. Naruto had called, texted, visited numerous times and even stalked one of Sasuke's CEOs into an appointment with the raven haired businessman, but it was all in vein.
When a sigh for the umpteenth time that day was about to come out of Naruto's mouth, Sakura's hands clamped onto his lips. Startled at her sudden behavior, the blond tilted his head, demanding an explanation.
"Enough sighing, Naruto. Please, instead of bottling it all up inside, just tell me and let's work it all out together." She was pleading. "Just like we always do, allow me to help you… please, it hurts me to see you like this and do nothing about it."
His eyes grew gentler at her pleads and he gave in. Sakura removed her hands upon his nod of agreement and sat in front of him; keenly she kept her sight and full attention on him and waited for the events to be told to her.
The blond opened his heart and, although he thought it would be hard to narrate, everything came out so smoothly that it felt a bit strange. He didn't know how much he was keeping inside until Sakura was attentively listening to him; she didn't interrupt and gave the ear that he needed. Naruto recalled the horrible events surrounding Sasuke's life, he told Sakura everything that Neji had said and spoke about his feelings and how he'd come to know everything. He also didn't fail to mention Sasuke's point of view about the circumstances. Concluding his story with the hideous fallout that made their current situation. He told her everything from A to Z, and Sakura didn't interrupt until she was sure he was done.
"Naruto, let me first say this," she used the kindest tone she had and placed her hands on top of his. "I'm so, so, so sorry that you had to go through all that alone; it must have been very hard on you."
He smiled at her apology. "…It still is."
"My next words might seem a bit heartless and it may be pushing things too far, but Naruto, I still believe they are what you need to do now." She took a deep breath, then continued. "You need to clear things with him. Right now he still believes you and Neji are out to get him – this speaks about the troubled past he had. He can't trust easily. But he trusted you; however, when Neji started digging up information, he made everything worse for you. I know it might be hard and there's a big chance he will not listen, but you can't back out now. Naruto, I'm not saying this because I want you to get together with him, but because I know how hard it is to part due to misunderstandings. Clear everything and tell him about your feelings. Until now you didn't take a chance and haven't confessed, and I know he'd probably think you're making all this up, but you've got to try –"
"I tried, Sakura. I told you, I called and visited his house many times, but I was always turned away. Even when I went to his office –"
"Still, you shouldn't stop. Follow him, stalk him if it needs to happen, but never, ever give up on something you want due to misgivings."
Something inside of him lit up with her words, but his reluctance continued to gnaw at him. "I want to… but what if he hates me? I'm too in love that the mere idea is nailing me to the ground. I can live with him shunning me out because of this, but I can't if he rejected me because he doesn't want me. I'm weak, Sakura."
"No, you're not." She shook her head. "You're strong, Naruto. You're someone who doesn't give up on the impossible and you would never shame away from reality. Even if he broke your heart, you will find another way to live… I believe in you."
The waitress tightened her grip on him and beamed. Naruto was about to sigh and give up when he remembered Sakura's previous actions, so he settled on an appealing smile. Nodding to all her words, he regained part of his energy.
"You're right, Sakura-chan. I'm not the type to sit and mope about everything, I'm an action man. I have to move and see everything on my own. I have to go to Sasuke right now!"
Sweat dropping at his sudden excitement, Sakura soothed. "I'm glad you see it my way, but maybe you should wait until tomorrow; after all, it's one in the morning, and I don't think he'd be up."
The blond laughed and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, having lost track of the time. "Yeah, you're right; I didn't think it was that late. I'll go to him in the morning then."
"You also can't, it's your turn to open up the restaurant." Before his face could fall, the waitress grinned cutely. "But since I'm such a wonderful person, I'll take it from you.~"
His eyes gushed stars of delight at her. "Sakura… you're such a wonderful friend."
"I know."
They grinned at each other and laughed. Suddenly something popped inside the chef's head; Naruto looked at her and asked a question that puzzled him slightly.
"Sakura-chan, you dislike Sasuke and have always wanted me to stay away from him, plus now you know a little about his dark past, why do you still want me to patch things with him? I thought you'd be the one against it the most."
The girl tucked a stray lock behind her ear and stretched her hands.
"To tell you the truth, I was a little against it. But I still know how much you love him and how much of a distraction this is becoming for you. So, as your friend – even if I don't agree – I'll still give you proper advice. I don't know Sasuke-kun that well, but he makes you happy and without him you're a mess. That's why I think it's better for you two to fix everything up… before you burn every dish and declare bankruptcy."
The chef smiled sheepishly at her and noted. "Yeah… sorry about that, I'll be more careful in the future."
"Don't mind, don't mind. The important thing is that now, you know what you need to do."
Nodding, the blond grinned at his best friend. Really, he was the luckiest person alive to have this beautiful, understanding, charming girl at his side. From the deepest parts of his heart, he wished for her happiness and wellbeing. The stillness of the night surrounded them as, finally, the pink-haired girl was able to see the long lost smile on Naruto's face. Yes, life was finally back on track!
Naruto prepped himself mentally and asked his thumping heart to stop it's staccato. He organized what he needed and reminded himself not to get emotional or take anything Sasuke said to heart. The raven haired male had every right to turn out as skeptical as he had, and Naruto hadn't presented as solid a case that night as he should have. He looked back at the butler standing behind him and the man nodded. Actually, when Sakura had dropped him off near his apartment building, the blond was surprised to see the old butler standing outside his front door. Apparently, he was looking for him. As soon as Naruto had seen the man, he knew something had gone wrong with Sasuke.
The man informed him that the young master was currently on the verge of unconsciousness and oblivion, that everything in him was deteriorating and that his stomach was disagreeing with food. Sasuke had reached a point where he needed to be injected with IVs in order to survive. Naruto wanted to run to him in that instant, but Sakura's previous advice came to him. He requested the old butler to wait as he quickly whipped something up in the kitchen.
Currently, they were standing outside Sasuke's hospital suite. The blond clutched the hot soup in his hands as a déjà vu of the night Sasuke was sick visualized before him. Gulping, Naruto turned the knob and stepped into the room. What met him was a sight that made his shattered heart tighten.
Sasuke was splayed on the white bed with an IV drip line hooked into his right arm. He had some documents on the nightstand and his face was hidden behind a file. The businessman hadn't noticed him yet – probably too engrossed in his work – so Naruto had to clear his throat to catch his attention. Not a minute later, piercing cold eyes looked at him from behind black framed glasses.
"What are you doing here?"
The chef flinched at the cold tone but answered softly nonetheless. "I heard you weren't eating so I brought you some soup."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm done taking anything from you."
Naruto stilled his emotions and recited what he'd rehearsed. "Sasuke, listen. Right now don't think of this food as something done by me; consider it an ordered take-out, just some random restaurant's food and eat it –"
"I don't need anything from you." The raven haired male interrupted, not wishing to hear anymore of Naruto's nonsense.
"I told you, don't think of it as something related to me–"
"I heard your point so stop repeating it. It's stupid; I already know it's from you and I want nothing from you. Just get out already. My eyes hurt simply by looking at you."
The blond walked the short distance between them and put the food on the free nightstand. Before Sasuke could complain or ask him to leave again, he took off the lid and allowed the soup's aroma to fill the room. Visibly, he was able to see the effects his soup had on Sasuke's stubbornness; he knew the raven haired male only needed a small push. With a tone that drew the businessman in, Naruto spoke.
"Tomato soup with tofu. It has all your favorite seasonings. Plus, the temperature is as warm as you like it."
Sasuke looked from the tempting dish to the blond, his stomach growling audibly. Feeling slightly embarrassed at the loud noise, he figured that refusing would only make him looked sillier. And so, he gave in.
"…Fine. I don't agree to this and I don't like it, but since you already brought it, it's a waste to throw it away."
The chef tried to keep his mouth from grinning, but a smile managed to break free. He hadn't thought Sasuke would actually agree so easily – all the speeches he'd prepared to persuade the male were useless now. It proved to him how tired the man holding his heart was.
"That's all I'm asking."
Five minutes later, Sasuke was already taking his full as Naruto settled on the nearby chair in the room. Looking around him and seeing nothing but white, the chef grimaced. He was never one for hospitals, it always reminded him that people were hurting and dying every day. His father had spent his last days in a hospital. Worst of all, hospitals lacked the colors that made him feel alive.
A clicking sound was heard as Sasuke put the empty bowl on the nightstand. Naruto nodded his thanks that everything was eaten.
"Are you okay now, Sasuke?"
"What do you see?"
'So we aren't yet in a place where I could causally work my way through things', that thought came to the blond's mind. He sighed inwardly and tried to clear the huge misunderstanding between them.
"Sasuke, I want to tell you a story, would you listen?"
"My previous words stand firm, I don't want to hear or see anything that has to do with you. I just want you out of my life for good." The emotionless reply was like a knife to his heart.
Naruto smiled and tried another trick. "I promise; this will be the last you hear of me. I just want to tell you something, consider it payment for the food you just ate."
Folding his arms above his chest, the raven haired male believed it better to just up and end everything; however, since Naruto was so hardheaded – judging by his miraculous was of not giving up until now – he believed it was in his best interest to hear him out. Glaring, he sent daggers at his former chef.
"Fine, say what you need to say. Quickly!"
Naruto took a deep breath and started off nostalgically. "I met Hyuuga Neji when I was a freshman in culinary school. At that time, I was still going over everything in my life. My father had just died and his restaurant was taken from us because we couldn't pay rent. I was still new to the whole organized cooking methods and my life was still in its beginning. Neji was the most popular cook in school. He was even called a prodigy. There was no dish he was told to perform that he didn't excel at. Well, except for one dish: ramen. You'd think the master of all could whip himself a beautiful, balanced ramen, but he couldn't. It was something he'd ignore and, frustrated, leave it alone. Then I arrive, and the only thing I could do perfectly back then was ramen. Our paths crossed and, although we disliked each other at first, it didn't take long before we became the best of friends –"
"I don't see why I should listen to your love story with the Hyuuga –" Sasuke's tone of anger was very clear to his ears.
The blond didn't take gently to being interrupted and cut off Sasuke harshly. "When you were telling your stories that night, I listened without interrupting. Please provide the same courtesy."
Hmphing like a little child, the raven haired male held his tongue. The chef smiled and continued where'd left off.
"Like I was saying, we became close. After that some troubles happened in my third year and I was kicked out. The one who'd helped me back on my feet again was Neji. He also provided me with a place where I could earn experience and learn my craft. Neji was the first person to help me get my shop and believe I'd succeed in everything. Even when the days were bleak and I thought I should just give up on everything, he and Sakura were the ones cheering me on." A heavenly smile came over his face as he spoke about his friends. "Sasuke, what I'm trying to say is that, yes I know Neji and yes, Neji has gone behind my back to dig through your past, but he only did that for me. He has no ill-intentions towards you and God knows he doesn't care enough to hand you over to the cops or try to blackmail you. He just wanted me to know who I was dealing with. My friends know of the hard past I have had and know how hard it was for me to become who I am today. That's why they'd do anything in their power to protect me. In Neji's sight, digging into your past and showing it to me was that protection."
With that, the chef was done. There was a moment in which something shifted in the atmosphere of the room. The blond didn't know what it was, but he could feel the chills and shivers running down his spine. Feeling confused enough to dare look Sasuke in the eyes, he was astonished at the facial expression controlling the other's features. Sasuke's face was drawn to a sad and pained mien. His brows were furrowed and his mouth drawn in a straight line. His pale hands were clutching at the sheets with so much force, the veins were popping underneath.
The minute those dark orbs looked his way, he felt as if he'd just said the worst verse of his life. The handsome Uchiha kept his silence; he didn't comment on anything Naruto had said and simply continued looking, as if wishing that the chef would change his arguments or, at least, ponder a bit deeper. Naruto's brain, however, failed to see the signals being sent his way and thought the silence was rejection to everything he alleged as truth.
Sasuke finally stopping looking at him and his whole being released an air of disappointment. The setting still didn't make any sense to the chef, but before he could aspire to any resolve, Sasuke gave him the words that cut thought everything he had uttered.
"Go home, Naruto. Just go home."
Unable to believe what his ears were hearing, the chef tried again, ignoring the way his heart was thumping loudly that there was something missing. "Sasuke, please, believe me, it's the truth. I never meant any harm to you; I really had nothing to do with it!"
"No," the businessman cleared his throat and focused his eyes back to his former chef. "Naruto, I can't do this anymore… you're too blind to see."
Blinking at the foreign words that didn't match their conversation, Naruto questioned. "What do you mean? Blind to what?"
Sasuke fell into a moment of silence, taking off his glasses; he closed his eyes to lay back on the bed. His bangs fell beside him on each side, and Naruto could see the destruction the inability to eat had caused Sasuke's body. His eyes were sunken, his cheekbones were highlighted more than usual and his fair skin, the skin that would always glow without any hint of humanity, was such a deathly pale that it made him cringe. Sasuke was probably more tired than he was letting on… the blond felt a sense of guilt.
Since they parted, he shouldn't have given up on making food for Sasuke. The raven haired male had truly said he wanted nothing to do with him, but that didn't mean he wanted nothing to do with his food. He's taken upon his shoulders the task of bringing Sasuke to full health. Along the way, he'd gotten too distracted with his feelings.
His head told him to reach out and touch the male, but he was too afraid of being slapped away.
"Naruto, what do you think of me?"
Sasuke's voice came as a whisper; it was so soft that if the room wasn't so quiet, the blond would never have heard it. The question didn't shock Naruto, as it was one he'd asked himself time and time before. What did he think of Sasuke? What did the raven haired businessman mean to him? The answer was simpler than perfecting a barbecue.
With every cell in his body agreeing, Naruto replied. "You're an existence that could and would never be changed within me."
Sasuke opened his eyes and looked sideways at the blond; his face was drained of all emotions. "Do you love me, Naruto?"
It took a while for the blue eyed chef to make peace with himself, but when he did, he lit up. "Yes, I do."
"What type of love?"
"The type that makes me want to be with you until the last day of my life."
"So you're in love with me?" Sasuke inquired again, his eyes still void of any sort of sentiments.
"Yes."
"The person whom had committed crimes in his past, awful ones? Even after knowing all those things, you're still sure you're one hundred percent in love with me?"
The justice-driven self he had showed objected at the question. The blond was indeed in love with Sasuke, but he still didn't open the lid of what he had been told. He was too preoccupied with making Sasuke talk to him again; he had forgotten about the list of murders associated with the Uchiha. He hadn't even tried to authenticate them. And yet, being indecisive would put him nowhere. He was someone who believed in second chances. If, in worst case scenario, Sasuke was really the one who'd killed all those people, he'd stay with him, through thick and thin.
"I don't approve of your past actions and I can't guarantee that I won't try to persuade you to give yourself up to the police, but I'd still love you and be there for you."
A small smile came over Sasuke's face at those words and he spoke gently. "I thank you, Naruto, for everything you've done for me and for your true feelings. You're a gem I've stumbled upon without intending to. Maybe if we were in different situations or different lives, we might actually work out as a couple. Being with you was the best. You brought out everything I thought I'd forgotten. I learnt how to live with you, but I can't do this anymore… I can't be with you anymore, Naruto."
The blond felt his heart break for the second time at the flat rejection and he couldn't bow out without a proper justification.
"Is it because I'm a guy you're refusing? Because it's disgusting –"
"We've done stuff together long enough you should know that's not even a reason." Sasuke interrupted lightly.
"Then why? Why can't we be together? You can't tell me that you don't love me. I may be slow on a lot of things, and your mixed signals have had me confused for a long time, but I know love when I see it!" The chef exclaimed, his feelings already gushing out. "You love me the same way I love you! Everything in you is screaming loudly about it! Why then? Why do you want to separate us?"
"Because I can't trust you anymore."
The answer was given to him in bold letters. Azure orbs widened with disbelieve.
"What?"
"Indeed, my heart is very close to yours," Sasuke talked in a calm tone, almost as if he was rubbing medicine on Naruto's exposed heart. "It was a simple infatuation at first but it slowly formed into genuine love. However, that doesn't matter. I could love you to death, but if I can't trust you, I can't be with you. Trust is very important to me."
"Is this because of Neji's case again?" The chef asked, "Because no matter how many times it takes, I told you, I'm prepared to swear I had –"
This time Sasuke pushed himself off the bed slightly to a sitting position, and stopped Naruto with his hand.
"I know. I know you had nothing to do with it, and I know it was all Hyuuga Neji's actions."
Naruto's cerulean eyes widened further at the new revelation, his lips could only whisper in utter shock, before being interrupted again. "Then why –?"
"Because I needed to test you, I wanted to see if you could continue to believe in me – Sasuke, the one you'd spent a lot of time with instead of rumors brought to you by a friend. I needed to know what your reaction would be if a day came and something bad happened. If you found out all you've been living with me was a lie and the truth is something hideous, would you be there and believe me or would you go and blame me? I wanted you to see it in me – to see how much I was trying and screaming for you to ask me and talk to me, even if you'd persecuted me, it would have been better than you staying silent."
By now, Naruto's whole body shivered as everything that had happened that night was replaying inside his head. Sasuke's actions that day, getting him macaroons, treating him gently then taking him to that house and telling him all those things, exploding on him with accusations and senseless thoughts. All this time, his eyes weren't looking. He was too busy with himself that he didn't see the plea in Sasuke's words. He wanted him to listen closely and see the true him, not the accusations. But Naruto himself wasn't able to provide the same gesture. He had allowed Sasuke's façade to overwhelm his thoughts.
Yet he'd done the exact opposite. Instead of apologizing, he'd held a small suspicion that Sasuke had a hand in the death of all those people. He had pushed the blame upon his friend. As if the problem in the first place was who had told him the rumors. If he'd given it a little bit of thought, he'd know why Sasuke was that upset.
Naruto acted as if he loved the raven haired businessman, but love wasn't always about physical intimacy or lip service. It was actions and proofs; he shouldn't have had doubts and should have authenticated everything before holding a single bad thought about a person that showed him nothing but good intentions. Sasuke had been hurt many times; he was too scarred. The first night he talked about all this with him, the chef knew the amount of damage that was there. And yet, he'd discarded all that the minute Neji whispered of the awful rumors.
Even when Sasuke was telling him about how he was a part of the death of those people, he should have asked for proof. Why didn't the idea that Sasuke was testing him even float to his head? Why didn't he actually give the benefit of the doubt and enforce what he was preaching? Why did he believe that Sasuke was indeed the villain instead of thinking of the ways the businessman might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time?
WHY!
"The first family that took me in," Sasuke started softly, "my uncle and his wife did arrange the murder of my family. He did try to kill me again, but I dodged. When that happened, he tripped and the knife cut his artery. I tried to stop the bleeding and called the ambulance to come, but it was raining that night and they'd a case of a flat tire. By the time help came along, he'd died in my hands. The second family that took me – aunty was sweet to me. I liked her a lot; even when she asked for money, I had no problem giving it. My father's attorney suspected she was embezzling money – something I didn't think mattered really, I had a lot and she just took a little. When she saw he was suspecting her, she believed I was the one who'd told him so she got angry. I know she didn't mean to strangle me. She just had a short temper; unfortunately, she was too angry that day and the window was open. As her hands tightened around my neck, I trashed around and kicked her away. She lost her balance and fell out the window. Again, I ran to help her but I was too late."
Naruto was feeling as if blades were being stabbed through him with each word.
"The third house I went to, it was humble. The lady of the mansion loved parties. Her friends were from the wealthy community; she gave me a small room in one of the attics because she didn't want people to see she had a child. She loved beautiful things, jewelry and make-up. Her parties had a dangerous side though. When they all got together, they'd drink, have orgies and do drugs. There was a time when she was short on servants so she asked me to help; I had nothing to do so I did. One of the old guys over there liked me. He asked her to give me for an amount of money. She refused, so he planned to abduct me. He chose the night where they'd indulge in pleasures and gave a very strong drug to the crowd. In the end, she saw through everything and, as she was helping me, he stabbed her. Then one of the guys who loved her stabbed him, then one of his boys stabbed that guy," Sasuke's eyes closed as he recalled the horrific scene. "At the end, it turned into a massacre. All because of me."
Naruto found his voice etching at his throat and started off huskily. "Sasuke, it wasn't your –"
"The fourth house I was taken to," the blond kept his mouth shut after Sasuke's clear interruption. "Those old couple, I loved them so much. They reminded me of the grandparents I've never met. It was a short time I spent with them, but it was very dear to me. Unfortunately, I bring disaster everywhere I go, so grandma died the first month around. Grandpa was depressed after it for a while, but just when I thought he'd gotten better, I come home to find that he'd overdosed and, as always, I was helplessly watching yet another life slip right through my hands."
Biting his lips from breaking out and saying everything that he wanted to say, Naruto sat silently listening, letting his misjudgment burn coolly inside of him.
"I'd had finally gotten sick of people beside me dying so I bought me a guardian. He understood everything I went through. His name was Hatake Kakashi. He wasn't technically an Uchiha, he married into our family, but his wife had died and he took on her name. He was like the big brother I'd lost. He vouched for me in court and asked to be in charge of everything I needed. We spent some good years together, before his fate came and his car caught fire. I was very sad afterwards and I was determined not to let anyone get close to me or in my heart anymore," Sasuke eyes twinkled a little after that. "But you entered, Naruto, through everything in me, you waltzed in and made yourself comfortable. My heart loved you and I reached a stage where having you was the norm. I loved your food, I loved your energy and your enthusiasm about the restaurant and most of all, I loved you, Naruto. But –"
"Since you can't trust me anymore, your love for me has died? Is that what you want to say?" Naruto's tone was filled remorse and sadness. He felt so horrible inside that it was too much for him. Sasuke was right to detest him and to worry that in the future something like this might happen.
"…I still have feelings for you, Naruto, that I won't deny, but they're decreasing. I hold trust above everything else… it's my foundation. I can't be around someone I can't trust."
"Then give me a chance to get it back!" Naruto left his chair and was beside his love in seconds, pouring his heart out. "What you did, Sasuke – even though I understand where you're coming from – was a low blow. You shouldn't expect perfection from me. I'm a human and I do make mistakes. I shouldn't have done a lot of stuff from that night and I shouldn't have left you without food even if it killed me, but these are my mistakes and I hold all blame. I get how it makes you feel. I left you all alone and didn't believe in you like I said I would. I failed you in so many ways and didn't trust you enough to tell you what Neji had said clearly. I understand all my failures. However, Sasuke, I still want you to trust me again. I want you to take another blind gamble on me. I love you with all your imperfections and I want the part of you, which still loves me, to trust me again –"
"Naruto," Sasuke interjected uncertainly. "I can't anymore –"
"No, you can! Sasuke, staying away from you was the worst thing! I couldn't concentrate on anything. The food that I love so much was dull and business was a bore! Do you understand what I'm saying?!" Naruto cried, hands flying everywhere. "Cooking! My profession! The love of my life! It all dimmed down compared to you! Sasuke, do you get how huge it is having you in my life!? I need you to live, I need you to breathe! You're my everything! Please, please, believe in me again! One more chance! I'm begging you, don't break my heart again!"
Sasuke's face was painfully contorted with the force of his emotions. The contradiction within him was obvious; his head was fighting his heart. He wanted to listen to Naruto but was too afraid to be hurt again. He couldn't stomach bearing his soul only to have it torn apart by doubt. He'd lived a life of isolation, was breathing heavily day in and day out and thought his only way out was death. He longed for that, but since he made a silent promise with his descend brother to see this life that was given to him to the end, he couldn't commit suicide. He was a corpse amongst the living. No one dared get close to him in fear of their lives. The only one who had cared, Hinata, was too sick to be there for him.
Naruto… his eyes squeezed shut as the blond pulled him into a hug. He'd gotten used to these arms – these arms that made him feel safe. No matter the hard tasks he was faced with, meeting Naruto at the end of each day made everything worth it. It wasn't a coincidence that his stomach only tolerated Naruto's food, it was because he was the only one who looked at him properly. The only one who looked at the lonely Sasuke surrounded by misunderstandings and a hideous past and came close. He accepted and treated him like a normal person.
Sasuke was so scared that Naruto's ears would catch the rumors and his only escape would be taken away. That day when he was sick and Naruto went to bring them breakfast, when he'd opened the door and saw the Hyuuga, he knew his life was going to change. From that day on, he was on his toes. Naruto acted like there was nothing wrong, but he was a different case. Sasuke's insides were always waiting for the blond to come and judge him, just like everyone else. He wished for Naruto to question him and see reality. But that never happened. Naruto was keeping them at status quo, and he couldn't take it anymore.
That's when he told the blond everything about him. He gave the events but was too afraid to go into details, presuming Naruto would think the worst of him, or worse, drive him away and abandon him. He was too awkward and tried to be as brave as he could. Sasuke didn't want to lose his 'sun', not after seeing that light; it was hard to return to the darkness once more. But then news about Hyuuga Neji digging into the details of his life had reached his ears.
His worst fears had come true. He'd run to Naruto's house that night, refusing to pick up the many calls coming his way from the chef, until he reached him and was facing him straight on. Then Naruto had stayed silent. He acted as if his ears had heard nothing, as if Neji didn't inform him of anything – as if he wasn't only two hours ago calling Sasuke's number like his life depended on it.
That's when he'd constructed it all. He thought to tell the tale everyone else was telling. To be the villain everyone else was making him to be. He wanted, hoped, wished and believed that Naruto would refute everything and tell him that he didn't believe him, that the Sasuke from a couple hours ago, eating macaroons and flirting with him could never kill another human with cold hands. Yet, his hopes came crashing down hard on him. With every justification the chef was making, Sasuke's heart was breaking alongside the soul he was holding.
Naruto didn't even have a minute to think he way lying about this, he didn't even think Sasuke was framed; he put the bad possibilities first and built on them. The kiss he shared with Naruto that night was filled with all his emotions. He was crying out loud for him to understand, to see the truth, but Uzumaki Naruto didn't. Sasuke had lost the one he felt alive with that rainy night. When he left the villa, everything in him was dead.
Food wasn't even fascinating anymore. Eating became harder than it used to be and Naruto's constant calls and visits to justify that he wasn't playing him, were hurting him even more. He was tired of life. Tired of the bad fate that had befallen him. What did he do to deserve all this? Couldn't he enjoy a normal life like everyone else? As he laid on his bed one night, he contemplated the reason why he was still alive. His heart was gone, his stomach didn't want to receive anything and he was barely breathing. Why hadn't he died yet?
Sasuke came back to the arms holding him tight and silent tears rolled down his cheeks. How long was it since he'd last cried? The day his family had perished was the first and last time; that night, he'd vowed to be a man who didn't need to cry again. Yet here he was, in the arms of the man who took him to heaven and brought him to hell, crying his eyes out as the sorrow inside broke free.
Naruto felt tears drenching him from the back and held tighter. His own eyes were mimicking Sasuke's. He was crying for everything he'd heard. Sasuke was probably the person who needed happiness the most. If he recalled their days together, the raven haired male had always come when he said he would, had always eaten whether he liked the food or not, had always given his all to whatever he was asked to do. Why couldn't he see that someone like that could and would never hurt another? Why did he allow rumors to cloud his eyes? Naruto cried for the him that had failed Sasuke – for the him that had hurt the man he loved the deepest.
"Sasuke, I'm so very sorry. I know it'd take a long time, but I'm here now, I won't leave you… I beg you, don't push us a part, I can't live without you…"
At this, he felt Sasuke's arms circle around his back. The blond didn't allow his feelings to soar because the businessman didn't agree verbally. All the same, he took the action as a sign that he could get closer if he wished to. Naruto climbed into the bed and started rocking them back and forth. They remained in that position for a while. Finally, the chef felt the weight of Sasuke shift towards him, he leaned backwards a little and two closed orbs met his.
He was about to freak out and call on the nurses – thinking Sasuke had passed out – but then the raven haired male started snoring. A relived smile crossed Naruto's face and he leaned Sasuke back on the bed. Fixing his love's hair, Naruto realized how much it killed him to see the trails of those tears. His eyes were still leaking and he wiped them.
He had to be the rock that supported Sasuke now. He needed to close the cleft that had formed between them. Crying and wallowing in self-pity had never helped anyone. He had to find his strength. Shuffling out of bed, Naruto gave a tender kiss to Sasuke's lips. They were cold and a little chapped, but he felt butterflies dance inside his stomach all the same.
Giving the love of his life another look, the chef was out of the white room, his resolve to bring Sasuke's trust back to him strong in his heart.
Sakura put her hands on her hips and scowled. Her cute outfit of jeans shorts with a mauve tank top, highlighted by her pink bra straps, hugged her fit body as she resumed a position of dissatisfaction. She shook her head, making her shoulder length ponytails sway with the action, before she voiced her opinion, as if her body language hadn't yet stressed it enough.
"I don't agree with this Naruto. You're going too far."
"No, I'm not. In fact, this is something I should have done from the beginning."
"He won't be happy about this, you know. So if you're doing it for him –"
"I'm not," Naruto zipped his last bag and started offing the electricity of his apartment. "I'm doing it for me. I need him and it's about time to make it clear."
Sakura ruffled her hair in frustration as she chased him around the apartment. "You think you show need if you abandon everything and go to him? That's just desperation."
"Well, I'm desperate." He grinned at her, which fueled her irritation more.
"Then how about you simply go for a week? You can't leave the restaurant infinitely."
"And I won't, I'll be coming every weekend to check on everything. I talked to Neji so he would send someone to cover the shifts for me. I already have everything planned out, Sakura," he stopped what he was doing and stood in front of his friend. Giving her eyes that shone with hope and energy, Naruto soothed. "Don't worry about me, I'm alright. My life's alright. The restaurant's all right. You did well for me. Let me, please, find my way with him. If I continue to live here and engage in my everyday routine, then there's a big chance I'll lose him… right now, I don't think there's a lot he's living for. I want to give him a reason. That's why I need to be there, twenty-four seven with him. Sakura, please, give me that chance."
He knew she could never refuse him after that, the pink haired girl loved him enough to honor his wishes. Still scowling, Sakura answered.
"Fine! But if anything comes up and I call, you'd better get your ass back to us ASAP! Hear me?"
He grinned and gave her a hug. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Haruno Sakura hated the way her heart felt, but she wished everything would turn out well. Helping Naruto pack the last of the things he needed in the moving truck, the girl bid him goodbye, with a promise of meeting on the weekend. She still didn't know how to endure not meeting Naruto every morning, but one had to do what one had to do. And for Naruto, that was leaving everything behind and going to Sasuke's side.
Naruto waved at her until his apartment and neighborhood were nothing but blurs in the rearview mirror. Relaxing on the passenger seat, he allowed a smile to spread across his face. Finally, he was taking things in his own hands! He needed to make everything work. Right now, Sasuke would probably have all his walls back in place – the walls that he'd never felt were really up in front of him. The open gate he'd lost the key to was gone. He'd be treated like everyone else.
The chef felt a part of him dread the new change, but no matter what, he had to earn that trust back. Earn it then fill every day of the rest of Sasuke's life with happiness.
It didn't take long until he was brought to the Uchiha estate. He had arranged everything with the butler of the household. The old man was nice, he had welcomed the idea with open arms and stressed the importance of not leaving the young master by himself. The chef felt pumped at having an ally in that big place. Getting out of the truck, he called the butler so as not to make Sasuke aware that he was in the house, or even close to the premises for that matter.
Not a minute later, the butler, along with a group of maids, was by the door. They helped the blond inside and were quiet enough not to make any noise. Three minutes later had him inside one of the free rooms in the estate. Naruto was told everything he needed to know: where the bathroom was, where the kitchen was and most importantly, where Sasuke's room was. The first time he was there, he couldn't really memorize how to get to the raven haired male, but now, with a map drawn firmly in his head, he was set to go.
The maids had arranged everything for him and he had nothing more to do. So, taking a deep breath, he walked towards Sasuke's room. The Japanese styled house was enchanting and in possession of an ethereal beauty. Naruto saw why Sasuke wished to remain here. His eyes softened at the thought of meeting the handsome businessman and he knocked the door.
"Who's there?"
Naruto's heart fluttered at the tone and he expressed his presence. "It's Naruto, Sasuke."
There was a long pause, in which Sasuke was probably estranged as to why the blond was within the premises of his mansion. Then the door slid open. Sasuke was back to proper health; he wasn't one hundred percent repaired, but Naruto saw a noticeable improvement. A glare was given to him and the scalpels that were sent his way were like honey on his heart.
"What are you doing here? Wait, how did you even get inside without my permission?"
Quickly, the blond jumped defending his accomplices. "They did nothing wrong, don't fire or punish any of them. I was the one who forced them to let me in. I came here because I have a goal and I won't leave without achieving it."
Sasuke raised a fine brow and commented. "What goal is that?"
"To get you to trust me again."
"You think restoring what's lost is that easy?"
The cold tone did nothing to ruffle him and Naruto beamed. "I know it'd take a while for you to believe in me like you used to – no, even then it might not be the same as before, but I still want you to. That's why I decided to move in with you."
"…" Sasuke looked at him passively, then he blinked. "Excuse me? Who's moving in with who now?"
"Me. I'm moving in with you."
"In your dreams, get out of my estate before I call the cops on you!"
Standing firmly without budging a muscle, the cook argued. "Go ahead, call them. It won't matter; the minute I'm set free I'll come back here. You can do it however many times you wish, and I'd still be coming. You know how hardheaded I can be."
Sasuke's glare hardened as he frowned. "Are you threatening me, Uzumaki?"
"Yes, I am. Threatening with annoyance for life. You won't get a minute of rest, so you might as well not delay the inevitable and allow me to stay here."
The Uchiha didn't like what his ears were hearing, but he couldn't deny that Naruto would most probably do what he just said. Even if he got a restraining order against him, the blond would find a way to get his wish. He himself wasn't all that fond of courts and jails anyways. Looking at the chef who brimmed with brightness, Sasuke turned around and gave his finalizing words.
"Do as you wish, but keep away from my room and anything that has to do with me. I won't tolerate any break of that rule."
Naruto winced as the door was slammed in his face. He grinned the next minute though, knowing now that he was given permission to remain with the raven haired male in the mansion. The challenge now would be getting Sasuke to believe in him again.
Thank you reading, we're down to the last chapter everyone so stay tuned!
