After a long break here comes the new chapter.
Next day didn't want to wake up. Pouring rain played monotone symphonies on Naruto's apartment's windowsill. Grey light made it through the curtains and keep crawling on the bed clothes.
Disappointed, boy felt as dream goes away, giving place to a new day. Empty bed, empty flat – that's all what was waiting for him today. He would rather sink into the nighttime world of pictures again just to flee from overwhelming solitude. He curled himself and wrapped his arms around his body imagining he's not alone. The situation apparently was too heavy burden for his soul. If you could just hide under the bed quilt, if those childish methods really work… He recalled yesterday's events, how he felt when he saw Sakata. He caught himself that he drifted away again to the imaginary world where team 7 is complete. Sasuke would surely bump here to drag him off his bed, then together with Sakura and Sensei they would go for Ramen, they would laught, they would chat…
No, stop it! It's pathetic. Uzumaki Naruto does not pity over himself. He always keep the stiff upper lip no matter the situation. Never give up is his motto. Sasuke, you bastard. This time I will save you even if I have to drag you by hair all way to Konoha.
Just made declaration left a bitter taste. Was it because he didn't believe in it anymore? How many times has he been repeating it, but nothing changed from the time he lay in the hospital after his friend had run to Orochimaru. In fact, he was still weak. Oh sure, he trained blood and tears but he was weak psychically. His resolve was wobbling before hindrances. Cooperating with Siugetsu made his guts feel uneasy. He should have accepted the crazy idea without a doubt, just like in the old times. That's how he normally acted. Unwanted thought crossed his mind: Was searching for Sasuke no longer so important? Was it because Naruto had already gave up on him, betrayed their friendship? No, that can't be true. Sasuke means to him much more that all the people in Konoha.
Knocking on the door. The guest didn't care to wait for the invitation. The door opened and Sakura boldly entered. Seeing Naruto stare on the ceiling, she petrified.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" she whispered.
Sudden visit knocked Naruto out of the trance. He sat up on the bed.
"Ye..Yes sure, why are you asking that? Ah, and what are you doing here?!" He returned to reality. He forced a smile on his face as a proof of what he was saying was true.
"It's me should ask what are you doing here. It's already noon! Are you sure you're alright?" the girl was startled by his attitude. Although Naruto was far cry from being an early bird, he was always full of beans. The smart kunoichi couldn't forget the image of Naruto not reacting to her entrance, his eyes staring blankly into the space.
"Oh god, don't make me to repeat myself. I've just overslept."
Heavy silence lingered between them.
"Naruto… if something is wrong or if you need to talk... You know you can rely on me." she added, her voice not so confident and not so loud.
"Oh please. I tell you, for the third time in these 5 minutes, everything's ok. And now, if you could leave. I want to dress up." His voice revealed growing irritation.
There was nothing Sakura could do. So she left. In the end everybody had their off days.
Automatism of morning activities brought Naruto a clear mind. He felt like an idiot. He had just showed the person he care about how weak he was. Uzumaki Naruto never gives up and takes everything easy. That's how he really is and how people should see him.
[PRESENT]
[Sasuke PoV]
When he was laying in the darkness, someone came to share the light. The comer brought him also solace. He let him just lie, just exist, without any expectation nor pain.
That pure person embraced him. Oh, what a strange feeling. He'd already forgotten that others people' hands can give not only humiliations and hurt but they can also give tranquility. Naïve thought rose in the corner of his mind. People had been hurting him. Maybe Kami mercifies him by sending his messenger. But would such creature soil in his darkness? Thankfully he welcomed trembling kiss in his forehead. The good was like a warmth of sun.
He didn't feel that way for a long time, that unfamiliar sensation… it was probably a bliss. He was afraid to displease fair-haired comer. That's so strange… his body was like it didn't belong to him anymore… He let delicate hands rhythmically wander through his hair, on his cheeks. Oh please, let it not be an illusion, may he not be used again. He closed his eyes in order not to angry the comer.
"Hush, everything will be alright, Sasuke. I'll be there for you…" he heard fair-head person whisper, but he couldn't understand soft-spoken words. However, he didn't dare to want more. He, a dust, wouldn't ever imagine that he will be allowed to lie bathing in the warmth and light emanating from the visitor.
...
From that time he lived half in reality half in his dreams. Fair-haired person would appear before him even more often. Or was it because he expected him, miss him and his consciousness didn't wake up fully during the times of solitude. The visitor looked just like normal boy, but Sasuke didn't let his eyes cheat him: that was a godsend. Now the blond guest would bring him food and feed him. Because of that, the knot squeezing his throat loosened and the body accept nourishment while it didn't have to be constantly ready for a fight. The person was present when white-clad people touched him and asked him to swallow something.
The distance between him and the fair-haired friend was day by day shrinking. Soon, the visitor could normally sit on a cot while his hand played on Sasuke's shoulder or in his now long dark hair. But more importantly blond boy talked to him.
"Hey, Sasuke. Would it be ok if I come with somebody next time? Don't be afraid, it's a friend, you know that person. I'll be with you all the time." One day the visitor made a proposition.
He looked with expectation at the laying boy, who was tightly holding friend's hands. Raven understood the message; he did understand words when fear didn't paralyze his mind. But the blond guardian never heard the answer. Black eyes shut up suddenly in order to fight off creeping fear. Disappointed Naruto sighted loudly. Suddenly he saw black-haired head moving, as if nodding to his question. Wonderful. Naruto smiled wide. His friend really was much better recently.
