Disclaimer: I don't own any Naruto characters.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sasuke's POV—Training Grounds (Small recap)
I stopped as suddenly as I could. I had to remind myself, I hated this idiot. I hated this village. I had broken all ties with it and with everyone in it three years ago. I couldn't afford to be going back on that now. I couldn't be bonding with Naruto now. I couldn't get close to him and I couldn't enjoy this. For all I knew the Hokage could kill me tomorrow. What would be the use of it? It was best if I regained myself and stayed true to what I had been telling Naruto all along—I didn't care anymore about them. I had to regain that. If he thought he'd broken me it would end chaotically. I couldn't let him think that.
I stopped laughing and swallowed, clearing my throat. I frowned then put an expressionless face on and looked back at the sky. Naruto blew out a breath and said after a moment, "It's alright to laugh Sasuke. You're not doing any harm by simply laughing." I didn't look at him. He hesitated then fell silent. I glanced at him. He was looking the other way, at the sky. I sighed silently. I couldn't help it. This was the way it had to be.
"I've missed your laugh." He said suddenly. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. He didn't look at me as he kept going. "Through the three years you've been gone, I haven't heard you laugh. I mean, sure I've heard you laugh, but that was when we fought—you never laughed. When we fought it was cold—like, practiced or something. Mechanical. But I know what your real laugh sounds like. Your real laugh, it's like…I don't know. It's warm…real. It doesn't sound practiced or fake…it just sounds real." He looked at me now, then looked away. I sighed and shifted. We were silent a long time before I gave up trying to figure it out. Like the first time I'd kissed him, I hadn't known exactly if that was the way I felt, but after I'd done it, I had known I was right.
I frowned in thought a while longer before snorting and saying, "Remember when you gave Doppel her first bath? And she shot out of the bathroom as soon as I opened the door? You chased her around the place with the towel for at least ten or fifteen minuets." Naruto looked at me in surprise then nodded slowly, a small smile on his lips. "Yeah. And she made me trip and crash into the wall, then went straight to you and curled up?" I thought back to him crashing into the wall and laughed. "Yeah. And she growled at you when you tried to take her back." He grinned and laughed a little too, nodding. "Yeah she did."
We looked at each other and his blue eyes sparkled happily. I smiled a little bit before looking at the sun's position. I sighed and said, "Isn't it time for you to take me back?" He looked and sighed. "Yeah it is. Lets go I guess." I stood straight and we walked back to the Hokage's Tower in a comfortable silence.
Sasuke's POV—One Week Later
I laughed and nodded, petting Doppel absentmindedly. Naruto had just brought back another memory, which consisted of his being chased by the fox. Doppel had curled up in my lap and perked her ears every time she heard her name, though she was supposedly sleeping. I nodded again and said, "I remember that." Naruto grinned and said, "And once, Doppel was walking around town with me when she saw Kiba and Akamaru. She didn't mind Kiba but she has such a hatred for Akamaru I don't understand it. Kiba doesn't either, he says Akamaru won't say a word to him about it. Anyway the next thing I know Doppel's tearing up the street chasing Akamaru. Kiba and I have to go running after them and when we reach them we find Doppel jumping at the trunk of a tree, snapping at Akamaru who had somehow climbed out of her reach!"
I laughed again and scratched the fox behind the ear. She wagged her tail and I teased, "You're a real terror aren't you Doppel? Such a horrible fox kit." She licked my hand and wagged her tail harder then settled down to go back to sleep. I smiled a little and shook my head, looking back up. Naruto grinned and leaned back in the cushions, relaxing. I sighed and looked down on the fox, still petting her.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked after a while. I didn't answer, frowning thoughtfully. "Sasuke?" "Nothing." "C'mon. I know something's up. Tell me." He said softly. I gritted my teeth and stayed silent. After a few moments of silence I sighed and said, "This." "Huh?" "This. What we're doing now. Acting all buddy-buddy. I can't do this Naruto." He tilted his head. "What do you mean?" "I—we—can't go back to the way we were before with each other. I can't do that." I sighed and picked Doppel up, placing her gently on the couch then walked over to the window, putting my hands in my pockets. I sensed Naruto stiffen and I sighed, "Relax, I'm not going anywhere." He relaxed a little, but not much. I didn't expect him to. If he had I would have been disappointed—even though I wouldn't do anything he still shouldn't be so trusting, no matter what.
I sighed and looked over the village, continuing, "I can't go back to being your half-time rival, half-time friend …whatever." I fixed my gaze on the ramen shop. "There's no point in it. There's no point in even trying to go back to anything we ever were to each other." Naruto jumped up and cried, "And why not? At the very least we could try to go back to being friends!" "What's the point in it Naruto?" I asked quietly, not feeling like raising my voice. He growled and I could practically see him fist his hands at his sides. "There is a point to it! Why wouldn't there be?!" he yelled. I turned and nearly snapped, "Because, I could die any day now! That's why there's no point. Why revive it when it'll only be stomped in the ground?" Naruto's eyes widened and he whispered, "Did Tsunade say something to you about it?" "No. But I'm only making a point. You and I both know I could die. I just don't see any reason to try to get back to the way we were. For all we know she could kill me tonight." I half-sighed, half-growled and turned back to the window.
His footsteps were almost silent, but I heard them. I sighed but stayed put staring out the window. I saw his reflection anyway. His eyes darkened in sadness. "Sasuke," he started then hesitated. I waited a second then turned to face him. He didn't meet my eyes at first then slowly he raised them to mine. "I think I have a reason to try." He said softly. My eyes widened as he placed his lips on mine, ever so softly, like he was afraid. I hesitated and he broke off, stepping back. He looked down and whispered, "I…think I love you."
We're getting somewhere! O.o Yay Naru-chan! 8D The next chappie contains a bit more "action". :-)
-- Miah-Chan