I'm sorry it's taking so long for me to UD guys! ;-; Really...But since I've been sick and school is back and all, it's getting a little hard to find time for the computer and Net. So I will -seriously- try to UD sooner after this, seeing as we're reaching the end, but no gaurentees...
Disclaimer: I own nothing more than a few videos, manga and this story idea! No characters! 8P
Chapter Twenty-Six
Naruto's POV (Small Recap)
"I'm sorry. I never…never should've brought you back." I slowly took my hand away and turned to leave, wiping the tears off my cheeks, then walked towards the door.
Opening it I found Tsunade and the guards waiting on the other side of the hall. Tsunade looked up as I opened the door. I didn't look at her. "Excuse me." She said in a near whisper, going to walk inside. I clutched the doorframe and fought back from crying.
"Naru…to…" My eyes widened and I whirled around. Sasuke winced and slowly sat up, holding a hand to his head. He slowly opened his eyes and grimaced, looking at me. I opened my mouth to say something but it got caught in my throat. "Sasuke." I whispered, running to him and hugging him, burring my face into his chest. He grunted and slowly put a hand to my head, stroking my hair. I let my tears go and sobbed.
He rubbed my back and whispered, "Shhh…shhh, it's alright." I shook my head and continued to cry, unable to say anything with the knot in my throat. He pulled me closer and asked softly, "What is it?" "You…you…you died!" I managed. "Did I now?" "Sasuke!" I yelled into his chest and he laughed a little. "Alright I'll stop." I sniffed and looked at him. His black eyes darkened with concern and he wiped the tears away with his thumb. "Stop that. There's no reason to cry now." I looked at him and whispered, "She's still going to execute you." His gaze flickered to Tsunade then back to me.
"I know." "I just…I wanted to…" I looked down and then back up into his eyes. "I wanted to say good-bye." He winced and I said, "I'm sorry. I never should've brought you—" "Stop right there. I know what you're going to say." He growled and looked at Tsunade. "Can I talk to him? Alone?" "But—" His eyes hardened and he spat, "Five minuets is all I'm asking. Is that too much?" She sighed and said, "Fine." And walked out, closing the door. He looked back at me. "Bringing me back here the way you did was probably the best thing you could've done for me. Maybe the first few weeks were tough between us but I gradually realized that I was okay with it. I was okay with the way things were going, even if I wasn't able to live in my own house or something like that, even if I was ordered to be brought back to that room by eight. I was happy." I blinked, surprised. He had been happy with it? I didn't think I'd ever heard him say that he had been happy.
"Don't you regret bringing me back here. I don't resent you for it; I could never do that. So don't blame yourself for my death. I'm the one who ran away and you tried to stop me. It's not your fault. Understand?" He watched me and I hesitated then nodded. "Okay." He smiled and lifted my chin, kissing me slowly. I returned it and he broke off and set his forehead against mine, looking me in the eyes. "You better not forget me." "As if." He smirked and kissed me again briefly before breaking off and whispering, "I love you." My eyes widened. He'd never actually told me that before. "I love you too." I whispered back. He leaned back and looked at the door. It opened and Tsunade walked in, watching us. I took a deep breath and a step back. "Good-bye Sasuke." I said in a near whisper. He didn't say anything but his eyes said it all. I breathed again then ran out the door.
Naruto's POV—Next Day
I walked slowly down the road, looking at my feet. Then I stopped and looked up to find they'd taken me to the Uchiha neighborhood. I hesitated then turned around and ran to the KIA stone. I looked at it a few moments then shook my head and ran blindly, letting my feet take me where they wanted to go. When I stopped I looked and found myself at our old training ground with the three logs. I sighed and walked over to one, resting my elbows on it and looking towards the woods.
"I miss him already." I whispered, resting my chin on my hands. I watched the woods for a while more then sighed and closed my eyes, thinking. I stayed up there for a while like that when finally I got tired and sat down, staring at nothing in particular. Finally the sound of soft footsteps caught my attention. I didn't turn or speak, but I waited to see if anything would happen.
"I thought I might find you here." I stiffened and muttered, "What do you want?" They sighed and sat down beside me. I looked at Sakura. She didn't look back and replied, "I heard about what happened. I'm sorry Naruto." I grunted and she looked at me. "I know how much you loved him." My eyes widened and I turned to stare at her. Sasuke and I had never told anyone about us, not even Sakura! How could she have…?
She laughed a little and said, "Why do you look so surprised? It was so obvious. Maybe not to any of the other villagers but to Kakashi-Sensei, Ino and I it was. The way you looked at him and your eyes would light up. If anyone ever mentioned his name your eyes would shine like the sun. The way you talked about him to me sometimes it was in your voice. Then it became obvious to Ino after Sasuke left. She hadn't noticed before but then she did. She noticed the way you talked about him everyday. If you were cursing the day you ever got to know him, we heard your anger through your words but we saw your sorrow through your eyes. If you begged to go after him we saw the desperation in your eyes, how you wanted him back so badly you'd do anything to get him back—even give up your chance for being Hokage. And even when it was just one of those days you remembered all the times you guys shared—that's when the love tinted with sorrow came back into your eyes. Kakashi seemed to know when I figured it out, if not beforehand. People always say the eyes are the windows to a person's soul. Yours are like that Naruto."
I stared at her a moment longer and her voice and eyes softened. "I knew how you felt about him, I know I did. But every time you ever asked me about him, whether I thought he would come back, or whether I would go with you to ask Tsunade for another chance, I always blew up on you about it. I never meant to hurt you, and I know I did. But the thing is, no I never thought he'd ever return and no I didn't want to go with you to ask Tsunade for another chance. I didn't want to help you find him because I didn't want you to get hurt again. I didn't want him to kill you either, and I knew it could happen. But I knew that if you kept going after him and failing again and again soon you'd be heartbroken that you couldn't accomplish what you wanted so badly. Then you might have given up. And I didn't know if I could handle you like that. I just never wanted you to get hurt by him again, but I should've known you'd never stop looking for him—because you'd never stop loving him. I finally realized that."
"Sakura…" I whispered, astounded. How had I never known she'd felt this way? Sakura looked away. I finally regained my voice and said, "Sakura…thank you." She looked at me, wide-eyed. I hugged her and she hesitated before hugging me back tightly. We stayed like that for a few moments before she sighed, "The Hokage wants you in her office as soon as possible. That's what I came up here for, and to tell you I'm sorry how it went down." I jerked back and snarled, "Tell her to forget it. I don't want to see her right now." "Naruto, it's not her fault. The Elders overruled her." "I don't care." I growled stubbornly. Sakura sighed. "Naruto, look, she had to do it—" "I understand that!" I cried, not looking at her. "But still…just tell her I don't want to see her today. I'll come later tomorrow." Sakura hesitated again before nodding and standing. "Alright. I'll see you later then." "Right." She took a deep breath and then disappeared.
I stood and looked around then ran to the hill where we had watched the fireworks and danced. I sat down and looked out over the village, resting my elbows on my knees. I sighed and lay back with my hands behind my head, staring at the clouds.
Flashback (Naruto's POV)
I stared into his dark eyes for a moment before giving him a quick kiss. We were on the hill, which seemed to be one of our favorite places. We'd just finished sparring and he'd pinned me down, smirking and muttering, "I win." I had given up then and now he was still pinning me, just for the heck of it.
Eventually we'd ended up staring up at the clouds about half an hour later. He was on his back with a hand behind his head and the other around me. I was beside him, my head on his chest. We stayed up there like that for a long time that day, never saying a word. But it was comfortable. Just one of those days I suppose.
End FlashbackI felt my eyes burn and then I buried my head in my hands.
Naruto's POV—Next Day—Hill
I opened my eyes groggily to find I had fallen asleep on the hill the other night crying. My eyes felt dry and sandy and I didn't feel like I'd rested at all. I looked at the village and guessed it was about 10:00a.m. I sighed and thought I should go down there to care for Doppel, but I decided against it, knowing she was fine. And also knowing I just didn't want to leave for fear of running into Tsunade. I wanted as far away from her as possible for a while. I growled out a breath and laid my head on my knees, wrapping my arms around them.
I must've fallen asleep again sometime but I woke up in the same position. I slowly opened my eyes and lifted my head, looking around sleepily. "Forget it." I murmured, laying down in a ball and going back to sleep. I remember opening my eyes once and thinking I'd seen Sasuke lying beside me but when I actually opened my eyes, I was alone again. After that I guess I went back to sleep.
When I woke again I was in my bed in my apartment with Doppel curled up next to me. I shot up straight and looked around. "How'd I get back here?" I wondered aloud, getting up and walking into the living room. I was still in the same white shirt and black pants I'd been in two days ago—only now the pants were ruffled along with the shirt, which also contained a few grass stains. I looked at myself in the mirror as I entered the bathroom and grimaced. I looked like crap. I had dark circles under my bloodshot eyes and my hair was messier than it had ever been. My face was tear-streaked and dirty and I had to admit, I looked drained—not a big surprise. I sighed and got in the shower. I had to go see Tsunade whether I liked it or not. And trust me, I didn't like it one bit.
I changed into a black T-shirt with black pants and my black headband. I put on my shoes and brushed my hair. I still had dark circles under my eyes, which were still bloodshot, but I didn't look as bad anymore. I grabbed the necklace I'd won from Tsunade and put it on. I then fingered the necklace under my shirt—the silver chain Sasuke had given me. I sighed and ran to the Hokage's Tower.
Naruto's POV—Tsunade's Office
I knocked almost silently and Tsunade said, "Come in." I hesitated then opened the door, closed it, bowed respectfully then sat down, all without looking at her. Tsunade sighed. "I need you to listen to me Naruto. Please. Just listen." I sighed and said, "Fine." "I'm sorry I couldn't save him. You know I wanted to for you." "Yeah…" "And I'm sorry about not listening to you before. I didn't know what you were trying to do. I wanted only to get it over with. I knew if I waited it would be a lot harder. Every time I looked at him I saw you and almost stopped." "But you didn't." "No. I couldn't." "I understand that." Tsunade sighed and I looked up at her. She looked just about as drained as I had, with dark circles under her eyes as well. She studied me and asked, "This is a stupid question but…how are you?"
I snorted. "Miserable?" She didn't respond. I guess I'd caught her off guard. I sighed and asked, "May I go now?" "Yes." I nodded and bowed again then left.
Yeah this chapter was a little...awkward...I'm not even really sure if I needed to still put it in...But I guess it's just showing how Naruto feels about Sasuke being gone. Poor little Naru-kun. ;-;
It will get better everyone! Promise! You will (hopefully) like it in the end. It will be alright!! XD
-- Miah-Chan