Chapter Thirty-Six; A Gift of Love

"So, I see that you brought the mutt with you." Naruto remarked as they both started walking side by side while Taki trotted ahead of them wagging his tail.

"Yeah he tracked your scent for me. That's how I was able to find you." Sakura told him before he turned his head over to look at her.

"Was Sasuke really that worried about me?" he asked her.

"Yes he was really upset. I think that that's the most I've ever seen him cry." She replied before slowly turning her head away from him as Naruto breathed a deep and heavy sad sigh while he followed her back to the car.

…

"I'm back!" Sakura exclaimed as she opened the door and then she and Naruto stepped inside. "Sasuke! I brought Naruto with me!" she cried while she shut the door tightly behind her. That's when suddenly Sasuke walked into the living room and then stopped before he turned his head over to look at Naruto.

"Naruto." He whispered before he started racing towards him and threw his arms around him while he started sobbing hysterically again. "Oh my God Naruto." He began before breaking out of the embrace and taking ahold of his face inside his hands and gazing into his eyes while tears continued rolling down his cheeks. "Don't ever do that to me again do you understand me? Not ever! You scared me so much! I thought that Doragon had kidnapped you or something!" he cried.

"Really? Gee Sasuke I'm sorry. I never thought that that could be the real reason that you were so worried about me." Naruto told him.

"I love you you idiot! Do I really have to always have another reason other than that?" he questioned him back with a sniff as tears continued rolling down his cheeks.

"No. I guess not. Look, I'm really sorry." Naruto began before he took a deep breath and sighed. "I didn't know that you would freak out so bad." He told him before Sasuke grabbed ahold of him and hugged him again.

"It's alright. You're safe now and that's all that matters." He told him before he planted a soft and tender kiss on his cheek and hugged him tighter while Sakura stood by and watched them from afar.

….

"Well this is it, we're finally packed." Sasuke said as he finally finished loading their suitcases inside his trunk and then slammed it tightly and made sure that it was locked. "Is everyone ready to go?" he wondered while looking around at his wife and children.

"Well,.." Sakura began as she slowly turned her head around and looked up on the front porch where Naruto was standing. "not quite everyone." She finished as Sasuke turned to see Naruto heave a sad sigh and hang his head.

"I'll be right back. Go ahead and get in the car with the kids." He told her before he turned around and walked up the driveway. "Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked his friend. "Shouldn't you be at work by now?"

"Yes. But I had to come here and say goodbye to you. Do you guys really have to go?" Naruto questioned him reluctantly while feeling his voice starting to quiver and shake. "Because I'm really going to miss all four of you. Especially you Sasuke. You're my best friend in the whole entire world and I'm going to miss you so much." He told him with a sniff as a tear rolled down his cheek. "I love you buddy." He added before Sasuke wrapped his arms around him tightly and rested his chin down on the top of his head.

"I know. And I love you too. But you have to remember that unlike we thought it would be last time, this isn't goodbye forever. Besides, you've still got Hinata, Boruto, and Himawari here with you to keep you company." He told him before he broke out of the embrace and started unzipping his jacket. "Here, I want you to keep this." He told him as he took it off and handed it over to him.

"Huh?" Naruto asked raising his eyebrows questioningly at him. "But Sasuke, that's your favorite leather jacket. Except in the summertime I don't think I've seen you go a day in your life without it since you got it." He said.

"I know. But I want you to have it since I know how much you've always loved it. That way when you wear it you can think of me and remember me." Sasuke told him.

"Are you sure? You really want me to have it?" Naruto questioned him with uncertainty.

"Yes. You're the only one I had ever even considered giving it to." He explained. "Besides, I can always buy a new one you know. Just take it." He told him as he handed it over to Naruto.

"Gee, thanks buddy. I'm going to wear it every day." He began before he put it on and zipped it up. "Because I don't ever want to stop thinking about you. I only wish that I had something for you." He told him.

"Don't worry about it. You've already done enough for me. Trust me." Sasuke assured him with a grin before it slowly faded away and he slowly turned his head away from him and sighed. Then he slowly glanced up at him suddenly looking as if he was about to cry again. "Well, I guess we should say goodbye." He said.

"Alright then, well, goodbye Sasuke." Naruto whispered.

"Goodbye Naruto." Sasuke whispered back before they both threw their arms around each other and embraced and Naruto started sobbing inside his chest. Sasuke rested his chin on the top of his head again and gently rubbed his back.

"Shh,.. it's alright." He whispered. "It's okay." He told him before a few moments of silence fell between them and then they broke apart again before he poked him in the forehead. "Take care of yourself." He told him.

"You too." Naruto told him before he watched him turn around and walk down the driveway and climb into the car with the rest of his family. Then he watched as Sasuke drove away and Taki watched out the back window panting and wagging his tail.