Author Note: Hi everyone, the two final chapters on this fic are on the way
now. This is the first, Of course, dummy and I must say that it was close
in the end but the winner of the contest was #1. I know that many wanted #2
but since the winner got the story I decided to throw in a hint of what
could have happened. Not much cause I need to hold #1 rule. Sorry that
this one comes so late. I would have posted this last week but you probably
remember the words on the memorial. They are a song from d.n. angel and I
didn't have the English words that I wanted for it so it took time. I
almost fried my friend with reminders. So he's probably tired of me, for a
short while! . I have a lot to do now in school, got a project with three
different subjects in it and it needs to be done in two weeks. I have
barely started yet. help oo so I probably won't have time to write the
last chapter until school ends or in the final days. If I get it up earlier
then it's pure, kuso, luck. Sorry that you have to wait for the last one,
but that's life...
TEASER FOR THIS CHAPTER: like I said to my beta reader when I was writing this one, Sakura and Ino probably hates me for this one IM SOOOO HAPPY!!!!!! Not that I have anything against them except for their Sasuke obsession... Huge sweat drops
Editor's note: sorry for the delay, it was my fault, I had a series of exams and monkan kindly waited for me to be done.
Parings: Yaoi. SasuNaru. Like it has been through this whole story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. TT I'm all right now
Itsu Made Mo, Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by Asaroth
Chapter 13 - This is how I want to live
Sasuke sat under one of the trees in the schoolyard with his lunch. It had been almost two weeks since they had left the hospital and Naruto moved in with him. Things had gone back to normal after that, well for him anyway.
Naruto still had some difficulty to settle into the life he had now. Not that he didn't do a great job considering the circumstances, but he was getting restless with nothing to do. There was not a day when he didn't catch Naruto looking out the window with a faraway look.
Sasuke picked up a rice ball and began to eat it while he worked on a new sketch. Sasuke found that whenever he missed the blond boy, he would end up painting his face. Which happened to be pretty often, now wasn't an exception. He let the pencil draw ghostly lines over Naruto's face to create shadows. He stopped for a moment to look at what he had done this time.
His face looked so peaceful that it melted Sasuke's heart. A soft smile played on his lips and he didn't even notice the figure coming closer to him.
"Doesn't it get lonely sitting here alone, sasu-koi?"
Sasuke almost jumped out of his skin. He looked up from the sketch, and just right in front of his nose was Naruto, a fox smile on his face. When Sasuke got over the actual shock, he smiled warmly back at Naruto.
"Iie, this is one of the few breaks I have when I'm not troubled with fan girl's. But now that you are here I have to agree it was a little lonely." He closed the small distance between them and softly kissed Naruto's lips. He pulled back and waited for Naruto to sit down next to him.
Naruto wrapped his arm around Sasuke's waist and rested his head against the raven haired boys shoulder while he watched Sasuke work and eat. Words weren't needed, both were happy with each other and they felt like they could stay a millennium under that tree.
Naruto was impressed with Sasuke's talent with art, he himself had enough trouble writing the basic kanjis.
These last two weeks had been challenging and the best in his life. Naruto had to admit that he wasn't used to take it easy after everything, but it felt good in some way. Especially since Sasuke was there with him. He loved the way he could hold someone when he slept and knew that he would wake up with that same person in his arms the next morning.
To be with Sasuke at all was a blessing. Naruto wouldn't admit it to Sasuke or anyone else, but he still thought that people stared after him when he walked through the streets. He had spent the days walking through Konoha while Sasuke was in school. It gave him a good time to get to know the village and the villagers.
"I heard about some long mission shinobis talked about when they got back to the village today. They said something that made me a little worried." Naruto said in a low voice.
Sasuke paused momentarily. "What did they say?"
Naruto took a deep breath. "They said they encountered a monster on their way home. Just over a week ago. It attacked them and they lost two of their team mates before they killed it. Sasuke... the way they described the monster... It was... almost like Kuji." Naruto buried his face in the nape of Sasuke's shoulder. "I don't want him to have survived somehow. I want him dead so he'll leave us alone."
Sasuke didn't move. Could that monster have survived somehow? If he had had enough time to recover, then... Sasuke shook his head to get rid of the thought. One of his arms wrapped around Naruto's shoulders. "Whatever it was, it's gone now."
Naruto nodded slowly. The silence lasted for a few minutes before Naruto couldn't stand it anymore, so he decided to steal some food from Sasuke. He reached to the other side of Sasuke and grabbed one of the last rice balls before bringing it to his mouth.
"Hey what are you doing?" Sasuke asked with an accusing look in his eyes.
"Eating." Naruto said with his mouth full of food. Sasuke tried to stay angry with him but failed miserably. He was about to say something when they saw two shadows on the ground before them.
He looked up and almost groaned when he saw that is was Sakura and Ino. He didn't like the way they looked at Naruto, they put a whole new meaning to the saying; 'If looks could kill.'
"Who is he, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked when she turned her attention to the boy of her dreams.
Sasuke could feel Naruto tense beside him. If this Sakura was just like the one of the past then he knew he could be hurt really badly. She may be a girl, but when provoked she had proved she could fight like a boy.
Naruto and Sasuke shared a look before turning their heads back to the girls. Naruto felt Sasuke's arm hold him closer.
"This is my boyfriend." Sasuke said with so much warmth in his voice so it shocked Sakura and Ino just as much as the actual news did. They stared at the couple with their jaws on the ground.
"Boy-f-friend...?" Ino choked out.
Sasuke nodded. "Got a problem with that?" He asked.
Ino and Sakura couldn't think properly. In their minds this couldn't be happening. "But, you can be... it can't be true." Sakura tried to deny it.
That got Sasuke's temper to flare. How thick-headed were these girls? "What can't be true? That I'm in love with a boy or that I'm already taken?"
"But we just thought that... that...that he was a very close friend." Sakura said once she got over her own shock. "You can't be..." She couldn't say the word.
"Gay?" Naruto filled in.
Naruto suddenly wished he hadn't said anything when the two girls glared more threateningly than anything before in his life. He mentally gulped. He could almost see his lifespan shorten by several years right in front of his eyes. Screw having been a cursed ANBU, it didn't even compare to the level of death he could read in the two girls' attitude alone. He unconsciously snuggled further into Sasuke's embrace. Naruto's thoughts about all the things he wanted to do before he died were cut short when he felt Sasuke's arms around him. Holding him even more secured than before.
Sasuke glared back at Sakura and Ino. "If you got a problem with that then it's not our problem. Leave us alone if you can't handle the truth."
For a moment Sakura and Ino looked like they were torn between two decisions. One was probably to leave so they didn't get on sasuke's wrong side. The other one... Naruto didn't even want to think about it, because it probably had a lot to do with pain and him.
Sakura and Ino exchanged a glance for a moment before turning around and heading back into the school halls.
Naruto sighed in relief that he had survived one of the most dangerous moments in his short life. He shifted slightly and felt Sasuke's arms still holding him tight. Naruto looked up to find ebony eyes watching him. His dark eyes held something that he couldn't describe. Naruto stared with a questioning look.
"I won't let them hurt you. You protected me once from danger with the cost of your life and now I'm going to do the same. I won't let those girls hurt you again." Sasuke said in a voice so tender Naruto wasn't sure he caught it.
He just blinked at Sasuke before burying his face in Sasuke's chest. "Arigatou." He said in response.
They sat there for the rest of Sasuke's lunch break before he had to go to his next class. They stood up and Naruto made him a deal that he would walk with him to his next class if he got the rest of his lunch.
Sasuke looked for a moment like he had to think hard about it, saying things like he really wanted the last rice ball for himself and other things on how good his lunch was and when he was done he saw that Naruto was almost drooling. He smiled at Naruto before giving him the lunch box. Naruto gave him a fox smile before grasping his hand and walking with him into the halls of Sasuke's school.
Sasuke showed his school to Naruto on their way to his locker and for the first time Sasuke was shocked to see that there were only twelve love letters in his locker. He still threw them into a nearby trash can. After picking up his books they walked through the corridors until they came up to two big doors. Sasuke gave Naruto a little goodbye kiss on his cheek before letting go of his hand and going inside.
Naruto sighed happily. He could get used to live with this every day. He turned to leave but was stopped by an older woman. He saw a pink and a blond haired girl behind her.
Oh crap!
"Sakura and Ino say that you were in the battle against that dreadful man. You wouldn't mind telling us about it and answering some questions?" She must have been the head master, late forties if he guessed right but would probably look younger if she only got rid of those horrible glasses.
"Well, eh... I really..." Naruto didn't have a chance to finish.
"Oh so good! Sakura and Ino told me that you were a little shy, but don't worry. It's not that bad once you get used to it." She said in a cheery voice before pushing him toward the same doors Sasuke had entered.
Shy? Bite me... He didn't have time to curse more because he was pushed through the doors and he came face to face with what looked like... Naruto did a fast calculation, it wasn't hard if you knew how to count enemies. Twelve girls on the front row. Forty girls and boys on the middle rows. That's 52 and over there is Sasuke with... Naruto sweat dropped. Err.. Make that surrounded by girls.
Sasuke had looked up from his book and was stunned when he saw Naruto being shoved in by his teacher and headmaster. What's he doing here? He asked himself with a frown.
"Everyone, you are going to get a special re-told story about the incident that happened a few weeks ago that cost us the lives of a few of our best shinobis' and the destruction of our wall and village." The teacher said.
Sasuke watched Naruto. The blond ninja didn't betray a single thing. But inside he's probably swearing for his bad luck.
Sasuke couldn't have been more right. Naruto was mentally making his Will, not much on it and since Sasuke would get everything he had it ended with a single sentence. The other thing he made was planning revenge on the two girls that had put him where he was.
"So I'm going to let you ask a few questions that Mr...?" She paused for the first time in five minutes and turned her head to Naruto.
"Naruto." He said slowly.
"Naruto will answer from his point of view." She finished before clapping her hands and walking to sit at the front row. All Naruto could do was stand there like an idiot and send glares between the teacher for doing this to him and to the girls that held responsibility for this as well. The last thing he looked at was Sasuke with pleading eyes that told him to save him once again.
A hand reached up and Naruto had enough rational thoughts left to let the questioning begin.
"What are you doing in Konoha?" A boy asked.
Naruto blinked for a moment before he finally calmed down and saw that maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Sasuke waited eagerly for the answer. Maybe he would get some answers himself.
"Since your Hokage will give out the details soon, I'll tell you some of it. I was asked to come by your Hokage for a mission that they thought only I had the power to complete even if something went wrong. They had only heard rumours about me before and I know that the old man wasn't happy with sending someone as young as me in. Most employers are like that when they see me. After the mission was completed and the incident over, I found that I had someone to stay with in Konoha and here I am."
Another hand reached up. "What was the mission about?" That got everyone's attention, even Sasuke's.
Naruto thought for a moment. "It is a little hard to explain all the detail, but I can sum it up for you. 'Infiltrate a new and dangerous group called the Black Wave. Don't raise any suspicions; once inside you must get every shinobi on this list out of there, they are on your side. "Killing" them is the only way to get them out. No one quits the group and no one leaves it with their lives. If someone finds out, get rid of that person by any means necessarily. Do what ever you can to avoid getting too deep for now. Watch out for the man, Kuji, the most dangerous man in the Black Wave. After completing the list you must go deeper and find out what they are planning and with everything you have, to destroy their plan.' " Naruto sat down on the desk near him.
"Here is what I found out. It went much deeper than they had thought. The Black Wave's plans went all the way down to control one of the Kages in order to start up a new war. They were all missing or S-classed ninjas in the bingo book. So it wasn't surprising to find that they used a drug they had made to control the Kage, I won't say who it was so don't ask. Once inside I couldn't get any privacy, mostly because I was new and they didn't trust me and why should they? Kuji was the worst one, he didn't trust anyone. It wasn't one of the missions you would like to tell anyone about, but this mission did actually happen and so did my part in it, even if I'm not proud of it. People that didn't have anything to do with it died and that part is what I'm most ashamed of."
Everyone was quiet. No one knew what to say as they took in this rare story of what happened. Sasuke looked at Naruto's face with new understanding of what the other boy had gone through.
A girl with short blue hair slowly raised her hand. Naruto nodded to show that he had seen her. "Who was it that you found here in Konoha?"
Naruto smiled at the girl but his eyes caught Sasuke's. A revenge plan had formed in his head. Sakura and Ino were sooo going to regret this, in their view at least.
"I found someone I loved."
The girl was happy that he didn't have a problem with the subject. "Who was it? Someone we know?" She asked again.
"Yes, you know him." With that Naruto jumped down from the desk. Sweet, sweet revenge. He slowly walked over to where Sasuke sat and when he was standing on the other side of Sasuke's desk he leaned forward and gently brushed their lips against each others.
Sasuke responded by closing his eyes before he kissed Naruto back. When Naruto pulled back he was a little disappointed but didn't say anything because Naruto was smiling at him and he looked so happy that it warmed Sasuke's heart.
"Did you see their faces or what?" Naruto yelled happily back at Sasuke.
Sasuke smirked as he watched Naruto walk ahead of him. Naruto did a few flips of joy that his plan had worked like a charm. He would always remember Sakura's and Ino's faces when he had kissed Sasuke right in front of the entire class.
Naruto looked up to the sky. "I actually thought that they would kill me for real afterwards, but it was worth it. I can't even describe their faces. They just looked so... so... CRUSHED!" Naruto faced Sasuke with a big smile. "Ne, what do you think?"
Sasuke stood still a bit away, watching Naruto. For some reason Naruto had brought him back to the clearing they used to spend so much time in. As it was late spring almost everything was blooming, making it look like Naruto really belonged there, among everything with his huge smile and joy filled face. The longest strands of blond hair moved with the wind along with the baggy t-shirt Naruto had on. Sasuke guessed it was out of habit that he had a holster on his right leg.
How Sasuke longed to preserve this image. Not only in his memory, but to show it to everyone else through his art how alive Naruto was at this moment. Sasuke saw Naruto's lips move but didn't hear what he said. He was too caught up in his thoughts to hear him.
One moment Naruto was standing in his sight the next he was gone. Surprise showed for a moment on Sasuke's face before he felt a pair of arms around his waist that lifted him from the ground and spun him around in circles making Sasuke yelp in surprise before he started to laugh.
"Not fair to phase out when someone is talking to you, Sasuke-koi." Naruto said loudly so as to be heard over Sasuke's laughter.
Sasuke's world was spinning just as much as he was and he managed only a "stop it and put me down", through his laughter. When Naruto finally stopped spinning him around and put him down he wasn't prepared for everything to continue spinning around him so he stumbled a little before starting to fall. He grabbed onto the closest thing for support, which happened to be Naruto's shirt, pulling him down too.
Both landed in a heap, laughing and giggling. "What did you do that for?" Naruto asked finally.
Sasuke swallowed his laughter a bit and replied. "Take that as payback for spinning me around so much." Naruto pouted. "Aw. You're still so cute when you pout like that, dobe-koi." Sasuke said with a smile.
Naruto's temper flared when he heard the old nickname. "Don't call me that bastard." Naruto said loudly, making Sasuke start to laugh again. As Naruto watched Sasuke laugh he felt himself grin like a mad man.
"It's good to hear you laugh again." A new evil plan popped up in his head. "No hard feelings Sasuke-koi." Naruto said before he started to tickle him. Sasuke tried to escape the attacking hands while he tried to hold back his laughter and a little wrestling fight started up. Whenever Sasuke managed to get away Naruto would follow and tickle him some more. The clearing was filled with the two boys' laughter. Sasuke felt his voice become raw from all the laughing and did the first thing that came to him to make Naruto stop. He kissed him.
He grabbed Naruto's head and pressed his lips against the other boy's and that caught Naruto off guard and distracted him from what he was doing to Sasuke. Not that he was complaining. Sasuke opened his lips enough so that he could lick Naruto's, almost begging for entrance. Naruto's head was now spinning from a completely different reason and he didn't even notice that Sasuke had rolled them over so tha he was on top. He was too busy with responding to the kiss to even care about it. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist and held him close. When they broke apart, Sasuke closed his eyes and rested his head against Naruto's shoulder. He let the blond boy play with his dark hair.
A warm feeling rested in Naruto's heart. It was nice to be wanted again for some other reason than being a shinobi. To be loved and secured within the arms of someone else. Someone he knew wouldn't leave him and that he loved back. It just felt so right.
Some clouds had made their way in front of the sun casting a few shadows here and there in the clearing. Not that they cared or anything. They just lay where they were, letting the light come and go over them.
When Sasuke finally opened his eyes again he saw the memorial where their past bodies laid buried. It was strange in a way to see it, but he didn't know how faith worked or how they were so lucky to get a second chance.
His ebony eyes watched the marks and symbols on the memorial. Funny, I don't remember it that way.
The faces on the stone had their eyes closed, but were smiling softly at each other. The flowers had lost more of their blades and it looked like there were even some new buds growing. Maybe I hit my head a little too hard or does this mean...
Sasuke gently placed his hand on Naruto's chest and shook lightly. "Koi, does the memorial look any different to you?"
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at the memorial. He frowned when he saw it. "You're right. It wasn't like that when I saw it last time."
They stared at it for a few minutes. "Do you... know what that means?" Sasuke asked.
"Nope." Naruto said truthfully. "Maybe that we have finally found each once again." Naruto looked down at Sasuke while the dark haired boy looked up at him. Sasuke's eyes looked questioningly back at him. "I'm just guessing here." Naruto exclaimed.
Sasuke sighed as he laid his head back down on Naruto's shoulder. He read the words on the memorial.
"Sotto, sotto (Gently, gently) hitomi tojite (I close my eyes) kimi wo kanjite iru (And I can feel you)
mata kaze ni sasowarete (Once again, called by the wind) hito wa sora wo miageru (People look up to the skies) aenai yoru wa hoshi ni (On nights when I can't meet you, I make a wish) negai wo kakeru no (Upon the stars)
hontou no watashi ga ite (The real me is here) daremo wakaranai kedo (Although nobody can tell)
koko ni iru kara (Because I'm here) matte iru kara (Because I'm waiting) kimi dake wa kitzuite! (I want you only to notice!)
zutto, zutto (On and on) yume wo miteru (I am dreaming) omoi ga itsuka todoku you ni (So that my thoughts will one day reach you)
sotto, sotto (Gently, gently) hitomi tojiru (I close my eyes)
kiete shimawanai de...(Don't disappear...)"
Naruto turned his head from Sasuke and stared up at the blue sky. "Naruto?"
Even if he heard Sasuke's voice he didn't turn his head to look at him. "I suffered so much then and now too. No one ever saw me for who I was. They only saw Kyuubi or someone that they could use." He whispered. "I don't think that I would have survived if I hadn't met you, Sasuke."
Sasuke raised himself on his elbows so he could see Naruto's face.
Naruto didn't say anything, he just put a hand in Sasuke's black hair and caressed it, feeling the softness of it between his fingers. "I actually wished for you to see me back then." Naruto said low. "When I was alone I would look at the moon and hope that you were searching for me so I could forget the pain..."
Sasuke placed a finger over Naruto's lips, silencing him. "Naruto, that time is over. I know now that I've waited for so long to be with you again, that I won't let you go. How could I not notice you? You were all I saw after I realized that my feelings for you were more than only friendship."
Naruto looked at Sasuke with his big blue eyes before he kissed his fingertips. He smiled at Sasuke. "I know that I'm dreaming when you are with me. So as long as you are with me I won't wake up from this dream."
Sasuke shook his head. "Baka. This is reality!" With that he removed his fingers and replaced them with his lips. After the kiss ended he laid his head on Naruto's chest, under the blond boy's chin. Sasuke laid both his hands on Naruto's chest, feeling the heartbeat under his palms. It didn't say that when you died. But then again that pain wasn't real either.
Sasuke closed his eyes as his mind was filled with old memories that he just wanted to forget, even if they were memories he could still feel the pain they brought with them.
Memory
Sasuke, the 6th Hokage, sat curled up in bed with the blanket wrapped up around his shoulders. His arms folded against his knees and his face buried in them, just like all the times before at this hour of the night. Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, memories of Naruto flashed through his mind. Each time it hurt just as much if not worse.
Sasuke sat back against the wall and shut his eyes close so hard he could feel tears at their edge. One of his hands clutched the area over his heart. It hurt so much and there was nothing he could do to ease the pain.
He also found that it was during this time that he would cry openly, letting all the pain he felt out and just cry heartbrokenly into the silence of the room. Nothing he did would help him heal the pain he felt, unless someone could give him back his beloved.
He looked up and gazed around the bedroom. Everything was so dark and quiet. At first he had thought that when he turned around in the bed he would see Naruto lying there with a peaceful smile across his face. He would wake up and wrap his arms around Sasuke's waist, kissing him softly and telling him to get the sleep he needed. He would then rest his head against Sasuke's chest and wait until he was sure the other one was sleeping. Those were the most peaceful times of his adult life.
"Nothing is the same anymore!" Sasuke said low before crawling out of bed and walking out to the living room. He was clad in an oversized t-shirt that almost reached down to his knees. The same one Naruto used to wear when he had a day off and spend it at his place. Just laying on the sofa and being lazy.
He still hadn't let anyone clean out this apartment. He knew that it wasn't looking good if he kept his dead friend's old apartment like it was, but he felt closer to Naruto when he was there. It both made it easier and harder at the same time to live on, but it was also a painful reminder of what he had lost because of his personal fears. Everywhere there were memories of them together and he was sure that he even heard Naruto's voice sometime. He reached for a pair of black trousers on a chair and put them on. He didn't care to change the t-shirt so he just put the front edge inside the pants. He walked over to the table where a vase with a lonely white rose stood. Taking the rose out of the water he walked out of the apartment.
He walked all the way through Konoha and not really seeing the people around him, he didn't even registered what he was doing. Tsunade and all his friends had thought that it would be good for him to get a break away from everything and think through what had happen. It didn't make any difference, Naruto was gone and so was Sasuke's most important reason to live. Even now, Sakura tried to ask him out to cheer him up. She would say that she was going to meet some friends and asked if he wanted to come along. The idea wasn't bad, but for the most she screwed up somehow and made Sasuke's eyes freeze to ice right in front of her.
She even made the mistake to say once with a smile. "Come one, Sasuke-kun. It will be fun." Sasuke leaned against the railing of the bridge; they were supposed to meet Kakashi there for a final mission together. Sasuke had of course been the one to give it to them. She laid a hand over his shoulder. "I'm sure Naruto would have agreed with me since you would beat him easily when you fight. You were always the stronger of the two. The fact that you are Hokage proves it, even if he tried his hardest he couldn't reach your level."
Sasuke's body stiffened and his expression changed from emotionless to something that Sakura couldn't pinpoint. Fury? Anger? Sadness? Disbelief? All of them? It made her mentally shiver and she removed her hand. He didn't turn to face her immediately, but when he did she took a step back. She had never seen Sasuke like this and it made her regret her words, she hadn't known Sasuke would react like this.
"Naruto didn't need a title to prove that he was the strongest of us all. The fact that he died to protect me proves it more than anything else. Don't talk like you know things, Sakura. People who talk like that about those who are already dead make me sick." He turned his back to her. "Tell Kakashi that the mission is cancelled."
Sasuke blinked and looked around. He hadn't realized that he had reached the clearing so soon. He had been too lost in memories to notice anything else.
He slowly walked over to the grave stone. It didn't feel real, nothing ever did anymore. He slowly sat down on the grass and just stared at the stone.
Uzumaki Naruto
The most painful moment was when you died, I'll always remember you in my heart until We meet again.
Uchiha Sasuke
He just sat there without moving, holding the white flower in his hand.
End Memory
Naruto felt Sasuke grip his shirt more tightly. "Sasuke what is it?" He asked.
Sasuke just shooked his head before trying to burry his face in Naruto's shirt. He had missed the familiar smell and warmth for so long. He felt a hand in his hair and looked up to see clear blue eyes watching him back.
They just looked at each other for a long time until a thought hit Naruto. "Hey, do you think it's still there?" Naruto asked Sasuke.
Sasuke blinked and he had almost no time to think before Naruto pushed him off and stood up. The blond walked over to the memorial but didn't stop there and walked past it instead to the tree behind it in the shadow. When he suddenly smiled Sasuke couldn't contain his curiosity and walked over to the tree.
Naruto pointed at the tree. "Look!" He said with a big smile.
There, was their names they had written so long ago. After all this time it was still there. "It looks like it hasn't been touched by the time that has passed by." Sasuke said.
Naruto couldn't do anything else but agree. A new idea hit him and he grabbed one of his kunais and engraved a new word on the tree under the rest.
Sasuke looked confused. "What are you doing?"
Naruto didn't answer. When he was done he stepped back, letting Sasuke get a good view of the words.
SASUKE NARUTO = 4EVER AGAIN
Happy with the result Naruto put the kunai away and turned toward Sasuke. He smiled broadly before giving Sasuke's cheek a kiss and walked back out in the sun.
Sasuke gave the tree a last glance before walking after Naruto.
Naruto thought about something else and didn't notice Sasuke until he felt someone jump onto his back. He let out a startled yelp.
"And you were a shinobi?" Sasuke teased him. His arms were around Naruto's neck while he got off his back. "What were you thinking about?"
Naruto turned his head so he could see Sasuke's face. "I talked to the Hokage this week with a request and he gave me his answer today."
"What was it about?" Sasuke tilted his head so some of his hair fell into his face. Naruto reached up and pushed them away.
"He's letting me continue as a normal ANBU." Naruto said with a big smile.
"Nani?" Did he hear right?
Naruto nodded. "You heard me. I've been restless and with you in school it gets lonely so I asked if I could be a Leaf ANBU."
Sasuke tighten his grip once again on Naruto and started to cut his air ways. He felt desperation seep into his body. His actions confused the blond boy. "What's wrong? Aren't' you happy for me?"
"I don't want to lose you again!" Sasuke confessed.
"Who ever said I would die. I won't die and leave you again." Naruto reassured.
"How can you promise that?" Sasuke asked in an angry tone.
"Sasuke..." Somehow Naruto managed to turn around and faced the dark haired boy. "I won't wait another 200 years. I won't die this time; I promise you that with all my heart."
Sasuke eyed Naruto suspiciously. "Since when did you make so poetic promises?"
"The day you started to be an asshole again!"
"Who are you calling asshole, dobe?"
"Since I'm dobe-koi, you asshole." Naruto shot back.
"Who said you were dobe-koi?" Sasuke asked. "When you me kissed earlier." Naruto said. Sasuke couldn't help but feel a faint blush creep over his face. He just remembered that Naruto was right. He did call him dobe-koi.
Kuso!
"You are cute when you blush and I promise that I won't die." Naruto said. Sasuke looked into his eyes.
"Promise. I don't want to be alone again." Naruto almost broke under sasuke's gaze that was filled with everything he felt.
"I promise on Kyuubi's nine tails."
You got a sick sense of humor, brat Kyuubi growled.
Welcome back. Kyuubi! Naruto smiled. "Kyuubi says hi." Naruto told Sasuke.
"What?" Sasuke asked.
I did no such thing, dammit. Deep inside Kyuubi was happy to talk to the little brat again, but he would admit that when hell froze over.
"Come on, dobe-koi. Let's go back!" Sasuke said when he got over the shock.
"Who the hell are you calling dobe?" Naruto asked in fake anger.
Sasuke's smile made Naruto feel nervous. Sasuke leaned forward until their lips were mere inches apart. "My dobe-koi of course." He then kissed the other boy and any argument he had was gone.
When they broke apart neither said say a word.
"I could definitely live like this." Naruto finally exclaimed before kissing Sasuke again, swallowing the laughter that escaped his mouth. He wrapped his arms around the other's neck, holding him close. Neither let the other go for a long time.
To be continued... in the last chapter...
Author Note: So all that is left now is one chapter, a little sad but at the same time I'm happy about it. It will take some burden off my shoulders so I can start on a new story that I'm thinking about, at least try to chose one of the ideas I have... This was the first multi-chapter story that I've ever made and I'm sure am surprised that it went as far as 13 1 chapters. sigh I'm happy : D The next one can be seen as the last chapter but also as an epilogue, I guess. Wait and see how it ends.
Hint for Chapter 14: If you think about the surprise for Naruto, it's a thing I haven't written in any of my fics, not even in my one-part story. That's all the hint I'll give you...
PLEASE... Since this is the second last (or whatever it's called) REVIEW on this and chap 14 when it gets out.
TEASER FOR THIS CHAPTER: like I said to my beta reader when I was writing this one, Sakura and Ino probably hates me for this one IM SOOOO HAPPY!!!!!! Not that I have anything against them except for their Sasuke obsession... Huge sweat drops
Editor's note: sorry for the delay, it was my fault, I had a series of exams and monkan kindly waited for me to be done.
Parings: Yaoi. SasuNaru. Like it has been through this whole story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. TT I'm all right now
Itsu Made Mo, Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by Asaroth
Chapter 13 - This is how I want to live
Sasuke sat under one of the trees in the schoolyard with his lunch. It had been almost two weeks since they had left the hospital and Naruto moved in with him. Things had gone back to normal after that, well for him anyway.
Naruto still had some difficulty to settle into the life he had now. Not that he didn't do a great job considering the circumstances, but he was getting restless with nothing to do. There was not a day when he didn't catch Naruto looking out the window with a faraway look.
Sasuke picked up a rice ball and began to eat it while he worked on a new sketch. Sasuke found that whenever he missed the blond boy, he would end up painting his face. Which happened to be pretty often, now wasn't an exception. He let the pencil draw ghostly lines over Naruto's face to create shadows. He stopped for a moment to look at what he had done this time.
His face looked so peaceful that it melted Sasuke's heart. A soft smile played on his lips and he didn't even notice the figure coming closer to him.
"Doesn't it get lonely sitting here alone, sasu-koi?"
Sasuke almost jumped out of his skin. He looked up from the sketch, and just right in front of his nose was Naruto, a fox smile on his face. When Sasuke got over the actual shock, he smiled warmly back at Naruto.
"Iie, this is one of the few breaks I have when I'm not troubled with fan girl's. But now that you are here I have to agree it was a little lonely." He closed the small distance between them and softly kissed Naruto's lips. He pulled back and waited for Naruto to sit down next to him.
Naruto wrapped his arm around Sasuke's waist and rested his head against the raven haired boys shoulder while he watched Sasuke work and eat. Words weren't needed, both were happy with each other and they felt like they could stay a millennium under that tree.
Naruto was impressed with Sasuke's talent with art, he himself had enough trouble writing the basic kanjis.
These last two weeks had been challenging and the best in his life. Naruto had to admit that he wasn't used to take it easy after everything, but it felt good in some way. Especially since Sasuke was there with him. He loved the way he could hold someone when he slept and knew that he would wake up with that same person in his arms the next morning.
To be with Sasuke at all was a blessing. Naruto wouldn't admit it to Sasuke or anyone else, but he still thought that people stared after him when he walked through the streets. He had spent the days walking through Konoha while Sasuke was in school. It gave him a good time to get to know the village and the villagers.
"I heard about some long mission shinobis talked about when they got back to the village today. They said something that made me a little worried." Naruto said in a low voice.
Sasuke paused momentarily. "What did they say?"
Naruto took a deep breath. "They said they encountered a monster on their way home. Just over a week ago. It attacked them and they lost two of their team mates before they killed it. Sasuke... the way they described the monster... It was... almost like Kuji." Naruto buried his face in the nape of Sasuke's shoulder. "I don't want him to have survived somehow. I want him dead so he'll leave us alone."
Sasuke didn't move. Could that monster have survived somehow? If he had had enough time to recover, then... Sasuke shook his head to get rid of the thought. One of his arms wrapped around Naruto's shoulders. "Whatever it was, it's gone now."
Naruto nodded slowly. The silence lasted for a few minutes before Naruto couldn't stand it anymore, so he decided to steal some food from Sasuke. He reached to the other side of Sasuke and grabbed one of the last rice balls before bringing it to his mouth.
"Hey what are you doing?" Sasuke asked with an accusing look in his eyes.
"Eating." Naruto said with his mouth full of food. Sasuke tried to stay angry with him but failed miserably. He was about to say something when they saw two shadows on the ground before them.
He looked up and almost groaned when he saw that is was Sakura and Ino. He didn't like the way they looked at Naruto, they put a whole new meaning to the saying; 'If looks could kill.'
"Who is he, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked when she turned her attention to the boy of her dreams.
Sasuke could feel Naruto tense beside him. If this Sakura was just like the one of the past then he knew he could be hurt really badly. She may be a girl, but when provoked she had proved she could fight like a boy.
Naruto and Sasuke shared a look before turning their heads back to the girls. Naruto felt Sasuke's arm hold him closer.
"This is my boyfriend." Sasuke said with so much warmth in his voice so it shocked Sakura and Ino just as much as the actual news did. They stared at the couple with their jaws on the ground.
"Boy-f-friend...?" Ino choked out.
Sasuke nodded. "Got a problem with that?" He asked.
Ino and Sakura couldn't think properly. In their minds this couldn't be happening. "But, you can be... it can't be true." Sakura tried to deny it.
That got Sasuke's temper to flare. How thick-headed were these girls? "What can't be true? That I'm in love with a boy or that I'm already taken?"
"But we just thought that... that...that he was a very close friend." Sakura said once she got over her own shock. "You can't be..." She couldn't say the word.
"Gay?" Naruto filled in.
Naruto suddenly wished he hadn't said anything when the two girls glared more threateningly than anything before in his life. He mentally gulped. He could almost see his lifespan shorten by several years right in front of his eyes. Screw having been a cursed ANBU, it didn't even compare to the level of death he could read in the two girls' attitude alone. He unconsciously snuggled further into Sasuke's embrace. Naruto's thoughts about all the things he wanted to do before he died were cut short when he felt Sasuke's arms around him. Holding him even more secured than before.
Sasuke glared back at Sakura and Ino. "If you got a problem with that then it's not our problem. Leave us alone if you can't handle the truth."
For a moment Sakura and Ino looked like they were torn between two decisions. One was probably to leave so they didn't get on sasuke's wrong side. The other one... Naruto didn't even want to think about it, because it probably had a lot to do with pain and him.
Sakura and Ino exchanged a glance for a moment before turning around and heading back into the school halls.
Naruto sighed in relief that he had survived one of the most dangerous moments in his short life. He shifted slightly and felt Sasuke's arms still holding him tight. Naruto looked up to find ebony eyes watching him. His dark eyes held something that he couldn't describe. Naruto stared with a questioning look.
"I won't let them hurt you. You protected me once from danger with the cost of your life and now I'm going to do the same. I won't let those girls hurt you again." Sasuke said in a voice so tender Naruto wasn't sure he caught it.
He just blinked at Sasuke before burying his face in Sasuke's chest. "Arigatou." He said in response.
They sat there for the rest of Sasuke's lunch break before he had to go to his next class. They stood up and Naruto made him a deal that he would walk with him to his next class if he got the rest of his lunch.
Sasuke looked for a moment like he had to think hard about it, saying things like he really wanted the last rice ball for himself and other things on how good his lunch was and when he was done he saw that Naruto was almost drooling. He smiled at Naruto before giving him the lunch box. Naruto gave him a fox smile before grasping his hand and walking with him into the halls of Sasuke's school.
Sasuke showed his school to Naruto on their way to his locker and for the first time Sasuke was shocked to see that there were only twelve love letters in his locker. He still threw them into a nearby trash can. After picking up his books they walked through the corridors until they came up to two big doors. Sasuke gave Naruto a little goodbye kiss on his cheek before letting go of his hand and going inside.
Naruto sighed happily. He could get used to live with this every day. He turned to leave but was stopped by an older woman. He saw a pink and a blond haired girl behind her.
Oh crap!
"Sakura and Ino say that you were in the battle against that dreadful man. You wouldn't mind telling us about it and answering some questions?" She must have been the head master, late forties if he guessed right but would probably look younger if she only got rid of those horrible glasses.
"Well, eh... I really..." Naruto didn't have a chance to finish.
"Oh so good! Sakura and Ino told me that you were a little shy, but don't worry. It's not that bad once you get used to it." She said in a cheery voice before pushing him toward the same doors Sasuke had entered.
Shy? Bite me... He didn't have time to curse more because he was pushed through the doors and he came face to face with what looked like... Naruto did a fast calculation, it wasn't hard if you knew how to count enemies. Twelve girls on the front row. Forty girls and boys on the middle rows. That's 52 and over there is Sasuke with... Naruto sweat dropped. Err.. Make that surrounded by girls.
Sasuke had looked up from his book and was stunned when he saw Naruto being shoved in by his teacher and headmaster. What's he doing here? He asked himself with a frown.
"Everyone, you are going to get a special re-told story about the incident that happened a few weeks ago that cost us the lives of a few of our best shinobis' and the destruction of our wall and village." The teacher said.
Sasuke watched Naruto. The blond ninja didn't betray a single thing. But inside he's probably swearing for his bad luck.
Sasuke couldn't have been more right. Naruto was mentally making his Will, not much on it and since Sasuke would get everything he had it ended with a single sentence. The other thing he made was planning revenge on the two girls that had put him where he was.
"So I'm going to let you ask a few questions that Mr...?" She paused for the first time in five minutes and turned her head to Naruto.
"Naruto." He said slowly.
"Naruto will answer from his point of view." She finished before clapping her hands and walking to sit at the front row. All Naruto could do was stand there like an idiot and send glares between the teacher for doing this to him and to the girls that held responsibility for this as well. The last thing he looked at was Sasuke with pleading eyes that told him to save him once again.
A hand reached up and Naruto had enough rational thoughts left to let the questioning begin.
"What are you doing in Konoha?" A boy asked.
Naruto blinked for a moment before he finally calmed down and saw that maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Sasuke waited eagerly for the answer. Maybe he would get some answers himself.
"Since your Hokage will give out the details soon, I'll tell you some of it. I was asked to come by your Hokage for a mission that they thought only I had the power to complete even if something went wrong. They had only heard rumours about me before and I know that the old man wasn't happy with sending someone as young as me in. Most employers are like that when they see me. After the mission was completed and the incident over, I found that I had someone to stay with in Konoha and here I am."
Another hand reached up. "What was the mission about?" That got everyone's attention, even Sasuke's.
Naruto thought for a moment. "It is a little hard to explain all the detail, but I can sum it up for you. 'Infiltrate a new and dangerous group called the Black Wave. Don't raise any suspicions; once inside you must get every shinobi on this list out of there, they are on your side. "Killing" them is the only way to get them out. No one quits the group and no one leaves it with their lives. If someone finds out, get rid of that person by any means necessarily. Do what ever you can to avoid getting too deep for now. Watch out for the man, Kuji, the most dangerous man in the Black Wave. After completing the list you must go deeper and find out what they are planning and with everything you have, to destroy their plan.' " Naruto sat down on the desk near him.
"Here is what I found out. It went much deeper than they had thought. The Black Wave's plans went all the way down to control one of the Kages in order to start up a new war. They were all missing or S-classed ninjas in the bingo book. So it wasn't surprising to find that they used a drug they had made to control the Kage, I won't say who it was so don't ask. Once inside I couldn't get any privacy, mostly because I was new and they didn't trust me and why should they? Kuji was the worst one, he didn't trust anyone. It wasn't one of the missions you would like to tell anyone about, but this mission did actually happen and so did my part in it, even if I'm not proud of it. People that didn't have anything to do with it died and that part is what I'm most ashamed of."
Everyone was quiet. No one knew what to say as they took in this rare story of what happened. Sasuke looked at Naruto's face with new understanding of what the other boy had gone through.
A girl with short blue hair slowly raised her hand. Naruto nodded to show that he had seen her. "Who was it that you found here in Konoha?"
Naruto smiled at the girl but his eyes caught Sasuke's. A revenge plan had formed in his head. Sakura and Ino were sooo going to regret this, in their view at least.
"I found someone I loved."
The girl was happy that he didn't have a problem with the subject. "Who was it? Someone we know?" She asked again.
"Yes, you know him." With that Naruto jumped down from the desk. Sweet, sweet revenge. He slowly walked over to where Sasuke sat and when he was standing on the other side of Sasuke's desk he leaned forward and gently brushed their lips against each others.
Sasuke responded by closing his eyes before he kissed Naruto back. When Naruto pulled back he was a little disappointed but didn't say anything because Naruto was smiling at him and he looked so happy that it warmed Sasuke's heart.
"Did you see their faces or what?" Naruto yelled happily back at Sasuke.
Sasuke smirked as he watched Naruto walk ahead of him. Naruto did a few flips of joy that his plan had worked like a charm. He would always remember Sakura's and Ino's faces when he had kissed Sasuke right in front of the entire class.
Naruto looked up to the sky. "I actually thought that they would kill me for real afterwards, but it was worth it. I can't even describe their faces. They just looked so... so... CRUSHED!" Naruto faced Sasuke with a big smile. "Ne, what do you think?"
Sasuke stood still a bit away, watching Naruto. For some reason Naruto had brought him back to the clearing they used to spend so much time in. As it was late spring almost everything was blooming, making it look like Naruto really belonged there, among everything with his huge smile and joy filled face. The longest strands of blond hair moved with the wind along with the baggy t-shirt Naruto had on. Sasuke guessed it was out of habit that he had a holster on his right leg.
How Sasuke longed to preserve this image. Not only in his memory, but to show it to everyone else through his art how alive Naruto was at this moment. Sasuke saw Naruto's lips move but didn't hear what he said. He was too caught up in his thoughts to hear him.
One moment Naruto was standing in his sight the next he was gone. Surprise showed for a moment on Sasuke's face before he felt a pair of arms around his waist that lifted him from the ground and spun him around in circles making Sasuke yelp in surprise before he started to laugh.
"Not fair to phase out when someone is talking to you, Sasuke-koi." Naruto said loudly so as to be heard over Sasuke's laughter.
Sasuke's world was spinning just as much as he was and he managed only a "stop it and put me down", through his laughter. When Naruto finally stopped spinning him around and put him down he wasn't prepared for everything to continue spinning around him so he stumbled a little before starting to fall. He grabbed onto the closest thing for support, which happened to be Naruto's shirt, pulling him down too.
Both landed in a heap, laughing and giggling. "What did you do that for?" Naruto asked finally.
Sasuke swallowed his laughter a bit and replied. "Take that as payback for spinning me around so much." Naruto pouted. "Aw. You're still so cute when you pout like that, dobe-koi." Sasuke said with a smile.
Naruto's temper flared when he heard the old nickname. "Don't call me that bastard." Naruto said loudly, making Sasuke start to laugh again. As Naruto watched Sasuke laugh he felt himself grin like a mad man.
"It's good to hear you laugh again." A new evil plan popped up in his head. "No hard feelings Sasuke-koi." Naruto said before he started to tickle him. Sasuke tried to escape the attacking hands while he tried to hold back his laughter and a little wrestling fight started up. Whenever Sasuke managed to get away Naruto would follow and tickle him some more. The clearing was filled with the two boys' laughter. Sasuke felt his voice become raw from all the laughing and did the first thing that came to him to make Naruto stop. He kissed him.
He grabbed Naruto's head and pressed his lips against the other boy's and that caught Naruto off guard and distracted him from what he was doing to Sasuke. Not that he was complaining. Sasuke opened his lips enough so that he could lick Naruto's, almost begging for entrance. Naruto's head was now spinning from a completely different reason and he didn't even notice that Sasuke had rolled them over so tha he was on top. He was too busy with responding to the kiss to even care about it. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist and held him close. When they broke apart, Sasuke closed his eyes and rested his head against Naruto's shoulder. He let the blond boy play with his dark hair.
A warm feeling rested in Naruto's heart. It was nice to be wanted again for some other reason than being a shinobi. To be loved and secured within the arms of someone else. Someone he knew wouldn't leave him and that he loved back. It just felt so right.
Some clouds had made their way in front of the sun casting a few shadows here and there in the clearing. Not that they cared or anything. They just lay where they were, letting the light come and go over them.
When Sasuke finally opened his eyes again he saw the memorial where their past bodies laid buried. It was strange in a way to see it, but he didn't know how faith worked or how they were so lucky to get a second chance.
His ebony eyes watched the marks and symbols on the memorial. Funny, I don't remember it that way.
The faces on the stone had their eyes closed, but were smiling softly at each other. The flowers had lost more of their blades and it looked like there were even some new buds growing. Maybe I hit my head a little too hard or does this mean...
Sasuke gently placed his hand on Naruto's chest and shook lightly. "Koi, does the memorial look any different to you?"
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at the memorial. He frowned when he saw it. "You're right. It wasn't like that when I saw it last time."
They stared at it for a few minutes. "Do you... know what that means?" Sasuke asked.
"Nope." Naruto said truthfully. "Maybe that we have finally found each once again." Naruto looked down at Sasuke while the dark haired boy looked up at him. Sasuke's eyes looked questioningly back at him. "I'm just guessing here." Naruto exclaimed.
Sasuke sighed as he laid his head back down on Naruto's shoulder. He read the words on the memorial.
"Sotto, sotto (Gently, gently) hitomi tojite (I close my eyes) kimi wo kanjite iru (And I can feel you)
mata kaze ni sasowarete (Once again, called by the wind) hito wa sora wo miageru (People look up to the skies) aenai yoru wa hoshi ni (On nights when I can't meet you, I make a wish) negai wo kakeru no (Upon the stars)
hontou no watashi ga ite (The real me is here) daremo wakaranai kedo (Although nobody can tell)
koko ni iru kara (Because I'm here) matte iru kara (Because I'm waiting) kimi dake wa kitzuite! (I want you only to notice!)
zutto, zutto (On and on) yume wo miteru (I am dreaming) omoi ga itsuka todoku you ni (So that my thoughts will one day reach you)
sotto, sotto (Gently, gently) hitomi tojiru (I close my eyes)
kiete shimawanai de...(Don't disappear...)"
Naruto turned his head from Sasuke and stared up at the blue sky. "Naruto?"
Even if he heard Sasuke's voice he didn't turn his head to look at him. "I suffered so much then and now too. No one ever saw me for who I was. They only saw Kyuubi or someone that they could use." He whispered. "I don't think that I would have survived if I hadn't met you, Sasuke."
Sasuke raised himself on his elbows so he could see Naruto's face.
Naruto didn't say anything, he just put a hand in Sasuke's black hair and caressed it, feeling the softness of it between his fingers. "I actually wished for you to see me back then." Naruto said low. "When I was alone I would look at the moon and hope that you were searching for me so I could forget the pain..."
Sasuke placed a finger over Naruto's lips, silencing him. "Naruto, that time is over. I know now that I've waited for so long to be with you again, that I won't let you go. How could I not notice you? You were all I saw after I realized that my feelings for you were more than only friendship."
Naruto looked at Sasuke with his big blue eyes before he kissed his fingertips. He smiled at Sasuke. "I know that I'm dreaming when you are with me. So as long as you are with me I won't wake up from this dream."
Sasuke shook his head. "Baka. This is reality!" With that he removed his fingers and replaced them with his lips. After the kiss ended he laid his head on Naruto's chest, under the blond boy's chin. Sasuke laid both his hands on Naruto's chest, feeling the heartbeat under his palms. It didn't say that when you died. But then again that pain wasn't real either.
Sasuke closed his eyes as his mind was filled with old memories that he just wanted to forget, even if they were memories he could still feel the pain they brought with them.
Memory
Sasuke, the 6th Hokage, sat curled up in bed with the blanket wrapped up around his shoulders. His arms folded against his knees and his face buried in them, just like all the times before at this hour of the night. Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, memories of Naruto flashed through his mind. Each time it hurt just as much if not worse.
Sasuke sat back against the wall and shut his eyes close so hard he could feel tears at their edge. One of his hands clutched the area over his heart. It hurt so much and there was nothing he could do to ease the pain.
He also found that it was during this time that he would cry openly, letting all the pain he felt out and just cry heartbrokenly into the silence of the room. Nothing he did would help him heal the pain he felt, unless someone could give him back his beloved.
He looked up and gazed around the bedroom. Everything was so dark and quiet. At first he had thought that when he turned around in the bed he would see Naruto lying there with a peaceful smile across his face. He would wake up and wrap his arms around Sasuke's waist, kissing him softly and telling him to get the sleep he needed. He would then rest his head against Sasuke's chest and wait until he was sure the other one was sleeping. Those were the most peaceful times of his adult life.
"Nothing is the same anymore!" Sasuke said low before crawling out of bed and walking out to the living room. He was clad in an oversized t-shirt that almost reached down to his knees. The same one Naruto used to wear when he had a day off and spend it at his place. Just laying on the sofa and being lazy.
He still hadn't let anyone clean out this apartment. He knew that it wasn't looking good if he kept his dead friend's old apartment like it was, but he felt closer to Naruto when he was there. It both made it easier and harder at the same time to live on, but it was also a painful reminder of what he had lost because of his personal fears. Everywhere there were memories of them together and he was sure that he even heard Naruto's voice sometime. He reached for a pair of black trousers on a chair and put them on. He didn't care to change the t-shirt so he just put the front edge inside the pants. He walked over to the table where a vase with a lonely white rose stood. Taking the rose out of the water he walked out of the apartment.
He walked all the way through Konoha and not really seeing the people around him, he didn't even registered what he was doing. Tsunade and all his friends had thought that it would be good for him to get a break away from everything and think through what had happen. It didn't make any difference, Naruto was gone and so was Sasuke's most important reason to live. Even now, Sakura tried to ask him out to cheer him up. She would say that she was going to meet some friends and asked if he wanted to come along. The idea wasn't bad, but for the most she screwed up somehow and made Sasuke's eyes freeze to ice right in front of her.
She even made the mistake to say once with a smile. "Come one, Sasuke-kun. It will be fun." Sasuke leaned against the railing of the bridge; they were supposed to meet Kakashi there for a final mission together. Sasuke had of course been the one to give it to them. She laid a hand over his shoulder. "I'm sure Naruto would have agreed with me since you would beat him easily when you fight. You were always the stronger of the two. The fact that you are Hokage proves it, even if he tried his hardest he couldn't reach your level."
Sasuke's body stiffened and his expression changed from emotionless to something that Sakura couldn't pinpoint. Fury? Anger? Sadness? Disbelief? All of them? It made her mentally shiver and she removed her hand. He didn't turn to face her immediately, but when he did she took a step back. She had never seen Sasuke like this and it made her regret her words, she hadn't known Sasuke would react like this.
"Naruto didn't need a title to prove that he was the strongest of us all. The fact that he died to protect me proves it more than anything else. Don't talk like you know things, Sakura. People who talk like that about those who are already dead make me sick." He turned his back to her. "Tell Kakashi that the mission is cancelled."
Sasuke blinked and looked around. He hadn't realized that he had reached the clearing so soon. He had been too lost in memories to notice anything else.
He slowly walked over to the grave stone. It didn't feel real, nothing ever did anymore. He slowly sat down on the grass and just stared at the stone.
Uzumaki Naruto
The most painful moment was when you died, I'll always remember you in my heart until We meet again.
Uchiha Sasuke
He just sat there without moving, holding the white flower in his hand.
End Memory
Naruto felt Sasuke grip his shirt more tightly. "Sasuke what is it?" He asked.
Sasuke just shooked his head before trying to burry his face in Naruto's shirt. He had missed the familiar smell and warmth for so long. He felt a hand in his hair and looked up to see clear blue eyes watching him back.
They just looked at each other for a long time until a thought hit Naruto. "Hey, do you think it's still there?" Naruto asked Sasuke.
Sasuke blinked and he had almost no time to think before Naruto pushed him off and stood up. The blond walked over to the memorial but didn't stop there and walked past it instead to the tree behind it in the shadow. When he suddenly smiled Sasuke couldn't contain his curiosity and walked over to the tree.
Naruto pointed at the tree. "Look!" He said with a big smile.
There, was their names they had written so long ago. After all this time it was still there. "It looks like it hasn't been touched by the time that has passed by." Sasuke said.
Naruto couldn't do anything else but agree. A new idea hit him and he grabbed one of his kunais and engraved a new word on the tree under the rest.
Sasuke looked confused. "What are you doing?"
Naruto didn't answer. When he was done he stepped back, letting Sasuke get a good view of the words.
SASUKE NARUTO = 4EVER AGAIN
Happy with the result Naruto put the kunai away and turned toward Sasuke. He smiled broadly before giving Sasuke's cheek a kiss and walked back out in the sun.
Sasuke gave the tree a last glance before walking after Naruto.
Naruto thought about something else and didn't notice Sasuke until he felt someone jump onto his back. He let out a startled yelp.
"And you were a shinobi?" Sasuke teased him. His arms were around Naruto's neck while he got off his back. "What were you thinking about?"
Naruto turned his head so he could see Sasuke's face. "I talked to the Hokage this week with a request and he gave me his answer today."
"What was it about?" Sasuke tilted his head so some of his hair fell into his face. Naruto reached up and pushed them away.
"He's letting me continue as a normal ANBU." Naruto said with a big smile.
"Nani?" Did he hear right?
Naruto nodded. "You heard me. I've been restless and with you in school it gets lonely so I asked if I could be a Leaf ANBU."
Sasuke tighten his grip once again on Naruto and started to cut his air ways. He felt desperation seep into his body. His actions confused the blond boy. "What's wrong? Aren't' you happy for me?"
"I don't want to lose you again!" Sasuke confessed.
"Who ever said I would die. I won't die and leave you again." Naruto reassured.
"How can you promise that?" Sasuke asked in an angry tone.
"Sasuke..." Somehow Naruto managed to turn around and faced the dark haired boy. "I won't wait another 200 years. I won't die this time; I promise you that with all my heart."
Sasuke eyed Naruto suspiciously. "Since when did you make so poetic promises?"
"The day you started to be an asshole again!"
"Who are you calling asshole, dobe?"
"Since I'm dobe-koi, you asshole." Naruto shot back.
"Who said you were dobe-koi?" Sasuke asked. "When you me kissed earlier." Naruto said. Sasuke couldn't help but feel a faint blush creep over his face. He just remembered that Naruto was right. He did call him dobe-koi.
Kuso!
"You are cute when you blush and I promise that I won't die." Naruto said. Sasuke looked into his eyes.
"Promise. I don't want to be alone again." Naruto almost broke under sasuke's gaze that was filled with everything he felt.
"I promise on Kyuubi's nine tails."
You got a sick sense of humor, brat Kyuubi growled.
Welcome back. Kyuubi! Naruto smiled. "Kyuubi says hi." Naruto told Sasuke.
"What?" Sasuke asked.
I did no such thing, dammit. Deep inside Kyuubi was happy to talk to the little brat again, but he would admit that when hell froze over.
"Come on, dobe-koi. Let's go back!" Sasuke said when he got over the shock.
"Who the hell are you calling dobe?" Naruto asked in fake anger.
Sasuke's smile made Naruto feel nervous. Sasuke leaned forward until their lips were mere inches apart. "My dobe-koi of course." He then kissed the other boy and any argument he had was gone.
When they broke apart neither said say a word.
"I could definitely live like this." Naruto finally exclaimed before kissing Sasuke again, swallowing the laughter that escaped his mouth. He wrapped his arms around the other's neck, holding him close. Neither let the other go for a long time.
To be continued... in the last chapter...
Author Note: So all that is left now is one chapter, a little sad but at the same time I'm happy about it. It will take some burden off my shoulders so I can start on a new story that I'm thinking about, at least try to chose one of the ideas I have... This was the first multi-chapter story that I've ever made and I'm sure am surprised that it went as far as 13 1 chapters. sigh I'm happy : D The next one can be seen as the last chapter but also as an epilogue, I guess. Wait and see how it ends.
Hint for Chapter 14: If you think about the surprise for Naruto, it's a thing I haven't written in any of my fics, not even in my one-part story. That's all the hint I'll give you...
PLEASE... Since this is the second last (or whatever it's called) REVIEW on this and chap 14 when it gets out.