A/N: I have stopped writing for almost 2 years now, but as I read other people's stories, something inside me told me to resume again. This may not exactly be the best you've read so far, and I don't really know how to express the emotions in this one, but I hope you'll receive this warmly.

Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Disclaimers: Naruto series and the song included are copyrighted and owned by their respective makers and creators, composer and lyricist.

First Channel: Risks

During those times when you were near, your breathing slow and sure, I often think about many things that begins to bombard my mind, almost endless curiosity of myself, wanting to ask you these irritating questions. However, the courage I felt when I wanted to ask rapidly disappears as soon as it came.

During those times when we fight, I wanted to tell you how much I hated you. I hate you for making me feel this way, when at one point you will make me think you're saying "I care for you," when you never do. As if in a snap of a finger, you will forget something ever happened. I hated it when you would accidentally look and meet my eyes, burning a hole in the wall I've created all these years. And you, with your blank look, would seemingly look as if you've smiled, making me swallow hard and hold breath, hoping that there is something beyond of what we are right now, dropping the deceptive façade we have around us and become something we never imagined to happen in a million centuries.

During those times when I see you, I hated it. Hated it that the more I see you, I'm getting in so deep that I don't know if I'll drown in despair in facing actuality, it's sharp thorns piercing me, causing my soul to bleed profusely, creating a hole and making me feel that the elixir of my life is wearing thin.

And when we talk obligingly, you make me stutter words out of my mouth, stopping any coherent thought from entering my mind; only the image of you and me in a place where no one would recognize us. A place to tell you how I really felt. And yet, in this time and space, in this dimension, there is nothing of that selfish fantasy. Nothing sort of that illusion would become reality. Only a mirage that simply disappears when you're in reach.

That is why at this moment, I have to hold this chance. It might be unfair to her, and I am guilty of using her special day for my own reasons. But chances are supposedly grabbed and held onto before it slips off. But I'm afraid, scared that you'll turn away and leave me. Afraid that you'll just see right through me and ignore me forever.

Maybe I'm not what I think I am. Maybe the arrogance I have is just a stupid mask used to fool people. I've become so good at it that it also had me fooled into thinking that I no longer fear anything. Maybe it's the cruel fate. Or maybe it's just me after all.

But I know I have to let go of my doubts and fears, and maybe tomorrow, I will hold you in my arms, tender and careful, pushing strands of your hair cascading over your face and it won't be just a dream or a mirage that will suddenly vanquish in the fabric of time.

Maybe tomorrow, I can finally surpass my fear to hold back on myself and build enough confidence to finally fight for what I may have. And when I acknowledge this unknown courage buried deep, it will be unlocked and it will flood that gates of my unconsciousness with only one thing to do.

Maybe tomorrow you will be mine and it will be the time when I would say that I am happy with my life and I could die content.

Maybe tomorrow you will love me back and we will settle out our differences.

And it won't be just an empty fantasy.

3 hours have passed and there was still no sign of the blonde that everyone was anticipating. Hinata had invited and asked if Naruto could possibly sing on her birthday. And as the other Rookie Nine tried to stop her from doing it, Naruto happily obliged. Of course, they couldn't do anything about it now, knowing that Hinata has mustered up gallons of courage just to pull that off. Only Naruto doesn't know what the dark-haired kunoichi feels about him. Sakura sometimes wonder how he could be dense about those things.

"I also haven't seen Naruto the whole day yesterday," Sakura commented.

"Me neither," Ino agreed.

"Maybe he just chickened out haha," Kiba commented. Others beside him were snickering telling that Naruto must've not prepared anything and was afraid that he'll just embarrass himself. Hinata was getting depressed by every passing moment, Neji just sitting at one corner while Sasuke scowling for even coming and believing the blonde idiot would actually perform. Though he, himself, doesn't know why he came. Whether it was for Hinata or simply because Naruto would do something he never did before.

Until someone sat on the stool and the lights on the stage were turned on. Everybody glanced at the moving figure which was Naruto, placing an old guitar on his lap and while the fingers on his right hand felt the string underneath.

"Oi Naruto! Where have you--"

A hand struck a string and cut Sakura off.

A voice emerged from previously sealed lips. "Our little conversations," A smooth, melodious tone was heard from the stage, "I'll turn them into little sweet sensations,"

Naryto closed his eyes, feeling the music he was creating. "And they're only getting sweeter every time,"

Another note.

"Our friendly get together, I'll turn them into visions of forever,"

Sakura sat down, totally holed on the singing boy, never had it occurred to her that the blonde-youth could sing like that. Everybody else was getting into their most comfortable positions, without even knowing.

"If I just believed this foolish heart of mine," the blonde opened his eyes and stared directly at Hinata's place.

Hinata blushed.

"I can't pretend, that I'm just a friend,"

Hinata stared back and…

"Cause I'm thinking maybe we were meant to be,"

…reality struck.

"I think I'm fallin', fallin', in love with you…"

A tear fell on one pale cheek.

"And I don't, I don't know what to do…"

Neji whimpered and glanced at his cousin who was suppressing a cry, a hand clamped to her mouth.

"I'm afraid you'll turn away, but I'll say it anyway, I think I'm falling… for you,"

It's not me…

"Whenever we're together, I'm wishing that good-byes would turn to never,"

It's not me…

"Cause with you is where I want to be,"

It's not me…

"Whenever I'm beside you, all I really want to do is hold you,"

Starting to break down, Hinata turned to her heels and left…

"No one else but you, has meant this much to me,"

…brushing off a wide-eyed Sasuke standing behind her.

"I can't pretend, that I'm just as friend,"

To Hinata, no one could probably compare the pain that it brought, especially when Naruto's stare just went through her like she was invisible.

"Cause I'm thinking maybe we were meant to be,"

Sasuke was aware what of what the blue-eyed youth was trying to send him.

He was falling…

"I think I'm fallin', fallin' in love with you,"

…for him.

"And I don't, I don't know what to do,"

Naruto closed his eyes again, knowing he made his point.

"I'm afraid you'll turn away, but I'll say it anyway,"

A vague smile, whispering 'dobe'.

"I think I'm falling for you…" Naruto opened his eyes, blue hoping to crash into black, to no avail.

"Falling… for you," the song ends as blue eyes disappear under the shadows of his Konoha emblem, in his mind burned the picture of the dark-haired shinobi…

…walking away…

Tears fell gently.

-Continued-