Title: El Bimbo

Author: Sky75rk

A/N: okay, the first part seems a bit complicated, basically, Naruto had to sing a song on Hinata's birthday, as requested by the female Hyuuga. So, he sang, with everyone listening, but his song was specifically dedicated to a certain dark-haired shinobi whom you all know too well. But he walked away…

/sigh/ do you want me to edit the first chapter?

Oh yeah, the title might not seem to have a connection with the story, but believe me, it has a connection. Let me explain once and for all to those who do not know. There's this song in the Philippines called "Ang Huling El Bimbo" the last part goes something like this: lumipas and ilang taon, at hindi na tayo nagkita, balita ko'y may anak ka na, ngunit walang asawa. Tagahugas ka raw, ng pinggan sa may Ermita, at isang gabi, nasagasaan sa isang madilim na eskinita…lahat ng pangarap ko'y bigla na lang natunaw. Sa panaginip nalang pala kita maisasayaw. Magkahawak and ating kamay at walang kamalay-malay na tinuruan mo ang puso ko na umibig ng tunay…(roughly translated: after a few years, we did not see each other. I heard you were just washing dishes in Ermita and one night you were you were run over in one dark alley. All my dreams suddenly vanished, I guess I will only get to dance with you in my dreams. We were holding hands and without any knowledge you taught my heart how to truly love…) so, I'm sorry for the lame translation and for those who knows the song, just bear with me… ) And okay, so maybe the song would have fitted better if it was Sasuke, but I know you'll all get it since all of you people are really smart!

Whew! What a long author's notes!

Second Channel: Day After

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, spilling onto the sleeping figure of the blonde youth. He tried to open two blue eyes, but severely failed when the light stung his eyes to discomfort, accompanied by the severe migraine that pierced in his head. Oh yeah, that's right. Yesterday was Hinata's birthday.

/yesterday was when I was rejected/

He glanced around the room, recalling that after his number, he immediately excused himself to go home, unable to greet the female Hyuuga a happy birthday. I don't think she'd appreciate it though. Naruto thought, the image of her crying because of him still in his mind. He was sorry because he had used her special day to not purposely hurt her, but he was not guilty, simply because he didn't reciprocate her feelings and he did not do any means to betray her.

Yet, his cruel course of action soon came back to him, when the one he dedicated his song to walked away.

Maybe I deserved it. A wistful smile donned on his usually bright face. It was the inevitable after all.

/I didn't stand a chance/

He sat from his bed only to fall back again. His arms were spread against the immaculate black sheets and his legs were dangling at the edge of the bed. It was not like him to have black sheets, but recently he had taken a liking to the dark color—like he was obsessed with it or something. Although he figured that it had nothing to do with him. His liking with the color was on a different wavelength than his liking with the raven haired ninja. He couldn't put it into words. It was like he felt… at peace at the confined space the color presented. He had taken it in his mentality that black is not the absence of color. White is, which is why he sometimes thought that Neji was really vacant. Not unpleasant, just uncomprehending.

As he once again looked around his surroundings he noticed that his curtains replaced the previous blue to black. Even his side table was painted black and his closet.

Naruto smiled inwardly. It seems dark and gloomy in here but I don't feel that way. He closed his eyes, opened it and stared blankly at the now black ceiling which he also painted. He tried to erase the memory of yesterday or lock it in another realm where he wouldn't encounter it any longer.

Feeling the time wasting away, he got up, went to the bathroom and showered. It was no use spending the day slaving himself to the unavoidable.

Naruto sighed and made a resolution. It's time to become my cheerful self once more.

/It's time to collect the pieces of broken glass once more/

Sasuke's sweat dribbled down his chin as the third tree crumbled at the force of his blow. The middle of its trunk was completely shattered into many fragments of twisted images of toothpicks. He sat down at the soft grass, mildly inhaling the scent of earth and the wind in it. After a few minutes, he stood up and continued his training with renewed vigor, imagining his opponents lunging towards him through all sides. He blocked, attacked, and sped his way through the labyrinth the forest was creating. Yet, he wasn't fooled by the illusion. He knew the Konoha forest by heart.

He turned around as his 'imaginary' opponent came from behind. Sasuke brought out a kunai and threw it, aiming at the 'ninja's' heart. As the kunai pushed forward he settled to the ground. His eyes widened.

Naruto.

He shook his head. Why the hell did he imagine that he was sparring with the blonde idiot? It is true that his sparring partner is Naruto, and together, they improved their skills at a faster pace. But he wasn't with Sasuke at the moment. And he wasn't infighting with him. He wouldn't, couldn't manage the will to ask him to.

He knew it was idiocy. Being taken aback by what happened yesterday. At first, he convinced himself that it wasn't him Naruto was staring at, as he saw Hinata in front of him. But as the music progressed and as the female Hyuuga went away crying, his suspicions were confirmed.

Nevertheless, he couldn't understand why Naruto would feel that way towards him. First, Naruto once considered him as his rival. He was his rival for the pink-haired kunoichi and to be the strongest ninja in Konoha. Second, they were both guys. That alone could trigger his conviction that it was never meant to be.

But when he remembered walking away, he also remembered that he hadn't been disgusted by what the blonde did. He hadn't been doing anything to state that he should back-off of him. And he hadn't been thinking of ways to stop him from making other moves.

What he told himself was that he was not interested.

Retrieving his kunai that was ledged on another tree trunk, he saw someone walking to the training grounds.

And he knew that this time, it wasn't an illusion.

It really was him.

Naruto was walking with his usual foxy grin on his face, his hands folded above his head, using it to as a leaning post. He didn't seem to notice Sasuke though. So Sasuke contemplated on disappearing before he was spotted.

While he was preparing to leave, a thought crossed on his mind. What the hell am I doing? Why am I avoiding him? At that, he stopped, letting the smiling boy see him.

And Naruto did.

But he was still smiling.

Strange, why isn't he any different? Sasuke was on the verge of confusion. If it was him in his position, he would have definitely used all means to evade him. Why?

Naruto was closing in on him, still smiling. When he was within arm's reach from the sharingan wielder, he talked.

"Ohayo, Sasuke!" Naruto greeted enthusiastically, unfolding his arms and waved at Sasuke. He glanced around and saw all the trees that were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair. "Geez Sasuke! Are you trying to destroy the forest or something?" he said, almost shouting, scowling. "You really are one cruel, selfish bastard,"

Naruto walked past him suddenly, taking a different trail. "Think about your actions before doing them, Sasuke-teme," He was grinning again, his unwavering smile pasted. Sasuke was speechless, he can't find the correct words. And he was feeling… what exactly was he feeling?

"I got to go now, see yah!" then he was gone.

Sasuke clenched his fists. Why is he so indifferent? Did he already forget about what he confessed to me last night? He could feel anger rushing all the way in his veins. The sensation was smoldering his senses just like how alcohol has this effect on its drinker, although he knew he was sane.

But why was he so angry? He was not interested, wasn't he?

/there is denial when there is desire/

At the back of his mind, he wanted Naruto to stutter; he wanted him to act differently. He wanted to see…

What exactly did he want to see? Is it the look of sadness or the pain of rejection? If that is what he wanted, then he really is one cruel bastard.

Maybe…Maybe what he wanted to see the assertion that what Naruto said was real.

Sasuke frowned, and then walked away.

Again.

Even before he was in the distance of sight for the raven haired boy, he already discerned the fact that Sasuke was in the training grounds.

Naruto grinned when he noticed Sasuke. Act normal. He told himself. He was aware that seeing him would unsettle the paler boy.

/he's just going to avoid me/

He also noticed that Sasuke tried to go, but stopped. At this, Naruto became confused, but shrugged it off as he neared him.

"Ohayo, Sasuke!" he greeted. He saw the trees wrecked into chunks and he felt sorry for them. After all, it was the only living thing in this world he sought refuge from that didn't turn him away. "Geez Sasuke! Are you trying to destroy the forest or something? You really are one cruel, selfish bastard,"

/You were always so cold. Especially to me/

There was no reaction in Sasuke's still figure, but it wasn't as if he didn't know it was coming. Naruto walked past the taller boy and added "Think about your actions before doing them, Sasuke-teme,"

/Can you think of me without hatred in your eyes becoming evident/

After several minutes of silence, Naruto inwardly breathe a sigh of defeat. "I got to go now, see yah!" then he went.

As he was passing Sasuke, he felt the pale boy tense. And as he discreetly glanced back at him, he saw Sasuke's knuckles curled into a ball. He's angry with me. I mean, why wouldn't he? I disgusted him.

/everyone loathes me/

After a passing moment, he perceived that he was still watching the sharingan wielder and told himself to just go. But he can't, he was way too bonded to him that he can't even look away.

The knuckles of Sasuke relaxed, the watchful eyes of Naruto still watching him. He let out a sigh of relief, thinking that Sasuke has let out his anger.

But he walked away.

It was past the point of no return. It will only be in his dreams wherein he would get to see the normal life he once led.

With Uchiha Sasuke.

/the only life I once had/

-Continued-

/there is denial when there is desire/ I got this line from one of the fics I read long ago. It was a Yami no Matsuei story, a very good one.it was writtenby Anonym aka Yen. So if ever you read this, I just really like this line and it suited the chapter. Of course, it's yours and standard disclaimers apply.