Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Standard disclaimers apply.

Mirrors reflect your inner most self in a peculiar manner.

Tenth Channel: Vanished

Konahagakure.

He stood outside the main gates, his clothes dirty and a little bit tattered, but his eyes glimmered with the look of triumph. He glanced up at the sun, high in the sky, his arm shielding his vision. He was back. At last.

The gates opened slowly and the ninjas on watch at that time greeted him with a smile, however, he paid no attention to them, as he went directly to the Hokage's tower, holding a bulky scroll on his left hand. He studied the busy streets of his village, ordinary people going bout their own ways, working their way through life. Just like him.

It had been almost two months since he was last standing in his village. The one he almost betrayed, but came back to. A small grin passed his features as he saw the place prospering, countless people smiling at him, welcoming him back. It was also like this back then. And he did not regret the fact he returned.

His eyes darkened. Something's not right. He thought. There was something not in place, although he can't put his finger into it. He brushed the topic aside, as he entered the room. "Hokage-sama," he began, and Tsunade looked up from the pile of documents that was already forming a formidable mountain. He examined her while he awaits her acknowledgment to speak. Something is definitely not right. He thought again, as he saw the dullness and gloomy aura surrounding her. She wasn't like this. He recalled her stubborn appearance, her voice cutting loud and clear, especially when she was talking to a particular dobe…

"How did the mission go?" she finally asked, breaking Sasuke's train of thoughts.

Sasuke walked down to the table she was seated in and handed her the mission report. "A success, as usual," he replied, his arrogance leaking down every word he said.

But Tsunade paid no heed, as he expected her to. "Good. You may go," without bothering to see if the dark-haired jounin obeyed her, she sank back to her seat and continued to work with her everyday duties lifelessly…

The next plan Sasuke went to his mind was to go back to his house and spend the rest of the day there, staying away from girls that threatened to disturb him. He walked down a very familiar path, not minding anyone, until he woke up from his stupor and frowned. This is not the way to his house.

Ichiraku's.

Somehow, he ended up at a certain blonde's favorite stall, while his mind was elsewhere. It seems that his body wanted to go there and did not comply with his mind's decision. He scanned the area, and found that the stall was empty. Strange. It was usually where he could find the ninjas that graduated with him years ago. It was where he could usually find Naruto.

Naruto.

The dobe failed to be erased from his mind from the day he started the mission. Because of him, he finished his task ahead of time, returning a week before the actual deadline. He was not bothered though. It was also a good thing that he came back earlier; he had enough time to talk things over with the blonde.

Talk? What will we talk about? He discovered himself retorting his very own words, his mind working at none for the first time. He had nothing to talk about with him.

Although he did find himself standing outside his apartment later on.

He cursed himself for his inability to straighten out the creases of their friendship. Three or fours years ago, he wouldn't have minded him and his 'so-called friendship'. But now… now that he did, he did not want it destroyed.

Just because of his problem to articulate his own feelings for him.

He jumped stealthily over the branch that was directly located in front of the single room's window and he peered inside. Unfortunately, the black curtain was not giving him a good view, so he pushed the window open, not caring whether the blonde kid would shout at him, scolding him about respecting other people's homes. He could always cover his ears anyway.

"Oi do--" What the fuck?

There was nothing but empty.

He glanced at the bed. It was empty.

He rushed outside the room and headed to the living room. Also empty.

The kitchen. Empty.

The bathroom. Empty.

Sasuke paused and his mind's wheels started to turn, trying to find a suitable reason for the kid's absence. Maybe he's on another mission. Maybe he was out on the training grounds… maybe… only a few reasons entered his mind and before he exited the apartment, he ventured towards the closet where Naruto should've kept his clothes.

Empty.

No way. He took another round throughout the whole of the residence and he saw the cupboards still filled with several bowls and cups all starting to gather dust. As if no one was living there for a while now. No one…

Thinking quickly, his mind traveled to only one person who probably would know what happened. He clasps his hands together in different, fast hand seals and disappeared in a fog of smoke.

He appeared a second later, again, in the Hokage's room. "Where's Naruto?" he half asked, half demanded to their all powerful leader. Tsunade did not pay heed to him. "Where's Naruto?" he demanded again, making his voice louder and clearer.

"None of your business brat," a curt reply from the Hokage. It sent the Uchiha into the edge of anger.

"What the hell?" he whispered. "It is my business! Who told you that Naruto's business was not mine!"

"Naruto did," another curt reply that sent Sasuke silent.

What the fuck? Naruto…did? His mind shut down, he did not know what to expect anymore. And with what had just happened, he thought that nothing would surprise him again.

Or so he thought.

"Yes, Naruto did," Tsunade confirmed, but her eyes remained the same. "But to satisfy your curiosity, Naruto left. With my permission,"

"But…why?"

"He told me to tell you that," a momentary pause. "He did not want to see you again,"

Sasuke kicked the garbage bin at the side of the clean street. It went straight to a nearby tree, sending its contents flying out in all directions. Damn it. Damn it. Damndamndamndamndamndamn. His heart raced in contempt and anger. He did not want to see me again? Is that why he left? Because he did not want to see me again? His fist made hard contact with concrete wall and it left a permanent dent on it. Damn it.

He was fuming, his anger rising to new depths and it miffed him to not be able to vent it. With renewed vigor due to his fury, he sped towards the forest that led to the training grounds.

Increased speed and anger helped him arrive faster than normal, but his heart was overflowing beforehand. "FUCK YOU NARUTO! IS EVERYTHING YOU SAID JUST A FUCKING LIE? HOW DARE YOU PLAY ME ON!" he shouted, the veins on his neck showing. Birds nearby scrambled in fear, their heightened senses alarming them to distance themselves from the angry boy. "DAMN YOU!" immense chakra flowed out of his body and flared, the ground shaking in its intensity.

Anger, this he showed. But why was it creating such a large impact on him? Naruto leaving… Naruto telling him that he did not want to see him again… he should have been happy, having the loud-mouthed brat off his back. Gone for good. Nothing would prevent him from doing what he wanted any longer. He should have been happy instead of showing anger…

Perhaps he did not understand the depth of his emotions…

He stood again inside the barren bedroom of Naruto's apartment; the darkness of the night was being eased by the light of the moon. Strands of moon beam filtered in the room, but the inside was still dark, similar to his mood. Dark, though his anger has passed. He did not have it in him to stay angry with the blonde for so long. He did not understand.

There are just many things he did not know, events happening beneath his nose and he did not like it. Like this one. He felt something was missing.

He wanted to be mad at Naruto for leaving, for the words the blonde told him but did not mean, for creating the havoc in his mind. He wanted to remain angry at him. But he could not.

He sat at the edge of the unoccupied bed and buried his face in his hands. He felt the bitterness of being alone once more now that Naruto left. He still did not know why.

His eyes scanned the room again, noting that everything felt empty, even if some of the blonde's belongings were still there. His eyes journeyed to the side table. What's this? His vision rested on a black notebook resting on the smooth, flat surface of the small side table. He picked it up gingerly, his fingers tracing the edge and felt dust. He brushed the cover clean. Slowly, he lifted the thick, battered cover and read the first page he encountered.

What's this? Why is my name written on it? He stared on the first page and asked himself. His eyes softened as he recognized the dobe's handwriting.

"He also left you, didn't he, Sasuke?"

Sasuke whirled around at the mention of his name and glared. Leaning dangerously calm on the wall was Gaara, the person he did not want to see right now. "That's none of your business," his voice annoyed, and his muscles tensing at the mere sight of the Sand-nin. That, he also did not understand.

Cool, green eyes locked with black ones and for the second time that day, he fell silent. "That's why I told you, we're more similar to each other," monotone spoke again, his lithe frame moving leisurely towards him. "So why don't you just…" he left a gap in his sentence, not continuing until he leaned forward further on the still Uchiha, leveling his face with the dark-haired jounin from Konoha. "…forget about him," he finished, licking his lips sensually before claiming the parted lips, his tongue invading Sasuke's abruptly.

The dark-haired boy's mind was in overdrive as Gaara continued his assault on him. When the red-haired nin bit his lower lip softly, his consciousness snapped.

"What the fuck are you doing!" he hissed after he broke the contact, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

"Kuchizuke mochiron," came a reply, a wicked smile playing upon his lips as he licked it again, gazing possessively at the swollen ones of Sasuke's.

Sasuke's cheeks burned, both with anger and embarrassment. "I know that," he retorted, and then added. "What I want to know is why the fuck you're doing that to me,"

Green eyes closed in the darkness and opened again with a determined gleam. "I thought I already made it clear," Gaara began. "About how I felt about you,"

His brain went back to normal, and he gave Gaara a fierce look. "Then keep your feelings to yourself," his grating expression reaching the red-haired nin's ears plainly. Now he was sure, he did not feel the same way as Gaara. It was because with Gaara, he felt only cold. He felt only possessiveness.

It was not what he wanted to feel, not after experiencing them firsthand.

Green eyes flickered with obvious hurt, but being skilled at keeping his emotions at bay, he hid them again and restored his cold look. "That's what you say, Sasuke. But that's not what you really want,"

Cold eyes looked intently on a pair of cold eyes as well as Sasuke slowly, but steadily replied. "I know what I want," he was sure of himself as he told Gaara that, but on reality, he was not.

Gaara brought an end to the discussion, disappearing in a sea of sand, after giving him a look that said, 'I don't believe you'.

"Damn," Sasuke cursed again, his fingers touching his heated lips. He stole my first kiss. He suddenly pondered, starting to get angry again.

That is… until he felt in his hands the notebook he was holding.

Oh yeah, that's right. Naruto was his first kiss.

"Did you read it yet?" the pink-haired kunoichi asked Sasuke, as they munched on the ramen served by Ichiraku's.

Sasuke touched a pocket on his vest. "No. Not yet," he answered, his hands returning to hold his chopsticks.

Six months passed by so fast, Sasuke barely remembered the things that happened during those months. He busied himself with numerous missions after Naruto left, coming back to the village only to rest before he went away again. A few days after he found out the blonde disappeared from the village, he immediately went by Sakura's house and asked about him. The medic-nin's face fell and told him she knew nothing about it, only that he left with permission. Kakashi refused to disclose any information to him, like Iruka and Konohamaru, saying that it was Naruto's parting wish.

Two months later, after going back from a recon mission, he visited Hinata, wanting to at least get a little information. And he did, but not what he wanted.

It turned out that Hyuuga Neji left with him.

And after that, he did not care to ask anyone any longer, just constantly bringing the notebook the blonde left with him anywhere.

"Why?" he heard Sakura inquire, his green eyes eyeing him with concern. Sasuke did not trouble himself to look back at the worried kunoichi. The color of her eyes only reminded him of someone he did not want to think of.

"Stop asking me meaningless questions," artic tome emerged from previously pursed lips, and at the back of his mind, he heard Naruto shouting 'stop being mean to Sakura-chan!' with his traditional high-pitched voice.

How he wished he was really there.

Sasuke stood up, paying for his food and left with Sakura still sitting on the counter. He sensed Rock Lee from the corner, and decided to go away, before he was spotted. He was quite sure that the boy with the tacky bowl cut would just try and lead him off to the training grounds. Rock Lee told him it was his way to let him forget the blonde boy.

Bah! Who cares about Naruto anyway?

…he did.

But even now, he still did not realize it.

That night, he noticed that he was inside the blonde's apartment yet again, lying down on the mattress and staring at the blackened ceiling. Why is everything black? He caught himself asking, seeing that all objects inside the room was painted in black. He held took out Naruto's notebook from his pocket and held it up his head.

As if on impulse, he opened it again, not caring if he was venturing on private territory. He read quickly, the words in it not sinking in his mind and he stopped, returning to the second page and took the time needed to fully read the entries.

At the first entries, he saw himself smiling, sensing Naruto on every page and on every entry he encountered. He did not disregard seeing his name on the first line of every record, he just let it be, feeling the sincerity and affection in it.

Thirty minutes and he had enough. Now, he realized and he hoped that he was not too late.

Help me…

He discovered his new goal. He was going to find Naruto.

Please…

No matter how long it takes, or how hard it's got to be; even if it means taking him away from Neji.

Salvation…

Because Naruto was first his.

Stop pretending…

And he will claim his right for him.

-Continued-

Thanks for all those who reviewed the ninth channel… hope you guys are still reading this…

Review?