Hey guys! I was able to get another chapter done. I hope you all can enjoy this one as well, and hopefully I can get more chapters done sooner, you know how life gets in the way. Thanks for all the support!
Shikamaru lays in bed, nervous about the upcoming visit from Sasuke in the morning.
He rubs the bridge of his nose, the stress of the day building up in his mind as he it continues to wonder.
When did he fall in love with Sasuke anyway? It's almost like he didn't even notice when his heart began beating to a different rhythm around Sasuke.
He can remember when he saw Sasuke sitting sad on the bench that one Christmas, and the way he looked at Naruto with hurt but affection.
Getting close to Sasuke was such an amazing experience, but to Shikamaru it almost feels like the love he has for him, started to develop that day he found him alone on that bench.
They became fast friends, and he was the one there for him, he helped him heal, or at least he thought he had healed from the situation from Naruto until he came bursting back into his life again.
He had hoped that he had lost those feelings for Naruto, but after what's been happening, he knows Sasuke still has feelings for him. Even after all this time, Naruto still holds the key to Sasuke's heart.
Shikamaru thinks that's probably why he confessed when he did; out of fear.
His fear got the best of him because as each day passes, Sasuke continues to drift away, because the pull Naruto has on Sasuke is so intense, it's almost scary in itself.
Shikmaru sighs, despite the feelings he has for Sasuke, he knows deep down that Sasuke will never be with him.
But he can't be mad, when love strikes you like that, letting such a thing go, if it's even possible, it affects you.
He heard once that once you have loved someone, you never really stop loving them.
So, that's why Shikamaru will push his love back down, because he truly loves Sasuke, if being with Naruto will make him happy, then he will still stand by him cause seeing Sasuke truly happy will be enough.
Shikamaru stares out the window next to his bed into the dark sky, the butterflies in his stomach making him nauseous, he can't tell if it's excitement and hope or dread at what could possibly be coming tomorrow.
But either way, the day will come, and he'll have to accept whatever happens.
If he can.
xxx
Sasuke wakes up to a knock on the door, he raises up, still half asleep.
He looks at the phone in his hand and realizes he slept with it, glancing on the screen he sees Naruto's several missed phone calls.
He rubs his face and gets off the bed, assuming Naruto is the one at the door.
He walks over and opens it, but instead of seeing the sexy blonde who haunts his mind, he sees an angry girl.
The ex-girlfriend of Naruto.
This can't be good.
Kirie barges in, not bothering with any pleasantries.
"Hello to you too, Kirie."
She gives him a mean look, "I'm not here to play nice, Sasuke."
Sasuke rubs his face, trying to fully wake up as he wishes this was nothing but a nightmare, but when he opens his eyes, an angry girl still stands before him.
"Well, what are you here for, Kirie?"
"Naruto has been by hasn't he."
A rhetorical question; so he told her the truth then.
"He was here sometime yesterday, why?"
"Because, I'm not gonna just hand him over to you, Sasuke. He has been mine for years now and I don't plan on giving him up just cause he thinks he is in love with you."
Sasuke use to like Kirie, but now she is irritating him a little bit, could be that she woke him up though.
"So he 'thinks he's in love with me'?" Sasuke chuckles.
He could play nice, but he hasn't done anything wrong here, and just because she happens to be hurt doesn't mean she is going to come here and take her anger out on him.
"I think Naruto makes the decision on what he wants, Kirie. Just because it might make you unhappy, doesn't mean his feelings aren't there or real."
Kirie's face turns red with anger.
"You don't really believe he is in love with you, do you? He is just reminiscing on old times cause you broke up the friendship, he is just trying to be friends again, he just feels like he can't unless he pretends to be gay."
Man, this girl is really in denial.
Sasuke shakes his head, not knowing whether to laugh or play along if it means she'll leave.
"Whatever you wanna believe, Kirie. I don't really care, now if you'll excuse me, I have plans." Sasuke opens the door.
"I'm not leaving till I'm ready. Sasuke, he don't love you, not like you want him too. And, you should really just leave him alone, just because you happen to be gay don't mean he has to be."
"Kirie. You are really starting to get on my last nerve, Naruto followed me, I tried to avoid the dobe, but he wouldn't let up, but either way, this has nothing to do with you anymore, cause if I recall, Naruto broke up with you yesterday, right? So why don't you be a good little ex-girlfriend and leave."
Kirie runs up to Sasuke and smacks him, leaving a red mark on his cheek, right as Naruto makes his way to Sasuke's open door.
Naruto stunned by what's taking place walks in the room and stands beside Sasuke, looking back and forth between them, anger rising through his body when he sees the red mark on Sasuke's stunned face.
"What's going on?" Naruto demands, turning his head and glaring Kirie.
Kirie sees the reaction Naruto has, standing by Sasuke's side, automatically taking his side as he glares with almost hatred in her direction.
"Naruto, baby, come on. He was saying such mean things."
Naruto snorts, "Riiiight, so what? That's gives you a right to touch him? He has the first amendment right to say whatever he pleases, but you have no right to attack him. And either way, Sasuke wouldn't have said anything out the way without being provoked. So lemme ask you, Kirie, what did you do that possibly got you that reaction? Cause based on your understanding, if you said something out the way to him, can he smack you?"
Kirie stands there, unable to even reply.
Unable to even fathom how their relationship took such a bad turn when everything was going so well.
She has no words for what is transpiring, because what can she say?
"No reply, huh?"
Sasuke just watches the interaction, he can see the tension, the brokenness, but he can also see the guilt in Naruto's eyes. Guilt for hurting Kirie and guilt for hurting Sasuke.
"Kirie, you should leave. Look, I'm sorry I hurt you, truly, and I could never make up for that. But what is hurting Sasuke gonna do for that? Sasuke ain't the one you have beef with, it's me. He is only part of this because I hurt him and pushed him away despite my feelings. He was hurt just as bad as you, so why hurt someone that was hurt like yourself by the same man? Just because I love him and choose him? Because you're jealous? If you wanna hit someone, hit me, because I'm the one at fault."
Sasuke and Kirie both stand there, neither able to make a sound at that declaration.
"You need to leave Kirie." Naruto moves slightly to leave her a path to the door.
Kirie looks down, tears falling from her eyes, and without a word, she flees.
Once the door shuts, Naruto turns to assess Sasuke.
He cups his face in this hand, observing the bruise, "Are you okay?"
Sasuke nods, emotion building up in his throat, making it hard to reply.
"Sasuke, I'm sorry, this is all my fault. Maybe if I would've just left you alone like you asked, none of this would've happened." Naruto sighs and rubs his face.
"Naruto, it's okay. You can't control what she does. And I'm not mad at her for that, I've been there, heck, I've hit you too."
Sasuke tries to lighten the mood, but the halfhearted smile from Naruto gives no indication that it's working.
"Look, dobe, we all make mistakes, but from the looks of it, you owning up and taking that responsibility. You are humbling yourself to those around you and even though you can't change the past, you can change certain things for the future. You can't give up out of fear or guilt. You just try to learn and build yourself up to the person you wanna be. Naruto, you are doing a good job, I'm proud of you. You are making progress toward to the life you want, a life of freedom that you have never allowed yourself access too. Everything will be okay."
Naruto looks at Sasuke, tears filling both of their eyes, tears of guilt, happiness, lost time and regret. But as they look at each other, that overwhelming love they have between them that neither time, nor conflict can destroy, they know everything will be okay.
Love is a pretty powerful chemical after all, it can change you, shape you, destroy you, and kill you. But, it can be one of the most amazing things you ever experience in your lifetime.
When you find that kind of person, you ignore the pain that can come from loving another human just as messed up and as confused as yourself, you constantly hang on because you understand that feeling doesn't come often. It's an emotion that you would die for.
It's something so special that you'd give up the world for, because with that kind of love, nothing else matters but that person.
It's like starting life all over again.
You can't deny true love, and you're lucky to experience it.
And even despite the amount of love that you can't even compare anything to it or express words that could actually describe; love isn't enough, love is hard and you need more than that. You need selflessness, trust, and communication and understanding. And that's what can make love so hard, but you have to put in work because as humans, it can be difficult, with insecurities, lack of understanding of one another. You need to fight for each other everyday while making each other the priority.
Sometimes, that's what makes people run from true love.
"Sasuke? You ready to head out and see Shikamaru?"
Sasuke gives a slight nod, "Yeah, lemme just get my things together."
xxx
The ride to Shikamaru's was pleasant, Naruto and Sasuke discussed all the things they've missed, but they couldn't ignore the unpleasant memories either because of the loss of each other and the pain that was caused. But, they were able to have a pleasant morning.
However, as the bus got closer and closer to wear Shikamaru resides, a fear and uncertainty crept its way into Sasuke, while Naruto experience a horrible level of nervousness.
Both searching for a foundation for their overwhelming emotions, held on desperately to one another's hand, fighting the urge to run.
They got off the bus and walked the rest of the way to Shikamaru's campus and then walked to his dorm.
As they stood in front of the door, they stared at one another.
"You ready?" Naruto asks Sasuke.
Sasuke gulps and then nods, "Let's do this."
xxx
Shikamaru sat in his bed, staring out the window, waiting impatiently for Sasuke to arrive. Butterflies fluttering in his stomach, making him nauseous.
When he heard the knock on the door, he hops up and runs to the door, slinging it open, revealing one person he really didn't wanna see.
With confusion in his eyes, he turns to Sasuke, "What's he doing here?"
The mood already destroyed just by the presence of one man.
His mood, instantly fowl.
He turns to walk into his room, his silent rage about to come bursting through.
"Sorry Shika, I just wanted to talk to you and explain some things to you." Sasuke pleads.
"And that means this moron has to be here?" Shikamaru wasn't in the mood to even pretend to be nice.
"Shika."
"So what do you have to say, Sasuke. Just tell me."
Sasuke looks at Naruto and then back at Shikamaru who is facing away from him, building a wall between them.
"Shika, you're my best friend and always will be, I never wanna lose my friendship with you, but I'm sorry to say that I can't accept your feelings. I-"
"You love Naruto, right?" Shikamaru interupts, turning to glare at them but his expression betraying him, the pain showing through his eyes.
Sasuke looks down, guilt weighing heavy on his heart.
Accepting Naruto is harder than he thought.
"Sasuke, you still love the same man that rejected you, called you names and hurt you, stopped being friends with you and completely cut you off, and then after seeing him again after two years, acts like nothing happened and wouldn't leave you alone even though his presence hurt you? The same man that made you miserable even after he left? The same man that abandoned you? And so instead of coming to me one on one, you bring this same man that hurt my best friend and my love to what? Profess your love for him and why you can't except my love?"
Sasuke knew not what to say, because everything he said was true and now he feels guilty for even bringing Naruto, but he truly thought it was the best idea at the time, but he guesses that maybe it wasn't.
"Shika, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you."
Shikamaru rubs his face, calming himself down.
"I know Sasuke, I professed my own love for you to you in a vulnerable time, and I know you wouldn't purposefully hurt me. I'm jealous, I'm sad, and no, I do not like Naruto after what he did to you. I just want you happy, even if you ain't with me. But I don't think Naruto really has your best interests in heart. I can't watch you go through what you went through again, I can't watch you almost drink yourself to death again Sasuke."
Sasuke looks down in shame at the mention of how low things got, he doesn't lift his eyes, knowing Naruto is watching him.
"Sasuke.." Naruto touches his shoulder, tears springing from his eyes, guilt eating away at his soul.
"Yeah, Naruto, your stupid behavior hurt him so deeply, you abandoned him, I don't like you and I won't accept you."
Naruto lets his head fall in shame himself, his body shaking from this undiscovered knowledge that is eating away at him.
"Shika, I know he hurt me and made mistakes, but my drinking was all me and was my choice. You helped me through that and I don't ever wanna go back to that place again, but Shika, I love him, I can't deny that anymore."
"And I love him, Shikamaru, I'm never gonna hurt him again." Naruto stares at Shikamaru with nothing but determination in his eyes.
"I only wish I could believe that lie, Naruto. Sasuke, I'm upset and I need a few days to think things through, but you haven't lost me. I'll never leave your side, I only hope you'll see who he really is. But more than anything I want you happy. If he can prove that he has changed then maybe one day I'll accept him, but that'll be a long time but I honestly don't think he has changed. I love you, Sasuke and I'm not going anywhere but I need a while to myself, okay?"
Shikamaru isn't looking at him anymore.
Sasuke nods, "Okay, I understand and I'm sorry. But, Shikamaru, I want you to know, he has changed. He ain't the same person he was before. I believe that from the bottom of my soul. Thank you for still allowing me to be your friend, I do love you Shika. You're my family."
"Yeah.. Please Sasuke, I need a moment. I'll contact you later."
And with all that said, Sasuke and Naruto departed and returned to their own campus, a silent trip on the way home, and a silent trip back to their own dorm rooms with guilt and sadness feeling all three of them.
The future hanging in the air as they try to figure out what can possibly be done and what is the best choice.
Emotions swirling, and sadness weighing on the shoulders of the people locked into this love triangle.
xxx
Kirie sits fuming and crying in her room.
Her anger a hurricane of anything in her way, hence the destroyed room of her dorm.
As Kirie sits there, blood boiling, she thinks up a plan to get her man back, because she ain't letting him go without a fight, he belongs to her.
No one can take him away.
Kirie continues to plot a plan in her furious state until the suns starts to shine through the windows announcing the beginning of a new day.
As you can probably tell, I do love myself a bit a drama. So please leave your feedback and lemme know what you all think, I love to hear your opinions! Thanks for reading!