DISCLAIMER: Not mine.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to all who reviewed. I love you guys… anyway, here's an encounter between Naruto and Sasuke… it's angst as usual… I hope you like it… please review.. reviews make me really happy..
GRIEF
He squints as Naruto, the dobe, pulls back the curtains to let some sunshine in. He always had some sort of photosensitivity. The light was just… irritating.
"You know, Sasuke, you shouldn't sulk like this."
And he pretends not to hear.
"And don't pretend like you can't hear me, teme, because I know you can."
"Besides, Sasuke, I'm suffering too."
And that statement alone is enough to coax a reply out of him… an indignant, angry reply.
"Shut up, you don't know how I feel. You'll never know- you- you-"
And he gives up trying to talk because he's too weak to continue. Because he's dangerously close to tears, and the last thing he wants is to cry in front of the dobe.
"Sasuke… she was my friend too. Anyway, let's not talk about it anymore. I'm challenging you to a spar."
"Just go away, Naruto."
"Sasuke, you never backed away from a fight before."
"Go away", he repeats, this time more forcefully.
"…"
"Alright, but try to clean up a bit Sasuke, it stinks in here."
And it's all he can do to glare as Naruto wrinkles his nose. He knows that the smell of his room is putrid. And that he hadn't shaved since the 'incident'. But he doesn't care. He's given up… and he's tired… and he just wants to roll over and die… but she wouldn't want that.
"I'm going, but make sure to visit your son some time soon. Hinata-chan's perfectly willing to take care of the little critter for now but he's yours and Sakura-chan's son, Sasuke, not ours. You're his dad and you're the one he needs."
She would want him to take care of their son too. But he hates the thing. It ruined his life. Besides, he never did what she wanted before, why should he start now when she's no longer there to appreciate it?
"Rot that damn thing."
"Sasuke…"
"Just go, Naruto, just go."
"Alright, I'll go… for now. I'll be back though. And try not to drink too much."
He watches as the blond ninja turns to leave. And his heart burns with something… something akin to hate. The dobe always was a self-righteous prick.
"Oh… I almost forgot. I brought some food for you. Thought you might be hungry, s'all."
Finally his friend leaves. He stares hard at the paper bag, trying to hate his best friend. Knowing that, though he desperately wanted to, he couldn't. And he's hopeless. So hopeless. Wanting something he just can't have. Like he wants her to come back but she can't. She just can't. Because she's gone. And this is one time that she won't pull through for him.
He can't hate the dobe… but he can hate her. She lied to him. She said she'd never leave him… but she did… everyone always did leave him…
at least the dobe never makes promises he can't keep...
he hates her..
But he'd willingly love her again if she just came back… but she won't… because she can't.
And so he just stands there, diverting his gaze from the paper bag to the ceiling. Hoping that looking up will keep his tears from falling…
… but they fall anyway.