Standard disclaimer and warnings apply.
Sorry for the long wait. The updates had been just slow and we apologized for it. Hopefully, this time it will be faster.
Want…
He wanted to see him. And this want was burning brightly within him, turning all rational and irrational thoughts to ashes until all that existed was this desire. He was brimming with it and he couldn't stop it from making him ran all the way to the park under the rain. He stopped by the swing as he identified the man crossing the center of the park and he smiled.
"I'm home," he whispered and the wind carried his words to the other man and laid them on a cheek as a kiss.
The blonde lifted his umbrella slightly and shocked to find his lover home and wet. "How was your vacation in Nara?" he asked just to buy some time to steady his heartbeat.
"Not much," was the dark-haired man's reply as he made his way to his precious person. He wrapped a strong arm around the man's waist and pulled him close… rain and umbrella lost in their world.
"I missed you," the man whispered as he was pressed against the hard body. He felt his breath getting shallower. His lover just smirked and bent down, his intent clear. "Wait," he said, raising his hand to stop the most-wanted kiss, "People will see."
"Idiot. It's ten in the evening. Not a lot of people pass here." And without further ado, the dark-haired man took the waiting lips for a searing kiss, the rain their cover from the judging eyes of the world.
Pitter-patter…
Chapter 8: Reunited
Memories are just where you laid them
Dragging the waters till the depths give up their dead
What did you expect to find?
Was it something you left behind?
Don't you remember anything I said when I said,
Don't fall away and leave me to myself
"Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"- By Fuel
No morning greeting was exchange between the two Uchiha brothers when they met at the dining room.
Itachi squeezed a slice of lemon over his salmon fish, wiped his hand on the provided hand towel before he addressed his younger brother. "Are bonds transient or enduring?"
While stirring his miso soup, Sasuke took a moment to assess the sudden question before replying, "Is this another cheap trick of yours?"
"I'm only asking."
"Why ask me?"
Whatever reply the older male had, it disappeared the moment Fugaku walked in. The two greeted their father who echoed the greeting back, sat on the head of the table and focused his gaze on his heir.
"Itachi," Fugaku started, ready to discuss business-related matters over breakfast. At that moment, nothing was clearer to Itachi than the tug on his heart and the flicker of anger and inferiority on Sasuke's eyes. And for once, he wanted to shout that he had enough and to call them fools because their desires were forming a perfect triangle.
There was Sasuke wanting nothing more than to surpass his brother and make their father recognize him for all that he was worth. In his struggle to be praised by head of the family, he failed to appreciate what he had.
There was Fugaku giving all his time and attention to someone who didn't want it, completely unaware of someone who did. Both of them were fools but weren't humans like that? In their search of their desires, they never value what they had until it was completely and forever gone.
And finally, here was Itachi jealous of Sasuke's freedom to do anything he wants specially to choose. He wanted that freedom and yet he didn't struggle for it because of one simple reason- the undefined power he had over the Uchiha business even though he wasn't part of the team yet. He wanted power because he didn't have control over his life. But the former would never be enough to compensate what was stolen from him and he could only be satisfied when he'd destroy his family's business- the curse that never gave him what most people have. He'd bring the company to its apex of glory and bring it down to the nadir of destruction by his own hands. It didn't matter that he wasn't giving importance to what he had at that moment - something which his foolish brother wanted the most. He didn't give a damn as long as he'd achieve his goal and make his dream a reality. That was that.
-SasuNaru is love-
To Naruto, classes seemed to be a blur and it only gained clarity with Sasuke's quick disappearance and well-timed arrival. He couldn't approach the teen. Neither of their friends did. Shino, Kiba and even Gaara were confused with Sasuke's sudden change of behavior and turned to Naruto for explanation but the blonde could only shrugged his shoulders not knowing how to explain to them that Sasuke had moved on without them.
Although only one day had passed since Sasuke and Naruto's confrontation, the former was popular enough to make more than half of the student body noticed the sudden distance he maintained from his friends. Rumors from whimsical to irritating were passed on from one student to another but none of them were right.
"Did you hear the real reason why that Uchiha distance himself is because they were bad influence to him?" One member of archery club said as he started changing into his school uniform.
His friend nodded, "All those bullying and extorting they do from students outside school."
They jumped when they heard a cool voice behind them, "Senpai-tachi, I suggest that instead of indulging on rumors, you should practice your hold on your bows."
They didn't have to turn around to know that it was Gaara. They didn't want to look at their kouhai, afraid of his intense green eyes. They mentally sighed when the younger member walked away but then stiffened when threatening words floated to their ears.
"I suggest you stop discussing such things before you'll become my marks."
Gaara slammed the door close and walked along the hallway. Bumping into Sasuke just made his temper flare to greater heights.
"Uchiha."
"Sabaku."
Great, they were now in the family name basis! How pathetic.
"Why the sudden change of behavior?"
Sasuke looked at him straight in the eyes. "Didn't Naruto tell you that I no longer have time to play these childish games with you?"
Pain flickered in emerald eyes before Gaara smothered it with his anger. Before anyone could register anything, the redhead had viciously slammed and pinned the dark-haired teen on the wall.
"Childish games, you say?" Gaara hissed. It was back to those days when he had no one and those times when he had lost his mother and received no comfort from his family. "If I recall, you were the one who so wanted to have Naruto as your wife and me as your child."
Sasuke snorted. "Don't tell me you still cling to that stupid idea."
"In your pathetic dreams, Uchiha," Gaara sneered. He hated that calm indifferent look he saw on the other boy's face. He wanted to destroy it… to make it crumble. He pulled his free arm back, ready to attack but the sound of books falling on the floor cut him off. The two boys looked at to their side and saw a female schoolmate hurriedly picking up the books she had dropped.
Gaara stepped back while Sasuke righted his clothes. The two glared at each other before walking away, taking different routes.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto leaned against the balustrade of the rooftop of their building. Like a curtain blocking the light, pain hid the light on his blue eyes as he saw the dark figure that was once his closest friend, Sasuke walking alone towards the gate.
"Shino, are bonds transient or enduring?"
Shino looked at Naruto, surprised to hear such question from him. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I think they are transient. When people grow up," he paused to stare at Sasuke's back growing smaller, "they would throw away the bonds in order to move on."
Shino's dark glasses glinted under the afternoon sun as he followed the direction of Naruto's saddened blue gaze.
"I think that people even if they move on, doesn't have to throw away the bonds that are important to them."
"Important? I see."
Seeing that his opinion seemed to make his friend sadder, he added, "There are people who can only move on when they have bonds. But someone had to show that to them."
Naruto looked at Shino then at back at the steadily disappearing figure of Sasuke as he walked then at Shino again before he smiled.
Maybe... Just maybe… I could get Sasuke back..
Finding truth in Shino's words, Naruto thanked Shino and ran home with renewed determination.
-SasuNaru is love-
For Sasuke, the days had not been fairing well much either. Losing the light of his day, the past days had all felt the same. The classes blurred into one another, the days felt like they held no special meaning any more. All because he had to let go of the bond between himself, and his unpredictable, loud friend. Being at home was much worse for the young Uchiha. Even though he spend most of his time with his head low while finishing his homework, he could still feel his mother's sad gaze burning holes of disappointment through his back.
He sighed as he gloomily made his way to his first class. Usually, his rabid group of fan girls would be berating the boy with date requests. Although, today, he was in no mood to be putting up with them, any girl coming within a five-foot radius of him would automatically be on the receiving end of the infamous Uchiha death-glare.
What could have made the stoic teenager lose his composure?
The night before, his father had made an interesting announcement during dinner that he decided that Itachi would be the heir of his company once he is considered an adult. Words of praise, admiration, and pride were directed towards his older brother, who seemed to be tuning out the entire conversation completely!
Pale fingers grasped his shoulder strap with more force than necessary as words from last night's conversation flowed back into his mind.
"What the company needs, is someone with needed strength to carry the responsibility of being able to lead and turn Uchiha Corporations into a bigger success. " Boomed the loud voice of his father, his tone literally oozing with pride for his announcement.
Itachi…"Uchiha Itachi, my very own son, will one day become like his father, perhaps even better."
It's always about Itachi…
Rage soon engulfed the Uchiha and with hurried, frantic steps, continued on his way toward his first class. No matter how hard he tried to not let the littlest of things phase him, the words of encouragement directed towards the man who was deemed worthy of the Uchiha name repeated themselves like mantra, consuming all of his concentration. He barely batted an eye as he felt another body collide against his own just as he turned the corner to his classroom.
"Oof!" Cried the small figure that was sprawled across the hallway floor.
The small cry snapped Sasuke out of his reverie, the first he saw was the all too familiar mop of sun-kissed blonde hair, and eyes that rivaled the skies themselves.
Naruto..
The bright blue eyes suddenly were fixated on him before shining in realization.
"S-Sasuke!" Naruto smiled.
'This is my chance! I have to talk to him!''
Before the blonde could continue, Sasuke walked past him as if he was invisible before turning toward him, "Watch where you're going next time, idiot." He scowled.
Just as Sasuke turned away and walked forward, he felt a strong grip capture his upper-arm and before Sasuke knew it, he was pinned to a wall with both arms held tightly by tanned hands. He looked up to acknowledge the blue eyes that would glimmer with happiness were now glazed with unshed tears of rage.
"How…?" Naruto ground out, "How could you just leave us like that? Give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't just drag your ass back by force?!"
Sasuke merely smirked, "Hn, you're not even strong enough to be considering someone of my status to accept such a pathetic excuse of a challenge."
As Sasuke was forcing himself out of Naruto's grip, and before he registered Naruto pulling his arm back, he felt something collide painfully at the face of his face.
He-He didn't..
Dark eyes widened with shock as he clutched at the side of his throbbing face.
Naruto…he-he wouldn't
Obsidian eyes soon narrowed into a heated glare before planting his own punch straight onto Naruto's stomach. The blonde doubled over in pain and attempting to regain the air knocked out from the force of the punch. Naruto, whom quickly regained his composure, charged towards Sasuke and tackling the taller boy, catching him off-guard once his back hit the hard ground. Sasuke managed to react quickly as he caught or blocked blow after blow that Naruto delivered. Both boys began to wrestle down the hallway floor, too caught up in their quarrel to hear the shrilling of the late bell or the sound of rapid footfalls as they made their way over to the occurring fight.
Naruto felt hands roughly pulling him up from the ground and held him steady. He made an attempt to lunge at Sasuke and punch his face in, but to no avail.
"NARUTO!" Yelled Kiba, who was trying to quell the frantically moving body, "Calm the fuck down! Jeez!"
Naruto looked over to see Sasuke, who was standing as calmly and stoic as usual, as the fight had never even occurred! Naruto pushed his body forward the best he could with Kiba holding him back, "I hate you," Naruto growled, "I HATE YOU! UCHIHA SASUKE!"
At the very moment the words were shouted, Naruto watched as the black eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions: fear, sadness, rejection, and most of all self-pity. Blue eyes widened when he realized, Sasuke never shown this much emotion. The very thought that Sasuke was showing this much emotion was enough for Naruto to believe that it was his imagination at work.
Blue eyes met black before Sasuke shakily replied, "I-I hate you too, Uzumaki Naruto.."
For the first time, it became as clear as day. Sasuke missed Naruto as Naruto missed Sasuke, all traces of anger were gone, and only relief was left. Relief that Sasuke missed him, the relief that their bond was never truly broken.
Naruto smiled at Sasuke, calmly and gently pulling himself out of Kiba's loosening grip, "I hate you more" he said albeit playfully. Naruto pushed Shino's hands away and closed the distance them. Sasuke's heart beat rapidly once he felt two arms encircling his neck and enveloped the pale boy into an embrace, "Why?" Naruto whispered into Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke hesitated for a while, before nervously wrapping his arms around a thin waist, "B-because," he breathed shakily, "I don't want you to hate me for my weakness."
The blonde was about to say something when he was brought short by a memory.
That's what I like most about Sasu-chan. He's so strong.
Naruto pulled away from the embrace enough to met the other's dark gaze, "Weak or strong," Naruto began, "I like Sasuke the same, always." The blonde head nestled itself under Sasuke's chin and smiled and he felt the Uchiha lean into the embrace.
Kiba and Shino stared oddly at both boys before the former broke the peaceful silence, "I'm really glad you two are friends again, really," Kiba announced nervously, "But we're about twenty minutes late for class, and if we're out here any longer, the teacher will have our heads."
Naruto broke their embrace before turning to Kiba and Shino with a wide grin, "Dammit and I just go out of a week's detention!"
The four walked into the classroom and got scolded quite a bit, but it didn't faze Naruto in the least, he even dared to keep a smile the whole time! It didn't matter to him at all. As long as he had Sasuke back by his side, nothing else mattered.
TBC
Those two are acting so childish but please cherish their childishness angst is already approaching faster than we planned. Hehehehe