Standard disclaimers apply.
This fic is:
1. SasuNaru, yaoi, OOC and unbeta-read.
2. co-written by XKunoichiofthePaintbrushX so give her some love.
The dark-haired man stepped out from his bathroom and noticed that his supposedly sleeping lover was propped against their combined pillows, their light blue blanket pooling around his slim waist. He had his head lowered in concentration on a crossword puzzle book lying on his bended knees and absentmindedly nibbled on the tip of his pencil. He was oblivious of the patches of red orange sunlight seemed to make his skin golden. He looked so simple and unworldly and although the man standing had seen this lovely sight countless of time, it still took his breath away.
"Ne, what do you call those plastics at the end of the shoelace?" the blonde asked, his blue eyes following his lover as the latter moved around the room to get dress.
"My English isn't as good as yours," the man replied.
"Just asking. I thought you know everything with you being an Uchiha," was the teasing retort. The Uchiha threw a look over his shoulder.
Seeing that his lover was all dressed and ready to go, the blonde asked for his robe.
"What?" his lover asked.
"Robe. Y'know, something that covers one's nakedness."
Dark eyes roved over his body, "I've seen it already so why hide it?" the taller man asked playfully. He still couldn't understand why his lover insisted of wearing a robe when it was just the two of them. It wasn't like he was hiding something. The blonde glared but nevertheless stood up, taking their blanket with him.
The two walked towards the door and the blond man watched the other put on his shoes, picked his duffel bag and approached the door.
The dark-haired man twisted the doorknob and looked over his shoulder to take another look at his lover. A week without each other. A week with nothing but short phone calls to keep him sane during his group's feasibility research-related excursion. He held back a gasp when he was staring right into blue eyes.
"Don't push yourself too hard," his blonde told him. "Have fun but don't fool around."
Although his voice was teasing, there was seriousness in it. He stood on his toes and gave the man a short but soft kiss. He leaned away but his lover pulled him back for a deeper kiss that sent all of his senses reeling.
Chapter 12: Ribbons of love
When you need a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
You won't be alone, cause I'll be there,
I'll be your shoulder to cry on,
I'll be there,
I'll be a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
you won't be alone, cause I'll be there.
-Tommy Page, "A shoulder to cry on"
As if governed by some universal order, there were dreams that were so vivid that it was painfully realistic; dreams that prophesize of future occurrences; dreams that evoked memories; dreams that represent fears; dreams that speak of thoughts in subconscious level and dreams that disappear like vapor the moment of awakening.
Ino had the last. She had tried to remember what her dream was but it evaded her grasps and continued to brush against the fringes of her memory like curtains billowing against the wind. She wanted to recall because of the tingling loneliness and pain she felt that made her cry in her sleep.
She took big gulps of air in a desperate attempt to get rid of the heaviness of her heart. When that failed, she decided to go downstairs to drink water.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto should have known something bad was going to happen when Kyuubi woke up early than him and proceeded to wake him up by licking his face; when she asked him to play with her before he left for school; when she stared at him with eyes that were filled with something akin to longing and sadness and when she saw him off by the gates. Naruto should have known something wrong had happened when Kyuubi's children were quiet and strangely well-behaved; when Kyuubi didn't meet him by the door; when Kyuubi didn't answer his callings or when he couldn't find her until he approached the lone fire tree amidst the Sakura trees in their backyard.
He sighed as he crouched down beside his cat. "You got me worried," he whispered as he touched then stopped. Cold fear gripped him that his hand shook as he made sure that Kyuubi wasn't what he thought she was. She was just sleeping and not dead. She couldn't be dead but her body temperature and absence of heartbeat said otherwise. Teardrops fell on the ground one by one as Naruto held his cat against his chest, denying at the same time suffering.
-SasuNaru is love-
Despite the din caused by the archery club regulars who had stayed for an extended practice, the half-dressed Gaara heard the vibrating sound of his mobile phone. He picked the unit and answered his call.
"Gaara," came the quiet voice that didn't suit for his blond friend. Its eerie calmness told him that something terrible had happened.
"Naruto?"
"Kyuubi is dead."
"What?" Another death... another loss... Gaara released a ragged breathed and opened his eyes before he spoke again, "Forget it. I'll be there." With that he ended the call, donned on his shirt and moved towards the door.
"Hey, Gaara," the club captain called. "We have a group outing after this, remember?"
Of course, he remembered but he was needed somewhere else. "Something important came up," was all he said and hurriedly left. He dialed Sasuke's number and cursed when the line was busy.
Naruto unconsciously counted the rings of his call on Sasuke's mobile number.
Sasuke who was in his father's study room took a furtive glance at his father who was rapidly dictating instructions to one of his managers, on the huge study table between them where clippings about the Uchiha company and business books. Not wanting to provoke his father or give a bad impression during this peaceful moment, he pressed a key to reject the incoming call. Then he quickly opened the mail software, his intent clear. Seeing that his father was about to end his conversation, Sasuke decided to shorten his message. He managed to send it just as his old man hung up.
Fugaku perched his chin on his laced finger and said, "Tell me about your opinion on that report dated last week, Sasuke."
Having his father call him by his name and having his attention all to himself, Sasuke never felt as important as he was at that moment. Not wanting to ruin such atmosphere, he turned off his mobile unit.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto stared at his mobile unit's screen, feeling colder inside. The words that were glaring back at him seemed to have been snapped in a cold and annoyed voice of his dark-haired friend.
Don't. Busy.
He cast his eyes down on the corpse and let his unit slip from his hand. I see, I'll bid goodbye for you then.
Gaara cursed as a recorded message told him that the number he dialed was out of coverage area. Where the hell are you, Uchiha?
-SasuNaru is love-
When Gaara arrived, he found Naruto digging Kyuubi's grave under the Fire tree but the blonde was no longer crying. His face was now devoid of emotions but when their eyes met, the blonde gave him a pained smiled.
Gaara caressed Kyuubi and mentally murmured a prayer for the cat. He picked up the extra shovel and joined his friend. Above them, silence heavy with mutual and unsaid pain hovered like a suffocating veil. Throughout the time they spent together, there was only one conversation they had and a short one at that.
"Gaara?"
"Hnmm?"
"I'm glad you're here," Naruto said. He now knew that Gaara would always be there for him especially when Sasuke was nothing but a shadow and his name a mere murmur of the breeze.
-SasuNaru is love-
It had been past midnight when Sasuke stepped out from his father's study room but he didn't care. It didn't matter because in the end Fugaku had recognized his efforts.
You did well today.
It was far from 'as expected from my son' but he could work from there. It was nice to be praised... it was nice that Itachi was out for a field trip. He wished Itachi would always be out. And he sunk into slumber with his father's words ringing in his ears like a sweet lullaby and dreaming of things when his perfect brother was out of picture.
-SasuNaru is love-
For the umpteenth time, Sasuke glanced at his watch, an action that irritated him just as his observation that time was dragging did. He had been extra early today so he could talk with Naruto without disruption but it seemed the dobe had decided to be late. For how long? He didn't know. He watched as students exited the train station like a swarm of bees and a second later, morning greetings, voices and laughter rang out.
Where the hell are you, Naruto?
He didn't know he had spoken it out loud until he heard a voice saying, "Are you blind?"
"You're late," Sasuke growled.
"It's ten minutes before eight, bastard."
The dark-haired lad dismissed the name-calling. He hadn't come early and waited just to argue with his best friend. "About last night-"
"It's okay. Everything is fine now."
Now? "Why? What happened yesterday?"
The blonde grinned reassuringly but the other teen knew a fake grin when he saw one. "Nothing." Naruto saw no reason nor had plans in telling his friend. He knew he was overreacting but... He had watched Sasuke spend his time on other things and even let him drift away believing that if he would call, if he would stretch out his hand, the dark-haired boy would come for him. But Sasuke didn't.
"Naruto, I-"
"Good morning, Sasuke!" Sakura greeted and latched on his arm followed by Ino. The distraction gave the blonde a chance to slip away.
Sakura followed the direction of her crush's scowl and sighed, wondering what childish thing Naruto did to awaken Sasuke's immaturity again.
-SasuNaru is love-
Despite the promise Gaara made to Naruto, he still didn't understand why Sasuke shouldn't know about Kyuubi's death. In his opinion, the blonde's reason 'He's busy' wasn't enough for Sasuke to forfeit his right but a promise was a promise. And Gaara was a man of his words and a cunning man. He decided that by informing their other friends and letting few fangirls hear it, the Uchiha would know before the day would end. Gaara didn't know why he was doing this. Was it because he didn't want Sasuke to feel left out?
When Chouji commented that Naruto wasn't his usual self, the redhead smirked. That was the opening he needed.
Indeed, Gaara was a man of his words and cunning one too.
-SasuNaru is love-
Unfortunately, Gaara's plan was being thwarted by the fact that the student council members had locked themselves in their office brainstorming about some event which to Gaara was irrelevant. He was close to barging into the room and tell Sasuke himself but the redhead knew patience so he waited patiently. Well, as patient as a cornered and provoked tanuki. And because of that, the impact of his arrows on his target board had more strength than usual.
-SasuNaru is love-
Neji's eyes followed Sasuke who excused himself to the toilet and Neji hoped that Sasuke would take a time to cool himself down. Most of the arguments that happened so far had been the freshman's provocations. The Hyuuga was certain that the council president was close to throwing Sasuke out.
-SasuNaru is love
Usually, Sasuke never paused or gave any fangirls his time even if they were blocking his way but-
"What did you say?"
"Condolence," the girl said again, her pretty face full of sympathy. "I know it hurts a lot to lose a pet."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
The besotted girl thought her crush was in the state of denial. That was understandable and it was okay. She was there to make things all right. "Kyuubi."
At the mention of Naruto's cat, understanding dawned on him like a blinding light. Now a lot of things made sense. The call, the fake happiness, the tainted cornflower blue eyes, the looks Gaara was sending to him and-
Fucking dobe!
Sasuke whirled around and stormed down the hallway and to the place Naruto was. He was fuming mad that he had slammed the door open, catching the attention of all culinary art members. All but Naruto who was busy mixing something.
And Sasuke who was now boiling, thought it was bad because all the kitchen utensils he saw were possible murder weapon. Under the curious and speculative gazes of the members, he approached his friend and rudely unplugged the mixer.
"What the hell- Sasuke!" Oh yes, it was his friend- a seething Sasuke.
"We need to talk," Sasuke said in a clipped and ice-cold tone and the next thing Naruto knew, he was dragged away from his counter, out from the room and along the hallway to God knew where.
"Let go!" the blonde demanded. "We can't talk right now. You're busy! I'm busy!" But his vocal protests fell on deaf ears. He howled when the grip on his wrist tightened. "You're hurting me, asshole!"
"Then stop struggling," the taller teen snapped over his shoulder.
Naruto continued trying to get free but Sasuke was stronger. And the more he tried, the faster the other lad walked until the blonde had to focus on walking and coordinating his steps so as not to stumble.
-SasuNaru is love-
Ino took a second glance on the two figures moving along the hallway of the building opposite to hers. She wasn't mistaken. It was Sasuke and Naruto and observing from their movements, the two were fighting. And she was certain they were going to the rooftop. With the intention of stopping her two friends, she made a mad dash to that building's rooftop.
Before she could wonder where the two were, Ino heard the painful sound of a body crushing against the wall. Her two friends were on the other side, just around the corner where she was and it had begun. She was about to start walking to that area, when Sasuke's voice which sounded like thunder rolling across the sky, stopped her in fear.
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?"
Tell him what? Ino wondered.
"C'mon, Sasuke. Kyuubi is just a cat."
The blonde girl frowned. There was something wrong. Sasuke was fuming and Naruto was calm... so calm. When did those two switch personalities?
Sasuke eyeballs seemed to grow smaller at that callous statement. He would have believe that Naruto meant it, if not for the darkening of his blue eyes. He could see cracks and dents on his friend's composure. Just few assaults and-
"Just a cat," Naruto repeated more to himself then to his friend.
"Then stop acting like she meant to you!" In Sasuke's anger, he had grabbed Naruto's tie.
The blonde flinched.
"To me, Kyuubi was my-"
"Your cat?" Naruto snapped, blue eyes blazing. He grabbed the other teen's blazer. "Then where were you yesterday? Where were you when-" he choked, unable to finish his statement. Where were you when I needed you?
"I was with my father!" Sasuke roared back. I was with him when you wanted me to be by your side. If only he knew that this would happen he wouldn't have done that. It was his fault and he was furious at himself for that and for Naruto who had decided to bring the subject up when all Sasuke wanted was to offer comfort. He slammed his childhood friend against the wall again. "But I'm here." God, his heart, no, it was his throat that was aching. Not his heart. Definitely not. "Right now. Right here. With you..." Then softly he added, "in front of you." Why couldn't his friend see that? Why couldn't the blonde understand that he would always have a part of him?
Ino sunk to the floor, clutching her chest. This pain... this emptiness... her dream?! Was her dream warning her about her chance that was never there and losing a person that was never hers? Was that what it was all about?
Why? Why was it that when it came to Naruto, Sasuke could easily transform from a cold-hearted person (to his fangirls), apathetic person (to everyone) to someone who could lose his temper in a flash and shout out his feelings without really shouting them? Why?
Naruto knew he was weak... weak to the way his childhood friend looked- humbled and pleading. Unhesitatingly, he raised his hand, his fingertips brushing against Sasuke's left cheek before his hand settled on pale neck. He breathed Sasuke's name before he pulled him close and let his tears fell... tears he didn't shed the other night and tears he didn't show to Gaara.
Sasuke took the gesture as consent and wrapped his arms around Naruto whose tears were now soaking his tie and shirt. Sasuke didn't cry, he just listened to his friend's cries and incoherent mumblings... listened and held him close against his frame. Held him so close.
Ino peeked from the corner and saw the two boys locked in an embrace shared by- Oh my God! Are they? she wondered. But it couldn't be possible or were they hiding it from everybody else? But nobody could keep such thing a secret for a long time especially when Naruto had a big mouth. No, they were friends... close friends who would never cross the thin line between friends and lovers.
And Ino thought it was over when Sasuke and Naruto leaned away from each other but she was wrong. The dark-haired teen had wiped one tanned cheek dry before cupping it. If Ino wasn't mistaken, the blond lad slightly leaned into the gentle gesture. What was worse was that they were staring at each other with myriad unfamiliar emotions. With the scene too much for her, she did what her instincts told her to do- she fled.
The slamming of the door had snapped both boys from their own world and Sasuke, just to have an excuse of laying his hand on one cheek, had pinched the area hard causing his friend to howl.
"Meeting ends at four. Let's go to your place together with Gaara," Sasuke told Naruto who was still rubbing his abused cheek.
"Gaara has an extended practice."
"Tell him to go to your place after that."
-SasuNaru is love-
Ino hadn't stop running until she was outside the school premise. She leaned against the brick wall surrounding the school block while catching her breath. Her lungs were burning while her heart was hurting. She willed the images of the scene she had witnessed. With her no longer at the rooftop, it was so easy to believe in her truth- those two weren't in love with each other.
"Ino, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked in concern. "Are you crying?"
It was only then did the blond girl notice that she was indeed crying. After she wiped her tears, she told her close friend, "Sakura, I'll double my efforts in capturing Sasuke-kun's heart."
Oblivious, the other took it as a challenge. "Go ahead but I'd still be the winner."
At that statement, the two fell to their routine of arguing.
Naruto, please don't be the villain of my unfolding love story.
-SasuNaru is love-
In the council room, Neji leaned against his chair slightly amused that a toilet break could have a very good effect on the Uchiha. Now, if only it had such effect on everyone else.
-SasuNaru is love-
The white tulips, Sasuke laid on Kyuubi's grave were in complete contrast of the groundl but it was a beautiful one. The lad then touched the soil and murmured a prayer.
When it ended, Naruto extended his hand and pulled Sasuke up just in time Gaara came into the scene.
The redhead paused in mid-step and fear bloomed in his heart as his two childhood friends stood toe to toe with each other. There was just something painful in that picture… as if they were leaving him behind… as if he no longer existed.
Sasuke and Naruto looked at Gaara, the dark-haired nodding while the blonde was grinning. The redhead jogged towards them.
Don't leave me behind.
If only these three take a time to ponder on their feelings, they would realize that it had changed and continued changing thus redefining their friendship.
TBC
Despite the lack of sleep, me and Kunoichi-chan are smiling right now. In fact, my partner is hyper due to lack of sleep. .