Standard disclaimer's applies.

SasuNaru, yaoi, OOC and unbeta-read.

Cowritten by XKunoichiofthePaintbrushX.

Uchiha scowled when he stood in front of the condominium and heard noises behind the door. It looked like there was a party. Was that the reason why he had been asked to come? But he hadn't been informed. He thought it would just be a dinner with them.

He stepped in and was welcomed by Shigure who said, "I'll get birthday boy for you."

Birthday? He echoed mentally. His eyes followed Shigure and his heart sank when the male stopped by the blonde. It was his birthday and he had no gift with him. He had no right to be here, but before he could leave, the blonde had reached him.

"Hey! Thanks for coming here."

He didn't return the blonde's smile. "You didn't tell me that it's your birthday," he said, his eyes accusing. "I don't have a gift."

"That's not necessary," the blonde assured him because unbeknownst to the Uchiha, his presence was enough... more than enough.

Suki de suki de
Anna ni nagashiteta
Namida no iro mune no itami sae
Toki ni nagareru is it so?

Kitto futari betsu no koi wo shite
Itsuka kimi wa chigau kiss wo shite
Sotto sora ni sonna koi mo shita to
Kitto futari waratte hanasu no ne

-"Kitto", Crystal Kay

Chapter 29: Diverging paths

It was very seldom for the Uchiha family to gather in Fugaku's study room and when they do, it was because Fugaku had something to announce that would affect the family.

"I finally made my decision for Sasuke to be my successor," Fugaku announced with no preamble.

Unlike Itachi, Mikoto and Sasuke were surprised. To be exact, Sasuke's eyes were wide.

No, this was a dream.

Their father couldn't just discard his all-time favorite son for him, Sasuke thought.

"Why?" Mikoto asked in behalf of Sasuke. Like the latter, she was grappling with the announcement. It was too sudden, especially when she knew how high the pedestal her husband placed their eldest.

Fugaku joined his hands together and leaned forward. Not once had he shown having second thoughts. "I noticed that Itachi can only come this far. This is his limit."

Itachi remained quiet and emotionless even when Mikoto and Sasuke looked at him.

"What do you think, Mikoto?" Fugaku asked.

"Sasuke is as good as Itachi, but Sasuke's opinion on this matter is more important than mine." She looked at their second son.

Even though he was aware of what the responsibilities that came along with being the successor were, Sasuke accepted. This was what he wanted, right? One big stepping stone towards his goal. "I accept."

"Then I expect you to better than Itachi," Fugaku said.

You can't outshine me.

Sasuke glanced at his brother and their eyes met. "Of course I will. There's nowhere I can go but up."

A pleased Fugaku nodded. "I hold you to your word."

"Congratulations, Sasuke," Itachi said in a mocking voice, the moment their parents were out of earshot. "With your poor efforts, you proved yourself to father." There was disgust in his voice, but there was also a gleam of triumph in his eyes that unsettled Sasuke. The younger lad shrugged it off as just a trick of the light above. Itachi was being what he was best at- being confusing.

An hour later, Sasuke blankly stared at the ceiling of his room then growled when his conversation with Itachi two days ago came unbidden to his mind.

"What. did. you. say?" Sasuke stated coldly and slowly.

"You can't outshine me," a smug Itachi repeated. He didn't turn around to know his brother's reaction. Sasuke was so predictable in this matter it was laughable.

"Pray tell, what made you think of that, Itachi?" Sasuke asked through gritted teeth.

"Your skills are mediocre, your efforts are pathetic and your commitment is questionable."

There was a soft cracking sound coming from the pen Sasuke was holding the moment Itachi finished his remark.

"Fuck you, Itachi!" he growled just as the door clicked close after his brother left the room.

What right did Itachi have to say such things? What did he know about- Sasuke paused. Of course, Itachi knew because their father taught him well and his older brother had an ability to be the best in all the things he did. As much as Sasuke loathed in admitting it, even to himself, Itachi was perfect.

He turned to his side as if by doing so, he'd be able to get rid of the inferiority complex creeping up on him. He clenched his right fist.

One day, you and father will definitely kiss the ground I walk on, was what he thought before he resumed glancing back and forth from his laptop screen and a file folder, obviously torn.

Two months ago, he and Naruto passed the entrance exam of their respective schools they each had wanted to go to and had immediately started screening for apartments. They had found five that were up to their standards and interests. Thus, they had planned to go and check these apartments a day after their graduation, which was nine days later.

Although Naruto had become a burden, he was too hesitant to leave him because he was too caught up in the excitement of living together with the blonde in the near future. In fact, it had been him who suggested that they should start looking for furniture. However, that was before. Things had become different the moment he had accepted the role. He had more reasons to leave Naruto than to stay with him. His father's announcement had decided that for him.

Although it wasn't a must, he wanted to go to the school were all the Uchiha leaders and successors went to. But the problem was, how was he going to tell Naruto that they were now over? Until he couldn't find a way how, he'd just have to stay with him.

-SasuNaru is love-

Naruto banged his head against his pillow, trying to stop Itachi's words from being played over and over again.

No, he wasn't obsessed with Sasuke and their bond was absolutely not preventing them from growing and realizing their dreams. He hadn't asked Sasuke to sacrifice things for him. He believed that, so why did it feel like Itachi had struck a cord? Was Itachi right along?

I'm not your ally or your enemy so if you need a reality check, I'll give it to you... hard and raw.

Was that it? Was this the reality check? But surely their bond wasn't like that.

Ne, Sasuke?

But he had caught Sasuke looking far away as if he was a bird in a cage. He whimpered and shook his head, denying. It was just too heavy and surreal to accept it.

Am I your cage rather than your blue sky?

Tears cascaded down on his cheeks because he knew the answer to that question. Oh, God! He knew it, and it fucking hurt.

-SasuNaru is love-

"You're quiet today," Sasuke commented offhandedly during his rendezvous with the blond in an unused room at the top floor of the senior building.

"Have nothing to talk about," Naruto replied distractedly.

"Never thought you're one to run out of topics."

The blonde said something akin to gibberish that Sasuke had to ask him to repeat.

Blushing, Naruto repeated, "I'm horny. I want to do it with you."

Sasuke smirked, rubbed his hands on the blonde's clothed thighs and said with a slightly teasing voice, "Heh. That's why you're quiet."

Naruto didn't bother to correct his boyfriend because he had no courage to ask the important question bothering him. "Well?" he asked. Sasuke just gave him a sexy smile and leaned forward to initiate.

Sadly, their sex had become a safe zone for them. There were no words or thoughts, just feelings and instinct. It was the perfect way to escape from everything that was bothering them.

-SasuNaru is love-

In our lives, there was always a person who whether unintentionally or intentionally, consciously or unconsciously became one's beam of light that guided him in the midst of confusion. Surprisingly, Shikamaru played that role for Sasuke... by accident.

Shikamaru with his eyes half-closed was walking down the hallway when he had bumped into the Uchiha who was carrying few file folders in his hands.

It had been a coincidence that those folders slipped to the ground in a fluid cascading manner just as it was a coincidence that Shikamaru's eyes fell on the header of an acceptance letter. He looked at his friend and asked bluntly but quietly, "Does Naruto know about this?" That sudden burst of guilt and hesitance in those obsidian eyes was the answer.

Whether it was because of the brunet's neutral gaze, or because Sasuke had enough, the latter took a glance on the sheet, shrugged and leaned on the wall. "What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

Such a tricky question. So simple yet so difficult, but Shikamaru took it as calmly as he tackled his shougi and goh games. "I'd tell him."

"But he wants-"

"I'd still tell him, especially if I have no plans to return to him."

"I..." Sasuke hesitated. Even now, he still didn't want to hurt the blonde and somehow Shikamaru sensed it.

"Look. Naruto will be hurt either way, but you leaving without telling him will only impede his growth." Shikamaru decided to push further for the sake of his two friends who couldn't distinguish one thing from another. "I suggest you iron things out if you care for him that much. He'll get hurt, but it has to be done."

Sasuke sighed. Shikamaru was right but... he mentally shook his head, vanquishing any fears, doubts and hesitations. This was the price for going after his dream and a long time ago, hadn't he vowed to pay any price to reach for his goals? So he shall.

"Not now, but tomorrow... tomorrow, I will." Tomorrow would be easier because seniors weren't requested to report to school a day before their graduation. Hopefully, Naruto would stay at home.

Sasuke nodded to Shikamaru and walked away. He still had the night to summon his courage to end their relationship. He cleared his throat trying to pull out the word 'goodbye' that clung on his voice box. It was so bitter and so heavy, he felt like suffocating. Why was it so difficult? Why was saying 'goodbye' as difficult as saying 'I love you'?

-SasuNaru is love-

After doing nothing but lay on his bed, a bored Naruto decided to get up to do some cooking and invite his friends for lunch. He glanced at his watch. He roughly had two hours to prepare and invite everyone. He was halfway from the door when Sasuke stepped in, surprising him.

"Sasuke?" he uttered and just watched when his lover crossed the distance between them. When the dark-haired lad stood in front of him with a determined look on his face, his heart slammed against his chest and alarm bells in his head were ringing. Naruto somehow knew, but he stayed rather than run away, because recently he had come into terms that Itachi was partially right.

"I have something to tell you," Sasuke said.

As if his facial expression wasn't enough for the blonde who stated rather than asked, "You're leaving."

Sasuke looked slightly surprised. Was he that obvious? "My father made me his successor."

"When?"

"Not so long ago."

Instead of whining that his boyfriend had been keeping secrets, he nodded, because there was nothing else he could do.

"I'm going to London," Sasuke continued. Saying what he wanted to say had become easier when the blonde was quiet and he grabbed this opportunity, "and I can't be with you. I don't want to be with you anymore."

Inwardly, Naruto grimaced at those blunt words. It hurt a lot and in this moment, he desperately clung to his father's words.

To love doesn't mean to possess.

"You're ending us?" he asked, but it was more of a statement than a question.

Sasuke nodded affirmatively and witnessed how Naruto quietly shattered and he wanted nothing more than to hold him... to have him for the last time. He caught a single tear drop and his heart ached. "Can I hold you until I leave?"

Naruto steadied his breath before asking, "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight."

Wordlessly, the blonde leaned forward and pressed his lips against Sasuke's then just as suddenly, he pulled away.

Sasuke's heart clenched at the answer written all over the blonde's face. He admired him for being so brave to accept things and so foolish to give in to his selfishness. When Naruto grinned, Sasuke knew and was certain that he'd never stop loving him. As corny as it may sound, he' would be his first and last, there would be no one in between.

He leaned down, pulled Naruto close before merging their lips together. With the knowledge that their being together was numbered, they acted with urgency and desperation.

"Sasuke," Naruto breathed when his ex-lover divested him of his last article of clothing. "Sasuke," he breathed again when Sasuke lowered his naked form and pressed it against his own.

Sasuke took Naruto's lips, hungrily molding it against his own before urging them to part. When they did, his tongue surged possessively into the blonde's wet cavern and filled it. Later on, he trailed wet kisses on tanned skin while his hands touched and caressed.

Naruto gasped, moaned and hissed. He wanted to participate, but his attempts were made futile by the male above him. So he lay there, while he savored Sasuke's warmth and touches. His eyes fluttered close and he shivered when he felt Sasuke's erection poking into his left thigh. He could feel it pulsating... for him and that very knowledge made him move his leg, flagrantly rubbing it.

Sasuke let out a deep moan at the unprecedented attack which briefly disrupted his worship on the body beneath his. For a moment, he stilled himself, allowing the blonde to touch him like that, letting him know that he- Sasuke still desired him and very much so. When he was close to bursting, he continued his task. He showered Naruto's whole body with kisses from head to toe. Having kissed the whole length of his right leg, Sasuke switched to his left, from toe to his hip where Sasuke nipped his left caramel-colored hipbone.

Naruto giggled at the tickling sensation then gasped, his hip slightly raised from the bed when his lover took all of him into his mouth. At the sudden onslaught of liquid fire, he flailed his arms. One hand found purchased on the headboard, the other on sable hair strands. "Sas'... ke!"

Sasuke whirled his tongue around, licking the precum at the same time wetting it with his saliva. His libido registered all of the blonde's reactions which never failed to become an aphrodisiac, urging and hardening him.

Naruto shook his head like a madman, desperately clinging and hungrily demanding. The pleasure was too much and he wanted to share this with the man above him. With sheer effort and with no words, he made this possible. He had Sasuke in his mouth just as he was in Sasuke. He didn't miss the shaky breath the male drew when he deep-throated him nor the silent gasp when he started sucking him. He faltered when Sasuke touched that spot in a way that would make his every nerve hot and demanding a few seconds later.

Even with his mouth full, Sasuke smirked at the sudden tensing of the blonde. He pushed deeper, pressed harder and sucked longer until Naruto could only breathe his name brokenly between sucks and licks.

Their world merged and then ruptured rapturously as they came together and sucked each other dry.

Still in bliss, Naruto moved and straddled Sasuke who grabbed his head and initiated one powerful kiss.

Naruto draped one arm over Sasuke's shoulder while his other arm fell between their bodies. He pressed closer before he took their still limp manhood in his hand.

Sasuke gasped into the blonde's mouth and his eyes fluttered open. He took time to gaze on Naruto's face, his cheeks flushed, his eyes closed with his eyelashes lying beautifully against sun-kissed skin. Mesmerized, he laid a hand on one cheek and deepened the intimacy of their mouths and tongues.

Slowly, that hand slid downward until it rested on Naruto's back, to pull him close while his other hand slid between their bodies and mirrored what Naruto's hand was doing.

Naruto broke their kiss and with his breathing still ragged, rested his forehead against a pale shoulder. He closed his eyes feeling that liquid fire flowing into his veins, singeing his nerves.

Sasuke wasn't faring any better, especially when beads of precum rolled gently from the top. He could feel that familiar tightening of his belly and the rushing of blood to his nether regions, making him harder. He breathed Naruto's name in an almost pleading voice. He wanted more... more of this contact... more of Naruto. He pushed closer.

Sensing Sasuke's growing need, Naruto decided he had enough. He kneeled and positioned his bottom above the other male's pulsating hard flesh. He had lowered himself when Sasuke grabbed his hips and steadied him, questioning but lustful blue eyes gazed into smoky and half-glazed obsidian ones.

Sasuke wiggled his hips, his wet tip brushing against the blonde's tight ring of muscles, successfully wringing a strangled erotic half-moan and half-gasp from his lover. Ex-lover, his mind corrected too quickly for his liking. Without warning, he pulled Naruto down immediately sheathing himself. His abdomen tightened more seeing the way Naruto arched his back in both pain and pleasure. He leaned forward and carefully dragged his mouth from tanned nape to tanned chest, tasting sweat and Naruto.

"Dobe," he murmured in that sinful voice. He gulped back the other words that wanted to follow that name. It was too late to say them, anyway.

In reply, the blonde breathed his name over and over again as they whirled and danced around their fire; as they swam and dove in their ocean of desire; as they ascended and glided towards their peak. However, it wasn't over yet as they intended to make love until they couldn't move a single muscle...

As the hour of Sasuke's departure drew nearer, their movements had become slow. There was still hunger, but the urgency had long disappeared. It wasn't their completion that mattered to them now, but their being one. It was for this reason, that whenever the fingers of orgasm brushed the tendrils of their consciousness to claim them, both males stilled and let it passed empty-handed.

During one of their unmoving moments, Naruto opened his eyes and stared at Sasuke's face which was slightly distorted with control. There were a lot of things he wanted to tell him. He wanted to say that he had never planned to stand between him and his dreams; that he was sorry and that he loved him, but he was scared that Sasuke would think that he was trying to make him stay.

Sensing the blonde's heavy but soft gaze, Sasuke glanced down and his cracked heart broke at the way his ex-lover looked at him. One word rose up from his throat. One single heart-wrenching word. "Sorry," he croaked.

"Don't be," the other replied shakily as he tried to fight back his tears. He swore not to cry... well, at least not in front of Sasuke so parting would be less painful. His eyelids fell half-closed when his lover started moving again, hitting him deep.

Sasuke's throat constricted when he opened his mouth to say goodbye and to thank the blonde for everything. However, those words, before spoken, became tears. Why couldn't he have both of the things he wanted most? Was it so selfish of him to ask for them?

Teardrops gently fell from Sasuke's chin to Naruto's half-parted lips. At first, the blonde thought it were beads of sweat, but few seconds later, realized it was too salty to be sweat. He forced his eyes open and seeing his best friend's tear-streaked face broke his control. Crying, he pushed himself up and wrapped his arms around the pale body. He hugged him close... hugged him tight.

"Don't," he harshly said. Neither of them knew what it meant. Was he asking for Sasuke not to cry? Not to be sorry? Not to stop or not to be leave? "I love you," Naruto whispered the words that had been difficult to say until now and which he had been trying to hold back on that day. If anything, it only made the other male cry.

They could no longer draw comfort from each other's words... They could only cling unto each other until they found their overdue release.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke stirred from his shallow nap and disentangled himself from the sleeping Naruto. He donned on his clothes after cleaning himself. Taking the second buttons of his school blazer from his pocket, he placed them on the bedside table where Naruto could easily find them. Then quietly, he opened Naruto's closet and took what he wanted... what he believed were his.

Naruto's bed dipped when Sasuke lowered his weight on the mattress, leaned forward and brushed his lips against tanned forehead. It was better that Naruto wasn't awake. This was the only way he knew how to spare the blonde from crying. Naruto had cried enough for him. He brushed their lips together and quietly left.

I love you… goodbye.

-SasuNaru is love-

Fugaku and Arashi were walking towards the restaurant where three businessmen were waiting for them when the former's hand shot out to steady the other man who slightly tripped on his feet.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly, then frowned when the blonde just stared at him blankly.

What's this feeling? Arashi wondered. He had never felt this way before. No, he did. He did, but only once. That was the time when Naruto had hurt himself in an accident that left those whisker-like scars. But this time, the coldness that had tried to snatch him from consciousness was stronger and bitter.

Naruto.

Naruto was hurt, but something - his paternal instincts maybe or his deep bond with his son- told him that the lad was physically safe. He was just heartbroken. More than heartbroken.

"Arashi!" Fugaku looked relieved the moment recognition darkened blue eyes. "Do you want me to cancel this meeting?" he asked. If Arashi nodded even once, he wouldn't mind if his company lost billions. However, the other male shook his head because there was nothing his presence could do for his son, but that didn't mean that he couldn't send someone, just in case.

"I'm okay. Let's go inside. Everybody should be there by now," he answered.

Fugaku just nodded.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke lied down on his bed and slowly turned his head to where his bedside clock was. There was five minutes left before he would leave for the airport. He turned his head to the other side and stared at his suitcase. He was ready. He stared at the ceiling and frowned.

He didn't regret it. He felt fine. Hell, he couldn't feel anything. He had become emotionally numb ever since he had left the Uzumaki residence. It was like when he had stepped out from Naruto's room, the link to his heart was severed while a tight material wrapped around it to buff whatever pain there was. It was as if his heart had readied a very effective defense mechanism for this parting.

He sighed and dialed a number.

Gaara had stepped out from a convenience store when his mobile unit rang. He fished it out from his pocket and took the call. "Uchiha," he said.

"I'm leaving," he heard his friend say in an indifferent tone. Gaara frowned. Sasuke called the wrong person. If he was going out of town for a business trip, then he was informing the wrong person.

"I'm leaving for London and I'm not coming back," Sasuke repeated clearly.

Gaara's hold on his mobile unit tightened. If Sasuke was expecting him to relay that information to Naruto, he was in for a big disappointment. "What about Naruto? Does he know?"

"He knows. We said our goodbye earlier."

The redhead frowned. He heard the faltering of Sasuke's voice as if… "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, stopping the tears that had immediately gathered around his eyes and bit his lower lip for a second before he broke the pregnant silence that ensued after the redhead's question. "Yes, I'm sure. Very, very much so."

"If you-"

"I'm sure!" Sasuke snapped.

Gaara closed his eyes longer than a blink and said, "Well, if you say so."

"Yes, I say so!" Sasuke could detect the shaking in his voice and he was certain that so did his friend on the other line. "I know you've been doing this since a long time ago, but… can you look over Naruto until…" He took a deep breath, held it for few seconds and inhaled them, "until he moves on?"

"I'll do that even if you didn't request it."

Sasuke threw an arm over his eyes and said the next thing, "Gaara." It had been a long time since he called his other childhood friend by his name and it was strange, at the same time, familiar. "This is goodbye."

It took few seconds for the redhead to realize that Sasuke was cutting all his ties to Naruto. He pitied him, at the same time, he secretly admired his courage to do it without any hesitation. "I see," he said in a shaky voice, his hold on his mobile unit had become a tight grip. "Don't overwork yourself there, Sasuke."

"I won't."

"I know. Goodbye." There was a bitter smile on Gaara's face as he said this and that smile remained as they both hung up simultaneously. Out of frustration, he combed his hair with his free hand, stared at the sky and muttered a curse.

-Sasunaru is love-

Naruto bolted to a sitting position and immediately looked outside. It was already dark.

Sasuke.

He scanned the whole room, looking for that familiar figure although deep inside he knew Sasuke was gone.

Sasuke.

He looked at his bedside clock and noticed the three buttons and his heart slammed, because it knew what it meant. He leapt out from the bed and strode towards his closet despite the soreness of his back, hoping without meaning too. Relief flooded through him seeing that those buttons were gone too. Sasuke was really very initiative, he thought. It didn't occur to him that it was the lad's selfishness that drove him to do such an action.

He looked at the clock once more. Roughly two hours and ten minutes. Could he make it? He wouldn't know unless he'd try, would he?

Within ten minutes, Naruto was bounding the stairs while informing the helper that he was going out. He had a person to send off.

"Saito?" Naruto said then skidded to a halt. What was his father's secretary doing here?

"Your father sent me. Where do you want to go?"

The blonde smirked.

-SasuNaru is love-

With his heart pumping and his breathing ragged from running, Naruto stood and watched passengers walking towards the entrance that would lead them to their predeparture area. He scanned the small line of people and just in time, he saw Sasuke showing his boarding pass to a ground crew staff member, he smiled. There was no need to call after him because all he wanted was to see him go. Then Sasuke, with his back still turned to him, raised his arm and waved his hand once. Sasuke knew! Sasuke sensed him! His heart lurched in that bitter-sweet way.

At that moment, for an unexplainable reason, understanding settled in him, destroying whatever grudges he had against life and there was a certainty that tomorrow, on his graduation, during their class pictorial and outing, he could smile sincerely. He could smile because he had loved and in one point of his life, he was loved by his love.

His mobile unit rang and he immediately picked up Gaara's call.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

Then there was a long silence, but the blonde welcomed it... embraced it. However, after awhile, Gaara broke it as he read something that brought calmness to his friend and made him feel lucky that he had loved and once, was loved by his love.

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. "

TBC

Author's note: The verses above are taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Neither of us is religious but we appreciate a wonderful text when we see one. The first title we came up for this fanfiction was 'Fervent Rebellion', but such title referred to a small part of the story only. For this reason, we changed the title into 'A time to' which refers to the verses above which, in turn, roughly summarizes all the events in this story. If our quoting of these verses had offended any of you, we sincerely apologize. However, our quoting shouldn't be taken, in any way, as an act of disrespect to the Holy Scripture or to the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient Being.