"Dear Naruto,
I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. It's nothing personal; it's just- well, ok, it is personal. I'm sorry; Sakura is making me do this, I'm not very good with words.

This is awkward, considering we're on the same team. You have no idea how hard this is, but I can't hold it back any longer. I feel like I'm about to overflow.

Naruto... I like you. Alot. This could either end well, or you could hate me forever. That's why I had to tell you, before what is to come. I'm sorry.

With LOVE,
Sasuke"

Naruto dropped the piece of paper, his hand shaking like a leaf. It couldn't be true. Sasuke wouldn't be one to run away. Not far away, at least. He refused to believe this. There was no way! He wouldn't do such a thing! Would he…? "There's got to be a clue in his room," he thought, dashing up the stairs.

There was nothing in the room. The radio was playing softly, the song "Far Away" by Nickelback seeming to speak directly from Sasuke to him. The red-tinted razor blade, resting on the edge of the nightstand, caught the corner of his eye. It glimmered dully in the moonlight; its silver turned Scarlett with dried blood, glaring up at him accusingly. It was HIS fault that Sasuke constantly had cuts and scars to be found along his arms, he realized suddenly with a sharp stab of guilt. "Sasuke…" Wondering where he could have gone, he sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. The scent of Sasuke's familiar cologne enveloped him. He clutched the letter tightly. Closing his eyes, he fell back. It all clicked into place now. The blushing and stammering when they accidently touched, the many times he had caught Sasuke studying him intently during class. Had he really been so blind? Then, the next thought shocked him back to reality. He loved Sasuke back. How could he never have noticed before?

Inspiration suddenly hit him like a lightning bolt. "The training grounds," something whispered deep from the dark corners of his mind. There was no time to question this logic, not if Sasuke really was going to attempt what the letter suggested. He didn't have the time to spare. It was now or never.

He jumped up and began running, almost as if his life depended on it. However, in his heart he knew it wasn't HIS life in danger, it was SASUKE'S. Now he understood the constant depression, the sulking, the death glares as he and Sakura flirted together shamelessly. Running faster, nearing his destination, Naruto recollected every time he teasingly called Sasuke "super emo ninja" and "teme." Now he regretted it deeply.

Bursting into the clearing, he spotted Sasuke, twirling what appeared to be a switchblade between his fingers. Now was the time for stealth. There was no telling what he would do if he realized Naruto was there.

Naruto tried to get closer, until a twig snapped under his foot.

Sasuke jumped slightly, but didn't turn around. "Who's there?" he asked soberly. His voice was emotionless. Lifeless. "You weren't there when I woke up." He purposely avoided the "who's there" question. His voice would give that away straight off.

Sasuke turned, his face a mask of deadly calm. His shirt was nowhere to be seen. Naruto's eyes widened considerably when he spotted the heart-shaped cut marks on Sasuke's chest, above his actual heart."S-s-s-sasuke, what is...?" Unable to finish, he simply pointed. Sasuke smiled bitterly. "This is where my heart lies. Usually, you outline something before you cut it out, am I correct?" He raised the knife just slightly. "Outline something you're going to- YOU'RE FUCKING INSANE!" Naruto shouted, moving until he only stood about half a foot away from him. "Why am I insane? It hurts, and so it's only natural that I remove the problem, now isn't it?" "I won't let you!"

It was then that Sasuke's perfect facade broke. His face transformed into a mixture of hurt, and deadly anger, and something else that Naruto couldn't place. He raised the knife higher and positioned it directly over his heart.

"YOU'VE NO IDEA, NARUTO! NO ONE DOES! NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND! JUST LET ME-"

His tirade was interrupted by soft, warm lips pressing against his own. Slowly, he lowered his arm and dropped the knife. "Dumbass," Naruto whispered against his mouth. "You've no fucking idea how long I've wanted to do this." He pulled away, glowering at Sasuke, whose eyes were as big as the full moon above them. "Naruto...," he breathed, unable to think coherently, dipping down to capture his lips in another soft, sweet kiss. Carefully, without breaking contact, he lowered the both of them until they were lying in the grass, the kiss slowly growing more and more passionate. "I love you…."

Sakura found them the next morning, curled against each other to ward out the morning cold, using Naruto's shirt for a blanket and their pants as pillows. "Wake up, boys," she said loudly, startling both of them awake. "Hi," muttered Naruto, blushing deeply. "Ah, shit," groaned Sasuke, flopping backwards. Sakura giggled. "You two have two hours before anyone is supposed to be out here." She smiled at them. "You owe me big time." Sasuke stood and helped Naruto up. "What do we owe you?" he asked suspiciously, dressing himself. "An explanation of everything that happened last night," she trilled, bounding away. Naruto started laughing."I'll let you tell that one," he snickered. Sasuke responded by simply pushing him over, and for the first time in a long while, he smiled.