A/N: Omg, this took forever to finish and was much longer than I originally anticipated. Let's hope the next chapter doesn't take as long.....Sorry for any OCC-ness that might exist. I always try to do my best to keep characters as they should be, but it can be difficult at points. Please deal with me if you can, I'm doing my best :D
Enjoy~
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Boghs on Naruto Forums. I hope you enjoy your gifts!
Disclaimer:Naruto's not mine.
1 Day until the wedding…
"What do you fucking mean the caterers got fucking kidnapped?"
Sasuke's head was still ringing with the sounds of Sakura's shrieks and exclamations of anger, even now, 2 hours after the matter had been solved (somewhat) and the final rehearsal concluded. The wedding party members had all hastily departed following the end of the practice ceremony, each describing one task or another that they had to urgently attend to. Like Sasuke, most wanted to be as far away from the emotionally unstable bride as possible. At least until the evening when they would all be forced to come back together and painfully endure the elaborately planned rehearsal dinner where it was ensured that something would go wrong and Sakura might just bring down the whole village in her fury.
She had come frighteningly close that afternoon. Apparently the caterers, a high class group of chefs from the northern sectors of Hi no Kuni, had come under attack by a group of rogue ninja traveling from what was left of Otokagure. Upon surrounding the caterers and extracting from them the information regarding their purpose and final destination, the ninja had promptly kidnapped the caterers, releasing only one to send a mocking message to the anxiously waiting wedding party.
There is a phrase that goes 'Don't shoot the messenger'. Apparently, Sakura had never heard it. The poor man was not scheduled to be released from the hospital for at least 3 weeks.
The elaborately and painstakingly planned wedding had seemingly hung on a precipice, threatening to all come crashing down in the worst of ways. The bride had been on a fierce rampage, destroying half the white imported chairs and ripping off one of the pillars of a gazebo. The members of the wedding party, all Jounin level ninja, had trembled terribly as far back as possible, no one brave enough to attempt to calm the raging bride before them.
Sasuke had watched with a mixture of boredom and amusement. He was no stranger to Sakura's outbursts and had come to understand that they went through a basic pattern. She would get angry, and this would be followed by physical destruction of an inanimate object, then physical destruction of an animate individual before she was finally able to cool down and re pursue her task. Still, he couldn't help but smirk as she had used the torn gazebo pillar to smash the rest of the structure.
"Sakura….sweetie…" Kiba piped up. He ventured closer to his fiancé before quickly retreating back to avoid being struck by what left of the alter.
"So usaratonkachi, what was it you said? Everything's going to be perfect?"
"Bastard, this is no time for jokes! We have to do something! Before Sakura-chan destroys the whole village!" Naruto scowled at his friend before turning to watch the woman he had loved for years begin ripping up the flowers planted weeks before for the ceremony.
"……And?" Sasuke asked, "This matters to me because?"
"Sasuke!"
The raven scowled as he remember how Naruto had pleaded with Sakura until he had finally been able to calm to woman down.
Naruto was always so kind and caring to Sakura. Always doing whatever he had to do to please her. For once Sasuke wished….
The Uchiha huffed and angrily brushed the looming thoughts away. At least they had been able to come a solution. Using her Madame Hokage powers, Tsunade had summoned the best chefs in the village, including the old man from the ramen stand (on Naruto's protests of course), and commanded a collaboration of effort.
The goal? Create a massive feast by tomorrow. The reward? Eternal recognition and having their lives spared by Sakura. Did anyone have any complaints? Of course not.
Sasuke was amazed by how the whole village had become swept up in this insane event. He understood why…but still. It seemed…unnecessary.
He brooded over the wedding until he reached his destination.
"Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers! Sasuke-kun! Right on time" Ino's bright voice greeted the Uchiha as he walked through the doors.
He raised his eyebrow at her manner and her slightly pale complexion. "Are you sure you should be working? Shouldn't you be at home, resting or something…?"
Ino scowled slightly, "I'm pregnant, not diseased. Why does everyone keep telling me things like that? Shikamaru keeps changing the locks to prevent me from leaving the house…".
The Nara had taken the news like most had suspected. He had moaned for hours about how troublesome life would be now, and then proceeded to make an elaborate list of the thing she needed to do to stay healthy, signed her up for weekly visits at to the hospital, and contacted the Hokage to cancel all her missions for the next nine months. Ino of course had retaliated. They were currently battling over whether she would end active duty her 6 month (Ino) or now (Shikamaru).
They were yet to reach a conclusion.
"And how did you get out?" Sasuke inquired.
"I broke down the door" Ino replied nonchalantly.
In spite of himself, Sasuke gave her a small smile. Shikamaru always made the mistake of underestimating the blonde woman. Her personality was fiery and she was as stubborn as a bull. It was almost laughable to believe this pregnancy would slow her down.
"Does Shikamaru know you're here now?"
"No, but only because I promised Chouji the first slice of wedding cake, " Ino said, her eyes laughing.
"Sakura's not going to agree to that". Sasuke could almost imagine the fit his former teammate would throw. Many innocent civilians would be in danger of serious injury.
"I'll deal with Sakura myself. Now I'm guessing you're here for the flowers?" Ino slipped back into her professional persona.
Sasuke sighed and pulled out the extremely detailed list that Sakura had drawn up. He didn't know what half the flowers on the list looked like, let alone if they even existed. But if anyone would know, it would be Ino.
He shook his head as he handed her the list, not even knowing where to begin.
Ino barely glanced at the list, pale blue eyes skimming the countless items in seconds, before she turned, long blond hair swinging behind here as she walked towards the back of the store.
Sasuke followed slowly and was fully surprised as he stepped into the back of the shop.
Uchiha Sasuke was no stranger to the back of the Yamanaka store. He and Ino had spent countless hours back here, fully enjoying each other's company, before they had gone their separate ways. She to Shikamaru and he… swinging the other way?
But, he had never seen the place so lush.
The shelves were overflowing with different kinds of flora, all following similar color patterns that seemed to grow from the floor itself. Entangled vines and kissing petals, they grew and thrived in endless cycles. A master of optical illusions, but even Sasuke felt slightly dizzy.
"Bouquets, corsages, centerpieces, ceremony flowers…tch, didn't miss a thing, eh forehead?" Ino chuckled lightly to herself, fingers skimming different flowers and eye flickering momentarily back to the list before moving forward.
Every time she passed a particular group, she made a mental check, a small gesture that indicated some form of counting system.
"5 baskets for the 5 five flower girls…my goodness…flowers for the bridesmaids…uh..huh"
She folded the list as they reached the back of the shop, handing it back to its original owner with a flair of business-like manner.
"All arraignments and assortments accounted for. Tell that to Sakura. She should have them picked up no later than tomorrow morning. Anything else?"
Sasuke shook his head silently, following her back to the front.
"Well, now that that's over and done with, tell me Sasuke-kun, what's new in your life?" Ino leaned over the counter in her familiar way, lips pulled up in a curious smile, finger lightly teasing the ends of her blond hair.
"I can't say anything is, Ino -chan" He smirked at the way she wrinkled her nose at his use of the honorific. He could never forget how fun it was to tease her.
"Nothing at all Uchiha? How is that possible? No special event, no special mission, no special…someone?" She grinned even wider at the faint shift in Sasuke's face. She could never forget how fun it was to tease him.
"No", he replied shortly.
She scoffed at this, blond hair flying as she shook her head. "Uchiha, you underestimate me. I know you. Very, very well. You of all people should know you can't fool me".
"Ino, it's nothing".
"With you it's always something, darling", Ino purred, waving a finger mischievously at him. "Now spill. Don't make me use Shintenshin".
"Ino," Sasuke sighed, "Don't start this now".
Ino laughed lightly but stopped when she saw the troubled look on Sasuke's face. She leaned over the counter and lightly poked him in the arm, an old gesture from back in the days.
"Hey, don't get all broody and Uchiha-y on me. You know I hate that", she gave him a small smile, "Figure it out first. Then tell me. I can wait".
Despite himself, he returned the smile, a rare gesture for him.
"But not forever of course".
He scowled and turned his heel, the sound of Ino's tinkling laugh following him as he exited the store.
"Naruto…don't touch it" Sasuke warned as the blonds finger drifted ever so close to a frosted pink rose.
Naruto scowled at him and reluctantly pulled back, but still remained close enough to the towering structure that Sasuke felt nervous and irritated.
If Sakura finds out he's here…. The Uchiha banished the thought. It would only make him feel worse, adding to his already guilty conscience.
If wasn't Sasuke's fault that Naruto was more than a little persistent and way more than a little annoying. When he had discovered the location of cake, he had begged with all his might, uttering countless prayers and blessings on the Uchiha, who had accidently let the confidential information slip in the first place.
Sasuke hadn't really understood the lengths at which Sakura's paranoia regarding the wedding had gone until the pink-haired woman had pulled him aside a few weeks before.
Nervously she had confided in him (after making sure there were no listening were ears about) the location of a small little shop situated in the east corner of the village. Its existence was virtually unknown except to the most influential and endowed families, those who could afford to be aware that it was there.
This being so, how had she got her hands on such coveted information? She had pried it out of Hinata of course. No bloodshed required.
Unnamed and unmarked, the little shop was haven to the most prized and delicious delicacies in the world.
It was a gold mine of pastry's and was the number one authority on cakes. It was the perfect place to have a wedding cake made.
Through Hinata, Sakura had made the necessary arraignments, the Hyuga heiress timidly obeying every command. She had begun the creation of a wedding cake of unmatchable succulence and beauty. Perfection on a gold rimmed platter.
Other than her and Hinata, only Ino and Sasuke were aware of all this. Her decision to tell him had been based solely on his position in the wedding and because of how much he meant to her.
In addition, she required someone to check on the progress of the cake. She couldn't. She would be too easily missed. Hinata had duties to her clan, and Ino could only frequent the area so many times before it would start to get suspicious.
Sakura had need a fresh face for the final stages and Sasuke had been the best option.
After this confession, Sasuke had gazed at the rosette with a wary look, as if she had just told him the location of a drug house, before reluctantly agreeing to the uptake the task she had given him.
Overjoyed, Sakura had given him a sealed scroll with the precise location of the shop and the dates that he would need to visit it.
Since then, Sasuke had made 3 trips to the shop, which he had found all too incongruous. The outside was tattered, support beams rotting, and a scratched out sign hanging loosely off the front. The inside was no better. A dusty counter stood idly near in the middle, managed by a broken toothed old woman, whose eyes had given him a long detailed inspection that had made the Uchiha involuntarily shudder the first time he had walked in. He had doubted Sakura's sanity that first time, as he had examined the cobwebs in the corner and the various uprooted floorboards of the seemingly empty store.
It wasn't until after he had presented the old woman with the scroll that she had beckoned him with a rotten smile to follow her to the back. After a moment's hesitation and an adjustment of clothing to ensure that everything was secure and safely sealed, Sasuke had followed her, stomach feeling slightly sour at the nature of everything.
She had lead him through the empty shelves of the back room, until they finally arrived at a door, which was locked by a special seal. Performing the proper handseals, the woman had unlocked the door and lead him through a maze of twisting stairs until they finally reached the basement of the store.
It was definitely not what Sasuke had expected.
A stark contrast existed between this intricately polished and more than well kept area and the rotting rooms above them.
There were rows and rows of display cases, each carrying its own special seal, and containing various assortments of pastries, ranging from miniscule muffins, to towering wedding cakes.
Farther off, Sasuke had heard the roar of machines and the movements of workers, indicating that this underground was even larger than the already expansive room.
Sasuke had turned back to the old woman, intending to conclude the business he had come to do, and had been surprised that she had disappeared, instead replaced by a significantly more attractive young woman with long brown hair and stern features.
The old woman had been nothing but a Henge, another precaution established by the secret owners of the shop.
Wordlessly, the woman had handed him back his scroll and silently indicated that he wait. Obediently, Sasuke had remained still, although his dark eyes had flickered over the extent of his surrounding, prompted by curiosity and a touch of paranoia.
Where was he exactly? That had been his main thought.
When the woman returned, she had simply given him another scroll, sealed once more, before retransforming and beckoning him to follow her back upstairs.
Upon reaching the surface, she had finally spoken, voice harsh and wavering to match the image she carried.
The scroll was meant for the client and could only be opened by them. Sasuke was to return in a week, to receive the next one.
Then the old woman had dismissed him with a wave of his hand, and Sasuke had all too willingly complied, eager to remove himself from this seemingly parallel universe of guarded underground pastry factories.
The other two trips had been equally as odd. Sasuke had never seen the cake, at least until now.
This was meant to be his final trip. Sakura had informed him that the last scroll had contained information stating that the cake would be completed upon the next visit. He was to make one last visit, before the confection was to be delivered.
Annoyed by the thought of having to make yet another visit, Sasuke had accidently let the cake secret slip, following a heated training session with Naruto.
He blamed the blond for that as well. He had been irritated already, creating a distraction that had only been added to when Naruto proceeded to remove his shirt in complaint that 'it was too hot outside'.
The raven hadn't known he had made a noise, until Naruto shot his a strange look and asked him what was the matter.
Usually not one to be nervous under pressure, Sasuke had, in an out of character manner, blurted out his destination and task that he was to complete that afternoon.
Big mistake.
Now both of them stood before the wedding cake that even Sasuke had to admit was impressive. It stood at a shocking height and was a shade of the palest pink. It had been painstakingly decorated with intricate floral patterns that seemed to have erupted on their own from the delicacy. The very top was graced with not the usually tacky bride and groom statues, but a simple dog flower, an interesting and humorous tribute to the potential newlyweds. Sasuke had to give Sakura credit. The only word to describe the cake was perfect.
His biggest dilemma now stood next to him. It had been easy enough to sneak Naruto into the shop, Sasuke using only simple genjutsu to get past the woman at the front. On his past visits, his Sharingan had copied the handseals used by the woman, so that too was an easy barrier to bypass.
The area they stood now was relatively unguarded. On all Sasuke's visits, he had never seen anyone but the woman who stood at the front. He could sense nearby chakra signatures, but the individuals who carried these signatures were hidden from view.
In truth, it wasn't being discovered down here that worried Sasuke, but Sakura discovering Naruto was down here. Saying there would be hell to pay would be a gross understatement. Especially if Naruto kept getting so close to the cake.
"I said stand back!" Sasuke snapped, scowling darkly at Naruto, who had his eyes fixated on the frosted flower.
"B-But Sasuke," the blond whined (cutely, the Uchiha observed), "Can't I just have the tiniest little taste?" Naruto showed him how tiny with his thumb and index finger, but Sasuke shook his head.
"No, it'll be noticed. And knowing you, you won't stop there" he said.
"Come on Sasuke, even you can't deny how good this looks" Naruto was practically drooling as he turned back to the confection.
"…It looks too sweet" Sasuke replied, teeth aching at the thought of all the sugar that the cake probably contained.
"That's the point" Naruto said back, finger reaching out once more.
"Idiot!"
"Ouch, Bastard!" Naruto rubbed the swelling spot on the back of his head as he glared at his friend who was seething before him. "I just want a taste!"
"Wait until tomorrow then. We're leaving, c'mon" Sasuke turned to start back up the stairs, but was prevented from moving by a pair of tanned arms that wrapped themselves around his legs.
"Please Sasuke, just a little longer! Please Please Please!" Naruto wailed.
"No" Sasuke said shortly, enjoying the feeling of warm arms. Now if only they would move up a little more.
"I promise I won't touch, just look!"
"I don't believe you"
"Sasukeeeeee! You've got to! Pleaseeee!" Naruto increased his grip until Sasuke was in danger of completely toppling over.
The raven sighed and looked down at the pitiful blond. Blue eyes shining, Naruto was giving him his best look of innocence.
Sasuke felt his heart give a little wobble and cursed Naruto's influence on him. He sighed heavily.
"Five more minutes".
"Yeah!" Naruto sounded like a kid in a candy store. He quickly detached himself and went to sit before the cake, eyes drinking up every little detail, hands fidgeting but staying obediently away.
Sasuke watched with a look of boredom, but couldn't help but feel slightly amused.
Later, when they emerged from the shop, Sasuke releasing the old woman from the genjutsu and presenting her with the final scroll, Naruto gave him a large grin.
"Thanks bastard. You act so cold all the time, but don't think I don't know how you really feel". The blond said.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke barely kept the shakiness out of his voice. Did Naruto know? Had he been that obvious??
"You pretend that you don't….but you really do care about this wedding and about Sakura-chan". Naruto said, grinning widely.
"…"
The grin was promptly erased as Naruto was sent flying through a thankfully vacated rotting building.
"Idiot" Sasuke hissed and continued on his way.
"Kiba and I", Sakura began, "would just like to thank you all for everything you've done. We couldn't be more grateful".
"A toast" Kiba said happily, raising his glass.
The members of the wedding party all smiled in return as the raised their glasses.
"To the happy couple" Tsunade grinned madly, already more than a little tipsy.
"To the happy couple!" the others cheered. There were only two people whose cheers were less audible than the rest of the groups.
Naruto, whose smiled dipped in the corners and did not quite reach his eyes. He watched sadly as Sakura and Kiba exchanged a quick kiss earning another roar of cheers from the wedding party.
Sasuke, who was still largely against all this frivolity, was watching the blond, who gazed longingly at the blushing pair. The Uchiha scowled and threw back his drink. While the rest of the guests began to talk and enjoy themselves, he shot a quick look to Kiba, who nodded, before exiting out one of the side doors.
Tonight, was not his night not for celebrating.
Unnoticed, Naruto slipped out one of the side doors of the dining hall. The rest of the wedding party members were busy chatting among themselves, mostly passing through various stages of nostalgia as they reminisced about the old days of the "Rookie Nine" and "Team Gai". Naruto was in no mood to relieve memories at the moment so he silently excused himself and began his search for fresh air. He knew Sakura would probably give him a good smack later for abandoning his maid of honor post, but he was willing to take the heat.
Next to the door was a staircase that Naruto assumed lead to some upper chambers of the banquet hall. Hoping that there would be a window of some sorts up there, he proceeded on, noisily clambering up the metal steps.
He slowed down as he heard a faint sniffling coming from above. It seemed he was not the only one seeking seclusion. He almost turned around, not wanting to disrupt the other persons private moment, but something made him continue up the stairs. He was more than a little surprised when he discovered the source of the noises.
Haruno Sakura, famous apprentice of the legendary Godaime Hokage, second-in-command at Konoha Hospital, and bride-to-be, sat listlessly on the top step, dress wrinkled and soiled, clutching a half empty bottle of wine, other empty ones scattered behind her. There were hot tears running down her face that was red and blotchy with prolonged sniffling and rubbing. At first she barely seemed to notice his presence as he gaped at her wretched state. She was muttering fast, broken phrases to herself, pausing in between to take a swing from the expensive bottle.
"Red colored flowers….those dresses are hideous….dogs can't sit at our table….kill caterers….I…can't….do this".
"I'm…getting m-married tomorrow" she whispered to the bottle in her hand, "And I-I've invited..everyone. So many f-flowers….and dresses….ugly…..I-I hate…everything. It….was not…s-something I….anticipated…b-but…I still said…y-yes". And then she lapsed into silence, staring blankly at the floor.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto finally whispered softly, still in shock at the sight before him.
This seemed to snap her out of her reverie and she finally glanced at Naruto, eyes blurry and red, mouth slanted askew in a half formed smile.
"Naruto! I-I knew you w-would b-be here. Y-you're always h-here f-for me. M-my Naruto". She made a move to stand up but collapsed back on the step, spilling some of the remaining drops of her drink.
"Sakura-chan…what happened to you?" Naruto couldn't believe that the person on this step was his friend and long-time love. She was nothing like the immaculately trimmed woman he had known for years.
"M-my N-Naruto. You t-take s-such good c-care o-of me. A-always h-here f-for me. N-Naruto…" Sakura made another sniffing noise and suddenly broke out into a fresh wave of tears.
"Sakura-chan, please don't cry! What's wrong? Please tell me!" Naruto grabbed onto her shoulders, attempting to steady her as she lurched forward, nearly dropping her bottle.
"W-why? W-why Naruto?" Sakura sobbed, shaking frantically.
"Why what, Sakura-chan?" Naruto gripped her shoulders harder as she seemed to go into convulsions, body swaying back and forth and she cried harder. He felt like screaming for help, but stopped himself. Right now, it was between him and Sakura. He had to do his best to help his friend. "Why what, Sakura-chan?" he repeated with urgency.
She was quite for a few second, the only sound her heavy sobbing. "Why," she finally gasped, "didn't you ever love me?"
Naruto felt himself go pale and his hands fell away from Sakura's shoulders. Having lost this support she fell forward, head landing softly on his chest. Soon his shirt was soaked through with tears but he didn't even notice.
He had never seen such bright hair. It was pink and it looked like the cotton candy that other kids with parents were allowed to have.
Naruto had been amazed by the hair. And the eyes, big green orbs that looked like shining jewels. Everything about the girl was lovely and rich and Naruto had fallen in love, because she was everything he was not. It was the first time he had seen Sakura and the girl had remained in his heart ever since.
Always there, through the years, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, that affection had never waned. He had displayed it, flirted endlessly with her, asked her out on countless dates (most that she had rejected), but he had never told her he loved her. He had done everything but. And now as she leaned on his chest, sobbing, he wondered why.
Why?
Why had he never told her how he truly felt? He had always held back. When they were young it was because of Sasuke and the crush Sakura had harbored toward the raven. When they got older, when he had had the chance, it was cowardice and fear that had caused him to recoil.
Was it really that hard? To say those words?
I love you.
What did they mean? And when could you say them? If you didn't say them, did it mean, that everything...was a lie?
"W-why didn't you ever l-love me Naruto? Why? I w-waited for s-so long. S-so so long. Even now. Waiting. Just waiting. B-but you never!......never". The crying had slowed to a stop. The only sound now was both their ragged breathing and the occasional sniffle from Sakura.
Naruto was in shock, his whole body numbed to everything around him.
Why? Why had he never told her?
It was a long clang that snapped him back to consciousness. The bottle Sakura had been gripping lay dejected on the floor, the last few drops cascading sadly down the stairs.
Sakura was still now, her breathing soft and even. He glanced down at her and saw that she had fallen asleep or most likely passed out from the over consumption of alcohol. Naruto sighed and grimaced at the mess she had made of his shirt. It was a sickly sight of smeared make-up and salty tears.
Pushing his tortured thoughts to the back of his mind, Naruto returned his focus to the woman on his chest. Thinking quickly , he lay her down the best he could on the steps and made his way back down to the dining hall.
He opened the doors and peeked in. He was in luck. Standing only a few feet away was Hinata, smiling silently as she watched Kiba tease Shino about 'the old days'.
"Hinata-chan!" he hissed, beckoning with his hand to catch her attention. The pale eyed woman shot him a surprised look and excused herself from her former teammates.
"Naruto-kun, what is the matter? What happened to your shirt?" she asked, dark brows knitting in concern.
"Forget the shirt. I need your help. Sakura-chan's staying with you tonight, right?"
"Yes, but why? Where is Sakura by the way? We've been looking for her".
"Come with me" Naruto took her hand and led quickly up the stairs. The Hyuga heiress gasped as she saw the pathetic sight of the other woman sprawled unconsciously among her bottles.
"W-what h-happened?" Hinata hadn't stuttered in years, which made the magnitude of her shock even greater.
"I think it's, what are those things called? Pre-wedding jitters?" Naruto reached out to pick up the light body of his friend, cradling her gently against him. "We need to get her out of here. Before anyone else sees. I don't even want to think about what the Konoha Times would say".
Hinata nodded, not really listening, entranced by the wreck cradled in the blondes arms.
"Hinata-chan, I need to get Sakura-chan somewhere safe where she can rest and get cleaned up". He said firmly, grabbing the womans attention once more.
"…Yes" she said finally "You can take her to my house. There is an exit on the east side of the building. We can go through there. Give me a second to tell the others I'm leaving"
Naruto shot her a pleading look, "Don't tell them about her".
"I promise I won't" she replied, before going quickly back down the stairs. Naruto followed her at a slower pace, walking carefully so not to jostle the precious bundle he carried.
He found the east exit and waited by it until he was joined by Hinata. They walked in silence to her house, where he placed Sakura gently in a bed, gave Hinata a grateful nod, turned, and disappeared into the night without another word.
The top of the Hokage Mountain ceased to be a secret solace. The once vacant, rocky landscape was now a hot spot for couples and tourists, leaving those who wished for a bit of peace to search elsewhere. However, there were special moments when the mountain returned to its original silence. The couples stayed home for the night and the tourists cameras had run out of film. On these nights, one could faintly see the silhouettes of various shinobi scattered sparsely across the mountain top, each wrapped up in their own shroud of reminiscing and revelations.
As Naruto landed softly on the head of his favorite Hokage, the Yondaime and his father, he was especially grateful that it was one of those special nights. He needed time to think and there was no other spot where he could do it best.
He lay down with a sigh, adopting the familiar position of a famous Konoha cloud watcher, mind slowly replaying and nit picking through, not the only past few hours, but past few years, looking for any indications of Sakura's mutual affection towards him.
People said he was oblivious, but Naruto couldn't understand how he would miss something of such importance….
He was sinking deeper and deeper into his thoughts when he noticed the faint flicker of a nearby chakra signature. Naruto scowled at this, annoyed that his bubble of privacy was being invaded.
He looked to his side, eyes scanning the dark terrain for the intruder, fully bent on giving them a piece of his mind. They were a few hundred feet away, but even in the evening light, Naruto would know Sasuke anywhere. He knew the Uchiha by heart.
Naruto had been irritated by Sasuke's premature departure from the evening's festivities. All these years and bastard still didn't know how to loosen up and enjoy himself.
Now, he was surprised at finding the raven situated only a little bit away from him. Sasuke was always brooding over one problem or the other, but usually he did this within the privacy of his own home, or at the ramen counter whenever Naruto broke into his house and dragged him there.
For the second time that night, the blond found himself in a two-way position. He could turn away and return to his own thoughts, or he could proceed forward and investigate.
He chose the latter…of course.
"Hey bastard! So this is where you ran to!" Naruto yelled unnecessarily as he landed next to his friend.
Sasuke shot him a glare and gave him his usually noncommittal response, "Hn".
"You really have to take that stick out once in a while you know", Naruto said, sitting down, grinning widely.
Sasuke fully ignored him, but Naruto was used to it so he continued on.
"I…I have to tell you something that happened to me tonight", the Uchiha still didn't glance over, "It involves Sakura".
Now Sasuke took his eyes off the sky and fully focused on the blond next him. He was silent, but Naruto knew this was an indication for him to keep going.
He divulged the night's events, detailing his discovery of the distraught bride-to-be, and her subsequent confession. The whole time, Sasuke said nothing, but once or twice, the corners of his mouth twitched in a slightly downward direction, but other than that, his face was a pale mask.
"…So I left her at Hinata's house and came here" Naruto concluded finally. He let out a large sigh, grateful he had told someone of his current predicament. "Now I don't know what to do next…"
Sasuke was silent for a few seconds more, before he finally spoke up.
"What do you mean 'do next'?" came the low voice.
Naruto gave him a confused look, "I mean, how do I tell Sakura about how I feel for her? What else would I mean?"
"You don't do anything." Sasuke replied, locking his dark eyes with Naruto's blue ones. "You can't do anything".
Naruto felt his jaw drop. "W-what the hell do you mean by that, bastard? Why can't I?"
Sasuke ignored his question and turned away with a snort, "Idiot, you never think".
Naruto felt his blood begin to boil. He reached out and shoved his friends shoulder, repeating his previous question, "Why the fuck can't I? And what do you mean I never think? I'm thinking now!"
The Uchiha turned back to him, giving him his familiar scowl, "No you're not, because if you were, you wouldn't do anything".
"Bastard," Naruto growled, "you're not making any sense!" All pleasure and hopes for relaxation and reflection had disappeared from the night. Naruto was emitting auras of anger and anxiety as he glared at the face of his best friend.
"Why can't I do anything?" he asked once more.
"…Because you would ruin everything" Sasuke said flatly.
Naruto uncurled his fists and felt the muscles in his face relax, "Huh? What do you mean? …Ruin everything?"
With a sigh Sasuke rolled over and adjusted his position so he was sitting, facing his friend. He was silent for some time and it was all Naruto could do not to reach out and shake him for a response. Finally, he spoke up.
"You can't ruin this wedding, Naruto".
The blond felt his jaw drop. Was Sasuke kidding him? This was the guy who, ever since the announcement of the engagement, had found one little detail or another to gripe about. Every now and then he would even still complain about his position of best man (one appointed to him by Sakura, who thought he filled the spot better than Shino. Kiba's attempt to protest had been silenced by dangerous glares). Naruto couldn't believe that he was now defending the event that he had so openly disliked.
Sasuke hesitated before pressing on as he examined Naruto's stunned look. Although the thought of the blond holding any affection for Sakura made the Uchiha burn in silent jealously, hurting his friend wasn't exactly his favorite thing in the world, despite how he often made it appear.
"This event has been in planning for almost a year. Close to a quarter of the village will be in attendance and nearly all the shinobi, excluding ANBU, as well. Not to mention all your friends and your teachers. People who have been with us since we were growing up…"
Sasuke paused, waiting for Naruto's outburst, but there was only silence so he kept on.
"This is not simply a wedding anymore, Naruto. It's a celebration. A mark of achievement. Sakura's the first of our group to do something like this and it just shows how far we've come. You can't let something as trivial as a drunken confession-"
"Are you fucking kidding me Sasuke?" Naruto cut him off, his face an angry cloud. His voice was quiet and full of emotion, creating a tone that Sasuke disliked even less than his usual boisterous one. "Trivial? How the hell can you even say that?"
"I'm just telling you the truth", the raven shot back, his voice hard, "It's your fault that you can't handle it".
"Bullshit, Sasuke!" Naruto snapped. "That's bullshit! Sakura-chan meant every word she said! It wasn't 'trivial'". Naruto's voice was reaching its usual level and there were slight disruptions in the wind as other shinobi, who had been hidden from view, abandoned their places and retreated in search of quieter locations.
"Even if that's so, it doesn't matter. Sakura has put her life into this event and she would never ruin it. Not for someone like…" Sasuke trailed off and for the first time, broke eye contact.
"Someone like me? Is that what you were going to say?" Naruto shot him a disgusted look and shook his head, "Fuck you, Sasuke". He turned to leave.
"Think of Kiba", Sasuke stopped him in his tracks. "Think of your friend. You would hurt him like that?"
Naruto said nothing, but Sasuke knew he was stuggling.
"Think of Gaara. He left his staff and his people to come here. Not to mention he brought with him some of the best shinobi in his village. Are you going to make his journey to be in vain?"
"And Tsunade? She's given her all into this. At her age, that's something. Are you going to throw that all back in her face?"
Sasuke paused before he continued. The next part would be the hardest. Naruto still stood where he had stopped, his whole body shaking as he struggled to deal with the guilt that Sasuke had just cruelly delivered him.
"…What about," Sasuke took a deep breath, "…me?"
There was a significant stillness to Naruto now and the air around them seemed to contract as the world halted to a stop.
"…Idiot. Did you ever once…think about me?" Despite his best effort Sasuke felt the heat creep up his neck and around his face. He didn't know how girls did this on a daily basis. This confession thing. When they came up to him, they always made it seem so easy. Laying your feeling out on the table…
"You are so oblivious…always doing your own thing, running after Sakura…have you once…have you ever…even for a second…thought about me…like you do her?" Sasuke was sure Itachi, and every deceased Uchiha, were turning in their graves as he hung his head in a state of bashfulness and utter humiliation.
What had he just done? Confessed his feelings? Who would have ever though it would come to something like this?
"…Sasuke, what are you saying?" came Naruto voice. Sasuke didn't know whether or not it was a good thing that he sounded more stunned than disgusted.
"Usuratonkachi…don't make this even worse for me than it already is. Can't you process a thought without me having to guide you for once?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, his mind screaming that he should just turn around and leave. It would save him a hell of a lot of pain…but he stayed. If only just to feel.
"…You…like…me?" Naruto drew out the words and Sasuke flinched at each one.
Sasuke forced a smirk, "So you actually can think. Congratulations, you've figured it out".
There was a pregnant pause and the air around them seemed to contract even more, creating tension so thick, that even Sasuke's katana wouldn't have left a scratch.
"Sasuke…I…really don't know what to say…" Sasuke looked up and saw that Naruto had turned around, but like him was looking down, avoiding eye contact the best he could. The blond was fidgeting, tan hands running through yellow blond hair, as he shifted from foot to foot.
"Well, words have never been your strong point" Sasuke chuckled, mouth formed turned in to a half smile, which completely faded when Naruto finally looked up.
The feelings in the blue eyes were cloudy, but Sasuke still got the basic message. He felt his heart clench even before Naruto spoke his next words.
"Sasuke…I can't. I'm sorry".
Pain was not a concept that was new to Sasuke. He had built most of his life on it. At one point of his life, it had been his driving force, the only thing that kept him alive. Now…it was killing him.
Maybe that was why it was called heartbreak.
"Hn" was his only reply. His emotionless response that hid his pain.
He heard the sound of barely disturbed stones as Naruto leapt from the mountain, leaving him to deal with his pain.
And so the mountain was silent once more.
A/N: I have one or two ideas about how I'm going to end this. I don't want to give anything away, but it might not go as you might think. Just saying.
Reviews are always loved.
-dancer