Chapter 20: Everybody's Different
There was a harsh, yet hushed yelling into a certain blonde's ear. He felt strong, very strong hands shaking him.
"Naruto, wake up!"
I'm awake, I'm awake... I'm watching Sasuke, can't you see? ..So tired...
"Wake up and get off the floor, Naruto! Sasuke's waking up!"
Only those words were needed for Naruto's eyes to open, and he sat up. Shaking his head out of his stupor, he realized that it was Kakashi that had been shaking him. He should have known. Scrambling to his feet, he held onto his ex-sensei to steady himself. Within a second he was beside Sasuke at his bed.
Both Naruto and Kakashi looked on as the Uchiha stirred, hissing under his breath as he brought a clumsy hand to rest at the wound on his head. Obsidian eyes slowly opened, blinking as the light stung his pupils. Naruto spoke hesitantly and quietly.
"How do you feel, Sasuke?"
"Like shit, asshole. What the hell happened?"
"Do you remember anything?" Kakashi had said, interrupting Naruto.
"Well... I remember that Sakura had brought me some food, and that she was taking a long time in the bathroom. Something about being drugged, and I vaguely recall some fighting with Sakura and something else... other than that I'm pretty blank."
"I hope you at least remember me telling off Sakura."
"No, I don't."
Sasuke was bitter, and they could tell that his mind went blank before he said Naruto would be forgiven. He wished he could replay how he stood up for their honor in front of Sakura.
"I... told her that she was a bitch and I was sorry that I tried to stay friends with her. I also told her she should have nothing to do with us."
He could've died at the smirk Sasuke gave him then, it gave him a brand new hope for the future. He let one single tear of happiness slide down his cheek as he felt Sasuke lightly take his hand.
"I wish I could have heard it." There was a pause, and a gentle smile. "You whooped her ass, I hope."
"No, you were the one who punched her."
"I did? Damn, I wish I could've at least remembered that part."
God, Kakashi was so proud of the both of them he thought his smile was going to crack his head in two. He stood there silently watching the two look at each other in the way that you knew they were in love. He helped Sasuke sit up when he told them rather angrily that he wanted to go outside. As they helped the Uchiha out the door, Naruto explained everything that happened. Soon, Kakashi had spoken his relief and said his goodbyes, leaving the two sitting on the ledge of the fountain that Naruto and Kiba had sat on and shared life stories.
"Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"Why did you come back to my house after you said what you did?"
Sasuke's words were still groggy and slurred, but he understood what had been said. "Because... I don't think I could have lived with myself if I just let us grow apart, just like that."
"You were still an asshole."
"I know. You don't have to forgive me if you don't want to."
"You told her off, didn't you? I think that shows that you deserve to be forgiven. It takes a strong mind and an even stronger heart to be able to give up on someone like that. Even if you consider what she had done."
"Thank you." Naruto planted a kiss on his temple, giggling slightly.
"What's so goddamned funny?"
"You're voice is shifting, and it's amusing to me."
They sat there poking fun at each other, each secretly relishing the normality of being normal, acting normal, living a normal life. Naruto would whisper sweet words to his partner when he would rub at the back of his head in pain, and in turn, Sasuke would tell his partner to shut up when he tried to apologize too many times.
As the Uchiha gave a weak punch to Naruto's head, he heard a familiar ringing coming from the blonde's back pocket. Reaching for his cell phone, he hit the green button and pressed the device to his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Naruto, you'll never guess what I just saw." It was Kakashi.
"Oh please Kakashi, tell me what you just saw." Perhaps it wasn't necessary, but he was overly sarcastic. Damn Uchiha was rubbing off on him.
"Well, I told Kiba what I found out from Sakura. They must have spoken, because it seems that I saw him and Shikamaru together in the park just a few minutes ago."
"You're kidding! Those two haven't spoken to each other in at least a year... do you think they'll get back together?"
"It seems that way to me. After all, from what I can see from this tree Shikamaru seems to be kissing him quite desperately."
A smile that was about a mile wide spread across Naruto's face. The bit his lip and cast a loving glance at the boy beside him.
"That's one of the best things I've heard all day. Thanks."
"The best news come from the best ninja. I'll call you back when I get details from Kiba."
"Don't be a pervert!"
"Gimme a break, Naruto. I have Icha Icha in my pocket to keep me occupied."
The blonde opened his mouth to clue Sasuke in, but the words got stuck in his throat when he settled his eyes on something beyond Sasuke's head. The brunette didn't bother to ask. He turned his head, raising his eyebrow at the scene.
Rock Lee was currently on his youthful knee proclaiming his youthful love to Sakura, with a youthful bouquet in his hands. The two could practically see the sparkles radiating about Lee's head, Sakura squeaking in delight.
"Since Lee seems to love you so 'youthfully', does that mean I can go?"
Sakura took a break from her squeeing to turn to Neji, who was currently bound at his wrists and wearing a collar and leash.
"Oh, Neji! I'm sorry, but it seems that Rock Lee loves me more than I ever could have imagined! I enjoyed our date, though."
The Hyuuga nodded his head quickly, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet and muttering to the cherry blossom how it was his time to leave. She unhooked his chain and cut the ropes on his wrists, raising her eyebrows strangely as Neji dashed away faster than she had ever thought possible.
Naruto leaned towards Sasuke's ear. "Do you think he knows about what she's done in the past?"
Sasuke didn't take his eyes away from the two a few meters away. "Knowing Lee, he probably doesn't really care."
They watched as Sakura swooned and tears poured dramatically out of Lee's eyes. After a few minutes of sap, they turned around and decided that they would get diabetes if they watched any more of this. Naruto opened his mouth again to explain his phone call, but as they looked up to fix their eyes on the sunset in front of them, there stood a particular Inuzuka. And even more surprisingly, a certain Nara stood beside him.
Kiba's face glistened at the tears he had cried. Shikamaru stoically took a long drag off of his cigarette. He hadn't gotten a call yet, so Naruto figured they hadn't talked to Kakashi since they met in the park.
"Hey." Naruto said simply, not wanting to stir any emotions by asking questions.
Kiba wiped at his face. "I see you took my advice."
Naruto merely blushed as Sasuke put a still-weakened arm around his shoulders, nodding.
Turning his head, Shikamaru blew smoke out of his nose and out of the way of their faces. "Long time no see."
It was discreet, but Naruto could see the slight smile pulling at the corners of Shikamaru's mouth. He tried to hide it, but the blonde could also see the hand he had in Kiba's back pocket.
Sasuke knew Naruto was trying to be polite, but he was goddamn fucking curious. This was considering he didn't know anything because Naruto hadn't had a chance to explain the phone call. He chose the simplest sentence he could think of.
"So, how've things been?" He scowled when they seemed to giggle at his awkward voice.
"Things are... great." Kiba replied, sighing and letting his head drop to Shikamaru's shoulder.
"I'm glad the truth has finally surfaced." Naruto said boldly, locking eyes with the Inuzuka.
Both men in front of them nodded in agreement and appreciation. Kiba giggled when Shikamaru turned his head and blushed, pretending to blow out a hard puff of smoke as he did before.
"How are you feeling, Sasuke? I heard some things from Kakashi..." They were still wary, talking about tender subjects so soon after they happened often weren't a good idea. But Naruto had voiced his concern, so now it was Kiba's turn.
"Like shit. Don't worry about it."
Shikamaru clicked his lighter nervously in his pocket. That was his subtle way of showing concern for his friends. Although there was much silence between this group, it was because each was savoring the moment of happiness and contentment that they felt. Sometimes there were no words to express how you felt.
"Good luck." The Uchiha said softly, letting the smallest of smiles grace his angelic features.
"Same to you," Shikamaru replied, while Kiba finished his sentence, "although I'm sure neither of us will need it."
Naruto chuckled deep within his chest. "Did you hear about Sakura and Lee?"
"Hear about it, I saw it! I don't know how the fuck she got Neji on that leash, but I was actually kind of relieved when Rock Lee showed up. Saved him the torture." Kiba actually seemed... concerned for the Hyuuga.
"TenTen would've beaten the shit out of her, anyway." Sasuke snorted.
For the first time in a while, they all let out a long, hearty laugh. Sure they had laughed their whole lives, but this time it actually felt... good.
The sun set, letting an aura of peace surround them.
After saying their goodbyes, Shikamaru threw his cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. He tugged at Kiba's wrist and guided them home, whether he was walking Kiba home or taking him back to his own house for some 'making up' - nobody would know.
The two sat by the fountain still, exchanging ideas about the relationship of the two that had just left, then reverted the conversation back to the crazy life of Haruno Sakura.
"It would be interesting to see how different their lives together will be."
Sasuke pulled Naruto's head to his shoulder, answering softly. "Yeah. Lee will do nothing but spoil that brat rotten."
"Shikamaru will do nothing but lay on his ass all day." The blonde said amusedly, chuckling.
Maybe they didn't understand each other, but they understood that everyone lives to their own theme song and ticks to their own clock. It was what made them unique people, living the way they wanted to, being the people that they grew up to be. And they knew that. Even Sakura. So they looked at each other, Naruto reaching a hand up and gently cupping the side of Sasuke's face. He pressed their foreheads together. And just then, he admitted something that made his stomach hurt in that awfully pleasurable way.
"I love you, Sasuke."
Sasuke felt his stomach get that sensation he used to get when he first started having feelings for Naruto.
He had to admit it - he was in love.
Sasuke looked up, seeing into endlessly blue eyes, smiling the smile that only Naruto could ever see. And he too finally gave in, finally deciding that now was the time to bring to life what he had been feeling since he'd set eyes on this person in front of him.
"I love you too... Naruto."
Naruto's eyes glossed over with tears.
He didn't care who was looking, he didn't care what other people thought, and finally - he didn't really care about anything besides Naruto. The kiss they shared then was so chaste, so filled with love that anyone passing by could feel it radiate from their being.
Though, Naruto knew that Sasuke would always be the tough, unbreakable and asshole person on the outside. He would crack mean jokes and start fights, be hostile and domineering over everything. Naruto would just remember the kiss they shared that day and forget it all. And Sasuke would learn that reviving the clan and having children wasn't everything, so long as he got to spend his life with Naruto.
So when they got home, Naruto took the journal and put it under Sasuke's bed to be forgotten.
And it was there that the book collected dust, never to be used again - because Sasuke was cured.
Thank you, God; for answering my prayers...
--THE END--
Author's Note: That's it! The sappy ending of 'Diary of a Madman', a SasuNaru fanfiction. I sincerely hoped you enjoyed this story in its entirety, and I hope even more that you liked the ending!
I'd like to thank my husband - who was graciously patient with me while I was writing this. I giggled when he pointed at me and said "You're writing more gay porn, aren't you?!" xD And he actually read my fanfiction, then thoroughly scolded me (playfully of course). I love him.
I'd especially like to thank you guys - everyone who reviewed and gave me advice, criticism, or even those who just said "you're story is awesome!" It makes me so happy inside, so thank you!
Honestly, I think I could've done better than this. But I hope you stay tuned for the next installment, where I will try harder! You can put on author alert or keep an eye out on my profile page, or whatever. Or don't, if you don't want to. :P LOVE TO ALL!!
--M. Blue