Edited: [05/18/15]

Running without any particular destination in mind, Naruto clenched his fist and resolutely resisted the urge to stop in fear of feeling reality and rationality hit him. He just ran. He ran and ran until his legs couldn't take it anymore and he was forcibly dragged into a halt.

He panted, greedily inhaling air and wiping the sweat that trailed down his face. His back was damp with sweat and he could feel his heart hammering against his chest.

It took quite a while before he regained whatever composure he had left. By then, he chose to sit on the pavement with his back against the wall of some unfamiliar store with his knees drawn to his chest. He was still sweating but he had significantly cooled off after a few moments.

And he remained just like that for a few more minutes, alone and slightly broken inside.

He was stupid. He was so, so stupid. They were just best friends. They hadn't even kissed- not until today, at least and there was no telling what Sasuke would've actually done if he knew what Naruto was going to do. The guy was straight and possibly even harboring some feelings for Sakura. Hell, as far as he was concerned, the most that Sasuke has shown to care for him was through lending out a hand when he was in a pinch and he was stupid to assume that there was something more. This was Sasuke. He was that bastard who cared for nobody. And Naruto was no exception.

He was never an exception.

Naruto barked a laugh.

A billion doesn't even come close to counting all the people living in this world. But of all the people he had chosen to fall for, it had to be Sasuke Uchiha.

Why did it have to be him?

The slight twinge that he felt in his chest steadily grew into something painfully unbearable. It was gripping his heart in an uncomfortable yet inescapable hold and he found himself remaining unsurprised. This was the very same pain that he had dealt with for over a year- It's nothing new.

But just being used to it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.

"I'm used to this. I should be used to this," he weakly whispered to himself as he tightly held his knees to his chest. His grip was weak and the conviction was barely even there as he spoke.

"I should be used to this," he repeated.

But it hurts.

"I should be."

Why does it hurt?

He was stupid. And that couldn't be said enough.

"I'm sort of beginning to understand why Sasuke calls me an idiot all the time." Naruto laughed bitterly, drawing his knees closer to his chest, as if retreating and recoiling from reality.

But even for an idiot, Sasuke never left him alone, he thought. No matter how many mistakes he makes, how much embarrassment he brings to the Uchiha and how much of an ignorant retard he could be, Sasuke had stayed with him. He would act unconcerned when asked but he never did leave Naruto to deal with his problems alone.

Naruto could still remember that one time when he was confronted by the students from Ame High. He had been beaten nearly half to death – he had no chance in the very first place from being outnumbered – and was hospitalized for more than three weeks. Sakura had damn near hyperventilated when she found out what had happened to him. And Sasuke…

Sasuke had never looked so defeated and tormented before.

And it was then that he realized how much Sasuke cared for him. How in between all the harsh insults, fistfights, arguments and rivalry, there was—

"There is nothing," Naruto said out loud, his blue eyes dead and unseeing. "There won't be anything."

Holding a hand up to his chest and feeling the throbbing pain grow stronger, he closed his eyes. He wanted to cry. He wanted to hit something. He wanted to scream his lungs out. He wanted something to get the bastard off of his mind. He needed something.

But there was nothing.