Chapter 13

A Rock and a Hard Place

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I will dedicate
And sacrifice my everything for just a second's worth
Of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing

Crawling In the Dark – Hoobastank

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Naruto slung his backpack over his shoulder and checked the rest of his bags that rested around his feet, making sure that he had everything. He took one last look around the room and spotted his old cellphone on the end table. He paused for a moment, looking at it longingly, and swept it into his hand, gripping it tightly.

He hadn't changed the number in the longest time, not since he had gotten the phone in the first place, such a long time ago. He had another phone, one he used far more often and considered his main phone number. He often wondered why he tried keeping up with having two phones, most would consider it tedious. He didn't pull it out often; only when he was at his worst, and he had never let anybody else see it. The phone was probably a good five years old, the model was forgotten, and its paint was chipped in places where he had dropped it before. A corner of its screen was cracked where he could clearly remember throwing it against the wall a few years ago. It was old, used, and beaten and just looking at it reminded him of himself, of everything that he's ever wanted to overlook.

He realized that if he had truly wanted to forget everything and start over, that the phone would've been the first thing to go. It was the only link that he had to the past and he couldn't get rid of it, no matter how much he really wanted to. He couldn't use it, pretending as if nothing had ever happened.

Naruto clenched his hand over his heart.

No, he couldn't do that at all.

Because in this phone was Kyuubi's voice. It was the last time he had ever heard his voice, the very last moment of it.

In this phone was the last message that Kyuubi had left him, right before he had died.

Naruto sighed and shoved the blue phone into the pocket of his jeans and walked out of the bedroom, gathering up his other bags. Sasuke hadn't been too happy to hear that he had still been planning on leaving to Sai's house. But he knew better than to argue with him so soon after their last argument.

Besides, it wasn't like Naruto was abandoning Sasuke. He would still be dropping by from time to time to make sure that the asshole was taking care of himself.

And if Naruto knew that he'd miss the bastard too? Well, that was only for him to know. No need to alert Sasuke, it'd only make him smug anyway.

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When Sasuke walked into the apartment, he was startled by the silence. Even though most of his things had remained, the apartment, which had become more like a home since Naruto had moved in, seemed now empty and cold. It wasn't something that he was used to and the starkness of it unsettled him. Usually whenever he arrived, Naruto was already home and would call out a loud greeting. The house would smell of burning food cooking on the stove and there would be music playing softly in the background as Naruto swayed along as he prepared the food.

He had forgotten that he used to live alone, before Naruto was even in the picture. He had forgotten what it was like to feel alone and abandoned.

Has his apartment always been this cold?

For a moment, Sasuke was tempted to walk back out and crash on somebody else's couch instead. He knew that if he stayed, he would only feel more and more restless. He considered the option carefully before deciding that he was not going anywhere.

What if Naruto changed his mind and returned?

He needed to stay, just in case. Meanwhile, he would keep the apartment as tidy as he could, would keep up maintaining it so that when Naruto eventually did return, he wouldn't be angry over his lack of being organized.

Because, Naruto had to come back. He had promised. So, Sasuke believed him. Because he had no other choice. This was now completely out of his hands and if he pushed further, he'd find himself in the middle of the river without a paddle. Naruto said he would come back and Sasuke took him at his word, because Sasuke trusted him.

At this point, this was his only option.

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Naruto sat down in one of the park benches and pouted. He crossed his arms, groaning as he resisted the strong urge to smack his palm against his forehead. He really was stupid. Truly, deeply, without a doubt, stupid.

But what else had he been expecting, really?

Sure, Sai was great. He was a godsend, had saved him more than a handful of times. He had let him keep his job and was probably the best boss he had ever had.

But the man lived like a filthy pig.

Honestly, Naruto hadn't even considered it; it never really crossed his mind. Maybe at one point, it should've, but he had never thought that he'd be living with the man for a while either so he didn't concern himself with it.

Now that he was indeed staying with Sai, though, Naruto had to wonder if there was a possibility that he could run away instead. There was no way that he would be going back to Sasuke's apartment just yet, because he knew that the man would just throw an "I told you so" in his face.

But Naruto just had to think about the pigsty that was Sai's house and Naruto began doubting his decision. When Sai had invited him in, Naruto had almost passed out at the sight of filth everywhere. And when Sai had said that Naruto's job was to clean it all up?

Naruto had run out, legs carrying him as far as they could. He had ran until he had reached the park, hand pressed against his chest, gasping as he tried to regain his breath. Naruto briefly considered working out more to build up his stamina but quickly disregarded it.

He was much too lazy to actually go out and actively run around on a daily basis.

And that's where Naruto found himself now, collapsed onto the wooden bench. It wasn't the most accommodating but he was out of options at the moment; he'd take the wooden bench over Sasuke's smug smile and Sai's creepy grin.

He knew that he had to go back to Sai's eventually. Had already figured it out when he decided to run, but for now, he was satisfied with pretending that he didn't have to go back to the House of Horrors.

Naruto was jolted out of his thoughts when he felt a vibration against his leg and he jumped, startled. He stood up and patted the front of his pockets, brows furrowed as he pulled out the blue phone. He pursed his lips, his grip on the phone tightening.

He must've accidently turned it on earlier.

Naruto bit his lip and flipped the phone open, bringing it up to his ear with trembling fingers.

"Hello?"

"Hello," a deep voice, hopeful and desperate.

Naruto bit down on his lip harder, ignoring the sharp pain.

"Is this Naruto Namikaze?"

Naruto sighed and brought his index finger and thumb close to his face and pinched his nose.

"No, I've told you before, this number doesn't belong to that person anymore," Naruto replied, voice nasally and high.

"No, wait!"

Naruto closed the phone sharply, hanging up on the man abruptly. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling at the ends slightly. He had forgotten how hard it was to deal with this phone. He preferred his current one, because it offered the relief that the other one didn't. Naruto flipped the phone open once again and his finger hovered over the power button. He almost dropped the phone when it suddenly began to ring again and Naruto groaned. He could always just ignore it but Naruto was feeling really frustrated and telling somebody off would be a great stress reliever.

He answered the call with a bland "Yes?"

"Naruto?"

Naruto's eyes widened at the familiar voice. Warmth started in his chest and he felt almost giddy. The plastic phone creaked in his tight grip and he relaxed his hold while he took steady breaths.

"Gaara!"

"Can we meet up?"

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A/N: Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy. School is kicking my ass. Work is kicking my ass. Also, I've been doing some beta work for a couple of stories and am currently been gearing up to start another story with a friend. Busy, busy, busy. This chapter is shorter, I have mentioned that I will be writing short chapters now so that I'll be able to update quicker. Next chapter should be up in a week (or two at the most).

I'm trying, please don't kill me.

Thank you all for your comments, favorites, follows, etc. If I don't reply to your comments or messages (because I hardly do so anymore) rest assured that it's not because I hate any of you (because I love you all, I really do) but because I don't have the time to get through them. I do read each and every message/comment and I appreciate them all!