[A/N: Thanks to all those who PM me! Also to those who reviewed such awesome replies! You guys rock! XD Please enjoy!]

Next Life

By: Kaida Matsuki

Chapter 1: Selfish

"It was said that we're reincarnated because in our previous lives, we weren't able to finish something important. That is why we're given another chance by God to fulfill our goals, even if we were reincarnated a thousand times to make it right."

'Why do I feel so restless? Why is it that my eyes keep on shifting as if I was searching? What is my body searching for?' All these thoughts circled round and round Sasuke's head, confused and frustrated. 'What am I waiting for?'

Uchiha Sasuke: a straight-A student, second son of one of the wealthiest men in Asia, a major fourth-year heart-throb. To top it all off, he's the student body's council president. Despite all of this, he still felt unsatisfied. It was like this since he was a kid. He never asked for anything and wasn't even interested in anything. All the things that he perfected were just to pass time; nothing more.

Despite being the most important guy in school, he still felt lonely. He was constantly under the spotlight but… why is it that he still felt like he was always engulfed by pure darkness?

Sasuke's vein felt like it will soon pop from the extensive pulsing, "So, let me get this straight, you ruined the cake, smashed the party, almost ran in to the vice principal and yelled at the campus' police officer… all, because you forgot your gym clothes in your locker, correct? Did I miss out any detail, Inuzuka?" His cobalt eyes flashed dangerously. He literally had to force the words past his grinding teeth.

Kiba scoffed lightly, "Not all, I –" Someone coughed at the background, then Kiba really saw Sasuke's death glare and gulped.

"Sit up."

Kiba did as he was told and gulped under the menacing glare, "I-I was supposed to meet up with my f-friend who was coming here."

"And?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he waited for a better excuse.

"That's all…? Council president," Kiba grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head, but inside, he was shaking like an autumn leaf.

"Hn." Sasuke stood up and left his seat, heading for the door, "Two weeks of detention."

"What? It wasn't that bad!"

Sasuke faced Kiba, and saw him flinch. "The cake was for the principal's birthday which you ruined. Those gifts were from the student council's budget which you trampled. The vice-principal was sent to the hospital, because she fell over the bushes which, by the way, was because you almost ran in to her. Lastly, that police officer is one of my father's prestigious bodyguards who's only here to protect me; not be yelled at by a ruffian like you."

It was the first time Kiba heard a long speech, especially from the usually stoic Uchiha. It must be close to the end of the world. Damn.

"Now try to tell me you don't deserve that."

"…"

"Good. Now, leave, before I change my mind and change it for bathroom duty." Sasuke watched through cool calculating eyes as the brunette-haired teen left. He looked at the remaining people in his office that contained his council members and snapped, "Leave."

All of them filed out with no questions, not wanting to be the target of anger.

Sasuke heard the door close and immediately released a tired sigh. He looked at his desk and saw the pile of work delayed due to the incident this morning. Great. Now, his work was doubled. He needed to send out an apology bouquet to the vice-principal, send a letter to his father regarding his bodyguard who might want to transfer, and welcome the new student that Inuzuka mentioned earlier. Come to think of it, he was the principal's and vice-principal's grandchild… Hmm… Tricky.

Sasuke groaned and stopped his turmoil of thoughts, leaning his head on the head rest of his seat. He wouldn't benefit if he was just going to fret over something that he had no strength to do yet. Damn, he's exhausted. He closed his eyes and opened it once more. He rolled his chair to face the window, taking in the Sakura blossoms fall in a mesmerizing manner. That's when his breath hitched; his mind stopped and felt that everything ceased to matter…

His eyes widened at the sight just below his window. A blond beauty walked leisurely towards the school door, his tanned skin seeming to glow under the brilliant sun, and his sapphire eyes shining brightly at the images of falling petals that increased his attraction. Then, it suddenly hit him like a sense of déjà vu.

"Naruto…?" Sasuke's voice lowered until it was hardly more than a whisper. He felt his heart thump fast and his throat constrict uncomfortably at the realization that it is him.

He barely noticed that he reached for the doorknob to leave. He didn't know when his legs started to move or when he started to run through the crowd of students like there was no tomorrow, but what he did know was that he wanted to see him. He didn't care that his body started to protest against the sudden pain from running from the third floor to the first with no break. He panted under his breath, mustering for more energy that's needed to go to his side. He started to push through the crowd, not taking a chance for a quick rest or let the rush of people thin out. He didn't want to lose sight of Naruto when he was this close. He could almost see the school's entrance door, his heart beating louder and faster. His body pulled him forward, compelling him outside the building like gravity.

Sasuke left the school entrance and stopped, scrunching his eyes at the sudden difference of the school's light from outside's. The moment Sasuke stepped out; he saw a figure against the sun's rays, illuminating his contours. The person he first saw was the person he badly needed to see. "Naruto…" He whispered, relieved that he managed to catch up.

The blond's eyes widened at the mention of his name, observing Sasuke's slightly disheveled form. He arched an eyebrow, "Umm… Who are you?"

Sasuke blinked. "Huh?"

The blond smiled and said, "Ahh, you must be the president here. I'm sorry, but you didn't need to rush to greet me. I wanted to check the Sakura trees bloom. Oh, and I am a returnee, so there's no need for a tour, umm… Your name?"

Sasuke looked dumbfounded. His onyx eyes gazed at the blond closely… The thin lines were there, his familiar bright sapphire eyes shined like the ocean, and his sunny blond hair was in the same disarray style like before. It is Naruto, but why…? "Excuse me, but you are 'Namikaze Naruto', right?" Of course he knew that he should have checked the student's profile, but lately, he's been too engrossed with work, as he desperately wanted to escape his conscience screaming of 'what if's' that he'd failed to do from his past. The regret that still loomed and haunted him in his very dreams.

"Yes, but… How do you know my old name?"

"Old name? What do you mean?"

"I took my mother's last name, because my father… died a few years ago, my godparents took me in; then adopted me."

Sasuke was shocked of the news that Minato passed away, but before he could ask why or even offer his condolences, Naruto intervened his thoughts. "I'm sorry, but you haven't answered any of my questions yet." Naruto looked up at him. His gaze was unwavering, captivating.

Sasuke couldn't remember his own name.

The blond cocked his head to the side, and offered a sheepish smile at the Uchiha's silence, "Gomen, but do I know you? If I do, well, it's just that I had a car accident with my father, which caused his death and, well,I had amnesia from it." Naruto maintained his smile, but the emptiness in his eyes told another story. "Old ha- I mean, the vice principal also said that it might have been caused by the person I've confessed to years back when that person didn't reply…"

A heavy silence constricted the air. Sasuke felt guilt and despair wring his conscience like a ragged doll. Naruto has amnesia – it was his fault? Sure, he remembered the days that passed when he felt alienated by his best friend's confession, but he didn't know he felt the same and thought of it only as brotherly love. When he'd finally come into terms with his feelings, the first thing he did was search for Naruto.

"What do you mean he transferred?" Sasuke asked, no longer looking at Kakashi with a murderous glint that he had when Kakashi first refused to tell where his best friend was. His voice suddenly turned cold and empty.

Kakashi sighed. He knew that this would happen to his black-haired student. It was obvious Sasuke felt the same way as Naruto did, but was only slow when it came to recognizing unfamiliar emotions. "He migrated to another country, because Minato-san was transferred there for his job. Naruto-kun was the only one holding him back from his promotion."

"Why…?" For the first time, Sasuke's voice sounded so weak and defeated.

Kakashi wasn't so sure whether the question was directed at him or just Sasuke's rhetorical question for his own. "Sasuke."

Sasuke raised his head, but his eyes refused to leave the sight of the floor.

Kakashi groaned inwardly. It reminded him a lot of how he felt when he had noticed his feelings for Iruka a little too late. "Naruto was… Let's say he was waiting whether that person would return his feelings."

Sasuke felt a hand ruffle his hair. Normally, he would have had a fit from the touch, and would've threatened the man of a restraining order, but he was too… shocked. The news hasn't sunk in yet… He lost him.

Naruto was gone.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi whispered sincerely.

If it was a normal day, he would've snorted at this pity and told him that he'd gone soft, but… It wasn't a normal day. It was a nightmare.

"They said it was better that I'd forgotten that person."

Sasuke snapped from the memory that rose up like an old wound, "Hn…"

"It's better this way, so that it won't hurt to go back."

Sasuke's heart squeezed and muttered, "Don't you want to remember that person?" He almost croaked the question in an attempt to calm down, and not blow up his second chance. His throat itched to ask, 'Don't you want to remember me?'

Naruto snorted, "Why? After all, they did say I didn't have my so-called 'happy ending.'" He chuckled wryly as he shook his head at the thought of enduring the same kind of pain he'd luckily forgotten.

Sasuke wanted to have a chance, to have hope, so he asked to test the waters, "But what if that person loves you back?" He held his breath, waiting. He saw Naruto stiffen for a fraction as his eyes widened, and then closed to squarely look at Sasuke's onyx eyes.

"I can't. I already have a girlfriend."

Sasuke felt the air constrict his lungs as it refused to take in the oxygen it needed. He felt like someone had punched him in the guts mercilessly. "Oh, I understand…" Sasuke murmured, and was surprised when the words came out in a hoarse whisper. He vaguely heard Naruto sigh as he tried to diminish the moody atmosphere that he created.

"There! I answered all your questions. Don't you think I deserved as much too?" Naruto inquired with a teasing smile, his arms crossing over his chest as he waited for Sasuke's reply.

Well, what more could he lose? "My name's Uchiha Sasuke, and the reason why I know your old name is because you used to be my best friend, until you transferred." Sasuke sighed and added with conviction, looking straight into blue eyes, "I was also the person you confessed to three years ago." He refused to back down without trying like last time, and he hoped like hell that he'd at least have a minuscule chance.

Apparently, Naruto didn't like it.

Naruto's body visibly stiffened as his eyes widened, his pupils dilating. His face was marred by a frown as he started to grit his teeth. "I still can't remember you, teme, but what I do remember is the pain you brought me." He leaned near Sasuke's face as his breath fanned his face, "Know this, teme – I hate you."

"Oi, Naruto!" Someone called out from a distance, breaking the oppressing spell shrouded around them.

Blue irises glared menacingly, pinning Sasuke to where he stood. Naruto turned his back on the Uchiha. "Yo, Kiba! I thought you were supposed to welcome and tour me around, you dog-breath!" He grinned at the brunet as if he wasn't giving a hostile aura a few seconds ago, pointedly ignoring the Uchiha.

Kiba rubbed the back of his head. "My bad, I got detention. Our stupid president was–" His sentence hung in thin air when he noticed Sasuke behind the blond. "P-President!" He stopped on his tracks, and started to stutter his apology.

Sasuke seemed to have been brought back to reality when he heard someone address him.

That's right… He was the president; he worked hard for it in hopes of finding the school where Naruto had transferred to. He just wanted him back again, to see him again. To tell him that he… Sasuke stepped in. "Naruto, it's my duty to give you the school tour tomorrow, and Inuzuka there is incapable of doing so, because he's got detention for two weeks."

'What am I doing?'

He knew that it was wrong, but what else could he do? Naruto's already forgotten all about you, why struggle? The small voice in his mind incessantly screamed. Why insist? He grew angry, and wanted to shout at the voice in his head to shut up!

He could do whatever the hell he wants! He would grasp at any opportunity and power to tie Naruto to him, even if he used his authority in doing so – Even if he had to abuse every right that could be used to chain him down.

"I already know the place, and Hinata could do that instead." Naruto snapped, not bothering to look at Sasuke's disgruntlement.

"Dude, your girlfriend has chicken pox. Didn't anyone tell you?" Kiba interjected, totally dense of the situation and unknowingly gave Sasuke the opportunity he'd been waiting for. Although the fact that the Hyuuga is Naruto's girlfriend unnerved him, it didn't quench his need for Naruto's love back, he still wanted him.

Naruto sent Kiba an I'll-kill-you-later look. He departed as he flipped his hand nonchalantly at the offer, "I don't need it"

A hand suddenly stopped him from leaving, and Naruto looked back to see Sasuke holding him firmly in place as if daring him to walk away.

"I'm your president and what I say goes." Onyx eyes narrowed at unrelenting sapphire ones. Naruto's slight show of defiance caught some students' attention and were throwing interested looks. Sasuke tightened his grip.

Naruto's face was contorted with anger, as he felt his nails dig into his skin when he'd clenched his hands into fists. His palms tingled – He wanted so badly to hit something. Naruto was surprised at himself. He was usually a nonviolent person. He turned his back, desperately wanting to walk away. "Fine," he bit out, before pulling his arm away. He went to Kiba's side, but not before giving Sasuke a glare.

"So how's Hinata?" Naruto quickly changed the topic, walking along side Kiba. He offered him a breezy smile as to not to rouse any unpleasant questions of what had happened.

Kiba looked back and forth from Naruto to Sasuke, and then was drawn by the question, causing him to look back at Naruto. "She's fine as a sick person could be, but other than that she told me that you need to stay clear from her for a while. You know, since you've never had chicken pox. So that'd be two to three weeks, I think…" He started to ramble on as they walked.

Sasuke continued to stare at the blond's retreating figure. He brushed his hair with his left hand, and gave out a long sigh. Well, that was one hell of a start. He reviewed his actions in his head, replaying the event over and over. He wanted to make sure that he had made the right decision.

No.

He stopped the direction of where his thoughts were going. No more regrets. He painfully clenched his fists at his sides. He knew what he was doing was dirty, but he was far from feeling guilty. He knew that he was the cause of Naruto's pain and he deserved to be hated. He knew that asking for forgiveness would be unjust of the wrong he'd done to his best friend. Truth be told, Naruto's life might be better off without him – rather, Naruto did move on, in a sense. The thought hurt like a burning sensation that nastily seeped into his heart. His eyes darkened as he continued to ignore the people around him.

His worst nightmare had come true. He lost him to someone else.

So was it right that he had forced himself in Naruto's life once more to achieve what he wanted?

Was what he desperately fought to deny right? Would Naruto be happier with Hinata? Sasuke's breathing ceased. His jaw tightly snapped shut. Jealousy scorched his throat as he urged himself not to shout. He only saw one answer to that, blinding him from the rest of his doubts and other possibilities. His eyes instantly banished guilt and reason, replacing it with cold and fierce determination.

Yes, he did the right thing. He'd be damned first, before he could let Naruto slip again from him.

[A/N: Okay! I just wanted a different start from my usual. Seriously, I noticed that almost all of my stories started out with Naruto liking Sasuke, and Sasuke already liking Naruto, before the blond. So, this time, I want to venture to genres where Naruto hates Sasuke! XD 'Cause I noticed, too, that Sasuke is always -immediately- forgiven, so yeah. Hope you liked it! Please Review and Comment! ^_^]