[A/N: Well, this is almost ending so... I read it again and hell, I just realized that the angst and love spiraling in between, back and forth were really frustrating! I'm surprised you guys still read this! I love you guys! You spoil me too much. Anyway, enjoy reading.]

Next Life

By: Kaida Matsuki

Chapter 8: Sirens

Naruto closed his eyes, his face solemn, trying to understand what made his past life choose a path bound to lead to her death. All he'd seen was a lovesick girl falling too fast and rushing to her doom. How could she even be sure that it was love in the first place and not some temporary hormonal imbalance kicking in and diluting her? She was obviously making a stupid mistake. She was thoughtlessly throwing away her chances in life for a demon who just impregnated her, and yet she claimed that she loved him! How idiotic was that? It was pathetic.

A waste.

"You'll understand," Iruka muttered, catching Naruto's attention when he started to scowl with distaste. Naruto's frustration and irritation were evident in his eyes. The brunet smiled at him. "You'll see."

Naruto's face held disbelief, shaking his head. If it wasn't for his love and respect for Iruka, he wouldn't remain in his presence to continue with this nonsense, but his words did mystify him. "I'm not sure I will."

"I didn't understand it at first, but with Kakashi…" Iruka began, but held back as if not wishing to spoil the best part of the story. He smiled once more to placate the blond. "Do you wish to see how I knew it was love?"

"It's not," Naruto snorted, looking away. "You were cornered, Iruka-sensei. I could guess that Kakashi-sensei saved you before it was too late. The end. You didn't have much of a choice, since death psychologically scarred you before you were rescued. You were misinterpreting your feelings of gratitude for love. That's all."

"Naruto," Iruka placed a hand on his shoulder, looking serious. "I think I would know what I'd felt on that day and it wasn't that."

Iruka flicked his hand and the scenery returned to the castle, but this time, it was in an isolated dark room where a bleeding Iruka was on the ground. The soft moonlight from the window illuminated the injured man. From the looks of it, he was almost out of life and had minutes left. Naruto's eyes widened at the horrid sight, paling. It was entirely different from merely picturing the event than really seeing it. The room smelled heavily of blood.

"Kakashi."

Kakashi's looming form appeared from the window, transforming back to his human appearance before rushing to Iruka's side. He panted, his eyes blazed with anxiety as his form looked worn and disheveled. His hands quivered as he touched Iruka's pale cheek. "Are you okay?"

Iruka softly chuckled, before coughing a fit of blood and wincing as he painfully held his sides. "What do you think?"

Kakashi winced, ruefully smirking. "I figured as much."

"Kakashi, I need you to—" Iruka tried, but cringed at the pain and forced to speak again. "I need you to protect Naruto. Please."

Kakashi looked bewildered at this request.

If it was a normal day, Iruka would've relished that hysterical look and would've laughed at him for looking unnaturally flustered, but it never came. Instead, he wistfully smiled at himself and his predicament. He was dying… He was scared. He looked up at Kakashi seeming to internally struggle with the scrunching of his eyebrows together and the fierce scowl he was sporting. He touched Kakashi's hand, taking him off-guard when he sent him a weak smile, "Hey, I'm the one dying, why are you the one in pain?"

Again, Kakashi's tortured gaze seemed to intensify, his head bowing and hiding his face. "Stupid… That's a dumb question."

Iruka's eyes softened at Kakashi's still quivering hands, his heart accelerating in agony when he tried to move his body to comfort him. The pain shot up from his broken ribs, inwardly groaning as he looked at the vulnerable demon before him. In fact, he nearly forgot the man before him was apparently the stronger of the two. He smiled, "I guess humans and demons aren't that different after all."

Kakashi's head slightly tilted upwards at this, before he gently tightened his grip on the brunet as he uttered something softer than a whisper.

"What…?" Iruka asked, not hearing him, but something inside told him that he shouldn't have asked. This feeling was proven when Kakashi directed his smoldering eyes to his, holding his gaze and stealing his breath away.

"I love you."

Iruka was stunned and tried to shake his head, but it was a waste of time when pain immediately shot through him. His vision started to blur as he forced himself to speak, despite the iron taste in his tongue. His voice was soft and tired even to his ears. "Kakashi, don't-don't do this."

"Why not?" Kakashi growled in frustration, but underneath it was desperation. "You just said that we're not that different. Can't you love me too?"

Iruka closed his eyes, before opening them, resignedly murmuring, "Please don't."

Kakashi paled when he heard how weak the voice grew, clutching harder as if that could somehow make the brunet stay longer. His face crumpled in anguish, "I was stupid, Iruka. The first time I saw you, I knew you were for me, but… I was too afraid — too prideful. You're human and I couldn't possibly have you without losing my status. I didn't want that, but I couldn't stay away from you! You're my mate."

Iruka released a breathy and pain-filled sigh, having been holding his breath with what Kakashi was telling him. It was all too much to take. He diverted his eyes, "You can always have another one."

"We only go through this once."

Iruka softly groaned, regretting how much Kakashi's words pleased him, but at the same time hurt him. Couldn't he see that there was already no hope for him? He was internally and externally bleeding, six of his ribs were broken, his left leg was fractured, he had a hole in his stomach and with his concussion, it was a wonder why he was still coherently thinking. He couldn't even heal himself when all his powers were exhausted, and from the turn of events, he was willing to bet that even Kakashi was spent of power. For if he still had, then he would've healed him by now, but that wasn't the case. His eyes reflected his inner torment and conflict. Couldn't he see how much he was hurting him by offering him what he could've almost had? He shook his head, feebly retaliating, "How could you know for sure that it's me…?"

"I'm not sure how to describe it." Kakashi struggled, firmly holding the brunet's hand to his and keeping his complete focus on Iruka's face to decipher any pain that he might elicit from his hold. "It's like the world turned into nothing and all I could see was you."

"Kaka—"

"Wait, let me finish," Kakashi pleaded and continued in a rushed whisper, "Your brown eyes were the first ones that captured me. I couldn't take my eyes off you, I couldn't help it. For when I do leave your vision, it was similar to black and white images, but when I see you, everything's vibrant. You don't know how much you mean to me that's why let me save you…" He shut his eyes tight and clutched Iruka's hands tighter, "Let me change you."

"What?" Iruka softly asked with bewilderment, cringing when he could feel the numbness settle in his system as his eyes could barely see, but blurry images. "It's too la—"

"Don't say that!" Kakashi yelled, "I'm a bastard, I know. I'm a coward for only telling you now when there were many opportunities, I know. I'm damn selfish too, because I'm not giving you much of a choice when you're…"

Iruka heard him hesitate and choke at the last bit, his hearing almost gone. He wished that he could comfort him, but his body was turning heavier by the second. It was as if his soul was stuck in a collapsing body. He realized that he would rather have the pain kill him than the numbness suffocate him. He forced himself to move — to escape this prison, but it was futile when his beating heart was slowly stuttering.

He was dying.

The truth frightened him, but not as much as the regret building upon him fast. He wanted to spare the gray-haired demon. He wanted him to move on, but when fear controlled him as he was nearly at death's door, his noble resolve was shaken and tumbled down. He, too, wanted to be selfish before he'd die.

"I love you."

Kakashi's eyes widened at the soft, weak confession, watching Iruka's tears slowly stumble down.

"God damn you, Kakashi!" Iruka weakly muttered, "I hate you! How could you just say it to me now? You're an idiot! But that makes me an idiot too when I wanted you to move on and now it's all ruined. Christ, even in near death, you're making it difficult for me."

Kakashi remained still as Iruka gradually closed his eyes, feeling as if the seconds were impending blades with each tick of death's clock. His hand flinched upon feeling Iruka's frighteningly still, broken form and knew that the brunet was near to sleeping for eternity. Excruciating pain stunned him as his face crumpled in such unspeakable agony.

He would lose him.

"I love you…" Kakashi whispered as he leaned closer, love, regret and betrayal all swirled within the ribs of his chest and reflected in his face, "Forgive me."

Naruto watched as Kakashi bit Iruka's pliant neck where he remained untouched and drew out his own blood after inflicting a wound to his wrist. Then without blinking, everything went blank.

All of a sudden images of his previous life assaulted Naruto and came rushing back to him. His experience, his thoughts; his feelings, it all crashed to him in an instant as flashes of what happened before he had died. He drew out a shaky breath upon hearing the Uchiha's quivering and desperate voice that shook his very core.

"I'll wait for you… I'll always wait for you, even when hundreds of years passed and my own body kept on being reincarnated. And when I meet you, I'll surely fall in love with you again!"

Naruto gasped.

"Do you understand, now?"

Naruto abruptly turned, belatedly realizing that they were finally in their own time and in Iruka's home as the said brunet was sitting next to him. He shifted on the bed, refusing to look into his eyes, "Understand what?"

Iruka sighed, shaking his head on the blond's stubbornness. "Sasuke-kun does love you."

"Lies."

Iruka was surprised by his soft bitter tone and his blatant disapproval; judging from Naruto's shocked look, it was apparent that he wasn't meaning to speak that out loud. "Why do say that?"

"He doesn't love me. It can't be." Naruto glared at his hands curled in fists. "He's just thinking of loving me out of guilt. It's not love. It was never one."

Iruka touched Naruto's hands, loosening them from its grip, "Naruto, Sasuke-kun's loved you ever since your previous life. He didn't love you out of guilt even then. If he did, how could he have loved you now? And even if he did love you because of his past life, he never knew of his previous life too, until you awakened his demon-hood. Do you understand me? He loved you even before he knew you were his past lover and mate."

Naruto slowly shook his head, confused. "I don't understand, how—

"You were meant to be together, because your souls attract one another even in this era." Iruka insisted, clutching Naruto's hands tightly as his voice softened, "You love him."

"No."

"Naruto—"

"It doesn't make sense." Naruto muttered, frustration and confusion overpowering him as uncertainty loomed. "What was the whole point of my actions if you're just telling me that I love him?"

"Yes," Iruka grinned, "for the only reason you could have hated him that much was because he hurt you so bad… The only way a person could be truly hurt is if that person was the closest to your heart. He couldn't have inflicted such pain if he wasn't precious to you, and that itself shows how much you love him."

"That's so…"

"Contradicting," Iruka softly smiled, "I know, but true."

Naruto's eyes widened, immediately looking away and hiding his face with his hair, and softly finished his sentence, "Stupid."

"Don't be like that. You didn't kn—"

Naruto grabbed his hair, before abruptly letting go and raising his head.

Iruka looked stunned at Naruto's abrupt change, watching him stand and head towards the door. "Wait, Naruto, where are you going?"

Naruto paused at the door, "To Sasuke."

"Now? It's pouring outside and it's almost seven, just find him tomo—"

"I need to clear up some things, Iruka-sensei," Naruto muttered, his hands clenching before it loosened. "But thank you for showing it to me."

Naruto felt the burning sensation course through his whole body. His blood was pounding and ringing within his ears as his heart thundered louder than the pouring rain. He could hear every breath he took and released as he rushed to where the Uchiha was. His eyes were darting to find the dark-haired teen, thinking of every venue where he could be and letting his feet lead him there.

Naruto cursed, he'd already checked their dorm room, Sasuke's ancestral home and his own just in case, but it turned out to be fruitless. He ran towards the shelter of their school entrance, holding his knees and taking gulps of air. Hell, he couldn't distinguish his perspiration with the rain's anymore. Gripping a hold of himself, he trudged to their classroom, he didn't know why he even bothered, but this was the last place he could think of.

Naruto stood at the door of their room, taking a deep breath before slamming it open to find… No one.

"Everyone already left, dobe."

Naruto whipped his head to the intercom, suddenly remembering the surveillance cameras as he left the room and started to run to the student council office.

"Don't come here," the soft mutter echoed around the empty halls and classrooms as Naruto's frantic steps and breaths resounded.

Naruto scowled, gritting his teeth at the exertion he was putting in and at the Uchiha's words. He climbed the stairs and turned a corner, before slamming the door to the student council room. His eyes immediately fell on Sasuke's as he tried to rein his irregular breathing and his thundering heartbeat.

"Teme… Is this why you didn't want me to see?" Naruto murmured, taking in the Uchiha's sickly pale complexion, the bags under his eyes and the way he seemed close enough to fall from his seat. "What the hell's wrong with you?"

"What are you doing here?"

Naruto likewise ignored his question, drawing closer to him, "Sasuke, do you love me?"

"Why—"

"Tell me." Naruto urged, his gaze unwavering as he held the Uchiha's stare.

Sasuke's eyes softened, he wanted to deny it… At least by denying what was in his heart he would spare Naruto of any guilt he may have placed on him. He would set him free.

Naruto could leave him.

Sasuke's lips dried, his vision blurring at the thought. He gasped like he hadn't breathed for a long time, his heart contorting in pain as he muttered the words that dominated him, despite every sensible reason. "I do love you…"

"When did you fall for me?"

Sasuke didn't know where this was going. What would answering that be any different from their situation now? If only he'd been more perceptive of his feelings to Naruto before he left, maybe things would've been different… These regrets were making him sick with want to change the past, but that was impossible. "When you returned, it was even before we became mates. I realized I loved you when you left me… Hell, Naruto, I don't know! Maybe it was the first time I laid eyes on you on that garden." Sasuke shook his head as his composure crumbled and muttered in frustration, "I'm not sure when. I just do."

Sasuke suddenly felt warm lips on his own, taking him by surprise. His breath was harshly stolen upon hearing Naruto's lips move above his as he heard him whisper.

"That's all I need to hear."

Something in Sasuke snapped, his lips crashing to the ones above him and feeling the heady taste of Naruto drug his senses. He felt a wild stirring in his abdomen, beckoning him to claim what was his. He felt Naruto's delicate shiver through their bodies, slowly feeling the blond straddle his waist as he harshly grabbed his ass and pulled their hips together.

Sasuke heard a soft gasp, his control crumbling under Naruto's shimmering glazed sapphires and making him freeze.

"No…"

"Wh-What?" Naruto stuttered, his mind too far gone to comprehend the sudden distance the Uchiha put between them when he's pinned him to the table. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke refused to look at Naruto, his jaws locking in place in frustration and anger at himself. He couldn't take Naruto again. He shouldn't. "You're… We shouldn't…"

Naruto had never seen Sasuke so disconnected, so torn and it was all so… different.

"I don't want to force you." Sasuke's raspy voice strangled the words, struggling to put it out, "I can't…"

Naruto reached for the Uchiha's face, making him look at him. His heart softened at the sight, even now the Uchiha was considering him with such care. It was amazing that Sasuke held onto him, after all he deserved more.

Yes, Sasuke deserved his love.

"I love you." Sasuke whispered, taking a step away, but all of a sudden tanned arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him in. He closed his eyes, inhaling Naruto's scent for one last time before resigning himself to his fate, and attempted to leave once more when the blond's legs wrapped around his waist. He'd been holding back since he's seen the blond, especially now when he was under him. It was torture that the only person he wanted to hold was someone he was forbidden to. "Naruto, let go."

"No." Naruto's tone was emphatic, his arms pulling the Uchiha closer as he whispered against his ear, "Don't dangle something I want and snatch it away."

Sasuke looked confused, the blond's heat driving him to a distraction. He couldn't comprehend. What did he mean?

"I want you, Sasuke."

Sasuke's breathing slightly hitched, seeing those sapphires hold his own with such emotions he'd never seen and couldn't even place what it was. He couldn't breathe.

"Love me."

Those words drew a shaky breath out of Sasuke before he crushed their lips in a heated kiss.

Naruto's eyes widened as he reeled back from the force of contact, catching himself with his free arm and returning the kiss with half-lidded eyes.

Sasuke opened his mouth and traced the tip of his tongue along the seam of Naruto's lips, making a pleased noise when the blond responded without hesitation. He grabbed Naruto's other arm and pulled it out from under him, forcing him back to lay on the earth with a loud 'thump' while trailing his tongue along the roof of his mouth.

Sasuke's blood was boiling within him, hormones raging out of control. He pushed his legs up so he could settle between them, grabbing Naruto's shirt and harshly pulling it against him.

Sasuke slid back down, licking Naruto's neck and biting it hard to mark him, causing Naruto to yelp and whine, loosening his grip on the Uchiha's shirt. Sasuke removed it as well, tossed it away and lowered himself until they were chest to chest.

Naruto gasped and buried his fingers in Sasuke's dark hair, tightening his hold when the the Uchiha removed both their pants, leaving them without a trace of clothes. The raw sensations left him gasping for air. "Sasuke."

Sasuke drank up every gasp, every pant, everything Naruto could offer. He wanted him so much it hurt.

Naruto moaned as Sasuke ground down, a rush of pleasure crashing onto him. He was feeling too much it almost felt so new. It felt so raw, he could feel his defenses were tumbling down. He was being swallowed these feelings. He felt so exposed under those smoldering onyx eyes gazing so hotly and intensely at him.

Sasuke pulled Naruto's body and placed him over the blond's discarded clothes, hovering above him and leaving no skin untouched by his.

Naruto felt Sasuke hesitate for a moment. He grabbed his arms,knowing that he was about to pull away again. "Don't." Sasuke looked lost, crumpling Naruto's heart at the inner turmoil the Uchiha must've been battling. He just wanted him to let go. "Take me."

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said, holding Naruto's body so preciously. In a flash, entered with one deep plunge.

Naruto cried out, his muscles tightening around the organ as they tried to force Sasuke back out. His hands dug into the Uchiha's arms as he held his tears, knowing the pain wouldn't last too long, but damn it still hurt. He felt Sasuke's head fall into the space between his neck and shoulder, offering gentle kisses.

"I'm sorry," he repeated with a pant, and Naruto could hear the strain in them as he held still. He looked at Naruto's face, taking in his half-lidded glazed sapphires, the way his mouth hung agape in constant pants for breath, the sweat dripping down his face, his tan chest heaving with forced intakes of air.

For a split second, he was mesmerized by the beautiful creature before him; he could barely breathe.

"Sasuke," Naruto's voice pleaded, breaking Sasuke's thoughts and urging him to continue. He felt the Uchiha's hand grasp his hips as he pulled out before ramming back inside, then back again and push right in once more.

Sasuke's hips worked furiously, holding Naruto's hip and driving him on. He couldn't get enough of the intoxicating heat wrapping around him, the erotic smell of their scents hanging around the room and the sound of their skin slapping against each other. It was hot. He couldn't get enough.

Naruto's breaths grew more erratic, his nails digging into the Uchiha's arm and knowing it must be hurting him, but he couldn't let up. It was too much, but he wanted more. His forehead pushed on Sasuke's own, feeling his hot breaths against his mouth. "More."

Sasuke's hand let go of Naruto's waist, winding into his hair instead to pull his head closer so he could pant in his ear, "I'm selfish. I could never stop wanting you, craving you. Possessing all of you. Do you understand?"

Naruto's body shook as he felt the Uchiha's breathy words, feeling his dangerously close release and moaning with abandon, "Yes..."

Sasuke shuddered, feeling the swirling orgasm that threatened to engulf him. He crashed his lips to the plump ones below him, leaving them breathless for more as he whispered, "I'll never let you go now, not even if you forget me all over again. You're mine. I won't let you escape. You were always mine."

"I won't," Naruto's breathy answer was drenched with such feelings that unraveled Sasuke's whole being.

Sasuke groaned throatily, his stomach arched into Naruto's back and he came with a shudder, shooting everything he had inside of the blond.

Naruto followed after, his legs pulling Sasuke closer as his mouth opened in a silent scream and his load splashed in between them. He released his hold on the Uchiha's waist, relaxing and fighting for breath.

They slumped against each other in exhaustion, laboring for breath.

Sasuke gasped heavily and collected his strength, moving a hand behind him he shakily pushed himself up, his other arm wrapping around Naruto. He pulled him close, leaning to the other and whispering with such tenderness, "I love you."

Naruto felt so bare, he could almost feel tears brim at his eyes. He was feeling too much, it was unbearable. He couldn't take it anymore, his tone faltering and weak. "I've always remembered you…"

Sasuke's body slightly stiffened, not understanding. What was Naruto saying? Did that mean he remembered him? But why did he phrase it like that? He tried voicing that out, but the sickening twist in his guts hindered him. He had a vague feeling that whatever it was… He wouldn't like it.

"I never forgot you…" Naruto waited, but under the pressuring silence he cracked, "I lied."

Sasuke's face showed his surprise and crumpled to pain in seconds. For the first time, even his voice wavered and broke. "You lied to me…?"

Naruto's grip on his arms faltered, avoiding the excruciating gaze that broke him and biting the bottom of his trembling lips, "I didn't- It's not… I… I'm sorry…"

What happened next wasn't what he was expecting when all of a sudden Sasuke slipped out of him, his bottom flaring in pain at the abrupt action. But that wasn't what hurt the most. He looked up at Sasuke's form, feeling a cold chill seize his body. "Where are you going?"

Sasuke's head inched to his direction, but refused to look at the stunned blond. He dressed quietly and swiftly, opening the door and feeling those sapphires follow him the whole time. He stopped at the door frame, clutching it before closing the door shut.

Naruto simply stared, his eyes glazed as tears started to slowly roll down his cheeks, gathering his clothes in his arms. His whole body felt like lead, his mind felt so numb. Something caught his attention from the corner of his eyes, he saw a wallet on the floor. He didn't know why his hand picked it up, but it did. He opened to check for the owner, but the sight made his breath seize as his legs gave under him, falling to the ground and letting his tears go.

Naruto cried so hard, but the rain's loud downpour drowned it.

The wallet held a picture of a younger Naruto, smiling back.

It was Sasuke's.

Hinata looked to her window, watching the rain continue to pour down. She looked away and scanned the room she was designated to. It was familiar when lately she'd been there for weeks already. Yes, she was in her hospital bedroom.

She frowned, remembering the face Naruto looked when she had told a portion of the truth and wanting to have him love her by telling it. She didn't want him to be pained… She had never seen him so torn. She gripped her white clothing, recalling the bitterness when he'd left her side in silence.

It hurt.

It hurt more when she was expecting arms that were his, only to find out it was different. She was overwhelmed by sadness and caused her body the strain she should've been avoiding. Kiba held her the whole time and drove her to the hospital, but honestly, there wasn't anything to salvage from her when all she had was a broken heart.

A tear cascaded down her cheek from the pain.

"Hinata?"

She hurriedly wiped away the evidence of her agony, straining a smile as she looked at the person who just entered her room. "Y-Yes, Kiba-kun?"

"I just called your parents to find out that you're here." Kiba's worried look still didn't pass. "Do you want me to get you the usual from the cafeteria?"

Hinata mustered a small smile. "I'd like that, thanks."

Kiba smiled, gently patting her hand. "I'll go get it, okay?"

"Hai."

Kiba left the room, closing the door with an almost inaudible click and leaving Hinata to her privacy once more. She looked outside again and the rain seemed to consume her. Everything looked like it was crying.

Hinata heard the door open and she no longer had the strength to move, she couldn't muster another of those difficult smiles when all she wanted to do was break down.

"Hey, Hinata."

Hinata's eyes widened, turning to see Naruto at her doorstep. Her throat constricted as her heart sped. She couldn't believe her eyes, and she couldn't find her voice in the process.

"It's fine if you don't talk to me." Naruto painfully smiled, the scene crushing Hinata as he softly continued, "I just want to tell you I'm sorry."

"Naru—"

Naruto held up his hand, "No, let me finish." He gently smiled, "I love you."

Hinata's breath escaped her, her body wanting to come closer. She wouldn't deny it, she still cared for him and hearing Naruto finally return them, it was all she could do from making her doubt that this was all a dream. But when she looked up, she saw Naruto crushed and knew that wasn't it. He looked so torn and struggled for words. Her heart clenched.

"Naruto-kun, come closer." Hinata saw his effort as he sat near her and she remembered his words when she was worried to tell him something, but he knew he still had to hear it. He spared her from witnessing his pain by closing her eyes so she couldn't see his agony when she said his father was died. This time, she would be the one to do the same thing to spare him. She mustered a small smile, "Close your eyes."

Naruto hesitated, but did it, feeling Hinata's cold hand over his eyes. "Hinata…?"

"Now you won't see how much it would affect me." Hinata weakly muttered, repeating his words and feeling him stiffen from the familiar words. "P-Please. Tell me, do… do you love me?"

"I… I do." A tear slipped from Naruto's eyes and slid from Hinata's palm as her free hand held her mouth to stifle the sob that choked her.

She gulped down the lodge in her throat, refusing to let her feelings get in the way from finding the truth. "Is that true?"

"But not like the way you want me to," Naruto brokenly confessed, his voice cracking and his face crumpling in shame and betrayal. "I'm sorry…"

Hinata was shocked, but she couldn't say she wasn't expecting this. Her surprise made her silent and utter words that left her lips in the mechanical and automatic response, "I-I understand."

'I don't.'

Hinata didn't even have time to think. It was all too fast, but somehow she knew that this was coming… She forced a smile, but inside, her mind was reeling at what she had said as her heart hammered viciously. She could vaguely feel the stinging sensation in her eyes. She didn't want Naruto to see her cry. She removed her hand, discretely clenching them at her side. The telltale signs of her throat clogging presented itself and before it could seize her voice, she muttered, "Thank you, Naruto-kun. You can… go."

'Please don't!'

Naruto flinched and sent a broken smile. "Okay…"

Hinata refused to watch Naruto head towards the door once more, before whispering, "Goodbye…"

Naruto looked back and sent her another of his heart-breaking smiles that still managed to shake her within. "See you later, Hinata."

Hinata couldn't watch the blond leave, but somehow she could almost see the exact motions as the door silently closed. Her eyes fell to her lap, feeling drained. She didn't know for how long she remained like that, but even when Kiba entered the room, she wasn't able to take note of his presence, until he sat beside her bed.

"What's wrong?" Kiba whispered, sounding genuinely worried and reaching out. "Do you want me to get the doctor?"

"It's over, Kiba-kun… He broke up with me. Naruto-kun left me," Hinata brokenly muttered, her tears endlessly started to stream down as her hand quivered to reach his hand. "I-I loved him. So much… It hurts."

"Shh… I know, I know, it hurts." Kiba soothed, tightening his hold on Hinata's fragile hand and gently stroking her hair. "Just let it all out."

Hinata continued to cry, soaking Kiba's shirt, and even then, it felt like all the tears in the world couldn't suffice to mend her broken heart. Not even when her loyal best friend was comforting her. She kept crying, almost missing his whispered words.

"I won't leave you."

Naruto started the car, maneuvering the gears to the slick, narrow road. He doesn't usually one to drive, but when it came to Hinata's secluded private hospital, it was hard to enter it with public vehicles when the passage was small. His eyes darkened, remembering Hinata's face… Her smile. It hurt; just looking at it pained him. He must've hurt her a lot and it was all because of his selfishness. He'd been so stupid, constantly hurting the people around him.

All of a sudden, Sasuke's agonized face appeared, crushing his heart.

He was hurting him all this time.

Naruto clutched the steering wheel tightly, his hands turning white from the immense pressure as he felt tears brim his eyes. He fervently shook his head. He shouldn't break now, it was dangerous when he was driving. He needed to be rational while he was on the road. Just because he was in a secluded area filled with trees didn't mean he shouldn't be alert. It was also getting dark. He shouldn't be distracted.

"You lied to me…?"

Naruto flinched, momentarily decelerating his foot on the gas, before resuming his pressure and clamping his bottom lips, and whispered, "I'm sorry…"

A ring resounded in the spacious car, making him jump. His eyes landed on his cell phone on the seat next to him, bringing it closer and glancing to see the caller. His eyes widened, his breath shortened and his heart accelerated, immediately accepting the call and putting it on loud speaker mode.

"Naruto."

Naruto's breath hitched, his grip on the wheel turning almost brutal. This was it. This would determine his fate. He swallowed hard, willing himself to reply loudly, but what came out barely passed as a whisper, "Sasuke…"

"Where…" Sasuke hesitated. "Where are you?"

Naruto held his tongue, he knew that if he'd told the Uchiha he went to Hinata, he would hang up on him and would cease talking to him. Not like there would be any more opportunities to talk to him in the future. He gritted his teeth. "Going home."

"…"

Naruto's eyes reflected his apprehension at the silence from the other line. Did he say anything wrong already? Why wasn't he answering? "Sas—"

"What do you mean you're going home…?"

Sasuke's voice wavered through the crackling line, and Naruto vaguely wondered if it was his voice trembling. No, it couldn't be. Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but the Uchiha spoke before he had the chance to.

"Don't you dare leave again! Not like this!"

Naruto's eyes widened, his heart thundering in his ears. He'd never heard Sasuke this unsettled and vulnerable. He'd never heard him shout like that. He'd never sounded so… desperate. Was it what he was thinking? Could he be…?

"…I'm not sure if I may ever find it in me to forget this—"

Naruto cringed, "Sasuke, I won't expect you to—"

"But I still love you."

A soft gasp escaped from Naruto's lips, his control on the gas relaxed as his grip on the steering wheel considerably loosened at Sasuke's words, taking him by surprise. His heart thundered, his eyes brimming with tears as he struggled to speak when he heard Sasuke murmur his name upon his silence. He wryly grinned at himself, hurriedly wiping the moisture in his eyes as he discretely cleared his throat.

"Naruto?" Sasuke repeated, "Naruto? You still there?"

"Y-Yeah." Naruto chuckled when his voice cracked, grinning at his slip-up. Damn, now the bastard would know he cried. He smiled, preciously holding his phone to his ear, "Sasuke, I lo—"

Naruto's head whipped to his right, his eyes widening and dilating. Dropping the phone, for the first time he wanted to scream, but his voice would've still been drowned by a loud siren screeching towards him.

[A/N: Okay, I know what you're thinking and damn do I hate myself! I actually reread the whole story, thinking how to go about it, and noticed that it was heartbreaking, constantly might I add, so I can tell you guys must be pissed. Sorry bout that, so to end your suffering I'll answer this: NO, Naruto does not die, and NO, Sasuke does not commit suicide or anything on that account that's close to stupid. There, I'm only spilling that. :) Hope you Review and Comment!]