Merry Christmas, everyone! Here's the latest chapter, where we finally learn of Naruto's fate. I'm sure you're all eager to get reading, so I won't keep you waiting any longer. I just want to thank you all for reading and reviewing. Now, on with the chapter!
56. Nothing but the Dead and Dying
Sasuke Uchiha sat in the waiting room of Konoha Hospital late that night, staring blankly down at his hands. He felt numb. His body, his mind, his very spirit felt as if the life had been sucked out of them. Aside from himself and one old woman passed out in the chair across from him, the room was empty. There were a few magazines strewn about the floor, discussing the latest celebrity rumors and Angelina Jolie's umpteenth adopted baby. Of course, Sasuke was in no mood to read any of them – in fact, he wasn't in the mood to do much of anything.
Kakashi and Iruka had been hospitalized – the shock of being attacked, along with the beatings they'd received, had been enough to knock them unconscious. A nurse had informed Sasuke that they were in stable conditions. They would live. Naruto, on the other hand, was in the intensive care unit. Sasuke had sat by him on the ambulance ride to the hospital, holding his hand firmly, fearing to let go. When they arrived, however, the paramedics had torn his blond away and placed him on a gurney. Sasuke had watched from the ambulance as Naruto was rushed down the hallway, an oxygen mask over his face and his torn clothes drenched in blood.
Sasuke prayed it wasn't the last time he'd see the vulpine boy alive.
His eyes fixed on the floor, Sasuke tried his hardest to comprehend all that had happened. When the police arrived, they told him they'd received a call ten minutes before, but had been unable to get there quickly because of the blizzard. As far as Sasuke could tell, though, no one had been able to make the call – Kakashi and Iruka had been tied up, and Naruto was cornered by Kisame. At first, the police had thought Sasuke had been the caller – they said he sounded just like the man they'd spoken to.
It had to have been Itachi… he never intended to leave there alive. He knew the Sharingan would kill him, so he called the police to deal with Kisame and put an end to it all…
That made sense – Itachi would've had the opportunity. All he had to do was get away from Kisame for a moment to make the call. But, of course, when the police arrived, Kisame was already dead. Sasuke concluded that Naruto had killed him – he must've broken free from the shark-man's grip and grabbed Sasuke's katana, the sword Naruto had always admired.
Dammit, Naruto… if only you'd waited… the police would've fixed everything, and you wouldn't have been shot…
His fingers curling tightly into fists, Sasuke bit his lip. Never in his life had he felt so useless. Even when his parents died, he hadn't felt so utterly powerless. Now, though, he was grown up, he was supposed to have some control over his life, but instead everything was exactly the same. He was alone, and the boy he loved was dying in the other room.
Wrapped up in his thoughts, Sasuke never even heard the waiting room door open. It wasn't until he saw the shadow looming over him that the Uchiha glanced up to find a familiar, redheaded teen waiting, his face expressionless.
"Mind if I sit down?" Gaara asked in his monotone voice.
Sasuke said nothing, but stared back at his hands. Gaara sat down beside the teen, and together they remained silent for some time. Sasuke could only imagine what was going through the other teen's head – after all, he loved Naruto, too. He was probably thinking about what would've happened if Naruto had chosen him instead, if Naruto had returned that stolen kiss all those months ago and shared that love. Naruto never would've met Itachi. He never would've been shot, never would've been endangered…
"It's not your fault, you know."
Gaara's voice maintained its usual calm, quiet demeanor, but somehow the words pierced the silence like a knife. Though stunned, Sasuke did not look up – it was too painful to hear his thoughts spoken aloud. "Yes it is… if Naruto hadn't met me, then this never would've happened…"
"If Naruto hadn't met you, he wouldn't have found that happiness he was searching for," Gaara interrupted, sounding as if he were restraining himself. Sasuke thought he detected a hint of bitterness. "You weren't the only one who was lonely, you know. Naruto could put on a good face, but he was hurting on the inside before he met you. Why do you think I never targeted him?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I assumed you hadn't gotten around to him yet."
"With you, I thought you had everything – you had money, popularity, and yet you never seemed to appreciate it. Of course, I didn't know what you'd been through… my methods were shallow at best, I'll admit," the redhead said with a weak smile. "Naruto, though… I could tell he was suffering. He was hated by everyone – we were similar. That's why, when he defended you that day… I just couldn't comprehend it. Why would he come to your aid? You shunned him, and yet he refused to leave you alone. For him, Sasuke, you were worth fighting for – worth dying for, even."
The words caused Sasuke to flinch noticeably. "Don't say that…"
"I'm telling you the truth," Gaara insisted, closing his eyes. "I heard the police talking – about how Naruto attacked Kisame, how he was planning to attack your brother. He put himself in harm's way for you, knowing perfectly well what might happen. Just like when he came up to talk to me on the bridge, he threw caution to the wind to do what he felt was right. It's not your fault that Naruto got shot – he acted on his own."
"But… wouldn't he have been better off without me?"
Gaara was silent for a moment. Glancing over at the other teen, Sasuke saw only a pained expression on his face as he made his confession, "No, Sasuke… he wouldn't. You were always the right one for him. You made him happy, and that's all that matters. No matter what happens here, you will always be the boy he loves, and I know, deep down, you feel the same. I may have wanted Naruto, but only you were able to show him the love that he needed. Don't you ever doubt that."
His hands trembling, Sasuke felt a tear escape from the corner of his eye. He took a few short breaths, trying to control himself, before finally letting loose. "I'm so scared, Gaara… I don't want to lose him…"
"Then remember the promise he made."
The voice wasn't Gaara's. Turning his head towards the door in astonishment, Sasuke found Shikmaru Nara standing beneath the flickering light, along with Temari, Lee, Kiba, and Choji. Hurriedly wiping his eyes, Sasuke tried to regain his composure. "Wh-what are you guys doing here?"
"We came as soon as we heard the news – all of us," Shikamaru said, nodding to Gaara. "Mr. Subakuno here demanded to speak with you alone first. We've been waiting out in the hallway."
Glancing over at the redhead in question, Sasuke's mouth hung slightly open in disbelief. "Is that true?"
"I knew you'd be blaming yourself, and I wanted to help if at all possible. Think of it as my way of making amends for being an ass earlier," Gaara admitted with a smirk.
"Thanks, Gaara."
Stepping somewhat slowly into the room, a rather pale Kiba spoke up. "H-how is he, Sasuke?"
"Yeah, we only heard what they said on the news – that there was a break in at your house by two former members of the Akatsuki Corporation, and that Naruto was shot," Shikamaru added, trying to clarify for his evidently shocked friend. "What happened exactly?"
Sighing, Sasuke tried his best to put on a calm expression, if only to put Kiba's mind at ease. "Well, everything you heard was true. My brother shot Naruto… the nurses said the bullet is rubbing up against his heart. They're in the operating room right now. It's supposed to be a very tricky procedure – if they make one false move, they could rupture an artery…"
Kiba's lip began to quiver noticeably at the thought. He buried his face in his hands, "Oh god… please, don't take Naruto…"
Forcing a smile, Lee stepped forward and threw an arm over the distraught dog-boy's shoulder. "I'm sure it's not that bad, right Sasuke? They probably have their best surgeon on the case. He'll be fine in no time!"
It was evident to everyone in the room that not even Lee believed his words. They understood all-too well how dire Naruto's situation was – his life hung in the balance, completely out of their control. One false move in the operating room, the slightest tear to the heart, and it could easily spell the end for their friend.
Shikamaru, crouching down before his friend, exhaled in a frustrated manner. He gazed up at Sasuke once more, reiterating his earlier question. "Well, Sasuke, there's nothing we can do but pray. So let me ask you again – do you believe that promise he made to you? That he will never leave you alone again?"
Sasuke had to consider this for a moment. He wanted to say 'no,' just like he had several months before. After all, Naruto couldn't control fate – death could come for him at any time. There were some things that people just couldn't possibly control, and this was certainly one of them.
And yet, even knowing Naruto's state, knowing his chances of survival, Sasuke felt a strange comfort in remembering that promise. Even if he didn't believe it, Naruto believed it, and he would do everything in his power to keep it – even if it meant grappling with death itself.
"I do," Sasuke concluded, taking a deep breath. "He's already done the impossible once… he taught me how to love again. If he can do that, he can do whatever he wants."
Smiling Shikamaru took a seat on the floor and nodded. "That's the spirit. We just have to stay positive. Naruto will pull through this."
Joining the Nara on the floor, a misty-eyed Kiba added between sniffles, "Yeah – I've known that idiot longer than anyone here. If there's one thing Naruto has, it's luck."
One by one, the others all sat down on the tile, forming a circle as they shared stories of the blond. Gaara spoke first, "I remember when I kissed him that day. I wanted it so badly, I didn't even care about the consequences. I thought he'd beat me to a pulp right then and there, but he didn't. He was angry, of course, but he seemed to understand. Even when he was so clearly offended, he was sympathetic first – always putting his friends before himself.
"I know what you mean," Lee chimed in, clasping the redhead's hand. "When you all fought at Sasuke's housewarming party, he said what had to be said. He was angry, but he made sure you and Sasuke knew you were in the wrong. He forced you to apologize, and he made you realize your true feelings for me, Gaara."
"That's sweet," Temari said with a dreamy sigh. "I was wondering what happened after I brought Shikamaru back home butt naked."
"Must you bring that up?" Shikamaru asked, his cheeks coloring as he looked to the side embarrassedly.
"Of course! You looked so sexy that day," Temari continued, running her hand down her boyfriend's thigh. "Come on, you know you enjoyed it, too…"
"N-next story! Choji! What do you remember about Naruto?" Shikamaru said hastily, his voice somewhat higher in pitch as he shied away from Temari.
"Umm… he bought me some chips once," the plump teen responded after a moment, scratching his head confusedly. "I was really hungry, and he spent his last dollar on them. We shared them."
Shikamaru frowned. "Well, close enough, I guess. Personally, I can remember when Kiba and I confronted Naruto about his feelings for you, Sasuke."
"Really? How'd you find out about that?" Sasuke asked, eyeing the Nara suspiciously.
"A little eavesdropping can go a long way," Kiba answered with a slight smile. "I didn't mean to overhear anything – I was just going to invite him to dinner, since he was feeling a bit down – but then I heard him talking to Iruka. He said he was in love, and it didn't take long to put two and two together."
"The thing is, when Naruto discovered Kiba had been listening, he did not take it so well. He bolted and came over to my place," Shikamaru responded, nodding as he recalled the series of events. "He wanted to hide, to try to ignore the feelings he was harboring for you. Kiba tracked him down, though, and he told me everything that'd happened. That's when I decided it would be my goal to fix the two of you up."
"Shika the matchmaker," Temari added, throwing her arms around the Nara. "I didn't realize you were so good at playing cupid."
"Well, it didn't hurt that Sasuke had practically admitted he liked Naruto earlier that day. I knew there was something going on, and when Naruto said he loved him… well, it was an easy decision to make."
Kiba grinned. "And the rest, as they say, is history. The two of you fell in love, you dated, and you became a great couple. Regardless of what happens today, I'm glad the two of you met."
"Agreed," Shikamaru said, staring intently at Sasuke. "That bloody nose you got could very well be the best thing that ever happened to you."
His eyes welling up, Sasuke sat in silence for a time, his mind becoming flooded with memories of his beloved blond. The bloody nose, the date at Ichiraku, the project for Kakashi's class, the fight with Gaara, all leading up to that first confession of love. Making out on Naruto's couch, their tryst under the bridge, their sweaty kiss in the sauna, skinny-dipping at Lake Konoha – then, of course, there was the promise. That day at Konoha Bridge, with Naruto rising to what Sasuke feared would be his death.
But it wasn't. He came back that day… just like he always did. Even when I ran away with O after we had sex, Naruto came after me. He was determined never to leave me alone… never again…
As the tears flowed liberally down his cheeks, Sasuke felt only warmth as Shikamaru and the others closed around him, pulling the raven-haired teen into a powerful group hug.
It was then that he realized it. Even if Naruto died on that day, Sasuke wouldn't be alone. Naruto would never leave him alone again, because he had left the Uchiha with a legacy of friendship. People that Sasuke had never spoken to were now among his closest friends – not just Naruto's friends, but his.
I'll never be alone again…
The door to the waiting room squeaked open, causing Sasuke to look up abruptly. There, a shy nurse stood carrying a clipboard. She glanced up uncertainly. "Uchiha?"
"Yes?" Sasuke asked, his heart palpitating as his friends took a few steps back. He tried to read the nurse's face, to see if she had good news or bad news for them, but to no avail.
The nurse flipped over a page, "Umm… Naruto is out of surgery and should be waking up from his anesthesia shortly…"
Before another word could be said, Sasuke bolted from his seat and darted out the door, nearly bowling over the nurse in the process. Stunned, the young woman attempted to call out to the Uchiha, waving her arm as she said, "Wait! You can't go in there!"
Sasuke did not hear her plea, however, and even if he had, he would've ignored it. This went beyond hospital regulations – this was about love. The love he had for an idiot blond who literally had run headfirst into his life. The love he had for the boy of his dreams, the boy he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
The love I've reserved for Naruto, whenever I may find him…
Pushing another astonished nurse out of the way, Sasuke barreled down the hallway and through the door to the ICU. There, he made his way down the seemingly endless corridor, scouring the names on the wall as he passed. Aizawa, Smith, Stamos, Fisher, Miller, Smith again – then, almost shining like a beacon, Uzumaki. Skidding to a halt, Sasuke pushed open the door and stared inside, panting heavily.
There he was, lying peacefully in his bed, his bare, somewhat muscular chest covered in a reddened bandage. He turned his head wearily to the side as soon as the door opened, his eyes just barely cracking open to reveal the deep blue orbs within. His lips curled into a smile.
"Sasuke…"
Choking on his tears, Sasuke rushed forward and collapsed by his boyfriend's side, pulling the blond into an embrace. "Naruto…"
Wincing, Naruto pushed the Uchiha away and grinned. "Hey! That hurts! I just got shot, you know."
Brushing away some of the moisture from his cheeks, Sasuke laughed. "Right – sorry… it's just…"
"I know, Sasuke. I know," Naruto replied, running his hand through the other teen's raven hair. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"Then what'd you let yourself get shot for?" Sasuke asked, half jokingly, half angrily. "You could've died!"
"I was afraid you might die if I didn't do anything," the blond said, crossing his arms defensively. "I know you like to think that you're the only one who worries in this relationship, but you're wrong. I was petrified when that shark-guy took me upstairs, only because I thought I'd never see you again… you know what that kind of fear is like."
Suddenly, Sasuke felt incredibly selfish. Naruto was 100% right – Sasuke had, for at least a moment, forgotten that Naruto had fears of his own. They had discussed them after their fight at the Uchiha's housewarming party, and Sasuke had memorized the list in detail. Right after snakes, Bigfoot, and the sun exploding, there was Naruto's chief concern – losing his loved ones.
He thought it was the end for me… he didn't want to lose me, even if it meant risking his own life…
"Naruto… thank you," Sasuke finally said, gripping the blond's hand firmly. "Let me make the same promise you made to me – I will never leave you alone ever again."
"On the contrary, you'll be leaving him alone right now!"
Suddenly, Sasuke was jerked to his feet by a very flustered nurse – the very one he had nearly knocked over outside the waiting room. The Uchiha's face paled considerably. "Umm… hi there… I was just leaving…"
"That's right, you are! Naruto here is just recovering from a very serious operation! He needs his rest – no visitors!" the nurse said, seizing Sasuke by the ear. "Now, out you go!"
Grimacing, Sasuke stumbled backward as he was led out of the room. Staring back at his boyfriend, he found the blond laughing hysterically, at the sight. Despite his irritation at being interrupted once again, Sasuke felt a surge of warmth throughout his body. He smiled.
I mean it, Naruto… I'll never leave you again…
Reunited, and it feels so good! Naruto lives to see another day, and Sasuke is not forced to experience another loss in love. Only one chapter left, and then an epilogue. Thank you all for reading and sticking with this story for so long - you're all great! Until next time, dear readers, I bid you good day, and remember - review!