Chapter 3 – Reunited And It Feels So Good

After signing his name on the documents, everything seemed to be moving at supersonic speed to Sasuke; the papers were rushed away and stamped making it official. Everyone stood congratulating the two boys and each other for the successful and non-dramatic trial. After that they got their stuff ready and slowly exited themselves from the court house but Sasuke was stuck, still sitting in his chair unable to move.

Itachi patted Sasuke on the shoulder to get his attention, "Come on little bro, we've got to get back to Konoha."

Sasuke nodded and stood up, getting his coat ready so he could leave, whilst thinking to himself, 'Don't look. Don't look at him. If you do you'll know you'll regret it.'

But luckily for him, he didn't have to. That angelic voice filled his ears.

"Sasuke?" He heard.

Sasuke eyes widened as he turned around, "Naruto," he breathed.

Naruto smiled before hugging him, "Thank you," He whispered. Gaara poked him in the back lightly to indicate he wanted Naruto to stop hugging the now official ex-husband and Naruto and Sasuke broke apart. Naruto smiled at Gaara giving the impression that he was fine. Gaara however was firm in his stance, he wasn't leaving Naruto with Sasuke and that was perfectly understandable. Gaara leant against a pillar behind them to watch over the conversation.

"So…" Sasuke started in an attempt to break the awkward silence, "How are you?"

Naruto sniffed, he had tears in his eyes but he smiled, "I'm good, really good actually."

Sasuke looked down a bit ashamed, "And the album is going well?"

"Yeah, it's slowly turning into one of my best pieces of work I think, I suppose in some bizarre way I should thank you for that." Naruto looked down for a second feeling a bit embarrassed, "But I bet you wouldn't really want that would you?" Naruto asked wearingly

"Yeah well…" Sasuke stopped, "Well I mean, no one wants to have an album that names and shames them, but I guess, no, I deserve it."

Naruto looked up still embarrassed, he raised his arm behind his head to scratch it awkwardly, "Haha…yeah."

Sasuke looked at his arm intensely, "You have a tattoo?"

Naruto looked at his arm which correct did have a tattoo of a fox on the underside of is upper arm, he quickly put it down by his side, "Oh yeah, I forgot you don't like them."

'Yeah I didn't let you get them,' Sasuke thought sadly, 'when we were still together,' echoed in his mind.

"No, no it looks good," Sasuke responded astonished.

Gaara scoffed, glaring at him, he clearly did not trust Sasuke but Sasuke honestly didn't really care, he was too busy focusing on Naruto, he had changed so much since he had left him, it was almost like he didn't recognise Naruto anymore. He looked away for a second just to stop himself staring at the blonde. "I started listening to your music, you're really good Naruto."

Naruto stopped, shocked, he blinked at Sasuke a bit confused, "Well… thank you Sasuke that means a lot… Are you okay; I mean are you doing well?"

Sasuke faced Naruto again but before he could respond Itachi cut in, "He's doing amazing Naruto you would be proud of the process that Sasuke has made, no alcohol and no mishaps for months now-"

"Talk as if I'm not here why don't you," Sasuke said rolling his eyes.

Naruto giggled, he hadn't seen the brotherly banter between the two in years it was refreshing.

Itachi rolled his eyes mimicking his little brother; he then put his hand on his Sasukes' shoulder once again, "He's doing very well."

Sasuke kept looking down and back up at Naruto whilst Itachi talked to Naruto, he seemed almost embarrassed and he kept rubbing his hands.

"I am proud of you Sasuke, you seem different," Naruto said.

"Yeah weird," Gaara muttered in disbelief.

Instead of Sasuke lashing out as Itachi expected, Naruto turned around fuming, "And what is that supposed to mean Gaara?!"

Sasuke and Itachi stared at Naruto in disbelief themselves; they clearly did not expecting Naruto to defend Sasuke of all people.

"Well you cannot expect me to believe that the Uchiha bastard has actually changed, you can't change a person Naruto," Gaara said firmly raising his hand to indicate he was criticising Sasuke, not that it was obvious or anything.

Naruto licked his lips, "No they can't." Naruto agreed just as firm.

Sasuke stared at his feet again ashamed; he really wanted to crawl under a rock at that very moment.

"But people can improve," Sasuke looked up in shock, "Everyone does. People can make decisions every day to improve themselves, to make a difference and I-"He dramatically pointed at Sasuke, "I can see that Sasuke is trying Gaara!"

Sasuke couldn't believe what was going on; he had never seen Naruto stand up for him before except when they dated, before things got so messed up.

Sasuke put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "It's alright Naruto I understand, please calm down."

Gaara glared at Sasuke and he noticed this, he immediately removed his hand out of respect.

Naruto turned to face his ex, "No I will not Sasuke, I am proud of you, you have overcome so much, and…and proved something today, you proved you are the bigger person-"

"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself Naruto?" Gaara interrupted.

Naruto turned back to Gaara, "No I'm not."

"Well you should be," Gaara moved away from the pillar, "You are one that left, you are the one that started from the ground up. You are the one that is forgiving this asshole, it was you who overcame the boundaries, not this spoon fed imbecile who the minute he gets into trouble he gets help for. You didn't have that, you did everything by yourself. IF ANYTHING HE SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOU LIKE I AM!"

Naruto stood there shocked, "Gaara I-"

"Forget it, I'm out," Gaara left the courtroom with the rest of the band (bar from Naruto) following him.

"Naruto, I'm-"Sasuke started.

"No Sasuke, it's alright, this whole experience has been a whirlwind. So I'm not surprised that this has happened," Naruto brushed his hand through his hair in distress, "It just sucks it had to happen now."

Sasuke couldn't help but stare at Naruto as he was in that pose, despite the look of distress on his face, his arms looked particularly toned, his face looked slightly matured and of course there were no dark circles under his eyes anymore. Sasuke had never been more attracted to Naruto, he was confident, mouthy and healthy but maybe the fact Naruto was unavailable made him more appealing.

"I should probably go Sasuke," Sasuke snapped back, not realising that he zoned out whilst staring at Naruto.

"Oh, of course," Sasuke replied trying to make it seem that he was okay with Naruto leaving him once again.

"We should get moving too Sasuke, we need to catch a plane back home," Itachi supported knowing what his brother was thinking.

Sasuke completely forgot his brother was there, he nodded letting Itachi lead him out the room before he said something stupid and out of character.

"Oi Sasuke!" Naruto shouted causing Sasuke to turn around, "If you keep going, improving yourself, I'll get rid of the restraining order," Sasuke's eyes widened, "I want you in my life Sasuke," He took Sasukes' hands in his, "I want my best friend back."

Sasuke nodded and left the courtroom with his brother.

'I want you in my life Sasuke' was repeating constantly in Sasuke's mind the entire plane ride home.