Epilogue
A/N: WARNING: Some extreme angst in this XD LOL, I couldn't help myself! But there are some sweet moment too :)
It had been almost a week since Naruto had checked out of the hospital with a 'ticket of full health'. It was practically miraculous how flawlessly he'd recovered. Despite having stopped breathing, he had no brain trauma. His chakra exhaustion had not caused any major problems for his health, either. Tsunade gave a lot of credit to the Fox for healing Naruto, even though a lot of the kyuubi's chakra had been pulled too. Now, both Bijuu and host were good as new.
That same host was now sitting on the head of the Hokage Monument, staring out at the sinking sun with a very distance look on his face. He was lost in thought, otherwise, Sakura would never have been able to sneak up on him. Especially since she hadn't been trying to sneak.
"Hey." She says, gently.
Naruto spins around, startled by the sudden voice. "Oh...hi." He smiles.
"Can I join you?"
"Sure."
Sakura settles down beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. The two of them had shared a kiss in the hospital on the day he woke up. And at that moment, she lost all her shyness about him. It wasn't hard to close her eyes and just enjoy the warmth eminating from his body. Or to casually wrap her arm around his waist and breathe in his scent that relaxed her so easily.
But despite all of her ease around him, he didn't return her affection. He still seemed nervous and slightly awkward when she was close to him. At that very moment, his body felt very rigid. He was still staring off into the distance but his expression was tighter than before, more guarded.
"Are you okay?" She asks. "You seem kinda...down."
He nods. "Yeah, I'm okay. All things considering."
Sakura frowns slightly. "What does that mean?"
He glances at her our the corner of his eye as he squirms, nervously. Trying to get used to having her so close to him. To Naruto, it was a little...distracting. "I...I was scared." He mutters.
"Huh?" Sakura swivels around to face him.
"When the fox was being pulled out I...I really thought I was gonna die." He admits, his voice shaking slightly.
Sakura stares at him in shock. Why was he telling her this? "B-but you didn't give up." She says, trying to comfort him. "You kept fight and you got through it!"
"No..." His voice sounded empty. "I did give up. I let myself die..."
"Wha...what?" She breathes. She felt extremely nervous all of a sudden. What did he mean, he gave up? He let himself die?! No way...not Naruto.
"I was just...sick of it. The pain. I just wanted it to end..." He growls, suddenly his knees pull up to his chest and he is glaring into the sunset.
"Naruto..."
"If you hadn't shown up when you did...I'd be dead now."
"Why are you...telling me this?!" Sakura barks, tears stinging her eyes.
Naruto looks at her, his expression dark. Something unrecognizable flickers in his dark blue eyes when a tear rolls down her cheek. A little smirk plays on his lips. "Always quick to cry, huh Sakura?"
"What?"
"I'm telling you this because I want to thank you." As he says this, he turns to face her. Reaching, gingerly out toward her, he wipes the tear from her cheek. "You reminded me why I never give up. And I want to thank you for that."
"Naruto..." She breathes in disbelief.
"You saved my life. I tried to chicken out...but you stopped me. You reminded me of who I am. I can never thank you enough for that." His eyes were warm pools of crystal blue when he says that.
And for just a split second, Sakura thinks he looks a lot like that annoying little twelve year old she used to know. Naruto...you're still such a little kid. "You don't have to thank me for saving you." She says.
"Huh?"
"I saved you because..." She blushes, harshly and somehow, Naruto knew what was coming before she even was sure she was going to say it. "I love yo-"
Her words are cut off by Naruto's lips smashing against hers. When they eventually break apart for air, Naruto smiles, brilliantly. "I love you too..."