So I found out that on the 20th this month it will be exactly a year ago that I started this fic! So I'm going to try to exactly end it on that day :) Expect only one more chapter after this one. And I know people may not really like where I went with this story, but I still love it the way it is... So I hope you will love it as much as I do :)

Enjoy!

...

It had been weeks since Sasuke last saw Naruto. After that moment he had walked out, they hadn't gotten in contact again. Sasuke had tried after the first few days, but never did Naruto answer his phone. And at some point Sasuke just gave up and left the blonde alone. The strange thing was that all his stuff was still here. Not even Gaara had come to collect it. Which had been rather strange.

Every day Sasuke had expected to either find the house half empty or to see Gaara standing in front of the house, waiting on the raven to come back home. Every time he turned the corner as he drove home his heart beat faster and he swallowed roughly before he dared to look at the driveway, but it was always empty.

But the fact that Naruto's stuff remained in his home was what gave Sasuke hope that one day the blonde would return and they would be happy together again. Because Sasuke wasn't happy now. He needed Naruto more than he wanted to admit. Just his bubbly personality and the bright blue eyes he came home to. It was all that he needed to get through the day. But now work seemed more dull, food more tasteless and life just felt very empty. But he couldn't plead Naruto to come back, even if he desperately wanted to, because Naruto didn't pick up his damn phone when he called or texted him back. Eventually the wait was over and all Sasuke could do to remind himself was make use of the extra furniture still present in his house.

Like that damn orange bean bag that was sitting in his living room. It was still as ugly as when Sasuke ha first seen the thing. It was far too bright to fit in with his colourless furniture. Just too fluorescent. Sasuke was sure it lighted up when he turned off the lights, but no one believed him. He cursed the thing every time he laid eyes on it. Mostly because it reminded him so much of Naruto. Sasuke was pretty sure that Naruto also lighted up when he turned off the lights.

A few seconds later Sasuke actually found himself in that orange bean bag, sinking deeper and deeper into the soft balls forming to his figure and then it all settled down. He couldn't move, because it would make too much sound then and he also felt like he sat way too low. Was this supposed to be comfortable? Sasuke really did not understand why Naruto loved this thing so much. He preferred his couch with the soft cushions and its length to just lay down on it. This thing was just something to contain you, because getting out was even worse.

Then at the worst possible timing someone decided to ring his doorbell. Sasuke cursed that person behind his door. Didn't they know that it was Saturday afternoon and that normal people would sit in bean bags, reminiscing his times with Naruto and deciding that this thing should really be somewhere up in the attic. Not like anyone was going to stop him now.

But first he needed to get out of this bean bag and to the door. 'Be right there,' he called out, his voice a monotone. Sasuke was really not in the best mood to have people at his door right now. Well, he hadn't been in the mood for it ever since Naruto left, unless it was Naruto, which he doubted. Even Neji hadn't gone past the porch. Like Sasuke was even in the mood to party.

Pushing himself out of his current seat, he cursed the bean bag once more. It took him several tries before he was actually standing up and ready to walk to the door, if he hadn't been so exhausted at this point. That thing was certainly moving to the attic.

Apparently the person at the door got fed up of waiting and rang the doorbell again. Couldn't this person just leave? Oh, wait. Sasuke had actually said he was coming, so this person knew he was home. Sometimes he really was stupid! Especially when he found out who was even behind his door.

With an annoyed look on his face Sasuke threw open the door and was met with very soft green eyes and a head full of bright red hair. What the hell was this bastard doing here? Oh, picking up Naruto's stuff… At that point Sasuke's heart sank. That would be his last bit of hope. After this it would all be over. He wasn't sure how to greet Gaara at this point and just stared at the redhead. He didn't even try to hide his emotions anymore, running free all over his face. How could this be the end? Only because he was certain Gaara was in love with Naruto and that way he had driven his boyfriend right into the redhead's arms. It had been foolish.

'I won't stay long,' Gaara said in an even tone, also skipping the greeting part. 'But I came here to tell you something and give you something as well.' Those words surprised Sasuke and without even realising it he stepped out of the way and granted the redhead entrance to his home.

Green eyes moved through his house as if seeing it for the first time, judging the stuff Sasuke kept and called his own. Not that Sasuke owned anything special. It was all very modern and minimalistic, if you didn't count Naruto's stuff among it. He just didn't like filling up the place with useless furniture.

Gaara stopped walking as he entered the living room, his eyes moving over the bean bag for a moment before turning back around to face Sasuke. 'You know Naruto has been living with me.' Obviously he knew that… 'And I've tried my best to take care of him, but it's not helping. It seems that Naruto is quite miserable,' he stated. It felt strange how Gaara's voice was so emotionless. 'He's not progressing the way I would've liked and he actually hasn't left the couch except when he needs to use the bathroom. He barely eats and he has lost a lot of weight.' A soft sigh showed that Gaara was indeed upset about this, but didn't show it any other way. 'He even missed his appointment with Tsunade,' he ended as if that was the most important thing of all.

'Then why aren't you taking better care of him?' Sasuke spat. 'You finally got him away from me and now you can't even do this simple thing and make sure he actually stays healthy and freaking live.' He sneered as he quickly looked away, feeling the urge rising to punch the guy in the face. See if he can show of emotions then. 'So what the hell are you doing here now anyway? It's not like I can do anything about it.'

Green eyes studied his face and Gaara stayed silent for the longest time, as if he was searching for the words to reply to Sasuke. Or maybe he finally realised it was a dumb mistake to come here. Still it didn't make sense why he was here in the first place. 'I think you can,' Gaara then said softly, his eyes finally moving down to the floor and narrowing somewhat in sadness. 'It's true that I desperately wanted you out of his life, because I did not trust you. I know who you are and I know how you play people. You shared the bedroom with my sister once and she was devastated when you didn't call afterwards. I just thought you would do the same to Naruto and I care too much about him.'

Gaara's lips parted once more and then closed again, rethinking what he was about to say. 'Naruto is like my little brother. I have seen him go through the difficult times and I know how he reacted to it all. I thought being with you would give him the same reaction and his cancer was bad enough already. Every time I visited the hospital Naruto got very excited about how you would show up a few hours after. I made sure I was gone by then, because I didn't want to face the happiness I expected soon to be crushed. But now it seems that me crushing whatever you guys had made him actually fall back into his usual closed of ways. I think he needs you more than he needs me.'

Sasuke stayed silent for a moment longer and just stared at Gaara. That was a lot more explanation than he had ever gotten from the redhead or from Naruto himself. 'Sorry about your sister,' he murmured softly, feeling guilt tugging at his heart. He hadn't known that, of course he hadn't. But he should've known that his past ways would come back and bite him in the eyes. It wasn't so strange that Gaara didn't like him if his sister was really hurt.

But what Sasuke still bothered was that he had no idea what Naruto was bothering so much and he kind of wanted to know. Naruto hadn't really talked about his past. Only some major happenings and then mostly only the happy parts, so Sasuke didn't know Naruto was so miserable or had been so miserable before.

'It's alright. She has gotten over it and is happily married now, so no harm done,' Gaara replied, a slight smile gracing his features. It was almost unnoticeable. 'But I think it's time you come and claim your boyfriend back. It would be better for all of us, because my girlfriend isn't very happy to see the guy sitting on my couch every day and stinking up the place as she calls it.'

Girlfriend… Why didn't Sasuke know that? So Gaara did really feel like Naruto was his little brother that needed protection. Everything has just been a huge mistake and none of this would've happened if he had just asked. But Uchihas didn't like talking about their feelings. Hell, his brother was the perfect example of that. 'And how do you suggest I do that? Naruto hasn't tried contacting me ever since he left.'

Gaara's lips tightened and his eyes narrowed slightly as he glared at nothing in particular. 'Because he's damn stubborn and doesn't want to admit that he misses you.' The look vanished as soon as he had spoken the words and turned back to its emotionless state. 'But I have a plan. The hospital has sent me a card coming from a friend you both share. It's also addressed to you both, but I think they thought you were still together. Just read it and you'll know how to fix this or I'm assuming you can fill in the blanks after that.'

A envelop was then handed to him and Sasuke could see it was opened carefully, as if scared to rip it. The envelop itself was a soft white and the paper felt rather thick and expensive somehow. Slowly he pulled it out and his heart skipped a beat when he noticed what kind of card it was. He wasn't sure how to react to this, because he finally understood who this mutual friend was and what Gaara meant with a place to fix it.

Dark eyes moved up and noticed how Gaara had already walked back to the doorway. Their eyes met for a moment and even Gaara showed some true sadness now. 'I'm sorry for your loss,' he said softly and then left Sasuke's house, letting him deal with this all by himself.

In loving memory of
Kiba Inuzuka
May his heart rest in peace
July 7th 1990 -
November 10th 2013

Funeral will be held at the…

Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

Let me know what you think!