Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor make any profit from writing this ficlet.
This is an un-beta'd work. No flames please.
He didn't know what to do. Naruto was supposed to love him. Open up to him. Let him care for him.
He had sealed away the kyuubi completely; thanks to works he'd stolen from Orochimaru. He had given him everything, lavished attention on him, and kept him from those that would harm him or use him for their own gain. Made sure he would never hurt from loss of those he cared for and given him a personal paradise for his pleasure.
But Naruto had become silent. No more sun-bright smiles. No more loud, heartfelt laughter. No more bouncing ball of energy. Once brilliant blue eyes were now a shade of gray that should only color the fogs in Mist, dull and empty.
"Naruto?" The expressionless gaze lifted, settled on his face for a moment before staring back into space. That was the biggest reaction he'd gotten from his fox in weeks.
"Naruto, please look at me." The gaze flickered for a moment but he didn't turn his head again. Once strong hands now twitched slightly on the blanket over his lap. Even with force-feeding and charka healing there hadn't been enough to keep his body as it was. He looked so thin now, almost starved. His skin seemed stretched tight over joints and bone, paper thin and frail.
His Naruto should never be frail.
But his Naruto was trapped in this shell and buried deep. And he didn't know how to get him back.
"I just don't know what to do anymore. I love you Naruto. I just wanted you to love me too." Whispering quietly he carefully brushed limp hair back from that vacant stare. Just once he'd like to hear that loud voice call him a bastard again.
Sighing softly he rose to his feet and exited the room. When the door softly clicked shut the room's sole occupant turned his gaze to the door for a moment. He was the only one who'd ever know a tear slid down his cheek.
A spike of chakra ran through the clan grounds. A flash that should never have been felt with the seals. And just as quickly vanished. Worried, the last of the clan called for a servant.
"What do you mean he's gone!?"
"I'm sorry Uchiha-sama, we went in to put him to bed and…"
Uchiha Sasuke could only stare in shock at the sight that greeted him. Naruto sat in the same spot he had hours ago, vacant stare shifted slightly down, but now even the gray was glassed over in death. How he'd gotten a kunai was beyond him, eyes uncomprehendingly settled on the handle protruding from his love's chest. In the blonde's hand was a crumpled bit of paper.
I could have loved you when I was free.
Would have loved you if you'd asked.
But a caged bird sings for no one.
You have taken it all from me.
But now the bars are gone.
I am free.
Shocked his hand fisted around the paper.
He finally understood.
The cry that ripped from his throat was the sound of a soul shattering from its own folly.
Outside Konoha a small golden fox chased a butterfly around a scar-nosed Academy teacher's legs.