Been a While

I do not own Naruto!

Chapter 1: Stupid Phone

"Hn, Dobe when you coming home?" Naruto sighed, because he hated to lie to the one person who always knew he is lying. "Teme, you're such an ass! Whatever happened to… how is everything or are you in good health! Instead, all I get is a freaking insult when I answer the phone!" Sasuke sighed. "Hn, how is everything, and are you in good health? You are a complete Dobe, Dobe. Now back to my original question, when are you coming home, Dobe?" His statement was obviously lost, on his best friend since childhood. Naruto shrugged his shoulders. Sasuke, the asshole, was the only person to be there when it counted. However, over the past four years, Naruto had been distancing himself. The reason was simply…It hurt…everything hurt; all because of his love for the raven-haired man.

Every time he had to see Sasuke's girlfriend hanging all over him, it hurt and the final straw had been when Sasuke made that girl his one and only. It was at that time, when Naruto decided it was time to go, and because being a witness was making him sick. He had loved Sasuke since they were little tikes and would always love him, since that was what he was born to do. "I guess after this book tour, I can probably make it home for a couple of days!" Naruto heaved a sigh, trying to control the pounding of his heart. "Hn, I was thinking more like coming home for a week or more." Sasuke clicked his tongue. "I never would have thought that the life of an author was so busy and here I thought they were all lazy and worthless." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Well excuse the hell out me! Not everyone can be the vice president of his family's company. Which reminds me, I saw you and Sakura on television last night, you two were at some big event." Naruto closed his laptop in front of him. This was turning into a conversation. And to be perfectly honest, he had been avoiding the phone, because he hated to say no to Sasuke. Nevertheless, that careful avoidance was a waste because it appeared that he had no choice but to say yes.

"Hn, it was the premiere of a movie and I had to go because I had to." Naruto lit his cigarette. "Yeah, you are one of the heirs to the Uchiha fortune. I remember when there was always someone following you and the paparazzi just love the Uchiha brothers!" Naruto let the smoke out in a slow stream. "Don't remind me. Those fuckers still manage to find me no matter where I am. Sakura and I have had so many arguments, because those idiots always manage, to snap photos at the most inopportune times." Sasuke heaved a sigh. "But enough about that, why haven't you been home in four years and do not give me that bullshit about book tours." Naruto choked on the smoke of his cigarette.

"Well, it's just…I'm not needed there anymore. If I am not needed there, then why come home." That was a little too honest and Naruto regretted it as soon as it left his mouth. "Hn. You are always needed, Dobe. Your company, stupid jokes, overactive imagination, and loud mouth, are always needed. Sasuke chuckled. Besides, you are my best friend and I've missed kicking your ass, when you act foolishly." Naruto smiled, it had been a while since they has exchanged the truth…Naruto wasn't prepared for the truth, but Sasuke was never one for mincing words. "I will make it home as soon as I finish up the last four cities. How is Sakura, these days?"

He hated to ask about the girl whom Sasuke loved. Then again, Naruto would always respect what the Raven decided. "She's fine; I think she's ready to get married. I on the other hand, am still not so sure. To tell you the truth, I hate that whole till death do you part thing." If he didn't know any better, he would have thought the world had just ended for him. But, like always…Naruto would manage to play his part and he had learned it well, over the years. Besides, it was the only lie he had ever gotten away with; the one lie that he wished he were bad at and that was the other reason he had to stay away.

Naruto always managed to push the pain way deep down, and after this phone call, he would be sure to pack it away, again. Along with all the other pain, he had endured over the years. "Well, Sakura is not one to pussyfoot around so... You know you are going to have to make a decision eventually." Sasuke sighed, once more. "Of that I am certain, but she and I have been together so long that I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else." That one cut Naruto to the core as he felt the tears fall over his cheeks, he still managed to speak through the pain, years of practice had taught him that, too. "Yeah Teme, I guess the only question is when will it happen?" Naruto raised the cigarette to his lips with an unsteady hand.

"Whatever. What about you? Who have you been dating, Naru?" He hated that question, because he had not dated since he was eighteen. He saw no point, when the only person he ever loved was already taken. "I am not dating; I decided that it's less complicated that way." He put his cigarette out in the ashtray. "Not to mention I have been so busy that there hasn't been much time for me to pursue something intimate." Naruto stood from his chair and stretched. "Well, the plus side is that you're not missing much. Dating is stupid anyway and I think you will get around to it when the time comes." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"What times is that, Teme?" Sasuke chuckled. "When the need to start a family and settle down attacks you." Naruto had to laugh. "Sasuke I doubt if either of those become a need for me. I just think that I will always be better on my own. I love watching everyone else and I am so happy for all of our friends who got together, but I just wasn't built for that." Sasuke chuckled. "Naruto to me it sounds like that you have given up on that notion and that is awkward. Being that you're a writer and making a living off of happy endings."

Naruto's happy ending was placed out of reach many years ago, even as a young boy he knew that he loved in vain. However, the heart wants what the heart wants and it doesn't give a damn if it kills the person whose chest it resides in. "I am no fool, Teme. However, I know in real life, love cannot be for everyone. Love for me must remain unrequited. Naruto shrugged. "I guess you can say… that is my destiny." Sasuke was silent for a moment and it worried Naruto, because maybe he had said too much. "That's a shame, because I know just how easy it is to love you, Dobe. Furthermore, You've been my best friend for ages and I have always admired you. I just knew that some amazing person was going to sweep you off your feet."

Both men laughed at the notion, because of its lameness and absurdity. "Yeah…how about I keep both feet firmly on the ground and watch the rest of you fools in the clouds." Sasuke chuckled. "You are missing one hell of a ride, my old friend." Naruto stood at the window with a new cigarette in hand. "Naw, I like watching from here. Since someone has to be here to write everything down or people might forget what it was like." Sasuke smirked. "Whatever. You better be here in a couple of weeks and I better not get some bullshit excuse this time. I'll talk to you later." Sasuke was always threatening, but Naruto always managed to back out, at the last minute.

"Here is your tea Naruto, was that Mr. Uchiha?" Naruto nodded to his assistant Colby. Colby was a dark haired young man; who wore glasses and had a very slender frame. The boy's nerves were easily frazzled, but he was a wonderful asset. He kept Naruto on task, up to date, and his researching skills were astonishing. "Yes, he wants me to make it home at the end of this month." Colby frowned. "I sure hope you follow through with these plans, Sir. Mr. Uchiha is quite unpleasant when I have to inform him that you will be absent." Colby adjusted his glasses.

"I really don't feel like taking an emotional beat down from a man I have never even met! Colby pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "My therapist believes him yelling at me is one of the roots of my nervousness." Colby was really was a sad case. The boy was afraid of Sasuke and had never even met him, but Sasuke Uchiha could be pretty intimidating. "No, Colby I'll be making the trip this time and give you a couple of days off." Colby smiled, but things like these always came with conditions. "Nevertheless, I need you back at my side as soon as possible. I'm going to need you to do a bit of research and locate some things." Colby nodded, that would give him plenty of time to go see his family and check on Naruto's condo in California.

The Konoha afternoon was warm; the quiet sleepy little town was nested in the middle of nowhere, really. Naruto leaned his head back, letting the sun warm his face. It had been a while since Naruto had been home. He glanced at his watch, which read 2:30. He smiled thinking about the car and small two-bedroom home he had left, here in Konoha. He was curious as to how both had held up, but he was not too concerned. His Godparents had been taking care of both. At that moment, he noticed the slick black Rolls-Royce convertible pulling up to the curb and the raven-haired man glanced at his watch.

"I thought the plane didn't land until 2:30?" Naruto nodded, he found himself speechless. Sasuke was still beautiful with his porcelain skin and a midnight colored hair. "The plane got in a little early, so I decided to take in the Konoha afternoon." Sasuke tossed him some keys. "Iruka said to give you these and to let you know the place has not been cleaned in four years. He also said that if they don't get to see you, to tell you that they love you." Naruto placed his bag in the trunk. "Those two must have went on their anniversary trip, early." Sasuke nodded as he pulled away from the curb. "They were really excited and all, for a vineyard?" Naruto smiled. "They had always wanted to go to Italy and spend a month, but I always needed something." Naruto's parents had passed away when he was three and was left to his Godfathers Iruka and Kakashi.

They had done so much for him, so he decided that a two-month stay in Italy would do them some good. That was the least he could do for all the love that he was shown his entire life. Sasuke nodded his head. "Now, I understand the excitement, not to mention their bouncing baby boy fitted the bill too." Naruto blushed as he put his hand on the back on his neck. Sasuke adjusted his sunglasses. "You know everyone is excited to see you, but I was thinking that maybe we can clean your place together tonight." Sasuke shrugged. "I know I hate to see people, right after I just got home." Sasuke was right. Naruto was not quite ready to see everyone. "Yeah, I would like to get my place together first and have a little gathering on Saturday." Sasuke nodded his head. "I figured that was what you would want to do, so the cleaning supplies are already there. I had my assistant drop some things off at your place, yesterday."

The street looked the same, except there were more children running around. As Sasuke pulled up into the driveway, the house looked the same. It was still brown stucco with a brown door to match. The driveway was still bricked along with the path to the front door, Naruto remembered, the day the driveway was complete. Naruto felt that his little home was complete and perfect for the first time. He smiled at the memory as he grabbed his bag from the trunk and pulled the keys from his pocket. He carefully unlocked the door and when he stepped inside, it was as if time had stood still. He remembered the day he left because he was in a rush, because that night… Sasuke had told him that he was moving in with Sakura.

At that time in his life, Naruto couldn't handle it and as much as he wanted to face it, he didn't have the courage and with that, he left. He left on a book tour he had never planned to go on and after a while, it just got so easy to be gone. Sasuke put his arm around Naruto's shoulder. "Welcome home, my old friend. This place is filthy." Naruto rolled his eyes, although Sasuke was right, he didn't have to say. "Yeah I know, but they covered all the furniture a couple weeks after I left to prevent damage." Sasuke furrowed his brow. "So, they knew you were going to gone for a while. That's funny. I thought you were coming home after six months." Naruto's heart sunk, he never had the courage to say goodbye to him. He didn't even have the courage to tell him he was not coming back. "I wasn't needed and so I saw no reason to come back here." Sasuke hit him in the arm.

"I really wish you would stop saying that, you are my best friend and that was as good a reason to come back home as any." Naruto shrugged. "Yeah, but you were spending more time with Sakura and other couples. I just didn't want to be here anymore, I mean I knew you would be fine without me." Sasuke walked towards the kitchen. "Well, I wasn't. Most of our other male friends are whipped and the lack of backbone just disgusted me to no end." Sasuke looked back in the den. "But what choice did I have when you ran off." Naruto lifted his bag and headed to his bedroom, he dropped his bag in the closet. He noticed that there was still clothes hanging, some things in the drawers and cabinets. He thought, 'I really did leave a lot behind.' He had left his life, disappeared, and started a new one.

"Dobe come help me in the kitchen!" Naruto walked in to the kitchen and the work began. By five, the two had made it to the bathrooms. "Okay, Sasuke! I am starving and we are almost done with the house." Sasuke smirked. "Let's cook, and besides I think I deserve your famous enchilada's." Naruto should have seen blackmail coming, Uchiha's knew no low." Naruto pouted a little. "Fine, whatever, I need to pick up a new filter and some bulbs." Sasuke pulled his Royce into the garage, while Naruto pulled his black Jeep out. It had been a while since he had driven a stick-shift, but it came back quickly as the Jeep went humming down the street. "I think I missed riding in this and hanging out. Man, Friday nights were always so crazy!" Sasuke nodded. "Hell yeah, we got in free everywhere because Neji used to spin at all the hottest clubs." That was a good time and life was fun. After, partying all night Shika, Neji, Chouji, and Kiba would just crash at Naruto and Sasuke's apartment. "Life was so much easier then, and we partied so hard." They pulled into the Superstore and parked. They picked up groceries, bulbs, and a host of other things that were needed and after dinner, they finished the bedrooms and set in the den, Sasuke asked how was it, living on the road.

"It was nice, I got to see the sites, and I was never bored. I was always excited, when my books went international. Man, Sasuke I stood on the Eiffel tower, I even watched the moonrise in Japan, and I got to see the sunset in Tuscany." Sasuke just smirked. "You did all this and never once called me." Naruto frowned. "You were living your life and I didn't have the right to intrude. Besides, I would have driven you crazy with description." Sasuke shrugged. "I have never once in my life been bored, whenever you opened your mouth, Dobe." This conversation was teetering on dangerous, because he was afraid that Sasuke might ask why, for real.

Just as the thought passed through his head the doorbell rang. 'Saved by the bell' Naruto thought as he stood to answer the door. "Welcome home Naruto! I came to retrieve my fiancé, I haven't seen him for two whole days, and I just needed to see him." Naruto smiled as he stepped aside. "Sakura? What are you doing here?" She sat herself on his lap. "I haven't seen you for two days and I just wanted to spend some time with you." Sasuke had that angry scowl of his on his face, one could only imagine why? "Kura, I was in the office for two days straight because I was planning on spending a little time with my runaway best friend. You said you were fine with that, because…you said you had plans." She started to pout, Naruto knew that fake pout.

He was somewhat grateful for the intrusion though, because he was about to get himself in trouble. It had been a while since he had to play the best friend role face-to-face. So, he was a little rusty and it was not helping that Sasuke's beauty was still overwhelming. "I know... it's just that I missed seeing you and well, I just wanted to see if you were coming home tonight." Naruto rolled his eyes. He could see that Sakura was still, untrusting. Although Naruto never stated his sexuality, it was as if the pink-haired woman knew. She always kept a close on the two of them, but Naruto never cared because it was unrequited love anyway.

"I was going to stay here for a few days and help Naruto get this place together. He wants to have a get together on Saturday." She crossed her arms. "So, where does that leave me?" Sasuke kissed her neck. "You said you wanted to go stay with your parents for a couple days, so just go do that." She glowered. "I guess I can do that, but why don't I just stay here for tonight and head over there tomorrow." The pink-haired monster was still clever. "Of course. I think that is an excellent idea, you, and Sasuke can stay in the guestroom." Her face just lit up, because she saw no written all over her fiancé's face. "Oh thank you, Naruto! So, what were you guys up to?" Naruto set in the chair opposite the couple. "Just talking about where my books have taken me and the sites I have enjoyed." Naruto talked about Japan and the beauty of the rice fields. He looked at his watch and decided to go bed.

Naruto found himself, tossing and turning until he fell off to sleep. His alarm clock went off for his 5:00 a.m. run. He needed to clear his head; he knew that he was on the verge of doing something stupid last night.

He stretched when he stepped onto the porch of his house. He jumped off the porch as he turned on his iPod. He ran towards the sunrise as he let last night drain away with his pounding pavement. All he could think was that everything was just as hard now as it was then. He knew that he was no longer a child and yet all he wanted to scream was…'Sasuke was mine first!' He shook off the idiocy notion of throwing a tantrum, because Sasu had always been straight, and that was fine. Naruto, at least still got to love and talk to him for hours at a time, seeing as a broken heart was a small price to pay. He knew that he would gladly pay it a hundred times over, because that was just how much he loved Sasuke.

Someone pushed him and forced him out of his thoughts, he looked over to find Sasuke in-stride with him. He pulled his ear-bud out of his ear as a smirk drifted over the Raven's face. "Since when do you run, Dobe?" Naruto grinned. "For about three years now, I have even run in some marathons too." Sasuke nodded. "So, what made you start running?" Naruto thought, 'You, I wanted to be closer to you and the only thing I could do was run. I knew that you ran everyday and it was my way of being with.' Naruto shrugged. "I guess I just needed a release. I mean I spend a lot of my time in a chair, so I thought that running would be good for me." Sasuke smirked. "You still smoking?" Naruto grinned. "Like a chimney, fuck! Give me break, I am running and eating better." Sasuke shook his head. "Yeah, but I'm still going to live longer. Stop fucking smoking, Dobe." Naruto sighed. "We can compromise. I think we should be able to compromise. Instead of a pack a day, how about a pack ever two days?" Sasuke shrugged. "Fine, I guess that is better than nothing at all."

Naruto nodded and a comfortable silence fell between them. Naruto let the sound of the pavement keep his mind from racing and as they headed back towards the house. He couldn't help but sneak a glance at the man he would love for eternity and it satisfied the urge to want to touch him. The two stretched before walking into the house.

They went into the kitchen, starting breakfast. Sasuke was impressed; Naruto couldn't cook anything dealing with breakfast, when they lived together. He felt a little guilty because he had missed so much. He thought about how he always celebrates by himself when Naruto hits the bestsellers list or when he would receive a new book before it was even published. Sasuke even reveled in the fact that every book Naruto had every written had been dedicated to him. Naruto was his best friend and they had always been inseparable, but he couldn't recall the reason why it stopped being that way. It truly frustrated him that he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment, when everything changed. The moment, when he lost one of the most important people in his life, he couldn't even remember saying goodbye.

"Sasuke, are you all right?" Sasuke looked up and scowled. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? I thought you didn't want to go on that book tour, I just knew you had turned it down." Naruto looked a little flustered, 'why was he doing this?' He knew he should've come home. "Sasuke, I just had to go. I had to get away and my only way out was the damn book tour. I had turned it down, but that night I called my publisher. She was happy to put me back on the roster." Sasuke crossed his arms and looked a little puzzled. "I don't understand, I mean why did…" Sakura came into the kitchen, interrupting their discussion. "Good morning boys, I slept so well. Man, Naruto I love that bed." Naruto was so glad she had showed up. "I'm glad you like it. That is Sasuke's old mattress from when we lived together." She giggled. "I knew that damn thing was familiar. What are you guys doing?" Naruto was putting breakfast on the table.

"I was about to have your fiancé come wake you up so we could eat breakfast." She smiled as she set in between the two men. Sasuke looked a little upset and that made Sakura nervous. "Sasuke baby is everything okay?" Her voice was shaky, but she managed. He looked at her a little distracted and sighed. "To tell you the truth…I mean yeah, everything is fine." She tilted her head, but drop the subject altogether. Naruto knew he had to try a little harder to keep from saying the wrong things! He felt like he was just digging his hole deeper every time he opened his stupid mouth.

Sakura did the dishes, while the boys showered. She could not help but wonder what Sasu was going to say, it was not like him. He always said what was exactly on his mind and that stupid Naruto always changed things.

She secretly hated him and it was all because he knew. He knew about her and Lee. She always wondered why Naruto never said anything, why he never exposed what he knew. It was as if he was holding it over her head for the right moment. She hated him and the fact that he could potential ruin her life. Sakura went back into the guestroom, and listened to Sasuke move around in the bathroom. She wanted to know what he wanted to say at breakfast, but then again she was scared to. "You look like you're in pain, are you are right?" Sakura tilted her head as he pulled on his underwear.

"You just looked a little troubled at breakfast and I guess I'm just a little worried about you." Sasuke frowned. "It's just…somewhere along the way." He sat next to her. "Somewhere along the way I lost him. Somewhere over the past four years, I forgot how to read him and it is pissing me off." She sighed; He was worried about his best friend. She knew that it was hard on Sasuke after Naruto left. For a long time it was if he had lost a part of himself, and he was so moody that first two years. Nevertheless, she could only imagine what it would be like, if Ino just left her side. She would probably curl up and die without her best friend.

"I just think you should give it some time, baby. I'm sure if you spend a little time together, that everything will be fine." She kissed his neck, before she pulled on her shoes. "I'm going to go pick up Ino, she wanted me to go to her appointment with her." Sasuke lifted his eyebrow. "She's getting her fertility results today. Being that she is going to be Neji and Kiba's Surrogate." Sasuke shook his head. "She and Chouji haven't even had a baby together and she is going to be a surrogate first?" Sakura giggled. "She and Chouji are not ready for children, but that does not mean that Kiba and Neji are not. They have been together forever and if she can give them this gift; I don't see the problem." Sasuke shrugged into his pants.

"I'm not saying that, it's just that it will be her first and she is giving it up. I just think it's going to be hard for her." Sakura rolled her eyes. "It's not like she won't see them. They live right down the street for goodness sake." That was true, they did all stay on the same block, well everyone except Naruto. He bought a house twenty minutes away, on the other side of town. "Alright handsome, I'll see you in a couple of days." She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him gently. He let her move out of his arms. "I love you and I'll see you soon, my lover." She just smiled and stopped at the master bedroom door. "Oi Naru, I'm out of here!"

He came out of the bathroom with his shirt off. He was beautiful and had a large tattoo circling his navel. It was intricate and it just made, him that more beautiful. She was wondering why she never noticed his beauty. Oh… yeah, he could potential ruin her life. "You don't want to help use refinish the deck and replace some of the rotted boards." She frowned. "Hell no! However, I would love to come and test it out when you're done." Naruto nodded his head. "Of course and I'm having the liner replaced in the pool, we are going to look today. You want to join us for that?" She giggled. "I'm sorry, but Ino and I have a spa day planned." Naruto winked. "I completely understand, maybe next time." She nodded and left the house.