So.. I'm giving you full permission to leave me some hate in the review section because I've been gone for far far far too long. My computer had a virus for a long time which now, it's usable. Not to mention that I also lost all of my documents so rewriting this was a really big pain since I forgot how some things were suppose to happen. But I'm here, and I'm finishing this thing! Alright?! So Team Dar assemble (If anyone is still out there on my team)! We're finishing this story soon! Hazaaa!

But seriously... i'm so so so so so so so so sorry. I suck.

Yaadaa yaadaa disclaimer, yaadaa yaadaa warning, yaadaa yaadaa..

The memorial service was held for Neji Hyuga two days later which respectfully, every ninja in the village attended as well as the Hyuga clan. All but two people showed up.

Naruto and Sasuke.

As everyone rested white roses in front of Neji's portrait, containing their tears, Naruto stayed in the comfort of his bedding, hidden from the world. Sasuke remained on the couch, giving him the space he needed. In protection of his blond, Sasuke escaped bed before Naruto had the chance to wake up half naked in his best friend's arms the other morning. The raven stayed on the couch ever since.

Naruto had no intention of leaving his room. Not for now at least. The thought of standing there hearing the cries of others, everyone dressed in black, it wasn't something his heart could handle. His mind drew blanks. Nothing was more important to the blond than being alone to not think. It wasn't like he was sleeping for two days. He was very much awake, and during those dreadful hours, he rested lifelessly under the sheets.

Sasuke was growing concerned. He knew well that this was not a great time for Naruto. But if Naruto couldn't remember to eat, shower and brush his teeth on his own, then someone had to do it. As much as Sasuke wanted to help him though, he felt like not doing anything was the most that Naruto wanted from him. So he stayed right on that couch and proceeded to do nothing.

The raven dozed off on the couch. The house was entirely quiet and the only light that shined through was the light from the moon. Naruto rose from the bed impulsively, walked straight to the door almost forgetting to put on his shoes, and left. Not a word, note or even a thought for Sasuke crossed him.

He walked. He walked in the bitter cold in only a t-shirt and sweatpants. He walked faster. He walked faster without noticing anything he passed. He ran. He ran aimlessly and for a moment he closed his eyes while running. What was he doing? Where was he going?

He didn't know either.

All he knew was he had to get out. Get out of that house and out of that bed where all his misery laid for two days. Fresh air. The fresh freezing air he felt forced its way in between his golden locks of hair, under his shirt and right through his thin pants. It hit him in the face but he didn't care. He didn't even seem to notice how cold he really was. His goosebumps were ignored and so was the pinking of his ear tips and nose.

Naruto kept running blindly.

He took right turns and left turns then left turns followed by right turns. It was dark and cold outside and his destination was still unknown. His eyes closed as he began to hear the trees whistling in the wind. The wind was so strong it halted the blond from moving any further. He stopped and opened his big blue eyes and what was it he saw?

It was Hinata.

Her body was engulfed in black clothing resembling the darkness that surrounded them. She stood on a small platform, which was covered in flowers that were blown by the wind. In front of her stood a portrait of his best friend and for a second, The cold wind, the impulse he felt tingling through his body, it led him here. Naruto felt as though he ran right back into bed. The bed that held his misery.

It was faint, but he could hear Hinata's sniffling. He stood there staring at her. Again, his mind drew blanks.

"I knew you would show up."

The blonde's heart skipped a beat at her soft spoken voice. She turned her head slightly to look over her shoulders. Their gazes met. Those beautiful clear eyes were puffy and glassy. Her long midnight blue hair rustled slightly in the new calmer breeze and for a second, all Naruto wanted in that moment was to hold her.

Hinata turned forward to sneeze. "Excuse me.." she muttered.

"Even though I'm freezing right now, I can't seem to move from this spot." Her voice was broken. Naruto couldn't stop his feet from moving closer to her. He couldn't stop his arms from wrapping around her body and his lips from speaking.

"It's late and you're catching cold, Hinata.."

She felt his body heat surrounding her as her heart began to beat faster and single tears fell from her eyes once more. Her raw hands grabbed tightly onto his strong arms strapped across her chest. In this moment, Naruto wanted to take all of Hinata's pain away. He wanted her to feel warmth and comfort. He didn't want to see her cry anymore. He knew exactly how she felt, and even for someone as strong minded as he was, the grief was unbearable.

"Naruto…" he tightened his hold as he heard her pained voice. "For the past two days, it feels like everyone around me just isn't there." She began to cry. "I've felt so alone till you came!" He didn't want to hear it but he couldn't stop it. All he could do was continue to hold her. Her nails dug into his arms as her body began to shake. "Even all the people surrounding me today, I didn't notice anyone but you."

His heart breaking into two, Naruto could feel it.

"Please let me take you home."

What felt like hours later, and the two had arrived at the Hyuga residence. In front of the main doors, they stood, the cold brushing up against their backs.

"Right well…" Naruto spoke up after clearing his throat. "Have a good night."

"Wait." Hinata reached out and stopped Naruto from walking away. "Please don't go."

There they were, Hinata grabbing Naruto's arm as his back faced her.

"Please...stay with me... just for tonight." Her words reeked of desperation and fear of being alone.

But Naruto couldn't stay. He knew he couldn't. Something in his gut told him to just go home and let her deal with her emotions just like he would have to do himself. He couldn't walk her through the grief, though he wholeheartedly wished neither of them had to go through it.

But then again, why would it be so hard not to go back home and just stay with Hinata? She knew better than anyone in the world how Naruto felt. It wasn't easy. He was hurting and so was she. Would it be wrong to hurt together? How he imagined it, they would both spend the night in each other's arms to feel comfort from one another.

Now that Naruto did imagine it… he wasn't sure he liked it.

He didn't want to leave Hinata alone. He wanted to stay with her and help her through everything. Naruto knew what it felt like to be alone. Hinata didn't. She had always had family, friends and she had Neji. She would have to deal with this harder than Naruto would. But he knew he wouldn't find comfort in Hinata. Holding her through the night to stop her tears wasn't something he felt responsible for. If anything, he wanted to be held through the night and have someone stop his tears. The only person that could be that for him was…

Sasuke

The Sasuke that was back home, waiting for Naruto. Sasuke is home...and all Naruto wanted right now was to be home. He wanted to be with Sasuke.

"I can't stay with you."

He gently pulled his arm out of her grasp. "I'm sorry."

Without hesitation, he started back home as Hinata watched him go.

Sasuke had just gotten out of the shower when Naruto came busting through the front door catching him in the hall with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

"You idiot. Don't forget to wear a jacket out there."

Naruto ignored the insult. All he could focus on was Sasuke in nothing but a towel. How amazing his body looked still wet from the shower. His bangs were dripping water onto his chest. Naruto could feel his heart begin to beat faster. All at once he was starting to realize everything that had been in front of him.

"It's you."

"Yeah.. It's me, alright."

"No! Damn it! I mean...it's you! It always has been." Naruto's hands started clenching into fists. His brows furrowed in frustration as Sasuke wasn't understanding what he was trying to say. The raven took a step closer, holding onto his towel.

"Naruto, I don't k-"

"I didn't understand it!" The blonde's hand flared up. "I didn't get why I tried so hard to make you feel at home and give you a christmas when I don't even celebrate Christmas okay? I really don't!" He began to pacing during his rant. "But it was different and I kept telling myself I just wanted you to be happy that you were home but that didn't explain the dream and the shower and why I didn't say yes to Hinata and why I didn't want to get up when we were like that and-"

"Slow down!" Sasuke attempted to stop the ranting session but to no avail.

"Who does that?" The blond continued.

"Who's willing to stay in a position like that with their best friend? You were suppose to be my best friend and we're holding each other almost naked and I didn't try to stop it! It was just like that dream I had and even then, I still didn't get it even though it was so obvious and-"

"What are you talking about?!"

"I don't know anymore! It just wasn't making sense! Nothing was making sense till now." Naruto stopped pacing and stopped to stare directly into onyx eyes. "I...I realized something tonight."

Sasuke gulped as he started walking slowly closer to Naruto who was now breathing a little heavier. "What did you realize?"

He was now inches away from Naruto, face to face.

"Hinata asked me to stay with her tonight and I said no. I said no because… I didn't want to be anywhere else but right here. With you."

Naruto looked up into those midnight eyes of his and Sasuke could swear he could see the oceans dancing as he gazed back. Though his sight wasn't perfect, Naruto's features never failed to show clear as day to him.

"So….Yeah…" A huge rosy cloud spread across the blonde's face. This earned a small smile from Sasuke. "That's what I realized." Naruto looked away in embarrassment but this only made Sasuke grab both sides of his blushing warm face so they could make eye contact.

"Say it again." Naruto huffed slightly in irritation but quickly obliged.

"I want to be with you." And with that, the raven smiled once again before pulling his whiskered love in a soft kiss. A kiss that has been long awaited. Naruto's eyes fluttered shut and he kissed back as he grabbed onto Sasuke's waist, just above the towel. A tear escaped those sea like eyes of his for he was still in pain but Sasuke was finally giving him the comfort he needed. Both boys felt their hearts pounding. This was the moment. This is what it was all leading up to. Sasuke was waiting for it and even without realizing it till now, Naruto was too.

Sasuke pulled away slightly and noticed immediately the tears that slipped from Naruto's eyes and whipped them away with a soft brush of his thumb.

"You're hurting." The raven looked directly into those teary eyes. Naruto looked away slightly feeling vulnerable.

"Sasuke, I.."

"Don't talk anymore." He pulled Naruto in for a warm embrace which made the shorter boy feel safe.

"You said you wanted to be with me right?" He felt the blond nod his head against his chest. "Then just be with me right now." Sasuke held Naruto's head in his hand and lightly stroked his hair.

Naruto's pride went to the wind as he began to sob into Sasuke's arms. Neji had left a void in his heart that would not be easy to fill but with Sasuke here to hold his hand through it all, there a slight tint of security. Maybe everything will be okay. Maybe he'll be happy knowing Neji's in a better place. Maybe he'll be even happier when Neji's death is avenged. Just maybe. But for right now, The reassurance Sasuke was giving him that he wouldn't be alone through any of this was the only thing that made Naruto feel like it was actually possible that everything could be okay.

I'll be updating soon to finish this off, I swear. Sorry the chapter was so short but I seriously needed to update with something. I love you all though, please review and all that good stuff so I know there are readers still out there

-Dar