A/N- Hi! This is my second fanfic that I've posted, though it holds much more promise than the first. It's ShikaNaru, I found the pairing once while browsing through the site and really liked it. I guess I'm still partial to SasuNaru, but I loved this idea I got. Credit goes to my best friend Meggie for thinking of the title! I don't know how long the story will be, but I'm aiming for over 15 chapters...all right, that's enough from me, let's get on with the story!

Disclaimer- I don't own any of the rights to Naruto, not making money off this, blah blah blah...

Warnings- Shounen-ai/Yaoi, angst, fluff, and the possibility of SPAZ moments. Footsteps May Lead

Prologue- Footsteps

Two sets of footsteps sounded across the empty path, tiny dust clouds conjured by each footfall. The first pair of feet moved with a burdened sort of grace; normally purposeful strides were weighed down with grief. The other's were lighter and moved uncertainly, hesitantly. The first pair faltered and came to a complete stop, and the other followed suit.

"Sasuke...why did you ask me to come here?" Ocean-blue orbs turned skyward, questioning the other's obsidians.

The boy in question closed his eyes, shaking his head in response. When he opened them, they were filled with an emotion Naruto couldn't recognize. His own azure pools lighted with confusion and worry, but he quickly shoved the feeling back. "Hey..." He put on his usual foxy grin. "Come on, bastard, stop acting like such a wierdo!" He made to punch the boy playfully on the shoulder, but Sasuke caught his hand. He focused his charcoal-black eyes on the other's again, trying in vain to communicate what he couldn't say. Confusion sprung up yet again in his still-childlike features.

"What's going on? Sasuke?" The boy in question didn't answer, and Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke pulled him into a hug. "Hey!" He started struggling, but stopped when he felt the taller boy shaking. "What's wrong with you...?" He questioned, and as an answer he was held tighter. "Please, Sasuke...let me go...you're scaring me..."

Immediately, the older boy released him as if he were burned. He turned his face away, but not before Naruto saw that it was streaked with tears. "I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"Sorry for what? What are you trying to tell me?" A hint of panic was evident in Naruto's voice now.

"I-I can't..." was his only answer. The younger reached out for his friend, grabbing his hand, but Sasuke turned around so his face couldn't be seen. He turned his head sideways, and Naruto had to lip-read to know what he was saying. "Goodbye..."

Naruto gasped, shaking his head frantically, holding his companion's hand tighter. "No..no, no, no...NO!" His only true friend couldn't leave him, not now!

Sasuke bowed his head, a sad smile resting on his delicate features. "I'm sorry...Naruto..."

And he walked away.

His hand slipped from Naruto's now limp features, leaving him standing alone, one of his arms stretched in front of him as though it would convince the other to come back. He stood there, paralyzed, for what seemed like hours. When he came to his senses, a strangled cry was torn from his throat. He started running in the direction Sasuke had departed, but it was in vain.

He was gone. Silent tears spattered the ground, falling thick and fast from his blue eyes. As he stood there, the golden glow seemed to drip from the ends of his hair, the azure shine fell from his eyes with the tears.

And as he walked home that day, a thought passed through his mind. It was such a normal thought that later Naruto believed it must have come from somewhere else, perhaps it had just taken a rest inside his numb mind. Nevertheless, the ludicrously mundane thought was painfully true. There's only one set of footsteps now.