Lonely Boy

By todo-mahem

Chapter 3: Mr too good to be my friend.

'If you share in loneliness, are you still lonely?'

'How do you know if you're lonely?'

'If you find a way to defend against it, even if it doesn't make sense, should you take it?'

'Why do I feel lonely whenever he's not around?'

It was obviously Sasuke's notebook.

Naruto recognised it from the time spent together in the library. Sasuke had been sitting under the tree. It was obviously Sasuke's.

So why did it have that written inside?

Sighing loudly Naruto flopped back on his bed, wincing as he thumped the bed head in the process. Groaning he curled himself into a ball lying on his side.

None of this made sense! Was the 'he' Sasuke mentioned, Naruto? Well that at least kind of made sense, but at the same time it made about as much sense as clothed fruit!

'I mean, its Sasuke...'

Sasuke's not lonely... is he?

Did Sasuke really feel the same way Naruto did when they were together? The feeling that they weren't alone... That everything was ok.

With a frustrated yell which echoed around the messy room Naruto picked up his pen from the table beside his bed and slowly scrawled a reply to the questions.

Sasuke walked quietly into the empty classroom, moving towards his desk.

He was glad the room was empty so nobody could witness as Sasuke yawned sleepily and rubbed his eyes. Sasuke let his shoulders slump and his feet drag as he went.

Normally he'd rather die than let his classmates see him so worn down.

Truth be told Sasuke hadn't slept at all the night before.

He'd stayed awake tossing and turning trying to figure out what was wrong. He had a nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something. Something important.

And then there was the Naruto problem which Sasuke couldn't sum up.

Lately everything was just a confusing mess and Sasuke didn't like that at all.

As he reached his desk Sasuke dropped his bag beside it, pulling out his chair and slumping into it before unceremoniously slamming his head against the surface.

Blinking through the pain Sasuke stared at the notebook beneath his eyes.

His notebook.

Not in his bag like he assumed it was.

But on his desk.

Frowning slightly to himself Sasuke sat up and reached for the book. Flicking slowly through the pages Sasuke came to the page he had last written in.

It was a mix of shock and horror that washed over Sasuke first.

The scratchy words beneath his own, the scribble that summed up his feelings written messily beneath his own writing.

Second, came elation.

Sasuke's stomach did a slight tumble at the thought of Naruto agonising over his words and thinking of a reply. The blonde actually putting effort into something that was Sasuke's and Sasuke's alone.

Lastly, the anger. The white hot blinding anger.

With an snarl Sasuke stormed form the classroom, racing down the hall towards the courtyard where he knew the boy would be. The notebook scrunched in his hands Sasuke could hardly see through his rage.

All he wanted was to rip Naruto apart and Sasuke wouldn't stop until he did.

Turning the corner Sasuke entered the courtyard which was filled with students waiting for classes to start, grouped about and chatting happily with they're friends.

Target sighted, Sasuke thought as he spotted Naruto in the far corner chatting with Kiba.

Marching straight across the grass, ignoring the greetings and startled cries of his classmates Sasuke headed straight towards the bright haired boy who hadn't yet noticed his impending doom.

Luckily Kiba did notice, nudging Naruto in the side and indicating towards the oncoming black storm cloud that was now above Sasuke's head.

"S-Sasuke..." Naruto stammered as Sasuke reached the two. "Hey, what's up?"

Naruto then proceeded to shrink back, trying unsuccessfully to hide from the enraged glare behind Kiba, who had the sense to abandon ship by running as fast as he could to the other side of the courtyard which was now silent as all eyes were turned to Naruto and Sasuke.

"What's up?" Sasuke hissed. Shoving his crumpled notebook forward Sasuke noticed Naruto's eyes widening with comprehension. "This is what's up, moron."

"But, hey Sasuke I just returned it to you..." Naruto began but stopped when Sasuke pegged the notebook at him, exclaiming loudly when it hit him square in the face. "Ouch..."

"You stole my property, and wrote that in it, how... How DARE you!" Sasuke's voice had escalated with his anger to the point where he was now yelling at the blonde.

Everyone in the vicinity was entirely shocked, never seeing the Uchiha boy so emotional.

"No, no Sasuke," Naruto said. "I didn't steal it, you left it at the tree. And what's wrong with what I wrote?"

Sasuke paused, taken aback.

Wrong with it? What was wrong with it... well, there wasn't anything wrong with it exactly... Wait, why was Sasuke so upset?

When Sasuke didn't reply Naruto continued. "So Sasuke, why don't we just kiss and make up, everyone's watching, this is kind of embarrassing... I don't even know why you're angry..."

That was it.

That did it.

Kiss and make up?

KISS AND MAKE UP!

WAS HE JOKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT A TIME LIKE THIS!

Sasuke couldn't breathe. He couldn't see. His anger built and built reaching a height he'd never before experienced.

Before Naruto could react Sasuke lunged forward slamming his fist squarely into the right side of Naruto's face.

Exclamations of shock were heard around the courtyard but Sasuke couldn't hear them. He stared at Naruto's face, his watering eyes and confused and pained expression.

He watched as slowly tears began to creep from the other boy's eyes, spilling down his face.

Sasuke immediately regretted everything. This wasn't what he wanted.

"Why do you hate me, Sasuke?" Naruto's voice was hushed, barely audible above the surrounding chatter. Sasuke was the only one able to hear.

"I-I don't hate you... you know..." Naruto went on. "I know how you feel... so well that it hurts."

Sasuke looked up, meeting Naruto's eyes. Neither looked away.

After a moment Sasuke spoke, barely a whisper. "Nothing bothers you... your always having fun with your friends and... and..."

Naruto snorted to himself.

"That's a lie, you bother me."

Sasuke stared. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Naruto gently shook his head.

"It's always you who gets to me, Sasuke." Naruto's voice broke slightly as he tried to wipe away his tears before everyone noticed that he was crying from more than the pain in his face.

Standing from his seat Naruto threw his bag over his shoulder and walked towards Sasuke, pushing the tattered notebook into the boy's hands.

Leaning in close to Sasuke's face, so close that they're breaths mingled gently between them, Naruto spoke.

"If it's what you want, I'll leave you alone then..."

Startled Sasuke turned and watched Naruto walk across the courtyard and away into the hall, barely registering that the bell was ringing.

Slowly the students streamed out, leaving Sasuke where he stood, alone in the silence.

Sasuke was glad that they had all left. Relieved even as his legs folded beneath him and he sat with a thump on the moist grass.

What just happened?

If it's what I want...?

Alone?

Why would I want to be alone?

Why would Naruto leave him? Abandon him? Why would he want that?

When all he wanted... all he... wanted...

Was...Naruto?

Kakashi had his feet up on his desk, book in his hands and a grin on his permanently covered face.

Low chuckles could be heard through the door by passerby's as the man flicked through the pages of the incredibly perverted novel.

Ignoring the bell as it rang Kakashi continued with his story. Just gotta finish this chapter...

He also ignored the loud rushing footsteps that approached his door, two sets he thought, and proceeded to ignore the fact that two people barged into his office and hurried themselves up to his desk.

He didn't even have to look up to see who it was. The composed, borderline white hot raged student with the bright pink hair was obviously Sakura, on a tirade that Kakashi was sure he had no chance of avoiding.

The other was Iruka, a fellow teacher at the school and close personal friend. Kakashi could tell by the soft atmosphere that followed the man, accompanied by an ecstatic panic attack that usually told you that Naruto had done something wrong and the man was freaking out.

Sighing Kakashi slowly looked up meeting the two sets of eyes with weary ones.

"And to what, do I owe the pleasure?" Kakashi asked languidly.

Huffing in her spot Sakura stomped her foot before leaning forward with her hands on the desk.

"Sir, we're getting nowhere with our assignment to begin with because those two boneheads can't look at each other let alone co-operate, and now, just now, I know because I was there, they were fighting!" Sakura paused to take a large breath before continuing. "Well I suppose it wasn't exactly a fight, because Sasuke did the yelling and the hitting while Naruto looked well, moronic and confused... and this is obviously going to make it worse between them and Sir this is your fault you need to talk to them, make them sort this out its ridiculous!"

Kakashi frowned. Fighting? That's an interesting development. Something must have happened to spur up that dust...

With a decisive nod Kakashi turned from the girl and stared at Iruka.

"And you...?" He questioned.

Blushing slightly Iruka explained. "Well Sakura told me about the fight so I decided to come along, see I'm worried about Naruto he seems so down lately whenever I stop by his apartment, and he never wants to come over for dinner so I don't get to talk to him much and now this I really don't know what's going on. Sakura says he's working on an assignment with Sasuke Uchiha? They've never gotten along..." Iruka mused to himself while Kakashi absentmindedly scratched his forehead. "Anyway, you need to do something because if this escalates Naruto could get hurt and I won't have that!"

Silence followed the man's speech and both sets of eyes focused on Kakashi, awaiting response.

Leaning back in his chair Kakashi shrugged.

"Do something about it you say?" Kakashi asked. "I don't think I should, things seem to be going accordingly in my books!"

"What?" Sakura blanched while Iruka turned slightly pale.

"Kakashi..." Iruka began but was cut off with a wave of the man's hand.

"It seems the two are immersing themselves into the given emotion wonderfully, so let's just watch the show hey? You have no idea how much fun I'm having observing the 'love' emotion group..." Kakashi trailed off with a low chuckle.

A feeling of dread washed over Kakashi as he snapped back to reality and faced the wrath of Sakura. She was visibly shaking with anger, giving the man her best glare.

"This... this is a game to you?" She spat. "YOU don't have to be in a group with those two Neanderthals!" Kakashi winced as she slammed her fist against the table.

"Now Sakura..."

"No Sir," Sakura interrupted. "If that's the way it is I won't have any part in it. They can work the assignment out on their own and I'll do it on my own because the way they're going is just straight to a fail." And with that the pink haired girl turned tail and marched out of the room, slamming the door as she went.

Kakashi signed and rubbed his eyes tiredly before standing in his seat and picking up a stack of books on the edge of his desk.

"Better get to class then..." Kakashi mused glancing sorrowfully towards his unfinished novel.

"Uh... Yeah me too..." Iruka said quietly before giving Kakashi a quick look and leaving the room quietly.

Grinning to himself Kakashi whistled a peppy tune as he set off from his office towards his first class.

Naruto lay across the branch of the tree listening to the sounds around him. His eyes were closed, one because of the large swelling which was only just going down, the other because he was genuinely comfortable.

With a loud sigh the boy pondered the day's main event.

Sasuke had been so angry, Naruto just couldn't understand.

Never had he seen him so murderous, so full of hate. So full of hatred for Naruto.

It hurt.

He hates me...

Frowning Naruto ran a hand through his hair. What am I meant to do now?

Naruto didn't hear the footsteps approaching, and he didn't hear the thump as Sasuke dumped his bag beside the tree.

He did however hear the soft voice as it floated up at him from down below.

"Naruto..."

With a startled yell Naruto turned quickly, almost falling out of the tree, barely securing himself a hold and staying up.

"S-Sasuke?" Naruto answered as he sat up on the branch, looking down at the other boy.

Returning is look Sasuke winced slightly upon noticing the obviously swollen cheek on Naruto.

"Yeah... So..." Sasuke muttered.

"What did you say?" Naruto queried, tipping his head stupidly to the side.

"Tsk." Sasuke muttered again before speaking up. "I'm sorry about this morning... and everything. I don't know why I got so angry, I just did. When I read... when I read what you wrote I didn't know what to think so I'm sorry, ok?"

Sasuke pouted slightly before looking down at his feet, breaking the eye contact.

Naruto grinned.

"Sure, it's ok."

Sasuke glared. "No it's not..."

Swinging around Naruto stretched his legs beneath him and jumped to the ground with a loud thud. Righting himself the boy turned to Sasuke and smiled.

"I said it's ok, don't worry about it." Naruto leant forward smiling up into Sasuke's face causing the darker haired boy to stumble back surprised.

"Ah... Well, ok then." Sasuke concurred.

Naruto grinned again before slumping down against the tree, legs stretched before him, his arms crossed behind his head.

After a moment, Sasuke sat down beside him, resting his head against his knees.

Silence passed between them. The same comforting silence that had graced them that day in the library.

" Naruto..." Sasuke said suddenly, breaking the quiet.

"Yeah?"

"I... I don't hate you."

Naruto turned and looked at Sasuke who refused to meet his gaze. A moment passed and Naruto smiled warmly.

"Yeah."

'If you share in loneliness, are you still lonely?'

'How do you know if you're lonely?'

'If you find a way to defend against it, even if it doesn't make sense, should you take it?'

'Why do I feel lonely whenever he's not around?'

'If It's lonely to be without you, I think I'd rather be beside you. It's lonely to be alone...' -Naruto.

A/N: Well I hope this wasn't as much fail as I've convinced myself it is. I shouldn't be writing at the moment, too sick and stressed to do it properly... anywhoo, I'll be moving on Thursday so I'll have time after that to keep writing since I won't have internet for at least 10 days (What a bust!). More chapters will escape, and I'm happy to report I've actually planned this out! Though I'll admit my plans contain ridiculous phrases like 'lol kissu tiem' and 'exit stage dramaqueen'... I'm tired ok! It's 2.30am OK!

Sorry for not updating earlier... lost my passion for writing for a moment there... Strangely, I think it was the Supernatural FanFics I randomly started reading that brought me back... I should be shot.