Gone

Author's Note




Hey guys, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long! It's not that I had writers block, I just couldn't write. Like, I have the ideas swimming in my head, but I just didn't want to type it up. ;D

Anyways, happy new chapter!

By the way, as a way to make up for my taking so long to update, here's a piece of spoiler:

Sasuke's in pain........again.

Not a good enough hint? Well, trust me, you'll like this one!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It took a little less than a month before Naruto was finally released from the hospital. He was rather upset when he found out that Sasuke had spent about two weeks in the hospital versus Naruto’s four weeks in the hospital. That had pissed Naruto off because it wasn’t fair. Why did he have to spend more time in the hospital when he won the fight with Sasuke, but Sasuke had to spend so little time in the hospital and he lost? Naruto must have been softer on Sasuke than he thought that he had been. As Naruto lounged in the hospital, he was happy to see the constant stream of visitors going in and out of his room. Kiba, whenever he visited, was grilled relentlessly by Naruto about Sasuke’s condition.

The news was nothing good. Sasuke had somehow convinced himself that the fight with ‘Naruto’ had been a fake. That one of the nin in the village had transformed into his beloved dobe and tried to take Naruto’s place. If anything, that had sent him spinning into an even wilder, darker depression. It was worrying for Naruto. On top of that, Naruto’s rage at Neji’s avoidance grew. Sai was always hard to track down, so Naruto excused Sai. Plus, it didn’t help that Sai creeped Naruto out just a little bit. Which was probably why Naruto focused all of his attention on Neji, and getting Neji to tell him how all this crap with Sasuke came about, especially the sex.

When Naruto was finally released from the hospital, he had heard pretty much everything going on, and Sasuke’s even darker downward spiral. He was falling deeper into the darkness, and Naruto knew that if he didn’t pull Sasuke out soon, Sasuke might not ever come back, and one of two things might happen. One, Sasuke would kill himself, or two, and Naruto shuddered at the thought, Sasuke would level all of Konoha and the Nin in Konoha. After that, he’d go to Suna and kill Gaara and family, severing all ties of memory to Naruto before killing himself. That was something Naruto didn’t want to see happening.

So it was with his determination that Naruto began seeking out Neji. For the first week since he got out of the hospital, he went everywhere he could think of Neji going. Finally, the next week he stood outside of Neji’s home from dawn till dusk, waiting for Neji to come out and acknowledge his presence. When all else failed, Naruto gave Neji some time, and just left, giving Neji his space.

So you can imagine Naruto’s surprise when he happened to chance upon Neji at Chouji’s favorite Barbecue restaurant, eating alone in a booth in the corner. Taking his chance, Naruto slipped into the booth next to Neji, keeping Neji cornered. Neji stiffened at Naruto’s sudden presence at his side. Naruto said calmly, “I’ve been looking everywhere for ya Neji!” Naruto grinned at Neji. Neji, suddenly wary of the grin broke out into cold sweat. Something about Naruto was setting all of his senses on fire from fear….or something. Neji cleared his throat and said numbly “I apologize Naruto, I’ve been busy lately.” Neji chanced a glance at Naruto, trying to debate whether or not Naruto was in a good mood.

Naruto broke the silence and said “You will tell me what I need to know about what happened between you, Sasuke and Sai.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. Naruto gave Sasuke a stern look, giving Neji no room to argue. Neji flinched and said with a sigh. “Yes, perhaps it is time I told you the truth about that.” Neji signaled the waitress for more tea, and until the new pot of green tea came, Neji was silent. After the waitress set the pot down, and left, Neji poured himself a cup of the tea and as he watched the tea swirl and steam, he began “At first, it was an accident. The first time, Sasuke was so hammered; he was out of his mind drunk. I had to help him to bed since I was the only one around. We just tumbled into bed together.

Before I could get out of bed, he had me by my hair and he was kissing me, fondling me, and before I could even grab at the hand on my hair, he had me stripped…..you know what happened after that.

The second and third time was pretty much because Sasuke was drunk. Then, it was just because Sasuke was lonely. I don’t know when or how Sai got in on the mess, but he did, and it was just because we were all lonely. Sasuke was missing you, Sai was lonely, and I, in my own twisted, selfish way was lonely.” Neji looked at Naruto’s contemplative look, and said “Well, that’s really all there is to the story Naruto. I stopped sleeping with Sasuke and Sai when you first came back, and I know Sai has been going on missions all this time to avoid Sasuke, and your wrath.

”

Naruto nodded to show he understood. Neji, after finishing his cup of tea, paid and followed after Naruto. Neji asked, hands clammy with a nervous sweat “I’m glad you understa-“ Naruto’s fist smashed into Neji’s face, sending Neji flying down the nearly empty street. When Neji stopped, he landed at the door of a small shop at the end of the road. Before Neji could even get up and retaliate, Naruto was pinning Neji down by the throat, hands were in the shape of claws. Naruto’s fangs and Kyuubi eyes were face to face with Neji. Naruto growled in a guttural tone “Neji, you are my friend, and I will forgive you, but if you ever, ever fuck my boyfriend again, I will fucking kill you!”

Neji remained perfectly still underneath Naruto’s hand, body screaming for him to stay still or possibly die. Neji did not want to die, so he remained perfectly still, careful to not incite Naruto’s wrath. Once Naruto had calmed, he was gone, the only trace of him being with Neji, was Neji’s split lip, and five puncture wounds on his neck from Naruto’s claws. Naruto had left Neji with the message and he had made his intentions clear. Now that Naruto was back, no one was going to be touching what was his, and no matter what, Sasuke would be his again.

----------------------------------------------


Sasuke was distraught in the Hokage tower. He couldn’t help his pain. He missed his dobe, the only sunlight in his dark world. He was drowning in this darkness, trapped in the weight of all the loved ones he had lost. He was drowning in the pain. He was trying to find a way out. As Sasuke stared at the picture of Naruto on his desk, he got to his feet, grabbed the picture and threw it against the wall in a rage. Upheaving the desk, Sasuke tore through the office, destroying his office and shredding papers. By the time he’d stopped and calmed down, the room had no furniture left.

Sasuke dropped to the floor, collapsing with the broken picture of Naruto clutched to his chest, dry sobs wracking his body. He couldn’t cry anymore. He had shed all the tears he had left to give. If he cried, the tears would be blood. Crying tearless sobs, Sasuke didn’t even care that it was the first time in awhile that Sasuke had cried himself to sleep, even if he had no tears left to shed.