Your Choices, My Pain

Your Choices, My pain Ch. 2

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The sun rose promptly at six and found one Sasuke Uchiha already up with it. He had been a bit restless the night before and hadn't really felt like waking up too early but his body had other plans.

He stood up and stretched his lean muscles as he made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower. He had gotten used to life in Konoha once more and felt it relaxing to be back, not really having missed the village, but it was a comfort nonetheless.

Stepping out of the shower, Sasuke dried off and quickly got dressed in a dark blue tight turtle neck with his customary Uchiwa which was placed on the upper arm of the shirt and a pair of black pants. Since he was able to come back to Konoha, he had been stripped of his Shinobi privileges and was declared a civilian for the rest of his days, never to reapply for any kind of Shinobi position.

Hating the Hokage at first for her decision, Sasuke eventually realized that in all fairness, it was probably a smart idea. If he was able to reenter the village as a shinobi, there would be so much controversy amongst the village and he had no desire to start what may turn into a grudge match over him. So he took his sentence like a man and got himself a nice comfy job... as a chef of all things.

Sasuke had found a love in cooking not too long after he had returned to the village and decided to embrace his unknown talents and opened up a small sushi bar that had become surprisingly popular rather quickly. Although he worked at the establishment by himself, he had no desire to hire anyone to help him, still clinging to his loner instincts.

He made sure he looked presentable before donning his sandals and heading outside to make the short trip to his restaurant where he prepared to get ready for the day's patrons. He hoped that Naruto would stop by, but the blonde always seemed to busy lately. Come to think of it, the only times he was able to see his best friend was when he went to the blonde's apartment that he shared with that loser, Sai. What Naruto saw in the bookworm, Sasuke had no idea.

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Naruto however slept in later then he usually did, with Sai gone and him not needing to get up to cook for him he hadn't a need to wake up earlier. So the sun rose without him really noticing and when he finally did stir it was fairly high in the sky. He opened his eyes before closing them again quickly since the sun shining in his room hit him right in the eyes. He groaned a bit before he yawned loudly and his hands moved up to rub his eyes lightly. He tried opening them up once more as he sat up in bed, blinking them slightly as they adjusted to the bright light. For a moment he wondered where Sai was and why his lover let him sleep in so late but his memory of the night before came back to him quickly. Sai was already gone on his mission and wouldn't be back for a while. He gave a soft sigh before he threw back the covers and got up out of bed. He raised his arms over his head and promptly stretched, making a slight involuntary noise that people seemed to do when they stretched before he relaxed again and began to stumble his way to the bathroom to relieve himself.

Once in the washroom he decided to take a shower to wake up, stripping out of the clothes he slept in and tossing them on the floor for now before he turned on the water and slipped into the shower. He shivered lightly as the water was cold for a few moments before it warmed up and he eventually basked in the hot water as it rained down on him.

Once he was finished washing up he turned off the water and got out, grabbing a towel to dry off. He wiped the access water from his body before he proceeded to give his hair a quick dry as well, rubbing a bit furiously with the towel before he was done and folded the fabric and hung it back up again. It left his hair rather messy and standing up in odd ways so he ran his hands through his golden locks a couple times before it sat right and he was satisfied.

He left the washroom, grabbing his dirty clothes before he tossed them in the hamper as he headed into the bedroom to go get changed into some clean clothes. He searched his closet for something loose and airy and found a pair of loose khaki pants and a t-shirt. Both had his signature bright orange mixed with black and he threw them on, finding them nice and comfortable.

He left his room and headed into the kitchen to make himself breakfast, just throwing some toast in the toaster and grabbing some jam from the fridge. He had to go out shopping today, he'd used most of what they had left for groceries last night so he needed to restock. Though he wouldn't have to pick up as much since Sai would be gone.

He ate quickly, licking his fingers lightly before he put his dishes in the sink. He grabbed his wallet and keys before leaving the apartment to walk to the market. Though he wasn't really looking forward to it today, he'd be passing by Sasuke's sushi place somewhere along the way and that meant he'd have to break the news to Sasuke about what he promised Sai. He knew it would be hard and wished he didn't have to do it but if it made Sai happy then he had to. He gave a heavy sigh as he walked along the street that lead to his destination, contemplating what he would say to the Uchiha.

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It was around 11am and Sasuke had just finished serving his most recent customer before seeing a familiar color combination of orange and black. He thanked the woman for coming and ignored her flirty eyes as he made his way from behind the small kitchen area out to the front of the small shop. "So, you finally show yourself outside the apartment. You seemed in a bit of a hurry to get me out yesterday.... you'd think you were having an affair with me." The spiky haired raven smirked as he leaned against the bar paying no mind to the woman trying to compliment his cooking.

Naruto had been lost in thought as he neared Sasuke's sushi bar, not realizing he had already arrived there. At least not until he heard Sasuke's voice. He paused and blinked his blue eyes at the raven-haired male as he was brought out of his thoughts then gave a weak half smile as a hand went up to rub the back of his head lightly, a flush crossing his cheeks at Sasuke's words. " Eh...don't say that...I don't need you starting rumors..." he said. " I had to get supper started for Sai when he got home, that's all, " he said.

"Really? And I can't be in the apartment when he is?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the blonde's words. "Plus, everyone knows you wouldn't cheat on Sai..." He pulled out a large bento from behind the counter and handed it to his blonde friend. "Here, I'm guessing you hadn't had lunch yet?"

Sure, everyone knew that Naruto wouldn't cheat...everyone but Sai. He gave a heavy sigh before Sasuke pulled out the bento lunch for him and held it out. He looked at the lunch before he took it, shaking his head lightly in reply to his question. " N..no I haven't..." he said. He gripped the bento lunch lightly, knowing it would be the last one that Sasuke would be giving him. He hadn't realized just how hard it would be to let Sasuke go. He didn't want to draw it out any longer then he had too or he knew he'd lose his nerve. " No....you...can't be in the apartment when he's there..." he started, pausing for a few moments as he looked away from Sasuke, staring at his feet instead. " I can't see you anymore Sasuke..." he continued, frowning.

There was a slight silence and then Sasuke opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again. He was extremely confused. Why was Naruto... The bravest man Sasuke had ever known, letting Sai of all people push him around? "Why are you letting Sai run your life?" he asked quietly not moving from where he stood. "Don't deny it Naruto, I can see all the signs; not letting other guys into the apartment, telling you who you can and can't see... making you give up your dream, Naruto... Why would you let someone do that?"

Naruto didn't look up, keeping his gaze down at the ground as Sasuke spoke and it felt like there was a knife stabbing into his heart. " He doesn't make me do anything Sasuke....sometimes you have to make sacrifices for those you care about..." he said, " he was there for me...when I needed it, I just want him to be happy. "

Sasuke frowned at Naruto's explanation. It wasn't that he didn't believe the blonde, he knew Naruto loved Sai, he just wasn't sure about said boyfriend in question. He grabbed the blonde's arm and dragged him around the bar area and into the back of the kitchen. "What's really going on Naruto? I get what you’re saying but giving up something you spent the majority of your life striving for just because you feel you owe someone? That's not like you at all."

Sasuke scrutinized Naruto in his critical way for a moment before speaking again. "Does he abuse you?" It was a hard question to ask because Sasuke was scared of the answer he would be given. He already knew that Naruto never lied so the blonde wouldn't do that to him. But it had been a suspicion of Sasuke's for the past month or so ever since Naruto started acting differently.

Naruto frowned as Sasuke grabbed his arm and dragged him into the kitchen before letting him go. He stared at Sasuke as the raven spoke before shaking his head and turning away from him. " People change Sasuke...you know that better than anyone....you've changed, " he said, " You used to be bent on destroying Konoha. " He gave a heavy sigh as he hugged the bento lunch Sasuke had given him to his stomach, still not looking at the Uchiha. " Besides...it was a stupid dream...I'd...never become Hokage, " he said. He had convinced himself of that...it made it easier to give up his dream.

As Sasuke asked about Sai abusing him, he finally did look up at Sasuke, not answering him right away. He didn't want to answer him...he wouldn't lie to Sasuke. He had a pained look on his face when he finally did answer. " I..it was..my own fault...I hurt him first..." he said, " He just doesn't want to lose me."

Sasuke frowned at his friend. "You're right, people do change. But I know you and you've never given up on anything before." He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder s he looked into the dull blue eyes. "You never gave up on me..."

It was hard for the Uchiha to hear Naruto admit what he pretty much suspected to be true. Naruto didn't deserve anything as cruel as abuse. "I know you would never purposefully hurt anyone. There's no justification in him doing anything to you... Nothing is your fault."

Naruto gazed at Sasuke as he placed a hand on his shoulder as he spoke and he looked away once again, feeling his eyes beginning to burn as tears started to well up in them. But he held them back. He wished it wasn't so hard...wished that it wasn't tearing him inside out.

He pulled away from Sasuke's grip, stepping away from the Uchiha. " I'm sorry Sasuke...but he only gets angry when it pertains to you...and..I promised him that I wouldn't see you anymore, " he said softly, "You know as well as anyone...I always keep my word."

Sasuke sighed and let his hand drop to his side. "You know I don't like this... But it’s your life and I really can't tell you what to do. Just..." He paused, not really quite knowing how to word his feelings. "Just know that I'm here if you... you know, need anything." He turned away after that, not really wanting to look at the distraught blonde anymore, hating to see tears in those eyes. He'd seen it too many times.

Naruto nodded lightly in reply to what Sasuke said, but with the raven turned away he didn't really see it. He knew this was hard on Sasuke as well, it was tearing himself apart inside and he imagined it was just as bad for the Uchiha. Sasuke just never showed how much things affected him. But they did..just as they did everyone else. “Thank you Sasuke...for everything." he said softly. He left things at that, turning from the Uchiha and walking out of the kitchen and back outside. He still needed to pick up groceries but at the moment he lacked the energy to do so and he headed back home instead of going on to the market. Tears were already streaming from his eyes before he got 10 feet from the sushi bar. He had hoped that he'd never have to suffer such pain again in his life after Sasuke returned to the village but he should have known better then to hope such a thing. Life just wasn't that nice to him.

Sasuke went about his day on autopilot. He knew it wasn't over. He had accepted Naruto's words for the time being. He'd give the blonde a chance to really see what kind of a relationship he was in and then he was sure his friend would finally come to understand how unhealthy a relationship he had with Sai. Even though Naruto said he was happy with Sai, Sasuke knew better; he had been Naruto's friend ever since they were children and he knew the man better than anyone else did.

He sighed as he served his last customer for the night and closed up around 11pm. Packing up some dinner for himself, he made his way back home to his lonely apartment where he would undoubtedly have a restless night worrying about the one person who ever gave a damn about him.

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Once Naruto reached his apartment and let himself in, he totally broke down. He set the bento lunch Sasuke gave him on the table next to the couch before he sank into it, sobbing loudly into one of the pillows as he buried his face into it.

He cried until his throat was raw and his eyes became red and puffy and literally had nothing left to give. He was glad that Sai wasn't around at the moment, he didn't think he could handle his lover's reaction to him at the moment. He didn't move for the rest of the day or night as he lay on the sofa, staring at nothing really until he finally passed out from exhaustion, curled up into a ball.

TBC

How do you like Sasuke??? I REALLY LOVE HIM!!! I can really see him doing something like this if he did return to Konoha (if he had, don’t tell me I haven’t gotten that far) Anyway, I don’t think he’s too OOC, I think if he was allowed to return to the village, he would be a lot calmer and a bit wiser for all he had gone through.

Anyway, please let me know how you liked it!