Photogenic Reality

A wee, small, tiny, tinsy, little, weenie of a chapter. Naruto centric, basically just his story and views of Sasuke.

Btw, angst ahoy ^^

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Naruto sighed, flopping back on his bed, arms curled behind his head.

He was bored. Completely and utterly.

Normally, Kiba would only be a phone call away, always up for doing something, anything, no matter how trivial and stupid. Anything to have a quick laugh.

But he was over at Shikamaru's now, and had said he'd be there for most of the night. There was no point in trying to interrupt; Kiba would only get mad and stop talking to him for a while. He knew how much he needed a close relationship with someone other than himself.

With a grunt of slight irritation, Naruto rolled over onto his side, glaring at the wall covered in photos of all his dearest friends. He kept meaning to snag one of Shikamaru, since the photographer was considered much more than an aquaintance or simple co-worker now.

His eyes fell on a picture of himself and Sasuke, one and a half years old, with Naruto's arm flung around his shoulder, grinning madly, and Sasuke desperately trying to pry him off, a deathly scowl on his pretty face.

He giggled, he couldn't help himself. He was ashamed to admit that he used to fanboy for Sasuke, always swooning and drooling over him, but soon realised, after millions of hurtful rejections and simple brushoffs, that other tactics were needed. He had to get Sasuke to stop ignoring him!

Therefore he had toughened up, became thicker skinned, and started returning Sasuke's insults. At some point it had escalated to competition, and now adays the two were constantly at each others throats, though the adoration was still there on Naruto's part. He hardly ever admitted it now, only to Kiba and Sakura when asked about his feelings. Jiraiya knew somewhat, and he was pretty sure Tsunade had a good idea about it too.

He frowned a little when the memories of Sasuke's departure suddenly flooded back to him.

"Don't cry, you idiot..." he whispered to himself, holding back the tears that wre burning his eyes. There was no point in crying anymore; Sasuke was back. It was over.


*Three Years Previously*


"What?!" Naruto screamed, slamming his fists down on Tsunade's desk. "What the fuck do you mean he's going?!"

"Naruto! Calm yourself at once!" Tsunade shouted, raising from her seat and staring him down. Jiraiya came forward, easing a hand on his shoulder and calmly pulling him back to stand up properly.

"I'm sorry..." Naruto mumbled, staring at the floor, hands balled into fists at his side.

"It's okay...what I mean by that is...well, Sasuke has decided to leave Konoha. He's...he's going to work for Oto," Tsunade sighed, settling back down too and watching him carefully. She'd known the danger of informing Naruto, therefore had decided to tell him herself, effectively saving whoever mentioned it to him since he was likely to find out soon somehow. Gossip in this office spread like wildfire.

Unfortunately, she also knew Naruto's temper and lack of rationalisation. Itachi, another ex model and Sasuke's elder brother, had once described Naruto as 'the one who screams and charges first'. A perfect observation in Tsunade's opinion.

"He can't leave," Naruto said, finality in his tone as he looked up, silent tears trickling down his cheeks, a defiant look in his eyes. She sighed.

"He's already terminated his contract, Naruto. Orochimaru was here earlier to finalise his paperwork for joining him. I'm not saying it's best to let him go wothout a fight, but there's nothing we can do anymore. He's chosen his path..." she said, and just looking at the young man's face made her throat contract. He looked the embodiment of a broken heart; utterly lost, almost helpless. Of course he would have reacted this way...he was drowned in love with the Uchiha. He had been for years. Sakura, she heard, had reacted almost the same, Ino too. Though Tsunade knew that Naruto was going to do something about it. The girls may have screamed, raged, ranted, and cried about it just the same as he, but Naruto was going to stop him. Or, at the very least, he was going to try his damndest.

Then he raced out of the office, and eveyone, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tonton, all knew where he was headed.

The damn elevator wouldn't arrive in time. For all he knew, Sasuke had left the building already. Perhaps he was already back home, or...maybe he was there already. With him...Orochimaru...

Naruto was practically flying down the stairs, clinging to the railing with a death like grip. Where was that bastard? He had to find him and stop him from making the biggest mistake ever.

He skidded into the Guest Lounge, earning strange looks from several business partners who were sitting drinking tea, awaiting their appointment with Tsunade. Anko stood up from her spot behind the reception desk, staring at him worriedly.

"Where is he?!" he shouted, tears still flowing freely. She sighed.

"I don't know Naruto..." she admitted. He choked out a sob, but clenched his fists even tighter. "I haven't seen him."

Then, there he was. A large sports bag on his shoulder, hands in his pockets, and looking as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

"Teme!" Naruto screamed, flying for him and knocking them both into the wall. Sasuke growled.

"Back off, dobe. Let me go," he snarled, shoving Naruto away and continuing his way towards the door.

"Who's choice is this? Is it yours or his?" Naruto asked suddenly, still facing the wall and shaking from rage and despair. Sasuke stopped, still facing the door, and shrugged.

"It's mine. I can't stay somewhere where I'm not going to get better at anything. This place is holding me back," he replied, and waited for Naruto to speak again.

"It this because of Itachi...?" Naruto asked quietly. "Are you leaving because he did, trying to be like him?"

"Baka..." Sasuke responded amost as softly, still with his back to Naruto. "I'm trying to be better than him. Anyone should know that, especially you." His voice was laced with pure disgust, and he turned slowly to face Naruto straight on. "And it's also because of you. How can I here when I know that you're never going to leave me alone? You're nothing more than a face, Naruto. A pretty face with nothing behind it. You think you could ever be anything like me? I wonder if you have the resolve to ever do what I'm doing. You get attached too easily, that's your problem. You're too fond of this place, no matter how monotonous it gets. And your too attatched to me, no matter how much it tell you to get lost."

Naruto shook his head, fingernails biting into his palms bitterly, not bothering to hold back to tears, but not letting a single sob escape as he kept his gaze set firmly on the wall. He would not listen to Sasuke's words...they were just another useless insult. They meant nothing...surely...

"You're holding me back, dobe... You're holding the person you love back. How can you live with yourself?"

He kept talking, and no matter how much Naruto tried...he couldn't block it out. The words were ringing true...how was he so blind to his actions? He was always seeking out attention from Sasuke, eating up his time...

"I'm gonna say this just once, Naruto. And I want that thick little skull of yours to memorise it, okay?" Sasuke's voice lingered in the air, hate weaving itself into every syllable. He walked closer to Naruto, stopping right by his side and bringing two fingers up to his chin, tilting his head to the side to stare into his eyes.

"I. Will never stoop so low as to like you. You mean as much to me as the air around us. You're simply there, and I will never notice you."

He was staring directly into Naruto's watery eyes as he said it, and his unwavering gaze sent waves of truth and realisation crashing down around him.

Sasuke was never going to notice him. There was no hope in the world of ever making Sasuke his.

And before he knew what had happened, Sasuke had left, the only sign of his departure the slow revolving of the front door.

*End*

Naruto dried his eyes, sniffling slightly and sitting back up, hugging his pillow to his chest tightly.

Kiba had turned up not long after that had happened, catching Naruto as he fell to his knees, crying uncontrollably, and he had held him, whispering words of reassurance in Naruto's ear.

He sighed as the tears calmed themselves, and his heart slowed down a little from it's rapid beating within his chest. It was over now, Sasuke was back.

He'd grunted a half-hearted and not at all sincere appology towards Naruto, who had taken it completely to heart and accepted it fully. Kiba had remarked that this was a mistake, but he didn't want to give Sasuke another reason to leave ever again.

He still didn't know what had made Sasuke come back, but was happy none the less.

And still, in the back of his mind, he played over the only thing that had kept him truly sane throughout the whole ordeal.

"You mean as much to me as the air around us. You're simply there, and I will never notice you."

But...Sasuke still needed air to breathe...to live...

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Wow, angst much?

This is probably the angstiest thing I've ever written...mou...

Whoo, tell me what you think?

xxx