No More Goodbyes

AN: Inspired by Questy's beautiful piece of art. http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/view/104048/ Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


It all started out as a good day. Naruto’s usual smile had grown, if possible; proof that a good lay would make any day a brighter one. That grin was what had lighted Sasuke’s life, from the time he returned from Orochimaru’s grasp, through the looks and mistrust his own village had had for him from that time on. Sure, he gained it back, for the most part, but the very obvious relationship to one the old villagers saw as a harbingers of death didn’t help. They made ANBU together, and managed to convince the old woman to keep them on the same team. Sasuke had proven that he wouldn’t let feelings interfere with a mission, even if Naruto hadn't.

There was a point when Sasuke had thought that a smile brightening a room was silly romantic nonsense that only Sakura could believe in. He was wrong. The way Naruto’s grin widened ever so slightly as he saw him approach, or the way he would have a smile that was purely for Sasuke... That would bring him out of any funk he would get himself into. Sentimental, sure, but it was real enough to Sasuke.

The smile was soon hidden behind a mask, the signal that Naruto was ready to proceed with their new mission. Business as usual. Nodding to the other member of his team, they left the village, moving stealthily through the heavily wooded forest. Naruto had pitched a hissy fit that Sasuke was captain of their team. One that made Sasuke grin behind his own mask. His teammate... no, his partner, was nothing if consistent. Tsunade had already braced herself for the protest, and then stated the facts as to why Sasuke was the logical choice. There were a few that remained unvoiced, but they were nonetheless known. Naruto was still a hazard, and Sasuke had the greatest chance of controlling that. None of the elders would let Naruto be anything higher than an ANBU, no matter what the blonde did. Sasuke wouldn’t tell his friend that. Though sometimes, when he thought Sasuke was asleep, Naruto would watch the sky with eyes filled with sadness. If it was ever a real concern, Naruto would have told him and Sasuke would reply with what he was thinking already; they were old, and annoying, they couldn’t possibly out live Naruto. His time would come.

The good day was over shadowed by the rain. It was the kind of rain that threatened to turn to either hail or snow, but stayed icy anyway. Sasuke pulled the cloak closer around him, soaked to the bone, and shivering despite his attempts to be above such things. If they were not so close to their objective, he would have called to find shelter. Numb and possibly catching a cold was no way to face renegade mist ninja.

They pushed on, sky flashing before a loud and rumbling thunder clap hit. By the distance of time between flash and sound, the lightning had hit close by. Cursing, Sasuke signaled to slow, wary of the storm. In the next flash, he made them stop, frowning. The strings in front of them was thin enough not to make a difference in the way the rain fell, but could be seen through the bright flashes of light. Sasuke smirked; well, as crappy as he felt, the storm held some usefulness. Naruto looked back at Sasuke and nodded, squatting on the branch as he searched the area for any sign of their enemy. The sharingan was already in effect, so he used the powerful doujutsu to search the area as well.

Sasuke felt he was missing something, jerking his gaze back to his teammates. Naruto was still looking, but their other member was gone. The Uchiha caught Naruto’s gaze and made a few hand signals, calling Naruto closer. Their enemies were highly skilled, one of the reasons Tsunade thought Naruto and Sasuke would be the best chance at handling them.

The attack was upon them before either could react well. Sasuke felt the air behind him change, giving him a split second to dodge and kick back. The could be surprised, but never caught completely unaware; they were both too skilled for that. He didn’t have time to watch Naruto fight back as well, he had faith that he could handle it on his own. Sasuke needed all of his attention to fight off the two at his side, and then move before the rain of needles could hit him. A too-close thunder clap deafened and blinded Sasuke for a moment. Something cold slammed into his stomach and chest, pain lacing through his mid-section and up his back. He recovered enough to see a dark shape in front of him, palming a kunai then slicing out quickly. The figure stumbled back as Sasuke’s legs began to tingle. There was still another nearby, causing Sasuke to duck under a thrown kunai. The pain almost made him lose consciousness, but Sasuke pressed on, using almost inhuman speed to close the distance between him and his target, kicking the ninja’s legs out from under him. Before the man could roll away, Sasuke brought his elbow down on the man’s chest, hearing a slightly gratifying gargle in response. Sasuke grabbed the man’s head before the other could respond and twisted with a fast jerk.

Now that his adversaries were taken care of, he searched for Naruto. The blonde jumped to Sasuke’s side, having taken care of his own problems. For all that Sasuke could tell, Naruto was uninjured. “Are you okay?”

Naruto nodded, “you?”

“I think so.”

“Good... I think I saw what was left of Shiro over there.”

“Damn,” Sasuke frowned. He wasn’t exceptionably close to his other teammate, but a loss of life on their side was still unfortunate. “How many attacked you?”

“Three.”

“I’ve got two. That counts for all we were sent to take care of.” Sasuke sighed, feeling a sudden wave of dizziness. He probably should have his wounds tended to as well. “Let’s go back.” Naruto nodded and leapt into a nearby tree.

“Race ya?”

Sasuke smirked from behind his mask. They might be more than friends, but they were still highly competitive with one another. “Sure, dobe.” He made it to the first tree then stopped, eyes widening. Pain wasn’t new to him, but nothing that hurt this badly. Falling to one knee, he automatically clutched at his stomach, coughing. “Shit.”

Naruto paused then turned back, kneeling next to Sasuke. “What’s wrong?”

White filled his vision, and Sasuke fell forward, barely caught in time by Naruto. “Sasuke!”

The rain let up, Sasuke’s wounds now easily seen when not washed away by the rain. The front of his vest was ripped, blood pouring from him with every beat of his heart. It should have alarmed him, but Sasuke was filled with a sudden calm. The pain was still there... it just didn’t seem to matter. The village was too far away. Even if Naruto used all of his borrowed kyuubi chakra, they wouldn’t make it back in time. Sasuke felt warmth at his side and back as Naruto held him to his chest, shaking a little. Naruto had apparently come to the same conclusion he had.

“You... idoit!” Naruto yelled, yanking his mask off. Hair covered his eyes as he glared at the ground, unwilling to face a bloody Sasuke. “You’re stronger than that! How the hell would you let some scum do this to you?!”

Sasuke coughed again, pulling the mask from his face as well. “I know, I know...” It was getting harder to breathe, lungs filling with blood. “Don’t be so loud.”

“Loud?! This isn’t loud enough, dammit! You promised me!” Naruto nuzzled Sasuke’s hair, tears threatening to spill over whiskered cheeks. “You said there wouldn’t be anymore goodbyes.” He sounded like a petulant child, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t fair.

“I’m sorry.” This time blood came with the cough, pushing past his lips and soaking Naruto’s vest.

“Don’t talk...”

Sasuke smiled despite the pain, leaning his head against Naruto’s shoulder. “You’re so annoying. Always telling me what to do.” Naruto hugged him closer, but remained quiet. That was more unnerving than facing death. “You know...” Sasuke gripped Naruto’s shoulder, savoring the play of muscles under his fingers before continuing, “if I ever see you giving up... on being Hokage because of those idiots... I will come back from the dead... and kick your sorry ass...”

Naruto couldn’t help but laugh, sniffling a little. “Yeah?” He kissed Sasuke’s hair. “I think I might, just to see you again.”

“I’ll see you again.” Naruto had stayed by Sasuke through it all. Sasuke couldn’t have settled his past, let go of Itachi’s death, if it hadn’t been for his favorite dobe. If that wasn’t worthy of a good after life for Naruto, then he would be damned with him.

“Not soon enough,” he whispered, voice wavering a little.

“I know... Naruto?”

“Yeah?”

“I really do... love you... dumb ass.” Sasuke closed his eyes, breath slowing.

Naruto held tighter, barely keeping back a sob. “Love you too.” Sasuke’s grip on his shoulder was lessening, until it finally dropped to the massive tree limb they were perched on. He stayed close to Sasuke, rocking him a little as he let the tears come. It was the un-ninja thing to do, but he didn’t care.

The sun had risen by the time he decided to carry Sasuke’s stiffening body back to Konoha. He debated leaving it there, for the others to carry back... but that wasn’t good enough for Sasuke. Sakura met him at the gate, eyes widening at the sight of the boy in his arms. Naruto shook his head as she rushed forward, mask in place. The girl dropped to her knees and started sobbing, hitting the stone with her fists hard enough to crack it. Naruto continued on, protocol that was drilled into him the only thing keeping him moving.

Sasuke Uchiha was duly inscribed in the stone that Kakashi had lectured them about the second day they were an official team. The rain had returned, thinning the crowd that came to lay flowers at the base of the stone. Kakashi patted Naruto’s back, but did not speak, remaining oddly silent as he turned and walked away. When only Naruto and Sakura were left, the girl turned to Naruto, clapping a hand over his shoulder comfortingly. Her eyes were red rimmed, but strong; something that he admired in the new Sakura.

He glanced away, staring numbly at the stone. Now he understood why Kakashi looked upon the memorial as he did. Sakura remained thankfully silent, leaning up to kiss his cheek before leaving to grieve in her own way. They had never openly searched for her blessing as they entered into their relationship, but received it anyway.

Naruto was glued to his spot, unable to cry, or feel much of anything. It wasn’t the usual pouting frown that graced his lips, but one that sadness had pulled the corners of his lips down. He took in a deep breath then looked heavenward, rain hitting his upturned face. Naruto closed his eyes, and let go. This was how life would be for now on. There was no fighting through anything, anyone, just to get him back. There wouldn’t be anymore Sasuke, and for once in his life, Naruto wondered how he’d make it through.

‘I’ll see you again...’

‘I really do love you, dumb ass...’

“You too Sasuke...” His voice was thick with emotion, a little hoarse from disuse. Turning his eyes back to the stone, Naruto touched it, fingering the name of his loved one. “Don’t be mad at me... if I don’t see you soon. I’ll be Hokage, but... how about you visit me, when I actually make it, instead of showing up to kick my ass if I don’t?” Naruto smiled slightly, tears mingling with the rain. “I’m sure you’ll give them hell, to be here with me. I’ll make you proud.” The last he whispered, then bent to kiss the stone, eyes closing for a moment, before pulling away. His life had purpose again, and he had a reason to move forward. He would make Sasuke proud, and be able to face him with his head held high in whatever afterlife there may be.