Sasuke woke up from what seemed like a long, painful dream. If only it was. He wished to wake up once more and confirm that the previous event was nothing but a false reality. Until a warm glare of light hit the corner of his pupils, the sun woke up as well. The warmth traveled through the earth and sky’s bodies and Sasuke felt a hint of relief once it traveled through his own. He hoped he could lay and watch the sun move forever. Up until now, the sun never looked so beautiful.
“Looks like you’re up.”
Sasuke hurried his head towards the voice he just heard, the voice was much lower and much quieter than usual. The sudden movement left a strike of aching, insufferable pain through his body. It really wasn’t a dream. His eyelids spread wider at the shocking sight of a missing limb.
“You see it now, right? If we move too much we’ll bleed out and die.”
Sasuke didn’t worry about his own arm. He didn’t care. He deserved it. After all the pain he's caused Naruto, he deserved it. But Naruto certainly did not. He began to observe the rest of his bruised, bleeding body. He looked at a man who weakened himself for the sake of another man. A man who made his living a greater headache than it already was. He felt guilty. So, so guilty. Naruto truly did not deserve any of it. He did not deserve to be shunned by the villagers. He did not deserve a childhood with no love. He did not deserve the pain of loneliness. He did not deserve to get kicked, punched and abandoned by someone he considered his friend. He did not deserve to be threatened by his friend. He did not deserve the bruises, scars and blood on his skin. Sasuke was in more pain just by looking at him. When you felt pain, that’s right, I felt it too.
“You’re insane.”
Naruto simply chuckled as a response.
“You’re really insane. I mean--your dream--you almost died. Why?”
“You already know don’t you?” Naruto remained still the entire time, staring at the blue sky reflecting on his blue eyes. Yet, Sasuke kept his gaze on Naruto.
“You’re my best friend.”
Sasuke thought back at the amount of times he’s heard that same sentence from that same voice. To think he still has a place in Naruto’s precious heart. He didn’t think it was a lie, he figured there’s a deeper connection with the word friend to Naruto.
“I’ve heard that before but what does that actually mean to you?”
Naruto’s gaze remained on the pale blue sky. “Sasuke, remember The Land of Waves? You protected me, despite not being able to reach your goal yet, you protected me. And when I asked you why, you told me that your body moved on it’s own, right?” His voice was still low and quiet. It sounded raspy, as if he had trouble breathing out his words.
Sasuke remembered it clearly. Infact, he thought about it almost everyday. He kept questioning on how the hell can he end a life he once wished to protect?
Sasuke’s eyes which resembled the night sky were kept fixated on Naruto’s sun kissed face. “Of course I remember that. But you know why I really protected you that day, don’t you?”
“Maybe I do.”
“Do you really?” Sasuke furrowed his brow.
Naruto brightly smiled and finally turned to face Sasuke. “Gosh, I’m not stupid--I mean I’m stupid but not that much! I knew there was a reason why I felt so giddy and happy around you all the time. A reason why you were so comfortable with me.”
It’s true. Naruto would witness a side of Sasuke no one else would. He brought out a special side of him, and he loved it. They both did. He fell in love with Sasuke’s down-to-earth silly mind and Sasuke fell in love with the way Naruto summoned it out of out him. It felt like home.
“Right now? You’re feeling giddy and happy?” Sasuke spoke sarcastically.
“A little!”
Sasuke tried his best to keep it in but he ended up laughing loudly. Naruto was in awe. No, it wasn’t the first time he heard Sasuke’s laugh and seen his pretty smile. Naruto would make Sasuke laugh surprisingly often when they were kids. Naruto smiled at the reminiscing feeling of experiencing his happiness after forever.
“What’s so funny?!”
Sasuke caught his breath to speak. “You say you’re feeling happy but look at you! You’re a mess.”
“So are you!” They both laughed and looked into each other’s mesmerizing eyes. Their bodies were in excruciating pain but that didn’t matter to either of them. They felt a sense of a soothing feeling as they gazed upon each other.
“I felt the same around you.” He smiled.
“I know! That’s what I’m trying to tell you that I know! You said it yourself, Sasuke. I know your heart. So why don’t you just say it?”
Sasuke has always loved Naruto. His idiotic tactics made him feel warm and fuzzy. The connection he had with him was more than the love he shared with his brother and the rest of his family. The memories they made together. Saving him in the Land of Waves, the clashing kiss they once shared. Day by day Naruto was showing more affection to Sasuke. Although he tried pushing it away, some days Sasuke can’t help but give his own affection to him as well. He was happy to have someone as bright and sunny as Naruto in his life. But Naruto was hurt. He made Naruto hurt. He doesn’t know if he can forgive himself for that. I love you was all he wanted to say and all that Naruto wanted to hear. Sasuke was afraid. He knew deep down that even if it ached his own heart, Naruto deserves something better than him. Naruto deserves those words from someone who was actually there for him, someone who didn’t pick hatred and revenge over him. No, Sasuke couldn’t say those words to him, ever. He doesn’t deserve to say that to him. He would rather experience hellfire than to put a burden on Naruto again.
“Sasuke.”
He cant’t say it to him
“You know I love you, right?”
Sasuke’s tear burns his left eye as he tried to suck them in, the salty taste traveled out of his glass, through his temple and buried on the bloody ground he laid on.
“I know. Dumbass.”
“I always will no matter what. No matter what you do. I loved you when you were in pain and when you were laughing. Even with that fucked up face of yours I still love you. I will love you forever and always. Through everything. Because you are my everything. Now did I get it through that thick skull of yours?”
Sasuke slowly, calmly nodded and smiled. You are my everything.
“When I can finally move, I’m gonna kiss you, alright?”
“Shut it, loser.” He chuckled, making Naruto repeat his actions.
Sasuke’s lunar gaze never once lifted off Naruto’s. The warmth of his laughter travelled through his ears and into his heart and soul. This was the dream. They are awake. They are laughing. They are in love. He hoped he could lay and watch Naruto move forever. Up until now, the sun never looked so beautiful.