Baggage

Apartment

His apartment is clean.

Clean.

Something in Naruto's mind lurches as he thinks and reviews that word, and its meaning as well.

Naruto has cleaned his apartment for Sasuke. Who is set to arrive at his house arm and arm with his supervising nurse. Naruto has swept the floors and done laundry for the first time since the war. And he has taken out the trash properly for the first time in perhaps his entire life. But he has also carefully washed out the one decent futon in his house. And soon it will be done with air drying on the roof, and Naruto knows that he will have to jump up and fetch it because if he doesn't the fabric will be ruined.

Why though?

Naruto's never cleaned for anyone.

But why again is he so wrapped up in it?

It's just a bit of housekeeping.

But Naruto's head snaps up upon hearing his friend's deep voice echo through his head. Echoing loud like the war cries of death cries of the night.

"He's coming Naruto,"  Kurama says. "Sorry, it took me so long to tell you, his chakra is so much weaker now."

"'S fine Kurama, you can rest, I can take care of him," Naruto responds as he too beings to feel his old friend's chakra. It's reduced now with his Sharingan being useless and his rinnegan gone. But even without those eyes, Naruto can still feel him. His chakra is dulled just as Kurama said, and he seems to be feeling lost and confused as a result. But Naruto tries not to think as he throws open his living room window and jumps onto his roof to grab the thick futon's cover. It's warm and softly dried, and it smells of spring and summer air. And as Naruto folds it thrice, he looks down and sees two figures walking at snail's pace below him.

He feels his heart accelerate as he catches sight of one of their hair colors.

It feels too soon.

Too soon to see him again.

In this damn state.

But he must.

Because Sasuke is his friend.

Naruto had always told Sasuke that.

'Because we're friends.' He had told him every time he grew closer to try and bring him home.

He had said it every time someone had told him otherwise. He had never stopped saying it despite all Sasuke's faults.

Even when Sasuke himself told him not to say it.

He still screamed those words for Sasuke, and, maybe even himself to hear once again.

So why doesn't he want Sasuke now?

Is he embarrassed by the idea of taking care of him?

You're being selfish. He tells himself as he quickly makes up Sasuke's perhaps forever bed.

Maybe he is.

But it's too soon for him to confirm anything.

Because he hears the doorbell ring three times.

And it's time to face reality.