Taking Time

Month Three

Sasuke stood in the high-rise apartment, while the leasing agent pulled out some documents in the open-floored kitchen behind him. Sasuke found himself mesmerized by the view. He was in the heart of it all and the price point of the lease proved that. However, he didn't want to live far from his work, nor did he want to live outside of where Sakura had suggested he look. Since she was a local, she knew where a person like Sasuke would thrive, and so he took her suggestions.

The complex he was standing in had all the amenities he'd need: a gym, a pool, a hot tub, a rooftop lounge, and a movie theatre. Not to mention he had two assigned parking spots, over 1,250 sq. ft. for just a one bedroom, and lots of natural light. While the price was up there, he knew he needed to spend it. He was in Tokyo, for crying out loud. He wasn't going to be playing the cheap game anymore, not like he had in Konoha practically splitting rent with Naruto. No... He was alone now. But he was more successful. He needed to deal with those facts and take the step forward.

He sighed and looked down at the shiny, hardwood floors. He knew the agent was only a few feet away, waiting for him to turn around and sign the papers, but... something was off. Sasuke knew the facts. He knew he needed a place to live in Tokyo: fact. He knew he needed to make the step to fully separate himself from Konoha: fact. He knew he needed that separation from Naruto, but...

It hurt. He wasn't expecting it to hurt, but it did. Even though he was taking this step by himself and it wasn't like anyone had made this decision for him, it really, really hurt.

He turned around to the agent, who looked back eagerly.

"Ready?" The agent said.

"Can I have a minute please?" Sasuke responded, catching the agent off guard a bit.

After a brief staring contest, the agent politely smiled and took his leave into the hallway, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts. Of course, the agent left the lease agreement on the kitchen counter, perfectly displayed, and Sasuke took it upon himself to check it over.

He needed to sign it. But then it would actually be official. He hadn't even put his apartment on the market yet. Sure, he didn't like being their too often, he hadn't felt the need to sell it yet. He had no doubt that his move to Tokyo was the right decision, but a part of him felt that the decision happened about quicker than he'd anticipated.

It had only been two and a half months since him and Naruto called it quits. Or was it longer? He didn't remember... Thinking back on his last days with Naruto felt like a blur. He had been so angry. He totally convinced himself that he hated Naruto. Why should he care about someone who didn't seem to care about him? He'd been blindsided and all he wanted to do was escape the constant reminders that Naruto existed.

Well, he finally reached that point, but for some reason it wasn't happiness he felt. It was emptiness. He hadn't lived alone for years... The last time he was looking for a place, he'd been with Naruto convincing him over a bowl of ramen that modern and contemporary buildings were much more suited for him than vintage town homes. And even though Naruto was stubborn, he gave in to Sasuke's wishes really easily. Not because he wasn't passionate about living in a place that had character, but more so because he liked seeing Sasuke happy. At least, that's what Naruto said at the time...

Sasuke didn't want to think that Naruto might've been out of love with him when they'd moved in together, but, then again, not even Naruto knew when it had hit him fully. He'd admitted it to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked away from the lease. This was the tenth apartment that the agent had shown him. He'd been looking for weeks now, unable to sign anything. For how eager he'd been to move to Tokyo, his brain was really sending him for a loop at this moment. All of the places looked exactly the same and offered the same shit. He couldn't imagine what the agent was thinking... Probably that he was just some idiot who wasn't planning on committing to anything.