Commander Kitsune

Thirty-Four

Sasuke's POV

The alley was dark. The light from the stores barely shone halfway into the alley. But I could see him. Just a few feet away. A hint of yellow hair, a flash of orange and black cloth in the darkness. I could barely breathe- blood pounded in my ears. Was it really him?

"...Naruto?" My voice was quiet, squeaky- like if I said it any louder he would disappear. He would just be another illusion. And now that I'm this close to the mysterious figure- I'm not sure I can take the feeling of that crushing disappointment when isn't him.

The figure tenses- they look like they're about to sprint. But slowly, the figure turns- and my eyes widen.

The alley lights up his face just enough for me to see his features. That familiar yellow, spiky bright hair. His sky blue eyes. Those whiskers on his cheeks. I choke back a sob. It really was him.

But he was different. He's grown older- he's taller now- maybe even the same height as me. He's become even more well built, if that was even possible, but I can still make out the eye bags on his face, and the dull in his eyes. His face still screams sadness.

Naruto smiles sadly at me. "Sasuke." He says softly, and for some reason I see pain in his eyes. "...You look good."

And I can't help it, but rage boils up in my chest, a mixture of relief, sorrow, and anguish waving over me, even if I am happy to see him. It was just so confusing. Why? I wanted to ask him. Why did you come back? And now of all times? Just when I was finally accepting the fact that you probably didn't want me anymore- why did you leave? Where have you been these past years?

My jaw clenches, and I glare at the floor. I ball up my fists by my side, and step closer to Naruto. He gives me a quizzical look- before it's interrupted by my fist meeting his face. Either I have more strength than I thought I did, or he's fucking pretending, because Naruto staggers back a little, bringing a hand up to his now bruised and slightly bleeding cheek. Huh. Maybe it was both. 

What angers me even more is he has on a neutral face, the same face he had on when I first saw him. I realize that the bastard let me hit him. 

"...I deserve that." He says finally, a light tone in his voice. He straightens back up to match my glare, a mix of amusement and sadness on his face. A low growl rumbles from my throat. I know far too well that my emotions are clearly written on my face. Whereas I would've covered up my feelings with a cold, expressionless mask years ago, I feel like that mask broke the moment Naruto joined Team 7. Oh, how I long for my mask in situations like these. I feel exposed like this. Weak. Vulnerable. Something I shouldn't still feel around him.

"Three. Years." I bite out. "It's been three fucking years, Naruto. Where the hell have you been?! Why the fuck did you come back?! Do you know how much you hurt me by leaving?" I didn't want to snap. I didn't want to cry in front of him. I thought I was doing fine without him- I wanted to be fine without him. But I knew I wasn't. All of those pushed down emotions, pushed down longing I've gathered up for him these past years come bubbling up.

Naruto just stares at me, his face a mix of pity and sadness, which pisses me off even more. "You seem to be doing okay without me." He says softly, smiling sadly- and I pause, my eyes widening. He did not just say that.

I let out a forced scoff, and shake my head. "I- wow. Wow, Naruto." I say, my voice dripping with venom. Was he really that clueless? Did he really think I was okay? That I was actually fine? If he thought I was fucking fine, then he must've been fine too. Perfectly fine with leaving me.

"You left me. Without a goddamn word!" I shouted, cringing internally for my cracking voice. "And that flimsy note of yours barely counts! What did you even want to achieve? 'I couldn't keep hurting you' my ass! Well you did, bastard! You expected me to move on? Forget everything we've had like it was nothing? ...Was I just nothing to you?" My voice is more quiet in that last question. More desperate. Naruto finally looks taken aback, like he's been struck again. I wonder if he still loves me. But then again- he was the one who left, so I'm assuming he was the one who stopped loving me first.