Something To Live For ❦ NaruSasu

Seven

They ended up not seeing each other the next day, which was a bit strange; Sasuke was used to seeing the annoying blond every day.

But then Naruto showed up the day after.

He showed up with a smile, one that Sasuke hated and looked forward to at the same time.

Sasuke curiously asked the blond why he hadn't come the day before, and Naruto seemed to get nervous and jittery.

"I had something important to take care of... don't worry about it," he said, a sheepish smile on his face. Sasuke only raised an eyebrow, and didn't question Naruto's behavior.

"Before you decide if we're going anywhere or not, I need to take a shower," Sasuke murmured, and Naruto gave a nod. Sasuke went into the bathroom to shower, leaving Naruto by himself.

After about five minutes of not doing anything, the door to the bathroom opened. "Hey, Naruto?" The raven called out.

"Yeah, Sasuke?" Naruto replied, waiting for a response.

"Can you grab my towel from my room for me? It's navy blue."

"Yeah, sure, be right there."

Naruto got up and went to Sasuke's room, looking for the towel, but he couldn't seem to find it. He took a moment to admire Sasuke's room - it was nice.

He walked over to Sasuke's nightstand, picking up a small black book and opening it.

He knew this was wrong. He shouldn't be going through someone's stuff without their permission, but the boy was curious.

He somewhat skimmed through the pages. What was written on them were Sasuke's recent dreams, his feelings, and various other things. It was some pretty depressing stuff, like words such as, "I want to know what it's like to walk away from this life."

"Going through my brother's things, huh?"

Naruto jumped at the sound of Itachi's deep voice and closed the book, dropping it back onto the nightstand.

"I- I..." Naruto uttered, turning around, blushing from embarrassment. "Itachi... no, I... I wasn't..."

Itachi laughed softly. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell him, but... you really shouldn't go through someone's private things. Especially without them knowing."

"I... I know that... I was just..." Naruto tried to explain himself, but Itachi waved it aside.

"Don't bother trying to explain yourself. I know why you did it. You were curious about my brother and why he is the way he is, and why he does the things he does."

Naruto's lips parted. Itachi was right.

"But trust me when I say you're probably going to have a tough time figuring it out. Sasuke is a difficult person. He keeps a wall between him and everyone else, not wanting anyone to get close."

Naruto nodded. He understood. He was trying to figure Sasuke out, but it was hard when Sasuke didn't want anyone to get close.

"I hope you can get through to him and change his mind about suicide," Itachi said softly, leaning against the doorframe, "Do what I failed to do, since Sasuke always pushed me away. All he needs is someone like you to be there and help him."

Naruto nodded again. "I know, but... Sasuke keeps pushing me away, too. I want to change his mind, but it's difficult when he keeps me at arms length. He won't let me understand him."

"He's my brother and he won't let me understand him either. Just... please keep trying to get through to him."

"I know... I will..."

Itachi smiled. "Thank you. Now, get what Sasuke asked you to get and don't snoop around anymore, okay?"

Naruto blushed again. "Okay... sorry..."

Naruto grabbed the towel and followed Itachi out. The blond went to the bathroom and knocked on the door, but Sasuke was already showering.

"Sasuke, I have your towel," Naruto said loud enough to be heard over the water. He opened the door and set the towel on the sink counter. "I'm just going to leave it beside your clothes, okay?"

"Yeah, but what took you so long?" Sasuke asked, and Naruto stared at the Uchiha's pale figure through the somewhat blurry glass shower door, blushing again, because of the fact that he was talking to a naked Sasuke who was showering, and the fact that he'd been snooping through Sasuke's things.

"I got caught up talking to your brother," he half-lied, and he knew Sasuke was rolling his eyes.

"Of course you would."

"Yeah, sorry."

Suddenly, the water was shutting off and the glass door was opening, revealing all of Sasuke's pale skin, and Naruto has to avert his eyes, his cheeks still a bright pink.

Sasuke reached for his towel, his arm brushing against Naruto's. He wrapped the towel around his waist and Naruto stepped backwards, out of the bathroom.

"I'll leave you to it," he said, and Sasuke just shut the door.

When Sasuke finished dressing, he emerged from the bathroom and Naruto stood up.

"So I have something I have planned for today, but we've got to stop by my house first..." Naruto uttered, and then the two stepped outside.

They left, and Naruto asked Sasuke to wait in his bedroom while he got some things ready, claiming it was a surprise. Sasuke did so, sitting in the blond's room, which was, unsurprisingly, not clean. There were clothes everywhere.

Sasuke looked on the blond's nightstand, where he found a picture of Naruto and a bright-red haired boy. He furrowed his eyebrows. He hadn't seen this boy before when he met Naruto's friends. He decided that perhaps he couldn't come that day.

The frame had obviously been customized. The words 'Naruto and Gaara' had been engraved on it, beneath the picture.

They looked so happy, and yet Sasuke never once heard Naruto mention the red haired boy in this picture.

Sasuke decided that he'd just ask about it later.

He set the picture down when he heard Naruto coming, and stood up. They went back to the car, and then they were off.

Sasuke didn't recognize the place he was brought to. The two of them got out, and that's when Naruto told him of the 'surprise'.

"I got together stuff to have a little picnic with you."

Sasuke stared at him, but then he found himself chuckling slightly because he figured that would be something Naruto would do.

And so the two had a little picnic, and Sasuke, for once, didn't complain. They sat together and just relaxed.

Everything was going well.

For now.

-

Eek sorry it took so long