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The Day He Said Goodbye	By : Shaylilin Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1163 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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A/N: So, this chapter is a bit better. It’s not quite as angsty. Also, it moves us forward in the understanding of some of the relationships. I’d like to thank my reviewer. I tend to write faster if someone appreciates my work vocally, but I still write even if you only appreciate my work silently. I’m hoping the next chapter will be ready for everyone by Friday or Saturday.

Chapter Three – Moving On

By the end of the week, Sasuke stopped grabbing the alcohol every time he was alone in the house. It was difficult, but still he had been able to get to that point. He knew that if he and Shikamaru were ever really going to be friends again, he’d have to at the very least put an end to the rumor of Shikamaru raping him. Sasuke sat, looking as impassive as ever, beside Naruto. They’d gone to Ichiraku after classes were done for the day. “Sasuke, what’s wrong? You haven’t said anything. You haven’t been yourself. You’ve been even more of a bastard than ever.”

Sasuke sighed, scowling even deeper at his untouched ramen. “I wasn’t raped.” There. It was blunt, but it was out.

Naruto choked on the ramen he’d been inhaling at Sasuke’s promise to pay for the food. “What do you mean? I saw Shikamaru with his mouth around your cock, and you jumped apart, and he ran away.”

Sasuke growled. Damn if Naruto couldn’t be fucking dense. “I told you about my preference last month. Put two and two together dobe!” He was pissed. Why didn’t stupid Naruto just get it? He didn’t want to talk about it with Naruto; he just wanted to say it, to have it in the open. He pushed his ramen away and scratched the table with the tip of his kunai.

Naruto noticed, even though Sasuke hadn’t, that Sasuke had just carved ‘Nara’ in the table. Though it took him a minute, he turned a sympathetic ear toward his friend. “Why didn’t you tell us about you and Shikamaru?”

Sasuke glared at Naruto, but shrugged. “Would you have believed me?” He sighed and stood up. “I’m not dealing with this shit now.” Sasuke tossed the money for the bill down before running toward the training grounds. He was going to take out his frustration by beating the shit out of something.

Naruto sighed and stood up. He knew Sasuke would be at the training grounds. He always went there when he was feeling particularly upset. So, Sasuke and Shikamaru had been together. Why hadn’t Sasuke told him when he accused Shikamaru of rape? It didn’t make sense. Was Sasuke really afraid that he would have been angry or not been his friend anymore? Sasuke had a really hard life, and if Shikamaru had been able to take the edge off at all, Naruto would have been more than happy for Sasuke. What had happened that Sasuke suddenly felt the urge to refute the rumor?

Naruto sped up as he realized there was only reason to explain the extremely sour mood and small confession. They had broken up. It had to have been Shikamaru’s decision. Naruto saw Sasuke smash a chidori into a tree. He growled and sighed at the same time. The odd sound caught Sasuke’s attention. The look of pure torment was enough to stop Naruto in his tracks. It was gone almost as fast as he had seen it, but still, this relationship must have really meant something to Sasuke to cause the mask to slip that little and show so much. “Sasuke, if you need to talk or just have someone around you, I’m here for you.” Sasuke nodded, but scowled. His eyes were hard and shut off again. “You can let someone other than Shikamaru into your soul, you know. Some of us really care about you.”

Naruto smirked at the soft glare Sasuke sent his direction. “How long were together anyway?”

Sasuke blinked repeatedly. Naruto recognized Sasuke trying to keep tears at bay. Finally Sasuke was under control enough to spit out, “Just about a year.”

Naruto’s jaw fell open. He couldn’t believe Sasuke had kept a relationship secret for that long. He couldn’t believe Shikamaru could put up with Sasuke’s brooding and attitude for that long before snapping. He’d even endured almost three months of being called a rapist for Sasuke’s sake. “I’m surprised he didn’t dump your ass ages ago. He must have found some way to love an asshole like you.” Naruto balked a little at the icy glare he received. “Is he doing all right? I feel like I need to apologize to him now.” He smiled a huge smile. “I’m going to go do that actually. I’ll see you tonight, Sas.”

*******************

Shikamaru laughed as he and Neji watched Chouji and Shino fight over the last of the BBQ. Really, Shino didn’t want the meat. Everyone but Chouji realized that. Shino just liked to get the rise out of Chouji. Shino smirked, “But Chouji, I need the meat more than you do. I have bugs that need me to be nourished properly.”

Chouji crossed his arms. “I’m a growing boy. I’m hungry and you’re nourished enough.” Shino made a move to take the last piece of BBQ, but Chouji stabbed at Shino’s hands with his chopsticks. “Back off. It’s my fucking piece.”

Shino shrugged. “Okay.” He smiled as Chouji savored the last piece of meat. Chouji smirked triumphantly and the small group laughed.

Shikamaru had been really down the last few days, but Neji had refused to let him sit alone and wallow in his sorrow and pain. It had helped him move through his emotions faster. Now he was sad, but it wasn’t affecting his life. Shikamaru thanked god for Neji, not for the first time in his life either. It felt strange to have such a strong connection when there was probably no chance he and Neji would ever get together. He didn’t think Neji could possibly feel the same way about him. After all, Neji was almost the same status as Sasuke.

Naruto saw the small group Shikamaru always hung out with. He swallowed his pride. He had to make things right to Shikamaru. It didn’t matter to him that it would probably make Sasuke feel better, too. He owed the slightly shy man an apology. He put a smile on his face and walked up to the table in time to catch Chouji start swearing about the BBQ. When laughter broke out, he took his chance and cleared his throat to announce his presence.

Shikamaru looked up first. “Did something happen to Sasuke, Naruto?”

Naruto waved his hands in front of him. “No. No. It’s nothing like that.” He realized how odd this must be for this group. Naruto usually kept his distance. He wasn’t exactly rude, to anyone but Shikamaru, but still, he didn’t hang out with them either. He took a deep breath and rushed out in one word, “I’m-sorry-I-called-you-a-rapist.-Sasuke-told-me-the-truth.”

Shikamaru relaxed a bit. Sasuke told Naruto the truth. “Sit.” It wasn’t really an order, but really more of a peace offering. “Join us. We were just going to order up another round.”

Naruto nodded. “Thanks.” He wouldn’t meet Shikamaru’s eyes yet, but he did chance a glance at Neji. Neji for some reason had stuck by his best friend all these years through all of Shikamaru’s unpopularity. The fact that he was a Hyuuga and Shikamaru was only a Nara should have been enough to force them apart. Still, here Neji was, holding Shikamaru together. Naruto finally forced his eyes to Shikamaru’s. “I really am sorry. If you hadn’t have run away so quickly, we might have been able to settle things.”

Neji snorted. “I know the way you would have settled things with Shikamaru.” He punched his own hand.

Naruto shrugged and rubbed his neck nervously. “I might have. Sasuke would have said something if it got to that point, though, right?”

It was Shikamaru’s turn to shrug. “It never made him step in before.” He sighed. “The past is troublesome. Just start over now that you know.”

Naruto nodded. “I’m going to stop that rumor, too.”

Shikamaru shook his head and Neji’s mouth almost dropped. Shikamaru smiled softly. “He told you. It was really all I ever wanted, for him to tell one person about us. I know he’s not ready to be outted yet, so don’t say anything to anyone else. I won’t be the one to bring his secret to light. He needs to do that when he’s ready.”

Naruto looked confused. “But I don’t understand. You’d let yourself be called a rapist just to save Sasuke’s pride?”

Shikamaru nodded softly. “I really did love him, Naruto. I still do. We just don’t have a future. I tried to be patient, but once it ran out, what more was there for me to do?” He took Naruto’s hand and squeezed. “Look, I’m happy he told you. That’s all I really need for now. Don’t push him into something that will put him back into the mode he’s been in all week.”

Naruto nodded as their second round of food showed up. “Thanks, umm, for giving Sasuke what peace you could give him.” Shikamaru smiled and nodded. Naruto smirked as Chouji went straight for the food. He’d learned the hard way you don’t call Chouji fatty. “Chouji,” he smiled, “I bet I can eat more than you can.”

Chouji laughed. “You can try, Pretty Boy.” Naruto stopped dead in his tracks. No one ever called him Pretty Boy; that was usually a name reserved for Sasuke.

Shikamaru sighed and snuggled against Neji subconsciously. He often snuggled up to his best friend, for as long as he could remember. Their friendship was so much deeper than normal friendships. They could do anything, say anything, and still be friends. Still, Shikamaru found it difficult to tell Neji what he would like to make their relationship.

Just as subconsciously, Neji intertwined their fingers as he wrapped his arm around Shikamaru. He smiled softly. This was something he enjoyed about them. They were relaxed and open. He knew not many friends could cuddle without it meaning more than they shared a deep, close friendship. Of course, he’d never tell Shikamaru something that might ruin that connection.

Naruto smirked. “You two look cozy,” he said as he gulped down some more meat.

Shino nodded. “They’ve been like that since we turned 13.”

Chouji smiled, pausing just a minute in his feeding frenzy. “Shika and Neji have a better relationship than just about anyone. It’s like there’s nothing that can ruin their friendship.”

Naruto coughed as he swallowed some food wrong. “So you’re just friends? Did Sasuke know how close you are?” Shikamaru nodded. Naruto laughed. “I’m surprised he didn’t try to kill Neji. That’s how Uchihas are when they want something.”

Shikamaru nodded. Sasuke and Neji had fought at first. When Sasuke realized Neji wasn’t going anywhere, and Shikamaru only had eyes for Sasuke, things calmed down a lot. “Chouji’s going to win,” he drawled absent-mindedly.

Naruto gasped and went back to the task at hand. He didn’t see when Ino entered, but he heard it. “Naruto, what are you doing at that table?”

Naruto had just thrown his hands up in victory. Chouji was looking rather impressed. Naruto heard Ino’s voice and prayed the girl wouldn’t be as stupid as ever. “I had something I had to talk to Shikamaru about.”

She sneered, “What, was he making passes at Sasuke again? Is that why he’s so mopey?” She turned to Shikamaru. “He doesn’t want you. Stop trying to force yourself on him. He’s not even gay.”

Shikmaru turned his eyes toward the table. He sighed. No one really understood their relationship, not even he and Sasuke had always understood. “Ino,” Naruto started, but stopped remembering that Sasuke didn’t want his secret out. “It wasn’t anything to do with Sasuke. I just heard that he was really smart, and I didn’t really understand the lesson this afternoon on trajectory, so I thought I’d ask him. Then we were working on the problem and he wanted to get food with his friends and invited me along and I thought it would be nice so I came.”

Ino shrugged. “Well me, Kiba, Hinata, Sakura, and Sasuke are here now, so you can eat with us.” She glared at the ‘loser’ table as she had dubbed them. She never did understand how her group ended up with the shy, timid Hyuuga and that group got the good-looking, confident, and older one. He really didn’t fit in, but he was friends with Shikamaru. She supposed that was enough to doom him to loserville.

Shikamaru tensed as he heard Sasuke’s name. He really wanted things to be okay between them. He really wanted to be Sasuke’s friend, but he wasn’t ready for any kind of confrontation.

Naruto seemed to notice Shikamaru’s reaction. “I’ll be over in a minute, Ino. Just save me a seat.” Ino nodded, glared at the table, and walked away. Naruto sighed. “I’m sorry about that. Ino is,” he paused looking for the right words, “kind of moody.”

Neji laughed. “Understatement of the year.”

Naruto smiled. “I had a good time. Maybe I’ll join here again sometime?”

Chouji nodded. “Sounds good to me. Just try not to be mean to Shikamaru in school anymore.”

Naruto nodded. “I really couldn’t anymore.” He smiled sadly. “Shikamaru, I meant it. Thank you for whatever peace you were able to give Sasuke. I’m sorry that things were misinterpreted so badly, and that I made an ass of myself.”

Shikamaru smiled. “It’s all right. I forgive you.” He looked at the table before glancing back at Naruto. “Take care of him, okay. Don’t let him revert.” Naruto nodded and waved before heading over to his table.

Kiba scoffed. “Naruto started hanging out with the losers, huh?” He gave a wicked grin to Naruto, who shrugged. “Seriously, why were you over there?”

Sasuke tensed, though only Naruto noticed. “I told Ino. I had trouble with trajectory and someone told me Shikamaru is really smart. I asked him for help, he helped, and then invited me to eat with him and his friends. I thought it would be rude not to accept.” Sasuke’s eyes told Naruto just how thankful he was for his friend’s discretion. Naruto smiled in reply.

Hinata smiled softly. “Neji and Shikamaru seem awfully comfortable. I hope my cousin is happy with his choice. Maybe that means Shikamaru won’t focus on Sasuke anymore.”

Naruto shook his head. “They are just friends.”

Sasuke smirked. “For now.” His voice didn’t hold any of its normal haughtiness. Neji had confided in Sasuke once his feelings for Shikamaru. He also told Sasuke that Shikamaru only had eyes for Sasuke. Shikamaru hadn’t once noticed Neji’s undying affection. He knew now that Shikamaru had moved on from him, it would only be a matter of time before he got together with Neji.

Sakura and Ino both laughed at Sasuke’s joke. They knew he would have to pick one of them eventually, both thinking it would be her. After all, Hinata wouldn’t be able to handle Sasuke, and really Ten-Ten was kind of weird. Sasuke wasn’t gay, so none of the guys in the class had a chance. Sakura smiled brightly at Sasuke. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Sasuke-kun.”

Sasuke grunted. Dumb bitch. She didn’t realize she wasn’t ever going to have a shot with him. He sighed, and pushed his plate away. He stood up and had to turn away from the table quickly, as he spotted Shikamaru with his head down, Neji rubbing his back softly. He knew he was causing some pain to Shika just by being there. He walked toward the door without another word. He didn’t even acknowledge the girls calling his name. He needed to go back to the training grounds.

Naruto stood and smiled at his friends. “I’ll take care of him; don’t worry.” He smirked as he headed back to the training grounds. The sounds of Sasuke hitting something with a full force chidori could be heard almost back to town. Naruto dropped down behind Sasuke. “Really, don’t you think maybe talking about it would be less destructive?”

Sasuke smirked. “Maybe, but it wouldn’t be as fun.” He turned and aimed a punch for Naruto’s face. If there was one thing he could count on Naruto for, it was an all out battle that could strip him of any emotion he was feeling, and he had emotions to spare today.
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The Day He Said Goodbye