Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Fools	By : sharinganswirl Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 1049 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Just the plot. I do not many any money or any profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Fools
- 1
Disclaimer*** I do not make any money or profit by the writing of this story and I do not own the characters in any way.
A story I wrote about a year ago, just remembered it and decided to post it. I may elaborate on it later, but the initial plot bunny has run away. :) If anybody wants to take this up and have some fun with it, just let me know!
AU and definite out of character moments, you have been warned.
Enjoy!
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“I love you.” It was said nonchalantly, almost uncaringly.

Naruto’s heart leapt to his throat. This had been the last thing he had been expecting when Sasuke had cornered him after class, demanding a private audience with him. They had been friends or rivals for most of the eighteen years they’d been alive. They had played together as kids, hated each other as teenagers. It was only recently when they had found a renewed, stronger, deeper friendship.

They had been assigned to complete a history project together. Both of them had vehemently refused to work together but the teacher had dragged their parents into the mix. Naruto’s adopted father, Kakashi, and Sasuke’s mother had made a plan that forced the two boys together, both for the project and for each other.

After several nights of silence, the proverbial time bomb exploded, resulting in Sasuke with a broken nose and Naruto unconscious. Once the air had been cleared, the boys received an A on their project and an improved respect and friendship for one another.

It was true that lately things had been getting awkward for Naruto. He couldn’t deny that Sasuke was very attractive, with his sleek black hair, brooding dark eyes, and miles and miles of pale skin. They were closer now then they had ever been. They were in constant contact with each other, doing homework, playing video games, fighting each other. If Naruto kept his hands on Sasuke just a little longer than necessary, it was a guilty pleasure. If Naruto took a deeper breath than needed, it was to memorize Sasuke’s scent even clearer than it was before. He often brought those moments to the forefront of his mind when he was alone and missing Sasuke. Those were rare but precious moments.

Now, here was his best friend, his growing crush, telling him he loved him! It was scary, exhilarating even! He had to remind himself to breathe, to remember that he couldn’t just leap into Sasuke’s arms in the middle of school. His eyes lit up and he began to smile.

Then he heard the laughter.

“Look! He’s totally falling for it! He probably is in love with Sasuke! Oh! Look!”

His heart shattered. It fell into tiny, irreparable pieces at Sasuke’s feet. Having never felt such a sharp, personal pain before, Naruto felt his breath catch. His eyes began to tear. He forced them back with every ounce of his will.

“Sasuke?” It was barely a whisper.

“Well, it is April Fool’s Day.” He shrugged. “Others were saying you were too big of a fool so I wanted to prove them wrong. I knew you wouldn’t fall for it.” He smirked.

If possible, that smirk sliced into Naruto’s heart further. Nodding, Naruto looked down. Grasping for an excuse, Naruto hastily said, “We better get to class.” With that, he walked away. Fast.

He didn’t go to class.

He left the campus completely, being old enough to sign himself out. He wandered the town aimlessly, but everything reminded him of Sasuke. His chest hurt, his eyes burned, his body ached. His mind whirled with thoughts of Sasuke. He wished he could just forget and hate his best friend.

Somehow, he ended up back home. Kakashi was home, working on another pornographic novel probably, Naruto thought cynically. He had hoped he would go unnoticed. Today, apparently, wasn’t his lucky day.

“Mah! It’s one o’clock. What are you doing ho—.” The question died on his lips the second he took a look at Naruto’s face.

The normally bright and shining eyes were dull, with an unnatural brightness caused by suppressed tears. His healthy tan pallor was gone, replaced by a pale, drawn expression. Even his usually bouncing blond hair seemed lifeless.

“What happened?” Kakashi asked seriously.

“Sasu—” Naruto’s voice broke with emotions. A tear fell. Shaking his head, he pushed past Kakashi and ran toward his room. Once there, Naruto collapsed onto his bed and broke completely.

He felt Kakashi’s presence more than saw it. Felt his father’s comforting hand in his hair, on his back. When the tears ran dry, Naruto slept.

~*~

“Where’s Naruto?’ Sasuke wondered to himself. ‘He’s here today.’ They hadn’t had the last couple of classes together since the “incident” this morning. Sasuke’s own heart twinged at remembering what he had done. Guilt twisted its ugly hand in his gut.

He had meant it. He really did love his best friend. He had for a very long time. He hadn’t been planning on telling him at that moment, he had been waiting for something a little more romantic, more personal. And he’d been waiting for the guts to do it.

‘I’m a coward,’ Sasuke thought in disgust. He saw the opportunity, the guise of the prankster’s holiday and had jumped at the chance. He hadn’t counted on Naruto’s reaction. He couldn’t deny witnessing the raw, naked emotion in Naruto’s eyes before he, too, had heard the words of eavesdropping students.

“Look!” On and on, it played over and over in his mind.

His plan had been to tell Naruto. If Naruto had an adverse reaction to Sasuke’s affection, he could play it off as a poorly planned last-minute April Fool’s joke. If Naruto accepted Sasuke’s emotions, it would have taken the stress off of Sasuke.

Instead, he had botched the whole thing by proclaiming his love for Naruto in the middle of the crowded hallway. Nothing ever said in the hallways between classes was private. There were students everywhere, especially those who wanted to hear every sound ever uttered from Uchiha Sasuke’s mouth.

‘I should have known better.’ Sasuke mentally lectured himself. His heart had been clouding his logical thinking. He had been so nervous and so excited to finally have an opportunity to tell Naruto. He could have throttled those students for choosing to listen to his impromptu confession.

To save face for Naruto, he made up the lame excuse of Naruto not being fool enough to fall for his confession. It ripped his heart out to see the color drain from Naruto’s face, to see the life sucked out of the person he loved.

He hadn’t expected Naruto to no show up for class. Though, now thinking on it a bit more, he should have.

The bell startled Sasuke out of his deep thinking. Making up his mind, Sasuke did something he had never done before in his school career.

Sasuke skipped the remainder of his classes.

Signing out, much to the shock of the receptionist, Sasuke nearly ran to his car. Speeding out of the parking lot, Sasuke’s mind wandered to Naruto. Worry slid its clammy fingers down Sasuke’s spine. He hoped to any deity listening that he hadn’t ruined his chance, their chance, at love. Or at least friendship.

Screeching to a halt, Sasuke leapt out of his sleek black muscle car. The warm breeze of the day rustled through his thick black hair, the sun beating warmly on his pale neck. Days like this always reminded him of Naruto. Warm, bright, sunny. He’d hate himself if he had caused that to go away.

Knocking on the front door, Sasuke waited impatiently, nearly tapping a foot. At no response, he knocked again, harder.

The door swinging open to reveal a stone cold Kakashi was not what Sasuke expected.

“Uh, hi, Hatake-san.” Sasuke bowed. “Is Naruto here?”

Ignoring the question, Kakashi merely said, “Shouldn’t you be in class?”

Frustrated, Sasuke gave a curt nod. “Hai, sir. Though I’m worried about Naruto. Can I see him?”

Kakashi saw the guilt and misery in the young Uchiha’s eyes. He also felt the hot needles of anger sweep through him at the thought of Sasuke hurting his son in any way. Deciding that Sasuke could wallow in his misery a little longer, Kakashi spoke.

“Naruto’s sleeping. Whatever happened tore him up.” He nearly smirked at the un-Uchiha-like wince that barely crossed Sasuke’s face. “Come back later.” He closed the door smartly on Sasuke’s shocked expression. Kakashi nearly laughed.

Remember his distraught son upstairs, Kakashi wandered into the kitchen. This was going to require some serious hot chocolate.

~*~

Sasuke stormed into the house in a rage, his car left outside parked haphazardly. His blood boiling, Sasuke made his way through the extensive house toward the well equipped gym. Tossing his keys and leather jacket aside, Sasuke made a beeline for the punching bag, unaware of eyes matching his own watching him.

Without the protection of gloves, Sasuke hollered out his rage as the first punch hit the bag. Pain exploded in his hand, his wrist, but it was nothing compared to the hatred he felt for himself, the frustration he felt toward Kakashi, the helplessness toward the situation.

Screaming, grunting, panting, Sasuke continued to beat wildly at the unsuspecting punching bag. After countless minutes, it may have been hours, Sasuke finally collapsed in a pile of exhaustion.

The sound of single applause, offered mockingly, had Sasuke’s head whipping around. He found his brother, who was supposed to be away at college, in his gym attire lounging on a bench, weights lying casually beside his feet. Obviously, Sasuke had interrupted Itachi’s work out.

“My, my, little brother. I didn’t know you had it in you.” Standing, Itachi wandered over to Sasuke. Sasuke was too tired and drained to move. He no longer cared about his appearance. He didn’t deserve to care.

Mildly surprised by his little brother’s lack of response, Itachi frowned slightly. Very slightly. Approaching Sasuke, Itachi crouched down in front of him. “What happened to cause such a momentous occasion?” He smiled, again mockingly.

His little brother’s achingly empty eyes meeting his wiped the smile off his face. He almost wished for the furious anger again, knowing Sasuke would still be willing to fight. Instead, it looked as though Sasuke had given up. His little brother never gave up.

“Sasuke.” Itachi said in stern tones, when Sasuke looked away. Noticing Sasuke’s bloody hands, Itachi picked one up. “You’ve ruined your hands. Come on.” Itachi stood, coaxing Sasuke to do the same. “Let’s wrap them up and ice them.”

No, he wouldn’t push his little brother to confess the problems. His little brother was a lot like himself, like their father. The more somebody pushed them, the more likely they were to dig their feet in.

Once in the kitchen with first aid supplies scattered on the table, Sasuke finally spoke.

“You should be away at school.”

“Spring break starts on Monday and I didn’t have any classes today.” Itachi tossed back. “Mom extended an invitation, which we both know means that I was expected home unless I wanted to upset mother.” Sasuke nodded, his lips curling slightly.

Both sons loved their parents, even with all of the idiosyncrasies. Their father was the chief of the local police department and was hardly home enough to watch his kids grow up to the young men they were today. Their mother was your typical stay-at-home mom that nagged them seemingly non-stop. Ever since Itachi left for college, Sasuke had suffered more than ever. Blissfully, she had gone shopping or to a tea party that afternoon. Sasuke hadn’t been paying too much attention that morning when he was about ready to leave for school.

Remembering school today, and the subsequent events, Sasuke swallowed back the wave of emotions. Feeling his brother’s strong hands wrapping his own with bandages, he was comforted.

“Itachi.”

Raising his head, Itachi made eye contact. He knew Sasuke needed his attention.

“I’m an idiot.” And with that, the flood gates opened. Every fear, every guilty thought, every worry poured out on the dark maple wood table. Itachi listened to every word, not giving any clues as to what he thought of Sasuke’s behavior and actions.

Finally, when he was done, Sasuke bowed his head, defeated.

“Yes, little brother. You are an idiot.” At Sasuke’s grunt of agreement, Itachi gripped Sasuke’s hands just enough to gain his full attention. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

Big black eyes rose to meet Itachi’s matching ones. “I don’t know.”

Heaving a big sigh, Itachi leaned back. “You’re an Uchiha. Uchiha’s never give up. Uchiha’s fight for what they want. Now, tell me Sasuke, what are you going to do about it?”

Feeling his resolve return little by little, Sasuke straightened in his chair. “I’m going to fight for him.”

“How?” Itachi challenged.

Hesitating, Sasuke drew a blank. What did he know about Naruto? What would get through that thick blond head of his? Not liking his own conclusion, Sasuke swallowed.

“I’ll have to prove myself a fool. He won’t listen to me otherwise.” An Uchiha giving up his pride, even for a few moments, was a significant occasion and one that rarely happened.

Itachi smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “Oh, I would love to see that.” He quickly dodged the roll of bandages Sasuke threw toward his head.

Together, Itachi and Sasuke formulated a plan. Feeling more and more anxious, Sasuke was constantly forcing himself to remember Naruto’s initial reaction to his confession. He remembered the raw emotion in Naruto’s eyes, he remembered the beginnings of what promised to be a brilliant smile before it had been snuffed out. He knew in that moment that Naruto loved him back. He knew he couldn’t give that up.

~*~

Naruto woke up to twilight. His head was pounding and his eyes were crusted and swollen. Rubbing them, Naruto pushed himself up, wondering what was wrong with his eyes.

Then he remembered.

The waves of pain nearly brought Naruto to tears again, but he forced them back with what felt like the last of his will power. Breathing fast with the effort, Naruto gazed out at the fading light.

It was exactly how he felt. Fading. He really wished he could hate Sasuke, but it wasn’t his fault he didn’t love Naruto. As heartbroken as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry with Sasuke for the April Fool’s joke he had played.

‘If I wasn’t in love with him,’ Naruto thought bitterly, ‘the joke might have been funny.’ It was unlikely that such a joke would have been funny regardless, but Naruto would never know.

The sound of the door distracted Naruto from his destructive thoughts. Kakashi poked his head into the room.

“Oh, good. You’re awake.” Kakashi entered the room without permission. “I brought hot chocolate earlier but you were still asleep. Did you want some? I can make more.” Naruto shook his head silently, barely even acknowledging his favorite comfort beverage. Kakashi frowned. He dug for a reaction.

“Sasuke was here.”

That got him a reaction. Naruto’s eyes flashed as they crashed with Kakashi’s only eye, the other having been lost in combat years ago and now only covered with an eye patch. Naruto’s body had tensed, hands clenching the bedspread. Kakashi saw the nerves, the anxiety, the hurt. He was hoping to see anger, but there wasn’t any. He knew Naruto would always blame himself before lashing anger out to another person, let alone Sasuke.

Kakashi sighed. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

Naruto winced. He could have handled this himself. He didn’t need his father to become involved between him and Sasuke again. But even as he thought the words, Naruto felt himself craving his father’s comfort and understanding.

“Dad,” his voice broke, sore from both crying and suppressed tears. “I love him. I’ve made a fool of myself today.”

Kakashi sat on the bed, covering one of Naruto’s clenched fists with his own.

“I really thought he meant it!” Naruto started again, voice trembling. “He told me he loved me after second period as an April Fool’s joke. I thought it was true, I was so excited and happy. But,” he sniffed, fighting to control the flood of hurt and tears, “the other kids saw us, said that I really must be a fool for believing Sasuke. He even said as much!” He hurried on before Kakashi could interrupt. “He said he had wanted to prove to the other kids that I really wasn’t a fool, that he didn’t really love me.” It burned, the tears flowed freely. “I can’t…” he sobbed.

Mildly uncomfortable, Kakashi gathered his adoptive son in his arms. He had known that Naruto felt more than friendship towards the Uchiha boy, it showed every time Naruto looked at him. It had been tragic to watch year after year and now it seemed to have finally come to a head.

After Naruto calmed a bit, Kakashi released him and lifted his chin. “You may not want to hear this, but Sasuke seemed genuinely concerned for you this afternoon when he stopped by. He must feel guilty for what he did, April fool joke or not.”

“It’s not his fault he doesn’t love me. It’s mine for loving him this way,” Naruto mumbled.

“Stop that.” Kakashi’s voice was hot and stern. “it was a cruel joke to play, regardless of the circumstances. None of this is your fault.”

Naruto sighed. He didn’t quite believe it. Another anxious thought bubbled out before he could stop himself. “What do I do now?”

Kakashi didn’t quite know the answer himself. “Well, it looks like Sasuke wants to talk to you. It’s up to you if you want to listen. I have a feeling he will be back tomorrow. It is the weekend after all.”

Naruto nodded again. “I don’t think I can see him yet.” He was embarrassed at his reactions, at his own thoughts and feelings.

“Understandable. Want me to play guard dog? You could call me ‘Pakkun’.” Kakashi smiled, charming an answering one out of Naruto.

“Thanks, Dad.”

~*~

Neither boy slept well that night. Naruto had been full of anxiety and hurt. Sasuke had been mulling the final plan over and over again in his mind, determination sweeping through him.

Yet the sun rose, as timeless as ever, waking the people of the earth. It pierced through Sasuke’s window, a bright orange, reminding him of Naruto’s favorite color. He wished he could have shared that moment with Naruto that morning.

Rising from his bed, Sasuke began his morning routine, butterflies dancing in his belly at the thought of setting things into motion. He sincerely wished he hadn’t completely botched things. If he had been in Naruto’s shoes yesterday, he would have been livid. He knew that Naruto was different than him though. He couldn’t bet that Naruto wasn’t angry, but at least he could realize that Naruto would listen. Naruto had the biggest heart of anybody he knew. Sasuke loved him for it. He knew he would be the luckiest man alive if he had Naruto’s love.

Heading toward the shower, Sasuke prayed for luck.

~*~

Naruto had tossed and turned the better part of the night. An inner war raged inside of him. He wanted to see Sasuke, to see why he was so concerned about him. The other half of Naruto refused to see Sasuke, afraid that he would break down again, or worse, forgive Sasuke for the cruel joke and continue to love him. Naruto knew that no matter what Sasuke did, Naruto would always love him. It was the curse of somebody with a big heart.

The sun had risen a bright orange, Naruto’s favorite color. He smiled at the beautiful gift nature had given him, wishing Sasuke had been there to share the moment with.

Naruto closed that train of thought. Rolling off the bed, Naruto headed toward his extensive manga collection to pick a story to get lost in, hoping it would distract him enough to forget Sasuke and his potential visit.

~*~

Sasuke never came.

Naruto was nearly pulling his hair out in frustration as he paced the living room. He kept trying to reason with himself that Sasuke had no reasons to come see him. Sasuke could be letting Naruto have some time alone. There could have been some family event. Sasuke had never actually said that he was going to see Naruto today, or even that weekend.

If asked if he had been looking forward to seeing Sasuke, he would have vigorously denied it. Or he would have said, yes, but only to break Sasuke’s nose again.

The anger had come full force around three o’clock, much to Kakashi’s relief and amusement. Naruto had torn into Kakashi’s study, face flush and full of rage.

“That bastard!” He had proclaimed, and slammed himself out of the room again. Kakashi had chuckled at his sons antics.

Naruto was filled to overflowing with anger, impatience, and loneliness. He normally hung out with Sasuke throughout an entire weekend. Instead, he was stuck inside behaving like a girl.

This has to stop, he thought. Grabbing his coat, Naruto headed toward the door, intent on finding the bastard and beating him.

Kakashi, who had wandered into the living room, stopped Naruto with a question.

“Where are you going?”

Embarrassment flooded Naruto, pushing the anger away momentarily. “On a walk,” he lied.

Kakashi saw right through the lie but decided to let his son have the benefit of the doubt. “Don’t be out too late. It’s getting dark outside.” Turning, Kakashi headed toward the kitchen to make himself some coffee.

Mumbling about overprotective fathers, Naruto swung the door open.

There, sitting on the welcome mat was a fox plushie. It was the perfect shade of orange and had a bright blue bow around the neck that any observer would have said matched Naruto’s eyes. Charmed, Naruto bent to pick it up. It was soft, with black eyes of beads. His hand hit a scroll of paper tucked under the fox’s makeshift collar. Curious, Naruto slipped the note out and unraveled it. He recognized Sasuke’s neat penmanship immediately.

“Who is the greater fool?
The one to have loved with all of their heart
or the one to have never loved at all?
For the one to have loved with all of their heart
has gained the world,
and one who has never loved
would be surrounded by emptiness.
And yet, the one to have loved with all of their heart
risks emotional turmoil,
while the one who had never loved
has never experienced the wonders
of what they are missing,
so it is not missed.
Can it be concluded that
neither and yet both are fools?”

Naruto’s heart thudded in his chest and began to gallop. What was Sasuke trying to say? He continued to read.

“One could only hope to be a fool
to have loved with all of his heart
than to be sane and never have loved at all.”

So, that was it. Naruto’s heart exploded in happiness. Sasuke was acknowledging that while they may have been fools, it was better to be fools in love.

Naruto understood what it must have cost Sasuke to write and deliver this poem. The utter abandonment of pride was evident in this prose. The confession of being not only a fool, but a fool in love wasn’t made lightly. Feeling a weight lift off his shoulders, Naruto took off at a run.

He had missed the sunrise with Sasuke that morning, but he wouldn’t miss the sunset.

~*~

Sasuke had been wandering along the pier on his family’s pond, watching the sun inch toward the horizon. He wondered if Naruto had received his gift yet. More, he wondered if the note had been interpreted how he meant it. He had hoped to convey to Naruto that Sasuke had been the fool, the fool in love with Naruto. He also hoped that Naruto knew that Sasuke was content in being that fool.

Sasuke had wanted to deliver the message and gift in person to Naruto, but Itachi had vetoed it. He explained that Naruto needed his own time and no pressure to contemplate and hopefully accept Sasuke’s declaration.

Turning back toward the house, Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin at the second person standing at the edge of the pier. His heart slammed into his throat at the very serious and calm look on Naruto’s face. He looked like a man, a man very much worthy of demanding anything he ever wanted. Even demanding love. Sasuke’s gut clenched even as his head felt light. Here was a man who held Sasuke’s life in his hands. It was a very humbling feeling.

“Sasuke.” The voice carried easily over the light wind of sunset.

Sasuke couldn’t speak, his voice having gone dry the moment he saw Naruto. He only stood, drinking in his fill of the wonderful image before him. The silence stretched before Naruto spoke again.

“Why did you do it?”

Sasuke knew exactly what Naruto wanted. Why had Sasuke done such a joke at school?

“I am a coward,” Sasuke admitted for the umpteenth time, casting aside the rest of his pride. “I hid behind the guise of a joke in case you rejected me. I didn’t anticipate those kids overhearing…” Sasuke’s voice cut off as he winced. “I didn’t want them to think you a fool. I’m sorry.”

Naruto was floored. He had never heard an Uchiha say the words “I’m sorry” for any reason, let alone admit they were cowards. Feeling the rest of the hurt melt away, Naruto walked slowly toward Sasuke, the fox held in one hand. Taking one of Sasuke’s hands with the other, he threaded their fingers together.

“What did you do to your hands?” Naruto lifted the hand he held up to brush his lips against the bandages.

“I was so angry with myself for the pain I caused…” Sasuke sighed, looking out over the glistening water. “I tried to beat up that sand filled punching bag.”

Naruto smirked. “Serves you right.” He held Sasuke’s hand lightly, but unyielding. “Sasuke, tell me. Here and now. I need…” he broke off, hoping Sasuke understood.

“Naruto,” Sasuke nearly whispered. His deep voice reflected every emotion he had ever held for his best friend. “I love you.”

This was not said nonchalantly. Everything the Uchiha was, everything he felt, everything he needed, was wrapped up in that one single phrase and offered up to Naruto.

Naruto was elated at these words, finally letting that bright smile free. He dropped Sasuke’s hand to wrap his arms around Sasuke, the plushie fox crushed against Sasuke’s back. Bringing is face close to Sasuke’s, his heart pounding, he also offered everything to Sasuke.

“I love you, Sasuke.”

Lips met, hearts raced, minds whirled. The two men were lost in their euphoric feelings, wrapped up in each other. Time seemed to have stopped as the two explored each other for the first time, each giving and taking.

They were simply two fools reveling in their love as the sun set.
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