Words Unspoken

His heart was still beating fast after Kakashi had startled him. He stood in a shady corner of the room looking relaxed. Only a Jounin could hide himself so well from the senses.

"Of course he cares." He repeated. "It's been two years since team seven came together. And in that time you've overcome a lot together. That much time will form strong bonds between anyone."

He didn't need a pep talk. He wanted to leap from his bed and go after Sasuke. He wanted to tell him he was sorry, that he didn't want to sound mean, and that he wanted to tell him why he was the way he was. But he feared Sasuke would draw back , sickened, from such abnormal desires and put even more distance between them that Naruto couldn't close.

"You know what it is you want then, don't you?" Kakashi said jerking his head in the direction of the door.

He nodded. "Yeah but I don't know how to talk to him… I'm scared he'll be disgusted." The air was thick and uncomfortable. He had made an indirect but heavy suggestion to his sensei. Who knew what Kakashi would think of his desires.

Kakashi took a deep breath then sighed. "Well…This is bad timing then. It can't be helped though. Team seven will soon be given orders to disband."

Naruto nearly fell out of the bed. He could hardly believe his ears. "What?"

"Temporarily, but the three of you will come together again to become Konoha's elite team."

"Come together? From where!"

He pulled up a chair and explained pretty much all the Hokage had relayed to him.

"Also, that poison infected your chakra system quite badly. It's almost as if it was alive with a mind of its own.. It infected a total of sixty two of your sixty four tenketsu. Sasuke was the same. It stopped at the last two most powerful points of all your tenketsu. Your infection was stopped by the seal. It could have killed the Kyuubi as well as you. Sasuke's infection was barely stopped at the two tenketsu that lead to his eyes. His sharingan helped save him." He sat back in his chair to observe Naruto's reaction.

Naruto was staring into space. It was almost too much to take in. His head was swimming.

"How long will we be away?"

"It depends on your ability to master the skills being taught. If you are determined enough… perhaps a year and a half. But for that you'd need natural talent."

The remark stung Naruto. He pulled a tight lipped face.

Kakashi laughed and said. "I'm sure you of all people will make me eat my words. It's happened before. That's the kind of ninja you are."

Naruto pulled his knees up close to his chest. "Kakashi-sensei… you know don't you…? why I am like this with him? Is it wrong?"

Kakashi sighed as if he were about to give a lengthy explanation on a subject that he had repeated over and over countless times.

"No, I don't think so. But not talking about it with him won't help either of you. However, he might not be the type to love another man." He stood up and ruffled Naruto's hair. " But you're not yet a man. Get some rest and think about what you want to do. It might be two or three years before you see him again if you decide to just sit on this. It'll probably tear you apart from the inside."

He opened the door, winked and said "When you come back you'll be able to teach me a few things."

The door closed and the room was once again still with only the sound of the rain spattering against the window for company.

-------------------

Two days on and neither Sasuke nor Naruto had gone to visit each other. The boredom of each day broken only by the short visits from Sakura who had begun to worry about the boys relationship.

She asked Naruto bluntly, while they walked through the hospitals closed off gardens, if he was in love.

"Love?" He sighed. "I don't know… is it supposed to hurt?"

"No. I think that's the silence between you two… you and Sasuke I mean."

"Sakura, don't you hate me for wanting him as much as you do? Don't you think what I want is wrong?"

She saw the need for acceptance in his sad eyes. It was what his whole childhood was based upon. Acceptance.

"Wanting to be loved and to be happy? I don't see how that could be wrong." She reached down and picked a flower with white petals stained with purple. She twirled it between her thumb and forefinger.

"Hate is a strong word… If anything you are a brother to me." she placed the flower in the hair above his right ear and kissed his forehead, smiling. "Even if I did I couldn't hate you for long."

He was touched. This had been the first time Sakura had felt this close to him. His eyes began to shine with happy tears.

"Oh no, don't please?" She put her arms around him and squeezed. "I'm the girl, remember?"

He laughed and hugged her back.

"Thanks Sakura."

She broke away, nodding at the flower in his hair. "It suits you." Naruto rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"No really it does. Let's go ask Sasuke" She held out her hand but Naruto stood motionless. The smile had melted from his face. She wanted them to talk but he wasn't sure he could handle it.

"I…I can't." he muttered. He thought of Sasuke sitting in his bed silently staring out of the window with a pensive look he sometimes wore.

"He told me about the other day. Of how he asked about your strange behaviour and how you snapped at him. He thinks you're too proud to talk to him."

Naruto sat down on a bench carved out of stone.

"I wanted to tell him… I wanted to tell him everything. I'm not used to him asking how I am. I was nervous, not thinking properly."

"Well tell him that then. I won't do it for you." She put her hands on her hips looking rather determined. "Or are you waiting for him to come to you again?"

"But if he takes it badly? If he hates me for it?"

"Then at least you can move on." She sat down and put an arm around him. "Sure it would hurt. I'll be here to help you through it if you need me. But if there's a chance he might return your feelings? Then what?"

"I don't know… I hadn't really thought that far." He knew that from her point of view she could see things differently. He admired her for being honest and forthright.

"Of course not, You can't see past your fear of him rejecting you."

A thought occurred to him. "Sakura, If he does…feel the same? What about you? How will you be?"

She hugged him close from where she sat and rocked him backwards and forwards slightly. "Oh I'll be alright." She patted his back. He wondered which of them was being consoled.

"Well I'm going to go see Sasuke, you're welcome to come with. He'd really like it if you came by."

He shook his head "Sorry, I'm just not ready yet."

"Okay but you should hurry and tell him how you feel. The nurse said the two of you are both well enough to be discharged today."

--------------------

Sasuke hated the sterile smell of hospitals. It nauseated him. He'd been feeling irritable and angry since he'd tried talking to Naruto and Sakura's latest visit served only to aggravate him further. So they were going to be discharged today. He had already gathered his belongings which lay in a neat pile on the chair. Now he waited impatiently for the discharge slip. He'd probably have to sign it himself seeing as he had no relatives to take him home.

He knew this bitter feeling came from when Naruto had attacked him when he openly showed his worry. He felt wounded and resisted the urge to see Naruto a second time even after Sakura had explained that he had reacted badly and hadn't meant to. What Sasuke wanted was for him to come and apologise but Naruto had always been the proud sort. Or perhaps his problem ,which he refused to discuss, had depressed him to the point where he no longer wanted to speak to people.

The same had happened to some of his peers that he knew. Though it was never really a serious issue.

Tonight thenHe thought. He'd go to Naruto's flat and try to talk to him again. He'd be persistent until Naruto finally relented and then he'd offer to share his load. Yes that's what he'd do. He remembered he had something he wanted to give him too. He made a note to take it with him before he left his home.

A knock on the door scattered his thoughts.

"Come in." He grumbled. If you dare. He thought.

A young female doctor with a kindly looking face peeked around the corner then stepped meekly into the room. "Normally you would have to stay another week until you have recovered your strength. Especially since we were dealing with an unknown poison. However, our Hokage needs to see you and your friends as soon as possible." She held out a clipboard with a pen attached via a short piece of string. "If you'll just sign here then we can let you go. Your friend is already waiting for you at reception."

He signed the form then picked up his things in one arm. Sakura would probably be waiting there with a goofy smile. He was a little puzzled. He didn't expect Sakura to come back after her last visit that day.

But it gave him a chance to tell her what he was going to try and achieve that night. He didn't feel like walking home by himself anyway.

"Please try to take it easy if you can. Using your chakra may hurt if you over do it."

"Mmm" He nodded. "Thank you." And left the doctor while she countersigned her part of the form.

He rounded a corner and was surprised to see Naruto waiting for him at the reception desk instead of Sakura. So this is who she meant. he thought to himself. Sasuke gave in his form at the desk.

"Did you sign yours yourself?" Sasuke asked him plainly. Naruto nodded.

The air was thick and uncomfortable between them. They left together in silence on their way home. Neither one dared to look in the others direction so they stared on rigidly.

Why won't he say anything? Sasuke thought. He must want something if he's walking with me.

Finally they stopped at a fork in the road. This was where Naruto would turn left and Sasuke right to get to their homes.

Sasuke risked a glance in Naruto's direction who was staring intently at the ground at his feet. There was something fascinating about Naruto, even as he was now. The way he drew in his breathe before he spoke, his blonde hair that recently began to had his hair in its length. His eyes, he could drown in their vast ocean blue.

"I…I um" Naruto began. He raised his eyes to find himself reflected in Sasuke's. He quickly lost his nerve looking down sharply to fill his view with anything but Sasuke. It went quiet again.

Sasuke frowned thinking, What is it? Am I that unapproachable? For some reason he was reminded of the boy in the dream he'd had. He took a step towards him.

"Naruto, Why can't you just tell me?" His voice was calm, expectant. He took another step towards Naruto when no reply came. "Is it me?" Naruto glanced up, opening his mouth to say something. His face went white. "Is it me? Did I do something?" Sasuke asked frowning with concern.

He shook his head. "I…I have to go." He turned and started to walk away at a fast pace.

Tonight then. Sasuke thought as he stood watching his figure get smaller and smaller in the distance.

I can tell you want to tell me. But I just don't know how to make it easy for you.

----------------

The hot sticky summer nights made it hard for anyone to sleep in Konoha. The air was suffocating with humidity making clothes stick to the skin like a curious warm octopus out of water. Thankfully no one knew of his quiet little haven. Bamboo grew high and thick around the small pool of spring water. It felt sacred somehow. The water seemed to glow with life and it almost sang as it bubbled and splashed off the green moss carpeted rocks into the hungry open mouth of the pool.

Coming here always brought a mood of tranquillity over him. And right now he needed it like a drug.

He pulled off his ninja sandals one by one as he made his way through the thick bamboo, dropping them in his wake. Bare feet tested the cool waters at its edge. He pulled off his shirt, damp with sweat from the heat, and lay back with his hands beneath his head. High above, through an opening in the bamboo canopy, a belt of stars glittered like diamonds in a candle lit cave. Gentle breezes cooled and caressed his skin.

I try to speak but the words get stuck in my throat. He must be frustrated with me by now. I would be. And tomorrow we get briefed. We may even leave tomorrow and he'll never know…and I'll never know how he…

He was tired of thinking about the same what ifs over and over. Closing his eyes he let out a tired sigh.

He was fed up of the whole situation, yet it absorbed his thoughts every moment of everyday.

"I was wondering where you had got to."

Naruto sat up fast, automatically reaching for a kunai in his pouch. He stayed his hand when his saw Sasuke coming towards him . He stood up, beginning to feel the nakedness of his skin in Sasukes presence. It made him feel both ill and excited.

"Look" He began. "At the hospital... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. You didn't deserve it."

Sasuke shrugged with his fists in his pockets. "It's fine." He took a large item he had strapped to his back wrapped in a fine cloth and held it out to Naruto. "Here… I hope you like it. It was difficult finding the time to make it between missions."

Naruto held it in his hands as the cloth it was wrapped in fell away revealing a perfectly crafted Shadow shuriken. "Why are you giving this to me?"

"You missed your birthday when we were unconscious. I hadn't forgotten it. I hope you like it."

"No one has ever made anything for me. Th-thanks Sasuke. " He smiled and sat down dipping his feet in the pool again. "I more than like it."

Sasuke went to sit beside him.

"Still don't want to talk about it?"

"I do Sasuke-kun. And I will…tonight…now. But it's the only thing that I have ever been this frightened of before. My whole world could fall apart because of it."

"You don't have to be alone and scared. Tell me, tell Sakura. It doesn't have to be your burden alone."

Naruto took a deep breathe. "Sakura already knows." Carefully he laid the shuriken on the soft grass next to him.

Sasuke looked hurt. "But neither of you would tell me?"

"No don't think like that. She knew I wouldn't want her to tell you."

"Well what is it already?"

Naruto brought his knees to his chest the way he always did when he was nervous. He was staring into the depths of the pool trying to be as calm as the gentle waters before them.

"I'm in love."

Sasuke laughed with some relief. "Is that all it is?"

"With you."

Sasuke went numb with a blinding realization. He was no longer laughing.

"Are you ashamed of me Sasuke?"

No Sasuke thought. I think I've felt the same for a long time now, I just didn't know what it was. But…the promise. I made a promise to Sakura. I can't go against it now. I can't be selfish. Why the fuck did I make a stupid promise like that? He wanted to close Naruto in his arms, feel the warmth of his skin and whisper I love you in his ear. But he had to refuse him. It pained him to think what he was going to say next.

"No I'm not ashamed."

Naruto became himself for a brief moment. His chest was filled with a fluttering like an excited bird frantically trying to escape its cage.

"But don't pursue this path Naruto, I can't give you what you want." He hated every word he spoke more than the last, knowing it didn't have to be true. The promise would be kept.

Naruto looked crest fallen. It felt like a hot knife in his heart to have caused Naruto pain.

"Look at me." He said. Taking Sasukes hand he pressed it to his chest. "Do you feel that? That's my heart beating for you but right now it doesn't feel like it's beating at all, just throbbing with pain"

Sasuke snatched his hand away as if Naruto's skin had burned him. "I can't."

"But how do you feel?"

"It doesn't matter now."

"Then it's worse than I'd feared… you have no feelings for me. I'm sorry I ever told you." he croaked.

"That's not true. I said I cared. And… I'm not sorry." Sasuke turned and walked away. He held the hand that had been so close to Naruto's heart and held it over his own. It felt torn from his chest.

-----------------------

Hi guys. please review and let me know what you think?

You will really be surprised at how this all folds out.

Hope my mistakes didnt mess it up. I've corrected them.

Keeping you happy. Shotasune. xXx