CHAPTER 12: Their Cherished Bond

A/N: OH.MY. GOD!!!! Literally 1000 reads?!! Thank you so so so much for giving time to this story 🙇🏻‍♀️ I am so happy I am literally cryingI am writing this story with a lot of love, and seeing that it is getting more of it from you all is a really emotional thing for me! Thank you so so so so much. Here is a present for you all. (　＾▽＾)

Sasuke was standing near the school building, staring at the blond who stood near the school gates, waiting for Sasuke to leave for home so that he could catch the raven on the way.

Sasuke had avoided any sort of contact with the blonde during their P.E. lesson, but now he had no excuse to do so. However, after the conversation with Kiba during the lunch break, Sasuke didn't have the heart to say anything rude to him either.

'He must've been super upset for Kiba to be that angry... Do I really matter that much to him?'

Sasuke's cheeks began to turn pink. He mentally sighed and finally decided to talk to Naruto, mentally deciding to at least apologize for his needlessly rude behavior towards him.

'Kiba was right, Naruto didn't do anything wrong. He shouldn't suffer just because I am fucked up...'

Sasuke walked over to him slowly. The closer he got to Naruto, the faster his heart raced. He was overwhelmed with guilt towards Naruto. His steps became smaller and slower as his mind was flooded with memories of how he had been ignoring him and the cold words he had hurled at the blond.

"I just didn't like spending time with you."

"You're annoying."

'Damn... I really fucked up didn't I?'

Sasuke wanted to physically slap himself.

'How could I do this to him?'

Sasuke snapped back to reality when he heard the familiar raspy voice of the beautiful, blue-eyed blonde calling out to him.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks and just stared at Naruto as he came running towards him, the long strands of his headband fluttering behind him with the wind. When the blond was close enough, Sasuke keenly observed the state he was in.

He started with his strong, well-built thighs, which had straddled his own legs on the rooftop when he was slumped over the raven. Their position had been lewd, but what Sasuke saw from beneath the blond was a breathtaking view.

Sasuke blushed slightly at the memory before he observed Naruto's tan, muscular arms that were swinging alternately as he ran. He was reminded of the time he had hurt his foot and Naruto saved him when he was about to trip.

'Those arms... I remember they felt so safe when he held me back then. It felt so right to be wrapped in them.'

Sasuke's gaze wandered to Naruto's wide, puffed-up chest as it moved to the rhythm of his breath, which had felt insanely warm against his back.

Sasuke was trying his level best not to blush at the sight of his 'friend', but he was failing miserably.

His eyes then landed on the man's face. His whiskered cheeks were red due to the sun and all the running. His jawline was as chiseled as ever, and his eyes...

'Oh, those eyes...'

His eyes were not the usual cerulean but a darker shade of blue, yet they were shining under the afternoon sun.

Naruto had caught up to him while Sasuke was admiring the blond inwardly. He was slightly panting and wiped a tiny drop of sweat off his face with the back of his larger-than-necessary hand.

Lastly, Sasuke took a look at the forbidden slim lips that suited his face perfectly. Sasuke couldn't stop staring at them for almost a minute.

He was mesmerized by how beautiful this man could look.

'I will definitely sue him... It's against the laws of nature for someone to be this flawless... Oh KAMI!!'

Sasuke was almost gay- panicking in his head when he noticed Naruto's eye bags.

His face looked slimmer than usual, as if he hadn't been eating properly. The dark circles under his perfect eyes could make one cry at the sight of them. His lips were dry and chapped. He also looked paler than usual. It hurt Sasuke's heart to see the brightest part of his life look like this.

'All this just because I was ignoring him? No wonder Kiba was mad at me.'

He knew he had hurt Naruto a lot, but Naruto just hid the fact behind his wide, ever-present smile. His face did not shine like it usually did, and yet the smile he wore was more than genuine; it held meaning.

'Thank Kami he didn't run away this time,'

Naruto thought as he took in the sight of the raven in front of him. He almost looked malnourished.

'Is he not eating properly? He looks paler each day. Is that even possible?!'

Naruto stared at him before faded blue met gloomy black.

'His eyes... look so dull...'

Both thought simultaneously and took the liberty to drown in the depths of each other's orbs. A thousand words were being exchanged between them before Sasuke realized what was happening. He coughed and looked away, not wanting to hold this silent conversation any longer.

Naruto snapped back to the present. He wondered how he should start a verbal conversation.

"Sas-"

"Sensei, we are still on the school premises. Let's talk outside the school gates."

Sasuke interrupted Naruto and began walking towards the gate. Naruto just nodded and walked behind him.

'I hope we can actually have a conversation. I want to know why he is avoiding me. Being annoying is not a good enough reason.'

After they were outside the school area, Sasuke abruptly stopped in his tracks, causing Naruto to almost bump into him.

Naruto stared at the raven's back for a while before Sasuke turned around. His eyes were hidden by his long bangs, so Naruto was unable to figure out what the raven was feeling. He took a deep breath and began talking again.

"Ne, Sasuke, how have you been? I know you don't want to talk to me and I have been pestering you every day since that fight. I am sorry for that. But you see, I don't want to lose someone like you. I want to try and make up to you if I did something wrong. Please-"

"Why?"

Sasuke was thankful that his voice didn't shake because listening to the dobe caused a lump to form in his throat. His voice was heavy with emotions but steady.

"Eh? What do you mean why?"

"Why would you go to such lengths for a jerk like me? I haven't been treating you right for almost a week, and yet here you are apologizing to me. Why?"

Naruto was taken aback by this.

'Does he really not know?'

He wondered, and almost instantly, replied to the raven.

"Because you're my best friend, dattebayo."

Sasuke's face began streaming with silent tears. His eyes were still hidden from the blond, but he was feeling almost euphoric. The fact that Naruto thought of Sasuke as his best friend was enough to make the raven feel lightheaded. He was overjoyed at the fact that someone considered him their best friend.

He had always been the lone wolf of his class, but right here, right now, this godly human named Naruto was calling some random ordinary raven his best friend.

"Look, I don't know if I did something wrong but if I did, I didn't do it intentionally. Please, atleast tell me a reason as to why you won't talk to me? I understand that inside the school, I am your teacher, but what about outside? We can be friends dattebayo, and talk, like Kiba and I do. If you think that's weird then-"

"Sorry."

Naruto's rant was interrupted by a soft, low voice. His blue eyes turned back to their original cerulean when he heard the raven say that. It almost felt like a dream, so Naruto had to confirm it.

"What did you say?"

I said sorry. It was never your fault. You did nothing. I was just being a little paranoid."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity he felt in the ravenette's voice. His eyes softened at this gesture from his best friend, and he pulled the smaller raven by his shoulders into a spine-breaking hug.

'I'll cherish our bond and make you feel comfortable around me, Sasuke. I'll make you open up to me eventually.'

Sasuke, caught off guard, gasped at the sudden feeling of being caged by the dreamy body of the dobe. However, he allowed himself to feel comfortable with this touch for once.

'It feels so nice to be cherished.'

He rested his head on the orange jacket, beneath which the heart of the blonde raced.

He quietly sobbed in the arms of the older one for a few seconds before pushing him away and quickly wiping his tears.

'This dobe will ruin all the training I went through to keep up my Uchiha demeanor.'

Naruto chuckled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head, as usual, and ended this with a huge grin. He was shining so brightly that Sasuke had to look away for a moment. Then, he said something that the Uchiha Sasuke almost a month ago would have said over his dead body.

"Let's e- exchange our numbers."

Naruto was dumbfounded. Though the raven had spoken in a very small voice, he still asked for his number.

'Did he just ask me for my number?! So, is he finally planning to become my friend?'

Naruto's smile grew wider, if that is even possible, before it turned into a full-on smirk.

"Oh~ Now you want my number, huh? Why, though? You wanna flirt with me late at night?"

Naruto asked with the most cunning smirk he had ever given to anybody.

"What?! No! I- That- Ugh, shut up, dobe! I'm going home."

Naruto was laughing heartily, satisfied with the reaction he got, whereas Sasuke was so flustered that he had the darkest shade of crimson tinting his cheeks and nose.

'Stupid dobe.'

He turned around to leave before Naruto caught him by his arm, turned him around to face him, and tried to stop laughing. Key word - tried.

"OK, ok, I am sorry. It's just that your reactions are fun to watch, dattebayo,"

Naruto explained and took a deep breath before continuing.

"Take out your phone. I'll type my number in there for you."

Sasuke glared at him for a moment before doing as told. Naruto took the device and swiftly entered his number. He then pressed the call button and ended the call when he felt his phone vibrate near his thigh in the pocket of his pants.

"There you go."

Naruto handed Sasuke's phone back to him. Sasuke looked at the screen and turned red yet again as he read the name Naruto had chosen for himself on the raven's call list: 'Hot Dobe'.

Naruto observed Sasuke's reaction while simultaneously feeding Sasuke's number with the name 'Sexy Teme'.

Sasuke looked up at the blond, questioning him with his eyes as if disgusted by the name he had chosen for himself. However, secretly, he really liked it. He couldn't disagree with it. The blond was a big dobe, but he was hot.

Naruto just shrugged and smiled coyly at him, causing Sasuke to shake his head in defeat as he returned his expression to normal.

"Oh! Before you leave, Sasuke, would you like to hang out with me coming Tuesday after school?"

Sasuke contemplated for a moment.

"Just you and me?"

"No no, Kiba and Shikamaru will be there too. You already know Kiba, and I'll introduce you to Shika later."

Sasuke cringed slightly at the mention of Kiba, replaying his fight with the man in his mind.

"I don't think Kiba would want me there. If you want to know why, ask him. But overall, I can't come."

"Oh..."

Naruto was surprised that Sasuke already knew him so well. If Sasuke didn't specify, he would have definitely asked why.

'I'll talk to Kiba about this later.'

Naruto made a mental note before returning to persuading him.

"C'mon, I really want you to come. Please~ Oh! If you want, you can bring someone along with you for company! The more the merrier, dattebayo!"

He closely watched as the raven considered his deal, and with a sigh, Sasuke reluctantly agreed.

"Yes!! Thank you, Sasuke!"

"Hn, whatever dobe."

Naruto was the happiest he had been the entire month at that moment. He swiftly pulled Sasuke into another hug and, after stepping away, jogged to where his bike stood. He put on the helmet and looked again at the raven, who was stunned by his actions.

He put on his most beautiful smile, one that the raven had never seen on him before. He smoothly covered his face with the fluorescent shield of his helmet and rode away.

"He's hot..."

Sasuke quickly put a hand over his mouth when he realistically that he spoke ot out loud. He looked around, but the area was empty, as everyone had returned to their houses, much to his relief.

He composed himself and began his journey home on foot. However, his heart was racing a mile a minute. A small smile crept onto his lips.

He was glad to have Naruto by his side again. He was grateful that Naruto had invited him to hang out. It was the first time in years that the raven had felt like a teenager. The first time, he was thinking like one.

'I can't believe I'm even thinking this, but... I'm actually excited for next week! I really want to go! Can I really have such a normal day in my life?'

A/N: Thanks a lot once again (ToT) Please continue supporting this story and my other future ones. I'll be looking forward to impressing more of you as I hone my writing skills along the way.So this was it!See you all in the next chapter! Author sound out ~ ✌🏻