CHAPTER 26: The Closed Door

A/N: A Very, Very, Happy New Year to y'all!( ^-^)ノ∠※。.:*:・'°☆This is a long ass chapter yet again. 😅 Honestly, I really didn't think that I would be able to give an update for New Year, but I did make a promise, so here we are!(^^)dOk, I get it, I'll let you guys read it... Ain't nobody got time for an ol'author like me (fake sobs) 😩

The vivid hues of the afternoon sky were transitioning into warm evening tones, but Sasuke had not moved a step from where he was. He was outside Naruto's apartment, sitting with his back leaning against the wooden door, exposed to the cold October breeze.

Sasuke had told Naruto that he would give him space, but the raven was too worried about his blond crush to be able to do so. He was unable to get even a wink of sleep last night because he just couldn't stop thinking about Naruto.

He wanted to talk to the blond. He wanted to make sure if he was okay or if he needed anything. He simply wanted to be there for the person he loved. But it is always easier said than done.

Today, during school hours, Sasuke had gone against the very rule he had made. He did not want to be Naruto's student today; he wanted to go and talk to Naruto and check up on him, despite the glances he knew he would get from his classmates for acting so friendly with their sensei.

And so, Sasuke had tried his best to interact with Naruto, only to be brutally ignored. It was almost as if Sasuke was a random stranger to him. Sasuke kept calling out to the blond for the entire P.E. lesson, but Naruto did not even bat an eye at him, leading everyone in the class to think that he was some attention-seeking asshole.

Everyone except Kiba. Kiba was aware of how hard Sasuke was trying to get Naruto to open up to him.

Naruto also did not show up at the rooftop for lunch today. Sasuke eventually gave up waiting for the blond and headed back to the class without eating anything since he had lost all his appetite.

Sasuke was already anticipating this, but he never knew that Naruto ignoring him could affect him this much. For the first time in his life, Sasuke had rushed out of the classroom as soon as the school hours were over in hopes of catching Naruto on his way, but it was all in vain.

So, here he was, seated on the cold tiles of the building where Naruto lived. He had knocked on Naruto's door many times, wishing that the blond would open the door and let him in. However, three hours had already passed, and Naruto still hadn't opened the door for him.

For once, Sasuke had thought that maybe Naruto was still at school since he hadn't seen the blond leave. But the sudden noise of shuffling and soft footsteps that definitely weren't Kurama's confirmed that Naruto was at home.

Sasuke was sitting with his knees folded to his chest to protect himself from the cold while staring at the sky as it changed colors.

'I should try again.'

He turned around a little and knocked on Naruto's door for the fiftieth time.

"Oi, dobe... I know you're inside... don't try to fool me. I said this earlier, but for your sake, I'll say it again. I won't leave until you open this door."

His tired voice was very much audible to the ears of the blond man who was standing right behind Sasuke, the door still separating them. Naruto wished he could open the door in front of him and let the raven in. He wished to take Sasuke in his embrace and warm him up, but he knew he couldn't do so. He knew that if he accepted Sasuke, he wouldn't be able to face Sai.

'Just go away, teme... Don't stay outside in the cold...'

A tear slipped down Naruto's whiskered cheeks as he turned around and left for his room, ignoring the whining coming from Kurama. Even the fox, who would occasionally growl at Sasuke, was begging Naruto to open the door for him.

Naruto lay down on his bed and placed his arm over his eyes. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on something else, but it was proving to be impossible for him.

'I see, so you still love me, baby...'

Sai's voice could be heard echoing in Naruto's mind. It was smooth and sweet, just like how Naruto remembered it to be.

"Yeah, I love you and only you..."

Naruto replied out loud. He loved Sai, but he couldn't help but feel empty at the words he just spoke. He had not slept the entire night yesterday as his brain toyed with him.

'Why me...?'

He was suddenly feeling tired, and his body was sore from overworking. Yes, he had overworked today to keep himself distracted from the guilt that came from ignoring Sasuke for the entire day. He decided that getting some rest would be a nice idea for now, and so he gave in to his exhaustion, with Sasuke being the last person on his mind.

'I hope he is gone when I wake up.'

*TIME SKIP* TWO HOURS LATER~

Naruto woke up to the sound of his phone ringing. It was his alarm that had gone off, indicating that it was dinner time. He turned it off before he sat upright. It was past eight in the evening, and Naruto was feeling more energetic now that he had taken a good nap.

He was stretching his limbs when he looked outside his window and realized that it was already dark outside. That's when he remembered it.

'Sasuke! I hope he isn't waiting!'

He hurried out of his bed and was about to rush out the door to check on the raven when he heard someone muttering. He looked at the small aisle leading to his door and saw Kurama sitting near the entrance of the house, wagging his tails.

Naruto slowly walked towards the door, and the voice of the person talking only got louder.

"-it was such a hectic day today. I tried talking to that dobe, but it was of no use. *sigh*"

Sasuke wanted to scoff at his pathetic self.

'That's right... who would want someone like me in their life?'

Sasuke's face contorted into a bitter smile as his gaze again fell onto the sky that was now dominated by the night. Sasuke was still sitting in the same position and talking to Kurama, who had decided to accompany the raven who was waiting for Naruto.

Almost an hour ago, Kurama had purred very close to the door to let Sasuke know that he was there.

Sasuke would never admit it, but he hated being alone, especially in the dark, so he thought that expressing some of his concerns to Kurama should not be of any harm. After all, a fox doesn't speak.

However, unknown to the raven, Naruto was now listening to everything that Sasuke was saying from the other side of the door. He hadn't made any sound so as to not alert Sasuke of his presence.

This was the only way to know what Sasuke was thinking because Naruto knew that Sasuke would never tell these things to him directly. He knew that Sasuke was a man of few words and that he was saying his heart out loud only because Naruto wasn't there and Kurama couldn't talk.

Naruto slowly took a seat on the floor right beside Kurama and listened to Sasuke's voice that had gone a little hoarse, probably from the cold.

"He tried his best to ignore the crap out of me, but I am sure that he is feeling guilty as heck right now..."

Sasuke paused for a moment to wipe a tear that had managed to escape from his eyes. He sighed deeply before continuing talking to Kurama, or so he thought.

"You see, I woke up early to make ramen for him, but he didn't come for lunch. *scoffs* He didn't even wait outside for me today... I guess this is what you call karma. Even I had done something similar to him before."

It ached Naruto's heart to listen to all this, but he dared not to let even a single sound escape the back of his throat.

"I don't know... Have I failed to earn his trust all along? Why can't he come talk to me? Oi, puppy, do you know what I will ask Naruto if he was here?"

Sasuke waited for Kurama to reply, who glared at Naruto and then whimpered as an answer to the raven.

"Oh? So I am not that boring, huh? *chuckles* "

'No, teme, you aren't boring at all, dattebayo...'

Naruto smiled at how silly the Uchiha could be. He had been curious about what Sasuke wanted to say to him, but he didn't have the courage to talk to him face to face.

And so, Sasuke began...

"Naruto, are you okay?"

'No... I am not.'

"I know you aren't okay... Can you talk to me about it?"

'No, I- I can't.'

"I know, I know, you can't. That's why I am still out here. *sigh* It's cold, dobe. You could've let me in, you know... But I guess I don't know you enough, so you'll just feel bothered if I meddle in your personal matters. After all, we have just met. I can't expect you to trust me so easily."

'That's completely wrong, teme! It's nothing like that!'

"So, can you start by telling me something about yourself? I did force out some of the information from your friends, but I still don't know how you felt in those moments..."

'What...? He... he knows?! How much does he know?! Who friends? Don't tell me... Kiba? Or maybe Shikamaru? Wait... maybe even both?!'

"You're probably very surprised right now, but you know what, dobe? I couldn't wait. I wanted you to tell me your story, but I was worried. But it's not an excuse for what I have done. I have probably crossed a line I shouldn't have, at least not without your permission. I'm sorry."

'No... it's not your fault...'

"But all of that isn't necessary right now. You can take your time, but at least let me in, dobe. I want to see you. I want to know if you are fine... Am I not even allowed to see you?"

'Wha- No! I can't tell you how much I want to see you right now... but I have my own issues to sort.'

"Am I of no help to you right now?"

'Sorry, Sasuke.'

"*sniffles* Naruto, am I the cause of your problems?"

'...'

"I am, aren't I? That's why you're punishing me like this... *sobs* I won't ask for more, Naruto... Just let me hear your voice... Only once, just tell me you're OK... I should be allowed at least that much, or it *sobs* it won't be fair, dobe..."

Naruto's heart was pounding like crazy. He wanted to hug the raven and kiss away the tears, but he was scared. He didn't know what Sai would do if Naruto 'cheated' on him.

'Sasuke... you sure can talk a lot, heh.'

Naruto wasn't sure when, but he had started crying while listening to Sasuke talk. He never knew that Sasuke cared so much for him. He was glad he chose to sit and listen, or he would have never seen this side of Sasuke.

Naruto was snapped back to the present when Sasuke spoke once again.

"Oh... another hour has passed... I should go now, shouldn't I? But I don't want to. I really wished I could've seen him. *sigh* Hey pup, you should be happy. I know you don't like me, but I guess even your father has stopped liking me."

Naruto felt a pang of guilt rise inside him. He could hear shuffling sounds from outside the door. Sasuke had stood up and grunted involuntarily as his body felt sore.

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat before speaking for the last time today.

"OI, DOBE! I'LL COME AGAIN TOMORROW! I'LL KEEP COMING TILL THE DAY YOU OPEN THIS GODDAMN DOOR!"

He said, and Naruto could hear Sasuke's footsteps fading away, leaving him there, all alone. After there were no sounds surrounding the blond whatsoever, Naruto let out a heart-wrenching sob.

He continuously cried, bawling his eyes out, and not once did he avert his gaze from the door.

"I- I should've opened it, right?"

He said, asking the only living presence in the room besides him: Kurama. The fox did not respond to the blond. He was disappointed, so he just walked away to sleep on the couch.

'Ugh... humans are such complicated pieces of shi- no, meat.'

Kurama wished he could be more respectful towards them, but the situation just wasn't sitting right with him.

He took a sneak peek at his human, whom the raven had called his father, and saw that Naruto was sitting in front of the door. His head was hung, and his hands were resting freely on his knees. His tears flowed continuously, as if the entire ocean was embedded inside him.

'Give me some time, Sasuke... I am sorry, but I just need some time... a little more time...'

Naruto was in a dilemma.

He wouldn't ignore his conscience, which couldn't stop thinking about Sai, but at the same time, he couldn't disregard his heart, which wouldn't stop beating for Sasuke.

A/N: And this was it! Naruto is finally moving towards accepting his new reality. And that's the message I'd like to give to everyone! I hope you all are able to accept the new things coming your way.'Don't let your present subdue your past, don't let your past ruin your future, and don't let your future constraint your present.'(* ' ▽ ' *)ﾉI hope this year makes your life "better than before."😁💙🧡Anyway, see you all in the next chapter!Author sound out ~ ✌🏻