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Today was Naruto's wedding. Something that they'd been planning for and anticipating for months. It was also the day that Sasuke would be returning to Konoha for the first time in a year. Naruto paced the room as he waited for his best friend to arrive. He had a lot to catch him up on with the village, their friends, and his own life.
The past week had been nerve-racking for Naruto. He had been the one to propose marriage because that was the next step, the next thing to do in life. And who else to do it with than the girl who'd been in love with him all along. As the wedding day approached, he had his doubts. Pre wedding jitters. That's what everyone said. They assured him that they would disappear, especially once he saw his bride. Naruto trusted them, but it didn't stop the pit forming in his stomach.
He began attributing that to Sasuke's absence, too. Whenever he was gone for long periods of time, which was always, Naruto got restless. He understood why he was gone all the time, but it didn't stop him from missing Sasuke.
As the clock moved forward without Sasuke's arrival, Naruto felt the pit in his stomach growing deeper. He bit one finger nail as he continued pacing. He could hear everyone outside arriving and celebrating. It made his stomach churn. Where was Sasuke?
"Naruto!" Lee burst through the door with enthusiasm, followed closely by Shikamaru and Choji. "Are you ready?! Ready to take the next step of life?! Of LOVE?!"
"Volume, Lee." Shikamaru said, tone flat.
"Loosen up, Shika!" Choji nudged him. "It's an exciting day! Someday it will be you out there."
"Ugh, no thank you." Shikamaru said. Naruto almost missed his faint blush.
"It's not just exciting!!" Lee shouted. "It's romantic. Oh, I cannot wait to get married. If only Sakura would give me a chance."
"Isn't she still hung up on Sasuke?" Choji asked. The mention of his name had Naruto's heart racing. Surely he would be here soon, too.
"No," Shikamaru said. "I think she's finally let that fantasy go. Don't you remember how disastrous their date was?"
"That was not my fault!" Lee defended before anyone could accuse him.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Even if you hadn't crashed it, I can't imagine it would have gone much better."
"She's too good for him anyways." Choji added on. "But you gotta chill out, Lee. Don't overwhelm her."
Naruto rolled his eyes but still smiled. He couldn't imagine anyone too good for Sasuke. His younger self might disagree, but he'd long let go of his childhood crush on Sakura. He hoped she would find her happiness though.
"Since weddings are so romantic, she might be more open to the idea today, Lee." Naruto added on. Perhaps someone's childhood crush could work out today.
"You are right!" Lee's face lit up. "Women love weddings! I will ask her at the reception!"
They burst into cheers of encouragement until a knock sounded at the door. Naruto's heart leapt. Sasuke was finally here. He opened the door to see-
"Sakura?"
She smiled softly at him. "Hello Naruto," She glanced over his shoulder. "Boys." Lee immediately grinned and waved. Choji and Shikamaru waved with much less enthusiasm.
"Shouldn't you be with Hinata and the others?" Naruto asked. He couldn't help glancing around behind her for any glimpse of Sasuke.
"I will be heading there shortly." She stepped inside the room. "I have something for you."
"Wedding presents are supposed to be given at the end of the ceremony, Sakura." Naruto teased. She rolled her eyes then lifted her hand. In it was a small slip of paper.
"What is this?" Naruto asked. He was already unfolding it. There was one word.
Congratulations.
"It's from Sasuke." She said, no hint of a joke in her voice.
"What?" Naruto's stomach dropped. Why would Sakura be delivering a note from Sasuke when he could say the word himself to Naruto's face? "But…"
"Sasuke couldn't make it." She said softer. No, no, no. "And he asked me to give it to you."
"He… he said he would come. He promised." Naruto said quietly. His heart raced as bile rose in his throat. Why wasn't Sasuke coming? What had changed? He didn't want to do this without Sasuke. Others were speaking around him; Choji, Shikamaru, and Lee all chiming in with their thoughts. But Sakura was just staring at him. He couldn't hear anything properly. He turned towards the window and stared out at Konoha. His home.
It was incomplete without Sasuke in it.
"Naruto?" She touched his shoulder. He looked back at her. They were all staring at him silently now. Sakura was looking at him like she was expecting something, but Naruto had no words for her.
"It's almost time." Shikamaru said, unaware or unbothered by Naruto's inner turmoil.
"I… can't." His eyes didn't leave Sakura's. She lifted one corner of her mouth as if that's exactly what she expected. "Not without him."
"What!" Choji shouted. "But it's literally about to start!"
"Seriously?" Lee asked at the same time. "This is your wedding, Naruto! We have no time to waste! Hinata is waiting for you! Love! Romance! Remember?!"
"What will you do? Cancel?" Shikamaru asked. "He's not here. You ca-"
"Actually…" Sakura spoke and Naruto stepped closer, hanging on her words. Some small hope lightened his chest. "He hand delivered the note. He said he was just passing through, but…"
The room erupted, but Naruto just stared at the note in silence. Sasuke had promised to come but now changed his mind. He hand delivered the note, so it must have been a last minute change. What couldn't wait? What was more important than his wedding?
What was more important than him?
He would have to ask Sasuke himself. He looked up at Sakura who nodded with a smile. "Go." She said.
"Buy me time." He shoved the note in his pocket and jumped out the open window ignoring the shouts of his groomsmen. He deployed several clones to search throughout the village.
It didn't take long for one of them to spot Sasuke on his way to the main gate. Naruto changed course immediately and ran faster than he had the first time Sasuke had left him. He remembered how hard he fought to keep Sasuke home and he'd failed. He'd failed over and over again. He knew this time was different. Sasuke was leaving, but he would return again.
So why did it hurt so badly? Why did it feel like abandonment?
Naruto dropped down in front of Sasuke on the path. They both stared at each other in silence, just the sound of Naruto's panting and the birds in the trees.
"Naruto." Sasuke whispered, his mouth parted slightly in shock. He looked Naruto up and down taking in his wedding attire. His jaw set, and he straightened. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I am on my way to my next mission." Sasuke adjusted his bag. "Aren't you supposed to be getting married? Don't tell me it's already over, and you've abandoned your bride. Horrible way to start a marriage."
"No," Naruto said, ignoring the sharp words. He always expected banter from Sasuke, but he seemed particularly bothered right now. "I've come to bring you back."
"This again." Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. "I will be back, like always."
"But… why aren't you coming?" Sasuke's eyes widened. A flash of guilt was there and gone from Sasuke's face. He hadn't been expecting Naruto to chase him or to ask for his reason so bluntly. Didn't he know by now that Naruto would always follow after him? "You promised to come. It's kind of a big deal. An important day."
"I'm busy."
"Bullshit." Sasuke stared at him in shock. Naruto never swore. He was a little surprised with himself too. But he didn't care right now. Sasuke was here in front of him but refused to come home. "Please come." He said softer.
"You don't need me there."
"Yes I do! I can't do this without you."
"Yes, you can!"
"No, I can't!"
"I'm not the one you're marrying!" Sasuke said with so much anger and hurt that Naruto knew he was missing something. He just couldn't figure out what.
"What?"
"Forget it." He said then turned, trying to go around Naruto. "Go back to her. Marry her."
"You can't even say her name."
"I can."
"You don't like her." His shoulders dropped. "Why?"
"It doesn't matter." Sasuke said.
"Of course it matters! You're my best friend!" Naruto stepped into his path and reached for Sasuke. He allowed himself to be grabbed by Naruto but still refused to meet his eyes. "How am I supposed to choose between my best friend and soon to be wife?"
He finally looked at him. "No one is asking you to choose, Naruto. You are putting that on yourself."
"You're the most important person in my life. You alone know my heart and soul-"
Sasuke batted his hand away. "Do you have any idea how you sound?"
"What?"
"You should be saying that to Hinata."
"But… it's not true for her."
"And that is what should bother you! Not my presence at your wedding. If you truly love her, you would only need yourself, her, the officiant, and a witness. You would marry her without me." Sasuke paused. "If you love someone that much, nothing else should matter." He said, voice thick with emotion.
"You don't think I love her?"
"You love everyone. That isn't the problem." Sasuke sighed.
"And what is the problem."
"You said it yourself. I am more important than the woman you are about to marry."
"I…" Naruto had nothing to say to that. He wasn't sure how to fix that or the fact that he didn't care to fix it. He couldn't imagine being closer to anyone than he was with Sasuke.
"So you see why I can't come."
"I don't think Hinata would care." Naruto said. The reasoning was weak. Sasuke didn't care about Hinata.
"You still don't get it."
"Help me out here!" Naruto threw his arms up in frustration. "Help me understand! Why-"
Sasuke grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him forward. Naruto had barely caught his balance when their mouths collided. Not for the first time, they kissed, but this time didn't feel accidental.
In fact, this felt much, much different. Sasuke's mouth was soft and warm against his and sent electricity throughout his whole body. Neither of them moved away. Naruto's arms came down on Sasuke's shoulders and instinctively pulled him closer. His hands traveled to his hair and tilted Sasuke's head and deepened the kiss. Sasuke gasped softly, and Naruto licked his lips until they parted. His whole body felt alive as he tasted him for the first time.
Naruto groaned and backed them up against a tree then pressed their bodies together. Sasuke still clung to his shirt and kissed him back with just as much passion. Heat traveled through him, and everywhere Sasuke touched sent small sparks traveling between them. When their hips pressed together, they both moaned.
This was nothing like it was with Hinata.
Hinata.
The wedding.
Naruto pushed back and released Sasuke, who remained against the tree. They both stared at each other trying to catch their breath. Shame rolled through him. He was supposed to be getting married to someone else.
But how could he regret a kiss like that?
How could he regret anything with Sasuke?
He licked his lips, tasting the other man there, feeling the ghost of him in his hands. Sasuke stood there blushing heavily, but too stubborn to break eye contact. He wanted to reach for him again. Kiss him until they both forgot about what they were supposed to do, who they were supposed to be.
He wanted to find out what else they could do together. If kissing felt like that, then…
He shook his head. "Fuck, Sasuke."
"I'm sorry." His voice sounded strained. "I shouldn't have-"
"No… you should have much, much sooner." He walked back to Sasuke who was staring at him with wide eyes. He grabbed his chin and whispered. "Wait for me."
"Wait? What are you-"
Naruto stepped back towards the village, not willing to let his eyes leave the man he loved yet. Because that's exactly what it was. Love. This thing he'd been trying to name for years. Why he could never find anyone to compare. Why Hinata would never be his true other half. That was Sasuke. He'd tried to wrap it in friendship or brotherhood for years. The words never fitting, but he hadn't know what else could fit.
He'd been a fool. Of course, he loved Sasuke.
"I have a wedding to call off."
"You're- What?! Naruto!" Sasuke called out as Naruto ran off. "Idiot."
Naruto ran straight for the venue, jumping across roofs and skipping greeting anyone. He didn't even bother to speak to his groomsmen, just went straight for Hinata. Sakura stood outside guarding the door. She smirked once she spotted him.
"That was fast."
"Is Hinata still inside?" He asked. "I need to speak with her."
"Yes." Sakura crossed her arms and looked hard at him. "Handle this delicately, Naruto."
He was about to protest when he paused. He cocked his head to the side. How did she know what he was coming here for? She rolled her eyes.
"You're both dumb asses." Sakura reached for the handle. "Neither of you have ever been subtle, even if you didn't understand what you both felt. Sasuke figured it out before you, and I'm just glad you finally realized before it was too late... But you really have bad timing."
"I know." Naruto felt his shoulders drop. He'd been grinning like a maniac the entire way here. He was grateful for Sakura's words. It would not be kind to walk in to break it off with his fiancee with a dopey, fresh kissed face.
"Now, go on before I hit you. Though I'm still considering since you don't have to look nice for pictures any longer."
"Let's give Hinata first dibs, please." Naruto held his hands up. He understood her anger, and he probably deserved it, but he hated to be punched by Sakura any day of the week. She opened the door and let him enter.
Ino was in his face first. "You are not supposed to see the bride before the ceremony!"
"Get out!" Tenten was there next.
"Please, I need to speak with Hinata!" Naruto held his hands up.
"Let him come in." Hinata's soft voice called out. "I have some questions for him, too."
The bridesmaids huffed but stepped aside. Sakura motioned for them to leave with her, and they both shot him warning looks before following. Hinata stepped around the corner. She looked beautiful, but now Naruto noticed how his heart did not beat for her. He did not yearn for her presence the way he did for Sasuke. He'd been truly blind. And stupid.
"So… you jumped out a window and ran away." She didn't look pleased. "I knew you were having pre-wedding jitters but…"
"I was looking for Sasuke." He said. He wasn't sure what he was defending. If he'd left to look for Sasuke or because he was scared of marriage, it didn't matter. Either way he'd left, and now he'd come back to end things. He watched her shoulders drop. She smiled sadly.
"And did you find him?"
"Yes… we talked." He felt his face grow hot with the memory and with shame. Not shame for the kiss, but the shame of not doing things right. Of how he was about to hurt Hinata and likely had been hurting her all along.
"I see." She said. "You'll never let him go, will you?"
"No."
"I always wondered."
"Really?"
"Yes." She rubbed her arms, turning towards the window. "I began to wonder why your obsession with him didn’t go away after he came home. You never smiled at me like you did him. You were always happier when he visited. I kept telling myself it would get better. At first I told myself it was because you still had anxiety over his absence, but years passed and nothing changed. Still I waited. I hoped. You said all the right things, you kissed me, and asked me to marry you… you loved me.”
“I’m sorry…" He said honestly. Guilt weighed in his chest. "I do love you.”
“But not the way you love Sasuke.” She looked at him with tears in her eyes and still smiling. She almost looked relieved. Angry too.
"No… and I'm so sorry that I let this go on so long. You don't deserve this."
"I wish you had realized it sooner."
"Me too."
"You should go on a trip with him." She looked away again.
"What?"
"I… don't want to see your face for a while." Hinata admitted. "Go see the world with your 'one and only'. I wish you happiness, but my heart is broken." Her voice broke on the words. "I will clean up your mess, but do me a favor and take a long trip."
"You are too good to me." Naruto said. He'd led her on, broken her heart, and she was still offering him kindness. He almost wished that he could have loved her the way he should have.
Hinata nodded. "I know."
"You deserve happiness, Hinata. You will find it."
"Thank you."
He placed a small kiss on her hand then left quickly. He needed to return to Sasuke and to avoid the angry women that would come after him once they realized what he'd just done. He went straight to his apartment and packed a bag. By the time he locked his door, the guilt was mostly settled. He was sure it would pop back up many times but now he just wanted to get back to Sasuke.
Half way to the gate, he paused. He deployed a single clone with a simple message. They would return to Kakashi and let him know of his plans to leave with Sasuke. Then he was running back to the main gate.
He saw Sasuke leaning up against the tree where he'd left him, his bag on the ground. Sasuke was looking at him, one arm crossed over his chest tucked into his cloak. "Well?"
"I avoided getting beaten to a pulp."
Sasuke chuckled. "A miracle."
"Also, I'm coming with you."
"Really?" Sasuke looked taken aback, as if he was surprised and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Yes, Kakashi has been informed now." The memory coming to him now that the clone had poofed. "And Hinata or the other women might kill me if they see me any time soon, but I wanted to come anyways… we have a lot of time to make up for." He smiled brightly.
"Alright…" Sasuke lifted his pack. He was trying to look unbothered, but Naruto caught how his mouth lifted on one side. "Just don't slow me down. I do have missions, you know."
"Slow you down?" Naruto scoffed. "You'll be struggling to keep up with me!"
"We'll see about that." Sasuke stepped up to him and pulled him in for a short kiss. Naruto's breath caught and leaned into it right when Sasuke pulled away. Naruto blinked at him. Sasuke smirked then began walking away. "Keep up, Usuratonkachi!"
Naruto laughed then ran after him. He quickly grabbed Sasuke's bag from his shoulder, slinging it over his own opposite Sasuke. The other man protested until Naruto grabbed his hand and held it. A faint blush crept over Sasuke's face but he allowed it.
"Does this mean I am your boyfriend now?"
"No."
"What?!" Naruto pouted.
"You'll have to take me on a proper date first."
"I can arrange that."
"Not a ramen shop."
"There goes half my ideas."
"You still have ideas?"
"Shut up!"