DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its' characters. (Though the OCs are mine!)

ATTENTION – READ FIRST – ATTENTION

This is the +sequel+ to 'Webs of Deception'. So for those of you who haven't read that one yet, you might want to. I don't think this one can be read by itself. There's information that's in the first story that you might need in this one for it to make sense. Of course though, you don't have to, it's just a recommendation.

WARNINGS: SasuNaru – Yaoi – Male/Male relationship. Mention of Mpreg. Violence. Possible graphic sexual situations. (Warnings may change as story continues.)

SUMMARY: Nine years have passed, and Sasuke has learned to endure life without Naruto and raise their three year old son alone. But now, old enemies have resurfaced, resurrecting old pains that should have been left undisturbed.

Veils of Deceit

Chapter One

Nine Years

Coldness prickled along Sasuke's skin. It traveled deep, deeper than the surface and sank all the way to the bone. The all surrounding darkness was all too familiar to him now. This was how it always started.

He didn't move, he didn't have to. It wouldn't make any difference. It wouldn't change what happened. He sank to the floor, bringing his knees to his chest, and buried his face in them. He couldn't stand much more of this. It was tearing him down, tearing him apart. There was hardly any fight left in him.

The scenery changed, he could tell by the warmth that filled the air, that tried to warm him. He rejected it, wanting nothing to do with it. It wasn't real. The warmth would only fade, leaving him with nothing but a hollow emptiness. He foolishly allowed it once, and regretted it the moment he woke up all alone – all by himself in an empty bed. He had his limit. . . and this charade was driving him to his breaking point.

He could feel him now, yet he still refused to lift his head no matter how desperate he was to get another glimpse. Just one more. . . It would cause so much pain though, so much that he was actually afraid to face his own mind. And that was the most ridiculous part – how could he inflict such things on himself?

"Sasuke. . ." came the voice he ached to hear every second of the day. To hear it and see the bright smile that would accompanied it. The image was enough to give in to the almost all-consuming urge to open his eyes and inflict himself with the torture that stood a yard in front of him. He stared between the space of his hands, taking in – like all the other times he gave in – every detail he could never forget. That golden hair he's run his hands through more times than not, whisker scars he licked and kissed, and those unique sapphires that could pierce his soul.

He actually cringed when he stared straight into those eyes. So much light. . . so alive. He could hardly take it. Because he knew, there was a much more crueler fate that awaited him once reality decided to intervene. . .

The fantasy ends. . . and he'd be alone again.

Staring was all Sasuke could manage as a small hint of annoyance crossed the blond's face. "Sasuke." he voiced again. When no reply came, his head fell back and he let out a sigh of exasperation. "God dammit, Sasuke. Can't you see that I'm trying to help you?"

Sasuke scoffed and muttered, "Trying to help me?" Those words he couldn't believe. They ignited an anger in him, one that flared and blazed, because this was by far the last thing that would help him. He glared, showing his disagreement and Naruto turned away, running his hands roughly threw his hair.

Naruto faced him again, frustration overtaking his features. "Why can't you just believe that it's me! I've been trying to prov – "

"Shut up." he sneered, quieting the blond with not the volume of his voice but the pure venom that was placed in it. There was no way that he could believe that this. . . image was his dobe. That he was anything other than a figment of his own hopeful imagination. He didn't want to hear anything else. Not the arguments, not the apologies, and especially not the proof that the blond seemed to believe he had to convince him otherwise. And that's what he feared the most, that he was telling the truth and the man standing in front of him was actually his dobe. That there was unmistakable proof that he wouldn't be able to deny.

How would he cope when he knew the day would come when it all would be taken away from him again?

Sasuke removed his hands from his face and placed them on his knees, glaring unhindered into those lovely orbs. "You want to help me?" he continued to sneer. "Leave me the fuck alone. That will help me." Because if this continued, there was nothing that would stop him from plummeting over the edge.

He watched as the frustration was completely wiped clean and was replaced with sorrow and a underlining of hurt. The hurt was what struck agonizingly through his chest, and he had to forcibly shove his instincts down to remain in place instead of getting up and immediately go to him. Maybe that should have clued him in a little, but he ignored the logical part of his brain that researched about the Uchiha's genetic behavioral trait and chose to fiercely hold onto the idea that all of this was in his head.

"I can't." came the low reply. "I know this is hurting you, Sasuke. God, I wish I didn't have to resort to such extremes, but. . . how else are you going to search for the truth?"

"I'm not." he said curtly.

"You need to. You need to be ready for what's coming, Sasuke. And the only way you're going to be ready is if you find the truth and stop hiding from it."

A moment of silence passed before he spoke, "They say ignorance is bliss."

He hated to see that look of disappointment that was now prominent on the blond's face. "I remember you saying that you never wanted to be in the dark again."

Sasuke's face hardened, remembering what it was like to have that warmth in his life instead of the constant cold that lived in him now. "I'm forever in the dark. You should know, my light's gone. I have no interested in finding my own way anymore." He looked down at the watch wrapped around his wrist then, and smirked. "Your time's up."

"Sasuke. . . please." Naruto begged, a tear slowly making a wet trail down his whiskered cheek. "Ignorance is only going to get you killed. Then what'll happen to Aki and Kyosuke. . ."

Beeping had Sasuke waking up with a gasp. His breath came to him shakily as reality came crashing back down on him quickly, suffocating him. He shut his eyes against the rushing emotion that filled his chest in rapid succession, the overwhelming pain that torn at the broken pieces of his tattered soul. But the second his eyes closed, all he saw were those beseeching blues. His face twisted in anguish and he covered his face with his hands to stop the scream that threatened to break loose from his lips.

It was the same, every time he woke up from the dream, the pain was unimaginable. There was no controlling it, no restraining it, there was just a wave of despair that went havoc through his entire body. And it never truly stops.

The noise of the alarm seemed to blare in his ears, and in a violent impulse, he snatch it from the night table and threw it against the wall. He regretted it almost immediately when the thud echoed loudly through the room. He listened carefully for any movement from the room next door, but thankfully it remained silent. He released a hollowed breath, and attempted to gain some semblance of composure. He almost laughed, composure was no where in his reach. Never was anymore. . .

He was always told that time healed everything. . . The people who said that were fucking idiots.

Three years. . . that's how long it's been since Naruto died. And yet, it still felt like it was yesterday. It still felt like there was a gaping hole in his chest that no matter how much time passed, it would never heal. The wound was too severe, too deep. He was permanently damaged with no hope of recovery.

He thought he knew what it was like to lose Naruto, but that time held no comparison. Even when he practically saw it coming, he wasn't prepared for the true depth of really losing his dobe.

After leaving Konoha, Naruto's 'attacks' gradually got worse. It wasn't that noticeable at first, but after four years, it became clear that the time between each 'attack' became shorter and the time he was sick became longer. The following two years, that's when it all went downhill. Where Naruto became sick all the time. Where he had to become bedridden for his final year. Where an 'attack' could hit one second and another could hit the next. Things became that unpredictable. That terrifying.

It was then that his mind finally became to realize one horrifying piece of reality. . . Naruto was dying. And no amount of research they did could save him. All he could do was watch as Naruto slowly faded away until the day when he completely disappeared altogether. . .

There was a mission for Akuma that day, one that Naruto was insisting for him to go on. It made him irritable, because he had no desire to leave the blond's side. Naruto may have never intentionally showed it, the constant pain he was in, but he knew his condition was grim. That he didn't have much time left. Yet, the scowl he received was far from a match with the deathly pale complexion of the man propped up by pillows and a manilla folder laid open on his lap.

"The mission is simple." Sasuke argued, snatching up a package of kunai he recently sharpened and shoved them into his weapons' pouch. Yes, Naruto still insisted on working. No matter how he tried to convince him that he didn't need the stress, he still down right refused to. He said if he just let everything go, it would be like laying down and dying. And the only time he was going to lay down submissively was if he was above him and ready to fuck him senseless. "I don't see why Itachi and Miki aren't enough for it?"

This was one of their usual arguments lately, he didn't want to go on missions, because it forced him to be away from Naruto for too long a time. Anything could happen, and even if he couldn't do much, he wanted to be there for Naruto when something did. Naruto, on the other hand, didn't see it that way. Sasuke believed the blond purposely sends him out on missions so he thinks he won't know how bad off he really was. He may have a foot in denial's door, but he knew. . .

"I don't care if those two have untapped powers being shot out of their asses –" Never said his illness had any effect on his mouth. On the contrary, it only got worse. "You're still going." The blatant command of his captain rang through the room, and only pissed him off further. "Are you gonna stop arguing now?"

"Fuck you, dobe." he snapped, not happy at all. "This is the one place I can argue with my Taichou."

Naruto rolled his eyes and muttered bitterly, "Yeah, because I can be anywhere else."

"And that's the only reason why I'm allowing you to order me in my own god damn bedroom." he particularly yelled.

Eyes narrowed at him, "Don't do me any special favors, teme."

He snorted rudely while grabbing his cloak and wolf mask from the secret compartment in the floor, then headed for the open bedroom door. With how angry he was, he planned on leaving without saying another word, but something stopped him in the doorway. Maybe it was lingering gaze that remained on his back, or the disappointed sigh that accompanied it, or maybe it was his own need to never leave for a mission on bad terms, but he turned back around and went over to their shared bed.

Bright sapphire jewels stared up at him with sadness and regret swimming in their deep depths. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the others' forehead. At the contact, Naruto's body sagged, releasing all the tension that built in the fragile frame. "I'll see you when I get back." he said reluctantly when he pulled back.

A shaky hand lifted and landed on his shoulder before he could turn away. He immediately remained still, knowing the limb held little strength. "I'm sorry for being such a crab." Naruto spoke softly, his voice full of emotion. "You know I love you, right?"

Sasuke frowned, not liking the dread that was settling in his stomach at how this was playing out. "Don't be an idiot."

Naruto's lips widened into a smile as the hand on his shoulder gave a little pull. "Come here, bastard." He followed the pull without a fight, leaning into Naruto and pausing shortly just an inch from touching those still soft lips. He was staring into those expressive eyes. . . searching. There was something there he couldn't quite identify, something that had his instincts flaring and standing up on end. The dread in his stomach thickened, but before he could open his mouth to question his lover, Naruto closed that slim distance and soon he was lost in the sensations.

When they separated, Sasuke drifted upward and kissed the blond's forehead again. "Love you, too." he whispered against the skin. He hesitated in moving away from his dobe, hesitated in leaving at all. He couldn't shake off the feeling that if he did, Naruto wasn't going to be there when he got back. "Don't do anything stupid, Naruto."

Naruto pulled back enough to look up at him. "And what am I gonna do?" he asked in a way that told him he wasn't blind to his own condition.

The hand that still remained on the side of Naruto's face continued to rub soft circles over the scars on his cheek. "Just be here when I get back."

It wasn't the roll of the eyes or the persistent hand on his chest trying to push him away that had him wanting to hold Naruto and never let him go, it was the emotion that filled his voice when he said, "Go. . . you know how 'Tachi gets. He'll kick your ass for holding 'em up."

"Naruto. . ." There was a warning in his tone.

"Stop worrying 'bout me, teme. . . For God's sakes, go." He spoke harshly, and almost immediately regret shadowed his eyes. When he continued, his tone was softer and pleading, "Please, don't worry. You know Ruri-chan's downstairs, and that she'll take real good care of me. Alright, Sasuke? I'll be here when you get back. I'll always be here. . ."

It didn't make him feel any better, he was still wound tight for a reason he couldn't understand. Still, he nodded and gave Naruto one last kiss before he left the room and began his way down the hall.

"Goodbye, Sasuke."

The whispered words froze him to the spot. He turned to stare back down the hall at the blond who sat on the bed busy shifting through the file on his lap. He held such concentration on what he was doing, it made him wonder if he didn't just imagine it. He stood there for a long moment before he went completely against every fiber of his being and left the house with Itachi and Miki.

They were just outside the village when the most excruciating pain he's ever known had him collapsing to his knees. It was like someone had used a butter knife to cut his soul in half. Nothing else got through the blinding agony that tormented his body. Not until he blacked out with only one name flooding his mind. . . Naruto.

He should have never left him. . .

Never. . .

Sasuke took a deep breath to steady himself as he got up from the bed. Three years. . . and it still felt like he was dying. He walked to the bathroom, turning on the light and standing in front of the mirror over the sink as he yanked on a shirt. There was no going back to sleep now, not for a couple of days at least. Since the dreams began, he's been trying to sleep as little as possible. But there were nights – like last night – where sleep was inevitable.

He stared at his reflection and felt a little pride when his features showed nothing of the turmoil that was raging inside himself. Time may not be able to heal shit, but it did help improve one's ability to hide it all from the world. He went through the motions of brushing his teeth and fixing his hair with a few simple strokes of a brush before he classified himself done. Then he left his room and automatically went to the door next to his, opening it and peering inside. His gaze went straight to the bunk bed to the right and to the two boys who were sound asleep.

On the top bunk was a twelve year old Kyosuke, he laid with his head at the foot of the bed and his arm dangling over the edge while his mouth hung wide open. He snored, and drool probably was pooling on the sheet with every passing second. He was a lot like Naruto, but in personality only. His shaggy brown hair and chocolate warm eyes were nothing like his blond's.

It was eight years ago when him and Naruto decided to settled down in a house in the repopulated Yuugure. A place where they could come back to after every mission. A place they could call home. Even though, that wasn't where they're home really was. It was then that they permanently took in Kyosuke and raised him themselves. Naruto had hated that Kyosuke was forced to stay in Suna with Temari. Without Gaara's fear-inducing influence, Kyosuke wasn't that welcomed in the village anymore. Not being a Jinchuuriki.

They raised him after that as their own. And even after Naruto died, he still recognized the boy as his adopted son. One that he could honestly say he loved and would fight to protect. Not many stood on that level. Actually, that level only consisted of two individuals. Kyosuke was one and his three year old son who laid on the lower bunk with his arms wrapped around a stuffed fox was the other. Those two. . . they were the only reason he was still alive.

The death of his dobe was. . . to say the least, hazy. He couldn't honestly say what happened once he woke up and found out that Naruto was dead. All he could remember was the pain and the knowledge that his blond was gone.

He didn't know how much time had passed before a baby of a couple months was put in his line of vision. There was talking in the background, but he didn't hear it. All he was focusing on was the small baby boy with raven hair and stormy blue eyes. And he just knew without a shadow of a doubt that the baby was his. A cry cracked the haze of his mind as tiny hands reached out for him. He didn't hesitate about scooping the baby out of the person's arms and cradling him close.

Being born in the Fall. . . Sasuke named him Aki.

It was later on – when he was more willing to listen – that he learned how Aki came to be.

It became obvious that Naruto purposely got pregnant, and chose to die to save their child. Being only four months along, there was no way the infant would have survived the transfer. Not on his own.

As it was explained to him, Naruto broke Kyuubi's seal and Kyuubi willingly sealed itself in Aki to save the child from death. To seal him in a chakra made womb until he was grown enough to survive on his own. Kyuubi saved his baby's life, but it also made his son the new Jinchuuriki of the Fox.

He was never happy about that. Only because he knew what Naruto suffered by merely being a Jinchuuriki. What things he had to endure just because he had a demon sealed in him. It made him sick just thinking that his son might go through the same thing. And then there was his worst fear – the ones who would want his son just for the demon's power. Just like Naruto. . . his son could become a target. It could all repeat itself, and he hated that the only thing he could do was prevent it.

If he failed. . . he'd have to watch his son die just like the only thing he could do was watch Naruto. And they'd be no bringing him back from that. . .

Silently, Sasuke closed the door and made his way downstairs. "When did you get back?" he asked the second he stepped foot in the connecting dining room and continued on toward the filled coffee pot.

"Two hours ago." Itachi answered from the table with several manilla folders opened in front of him and his own cup of coffee in hand.

"Hmn." He grunted as he poured himself some much needed coffee. The first sip of the scolding liquid, he enjoyed. It was the burn that traveled down his throat that he savored. It was the only thing that could warm him up anymore. But after the first sip, like anything else, it dulled and became bland and tasteless.

Coming back to the table with his coffee, he sat down across from his brother. "How'd it go?" he questioned, casually grabbing a file which held a photo and information on Seijo Keiko, one of Akuma's potential members. The girl was twenty and lacking in combat skills. That was enough for him to close the folder without another glance and throw it off to the side – rejected.

It was that time of year again, where they picked new members for Akuma. This occurred every two years since they began increasing their ranks about six years ago. It unfortunately became necessary with the higher demand of their services and the decreasing number of members. Since two months prior, Kyoko retired from the team after giving them the news of her being pregnant. And with the fact that she was married to Miki and him thankfully being the father, the obligation to his family forced him in lowering his intake on missions. They were now up to three kids – two boys and one girl.

Then Naruto became severely ill, which not only took away one member but two. Sasuke almost never went on missions when Naruto's condition got worse. No matter how hard Naruto tried, he could only get him to go on a few. Then after his death, Sasuke had nothing to do with Akuma for two years. It was just these past eleven months that he slowly began to reintegrate himself back into the team.

It was Itachi, Ruri, and Gaara who truly kept Akuma together.

"It went as expected." Itachi answered curtly while he lined up five open folders in front of him. He glanced at each photo that held the image of the person who could become part of Akuma. "Pick three."

Sasuke immediately picked up Hiiro Rei's file. He remembered the twenty-three year old woman from a few years back. She made an impression, and was in the top pickings for one of the positions two years ago with her strong medical abilities and fierce combat skills, especially with sharp objects. The only reason she wasn't picked the last time was because there were stronger applicants who were chosen instead. Now though, looking at all the other top applicants this year, she was the strongest.

He placed her file in front of Itachi, and he gave a barely noticeable nod of his head in approval. Going back to the files, he placed Harada Yuka to the side without giving it much of a look over. The last three who remained were Ine Akito, Jouda Ran, and Royama Kaito. Out of the three, he grabbed Royama Kaito first. He was a nineteen year old male with a fighting style that he heard was. . . odd. He never saw the boy fight, but what he heard was that the boy combined flawless hand-to-hand combat with Raiton Ninjutsu. The only downfall, as he began to read his file, was that he lacked the basic skill of chakra control which had his Raiton unstable and would probably become dangerous for his future teammates.

That's too bad, he thought. But there was potential there, and as he took a sidewards glance at the last two, there was too much potential to pass up. Making up his mind, he placed Royama Kaito's file on top of Hiiro Rei's. An eyebrow rose on his brother's face at his decision, but he ignored it in preference to staring at the last two files. And continued to stare with a deepening scowl until Itachi tapped the picture of Jouda Ran. "His unique ability could prove quite useful to us."

He glared. That was Itachi's not-so-subtle way in telling him that the twenty-six year old male was the better pick of the two. And if he didn't want to kill the man, then he would have agreed. It's not every day where you meet a shinobi who could manipulate his molecules and chakra into walking through solid matter. Yup, the guy can walk through walls, and manipulate areas of his body where solid objects will pass right through him.

That was really the only thing going for him. His combat skills were. . . average – definitely not something to brag about. For being his age, he didn't have many Ninjutsu under his belt, but he did have the uncanny ability to stay unnoticed. Unless, of course, he was aggravating him with every visit he took to the underground compound.

"I don't like him." he deadpanned.

Itachi smirked, "Is that because the guy has quite a crush on you?" If it wasn't for the fact that he knew his brother was purposely being an ass, he would have punched that smirk right off that smug face. Instead, he narrowed his eyes to slits. This had Itachi sighing, "You know we need the best."

He snorted, Jouda Ran was far from the best, but his ability put him on the top of the list. Unfortunately. "Fine." he sneered. "But if the little shit doesn't knock it off, I'll be more than happy to knock him out."

"Understood." Itachi gathered the two files and put Jundo Ran with the other two and Ine Akito with the rejected. "We have our new members."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and got up, it was almost time to start breakfast. In about an hour, Aki would be bouncing down the stairs with energy he inherited solely from Naruto, then twenty minutes later – which he generously let pass – he'll have to go upstairs to drag a complaining Kyosuke out of bed. This was one of his routines when he was home. One, he had to admit, he enjoyed.

"You know you need to be there at the Initiation." Itachi said as he began to gather the supplies for breakfast.

"Yeah, sure." he said, distracted.

"Good." There was a pregnant pause, causing Sasuke to believe the conversation was over. He was fully intent on not saying another word until the kids got up, but Itachi just had to go on. "Now that's done, are you going to talk about the dream you had?"

"No." he said, not fazed in the slightest by his brother's question. It wasn't any surprise that he knew, he's always been creepily intuitive. But it didn't mean he was ever in the mood to share with his brother. Actually, he'd be better off if his brother would mind his own damn business. He was holding his breath though, the only time that would ever happen was if either of them were dead.

"What did Naruto say this time?" Itachi asked, apparently ignoring his response altogether.

Sasuke grabbed a red pepper and began to chop it up violently, he down right refused to have this conversation again. He stupidly talked to Itachi once about the dreams he was having, and now he just wouldn't let them go. He wasn't like Itachi, he couldn't talk about his late Abikaasa like it was just another ordinary discussion. The pain was too intense, too suffocating – merely getting through each minute was difficult. And Itachi wanted him to openly talk about his dobe. . . that shit was laughable.

Itachi began to speak again when he got nothing from him. "Sasuke. . . have you ever thought that maybe –" A knife deeply imbedding itself in the back of the chair right next to Itachi's head had him shutting up. Not a flinch came from Itachi as he stared back at him with a questionable eyebrow lifted.

He stood there, seemingly calm, but inside he was raging. The only evidence was the burn of his Sharingan active in his eyes and the rapid spinning of the tomoes. There were times when his brother just didn't know when to stop. To leave well enough alone. He was getting by, just barely, but he was alive and partly willing to stay around to be there for Aki and Kyosuke. But if his brother didn't stop pushing, the next time he wasn't going to purposely miss.

"Just checking." he said as he pulled the knife from the chair and laid it on the table. "You didn't have to start throwing things."

Without responding, he turned back to making breakfast, ignoring the stare that stayed on his back. He grabbed another knife from the drawer, then took his frustrations out on the onion in his grasp. After several minutes, he calmed down enough where he was able to push his Sharingan back.

It was so easy these days to lose his temper. And it wasn't the simple emotion of being angry, it was blind rage that burned through him. It had him seeing red every time anyone tried to force him into facing his own pain. To realize the true depth of his suffering. . . It would mean facing that one part of himself that desperately wanted it all to end. . .

And die. . .