Sasuke ran through the forest, branches lashing at his face, he winced slightly as a particularly thorny branch cut deeply into his cheek, but he paid it no heed as he continued running.
"Are you still scared, BROTHER?"
The voice boomed through the trees, its echo spreading through the forest, it didn't take long for the voice to reach Sasuke. Tears welled up, as he knew that he could not escape the nefarious owner of the voice. He had been running for over an hour, yet Itachi had maintained Sasuke's pace easily.
He leapt swiftly over a fallen tree and soon found himself in a clearing, where the topmost branches separated to allow light into the small haven. Foxes danced around the raven's feet as he stopped and stared in wonder, appreciating the beauty of the place. He forgot about his pursuer as he picked up a baby fox and huddled it close, it reminded him of Naruto, his one and only friend. If he was going to die, he decided that he wanted it to be here.
A loud rustle behind him indicated that he was no longer alone. He set the fox down slowly and turned to face his death. But it was not Itachi that faced him, it was Naruto instead.
"Sasuke?"
Sasuke couldn't stop the tears falling from his eyes as he approached his friend and embraced him tightly.
"Naruto…I'm going to die, you have to leave, before Itachi takes your life too."
Naruto broke the hug, with a warm smile on his face.
"You are safe here Sasuke…not even Itachi and his demons can reach you, to him, you are still fleeing through the forest, he still chases you in vain. You see, you exchanged your aura with that baby fox, and he cannot sense either of you, as long as you are here. When the fox leaves the clearing…" Naruto swallowed before continuing "Itachi will kill it, blinded by his hatred, he will not realise that he has not killed what he hunts. Your aura has changed, but you haven't."
"But when he believes that he has killed me, he will once again see clearly…and when I leave this clearing, he will realise I'm alive and-"
Naruto silenced him by lacing a finger on Sasuke's lips.
"Itachi's goal is to wipe out the Uchiha clan, once he believes that his work is done, he will take his own life, as his goal will not be achieved for as long as he lives. And for as long as I live Sasuke, I will always protect you."
"You mean he'll kill himself Naruto? I don't want you to risk your life for me, I'm not worth it."
"To me Sasuke, you are worth it, to me you are far more important than anything and anyone…I love you more than I can say."
Sasuke was shocked at the blondes' words, he would never have believed his feelings to be mutual.
The two stared at each other in silence, Naruto biting his lip nervously, anxiously awaiting Sasuke's reaction. Their attention shifted however, as the small fox left the clearing, a yelp was hears and with a shudder, Sasuke felt Itachi's life leave, moments after the fox.
"I love you too dobe."
Naruto caught the raven, as he passed out, exhausted, he slowly lowered him to the ground, a mass of flowers having to suffice as a mattress. The blonde lay his head on Sasuke's chest and wrapped an arm around his waist. He snuggled up close, the scent of pollen inducing him into a deep sleep.
The two lay there for hours, arms wrapped around each other, fingers entwined together, Sasuke's head resting atop Naruto's, breathing in the blonde's luxurious scent.
The two were lost in each other, never wanting to be found.
