A/N: This is going quickly for now, but I don't know how long I can keep it up for since we're heading into exam season, and it's my a-levels so I can't be distracted. I'm trying to write as much as I can before it gets to that point, but there might be a bit of a hiatus soon.

Anyway, on a more cheery note, thanks to reviewer, inhuit. Your thoughts are appreciated ;) Everyone, please review! It helps me know where to go with this…

It looks like I'll be sticking to a Naruto/Sasuke/Naruto structure for now (or vice versa), so every time you see some lyrics that's when it changes perspective.

Without further ado, here's what you came for:

Chapter Two - Two Hearts Collide

I wake up, it's a bad dream
No one on my side, I was fighting
But I just feel too tired to be fighting
Guess I'm not the fighting kind
Wouldn't mind it if you were by my side…

--Keane, A Bad Dream

Sasuke opened his eyes and winced immediately. It was almost noon, he could tell by the sun outside the windows, and he felt refreshed; but the pain was still there. They'd been up nearly all night, him and Naruto, and his eyes had closed on the dawn. He was swathed in bandages now, and Naruto had done his best to patch him up, although of course he wasn't a medical nin like Sakura. At first Naruto had insisted on calling her to deal with it, but Sasuke had begged him not to. He didn't want anyone else to know he was there. It was too dangerous.

He glanced over to the side and saw Naruto, asleep in a chair that he had pulled up closer to the sofa - which, by the way, had turned out to be quite a large sofa bed. It was of a good height, and Naruto had at some point leaned forward and put his head on the sheets next to Sasuke's hand, where he was still sleeping. Sasuke realised, then, that a couple of Naruto's fingers were entwined with his, and gently pulled them away. He had to go as soon as he was healed. Sooner, if possible. He couldn't afford to allow any kind of feelings towards Naruto - be they friendly, or something else - to redevelop. He couldn't survive here. Too many people wanted him dead.

He stared up at the ceiling, his eyes tracing over a hairline crack in the plaster, thinking. He didn't know how long it would take him to be able to travel again. He'd lost a lot of blood, and too much movement right now would break his wounds open again. He moved his other hand up to put it behind his head, trying to get more comfortable without waking Naruto. Unfortunately, even that was too much movement, and Naruto lifted his head sleepily.

"Mmf… wh- Oh. Sasuke." Naruto muttered, rubbing at his eyes. "How's your chest feeling?"

"Good." Sasuke said calmly. "Better."

"You going to thank me?" Naruto asked grumpily. His neck hurt from the way he'd been sleeping.

"Thank you." Sasuke said, and smiled slightly. "You've not changed at all."

"Why should I?"

"Because you're twenty-three now. Not some little kid playing at being a ninja any more."

"Huh, whatever you say, Mr Enigmatic." Naruto scowled. "You haven't changed either."

"How would you know?"

Naruto stared at him for a moment, before turning away. "Yeah. Of course. How would I know? After all, it's not like I've seen you for the last five years or anything. No, you just show up at my door asking for help, and I give it to you like an idiot. We're just strangers. Why should I help you?" He paused, and looked at the floor. "Maybe you should just leave."

"Why? You've spent years looking for me and now you turn me away?" Sasuke waited, but when Naruto didn't answer he simply continued. "I can't, anyway. You saw the wounds. I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah? And what if I throw you out?" Naruto looked up heatedly, and for a second there was something in his eyes that Sasuke knew, but didn't like. Something more demon than human.

"You're really rattled." Sasuke said, a little amused. "Don't be. I won't overstay my welcome, I'll go as soon as I'm well enough."

"Good." Naruto spat, and stormed out of the room. Sasuke watched him go, and then looked up at the ceiling again, an unreadable expression on his face. Of all the reactions he had expected, Naruto's was possibly the strangest. To accept him with open arms, and then get weird about it? It was true, nothing had changed. Sasuke still couldn't figure him out.

I'd sing all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own.

--Sum 41, Pieces

Naruto stormed along outside, wrapped in a large cloak against the wind. He was angry. He didn't know who with exactly - himself, or Sasuke - but he was angry. He had been living up there alone for years, just as he always had, and now Sasuke was there, in his space, in his life, demanding help and needing him. He didn't know how he was supposed to feel, but he was pretty sure it wasn't this. He kicked at a stone aimlessly, frowning at the world in general.

He didn't walk fast, so it took him a while to reach Konoha. Everyone there knew him. They could nearly all pick up on his mood straight away, but no one bothered to ask him what was wrong. Most of them still held at the back of their minds the image of the demon fox, especially after the events of three years ago. The events that had forced him to live at the edge of the village, away from everyone else. He forced his mind away from all of that and kept walking, intending to buy food, since he would now be cooking for two.

"Hey, Naruto."

Naruto ignored the voice and kept going, even though he recognised the voice immediately as Shikamaru's. Shikamaru was a nice guy, but Naruto didn't want to talk to him. He didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Naruto."

At last, Naruto turned and faced him. "What?" He asked rudely, just wanting to leave.

"Where have you been? Tsunade is going nuts. You were supposed to report back yesterday!"

"Whatever." Naruto muttered, turning back to his original path.

"No 'whatever', Naruto. It's important. There've been sightings of Sasuke, nearby. She wants you to look for him."

"Whatever!" Naruto repeated angrily over his shoulder, walking away quickly. Shikamaru was left in the middle of the road, gaping after him, while everyone around them muttered about his behaviour.

"Typical of that demon." One old woman said. Naruto heard her, and clenched his fists.

I'm not a demon. He thought.

Tsunade looked up as Naruto entered her office, and leapt to her feet.

"Uzumaki Naruto! You have returned late. Just where have you been?"

"At home." Naruto scowled. "The mission was a success. If you don't mind, I'll be going now."

"I do mind, actually. Take a seat." Tsunade said, sitting back in her own. Naruto was left with no choice but to sit down in front of her and wait.

"Now. If you'll just listen for a moment, I have another mission for you, and you'll like it." Tsunade continued. "There have been sightings of a certain someone not far from here."

"Sasuke." Naruto said flatly. "I heard."

Tsunade was slightly taken aback, but she carried on nonetheless. "Of course you did. Well, I want you to find him. He's here, Naruto. This is your chance to find him at last."

"No thanks." Naruto said, standing up again.

"What? But-" Tsunade stared at him. "You have no choice. That's an order."

"Too bad. I won't do it. I'm going home, and I'm staying there." Naruto said, making for the door. Behind him, Tsunade began to yell and order people to stop him, but he was strong now; he easily deflected their attempts and left, heading out into the cold day again.

"Naruto, if I were you, I would-" Shikamaru began as he passed him in the street, but Naruto pushed him aside.

"Good thing you're not me. Leave me alone." Naruto growled, and all the villagers parted before him like waves for Moses. They were scared. He didn't care any more.

He stopped when he reached the forest, and sat down with his back against a tree. He wished they would just leave him alone. All of them. Tsunade, Shikamaru, Sasuke. All of them. They had no right to interfere. No right to boss him around. He should have been Hokage, not an outcaste. He closed his eyes. No. he just wanted to be left alone, for ever. He didn't need anyone. They didn't need him.

He just wanted to be alone.

A/N: Dun dun dunnnnn! Hah, poor Shikamaru. No one ever listens to him.

More coming next week… tell me what you think so far!