Nineteen years.

He had survived nineteen years and now he died? It didn't make sense to him. He should have died when he was younger and weak, not when he was on the verge of becoming an adult and one of the most distinguished ninja ever known. Where was the logic in all of this?

Naruto stirred slightly in his sleep, his physical self twitched a little underneath the covers he was half hidden under. In the deep recesses of his mind he awoke, still lying with Kyuubi, who was awake and watching for him to awake.

How come you're still with me?

How come you are still with me? Shouldn't you be up already, asking questions?

… What do you mean?

I mean shouldn't you be catching up with Sasuke?

… Sasuke?

Baka.The one who saved your ass from getting killed.

You mean… we're not dead?

Are you saying you don't remember anything from after the first time you passed out?

I guess so?

Then yes, Sasuke saved you from being killed from the Akatsuki member that was after you, Kisame.

…

Right, I thought so. Now go.

He was nudged gently by the large fox's nose, and slowly regained physical consciousness. His eyes opened slightly, a white ceiling greeting them as it was bathed in golden sunlight, it must have been morning. He turned his head to the right, and saw an open window, the morning sky visible, along with treetops and the roofs of buildings. Birds chattered in the thick leaves immediately outside the window, going about their business happily. He relaxed, and eased his right arm from out under the covers and to his face. He brushed away a few strands of his golden hair from his eyes, fingertips brushing a bandaged forehead.

He noted with some concern that his Leaf Village headband was missing, but then remembered that it had been torn from him during his struggle to survive. He winced slightly at the memories, and then pulled the covers over him up to his shoulders, over his bare bandaged chest. The pain seemed minimum now, and he thanked Kyuubi in the back of his mind, the fox had an uncanny knack for piecing him back together quickly and efficiently. He turned his head to face left now, and noticed another sleeping person in the room.

Her hair was long and black, glasses fallen to the tip of her nose. She looked delicate, leaning against the wall, her hands folded in her lap, breathing peaceful and steady. He propped himself up on one elbow, then reached to get up, silently.

He stood up shakily, like a newborn fawn on spindly legs, and quickly grabbed hold of the wall to keep himself steady while his legs became reacquainted with the weight of his body. As soon as he stabilized, he walked silently over to the window, and gazed out, wondering where he was. In a situation like this he would have usually already been out the window and on his way home at breakneck speed, but something told him he was alright, nothing was going to happen to him. The birds chirped and flittered around, singing happily. He smiled to himself, his apartment at home had the same kind of view, although it wasn't anywhere near the forest as this place was. His shoulders relaxed as he let out a deep sigh, something bothering him somewhere deep inside his mind, unable to put his finger on it. A hand appeared on his shoulder and a voice spoke next to his ear.

"So, I see you finally woke up."

He jumped back, with nowhere to go but against the wall, but his alarm suddenly ceased as he identified the person.

"… Yea."

He was at a loss for words, and it was the only thing he could bring himself to say. What was wrong with him? After seven years of searching for him, trying to bring him home, all the hardships he had endured, all the risk he had put himself in to, all the things he wanted to scream at him right now, and not a thing? Something was wrong here, something wrong with him. Maybe his anger hadn't kicked in yet, maybe he was still in shock. His eyes dropped to the floor and his head slumped a little, trying to figure out what was going on.

Sasuke's brow furrowed with concern, he had expected a different reaction. Something happy, or at least loud and angry. He had even prepared himself to be hit some way or another, but all he got was a grunt and no eye contact.

He must still be recovering.

He reached out and placed a hand under Naruto's chin gently and lifted his face to look back at his own. The bruises were almost gone, having faded while he rested, but bandages still were wrapped around his head and under his jaw, making him look like a delicate war victim. Something pressed at Sasuke's heart, something warm that made him want to hug Naruto once more, seeing him now was an overload he wasn't quite prepared for just yet. The eyes that stared out at him now from under strands of long blonde hair and clean white bandages were wide and emotional, and very filled with confusion as to what was going on.

"What's the matter? You look… sad."

Naruto diverted his eyes once more, looking back at the ground, but something made him bring his gaze back to Sasuke. Not directly in the eye, but he looked at him as he mumbled a response.

"'m okay…"

He made no effort to remove Sasuke's hand, but preferred to leave it there. Aside from believing what Kyuubi had said, he had no proof before that Sasuke really had saved him, but now, here was Sasuke, in the flesh, and he was actually touching him. He hoped nothing in the world would break the physical connection they now shared, and he reached out with one hand, grabbing the sleeve is Sasuke's shirt. He finally looked him in the eyes, a look of soft concern and hidden care gazed back at him, Naruto felt something inside of him break.

"Sasuke!"

He gasped, leaning into the other boy to close the gap between them. His eyes filled with tears, and he clutched the back of Sasuke's shirt tightly, the solidity of his body the only proof that he was there and it wasn't all some dream that he was experiencing before dying.

Sasuke readily accepted Naruto's smaller frame against his, wrapping his arms around him, than stroked the base of his neck, trying to calm him. No words were spoken as they stood there, the soft whimpering sounds of Naruto's sobs into Sasuke's shoulder barely audible. Sasuke rested his head against Naruto's, eyes closed, reveling in the peace this simple action brought him. After a few minutes, Naruto's sobs faded away, and he leaned more heavily against Sasuke.

"'m… tired… wanna go to… bed…"

His eyelids were drooping and he was having a hard time staying awake. Sasuke supported him, but turned his head to look at Karin, still asleep. He looked back at Naruto, who was trying to stand on his own, and brought him back closer to him.

"We'll go to my room. I can keep an eye on you better there."

Naruto didn't process the whole sentence, but noted the sounds of the words and nodded sleepily. He was led out of the room quietly, and into the room immediately across the hall. Sasuke supported most of his weight, but stopped as they neared the large futon on the floor.

"Are you feeling better?"

Sasuke needed to ask and check on him before he was allowed to sleep any more. Karin had been making examinations of him while he had slept, but he would feel better for it to come out of Naruto's own mouth.

"Feel… just fine..."

The words trailed off, and just like that, Naruto fell asleep standing against Sasuke. The weight not really a problem, Sasuke gently lowered him down, onto the futon. As he went to pull away, he was unable too, Naruto still clutched the back of his shirt with one hand. He smiled as he eased the boy's hand off, placing it beside him. He began to get up once again, but Naruto awoke with a start, looking panicked.

"Sasuke!"

Sasuke hovered lower and grabbed his hand again, brows furrowed even more and asked concernedly, something like icy daggers shooting through him. Naruto's grip on his hand tightened, as if refusing to let go.

"Can't go... not again… please…"

This time his eyes did not close and continue their sleep, they remained open, and filled with worry and fear. Sasuke's expression softened, the icy daggers disappearing and being replaced with the war feeling nudging his heart once again. His hand that was not being held by Naruto reached up and stroked his cheek.

"I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere."

"No… gotta hold on to you this time… can't let you go…"

The warm feeling became a strange flame inside of him, he smiled again, this time more loving then before. Something seemed different about them both now, as if they were two different people who exsisted separately, but somehow relied on each other without knowing. He continued stroking his cheek gently as he blinked softly.

"Okay, I won't let go."

Without thinking, Sasuke lied down with him on the futon, not letting go of his hand as promised. Naruto's breathing became regular, and his eyes began to close once more, seemingly satisfied with laying with him. Sasuke pulled the covers from the foot of the bed over them both, and Naruto scooted over and settled himself against Sasuke's chest once more, similar to the way he did with Kyuubi. Sasuke gazed at him fondly as the bright blue eyes closed peacefully, then wrapped his other arm around him, providing a new sense of security for them both. The flame inside of him burned happily, something feeling right about the whole situation, as if it were just planned to happen that way.

He gazed softly on the face of the one who felt safe in his arms, noticing how much he had matured. No more baby fat remained, but his face was soft and delicate looking, he was the spitting image of his father now. Eyes exactly the same, even down to the unmanageable hair, but something remained untouched about Naruto, something that pleased Sasuke very much.

His continued stroking Naruto's cheek, this time running his thumb along his 'whisker' marks, something that always set him apart from everyone. They indicated the sealed demon inside of him, but Sasuke didn't care, they stood for Naruto now, the demon was just something extra. Other than his special markings, Sasuke felt like he was looking at a younger version of the Fourth Hokage, it wasn't hard for Sasuke to imagine Naruto in the formal wear of the Hokage, and it brought a smile to his face. The village was probably acknowledging him already for the off chance they need a new Hokage soon, he had done so much for the village over his life already, and he was only nineteen. He would live a far longer life than his father before him, Sasuke would see to that, and he would make people happy, something he did anywhere he went. There was just something about him that made people happy. Even as a kid, Sasuke had shunned Naruto like everyone else did, but they had shared something no one else could ever.

Loneliness.

It had been their bond from day one, and after all these years it was still something that brought them together. To them it seemed stronger than any blood relation, it was rooted in a deep understanding built upon by loyalty to each other, not wanting to let each other down lest they know how it would feel. The silence of loneliness was filled with pain and suffering for both of them, any by a lucky chance had found one another in the suffocating abyss of the blank.

Sasuke's eyelids began to droop as the rhythmic breathing of his slumbering companion calmed him, but was startled by a sudden shout.

"He's gone! Oh my god, he's gone! How can he be gone?"

Footsteps pounded and the door to Sasuke's room was slammed open, causing the sleeping blonde to wake up in alarm as the female from his old room came thundering in. Her face was frantic and glasses slightly askew as she flew over to Sasuke's futon and began to rant.

"Sasuke-kun, I know I was supposed to be keeping guard over him until he woke up but I kinda fell asleep and when I woke up he was-"

She paused, her eyes gazing upon Naruto clinging to Sasuke as he tried to calm him down from the loud interruption. Naruto looked up at her and then burrowed further into Sasuke's chest, giving the Kyuubi a reason to snicker at him.

What the hell is wrong with you, brat? You're acting like someone's out to get you.

Not funny fox bastard. We almost died!

Almost. Why dwell on the past? Hey, you might be able to bring Sasuke back now…

Shut up.

"It's alright Karin, I've got him now. You can go back to sleep, you deserve rest for all the medical jutsu you had to perform."

Sasuke dismissed her and she nodded, taking in the scene of the timid blonde and the protective raven haired boys laying together. A small grin appeared on her face as she walked out the door, closing it quietly behind her.

"Hey, Karin, is Sasuke in there?"

Another male appeared, this time with a more hidden savage appearance. The female's nose wrinkled slightly and she pushed her glasses further up.

"Yes, but don't disturb him, Suigetsu. He's taking care of Naruto-san."

"He's awake?"

"Yes…"

After saying only what needed to be said, Karin walked away rudely, but it was all she could do to keep herself from wanting to kill the moron. She disappeared into the room she had been in with Naruto earlier and the door shut behind her, a small click emitting from the locking mechanism.

The man she had left behind looked after her, eyebrow raised, but then shook his head. If she of all people was leaving Sasuke alone then it must have been serious. He sighed, then wondered if there was anything to do in such a small town. He wasn't familiar with wind country, and a small town like this made him slightly restless. If he wasn't under direct orders from Sasuke to lie low at all costs like his other team mates he would have been out doing something right about now. He wondered where Juugo was, and then remembered he had said something about animals and the garden.

Giving up, he suddenly had an urge to take a dip in the springs nearby the inn they were currently located at, so he began walking down the hall, humming to himself, grinning as he went.