Ah, and into the third chapter we go.

Disclamer: Sadly, I own none of the Naruto characters. ;;


Chapter Three

I tossed and turned one night as I slept—or I should say, didn't sleep. It had been about two months since Eli had been there and neither of us had gotten any friendlier with each other. I didn't want to.

I finally gave an exasperated sigh and sat up, throwing the covers off and walking over to the window. I opened it and climbed out onto the roof, watching the moon. My apartment is one way back and I can see most of the village from my roof. I looked it over, seeing that everything was fine. Then I looked the opposite way from the village; towards my old home—the Uchiha compound. I smiled a little bitterly. A lot of people thought it was haunted because of the way my family was killed. I don't think it's true—it's mostly to scare little kids so they stay away from it. I look away again, back to the moon.

As I do, something catches my eye. I turn my head to the side and squint a little. There's something bright…like a…fire. But no fire can be so I can see it from my roof—unless it's like a building burning down or something. I force a tiny laugh. A building? How could a building be burning at this time of night? Everyone's asleep! But I keep staring at it, studying it. It has to be a fire.

'Better go check it out.' I think, jumping down and running down the streets. I get closer and feel the heat of the fire. I hiss as the flames jump out at me, devouring the apartment building. I see people screaming and ANBU yelling orders to help put the fire out. I see ANBU carrying people out of the building. And I see the building itself through the flames; I see Naruto's apartment.

I run to see the victims of the fire as someone yells, "That's everyone! We're gonna just have to let it burn out." I glance at their faces and see Naruto isn't there. I feel my stomach tighten. What if he was…?

I shook my head and looked back to the building. Naruto's room had been on the second floor and flames now engulfed that. I swallowed hard. Some of the ANBU still hated Naruto…what if they had left him to die so the Kyuubi would be gone? My stomach tightened even more.

I slipped around back and jumped onto the roof of the next building, where the flames had miraculously not gotten. I squinted and hissed as I felt my arms burning. The heat was incredible. I'd be burned when I got in. But I had to get in some way. I just knew they had left him. I wasn't going to let the dobe die, not like that.

I took a deep breath and hoped for the best. Then I jumped, curling into a ball and hit the window. It shattered, spraying me with glass and I growled lowly in my throat as the flames burned my skin. I jumped up instantly and shielded my eyes, holding my breath. I was on the second floor and the heat made the hallway shimmer. I ran through it, avoiding as much as I could of the fire, and made it to Naruto's room. The door was closed and when I tried the handle, it was locked as well as burning my hand. I jerked away and wished I had put on a shirt before I'd left so I could cover my nose. I'd have to break the door down.

I stood back and roundhouse kicked it. It split like paper and fell inwards. I walked over it and looked around, squinting and shielding my eyes again. I was loosing air fast. I had to find the baka and get out of there or we'd both die. I calmed my pounding heart as much as I could and focused on finding his chakara. Almost instantly I detected it and ran to the front of his window.

He was unconscious with a rafter on top of him. He must've woken when the fire had started and tried to get out through the window when the rafter burned and fell. The wood was getting ready to catch fire, as the flames were quickly coming towards us. I groaned a little and lifted the wood, shoving it off of the blonde. He was still breathing. I opened the window, burning my fingers but ignoring it, and picked him up. He was lighter than I had thought he'd be.

I gasped and coughed as my air ran out and then went into a coughing fit because of the smoke. My eyes burned now I realized and I knew my time was up. I had to get out of there. I jumped out of the window, landing on the building behind the apartment and nearly fell to my knees. I breathed in and then coughed again, the smoke still in the air. I glanced behind me and saw ANBU watching the fire, the rest of the people out of harms way. I blinked a few times and then got some of my breath back and ran.

I had to stop a few times to catch my breath. When I finally made it home and in my apartment I fell to my knees, set Naruto down and turned away, having a coughing fit. When I was done I felt so weak I felt as though I had just trained and drained away every bit of my chakara and could barely stand. I sat there a moment, breathing slowly, then picked Naruto back up and stumbled over to my couch where I laid him and nearly fell again. My knees felt weak and I could barely stand.

I made it to the kitchen and got a cloth, wet it, and was about to go try to revive the blonde when I had another coughing fit. This one drove me to all fours and I gripped my stomach, feeling the coughs rack my whole body. My arm shook but I locked it so I wouldn't fall on my side. I groaned as the coughing stopped and I let go of my stomach shakily, setting my hand down to support me. I stayed like that for a few minuets, catching my breath and trying to get my strength back.

Finally I stood again and grabbed a chair, sitting it beside the couch. I laid the cloth on Naruto's forehead and made my way back to the kitchen to get a bowl of water so I wouldn't have to make a trip to the kitchen every time. I made it back to the chair, set the water down and ran the cloth over the blonde's face and then replaced it on his forehead. I sighed. This would be a long night.


Le gasp! Poor Naruto-kun! And Sasuke with his coughs...So what happens next? Ah, only I know. And the forth chapter comes soon...when I get reviews. Wee blackmail! Lol, I probably won't hold to it, or rather there'll be reviews before I can get a chance to even carry out my blackmail...Lol. Oh well.

-- Miah-Chan