Chapter 4

Sakura and Naruto stopped not far outside of Sasuke's room, and Sakura turned to look back towards the door, worry in her eyes. Naruto gulped heavily, and then looked to Sakura. "How did you know Sakura?"

The pink-haired med-nin turned to her former teammate with a small smile. "I can see it in your eyes every time you look at him Naruto. It's obvious, the look in your eyes. I know that you feel deeply for him, but you need to tell him."

Naruto winced slightly. "Didn't realize I was that obvious. But… Sakura, how can I tell him? There's no way he'd like an idiot like me, I mean, come on, we've been rivals since we were in the academy, and our relationship started out as a hate-hate thing!"

Sakura smiled, giggling slightly. "Sure it did, but you two got along well enough, and even became friends. Haven't you ever noticed? Sasuke loves you too Naruto, and I'm sure he's afraid of the very same thing you are; rejection. Sasuke's had to deal with a lot in his life, and being rejected is the last thing he wants. So he's afraid to say what he feels, because he thinks it will only lead to heartbreak." Sakura shook her head slightly, smiling. "He's always been like that; show no emotion. But as time went on, I watched him come out of his shell, I saw as he started to smile more. And not just those smirks he has, but true smiles. And, at the time, as much as I wanted to say that he smiled at me, it was always you. You brought out Sasuke's emotions, you turned him into the man he is now."

Naruto blinked, a little shocked. He had never heard the full story of Sasuke's past, the other liked to keep it in the dark. What he did know was that Sasuke's older brother had killed his entire family, but he didn't know much past that. That event had caused Sasuke to lock away his heart, and to hear the proof of the fact that he, Naruto, was slowly breaking that cage was a bit of a shock. "Do you really think so Sakura?"

The girl nodded. "Of course. Now that Sasuke's had this… problem, I really think you should bring it up, because he'll need all the support he can get right now. Alright?"

Naruto looked down, and Sakura sighed. Naruto turned his cerulean eyes back on her. "Right before the seizure, Sasuke was talking to me. Actually talking. He seemed like he was going to say something important, but stupid me, I thought he was just delirious or something, I was going to leave. That's when he went into convulsions." Naruto looked down. "I should have stayed. I should have listened."

Sakura sighed again, reaching forward and putting a hand on the blond's shoulder. "Nothing is your fault Naruto; trust me, that would have been weird for me too. Sasuke isn't really a talker." Sakura smiled. "Once he wakes, just go in there and tell him what you have to say. Things will work out in the end."

Naruto sighed, looking back towards the room that Sasuke was inside. "I sure hope they do Sakura…"

Naruto was silent, listening quietly to the whoosh and hiss of the breathing machine, the steady beep-beep-beep of the heart monitor. Sasuke was still on the bed, having been unconscious for nearly two days now. Naruto was worried out of his mind, gently holding Sasuke's limp right hand, stroking the pale skin.

Sakura had been in about every hour, but as much as the kunoichi wanted to stay with her friends, she did have work to do in the hospital, so she stopped in when she could, sometimes bringing Naruto something to drink, or maybe some sort of snack. She knew that the blond wouldn't leave Sasuke's side, and she would respect that.

Naruto sighed, laying his head down on the mattress. He was tired, but he wouldn't leave Sasuke. He didn't want the dark-haired shinobi to wake up and find himself alone, even though he knew that Sasuke would be fine here in the hospital. Perhaps he would only close his eyes for… a… moment….

Naruto woke with a start, sitting up straight. He quickly assessed everything around him, finding it to all be in order. Sasuke was still sleeping, the heart monitor was still going, and everything was fine. Naruto stretched slightly, and then placed his hand back on Sasuke's.

It was then that the blond blinked. Sasuke's hand was cold, startlingly so. Naruto frowned deeper, lifting his former teammate's hand and rubbing at his skin in an attempt to warm him up.

Sakura walked in at that moment, Lee not far behind her. Naruto glanced up as he heard the door open, but continued with his rubbing of Sasuke's hand. Sakura blinked. "Naruto? What's wrong?"

Naruto frowned. "His hands are so cold Sakura…"

The pink-haired girl copied Naruto's frown, though she sat on Sasuke's other side without a word. "Perhaps he's just cold Naruto, don't worry." Sakura pulled the blanket up a little higher on Sasuke's chest with a smile. "We just need to make sure that he's nice and warm."

Naruto nodded slightly, but he continued to rub Sasuke's hand silently. Lee smiled at the blond. "Nice to see you again Naruto. How are you doing?"

Naruto grinned at the black-haired man. "Great, nice to see you too Lee. How are things going?"

"Nothing could go wrong, I have my beautiful Sakura at my side," the other answered confidently, and Naruto chuckled slightly. Lee tilted his head. "And you Naruto, you would feel better if you had your Sasuke by your side, ne?"

Naruto blinked in shock, looking up at the man. "Wha? You too Lee?"

The green-clad man grinned. Even though his relationship with Sakura had calmed down his… well… personality a bit, he still was fond of the color green, and was wearing a green T-shirt. Lee chuckled slightly. "It is like my pink Angel says, it's in your eyes. And I just have a talent for seeing the beautiful works of love!"

Sakura shook her head slightly, but she was smiling. She had grown to like the ninja, even though she had originally thought he was the weirdest person she had ever met. Funny, how love could work out in the end. Sakura fell in love with Lee, Naruto with Sasuke, and, surprisingly, Sasuke with Naruto. 'I guess that old saying is right…' Sakura thought. 'Love does work in mysterious ways.'

At that moment there was a groan from the dark-haired shinobi on the bed, causing Naruto to clench his hand around Sasuke's. Sakura put a hand on Lee's arm, and the jounin nodded, following her from the room. They would leave Naruto to do what he had to do in private.

"We'll come back in a few hours Naruto." Sakura said on their way out. She saw the blond nod, but now his attention was fully on Sasuke.

Naruto tightened his hold on Sasuke's hand. "Sasuke?"

The Uchiha's dark eyes fluttered open slowly, and he turned to look at Naruto. The blond jounin let out a sigh of relief, smiling at the other man. "Oh Sasuke, I was so worried about you, thank god you're okay…"

Sasuke blinked fuzzily, and then Naruto felt him squeeze his hand. "I… I –" Sasuke swallowed slowly, and Naruto reached for the glass of water that was sitting on the bedside table, reaching forward and sliding the breathing mask down to Sasuke's chin.

"Here, drink."

Sasuke gulped the water greedily, and Naruto pulled it back, replacing the breathing mask over the raven-haired man's mouth and nose as he did. Sasuke breathed for a moment, and then tried again. "I'm… sorry…" His voice was rough, but came out much easier this time.

Naruto shook his head. "It's not your fault Sasuke, don't be sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry." The blond shook his head. "I didn't listen to you, and I should have been. I'm sorry." Sasuke smiled slightly, and then glanced down to where Naruto had a hold of his hand. Naruto grinned, and then lifted Sasuke's hand, gently pressing a kiss to the pale knuckles. "Can you forgive me?"

Naruto didn't turn away the entire time, his cerulean eyes locked with Sasuke's dark ones. The Uchiha's eyes were currently wide in shock, and Naruto could feel him shaking through the grip that he had on the other's hand. "N-Naruto…"

The blond grinned, a dazzling fox grin that was one of Naruto's biggest attributes. Sasuke flushed, and Naruto laughed. "I can't believe you blushed! The great Sasuke Uchiha, blushing…" Naruto laughed again, and then shook his head slightly. "Now that's something I don't think I'll forget soon."

"Are you… okay?" Sasuke asked slowly, still in shock.

Naruto nodded. "Of course I am. But people always tend to do strange things… when they're in love." Naruto raised his eyes to Sasuke's face, and was surprised and slightly frightened to see tears pouring down Sasuke's pale cheeks. "Sasuke?! What did I say, what's wrong?!"

Sasuke shook his head, stubbornly wiping away his tears. "Stupid tears…" Sasuke sighed shakily, and then smiled. "Sorry."

Naruto grinned. "You don't have to be. You're only human Sasuke, don't push yourself too much." Naruto's face gentled. "Sasuke, may I kiss you?"

Sasuke's eyelids fell to half-mast. "You'll have to move this mask."

Naruto grinned. "Oh, I wouldn't like anything more…" Naruto slid the mask down to Sasuke's chin, and then locked lips with the Uchiha, caressing the other's lips. Sasuke's hand rose to clench in Naruto's spiky hair, his eyes sliding closed. But as quickly as the kiss began, it was over, and Naruto was replacing the mask on Sasuke's face. "Can't have that off for too long," the jounin muttered.

Sasuke breathed deeply for a moment, and then smiled, closing his eyes and squeezing Naruto's hand. 'I think I've finally found where I belong…'

"I love you Sasuke."

Sasuke smiled. "Love you too Naruto."