Author's Note: Thanks for the new reviews. Trying to keep them in character is making this story a lot longer than intended. Soon the rating will be going up, if that makes any of you more excited about this story. XP Also, I still can't seem to get the scene breaks to show up, so --blah—will have to denote one, sorry.
What do I have to do?
"Now that I want to talk, you aren't able to talk to me." Sighing, Naruto pulled up a chair for the corner of the room to Sasuke's bedside. He rested his elbows on his knees and chin on his hands, thinking about the last few months' events. If life was one big tapestry, some of the key threads had been missing, leaving the scene look awkward and hard to follow.
"I wonder if that kiss you gave me was some sick joke," Naruto mumbled into his hands. "Those looks you've been giving me… your voice…" The blonde cursed quietly before continuing, "It's been driving me insane!" The loudness of his last statement caused a loud stream of whispers to float in through the open door and caused blue eyes to widen. This was definitely a conversation best left in private.
After closing the door, Naruto put the uncomfortable chair back against the wall and decided to sit on the side of the bed. His eyes wandered to Sasuke's sleeping face and the sight caught his breath. It had stopped snowing and the light from the moon streaming in through the window made his injured partner's pale skin look like that of a porcelain doll. As this thought crossed Naruto's mind, he realized visiting hours were probably long over. The nurse had allowed him in when the sun was setting. Now the sky was black, illuminated by stars and a half covered moon.
"I wonder how long I have before they remember and kick me out," Naruto said with a small chuckle and a foxy smile. "Maybe I should finish what I was trying to say." His voice shook as he said these words and scratched the back of his head. This was not easy, especially since he still hadn't sorted out his feelings at all. The few clouds wrapping the lower half of the moon floated away, intensifying the glow on Sasuke's face. Blue highlights appeared in Sasuke's hair, and tanned fingers moved to touch the glowing strands before he was even aware.
"Naruto?" Sasuke had heard everything that the other ninja had said earlier, but was too exhausted from the morning's treatments to respond until now. "How long?" The black haired ninja decided not to outwardly react as Naruto's fingers remained in his hair for a few more moments.
Naruto's fingers were removed quickly when he realized what the digits were doing. "You're not dying or anything," the blonde said in annoyance.
"How long was I out, dobe?" Sasuke forced his usual strength into his voice as he sat up.
"Oh. Two weeks."
The injured young man cursed and clenched his fist as his eyes closed. "I was careless."
Naruto jumped a little at the admission. "The guy only stabbed you. Did I bang your head into a wall on the way out?" It was a week attempt to lighten the mood.
"Maybe," the other breathed out and moved his eyes to focus on the sky blue of Naruto's. "So talk."
"Excuse me?" A blonde eyebrow arched at the order.
"Finish what you were going to say, dobe. I need my rest. Sasuke waved his hand in a mock-dismissal gesture.
"Sometimes I wonder why I put up with this abuse," Naruto said half in jest as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away in an angry pose for a moment.
"You won't have to anymore." Sasuke's voice had cracked on the first word, but the rest were said flatly.
"What are you-"
"I heard. I'm useless."
Naruto noticed Sasuke's fist clench a second time and felt a stab of guilt in his gut. "If I had gotten to you faster…"
"Shut up. Get out." The Uchiha knew his moment of curiosity in the mission had potentially ruined the rest of his life. He also realized his time with the bight eyed boy would be cut in half, if the other would visit at all. 'I don't give him much of a reason.'
Naruto jumped up from the bed to lean over Sasuke, placing his hands on either side of the other ninja's body. Intense blue stared into almost passive black. "Stop. Feeling. Sorry. For. Yourself," the blonde forced out through clenched teeth. "People are working day and night to cure you and fix the damage."
"And if they can't-" Warm lips cut off his point as Naruto kissed him. Sasuke's body was forced back onto the bed and he moved a slim hand to cup the back of Naruto's head. At first it was sloppy and intense, but then they found each other's rhythm. The black haired ninja almost let out a whine when they parted.
Naruto's brain had set off an alarm that had broken the kiss. He moved off the bed quickly. "Don't you know that people care and would miss you?! And people call me stupid, jeez!" The yelling had alerted the nurses and Naruto was quickly removed from the room, leaving Sasuke hopeful and confused.
