Title: Ragtag Heroes Are Never Fallen

Chapter 10: Tourniquet

Kakashi knocked on the door to the Uchiha house. He was surprised that no one answered the door. Normally, Sasuke was on top of little things like that. He was actually a little worried about the fact that Sasuke wasn't home when he clearly should have been. Slipping into the house anyway, Kakashi looked down at the blonde boy in his arms.

Tear trails stained his cheeks. He looked helpless, lying still in the silver-haired man's arms. Sighing softly to himself, Kakashi went over to Sasuke's bed. Surely, the brunette wouldn't care just this once. It wasn't like Sasuke hadn't given up things to the blonde before this.

Kakashi pulled back the covers of the bed and placed Naruto on the sheets, removing the blonde's shoes. He smiled as he tucked in the boy. Sometimes – like when he had seen Naruto break down – made him wonder why he had passed the three genin once again.

However, it was moments like these that reminded him of why he had done such a thing. They had deserved it – they knew what the true meaning of shinobi was. If anything, Naruto's "death" had enhanced their wills and ideals on the path of the ninja.

Kakashi was proud of them. Sure, there were rough parts along the way – but ultimately, he knew that his team knew how to work together even in the direst of situations. With that in mind and a slight grin on his face, Kakashi left by an open window in Sasuke's bedroom.

Sasuke looked around him. It had long since grown dark and he had no clue why he was still out in the woods like he had been for the entire afternoon. He had been talking to Naruto… and then what the boy said had stunned him and shattered his belief in the fact that… that Naruto actually cared for him. He didn't know what to do anymore. Everything was twisting out of control and there was nothing the brunette could do to stop it.

No! Sasuke growled to his mind. Don't think about it. He shook his head rapidly, turning his eyes up to the stars above him. Slowly, without realizing what he was doing, he went over to the bridge to get a better view of the heavens. With a soft smile, he lay on his back and reached a hand up.

"One," he said aloud as he began to count the stars. In his head he added, for the day I met you.

"Two."

For the day we kissed.

"Three."

For all the fights we had.

"Four."

For the time that the three of us took Kakashi to ramen just to see what his face looked like.

"Five."

For the day you first declared you would be Hokage.

"Six."

For all the times that you smile at anyone

"Seven."

For the day we both made it to the top of the trees in chakra-training.

"Eight."

For the strength you gave to Inari – to show him that heroes still existed.

"Nine."

For all the times when you would get back up, never admitting defeat.

"Ten."

For your eyes – like open mirrors, that show the emotions that guide you.

"Eleven."

For the way you would stand up for yourself, no matter to who you were against.

"Twelve."

For your sunshine golden hair and sea-blue eyes.

"Thirteen."

For the times when you would just sit there, thinking, with a soft smile on your face.

"Fourteen."

For the time you and I went up against Haku and you wouldn't back down.

"Fifteen."

For when you took the senbon for me – sacrificing your life and your dreams for mine.

"Sixteen."

For when you woke up from dying – I was never happier than when I found that out.

"Seventeen."

For when you fell into my arms and I wanted to hold you like that forever.

"Eighteen."

For the day when you were crying so much that you fell asleep in my arms.

"Nineteen."

For when I put you in my bed to sleep. I swore you looked like an angel.

"Twenty."

For when you woke up and smiled at the fact that you were ruffling my hair.

"Twenty-one."

For when you began to act more like your old self again.

"Twenty-two."

For wanting to protect me from the senbon – and admitting that to my face.

"Twenty-three."

For being brave enough to admit that you were the seal and host to a demon.

"Twenty-four."

For letting nothing get you down.

"Twenty-five."

For coming back, even after all the things Sakura did to you.

"Twenty-six."

For making me feel emotions again.

With that, Sasuke fell asleep.

When Sasuke awoke again, not even the moon was still in the sky. In fact, Sasuke was sure that he could see the dark blue of night becoming lighter. Despite his obvious uncomfortable sleep, he felt well-rested. He slowly got to his feet and went back to his house. He needed a shower, he realized. And maybe he would catch another hour or so of sleep in his own bed.

The thought of his own bed made the Uchiha almost smile. After all, the only times that Sasuke smiled were few and far between, and usually only happened when a certain blonde fox-boy was in the vicinity.

Don't think about him right now, the tired boy's mind warned him as he stepped inside his apartment. He locked the door behind him and made his way over to his bed.

Only to find that someone else was already in it.

He stared down at the whiskered cheeks of none other than the boy that had been on his thoughts recently. He noticed how peaceful Naruto looked and couldn't help leaning over the blonde, placing his lips softly on the Uzumaki's. Realizing what he was doing, Sasuke jumped up, stepped back.

He couldn't believe he had just done that. He couldn't believe that he had just… kissed Naruto!

Falling into a chair, he just stared at the still form on his bed in shock. Does that mean that he liked Naruto? Did he go so far as loving the blonde? He was so confused. He couldn't figure any of this out! Why was everything so damn hard to understand! He just wanted to live the simple life of an avenger – kill Itachi, die in the process, etc. Nothing in that had anything to do with love.

Yet here he was, and he was in love. He knew it – had known it for a while. No matter how much he had tried to ignore it, deny it or make it go away – he was still in love. With a guy. Named Naruto.

Gah! Sasuke screamed mentally, curling his legs up on the chair. Why the fuck am I so fucked up? I didn't ask for this! I swear I didn't. Gods, Naruto's gonna hate me now. If he doesn't already.

At these thoughts, the Uchiha only grew slightly more depressed than he already was, which was understandable considering how very close he was to a mental breakdown. He rocked back and forth, hugging his knees to his chest.

Gods, why did he feel this way? What if… what if Naruto found him disgusting or something? What if… oh, gods, Sasuke didn't want to think about it. And that was how he came to his current decision.

He could never tell Naruto how he felt.

He had to act the same he always had.

It was for the best, he hoped.

Naruto felt extremely groggy and thirsty as he awoke. The first thing he noticed, before he opened his eyes, was that the blankets smelled like Sasuke. His eyes opened slowly. They stared up at the ceiling. That definitely wasn't his ceiling. With a groan, Naruto put a hand to his head and lifted his upper body up.

Dammit, he was thirsty and he had a huge headache. And just why was he in Sasuke's bed?

Naruto noticed the Uchiha curled up on a chair, asleep. Stepping onto the floor softly, Naruto took the blanket that had previously been covering him. He wrapped it around the Uchiha tightly. Slowly he made his way to the kitchen. Surely Sasuke wouldn't mind if he borrowed a glass of juice to quench his thirst.

Not really caring if the brunette would mind or not, Naruto got himself said juice and felt almost immediately better. Slowly, he pulled a piece of paper off the counter and hunted around for a moment for a pen.

He wrote only one word on the paper, going back into Sasuke's room to place it on the pillow. Hopefully Sasuke would understand what the blonde meant. Without saying anything, Naruto quietly made his way out of the residence and back to his own.

When Sasuke woke up, he realized that he was warm. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was still jack-knifed on the chair, his blanket wrapped around him. His eyes shot to the bed. It was empty. A single piece of paper lay on the pillow. Stumbling to his feet, Sasuke walked over to the paper. He dropped his blanket on his bed. The Uchiha picked up the paper, his eyes traveling over the one word written there.

"Thanks."

Not able to stop himself, Sasuke lay back on his bed. Thoughts whirled through his head but he couldn't make any type of sense from them. He was an avenger, goddammit! He had duties to fill. One word, scrawled on a piece of paper for the boy that made him feel again shouldn't throw him into this state of mind.

He was supposed to be strong!

He was supposed to be the stoic observer, not really giving a damn for anything around him. And yet he did. He found himself more and more falling into a deep, black pit of despair.

It was strange, the way he thought of Naruto. Everytime he thought of the blonde, he would think of the time that the day the blonde died. Everytime he did that, he would think of the last time he lost his important people. When that happened, he would think of Itachi and his duties as an avenger.

His mind was very twisted that way and seemed to love to torment him because of it. If only he could get out of the cycle, of his past. If only he could break free of it.

But he knew he couldn't. He had sworn, under blood, that he would not rest until Itachi had been killed, over the bones of his family. It was an oath. And he knew he had to fulfill it.

He brought a forearm over his eyes, his hand clasped around the paper wrinkling it. Unbeknownst to him, there was a happy smile on his face as he stared into the darkness of the back of his eyelids. There was a knocking on his window, startling his mask back into place. He moved his arm and saw none other than Kakashi waiting to have the window opened.

Sighing to himself, he stood up, hiding the "letter" if one may call it that and opening the window.

"Why do you want?" he grumbled.

"Eh?" Kakashi said. "Is that any way to greet your sensei?"

I would push you out the window, Sasuke thought, but then I'd have to clean the lawn of your guts and that's just not appealing to me right now. He did not let any of his thoughts trickle out onto his face as he stepped aside. Kakashi jumped in.

"Where's Naruto?" the silver-haired jounin asked.

Sasuke merely shrugged. So it was Kakashi who had brought the blonde to his apartment. He didn't care why anymore.

"So you let your possibly broken teammate out into the harsh streets after what he had to go through at the hospital last night?" Kakashi asked, lightly.

Sasuke's eyes flashed. Tensing so that he wouldn't attack the jounin, he growled, "What happened at the hospital?"

Why am I doing this? Why am I bothering to care about all of this? The Uchiha was beginning to wonder, however he still glared silently at his teacher.

"I think that you should ask Naruto that, not me," Kakashi replied.

"Why?" Sasuke snapped. "I don't know where he is – but you're right here! Answer my question." The boy's scowl, if possible, had deepened.

"Hmmm," Kakashi pretended to think before bluntly saying, "no."

Sasuke nearly strangled the jounin, but thought better of it. He grabbed his jacket and stomped out of his house. He had to find that damn blonde. He had to make sure that Naruto was completely and totally okay – and that Sasuke didn't have to be… this worried about him.

Sasuke ran first to Naruto's apartment. He knew that the chances of the blonde being there weren't that great, but he couldn't help needing to check the obvious places first.

He peered in through the dark window. It was obvious that Naruto wasn't there. So, Sasuke headed off towards Iruka's house. He banged on the door furiously.

Iruka answered it a moment later. "Sasuke-kun?" he asked, obviously puzzled.

"Do you know where Naruto is?" the Uchiha blurted out, trying to regain a little bit of his breath. He had been panicking during the walk, so he had hyperventilated… which wasn't good for him.

"He's in here, why?" Iruka wanted to know.

"May I see him?" Sasuke inquired in his more stoic tone.

Iruka nodded and stepped aside to allow Sasuke into his house. It was a modest, two-story building. The first thing Sasuke noticed was the Wall of Iruka and Naruto. He smiled at some of the pictures, which were obviously taken by a third party, who never appeared in the actual pictures.

The second thing that Sasuke noticed was the feel of the place. It was cheery, giving off a warmth. The atmosphere was welcoming and Sasuke almost felt himself drown in all of the feel of Iruka's house, but he kept himself from melting at it.

"Naruto is upstairs, asleep," Iruka said. "Would you like to see him now or wait until he wakes up?"

"I'll see him now," Sasuke whispered.

Iruka smiled. "All right, why don't you come help me make hot chocolate for the two of you before going up there?"

Sasuke nodded, following the older man to the kitchen. "Iruka-sensei," he stated. "If Naruto's asleep, then why are you making hot chocolate for him?"

Iruka chuckled slightly. "He's improved much – I think it happened during the bridge mission," Iruka explained. "You can't walk into his room very often anymore without disturbing him. Dunno why his senses are higher these days, but its good to see that he may be Hokage yet."

"You believe he could accomplish it?" Sasuke wanted to know. He watched the pot, waiting for it to boil. Iruka was sitting on one of the chairs at his kitchen table.

"Come over here, Sasuke-kun, a watched pot never boils," he reminded the Uchiha. When Sasuke came over and sat down, Iruka returned to their conversation. "I never doubted he could do it. Whether or not he had the fox sealed inside of him – he's always been strong."

"Then how comes he always screws up on everything?"

"Attention. He never had anyone give him a great amount of attention. He learned as a small child that if he was loud and obnoxious, people would know he was there. They would yell at him for whatever he was doing, but he would always smile at the beginning."

"Why?"

"Because they had addressed him for the first time. After that stage, he knew that he couldn't gain respect that way, but he didn't stop. He was actually really smart, but he knew that he couldn't compare with the smartest person in class," Iruka was telling Sasuke. "So, instead, he became the dumbest person. He became the person everyone would ridicule. That way – they would pay attention to him. He didn't care about anything but attention."

"So you're telling me that the dobe is intelligent?"

"More so than you would even believe. After all – have you heard of any other six year old who could strategize the way he would gain the most attention even before meeting his peers?"

"No."

"And have you ever heard of an orphaned child who managed to figure out how to get his own apartment and keep it with no one's help by the age of four?"

"No."

"And have you –"

"I get the point, Iruka," Sasuke interrupted, not look at his ex-sensei. Instead, his ears took in the bubbles from the pot. "Water's boiling."

Iruka nodded and stood up, taking the pot off the burner and pulling out a tray, two mugs, and hot chocolate packets.

"You go on up, I'll be there in a moment."

He quickly and efficiently made two mugs of hot chocolate and put them on the tray. Sasuke had left right after he had been told to. He walked up the stairs. Peering into different rooms, he finally found Naruto at the end of the hallway. The boy looked so peaceful sleeping, that Sasuke didn't step into the room yet, content on just watching the blonde. He was tucked up a comforter up to his neck and had his hand sticking out, laying in front of his nose. It reminded Sasuke somehow of a small child.

"What do you want, Sasuke?" a tired voice asked. Sasuke's eyes darted back to Naruto's, only finding that they were open.

"Visiting you."

"Why?" Naruto growled slowly. He didn't bother moving, but he watched Sasuke as the boy hunted around for a chair. Finally finding one, the Uchiha brought back over to the bedside and stared at the boy.

"There are a few questions I wanted to ask you."

"Like what?"

"What happened last night? Kakashi mentioned something, but he wouldn't tell me anything."

Naruto's eyes darkened and he turned his back to Sasuke. Of course, the Uchiha would be the one to put Naruto in a bad mood right after the blonde had woken up. No one else would be so inconsiderate to him. Well… they would probably kick him, with the exception of Iruka-sensei and maybe Kakashi-sensei. But only Sasuke would make him remember what he had come to Iruka's house to forget. Only Sasuke.

"I don't want to talk about it," Naruto grumbled. "So go away."

Sasuke was slightly hurt by these words. He reached a hand out and was trying to decide whether to let it rest on the boy's arm or not. Naruto was obviously not in a good mood, but Sasuke could understand that.

"Please Naruto, tell me what happened," Sasuke pleaded.

"Why would you care?" Naruto's voice reached the Uchiha's ears. "After all – you were the one so adamant about me going there to begin with!"

"That was because I thought that they wouldn't hurt you – or do anything to you. I only told you to go to the damn hospital because I care!" The words were out of his mouth before Sasuke even realized it. It was times like these that Sasuke really wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. Before Naruto had a chance to reply, there was a knock on the door of the room. Sasuke turned around, seeing Iruka, caring the tray with the two mugs: an orange one and a blue one.

"Hot chocolate for the two of you," the teacher said warmly. He set the tray down on a table near to the two boys. "Just bring this down later, all right?"

Both boys nodded to the brown-haired man. With that said and done, Iruka left, shutting the door behind him.

Sasuke reached out and took the blue one. Naruto sat up, his hair tousled and took the orange one. Leaning back against his headboard, he stared at Sasuke with emotionless eyes. He took a sip of the scalding liquid, all the while thinking about how to reply to Sasuke's statement a moment ago. Finally, he realized that the best question was the easiest.

"Did you mean what you said before Iruka came in?" he wanted to know.

Sasuke sipped his hot chocolate. It took him a moment before he nodded. He couldn't deny what had been said – but Naruto didn't need to find out the extent of his caring.

Naruto sighed, looking tired – weary almost. "Do you really want to know what the doctors said?" he asked.

Sasuke nodded.

Naruto gave a hollow laugh. "Well, first things first, they made us wait at least four or five hours when we first got there," Naruto began to explain. "After they called our name, they said 'the doctor will be with you shortly.' It was another hour and a half before the doctor showed up."

Sasuke stared at Naruto, but the blonde wasn't meeting his gaze.

"The doctor turned out to be Tomikoto," Naruto continued, his voice flat and dead, trying not to express how much pain it made him feel to relive this. It had been a long time since someone had called him an animal to his face, they all preferred monster, or demon. "The Tomikoto took one look at me… and he said 'go find another hospital. This hospital is for humans, not… not animals.' After that, we left."

Without looking back at Sasuke, Naruto just sighed. "It's stupid, thinking that the insults will ever change, but I suppose what they say is true. I suppose that this entire fucking village is right. After all… I'm not human, I'm just a name-less seal. I lost my life the day Kyuunan was sealed inside of me."

Sasuke had to contain his anger, sipping the hot chocolate as though he didn't care. However, the façade was too hard for him to keep up right now. "You are human," he whispered, looking down at the cup in his hands. Naruto's head snapped to stare at the boy, though he couldn't see the Uchiha's eyes. "You are alive… otherwise you wouldn't be Naruto. You have people who care for you, so you're not alone anymore."

Naruto didn't exactly know how to reply to Sasuke's words. Instead, he just stared openly at the wall, trying not to look at Sasuke. He put his empty orange mug on the tray.

"Well, that's about all I wanted to say," Sasuke mumbled. He stood up, putting his mug on the tray. "I guess I'll leave now."

Before Naruto could realize what he had done, he grabbed Sasuke's hand. Sasuke, so intent on going the other direction, wasn't good enough to catch himself as he fell onto of Naruto, their fingers still intertwined. Both boys were blushing at the close contact.

Neither spoke. Sasuke's mind was screaming at him to get off, but his body was basically saying "screw off" to his mind. He didn't know what to do. His onyx eyes were widened in surprise as he tried to stop staring into Naruto's blue orbs.

Both boys couldn't do anything. Sasuke felt his head tip lower, his eyes slowly shutting as his mouth descended upon Naruto's. The blonde was a little surprised at first, but his eyes slid shut as he responded to the kiss.

Naruto felt Sasuke's tongue against his lips, begging for entrance, to which he allowed. His breath quickly as his and Sasuke's tongues battled for dominance. Sasuke won, sliding his organ into Naruto's mouth, exploring every inch of the cavern.

Naruto lightly sucked on Sasuke's tongue and one of them moaned, but no one could really tell who it was that did the action.

All of the sudden, Sasuke pulled back, feeling as though he had just tasted ambrosia. He stared down at Naruto, lovingly, before realizing that this wasn't a dream.

Oh, shit, he's going to hate me, the poor brunette thought. Not brave enough to give Naruto even a chaste kiss, the Uchiha jumped to his feet.

With a frantic, "See ya later," the brunette ran out of the room and out of the door of Iruka's house. He needed to get somewhere where he could think about what had just happened.

He had said he needed to go, Naruto had pulled him back and then he kissed Naruto. That wasn't really surprising… it was the fact that Naruto had responded to the kiss that Sasuke was scared.

What if he had misinterpreted it or something? What if Naruto was imagining that Sasuke was someone else? What if he hadn't realized that it was Sasuke he was kissing? What if he actually liked Sasuke? What if Sasuke had destroyed an entire future relationship because he had run away?

The questions tormented him, but he didn't have enough room in his mind to think rationally of answered.

Naruto stared at the ceiling, not moving from the position that Sasuke had left him in. Sasuke had kissed him. And he had kissed his best friend back.

Something must have been in that hot chocolate. It had to have been the hot chocolate. If it wasn't… Naruto didn't know what to do. Instead, he believed firmly that the Hot Chocolate was the bringer of all the questions that ravaged his mind, and the kidnapper of all the answers he sought.

Damn hot chocolate, he thought before falling once again into sleep.