Sasuke couldn't help but stare at Naruto's sleeping face. He looked so different when he slept. Peaceful. Sasuke remembered what he had said the other night, about loving Naruto. At the time, it had just blurted out all at once. Now he couldn't believe he had admitted it in front of Rowan. Suddenly all his feelings towards Naruto were becoming clearer. When he left Konoha, he wasn't thinking about anyone or anything but Naruto. The thought of leaving the blonde hurt more than the fact he had become a total disgrace to the image his family had honoured so highly. Then, when he was watching Naruto, there was the overwhelming jealously he felt when Naruto was around Gaara.

Finally, Sasuke knew this was probably the reason why he gave his own life for Naruto and couldn't honestly say that he didn't regret it at all. Sasuke wondered if Naruto could possibly have the same feelings. After all, they weren't even that close when Sasuke was in Konoha. If Naruto did feel the same, it would explain the way Naruto dedicated himself to bringing Sasuke home, despite the amount of times the raven nearly killed Naruto. The way Naruto reacted when he died. The blonde had always been a sensitive person, Sasuke knew that, but he had to wonder if Naruto would react quite so badly to the death of one of his other friends, say…Kiba, Neji or Sakura. Sasuke couldn't help but smile at the fact Naruto had a picture of him under his pillow. That Naruto had secretly taken that photo, a long time ago.

That left Sasuke wondering how long Naruto had kept that photo under his pillow. Judging by when it had been taken, it could even have been before he left, before he died, which would surely mean Naruto liked him more than a friend? Sasuke was filled with excitement at the prospect that Naruto could feel the same way. Naruto mumbled something that, much to the raven's delight, sounded like 'Sasuke', and rolled over. That seemed to make Sasuke's mind up. "Rowan." he couldn't wait any longer; he had to speak with Rowan now. He called for the guardian again, but this time much louder. The slightly flustered guardian appeared by his side. "What?" he snapped. Sasuke asked what was wrong with Rowan. "Well, I do have other charges, you know! What is it this time?" he asked quickly.

"I was thinking about talking to Lorde about-"

"Lorde-sama." Rowan predictably interjected. Sasuke sighed. That was getting annoying. "I was thinking about talking to Lorde-sama about…Naruto." Rowan groaned. "I'm not your babysitter, Uchiha. If you want to see Lorde-sama I'm sure you can go without me holding your hand."

"Its not that!" Sasuke said indignantly. "Besides, I've been there alone before." He added. Rowan simply folded his arms across his chest. "Then why are you wasting my time?" he drawled.

"I just wanted to know, is there a possibility I could ever come back to life?" he asked, glancing at Naruto.

"Don't even go there." Was Rowan's answer. Sasuke frowned; Rowan didn't seem at all surprised by this, almost like he was expecting it. "Yes, Uchiha, I knew you would say something along those lines sooner or later," Rowan said, correctly reading Sasuke's expression. "Its because everyone does." Sasuke thought for a moment.

"I wasn't asking that, I just wanted to know, is there a way? Any way?" he asked, getting slightly desperate. Rowan tilted his head slightly, wondering exactly how much he should tell the raven. "If you want the truth, then yes. There is a way." Sasuke's expression completely changed, hope filling him.

"Don't look at me like that, I don't have the power to do that. The only person who would have that power would be-"

"Let me guess," Sasuke grumbled. "Lorde-sama?" Rowan nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course. He would have knowledge of something as complex as this." Sasuke opened his mouth again, but Rowan quickly cut him off. "I myself have asked for this. When Dan was alive, it was all I wanted. Lorde-sama refused, of course. I suppose I was rather foolish to expect to be worthy of getting something as…" Rowan trailed off, not quite knowing what to say. "Well, Lorde-sama explained a second chance in life is something that can only be earned by doing something particularly exceptional."

"It wasn't foolish of you." Sasuke said quietly. Rowan looked up questioningly. "Wanting to be with someone you love, I mean. Wanting to go back for that reason." There was an awkward silence between them. Rowan was the first to speak. "Well, think about this. Do you truly believe that if I was refused the chance, you will have it handed to you?" he said with a smirk, before disappearing. Sasuke glared at the spot Rowan had been standing in seconds ago. He had to admit, Rowan had a point. Rowan was extremely loyal to Lorde, and had probably served him well for…years. Sasuke sighed sadly.

Rowan was right. He hadn't even saved one charge without needing the help of another guardian. There was no way he would even be considered. Another glance at Naruto and what Rowan said seemed insignificant. Now he knew there was a way to get back to Naruto, there was no way he would give up. Any desire Rowan had for becoming a living human again probably died with his lover. Naruto, however, was still alive, and Sasuke was determined that he would get back to his blonde. He needed to let Naruto know how he felt.

"Rowan!" Sasuke waited for about two minutes. Another minute later, there was still no sign of the brown-haired guardian. "Rowan!" he hollered.

"What is your problem? What could it possibly be now?" Rowan shouted angrily. Sasuke rudely pointed at him, filled with enthusiasm. "You're a stand-in right?" Rowan simply nodded. "Right, there's Naruto." Sasuke pointed to the bed. "I'm leaving!" he announced. Sasuke spread his wings and was gone before Rowan could even open his mouth.

Sasuke hurried down the white corridor. He squinted as he walked to the desk. It could be his imagination, but every time he came here it seemed to be more blinding. Forgetting all respect he should have for the elder angel, Sasuke jumped right in and announced his intentions. "Rowan informed me there is a way to get back to life. I want to go back to Naruto!" Sasuke was met with a silence, which quickly ate away at the large amount of confidence he had charged in with. The raven cleared his throat wondering if, despite the loud voice he had used, he had actually been heard.

"Erm…didn't you…hear me?" he mumbled. Lorde tore his eyes away from the papers he had been writing on. "Your still here?" he asked lightly. Sasuke groaned; why did this man have to be so…weird? "Yes, Lorde-sama, I said-"

"Oh, I heard you perfectly well, Sasuke. My hearing is just as good as it used to be!" he informed the raven with a smile. "I do not know what business Rowan would have informing you of this, as it usually only causes more problems. However, I am sure he did explain that this is a rare privilege. The last time I returned someone to the human world was," he paused. "Almost two hundred years ago. And that was a very unique situation."

"I know. Rowan told me you have to do something really special to deserve it, but I just can't keep doing this! In fact, I refuse to do this!" Lorde seemed mildly interested at this. "Oh?" Sasuke couldn't believe how calm that man could be while he was so frustrated. "I can't keep going on without Naruto! It hurts so much to watch him, every day, knowing I can never be with him!" Sasuke took a deep breath and calmed down slightly. "Lorde-sama, isn't your objective to do what is best for the charges? What is best for Naruto?" he asked. The man nodded.

"Of course. I know Naruto was close to you, despite your…absence in his life. Through the betrayal, Naruto forgave you. Through death, he found his life hard to life without you. I am very aware of Naruto Uzumaki's case."

"Then surely me going back will help him?" Lorde finished a sentence and placed his expensive-looking pen down. He simply watched as Sasuke was enraged again. "Look, I don't care, I need Naruto!" Sasuke didn't even bother worrying about how selfish he sounded.

"I always knew you would be a problem. Very well, you may go back if you wish." Sasuke gaped. "W-what? Just like that?" he had expected to take longer in convincing Lorde how much he wanted, needed, this opportunity. Lorde nodded.

"I believe you should be told…" Sasuke stared at him.

"Told what?" he asked quickly.

"You are quite an interesting case yourself. First in…" he pulled out something from his desk. "Ah, yes, four hundred years." Sasuke was highly curious. Lorde placed the paper back. "You, Sasuke, were never meant to die." Several emotions flooded the raven at once. "But…that doesn't make sense!"

"It never does. Yet here you are."

"So that's why I can go back when normal guardians, like Rowan, wouldn't be allowed?" Lorde nodded.

"Yes. I can revert your destiny to the way it should have gone. Every hundred years or so, something changes and destiny does not quite go as it should. The change does not usually end with death, but in some cases, like yours, it does. I did a lot of research, Sasuke. You were never meant to sacrifice yourself for Naruto Uzumaki. In fact, he was supposed to die. You ended up saving him however, and this is how things turned out." He finished with a small smile.

"Before I send you back, you need to know, I am correcting destiny, not merely sending you back to the human world." Sasuke frowned, wondering what kind of difference there would be.

"Correcting?" he repeated slowly. Lorde nodded.

"That does mean, however, Naruto Uzumaki will die."

"W-what?"

"Despite the feelings you may have for that other boy, you two were never meant to be together in that world. When one lives, the other must die. Your destinies are tied together."

"Don't kill Naruto. I saved Naruto from Orochimaru for a reason; I value his life far more than mine. If it would kill Naruto, don't send me back." Sasuke thought for a moment. "Can't you do it any other way?" he asked. "Like, simply send me back without letting Naruto die?"

"Even if you earned that chance, there would be unforeseen repercussions in this particular case." Lorde said.

"Would these consequences hurt Naruto?"

"Oh, no physical harm would befall anyone. They would just be unpredicted changes. Anything could happen. That, I am afraid, is truly out of my control." Sasuke nodded. He didn't care what consequence would befall him, as long as Naruto would be safe and he could return and be with the blonde, it didn't matter. "Please, send me back." He asked quietly.

He was refused immediately. "Please! You already said I wasn't supposed to die, so is it really fair to refuse me this?" he asked. Lorde picked up his pen again.

"I am not refusing it. You may return. The result would be Naruto Uzumaki's death; the correction of your destiny. I'm am sorry Sasuke, that is all I will offer." Sasuke glared at him and shut his mouth with a 'click', trying to stop himself from saying something he knew he would regret. He gave Lorde a final cold look before storming out of the white hallway. He hardly cared how rude he looked.

Rowan was furious when Sasuke got back. He completely ignored the angry mood Sasuke was in and started yelling as soon as he saw the raven. "How dare you leave me with your charge without any notice whatsoever!" he snarled. "I have a very important job, Uchiha, and I can't afford to drop everything whenever you decide you want to go off somewhere! Can you imagine what would happen if I decided to leave my-" Sasuke simply walked straight past Rowan. This made the other guardian even more infuriated than he already was.

"You don't even care, do you?" he hissed. "You want to earn the right to go back, yet you just leave your charge whenever you feel like it." Sasuke suddenly felt a little bit better. He remembered Rowan saying he had asked for a chance to go back and it had been refused. "Well, for your information, I was allowed the chance to go back." He snapped back.

"You're lying." Rowan said automatically.

"No, I'm not." He said. "Lorde said I wasn't supposed to die, and if I wanted he would correct things so that I could go back." He said. Rowan stared at him sceptically.

"And you decided not to accept that amazing offer then? You thought it would be nice to stay here with me?" he said with a smirk.

"No, because if I didn't die, then Naruto would." He said.

"He made it perfectly clear we can't be together, and that he wouldn't make any exceptions at all. He said that he could send me back if he really wanted to, its just there would be unforeseen consequences. I was ready to accept whatever those consequences were, because Lorde said that it wouldn't hurt Naruto, yet he refused me that." Rowan nodded. Sasuke thought, for one wild moment, he was agreeing with him. "Of course Lorde would deny that! Why should you get that chance when many others wouldn't?"

"I don't care about anyone else, I care about Naruto and what this is doing to him!" he snarled. "I've already used my chance to help Naruto, yours too for that matter. He's tried to kill himself once, so what's stopping him from trying a second time?"

"You made him promise that he wouldn't."

"Yes, I did, but that doesn't take away his pain, and it certainly doesn't stop the people in the village attacking him. Those are things that can only be solved by me going back to him!" Sasuke said. "I just can't fucking believe that man has the power to help, yet he just doesn't think I deserve it enough. He's more annoying than you, and that's saying something." Sasuke added.

"Thanks." Rowan muttered.

"Can't you talk to him?" Sasuke said suddenly. "I mean, you're his favourite, so can't you just…talk him round?" Sasuke asked.

"I am not Lorde-sama's favourite. He does not favour any guardian over the other." Sasuke snorted.

"You could have fooled me!" the raven watched as Naruto began searching though his drawers for something. Sasuke's gaze went back to Rowan. "You make him out to be this fantastic person, but he is stopping me from helping Naruto be happy!" Naruto pulled something out that made Sasuke's stomach lurch. "Oh no, not again…not this soon!"

"What?" Rowan was confused at Sasuke's sudden change of tone. Sasuke pointed to Naruto, who was now pulling a sharpened kunai from a weapon pouch. The blonde stared at the kunai for a moment, before forcing himself to put it back. Sasuke turned to rowan. "How long do you think he's going to manage to put that back?" he asked quietly. Rowan didn't answer. "Watch him for me." Sasuke said.

"What?"

"I'm going back to speak to Lorde. This time, I'm not taking no for an answer!" even though he had the chance this time, strangely enough, Rowan didn't argue.