Chapter 14

"Sasuke…"

Sasuke's eyes flew open, his body tensing as he stared at the blanket in front of his face. He knew that voice. He knew it all too well. It was the same voice that had been haunting him for years.

His hands clenched into fists, twisting the blanket as he heard a low laugh. He could feel himself trembling.

"Sasuke…"

No. He's not here, Sasuke thought to himself frantically. He can't be here. This is all a nightmare. You're a fucking coward, just look he's not there!

He argued with himself, debating whether he should look or if he should continue to cower beneath his blanket like a child.

Finally his pride won out. Just as he heard the laughter again, the noise slowly drawing to an end, he pulled the blanket away and sat up slowly. He looked towards the end of the bed, in the direction of the voice, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Two bright red eyes stared back at him. Itachi grinned, his teeth sharp and gleaming. Down his face ran a stream of blood, pouring from a small hole in his forehead. Beside him stood the demon dog, its fangs already dripping with blood. It licked its lips in anticipation as it watched him.

Sasuke opened his mouth to scream but before he could utter a sound the demon was on him.

* * *

Sasuke groaned, shoot me now… he thought to himself as Ino and Sakura bounced along beside him. Lunch had started just moments before and he already wished it was over.

"So, how are you feeling, Sasuke? Have you recovered fully from the overdose?" Sakura asked, sounding worried as she took in the bags beneath his eyes. He still looked sick, even after a week of rest. He was still as thin as ever and withdrawal had set in once more, he needed a fix soon. Of course it didn't help things that he hardly slept that night. His sighting of Itachi and his "demon" dog had kept him from sleeping. He had cursed himself for being so stupid, for believing he had seen his brother there; there was no way Itachi could have been there. He knew he was only saw what his mind had anticipated seeing, though why it expected to see a demon dog he had no idea. But still, it had kept him from sleeping the rest of the night.

"Idiot!" Ino practically screeched from his other side. He flinched away from the noise, wishing the girls would leave him alone for once. "Don't mention that!"

"But-" Sakura started to argue. Sasuke, however, ducked into the usual classroom, hoping to escape the girls without their noticing.

Inside the room the group was almost all assembled. Sasuke had finally given up trying to escape them. He knew that Naruto would track him down eventually and drag him there anyway. It was easier just to accept it than to try and escape it. Speaking of the blond haired boy he had been acting rather clingy in the past week. It was true; Jiraiya had gone out of town for a book signing and the like, leaving Naruto in Kakashi's care. But the boy had shadowed him almost the entire week, even before Jiraiya had left, trying constantly to coax Sasuke into doing what ever he could think of doing without their leaving the house. After their unapproved 'night on the town' the two of them had been grounded, unable to go anywhere but school and each others for two weeks. Which meant the blond boy was constantly hovering, much to Sasuke's dismay.

His eyes flicked around the room, trying to decide where the 'safest' place to sit would be. He finally settled on sitting beside Shino. The boy was one of the few who didn't seem to outright hate him, like Kiba and Neji, who kept casting him nasty looks, or tried to be his friend.

Shino nodded to him as he sat down beside him, not saying a word. Sasuke nodded back before burying his face in the crook of his arm. He wanted nothing more than to sleep.

Kiba, however, seemed to have different plans for him.

"Oi druggie!" The boy said loudly. Sasuke sighed as he heard the room fall quiet. He felt as Kiba leaned against the desk.

"Have fun the other night?" He said, sounding as if he was enjoying tormenting him.

"Fuck off," Sasuke said without lifting his head.

"What was that druggie?" Kiba said tauntingly.

"Kiba," Sasuke heard Shino say from beside him.

"Fuck off," he growled, lifting his head so he could glare up at the boy. He could see all eyes were on the two of them, waiting to see what he would do.

"So who was that guy you were with? One of your druggie friends?" Kiba continued, ignoring the insult Sasuke had thrown him.

Sasuke gritted his teeth angrily. "None of your fucking business."

Kiba just smirked, "oh, defensive aren't we… Is he your boyfriend?" He said the word with a sneer. Sasuke tensed, a fact that Kiba didn't fail to see.

"Oh ho! I was right, wasn't I?" Kiba asked, laughing loudly. Sasuke clenched his hands into fists; the boy was starting to really piss him off. It wasn't that he cared if they knew about him and Suigetsu; it was the condescending attitude with which Kiba spoke that was pissing him off.

"Hmm, I guess likes attract 'cause he looked almost as fucked up as you!"

Sasuke could feel himself about to snap as he heard the boy laugh. He stood, his face twisted with anger but before he could do anything Naruto stepped forward, his fist connecting with Kiba's cheek.

The larger boy let out a surprise yelp, jumping back, away from the two of them.

"What the fuck was that for!?" He practically shouted, glaring in Naruto's direction. Naruto stood there, his face angry and his fists clenched at his side. Beside him Kyuubi stood, her head low as she watched Kiba closely.

"Stop messing with him," Naruto practically growled. Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise, he had never seen Naruto like this before.

"I was just kidding!" Kiba said defensively. "You didn't have to go and hit me, you bastard!"

"I don't care. Stop messing with him."

"Fine, whatever," Kiba huffed, stalking away across the room, muttering a few choice words under his breath as he sat beside Hinata. The girl looked shocked, and somewhat frightened by the whole exchange. She watched Kiba warily as he sat glaring , his hand on his cheek.

Sasuke continued to stand there, watching Naruto as the room began to stir once more. The blond boy gave a smiled in his direction before moving to talk with Lee and Gaara. The red head gave him a curious look before shrugging and turning back to Naruto. Across the room Neji watched him as well, not even trying to hide the fact that he was.

Sasuke sighed, sitting back down beside Shino.

"Kiba's an ass," the boy said softly without looking at him. Sasuke snorted, that was an understatement.

He leaned forward, his chin in his hand, not even reacting as Kyuubi placed her head in his lap like usual. He knew she wouldn't leave so he didn't even bother trying to make her anymore.

He closed his eyes, his finger tapping against the desk as he felt his body relax once more.

"Sasuke, is it true you have a boyfriend?" His peace was interrupted a moment later. He opened his eyes to see Sakura, Ino and Sai standing around him.

"He's not my boyfriend," Sasuke sighed. He really didn't feel like getting into this conversation.

Sakura and Ino both sighed in relief. "Thank god for a second I thought you really were gay," Sakura said with a smile.

Sasuke looked up at them, his annoyance clear on his face. "I am gay." He said simply. "So what?"

He watched as the girls faces fell. "You can't be serious?" Ino said after a moment, as if she thought Sasuke was just messing with them.

Beside the girls Sai grinned, moving so he was sitting on the desk. "Awesome! Now I'm not the only one!" He said happily. Sasuke cocked an eyebrow as the pale boy leaned towards him. "So, are you top or bottom? 'Cause I like-"

"Sai!" The girls screamed in unison, Sakura smacking him on the back of the head. "Don't talk about that stuff in public!"

Sai looked up at the girls, his face confused. "But I-"

"No!" The said once more before stomping away, leaving Sasuke and Sai looking confused. Beside them Shino smirked with amusement.

Sai turned back to Sasuke, looking ready to continue their conversation but before he could the intercom came on, silencing the room.

"Would Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki please report to the main office." A woman's voice echoed through the room and the hallways outside. "I repeat, would Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki please report to the main office. Thank you."

The room remained quiet for several moments after the announcement. Sasuke sighed roughly, trying to figure out what he had done this time. Across the room Naruto looked confused.

"W-What happened, N-Naruto?" Hinata stuttered.

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know. I'll be right back. Kyuubi," he called to the dog. Once she was at his side he started towards the door.

"We're coming too!" Lee said loudly, standing and moving towards the door with him.

"You guys don't have to come," Naruto said, sounding hesitant at the idea of the group accompanying him.

"Yes we do," Gaara said after a moment. He crossed his arms, looking as menacing as ever. Naruto cast a worried glance over his shoulder as the group followed him out of the door.

Beside Sasuke Shino shrugged, standing and following the group. With a sigh Sasuke followed suit.

* * *

As soon as Sasuke stepped into the office he tensed, his eyes locking on to the two police officers who stood with Kakashi and the principal. His eyes grew wide as he panicked. Frantically he searched through his brain, trying to figure out what he had done. He patted his pockets unconsciously, making sure nothing was in them. For once he was relieved when he felt not even the smallest pill in his pocket.

Sasuke froze as the adults looked up, their eyes falling on him and Naruto. Behind them the group milled about in the hallway, the schools security guards refusing to let them in.

"Sasuke. Naruto," Kakashi said, motioning for them to follow him.

Sasuke hesitated for a moment before stiffly following them down a hallway, past the nurses' office and other administrative offices. He eyed the officers warily as they came to a stop before the principals' office.

"Naruto, can you wait out here?" Kakashi asked the boy. Naruto nodded, sitting down on a chair outside the door. Kyuubi whined, watching Sasuke as he followed the adults into the office.

"Sasuke, sit down" the principal motioned to a chair situated before her desk. Her voice was soft, and concerned, though Sasuke could tell it wasn't genuine. "These officers have something important they need to discuss with you."

Sasuke ignored her request, his eyes still on the officers. The stood side by side, watching him closely, though there eyes weren't judgmental. On the contrary they looked rather somber, which confused Sasuke even more.

At the back of the room Kakashi stood, hands in his pockets as he watched silently.

"Sasuke, when was the last time you spoke with Itachi Uchiha?"

Sasuke froze, fear shot through his body as memories flashed before his eyes. His hands clenched into fists as he saw that night play over once more.

"Don't say his name," he ground out from between his teeth. He kept his eyes trained to the floor as he fought against it. He hated that name, it infuriated him, it terrified him.

"Sasuke-"

"Do not say his name!" He practically shouted as he clenched his eyes shut. Against the darkness he saw Itachi smiling at him, his eyes glowing red, just as they had the night before.

"Alright, we won't say his name," one of the officers said reassuringly. He paused for a moment, letting Sasuke compose himself. Finally Sasuke let his hands relax at his sides.

"Have you had any contact with your brother recently?"

Sasuke shook his head. Why were they asking him these things? What had his brother done now to cause this?

"Why?" He asked quietly, not looking up.

The men hesitated, after a moment one sighed. "Sasuke, the body of your brother was found this morning."

Sasuke felt his whole body go numb. It couldn't be true, he thought to himself. They were lying, Itachi couldn't be dead. He wouldn't die before finishing the job he started.

"He was found along with the body of another man by the name of Deidara. It looked like there was a struggle of sort. They each suffered from a multitude of gun wounds."

Sasuke shook his head back and forth; his breathing was coming in ragged gasps as he panicked. He could see Itachi watching him, grinning as he had the night before. "You're lying" he said, unconsciously he gripped at his head with one hand, his other coming to clutch at his chest as he struggled to breath. "You're lying. He can't be dead. He can't be dead. He hasn't finished the job yet. He wouldn't die without finishing it!"

"Sasuke," Kakashi said as he stepped forward. Sasuke ignored him; he shook his head frantically as his legs gave from beneath him.

He dropped to his knees. Clenching his eyes shut he struggled to get the image of his brother from his mind. He sat on the floor of the office, the officers and Kakashi kneeling beside him as he rocked back and forth, muttering under his breath. "You're lying. You're lying. You're lying."

A/N: Hey guys! Just wanted to let you all know that I'm heading to my grandmothers for a week on Friday. Unfortunately, I don't have internet down at her house, so don't expect another update before Friday the 15th. I'll try to have one out as soon as I get home though!