I probably should be asleep right now, but I just couldn't stop when I was almost done with this chapter. I make no promises on the quality. I did try to double check it for mistakes. I'm starting on the next chapter tomorrow. Oh, the ideas! :) Please enjoy!
"I don't think I'll ever forget that. The great Sasuke Uchiha, saying he was sorry for something!" Kiba grinned.
"The look his mother was giving him would have me apologizing, even if I hadn't done anything wrong." Kankuro replied, snickering.
"I apologize for my behavior earlier this evening. In the future I will strive to be more accommodating and understanding of others' feelings." Kiba said, imitating Sasuke's voice.
"That was a memorable moment." Shukaku sighed fondly.
The two groups had become fast friends after their stay in the hospital waiting room and were currently exiting said hospital together as a pack. Temari and Sakura were walking side by side with linked arms, chatting away like old friends. Kiba and Shukaku had become fast buddies and for some bizarre reason, Lee, Chouji, and Kankuro were getting along famously. Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Gaara were bringing up the rear of the group with solemn looks on their faces.
Due to their newfound friendships, those at the front of the group weren't paying much attention to their surroundings. This resulted in them almost getting run over by a taxi which had come to a screeching halt as they tried to cross a side street near the hospital. One of the doors swung open and two people scrambled out, both with shocking heads of red hair. The female apologized profusely to them while the male tugged impatiently on her arm. "Come on, we need to go!"
"I know, I know. Sorry we almost got you ran over!" She shouted over her shoulder as she was pulled down the street towards the hospital. Shikamaru and Gaara glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing. That had been odd.
"Who are you? Why are you in my room?" The blond shouted, tensing at the sight of a stranger.
Sasuke clenched his teeth briefly before answering. "My name is Sasuke. I'm… I'm your friend. I am visiting you." The confused look he received in return hurt him more than he would ever admit. "You have amnesia. The doctor told you, yes?"
There was a curt nod in response. "You've lost a lot of time. I would like to figure out how much. May I sit?" Sasuke asked, gesturing towards a chair near the bed where he had spent most of the past week.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, but he replied. "Alright. How?"
Sasuke stepped out of the doorway and walked to the chair. As he settled into it, he asked, "What is the last thing you remember?"
"My siblings and I were playing soccer and I hit my head on a tree trying to catch the ball. Then I woke up here." That startled him. He wasn't aware that Naruto had any siblings. Perhaps he meant one of the foster homes he had been in over the years. "What are your siblings' names?"
"Kyuubi and Kurama. Speaking of them, where are they? I'd expected them to be the first to visit me. You're the first person I've seen besides the doctors and nurses." Naruto said, furrowing his brow slightly. "I suppose if I've lost as much time as you seem to think I have, maybe they are off at college."
Sasuke bit the inside of his lip. He had never heard those names before. Then again, Naruto had never been very talkative about his past with him.
"A-Are they okay? Did something happen to them?" Naruto asked, almost frantic. Sasuke's eyes snapped to the blond's face, realizing that he had been quiet for a while and frowning. "I don't know. What was their last name?"
"Yang. That's my last name too." Naruto replied, confused again.
"Hn." Sasuke replied.
"Hn? Is that even a reply?"
Sasuke looked up, wanting to retort as he normally would. He stopped himself before the word 'dobe' could pass his lips, however, as he knew that Naruto wouldn't remember. This Naruto wasn't his Naruto. This Naruto was someone else's. He shut his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Opening his eyes and standing up, he said, "I will see what I can do about getting them here." He inclined his head slightly before turning on his heel and leaving the room quickly.
Who was he kidding? His Naruto? When had Naruto ever been his? Shaking his head, Sasuke strode down the hallway in search of his brother. He had to find out if Kyuubi and Kurama Yang were still alive. If they were, he needed to get them here as soon as possible.
He also had to find out how Naruto's… friends… had gotten past security. They had lessened the police presence at the hospital after Sasuke's father had reasoned that Orochimaru had more than likely fled until things calmed down. There were no longer officers posted outside the hospital room, but there were still a few officers here and there to keep an eye out. The staff was also under strict orders to not let anyone that wasn't on a pre-approved list through to see Naruto.
The list. Itachi hadn't… He had, hadn't he? Sasuke was going to kill him. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke stormed his way down to the lobby where his brother was speaking with one of the officers on duty. Itachi kept talking to the man after Sasuke "calmly" approached him. He knew the devious roach could see him and was blatantly ignoring him to push his buttons. He cleared his throat. "Oh! Sasuke, I didn't see you there. Thank you for the update, Komushi, you can go." The officer nodded and then walked away.
Itachi turned to his little brother. "Is there something you need, little brother?"
"You added them to the list, you bastard!" Sasuke snarled.
Deadpanning, Itachi replied, "Who did I supposedly add to a list?"
"His annoying friends!"
"You'll have to be a bit more specific." Itachi's face was dead pan, but his eyes were sparkling with amusement by now.
"Naruto's friends. The obnoxious ones with weird hair styles and blindingly bright hair colors." Sasuke ground out, glaring daggers at his brother.
"What list exactly?"
Sasuke growled in frustration. "Why do I even try with you? The approved list for visitors, you twat."
"Oh, that list." Itachi replied, conveniently remembering. He smirked. "As a matter of fact, I did add their names to the list."
"Why would you do something so idiotic, pray tell?" Sasuke could feel his facial muscles twitching in annoyance.
The smirk left Itachi's face and he shook his head. "They are his friends, Sasuke. They have as much right to see him as you do. Truthfully, they actually have more of a right."
Sasuke went to retort, but was stopped by a look from his brother. "You weren't exactly on the best of terms before he left and you weren't quite friends either. They have more of a positive relationship with him than you do. Granted, their presence would overwhelm him at the moment. Now, was there something else you needed, little brother?"
Sasuke begrudgingly realized his brother may be right. He sighed and nodded, remembering his original purpose for finding Itachi. "Yes, Naruto seems to have lost more time than we thought. The last thing he remembers is hitting his head on a tree while playing soccer with two people he called siblings; Kyuubi and Kurama Yang. Do you know anything about that? I know you are friends with Naruto's social worker, so you must know his history."
Itachi lifted an eyebrow and nodded slightly. "That was a long time ago. I'm afraid he's lost at least 5 years."
Sasuke rubbed his face with a hand. "Are they still alive, at least? Can we find them?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes in thought. "I believe they are. I know the parents are dead, but there wasn't record of either child dying in Genma's file. I'll make some calls."
"Hn. Thank you, brother." Sasuke replied quietly, looking over the man's shoulder to avoid looking him in the eye.
Itachi grinned. "It is my pleasure to help, little brother." He gently jabbed two fingers to the other man's forehead as he walked away, causing a brief, faint smile to flit across Sasuke's lips.
As his brother walked to the front doors, two frantic red-heads brushed past him and darted for the reception desk. Itachi paused and watched them for a moment, as if considering whether or not he was going to say something.
"What room was it again?" The male asked his companion as they approached the nurse.
"237." The female supplied with confidence, her grip on the male's arm tightening.
"We'd like to visit the patient in room 237; Naruto… Uzumaki." The male frantically told the nurse before she could say anything.
"Your names?" She asked, as she reached for a clipboard that held the approved list for Naruto's room.
"Kyuubi and Kurama Yang, ma'am." The man replied, drumming his fingers on the counter impatiently.
Itachi, who was still paused in front of the doors, turned to his brother and raised his eyebrows. Sasuke's eyes grew wide. The nurse glanced through the list and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you are not approved to see that patient."
"What do you mean not approved?" The man demanded, fingers clenching into fists.
"I'm sorry, sir, but only approved visitors are allowed to see certain patients." The nurse replied, trying to placate the man.
Before the man could reply again, Itachi walked forward and interrupted the escalating situation. "Excuse me, nurse, I believe I can help resolve this issue. You said your names were Kyuubi and Kurama Yang, correct?" He asked, looking at the two red-heads. They both nodded. "My name is Itachi Uchiha. I'm a detective with the Konoha Police department and I'd like to talk with you. Shall we go sit?"
They were startled by this, but nodded and moved to go sit in the main waiting area. Itachi inclined his head to the nurse, who smiled gratefully at him, and then he followed the siblings. Sasuke was close behind him, anxious to resolve this strange situation they had found themselves in.
Once they were all seated, Itachi began, "I take it you saw the news." They nodded quickly. "How do you know Naruto?"
"He's our brother. Adopted, but still, our brother." The man replied.
"Kyuubi, right?" The man nodded. "Did you not stay in touch with him?" Itachi asked.
"After our parents died and the courts took him away, it was difficult. We tried, but if he ever got any of the letters we sent, he never sent anything back. Eventually, we lost track of him. When we saw his name in the news a few days ago, we packed up and headed here." Kyuubi replied, bouncing his right leg up and down. Kurama placed a hand on his left knee and squeezed. He looked at her and grabbed her hand.
Itachi nodded and glanced at Sasuke. "This is Sasuke. He is a police officer and one of your brother's friends." Sasuke took that as his cue to start talking. "He has been through a lot. He… He has amnesia. It appears that he has lost at least the past five years."
"So… He remembers us?" Kurama asked quietly.
"Correct. The last thing he remembers was the three of you playing soccer and he got knocked out." Sasuke replied.
Kyuubi's lips quirked upwards slightly. "That was… a few days before our parents' accident 5 years ago. He slipped in mud and slammed his head into an oak tree. He caught the ball, though."
Sasuke studied them. They were on the edges of the seats and Kyuubi was holding his sister's hand in a nervous death grip. It was clear that they desperately wanted to see their long-lost brother. He sighed softly. "He's awake and asking for you. You can up, but we will be outside the door."
Kyuubi and Kurama's faces brightened and they stood. "Really? We can see him?"
The brothers nodded, rising from their seats, and began leading the way to Naruto's room. Sasuke avoided the glances his brother was giving him and kept his eyes forward as they walked. He could feel the nervous energy rolling off the two following them.
As they neared the second floor, Itachi spoke up, "I warn you, he is in very bad condition. Try not to upset him by talking a lot about the 5 years he has forgotten. If you can, avoid the topic of your parents' accident. He is still in a fragile state of mind and is currently going through symptoms of withdrawal. If he starts to act aggressive, please push the help button and call for us."
They nodded and Kurama asked, "Withdrawal?"
"Yes, he is out of immediate danger, but the amount of drugs that his captors pumped into him has sent his system into overdrive." Itachi replied calmly.
"Oh. When will the drugs be out of his system?" She questioned.
"In a few days. He will be alright." Itachi glanced over his shoulder and gave Kurama a slight smile. "Here we are." He stopped in front of Naruto's doorway and gestured them through. "We will be right outside."
Sasuke watched as Naruto heard the voices and looked over from the window. He felt a pang of jealousy as blue eyes brightened and a huge grin split the blond's face. "Kyuu! Kura!" The two red-heads ran to the bed and engulfed the emaciated boy in a tearful hug. "Oof! Geez, its like you guys haven't seen me in years!" This comment only caused more tears to pour from the red-heads' eyes.
Sasuke walked away from the door and leaned against the wall, clenching his jaw. Itachi leaned beside him, folding his arms across his chest. "Jealousy is not becoming, little brother."
"I'm not jealous." Sasuke said through clenched teeth. I've never seen him smile like that before. Not even with his friends.
"I'd believe you, but I have eyes and I know you well." Sasuke rolled his eyes and kept them trained on the fascinating floor of the hospital.
"He lost hope when he was with that monster, Sasuke. I have never seen someone so broken. I know you're upset that he doesn't remember you, but isn't this better than how he was before the symptoms started? He is no longer a mindless drone with no recollection of his name. I was afraid if he stayed in that state any longer we wouldn't be able to reach him."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows minutely in surprise. His brother rarely talked that much in one setting. Finally Sasuke relented and he let out a sigh. He turned to the right, still leaning against the wall, and looked inside Naruto's room. Inside was what most would consider a heart-warming scene. To Sasuke, however, it was bitter sweet. He wanted to be happy for Naruto, but part of him couldn't be.
Naruto was sitting, propped up by pillows, in the hospital bed while Kyuubi and Kurama sat on either side of him, both completely lost in Naruto. The three of them had almost matching grins on their faces. Kyuubi and Kurama's held a more somber note, but they were equally, if not more, happy to see Naruto as he was to see them. Kyuubi was talking while gesturing wildly, filling his little brother in on something he had missed. Naruto was laughing, his head thrown back in pure joy. Kurama was holding Naruto's hand and staring at him as if he'd disappear the second she looked away.
That laugh… Whatever happened during those 5 years must have erased any hope he had. I've never seen him sound so carefree. A lump rose in Sasuke's throat as he watched the three siblings. I caused some of that loss of hope, didn't I? Why didn't I make Mrs. Nakamaru come with us? I should have done something sooner. None of this would have happened if I hadn't been such a jackass. I am sorry, Naruto.
It had been strange waking up in a hospital room without Kyuubi's obnoxious snoring filling the room or Kurama's hand in his. What was even more strange was the odd emptiness he felt in his heart and mind. It was as if he was missing something. Memories, maybe? Something like a wall was blocking part of his mind away from the rest.
Things made a bit more sense, but also got more confusing after a boy named Sasuke came by. The raven had said he had amnesia. He hadn't known Naruto's last name or his siblings. This had worried him, but somehow he knew that he wouldn't be able to forget if they were gone. The boy had struck him as odd. Part of that emptiness that he had been feeling seemed to fill up when Sasuke entered the room. His head hurt a little less. He knew the boy left without saying something. What exactly, he wasn't able to remember. He had tried, but stopped when his head began to throb.
Thankfully, within twenty minutes after the boy left, he returned and with two people he couldn't believe were there so quickly. He could tell he had been gone for a while by their reactions. Naruto joked about it, but he felt it in his bones. He hadn't seen them in a very long time either. He didn't know why and he wasn't about to try and remember. His head hurt enough as it was.
Naruto asked how long. They replied with almost 5 years. He could tell there was something they weren't telling him. He didn't ask. Kyuubi started to fill Naruto in on a few things, like how Kurama was now a social worker and that Kyuubi worked at a center for abused children and young adults. Kyuubi began telling funny stories about some of the pranks the kids had played on him.
Naruto laughed and his throat felt dry, as if he hadn't laughed in a while. His heart felt light. He knew that it had not felt this light in years. However, he didn't know why.
The blond felt a gaze on him and he looked at his sister, who was looking at him as if she was afraid he'd disappear. He smiled at her and then turned his eyes to the doorway where he found that Sasuke was staring at him. The boy had such a bitter sweet, sorrowful expression on his face and Naruto could almost hear the words, 'I'm sorry', coming from him. Naruto's brow furrowed slightly. What did the boy have to be sorry for? What had happened between them that Naruto couldn't remember?
Some part of him wanted to reach out and beckon for the raven to come closer. He wanted to feel what the boy's hand felt like in his own. It was a strange thought, but a powerful one. Naruto was about to raise his hand when he realized that they had been staring at each other long enough for other people to notice. Kyuubi, Kurama, and a raven-haired man that looked like an older version of Sasuke were glancing back and forth between the two of them with odd expressions on their faces.
Naruto felt a blush rise on his cheeks and was, for some bizarre reason, slightly pleased to see Sasuke's pale cheeks flush pink as well. Naruto laughed nervously and made a point to look anywhere but directly at Sasuke. The man behind said raven smirked and stepped fully into the room. "Well, as entertaining as that was, I must return to my duties. I am Itachi, by the way, Naruto. I have been unable to come by and visit you previously. Ms., Mr. Yang, I shall make sure you are able to see Naruto from now on without delay." Itachi turned to Sasuke and his smirk seemed to gain a devious edge. "I will see you at home, little brother. We really must have a discussion about appropriate eye contact." Sasuke growled at his brother as Itachi left the room.
"I shall take my leave as well. I will be down the hall. Tell me when you leave." Sasuke said after a moment of awkward silence. He pushed off the wall he was leaning on and left quickly.
Kyuubi returned his gaze to Naruto, clearly amused. "So… What's going on with you and that raven head?" He teased.
"N-Nothing! I only met him earlier today. Though, he did say he was my friend. So I doubt there is… was anything going on before I got amnesia." Naruto sputtered out.
Kyuubi laughed and continued with his teasing, "Uh-huh. 'Friend' my ass. That boy has the serious hots for you! Maybe you two were an item and he's just scared to tell you." Kurama giggled, nudging Naruto with her elbow. "I think it's true. He was getting all jealous over there. He's upset that you remember us and not him."
Naruto's face began to resemble a tomato. "Kurama! Stop encouraging Kyuu's delusions."
"Oh, come on, Naru. You know it is true. Clearly you remember something about him or you wouldn't be turning bright red." Kurama pushed, waving her finger in Naruto's face in an almost accusatory fashion.
"I-It's not… what you think. I don't…" Naruto muttered.
"Speak up, darling. Can't hear you when you mumble." Kurama responded in a sing-song voice.
"It's just a feeling. I don't remember him, per-say, but something about him… It's like I should know him."
"In the biblical sense or…?" Kyuubi questioned, a fox-like grin on his face.
"Stop it!" Naruto protested, turning an impossibly brighter red. "He looked so sad and almost sorry. I was just trying to figure out why."
"Oh, yes, I too stare deep into someone's eyes for long periods in order to figure out why they are sad. Especially with a longing expression on my face." Kyuubi replied sarcastically.
Naruto hit him on the arm, glaring. Kyuubi and Kurama laughed. "Alright, alright, we're done. Though, if it ends up being true that you two are hot for each other, you owe me." Kyuubi said. Naruto rolled his eyes. There was no way that the boy liked him and he definitely didn't like the brooding raven.
They didn't talk for a while, merely sat, crammed together on the hospital bed. It was nice, sitting in silence, enjoying each other's presence. For Kyuubi and Kurama, it was a miracle. They had almost given up on ever seeing their brother again. For Naruto, it merely felt like they had been apart for a few hours. Yet, a part of him knew that more time had passed than he was aware of. He knew 5 years had gone by, as they had told him, but it was more than that. The emptiness he had felt before he had seen them was not something that happened quickly.
Finally, Naruto couldn't keep the questions that were in his mind quiet any longer, "How did Sasuke get you here so quickly?"
"What?" Kurama asked, quirking her eyebrow.
"Sasuke said he'd try and find you guys, but I didn't expect it to happen so fast." Naruto replied, as confused as his siblings.
"Sasuke didn't call us. Itachi stopped us in the lobby. We saw you on the news and came right here. We'd been looking for you for five years." Kurama replied.
"News? Why was I on the news?" Naruto asked, though he really wanted to know why they had been separated for five years. He knew that question was going to be hard. He could tell they were silently hoping he wouldn't ask them about it.
"9 months ago, you were kidnapped. I'm not sure what happened, but apparently a police officer rescued you. The place where you were being kept exploded after you were clear of the building. Three police officers were killed in the explosion and a few more were injured. Apparently whoever took you is some scary sociopath." Kyuubi responded in a serious tone.
Naruto nodded slowly, absorbing the information. He let it all sink in for a few minutes before he gathered up the courage to ask about the elephant in the room. "Why was I separated from you for five years?" Naruto asked quietly. He was met by downcast gazes and silence. He felt his stomach roll. He had been right, there was something very wrong. "Where are Mom and Dad?" His voice broke.
"T-They… There… There was an accident, Naru." Naruto felt his heart sink at his sister's words. "They didn't make it." Kurama whispered, her voice cracking as she tried to hold back tears.
Naruto felt numb, not only because of what he had been told, but because he had already known. He had hoped that his gut feeling was wrong. "I got taken away five years ago because they died." He whispered back. Kurama nodded, not surprised that he had figured it out. Tears slipped from his eyes and cascaded down thin cheeks. No wonder he had felt so empty when he woke up. Their deaths and whatever followed after must have carved out all the hope that had remained. Seeing Kyuubi and Kurama again had helped lessen the emptiness. Somehow, knowing for sure that their mother and father were dead didn't take that away. He had already lost them. Kurama telling him was just reminding him of their deaths. It hurt a lot, but for some reason, it wasn't devastating.
Kurama and Kyuubi wrapped their arms around him and together, they cried. They didn't know how long they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, tears shining on their cheeks. When they loosened their grip and leaned back against the bed, their hearts felt a little less heavy and their tears had dried. "Thank you." Naruto murmured and he received two faint smiles in return. Naruto felt his eyes start to flicker downwards. Kurama noticed and went to get up, "We should get going, let you get some rest." Naruto shook his head and grabbed their shirts. "Please stay." He whispered. All he had to say was 'please' and his siblings relaxed against the bed once more. Naruto smiled softly and snuggled into a comfortable position before closing his eyes. "Good night."
"Sleep tight, Naru." Kyuubi and Kurama whispered back, before they too closed their eyes. Soon, all three settled into a restful slumber.
It was getting late and no one had come looking for Sasuke yet. With a sigh, he finished writing his repot and handed the laptop back to his brother. "This is everything?" Sasuke nodded, glancing around the empty lobby. "Yes, brother." He rose from the chair and stretched briefly. Itachi eyed him, but didn't say anything. Sasuke walked off, heading to Naruto's room.
The walk there was uneventful, as the halls were mostly empty, except for the occasional officer or nurse. The sight that greeted him when he arrived, however, was surprising.
He had expected the three to still be awake and chatting, but instead he found three sleeping people crammed on to the hospital bed. They had to be uncomfortable, as the bed was really only made for one person, but they all seemed content. It was something that should have been expected from three siblings that had been separated for a long period.
Sasuke reminded himself that they were not Uchihas. His family would strive not to show such weakness in a public place. These people were raw. They were open with their feelings for each other. It was odd, yet refreshing. Somehow in that moment, the sight of three adult people curled up on a hospital bed was… heartwarming.
A small smile eased across Sasuke's face and he stood there for a moment, just watching them breathe. Kyuubi and Kurama each had an arm draped protectively over their little brother and Naruto seemed almost child-like curled up between them. Sasuke decided he was going to find a nurse and make sure the siblings weren't disturbed till morning, regardless of the rules about visiting hours.
Sasuke quietly turned around and strode down the hallway, whispering, "Good night, dobe."
For those that want more of Naruto's friends, both Sand and Konoha, don't worry! They will return! Having them all around Naruto right now would be a little much for the poor guy, so they may trickle in throughout the next chapter or so. I'm going to try and not drag out Naruto's amnesia, but on the other hand not cut it short, if you know what I'm saying. Please stay tuned for more chapters and as always, feel free to review or send me a message with any questions, etc. Thank you for reading!