Two weeks into their new routine, Sasuke would come twice a day to help the weaned mortal to eat and bathe, no words spoken. When Sasuke was about to leave that night Naruto's finger fell right in the middle of his forehead.

"If you were a mortal, that crease would be permanent" - he said, Sasuke did not answer. "Will you ever talk to me?" - Naruto moved to take the porcelain hand in his but Sasuke moved it, avoiding his touch.

"You don't understand" - the older male growled

"I do, you almost killed me, and it hurts you, right here" - Naruto's finger laid on his chest.

"How could you surrender yourself to me that easily, do you even value your life?" - Sasuke threw the tray to the floor in anger and turned his back to the blonde.

Naruto stood up slowly and swayed as a dizzy spell took over him; he reached for Sasuke and hugged the stubborn boy from behind.

"I love you… I've thought about it, day after day, I wanted to be sure, to understand this feeling. I did not hesitate because I don't want to see you suffer just as much as you hate to see me like this"

"Don't be stupid Naruto. You love the freedom you've been given, you see me as your savior, this is not love"

"Don't you dare downplay my feelings Uchiha Sasuke, i love you, for all that you are, for your damn stubbornness, to your overflowing kindness, for the way you protect and care for your family, for your gentle touch and idiotic anger"

Sasuke turned around sharply and with a surprised yelp from the boy he took his lips in a demanding kiss. Sasuke ended the kiss and buried his face in the long golden locks, Naruto enveloped him in a hug once more.

"I was in love once, Karin, was her name. In my selfishness i turned her into one of us, she was happy and we were in love, or so i thought, but after a few hundred of years she despaired, the thought of eternity drove her insane, when her parents and her entire hometown died of old age she lost the shine in her eyes, she was lost, she stopped feeding and one day, before i could stop her she walked out into the sun, she gave up on me, on our enclave and everything we build together. I can't do it again Naruto, as a mortal I'll see you wither away slowly, as a vampire you don't know how much of a toll this takes on your soul" - Naruto pushed him away to take Sasuke's face in his hands, his fingers caressing his cheeks. He couldn't help kiss the older boy in the cheeks, leaving warmth where his lips landed.

"Thanks for sharing this with me. I am not asking you to turn me into a vampire, and I ain't dying anytime soon, just take it one day at a time, no need to rush. Deep down you know, don't you? That it was meant to happen"

"This, what i feel for you, is different from before. I know where you are all the time, I know what you're thinking without you even saying it. Every single inch of my body craves for you, your very soul resonates with my own. Your life is connected to mine, in ways we might not understand"

"Is it okay? If i…" - Naruto traced pale lips with the tip of his fingers. Sasuke snorted, so much for taking it slow. This idiot mortal was so dense. Sasuke nodded and let the younger man stand on his tip toes and reach for a kiss.

"That's enough, i thought you were still recovering"

"I am" Naruto pouted.

XxXxXxXx

The sun was painfully burning his eyes, Sasuke knew better than to stand so close to the sun, he wouldn't die for the indirect sunlight but it still burned; and even though Naruto had told him again and again to stop coming the stubborn vampire still sat under the shade to watch him tend to the flowers. "Would he miss this?" - he thought to himself, the gentle morning breeze, the flowers, the sun kissing his golden skin.

Naruto turned to him and smiled, he walked up to him and placing a daisy in the vampire's hair he leaned for a kiss, playful, as they usually were.

Sasuke broke the kiss to stand up, he reached out for the blonde and kissed the back of his hand.

"It's time to go, I can't stand the sun any longer"

"Can I come? To your room…" - Sasuke smirked at the blush forming on tan cheeks.

"To sleep" - Sasuke stated, Naruto choked on air and stammered an "of course".

Sasuke led him to the farthest room on the second floor, even though they had lived under the same roof for quite a while, it was the first time Naruto would come in.

The room was warm and dark, darker than a moonless night. The canopy bed had long thick sheets that surrounded the bed.

"For some reason I thought your first choice of a bed was a coffin" - Naruto said

"Children's tales"

"Indeed"

With a side glance, Sasuke began undressing, he could hear the loud bang of his companions heart, his pulse had quickened and his breathing was loud and erratic.

"You can wear one of my nightgowns, they suit you" - Naruto undressed too and put on the white nightdress tha Sasuke was offering. "Come. Don't be nervous, it was your idea" - Naruto nodded and joined him over the soft bed. Sasuke towered over him, his hands holding the hips below him, he leaned forward to capture the luscious lips of the mortal boy. Naruto moaned into the kiss, pressing his hips forward in blind instinct. "Sleep" - Sasuke commanded in a hush, Naruto's mind was foggy and his eyes dropped close on their own accord, soon he was fast asleep. The brunette laid his head on the tan chest and soon enough he fell asleep.

XxXx

Naruto was weak, at least compared to them and probably weaker than the average man, his frame was thin and small, delicate and soft, tender and oh so delicious...

"Goodness if he could read your mind he would be scarred for life" - Sakura joked with a side glance to her companion. Sasuke's eyes widened in panic. "Yes, like an open book" - she answered the unasked question.

"Out of my head" - he warned

"We don't even have to be in your head Sasuke, all that sexual tension is driving US insane already" - Suigetsu whined. "I refuse to continue our training if you keep drooling over the mortal, for god's sake i feel like visiting a damn brothel every time your desire washes over our mind"

"It's stupidly overwhelming" - Ino chimed in. Sasuke turned to Juugo, who hadn't spoken yet, he just shrugged.

"Can't say they're lying"

"You know I can still hear you!" - Naruto yelled. "I'm right here" - he swung his sword at Suigetsu who simply caught it between two fingers.

"Just do it already" - Suigetsu yelled to the blonde's dismay. Naruto dropped the sword and jumped on Suigetsu, both falling on the floor, the brotherly banter causing the rest to laugh.

Juugo stopped them and lent a helping hand to the mortal, his face was serious as he bent to the level of the smaller boy.

"All jokes aside, at your current state you will become a burden, you won't be able to murder one of our own, against Akatsuki you might still have a chance. But we need you to be stronger"

"I will, to protect my family"

And so, for the first time in his seventeen years he had found someone to protect, he had found reason to become stronger. Naruto lifted his gaze to look at them, the elegant, otherworldly figures with whom he had finally found home.