AN: Well, since people have broken my record for the number of reviews in one day, I shall continue this little story of fluffy goodness. I think I will keep this story in Sasuke POV (sorry about those who asked for Naruto; maybe I'll do a parallel series with him later), and it will be Sasuke's musings on all the shounen ai moments in the series, as far as I've seen of it. (So any scenes after chapter 18 of the manga, I have no idea about XD)

Eternal Snow

I still hurt from Haku's acupuncture needles. It's been three days, and yet every step makes me a little sore.

I don't complain about it though; I'll never admit my weakness.

My weakness.

My eyes float over to a certain person. He bounces with an energy that amazes the mind; a virtual powerhouse of ever-lasting hyperness and smiles. I don't know where he gets the energy.

And I certainly don't know how he's completely healed from the needles. He was healed already when I inspected him after the fight with Haku. I don't know how, but he regenerates faster than humanly possible, and I certainly know Kakashi didn't perform a healing jutsu. If Kakashi could do healing jutsu, he would have healed me too.

I grumble mentally at Naruto's endless energy and healing powers. I don't like being sore, and I certainly don't like walking home three days after being a human pin cushion. It's not fair.

I'm whining, I realize, but as it's internal and I hurt, I decide to let it slide. I just want to sit down and not get up again for, oh, about a day. A real bed would be even nicer.

Kakashi apparently notices my pain, and calls a short break. I flop underneath a tree, grace and shinobi skill be damned. Gods I hurt.

The sunlight filters through the green leaves, creating pleasing pictures on the dappled ground. I allow myself to watch them, resting my body and trying to focus my chakra on healing myself. I can't do healing jutsu; it's an extremely high-level and complicated justu, but I can speed up the process slightly by focusing my energies.

The pain eases slightly, and I sit back, relieved. What I wouldn't give for a bed. Or a warm bath. Or something more relaxing than bumpy ground and rough tree bark. At least we hadn't started out until today. Any earlier, and I think I wouldn't be able to.

I let my eyes drift closed, reveling in the quiet. Naruto is being silent for once; slightly eerie but I'm grateful none the less. It's nice to relax.

A thump next to me startles me out of the half-trance I'd fallen into. My eyes open and turn to face blue eyes and sunlight hair.

I blink, feeling uneasy at his closeness. His normal smile is not present; a concerned look graces his features instead. He tilts his head lightly, squinting his eyes in his trademark vulpine look.

"You okay? You got hurt pretty bad." His voice holds, dare I say it, true concern for my well-being. Why he's so concerned I don't know, as mere days before he would've found my injuries amusing. Perhaps the fight with Haku has changed our relationship somehow.

"A...aa." I manage to say. Trying to hold back a sarcastic reply is difficult, but as he seems serious for once, I'll try to be decent. "I'll be fine."

He studies me, eyes still closed. I wonder briefly how he can see like that. The pain must be affecting my brain; I've been whiny and absent- minded for the last few days.

"I hope so. I don't want you collapsing on us halfway back." He cheerfully warns me, opening one bright eye to give me a look.

He's worried about me. In his roundabout and almost insulting way, he's making sure I'm okay. For all his talk of being the best and not needing anyone, he is actually adept at teamwork. Something about the fight has certainly changed us.

He jumps up, and I once again envy his energy. He stretches, cheerfully bouncing on his heels. Placing his hands behind his back, he gives me his trademark vulpine grin.

"Well, Kakashi's signalling us to get up, so I guess the break's over." He takes a few steps, then reconsiders and suddenly turns around. He steps up in front of me and holds out his hand.

"Come on, let's go." He says it cheerfully, and I am slightly stunned. We had just spent several minutes in each other's presence, with no arguments or scuffles, and he's actually being decent to me. Maybe it's because I'm injured, and he remembers why I am. Or maybe he has something up his sleeve. Either way, he's being nice, and I'm not letting this go to waste.

I gently take his hand, and start slightly when I feel a slight surge of chakra. What was...?

Before I can question him, he yanks me to my feet. Swiftly letting go of my hand, he turns and runs for the rest of our team, only stopping to turn and shout.

"Oi, Sasuke! Hurry up, slowpoke! You're dragging the rest of us down!"

I, too stunned to argue, follow numbly. Kakashi silently lifts an eyebrow at my compliance, and Sakura yells at Naruto for insulting me.

I look at my hand wonderingly. What did he do...? The pain had faded, and I could see the faint needle marks grow even fainter. He had somehow aided in my healing process with that short burst of chakra. Just what is Naruto? How had he done that?

I look up from my hand to watch the everlasting bundle of energy bounce down the trail ahead, avoiding Sakura's attacks. He's grinning, despite the death threats she's hurling his way.

I smile lightly to myself. Naruto was Naruto. He just *was*. And it was that energy, that pure living energy that drew me to him, to consider him the most important person to me.

I may want to kill my brother, and that may be my ultimate goal in life, but now, walking in the warm sunlight, watching Naruto's antics, that suddenly seems not so important. Just as I had jumped in front of him to take the needles and save his life, I would always protect him. He was my teammate, a fellow shinobi...my friend.

Not just a friend. My most important person. Just a few weeks, and he has changed my goals in life totally. I want nothing more than to continue to be by his side, to stave off both his loneliness and mine. I've never had such feelings before, but they don't phase me all that much. He's important, and that's all that matters.

And anything else; my brother, my vengence, my training...well, they're not Naruto, are they? They'll just have to wait.

I have far better priorities in mind.

~Tsuzuku~ AN: Hmmm...Sasuke whining? Somewhat OOC, but I can picture him mentally complaining about things. XD Thankies to all my reviewers!