Author Note: I will tie this story up soon. So there aren't many chapters
left on this, but there are still a few and everything isn't over. I don't
know if you saw it but I left something in a previous chapter that
something will happen. I got some more stories/ideas that I want to write
but I won't even try on four stories at the same time, three is enough.
But enjoy this story while it's going on. I thought in the beginning that I
would make this longer but I don't have the energy for it anymore. Sorry,
but that's the reason. I'm still happy I wrote this one and I'm really glad
so many like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Couples: SasuNaru, if you don't like that pairing then DON'T read this one, it's completely boy x boy. (^.^: of course)
IMPORTANT: This is very important that you read, I've left a note in the end that depends on that you read and review to. It's about the ending. I won't say more than PLEASE READ IT.
Itsu Made Mo, Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by asaroth
Chapter 12 - The watcher
Everything was blurry and unfocused when Sasuke opened his eyes. The room was spinning so fast he didn't know what he wanted to do most, throw up or pass out again.
He let out a groan when he pressed his hand over his eyes.
"You're awake." The face of a nurse came into view when she removed his hand and made Sasuke look at her. "How do you feel?" She asked while she checked him.
"I've felt better!" Sasuke said as he closed his eyes once again.
"No kidding." The nurse muttered to herself. She gave a glass to Sasuke. "Drink this. You'll feel better."
Sasuke took it and drank. He made a grimace as it stayed in his mouth anyway. The nurse took the glass back before getting ready to leave. "How long have I been here?"
She turned to look at Sasuke. "About two days."
Feeling a little better already Sasuke nodded slightly. "Did you get someone named Naruto? Blond hair, six scars on his face and about my age?"
The nurse thought for a while. "No I don't think so."
Sasuke sank deeper into his pillow. "Oh... ok." He wasn't here.
Just as the nurse opened the doors she turned back with the hint of a smile on her lips. "No wait, he's here. He's in room 139. I didn't remember at first because he's getting special care."
Before Sasuke could say anything else she was gone.
"He's getting special care. Room: 139." Sasuke said to himself. Sasuke slowly pulled his blanket aside and pushed himself to the edge. When he stood up the room swayed. Sasuke put his hand to the wall for support and slowly made his way out of his room.
As he walked down the hall his balance got better and he let go of the wall. He read on the passing doors what number they had and finally he got to Naruto's room.
Sasuke opened it carefully and looked inside. The window was half opened to let fresh air in and on the only bed in the room, there laid Naruto. Sasuke sighed quietly in relief to see the other boy alive. He walked closer and he could see that Naruto was sleeping.
As he got closer he saw that Naruto looked warm, he was sweating. When he finally was standing beside Naruto he would be a little worried because Naruto wasn't looking good at all. It looked like he had a fever, but he wasn't showing any other sign of it than the sweating.
Sasuke placed one of his hands on Naruto's forehead, some of the blond hair laid under his hand.
The light touch was apparently enough to wake Naruto because the next moment he was looking at Sasuke with his big blue eyes. Naruto smiled. "Hi."
Sasuke couldn't do anything else but smile back. "Hi." Sasuke sat down on the edge of the bed, he removed his hand from Naruto's forehead.
Neither knew what to say so they didn't even try. Sasuke looked out the open window to see the hospital garden outside, a tree with white flowers stood almost beside the window swaying in the wind and some of the flowers fell off it, blowing past the window.
"Do you remember anything?" Sasuke wasn't even aware that he had asked that until he felt another hand over the one that was unconsciously clutching the sheets. He blushed when Naruto didn't answer him. Of course he wouldn't remember.
Sasuke felt more embarrassed when there still wasn't any answer from the other boy. *Of course he doesn't remember anything. What was I thinking anyway? 'Hey, we were together 200 years ago, wanna hook up again?'*
"I think so." Sasuke looked up. Naruto was smiling back at him. "You also remember what happened in the past?" Sasuke nodded slowly.
Naruto sighed as he slowly sat up in the bed. "So what now?"
That one confused Sasuke. "Nani? What do you mean what now?"
Naruto looked right at Sasuke. "I don't have a place to call home and I don't know any other life right now than that of a cursed ANBU. I'm not saying that I don't want to stay with you because I don't want anything else more than to do just that, but... I don't think so many people will be happy to have me in Konoha."
Sasuke moved closer to Naruto. "I don't CARE what others will think of us this time. All I want is you, to make up for the mistakes I made with you in the past. You'll learn how to live another life and I'm sure that everything will turn out alright."
Sasuke reached up with his hand to Naruto's face and cupped his cheek. "I won't hide you away again. Not this time!"
Naruto wasn't sure how to respond. This was a situation he wasn't used to any more. He stared at Sasuke, but the moment was cut short when his shoulder decided to complain.
Naruto bit his lip as his hand moved to his tattoo. New sweat appeared on his forehead as he bended forward. When the pain was almost gone again Naruto was breathing hard. This was getting more painful each time.
Sasuke leaned forward so that he was just a few inches from Naruto. "You ok?" He asked in a worried voice.
Naruto raised his head to look at Sasuke and was shocked at how close they were. Sasuke's eyes softened as he looked at Naruto's face through half lidded eyes. He slowly leaned forward until their lips met. Naruto closed his eyes completely, forgetting the pain in his shoulder as he returned the kiss. Sasuke closed his eyes as he raised a hand up to pull Naruto's head closer.
Naruto nibbled on his lower lip, Sasuke gladly opened his mouth for Naruto's eager tongue. Sasuke moaned at the sensation of kissing Naruto again and this time he wasn't shocked by it. Sasuke felt like he was in heaven, he wrapped his other arm around Naruto's waist and pushed them so he was lying on top of Naruto on the bed. Sasuke felt that his senses were overloading.
"Should I come back later?"
Naruto and Sasuke froze when they heard that voice. They turned their heads to the door and Sasuke saw the last person he wanted to be caught by when he kissed someone. At the door stood Kakashi with what could only be described as a smug smile under his mask.
"Sorry to break you two apart but there are some people in this village that would like to learn something from Naruto." Kakashi said, still with a smile. Kakashi walked out the door go get said people.
Sasuke and Naruto moved away from each other. Sasuke sat down next to Naruto on the edge of the bed. Naruto tried to sit up once again but found that it was harder than a few minutes ago. He gave up on the attempt when he heard voices outside the door.
Sasuke grasped Naruto's hand and smiled softly at the other boy. *I'll never hide again.*
The Hokage came through the door with a few council members in tow. It was clear that they hadn't expected to find someone else there. The Hokage felt relief to know that both of them were alright.
"Are you both feeling better?" He asked.
"Hai." Sasuke and Naruto said at the same time. Naruto felt Sasuke flinch at that lie. He was far from alright.
"Then you don't have anything against answering some questions?" One of the council members asked.
"Iie.(no)" Naruto said.
The Hokage sat down on a seat at the end of the bed, the others stood around the room and Kakashi by the door and watched the two boys with interest. He also saw their clasped hands.
"Who exactly are you?" The Hokage asked Naruto.
"I thought you would know that by now." Naruto said as he pointed at his shoulder. "My name is Naruto and I'm a cursed ANBU."
"Yes, that we know, but there are some things that you hide. Like what your heritage is and what was that red chakra you used. Many of the surviving Shinobis are talking about it."
Naruto looked away. This was something that he didn't want to discuss.
Sasuke looked at Naruto. This was something he also wanted to know but didn't want to push the other boy into anything he wasn't ready to share.
Naruto took a sudden deep breath. "I'm from the Uzumaki clan. Before they disappeared they were known for their skills and jutsus with swords. They were an advance bloodline, just like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, only those with the blood from my clan can use the ultimate jutsu, the Shadow gates, and even then they were few. The blood from one of the main families was the only one that could open them. It's something even an Uchiha shouldn't even try to copy."
Naruto hadn't looked at anyone while he talked. He had his head down.
"You said the Shadow gates? As in more than the one we saw?" The council member asked.
Naruto nodded his head. "Hai, there are two gates that I can open so far and I don't even want to try to open the third. The one I opened was the soul gate, I can open the Death gate too. I won't tell you anything more on what they are and what they do cause I won't spill the secrets of my clan." This time Naruto looked up. His eyes held a deathly serious glare in them.
The Hokage nodded. "What about that red chakra?"
This time Naruto didn't hesitate. He lifted his shirt and concentrated to gather the little chakra he had gained back. The seal of Kyuubi became visible. Everyone except Sasuke gasped. He had seen it in his past life and wasn't shocked that it was still there, he would had been more shocked if it hadn't been there.
"What i..." Before they could ask anything more Naruto gasped and the hand that held his shirt out of the way flew to his shoulder. Sasuke squeezed the hand he was holding to let Naruto know he was there with him. Naruto's grip tightens and Sasuke was sure there was not one drop of blood in his hand anymore. Naruto bit down on his lip so hard it bled. He was shaking all over now.
Sasuke felt Naruto's grip lessen and was just able to catch the sick boy when he fell forward unconscious.
"Naruto? Naruto?" Sasuke called him, but got no answer.
Sasuke heard Kakashi in the distance calling for a doctor, but he didn't pay much attention to anything other than the one he loved. Something caught Sasuke's attention on Naruto's shoulder. The tattoo was burning through the shirt, leaving its black mark on it.
*What's going on?*
***************
It was dark outside and Sasuke was sure it was past midnight. Sasuke sat in a chair beside Naruto's bed; he raised his hand to rub his eyes. Sleep was creeping up on him, but he didn't want to sleep yet. Sasuke stretched his arms as he yawned. He then looked down to the sleeping face on the bed. Naruto's condition had gotten worse, if you could call it that. They had to remove his shirt because of the burn mark. His fever had reached new heights and the doctors said that if it didn't go down soon, Naruto wouldn't make it through the next few days. His fever sometimes made Naruto's breathing become faster and harder. What they could tell was that the tattoo that was the cause of the fever, but they didn't dare mess with something that was cursed, they didn't know what could happen if they did. Naruto's hair was clinging to his head because of the sweat. He was turning all the time, but didn't wake up for more than a few minutes each time.
The nurse had actually tried to send Sasuke home, but he put up more of a fight than she wanted, so she let him stay as long as he was quiet.
Sasuke reached for the towel on the nightstand and started to wipe some sweat from Naruto's face. Naruto turned his head toward the soft and cold towel. Sasuke sighed. *What did we do to deserve this?* He asked himself.
*We made a few mistakes in the past, but that doesn't mean we have to suffer so much now. I don't want to live with the past in the back of my mind all the time, I just want us to have a normal life together. The lives we have now. Is that too much to ask for? We love each other, but something always gets in our way. In the past if it wasn't for me being Hokage and Naruto being an ANBU we would have had more time together. Or would we?*
Sasuke paused for a moment.
*I never told him that I was scared of the judgement of the others we would meet if we came out public with our relationship. That was what held me back then and that was my greatest mistake. I didn't realize, until you were gone, that I only had two places with memories with us together to go to. Your apartment and that clearing. It hurt so much in my heart that I didn't have anyone knowing that we loved each other when you were alive. Now you and I... I don't even want to think of it!*
Sasuke looked up for a moment outside the dark window. *But not this time too. I won't make the same mistake twice.* He looked down and smiled softly. *I love you, dobe. More than anything.*
Sasuke leaned forward and placed a kiss on Naruto's forehead. He sighed happily.
"You really love him, don't you?"
Sasuke stood and turned around. "Who's there?"
A man walked out of the shadow near the window that was now open. The man smiled and Sasuke couldn't even guess what it hid.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Sasuke asked. He didn't even realize that his eyes had turned red.
The man pointed at Naruto. "I'm here because of him. I have work to do." His voice didn't betray anything.
"What work? Who are you?" The man realized that Sasuke wasn't going to move before he got a clear answer.
"I'm his watcher. From what I've seen of his life I've come to an important decision that involves his future as a cursed ANBU."
Sasuke glared at the man. "So it was you that gave him that tattoo."
"Hai. I know that he could go far and that his potential was the best I had seen in a long time. I just didn't realize until recently that he already had a more important mission ahead of him." The man walked closer to the bed and he could see how Sasuke tensed from where he stood between him and the sick boy.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked in fury, his voiced raised with each word.
The man sighed when he came to stop right in front of Sasuke. This boy wasn't making it easy for him. "Either you move out of the way so I can save him or you can watch him die in a few more hours." His voice was hard as steel and it cut right through Sasuke's defence.
Sasuke didn't know what to do. He didn't want that man anywhere near Naruto, but if he didn't trust him Naruto could die. "How do I know that you won't kill him yourself?"
"I could have killed him through his tattoo. You just have to trust me." The man said plainly.
The silence that followed was one of the worse that Sasuke had ever felt, it took him a few minutes, but he slowly moved out of the way. The watcher took a few steps forward and was now beside Naruto. He gently pushed Naruto onto his side so his shoulder with the tattoo came into view. It was still flaming red, but not as intense as it had been earlier.
The watcher took out a pen and drew some seals around the tattoo before putting his hand over it. There was a blinding white light and Naruto screamed in pain. Deep down Naruto knew the last time he had felt that kind of pain had marked the beginning of his new life. His scream filled the room and probably the entire hospital.
"Stop it!" Sasuke yelled, but he was drowned out by Naruto's scream. After what seemed like an eternity, the watcher removed his hand and Naruto's scream died out. The silence was thicker than before. Sasuke was sure he could hear the night nurses running down to their room.
"His life mission was to find you again." With that, the man jumped out of the window and was gone.
Sasuke rushed over to Naruto. The boy was now on his back and was shaking with the aftershock. Sasuke gathered Naruto in his arms and pulled him so the blond boy was resting against his chest. Sasuke called his name, but didn't get any response from him.
"What happened?" The nurses asked when they ran into the room. Sasuke looked up at them before his attention once again turned to Naruto. Sasuke placed a hand on his forehead. He breathed out in relief. The fever was already going down and therefore making Naruto's breathing easier. He looked down to Naruto's shoulder and for a moment everything stopped.
The tattoo... was...
A smile spread over Sasuke's face. "It's just a normal ANBU tattoo now!" He said in a whisper.
The cursed spiral was gone.
Sasuke hugged Naruto closer to him as he let his face rest against Naruto's neck.
Sasuke didn't even know why he was crying, he was just happy that Naruto was alright now.
*************
A few days later!
"Ohayou, Sasuke." Naruto greeted him at the entrance of the hospital. After just a few days, Naruto was declared healthy enough so they could kick him out. Never had they had someone that was so... so...childish. The nurses loved him for that, but he sometimes gave the doctors hell.
Sasuke smiled at Naruto. "Ohayou, Naruto. Ready to go?"
Naruto returned the smile with one of his biggest ones. "Hai." He turned and waved good bye to the few nurses that saw him leave. He then took Sasuke's hand and they walked away together.
As they walked through the streets they passed what had been the place where they fought Kuji. The hole was almost repaired.
"Wow. They sure work fast!" Naruto exclaimed.
"The damage was limited to this part and almost no one was killed during the attack so..." Sasuke trailed of when he saw the sad look that crossed Naruto's face.
"Almost no one." Naruto whispered.
Sasuke felt bad suddenly. "It wasn't your fault Naruto. You couldn't have known that Kuji would follow you. From what I've heard, if it weren't for you the whole village could have been destroyed. Some even think that you are a hero!"
Naruto looked up surprised. "Honto? (really)" Sasuke nodded reassuringly. He was about to say something more when Naruto's stomach interrupted them. Both laughed at that. "I guess I should have eaten before I left the hospital."
Sasuke shook his head. "Let's go somewhere and eat. I pay."
Naruto's face lit up. "Honto?"
Sasuke had a hard time keeping a straight face. *After 200 years Naruto is still easy to please.*
"Hai, come on."
With that they walked away to look for someplace to eat, which ended up to be the Ramen shop. After three bowls of ramen, Naruto ate two of them, they were on their way to Sasuke's home. This time they walked with their arms around each other's waist, giving a pretty clear message on how close they were. They stopped by a clothes store, Naruto said that he needed some new clothes since most of his was either destroyed or ruined. They parted and went to look through the shelves. They met five minutes later, a few new stuff in their arms. Sasuke sent Naruto to try them and he returned with about half of it. This time, Naruto paid for his own things. It took almost every cent he had, but it was worth it. They walked out of there and Naruto felt that this was heaven. Here he was, shopping with the one he loved, in plain sight for everyone else to see.
It would have been perfect if it weren't for a nagging feeling in his guts. Naruto turned his head slowly around and he saw two girls glaring daggers at him. One had pink hair and the other one had long blond hair in a pony- tail. Naruto could really feel the killing intent of their glares.
*What have I done now?* He felt a hand on his elbow. He turned back to see Sasuke's face and the sight made him feel better than the glares.
"Ignore them. They are just mad because you are with me!"
Naruto sweat dropped. "You still have fan girls running after you?"
"You're still crazy about ramen." Sasuke shot back.
Naruto thought for a few seconds. "Some things never change." He declared before he dragged a laughing Sasuke with him down the street. They made a few more stops along the way before they finally reached Sasuke's house.
They stopped at the door. "I never thought I would be here again." Naruto confessed.
"Naze? (why)" Sasuke asked.
All Naruto did was shrug his shoulders. They walked in and put down their bags in the living room. This time Naruto knew about the extra step, but was very tempted by an "accidental" kiss. When he came to his senses Sasuke was too far away form the step for the plan to work. *Kuso.*
Sasuke gave Naruto a fast tour of the house before he told him that he had homework to do and sat down in the living room. Naruto looked around a little more before walking outside to the garden. He spent a few minutes there before walking back inside. He found Sasuke deep in thoughts over his homework. For a brief moment Naruto wondered what it would be like to have homework, but just briefly.
Naruto sat down next to Sasuke. Sasuke looked up from his homework and smiled at Naruto. The day had gone better than he had thought. Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Nani? (what)" Sasuke asked.
"Do you expect company or anything?" Naruto said.
Sasuke thought for a moment. "Iie, naze? (no, why)"
"Because I don't want anyone interrupting us this time." Naruto leaned forward and kissed Sasuke. They pulled apart slightly breathless. "Me neither!" Sasuke put his pen down and pulled Naruto's head closer for another kiss. This one lasted until they needed fresh air in their lungs.
Both were breathing fast but they stayed close. Naruto moved closer so he was hugging Sasuke's waist. He felt Sasuke's arm go around his shoulders. Naruto rested his head against Sasuke's chest listen to Sasuke's rapid heartbeat, he smiled warmly at the feelings that rose inside of him.
*I finally got you, koibito.*
Sasuke felt Naruto smile against his chest and for a moment he saw his books lying in front of him, taunting him to get the work done. *Screw homework for the moment. I'm busy with more important things.*
Sasuke breathed in the sent of Naruto's hair before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Aishiteru, Naruto."
"Aishiteru, Sasuke-koi."
tbc...
Author Note: I hope you liked it; it took me a few days to get it down. When I finished writing this one I came to the conclusion that I will end it after two more chapters.
Now I got a decision-making for you, I have two scenarios on how to end this story.
1) A very sweet and happy ending with a delighted surprise in the end for Naruto. For those that want to know, just write the number 1 in the review.
2) The bad guy comes back for one last confrontation. It will end happily too, but with a little more action and pain in it. If you want this ending then leave the number 2 in your review.
I won't write anything more until I get one of the numbers at least once. Until then it's COMPLETELY up to you!!!
^_^ ---(review, please)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Couples: SasuNaru, if you don't like that pairing then DON'T read this one, it's completely boy x boy. (^.^: of course)
IMPORTANT: This is very important that you read, I've left a note in the end that depends on that you read and review to. It's about the ending. I won't say more than PLEASE READ IT.
Itsu Made Mo, Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by asaroth
Chapter 12 - The watcher
Everything was blurry and unfocused when Sasuke opened his eyes. The room was spinning so fast he didn't know what he wanted to do most, throw up or pass out again.
He let out a groan when he pressed his hand over his eyes.
"You're awake." The face of a nurse came into view when she removed his hand and made Sasuke look at her. "How do you feel?" She asked while she checked him.
"I've felt better!" Sasuke said as he closed his eyes once again.
"No kidding." The nurse muttered to herself. She gave a glass to Sasuke. "Drink this. You'll feel better."
Sasuke took it and drank. He made a grimace as it stayed in his mouth anyway. The nurse took the glass back before getting ready to leave. "How long have I been here?"
She turned to look at Sasuke. "About two days."
Feeling a little better already Sasuke nodded slightly. "Did you get someone named Naruto? Blond hair, six scars on his face and about my age?"
The nurse thought for a while. "No I don't think so."
Sasuke sank deeper into his pillow. "Oh... ok." He wasn't here.
Just as the nurse opened the doors she turned back with the hint of a smile on her lips. "No wait, he's here. He's in room 139. I didn't remember at first because he's getting special care."
Before Sasuke could say anything else she was gone.
"He's getting special care. Room: 139." Sasuke said to himself. Sasuke slowly pulled his blanket aside and pushed himself to the edge. When he stood up the room swayed. Sasuke put his hand to the wall for support and slowly made his way out of his room.
As he walked down the hall his balance got better and he let go of the wall. He read on the passing doors what number they had and finally he got to Naruto's room.
Sasuke opened it carefully and looked inside. The window was half opened to let fresh air in and on the only bed in the room, there laid Naruto. Sasuke sighed quietly in relief to see the other boy alive. He walked closer and he could see that Naruto was sleeping.
As he got closer he saw that Naruto looked warm, he was sweating. When he finally was standing beside Naruto he would be a little worried because Naruto wasn't looking good at all. It looked like he had a fever, but he wasn't showing any other sign of it than the sweating.
Sasuke placed one of his hands on Naruto's forehead, some of the blond hair laid under his hand.
The light touch was apparently enough to wake Naruto because the next moment he was looking at Sasuke with his big blue eyes. Naruto smiled. "Hi."
Sasuke couldn't do anything else but smile back. "Hi." Sasuke sat down on the edge of the bed, he removed his hand from Naruto's forehead.
Neither knew what to say so they didn't even try. Sasuke looked out the open window to see the hospital garden outside, a tree with white flowers stood almost beside the window swaying in the wind and some of the flowers fell off it, blowing past the window.
"Do you remember anything?" Sasuke wasn't even aware that he had asked that until he felt another hand over the one that was unconsciously clutching the sheets. He blushed when Naruto didn't answer him. Of course he wouldn't remember.
Sasuke felt more embarrassed when there still wasn't any answer from the other boy. *Of course he doesn't remember anything. What was I thinking anyway? 'Hey, we were together 200 years ago, wanna hook up again?'*
"I think so." Sasuke looked up. Naruto was smiling back at him. "You also remember what happened in the past?" Sasuke nodded slowly.
Naruto sighed as he slowly sat up in the bed. "So what now?"
That one confused Sasuke. "Nani? What do you mean what now?"
Naruto looked right at Sasuke. "I don't have a place to call home and I don't know any other life right now than that of a cursed ANBU. I'm not saying that I don't want to stay with you because I don't want anything else more than to do just that, but... I don't think so many people will be happy to have me in Konoha."
Sasuke moved closer to Naruto. "I don't CARE what others will think of us this time. All I want is you, to make up for the mistakes I made with you in the past. You'll learn how to live another life and I'm sure that everything will turn out alright."
Sasuke reached up with his hand to Naruto's face and cupped his cheek. "I won't hide you away again. Not this time!"
Naruto wasn't sure how to respond. This was a situation he wasn't used to any more. He stared at Sasuke, but the moment was cut short when his shoulder decided to complain.
Naruto bit his lip as his hand moved to his tattoo. New sweat appeared on his forehead as he bended forward. When the pain was almost gone again Naruto was breathing hard. This was getting more painful each time.
Sasuke leaned forward so that he was just a few inches from Naruto. "You ok?" He asked in a worried voice.
Naruto raised his head to look at Sasuke and was shocked at how close they were. Sasuke's eyes softened as he looked at Naruto's face through half lidded eyes. He slowly leaned forward until their lips met. Naruto closed his eyes completely, forgetting the pain in his shoulder as he returned the kiss. Sasuke closed his eyes as he raised a hand up to pull Naruto's head closer.
Naruto nibbled on his lower lip, Sasuke gladly opened his mouth for Naruto's eager tongue. Sasuke moaned at the sensation of kissing Naruto again and this time he wasn't shocked by it. Sasuke felt like he was in heaven, he wrapped his other arm around Naruto's waist and pushed them so he was lying on top of Naruto on the bed. Sasuke felt that his senses were overloading.
"Should I come back later?"
Naruto and Sasuke froze when they heard that voice. They turned their heads to the door and Sasuke saw the last person he wanted to be caught by when he kissed someone. At the door stood Kakashi with what could only be described as a smug smile under his mask.
"Sorry to break you two apart but there are some people in this village that would like to learn something from Naruto." Kakashi said, still with a smile. Kakashi walked out the door go get said people.
Sasuke and Naruto moved away from each other. Sasuke sat down next to Naruto on the edge of the bed. Naruto tried to sit up once again but found that it was harder than a few minutes ago. He gave up on the attempt when he heard voices outside the door.
Sasuke grasped Naruto's hand and smiled softly at the other boy. *I'll never hide again.*
The Hokage came through the door with a few council members in tow. It was clear that they hadn't expected to find someone else there. The Hokage felt relief to know that both of them were alright.
"Are you both feeling better?" He asked.
"Hai." Sasuke and Naruto said at the same time. Naruto felt Sasuke flinch at that lie. He was far from alright.
"Then you don't have anything against answering some questions?" One of the council members asked.
"Iie.(no)" Naruto said.
The Hokage sat down on a seat at the end of the bed, the others stood around the room and Kakashi by the door and watched the two boys with interest. He also saw their clasped hands.
"Who exactly are you?" The Hokage asked Naruto.
"I thought you would know that by now." Naruto said as he pointed at his shoulder. "My name is Naruto and I'm a cursed ANBU."
"Yes, that we know, but there are some things that you hide. Like what your heritage is and what was that red chakra you used. Many of the surviving Shinobis are talking about it."
Naruto looked away. This was something that he didn't want to discuss.
Sasuke looked at Naruto. This was something he also wanted to know but didn't want to push the other boy into anything he wasn't ready to share.
Naruto took a sudden deep breath. "I'm from the Uzumaki clan. Before they disappeared they were known for their skills and jutsus with swords. They were an advance bloodline, just like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, only those with the blood from my clan can use the ultimate jutsu, the Shadow gates, and even then they were few. The blood from one of the main families was the only one that could open them. It's something even an Uchiha shouldn't even try to copy."
Naruto hadn't looked at anyone while he talked. He had his head down.
"You said the Shadow gates? As in more than the one we saw?" The council member asked.
Naruto nodded his head. "Hai, there are two gates that I can open so far and I don't even want to try to open the third. The one I opened was the soul gate, I can open the Death gate too. I won't tell you anything more on what they are and what they do cause I won't spill the secrets of my clan." This time Naruto looked up. His eyes held a deathly serious glare in them.
The Hokage nodded. "What about that red chakra?"
This time Naruto didn't hesitate. He lifted his shirt and concentrated to gather the little chakra he had gained back. The seal of Kyuubi became visible. Everyone except Sasuke gasped. He had seen it in his past life and wasn't shocked that it was still there, he would had been more shocked if it hadn't been there.
"What i..." Before they could ask anything more Naruto gasped and the hand that held his shirt out of the way flew to his shoulder. Sasuke squeezed the hand he was holding to let Naruto know he was there with him. Naruto's grip tightens and Sasuke was sure there was not one drop of blood in his hand anymore. Naruto bit down on his lip so hard it bled. He was shaking all over now.
Sasuke felt Naruto's grip lessen and was just able to catch the sick boy when he fell forward unconscious.
"Naruto? Naruto?" Sasuke called him, but got no answer.
Sasuke heard Kakashi in the distance calling for a doctor, but he didn't pay much attention to anything other than the one he loved. Something caught Sasuke's attention on Naruto's shoulder. The tattoo was burning through the shirt, leaving its black mark on it.
*What's going on?*
***************
It was dark outside and Sasuke was sure it was past midnight. Sasuke sat in a chair beside Naruto's bed; he raised his hand to rub his eyes. Sleep was creeping up on him, but he didn't want to sleep yet. Sasuke stretched his arms as he yawned. He then looked down to the sleeping face on the bed. Naruto's condition had gotten worse, if you could call it that. They had to remove his shirt because of the burn mark. His fever had reached new heights and the doctors said that if it didn't go down soon, Naruto wouldn't make it through the next few days. His fever sometimes made Naruto's breathing become faster and harder. What they could tell was that the tattoo that was the cause of the fever, but they didn't dare mess with something that was cursed, they didn't know what could happen if they did. Naruto's hair was clinging to his head because of the sweat. He was turning all the time, but didn't wake up for more than a few minutes each time.
The nurse had actually tried to send Sasuke home, but he put up more of a fight than she wanted, so she let him stay as long as he was quiet.
Sasuke reached for the towel on the nightstand and started to wipe some sweat from Naruto's face. Naruto turned his head toward the soft and cold towel. Sasuke sighed. *What did we do to deserve this?* He asked himself.
*We made a few mistakes in the past, but that doesn't mean we have to suffer so much now. I don't want to live with the past in the back of my mind all the time, I just want us to have a normal life together. The lives we have now. Is that too much to ask for? We love each other, but something always gets in our way. In the past if it wasn't for me being Hokage and Naruto being an ANBU we would have had more time together. Or would we?*
Sasuke paused for a moment.
*I never told him that I was scared of the judgement of the others we would meet if we came out public with our relationship. That was what held me back then and that was my greatest mistake. I didn't realize, until you were gone, that I only had two places with memories with us together to go to. Your apartment and that clearing. It hurt so much in my heart that I didn't have anyone knowing that we loved each other when you were alive. Now you and I... I don't even want to think of it!*
Sasuke looked up for a moment outside the dark window. *But not this time too. I won't make the same mistake twice.* He looked down and smiled softly. *I love you, dobe. More than anything.*
Sasuke leaned forward and placed a kiss on Naruto's forehead. He sighed happily.
"You really love him, don't you?"
Sasuke stood and turned around. "Who's there?"
A man walked out of the shadow near the window that was now open. The man smiled and Sasuke couldn't even guess what it hid.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Sasuke asked. He didn't even realize that his eyes had turned red.
The man pointed at Naruto. "I'm here because of him. I have work to do." His voice didn't betray anything.
"What work? Who are you?" The man realized that Sasuke wasn't going to move before he got a clear answer.
"I'm his watcher. From what I've seen of his life I've come to an important decision that involves his future as a cursed ANBU."
Sasuke glared at the man. "So it was you that gave him that tattoo."
"Hai. I know that he could go far and that his potential was the best I had seen in a long time. I just didn't realize until recently that he already had a more important mission ahead of him." The man walked closer to the bed and he could see how Sasuke tensed from where he stood between him and the sick boy.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked in fury, his voiced raised with each word.
The man sighed when he came to stop right in front of Sasuke. This boy wasn't making it easy for him. "Either you move out of the way so I can save him or you can watch him die in a few more hours." His voice was hard as steel and it cut right through Sasuke's defence.
Sasuke didn't know what to do. He didn't want that man anywhere near Naruto, but if he didn't trust him Naruto could die. "How do I know that you won't kill him yourself?"
"I could have killed him through his tattoo. You just have to trust me." The man said plainly.
The silence that followed was one of the worse that Sasuke had ever felt, it took him a few minutes, but he slowly moved out of the way. The watcher took a few steps forward and was now beside Naruto. He gently pushed Naruto onto his side so his shoulder with the tattoo came into view. It was still flaming red, but not as intense as it had been earlier.
The watcher took out a pen and drew some seals around the tattoo before putting his hand over it. There was a blinding white light and Naruto screamed in pain. Deep down Naruto knew the last time he had felt that kind of pain had marked the beginning of his new life. His scream filled the room and probably the entire hospital.
"Stop it!" Sasuke yelled, but he was drowned out by Naruto's scream. After what seemed like an eternity, the watcher removed his hand and Naruto's scream died out. The silence was thicker than before. Sasuke was sure he could hear the night nurses running down to their room.
"His life mission was to find you again." With that, the man jumped out of the window and was gone.
Sasuke rushed over to Naruto. The boy was now on his back and was shaking with the aftershock. Sasuke gathered Naruto in his arms and pulled him so the blond boy was resting against his chest. Sasuke called his name, but didn't get any response from him.
"What happened?" The nurses asked when they ran into the room. Sasuke looked up at them before his attention once again turned to Naruto. Sasuke placed a hand on his forehead. He breathed out in relief. The fever was already going down and therefore making Naruto's breathing easier. He looked down to Naruto's shoulder and for a moment everything stopped.
The tattoo... was...
A smile spread over Sasuke's face. "It's just a normal ANBU tattoo now!" He said in a whisper.
The cursed spiral was gone.
Sasuke hugged Naruto closer to him as he let his face rest against Naruto's neck.
Sasuke didn't even know why he was crying, he was just happy that Naruto was alright now.
*************
A few days later!
"Ohayou, Sasuke." Naruto greeted him at the entrance of the hospital. After just a few days, Naruto was declared healthy enough so they could kick him out. Never had they had someone that was so... so...childish. The nurses loved him for that, but he sometimes gave the doctors hell.
Sasuke smiled at Naruto. "Ohayou, Naruto. Ready to go?"
Naruto returned the smile with one of his biggest ones. "Hai." He turned and waved good bye to the few nurses that saw him leave. He then took Sasuke's hand and they walked away together.
As they walked through the streets they passed what had been the place where they fought Kuji. The hole was almost repaired.
"Wow. They sure work fast!" Naruto exclaimed.
"The damage was limited to this part and almost no one was killed during the attack so..." Sasuke trailed of when he saw the sad look that crossed Naruto's face.
"Almost no one." Naruto whispered.
Sasuke felt bad suddenly. "It wasn't your fault Naruto. You couldn't have known that Kuji would follow you. From what I've heard, if it weren't for you the whole village could have been destroyed. Some even think that you are a hero!"
Naruto looked up surprised. "Honto? (really)" Sasuke nodded reassuringly. He was about to say something more when Naruto's stomach interrupted them. Both laughed at that. "I guess I should have eaten before I left the hospital."
Sasuke shook his head. "Let's go somewhere and eat. I pay."
Naruto's face lit up. "Honto?"
Sasuke had a hard time keeping a straight face. *After 200 years Naruto is still easy to please.*
"Hai, come on."
With that they walked away to look for someplace to eat, which ended up to be the Ramen shop. After three bowls of ramen, Naruto ate two of them, they were on their way to Sasuke's home. This time they walked with their arms around each other's waist, giving a pretty clear message on how close they were. They stopped by a clothes store, Naruto said that he needed some new clothes since most of his was either destroyed or ruined. They parted and went to look through the shelves. They met five minutes later, a few new stuff in their arms. Sasuke sent Naruto to try them and he returned with about half of it. This time, Naruto paid for his own things. It took almost every cent he had, but it was worth it. They walked out of there and Naruto felt that this was heaven. Here he was, shopping with the one he loved, in plain sight for everyone else to see.
It would have been perfect if it weren't for a nagging feeling in his guts. Naruto turned his head slowly around and he saw two girls glaring daggers at him. One had pink hair and the other one had long blond hair in a pony- tail. Naruto could really feel the killing intent of their glares.
*What have I done now?* He felt a hand on his elbow. He turned back to see Sasuke's face and the sight made him feel better than the glares.
"Ignore them. They are just mad because you are with me!"
Naruto sweat dropped. "You still have fan girls running after you?"
"You're still crazy about ramen." Sasuke shot back.
Naruto thought for a few seconds. "Some things never change." He declared before he dragged a laughing Sasuke with him down the street. They made a few more stops along the way before they finally reached Sasuke's house.
They stopped at the door. "I never thought I would be here again." Naruto confessed.
"Naze? (why)" Sasuke asked.
All Naruto did was shrug his shoulders. They walked in and put down their bags in the living room. This time Naruto knew about the extra step, but was very tempted by an "accidental" kiss. When he came to his senses Sasuke was too far away form the step for the plan to work. *Kuso.*
Sasuke gave Naruto a fast tour of the house before he told him that he had homework to do and sat down in the living room. Naruto looked around a little more before walking outside to the garden. He spent a few minutes there before walking back inside. He found Sasuke deep in thoughts over his homework. For a brief moment Naruto wondered what it would be like to have homework, but just briefly.
Naruto sat down next to Sasuke. Sasuke looked up from his homework and smiled at Naruto. The day had gone better than he had thought. Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Nani? (what)" Sasuke asked.
"Do you expect company or anything?" Naruto said.
Sasuke thought for a moment. "Iie, naze? (no, why)"
"Because I don't want anyone interrupting us this time." Naruto leaned forward and kissed Sasuke. They pulled apart slightly breathless. "Me neither!" Sasuke put his pen down and pulled Naruto's head closer for another kiss. This one lasted until they needed fresh air in their lungs.
Both were breathing fast but they stayed close. Naruto moved closer so he was hugging Sasuke's waist. He felt Sasuke's arm go around his shoulders. Naruto rested his head against Sasuke's chest listen to Sasuke's rapid heartbeat, he smiled warmly at the feelings that rose inside of him.
*I finally got you, koibito.*
Sasuke felt Naruto smile against his chest and for a moment he saw his books lying in front of him, taunting him to get the work done. *Screw homework for the moment. I'm busy with more important things.*
Sasuke breathed in the sent of Naruto's hair before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Aishiteru, Naruto."
"Aishiteru, Sasuke-koi."
tbc...
Author Note: I hope you liked it; it took me a few days to get it down. When I finished writing this one I came to the conclusion that I will end it after two more chapters.
Now I got a decision-making for you, I have two scenarios on how to end this story.
1) A very sweet and happy ending with a delighted surprise in the end for Naruto. For those that want to know, just write the number 1 in the review.
2) The bad guy comes back for one last confrontation. It will end happily too, but with a little more action and pain in it. If you want this ending then leave the number 2 in your review.
I won't write anything more until I get one of the numbers at least once. Until then it's COMPLETELY up to you!!!
^_^ ---(review, please)