Disclaimer::All I really want for Christmas this year is Gaara, Sasuke, and Naruto under the tree—but separated…they're like dogs in heat…rawr…

AN::Yeah, okay, I know you probably thought I wasn't going to have this update in this week…so HAH XD; I actually have it—posted and done. I'm actually kind of glad how this chapter turned out, considering I didn't want to get tooo much into what happens at the end…yet :3;

Also…::blushesaliittle:: This might sound kind of…well, bitchy…but could you leave a comment/review if you read it? It can just be something short like "Hi." Yeah, that'd be nice. See, I actually wasn't planning on putting this one out so early, but…well…I got some reviews last-minute and they made me finish this baby up. So yay…and now I'm done with begging for reviews…Enjoy :3

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Cold, frosty, chilling, biting and stinging cold. All around there was nothing but an icy frost along his body, covering him like a blanket of thick snow. He was freezing, dying, heart clamped and suffocating, fighting silently, motionlessly, knowing it was a lost cause, trying anyway. It stretched on endlessly, an emptiness void, filled only by the burdening cold, absent of all warmth. And then it all melted away, banished to the farthest reaches of his soul by one touch. One burning, scalding, searing caress had made his heart stop hurting.

Stories are often told of a prince or princess, questing to become the perfect ruler for their kingdom, to slay the dragon, or to simply find the one they love. It could have been a journey to survive from wicked step-parents or fleeing from a curse. It could have been the task to find the princess and kiss her, awakening her from a deep sleep or give her the lost glass slipper. Or it could have been the prince rescuing his love from the snow.

Whether eccentricism was to blame, or frostbite affected the mind in certain instances, he did not know. And really, he knew nothing beyond the crackling of the all-but dead embers, low humming grunts of a dog settling before the fireplace, shifting of a man beside his bed, moving quietly, trying not to disturb him. He sighed quietly, aware his alteration in slowed breathing would alert the other human to his awakened status, not really caring.

Their conversation had ebbed and died after several hours of talk, never an awkward lull or random silence in either of their speech. He wasn't sure if the other man was an avid speaker, hoping he was, that gentle, soothing voice pleasant to his ears, but he himself did not fancy chic-chat over solitary quiet.

Which was why he had been so surprised when Naruto glanced at his watch, staring at his wrist in surprise. It was well after sunrise, though they could not tell, having pulled the curtains shut the instant they started speaking, both enjoying the dark warmth. After much firm instance from the blonde, he had given into the man's wishes, lying on the bed, shutting his eyes and trying to sleep.

But Sasuke could not sleep, would not sleep, mind racing with confused thoughts, heart with emotions. Why was he so comfortable in this stranger's home, in this stranger's bed, smelling his sheets and scent? What was this feeling that turned his world upside down whenever the blonde sighed next to him? Why did he feel…safe?

Why did he feel happy?

"Still awake?" a quiet voice whispered from beside him, and he turned his ebony eyes to the orator, nodding wordlessly. A troubled expression passed behind cerulean eyes as pages of the book he had been reading brushed against one another, cover pressing down on them. Flicking off the switch to the tiny lamp nearby, Naruto inhaled deeply, sighing quietly. "It's been nearly an hour since you tried to get some rest, Sasuke."

"I know," he responded simply, finding no need to vocalize some superfluous counter, opting for a minimal answer. Struggling to support himself, he realized his body still wasn't functioning as it usually did, sighing in frustration.

He knew Naruto's eyes watched him, concentrated on him, never leaving his face, his shoulders, his back. Dimly, he wondered if it was how a research subject felt, but he was rather positive a lab rat wouldn't have begun blushing as the doctor watched it. Luckily, the room was dark enough, the only light in the room the crimson glow from the fire, if it could be graced with such a title.

"Try not to exert yourself so much—your body still isn't in perfect condition," he chided gently, resting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Squeezing reassuringly, he continued, "You're not going to feel in peak form for a bit longer, either. But don't worry—you'll be back to normal in no time." He smiled at the young man on the bed, wide grin spreading across his tanned face.

Hearts are acrobats, Sasuke realized, or at least his was, the way it was twisting and turning, flipping and flopping. He blinked, swallowing hard, shivering against Naruto's touch, running a finger across the sheets. He gnawed on his lip thoughtfully, searching for the proper way to phrase the thoughts running through his mind.

"Something the matter?" Naruto asked, removing his hand and placing it in his lap, peering at Sasuke's face. Flicking a stray lock of golden hair out of his face, he scooted off his chair, leveling his face with the ivory-faced boy. Black met blue, drowning in the oceans of glass, pure, silken, smooth and oh-so captivating.

Had he been thinking properly, he would have pulled away, would have looked away, would have done anything to stop from being overwhelmed by the deep azure grasp. But he wasn't thinking properly, wasn't even thinking, content and rather proud of himself for the remembering the base skill of breathing. He shook his head ever so slightly, raven-hair moving forward, brushing Naruto's nose, the distance between them so tiny he could see the blonde tinge to the blackness of the doctor's eyelashes where they met his skin. "Not really," he said, mouth finally locating the forgotten ability to speak.

The silver-furred dog that had lain on the floor forgotten rose to his feet then, wanting attention. It wasn't really a wonder, Sasuke knew, the way the wolf-beast craved notice. His master's tanned face was nearly pressed against Sasuke's, quiet conversation passing between the two of them in hushed tones and low whispers. With a low grunt, the animal nuzzled his snout between Sasuke and Naruto, spreading them apart with a cold black nose.

Naruto laughed as he returned to his chair, resting a hand on the bridge of his nose, absently stroking Ookami. Sasuke didn't need to be a mind-reader to tell what was taking place inside that golden-crowned skull. His future, his fate, his destiny was being decided as lapis eyes flashed from his face to the wolf's, back to his pale cheeks.

"You're lying," Naruto said quietly, voice surprisingly lacking the accusatory edge anyone could have anticipated would linger behind the words. His face had not faltered, smile still on his full, pink lips, fingers scratching the dog's brow fondly. "Where will you go when I return to the city in a week?"

A week? That was all the time he had left? Only a week and then he would…

It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had been in the snow, locking up his flat and heading out into the cold frost, every intention to die. He realized it hadn't been more than 48 hours, less than a day and a half since he had met Naruto, been in this bed, in this house. And yet he felt as though he had been here all his life, truly belonged here, and couldn't bear the thought of leaving. But in a week…he would have to.

"Not sure," he replied honestly, brow creasing in silent worry, not wanting to burden Naruto with his thoughts. He fisted the sheets idly, prodding the soft, downy pillow with a finger, picturesque example of a child trying to avoid an uncomfortable or unpleasant topic by simply ignoring it. Ookami, having received his required amount of pettings from Naruto moved to Sasuke's side, jabbing him in the ribs gently with his muzzle. Jumping slightly at the unexpectedly wet, cold nose prodding him insistently, Sasuke's hand glided to the dog's velvet forehead, stroking the wolf. "I don't have any family I can return to…and I've been living alone for almost five years. I'll probably find some place to crash for a while."

"But you've got to walk wherever it is, right?" Nodding quietly, he continued to pet the dog, sighs and grunts of content happiness warming his heart like only a dog can. Naruto rose slowly, stretching his shoulders, reaching for the sky. Sasuke's eyes instinctively followed the man's movement, blushing as his shirt rose to the middle of his abdomen, showing a rather well-toned abdomen. "Well, then it's settled."

And with that, Naruto turned, walking towards the other room, leaving Sasuke staring after him. He tried to stand, but he couldn't quite make his body respond the way he wanted it to, and he didn't really want to move anyway. If he was alright, then maybe he would have to leave before the end of the week—something he firmly opposed. "What's settled?" he asked after a few minutes of solitude, only Ookami keeping him company in the room.

From the hallway, Naruto reemerged, the milky-white paint of the door-frame surrounding him like a gate. "What you're going to do when I leave in a week. You're coming with me."

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Kinda long chapter, ne? Hope you enjoyed it…x3;