"Do you think you're going to hell?"
Naruto looked over at the other man.
"Where the hell did that come from?"
Sasuke tossed a leaf in his general direction. It fluttered lazily downwards.
"Well?"
"Yeah, definitely," Naruto sat back against the trunk, fiddling with a twig.
"How come?" Sasuke pushed. The blond flinched, one hand going self-consciously to his abdomen.
"Just because," he said.
"At least we agree on one thing."
"Hm?"
"You're going to hell."
"…are you trying to start with me!"
"Don't worry. I am too," the black-haired man grinned and tossed another leaf idly to the forest floor. Naruto leapt onto a higher branch, trying to get as close as he could without being in range for a quick attack. Sasuke was fond of scaring the other man out of trees.
"Why did this come up?"
"Thinking," was the response. "Don't you wonder where you're going to end up?"
"Well, yeah," he blinked.
"So, we're both going to hell."
"I don't care," Naruto shrugged. "Hell is full of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I think I'd fit in nicely."
"You would enjoy a massive, drug-induced orgy complete with soundtrack."
"Fuck you."
"I always thought hell was supposed to be, you know, your worst fear played over and over again for all eternity."
"I'm an optimist."
"But you're going to hell."
"Isn't it great!" Naruto grinned wildly. Sasuke shook his head and then dropped down to his friend's branch, startling the other.
"Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Why are you going to hell?"
"I think all ninja are going to end up in hell."
"You're avoiding the question."
"No I'm not!"
"Why you? Why are you going to hell?"
"…" Naruto looked away, both hands clenching at his stomach now. "Have you heard the legend of Yondaime and Kyubii Kitsune?"
"The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. The blond flinched again.
"Yeah, that one."
"Well, who hasn't?"
"You're not making this any easier!" Sasuke shut his mouth. "…You know how bad it was: fires, floods, earthquakes, and all of that jazz."
"I'm not getting what this has to do with you."
Naruto glared: "The hero of Konoha—Yondaime—sealed away the Demon Fox."
"Right."
"And here's the seal."
The blue-eyed man lifted both his orange jacket and black undershirt. The other man let his eyes rove over the intricate spiral marking on his tan belly. It was more like a scar than a seal, the lines a sickening blood-colored hue. After studying it, his black eyes returned to the other's face. He shoved the material back down.
"So, the legendary Kyubii Kitsune," Sasuke touched a finger to Naruto's stomach and felt him flinch a third time: "is here. Inside you."
"Yeah," came the answer with a grimace.
The raven-haired man looked at his companion and smiled.
"That still doesn't explain why you're going to hell."
The blond looked at him as if he were stupid.
"I'm kind of a demon. So I have to go to hell. That kind of thing."
"Who says?"
"Sasuke…"
"No, really," he sat back, a smile still gracing his thin lips. "Don't you think that keeping a blood-thirsty demon contained within oneself for the good of all, regardless the consequence, is something an angel would do?"
"Huh?"
Sasuke placed a hand gently against the side of Naruto's face, his thumb stroking the three scars on his slightly reddened cheek.
"An angel, Naruto. That's what you are. A kind, loving angel who protects the people he loves with everything he has."
Naruto's face turned crimson. Sasuke laughed and took away his hand, dropping skillfully to the forest floor.
"And what about you!" the blond waved his arms wildly from the tree top.
"Me?" the other glanced up at him. "I'm a demon."
Naruto jumped down and opened his mouth to protest. He mentally stopped himself and said something else instead:
"Sasuke, what's your biggest fear?"
The darker man looked back: "Why?"
Naruto jogged forward a bit and grabbed one of his hands, clasping it in both of his own.
"So I can come down from heaven and rescue you."
Sasuke smirked. "You're too much of a screw up to rescue me."
"Hey!" the other man growled. He laughed again and pulled the blond close, one are coming around him and hugging tightly.
"Don't worry, dobe," Sasuke smiled, kissing the top of Naruto's head. "As long as you're with me, I'm not afraid of anything."
