A/N: At first, I did not plan to do this, but the thrill of writing a dark and supernatural fiction just got to me, and now you get the sequel to Darkness Within! The pairing will still be SasuNaru and ShinoKiba. And it might turn out to be NejiNaru and NejiSasu. If anyone has other pairings to suggest, please do so! I'm open for suggestions!

Chapter One: Awakening To the Dirge

Silent cries filled the air. The atmosphere was depressed and gloomy. Tsunade had just finished with her speech for the funeral. Hinata and Sakura were the ones crying the hardest. "Hinata…That's enough. Naruto will be sad too if he sees you cry too much. Sakura, that's the same for you. I…may not know the pain you both feel for losing someone very close, but I'm sure Naruto wouldn't want to see so much sadness," Ino advised, comforting both the ladies.

"B-But…He was still…s-so young…and he h-hasn't even be-become Hokage yet!" Hinata sobbed. Neji silently cursed and slammed his fist into a tree. "'Kuso! Why must Naruto die! It's entirely Uchiha bastard's fault! I shouldn't have trusted him with Naruto! If I haven't…Naruto will…Naruto…'Kuso!" Silver droplets lined his eyes, shocking everyone. "Neji…niisan…" Hinata's sobs stopped, seeing her own cousin near to tears. Everyone knew Neji had a right to grieve more than anyone else. Three years back, when Sasuke returned after his lifelong goal was accomplished, only Naruto accepted him without questions. He pleaded with Tsunade to grant Sasuke a second chance.

"Tsunade-baachan, please! Sasuke left the village, I know but he never did anything to Konoha shinobis! He deserves a second chance!"

Tsunade granted his case, and Sasuke turned better, if not completely cured from his complex. He had even become a bit friendly towards everyone else, and they thought the old Sasuke was gone forever, in a good way. A year after, they found out that Sasuke was steady with Naruto. That was where Neji was concerned. The Hyuuga too, was in love with Naruto and challenged Sasuke to a duel. However, Naruto stopped them and chose to go with the raven haired shinobi.

"Neji…I'm happy to know of your feelings for me, but I don't want to see you both fight over me. I'm very happy with Sasuke now."

Neji, with a heart for Naruto's happiness gave up, but not before making Sasuke swear he'll assure Naruto's happiness. And Sasuke did.

"I'll swear on my life I will do everything to keep Naruto happy. If I make him cry, you may kill me."

"Neji, calm down. We have to go to the prison now. Sasuke is awaiting interrogation and judgment. Perhaps…you would like to ask him a few questions," Lee stated. "Of course. And when he dies, I will be the one to execute him," Neji replied through gritted teeth. "You know, I think Sasuke's already off his knockers! He should be killed for the sake of the village!" Kiba supported. "…Do not be so fast to judge that man, Kiba. Uchiha Sasuke may not be entirely insane…but perhaps, he is too obsessed by the object of his affection," Shino stated. "I don't care about the matter if he is crazy or not, the Uchiha will die after what he did to Naruto! He swore to me he will make Naruto happy, or lose his life. He killed Naruto and forfeited his life. And I will kill him," Neji answered in a deathly calm voice.

Eyelids slowly open to reveal a pair of blank obsidian eyes. Where was he? Then he heard a sad, mourning tune playing in the air. A dirge for a funeral, but whose? Then it slowly dawned upon him that it was played for his beloved. Yes, now he slowly remembered what happened three days back. He had just made Naruto completely his.

An hour passed. He watched the crimson life trickle down his kunai, and the vermillion smear on the wall. His lover lay on the floor, motionless. It was getting late; he shouldn't let him sleep in the kitchen. So he carried his dear to the bedroom and tucked him in, wrapping the blankets around carefully. He would get scolded for making a mess in the kitchen. He used a wet cloth and cleaned the stain of scarlet from the wall and washed his kunai. The cloth he discarded, already too dirty for use; after turning completely red.

The next day, his beloved was still asleep. He left him there to rest. He had to accomplish missions and get on with his daily chores. When the day ended, his dear continued sleeping, the pale skin contrasting beautifully with the ruby marks still fresh. It was alright, he wouldn't want to disturb him. He looked so tired, after all. Then they asked him, where was the blond child that he loved so much? He answered that he was resting. The man with silver eyes didn't believe him. He found his dear sleeping in the bed, and became angry. The man with silver eyes told the one with the dog and another wearing a green jumpsuit to place him in confinement. He didn't understand why, but he obeyed because his beloved will get mad when he finds out the sole heir broke an order after he wakes.

On the third day, he softly asked the reason he was locked up. The one with the dog was very mad, raving about him killing Naruto. Naruto? It took him quite some time to think of the owner of that name. Who is Naruto? He had asked. Your lover, whom you killed with your own hands, the answer came. Lover? Slowly, it dawned upon him who Naruto was. He had blonde hair, as bright as sunshine, crystal blue eyes clearer than the ocean, and a warm smile. He told the man, that was not Naruto. That was his, his own…doll? No…the answer didn't seem right. Just…his, yes, that was right. It was simply his, not Naruto, not lover. It was his. In return he was called insane.

Today was the fourth day. This dirge, why play it when his dear is just sleeping? Did they bury him? His head snapped up when the door opened. In came the man with silver eyes and his companions from the previous visit. There was also a new man who wore glasses. "Who are you? What have you done to him?" Sasuke asked. Kiba stared at him. "…It's official, he's crazy! Listen, asshole, I'm Kiba, this is Shino and Lee and the one you have to worry about right now is Neji. I'm not going to do anything. I'll leave him to you, Neji." Kiba sat back away from the both, preferring to keep silent. Shino nodded in approval and joined Kiba. The look on Neji's face simply stated murderous.

"…Why did you keep back this time? It is so unlike you," Shino asked silently from his place. Kiba looked very glum and Akamaru nudged his master to lift his spirits. "If I didn't know better, I would've said your attitude rubbed off on me…but that's impossible. I don't know how to deal with this, and I think Neji has something to do with all this, you know. After all, he loves Naruto…And maybe he'll understand Sasuke's motive or something like that. I can't understand all this deep stuff," Kiba replied in a low whisper. Shino patted his head. "That's a good boy." Kiba, irritated tried to shake off his lover's hand to no avail.

"Uchiha Sasuke, I will ask you only once. Why did you kill Naruto?" Neji questioned. Sasuke stared at him for a long time. "…Where is he?" He asked. "Six feet under," Kiba replied gruffly. Apparently, the memory of it disturbed him more compared to Shino or Lee. It was truth, but he was like Neji. He cannot accept this truth! He always laughed, joked and argued with Naruto. Now, without the cheerful blond, life seemed…quiet. He didn't have a good friend to be noisy with anymore. Kiba refused to cry. He was a man and he had to uphold his pride…but did it matter anymore? Kiba hugged Shino around the waist and sobbed quietly, his voice muffled by Shino's Anbu vest.

Everyone has left the funeral service, except for all the girls who were in the same year with Naruto. "…When I first met Naruto, he looked like an idiot who was not fit to be a ninja. Wearing orange everyday, dead last in class and always fooling around…but I was wrong," Sakura started. In the beginning, she never really noticed Naruto's true self and his underlying feelings. She looked at him just like everyone else did, underestimated him. But during their first Chuunin Exams, she started to open her eyes at Naruto's potential to grow.

"I never noticed since when he became so strong…but he was always strong in my eyes. Naruto-kun always stood up after each failure just to try again. He inspired me to try harder, to be stronger, to believe in myself…To change what I can. In my whole life, he is my most valuable friend and teacher, even if he doesn't know it," Hinata continued. She had always watched the blond ever since their academy days, so she was one of the first few to understand Naruto's unbreakable determination. She admired him from afar, and wished to be like him. Hinata knew Naruto was valuable to everyone in their own ways.

"I never really thought much about Naruto, to be truthful. When we were still genins, I always wondered whether Kiba or Naruto was dumber, or which team was unlucky to have Kiba, or Naruto or Shikamaru…But it was obvious, everyone accepted Naruto in their own ways, and so did I. I don't know him very well, but I know him well enough to say that he is one of the greatest guys I don't have the chance to date, or become closer friends," Ino added. She never really spoke much with the cheerful guy. They were more like acquaintances than friends, perhaps. But from the moment she saw him defeat Neji in the exams; she knew Naruto was no ordinary boy. She never really gave it a thought that he will pass on much earlier than anyone else, robbing her of her chance to get to know him better.

"…Naruto…We dedicate our memories to you. Your passing is hard on us, but we will try to move on and be happy…With this, we pay you our last respects. Rest in peace, Naruto," Sakura said and the girls bowed to his grave. "Where is Naruto?" The question made the girls turn. It was the Kazekage, Gaara with his two siblings Temari and Kankurou. "Gaara-san…we just finished with funeral services," Ino answered. "…This cannot be, he has Kyuubi. He cannot die easily, not even if it's aimed at his throat," Gaara stated. "I don't know…" Sakura replied.

"Maybe shock got to him," Ino answered. "That's true…After all; it was his own lover that killed him," Hinata quietly added. That was not a good thing to reveal to Gaara. He was absolutely livid.

Nobody got anything out of Sasuke. The heir of the Sharingan seemed to be in a contemplative mood. Neji was barely holding on to his reins of sanity before he killed Sasuke. Kiba was like an injured puppy being comforted by Shino, while Lee was trying over and over to get something out of Sasuke. Then someone materialized beside Neji and was growling. "Uchiha, what have you done to Naruto?" Gaara was held back by Temari and Kankurou.

"I…I don't know who you're talking about…I only want to see my beloved," Sasuke replied in a vague voice. Kiba stood up abruptly and got out without another word. Akamaru whimpered after his master. "Kiba-kun is also taking it very hard," Lee stated to no one in particular. But before anyone said another word, Kiba returned with the last person they thought they will see. Naruto bent down and reached through the bars, caressing Sasuke's cheek. Sasuke had a faint smile as he saw his blond lover.

"Sasuke…why did you kill me?" Naruto asked.

"I didn't kill you…I just wanted to make your life mine as well. You're still alive, you're talking to me," Sasuke replied. Naruto smiled sadly. "Yes…But is my love, my body and my soul not enough? You want my life as well?" Sasuke slowly nodded. "Yes…I just love you too much. I don't want any others to tarnish you. I wanted you to be completely mine." "Sasuke, don't you feel lonely? I won't be with you anymore," Naruto replied. Sasuke looked confused. Naruto's hand left Sasuke slowly. "You crystallized me forever in this youthful image, Sasuke. I stay like this, alive, but only in your memories," Naruto stood back and turned to Kiba. The other Kiba turned to Akamaru.

Sasuke looked momentarily shocked, and then angry. "Where is he?" "He's gone," Kiba replied. Everyone was shocked at how Kiba acted as Naruto. They were nearly convinced it was Naruto back to life. Only Shino slightly nodded, pleased that Kiba thought of this way to get a confession out of Sasuke. He did not question Kiba's ability to impersonate Naruto. "What I told you…I know Naruto will say that too," Kiba added.

"Then we'll kill him and let no more of this filth desecrate Naruto," Gaara stated, hand ready to strike. Suddenly they hear sobbing sounds; that is except Sasuke. 'Please don't hurt him…' somebody sobbed.

"This voice…" Kiba trailed off.

'Thank you for speaking for me, Kiba. You really understand how I feel about Sasuke,' he added.

The voice came from behind Sasuke, who was completely oblivious. A faint, shimmering outline was slowly seen, and sparkling silver drops fell from brilliant sapphire eyes. 'Don't hurt Sasuke, please. Neji, Gaara, I beg of you…' Neji's mouth fell open. "Naruto, why?" The ethereal form of Naruto was crying, hugging Sasuke from his back.

A/N: How was it? I really think Sasuke's off his rockers. I scared myself even reading Sasuke's P.O.V. Reviews?