Nightmares and Fairytales

Tissue Paper Flowers

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Wish I did. Because then Sasuke and Naruto would eff like bunnies.

Pairing: Sasuke x Naruto, implied Sasuke x Itachi

A/N: Hmm…never really said how old they were, and even I'm not sure. ;;; But probably close to…eighteen? I don't know. That sounds right to me. Oh and thank you very much to my first reviewers!

Chapter Two

Hands, still clumsy with sleep, reached out for the faucets, hot water pouring from the tap. Onyx eyes stared blankly at the tub, watching as the water swirled down the drain. He leaned forward slightly, fingers curling around the white porcelain side. The size of the tub increased tenfold, the water that gushed around the drain becoming the size of an ocean. It was suffocating. The water stung every last inch of his skin, nettles of heat burying themselves deep within his nerves. It was pain. Excruciating pain. There was a pounding feeling in the back of his head that seemed to grow with every passing second.

A few minutes more of this and he would be completely consumed. Gone and drowned, swallowed up by this phantom sea. Memories burned themselves into his very being, keeping a choke hold around him. Memories…This was different. The burning sensation ebbed away, but his mind was still held. He could feel it. Him. Pale skin tingled, the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck raising in responses.

With a loud gasp, it ended. Sasuke was still leaned over the tub, knuckles turned white as he finally released his grip. Panting heavily, the Uchiha slumped against the side, bare back pressed against the now warmed material. His whole body shook violently, as his chest rose and fell in rapid succession. It was all in his head…all in his head. Sasuke wasn't sure whether or not to find comfort in this. Was he going insane? No…of course not. It was just a lack of sleep, that was all. Too many nightmares had kept him up at night, and now he was starting to feel the effects during the day. He shook his head, shakily standing up and turning on the shower.

With a shuddering sigh he shed his boxers, stepping beneath the scalding torrent. His pale skin reddened beneath the water, and for a time, he merely stood there. His mind was still trying to sort out what had just happened. It had all been his imagination. That was the only logical explanation. And it was the only explanation that Sasuke would allow himself to believe. Lack of sleep had given his mind too much space to wander, and it had resulted in that. But the pain was so intense, so real…not the sort of thing that usually accompanied something like a daydream. He shook his head again slowly, leaning against the side of the shower wall.

By now, his body had gone completely numb to the near blistering heat of the water, and the only thing he could feel was the pressure as it hit his skin. Sasuke straightened up, continuing with his shower. For the next few moments everything went like normal. He poured a bit of citrusy smelling shampoo (which happened to be Naruto's favorite) onto his hand, working it into a lather in his hair. Soapy water streamed down his face as it was washed out, swallowed up by the drain. It was just as he was finishing when he felt it. Slow touches starting at mid thigh, finger nails dragging their way lightly up to his chest. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Naruto must have snuck into the shower (again, he might add). He leaned back into the body behind him, closing his eyes and letting himself relax.

"See? You do belong to me…"

Sasuke's eyes opened immediately, the man nearly jumping out of his skin at the voice. That voice. He whirled around, losing his footing to the slippery floor of the tub. A small shout came from the Uchiha as his tail bone connected with the hard ground beneath him. A trail of profanities soon followed this, as he reached out for the tap, turning off the water. His knees shook slightly as he stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel securely around his waist. Sasuke leaned against the sink, panting heavily. That hadn't been…it couldn't have been…it wasn't…No. He had just been imagining things again. Itachi was dead. Dead. Raven tresses clung to his cheeks, water trailing down the strands and dripping to the floor. One hand raised up, finger tips trailing slowly along the mirror that had fogged over during his shower. His own dark eyes stared back into him and for a moment, he seemed transfixed by his own gaze.

"Uchiha Itachi is dead. February 9th, 4:49 pm." He said slowly, repeating the date of his brother's death for extra reassurance. Yes, Itachi was dead. But then why, why was this happening? There was no way he could be going insane. That was just impossible. Uchiha Sasuke did not have any mental problems. He was perfectly sane, every last inch of him. This was just a little snag, that was all. He'd get over it soon enough. All he needed was a few nights of uninterrupted sleep, and there'd be no more problems. No more…hallucinations. The steam in the room was beginning to dissipate, and he took this as a sign to leave. There was a few more moments of staring before he moved away from the mirror, just to make sure that he looked composed again.

"Sasuke!" He was greeted by a rather familiar voice the very second he pulled open the door, dry arms being flung around his damp chests. The Uchiha jumped slightly. Well, he certainly hadn't been expecting this. Not that he was complaining. Naruto was one of the few things that made just dealing with life that much easier.

"I heard a crash!" The worked up blonde continued, tilting back his head and kissing Sasuke quickly. "Are you ok? Did you get hurt?" Sasuke paused for a moment, small smile flicking at his features.

"I'm fine…" He said slowly, patting the kyuubi holder lightly on the head. Naruto grinned up at him, though his cerulean eyes reflected worry. The other shifted slightly, chewing his lower lip in thought.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"Did you use my shampoo again?"

TBC. Review please?

PS.

Hehe, I didn't even realize how much fluff was in my first chapter. There's a lot less in this one. Do you guys like the fluff or…? Yeah, please let me know.

Oh, and just for the record, Itachi really is dead.