Hi! I'm back with another chapter! I hope you liked my last chapter, and I hope you like this one just as much.

Warnings: Hints of shonen ai... I think that's all for this chapter...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters.

Part Two - Determination

Sasuke sighed to himself quietly, watching his breath come out in tiny white puffs. His hands were shoved in his pockets as a force of habit; along with his emotionless mask that was firmly in place. He wouldn't want anyone thinking that the great Uchiha Sasuke was actually human.

He wandered aimlessly down the streets of Konoha, glancing at windows every now and then for a change. Looking at the ground all the time got boring after a while. It was quite a busy day, the streets even livelier than usual. It was a wonder he could make his way through the vast sea of people without tripping or stumbling. Luckily the young Uchiha only had one more gift to get; else he might have lost his mind and his temper.

One more gift, remember who it's for... he persisted. He passed shop after shop, seeing nothing to rouse his interest. He was momentarily rescued, however, as a shocking mop of blonde stood out against the crowd. Naruto... Despite himself, Sasuke smiled, his heart melting slightly. The beautiful smile that usually graced his lovely features, however, was replaced with a frown. He walked up to Naruto who was currently pressing his nose firmly to a big display window.

"Dobe, what on earth are you doing?"

Naruto looked at Sasuke and smiled sunnily before returning his attention to the window. "Hey Sasuke." Sasuke's eyebrows rose momentarily. He'd grown quite used to the 'teme' that seemed to always tag along with his name whenever Naruto spoke to or about him. Said blonde chuckled. "It's the holidays, Sasuke. I figured I'd give you a rest. But only until after Christmas. Even you can't ruin my mood today."

Sasuke, instead of responding, followed Naruto's gaze through the window. He furrowed his brows at what he saw. Aren't those...? While Sasuke was lost in thought, Naruto observed him closely.

"I was going to get those rings, but I can't afford them. Got rent to pay, you know."

Sasuke nodded. "Aa." He observed the dazzling pair of rings. One ring was a cerulean blue while the other was a shocking fire-red. They were a beautiful combination of marble, polish, and color. Both were branded in a silver set, one that you could have initials engraved into the inside. The blue ring looked as if it was shrouded in shadows, though hovering close to the red one. The red one itself seemed to capture all the light and attention, holding it until it practically shone. It reminded Sasuke of himself and Naruto respectively.

"See," Naruto explained, "You get these when you're involved or in love. You put the one on your wedding finger and give the other one to your partner. If they don't take it off when you put it on their finger you are officially a couple."

Sasuke felt his heart sink down into his boots. If Naruto wanted these... but he covered his turmoil up quickly with the lift of an elegant eyebrow. His blonde savior just laughed. "Silly I know, but..."

Sasuke attempted to swallow the lump in his throat. "So you're in love?" He desperately hoped Naruto hadn't heard the emotions in his voice - praying that he'd be the oblivious boy he fell in love with. Luckily for him Naruto didn't bring it up. He just tossed up a simple "Aa." as an answer.

The two boys stood there for a moment longer before the younger pulled himself from the window and grinned that foxy grin he was known for. "I gotta get going, Iruka-sensei's expecting me. Ja na!"

He waved behind him and ran off. "Ja." Sasuke whispered after him. He watched the blonde disappear into the crowd with a heavy heart and soft eyes. Naruto loves somebody... and it's not me. He was overcome with a wave of emotions - Anger directed at whoever took Naruto's heart from him, disappointment because he hadn't had a chance to admit his own feelings, sadness that Naruto would soon be happy without him, and yet, despite himself, happiness that Naruto had found someone who could make him happy - someone who he deserved.

When he introduces us, I'll wish him a happy life. Because who could turn down Naruto? If Naruto was in love, Sasuke wouldn't stand in his way for his own selfish reasons. After one last look back after Naruto, Sasuke entered the shop, determined to make his angel happy.

+Time Skip+

Argh! Kiba you ass! You give me advice and don't stick around to help me do something about it! I swear to god, next time I see you... Naruto finished his ramen and tossed the cup in the trash. He sighed and went to his bedroom to change into his pajamas I know I wanna tell Sasuke how I feel but... that's not really a gift... He groaned in frustration as he pulled up his orange cotton pants. Okay, think - you know Sasuke likes weapons, the color blue, sparring, uh... Oh! He likes the smell of cinnamon!

Yea, he'd found that one out last summer when they were on a mission together and had stayed at a hotel that had oddly smelled like cinnamon. Sasuke confided in him that he loved the smell - then threatened to maim him should he ever spill the beans. He'd had a good laugh over that one.

So... Okay, what if I got him a cinnamon candle or something and wrote him a note to go with it? Naw, then he'd think it was a gag present or something. He crawled under the covers and snuggled into the soft pillow tiredly. As he was drifting away, a sudden thought jolted him awake.

I could do that! Yea...

And with the comforting thought that maybe he wouldn't have to sleep alone for too much longer, he fell under with a smile on his face.

+Time Skip+

Silence. It surrounded him, engulfed him, until he felt that he was suffocating. Choking until there was no more air to live off of, and he just slipped away. But what could he do, really? The estates had always been this quiet. Ever since the day he had been betrayed by his own kin, nothing was the same. He'd been taken over by the need for revenge, by the hatred and the pain he was told to possess. And when he'd made the biggest mistake of his life, his most precious person had come to rescue him.

At that time, he'd thought that he didn't need saving - he was doing just fine on his own. But when the true test came, he realized that he needed to escape the darkness that he'd allowed to overtake his mind for so long. So he waited, waited until his 'master' was comfortable, waited until he was unguarded, then he struck. As swift and silent as a snake. He'd almost given away his innocence, a very important thing to him, but it had been done. He kept his innocence, and he'd retained his life, his heart, and as he returned to Konoha, maybe his light as well.

Sasuke awoke trembling and sweating in fear, half expecting the subject of his nightmares to come and take him. Night after night he'd dream. But they were far from dreams, much too far...

In his night terrors, he would relive the day he set himself free - though it happened that when he was asleep things ended differently. Instead of escaping with his freedom he would be reduced to a bed slave for Orochimaru. The cuts he felt on his body and in his heart were deeper than any others he had experienced. And in the dark, they don't stop. They repeat; over and over and over again until you fear that it's real, no chance of escape.

But finally Sasuke stopped shaking. He turned his mind to the light he had gained back after that horrid day. He fell back to sleep with dreams that maybe someday he wouldn't have to sleep alone. His deep, inky eyes turned to the open window. Gazing outside softly, he rose and let his hand feel the wind racing outside. It tousled his hair and gave him shivers, but he smiled. His brother be damned; He had someone waiting for him right here in the village of his birth.

Konoha had never held much safety for him; it had been proven long ago that tragedy could strike where you least expect it, where you feel the safest. But it was what Konoha contained. His precious person waited for him here, and accepted him back with open arms and an open heart.

The full moon shone down softly upon his features, giving him a gentle look. He felt at peace despite his nightmares, because he had hope. And as he fell asleep under the covers of his large, cold bed, things didn't seem so bad anymore. With his heart, he prayed. Someday, he could fall asleep in the protective arms of his light.

Naruto...

TBC+

I did warn you this chapter wouldn't be very long. Gomen for that, as well. I know nothing big happened - but as I said before: I made this as a long one-shot. It, unfortunately, was too long and I had to break it up appropriately. Again, gomen for that. Heh. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, and I'll be back soon with the next and final chapter. Reviews feed my soul and Flames keep me warm!

rachi