I thought I had been prepared for anything, but I was wrong. I had definitely not expected the scene that awaited me. A smiling Naruto chatting amiably with Sakura. I stood there for a few minutes, watching the scene, trying to figure it out, then shook my head. I'd ask about it later.

Later never came. The next few weeks passed by too quickly. Days spent resolving arguments and fortifying the newly erected peace melded together, and in the frenzy, Naruto and I hardly ever spoke more than a few words to each other.

It was during one of the few periods of brie respite that I found myself wandering the halls of the Uzamaki Palace, trying to memorize more of the numerous rooms and corridors.

As I was walking in the hall, I heard low voices muttering around the next corner. I stopped to turn a different was, but froze as the voices rose and I recognized them.

"I'm sorry Hamaya, but I can't!"

"What, you think he would care?"

"I don't know—"

"She loves you, and I can tell you're lonely. You shouldn't have to be. GO to her!"

"Hamaya! Leave it! It can never be."

"But—"

Her voice cut off abruptly. I would guess Naruto used some type of signal to silence her. I did not remain to hear more. I quickly withdrew from the area, but the conversation I had overheard would not vanish from my head.

In my hurry, I became less aware of my surroundings, which is why I walked right into the hall where Neji and Gaara were, but something tells me they were just as unaware of my presence. I swiftly tuned around to go a new direction, my mind now reeling. First the strange conversation then those two… Well, let's just say that I'm pretty sure Neji trusts him now.

With all these things running around in my mind, it didn't take me long to end up in a part of the castle that I was unfamiliar with. I picked a random hall and began to walk down it. I was surprised when halfway down the hall I ran into Ino who was standing against the wall breathing heavily.

I would have probably turned around again, but she saw me before I could do so.

"Sasuke! What re you doing back here?"

I gave a shrug of nonchalance as I approached her. As I got closer I could see that she was also rather pale and there appeared to be a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead.

"You get lost?"

I didn't reply and Ino gave a wide knowing smile as she pushed off the wall. She attempted to take a step forward, but instead stumbled slightly I caught her with ease as she sighed. I gently set her back on her feet, but I could tell that if I let go she'd probably fall again.

Ino must have realized this as well because she said with a sigh, "there are some chairs in there" While pointing a nearby room.

I nodded and helped her over there, gently setting her down in one of the plush sitting chairs, and while I would have loved to leave right then, she motioned for me to sit down as well, and I couldn't refuse.

"Sorry about that," she said softly. "It happens sometimes, with the baby and all."

"Baby?"

"Naruto hasn't told you yet?" She laughed slightly. "Must have slipped his mind I guess. I'm pregnant."

I didn't respond and Ino sighed as she looked out the window and continued speaking. "Normally," she said with a smile," Shikamaru would be around to help, but he's been so busy with his 'troublesome duties' lately…"

"Shikamaru?"

She gave a nod.

Well that explains why he was always around.

After that we sat in silence for few minutes, both of us lost in thought. Okay, so maybe I was more brooding, but it really didn't make much of difference. What did make a difference was when something randomly possessed me to blurt out suddenly.

"Is Naruto really so unhappy?"

Ino turned her head slowly away from the window to face me, and for once, I was surprised to find her taking time before responding.

"He is happy that the plan seems to be working, but, well even peace doesn't keep you warm at night."

I forcefully beat back the blush that was threatening to appear.

Ino shook her head as she watched me. "I don't mean in just that way. I mean…" She paused again, searching for words. "When he first agreed to the plan, he said he didn't think he could ever love you," She said softly, "But now, I see the way he looks at you, and he, he genuinely cares about you. And well, I think that is what makes him so sad when you refuse to even be alone with him most of the time. Naruto has never liked being alone even though he hides it well."

I nodded slowly and stood to leave. It wasn't until I got into the hall that I remembered I had no clue which way to go.

"Take a left at the end of the hall." Women always seem to know some things don't they?

I took the advised path and soon found myself in familiar territory. My mind however, was still pretty lost. I continued brooding for the entirety of that day and then that night, as we were going to sleep, I decide to do something slightly different.

More often than not, I fell asleep before Naruto, but tonight I had not, and therefore, I felt it when he started to shake from a dream he was having. It had become an unspoken rule that there were always several inches separating Naruto and me while we slept, but with a sudden impulsiveness, I closed the distance between the dreaming Naruto and me. The second I hit him, he clamped on tightly, not letting go. I slowly adjusted my position in his arms before falling asleep feeling, much to my surprise, far safer than I had before.

I awoke a few hours later to the sound of a metal blade hitting marble. The sound instantly awakened me and I was instantly running into the corridor where I was greeted with the sight of Naruto dodging a quickly moving blade, a familiar blade.

It didn't take much thought for me to go and try to stop the assassin. The word came unbidden and I wished it would vanish as quickly as it appeared. That blade came from my kingdom meaning it was most certainly poisoned, and while I was immune to most poisons, I was quite sure Naruto was not, and also, if it was one of my people, they might at least hesitate before killing me. Against that sword, I was far safer.

I grabbed the attacker from behind and they shook off my grasp. The blade slit my arm as the assassin spun to face me. I could feel the burn of poison in the wound. However, as I had thought would happen, the assassin froze as he or she saw me. Then the person started running down the hall in an attempt to escape. Naruto did not follow. Instead, the guards that had by now appeared did as he knelt down beside me.

"Sasuke," he said softly. I was surprised by the amount of emotion behind that one word as his hand reached out to touch my face.

"…. Be fine" was all I managed before I blacked out.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

So sorry about the wait. I suppose I could list the a million and one excuses but that would waste time. So let me say once again that I am sorry and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and especially since I ended it there, I will update again by Friday unless school, soccer, and marching band kills me.

Also as a random side note, my birthday's on Monday. Ah, the pains of getting older. Shopping spree here I come!

Also, I know this must be littered with typos, but I am way too lazy to correct them all.