Naruto shivered from the slight chill in the air, grateful when he stepped into the drugstore. Of all the drugstores in the city, this little family owned business was where he preferred to frequent. He felt more like a person and less like a dollar sign. That sold him on the place even if they were limited on their over the counter selections.

As he walked into the shop, his eyes took a moment to adjust to the fluorescent lighting and he ambled toward the back where the pharmacist was working in his white coat. The man had to be ninety and it was a miracle he was still able to see, yet he never had a bit of trouble.

"Ah, Naruto, did something happen to your medicine? I see this is a small prescription."

"I lost my meds and Dr. Uchiha called in just enough to get me through to our appointment."

The old pharmacist smiled and handed over the medication bottles inside a crisp white bag. Naruto cringed but pulled out his debit card, swiped it through the reader, and punched in the pin number. For a moment the processing seemed to take longer than usual and he feared Sasuke might have canceled the account, but the machine finally flashed the approved message and he released the breath he had been holding. He knew Sasuke could be a bastard when he wanted to, but he was never that way to him and felt guilty for thinking it of him, even for just a moment.

"Damn machine. My son tells me I should replace it but as long as it works, there is no need even if it takes a little longer. Both that machine and I may be old, but at least we're good."

A laugh bubbled in Naruto's throat as he stared at the pharmacist. In some ways he reminded him of Jiraiya minus the innate pervert aura. Jiraiya was always tight fisted with his money as well, though he had no trouble using other people's money whenever he could and he always had a joke to tell. He really missed the old man.

"You have a good day, Naruto."

Naruto grinned broadly, the first real smile in what seemed like forever. It was funny because that crusty, tight-fisted pharmacist would probably outlive him by a long shot. He shook his head and popped off the staple keeping the bag closed and checked the bottles.

Digoxin—check.

Vasotec—check.

Staring at the third bottle, he cringed. The bane of his existence was in that simple little bottle. Diuretics caused him to pee all the damn time. He understood the reason, but damn, couldn't they find something else that didn't make him have to urinate like a pregnant woman. Who knew a bladder could fill up that damn fast?

Stopping at a kiosk, he used a couple of dollars to buy a bottle of water and downed the pills. The bitter taste of the medicine was cringe worthy even though they idled on his tongue for barely as second.

Closing his eyes, he washed the residual taste from his mouth with another swallow of the water and proceeded to walk down the street. He felt weak and drained, both emotionally and physically. He did not even want to think about the wailing on he was going to get from Itachi.

Now, Itachi was not the type to interfere in Sasuke and Naruto's personal life often. He was the type that thought that was not something that should be handled by any but the two of them. But Naruto could already hear the listing of reasons not to leave that were going to come from Itachi's mouth.

"Are you alright?"

Naruto blinked and glanced toward the woman standing beside him. He hadn't realized the sight he must present. It was more surprising that someone came forward and asked if he was well. That did not happen often in the city and he was touched by the show of compassion. It reminded him of the day he met Sasuke.

He'd had a pair of skinned knees while sitting on his ass in front of Itachi's office after being tossed out on his bum. That offered hand and those beautifully dark eyes had drawn him in. One could say he fell for him in that instant but really, it was just something that happened. One day he woke up and wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sasuke. Hell, the bastard was afraid of heights but still got on the Ferris Wheel with him. If that wasn't love, he did not know what was.

What had changed?

The truth was, absolutely nothing. If anything, Naruto had changed and kept telling himself that what he did, he did for Sasuke. He did not want Sasuke to suffer. One of them suffering through the process of his death was enough.

But...his heart hurt and he knew Sasuke was hurting as well. Itachi often muttered at how they were practically sharing a heart and if they had the same blood type, he would have just sewn them together to share the one healthy heart. It was said in jest as such a thing was not possible, but it was something Naruto was sure he would not have minded.

Sure, Sasuke pissed him off all the damn time. The guy was the neat freak from hell. He even folded his damn underwear and had everything perfectly ordered in his bedroom.

Naruto giggled a little, likely looking quite a bit insane to the Good Samaritan who was still standing at his side. Sasuke's bedroom used to be organized until Naruto moved in. Now his underwear was never quite so neat and the clothes hanging in the closet weren't ordered by color but by wherever Naruto put them. His home used to be minimalistic in nature, but was soon made homey with furniture and knickknacks. Sasuke's life used to be simple, but now it was immensely more complicated.

Sasuke never seemed to complain unless it was to egg Naruto on about something.

And that was what killed him. If he had just shaken Sasuke's hand and gone on his way that day, Sasuke would be perfectly happy nerding out to his boring history writing and be happy.

"Sir?"

"I'm fine," said Naruto with a smile. "I was just thinking about something funny."

"It must not be that funny. You look like you're about to cry."

Naruto started and lifted a hand to his cheek as a tear blinked from his eye and splashed down his cheek. Damn.

"Should I call an ambulance?"

"No, I'm fine. I've just had some things going on in my life and been fighting off this really nasty cold. I'm going to go home, put my feet up and be fine."

The woman tilted her head, as if measuring the truth of his words. "Well, okay, but at least let me call you a cab."

"I'm taking the bus." Naruto pointed to the bench situated on the curve. "Thanks anyway. It's not often you see someone willing to help."

"I'd like to think that if I needed help, someone would come to my assistance."

"That's a promise. If I ever see you in trouble, count on me being your white knight."

The woman smiled, causing the faint wrinkles on the side of her eyes to crinkle. "I'll hold you to it."

Naruto gave the woman a wave as she started down the street. He stumbled to the bench and sat very still while he waited, his thoughts forever on Sasuke.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he opened the menu for his voice mail and pressed the phone to his ear.

Naruto, don't ignore me. You need to call me back. We need to talk about this.

Naruto swallowed at the rich sound of Sasuke's voice in his ear. His eyes burned and he shuddered with longing to fall into those warm arms.

Naruto, just talk to me. Tell me what I can do to make this better.

Naruto, just call me back. You're scaring me.

Naruto...just talk to me, please.

He barely noticed the bus arriving or taking a seat on it. His ear remained glued to the phone. Sasuke's voice was all that mattered. It seemed like a lifetime since he had heard his voice and the recordings of it were a balm to his soul even if they made it ache all the more potently.

His hand shook a bit as he opened the door to his hotel room and collapsed on the bed, phone still pressed to his ear while he repeated the messages over and over again. He wanted Sasuke laying behind him with his arms pulling him tightly to his chest.

His heart gave a flutter and he winced at the familiar shock of the pacemaker setting his heart back to the appropriate beat. Coughing into his hand, he stared blankly at the faded picture on the wall beside his bed. He wanted Sasuke so bad. Beside him. Around him. Inside him.

Naruto closed his eyes and tears passed through his lashes to dribble down his cheek and onto the thin pillow beneath his head. He pressed the phone more firmly to his ear and played the series of voice mails again...each and every one. His eyes fluttered and he drifted to sleep to the sound of Sasuke's voice in his ears.

Naruto felt a bit insecure as he walked through the glass doors of the building that housed Itachi's office. The guard did not pay him any mind, but ever since that initial attempt to garner an appointment with the renowned Dr. Uchiha, he had never felt completely at ease in the place.

He rode the elevator up to correct floor. His eyes closed and he thumped his head against the mirror wall of the box. He was exhausted, emotionally and physically. He just wanted sleep and yet hated to. When he slept, he was with Sasuke only to wake and be forced to accept that Sasuke was not with him any longer.

"Good morning, Naruto."

Naruto lifted a limp hand in greeting to Hinata as walked into the office and collapsed in one of the chairs. He didn't even have the energy to participate in his usual teasing of Itachi's receptionist/nurse. Judging from the compassionate look on her face, he probably looked just as bad as he felt, if not worse.

"Itachi has been expecting you, Naruto."

Naruto lifted his gaze. "That's nice."

She blushed and shook her head. "No, I mean you can go back to exam room one. I'll tell him you're here."

"Knowing that freak of nature, he already knows I'm here." Naruto grunted as he stood and walked the familiar path to the first examination room. He didn't know why Itachi had two rooms when he had yet to see patients waiting to see him. Itachi never scheduled his patients close together if he could help it. Most could not afford his care, though he did volunteer his service pro bono several days a week and take the occasional case that interested him—like Naruto. It helped that he was living with Sasuke. If not for Sasuke, he would never have garnered Itachi's attention.

He slumped on the table and almost dozed off before the door opened to reveal Itachi in all his arrogant glory. Even his damn lab coat was perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle to be seen anywhere.

"Thanks for the meds," grumbled Naruto. "Though my bladder is very unhappy with you."

Itachi rolled his eyes and moved to the side of the room where an ECG machine was stored. "Take off your shirt."

"Oh, kinky. Are you thinking about making the moves on me now that Sasuke is out of the picture? I never would have thought you batted for the same team."

Itachi folded his arms over his chest and looked down at Naruto. "Jokes will only delay the inevitable."

"You're no fun today," grumbled Naruto.

He might have been in a foul mood since leaving Sasuke, but he had on some level been looking forward to his usual banter with Itachi. It was almost like foreplay between them before the main event of checking out Naruto's bum ticker. He was a bit miffed at not even being allowed that small pleasure.

He tugged his shirt over his head and hissed as a cool stethoscope was pressed to his chest and then his back. Itachi grunted and began applying leads to various parts of his chest before having him lay down and starting the ECG.

Watching the rhythmic pulses of the machine was almost mesmerizing. He didn't have an ounce of medical knowledge unless it pertained to his case, but even he knew those scribbles on the screen were not good. The rhythm was off and every so often he would feel his pacemaker kick in and see the action appear on the screen a second later.

Itachi tore off the readout and stared at it with intense eyes. He used a pen taken from his pocket to scribble several notes on the paper before attaching it to Naruto's chart.

"You're awfully quiet today."

Itachi looked up from the chart. "I'm trying not to get in your business."

"Why not? You are usually ass deep in my business."

"When it comes to your heart, sure." Itachi chuckled dryly and swiveled his stool to stare at Naruto. "But trust me; you don't want my opinion on your personal life right now."

Naruto couldn't keep the pout from forming on his lips. "Fine, whatever."

Itachi made a few marks on the chart. "How has your cough been?"

"How do you know I have one?"

Itachi gave Naruto a look that had him rolling his eyes. How stupid of him to think Itachi wouldn't know everything about him. "It's...persistent. What does it matter? It's a cough."

Itachi rolled his eyes and rolled his stool closer to the exam table. "I need to be serious with you right now, Naruto."

He caught the implication in Itachi's voice and sat up a little straighter. His heart picked up its beats and was quickly displayed on the monitor. "What's wrong?"

"I always hate this part of my job. It's time, Naruto."

"Time? Time for what?"

"You're in congestive heart failure. I think it's time to put your name into UNOS. Things are going to progress more rapidly from here on in."

Naruto's heart stopped, or at least it felt like it. He couldn't breathe and a hand pressed to his chest. He had thought he was prepared for this news, but while finally hearing it, he found himself mentally screaming. He wanted more time.

"Naruto!" Itachi was at his side in an instant, one hand pressing to his back and rubbing in firm strokes. "I need you to calm down. Take slow deep breaths."

Naruto's throat felt closed, but somehow he was able to draw in oxygen in stuttering breaths. Tears burned his eyes and he suddenly wanted Sasuke beside him.

"Listen to my voice. It's fine. Nothing is changed, but I want to go ahead and get your name into the pool. Just be glad you're B-positive instead of AB-negative."

"Sasuke's AB," whispered Naruto mournfully.

"So am I," said Itachi. "But Sasuke isn't on the lookout for a new heart."

"What am I going to do?"

"All I can tell you is what will happen physically and procedurally. As for what you should do concerning Sasuke, that's only something you can answer."

Naruto clenched his hands in the material of his jeans. He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Don't tell Sasuke about it."

"Naruto, I would never tell Sasuke anything that I did not know for certain you would want him to know. You don't want him to know, fine, but I've got to tell you, it's only going to get worse from here on in. You're going to get very sick."

"How long?"

Itachi slapped the back of Naruto's head. "You know I don't like giving estimates, but you're going to notice a distinct difference in body. You're going to need someone to help take care of you, Naruto."

"You mean Sasuke?"

"Why did you leave him, Naruto? I know I said I wouldn't pry, but he's dying."

Naruto closed his eyes and the forlorn feeling rising inside him. "That makes two of us."

"That's not funny. You're good for each other. You get him off that damn computer and he brings out the better side of you."

"What are you talking about? All my sides are good."

Itachi arched his brows and folded his arms over his chest. "Don't try to evade with jokes. I've known you long enough to spot them. I just want to know the reason."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Naruto heaved a heavy sigh and slumped back on the exam table. For a long string of seconds he stared at the white ceiling and sought a way to explain to Itachi what he was feeling. It was hard and he barely understood it himself. "I don't want him to have to watch me die."

"You don't want him to watch you die?" repeated Itachi. "So you would rather kill him prematurely?"

Naruto sat up with a start. "No! It's better if we break up now. He won't have to watch me get so sick that I can barely move. He'll get over me."

"Are you so sure about that? Do you think if you weren't sick that you would get over him so easily?"

"That's not the same thing."

"It's pretty damn close," snapped Itachi. "No one knows when they are going to die. I could keel over tomorrow from an aneurism and that would be it. You still have time. You don't know that you won't get a heart."

"And if I die waiting, or on the table during the surgery?"

Itachi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I can't predict today or tomorrow or next week. Unlike the belief of some of my colleagues, I am not God. There is an old saying that says to live every day as if it was your last and that holds true regardless of health."

Naruto shook his head sadly. "But is it right to make him suffer worse while watching me die slowly when the end is the same?"

"Did Sasuke say that bothered him?"

"No, but that's not the point. He doesn't realize how bad it could get and I don't think I can bear to see that look in his eyes when he does."

"What look?"

"The look that comes when hope dies. I practically grew up in the hospital. I saw people die. I know that look."

"It didn't bother you before."

Naruto glanced away. "I was fooling myself before."

Itachi leaned back in his chair and began swiveling it from side to side. "Sasuke is not a perfect person. He has flaws like everyone, but I know that he would never get that look in his eyes. I've seen that look too. I saw it when I was in medical school and during my residency and fellowships, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that my brother would never lose hope because you give him hope. You give him energy. There is something about you that makes people want to keep fighting even when they think there isn't a chance in hell of a positive outcome...and when you lose the will to fight, it takes it away from everyone else. If you don't want to see that look in Sasuke's eyes, then I suggest you call him and fix whatever is wrong...because I can guarantee that he has that look right now."

Naruto started and stared at Itachi. The man had no reason to lie. He might mask the truth in a cloud of half-truths and speculations, but he would never lie. He trusted what Itachi told him and the thought that he had put into Sasuke's eyes what he had hoped to keep from them tore at his insides. He felt as if he could die on the spot.

"Is that all?" he whispered.

"I'm going to want to see you more often from now on. Every two weeks instead of once a month." Itachi scribbled out several prescriptions onto a pad and handed it to Naruto. "Here are your medications. I've altered the doses a little. I've also added a prescription for Prozac. It will help with the depression and shouldn't interfere with your medication or your heart disease. But let me know immediately if you start feeling strange or have suicidal thoughts."

"Depression?" Naruto shook his head fervently. "I'm not depressed."

"Don't argue with me. I'm your doctor and you sure as hell are depressed. If the depression didn't cause you to leave Sasuke, leaving Sasuke most certainly caused you to be depressed."

Naruto glared at Itachi, but pocketed the prescription. "Fine."

"Take care of yourself, Naruto, and think about what I said."

Naruto nodded and walked slowly from the office. Hinata shot him a concerned glance as he made his way out the doors. His heart seemed heavy in his chest. Each beat felt like a drum slamming against his breastbone.

He did not even make it far out of the building before stopping and staring at one of the benches lining the walkway. He had sat and talked with Sasuke for the first time there.

His feet were like lead as he trudged to the bench and slumped down. Living felt so very hard in that moment. He missed Sasuke, more than he thought it was possible to miss someone. Even Jiraiya's death had not hit him as hard as being away from Sasuke.

He had thought it best for his lover if they were apart. Sasuke was perfect, even though Itachi countered that thought. Sasuke was perfect in Naruto's eyes.

Rubbing the palms of his hands over his jeans, he tilted his head back to stare at the cloud filled sky. Spring was well and truly here. An occasional cold wind might filter in from time to time, but such was growing rare. He closed his eyes and allowed the sun to warm his skin even if that warmth did not completely reach his soul.

He was almost to a state of semi-relaxation when a soft touch brushed down his cheek. On instinct, he turned into the touch. "Sasuke," he murmured.

Opening his eyes, he found Sasuke standing above him in a long-sleeved t-shirt. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes and his skin looked pallid rather than the natural cream color he had grown fond of.

Staring into his face, Naruto suddenly realized the truth of Itachi's words because those eyes, those beautiful dark eyes, were filled with fear and despair. And he knew he had put it there, not with his illness but with his actions.

"Sasuke...what are you doing here?" he whispered.

"I knew you would be here. I know all your appointment times. Itachi told me I should stay away and let you have space, so I was only going to watch you...but you sat here and I couldn't keep from touching you."

There was such agony in that rich, deep voice that Naruto nearly wept on the spot. He was the cause, but not in the way he had thought he would be. He had imagined he would hear and see that emotion in Sasuke as he lay dying in the hospital, not while he was still able to take care of himself.

"I missed you, so I thought seeing you would help."

Naruto swallowed several times consecutively and still his voice sounded hoarse in his ears as he spoke. "And did it help?"

"No. It only made me miss you more. I miss your laugh. I miss how you groan and moan about the lack of greasy hamburgers and french fries for dinner. I missed you sleeping beside me. I miss everything."

Naruto closed his eyes again as Sasuke's hand began stroking on his cheek again. He could feel the curious looks from several of the pedestrians in the area but could not find the strength to care that they were bearing witness to a private and sweet and painful moment between two men very much in love.

"I missed you too."

"Then come home." Sasuke moved from behind the bench and took a seat at Naruto's side, directly where he had sat those few years ago when they had met. "Come home with me."

"I...can't," whimpered Naruto, and uttering the words very nearly destroyed his heart.

Sasuke placed both hands on Naruto's cheeks and forced him to look him in the eye. "Why?"

"I don't want to hurt you," he said in barely a whisper.

Sasuke maintained the lock of their gazes. "I'm hurting without you."

Naruto closed his eyes for a moment but was unable to maintain the break for he needed to see Sasuke. He was like a drowning man who had finally spotted his life raft. "I don't want you to watch me get really sick and then die. I don't want to destroy you like that."

"You're destroying me now. I'm nothing without you in my life. I love you, Naruto. I know I don't say it often, but I do. I would rather have a limited number of days with you, than to live my entire life without. I don't care how sick you get; I'll be by your side for as long as it takes, because you're going to get a heart."

"You don't know that."

"I know it in my soul. We'll be together no matter what happens. Come home with me, please."

Naruto's eyes teared up and with a cry, the damn inside him that had been put into place upon leaving Sasuke broke and he threw himself into his arms. He could not live without him. Even if he had to watch Sasuke's hope fade, he could not give this up again because he had seen what it brought forth in Sasuke.

He wailed into Sasuke's shirt, drenching it in tears. A few people paused with concern, but Sasuke waved them away. The only two in the world as far as they were concerned was each other.

Naruto held tight to Sasuke as if he would never let him go. He moved closer and closer until he was almost sitting on Sasuke's lap. He wanted to be completely absorbed in his body so that they could be one being like that ancient myth about the beast with two heads, four arms, and four legs that Zeus, in his fear, had split apart and left them to spend the rest of their lives searching for the other.

Soul mates.

"Take me home, Sasuke."