Naruto was practically shaking as Sasuke led him to the car. All he wanted to do was climb across the gear shift and onto Sasuke, possibly being absorbed into him in the process. Sitting still was a complete impossibility for him. He was hurting with how bad he wanted to just touch Sasuke and to hold him and to be held by him. It was to the point that he felt like an addict searching for his next fix.

The drive to their apartment was short with them only stopping shortly for Sasuke to drop off Naruto's prescription with the pharmacy and arranging to have it delivered later. Naruto thought about going in with Sasuke but opted against it. He would be completely plastered to him and would likely draw more attention than either wanted.

When they finally arrived home, Naruto laced his fingers through Sasuke's and they both continued to touch through the entire elevator ride. He thought about his clothes at the motel and the key still present in his pocket. He wasn't worried. They could pick up what few things he had later. The room was paid for another two days anyway.

The two walked slowly down the hall and as they stood before their door, he noticed that Sasuke's hand was shaking as he inserted the key into the lock. The sight caused the lump in his throat to grow so large, he was amazed he could still breathe around it.

"Sasuke," he whispered, only to have Sasuke turn to him once the door was open and pull him firmly into his arms.

Sasuke's face was buried in his neck and the warm, slightly wet puffs of his breath tickled Naruto's sensitive skin. But he did not shift away. Sasuke could have been pushing a knife into his side and he would not have moved from where he stood. He needed to feel Sasuke pressed against him and wanted to completely disappear inside him. What had he been thinking before? How could he have thought that not being with Sasuke was what was best for both of them? Being away from Sasuke was worse than anything he could imagine.

Sniffling out a gasp, his hands lifted slowly to fist into the material of the shirt and clench tightly enough that he thought he could have possibly ripped the cotton. Not touching some part of Sasuke was inconceivable to him. The tears began to flow again and he felt as if he were drowning in the flood as tracks made their way down his cheeks and fluid dripped from his nose.

Sasuke began shaking fully at this point, his arms refusing to allow Naruto even the slightest bit of maneuvering room, not that he minded. Definite wetness began trickling down his neck and he knew instantly that tears were seeping from Sasuke. The small sobs that began to come from him were all the proof he needed.

No words were spoken as they stood just outside the open door to their apartment where all could see. If any passed, they would see only the beautiful embrace of two people who were wounded and desperately needed the comfort of the other.

Sasuke's head moved to Naruto's shoulder where he dragged his face back and forth over the material of his shirt. When he lifted his face, it was dry of wetness but an unusual blotchiness marred his normally cream-colored skin. Swollen red eyes stared at him, but there was not a tear in sight, so very like Sasuke when Naruto's own face was drenched in his tears and snot dripping from his nose.

"You look like shit," murmured Sasuke as he lifted his hands to wipe at the wetness.

"You're one to talk, ass," retorted Naruto, though there was no bite in his tone, only sadness and love mingling together.

They did not stop touching each other as they walked into the apartment, the latch of the door clicking as it was shut. Both looked as if they had not slept or eaten in days. And to Naruto, Sasuke had never been more attractive.

"I'm sorry."

Sasuke shook his head and trailed his fingers down Naruto's cheek. "No apologies."

Their bodies moved as if puppets on strings, drawn to each other by some sort of unseen pull. When their lips met, it was as if they were kissing for the first time. It was hesitant and gentle—sweetness poured from it and the aches of the past week were gone in that instant. It was a kiss that portrayed every ounce of love felt for each other. It was meaningful and carried not an ounce of lie.

When they finally pulled apart, Naruto's tongue swiped at his lower lip as if imagining he could capture what Sasuke tasted like, even though he tasted like nothing but the faint mint from his toothpaste. He watched Sasuke follow the action and repeated it without thinking.

"Even looking like shit, I still want you," uttered Sasuke.

"Yeah, well, I am irresistible."

Sasuke snorted and tugged Naruto to him, his hands running under his shirt to press against the line of his spine. "Keep talking, wise ass."

"You wanting some dirty talk?" Naruto leaned against Sasuke and closed his eyes. "Maybe Itachi was right. You do bring out the best in me."

He could practically hear Sasuke's eyes roll and chuckled. "It's true."

"If your best is being a wise ass, I would hate to think what your worst is."

Naruto closed his eyes and could not stop the small whimper that escaped. "You've seen the worst."

Sasuke's fingers dug into the skin of his back for a moment before pulling away and leading him through their room and into the bathroom. He ignored the shower and began to fill the overly large tub with water before sitting on the edge and pulling Naruto to stand between his splayed thighs. Naruto's shirt was pushed up and Sasuke pressed his face to the warm flesh, his lips brushing against the downy soft hairs starting just below the navel.

Naruto closed his eyes and sifted his fingers through Sasuke's hair, savoring the way the silky strands felt against his palms. This was not about sex. They'd had sex dozens...hundreds...of times. This was reaffirming what they felt, and showing it to the other. Now, tonight, was about intimacy and rebuilding what had crashed to the ground around them.

With the sound of running water in the background, Naruto allowed Sasuke to push his shirt over his head and sighed as the lips continued to map out the expanse of his chest and abdomen, creating a slow burn in his stomach. He felt the beginning of an erection forming and hummed encouragement to Sasuke, his own hands straying to Sasuke's shoulders, massaging into the brawn of them. He loved the way Sasuke's broad shoulders tapered into a narrow waist and slim hips. Sasuke was one damn fine nerd.

Sasuke reached behind him with a hand, his lips never leaving Naruto's body and shut down the running water. Standing, his hands reached for the button on Naruto's jeans, sliding it free before releasing the zipper and tugging the pants down his legs. Naruto had already toed off his shoes so he was free to step from the material and stand naked before his lover.

"Perfect," he murmured and pressed several kisses on the space over Naruto's heart before unconsciously, or perhaps on purpose, switching to Japanese. The melodic sound of Sasuke's voice speaking a language of which Naruto could understand only a word here or there caused chill bumps to spill over his skin. A bilingual lover was quite the exotic pleasure, and Sasuke had a habit of switching unintentionally between languages when he was overly excited or distressed.

Sasuke pulled away only long enough to shed the remainder of his clothes and step into the tub. Naruto followed him and settled between his thighs with his back to Sasuke's chest. A bath cloth was dipped into the water before fragrant soap was poured and then pressed to Naruto's chest. He released a full body shudder and relaxed against Sasuke.

The heat inside him was being slowly brought to a simmer. The tip of his erection was just barely covered by the top of the warm bathwater and he had no inclination to touch it, choosing instead to savor the build of pleasure between them. All he cared about was maintaining contact with Sasuke.

The cloth was dragged across his skin and he leaned his head back to settle it against Sasuke's shoulder. The soft material of the cloth swirled over his nipples, bringing them to rise and a small gasp to catch in his throat. Sasuke's lips mouthed at the flesh just below his ear and Naruto pressed his hands to Sasuke's thighs, dragging the blunt edges of his nails across the soft skin.

His soul cried out in joy at being able to feel Sasuke like this. Wave after wave of soft pleasure flowed through him. Each movement of Sasuke's lips and tongue on his skin and the soft drag of the bathing cloth drifting low on his abdomen fed the sheer pleasure of the moment.

The hand that held the cloth slid over Naruto's abdomen and then wrapped smoothly around the hardness floating in the weightlessness of the water. Naruto gasped and Sasuke purred a satisfied sound in his ear.

"No more thinking about what will happen," whispered Sasuke. "Tonight is just tonight. There is no tomorrow."

"Are you sure you can make me forget about the future?" asked Naruto teasingly, but with a whisper of truth.

"I think I can handle that."

Sasuke's hand began moving in slow pulls up the hard shaft held firmly in his hand. The cotton of the cloth was almost rough against Naruto's penis, adding texture to the pumping fist. He pressed back against Sasuke's chest and groaned low in his throat.

Naruto wanted to give Sasuke everything, but settled for giving him all of himself. Sasuke was his sanctuary. The future would come in its own time, but for now, every part of him was Sasuke's to do with as he pleased. The warm heat flooding his loins was beginning to build in earnest. His balls felt hard and heavy in the water as they began to draw tight to his body.

Sasuke's second hand dipped beneath the lapping water and cupped the soft orbs, rolling them in his hand and scraping the nails of his fingers along the perineum just behind. Naruto jerked at the touch and gasped out a garbled cry. Sasuke was far too damn good at this and the bastard knew it.

"Feel good?"

"You know it does," panted Naruto as he began to fidget and shift in an effort to facilitate the movement of the hand on his cock.

His eyes closed so tightly that he could have sworn he saw dots dancing behind his eyelids. His chest struggled for breath and his hands clawed at Sasuke's thighs and hips as the heat in his groin reached its peak.

With head thrown back and a whimpering gasp, his body released itself easily into Sasuke's knowledgeable hands. Sunlight burst through his head, strong and bright. It blocked out every other thought for the duration of a few seconds.

The world around him was slow to return. First there was the sound of his breath panting in and out followed by the lapping of the water in the tub. Sasuke's breath teased his ear and there was a decidedly hard cock pressing against the small of his back.

And he had never been more relaxed in his life.

Sasuke's lips moved slowly down the curve of his neck and nibbled at his shoulder. His hands released their grip on his cock and balls and slide up his chest to stroke at the naturally tanned flesh in a slow and loving gesture. That was the sign of love when the pleasure of one's partner outweighed the need for one's own release.

Naruto's body shivered, the water in the bath already losing its heat. Still, he did not want to leave Sasuke's arms, even if it was just long enough for them to dry their bodies and move to more comfortable places. He wanted to stay right where he was.

"Are you cold?"

Naruto shook his head and turned enough for his lips to brush across Sasuke's in an open mouthed kiss. Their tongues darted out to stroke over each other and their breath mingled.

"Well, I am."

Sasuke tightened his arms around Naruto for an instant before finally urging him to his feet and out of the tub before quickly following him, pulling the knob to drain the tank as he went. A plush towel was tugged from a cabinet and wrapped around Naruto.

Sasuke's hands were efficient as they dried every bit of water from Naruto. He felt almost sleepy and very much loved as Sasuke took care of this menial task. He closed his eyes and sighed happily at the constant touch of Sasuke's hands and fought back the urge to whimper when they were eventually taken away from him.

Sasuke wrapped his hand around Naruto's wrist and led him to their bed. He pressed Naruto down onto the mattress and then took up position beside him. Instead of drawing him into his arms, his lips were pressed to the soft skin on Naruto's neck. He tasted him all over with long, drawn-out kisses. There was not an inch of skin on his torso or abdomen that did not receive a touch from Sasuke. Where his lips did not touch, his hands made up for. They touched and rubbed where lips could not actively reach as if Sasuke was memorizing every inch of Naruto's body. Every freckle and blemish was given attention and locked into memory.

Naruto arched beneath Sasuke's touch. He had never felt as loved as he did now. It was beautiful and painful all rolled up into one sensation.

Sasuke's lips trailed over Naruto's breastbone and down across his abdomen where he nibbled around the flesh of his navel. His warm tongue darted out and dipped playfully into the outie navel, causing Naruto to shift and giggle even while renewed heat began to build once more in the region of his groin. His heart leapt in anticipation of what was to come and he wondered if Sasuke planned to kill him with his loving.

When warmth wrapped around the half-hard length of his slowly renewing erection, he could do no more than gasp out his pleasure at the action. Suckling lips tugged at the tip, followed by Sasuke's warm, wet tongue dipping into the slit while his fingers played with the sensitive flesh just beneath the crown. His mind was going blank and he thought he was going to come again even if it seemed impossible that he would be able to come so soon after orgasming.

He writhed beneath Sasuke, his hips rising to seek deeper penetration into the warm cavern while his head pressed hard back into the downy softness of a pillow. His blood pounded in his veins, rushing to the beat of a far too weak heart. If not for the pacemaker trying valiantly to keep the pace, he might have passed out. He was not frightened though, because he was with Sasuke.

Just as he was certain he was going to come again, Sasuke pulled away and sat back with a satisfied look on his face. His tongue swept sensually over his lower lip and Naruto groaned in need. Sasuke could not imagine how sexy he looked with his hair disheveled and his eyes dilated so that they appeared to be pupiless orbs. His pale skin was flushed with arousal and bobbing thick and needy between his thighs was an angry red cock that just begged to be sucked on.

Naruto might have moved to suck him off, but found Sasuke was having none of that. Suddenly his body was turned so that he lay on his stomach, forced to shift his hips back to keep from laying uncomfortably on his erect penis. He thought he might feel the push of Sasuke's fingers, but went stark still at the warm press of a wet tongue across the crease of his ass.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke hummed low and continued to flick his tongue from perineum to ass and then back again. No bit of skin was left untouched and no amount of restraint could keep the sounds from rumbling from Naruto's throat. He bit into the pill and gasped out his pleasure while pressing back into Sasuke's face in a silent demand for more. His body was reacting with deep and almost shocking passion. He wondered off-handedly if he could come from being rimmed without a single touch to his actual penis. All he could do was savor the pleasure of the act, not bothering to withhold any sound rising in his throat for he knew Sasuke loved the sound of his pleasure.

Hands gripped his hips and pulled him into a more easily accessible angle and the lips continued, occasional dabbing into the tight pucker just enough to make Naruto cry out and press back. His heart could not take it. He was going to die from the pleasure rocketing through him.

"Sasuke," came the plea and Naruto could not believe that was his voice that he heard in his ears. Did he really sound that needy?

Sasuke panted and lifted his face from his task. Instead of the usual teasing that he expected, the cool press of slick fingers replaced the warmth of a tongue. Apparently he was not the only one skirting the edge of his control.

The fingers pressed inside enough to spread the lube and test the pliancy of his ass before the hot thick press of Sasuke's penis teased his opening. A groan was released simultaneously from them as Sasuke pressed inside. It was not complete pleasure. The first thrust always stung a bit, and the prep was barely more than basic. But the discomfort was fleeting as his body quickly adjusted and sucked the thickness inside.

He could feel his muscles contracting around Sasuke and was helpless to stop them. It felt like a lifetime since he was immersed in the feeling of having Sasuke inside him, though in reality it had only been a few days.

"You okay?" panted Sasuke.

Naruto nodded, his mouth open but no sound escaped. Sasuke pulled back slowly and then slid back inside. The muscles willingly parted and both gasped with the sensation. He gasped out a garbled sound that could have been Sasuke's name, but he was not sure.

Sasuke's hands stroked over his flanks and down his thighs in soothing motions as he gave slow deep thrusts, never speeding up. Sweat began to bead on their flesh, some of it dripping down to splatter on the bed and still Sasuke maintained his slow loving.

One of Sasuke's hands slipped around to fondle his erection, tugging at the foreskin and rubbing firmly on head. Naruto's body grew taut and he began panting in earnest. His heart struggled to keep up with the demands of his body and his throat contracted as it became impossible to breath. Spots danced before his eyes as the intensity of another orgasm washed over him almost unexpectedly.

Naruto whimpered and pressed his head down into the pillow. Tears gathered in his eyes and spilled over and the perfect feeling of this moment. The only thing that could make it better was seeing Sasuke's face as he came.

His prayer was answered as Sasuke withdrew from him and he was urged away from the cum that had shot onto the sheets and arranged onto his back. Sasuke's hands looped beneath his knees and tugged his legs up to rest on his shoulders as he lined up his penis and was back inside Naruto once again.

Both of them cried out and Sasuke no longer appeared as completely in control as he had minutes before. His lips were pulled back in a snarl and his hips pumped frantically into him. He could only lay and gape at the expressions playing across his lover's face. Need. Love. Desperation. They were beautiful and he felt very blessed in that moment to bear witness to what he saw.

Sasuke froze and gave a breathless cry before shuddering against him. His hips gave a few sharp thrusts and then two weaker pumps before he collapsed against Naruto with his face buried in his neck. His breath was hot and damp against the flesh of his neck but Naruto could not find the will to pull away.

His heart hurt and struggled to find a rhythm, attempting futilely to match the powerful pumps coming from Sasuke where their chests lay firmly pressed to each other.

"Sasuke," breathed Naruto and his arms lifted to wrap around him. "I love you."

Never before had he meant the words to the degree that he did in that moment. The sex was a minor expression of what they felt. It only gave physicality to what both felt in their very beings.

"Me too," answered Sasuke breathlessly.

The words were different, but there was no less meaning in them. Tears leaked from Naruto's eyes and he buried his face against Sasuke. He had cried so much, but these tears were not of pain or anguish. They were yet another physical expression of his love. Without Sasuke, he was merely a shadow of what he could be.

Sasuke pulled back when Naruto gave a watery whimper, his eyes searching for pain on his face. "Are you alright? Is it your heart?"

"Yes, but not in the way you think."

Sasuke cocked his head and rolled from Naruto's body. They were messy, covered in cum and sweat and tears. The heavy scent of release hung thickly in the air around them.

And everything felt absolutely perfect to him.

"Then what do you mean?" asked Sasuke.

"I'm just happy that you want to be with me even with all my flaws."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and trailed a finger down Naruto's cheek, following an invisible trail until it stopped over the slight bump of the pacemaker hidden below his skin and just above his weak heart. "As far as I'm concerned, you don't have any flaws worth mentioning. If you mean your heart, then I beg to differ. Your heart is failing, but I will make sure that you live at any cost. It is not a flaw."

Naruto grinned and matched Sasuke's rolling of eyes. "I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about the future other than what is happening right now."

Sasuke opened his mouth, but was silenced by Naruto's kiss. The warm, wet glide of their tongues tempted them into a sense of peace and forgetfulness.

Naruto pulled away and settled his head on Sasuke's chest. Contrary to his words, the back of his mind was filled with thoughts of the future and what Itachi had confirmed with him that very day. The end was coming fast and there was still so much left that he wanted to do and so much he was probably going to miss.

"We need to take another bath."

Nearly asleep, Naruto lifted his head and blinked lazily at Sasuke. "I'm too tired."

"You're going to regret that when you wake up with dry cum on your ass."

Naruto yawned and snuggled closer to Sasuke. "You put it there, so I'll make you clean me up tomorrow."

Sasuke growled and shifted away from Naruto and off the bed. There was the sound of water running in the sink before the touch of a warm cloth on his ass roused him again."

"I don't want to hear you griping in the morning."

A lazy grin spread across Naruto's lips and he stretched out on his stomach to allow Sasuke easier access to his ass. He felt the brush of lips on his shoulder as the touch of the slightly rough cloth disappeared and was replaced once again by the stroke of a warm tongue. He whimpered and shifted under the assault, savoring the pleasure the act brought with it.

"Sasuke?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't think I could get hard even if I wanted to."

Sasuke sat back and blew lightly on the opening of his anus, causing Naruto to shudder. "I know."

"Then why are you doing that?"

Sasuke gave a few retreating licks before sitting back and curling against him. "Because it feels good to you."

Naruto gave a happy purr. "What about you?"

"When you're happy, then I'm happy."

A devious grin began to spread across Naruto's features. "Does that mean you'll let me eat whatever I want to make me happy?"

"Not on your life."

Naruto pouted and turned to face Sasuke. "Please?"

Sasuke settled on the bed and tugged Naruto to him. "Go to sleep."

A grin spread across his face and he pressed into Sasuke's chest. Their happiness was tainted by the uncertain future they faced, but some happiness was better than none in Naruto's book.

Naruto sighed happily as he stepped from the shower. In the past several weeks, he had never felt better in his life. True, his body was growing weaker, but being with Sasuke was more satisfying than ever. He hid his cough and his increasing weakness from his lover as much as he could, but feared it would not be long before there would be no hiding.

Itachi growled at him about keeping his decline from Sasuke, but kept his word to withhold the information from his brother. He was a professional first and foremost, but he was also a friend and he understood that Naruto wanted things to remain nice for as long as possible before reality wormed into their lives.

Tugging on a t-shirt and a pair of loose fitting jeans, he stood in front of the mirror and toweled his hair dry before sitting on the bed and flipping on the television while he checked his email on the laptop that Sasuke had gotten him. It had that new Windows 8 operating system, which pissed him off to no end. If he wanted to deal with apps, he would dig out the iPad that in the drawer by the bed. He considered having the system downgraded back to the previous version of Windows, but decided against it.

A sigh escaped and he was unable to stop the small reminder of his illness as another cough threatened to spill over. He muffled it with a hand until the urge finally eased. His heart skipped a beat and the firing of his pacemaker caused him to wince at the static-like shock.

He lifted a hand to his chest with a sigh. He had made a promise to himself that he would live every day to its fullest. It was harder some days than others, but while he could he would do his damnedest. Sasuke deserved nothing less. He still did not believe he would receive a heart, but he did not mind allowing Sasuke that hope.

Running a hand through his now dry hair as he sent off his last email to Temari, he closed the top and walked into the living room. Instead of seeing Sasuke plucking away at his writing, he noticed him asleep and grinned.

Today was going to be a good day.