Hello!

Animecon is over and I'm so so sad. It was so much fun and I met a lot of new and old friends. And my L cosplay got so much attention. Thank you! Awwwh. I love all those guys there. Argh, I have such an urge to cosplay as someone from Kingdom Hearts 2 now! (Riku is such a good option. I need money…give me money… . )

I am really, really tired. I'm kinda depressed 'cause of my personal life and school and all that stuff but you don't need to worry about such things. Only now I kind of thought that I should write the 10th chapter, so here it is. I'm tired. Half of this was actually written in school so I don't know if it's as good as you think it would be. But…hey, I hope you like, as always. This is the result for my angry, tired tears and Sasuke-bashing. And finally, some love for our little avenger.

He deserves a little, you know.

Songs listened:

E Nomine – Schwarze Sonne

Kenichi Suzumura & Yoshinori Fujita – Bokura no Love Style

Shakira – Eyes Like Yours

Silent Hill - Room of Angel

(More Kimimaro, more (hopefully) creepiness and more Sasuke-bashing and even more NaruSasu-fluff in this chapter. I have warned you!)

-----------

----

"Kimimaro-kun, are you awake?" Iruka whispered as he put the key to the lock and opened the slightly rusty door. The whole week had been such a big mess – with Sasuke still not showing any signs of recovery, on the contrary, he was screaming and yelling and otherwise stormed around like a mad poor boy he was – so the brown-haired man was really tired. He blinked and saw the patient quietly sleeping. Iruka sighed. He hadn't slept for two nights other than few little 15-minute naps, which did absolutely no good. So it was no wonder that the poor man yawned as he stared sleepily at Kimimaro for few tired seconds before finally sighing and deciding to come back a little later. Kimimaro had been acting even weirder than ever, so he was a little worried. But yeah…he should stop this useless worrying. Iruka was always worrying about anyone and anything and…with a sigh; he stared at Kimimaro's calm, white face for a moment, before hearing a yell from the corridor.

"Iruka! It's Sasuke! Come quick!" It was all that Izumo – who was waving his hands like crazy -, had to say to make Iruka turn around. He felt his headache coming back with full force as he retreated and ran, hastily putting the door shut behind him.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of that clicking sound that indicated that the door was really…locked.

Poisonous green eyes suddenly snapped open in the blinding darkness and a twisted smile emerged on the skeleton-like face. Kimimaro giggled quietly as he heard distant shouting and a long animalistic cry that belonged… ("Yes, Orochimaru-sama…") …to no other than that boy, his big brother's broken doll. And Kimimaro started to giggle.

That night, Sasuke's dreams were restless, silent nightmares of a broken home. His home, bloody bodies around and around and little Sasuke running through corridors to find his beloved parents and his beloved big brother. Yawning Kotetsu, who was sitting next to the door with a set of keys hanging from his belt – the door could only be opened with those, from both in and outside -, was watching Sasuke mutter in his sleep with tired eyes. He hadn't gotten that much sleep either. He knew it could be really dangerous if he fell asleep now, but…he was so sick of this. As much as he feared and pitied the boy sleeping in front of him, he was irritated that every freaking day and night they could hardly sleep an inch – they had had to send Iruka home, so it was just him and Izumo – because of Sasuke. But…well…maybe if he slept a little…it wouldn't hurt anyone. Are you sure, Kote-chan? Asked the little, mischievous voice in the man's head but he ignored it. With that instant, the grumpy man's head drooped forward and he was in deep sleep.

Only few minutes later, there were…

Footsteps.

Kotetsu mumbled in his sleep but didn't wake up. Sasuke winced.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door. Sasuke whimpered, but didn't wake up. Someone knocked again and this time, black eyes snapped open. Sasuke sat on his bed and looked around the room, only seeing moonlight seeping through the thin black curtains of the small window and Kotetsu quietly sleeping on the chair. Sasuke bit his lip.

What…?

Knock, knock.

Sasuke bit his lip a little harder and his dark eyes widened.

"Who-who's there?"

Knock, knock.

"Naruto…? Is that you, is it?" He didn't even notice how hopeful he sounded. He hadn't seen the other boy for a few days now and…he gulped when he heard a really quiet screeching sound from the door.

"I-Iruka?" Sasuke blinked. There was no sound.

"…Who are you?"

Someone giggled. Sasuke froze. He didn't notice his own trembling; as he got up from the bed and let his bare feet touch the solid, cold floor. He winced and creeped closer to the door. Knock, knock, knock. The raven-haired boy bit his lip as he touched the cold door, almost feeling the other one's gaze through it. Although he was shaking, he turned his head and saw the keys hanging from Kotetsu's belt. Widened, fearful black eyes looked at Kotetsu, then at the door – there was now a sound that was like a cat clawing something cold and hard, a sound that made his blood freeze – and reached out his hand and took the key chain. He had to stop for a moment, for he heard a giggle behind the door and felt like his whole body was cold as ice.

More scratching sounds, like a cat sharping its claws.

He feared that the trembling of his hands would wake the man up, but he only mumbled something and turned his head. Sasuke slid the key as silently as he could to the lock and with a click the door opened.

At that instant, Sasuke froze.

Kimimaro grinned down at him, showing his gleaming, white teeth through his dirty, white bangs. He didn't say anything.

He didn't have to.

Sasuke's lower lip started to tremble.

"You…" He pointed a finger at the man, who hadn't moved. Kimimaro's grin only went wider. With a little squeak, Sasuke grasped the door handle and tried to push it shut again, but long, white fingers appeared to the crack and pushed it back open. All the power fell from Sasuke like water down the drain as he stared at the frightening face of the grinning Kimimaro.

He stepped back.

Kimimaro stepped forward. With a tiny, pathetic shriek, Sasuke tried to run, but unfortunately… he was not that fast.

White fingers circled their way around his wrists and the next thing Sasuke knew, he was laying on his back on the chilly, cold floor and only few inches from his face, the white-haired mad man was grinning his devilish smile. And his other hand was covering the dark-haired boy's mouth the second Kimimaro thought he was going to yell. Sasuke whimpered and trembled horribly. Frustrated tears fell from his eyes and his feet twitched as he even subconsciously tried to get away.

"You're not going to scream, aren't you…?" Kimimaro took his hand away and Sasuke breathed freely again, frightened black eyes searching for somebody to help.

Na-Naruto…where… are you… Naruto…

They both didn't dare to move, as Kotetsu murmured something again and almost fell from his chair. His eyes blinked a couple of times, before it seemed like he had fallen asleep again. Kimimaro had been staring at Sasuke all the time.

"Ssshh...It's okay, it's okay…" The latter whimpered, as he felt Kimimaro's weight on him, only two thin layers of cloth separating two skinny bodies. And Sasuke was scared. He was so scared. Kimimaro wiped his tears away with few bony fingers and the raven-haired boy flinched. The other man's touch was so cold, like his…like his had been…

"What your big brother did to you…"

Kimimaro started and giggled.

"No…" More tears fell from Sasuke's eyes.

"Naruto…" He whispered and felt one of Kimimaro's fingers on his lips, silencing him.

"I mean… you did enjoy that, didn't you? What if…" The green-eyed man's breath was just a little bit too close to Sasuke's neck. And why was his other hand holding his wrist hardly down on the floor again? Why was his second hand caressing his cheek, caressing his hair and drawing a thin line of blood on his neck.

"Naruto…h-help me…" Sasuke whimpered and twitched again. Other man's weight felt like a tons of rocks, tons of despair and helplessness. Sasuke hated the feeling.

"No…"

"Yesss…your bones… I want, I want, I want…your beautiful blood…" Kimimaro grinned down at him again and Sasuke stared back, black eyes impossibly wide with fear. He raised his free hand and tried to push the other man away.

"No…no!" He was starting to panic. Kimimaro bit his neck, making him shriek. Sasuke tried to claw his arm with his free hand.

"Let go of me…"

"Let's do it again…otoouto-kun…"

Kimimaro wasn't there anymore, it was his brother's face, his brother's voice, his brother's fingers slipping inside his hospital gown…Sasuke snapped.

He started to scream. Louder and more fearfully than ever. No, no, no! This couldn't be happening! Go away, go away, go away! Leave me alone, finally, leave me alone! Sasuke screamed, he didn't know if he had said it aloud, but it didn't matter.

"Help me!"

Kotetsu was awake that instant and was pulling the taller Kimimaro away from Sasuke, who just laid on the floor, screaming.

"Orochimaru-sama wants him… I want him…his big brother wants him… life's just that cruel, isn't it?" Kimimaro started to laugh like he had heard the best joke ever. Kotetsu had troubles holding him, as he reached out his white hand towards Sasuke.

"Orochimaru-sama…I'm trying, I'm trying! He's running away! Stupid boy…stupid, little boy!" Kimimaro blabbered, the never-fading grin on his face.

"Izumo!" Kotetsu yelled.

"I'm needing a little help here!" Kimimaro was struggling, wide green eyes shining with clear madness. Sasuke had stopped screaming and was now curled into a little ball at the floor, sobbing soundly.

"Izumo!" Kotetsu yelled again and this time his partner ran to the room. Together they managed to give the white haired man the infection he needed and when Kimimaro went drowsy, Izumo was left to take him to his room and check that he certainly locked the door. When he came back, together they lifted Sasuke from the floor and when he tried to claw their eyes out – sadly, quite literally -, they tied his hands again and his wounds given by Kimimaro. Sasuke sobbed and whined, wanting Naruto here, right now. The two men put the oxygen mask on his face and after a short moment, the boy had fallen asleep and Izumo and Kotetsu could finally sit down, their backs against the now surely locked door.

The clock ticked five minutes over two in the morning.

"So…" Izumo started.

"So." Kotetsu continued, knowing quite well what was coming and feeling ashamed.

"What the hell happened?" The other man asked, glaring at his partner, raising his eyebrows. Kotetsu bit his lip and scratched his beardless chin, not looking at his friend.

"Well…you know…I kinda…fell asleep…I don't know how the hell that creep even got out of his room, much less got in…here…" His voice faded as he realized his keys missing. Finally he spotted them on the floor right on the spot where he had found Kimimaro half-raping Sasuke.

"Oh, shit." He took the keys and sighed. Izumo shook his head.

"And, oh yeah…by the way, I think we should call that kid…Naruto was it, in the morning, ne, Izu-chan?" Kotetsu finally managed to grin weakly at his friend, his brown eyes revealing how tired he really was. Izumo stared at him for few moments before sighing.

"Yare, yare…it can't be helped. That sunny kid really seems to be the only one able to really calm our dear little mister Uchiha here down…" They both looked at Sasuke and Kotetsu nodded.

"Yeah."

And they watched over their smallest patient carefully the whole night. Even though Kotetsu snored for a little while, only to wake five minutes later and snore again after a while it took Izumo to convince that Kimimaro wasn't there anymore.

---

When Naruto finally arrived again, two days later straight after school – tired, but happy, even through the ever-pouring rain -, he was met by Iruka, who had dark rings under his eyes. He greeted him without excitement, only smiled a little at the tall boy, who was like a wet puppy straight from the rain.

"How is he?" Naruto asked first, concerned blue eyes wanting an answer right away. Iruka shook his head with a grim expression.

"Badly…we have to be extra careful now, so we don't scare him." The pony-tailed man managed a small smile, before turning around and waving for Naruto to follow him. He opened the locked door and found Kurenai sitting on the chair next to the bed.

"If you're wondering, I sent the boys to sleep, they were practically strangling each other from the lack of sleep…oh, hey Naru-chan." The red-eyed woman said in her quiet voice and smiled at the boy, who grinned widely back and then turned his gaze to the bed and taking Kurenai's place.

"Sasuke…" The raven-haired boy's eyes were open, but he was staring at the wall, bandages around his neck and gauze covering the back of his head where he had hit it on the floor. The only indication that he was alive, was the slight rise and fall of his chest under the covers. Naruto turned his head to look at Iruka.

"What happened?" The blond slipped his bigger hand to cover Sasuke's without even looking at the other. Iruka sighed and looked at the ground.

"It was my fault…I accidentally…didn't lock Kimimaro's door properly…and he…he got out." The man's brown eyes were tired and sad and miserable as he looked at Naruto.

"I'm sorry. I know how much you do want to help Sasuke, we all want to, but…"

"Nah, don't apologize. I know you're tired and you didn't do it on purpose." That seemed to be a good enough explanation for Naruto, whose attention was already on Sasuke. When he tried to touch the other boy's cheek, black eyes snapped back at him and other tied hand scratched his wrist.

"Where…were you?" Sasuke sniffled; his black eyes were like those of a little boy's. Naruto raised his eyebrows, his hand barely touching Sasuke's, but the other boy still shook.

"Where were you? I…I…I yelled for you, come help me, come help me, but you…you…didn't…come…" Sasuke blinked as more tears gathered to his eyes.

"What do you mean, Sasuke? Last night… of course, I was sleeping, if that's what…" He was suddenly interrupted, when Sasuke shrieked and tried to cover his ears, but couldn't. Naruto looked around the room – already forgetting that Iruka and Kurenai even existed – and then back at Sasuke.

Rain poured on the roof.

Ah, that's right.

Naruto reached out his hand and gently caressed Sasuke's hair.

"Sshh, silly. It's just the rain." He hadn't moved his blue eyes away from black ones, not even for a little moment. And Sasuke stared at him, shaking, his eyes pleading for reassurance. Naruto smiled a little.

"Yeah…the rain won't hurt you. Actually…" He bit his lip as an idea came into his mind. He turned to look at Iruka.

"Can I take him outside?"

There was few moments of silence, before Iruka's eyes widened.

"O-Out?"

"Yeah, out. I think it would do him some good. And I really want to show him that rain won't hurt him, that silly boy." Naruto smiled gently at Sasuke, who blinked at him and then turned his gaze away, like ashamed. The taller boy grinned and used his best puppy-eyes-look at Iruka, who twitched for few seconds before shrugging.

"O-okay…but only at the door."

"Yeah, yeah, I got ya!"

And then Naruto turned to look at Sasuke again, who had been staring at both of them, not really understanding what the conversation had been about.

"Sasuke…I'm going to take you outside for a little while, how does that sound?" Sasuke blinked.

"O-out…? What does it mean…to…go… out?" The raven-haired boy's voice sounded so tiny. Naruto grinned.

"You'll see. Guys, could you help me…" He waved at the chains holding Sasuke's wrists. Kurenai and Iruka opened them and Naruto helped Sasuke first to sit before helping him to stand. He was kind of an pathetic sight, with a slightly overgrown sterile white trousers and a too big white shirt. Naruto took his hand into his own and started to walk at the door. Iruka opened it for them and followed after them with Kurenai as they walked down the corridor to the front doors. Sasuke stared around him with widening black eyes, his skinny hand squeezing Naruto's almost too hard.

"We're almost there, Sasuke, look." Naruto pushed the front doors open and then they were outside.

First thing Sasuke noticed was the wind. Even though it was cold, he still kind of…liked it. It felt freezing, but not too freezing. His black eyes widened. The second thing was the rain. Rain, that was falling hard from the sky, cleaning the ground and giving everything new energy. Naruto looked at the other boy and felt the urge to hug him again. That little boyish, wide-eyed look was actually cute. Sasuke stared.

And stared. And blinked. So this… is what it felt like. He felt a tear on his cheek. It had been a night like this when this all had happened. But this… didn't feel scary or creepy or anything like that. Maybe it was because of the warm hand grasping his, maybe because this was a normal, modern building, not a creepy old Japanese house. Who knows.

When surprisingly the rain fell down a little harder, Sasuke inched closer to Naruto, who was watching the rain with a small smile on his lips. The patient looked at the taller boy, the looked down and then he raised his free to grasp only a little of Naruto's bright orange shirt's sleeve. His arm touching Naruto's.

The blond boy felt someone tug his sleeve and looked down at Sasuke, who was holding his hand with his other and just a little bit of his sleeve with other, black eyes wide like a little boy's, which he really still kind of was. And Naruto couldn't help but grin, before turning to look at the rain again and also enjoying the slight breeze on his face. Little steps with Sasuke, but every last one of them was important.

Iruka, who watched the two boys from inside, turned to walk away. He was sure that Naruto – if not him, then who? – Was the one who really saw deep inside Sasuke, saw the hurt little boy he truly was and was able to really help him escape the pains of his past. It would take a long time, but Naruto seemed to truly care about Sasuke and caring didn't know the bounds of time.

---

I really should go to bed now. Hope you liked. Love you. Byebye.