Author Note: Lately I've been going around for some stories, just recently did I realize that it's been a long time since I read some ff myself since I've been busy with everything else so I'm going to get some quality time together and read as much as I can today. I know I'm just talking nonsense in this important moment to continue reading but what can I say? I'm a dark schemer with the love of cliff-hangers. So on you go, Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Pairings: Sasuke x Naruto. Itachi x Yue.

Warning: This is mainly a shounen-ai story. Boy loves boy. And the lunatic Nuriko.

Read, Enjoy and Review. All feedbacks of encouragement, joy, happiness and constructive criticism are welcome.

Music In My Heart
By Monkan

Part 22 of 23

Itachi rushed through the halls in another part of the hospital, Yue was right behind him. When he saw a familiar figure sitting in a chair, facing a pair of doors he slowed down. Recognizing his little brother right away. He came to a stop and knelt down, taking a hold of Sasuke's shoulders.

"What happened?" he asked worried.

Sasuke looked up at the sound of his brothers voice but his eyes looked empty. He blankly looked in front of him without really focusing on anything.

"Sasuke?" asked Yue behind them as she had caught up.

To get his attention Itachi lightly slapped him across his cheek. Sasuke's eyes focused as the pain filtered through his brain but he felt to tired to curse his brother or even do anything.

"What happened?" repeated Itachi.

This time Sasuke focused on his brother's face and opened his dry lips. "I went to see him... I began to worry so I ran... When I came in I saw Nuriko about to smash him across the head with his own violin. She was crazy... She came after us even as I tried to get away from her... All I could think about was to protect Naruto... She came at us... I pushed Naruto aside and Nuriko and I crashed into the wall, I slammed her head into the wall and she fell... unconscious...I took Naruto outside... Safe... I called for the police and that is when... when..." Sasuke shook his head and looked over Itachi's shoulder and right at Yue with sad, confused and pleading eyes. "He fell down, I don't know what happened... All I could think was that he wasn't responding to anything I did... I was scared... scared that I would lose him."

Itachi's grip on his shoulder tightened to get him together. "It's all right. You did everything you could."

Sasuke lowered his head, "I should had known Nuriko would go after him. I should had seen it."

"Hey!" Itachi raised his voice. "No one could had known. We all thought that it was over. They are taking care of him now?" asked Itachi, knowing full well that they did behind those doors behind him.

Sasuke nodded and only faintly heard a "good" in response. Itachi sat down next to Sasuke in the chair beside him. Yue leaned against the wall. The hours ticked by and it all seemed the minutes stretched out into one long moment. Itachi found it ironic that something like this would happen at this time. He thought that Nuriko had been taken care of but now she had gone attacked them.

He leaned forward and rested his face in his hands. Why couldn't God be more kind?

At that moment the doors behind them opened and out came Dr. Tsunade and a nurse.

"How is he?" asked Yue immediately cause she didn't want Sasuke to get worked up again.

Tsunade sighed as she looked at the group of three young people. "He's mostly unharmed, a few bruises is all. The pressure rised dangerously and almost made more damage so I've operated to prevent further delay. The imbalance on his nerves pushed him beyond his limit and with that attack he strained his eyes to much when they couldn't see anything. What's left now is for him to rest. But I believe it will be alright from now on." she gave them a little smile of reassurance. "As for his eyes... if his sight have been fully restored that remains to be seen when he wakes up and the scars have healed."

They all let out a collected sigh, except Sasuke. He stood up and faced the older woman. "Can I go see him?" he asked in a quiet tone, filled with his own stress of what had happened.

Tsunade looked him up and down before nodding once but put her hand on his arm. "We are moving him to another room, you can follow with them."

Sasuke nodded and not before long he heard how a hospital bed was moved through the room and out through the doors. On it lay Naruto, asleep like nothing had happened, except for the bandage that covered his eyes. Sasuke followed them and disappeared down the endless hall.

Once Itachi was sure they were out of hearing range he collapsed down in the chair he had earlier occupied. He moaned dispirited. "Why did this have to happen? Can't Nuriko just disappear from our lives and remain gone? Is that to much to ask?"

Tsuande watched him for a moment, "I'm aware of your parents situation." she told him. "I realize that boy is precious to your little brother but I can't let him leave my care, although some other doctor could take over I would like to watch over his recovery. I don't know how long that will take but most probably long after your parents have been transferred to another hospital."

"I know that." Itachi mumbled. "I know that but no matter what choice I make I will hurt someone. If I take Sasuke with me he will hate me. If we stay here the chances for our parents remains small. I know that it was a miracle that they survived even the first night and the chance that their spines won't recover and leave them in wheelchairs or even lame are still too great. I know it all. I know it all to well but I don't know what to do."

He placed his hand over his eyes. He felt so hopeless. It had all spinned out of control before he had a chance to see it and now he only could take one road of two. Where ever it left him there would still be consequences.

Tsunade looked at him pitifully, she turned and was ready to leave when suddenly something came to her mind. "No one knows what the future holds." she said, "No matter the past, there is always a future as long as you do what you think is right. Who knows who you will met again."

With those words she left them. It wasn't her place to make their choice for them, only open up more options to make the journey easier and she was sure the Uchiha would pull through this. Even if it left a scar.

-o-o-o-o-

There were a big slam that made Yue jump in fright. She looked over her shoulder and saw Itachi walk slowly into the living room. He looked tired, even old at worst.

"How did it go?" she asked carefully.

Itachi looked at her for a moment before he hugged her. "As well as can be expecting." he said, "He didn't like it. He outright hates it."

"You made the right decision."

"Did I really?" Itachi thought back to the conversation. No. It had been a battle of will. He had made up his mind to move their parents to a better hospital and he was taking Sasuke with him. His little brother had hated it right away, they had argued, fought verbally, screamed, cursed each other and he had even been hit once. His stomach still ached but it was little to the pain he had seen in Sasuke's eyes.

He knew what he asked for. He would had done the same if he was asked to leave Yue but even though he knew that it wasn't he that would leave some one dear behind.

But the decision was made, in tomorrow they would leave this town.

And Sasuke had to leave Naruto behind.

"I meant to ask you but..." Yue started but hesitated. "Where is the-- I mean Nuriko?"

Itachi made a sound of disgust at the mention of the person. "Where she belongs. She woke up and was arrested. With my family as the victim I doubt she will ever bother us again. This time for sure she can never go anywhere near us again."

-o-o-o-o-

Sasuke sat next to Naruto. He wished he could see those blue eyes one last time. Today he would leave town and Naruto didn't know anything about it. When he woke up he would be gone and nowhere in reach.

He hated it. He hated his brother for making this decision but he also knew it was just because he was selfish. He didn't want to leave Naruto. He had wished to take Naruto with them but that idea had been denied right away. His heart cried at the thought to leave Naruto but there was nothing he could do.

That Naruto had become so important to him made it all so much harder to leave. Hadn't he met Naruto he doubted he would had even cared if he left everything behind.

"It's time." Yue said when she entered the room.

"Coming." Sasuke whispered.

He looked at the white letter with Naruto's name on it, he hoped that Naruto could forgive him when he read it. It explained everything. His life, his feelings, his family, Nuriko. Everything. He wasn't sure if he would ever see Naruto again. The prospect scared him but that was also something he had to accept. Maybe there hadn't been a chance for them from the start. If he hadn't voiced his feelings would he still be there, in Naruto's home, listening to the blond play for him. The sound that he couldn't copy, the sound that drew him close. The sound of everything that he held close to his heart. If he had a chance to change this would he do it? Would he change his heart just to spare Naruto the pain of his cursed past. If he could ask the wind to change everything back to as they were before would he be strong enough to do that? Would he change Naruto back to the way he was before they meet.

Sasuke closed his eyes. The image of the old Naruto was still in his mind, he didn't want him to return to that life. "I'm really stupid, aren't I?" There was no way to change the past. He knew that and he didn't want to either. The memories he had of Naruto was the most precious he had. They were the closest to his heart. No matter how much time pasted him by he would always feel them like they were happening right now.

No matter how much he hated reality he had to go with it. That was all he could do until he was independent and then he would return. He would return here and find Naruto. If the blond teen wasn't here then he would look for him. No matter what he would come back, he had promised it in the letter and in his own heart.

He leaned forward and kissed Naruto softly on the lips.

"Bye." he whispered.

He walked past Yue and left the room. Not looking back.

Yue did it for him when she closed the door. Neither of them heard the soft whisper.

"Sasuke?"

To Be Continued and Concluded in next chapter!