Thanks so much for the encouraging reviews and feedback! I shouldve shared my work with other people sooner! I'm glad to entertain.

Long chapter again, I apologize. So anyways, last time Sasuke-kun was in trouble!!! Read on!

- Kitsune

Chapter VI

Save Me

By the time Naruto had gotten to camp, Kakashi had already gotten there just in time, and Sakura was there with him when Naruto had come crashing through the bushes into their clearing.

"Sensei!! Sasuke's.. Sasuke's loosing control!" Naruto yelled, out of breath.

"Naruto stay calm." Kakashi said, observing Naruto's paled complexion. "Sakura let's go." He called before following Naruto back.

When they got to the river bank, they all stopped, staring. Sasuke's curse had covered him entirely, and he was leaning against a tree, breathing heavily, drops of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"Naru—Naruto…" he gasped, and Naruto started to run to him, but Sasuke held up a hand.

"Don't.. don't you come near me!" Sasuke exclaimed. Kakashi watched Naruto gasp. "What? But—Sasuke?!"

"Sasuke! Breathe! Try to get control! What do you want us to do for you?" Kakashi said to him. The rest watched in helpless horror as Sasuke slid against the tree to the ground, on his knees.

"I don't wanna hurt anyone—" Sasuke murmured. Kakashi stared, thinking, as his student tried to suffer in silence.

"Sasuke we have to do something, or you're going to kill yourself. The seal's behavior has changed so that the more you resist, the more it damages your body." Kakashi said very calmly. "Sakura. Go help him. Calm him down." Kakashi said slowly.

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed as Sakura ran to Sasuke, helping him stay up, and talking to him, asking him to help her help him. Naruto started, but Kakashi held him back, then had to hold him tighter when he struggled.

"Sensei lemme' go!! He—Sasuke needs me!" Naruto blurted. Kakashi sighed.

"Sh Naruto. Are you sure?" Kakashi said to Naruto, who was straining hard against his hold.

"Yes I'm sure!! Sasuke tell him! Please!" Naruto shouted. Sakura, of course, was not doing much good, though she tried. The enflaming along the curse marks were beginning to grow more powerful, and Sasuke let out another cry of pain.

"Naruto…I'm controlling this as best I can—I can't.. hang on much longer.. and when I break, I don't want any of you near me—" Sasuke forced out. Kakashi let Naruto go, and Naruto ran to Sasuke, sliding to his knees beside him, managing to bowl Sakura out of the way, and put his arms around Sasuke. Kakashi and Sakura watched in amazement, as Naruto began whispering in Sasuke's ear. Kakashi watched in pensive amusement as Sasuke almost appeared to pass out, but Naruto kept talking to him, saying things that the rest of them couldn't hear. Soon, Sasuke stirred again.

"Na-Naruto…gomen—" Sasuke apologized before turning away from Naruto to cough up blood.

"Sasuke.. Sasuke-kun, breathe.." Naruto instructed, pulling Sasuke back to him. After a few minutes, the flames faded, but the multiple curse marks remained. Sasuke began to whisper back to Naruto. Kakashi and Sakura waited nervously for minutes on end while Naruto was holding Sasuke up, letting him lean back against him comfortably. After about 15 minutes, Naruto finally looked up, acknowledging Sensei and Sakura.

"He's fine.." Naruto said, afterwards looking back down at Sasuke, who had his eyes closed and his face turned toward Naruto's body while Naruto wiped away the blood from Sasuke's mouth with his hand.

"Sasuke you're done." Kakashi suddenly ordered. Sasuke opened his eyes, using Naruto to sit up more.

"What? No please—"

"Are you kidding me right now?? Don't argue Sasuke. I don't know why my own seal on that curse is weakening, and I won't put you in danger that way." Kakashi said, finalizing his decision. Sasuke fell silent, then closed his eyes again, once again turning his head toward Naruto's body, seemingly passing out.

"Huh? Sasuke?" Naruto called. Sakura looked worried, but felt shut out from Sasuke; Naruto was controlling the entire situation.

"Is he alright? I mean seriously?" She asked. Kakashi nodded.

"He should be. But he has to listen to me and take around 3 days off. His body needs to stabilize after an incident like this. And whenever he has one, I should be told." Kakashi emphasized, making sure he made solid eye contact with Naruto. Naruto stared for a minute, then glanced away, staring back down at Sasuke, whom he knew was still awake, hearing everything.

"Sasuke..?" he asked. Sasuke groaned.

"What.." he replied.

"Nothing.. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Naruto answered, pulling Sasuke closer to him, and Sasuke willingly leaned in closer. Sakura looked away immediately to avoid letting her jealousy show in her face.

"This.. this isn't natural...why should I feel like this just because Naruto's caring for Sasuke.. and not me...it's not like Naruto will take him away from me..." She tried to stop thinking about it as Kakashi sighed and turned around to walk back to the house, and Sakura followed wordlessly.

"Naruto, you can carry Sasuke for me." He said. Naruto got Sasuke into a position where he could carry him on his back, and stood up.

"I hate this.." Sasuke whispered hoarsely as they walked.

"I know you do Sasuke.. but I think it's nice you have to depend on me." Naruto said with an enthusiastic grin. Both Kakashi and Sakura noticed that Naruto was talking to Sasuke the entire way back.

"What's with them? If things were normal around here, I think you or me would have to carry Sasuke, because he'd be too mad about being out of commission to let Naruto carry him without getting into a fight with him.. and on top of that, Naruto wouldn't want to carry him." Sakura observed as she and Sensei were walking slightly ahead of Naruto and Sasuke.

"You're right." Kakashi agreed. "Something is up." Kakashi said, and didn't say anything more. He knew for sure, even if Naruto and Sasuke found out that he himself knew, Sakura definitely couldn't know what was really up. Sakura went on about how strange things were.

"I mean you know how they use to argue for days and not speak? Well yesterday they got into a fight, Sasuke yelled at him and everything, then they both went opposite directions. And today they're perfectly fine! They must've made up last night, but it's still weird." Sakura said. Kakashi chuckled to himself.

"Yes, they did make up last night. You don't know the half of it." He said, rolling his eyes slightly. Kakashi looked behind him, and Sasuke looked half asleep, but was still whispering in Naruto's ear. Whatever it was he'd said, Naruto's cheeks went a slight reddish color, and he smiled, laughing a little. Sasuke only smirked lethargically, resting his forehead on Naruto's shoulder. Kakashi, because he was looking intently, saw Sasuke's lips touch there just milliseconds before though.

"Wow Sasuke. Weird seeing you this way." Kakashi thought to himself as he turned back around and stopped looking. Sasuke had never been an emotional person about anything except his late family and his fighting, and Kakashi knew that was part of Sasuke's type of strength. But after carefully observing Sasuke's training session against Naruto, he saw that Sasuke was now fighting—even if it was only training—with a different kind of strength.

"Hey he just fell asleep. Like within 10 seconds!" Naruto was saying. Kakashi looked as Naruto caught up with him and Sakura.

"Yeah.. he's going to be down for awhile. And Naruto.. when exactly was the last time Sasuke had an 'incident'?" Kakashi asked, even though he knew the answer. He just wanted to know if Naruto would tell him. Naruto looked a little guilty.

"It was.. that night I was yelling at him for not knowing when to take it easy.. and you told me to let him cool off…so I basically ignored you and went after him. He was on the floor when I got there, I made him better." Naruto said. Kakashi stared.

"On the floor?" he asked. Naruto nodded.

"Yeah.. on the floor with his hands fisted in his hair, talking to himself. It was pretty bad." Naruto said. Kakashi sighed.

"So, Naruto. How did you calm him down? That time and this one?" he asked. Naruto hesitated.

"I—I—I don't know." Naruto answered finally.

"Mm-hm. He knows. But he can't give me the details because they must have something to do with their little secret." Kakashi thought to himself.

Sasuke was made to spend the rest of the day practically motionless, and after awhile, Kakashi quickly dismissed Naruto and Sakura early, because Naruto's concentration was utterly shot, even more than usual. Kakashi watched Naruto nonchalantly edge for the house, trying not to look too eager. Then with a random comment about needing food, Naruto bolted for the house. Sakura didn't notice the strange behavior.

- - -

Sasuke was in bed when Naruto came rushing in, nearly breaking down the door in the process.

"I'm fine Naruto." Sasuke said immediately. Naruto smiled and sat on the bed beside him, facing him.

"Good. Then I won't ask." The two smiled at each other while Naruto put his hand on Sasuke's forehead. "You're hot." Naruto noticed.

"I know.." Sasuke answered with a smirk, and Naruto laughed, fingering strands of Sasuke's dark hair.

"Ok seriously though, you have a fever." Naruto said. Before Sasuke could say another word, he'd opened his mouth and Naruto had stuck a thermometer in it. A few minutes later Naruto snatched it out.

"Sasuke, 102 degrees!?" Naruto yelled. Sasuke sighed.

"The stress from this thing...It raises my temperature." Sasuke explained.

"I'll raise your temperature.." Naruto suddenly said, straddling Sasuke.

"Naruto—"

"Shut up Sasuke, no one's going to come in here." Naruto said as he leaned to nuzzle against Sasuke's neck.

"Ugh.. I'm so tired.." Sasuke sighed as Naruto continued to kiss him everywhere.

"Relax then." Naruto suggested between kisses. Sasuke fisted the blanket in one hand.

"I can't! I hate being out of commission.." Sasuke growled. Naruto laughed, sitting up as he rubbed Sasuke's chest up and down.

"Whoa hey, you're way too intense Sasuke-kun. You need to chill. Let me become Hokage, then you can work hard again!" Naruto laughed. Sasuke rolled his eyes as he stopped ignoring Naruto's effort and sat up partly, leaning back on his hands while they kissed. They were slowly tongue kissing for awhile, basking in each other's company, reveling in the softness of the other's lips…until suddenly, Sasuke flipped them both, and rolled Naruto underneath him by the shoulders.

"Whoa hey, you're not tired…" Naruto got in before Sasuke made him shut up with an aggressive kiss.

"Yeah.. I am.." Sasuke murmured between more kisses

"Then—ah—why do you feel like you've got more energy than ever..?" Naruto gasped. Sasuke slammed Naruto against the headboard of the bed, and Naruto winced, immediately getting a headache.

"Itai, Sasuke!" He exclaimed, getting a grip on Sasuke's arms and holding him still. "Sasuke you're really harsh!" Naruto said, looking like he was in pain. Sasuke paused and took a closer look near the nape of Naruto's neck where there was a trickle of blood. "Whoa are you stronger? That felt…really, really strong!" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. Sasuke wordlessly rolled out of bed and pulled Naruto after him by the hand, stopping in the doorway and looking through Naruto's hair to find where the blood was coming from. "I'm fine Sasuke, things like that happen sometimes when two people like it rough!" Naruto said with a small laugh. His attempt to make nothing of it wasn't working. Sasuke sighed and pulled Naruto with him by the hand down the hallway to Kakashi's room. He barged in without knocking.

"Sensei something's wrong with me, just now I nearly knocked Naruto out!" Sasuke exclaimed. Kakashi stood up and stared at them.

"How?" he asked first. Both Sasuke and Naruto started speaking.

"We were—"

"Well, see Sensei.."

"It was the…the uh…" Sasuke paused and looked at Naruto.

"We—were.. arguing. Because Sasuke can't stand being ordered to rest and I was saying it's funny when he has to be a weakling."

"Do you really think that?" Sasuke growled.

"Of course I do, teme." Naruto grumbled. Sasuke uncrossed his arms.

"Naruto I'd like to know why I'm so much stronger than you then, if I'm ever a weakling at any point in time." Sasuke said, walking right up into Naruto's face. Naruto took a deep breath.

"I'm.. dizzy.." he breathed, putting his hand to the back of his head, and Sasuke immediately had his arms around Naruto to stabilize him.

"Nara.. are you really dizzy?" he murmured. Kakashi cleared his throat, having stood there and watched in amusement the entire pointless spectacle. Sometimes it was like they argued just for the sake of arguing.

"'Nara'?? .. Okay never mind that. Naruto are you hurt?" he asked calmly. Sasuke wouldn't let go of Naruto.

"No I'm fine, it's just a little cut." Naruto said.

"Sasuke? What were you doing being active enough to even do anything to Naruto?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke kept his hold on Naruto.

"But I wasn't? I was.. on.." Sasuke paused and actually appeared clueless for awhile. Kakashi sighed.

"Ok. What did Naruto hit his head on?" he asked.

"The headboard." Naruto blurted, and Sasuke immediately slapped his hand over Naruto's mouth.

"Look just shut up, you don't know how to put anything." Sasuke snapped. Kakashi rose an eyebrow then pretended to get distracted and change the subject, for their sakes. "Sasuke, go lay down on that couch and don't move." Kakashi said, sitting in a chair and asking Naruto over to him. While Naruto was given minor first aid, Kakashi asked Sasuke questions.

"Sasuke.. you're saying you didn't know how forceful you were being.. um with Naruto." Kakashi said, noting Naruto's blush, and Sasuke's sigh. Sasuke laid on the couch, his arms crossed, staring at the ceiling.

"Seems like to me that you can't control your strength. The seal is trying to take over your body still. You aren't controlling your energy at all." Kakashi added. Sasuke gave a frustrated grunt and sat up sharply.

"Sensei why can't I? I've studied this!" he exclaimed.

"Down…" Kakashi said slowly, making a lowering motion with his hand until Sasuke lowered with it.

"I don't know Sasuke. I'll have to fight with you to figure that out." Kakashi said calmly. Kakashi went on talking to them, but Naruto, sitting in his chair, was feeling strange. He closed his eyes, feeling strangely and overwhelmingly attached to Sasuke.

"Ok.. suck it up Naruto. You don't have time to let this go any further…has Sasuke once mentioned anything close to this thing getting any further? We're teammates.. rivals.. with.. some bonuses thrown in." Naruto told himself in his head. It was as if the tiny argument they'd just had for almost no reason was planting doubts in his mind about Sasuke's intentions. He opened his eyes as he leaned with his chin in his hand, his elbow on the table he sat at. Sasuke was across the room, staring rather intently at the ceiling, his dark hair settling in his eyes, his hands calmly folded on his chest.

"He doesn't care about me...Stupid Sasuke…He just wants to use me to keep his freaking hormones in control…" Naruto thought to himself, simultaneously wondering where his uncertainty was coming from. But then he thought way back to the first couple of weeks that they'd figured out that they had mutual crushes. The change in Sasuke had been unbelievable. They got along in sessions and classes, when they argued it was fun—most of the time—and when they touched…Naruto shook away the thoughts. "Not once has he said he cared about me really seriously.. or really voiced any feelings at all. I mean that didn't have something to do with some physical thingy we were doing." "Not once.."

"Not once what?" Kakashi said. Naruto blinked, and looked up. Sasuke had turned his head and was staring at him, as was Kakashi.

"How much of that did I just say out loud?" Naruto asked nervously.

"Not once." Sasuke said from across the room, still maintaining his trademark disgustingly calm aura. Naruto shrugged it off.

"My thoughts, your loss." He rattled off to cover himself.

"Way to cover your ass." Sasuke mumbled from the couch. Kakashi and Naruto both stared at him until he opened his eyes and stared back.

"Sorry." He muttered after a few seconds, going back to staring at the ceiling.

"Someone's in a funky mood." Naruto snapped. Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Then again what else is new." Naruto pushed.

"Hey, hey. No more arguing for today. Sasuke's stressed enough, whether he realizes it or not." Kakashi was saying, and almost before he ended his sentence, Sasuke bolted up right, startling Naruto.

"What?" Sasuke exclaimed randomly, staring first at his hands, then feeling along his body. Naruto rose an eyebrow.

"What in the world are you doing feeling up yourse—"

"Shut up.." Sasuke mumbled, still studying himself. Kakashi stared at him hard, while Naruto continued to struggle with his own thoughts, actually shutting up for once when Sasuke told him to. Sasuke looked at them finally.

"Do I look different to you?" Sasuke asked. Naruto gasped as they locked eyes. "The Sharingan!" Naruto nearly yelled. Kakashi stood up, but didn't do anything yet.

"I'm.. my body is using my Sharingan without my prompting or permission.. even without a cause...I mean sometimes it'll fire up if I get angry…but my chakra output…" Sasuke said. "That's.. that's what's wrong with me!" he concluded.

"So.. your body is molding Chakra without your permission." Kakashi said. Naruto walked over to the couch and stood, staring at Sasuke, staring at Sasuke's red gaze.

"So you're going to have all this out of control strength…the kind you'd usually use only in a serious battle…and not be able to get rid of it." He said. Sasuke nodded, looking away.

"I have.. no control.." Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, then put his face in his hands, leaning forward. Naruto sat beside him, but didn't touch him. He was still bothered by the threatening supposition in his mind that Sasuke didn't truly have any feelings for him. And still struggling with the fact that he cared enough to be bothered. He looked up, and Kakashi was leaving the room.

"I'll be back, I have something to look up. This isn't normal." He said, closing the door behind him. Naruto turned his attention back to Sasuke immediately.

"Don't be mad at me. Are you?" he asked timidly. Sasuke shook his head, not looking up. "Why would I be.." he murmured into his hands. Naruto looked down.

"Well because.. I dunno'.. I just feel like…um, Sasuke? What do you really think about me?" Naruto asked cautiously. Sasuke then finally looked up, and stared at Naruto.

"I think you're crazy. Happy?" Sasuke said, staring at him strangely. Naruto looked down.

"I'm—I'm serious…" he said quietly, trying to reign in his emotions. He didn't feel good at all. Sasuke stared at him some more, then leaned closer.

"Naruto.. what are you talking about what do I think about you? That question doesn't even make sense." Sasuke said, still staring and waiting for an explanation. Naruto clenched his fists in his lap.

"You don't.. you don't care.. you never care, you just—just…" Naruto's sentence was interrupted and trailed as Sasuke's mouth met his lips. Naruto relaxed his hands and sighed, not being able to resist kissing back. Sasuke pulled him closer very carefully, still wary of his own strength, and kissed him deeper, pushing hard into him, running his hand through Naruto's hair and drawing out a small moan from the blonde as a reward. When he let go and broke their kiss, Naruto didn't playfully respond, like he usually did.

"Okay I'll bite. What's the matter with you." Sasuke sighed after awhile. Naruto stood up silently.

"If you don't know by everything I just said to you, then.. I'm not telling you. EVER!" Naruto suddenly felt his patience snap in two, resulting in screaming the last word. Sasuke stared with his wide-eyed, red-colored gaze as Naruto turned and stormed away, opening the door, stepping out, and slamming it so hard it nearly twisted off its hinges. Sasuke slammed his fist into a pillow, not even blinking an eyelash when it split down the middle, spurting feathers everywhere.

"No control—huh.. ironic.. the most out of control person in my entire life use to give me some control.. and I can't even control us yet."

Awwwz, poor Sasuke. Naru-chan doesn't feel appreciated!!! Next chapter, "Love Me".

-Kitsune