Okies!! Heres Chappy 12.

So I'm estimating I'm almost half done...so now im going to ask you all something...i havent written the ending yet, but i know the basics about what I want to be going on. Question is how to write it. Do you guys care whether it has a lot of fighting in it or not? Argh, idk just give me some feedback on whether you care or not about fights and drama and whatnot...

So start letting me know what you wouldve liked to see more of in these earlier chapters and perhaps some stuff will change later...within reason lol :)

Read on...

-Kitsune

Chapter XII

Free Me

Sakura sat at a distance, watching Sasuke sitting at the base of a tree, still facing the forest. He was staring so intently at the forest, Sakura noticed. She knew that she now felt what had been slowly coming for a long time. She was now jealous of the attention that Naruto had always easily gotten from Sasuke.

"He's always been more focused on Naruto than on me.. Whether the attention was positive or not it never mattered.. it was always directed toward Naruto…" As she stared, she could tell even from the distance that Sasuke was obviously worrying about Naruto the entire time. Sakura got up and walked over to Sasuke quickly when she noticed him stand up sharply.

"Sasuke? What's wrong?" she asked. Sasuke glanced at her, then back to the forest, pointing.

"Look.. Naruto's Chakra.." Sasuke murmured, almost whispering. Sakura looked, spotting a circle of flame just above the trees in the distance.

"Naruto.." She whispered. Sasuke took a few steps toward the forest edge suddenly, then paused.

"Sakura. I'm going to check on Naruto. Stay here and make sure Kakashi doesn't look for me, or notice I'm not here." He told her. Sakura wrung her hands nervously.

"But—Sasuke.. I don't think you should, Naruto probably isn't in any control of his body right now, he won't even know you're there!" Sakura argued. Sasuke shook his head.

"I don't care, I have to check on him. He might destroy himself." Sasuke said plainly, and Sakura knew there was no changing his mind. She knew from previous experience that she never could discourage Sasuke from anything he was determined to do. Sasuke made sure she nodded in agreement first before he walked on into the forest toward the fire ring.

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Sasuke felt pretty bad the entire walk there; the closer he got, the more evil the vibes became. When he reached the clearing where the tree was, he gasped, halting to stare for a little while. Naruto's fire Chakra was strongly visible, evident in huge fire rings surrounding the tree all the way from Naruto up to the top ring, which he and Sakura had seen from the house. Sasuke swallowed uneasily, watching Naruto painfully. Naruto was continually holding in cry after cry of pain, gritting his teeth and making no more than stressed grunts.

"No… No!! I can do this.. I can.. I can!" Naruto screamed, gasping for breath afterward. Sasuke took a few cautious steps closer, watching the sweat pouring down Naruto's body. Sasuke froze and looked up carefully when Naruto glanced up and spotted him. "Sasuke…?" Naruto whispered, his throat constricting. The look in his eyes was wild—not the usual wild nature that they had; it was animal.

"Naruto-koi.." Sasuke answered him, taking two more steps closer. But when he did, Naruto tensed even more than he already was.

"No.. it really is you, no Sasuke go away! Get out of here! I may be resisting but I know I can't for two days! I'm about to break…" Naruto gasped. Sasuke took a half step back, still staring.

"Naruto.. you're suffering. I don't like it." Sasuke said plainly, not moving backward anymore. The wind was whipping around them, but Sasuke ignored the roaring of the flame rings as they intensified. Naruto cringed terribly as they did.

"Sasuke-kun get out of here!" Naruto shouted more intensely. Sasuke glanced down, spotting Naruto's hands clawing at the tree trunk behind him.

"Leave.. leave now, Sasuke.." Naruto ordered, staring straight down at the ground. Sasuke began to slowly listen as he noticed Naruto's fingertips begin to bleed from clawing into the bark of the tree. Sasuke backed away steadily when Naruto looked up and his eyes had changed to those of the Kyuubi; Sasuke had see it happen before, whenever Naruto got angry enough during a mission, but this time it was controlling—manipulative—dangerous.

"Go…leave, get out of here dammit! Sasuke please!" Naruto repeated. Sasuke finally turned and left silently, not looking back until the sound of the flaming chakra had faded.

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Two Days Later:

Kakashi and Sakura walked a ways behind Sasuke into the woods for Naruto; Sasuke was walking faster.

"Hurry up. He could really need to get out of there." Sasuke mumbled quietly without turning around.

"He's alright Sasuke. He'll be fine, I'm sure all he wants to do right now is just see us and get some sleep. He'll need awhile to recover from this." Kakashi explained. When they reached the clearing and the tree, all three gasped, staring. The grass around the tree was completely singed, and Naruto hung motionless in the ropes, which were actually on the verge of breaking.

"Naruto.." Sakura breathed as she looked around while Kakashi and Sasuke quickly got to the tree. Kakashi worked on the knots in the rope while Sasuke stared blankly in front of Naruto.

"Naruto.. Naruto wake up!" Sasuke called.

"I.. I'm awake.. Sasuke-kun…Sasuke.." Naruto hoarsely murmured.

"Sasuke, catch him." Kakashi said. The ropes loosened, and Naruto gasped, taking a well needed free breath as he fell into Sasuke. Sasuke caught him carefully, immediately holding him up. Naruto leaned with his full weight, and Sakura took a few steps closer while Naruto took stressed breaths.

"I did it.. I survived.. this thing can't beat me.. Never.." Naruto's voice was still weak. Kakashi smiled, rubbing Naruto's back as he stood near him and Sasuke.

"You did an amazing job Naruto." Kakashi commented. Sasuke stood supporting Naruto carefully.

"Let's just get you out of here. You're.. Naruto you're a mess." Sasuke said, finally looking down. Naruto had slight burn marks all over, his hands were bleeding from scraping and clawing at the tree. Naruto coughed, spraying a bit of blood on Sasuke's shirt.

"I'm.. going to get sick.. I'm…sorry…" Naruto gasped.

"It's okay.. It's alright, go ahead, come here." Sakura watched Sasuke's caring and tender attitude as he knelt down with Naruto facing a nearby bush, and rubbed his back, his other hand stroking Naruto's hair while Naruto vomited in the grass.

"That's normal," Kakashi sighed, "he's been under complete stress for the past two days. His system's a mess." He explained. Sasuke scooped Naruto up and carried him back to Kakashi and Sakura. Naruto tiredly grinned, running a hand through his hair.

"See.. no sweat you guys.. Ugh.." Naruto weakened and resorted to leaning into Sasuke. "Naruto you can barely speak! What happened?" she asked. Naruto shrugged exhaustedly.
"I don't really remember—but my voice.. I do know I was screaming in pain for a long while.. my voice is shot—" Naruto whispered.

"Alright. Come on, we're all just lucky Naruto's made it through. Let's take him back and he can get some rest." Kakashi said. Sasuke smiled just slightly as he felt Naruto cling to his clothing.

"You make me.. feel safe…Sasuke-kun.." Naruto murmured before passing out.

"Sasuke is he doing okay?" Kakashi asked as they walked. Sasuke nodded without looking up.

"He's fine. He needs to eat, then sleep for a good 18 hours.." Sasuke added, again without looking up at all from Naruto's sleeping form.

Sakura watched silently from her seat in Kakashi's room. Naruto was on Kakashi's bed, and Sasuke was trying to get him to wake up enough to eat, saying that once he did he could sleep as long as he wanted.

"I wonder.." Sakura began to think,

"..if I was sick, or something had happened to me like this…would Sasuke take care of me the way he's taking care of Naruto right now?" Sakura mused in her head.

"I hate to think it.. but probably not.." she sighed dejectedly, staring at Naruto and Sasuke interacting with each other.

"Ahhh.. so…tired...I know I'm hungry, but come on Sasuke…I've had stupid Nine-tail do everything but rip my body wide open.. I just wanna black out for the next 24 hours.." Naruto complained, still not able to speak above a whisper. Sasuke pointed that very point out.

"Shut up, you can't even talk, your voice-box is shot.. now you have to eat, or you simply won't wake up from your "black-out".." Sasuke reasoned stoically. "Here.." Sasuke said more softly, sitting Naruto up straight with one arm, and touching food to Naruto's mouth with his other hand.

"Come to think of it…" Sakura thought, "Would Naruto even care for me this way?"

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Half an hour later, Naruto was knocked out cold on the bed, his injuries already healing quickly.

"The Nine-tail's power helps him heal way faster than anyone normal…So he should be fine." Sasuke said, sitting down in the chair beside Sakura's. She sat up from leaning with her chin in her hand.

"So.. when he wakes up, you still want me to ask Naruto those things?" Sakura asked. Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah. Ask him why he gets along with me.. Does he really trust me…" Sasuke stopped there, staring at Naruto on the bed. Sakura nodded, keeping her eye on Sasuke.

"There's something so weird going on here…and I'm beginning to think Kakashi Sensei knows what it is too. I think they all know but me.." Sakura realized.

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It was the middle of the night, around 2 AM, and Sakura was asleep on a couch across the room. Kakashi was sleeping elsewhere so that Naruto could be more comfortable in Kakashi's bed. Sasuke was still awake, watching Naruto stir in his sleep while he sat in the chair by the bed. He was nodding off when he heard Naruto yawn. He sat up and leaned forward.

"Naruto?" he whispered.

"What…oh, Sasuke. What time is it?" Naruto whispered.

"Sh. It's 2AM. Sakura's right over there." Sasuke said, pointing. Naruto glanced, then smiled a little.

"Two days without you Sasuke? Can you imagine how I'm feeling right now?" Naruto asked, giving him a rather needy look from the bed. Sasuke blushed, then smirked and crawled over top of Naruto on the bed, and they began kissing, nibbling, and tonguing very quietly, constantly aware of Sakura's sleeping. Sasuke laid his full weight on top of Naruto and Sasuke enjoyed hearing Naruto try to stifle moaning.

"Well isn't this position familiar.." Sasuke murmured into Naruto's ear before putting his tongue in it. Naruto's hand slid steadily up under Sasuke's shirt.

"Sasuke.."

"What.." Sasuke murmured against Naruto's collarbone.

"We have to stop…" Naruto groaned constrictedly, his hand moving up to stroke Sasuke's hair and the back of his neck. Sasuke's entire body was pressed against Naruto's, and he ran his hands slowly down Naruto's sides, stopping at his hips.

"I.. don't think I can.." Sasuke admitted simply, interrupting Naruto's protests with more tonguing. Naruto panted exhaustedly.

"No.. no I'm too tired.. I can barely move.." Naruto complained. Sasuke finally paused, and then they laid side by side, their heads turned toward each other.

"Naruto…?" Sasuke began once he'd caught his breath. "Why.. why were you doubting me earlier?" Sasuke asked. Naruto glanced away briefly, but then looked back.

"I…I don't know.." Naruto excused away. Their lips met again, and the drowsiness of Naruto's 48 hours began to wear on him again.

"Hazy.." Naruto whispered. Sasuke, sleepy from staying up and watching him, began to drift off too.

"Hm..?" he replied, having not completely heard him. Naruto's hand rested lightly in his between them. Naruto's eyes slowly began to fall closed, the last thing he saw being Sasuke's half-lidded black eyes staring back at him.

"Can you….really…love.." Naruto murmured just before losing wakefulness. Sasuke drifted off soon after, forgetting to ask about the cut off sentence.

The next morning, Kakashi came on into his room around 10AM, and immediately shook his head. Sasuke and Naruto had both fallen asleep on the bed, side by side, their faces turned toward each other and only a few inches apart. Kakashi got closer and sighed.

"Careless.." he murmured, observing their hands were still joined. Kakashi suddenly turned around and whistled innocently while walking aimlessly around the room as Naruto began to stir.

"Hm…" he yawned, then opened his eyes just as Sasuke was opening his. Then he heard movement in the room and froze, his eyes opening all the way.

"Sasuke!" He squeaked, immediately separating their hands. Sasuke sat up calmly, leaning forward on his knees.

"Sh, Naruto. I think he knows a little bit. It's no surprise to him." Sasuke whispered coolly. Kakashi turned around from looking out the window across the room.

"Ohayo Sasuke, Naruto." He said casually, not indicating he'd noticed a thing.

"Sensei." Sasuke replied simply.

"Good morning Sensei!" Naruto replied brightly, but sounding slightly nervous.

"Have a good sleep?" Kakashi asked next, sitting by the window.

"Yeah.. I didn't need as much as I thought.. I feel okay. I kinda' feel like my insides are stressed a bit, but that's all." Naruto said, rubbing his stomach. As he glanced at Sasuke, he noticed Sasuke was giving him a look. And not just any look; that smoldering stare that he was nearly famous for. It turned him on a bit. Kakashi was saying something, not facing them, but Naruto couldn't hear a word; he was stuck in Sasuke's…'Look'.

"Naruto…I can't focus right now." Sasuke said quickly, under his breath so Kakashi wouldn't hear.

"Wha?" Naruto responded, puzzled at Sasuke's strange behavior. Sasuke leaned toward him all of a sudden and they were kissing on the bed, Sasuke paying no mind to Naruto's shaking. They separated silently and Naruto glanced nervously at Kakashi, who was still not facing them.

"Sas…Sasuke.." he breathed.

"He can't know.. you know.. everything!" Naruto hissed. Their eyes locked, and Sasuke sighed.

"He might.. I don't know. I do know that I want us completely alone tonight." Sasuke said. Naruto nodded.

"Okay Sasuke.." Naruto complied. He said timidly. Sasuke smiled lightly at him.

"You won't have any doubts ever again when we're done." Sasuke said simply. Kakashi turned around, and they both looked up from being right in each other's faces.

"Did you catch all that?" he said. Naruto scratched his head.

"Uh….nope! Sasuke was being distracting." Naruto said with a chuckle, at which Sasuke lightly shoved him.

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The dark night permeated their surroundings. There was a field just a few feet away from them, and they could see the moonlit wild flowers in it, blowing softly in the summer night breezes; fireflies darted between them, avoiding their swaying petals in a friendly game of night tag. The grass was still warm from the long gone daylight—Naruto could tell because it brushed his bare skin, the long grass caressing along his arms while he took smooth, even breaths of nighttime air. His body, still recovering, occasionally shivered from over-stimulation of the senses—

Sasuke. His dark hair reflecting only a sheen of glinting moonlight. His dark eyes reflecting nothing. His smooth, porcelain, bare skin absorbing the moonlight like nothing else—that is, besides Naruto's eyes. They were brightly taking in the moonlight though they were locked with Sasuke's black gaze.

"…Sasuke-kun…."

"It's different this time.. isn't it.. we were a little rushed before."

Warm, moist lips met trembling, hesitant fingertips.

"Calm down.. you know I won't hurt you.." came the whisper. Naruto positioned himself closer, so that the two of them, on their knees, were pressed together almost completely by the torso. Sasuke's arm, in turn, secured itself around his waist, and Sasuke's lips moved slowly from Naruto's fingertips to Naruto's slightly parted lips.

"Mmph.. Mmm..." Naruto couldn't contain himself much more than that; the groans escaped.

"Why.. why, it's so different this time…than the other time…" Naruto asked as their mouths separated slowly and wetly.

"Because.. I…deeply.. truly.. know that…I love you…I did what you said. I'm not ashamed anymore." Sasuke answered as plainly as that. Naruto felt an almost paralyzing convulsion of excitement.

"Sasuke.. Sasuke.." Naruto breathed, exhaling slowly and softly. They fell to passionately, heatedly sucking on each other, Sasuke falling backwards with Naruto on top of him in the long grasses.

"And.. this time.. ahh…we don't have to stop…" Sasuke breathed as he rubbed his hands along Naruto's back, Naruto in turn pressing his mouth to the corner of Sasuke's. Sasuke closed his eyes, feeling Naruto's body on top of him, Naruto's moist lips all over his neck and face…he couldn't even restrain himself. Sasuke moaned so uncharacteristically loud that Naruto actually paused.

"Whoa… Sasuke.." Naruto gasped, only getting more excited. Sasuke pulled him back down insistently, one hand behind Naruto's head holding their lips together while the other arm was around Naruto's upper-leg.

"Naruto…Naru-chan.." Sasuke whispered, breaking a slight sweat as Naruto sat up on top of him. Naruto slid Sasuke's shirt off as he laid back down, discarding it quickly so they could tongue some more, Naruto running his hands up and down Sasuke's chest. The sweat was beginning to get slippery between them as Naruto's shirt came off also. Sasuke bent his knees, parting his legs, Naruto lying between them and tasting every bit of skin between Sasuke's collarbone and his waistband. Sasuke's hand—that wasn't holding Naruto's head against his chest—was fisting dirt in the ground from the ecstatic pleasure Naruto was sending his body through. Sasuke watched Naruto lick and suck until his face was flushed a strawberry color, and his lips were blushed with the pressure of use. Naruto paused to rest a bit, licking his lips slowly. They were moist with Sasuke's own sweat…Sasuke sat up suddenly, pulling Naruto to straddle him, and pressed his lips to Naruto's hot, trembling ones.

"You.. you are mine…Naruto Uzamaki…Mine…No one else's.. you don't even belong to yourself.. you belong to me.." Sasuke demanded, squeezing Naruto around the waist until he groaned in painful pleasure, and the groan was quickly silenced by Naruto's mouth being full of Sasuke's tongue. Naruto groaned some more, messing his hands roughly in Sasuke's hair and tugging the kiss deeper, so deep that he almost choked, and he liked it that way. He squeezed his legs tighter around Sasuke's waist and Sasuke separated from him to gasp for breath, saliva trailing their mouths before being re-deposited all over each other's necks in the form of more kissing.

"Ooh.. It's so hot…" Naruto moaned, arching his back into Sasuke, simultaneously undoing his own pants.

"Good.. heat is good…and it's.. wet.." Sasuke groaned, shifting to forcing Naruto underneath him. He could both see and feel that Naruto was getting more and more aroused by the second. His muscles were tense, his breathing quick and uneven, sweat dripping trails into his navel. Sasuke himself was in no better condition. Naruto clung to Sasuke around the waist while Sasuke traced tantalizing, teasing trails down Naruto's spine with his fingers. Naruto joined his hand with Sasuke's free one beside them in the dirt and grass, and reached with his other hand to stroking Sasuke's hairline and face as their eyes met deeply, connecting, exploring…The kiss that resulted was a more tender one than the kisses before—long and slow, slippery and moist.. warm and inviting.. caring and gentle.

"Naruto.. Naruto…I love you.. more than anything.." Sasuke murmured, loosing control of his restraint.

"Ahhhah.. Sasa.. more than anything.." Naruto gasped, his arms around Sasuke tightly, his face buried in Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke pressed against him—into him—deeper than the first night, harder than the first night. He let loose a loud gasp of release, just as Naruto also climaxed, nearly screaming.

"Ahh!! Ah…it's.. so good…Sasuke-koi…koibito…God.. you're.. so deep—ah!!" Naruto this time did shout as Sasuke thrust into him further.

"Sa—Sas—Sasuke!!" Naruto squeaked, a few tears running down his cheeks as Sasuke spent himself; pumping into him, filling him. Naruto dug his fingernails into Sasuke's back until Sasuke gave a terse, constricted groan of pain, but he couldn't help it; his heart was threatening to beat out of his chest—the painful, ecstatic pleasure was threatening to render him unconscious. Sasuke leaned into Naruto, his hands caressing Naruto's hair, caressing his shaking body—he gave a few stressed gasps before finally collapsing on top of Naruto, out of energy. He was face down in Naruto's shoulder, gasping exhaustedly, and Naruto stared at the sky, still having surges of post-climactic ecstasy, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes and back into his hairline at the temples. He let his eyes fall closed, followed by a long, quiet groan as Sasuke pulled himself away, then collapsed on him again, tugging up slowly at his shorts, which hadn't even made it past his knees, and neither had Naruto's. They laid there, tangled in their own clothes and limbs, until they caught their breath.

"Naruto…Naru-kun..." Sasuke nearly slurred, half unconscious. He laid beside Naruto and pulled him over close, soothingly embracing him, welcoming him when he snuggled closer.

"Sasuke…..you're.. unbelievable…" Naruto managed to say before passing out. Sasuke was only awake for a few more minutes afterward before exhaustion got the best of him. He dropped on out with his mouth against Naruto's cheek.

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Waking up in Sasuke's arms was warm and moist. Naruto yawned lightly, opening his eyes to Sasuke's hair gently caressing his face like silk in the morning breeze. Naruto cheesed to himself happily, rubbing Sasuke's back as Sasuke unknowingly drooled in his sleep. Naruto giggled a little at seeing Sasuke so relaxed, slowly wiped his cheek where Sasuke's mouth had been, and touched his lips gently to Sasuke's forehead.

"Uchiha Sasuke…" Naruto murmured. "There's no way you have any issues with expressing emotion…I love you.. Sasuke.." Naruto whispered. Sasuke awoke a few minutes later, and sat up partly with one hand on the ground, rubbing his eyes with his other fist.

"Mm…stupid birds are so loud…I was enjoying that sleep.." Sasuke murmured as Naruto sat up slowly close beside him, still having a hold on his arm. They kissed 'good morning'.

"We have to go." Sasuke said right away after they parted.

"It's…around 5:30AM. We can't be missed." Sasuke stood up slowly, pulling Naruto with him simultaneously by the wrist, and Naruto noticed him flinch.

"Sasuke. I think I should be flinching after last night.." Naruto began with concern as they walked. Naruto linking his arm with Sasuke's, and Sasuke kept his hands in his pockets.

"Pleasing you expends chakra, Naruto." Sasuke answered simply with a half smirk.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Naruto asked. Sasuke shook his head.

"No.. I have a confession." Sasuke said, staring at the ground as they walked through the forest paths.

"Mm? A confession?" Naruto questioned. Sasuke nodded.

"It's.. getting harder. The medicine that helped me heal a few days ago…it helped, but every day is a battle of chakra balance for me. One wrong move and I could.." Sasuke paused, shaking his head slightly, barely noticeably.

"I could end up destroying myself with the power of this curse mark.. It's a delicate balance.. between body and spirit.. I need more training to learn to handle my new chakra…but.. in turn that training could kill me.." Sasuke explained, not wanting to look up and see Naruto's reaction. Naruto swallowed hard, the fear reading in his eyes.

"Sasuke! You can't tell me things like this now! Not.. not after we…finally.. I mean we.. have a secret life together!" Naruto exclaimed. Sasuke looked up and stared at him. "Life…?" he questioned hesitantly, and still quietly. Naruto unhooked his arm from Sasuke's and stopped walking, staring at him in disbelief.

"Sasuke you jerk! When I say I love you I mean it!! Isn't it what you meant??" Naruto yelled at him, his fists clenching. After a minute or two of hard staring, Naruto simply let his frustration out in a shove, and Sasuke stumbled back a few steps, still staring blankly at Naruto. They wordlessly joined hands and began walking again.

"I did mean what I said.. I did.. you belong to me…Naruto I didn't want you worrying about me. I'll.. I'll be around." Sasuke finished, walking a bit closer to Naruto. Naruto, still a bit angry, couldn't help but be still and be quiet.

"You're adorable when you're agitated." Sasuke said bluntly after a few minutes of tense silence.

"Huh…?" Naruto looked up, flushing. "And you're cute when you're exhausted." Naruto shot back, and the tension immediately melted away. Sasuke smirked and pulled Naruto into him by the hand, kissing him a few times on the mouth before they stepped into view of the house.

"Well.. we can work together to help my chakra. I need to build strength first, so you can start by making me a big breakfast before training today" Sasuke said. Naruto nodded enthusiastically.

"I will!"

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Next time...Naruto's fears about Sasuke's curse seal produce some disturbing visions...

Don't forget, tell me some things you think you'd like to see more of. :) I'll try to comply, relatively. Lol

-Kitsune