Omg I actually made you guys wait an ENTIRE WEEKEND this time!! (gasp)

About this Chapter...I hope its good! Now that I look back on it I think I coulda done this better, but its too much to rewrite and I still this its good. :)

Thanks again for all the great reviews!!! Happy Reading!

-Kitsune

"I'm kinda hungry. Can we go get Ramen if the sun comes back out?" he said lightly. In his mind, all that he could think about was the pain Sasuke had caused him. His heart ached far more painfully than any of his bruises.

Chapter XVIII

Revive Me

Two weeks had passed since that day. It was a slightly cloudy morning, and Kakashi now had to daily go into Naruto's room in the morning to make sure he was there. The blonde always appeared as if he were going to leave and go chasing after Sasuke at any time. He came in to find Naruto already awake and dressed, sharpening kunai by his window. The expression on his face was stoic, more-so than Kakashi had ever seen it.

"Naruto should never have that look on his face…this whole thing is doing things to him." Kakashi walked closer and stared as Naruto began putting things into a sack. "Naruto…" he questioned warningly. Naruto looked up and paused almost guiltily. "Sensei…" he murmured. Kakashi sighed.

"Where do you think you're going…we already talked about this." He began gently. Naruto immediately began packing again.

"I can't…I can't just let this go! Orochimaru is hard to find…so is Itachi…and…and Sasuke-koi was just here two weeks ago…I could still stop him, I could still bring him back!" Naruto finished his packing and stood up. Kakashi was conveniently standing right in the doorway, his arms crossed, and Naruto took a few deep breaths before walking toward him. He stopped about a foot away and looked up.

"You're not going to let me go…are you…"

"I can't do that. Sasuke is far too unstable." Kakashi warned him again. Naruto this time just dropped the bags angrily.

"Then what are we suppose to do!? Just…let him go!! Let him leave??" Naruto shouted, his fists shaking with anger and he stood there withholding a more violent outburst. Kakashi laid his hands on Naruto's shoulders.

"Look. I'm not exactly sure what we're going to do. Sasuke slaughtered entire bands of ninja by himself. So we don't want to get the rest of the village involved, he'll only kill them—"

"Exactly!" Naruto interrupted. "That's why I'm the only one that should go after him…He won't hurt me, I promise you he won't!" Naruto was now begging. The anger had drained from him, only to be replaced by a persistent desperation. Kakashi stood still and pondered the entire scenario as Naruto impatiently stood in front of him.

"Just let me go…please sensei…I'm no good to anything here if he's not here with me. And definitely not if I know he's a danger to himself…" Naruto abandoned his pleading thoughts as Kakashi finally spoke.

"I'll make a deal with you." He began. "You'll stay here tonight. And tomorrow morning, I'll let you go to neighboring villages and dig for information. But that's all. You'll be back in two days, and we'll use the information to make a better plan of action." Kakashi allowed quietly. Naruto agreed in the next instant.

"Done.." Kakashi watched as the stressed blonde took a deep breath, and then put away the bag of supplies, leaving the room to immediately go outside and begin his training.

----------

The day dragged on slowly to Naruto, each minute seeming five times its actual length. It was warm outside, and Kakashi had made Naruto and Sakura take a half hour break from their sparring. Naruto hardly spoke anymore during exercises. And now that it was break time, he immediately took off his headband, his hair delicately falling in a perfect frame around his face, and sat in the shade of a tree, eating the food he'd left there for himself. Sakura watched him silently from across the yard.

"He's acting strange…for some reason, it seems like he's more upset than I am that Sasuke-kun is gone…I didn't think that was possible…" She sat down, facing Naruto still, and began to eat her lunch.

"Sasuke-kun…" She stared up at the sky; it was a somewhat muted blue, as if something had managed to drain all brightness and happiness out of it. It was almost cloudy in appearance. She could feel tears coming to her eyes as a stale breeze wafted through the yard, and she became painfully aware of the silence around them. Silence that usually would be broken by Sasuke's presence, because Naruto would be with him, talking to him, dragging chuckles and slight smiles and casual conversation out of the usually stoic Uchiha.

It occurred to her that Naruto had completely broken Sasuke out of his icy persona.

"Well if Naruto did so much for Sasuke-kun then why did he leave? Why did he leave us here to worry about him and...feel alone without him…and wonder where he is and what he's doing…" She watched as Naruto had stopped eating, and was staring up at the dull blue sky just as she had been doing.

"Apparently…he can't be everything for Sasuke-kun…Sasuke-kun needs love…Love that I could give him if only he'd come back to me…When Sasuke comes back, I won't let Naruto stop me anymore." She watched her teammate continue staring up at the sky, deep in thought, leaving his half eaten food in its container beside him. Kakashi was calling to them momentarily as the cloudy appearance of the sky began to thicken.

"It'll be raining soon. Come on inside." He watched the two abandoned teammates slowly get up and gather their things.

"They both look so broken…"

------------

That night Naruto was in his room alone. He had one of Sasuke's shirts in his hands, his face buried in it.

"I'm coming to find you…I won't let you go like this…" He took a deep breath and caressed the fabric of the shirt he held.

"I'll save you. I swear it I'll save you…You asked if I can save you…and I can…" he sighed, looking up to the window.

He then jumped nearly out of his skin, as Sasuke was standing right there looking at him. Naruto knew he'd gone white, and he began to feel like he was going to pass out. "Is…that really…am I seeing things?...Have I…gone crazy?" He stared blankly, eyes wide, his heart thudding in his ears.

"Sasuke?" he questioned, not trusting his vision. It was dark outside, and he couldn't see Sasuke very well. He ran to the window when Sasuke raised a hand to tap on the glass. He pulled the window open and Sasuke stepped a bit closer to the opening. It had been raining the entire day since Kakashi had ended their training, and had just recently stopped, and he was soaked to the bone. More importantly and more amazingly, the curse seals were fully receded.

"Naruto.. I'm not strong enough.." he murmured, standing and staring blankly at Naruto, his arms wrapped around himself.

"Sasuke-kun.." His shock would have to wait. For now, Sasuke obviously needed his help, and nothing else mattered. Naruto backed up, taking Sasuke by the hand and helping him climb through the window, immediately grabbing a towel and wrapping it around him, pulling him closer.

"Hey…I know what you're going to say, but you didn't hurt me.. alright?" Naruto said quietly, not wanting Sasuke to ever know about the pain he'd gone through, not so much physically, but mentally. But despite Naruto's sparing Sasuke of that information, Sasuke had suddenly broken down to shuddering sobs.

"Whoa! Sasuke-koi.. hey.. hey what's.." Naruto sighed and paused as Sasuke sobbed into his shoulder. He hugged Sasuke's drenched body and stood silently.

"Sasuke.. but.. how are you…here? The curse marks.." Naruto gently touched his fingers to the one on Sasuke's temple, then the one on his neck. His hand came up to rest over Sasuke's heart.

"He broke me.. I.. fought him.. he…controls these marks…I'm.. useless.." Sasuke looked up, locking Naruto into a gaze. "I don't remember how I got all the way there.. I don't remember my thoughts when I found him…it took over.. I.. I was.. being controlled by anger.. and then—then.. he…just stopped it.. and I was powerless…" Sasuke recalled hoarsely.

"It's like I wasn't worth even bothering with…just like Itachi said to me…I don't know what to do.." Sasuke said even more quietly, as Naruto held him closer.

"Does that mean you'll.. let Kakashi work with you.. help you.. and you're not going to leave again? You're.. back to normal?" Naruto asked, sitting Sasuke down on the bed and sitting beside him. Sasuke nodded blankly, seemingly drained.

"I missed you.. so much it hurt.." He whispered. Naruto stood up, getting another towel from across the room and coming back. He came in front of Sasuke and stroked Sasuke's wet, stringy hair.

"We have to fix you up Sasuke, you're already sick." Naruto smiled, putting the towel on Sasuke's head and rubbing his hair dry. Sasuke sat still and shivered in the towel while Naruto dried his hair and face. He looked up at Naruto attentively when Naruto laid him down. Sasuke let Naruto pull the towel off of his head and run his fingers through the damp hair.

"Please don't leave anymore…No more running away…" Naruto was saying, and Sasuke could see him shaking, and tears were fast coming.

"Don't…" he whispered, reaching up to caress Naruto's face with his hand; the face he loved so much that he wanted to make himself pay for causing it any sadness. "I'm…nothing when you're not here.." Naruto said, and Sasuke pulled him down to kiss him, tenderly and apologetically stroking the now tear-stained cheeks with his thumbs, then running his hands through Naruto's hair. Naruto clung to him soundly, burying his face in Sasuke's shoulder.

"I'm never letting you go again…"

In 30 minutes, Sasuke was in warm clothes, his hair warm and dried, sleeping soundly in the center of the bed, having passed out from exhaustion. Naruto sprawled out beside him and nearly immediately fell asleep with the damp towel still in his hand. The light was still on, and the window was still open, filling the room with calming night air. Sasuke's temperature had been abnormally below 98.6, so Naruto had covered him with a thick blanket.

----------

When Naruto woke up, it was noon, and Sasuke was awake, but hadn't moved yet. Naruto scooted closer to him, hugging him.

"Ah, Sasuke-koi…It's so good that you're back with me…" he whispered to Sasuke, stroking his hair. He then stared as it appeared that Sasuke wasn't really listening.

"I'm.. a failure… So weak.. I'm nothing.." Sasuke was murmuring. He sounded like he'd been telling himself that for awhile. Naruto sat up and stared.

"Sasuke.. this isn't like you.. stay there, I'm going to go tell Kakashi you've come back!" Naruto exclaimed, getting up. He paused in the doorway and turned back around, watching Sasuke curl the blanket around himself and face the sun coming through the window.

"Okay.." Sasuke had agreed quietly. Naruto sighed and went quickly.

"Kakashi! Kakashi Sensei!" he called, running to him in the yard. Kakashi turned around, rather alarmed.

"Hm? Naruto?" Naruto began pulling him toward the house by the arm.

"It's Sasuke—" he felt Kakashi tense, "—he came back.. something's wrong with him, I think he went through some sort of psychological attack.." Naruto concluded.

"He's.. he's just not himself, but it's not in an evil way, because of the curse… he.. he's defeated.." Naruto quieted down and paused them in the doorway. Sasuke had his arms crossed in the blanket and was laying facing the window. Kakashi stared for a minute, then went to the bed, turning Sasuke over. Sasuke made no discernable expression of emotion, he only stared blankly.

"He's…" Kakashi paused and began to stroke Sasuke's hair as he leaned over him. "Not good.. he's a little traumatized." Kakashi said. Sasuke blinked after awhile, and spoke. "Kakashi.. I'm a failure.." He said again.

"He keeps saying that.." Naruto said, watching. Kakashi glanced at Naruto, then went back to Sasuke.

"Hey. I need you to tell me what happened. Anything you remember." Kakashi instructed calmly. Sasuke nodded slowly.

"I—was just.. stopped.. and.. he controlled my every move.. and in my head.." Sasuke winced, and Kakashi watched him turn his head to look at Naruto. "What he did was…inhuman…to you.." Sasuke forced out, immediately going into a mild convulsion. "Whoa.. severe genjutsu.. the question is.. how long of this past 2 weeks was he going through this.. You can die from genjutsu this severe.." Kakashi sighed, turning Sasuke's head away from Naruto and holding him still. Kakashi looked up at Naruto.

"It seems that some images of you were used to torture him." Kakashi said. Naruto paled.

"But.. but he.."

"Yes, he knows it didn't happen, but his mind is trying to make him believe it. He probably will want to know if you're okay at all times. So don't leave him alone too much." Kakashi instructed Naruto.

"Oh..." he murmured, coming closer as Sasuke began to stop shaking as much.

"It's alright, he should be fine." Kakashi assured, waving Naruto closer.

"By tomorrow he'll be a little normal, but I need to do something first." Kakashi said as Naruto sat on the edge of the bed. Kakashi told Sasuke to lay on his back, and he placed two fingers on Sasuke's forehead.

"Hold still and try to relax. Don't think about anything." Kakashi instructed him. Sasuke's eyes closed, and he said nothing. Kakashi made half seals with one hand, and chanted something Naruto didn't understand, keeping his other hand on Sasuke. Sasuke shuddered, but stayed relatively still and quiet. After 5 minutes of it, Naruto finally spoke up.

"What.. what are you doing…" he asked. Kakashi paused chanting.

"I'm trying to temporarily seal the curse symbol on his mind. It's resisting. Or Sasuke is. I can't tell which." Kakashi murmured before going back to chanting. In a few seconds the mark had been weakly sealed, and Kakashi stopped.

"That's the most I can do." He said. Naruto looked up from putting his hand in Sasuke's hair.

"Kakashi Sensei.. I think there's something you should know. When he came back the first time, he.. he was here to kill Sakura…maybe others too." Naruto whispered in case she was nearby. Kakashi stood up.

"What?" he exclaimed. Naruto nodded.

"Yeah.. so.. I don't know what he'll do when he sees her.. and she can't know.. she'll—"

"She'll not be able to take it. It'll devastate her." Kakashi finished. "Oh.. and.. what happened to you when you saw him?" Kakashi finally asked. Naruto blushed.

"Um.. well.." Kakashi rose an eyebrow and waited. Naruto laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "W-we missed each other.. a lot.. and he scared me a little with how he was acting.. obviously.. but.. when I stopped him from going into the house we… um.. and it was a little.. rough so.. that's why…b-but I mean it wasn't really purpose! He didn't mean to…" Naruto cleared his throat and looked away.

"Ah. Say no more. Calm down." Kakashi finally said, putting his hand against Sasuke's forehead.

"His temperature is still below normal." Kakashi concluded. Sasuke suddenly woke up, and sat up rather quickly.

"Naru—" He started to say but paused when he saw Naruto right beside him. He looked back at Kakashi.

"Why? Why did I fail? It should've been easy—I was stronger than everyone.." Sasuke vented, pleading with Kakashi to explain why. Kakashi shook his head.

"You didn't fail, Sasuke. Your hatred wasn't strong enough to control the dark nature of the curse most likely due to Naruto being in your life. That's not a bad thing…and Orochimaru turned you away because he wants your hate to rise to that level where you are truly unstoppable. You can't let that happen." Kakashi explained fully. Sasuke stared blankly.

"But.. I need to control this power.. I can't let it control me…to control it—I need to control hate to do that, don't I.." Sasuke concluded, staring down at his hands. Kakashi waited for Sasuke to gather his thoughts. He stared continuously at his hands.

"I killed…three-hundred ninjas.. I was on a rampage.. isn't that enough hate??" Sasuke exclaimed, looking back up at Kakashi. Kakashi stared at him, wide eyed, as did Naruto. "Three-hundred…Sasuke.." Kakashi murmured. Naruto rubbed Sasuke's arm while he talked.

"Sasuke.. that means in the past two weeks you killed over a hundred more people.." He deduced. Sasuke nodded blankly.

"Anyone that got in my way.. I was after Orochimaru.. I never even found Itachi.." Sasuke said.

"Hey, you're still almost as white as the sheet, you need to lay down." Kakashi said finally.

"Sasuke-koi.. Sakura will probably come in here in a few minutes." Naruto said quickly. Kakashi paused to observe Sasuke's reaction. Sasuke looked down at the blanket around him.

"Sakura.." he murmured, then apparently had no more to say, because he only laid down like he was told and stared at the ceiling while he kept a gentle hold on Naruto's wrist. "I'm going to go get you some medicine. You'll be getting some pain." Kakashi said, getting up and leaving. Naruto leaned over Sasuke, smiling a bit sadly. He hated the condition Sasuke was in.

"Can I get you anything.. Sasuke-san.." Naruto asked. Sasuke peered at him for awhile at hearing the title "san".

"Naruto why do you respect me so much.. you shouldn't.. and.. and you're okay, aren't you? No.. no pain or anything." Sasuke asked him tiredly. Naruto nodded.

"Of course I'm okay! I always am." Naruto replied cheerily. He leaned back against the headboard next to Sasuke, folding his hands in his lap.

"And I'll always respect you. You can't do anything about that. And besides—we have something special right? So you deserve whatever title I give you." Naruto smiled. Sasuke was blankly staring for awhile before Naruto realized that he wasn't fully conscious. He sat Sasuke up against some pillows and carefully held him around the shoulders.

"Hey.. you'd better be okay." he said quietly. Sasuke's eyes closed halfway.

"I—I can't lose you.." he murmured to Naruto.

"I'm not going anywhere." Naruto answered, keeping him secured. He could practically see the doubt in the blackness that was Sasuke's eyes.

"But I.. I'm nothing.. I can't protect you.. what if he goes after you.. he knows what you are to me.." Sasuke was murmuring. Naruto rubbed Sasuke's shoulders.

"Stop.. Don't talk like that. You're really not acting like yourself Sasuke.." Naruto said to him. Sasuke lethargically leaned across him, hugging him around the waist, laying his head on Naruto's stomach.

"No…I'm not loosing you…I'm never leaving you again…" he murmured, staying still. Kakashi came back in to find Naruto curiously staring down at his shirt, and Sasuke laid over him, his face buried in the cloth.

"He's.. kind of relapsing into this weird state.." Naruto said as he continued to peer at Sasuke. Kakashi nodded.

"Yeah. This medicine is going to fix him up a little. Hopefully it'll be long lasting." Kakashi gently tugged Sasuke up off of Naruto, which was a little difficult.

"No.. I have to.. stay here.." he murmured.

"Come on.. easy Sasuke.." Kakashi said. Sasuke exhaustedly leaned forward against Kakashi. Kakashi sighed and supported him, carefully cradling Sasuke's head back in his arm and slipping small drops of a red liquid into his slightly parted lips. Sasuke was still for a few seconds, then jolted a bit, sitting up drowsily.

"That—tastes horrible.. don't do that.." he murmured hoarsely, his eyes still half-closed. "Waking up already?" Kakashi said with a smile. Sasuke turned his head abruptly, coming face to face with Naruto, just inches away from him. They paused for seconds on end, as if Sasuke was finally seeing clearly, which might have been the case.

"Hi.." he murmured. Naruto stared back.

"Hi…" he answered slowly, donning a small smile as some color returned to Sasuke's face. They gradually joined hands, intertwining their fingers.

"I'm sorry.. I have to apologize to you…Naru-chan…I never should have even thought about.. handling that.. that evil." Sasuke said, some strength returning to his voice. Kakashi got up then, and silently left the room. Naruto shook his head, shifting to sitting cross-legged, facing Sasuke on the bed.

"Don't be sorry. You knew you wouldn't hurt me. And you were right.. I mean.. you're an avenger, right? You have duties to yourself to carry out." Naruto reasoned, joining his other hand with Sasuke's free one. Sasuke shook his head.

"That's.. that's wrong. I did hurt you. I took off for a month and a half. And the one time I came back I just ended up causing you more worry. I don't even remember what state of mind I was in. It's like… I remember the visuals but there's no sound or feeling." Sasuke explained as he admired Naruto's strikingly blonde hair. Naruto shook his head.

"No that's not right either! I mean.. believe me, you had feeling." Naruto concluded, not going into details. Sasuke said nothing for awhile and stared at the bedspread.

"I wonder how long this medicine will last…I.. I never want to go back to feeling like I was just a few minutes ago.. ever.." Sasuke murmured, staring down at his and Naruto's hands. Before he got a chance to look up, Naruto had leaned over and all at once they were sharing a kiss.

"I've missed you.. missed being here.. so much.." Sasuke murmured as he leaned further into the kiss. They separated after a few more seconds, and Naruto blushed, glancing down for a second. Sasuke cocked his head at Naruto.

"Why do you still blush?" he asked curiously. Naruto smiled a little.

"You.. you make me nervous." He admitted, looking up at Sasuke. Sasuke's eyebrow twitched.

"Really? Why.." Sasuke wondered. Naruto fidgeted a little.

"Well because…You're…you…and I can't…I can't believe I'm with you. You'll always make me nervous Sasuke…" Naruto finished, scooting closer. Sasuke looked down and fiddled a bit, then looked back up, brushing his fingers along Naruto's cheek.

"I'm the one that should be nervous.." He chuckled lightly as he pulled Naruto closer into a much needed embrace. They stayed like that comfortably for a long time, and gradually they found themselves steadily slipping under the covers.

"Feels like it's been years.." Sasuke murmured, smiling slightly as his arms slipped around Naruto's waist.

"Yeah…a really long time.." Naruto murmured while they squeezed intimately closer to each other. Naruto took a deep breath, the first secure, satisfied breath that he'd had in weeks. He felt warm; Sasuke's arms were holding him close again.

-----------

Kakashi looked up from the table at 1:30am. He'd been trying to put down his new book so he could go to bed, when Naruto came shuffling out of the bedroom in a scruffy bathrobe, his hair looking a lot like a bird's nest. He was panting a little, and rubbing his eyes as he stumbled to the sink and grabbed a cup, filling it with water. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Take a break will ya.." he muttered from behind his book, knowing exactly what was going on with the exhausted looking blonde. Naruto glanced.

"Huh..? Oh.. can't.." he murmured in reply, pausing to take a sip of water. He finished and shuffled back toward his room.

"Sasuke's kind of.. uh, demanding—and I sort of like it. I mean come on, he's been away from me for weeks." Naruto grinned, putting two fingers up in a 'v' before slamming the door shut. Kakashi sighed and shook his head, then resumed trying to read his book. It wasn't working at all, because now anything the characters were doing he couldn't picture it without images of his students in the bedroom invading his mind in their places. He flushed madly, mildly irritated, and put down the book. "Now I'm going to bed…thanks a lot you two." He muttered at the closed door before walking away.

----------

At around 10am, Kakashi was eating breakfast with Sakura as Sasuke this time came shuffling out of the room in nothing but some jeans. He stopped in the middle of the room and squinted in the light.

"Coffee..' he murmured, and only Kakashi understood him; Sakura didn't quite catch it. Kakashi wordlessly pointed toward a shelf and Sasuke immediately went for it.

"Even though he's back in his right mind.. he still looks way more weathered than he use to…I don't think that will go away—" Sakura interrupted his observations as Sasuke was reaching for the shelf, his back to them.

"Look.. at his body.." she whispered. Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"I don't need to hear this." He muttered. Sakura blinked out of her daze and turned bright red.

"Oh! Uh—sorry Sensei.." Sasuke quickly made himself some coffee and sat on the farthest side of the table from them, staring at the opposite wall while he sipped coolly. "Feeling alright? You seem to be back to normal actually. But I know that's not true." Kakashi asked carefully, knowing the technical need to 'walk on eggs' around Sasuke for the moment. Sasuke, as partly expected, stared for a full 10 seconds more at the opposite wall before answering without looking at them.

"Naruto's the only reason I'm even decently coherent." He said simply, and Kakashi could tell from his expression that he wasn't going to give any explanation anytime soon. Even though he could assume what was meant, Sakura wouldn't be able to.

"What do you mean Sasuke? And.. and can I get you anything?" she asked hesitantly, tired of being rejected again and again. Sasuke didn't verbally answer at all this time; he only shook his head very slightly. He looked to be in deep thought, but Kakashi could tell that his entire system was simply trying to get itself together; Sasuke was literally like a walking, empty shell for the time-being, steadily being refilled with his lost personality. "Where is Naruto anyway?" Kakashi asked him, knowing what would happen. As expected, Sasuke then got up immediately, without a word, and walked away toward the bedroom. Once Sasuke had left the room, Kakashi turned to Sakura.

"Ok here's the deal with Sasuke. Other than his many other issues that I don't have the time or energy to go over, he went through a severe psychological attack. He won't really be himself for a long while. And for your own safety, don't get mad at Naruto around him, whatever you do." Kakashi explained briefly, not bothering to go into any more detail. Sakura stared at him, then asked.

"Well.. why?" Kakashi shook his head.

"There's a whole list of reasons that I'm not really going to tell you just yet." He decided to answer.

----------

Sasuke came back into the bedroom and stood near the bed, leaning over after awhile and nudging Naruto, who was spread out right in the middle, sound asleep. "Huh….oh—Sasuke.." he sat up a little quickly and made himself dizzy. He gradually woke himself up as Sasuke neared him, kneeling in the middle of bed with him, carefully balancing his coffee.

"Hey.. morning.." Naruto murmured, turning his head to Sasuke so Sasuke could lean down and kiss him. Sasuke handed his coffee to Naruto and just stared for awhile. "Hey…I love you." Sasuke said quietly, reaching up to finger the ends of the whiskers on Naruto's cheek. Their lips met again and they kissed a little heavily.

"I love you so much.." Sasuke repeated. Naruto pulled back and stroked through Sasuke's hair.

"Hey.. I know.. I'm in love with you Sasuke.." Naruto whispered back before their lips met again. They were busy tonguing when they heard a knock on the door. They took a break and Naruto handed Sasuke back his coffee.

"You feel like answering it?" Naruto asked dully. Sasuke stared at the door for a few seconds, and Naruto simply turned Sasuke's head back to him and resumed kissing him, while Sasuke gradually straddled Naruto and they deepened the kiss quickly.

"Coming in whether you like it or not.." Kakashi said from the other side of the door. Sasuke slid off of Naruto sullenly as Kakashi came on in.

"Alright you two. I know you're getting all caught up and trying to recover from around 7 hours of sex, but I need to borrow Sasuke." He said. Naruto blushed while Sasuke only stared blankly.

"See that's exactly the problem. Having problems with your personality Sasuke?" he asked, not exactly expecting a response, which he didn't get. Naruto stood up and pulled Sasuke with him, a little surprised, and certainly knowing what Kakashi meant by the shift in personality as Sasuke sort of fell against him and clung to him around the waist. "So what are you going to do?" Naruto asked.

"Come on outside and we'll work on it." Kakashi instructed, motioning for them to follow him. They followed Kakashi outside when Sasuke suddenly ceased his clinging and took Naruto's hand and lead him.

"Sasuke?" Naruto questioned his behavior. Sasuke didn't turn around, but answered quietly.

"I don't feel like myself.. I need to do whatever Kakashi's going to do for me right away.. I need to get.. get these false memories out of my head.." Sasuke murmured. He stopped suddenly, his hand going to the curse mark on his temple.

"It hurts.." he murmured. Naruto came around in front of him, pulling his hands away from his head.

"Hey.. Sasuke-kun?" Naruto asked.

"It's.. fine.." Sasuke gasped, wincing at the same time. But Kakashi saw the look on his face.

"Not fine." He came over just as Sasuke averted his eyes, closing them immediately. "No.. no more images.. no more Sharingan… no more.. I can't put him through that, I can't put him through it Sensei.." Sasuke began venting as Kakashi held Naruto gently away and blocked Sasuke's view from him. Naruto only stood still for a little bit, but then got closer and stood next to Kakashi, pulling Sasuke to him.

"Tell me what to do.. let me do it!" Naruto begged Kakashi, Sasuke closely wrapped in his arms. Kakashi sighed and thought about it, until Sasuke began to space out, and Sharingan activated itself automatically.

"Okay Naruto. Listen up carefully."

---------

Sakura had been wondering around in an empty house before she got outside to the middle of the yard, and approached the scene carefully. Naruto and Sasuke, standing in the grass, Kakashi nearby, facing each other. Both of their hands were joined, and their foreheads together, their eyes closed. As Sakura got closer curiously, astonished, she noticed that Naruto was chanting ancient Japanese symbol words and repeating them. She went to Kakashi.

"What's going on here…" she murmured, staring incessantly. Kakashi crossed his arms and continued observing.

"I taught Naruto a very special technique. He's trying to seal the out of control Sharingan triggers in Sasuke's mind, and help him cope a little more with the psychological damage." He explained. Sakura said nothing, she only stared blankly, a bit shocked, at their hands.

"Do they have to do that?" she asked suddenly, turning to Kakashi sharply, tears forming in her eyes. Kakashi stared, then blinked.

"What.. Sakura? What's wrong?" he asked. Sakura shook her head rapidly.

"Nothing." She insisted, turning to stare again. The two were standing very still, hands still joined, foreheads still together, Sasuke looking more calm than he had in awhile, and Naruto concentrating intently, still murmuring the strange mantra. Kakashi was simply listening, trying to figure out what Sakura's problem was, but Naruto suddenly began talking normally again.

"Sensei.. it's not working its strongest.. what do I do?" he asked, not moving from his position.

"Nothing…Sasuke can do the rest and improve it." Kakashi advised. When Naruto opened his eyes and broke his concentration, Sasuke relaxed a bit, and he groaned quietly, falling forward slightly against Naruto. Naruto stayed there and supported him. Sasuke slowly lifted his head.

"Thank you…so much.. I want to kiss you…" he murmured, his hands leaving Naruto's, but coming up to his shoulders. Naruto glanced to the side, suddenly aware of Sakura's presence just out of earshot.

"Sh.. Sasuke we can't.. Sakura's—"

"I don't care.." Sasuke interrupted. Naruto stared blankly in slight shock, their faces almost nose to nose. He could hear Sakura protesting behind him, and Kakashi trying to intervene and explain, but he couldn't focus enough to hear what was being said. All that mattered was the urge to be physical with Sasuke at the moment.

"You do care. Don't say that." Naruto tried to reason. Sasuke shook his head.

"I'm tired.. tired of hiding.." He leaned, but before their lips could touch, he dropped out against Naruto. Naruto nervously sighed with part relief, and ignored Sakura behind them. Sasuke wasn't asleep yet. He stirred in Naruto's hold.

"Naruto.. I want.. to thank you.. kiss you.. in front of everyone.." he murmured again. Naruto hesitated, beginning to seriously want to do it. He began to worry that if Sasuke laid there long enough staring at him like that he might just have to do it in front of Sakura. He took deep breaths.

"Sasuke? I think you should sleep.." he said hurriedly. Sakura stormed away as Naruto struggled to hold Sasuke up while he passed out.

Poor Sasuke and his health issues... :) But anyways, see I couldnt have Sasuke gone for too long! After all, this is SasuNaru!!!

Welcome back Sasa-kun!!

Next Chapter, 'Flaunt Me'.

-Kitsune