Luckyyyy... A few of you reviewed asking for updates right when i was about to do it. Some of you waited an entire WEEK!!! (overdramatizes moment) And some of you lucky bastards are reading straight through without interruption because you're reading this after I've long posted the rest of the chapters... WELL anyway.
READ ON!
"Naruto—I have to stop caring about you so much." Sasuke said bluntly, this time making eye-contact for the first time in awhile. Naruto felt himself freeze.
"Wha—Sasuke.. what're you talking about?" Naruto breathed, backing up a few steps from Sasuke. Sasuke turned his head quickly, but not before Naruto spotted the tears surfacing.
"Sasuke…" Naruto murmured quietly. Sasuke shook his head rapidly.
"No.. I gave this.. this curse to you.. And.. I can't forgive myself for it.. How could I let that happen?? It's because we just had to get use to each other, had to distract each other.. It's not going to work. This can't work.." Sasuke's voice broke, and Naruto stared in disbelief at Sasuke's tears.
"You're.. you can't be really serious.. right?" Naruto said hoarsely. "Right??"
Chapter XXV
Heal Me
Sasuke didn't answer; he turned and attempted to leave once again, but Naruto came behind him and grabbed his arm for the second time. "Sasuke you can't!" He exclaimed. Sasuke remained stoic in his actions but his eyes read obvious comflict. "Don't look at me like that, you know it's not working." Sasuke made himself say, and for the third time, attempted to leave.
"No! Hey what do you think you're doing??" Naruto yelled. Sasuke stifled a sob, and his hand came up to wipe his face. Naruto softened a bit, realizing the situation quickly. "Sasuke.. Sasuke-kun.." He turned Sasuke around, but instead of continuing to have to talk, Sasuke basically broke down and the tears fell, dampening Naruto's shoulder, and Naruto sighed with relief when Sasuke finally hugged to him. They eased down to the ground in the grass, Naruto feeling still uneasy, because Sasuke was basically in his arms losing composure.
"Sasuke you don't do this kind of thing…" Naruto murmured. Sasuke looked up finally, and sat up from Naruto's shoulder, and before they both knew it, they were right back where they use to be, and Sasuke found himself quietly submissive, exhaustedly laying there with Naruto, his face buried in Naruto's shoulder, his hands clinging to Naruto's clothing. Naruto stared up at the blue sky above the forest leaves while Sasuke moved against him. Sasuke's lips brushed inside the crook of his neck.
"Naruto…why am I anything at all to you.." Sasuke murmured. Naruto sighed and groaned.
"Sasuke.. we've been through this.. so much.. why would you ask me that?" Naruto asked back. Sasuke closed his eyes and cooperated as Naruto sat up against a tree behind them, and he put his head back on Naruto's shoulder.
"You'll move on.. you'll find someone that.. that's happy like you are.. That's just as much of a joy to be around as you are to them.. I'll bring you down.. I'll destroy you.." Sasuke stopped talking, his hand going to the curse mark on his head. Naruto felt like his heart was going to break into a million pieces.
"Sasuke-kun.." he sat there and stared, not knowing what else to say. And then suddenly, he knew what was definitely going to happen unless he forcibly stopped it. Sasuke had sat up and was now staring at him; Naruto shook his head.
"No.. Sasuke you can't.. you can't.. stop.. our relationship.. you can't.. I mean there's no way you're serious.." Naruto breathed. Sasuke looked away.
"Don't look so pathetic.. like that.." He murmured. He then gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
"And this is why I'm so weak… you.. you can keep me from doing anything just by the look on your face.." Sasuke said very quietly. Naruto was silent, speechless and feeling especially helpless. Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds and took a long deep breath. He then stood up, and when Naruto stayed on the ground on his knees, staring blankly, Sasuke reached down and pulled Naruto to give him a hand up. Naruto stifled his slowly panicking emotion as Sasuke hugged him, sighing.
"I can't really stand it when you're unhappy.." Sasuke said, shaking his head at himself. "I can't stand when you're unhappy either." Naruto said back, reaching up and wiping the dampness from Sasuke's face. Sasuke gave another heavy sigh as Naruto kissed him on the forehead.
"I need to rest…I always need to rest.." Sasuke said. Naruto frowned.
"Sasuke.. don't beat yourself up about it, needing to rest isn't a bad thing! Is it? It just means you're working harder than anyone!" Naruto exclaimed. Sasuke stared at Naruto, in partial disbelief at all the positivity that he always gave off. Naruto still felt uneasy as they began to walk back through the woods. He knew that Neji was watching them both.
"No one's going to take Sasuke away from me.. Not even Sasuke himself! I'll show Neji that he's wrong.. Sasuke won't ever leave me! I guess he'll just have to find out a little more about Sasuke and me." Naruto thought to himself. He stopped Sasuke and prayed that he wouldn't get blown off like he had that morning in the hospital. He murmured Sasuke's name and sighed with relief as Sasuke's arms circled his waist. They fell closer and began to romantically kiss, and it took a little while for Sasuke to get more comfortable, but when he did, Naruto took off his shirt and they got more comfortable in a soft spot of grass. Sasuke laid back in the grass with Naruto on top of him, and closed his eyes.
"I guess this counts as rest.." Sasuke murmured. Naruto smirked, still sensing Neji's chakra nearby.
"It does…" Naruto agreed.
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Naruto felt a strange satisfaction inside as he could still feel Neji nearby, but himself and Sasuke were trying to find their pants and tops in the grassy patch. Sasuke wiped the dampness from his neck and shoulders with his hand.
"I need to sleep.." He mumbled as he finally found his supply belt.
"Come on…up here." Sasuke said as he stood up, motioning to his back. Naruto hopped to ride on Sasuke's back cheerily, and they continued on back home.
"Let's make Kakashi take us all out for Ramen!" Neji heard Naruto exclaim from his distant perch behind a bush on a low spreading branch. Neji closed his eyes and sighed. "They're.. way more involved than he said they were…Something's weird though.. Sasuke…that guy.. I don't trust him with Naruto's feelings like that."
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Kakashi opened the door to Naruto rather blushingly sucking and nibbling on Sasuke's earlobe from his spot on Sasuke's back. Sasuke had a particularly satisfied look on his face, not to mention there were a few leaves tangled in his dark hair.
"Hmph. Good thing I wasn't Sakura, huh?" Kakashi muttered, walking away as they came in and Sasuke let Naruto down. They immediately disappeared and slammed Naruto's bedroom door.
"Well I'm not surprised.. I pretty much know by now where all of Sasuke's 'hotspots' are thanks to Naruto.."
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However, in Naruto's room, there was nothing going on that Kakashi had assumed would be. Sasuke had lapsed back into quietude, and Naruto was feeling increasingly guilty about nearly kissing Neji. Sasuke glanced at him from across the room, and noticed his stressed expression.
"Naruto what's wrong.." Sasuke murmured while he stayed where he was, hunched over his arm tending to some cuts. Naruto felt sick to his stomach as he watched Sasuke and felt a growing guilt. Sure, he figured he'd successfully prevented a break-up, but now he couldn't keep a peaceful state of mind.
"I—I—feel weird.. I guess.." he said quietly. He stayed silent then, and turned his head away. Sasuke turned toward Naruto, but didn't move across the room yet.
"What's wrong Naruto.. Something seems like it's bothering you.." Sasuke said rather suspiciously, pulling bloody shuriken out of his supply bag and wiping them cleaner with a cloth. Naruto kept his face turned, trying to hide his self-frustration.
"N—Neji.." He murmured. Sasuke looked like he wasn't shocked at all.
"What about Neji.." Sasuke pushed, suddenly dropping his shuriken and approaching Naruto where he sat. Naruto shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut.
"He.. said.. we shouldn't be together.. because we hurt each other.. and it's true! Look.." Naruto stood up as Sasuke neared him, and his eyes settled on the still visible strangle marks. Sasuke stared blankly as Naruto fingertips brushed the marks.
"I did this.. me! I won't ever forgive myself.." Naruto growled, clenching his fists in Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke stood there silently as Naruto kept his eyes shut. "Is he telling the truth? Don't we do more bad to each other than good?" Naruto paused to turn his back to Sasuke to hide more tears.
"I can't believe I hurt you that way.." Naruto murmured, his arms hanging at his sides. There was silence for a long while. "You hate me now.. again.. I deserve it right?" Naruto stood facing the window in the silence until it was almost unbearable. But at the last second, he felt Sasuke's hands on his shoulders, and Sasuke's breath gracing the side of his face. Sasuke's calm voice came next.
"I.. could never.. hate you.. I won't leave you alone again." Sasuke's arms slipped around Naruto's waist. "We're family to each other. If we got separated.. we'd just end up how we were before. Alone and suffering." Sasuke said to him. Naruto comfortably leaned back against Sasuke while he continued to stare out the window.
"Can't go back that way.. Can we.." Naruto murmured.
"No.." Sasuke answered quietly. Naruto turned to face Sasuke, resting his arms casually on Sasuke's shoulders, staring deep into the gleaming blackness that was Sasuke's eyes. "I want you to swear it to me Sasuke." Naruto forced, not breaking eye contact for a second. "Swear it to me that you won't leave the village and look for your brother." Naruto demanded suddenly. Sasuke stared, obviously bothered, for seconds on end. Naruto then had him by the collar and jerked him.
"Promise me!" He shouted, then waited. Sasuke, still being held by the collar, lifted his hands to gently take Naruto's shoulders, which seemed to briefly calm Naruto down. Naruto released Sasuke's clothing.
"I promise.. I won't leave the village to search for Itachi." Sasuke said coolly. Naruto stared him down doubtfully. Sasuke's eyes were unblinking. But deep in that blackness, Naruto caught the subtle deceit.
"He's.. saying he won't leave to search for Itachi.. he's not saying that if he finds out exactly where he is or will be.. that he won't leave to kill him.. or if.. what if Itachi comes here.. to Konoha...he won't ask for help, he'll try to do it by himself." Naruto gave Sasuke a particular look, just to let him know that he wasn't getting away with that on it's own merit. Sasuke only stepped closer, letting Naruto pull him into a close squeeze. "Let's make some ramen!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Alright. We can do that." Sasuke agreed with a small smile.
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Sakura peered from her vantage point to the table in the kitchen. Sasuke and Naruto had been making Ramen for a little while, and now they were sitting down to enjoy it. She stared in part shock as they scooted into the booth seat and sat very close. "Itadakimasu!" Naruto exclaimed cheerily.
"Itadakimasu." Sasuke said afterwards, quietly but with a slight smile. At first, Sakura observed, they were eating normally. But then, what she was looking at became a shock to her.
"Sasuke-kun pass me that." Naruto said, pointing. Sasuke did, smirking a little, and then used his other hand to poke and tickle Naruto while Naruto tried to get a serving of food. Naruto snickered, blushing.
"Hey! Stop! Haha stop!" Naruto squeaked, giggling as Sasuke began to tickle with both hands. Sakura couldn't believe what she was staring at. They ceased tickling and began to eat again.
"Here." Sasuke suddenly offered, lifting his chopsticks to Naruto's lips. Naruto leaned back and let Sasuke feed him things.
"Mm good job on this Sasuke.. It's amazing!" Naruto complimented. Sasuke didn't say anything, he just stopped and stared at Naruto for a few moments, until Naruto sat back up straight, and their faces were close.
"What?" Naruto asked with a small grin. Sasuke blushed just slightly, but his facial expression didn't change.
"It's.. nothing.." Sasuke's hand came up and he leaned his elbow on the back of the seat by Naruto's head, while his hand softly stroked Naruto's hair, then pulled of Naruto's forehead protector, and his hair fell gently around and framed his face, also hanging slightly in his eyes. Sakura gasped aloud as she watched Sasuke and Naruto stare at each other for minutes on end.
"You're.. stunning, Naruto." Sasuke said quietly. Naruto scratched his head coyly. "Hehe.. Sasuke stop.." Sasuke smiled a little at that and leaned closer.
"You are.." As Sakura stared, she felt herself begin to shake.
"What.. what are they doing?!?" She whispered to herself. Tears were coming to her eyes driven by shock and anger.
"Why.. why am I not "stunning" to him? And even worse…why does this feeling feel so familiar…" She stared still, and Naruto was still blushing.
"Your eyes are so black.. I like looking at them. It's pretty." Naruto was saying.
"Yours are more pretty. Close 'em for a second.." Sasuke murmured. Sakura gasped, backing from her hiding spot in the doorway of her room as she watched Sasuke very willingly touch his lips to Naruto's.
"What's going on.. they.. all that time.. it really was flirting…Why…why is this all so familiar…" She stumbled back from the doorway, then felt slightly dizzy.
When Naruto and Sasuke finished their meal, they saw Kakashi walking past the doorway with Sakura passed out in his arms.
"What? What's going on?" Naruto questioned, pulling Sasuke with him by the hand to go follow Kakashi. Sasuke followed quietly with his other hand in his pocket. They all leaned over Sakura on the couch.
"Do either of you know what's going on?" Kakashi asked while they waited. Naruto shook his head.
"No! We just now finished eating lunch together." Naruto said. Sasuke stood up from leaning over the couch.
"I'm feeling a little ill.. I'm going to go lay down." Sasuke said suddenly, and left the room.
"O-okay.." Naruto said, standing up and watching him leave.
"He's probably only tired from his Anbu work, Naruto." Kakashi said. Naruto nodded. Suddenly Sakura bolted awake, tears in her eyes.
"Sasuke-kun! And Naruto!" She shouted. Naruto stiffened, waiting. "You—you guys.." She paused and stared at Naruto, who had gone pale.
"What.. what are you talking about Sakura-chan.. Sasuke is sleeping." Naruto lied immediately. Sakura looked at Kakashi for confirmation, but Kakashi didn't give any indication of right or wrong.
"Oh.. but.. I'm almost sure it wasn't a dream.. I thought you two were…" She trailed the sentence and shook her head. "I.. guess it was just a weird dream.." She murmured. Kakashi sighed and shook his head, while Naruto just stood there, pale.
"She saw us? She must have.. I mean.. I don't know. We have to be more careful.. I can't blow this.. Sasuke will never forgive me.." Naruto quietly crept away while Kakashi listened to Sakura vent about what she thought she saw.
"The only reason we got away with her even thinking that was really a dream is because of Sasuke erasing her memory that way.. There's a block in her mind that won't even let her believe it's true."
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When Naruto had done a few pull-ups and grabbed himself a drink, he came back inside about 90 minutes after Sakura had woken up, and went to Sasuke's room. He knocked on the door a few times and didn't get a response, so he quietly opened the door and came on in. He put his drink down and scratched his head, staring at the room. Sasuke had pulled the drapes shut to completely block out the sun, and had fallen asleep completely underneath a thick comforter. Naruto approached the bed quietly, and peaked over. He paused for a moment and watched Sasuke sleeping; his dark hair falling like a tattered silk curtain into his eyes; his pale complexion contrasting the navy blue of his comforter. He did look exhausted; Naruto stared at Sasuke's chest rise and fall softly with his breath, and he leaned and carefully stroked the dark hair, careful to not wake him. "You're so agreeable when you're not conscious.." Naruto said very quietly, chuckling a little afterwards. He sighed and went back to the table by the door to get his drink, and came and sat in Sasuke's chair that was directly between the bed and the window. He sighed a little, slightly bored, then drank the rest of his drink and climbed into bed with Sasuke. As soon as he did, Sasuke's eyes opened.
"Konnichiwa.. seiteki.." Sasuke murmured to Naruto, who was facing him lying down. (A/N: 'seiteki' means 'sexy' or 'beautiful'.) Naruto blushed and smiled laughingly. "Damn.. and I tried so hard not to wake you.." Naruto murmured.
"It's fine—it's not good to nap too long.. I would've ended up still feeling sick." Sasuke said, slowly sitting up, his hand on his head as he closed his eyes again. Naruto steadied him when he wavered.
"Whoa.. hey.. are you okay? Maybe you slept to long already.." Naruto said, concerned. "Don't you worry about it.. It's not your concern.." Sasuke murmured, sitting with his head hung and still in his hands with his eyes closed. Naruto frowned.
"What're you talking about 'it's not your concern'? You.. you are my concern." Naruto argued. Sasuke opened his eyes briefly to glance at Naruto, then closed them more tightly with a terse sigh. He didn't say anything else, so Naruto scooted over behind Sasuke and began rubbing his back, carefully adding pressure to his shoulders and on either side of his spine. Naruto paused, a little bit startled when Sasuke flinched.
"Hm? Did—that hurt?" Naruto asked cautiously. Sasuke nodded silently.
"I'm.. just sore.."
"Should I.. stop?" Naruto asked next. Sasuke shook his head.
"No.." he murmured. Naruto slowly resumed massaging Sasuke's back, but still didn't go too hard. Sasuke still flinched.
"Mm.. it hurts.. but that's fine.." Sasuke groaned, his eyes squeezed shut still. Naruto paused anyway.
"Sasuke your back shouldn't hurt that much.." He murmured. He sighed and rubbed far more softly, then cupped his hands at Sasuke's waist, rubbing back and forth as Sasuke slouched because the pain had stopped.
"Sasuke-kun… you're really not doing too well, are you.." Naruto said, getting more concerned by the second.
"I know." Sasuke murmured quietly.
"You're really sickly.. You have to gain back the strength you had before your curse mark multiplied itself.. eat a steak or something." Naruto said to him. Sasuke rubbed his arm, staring at it.
"I don't like steak.." Naruto slowly lifted Sasuke's shirt.
"Yeah, yeah…Lift your arms.." Naruto ordered, and Sasuke did so as Naruto removed his shirt. Naruto continued rubbing around Sasuke's waist back and forth with his hands. "You need to eat something…" he reinforced as he adjusted to his knees and made Sasuke lay down on his stomach. Sasuke grunted.
"Easy.." he murmured. Naruto sat with his knees on either side of Sasuke's hips and rubbed up and down on Sasuke's back, adding pressure even when Sasuke complained. He held his breath and slowly let it out, ignoring the sharp pains in his back, until it became a constant ache.
"Ow.. Ah.. hurts.." Sasuke moaned. Naruto stopped, seeing that Sasuke's face read pain, and he reached up and stroked the dark hair.
"Hey.. stop, it's okay.." Naruto murmured. He laid down over Sasuke, touching his lips between Sasuke's shoulder blades and resting his head on Sasuke's upper back. Sasuke sighed shakily.
"I don't know what's going on.. My back is killing me.. I don't know why.." Sasuke said quietly, closing his eyes again. Naruto sat up from on top of Sasuke and stood up.
"I'll be back.. I'll just tell Kakashi and see what he thinks about it." Naruto offered. "Okay.." Sasuke replied without opening his eyes.
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Naruto found Kakashi still talking to Sakura. Sakura stared at him strangely as he came in.
"Hey.. Sakura.. Um, Kakashi-sensei.. Sasuke says that his back is hurting him.. he doesn't know why.. I couldn't even press too hard before he'd flinch—" Sakura gave him a funny look, and Naruto just stopped talking, blushing a little bit. Kakashi got up, followed by Sakura.
"His back? Okay well I'll try to see what's up. I know one thing, he needs to eat something.. like an entire meal of protein.." Kakashi pointed out.
"I know! That's what I told him!" Naruto complained. As Kakashi walked to Sasuke's bedroom, he had already thought about the problem.
"He's doing too much work on too little strength. He needs to eat some protein and then go back to sleep." When Naruto opened the door to Sasuke's room, he paused.
"Hey.. I brought sensei and Sakura with me.. is that okay?" he asked. Sasuke was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.
"Yeah.." he murmured quietly. Naruto let Kakashi and Sakura in, and Sakura immediately went to Sasuke and sat next to him, rubbing his shoulders carefully. "Sasuke…? Talk to me, why are you in pain?" she asked. Sasuke only kept staring at the floor.
"I don't know Sakura.." he murmured. Naruto sat on the other side of Sasuke while Kakashi came and stood behind Sakura, leaning past her and over Sasuke. He crept up and crouched behind Sasuke on the bed, then touched his hands to the center of Sasuke's back, pressing moderately.
"That hurt?"
"Ahhh! God.." Sasuke exclaimed, shaking.
"Hm.." Kakashi murmured. Naruto stared blankly as Kakashi kept trying things. Kakashi pushed Sasuke forward by the head to make him lean over, and pressed his hand right between Sasuke's shoulder blades. Sakura rubbed Sasuke's arm as Sasuke held in a shout, biting his bottom lip and gasping sharply.
"Hm. Well this is strange. I want to say.. that pain from this here"—he touched his finger to the curse mark on Sasuke's shoulder—"is spreading to your underlying muscles. And that's happening because your body is being pushed too hard without enough energy." Kakashi diagnosed. Sasuke was still doubled over while Kakashi prodded him. "Ow.. Aaah.. Sensei—oh God.." Sasuke groaned. Kakashi rose an eyebrow.
"Alright, alright. I'll let you alone now. Come on Sakura let's make him something he needs to eat." Kakashi offered. As soon as the door was shut, Sasuke looked over at Naruto. Naruto was giving him a funny look, almost like he was unsure about something. Sasuke stared.
"What.." he murmured. Naruto shrugged, staring blankly.
"Uh.. dunno'.." he scratched his head and looked away, blushing. Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed.
"No way.." he murmured. Naruto came a little closer.
"What?" Sasuke closed his eyes.
"Don't tell me.. please don't tell me.. that little stuff with Kakashi pushing on me got you off." Sasuke said, shaking his head. Naruto turned bright red and nibbled his bottom lip, sheepishly grinning.
"Just.. a little.." Naruto admitted quietly. Sasuke sighed.
"My God, Naruto.. what, you like seeing me forced into submission or something.." Sasuke murmured. Naruto smirked a little.
"If you weren't in so much pain.. I think I'd tackle you or something.." Sasuke shook his head.
"Me and Kakashi.. never." Sasuke said with a terse laugh. Naruto fiddled with his sleeve. "I hope not.." he chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
"But.. you and Neji?" Sasuke said suddenly, staring at the floor. Naruto paled immediately.
"Sasuke.. no don't say that. Never." Naruto defended immediately. Sasuke nodded slightly.
"Yeah.." He stared at the floor for a little while, then moved his hand over and took Naruto's as Naruto sat beside him nervously. He relaxed when Sasuke leaned over toward him to kiss him. He opened his mouth as their tongues caressed, and he gently stroked the soft hair at the nape of Sasuke's neck, then moved his hands down to rub Sasuke's waist some more.
"We'll get you healthier in no time, okay Sasuke? I promise." Naruto assured when they paused. Sasuke nodded as Naruto rubbed his hair affectionately.
"So I don't get it.. we just ate Ramen, just a little while ago." Naruto said, perplexed. Sasuke smirked a little, keeping his eyes closed.
"You might be able to live on Ramen Naruto.. but I need so much more nutrition just to support all these curse marks…" Sasuke explained. Naruto tilted his head.
"Oh.. I guess that makes sense." He agreed. Sasuke chuckled
"You're cute.." He murmured, making Naruto blush again.
"Heheh.. Sasuke.." Sasuke sat up from Naruto's arms and brushed his fingers against the whiskers on Naruto's face, making him twitch a little.
"I'll get better. For you. But not anyone else." Sasuke finished. Naruto nodded.
"Well good.. you'd better recover.." After a few moments of more silence, Sasuke spoke up again. "There's no way we'll get away with what happened today again. The next time she catches us, any holds against the idea in her mind are going to disappear and she really will find out. We'll just have to tell her soon." Sasuke said suddenly. Naruto groaned. "I knew you were going to say that…"
...Of COURSE I wouldn't break up SasuNaru! this story is all about their journey together. (mushiness and fluff fills the air)
But...am I gonna get heat for totally putting off telling Sakura again? Or for making her actually SEE them but still making excuses for why she didn't really find out...Dont burn me!! x.x
Anyways... yeah theres fluff after this, then we'll get down to some business. w00t ! XD Sorry for giving Sasuke so many health problems. :) Poor poor SasuNaru, they go through so much. lol.
-Kitsune