SasuNaru
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Kishimoto does.
--
It was awful, really. He'd started to have a nightmare. He'd be running, as fast as he could, legs burning with the acid flowing to them from the change in respiration, his breath heavy in his ears, hands constricted into claws and sweat dripping round him, hanging to his clothes. There was someone next to him, their hair matted and soaked with sweat, clinging to their face and neck, eyes unnaturally wide and the pupils dilated from the dark and the fear. Her hands stretched out in front of her when she ran, as if the air was a rope, and if she pulled hard enough it would take her forward. Away from that…thing behind her. Then her whimpering turned into an ear splitting scream.
He woke up with a jolt, slamming his head into the boards of Kiba's bed and moaning with fear and pain. His sheets were dripping and his heart thumped boiling hot blood, fuelled on adrenaline.
Kiba snorted loudly.
Haku shifted a bit, looking at Naruto before turning round. Sasuke didn't move. When blue eyes sort out the final member of the room, he saw the redhead still sitting in his bed, scanning the page in front of him. Engrossed.
"G-Gaara?" asked Naruto, cursing his horse scared tone.
He looked up, eyes swimming. "You okay?"
Pausing, the blond looked down at himself. His hands were still constricted, but they looked different. Fatter. Shorter. "I don't know…"
Gaara got out of the bed and helped Naruto up, book closed tightly on the bed next to the window. The boy realized how much he was shaking.
"Go get a towel; I'll strip your bed. Get a change of clothes too."
Naruto nodded feverishly, stumbling to his box at the end of Gaara's bed. He fished out some new clothes and turned to see a pale faced, dark haired, enchanting eyed angel behind him, holding out a royal blue towel.
"Here," the angel said, putting a firm hand on Naruto's shoulder and towelling down the blond locks. "You strip, I'll help you dry off."
Naruto did as he was told, holding onto the pale muscled arm until he was naked, standing in front of the angel. The dark towel ran over his tanned skin as he held onto the bed post, blue eyes trailing the movements. They were rough and fast. He doubted the angel for a moment; weren't they meant to be gentle, loving?
So why was he so safe?
Before he knew it, the angel had helped him into some clean clothing and was helping him back to the bed where Gaara was, tucking in the clean sheet.
"Thank you…" Naruto muttered as he was rested back down. The royal blue towel was left on the cream carpet in the middle of the room, bathing in moonlight.
"Go back to sleep, you need to rest."
Naruto's grip tightened on the angel. "But-but that dream! That thing!"
"Shush…" he comforted, sitting on the bed. "Nothings going to get you, okay? I promise."
"You swear?"
The older brother looked down at Sasuke, smiling slightly. "I swear on your hamster's life."
"You better keep it then, I love my hamster…"
Nodding, the brunet moved around so that he was propped up on the head board, humming a little and wiggling his feet.
"Sing it," Naruto asked, voice tired once more and his eyes drooping. "The song you're humming."
The angel rolled his perfect eyes. "What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?"
His voice was a deep tenor, ringing in the room.
"Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherd's watch are keeping?
"This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherd's guard and angel's sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe the son of Mary."
The humming resounded and Naruto couldn't keep his eyes open, no matter how much he tried. His mind was fuzzy with the adrenaline rush still, and he couldn't tell if the humming was still there. He turned away from the angel to sleep.
The bed shifted, though he didn't remember, and the humming stopped, though it was still clear in his mind. His eyes fluttered for a spilt second to see the angel climbing the stairs to the top bunk. Sasuke's bunk.
He soon forgot.
--
"It was dead scary!" Naruto exclaimed to Sakura, who was listening with all ears, face as serious as his. Kiba was laying with his face on the table next to Naruto, snoring occasionally before waking up, Haku next to him, picking off pieces of bread and feeding them to him with a happy smile.
"I bet," Sakura said, reaching across the table and patting Naruto's shoulder. "You poor thing! What an awful nightmare."
Sasuke soon sat next to Sakura with a bowl of coco-pops, suppressing a yawn.
"Ah, I didn't wake you up yesterday did I Sasuke? I'm really sorry…"
Sakura tuned into the 'Sasuke Station', as Kiba had dubbed it. "Naruto was just telling me that he had an awful nightmare, Sasuke-kun. Isn't that horrible?!"
"Oh, really? I didn't notice," Sasuke muttered, spoon hovering inches from his face. "Scream a little louder next time."
Naruto fumed. "Teme! Don't be so mean! I had a nightmare- no! A night terror and all you can say is 'scream a little louder next time'?! You-"
"Naruto-kun," Sakura warned, though there was an edge of affection in her voice. "Sasuke may have said something that was completely unnecessary," she shot a look at the Uchiha, who ignored her. "But you shouldn't sink to his level.
"I guess…" the blond mumbled. "Bastard Uchiha."
Sakura didn't hear, what being absorbed with the boy next to her, who raised a brow to Naruto in amusement. "So, Sasuke-kun. How was your sleep?"
"Fine. Yes, I'm good. No, I don't care how you are. And no, I'm not going to take leave today."
The pinkette stood, looking pissed. "Geez, I'm only trying to help. You know Tsunade-sama expects you to take leave when you're given it."
Sasuke ignored this. "When's smoke break?"
"You missed it," she informed. "Now, I'm going to go for leave with Naruto soon-"
"Really?!"
"I expect you to join us. Understand?"
The boy nodded.
Her bright smile reappeared. "I'm proud of you Sasuke-kun! It's not healthy to only go out on Sundays to the chapel. You need to expand, I'm sure Naruto will be brilliant company," she turned to Naruto. "I'll see you later, Naruto-kun, Kiba, Haku."
Naruto followed her leaving, smiling slightly. "You know, she's really nice. Very helpful and caring."
Sasuke snorted. "Yeah, right."
"I don't know what you have against her, Sasuke-teme! You ought to get yourself sorted out. Sakura-chan is beautiful and intelligent. Two things you'll never be."
"Whatever," the dark haired boy said, picking up his half-finished meal. "I'm going to go do something worth my time. Like watch the news."
Naruto watched him with an angry expression. When he turned to Kiba, he almost yelped in surprise. Something had perked the boy's interest, along with Haku's. Something about him.
"I can't decide who you would look better with!" Kiba exclaimed. "Sakura or Sasuke."
Haku giggled. If you asked Naruto, he would've said it was more like a soundless cackle. "Shut up, Kiba. Go fuck a tree."
Gaara sat down then, Neji by his side. The two were opposite Naruto and Kiba. Kiba's attention moved straight to Neji.
"How you feeling?" Gaara asked, not touching the muffin in front of himself.
"Hungry," Naruto said with an embarrassed grin. The cook had refused to serve him a fourth portion, saying she wasn't his maid. "You mind sharing that muffin.
The two were soon engaged in a strange conversation about what kind of peanuts were better, both picking off the muffin. Naruto said if anything was covered in salt, it was nice. Gaara said food was gross, full stop.
Haku was looking at the table, drawing with his finger. Kiba and Neji soon noticed this ('and you know what happened next-?!' 'Haku, you okay?' 'Haku! I'm sorry, I wasn't ignoring you') and proceeded to try cheer him up. It mainly involved Kiba cracking jokes at Neji, who would retaliate with witty comments. Haku was soon smiling again, though not in the same way.
Naruto looked up from the muffin that Gaara had given him, saying he didn't want anymore, when a shadow fell over him. Haku exploded.
"Sai!" Naruto exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in so long! How are you?"
The boy nodded, smile ever in place. "I'm well, how are you?"
"I'm well. I had a nightmare last night, but that's all."
Sai's smile became more amused. Whole. "Oh did you, dickless?"
Naruto fumed. "What did you call me?!"
"Well, you're obviously such a girl, to remember a nightmare. Not my fault."
"Whatever, I'm leaving. I have to go watch TV…you know, the news."
"Ah, I see," the short haired boy said, shrugging. "Don't let me stop you then."
Naruto seethed as he watched Sai leave before he stood. "I hate him so much."
Haku nodded all too eagerly.
"I'm off to watch the TV," Naruto stated, leaving the room with blind fury, landing himself in the unoccupied chair he always sat in.
Sasuke raised a brow. "What do you want?"
The blond huffed.
They sat in silence, minus the occasional person walking in and out the room. Kiba and Haku cheering when they got to have a walk down the hall, Gaara and Neji sat by the window, nurses walking around, and the sound of the TV flickering. The unease in the back of Naruto's mind prickled, surfacing without him noticing until it was suddenly there.
"Sasuke…" he started in a low voice, no longer looking at the TV. "What did you mean; the other day, when you said 'sorry for yours'."
The boy in question paused, caught off guard. "Well…you know, that nightmare you had-"
"Naruto!" called a voice from the door. The two boys jumped apart, suddenly both aware they were inching together in all the hush. The redheaded nurse stood there. Naruto could never remember her name. "Tsunade-sama wants to see you. Now, Sakura's already there."
"Ah, thank you!" the blond said. Nurse Red left, but not before calling Gaara for a diabetes test. "I'll be off. Talk to you later."
Sasuke nodded, stiff and guilty looking.
Though, Naruto didn't know why he could so abruptly tell what went on behind that mask.
--
It had been plaguing Naruto ever since he thought about it. They'd gone down the hall, him Sakura and Sasuke (with much persuasion from Sakura to both Sasuke and Tsunade). Naruto had thought about asking Sasuke then, but the boy apparently didn't want other people to know what he was going to tell Naruto about it. He was tempted to ask Sakura, but he lacked the tact. Gaara was always a choice, but Sasuke was the one who made it his business to know everyone else's business. And now, while everyone was in the lunch hall, he was locked in his dorm room. Moping.
"What did he mean by 'I'm sorry for yours'? I never had a loss."
I don't know. Why don't you ask him instead of me?
"Because the fact you're in my head all knowing and stuff is starting to creep me out."
You have a memory loss.
"…What?"
I know, but you don't. You've had a memory taken away from you.
"By who? Answer me!?!"
Silence.
He cursed, punching the pillow just as the door opened. He spun round to see Haku and Sasuke in the doorway, Haku looking delighted and Sasuke's face soft.
"H-hey…" stuttered Naruto, a little shocked. He thought it was dinner time…
Haku waved pleasantly and Sasuke's face confronted. "Haku…" he said. "Could you go…I have to talk about something with Naruto."
There was a short bemused moment on Haku's face, before the boy lit up like a light bulb and raced out the room. The other two didn't notice this though.
"Umm…so," started the blond as Sasuke pressed his back against the door. "You want to…sit down or something."
Sasuke blinked before folding his arms and striding over, blush tainting his cheeks. "I don't need you to invite me into my own room."
"Kay."
There was more silence.
"Look, I didn't mean what I said yesterday- I wasn't meant to say anything. Let's just leave it, okay?"
"No!" the blue eyed boy snapped, pain shining in his eyes. "There's something wrong, I know there is! I may be a little dim, but I'm not completely stupid! Besides, he told me that I had a memory loss!"
Sasuke's face hardened. "Who?"
Naruto jerked a thumb to his head. "Him, up there; in my head! I don't know what's going on, Sasuke, but I'm going to find out, whether you help me or not."
The boy sucked in a breath before nodding stiffly. "I don't know much, I haven't found out everything the nurses know yet, but I know you had 'a loss'. Someone close to you died, apparently. They were in hospital suffering from a heart attack. They kept talking about being chased," Sasuke puckered his lips, biting on the inside. "Someone chased them, beat them. I can't tell you who."
"Why?!"
Sasuke shrugged. "You're meant to remember."
The familiar scorch of boiling blood thumped at his heart as he thought of the possibilities. "It-it wasn't…me?"
Sasuke took the tanned hands in his own. "We'll go to the office. Now, and I'll distract Karin, while you get your file. Understand?"
Naruto didn't move.
--
Karin was Nurse Red so it seemed, and she tuned into Sasuke Station too, just like most of the other people in the hospital. Naruto opened the filing cabinet as Sasuke flirted relentlessly. For some reason, Naruto had a spike of jealousy.
He pulled out the file, walking out the room and heading back towards the dorm. A male nurse of the ward stopped him, asking if he'd eaten yet, and he said he had, but didn't eat much. The nurse nodded and released him. He met Sasuke back in the dorm a few seconds later.
"Do you want to read it on your own?" the Uchiha asked, sympathy and empathy in his eyes.
"N-no…I'm happy to have you here."
Sasuke didn't move an inch from his place on Naruto's bed.
The next few moments seemed to go so quickly and shove so much into Naruto's brain that it was far too overwhelming. He knew a few things, however.
There was a picture of a girl in the file, someone he'd seen before. In his dream. Though now, she seemed real.
He knew what had chased her.
And he knew why he was there.
--
Kiba and Haku hung around next to the bed, Haku sat on his own and Kiba holding onto the ladder that went up to his own bed. "Aren't they cute?" he asked.
Haku giggled and fell back onto his bed.
Gaara rolled his eyes, ignoring them. "Get to bed, both of you. Lights out in about ten minutes. I'm surprised you haven't woken them up yet."
The two other occupants were lying down on Naruto's bed, the blond curled up against Sasuke, face hidden, and Sasuke wrapped round Naruto protectively. They were covering something that involved brown paper, so Gaara concluded that Naruto's dad or whoever he was had sent a letter and Naruto was home sick.
"Go on, bed!" the redhead snapped.
"Fine, you boring person," whined Kiba, climbing to his own sleeping area. "Like they were going to get up."
Gaara looked out the window, uninterested in the book. Which was amazing, it was getting really good, he'd read it three times.
He must've been here for three months already…three whole months. I wonder if he's remembered.
--
Kitty: Gaaou! Sorry it's taken so long! I was dried of all inspiration. However, now I have regained it! My river is full again, praise the Lord! I hope this chapter was intense enough to make up for lost time, my dear friends.
Sorry, I get weird when I'm in a good mood 3
Ja ne
Kivea
Preview –
"So, he says that you give it to your crush?"
"Yeah, and they love you forever."
"I don't have a crush."
"You could give it to Sasuke."
"Ew, don't be so gross, Neji. I'm going to give it to- Sai!"
"What?!"