"Foolish Hearts"

'Chapter Twenty-Six'

Images were flashing behind his eyes.

Red, blue, orange, yellow, grey.

Colors bled into blurry images of two people fighting -- the background of trees slowly washing into view bleeding down into grass and water beneath their feet.

It was raining.

Rain was falling from the sky, the heavens a dark murky black -- lightening illuminating the entire scene and causing Sasuke to stare at the images in his mind in confusion.

What was going on?

Another crack of thunder and the scene changed; Naruto was coated in blood, sprawled on the ground.

Naruto!

Was he dead?

Sasuke couldn't breathe, all he could hear was the rain and thunder.

Naruto!

Sasuke gasped, his dark eyes opening as he was caught up in his bad dream -- he had sat up quickly in bed, his eyes staring at the window -- his eyes wide.

Unknowing to Sasuke his black eyes had took on a red hue -- his mind muddled with sleep but he forced himself to focus.

Did that happen?

Was that real?

Sasuke's hands immediately dove under Naruto's shirt, forcefully pulling it up as his fingers groped across the smooth tanned skin -- searching, searching for the wound he had caused in his nightmare.

Naruto was rudely awaken by Sasuke wrenching away from him, and then hands scrambling to push his shirt up. Rapidly blinking his eyes to try and figure out what had happened. The fox tried to scramble backwards, not understanding what Sasuke was doing. "Sasu?" He looked down at the man, he couldn't see his eyes. Naruto could feel the hands moving over a certain spot, and he stopped -- it was the same spot that Sasuke had run him through with chidori almost eight years ago. Naruto caught the man's wrist and slowly drew it away from his chest. "It's...not there."

Sasuke's wine colored eyes looked to Naruto as if seeing him for the first time. There was a frown on his lips, his brow furrowed as he tried to grasp the situation at hand. "…but..." Sasuke murmured, looking down to the blonde's exposed chest. "…but it was there. I did…do that..." Sasuke flicked his confused red-black eyes to the fox, "…it was real?"

Naruto sighed heavily, his hand still on Sasuke's wrist. "It was real." He answered softly. "But it was a long time ago."

Real.

It was real.

Sasuke kept his frown, lowering himself back down on the blonde, his eyes holding so many emotions. "I remembered." Sasuke said softly, his confused eyes looking to the window -- looking to the pelting rain outside.

The fox had caught sight of the red orbs, was the sharingan unconsciously unlocking Sasuke's memories?

God this could be bad…

"It was more of a nightmare." He tried. "But, we're over that, okay? It happened a long time ago, and we're both okay." He tried to reassure; he couldn't encourage more memories.

Sasuke tilted his head up to the blonde, watching him with his same innocent eyes, just taking in Naruto's shaky grin. "You..." Sasuke started, tilting his head on the blonde's shoulder, his fingers running over the fox plushie almost to reassure himself. "...you don't want me to remember do you?" Sasuke said quietly, "I must have been horrible, I tried to kill you." Sasuke's lips almost drew into a pout before he buried his face in Naruto's neck, "I don't want to kill you, you're really nice. I'm sorry." He said, his tone thick with a child's sincerity.

The fox let out a chocked laugh, and wrapped his arms around Sasuke, "No, no, Sasu..." He let out a shaking breath and rolled them so they were on their sides. "You can't remember." he tried to explain, "If you do, bad people will try and take you from me again...I can't let you go." He bowed his head to hide his eyes in Sasuke's hair. "I almost killed you then too." Naruto added, hoping to somewhat ease the man's mind. "You won't kill me...you couldn't. So don't be sorry, you didn't do anything wrong, I promise."

Sasuke shifted, allowing Naruto to pull him into a hug, his precious stuffed animal between them as he kept his head buried under the Hokage's chin. "I won't remember anymore." He said; determined to keep his memories in check, still not understanding the weird dream but apparently his mind was leaking. Sasuke had to make sure his mind didn't break again; memories weren't a good thing, memories would make him leave Naruto.

Sasuke didn't want to leave Naruto.

The fox nodded slowly. "I'll get you something you can write them in...okay?" He started, "I don't want you repressing them either...that would be bad." He knew repressed memories could be just as bad as having all his memories. "You can tell them to me, but only me, alright?" He added on. "Just remember that, okay? You can't let anyone know that the memories are there, okay?"

Sasuke looked up to Naruto with his innocent black eyes, the red all but repressed now that he was more awake -- calming himself in Naruto's arms. "Like a secret?" Sasuke murmured, "Okay." He offered the blonde a slight smile, "It'll be our secret; all my memories."

"Exactly, Sasu, just like a secret." He nodded slowly.

God, if the council heard, or if the Anbu found out.

He wrapped his arm around Sasuke tightly, he couldn't lose him again. "Good boy." He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the temple.

Sasuke kept his smile, hugging Naruto back with the same vigor Naruto showed him -- though the man was oblivious to the fears in Naruto's heart.

He liked being praised.

He liked being recognized by Naruto.

He felt the soft kiss on his temple and he offered a gentle kiss to the underside of Naruto's jaw before he let himself settle back down.

There was no way he would be able to sleep for the rest of the night, fearing other memories coming to Sasuke during the night. He'd have to find a safe place for him to hide the small notebook. Sasuke would have to ask for it, Naruto wouldn't let the boy know where it was. He stared out at the rain storm, and bit his lower lip; things just got dangerous again.

--

Sasuke was awake; he was sitting by the window -- still on the bed, the fox plushie in his lap as he stared out the window.

It was still dark out but the rain had finally stopped.

Naruto was sleeping.

Sasuke hadn't had another nightmare but he felt different. When he looked at Naruto it was like his mind was strained, like something should be there but it wasn't.

...it was weird.

Sasuke tilted his head, his forehead on the cool glass pane as he just looked at the murky grey heavens above them.

Naruto shifted on the bed slowly, his body cold. His brow furrowed -- it shouldn't have been, Sasuke had fallen asleep all but glued to him. Slowly opening his eyes he looked straight ahead, towards the door, no Sasuke.

No Kyuubi either…

Rolling over onto his back, he rubbed his eyes and caught a slight movement out of the corner of his eye. "There you are." He smiled gently, "How you feeling?" He asked as he took note of the troubled eyes.

Sasuke smiled to the blonde dismissing his troubles in that simple gesture -- apparently he had learned to keep up appearances from the Hokage-sama. "Fine." He turned his eyes back to the sky, "It stopped raining."

Naruto's eyebrows immediately shot up.

He had been living with this innocent, open Sasuke for almost two months.

This...this was not him.

"Don't hide from me." He started sitting up, setting a hand on the man's arm. "Sasuke..." His eyes were worried.

Sasuke continued to hold his plushie, noticing Naruto's arm but he tried to keep his eyes on the window. "I'm not hiding." He said softly, turning his bright almost glossy black eyes to the blonde, "I'm right here." He smiled then -- if Sasuke was in his normal state of mind that would have been taken as a smart ass remark. But Sasuke was smiling sincerely; meaning no disrespect to Naruto, merely hiding behind a new mask.

"Sweetie." Naruto started, he scooted closer to the Uchiha, his hand reaching up to cup his cheek. "I know you a lot better than what you think I do." He started. He smiled softly and leaned against the wall, his soft eyes on Sasuke. "Remember, you can tell me."

Sasuke didn't know what there was to tell.

He shifted, his knees brought up as he rested his chin on them, the little toy balanced in his hands, "It's just..." Sasuke sighed, his cheeks flushed as he pouted in childish embarrassment, "...it's like I should know something else. Like...since my dream it's…just weird." Sasuke continued to look out the window, "I feel different towards you..." Sasuke turned his black eyes on the blonde, "But I don't know why."

Naruto slowly let his hand drop for Sasuke's cheek, and let it rest on his forearm, his eyes glancing at the stuffed Kyuubi.

"Do you want me to stop something?" he asked quietly.

He didn't know what he could do, if Sasuke's memories were coming back, he'd fixate on them.

The fox knew there was really very little he could do to stop it, or hide it.

Sasuke frowned, shifting on the bed, forcing himself back against Naruto's chest -- making the arm wrap around him in a demanding manner. He tilted his head up, bumping Naruto's chin, "What can you do?"

Naruto complied as Sasuke crawled back into his arms. "I don't know." He murmured quietly. He shifted around on the bed, his legs on either side of the man, his arms once more around him, his chin resting on the top of his head.

He gazed back out the window; Anbu were still there.

"What is it you want?" Naruto finally asked.

"I want you to be happy." Sasuke said, his head tilted up to Naruto in an innocent manner. His black eyes reflective of Naruto's bright blue, "I want you to make the memories stay away."

Naruto smiled gently and carefully ran his fingers through the dark hair; "I can't stop them." His voice was calm, soothing almost. "Only you." He pressed his lips against his temple.

Only him…

Sasuke tilted his head on the blonde's shoulder, letting his eyes close half-way as he stared out the frosted window. "...what if I can't?" Sasuke murmured; almost sounding like the old him, his voice rich and quiet.

Naruto tightened his arms around Sasuke. The words were what he feared the most. "You will." he murmured, "You're stronger than you remember."

Mm…

Sasuke slowly closed his eyes, hugging the toy to himself as he tried to let himself relax.

"Okay..." The Uchiha said easily, if Naruto believed he could then he would surely try.

The fox sighed heavily and ran his hand across the smooth skin of Sasuke's arm. "Hungry yet?" He asked quietly wanting to break the awkward pause.

Sasuke was grateful for the change of topic, nodding once before he parted from the blonde, wiggling down the bed -- his feet touching the floor before he turned back to the fox. His toy was still in his arms, apparently he was going to take it everywhere with him. "What are we going to eat?" Sasuke asked, extending a hand to help the blonde off the mattress.

"Whatever you want." The fox answered as he pulled himself out of the warm bed, using Sasuke's helping hand. He let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms above his head before he started down the hallway.

Sasuke had rounded into the kitchen taking a place at the counter, his dark eyes following the fox as he walked into the room. He watched the blonde as he opened the fridge; resting his head on his hand as he remained at the counter.

Sasuke just couldn't shake the weird dream…

Or the weird feeling; like his mind was being unhinged.

Naruto looked back at Sasuke when he received no answer.

He noticed the look still hadn't vanished from the dark orbs.

The look of unease.

Reaching in for some eggs, he pulled them out and sighed.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

Sasuke put on a fragile smile, kicking his feet a little childishly as he held the little stuffed toy in his lap. "I'm fine." He said his tone quiet and not holding an ounce of sincerity.

He couldn't let himself remember.

He promised Naruto he wouldn't remember.

Remembering…was bad.

Naruto let out a long sigh and set the eggs on the counter before he started to reach for a skillet. "Alright." He murmured to himself. He looked back to the boy and smiled gently, watching him with the kyuubi doll.

It just didn't seem right now.

The real Sasuke was still in there, trying to get out, this was so dangerous.

God…

Sasuke never could do things the easy way.

Sasuke slowly set his doll safely on the counter, his bright black eyes watching Naruto's back as the man fussed around the kitchen.

The Uchiha touched his feet to the ground and took a few hesitant steps towards the blonde. He was only a few inches shorter than Naruto; but his whole demeanor seemed small and innocent -- too child-like for his grown-up body.

He reached out, slender fingers tugging the hem of Naruto's shirt, "Can I help?" Sasuke asked with his smooth persuasive voice, though his large black eyes showed the blonde the real Sasuke was still safely tucked away.

Naruto looked over his shoulder at Sasuke, his brows almost disappearing into his hairline.

Sasuke wanted to help?

He searched the eyes for a moment, the black, dark eyes…

His child Sasuke.

He smiled at him and nodded, "Of course you can." he shifted, turning the burner on low, "Think you could go out to the garden and grab us a couple apples?" He asked. It was a simple enough job, and he really didn't want Sasuke playing with the burner -- no matter if the Uchiha family had a way with fire, this Sasuke didn't know that.

Sasuke nodded a slight smile on his face as Naruto gave him a sort of mini-mission. The Uchiha quickly grabbed up his kyuubi plush before he left the kitchen.

--

In a few moments the brunette had returned, an arm full of apples. He placed them on the counter, "You'll never guess what I did." He said, apparently quite happy with himself as he set up the different sized fruits.

Sasuke turned his bright eyes on Naruto, smelling the fragrance of freshly cooked food and it caused his stomach to start grumbling.

"I climbed the apple tree with my feet!" Sasuke nearly purred, leaning up against the counter, his expression completely elated.

Naruto almost dropped his hand on the open burner.

He'd...what?

"Really?" The fox asked curiously, "How'd you do that?" He ask as if it were a trick he'd never heard of.

Shit, this couldn't be good.

"I don't know." Sasuke was trying to read Naruto's expression, noticing the curiosity but there was something else in his eyes too. He absently ran his fingers over the top of the kyuubi doll, standing in the middle of the kitchen unsure if he did something bad.

"I...just wanted to get the apples." Sasuke murmured, "I jumped on the tree to grab a branch and I got stuck to it."

Sasuke looked down at his feet, his dark hair shielding his eyes. "Trees aren't normally sticky?"

"Not normally." Naruto added as he brought the breakfast mix of hash browns and eggs over to the plates. "Maybe you're feet are sticky." He teased as he put a decent enough pile on Sasuke's plate before turning towards his own plate. He'd have to watch Sasuke careful from now on, maybe putting the chakra restraints back on.

Sasuke went to sit down at the table, bringing his warm plate with him. He slowly started to chew on his eggs and hash browns, his dark eyes flicking to the Hokage at the other side of the rich wood table.

Sticky feet..?

Sasuke frowned a little; maybe the tree thing was a little crazy.

Sasuke's frown darkened…

Was he remembering things again?

Was Naruto mad?

Naruto moved to the table, and easily ruffled Sasuke's hair, "Don't worry about it." he reassured.

"You didn't do anything wrong. I'm proud of you." He smiled as he slide into his chair next to Sasuke.

Proud?

Sasuke smiled munching on his breakfast -- his demeanor much happier now that Naruto approved of his tree climbing antic.

"Tell you what." Naruto started as he picked up one of the fresh apples that Sasuke had brought in. "Later, I'll take you to a secret place, where you can climb all the trees you want." He started taking a bit of the apple, "The trees in the yard aren't strong enough to be walked on all the time." He tried to explain, "But the big trees out in the forest are okay."

Maybe if he were there and monitored it, and kept him safe; he'd still be able to climb the trees using his chakra.

"Really?" Sasuke picked up an apple taking a bite of the nice red fruit. His dark eyes continued to watch the blonde, "A secret place?" Sasuke seemed quite content in the fact that the Hokage was allowing him to climb trees with his sticky feet. He tilted his head slightly, "Do other people have sticky feet?"

Naruto nodded, "Yes," He answered easily. "But most people have to be taught how to do it, which was why I was so surprised with you." he smiled at the boy once more, "You figured it out on your own!"

Sasuke was a little taken aback by Naruto's statement.

…he didn't figure it out on his own.

Sasuke already knew it.

His memories were surfacing again, right?

Sasuke picked up his fox doll, slowly pushing himself away from the table, an odd expression on his face as he avoided Naruto's eyes.

That...was it wasn't it?

He slowly started to walk away, down the hall, "I'm…going to lay down." He said, his voice a little wavered, not turning as he left the blonde alone at the table.

Naruto watched as Sasuke slowly pushed himself from the table, cradling the kyuubi to himself.

"But..." He tried to call out, but nothing came to his mind, nothing he could think of would stop him.

He watched sadly as Sasuke disappeared into the room, the door closing slightly.

Letting out a long sigh, Naruto stared at the half empty dishes, and he suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.

Easily cleaning up, the fox maneuvered around the kitchen on auto-pilot, before he stopped at the fruit. Sighing, he slowly set it in the bowl and moved over to the couch, collapsing back in it.

How could he keep protecting Sasuke if the memories wouldn't stop?

--

Sasuke had isolated himself in the guest bedroom -- the one Naruto had told him was his room when he had came back to the Hokage-sama's home.

He was sitting on the bed, his dark eyes looking to the window, the kyuubi in his lap as he just stared up at the sky.

He had been alone in the room for a good hour or more; he wasn't entirely sure since there wasn't a clock in his room.

Sasuke didn't want to sleep, he didn't want to go outside, he didn't want to go near any trees anymore.

Sasuke drew his knees up to his chest, his dark eyes half-lidded as he stared at the wall, his hair a mess as it swept in front of his vision.

The Uchiha didn't want to do anything that might trigger his memories -- he didn't want to do anything that might take him away from Naruto.

Naruto sighed heavily as he stared up at the ceiling of his living room.

God...he was just doing everything wrong with Sasuke.

He seemed to be scaring the child to the point he wouldn't do anything, he'd be excited and then he'd slip up -- and then that small smile he had gotten would be gone.

He missed his Sasuke.

His witty, sarcastic-ass, bastard…

Pushing himself up from the couch the fox started towards the hallway, he needed to talk to Sasuke. Putting his smile back into place, he slowly slide the door open and caught sight of the very much awake Sasuke. "Hey…" He stayed in the door way, "Mind if I come in?" He asked slowly.

Sasuke didn't turn from his brooding posture on the bed, his shoulder tense as he continued to stare at a spot on the wall as he tried to get his thoughts in order. "Sure." He said in an even tone though he wasn't stable enough yet to offer Naruto his full attention.

The fox walked over to Sasuke bed, and sat on the corner, his cerulean eyes watching the man's back. "They won't take you away from me if you walk up a tree, ya know..." He started his voice quiet.

"Walking on trees, walking on water...its one of the first things we learn, it's ingrained into us, we just do it so naturally we don't realize we do it." he explained, "No are no exception. You just do it naturally, because that's how you've always done it."

Sasuke slowly found himself unwinding, turning his bright black eyes on the fox as he sat on the bed next to his hip. Sasuke seemed to study him a long moment as if trying to see if he was lying, "...really?" The Uchiha turned his gaze down to his lap where the grinning plushie was looking back at him. "So it's not my memories again?"

"It's not the memories." The fox answered truthfully, "It's just how we ninja work." He reached out and slowly picked up the Kyuubi, just looking at it for a moment, before he held it back to Sasuke.

"If you want, I can show you that place, and where we can walk on water." He offered, his eyes looking back to the dark orbs.

Sasuke smiled his small fragile smiled; it was getting a little wider as he focused on the bright light of Naruto's eyes.

So blue…

He liked Naruto's eyes.

They were pretty.

"Okay." Sasuke said softly, "I'd like that."

Naruto smiled back at the boy and reached out to ruffle his hair again, "Good." He stood up from the bed and looked back out to the window; he could barely see the garden.

He missed his Sasuke.

"I'm going to go into the garden, and talk with my friend okay?" He started referring to the small circle of flowers, "Then we can go."

Sasuke tilted his head, his dark eyes looking to Naruto's expression but he couldn't pick out the emotion he found there. He nodded slightly, a small smile on his lips, "Okay."

The fox couldn't help but smile back at the boy, so excited over tree climbing. "Just find some clothes you don't mind getting dirty." He started as he walked towards the bedroom door.

"We're gonna get filthy dirty today!"

Naruto easily moved out of the room and down the hall back towards the living room and out into the garden, his footsteps quiet. Stepping down onto the stepping stone, he easily walked across to his circle.

Stepping into it, he slowly sat down and sighed.

Naruto missed Sasuke.

His Sasuke.

--

A/N:

Sorry this chapter took forever to get out. Next one should get out quicker. Please leave a review and the next chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading!