Remember, this is a continuation of chapter 3... I decided to split it in half to give your eyes a rest. This is what happens when you leave me alone with my stories for almost a month... nyan! Gomen! Hope you like it... enough with the rant,ne?
On with the story!
Chapter 4: …and into the frying pan.
At the Uchiha Manor, later that same day
"It's time for your bath, Naruto-chan." He announced lightly, trying to take some of the tension out of the situation. He always found it easier to bathe Naruto after dusk, when the shadows stretched enough to hide his embarrassment and desire. Thankfully it was almost nightfall by the time he finished washing Naruto's clothes and making his own dinner.
After the first few days, he'd started to force himself to leave Naruto to do the necessary tasks to ease taking care of him. He still slept in the same room and almost never left him alone unless it was strictly necessary.
The tasks needed to facilitate nursing Naruto included taking a healthy dose of 'foolishness' as he dubbed sake to ease his embarrassment when faced with this particular task. He'd grown resistant to sake through the years but he still didn't drink enough to render himself useless. He'd learned to use sake this way during his time at Otogakure no Sato every time he had to perform for Orochimaru.
He shuddered, his mind shying away from those memories as he drank some more. It was sheer mental and physical torture to bathe his beloved's naked body. Having to keep his touch impersonal when all he wanted to do was devour him was terrible; especially when he was aware that Naruto couldn't do or say anything to avoid his touch.
Mind pleasantly numb due to the sake, he went back to Naruto's room, as he now called what used to be his parents room. Spreading a clean futon close to the stove, he returned to the bed and wrapping him in a dry blanket, he lifted the heated body with one fluid motion.
"You are much too thin, we must do something about this, you know." He commented worriedly before depositing his precious cargo on the futon.
Once sure Naruto would stay put and was as comfortable as he could make him, he went back to bed and peeled away the sweat-soaked sheets and rolled the dirty futon to be taken outside to be aired. After a few minutes, he returned with another, fluffier futon to prepare Naruto's bed with fresh sheets and new pillows.
Once done, he smiled feeling accomplishment glow inside his chest. Content with his handiwork, he turned and walked towards the sleeping man near the stove.
"Ok, dobe. It's your turn now. Are you ready to show the world your best side? Yeah? Let's see." He drawled caustically, pushing down the sleeves of his light yukata to let them fall around his hips. Washing Naruto usually meant he was also getting wet and hot, really hot and bothered.
He drew a bath for Naruto using a large wooden tub big enough to fit him that was normally reserved for hand washing silk and other household clothes. Warm, fragrant water filled the tub and he carefully deposited his dobe inside the water.
Naruto shivered convulsively, his skin breaking into goose bumps since the water was cooler than his body's heated flesh.
"There, there… Naruto. This is necessary to make you feel better, ok?" he whispered, pouring slightly colder water over his body. Using the wash cloth to build up a bit of lather, he washed his neck, shoulders, arms, hands and chest taking mental notes on his condition for later analysis.
In his efforts to keep both Naruto's modesty and his sanity intact, he usually covered 'that place' with a spare wet towel since the water was barely at hip level. His hands worked over him with utmost care, lifting, bending and washing to bring his fever down.
'Hell, bathing him is more of a punishment for me than all Konoha's seen fit to throw my way! But it's a punishment I am not relinquishing until I absolutely have to.' Maneuvering his lax body forward, he washed his lean back, appreciating the fact that his bruises and scratches were fading.
'Kyuubi seems to be doing way better too.' He thought with a satisfied smile. Bathing Naruto always made him feel better because he could see real progress and he would feel closer to his beloved.
Helping him to recline back against the tub, he rolled up another towel to serve as neck pillow while he washed the hard strong legs, taking care of his healing wounds. His wash cloth slipped from his hand into the murky depths of the bathwater. Groaning, he rolled his eyes and fished around for the wet cloth. There was a slight shift in Naruto's position and his hand grazed against his package under the 'modesty towel'. Blood rushed to his groin and his modesty vanished.
This part was all NC-17, so if you want to read this, you know where to go. Still its a shame I had to edit this for content...just imagine a tub half full of bathwater, a wet cloth, a naked and weak naruto, a half drunk and perverted Sasuke and you will get the idea. It ends with them promising to love each other... with Kyuubi's tacit approval.
A shiver, a gasp and the tightening of Naruto's legs around his head told him his lover was aware and not too happy with his perverted ideas. Breathing softly over the heated skin, he heard more than saw Naruto's body lurch with passion. A pained gasp followed and he stopped. Guilt speared his heart and he retreated, searching for Naruto's eyes.
"I… I'm sorry I hurt you… I… love you so much… and I couldn't stop… please… I…" he tried, unable to look away from the azure gaze. He tried to sit up, but winced as pain speared his groin. A helpless smile crossed his face and Sasuke moved lightning fast to his side, embarrassment and guilt forgotten in his attempt to help him. Naruto reclined against the man holding him safe and smiled, pulling him in for a kiss.
"I'm glad it was you… Teme… I love you too. You did good…" he whispered softly against his lips before he slid into deep slumber once more.
Chewing his reddened lower lip, he frowned noticing for the fist time Naruto's fever seemed to be back with a vengeance.
'Damn you are still too hot, koi.' His heart was tearing apart with renewed worry. Struggling to his feet, he carried his precious cargo to the futon further down the room. Laying him down, he kissed the pale cheek, nuzzling his beloved tenderly. His body buzzed with the echoes of the pleasure given and received but his mind was not able to relax.
He should be happy to have him all to himself and his love returned, but in truth he wasn't. Worry gnawed on his mind like a living beast, relentlessly, mercilessly. He was glad he had captured his heart but he worried about their future. He couldn't let go of the love he'd found in Naruto, never in a thousand years he would have thought possible their love would be able to exist.
'He is too good for me, but I am not going to let him go.' He knew he was a greedy and selfish bastard but then that was Uchiha Sasuke for you.
5 days later, Uchiha mansion
'It's been two weeks since she warned me. 14 whole fucking days… She comes around most days but his fever isn't getting any better. He stopped bleeding and is now healing nicely but I am not so sure I can keep that promise anymore.' He thought.
Naruto's fever hadn't broken and he still hadn't awakened other than that one time. He looked away with embarrassment, still unable to believe he'd pushed inside Naruto when he was so sick. He was going to atone for this as soon as he awoke, because he needed the love his dobe promised him. He wondered if Naruto would remember their time together.
'He has to! He was lucid enough, participating eagerly, urging me to push harder inside his body… Geez, control yourself Uchiha! A bit of sex and you are all ready to go again. Remember that the next day he was burning with fever again and you had a heck of a time hiding away the proof of your involvement.' He colored, remembering his embarrassment and inability to meet the Hokage's eyes the day she visited after making love.
She'd become curious when she found him outside scrubbing madly at a futon while his face burned a bright red. When she called his name he'd paled and almost fainted on the spot. He'd dissembled when she asked what was wrong, answering truthfully that he was just tired and cranky. Tsunade offered to send people to help Sasuke care for him during that time but he didn't want anybody else inside his house. Tsunade-sama was due back here in a few hours but Naruto's condition remained unchanged.
As it was, only she was allowed inside the Uchiha compound and the reason for that was Naruto's critical condition. It was clear to everybody that Naruto's health was more important than his own foolish pride.
"Come on dobe, wake up already! You've been lying there far too long. I promised Tsunade-baachan… Come on, dobe! Don't make me a liar! It's been more than a week already, Naruto… Remember you promised to stay with me? You said you loved me, remember? You still have a lot of love to receive from me. I am not giving you up, even if you don't remember. You are mine just as I am yours." Tears blurred his view and he lowered his head, "I even made you some Ramen… Please… I need you…"
'What would he say if he ever heard me talk like that, so utterly out of character? Keep up the hope. He will get better. After all, he is Uzumaki, Naruto, ne? He is the man I love and he will not break a promise.' the knot in his solar plexus tightened and a sob escaped his chest closely followed by another, for once too tired to keep his infamous Uchiha persona of uncaring aloofness.
"Please Naruto… Please! I promise to tell you about my feelings, just get better… please…" he begged, his fingers burrowing on the blanket covering the still body of the only person that had ever made it past his defenses and into his heart.
"Sas'ke?" the trembling voice muttered softly before stilling. Tense, Sasuke straightened slowly, staring at the still figure on the bed. Surely he was imagining things. His heartbeat thundered inside his ribcage as he gently prodded Naruto, trying to keep hope from flaring inside his heart.
"Naruto?" There was no response, but his mind immediately registered the clammy feel of the skin under his fingers. It was a few seconds before his mind registered the meaning of the rapidly cooling body. Naruto's fever had broken. Something inside him snapped, making him laugh compulsively as he caressed his dobe's cold face nervously.
"Sas'ke?" a confused dobe eyed him warily but at peace with himself.
"It broke… Usuratonkatchi… it finally fucking broke!" he laughed, sobbing unknowingly, his shaking hands making sure the fever had finally receded. The back of his hands registered tears falling over them and he straightened with a confused frown.
'Tears?' Surprised he touched his cheeks and discovered them to be his. Closing his eyes, he smiled to himself. There was a loosening feeling inside his chest as the tears he'd held at bay for three long days finally came to the surface.
'Naruto's safe… Thank you Kami… I am glad! Dobe, I… Thank you Gods! Thank you!' He cried long and hard, truly past caring about pride, honor or self control. There was only one thing on his mind as his soul overflowed: Naruto, his beloved dobe, was safe.