Here it is, the final chapter. I didn't even tell you guys last chapter that it was coming to an end like I wanted to! ;_; I'm feeling a bit emotional really. My baby... What will I do with my free time? I think I only have one decent plot in me. Anyway, I won't do any fartheewells as of yet because I think I'll do a epilogue. Look forward to it :]

There was no other noise aside from the sound of Sasuke and Naruto breathing. Both long and deep, one rasping slightly from the tightness of his chest.

Now wasn't quite the right time to wake the sleeping blonde... Not yet.

Dark eyes moved slowly over Naruto's form as he gathered himself, mulling things over.

Itachi attacked them. His brother. That man he wanted to kill. He had seen him again... At the time he had tried to stay as a ninja and see the situation as "me, Naruto and enemy". It had been hard at the time to get a grip and now that he was sitting quietly in the safety of a hospital room it was even harder not to think about the fact that it was his brother, his once beloved brother who stood before him and took him out like at one point he hadn't held his hand in the village or carried him to bed in his arms and touched his hair and his face with the same hands that lashed out to break him... It was more painful than expected and Sasuke had to consciously suppress more memories from surfacing.

And the things Itachi had said to him had really hit home and held so much truth, not only because he believed them somewhere inside, but because it was Itachi telling him them and Itachi was... Itachi had been his "Niisan" that knew the answer to everything and knew exactly how anything and everything worked. A genius.

Yes, those words had hit him hard, so hard that his world had stopped as he questioned himself.

Am I loosing myself?

How should I feel about that?

Is there any other way for me to live?

Would I be betraying my family if I thought, it just hurts too much...?

It was so quiet right now.

It was hard to know about anything. He supposed that the first one to address was "Is there any other way for me to live?". If he could decide that then most of the other questions in his mind might be easier afterward.

Is there any other way for me to live?

But all he'd known since that day was that he lived to kill... To kill Itachi... It was just as his brother had said...

Can I live? Is it ok to not live under the weight of revenge? He didn't know.

Sasuke's eyes still watched Naruto sleep, having come to rest on the small part of his face that could be seen while the rest was buried in his arms. Sasuke tried not to move the hand that Naruto held.

Uzumaki Naruto. The true Uzumaki Naruto was back. That really was something; so suddenly coming back to everyone. Really... something... But Naruto really was something for sure. He was unusual and surprising at all times. When it came down to it, it was just like Naruto to come back at a time like this, without warning.

Uzumaki Naruto.

Ever since he and Naruto had met he had been sure of one thing. He was annoying and intrusive, always butting into matters that were none of his business, especially Sasuke's. But another thing was absolute. Naruto was a big part of how Sasuke moved. How Sasuke moved he still wasn't sure, was it that he was stuck in the past or was it that he was too set on the future; he wasn't even sure which time he wanted to live in but what he knew, what was absolute was that Naruto was a part of it. A pull in any situation.

If Sasuke was stuck in the past, living in the bloody murder of his clan, alone in that big house at the end of the road, Naruto was trying to move him forward. With his stupid love of their team and his determination to make Sasuke feel apart of it, even if it meant just having someone to argue with everyday, he was pulling him forward.

If Sasuke was running towards the future, to his goal, to he and Itachi's final showdown and passing life by as quickly as he could, then Naruto was grounded in the present, grabbing his hand as he rushed by and dragging him back to say "stop and look Teme, we're here and now." Making him stop and do all the stupid childish things that Naruto loved and making him love them too.

Which was it...?

Sasuke blinked slowly.

Did it matter? Not really. Wherever he was Naruto was there too screwing up his pace or his stillness, he couldn't escape him at all. Why try to resist? Naruto wanted to be in the present and live and it seemed he wanted Sasuke and everyone else who came near him to live there to. Even though he had such big dreams, Naruto was here and now in Konoha. The village. Home.

Is there any other way for me to live...?

That decision wasn't even his now. Naruto had made it for him, a very long time ago and he was only just realizing. And even though all this time when Naruto hadn't had memories, the thing that got Sasuke the most was the lack of control in his life when that happened... Right now, he was sort of happy that someone as rough as Naruto was giving him a straight answer and that was "shut up and walk beside me." An answer he couldn't refuse, because if it was up to him, he'd probably stay in the past or keep running. With Itachi.

But that's not what was best for him and Uchiha Sasuke was suddenly coming to terms with that even though he was a good ninja and he knew it, even though he was an name worth knowing, he had never accepted, never known that he was allowed to do something for himself and have something for himself and that he was someone by himself. For a long time all he could feel was the weight of all the blood that was spilt in the massacre. All he knew was revenge.

But that wasn't what was best. That wasn't what was healthy. What he wanted to do for himself, what he wanted to have for himself, was his own life, to be someone on his own. And he'd never had that.

"Okaasan... Otousan..." he murmured into the quiet. "I hope you can forgive me..."

They'd want him to be happy right? To do what he wanted to? When his mother held him in her arms when he was small she had dreamed of him living happily; free and healthy right? His father had wanted him to become strong enough to stand on his own, away from Itachi's shadow or something like that right?

He wanted his own life, but that life was worthless if he continued to sit and long for that person. He wanted his own life, with this person.

His hand reached out.

He'd never wanted anything more in his life.

This blonde mess of hair, this sunny, soft skin, this honey suckle sleep scent, those fierce blue eyes.

Wake up.

Wake up now.

.

It only took one touch and Naruto felt like he had been sleeping only to wait for the feel of that touch on his shoulder. He groaned as he opened his eyes and lifted his head from his arms.

Sasuke was sitting up, one hand on his shoulder, the other still in Naruto's. Naruto was very still as he took in the bandages on the other boy's arms and the ones he could see at his collar that beneath the hospital gown would be crossed over his chest and over his shoulders. His skin was paler than normal. But he wasn't frowning. In fact his face was doing that thing where it had almost no expression, just watching. Like from that time at the inn when Naruto had thought Sasuke looked so beautiful.

What should he say? What would be the right thing to say to Sasuke at this moment?

"H-hi."

"Hi." That didn't give him much to go on.

"Who are you?" asked Sasuke. Not really a question. It was like the tone Iruka had for when he used to test them on ninja rules. A question to find out if you knew, not asking because they didn't know.

"Uzumaki Naruto," replied Naruto slowly. "Number one ninja in all of Konoha, Future Hokage," he tagged quickly on the end, realizing he was looking for more than a name and quirking a half smile.

"And I am?"

"Uchiha Sasuke. That bastard genius kid."

"I see." Naruto panicked as Sasuke slid his hand out of Naruto's grasp. He'd done something, said something wrong! Sasuke hated him for leaving him for so long? Naruto watched with wide eyes, terror catching in his throat so he couldn't even apologize or try to say anything as Sasuke's raised his hand and fisted it.

He's going to hit me. He's going to hit me and tell me to get out. He'll punch me and I can't move.

Because I deserve it.

Naruto closed his eyes. But Sasuke didn't punch him. He dropped his fist onto Naruto's bowed head and Naruto could feel how his grip trembled. The feel of the room shifted.

"Sasuke...?" Sasuke didn't let him raise his head, putting more pressure on him to keep his chin down but Naruto could see the other boy through his bangs and eyelashes. His shoulders were up around his ears and his eyes were hidden away in his hair as he bent his face. His mouth was visible, his teeth clenched and his cheeks were flushed with effort to hold back whatever feeling he was trying to keep inside.

"B-baka..." Naruto blinked slowly. "You're... such a moron... Usuratonkachi..." Sasuke's voice was choked and this time Naruto didn't obediently keep his head bowed. In one swift movement he pushed Sasuke's arm aside and climbed onto the bed, sitting astride Sasuke's body on his knees. Roughly he grabbed Sasuke's face in both hands and jerked him up to look at him, biting back the sting of tears but holding fast as Sasuke tried to turn away. He was angry at Sasuke for not showing him this face, for not being honest with him, the real him. He was angry that he was hiding like he had when Naruto hadn't remembered him. He was just angry. He hated seeing Sasuke this way but not seeing it was worse. Sasuke was supposed to be the strong one.

"Teme, don't call me that when you're blubbering like a girl!" Naruto hissed, not saying what he wanted to. He wanted to comfort him. He wanted to heal the tragedy that Sasuke was. Every person he met he could make smile, but Sasuke was still... It hurt them both. Such a similar lonely pain, but still different enough for Naruto not to understand all the way through.

Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut and let out a choked sob which was the moment that Naruto realized he was crying too, more than Sasuke who was still biting them back. His blue eyed vision was blurry and wobbling with yet to fall tears. Sasuke's body was shaking beneath him. He was probably hurting him but he didn't really care. They struggled a while longer, Sasuke trying to pry Naruto's hands off of him but Naruto keeping him still, forcing him to look at him, to see Naruto's determined face, to accept him, to see him.

"Usura..." managed the raven, his struggling hands on Naruto's wrists falling limb, his clenched jaw relaxing in the palms of the hands that held him in place. The atmosphere was tense for a moment longer before Sasuke whispered, "Shit... I hate you..."

Naruto laughed wetly in reply and released Sasuke's face, a huge wave of relief flowing through him as he sat back a little to admire the mess Sasuke was. A mess over him. It was sort of funny.

"You're so difficult Teme. Such a crybaby," muttered Naruto, hiccupping and wiping his eyes.

"Look whose talking, your whole face is wet and yuck," shot back Sasuke before he looked back to Naruto, his face and breathing calmer now. Naruto smiled a little. It was almost as if he hadn't been away at all. The blonde supposed it was like that when it was talking with someone you knew well. You'd fall back into pace no matter what. It was probably harder for Sasuke though... He was the one who had to deal with "two Naruto's" after all.

As he knelt over Sasuke's hips Naruto tried to remember what he'd been doing and where he was while he "wasn't here". He kept saying that he hadn't been there or he'd been away or locked up but he must have been there somewhere inside this body. He knew what happened while "away" after all. It was a bit like sleep. You don't remember when you fall asleep and while you are asleep you see dreams and sometimes you know you're asleep but you can't physically feel being asleep, like the bed or the blankets or how you're lying. Life had been like a dream where you don't know why you're ok with some of the things that happen or why you're doing them. The place where he was locked away was like bed, he couldn't feel it.

How weird.

How hard had that been for Sasuke? That Naruto had been pretty different... Much gentler, quieter, softer than his normal character. It was sort of pathetic. He had been the sort of person who needed protecting... And because of that character, Sasuke was like this.

Naruto looked behind him at Sasuke's leg that was being supported by a bulky cast under the blanket. Did the leg still work right? Naruto wondered.

"I can't move my toes properly on that leg," said Sasuke suddenly.

"I see... They had to reset the bone in it so maybe it'll have to take some time to get better..." Naruto answered, smiling reassuringly but Sasuke just watched him and then dropped his eyes to his hands in his lap.

"Maybe."

In his chest, Naruto's heart clenched. Because of him Sasuke was like this. He had nearly died. He had been forced to show a side of him that Sasuke probably never wanted anyone to know; during the operation when he screamed for his mother and just now when he cried in front of Naruto, also in this moment when his future was uncertain and he was probably scared... Naruto knew he would rather die than let someone hear him scream like that. It wasn't embarrassing but ninja and men were supposed to be strong. Not that he knew a mother to scream for to save him but tearing your throat out in a cry like that was just too... Although he had been screaming for Sasuke in the operation room...

"Sasuke. Don't protect me ever again," said Naruto very seriously, lifting his eyes to meet Sasuke's squarely; an action that he didn't feel like he'd done in a while.

"Why?" Sasuke's answer was so simple, like it was such a stupid thing to suggest.

"Why? Because I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me anymore!" Sasuke just sighed.

"I am a shinobi. If there is someone I can protect I'm not going to let them die and only save myself. Especially not a team mate," said Sasuke slowly, closing his eyes to hide his dark eyes. Naruto stared at him.

"I didn't ask for you to protect me. You ended up hurt because of me being helpless again!" Naruto grabbed Sasuke's collar and leaned into the other boys face, trying to stress his point. Long dark eyelashes fluttered at the motion and opened. They sat eye to eye, breathing as one.

"You're so damn emotional. I hate that about you."

"Then don't protect someone you hate," growled Naruto.

"I won't let someone I love die ever again," whispered Sasuke, his voice was velvety and sent shivers down Naruto's spine. The Uchiha was composed and calm, looking him right in the eye while Naruto's own gaze flicked from side to side across the depth of the other boy's eyes.

"Sasuke..."

"I always hated you and thought you were a total disgrace in the past. But even the first time when my body moved on its own to protect you from Haku... I was still thinking, "I don't want to see him hurt. I don't want him to die."And this time... I thought the same thing. I don't want you to be hurt. I don't want to see you like that. I absolutely won't let someone I care about die... I always knew that I didn't want anyone to touch you but me... "

Naruto let go of Sasuke's collar.

"Naruto. I'll tell you something, you're more important than you know. More important to me than myself so I don't want you to be hurt. So I will always, always protect you."

The tears were building up again. Stupid teme, making him cry again.

"Naruto."

His chest hurt. When Sasuke called him in such a miserable voice, in a voice so honest, he couldn't help but think about how much he loved him. It was irrational; to love someone who aggravated you so much, but he did. He loved Sasuke and he always would.

Sasuke had such an emotional face on and it hurt just to look at him.

He loved him so much it hurt.

"Sasuke... I'll become stronger so you won't have to protect me. So that you'll never be injured again," murmured Naruto, laying his forehead against Sasuke's and trying to keep how overwhelmed he was out of his words. In reply Sasuke ran his fingers through Naruto's blonde hair, pulling softly to lift Naruto's forehead of his and then very slowly, in a way that felt so right, he kissed him.

It was soft and comforting and said everything they couldn't.

I'm sorry

I missed you

Don't go away again

Stay beside me from now on

I love you.

Sasuke rubbed the line of Naruto's jaw with his thumbs as they parted and then came together again. The feeling of Sasuke kissing him again made his heart ache even as it pounded loudly. This time they were gentle with each other, pressing their mouths together and breathing in the warm space between them, letting Naruto's tears fall on both of their cheeks. The heat of their mouths together moving slowly; still clumsy and new but unhurried. Sasuke's skin was warm where Naruto's fingertips skimmed along the line of bandages that crossed his collarbone and shoulders.

I'm so sorry.

God, he'd missed Sasuke so much. Feeling like part of him had been here all this time but still feeling like he hadn't been with the other boy had been so painful but right now all he felt was complete, warm and loved.

Naruto moaned and the tone of the kiss changed. The heat of their bodies became very apparent as Naruto pressed himself against the Uchiha. Sasuke licked at his lips and pushed his tongue demandingly into his mouth and this time Naruto didn't panic, inhaling through his nose sharply. Sasuke groaned and flicked his tongue along the roof of Naruto's mouth making the blonde twitch and make a small sound of pleasure in response. Naruto felt the heat between his hips start to pool and he moved involuntarily, rolling his hips once against Sasuke's.

"Ahh.. Ngh..." It was too dangerous to move again, Naruto felt his knees start to shake in effort to stay still.

The kiss had quite quickly switched from something slow and soft to something not really appropriate for a hospital room where anyone could walk in so Naruto was glad when Sasuke slowed them, bringing them to a heavy-breathed stop, unsure he could have done it himself.

Sasuke kissed his panting lips once more before dropping his head into Naruto's shoulder. Naruto brought his arms around Sasuke, wiping his lips with one hand and making small circles on Sasuke's back with the other, trying to calm or distract himself. He could feel the rise of scars against his fingertips in places and pulled open the hospital gown to reveal red-purple scratch marks visible wherever there was a gap in the bandaging. Naruto tensed, successfully taking the focus off of the pounding heat that spread from his navel, halfway down his thighs. Sasuke was still trembling against him.

This was what he had done to Sasuke? This is what happened after he lost himself in the bathroom? He didn't remember that part at all.

"None of that matters," said Sasuke shakily.

"It matters to me. I did it."

"It's fine.

"None of that matters," repeated Sasuke.

How could Sasuke be so forgiving? Naruto didn't know whether to be angry or grateful...

Another pause. A long pause as Naruto waited for Sasuke to stop breathing with his shoulders.

"Ne, Teme." He wanted to tell him he loved him. It was hard though. After having hurt him so much.

"Hn."

"I... you... How I feel is..." Up until now it had only been "like" with the other Naruto, but it wasn't like that. It was love, definitely.

"As it stands," finished Sasuke shocking Naruto with the small smile that his voice held.

"You aren't mad at me? For leaving?"

"It wasn't your fault so no. Not much anyway." Naruto laughed breathily.

"As it stands then?" asked Naruto.

"As it stands."

"Sasuke?"

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna make you happy forever. Don't worry about a thing because I give you my word on that. I'll absolutely make you happy forever."

"Ok Dobe. Ok."

I love you more than I can say.

.

..

...

..

.

When Sakura, Kakashi and Iruka came back to that hospital room, Sasuke was asleep and Naruto was sitting by his side.

"Are you alright?" asked Sakura as she went and sat at Sasuke's other side. Iruka came around and touched Naruto's shoulder. Kakashi took up stance next to Sakura. Everyone looked so tired.

"I'm fine," said Naruto softly.

There was a long moment where everyone just watched Sasuke. It was a miracle he was alive really.

Crazy. Naruto touched his lips.

"We're all fine," said Iruka from one step behind Naruto.

"What about Sasuke kun's leg?" inquired Sakura.

"Hopefully it will heal in time. Tsunade sama is the best so there is a good chance but it was messy. The rest of him is fine, the ribs and that; they'll just be a little sore for a while." Kakashi put Sasuke's bed back down to level as he spoke. He looked exhausted; his body moved slowly and stiffly, his visible eye was shadowed and dull but still held a fond smile as he looked back to Naruto and nodded at him.

"We're all fine," said Iruka again and squeezed Naruto's shoulder. The boy just watched Sasuke.

Definitely, we won't be lonely anymore. There's been more than enough pain.

Definitely, I'll make us happy forever...

Everything was fine. From now on everything was fine.

.

.

FIN.

Mmm.. Sap...

I'm terribly sorry for that kiss. Seriously, I think my only talent lies in making up excuses such as "ninja are much more mentally advanced" which make it ok for Sasuke and Naruto to make out in a hospital room at the tender age of 13. And filler angst. I do that a lot lol. Anyways, happy ending ;P Thank you soooooooo much for reading!~~