Sneaking Nightmare: Darkness at dawn

OV: Was it all just a dream…or nightmare..or…?

AN: This chapter is a 180 degree turn from the last one. It has a twist, and I hope I can pull it off. I have been thinking about how to do it. (Oh and I finally learned how to edit my chapter without having to delete and reload it!! Yay for me…and my e-mail that alerts me that I have added the chapter three times… ARGH! But no more!)

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Sasuke awoke to a bright ray of sun falling across his face. He groaned and muttered that he didn't have to deal with this yesterday. But then again he'd slept in his bed yesterday; today he awoke to the sun blazing in through Naruto's window. His senses awoke and he could feel the warmth of Naruto's body curled up behind him. He nudged his shoulder just a millimeter, barely enough to even be felt, but enough that his sensitive companion noticed.

Naruto opened sleep darkened eyes, and Sasuke was greeted with those dazzling blue orbs that rivaled the sunlight for brightness. "Good morning, Sas-Uke," Naruto teased. His words earned him a flop onto the bed as Sasuke jumped up and a bop in the face from a pillow. Sasuke was grinning and laughing. Naruto could barely believe the change in the man in only one day.

He smirked and gave Sasuke a mischievous look from beneath his eyelashes, then attacked with his own pillow. Eventually they both fell back onto the bed exhausted from their pillow fight. Naruto slid over and laid his head on Sasuke's bare chest.

"I love you," he said softly, but sincerely. He didn't look into Sasuke's face; he didn't want to or need to. He just wanted to express the feeling that he felt in his heart.

Sasuke paused with his hand in mid air when Naruto spoke. He resumed stroking his blonde's hair grinning. "I love you too, Naruto," he confessed. I always have, he thought but didn't add.

Naruto sighed deeply, and reluctantly arose from his comfortable resting place. He was naked, but he felt neither shame nor concern of Sasuke seeing him this way. He glanced over his shoulder coyly at the darkling boy sitting up in his bed. "I'm going to shower," he teased.

Sasuke waited until he heard the water running, and then crept in to join his lover. Naruto smirked at him, "What took you so long?" he inquired, pouting.

Sasuke didn't answer, and needless to say their shower took longer than necessary. After they had toweled dry and dressed they crossed into the kitchen for breakfast. Naruto pouted adorably when there was nothing waiting for him this time. "Ahh well," he said, "I guess we're on our own today. So toast?" He quizzed.

Sasuke ordered him to sit down and prepared them a nice breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, and juice. "Where'd you learn to cook like that?" he marveled.

Sasuke laughed, "Duh." He teased.

"Oh, right," Naruto scoffed rubbing the back of his neck. "I never would have expected him to teach you something like how to cook." He mused.

Sasuke explained that it had been Kabuto who had taught him, not Orochimaru. After this heavy subject, they ate in companionable silence.

Naruto looked at Sasuke over the dish he was rinsing, "Are you going to Juugo's ceremony?" he asked softly.

Sasuke pondered for a minute, "I'll go and see him get set up. But when they begin the procedure I don't think I want to just sit and wait. Tsunade said they'd come get me when they were finished, and keep me updated throughout the ceremony," he looked down at the table dejectedly.

"He'll be alright," Naruto assured with that charismatic grin of his. "Come on, you can go to the office with me, I promise I won't make you work too hard," he teased.

In the end Sasuke agreed to the offer, it would beat being stuck in the house by him self all day, and they headed out together. Naruto walked with Sasuke to the hospital, and they were immediately admitted to the room where Tsunade was busy instructing her medics what to do. Juugo sat in the middle of the floor; he was looking around at everything. When he saw Sasuke he shouted a warm greeting. He would have jumped up and hugged him like he had the day before, however, he was currently in a binding circle and unable to move.

Sasuke crossed over and offered a warm embrace to his friend. "I'll be waiting for Tsunade to come get me when they are done, okay?" His words were warm and heartfelt.

A tear slipped from Juugo's eye to run down his cheek. "I never thought I would have any real friends. Arigato, Sasuke." The big man whispered sincerely.

Sasuke laid a comforting hand on his shoulder to show his concern and affection, then he and Naruto turned and left. They walked somberly to the office. Shikamaru, being the genius that he was, knew they needed space and after explaining the day's paperwork he retreated to his own office.

Naruto worked diligently, he was getting to make his choices for new team lists from the latest Genin from the academy. It wasn't entirely his decision, it would actually be decided by committee, but he had the first and last say. The morning passed peacefully, and they stopped for a lunch break. Naruto and Sasuke didn't hold hands or show any other affection; however they still gave off an aura of powerful attraction obvious to all who observed them together.

They stopped at Ichiraku's and ordered their lunch. Naruto blushed as he watched Sasuke slurp his noodles; this was how things had begun for them yesterday. Sasuke noticed his amused companion, and turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and unspoken words passed between them. Naruto dropped his gaze and quickly finished his lunch. Sasuke followed his lead chuckling to himself.

Ayame looked at her father with a smile on her face. Teuchi grinned back at her with a knowing look. They resumed their duties at the stand, and waved fondly when the two men left. "Looks like the Hokage's in love, Ayame." "Yes, father, it does. I wonder if I should tell Kakashi?" They laughed together.

The rest of the afternoon slipped by, Naruto trying valiantly to make the pile of paperwork on his desk diminish, and Shikamaru equally persistent in adding to it at odd intervals. Sasuke helped where he could, Naruto had entrusted him to sorting through mission requests and ordering them by means of difficulty so he could assign teams to work on them.

Tsunade had popped in twice to update them on Juugo's progress. At five in the evening she appeared with the news that things were progressing well, and quicker than expected. They were working, as they had been most of the day, to extract and seal the tainted blood in a scroll. They had made great progress, and she felt confident that they would soon have completed this phase and move on to blood replenishment.

Sasuke thanked her, and bent his head as if hard at work. He didn't fool either of the people he was trying to, but they didn't call him on it. She talked with naruto for a bit about how he was getting along as Hokage, and seemed pleased with his working attitude. After a short time she left to check on her patient.

About an hour later when Naruto's head was drooping from the incessant paperwork the atmosphere in the room changed. Naruto sensed it and shot a look toward where Sasuke should have been sitting. The desk was strewn with paperwork, but Sasuke wasn't in sight.

Suddenly a blood curdling scream emitted from the floor behind the desk. Naruto jumped over his own desk and rushed over to see what was wrong with Sasuke. He was shocked to find the man curled up in a fetal position on the floor holding his shoulder, sweating profusely, and crying out in excruciating pain.

Naruto gently pulled the stricken man toward him and cradled his body against his chest. What was going on? He looked up at the ANBU who had been standing there wordlessly, "Get Tsunade," he ordered.

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At the hospital Tsunade was standing on the observation platform carefully overseeing the Jutsu that would permanently seal the scroll. She was trying to make herself heard over Juugo's cries of pain. He too was curled tightly into a fetal position, but he was holding his head as if it were about to explode.

He'd been like this for an hour. Tsunade felt sorry for him, she understood that the pain must be agonizing and wished there was more she could do. She had administered a potion to help him slip out of consciousness, but even through that he was still in this current state.

Suddenly the room went silent. Tsunade looked at Shizune. "He's alright, the seal is complete," she reported. Tsunade nodded and pointed to the two medics who were on standby, "You, switch now, it's time to begin the blood replenishment."

They seamlessly traded spots with two of the four Medic-Nin's who were situated on four axis around a circle. Shizune and Sakura didn't move from their positions on the other two. Shizune clasped her hands in front of her forming the first hand seal, the other three followed. They completed the rest of the sequence simultaneously, none of them missing a movement. A flash of green chakra spread inward from each person down the axis and joined in the center spreading over Juugo's still form, creating a dome of chakra around him. This was the final process, then Tsunade would awaken Juugo and check his condition.

Suddenly an ANBU guard slipped into the room and whispered to Tsunade. She knew the Medic-Nin could finish without her, so she followed the ANBU.

She wasn't prepared for the sight of Naruto cradling a still curled up Sasuke, who although silent was trembling and soaked with sweat. His face was scrunched in an expression of pain.

Tsunade crossed the room and placed her hand on Sasuke's forehead. She formed her chakra into her hand and sent some of it into his head. When she withdrew her hand she had a surprised look on her face. "Naruto, carry him to the hospital at once," she barked.

He scooped Sasuke into his arms and was gone in the blink of an eye. Tsunade followed and soon caught up to them. She led them into a room, and Naruto laid Sasuke on the bed. "What's going on?" he ask softly.

"When we cleansed the last of the cursed blood from Juugo it caused a reaction in Sasuke. The curse seal Orochimaru marked him with was made from Juugo's blood. I hadn't foreseen this consequence, but it appears that when the blood was purged from Juugo the tie was broken with Sasuke also. I wish we had more of the cursed seal recipients to see if it is widespread or just because Sasuke is so close in proximity to the source." She explained. "I can't tell you what the effects will be until we are through the procedure with Juugo. I don't know how he is going to come through this ceremony, but it should allow us to have an idea of how Sasuke will react."

She stood, "I'm going to get him some of the potion I prepared for Juugo. It will help him sleep."

Naruto merely nodded as she left the room. He took one of Sasuke's ashen hands in his own. "Teme, you better be alright. You only just came back, I won't lose you again." His head dropped to his chest, "Remember, I love you."

Tsunade returned with the potion, and used a syringe to inject some of it into Sasuke's arm. She didn't speak, just turned to go check on Juugo.

In the ceremony room, Juugo was just waking from his induced sleep. He looked around him with a gentle smile on his face. Tsunade rushed into the room. She approached the huge man cautiously. "How do you feel, Juugo?" she inquired politely.

He grinned widely, "I feel like a new man," he admitted.

Tsunade used her chakra to test his blood. She smiled, and told him the great news that the procedure had been a success. She faltered for a minute when he asked where Sasuke was, and if he could come in now. She calmly, and as completely as she could, explained what had transpired during the ceremony. Juugo's face fell when he realized that even his healing had wrought pain to his friend. Tsunade reassured him, and he knew she was right that he was better off now, and that he would be able to be an even better friend because there would be no worry of him going into curse mode anymore.

Juugo cheered at this thought, and ask if he could go see Sasuke. Thinking this was a great idea Tsunade released the binding and led him to the room.

Naruto was still sitting beside his partner, he held Sasuke's hand as if letting go would be the end of the world. Juugo approached silently. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you." he apologized.

Naruto looked up, and they could see where he'd been weeping. "It's okay, it wasn't your fault. Orochimaru is the one that injected him with the curse, not you. You can't control what your blood carries." Juugo brightened at these words. He had been expecting to be yelled at and maybe even attacked. "Arigato, Naruto," he whispered.

Naruto didn't respond, he just turned his attention back to Sasuke. It crushed him to see the body lying there so lifeless, his typically pale skin looking ghastly in the wan light of early evening. "When will he wake up?" he asked Tsunade worriedly.

"He'll sleep through the night. Naruto, you should get some rest too. You may need it tomorrow; there is no telling what the aftereffects will be." her voice was tired. "Come on we can go get some ramen." She offered trying to cheer him up.

His soft response that he wasn't hungry told Tsunade just how deeply this was affecting him. She conceded defeat and left the room quietly. Juugo didn't know what to do, where he was supposed to go, or how to ask.

Naruto, as if sensing his confusion, offered a solution, "Why don't you stay here with us tonight, you can have the other bed. I'll find you a place to stay tomorrow, okay?"

Juugo smiled, and accepted eagerly. Naruto called out into the corridor for a guard to please take Juugo to get a change of clothing, nightclothes, and anything else he might need.

Naruto almost regretted offering to allow the other man to intrude on his solitude. He wanted to be the first one to see Sasuke when he awoke. He wanted to be the one to reassure him everything would be alright. He knew he was being selfish, but he couldn't help himself. He took advantage of their privacy to steal a kiss, and then laid his head on the mattress close to Sasuke's shoulder.

Juugo returned all too quickly. He carried with him a bag containing his possessions, as well as a box of sushi for Naruto. The guard had been touched when Juugo had confessed he was concerned for Naruto, and had offered to buy them dinner. It was his job to take care of the Hokage after all.

The night passed uneventfully, but slowly. Naruto finally fell asleep with his head close to Sasuke's shoulder and his fingers entwined in Sasuke's. Juugo had proved to be a considerate roommate. He kept mostly to himself, though Naruto didn't mind him coming over to check on Sasuke, they were friends too.

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Naruto was awakened to an incredulous sneer of, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

His head snapped up as he recognized the voice, but didn't comprehend the tone or words. "Nande?" he questioned looking up at Sasuke who was sitting up in the bed.

Sasuke was glaring at him, but Naruto couldn't understand why. Juugo had been roused from his sleep by Sasuke's shout also, and rushed over to check on his friend. "Juugo!" Sasuke greeted warmly, then his expression and tone shifted, "What are we doing here of all places?"

Juugo didn't understand why Sasuke was acting this way. "Sasuke, what do you mean? We're in Konoha, at the hospital. Tsunade and the Medic-Nin's performed their purifying ceremony yesterday, remember?" he asked in a concerned voice.

Sasuke looked at Juugo incredulously, "They did what?!? And you let them??" he shook his head in wonder. Juugo studied his friend carefully. "Sasuke, do you know who that man is beside you?" he asked cautiously, trying to prepare for whatever would happen next.

Sasuke looked at Naruto who was still trying to figure out what was going on, and had an adorable mixed up look on his face. Sasuke looked at him predatorily, "I recognize him, he's Naruto," he began in a suave voice, clearly aroused by the blonde's presence, "what I don't understand is why he was sleeping with his head on my bed. Also what exactly are we doing here?"

Naruto's face fell, Sasuke was still attracted to him, that much was clear, but he didn't seem the same. Why couldn't he remember? Tsunade stepped into the room at that exact moment. "Great! You're awake." She cried.

Sasuke looked at her, "And just who are you?? My booby prize??" he sneered at his joke ogling Tsunade's overly large chest. "Not interested." He concluded.

Tsunade tensed, about ready to fly into a rage. She stopped herself short as it dawned on her that Sasuke was having an attack of amnesia. It had to be a side effect of the curse leaving him. She stepped up to him professionally, "I am the head Medic-Nin, for your information. Turn around so I can look at you." She ordered in a crisp no-nonsense voice.

Sasuke grumbled, but complied. Tsunade pulled his shirt back, off his neck, and tsk'ed in self satisfaction. The curse mark was gone. Now what to do about the amnesia, she could not only see Naruto's anguish she could feel it radiating off him in waves. "Well?" Sasuke demanded.

Tsunade placed her hand on his forehead and released a small amount of chakra. She sighed and let her hand fall back to her side. "You're health is good, but I don't know what to tell you about the amnesia, it could last days or months or never come back at all," she admitted sadly.

Naruto looked up at her, his blue eyes wide with anxiety and concern. "Never?" he whispered.

She made to leave, "Naruto, can I see you for a minute?"

Once out the door, she looked him straight in the face, "You can try to make him remember. You two have a connection; you just have to figure out how to break through." With that she turned and walked away.

Naruto walked back into the room with his shoulders slumped. He flopped back into his seat by Sasuke's bed. He braced himself and looked over at the man; he allowed his love and concern to show clearly in his eyes. Sasuke arched his eyebrow, but didn't comment. Naruto's eyes filled with such sadness and despair. He jumped up and stormed out of the room. I'll be damned if I let him see me cry. He thought as the tears slid down his face.

Sasuke looked at Juugo and asked him what was that all about. Juugo pulled up a chair and sat down, this was going to take some time. He set to the task of questioning Sasuke to find out what he remembered and what he didn't. When he had concluded, he determined that anything that had been done while under the seal was vague or forgotten. He did remember events such as killing Itachi, but for some reason after that was a blank.

Sasuke yawned, and Juugo grinned. He figured the potion Naruto had told him about and that Tsunade had administered was making him sleepy still.

When Sasuke's breathing became slow and regular Juugo left to go find the worried blonde. He nodded at the guard posted outside the door. He concluded Naruto had ordered him to stay, or else Tsunade had. Whichever, he was glad. He was directed to the Hokage building by the guard, and he stopped before what he had been told was the office. He couldn't hear anything from behind the door, and just as he raised a hand to knock Shikamaru stepped out of his office.

He appraised the large man, and then asked what he wanted. When Juugo explained what was going on, Shikamaru led him to Naruto's rooms. Shika knocked on the door, and when Naruto's weak voice asked who it was he answered, "It's troublesome, but you have a visitor."

Naruto opened the door; he looked at Juugo and moved aside to let him in. Shika inquired as to if he was alright, and Naruto retorted that it would depend. Shika shrugged and strode off. Naruto turned, curious at to what Juugo wanted.

Juugo proceeded to relate what he'd learned from his conversation with Sasuke. Naruto listened intently, and when Juugo was done talking he was glad that he'd came. "I was trying to think of where you could stay, and now it occurs to me that Sasuke might not want to stay with me anymore." He stopped speaking, a lump in his throat.

Juugo filled the silence, "What if we both stayed here? I could get my bed from the jail and have it brought here. Sasuke and I could stay in the second room. Maybe it would help him remember if he was here with you," the big man offered. "I haven't seen him this happy, ever. I want him to smile again, like he did with you that day you came to see me."

Naruto knew he was sincere, and agreed. Having something to do was cathartic. Naruto requested that Juugo's things from the cell be brought and set up in Sasuke's room. Meanwhile Juugo and Naruto returned to the hospital.

Naruto wondered if what had happened these past few days was only a dream or if he was stuck in a nightmare now. Either way he wanted it to be over so he'd be able to get on with things.

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Muhahaha… I'm so mean!! But Sasuke gets a chance to get back into character and be the prick we all know and either love or hate!  This chapter is 8 pages on Word, but it felt short… Hmmm

-Kneise