Thank you one and all for your reviews, adding this to your alerts and putting this fic onto your favorites :3! I love you alll. And hopefully I replied to you guys too ;o. Like most times, this chapter took on a mind of its own. And I simply let whatever the hell happened... happened, because I totally derailed from my original plot line (: but it's not like that's the FIRST time that ever happened 8D. I kind of like how this ended... and I think you all will too ;D.

Because afterall, things will get drama/angsty after this. Mwahahahahah! :3

Warning: I kill you with fluff? Why yes, yes I do kill you with fluff. Does that make me a murderer?

Disclaimer: Welll, I can dream I own Naruto, right? That won't get me arrested, will it?

Enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen: Changes

"Now that I've finally come out of my slump, I've realized something. Things have changed. No, things are changing. Whether they're for the better or for worse... I don't know. But the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me to be careful..." – Sasuke Uchiha, age 18.

It had been two weeks after their reconnecting in the sanctuary. In those two weeks, Sasuke has been either dragged to irritating council meetings that left him rather angry in the end, forced to sit at an annoying family dinner that left him pissed, or having Itachi berate him on many things, like his stupidity for leaving Naruto alone, for his ignorance in general when it came to his own damned feelings, only to bring his younger brother into his hug and whisper silly nothings in his ear. Sometimes they would be warnings about the rebellion growing stronger and stronger. And sometimes they would just be random strings of words showing how happy he was to finally have his brother back.

Little did Sasuke know, that was the first ounce of emotion Itachi released ever since Sasuke returned.

Now that Sasuke was finally paying attention to things—he was sitting on the windowsill, mindlessly watching the activity go along in the castle and outside—he saw how things were different from what they were after he left. The streets that used to be crowded with so many people were almost naked, bare of any human interaction. Lights that used to illuminate the city was dimmed to only firefly flickers, the brightest sources coming from important political buildings, the castle, and businesses. Sasuke felt something cold grip on his gut and twist it in a sickening way. Something was definitely off. His aura was flaring out of control and his blood was pumping louder and quicker through his veins.

Luna Empire looked so... dead.

'Could it be the rebellion that's the cause of this?' He remembered at one of the council meetings he was dragged to that they had the rebels under control. Sasuke mentally scoffed at the council's spineless and two-faced attitudes. Oh yes, they definitely had things under control if the Empire's own citizens were too afraid to walk the streets during the day. The raven shook his head and turned his attention back to the castle; his home. This place had suffered more changes then the Empire itself. Sure, the Uchiha clan weren't known for their bubbly personality and infectious spirit, but at least it was somewhat lively. People actually smiled. And the Uchihas could be called decent people. But now... It was like what little life the castle had was sapped away till everything was bone dry.

Sasuke noticed how his mother was always on edge. Not in a snappy sort of way, but more like always jittery. Her eyes never focused on one thing for too long. And she would always freak out over shadowy corners as if something was going to jump out and attack her. His father was always snapping at anyone that even looked at him. It was like his emotions were ticking time bombs just waiting to explode. And Itachi... well, his cold demeanor seemed to have slipped, though the man was more of a recluse than ever.

Living in this household, Sasuke was stunned by how he hadn't turned completely mad yet. Then he snorted, thinking, 'I've already gone mad. I'm just no longer affected.' And that saddened him a little. He had already come to terms that his three year journey with Orochimaru had changed him, and possibly altered his personality a little. The old Sasuke would have screamed, bawled his eyes out, and go to the very root of the cause of such a drastic change. But not this Sasuke. This Sasuke would only quietly watch from outside the fishbowl, carefully studying every little change until a solution came to him. Or rather, until he cared enough to find a solution.

He wasn't stupid. He knew that the rebellion was growing stronger and stronger by the day. Sasuke hadn't just sit through those council meetings for nothing. Though, half the time he wanted to rip out one of the chairman's vocal chords because they had brought up... sticky topics.

"Prince Sasuke. Eight years ago you were sent on a mission to survey the Jinchuuriki Prince. You do realize why we sent you, correct?"

Sasuke didn't even bother to voice an answer; his glare spoke volumes.

The elderly chairman, Danzou, cleared his throat and continued. "Right. In these past years you have done exceptionally well in gaining favor with the Jinchuuriki Prince."

'Don't call him that!' his mind raged. He hated how people treated Naruto like he was a beast rather than a human being! The boy had feelings! He had a heart! He was always the one Sasuke confided in. Always the one the raven prince went for comfort, support! The one he had always... Sasuke worried his bottom lip and clenched his fists so tightly, his nails scraped against his palm and blood started to trickle down his hand.

"I must agree," another chairman, Zetsu, replied. "Eight years and the Jinchuuriki still has no idea that your relationship was spun by a thread of deceit..." Zetsu was a man that used his words like weapons no matter who, or how old, you were. He said whatever was on his mind, but there was always some innuendo behind his words. Whether they were to cut you down, build you up, or simply stab you, you'd never know.

"Are you trying to get at something?" Sasuke directed his glare towards the man with half his face painted black, and the other face painted white.

Zetsu shrugged carelessly and let out a sigh of indifference. "I'm just amazed, really. I do hope that all these years together hasn't turned you... soft."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your mission was split into two parts: Gain information about the Jinchuuriki and get close to him. Then part two: Kill him."

Sasuke's whole body turned rigid as the words sunk in. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Sasuke couldn't do that... No, he didn't want to do that. He wanted to be together with Naruto! Till they were old, gray, and dying! Maybe before they had come so close, killing him wouldn't have struck such a deep nerve. Sure, he would have been young, but he would have pushed that all aside for his clan. But now, now he knew what Death was like. He knew it so well it still haunted him in his nightmares. Sasuke always feared the day when Naruto would learn about his true intentions for their friendship. The nightmares would always taunt him and make him feel like the lowest piece of scum on the planet. The raven knew that, if the dreaded day would come, then he would truly become broken.

There were so many changes going on in his life, now that he finally paid attention to it. He had changed as a person. From a spoiled brat of a prince to... a more mature prince that only wanted to protect one, sole, person. That particular change Sasuke was rather content with. But these new changes that were going on around him... they were not okay.

Sighing, Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and decided that sitting around in the castle wouldn't get much things done. Naruto was coming over to celebrate his birthday that was a couple of days ago. Due to uncertain circumstances, Naruto couldn't make it on the actual day. On the inside, Sasuke was heartbroken that his best friend—and hopefully more—couldn't attend the event. But Naruto had spammed his Holo-Pad with messages saying how he'd make it up to him.

With each message Sasuke read, the smile on his face grew wider.

"You have that stupid look on your face again, Otouto." Itachi leaned against near where Sasuke was sitting, a small smirk on his face. Sasuke turned to look at his brother, and found himself studying his older brother. The air of indifference and cockiness that used to surround Itachi like a blanket was no dimmed down to a barely noticeable level. If you didn't know the raven prince as well as Sasuke did, you would have thought that the man seemed to be the perfect companion for engaging in hearty conversation. There were bags under his brother's eyes. And his normally onyx eyes had lost their piercing gaze.

"And you, Aniki, look like you've just been through Hell and back." Sasuke retorted, watching how his brother instantly tensed at such words. 'Just what the hell happened while I was away...?'

Itachi released a shaky sigh and ran a tired hand through his hair. His black bangs fell against his face and hid most of his eyes, but Sasuke didn't need to look at them to sense the emotion his brother was portraying. The man was stressed.

"You wouldn't be wrong in saying that..."

"I always hated when you beat around the bush like that." Sasuke folded his arms across his chest and glared at his brother. "I want to know what has happened to this place and now."

"Is Naruto coming over today?" Itachi asked casually.

"Don't evade me." Sasuke literally snarled. "I have every damn right to know what's going on in my empire!"

"He is, isn't he?"

"I said stop evading!"

"I am not evading, little brother. I'm simply asking a question."

"Questions that avoid the topic!"

"Because the topic doesn't need to be addressed." Itachi stated calmly, twirling the end of his ponytail around his index finger. "I... do not want you to sink further into the darkness..." his voice came out as a whisper, and Sasuke almost felt his anger dissipate.

Sasuke worried his bottom lip once more, digging his nails deeper into the skin on his upper bicep. Darkness... What the hell could his brother mean by that? And sinking in deeper...? Sasuke shook his head wildly. There was no way he'd go back to that point of his life again! He had Naruto again; his light in the murky shadows that used to surround him. As long as he had Naruto, nothing would change...

"This... has something to do with the rebels, doesn't it?" Sasuke raised his gaze to meet his brother's, but Itachi refused to look at him.

"I think you should get ready for Naruto..." his brother whispered softly before smirking a little. He bent down and lightly flicked his brother on the forehead. "Those clothes will just not cut it..." with that said, Itachi leaned back, turned on his heels, and started to head for the staircase.

Sasuke sat there dumbfounded for a few minutes, before frowning deeply and chucking a pillow towards his retreating brother. "You never answered my question, damn it! Come back here and fucking tell me!"

Itachi stopped in his tracks and released another heavy sigh. His brother truly had no control over that temper of his. He turned his head around, and threw an almost bored glance towards his brother.

"I really don't feel like answering something you already know." after that, Itachi disappeared up the staircase, leaving a fuming yet stupefied Sasuke in his wake.

+Eclipse: I Need You+

"Happy Birthday, Sasuke!"

"Dobe, you're a little late..." Sasuke smirked as he watched the pout manifest on Naruto's luscious-looking lips. 'Luscious? When did I turn into such a poetic perv...?'

"I told you I was sorry about a bazillion times, Teme!" Naruto threw his arms in the air out of exasperation. Seriously, it was like Sasuke enjoyed making the blonde spazz out!

"One more time never really hurts." Sasuke and Naruto were sitting in the raven's room, Naruto sprawled out across the bed, and Sasuke sitting against the mattress. Naruto's hands were idly playing with Sasuke's soft, onyx, tresses. Twirling some around his fingers, then running through them in a massaging manner. On more than one occasion Sasuke had to resist the urge to moan out loud, but damn it Naruto's hands felt so good against his scalp...

"You're such a bastard..." Naruto muttered, inching closer to the bed so he could lean forward and see more of Sasuke. "You better like the present I bought you! There is no way in hell I'm going back to return it because of your prissy ways!"

Sasuke chuckled and caught the hand that was running through his hair, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "No worries, Dobe. I would never return something from you." he inwardly grinned watching his blonde blush a very deep shade of red. That's what got him thinking: Since when had he started referring to Naruto as his? He figured from probably a long time ago, ever since he first got the assignment that webbed their lives together. Naruto was his assignment. His target. Now he was his best friend, and something... more?

'We never really established what we are...' Sasuke thought as he stroked Naruto's knuckles one by one. And Sasuke was never the type of person to ask something like that upfront. He was actually surprised that Naruto didn't come up and ask him first. 'Well, relationships were a foreign aspect to him until a few years ago...' But seriously, Naruto should know how to distinguish between friendship and something more, right? Right?

Somehow Sasuke was finding that very hard to believe...

Someway or another, Naruto had pulled Sasuke onto the bed with him, so now the two were laying side by side. Their fingers interlocked and their legs tangled up together. Naruto had moved slightly so that he was on his side, his head resting comfortably on Sasuke's chest. The raven's heartbeat was steady, melodic, and soothing to the blonde's ears. Sasuke unconsciously wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist, hands lazily rubbing small circles on the blonde's back. When had things changed so much that Sasuke felt so comfortable with Naruto by his side like this? No one, not even his brother, made him feel this... satisfied. He felt at ease when he was with Naruto. He felt like he could take on the whole damn world, and then some, as long as he knew Naruto wasright beside him.

Small arms wound around Sasuke's back, and the body they belonged to pulled himself closer until he was fit perfectly against Sasuke's chest. Sasuke just tightened his grip and rested his chin on top of that golden mop of hair that always seemed to be stretching for the sun...

"Ne, Sasuke...?"

"Hm?"

"Happy birthday."

Sasuke cracked a smile. "You've already said that."

"I know... but I felt like saying it again."

"You're so weird."

"Shut up. You're ruining the moment."

Sasuke's smile grew wider. He could practically hear the blush crackling alive on Naruto's skin. "There was a moment?"

"Why are you such a bastard?"

"I thought that's what you loved the most about me?"

Silence followed his words shortly afterwords like a kitten that had become attached to you. Sasuke instantly regretting using that word: Love. That word was so completely foreign to him until now. He knew he felt something for Naruto, but he always put it off as an intense like. The sort of like that drove you to do everything in your power to make the person of your affection smile. The sort of like that seemed to give you the strength of an entire army just so you could protect one person. Now, though, Sasuke had found that he was rather familiarized with the word Love. Because really... wasn't that the feeling he was experiencing for so long now.

Finally, Naruto's soft words fluttered into the air.

"Y-Yeah... I think so..."

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow and pushed Naruto back enough so he could get a good glimpse of his face. "What was that?"

"I-I said I think so!" Naruto stuttered, though Sasuke looked just as confused as before.

"What do you mean by that?" Sasuke knew he was asking a lot of questions. And yes, he was even aware that he probably looked like a deer in headlights right about now. But his heart demanded to know what Naruto was carrying on about!

"You know what I mean, Teme!"

"I don't think I do if I asked, Dobe." Sasuke sighed when all he got was a small, but still adorable, pout to appear. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on the bridge of Naruto's nose. "Tell me?" he whispered against the blushing skin.

He could feel Naruto's aura inflame profoundly, and if it was any indication that Naruto was nervous, the blonde's heartbeat was pounding obnoxiously loud against his ribcage.

"I think... that I love you. Maybe... I don't know."

Sasuke ignored every other word in that sentence other than these three: I love you. Naruto had said it, though there was hesitation and confusion laced in those words, but they were said! And Sasuke felt his heart soar just a little bit higher. Allowing a smile he had no intention of fighting off, Sasuke pressed another kiss to Naruto's forehead.

"You don't know?" there was obvious amusement stringed with his words.

Naruto's blush increased profoundly. "Well! It's not like I've ever been in love before so I could tell you!"

"Then tell me what you're feeling instead." Sasuke refused to let the subject drop. He would get Naruto to fully confirm his feelings. And then he would smash his lips against his soon-to-be blonde. After that, well, Sasuke decided he'd let nature take it's course then.

"I told you I can't!" Naruto whined and struggled against the raven's grip, but Sasuke wouldn't budge.

"I know I love you." Sasuke stated simply, and watched as the blonde became limp in his arms.

"W-What?" the blonde was completely dumbfounded, and every ounce of shock was shown in those bright, blue orbs.

"Listen closely, Dobe, because I'm only saying this once." he said in a warning tone, but the blonde softly scoffed it off. "I think I really began to love you after the first Eclipse Treaty Ball. You were so... beautiful. And your personality was so contagious. When we were dancing, I found myself wanting to know more about you. What made you tick. What things made you smile. If I could make you smile. Before I knew it, you had monopolized my heart and mind just by smiling at me..." no matter how much Sasuke's pride screamed at him to stop. No matter how crazy his mind was going from the sudden confession. And no matter how much Sasuke's heart threatened to explode, the raven continued. "I want to protect you with my very being. I never want to be separated from you again. Those three years we were apart... they were utterly Hell for me. I never want to suffer that again. So I ask..." the raven lifted his hand and rubbed his thumb against the three whiskers on Naruto's right cheek. "Can I stay by your side forever?"

The blonde was silent for a few minutes, trying to find a way to voice his words without breaking out into some girly scream. He worried his bottom lip numerous times, finding it hard to make direct eye contact with the raven without passing out from his heart giving out from the accelerating emotions running haywire.

"Fuck..." Naruto muttered and buried his face deeper into the raven's chest. "Why do you have to go and say things like that...?"

Sasuke chuckled, rubbing small circles on the blonde's back once more. "I was simply being honest."

"Well stop it. I don't think my heart can take much more of your honesty."

"That would be a way to go. Heart failure over the truth."

"Shut up!" Naruto pulled back so he could give Sasuke a heated glare. "You're enjoying this way too much!"

Sasuke smirked. "You can tell?"

"Damn it... I hate you!"

"No you don't. You just told me you loved me."

"I said I think I love you. There's a difference!"

"You know, I'm waiting for you to tell me what you're feeling."

"And I told you, Teme, that I can't!"

Sasuke cupped the blonde's cheek and forced Naruto to look at him. "And I told you that you can. So do it... Or else I'm going to feel like a complete dumbass for confessing..." the raven felt a blush overtake his cheeks, and forced himself to break away. Why in the world did he have to get nervous in front of Naruto, of all people! 'Damn it... he's going to laugh. I can feel it now.'

But laughter never came. Instead, Sasuke heard an intake of breath and Naruto's soft declaration flood his ears like sweet music.

"I think... I think I started to love you... that day when you found me in the courtyard." the blonde started off softly. Sasuke could sense that the blonde was totally embarrassed, but he was too happy to even care about that. "You treated me like a human being. You held me so tightly and promised me that you'd never leave my side... I was so incredibly happy to hear that. Ever since we met in the forest and got our scars, I've never once stopped thinking about. I've pretty much got you on the brain every waking moment."

"And when you're sleeping...?" Sasuke asked with a lewd glance.

"Don't push it, bastard!" Naruto glared slightly, but then his blue eyes softened as Sasuke's warm lips pressed against his cheek. "I seriously felt like someone had ripped my heart out forcibly when you left. Those three years of separation were the worst years of my life because you weren't there... Sure, I became stronger. And my reputation got a little better but... it meant nothing since you weren't there to congratulate me or celebrate with me, you know?" the blonde sighed once more and rested his head against Sasuke's strong shoulder. "You don't even have to ask if you can stay beside me. Because I already expect you to be there right by my side. I wouldn't want it any other way."

When Naruto looked up into Sasuke's eyes again, the raven felt his last rope of self-control snap. He rolled over onto his back and brought Naruto to rest on top of him. The blonde gasped at the sudden movement, and Sasuke took the opportunity of Naruto's open mouth to press his lips against the blonde's. His fingers stroked at the back of Naruto's neck, playing with his blonde strands. He felt the blonde wiggle on top of him, his body touching all the right places. Sasuke had to bite back a loud groan when Naruto's thigh brushed against his crotch...

They pulled back when the need for air became apparent. Both their cheeks were visibly flushed, and their breathing came out in pants and mingled in the air. The heat was rising between them. And it took every ounce of whatever self-control Sasuke had left to not tear off Naruto's clothes and take him. Though his hands were naughty little things and found that tickling Naruto's stomach was just too hard to resist. Sasuke swallowed back the lump in his throat as he heard Naruto's sweet moan float in the air, and go straight to his groin...

'Damn it...' he thought, Naruto was just too damn hot for his own good. Those beautiful, plump, lips were parted. Practically screaming to be attacked. The blonde's blue orbs were glittering with something the raven couldn't place. It wasn't fear. And there wasn't too much confusion floating around. Whatever it was, though, made Sasuke's body heat flare up considerably.

"Naruto..." he whispered, blowing hot breath against the blonde's plump lips. He enjoyed watching the blonde shiver on top. Smirking, Sasuke pulled Naruto's bottom lip with his teeth gently, rolling the flesh between his teeth before he lapped at it with his tongue. He felt heat beginning to pool in all the right areas, and damn it! If Naruto didn't stop rolling his hips...

Somehow, Sasuke's hands found their way up Naruto's shirt. Simply massaging the taut muscles that were hidden from view. Hot lips connected with equally hot, tanned, skin and bit onto it softly. Suck, bite, lick, until there was a nicely sized bruise on the blonde's previously unmarked skin.

"W-Wait..." Naruto muttered, desperately trying to fight off the hands tickling his stomach. "I s-said... w-wait... Teme!"

Sasuke pulled back with a frown on his face, raising an eyebrow in question.

"What does this make us?" Naruto asked flatly when he felt composed enough to talk.

"By this, you mean my touching you?"

"Well, duh! That, and the whole heartfelt confessions we just blabbed!" Naruto scoffed and rolled off of Sasuke, much to the raven's disappointment. "I have no idea where the hell you learned to do that... Wait! Are you a virgin?"

Sasuke was pretty offended that Naruto would even ask such a question. Sure, Orochimaru had royally screwed him over, but the man never put him into that type of environment. Well, as far as he remembered anyways...

"Yes, Naruto. I still have my virginity well in tact. Orochimaru never introduced me to sex."

"Oh Thank God..." Naruto muttered in relief, and rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder. The two were now propped against the bed's headboard, sitting side by side with their hands clasped together tightly. "At least he did one thing right..."

"Well..." Sasuke drawled nonchalantly. "There aremany things I have probably forced myself to forget..."

"You bastard!" Naruto screamed and punched the raven square on the shoulder. "Don't you even joke about that or I'll make sure you never get the chance to lose your virginity!"

Sasuke ignored the threat, smiling softly as Naruto got jealous over something that probably never happened. Normally, he would have been more concerned on whether he was a virgin or not but somewhere deep inside of him was rather... calm. So he played that as his answer that he was still a virgin.

"If you're worried about me losing it to someone else, you don't have to worry. My virginity will be yours for the taking." aww, Sasuke's such a gentleman...

"Damn it! I told you to stop saying things like that!" Naruto muttered, lamely punching the raven on the shoulder once more. "You never answered my question..."

"That's because you got sidetracked." Sasuke stated simply, running his free hand through Naruto's hair.

"Well I'm back on track, now. So answer my question."

"Do you honestly think I would kiss you and expect us to just stay best friends?" Sasuke shook his head at the incredulity of it all. "If it makes you feel better, we can always go out..."

"This is such a weird way of approaching the topic..." Naruto had to giggle at how... awkward things seemed to be turning out. "If you ask me nicely, I don't think I'll say no."

"You don't think?" the raven parroted with a smirk.

"I said if you asked me nicely! Don't be such a bastard."

"Alright... fine. Naruto Uzumaki—"

"Yes, Sasuke Uchiha?" Naruto asked, battering his eyelashes.

Sasuke scoffed and flicked the blonde on the forehead. "Dobe. Let me finish or else we won't be getting anywhere." the blonde had to shut up at that because, well, he did want to clarify their status. "Will you go out with me?"

"You know what, Teme? I think I will." Naruto replied cheekily, which earned him a rather sound kiss on the lips.

When the two parted again, they both had the silliest grins plastered on their faces.

"But let's not call ourselves boyfriends." Naruto said after a few minutes of silence.

Sasuke was actually confused about that. "Why not? I thought you wanted us to clarify what we were?"

"Tch, I know what I want! It's just that calling us boyfriends sounds really... corny."

"You're impossible..." the raven muttered. "Then what do you want to call us, then?"

"Hmm... I'm really digging the word 'lovers' right now. That's what my Dad refers to Pein as, anyway. His loverr." he stretched the word out longer than necessary and batted his eyelashes again.

Sasuke had to admit, he rather liked the sound of that word. Lovers. Naruto was... his lover. Yeah, that sounded right. Hell, it sounded down right amazing! And Sasuke couldn't help but kiss his lover once more.

This change, like the others around him, was so sudden. But to Sasuke, it felt so damn right.

I think next chapter I'll definitely turn the evil switch on ;). Lmfao! I'm totally digging how this turned outt. I was going to post this yesterday but I couldn't bring myself to finish this v.v. So you get it today (:!

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Till next time, my lovelies!