Title: The Holding Game
Genre: Angst/Suspense
Rating: T

Synopsis: While training in the forest one day, Sasuke and Naruto's pathological need to compete with one another causes them to commit a horrid act; after which their guilt and fear prompts them both to hold the biggest secret of their young lives.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

The Holding Game
by Yamichik

(:Chapter 5:) Naruto's guilt

Naruto sat on the cold table with his fingers gripped over the sides tightly. His eyes were bloodshot, he had been up all night. He lifted his eyes to the window above the door and saw the morning light pouring through. As he stared up, the nurse walked in and handed him a paper.

"What's this?" he inquired.

"It's a prescription for a sleep aid." She said. "You're very fatigued! Have you been pushing yourself to your limit everyday lately or something?"

"… Yeah."

"Well, just be sure to have an adult supervise your medication for you after you fill the prescription." She added as she handed him his shirt and walked out.

Naruto pulled his shirt on and slid off the table. He dragged himself to the door where Kakashi sensei was waiting outside, after all, he was the one who had sent Naruto to the doctor when he showed up for training looking like a zombie too many times in a row.

"So will you live?" he asked.

"…"

"What's that you've got?" he asked as he took the paper from him. "A prescription for a sleep aid? Is that the best they can do?" He sighed. "Whatever, as long as it snaps you out of this funk you're in." He once again eyed Naruto, who once again didn't respond.

"Well, let's go get this filled shall we?" he said waving the paper in the air.

Naruto and his sensei walked along to the pharmacy as Naruto rubbed his palms on his pants legs. They were wet, he really wasn't feeling well at all lately, and irregardless what the nurse said, it wasn't just mere fatigue. Naruto knew exactly what it was, but the thought of it just made him sicker.

"Well, here we are." Said Kakashi plainly as he eyed Naruto, who had fallen behind by a good 5 feet. One look at Naruto's sickly condition was enough. "Whew, better hurry…" muttered Kakashi as he stepped up to fill the prescription, which didn't take long, and soon they were back on their way to the central part of the village.

"I would advise you to take the day off." Started Kakashi. "Don't worry about training today, just hang out or something, and be sure to rest tonight. Take the medicine, but be sure to read the label alright?" he added. Naruto nodded his head. "I'm gonna take off now." said Kakashi abruptly like he always did. "So where are you going from here?" he inquired.

"Home." Said Naruto quietly. Kakashi nodded, and after handing him the bottle of medicine, he left. Naruto rubbed his eyes and watched his sensei leave. It was still morning, and he wasn't sure how to use his time, so he just leaned in the direction that his feet were pointing and began walking.

Eventually, he wound up at the training grounds and found Rock Lee there, as usual. After all, the boy probably put in more training hours than all of the rest of them combined.

"Hello Naruto!" he said eagerly. Naruto seemed slightly shocked at his cheerful greeting, but then he remembered that Lee didn't know what he had done. Of course he was cheerful.

"Hey." Said Naruto, forcing a smile. Lee suddenly looked concerned.

"It is an unfortunate event what happened to Hokage-sama's acquaintance." He said as he turned around to continue stretching his legs out on the ground. Naruto's stomach did a flip, but then settled as he forced reason within himself. Things of this sort didn't happen on a regular basis in Konoha, of course Lee was going to bring it up.

"Yeah, it is..." drawled Naruto, eager to change the subject.

"It is even more of a tragedy to know that it took place on his birthday."

"Y-Yeah…" agreed Naruto nervously. His fingers twitched from his eagerness to leave. He simply could not stand here and talk about his crime as if he had no part in it.

"Do you think that-"

"I have to go now." Interrupted Naruto as he began to turn away.

"Wait, Naruto!" yelled Lee. "How about a match against me? You look wound up, it may actually help you relax later if you work hard now." Naruto stared at his friend. He didn't deserve great friends like Lee.

"Sorry Lee, but I'm not supposed to do any training today. Kakashi sensei's orders." He said with a small forced smile.

"I understand." Said Lee giving a thumbs up and smiling. "Following your sensei's direction will make you strong!"

"Right. I'll see you later Lee." Naruto said as he turned to walk away. Lee waved and went back to his stretching. Naruto once again had no idea where to go. He wasn't even hungry, so back to his apartment was the only place he could think of.

When he got there, he immediately unzipped his jacket. He hadn't noticed it had gotten so hot outside. He flopped down onto his bed and closed his eyes. Even though it was still early afternoon, he was still pretty tired, but still also unable to sleep. He rolled around a few times, until he got sick of it. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his prescription medicine.

"Maybe if I take these, I'll get some rest…" he mumbled as he opened the cap.

Darkness… and hollow pathways. He knew this place well. It wouldn't be long before that stinking fox would start running his fowl mouth again. But why was he here now?

"You worthless pawn!" growled an angry voice.

"Hey! You don't talk to me like that!" yelled Naruto. "You're in MY body, remember?!"

"You stupid brat!" growled the Kyuubi, he seemed even more pissed off than usual. "Don't you remember what I told you at the beginning?! If your pitiful ass dies, then so do I! Look at the condition you're in! If you're here, then you must be at death's door!" he seethed. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? I didn't sense a fight, so why are you so close to death?!"

"Close to death?" questioned Naruto.

He suddenly felt sick. Extremely sick, as he groaned and hunched over to his knees. Pain radiated from his stomach throughout his body as he reeled and his breath became labored. "I-I don't know what's-" he started as he was suddenly thrusted back into the real world to the sound of Kyuubi's frustrated growling and angry snarls. He still felt horribly ill when his eyes peeled half open to see the familiar walls of his room. Almost as if he knew his consciousness wouldn't last long, he dragged his hands across his bed and found that they landed on the pill bottle that lay on his blanket. He was slipping away. Strangely, he felt a sense of rest through all the pain. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to fight. Naruto exhaled and let his hand drop over the side of the bed, his fingers reflexively still gripping the bottle; and before his world went black, he noticed something he hadn't before…

The bottle had no weight.

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Is the suspense killing you yet?? LoL, I'll have the new chapter 6 up for you soon! Read, Review, and Enjoy please! It makes me smile, LoL! (please forgive Kyuubi's langauge, I can only imagine that's how he really talks, lol)

Peace,
-Sabs