Love & Truth

8. Sweet Dreams, Cruel Reality

Three weeks time skip

(Naruto's POV)

'How much time remains?' I thought sitting on the bathroom floor, counting furiously.

'Not even a week left?' That revelation was hurting. The time was slipping my grasp too quickly. 'I don't want to go anywhere.'

That however was not a thing I could do anything about. The time was disappearing mercilessly and in turn I was worrying myself more and more.

'Should I tell him? … No, Tsunade-baa has forbidden that. … But is that really all right? They are his children also...'

Yesterday morning I even collided into Sasuke when running on my unpleasant morning meeting in bathroom. It was calming, yet worrying to have him rub soothing circles on my back. He looked so genuinely worried about me. It hurts to lie to him like that. On a top of that I had to start to keep more distance between us, scared that he might find out, judging from changes on my body. After all I was slightly over eleven weeks along and given that fact and the twins being twins my usually flat stomach was starting not to look so flat anymore.

I watched myself in the mirror. The slight bulge was so small that it was easily hide able by clothes, but to hide it from teme was entirely different matter.

'The most of interaction we have is without any clothes.' I thought half- bitter, half- smiling.

The whole thing was very stressing, however. And it was escalating. Even Tsunade-baa was saying that I should try to take it from different point of view.

'Okay. So… If I go away, I won't endanger our children's lives. If I go away I won't have to stress over getting attacked when I go on the streets. If I go… I may not ever see teme again…' I started tearing up at this thought.

I fell onto the floor as my knees gave out. I cried so hard that I had trouble breathing. My vision got blurry and I saw only foggy shapes. My teeth started chattering and I bit my tongue by an accident. As the coppery taste filled my mouth my morning sickness returned and I had the urge to puke. When doing that for some time I felt as ig my organs were the next to fill the toilet basin. Once it passed I only slumped back onto the floor, sobbing hard.

I was like that when Sasuke found me.

L&T

(Sasuke's POV)

When I woke up, dobe was not by my side. It was nothing that unusual, but after what happened yesterday I got worried about him.

'Is he in the bathroom again?' I thought as I got up from the bed. Its sheets were too cold for me, once dobe was not there.

I went through the house to the closest bathroom. Once I opened the door I saw dobe sitting on the floor, shivering like crazy, crying his eyes out and with one hand over the toilet, as if - and probably - waiting for another wave of nausea to struck him.

„Oh god, love are you all right?" I exclaimed.

'What a useless question.' I thought second after.

He raised his head and looked at me with those blue orbs of his. They were not the usual vibrant colour, however. They had gray haze on them, making him look way older. On a top of that they were all red and swollen.

'How long has he been like this?' I thought as I sat next to him, taking him into an embrace in the following moment. He gripped my shirt and started sobbing even more than he did before.

I did not stop him, however. I was aware that just now, talking was not the wisest choice to do. He should better cry some stress off him first.

As I held him like that, rocking softly and gradually he started to calm down a little... And it was not much longer after that that he got more limp in my arms and his breathing got steadier and regular, from which I understood that he has fallen asleep.

I gathered myself up, with him in my arms, of course, and headed to the bedroom.

Once I placed him on the bed I went back to the bathroom and got a damp piece of cloth, which I put on his forehead, since his temperature seemed above average.

Then I sat next to him, stroking his cheeks, thinking about what all this meant.

'What caused this breakdown in the first place?'

L&T

I must have fallen asleep also, because once I opened my eyes, I was in our never-ending flowery plains.

There was something wrong with them, however. The usual light that flowers emitted was not as bright as it usually was. It was dim. And soon enough I realized, that it was because the amount of certain types of flowers changed.

Usually, there were daffodils, moon daisies, white and yellow roses and irises, but when I took in my surroundings that one time…

The most common flower was black rose. Then flowers with dark purple and blue shades, overall, there were not that much flowers that emitted that usual bright yellow light that I had essentially associated with dobe.

I walked through the plain in the direction of the ever-blooming Sakura tree. There sat Naruto, hugging his shivering figure. He looked so lost.

Once I came closer to him he noticed my presence. Instead of looking at me he turned around and refused to look at me.

That itself was strange.

'What caused him to do this? What's the reason for that?'

I approached him and he stood up immediately, going into the plains. He kneeled next to one of white roses and breathed at it. I almost jumped when I saw its light disappear and the rose turn black.

„I know what every part of this plain's meaning is." he smiled sadly, taking another white rose in his hands. He then caused it to turn black just as the one before did.

„What the heck is that?" I asked, as he kneeled next to yet another flower, yellow iris this time. It turned into a dark purple one in a second.

„You remember what I already told you about this place already?" he asked.

I only looked back at him, not getting where this conversation was headed to.

„The tree symbolises heart, if it is blooming it means my heart still beats. One tree, one heart." he sighed.

'What do you mean by that?' I wanted to ask, but before I could he continued.

„Whether the flowers are blooming or withering shows my body's condition. And you know what? The types of flowers do not really mean anything. They are simply the types that I like, but the light has the meaning." he pointed out, turning yet another flower into her darker twin sister.

„And what does the light symbolise then?" I asked, already guessing the answer from the way he talked.

„The light reflects my mind's condition." He whispered and sat in the circle of dark flowers he just created.

„Then why?"

'Is he not happy with the way things are now? Does he not want to be with me anymore?'

Instead of answer I saw him start to sob again. I approached him again. This time he did not back off. He gripped me tightly instead.

„I want to tell you. So much! But I can't…" he said between the sobs somehow.

„Why can't you tell me, love?"

„I don't want to lose you."

With these words said, he disappeared in a whirlwind of flowers.

L&T

(Naruto's POV)

As I woke up I dashed from the room, knowing that Sasuke is bound to wake up also. It was me who was making the connection, after all.

'And so the flowery plains will probably disappear once I wake up.'

I ran through the house and pulled some clothes on. Then I ran out of the Uchiha mansion.

Once I was out I slowed down a little.

'Oh god, I'm so out of shape.' I though as I realized just how much did this morning exercise exhaust me.

As I was lost in my thoughts I ran into someone.

I started apologizing before even looking up. Then I hear a surprised voice.

„Naruto?"

I looked up as I recognized the voice.

„Neji?"

„Just what are you..."

Then he suddenly stopped.

I noticed that veins on his face are visible, meaning he had his Byakugan activated. And it also meant that he must have seen the change within my body also.

„Don't tell me you're..." He started, eyes widening.

I clasped my hand onto his mouth to silence him. It was not wise to talk about this in the middle of the street.

„Come with me." I sighed as I continued to where I was headed in the first place.

To the Hokage tower.

L&T

(Tsunade's POV)

I sat behind my table with Shizune talking to me about the recent news, when I heard a soft knocking on the door.

„Come in!"

Once I said that door opened. I saw a pale looking Naruto, accompanied by Neji Hyuuga.

„Tsunade-baa-chan? Can I talk to you for a while?" he said, getting my attention immediately.

His voice sounded horrid. It betrayed that he must have cried, a lot, yet, it also meant that he has not told his lover of his situation.

I nodded at him and sent Shizune away for a while. She was not to know for now. Then I eyed Hyuuga, which Naruto noticed. He only shook hiss head, showing that he was allowed to be here. I only sighed in response.

„So... What was it that you wanted to speak about?"

„I... I think I should leave..." He said under his voice, tears threatening to fall from beneath his eye-lids.

„Why so sudden?" I asked in response.

„I just can't lie to his face any longer..." he sniffled. „On a top of that I think he senses something is different. And he also can see the changes on my body."

„But they're quite hide able now, aren't they? You just take some baggier clothes and no one would even fathom such a possibility."

Naruto cocked his eyebrow at this. It was because of his blushing that it struck me just what is the problem.

'Ah, my bad.' I thought.

„Never mind that... When do you think would be the right time to leave?"

„Never." Naruto whispered sadly. There was just so much hurt in that one word.

„Naruto..." I started. „You know that I wish more than you may think that things would stay just the way they are now, but they don't... It's because they don't that we have to do this. We have to do this for Sasuke. We have to do this for them." I said, placing one of my hands on his already bulging stomach. It really was noticeable, once the clothes were not in the way. „Naruto..." I sighed. „I think you should leave tonight." I said, trying not to sound harsh.

Naruto nodded, understanding, but another tears formed in his eyes.

„Do you have an idea where to go?" I asked, trying to distract him for a bit.

„I promised Gaara that I'd stop by Suna, if it came to this." Naruto said bitterly. „That's why I want to ask, whether you'd let Neji to come with me. I'm afraid that my chakra is so unstable now that I'd get killed if attacked." he admitted.

I looked at Hyuuga, who seemed a bit surprised, but nodded in acceptance to the request, meaning he'd go if I let him to. I planed to send someone with him anyway.

„Okay, be it that way... What time should you leave? Early morning would be best, probably. There would be enough light to travel, but fewer people to run into."

Naruto nodded, still battling with his tears to stop. I could not bear the sight anymore and stood up.

He seemed surprised when I pulled him into a hug, but did not protest.

„Just be good and don't disappear from the sight completely." I whispered to his ear. He looked at me in despair. „I'll send him after you once it calms down a bit here, once it seems safe to do that, okay?"

„Okay..." came the muffled reply. The rest of what he wanted to say got lost in another wave of tears.

L&T

(Sasuke's POV)

When Naruto disappeared, I did not wake up also, strangely enough. I stayed in that dreamy land, along with fields of now mostly black flowers. I sat under the tree and sighed.

'I don't really understand dobe anymore.' I thought sadly, looking at Sakura petals that were falling onto the ground slowly. Once they reached the ground, however, the disappeared. Well, it made sense, if they did not, there'd be a pile of peals already. Seeing my trail of thoughts I sighed again.

'What happened to us?' was my last thought before I closed my eyes. Only to open them in "reality".

L&T

(Naruto's POV)

When I returned home I felt terrible. I knew that I had reason for it but still...

Once I opened the door I almost crashed into Sasuke.

„Dobe? You back?" He asked, embracing me following second.

„Yeah." I answered only, returning his grip, trying hard for my now quite calm façade not to crumble.

„Where have you been?"

„I ran into Neji, he's going to Suna tomorrow."

'Well, that's not a lie. Just not the whole truth.' I thought, the weight of the ultimatum weighing on my shoulders.

„Ah, okay." Teme replied only, tightening his hold on me.

I felt like my heart was being torn into two, when I realized that I might not see Sasuke for some time, maybe not even ever again, after this night. And so on some primitive instinct, I decided that I'm going to get the most possible from the rest of the day, and the night that was to come.

I pulled Sasuke closer, to a life-searing kiss.

He seemed surprised, but did not protest. He returned it quickly.

It was then that I realized that we were still on the house's door step and I guided Sasuke through the mansion, almost never parting our lips, except to lose some of our clothes.

And so, before I could even realize it, once we were in the bedroom we had no clothes on what so ever. But well...

Who cared?

L&T

(Sasuke's POV)

There was something strange with dobe. I was aware of it, yet I was a coward and I could not bring myself to ask.

'How hard can it be?' I thought as dobe got rid of my shirt for me.

I saw a look he had in his eyes. Yes there was the lust, but there was also something else. Fear and... guilt?

'What does he of all people feel guilty for?' I thought as I laid him on our bed which caused him to gasp as the sheets were cold. I soothed his surprise with a shower of kisses traced from his neck to his shoulder and back. He seemed to like such an attention, as a moan escaped his lips. I smirked and climbed atop him.

I saw him blush as he felt that he's being watched. And I did watch him intensely.

„Teme..." He let out a sweet sigh, when I sunk my teeth into his collar-bone.

„What is it, my sweet and lovely dobe?" I smirked, pulling him into yet another passionate kiss.

„I love you. Always you, no one else."

'Why is he telling me this?' I rambled in my head, but I did not let it show on the outside. Instead I smiled and replied.

„I know that, my silly dobe... I love you too."

He seemed somewhat content at that.

The night ended up hot and steamy. We did not even know where was up and down anymore when we slumped onto the bed, exhausted.

I watched dobe's sleeping face for a while, finding it incredibly appealing.

'Who would have thought that he has such a side in him?' I thought, stroking his cheek softly.

I did not understand his behaviour, but I did not even know how I could understand it. I thought that I'd have time to ask him tomorrow.

If I knew how the tomorrow was to turn out, back then. I would have chained him to the bed.

L&T

(Third Person's POV)

As Naruto sat on the bed he watched the sleeping raven sadly. He brushed a strand of black hair off the porcelain-like face and sighed.

'Must I really leave?'

Then he remembered Hokage's words and sighed again.

'Just when everything seemed so perfect... Life is cruel.'

He knew, however, that he will no longer be able to hide the truth from this man. The man whom he loved the most in the world. He knew, that he wouldn't be able to hide the truth that literally grew in his body.

He caressed the slight bulge that was formed on his stomach and looked back at the raven once more.

„We'll see each other as soon as it will be possible. I promise. And you know I never break promises." he mumbled softly, not wanting to wake the man. Then he kissed the slightly open lips and got up from the bed, taking the bag, that he had by his legs.

„I love you, Sasuke. Don't forget that." He said, and jumped from the window onto the next house's roof. Droplets of tears that followed his steps, reflecting the cold moon's light.

L&T

(Sasuke's POV)

I saw someone taking my beloved from me. I saw him crying desperately, reaching his hands out to me... but I could not move an inch. I felt as if my legs were a part of the floor.

'No, don't take him away from me!' I wanted to scream, but no voice came from my throat. It was simply futile. I slumped onto the floor and started shaking uncontrollably.

'Why!' I thought. 'Why is it that there is no place for us here?'

Just as I was about to sink into a pit of depression I saw two children coming to me. They looked like younger versions of Naruto and me, except that young blonde had black eyes also.

As they came close to me they smiled and both put a thing they had in their little hands into mine. Then they disappeared.

I watched at the place where they were just a second ago. Then I looked into my hands.

There were two Sakura blossoms, laying innocently.

L&T

(Third Person's POV)

When Sasuke woke up, few hours later, there were no traces of his blonde lover already. Even if he searched the whole house thrice - instead of twice - he would not find some. Except for the movement the curtains made because of the still opened window.

Done~

Guh... I'm sorry about time skips on the starts of recent chapters, but sadly enough they were needed. From now on they should not be there so often

Anyway hope you enjoyed~ If you did leave a review, please~ d=(^0^)=b

See ya~ ( "-.-)/