Chapter 13

The following morning, Naruto returned the Kazekage to his people. Civilians and shinobi alike crowded the protective walls of the village, cheering as the pair appeared over the horizon. Cheering because of their Kazekage's swift and safe return. Cheering because their enemies had been eliminated.

They cheered with loud and triumphant voices. They had not seen the terror in the eyes of misguided men as they called out for their gods in the darkness, reaching out to the blond-haired angel that flashed in their vision, praying to be saved. Their last breaths slipped out of their lungs like steam in winter winds.

Their gods had turned away from their requests. No angels had come to save them.

Gaara almost wished they had.

Naruto did not return with Gaara to Sunagakure. His heart was too burdened with the darkness of the night to accept praise from the people of the Sand. Instead, he clapped his friend firmly on the shoulder, chasing a smile onto his face for the briefest moment.

The chorus of raised voices dimmed slightly, clapping hands growing still. The crowd watched as their leader slid to a stop, his head turned to the east, staring at the place where the blond Uzumaki had been mere seconds before.

They called him the Sage of Jinchuuriki: the Child of Prophecy destined to bring peace to the world. To the average person, Naruto Uzumaki was akin to the gods, a being who existed far beyond their reach. The world he lived in was mysterious and distant, just like the man himself had become.

Gaara's eyes slipped shut as he fought to control the burning sensation blooming within them. The void which Naruto left in his absence was cold and heavy. The Kazekage's shoulders slumped under the weight of it. The people, too, seemed to feel this weight in the atmosphere around Gaara as he walked through the path they made for him. Without a word, he made his way to his quarters.

Neither the Kazekage, nor Naruto, ever fully reported the events of that night. It remained a silent scar in their memories, lingering as a sad undertone in each of their reunions for years afterwards.

Frustration fueled Naruto's steps as he made his way through the trees on swift and silent feet. It had been days since he had last slept, and exhaustion was creeping into his mind. And yet, he did not allow himself to rest, his desire to return to his own village and escape the nightmare he had endured the night before pushing him endlessly forwards.

He had acted perfectly, doing what was his duty as both a shinobi and as one in a position of responsibility. A ninja must never show their emotions. A leader must do what is best for their people.

Ruthless, cunning, swift. Execute the mission. Take care of the enemy.

Hot, angry tears slid from Naruto's eyes, getting caught and whisked away by the air rushing past. His steps faltered, and Naruto allowed himself to fall down to the forest floor. His legs trembled with exhaustion as he walked over to the smooth bark of the nearest tree, leaning against it as he inhaled deeply in a failing attempt to calm himself.

"I didn't become strong so that I could massacre anyone who opposed me." He thought, his watery gaze drifting up through the tangled branches.

"Why did you become strong then?" Kurama asked suddenly, his blood red eyes slipping open.

"To protect the things that are important to me." Naruto replied, the endless blue of the sky mirrored in his eyes.

A low growl rumbled in the giant fox's chest. "Then I don't see what the problem is. You protected a lot more people than you killed. You did your duty."

Naruto sunk down against the tree, leaning his forehead against his knees. He had lived with the Nine-Tailed Fox long enough to know that trying to describe the finer details of human emotion was pointless. Since Kurama had existed solely for the purpose of destruction, fueled by the power of hatred; it was impossible for him to understand how it felt when a dying enemy, their mind hazy in the moments before death, called out to you to save them.

It was impossible to describe the gut wrenching agony one felt as they stared into the eyes of a dying man who was reaching for them desperately, calling them an angel.

"Angel. Angel, save me. Help me."

"Dammit!" Naruto yelled, clasping his hands over his ears as if he could block out the voice that echoed in his memory. "Dammit dammit dammit!"

"Naruto!" He heard Kurama exclaim, concern in his voice.

The blond ignored him, staring ahead blankly at the silent forest. He felt as lonely and vulnerable as a lost child, panic rising in his throat.

"Mom, Dad," He thought as he slowly began to rock himself, inhaling deeply. "Nobody told me it would be like this."

The forest stood by quietly as Naruto's heavy breathing eventually slowed. The violent trembling which shook his frame came to a stop, bit by bit. Having regained control of his body, Naruto lifted up his head, wiping the dampness away from his eyes. Just as he had always done, Naruto picked himself up and started moving forward again. He concealed the pain deep within himself, revealed only by the quiet sadness that lingered in the depths of his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he held up the two forefingers on his right hand. He felt the tug at his already diminished chakra supply as he released the clone that had been guarding Sasuke in his absence. Naruto blinked in surprise, a small smile creeping onto his lips as he jumped back up into the branches. He reviewed the memories of his clone, almost sensing the warmth of Sasuke's back pressed against his own.

"Keep it together. There's someone waiting for me. I have a place to return to."

He absorbed natural chakra as he raced through the trees, picking up speed as the air grew steadily colder. By noon, he was fighting against ice and snow, channelling chakra into his feet to keep from slipping on the branches. The sun meandered slowly through the pale blue winter sky, giving off little warmth as it tracked Naruto's progress.

The sun had long since set when Naruto landed in a puff of wind and snow a few metres away from the main gate of Konoha. It had only been five days, but he felt like he'd been gone for months. Naruto closed the final distance between himself and the village on cat-like feet, passing through the gate without a sound.

Kotetsu, who had been reading a magazine under a dim light with a bored expression, glanced up. Naruto watched the Jounins eyes widen as they swept over his bloodied clothing.

"Woah, hey Naruto!" He called out, leaping over the wooden desk. "That's not your blood, is it? I was told that you were just delivering confidential information?"

Naruto managed a smile. He settled for an evasive response, his eyes trained towards the gleaming, distant lights of the Hokage's mansion. "Something came up."

Without a backwards glance he strode off down the street, waving over his shoulder to the Jounin. He was grateful for the time of day as he made his way through the empty streets without seeing another familiar face. Before long, his feet met the steps which led up to the Hokage's mansion. With every step he took, he could feel his heart getting heavier.

The next few hours were going to be rather unpleasant.

Shikamaru's fingers reached reflexively for the kunai near his futon as he bolted upright, his hair splayed around his face in a tangled mess. Barely a second later, a shadowy figure extracted itself from the darkness of his bedroom. Immediately recognizing moon-like orbs gleaming from the depths of a bird inspired mask, Shikamaru relaxed with a sigh.

"Dammit, Hyūga," Shikamaru grumbled. "Can't you just knock like a normal person?"

"No." Neji said as he reached up to slip off his mask, a pale slant of moonlight falling over his regal features. "You wake up much more quickly when you sense a threat."

"Tch, bastard." Shikamaru muttered as he retied his hair, combing his fingers through the ink black strands. "I assume you have a reason for sneaking into my room then?"

Neji watched his hands and they slid through the thin strands of his hair. He swallowed before looking away. "Naruto has returned."

Shikamaru allowed his hands to fall into his lap, his ponytail secured. He raised an eyebrow. "Alright…can't I just go talk to him tomorrow?"

Neji sighed as he walked over to the door, sliding it open. "Read the situation, Nara." He scolded. "The mission developed as it went. Naruto has returned, and he is covered in blood."

"Shit!" Shikamaru exclaimed, tossing off his sheets as he scrambled to his feet. He almost tripped as he tugged on his pants, pulling his black turtleneck over his spiky hair as he stumbled over to the door.

"Where is he now?" He asked as he bent down to slip on his sandals.

"In Tsunade-sama's office." Neji replied, stepping out of Shikamaru's way. "They're both requesting your presence immediately. I was sent here to retrieve you."

Neji led the way. They cut through the paths of the Nara forest, eventually slipping out of the trees and taking to the snowy rooftops. They were silent as they made their way towards the Hokage's residence, an ominous mood already settling over them.

The halls were empty and silent as Neji and Shikamaru walked swiftly through them. Even as they approached the Hokage's office, it was only the sound of their footsteps and the rustle of their clothing that disrupted the silence. Without pausing, Neji tapped his gloved knuckles on the heavy wooden door.

"Come in."

It took a moment for Tsunade to reply, and when she did, her tone was strange. The two shinobi slipped into the room warily, the door closing softly behind them.

Tsunade was sitting at her desk, her fingers laced together in front of her mouth. The corners of her amber eyes were pinched as she smiled at them. They bowed to her in unison before straightening, their eyes drifting past her to the man who was sitting on the windowsill.

His blood-red cloak fluttered in the cold breeze that drifted in through the window, his hair dancing around his face as his breath fluttered like smoke out into the night. He was completely covered in dark splotches of blood.

Shikamaru stepped forward, frowning. "Naruto, please tell me that blood isn't yours."

Naruto laughed tiredly, his head leaning against the windowsill as he continued to look out over the sleeping village. "Of course not." He replied.

Shikamaru sighed in relief. "Well, that's good. But obviously something happened outside the planned mission. Feel like filling me in?"

"Nara." Tsunade cut in, her tone so harsh that Shikamaru flinched as if he'd been struck. "Have you made any progress on the strategy regarding the Kou Clan?"

Shikamaru blink in surprise. "Not really, Tsunade-sama. It's only been a few days."

Tsunade's thin eyebrows twitched into a frown. "Then double the effort!" She exclaimed, slamming her open palm down on the top of her desk. "While you're at it, put as many resources as you can into tracking down the leaders of these rebelling groups. I will not tolerate these thugs any longer!"

Realization struck both Shikamaru and Neji simultaneously, their wide-eyed gazes flickering over to the bloodied Jinchuuriki. Sensing their scrutiny, Naruto finally turned his head to acknowledge them.

"Gaara and I took out a group that had taken control of one of Sunagakure's outposts. They were cutting off the supplies to the village as well as raiding the bordering countries." He said, loosely explaining the situation. "It seems that the Kou were heavily involved in the whole thing."

His voice trailed off as he diverted his gaze once more, a dangerous undertone taking root in his voice. "I'm sorry, but I was unable to capture their leader. He abandoned the fortress before I could get to him."

"Exactly." Tsunade said after a moment of heavy silence, her voice wavering slightly. "These people are the type who cut and run when things get dangerous, allowing their followers to die! Nara, figure out a way for us to detect and counter the Kou!"

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing at his temple. "Tsunade-sama, I can't just pull an answer out of nowhere. As far as I can tell, there's no way to detect when a person is under the control of the Kou, and because of that I have no idea how we're supposed to counter them!"

"Are you serious?" Naruto cut in, his head swivelling around. The other three ninja glanced at each other in confusion at the look of disbelief in Naruto's eyes. Recognizing that no one was following his thoughts, he sighed, slipping down from the windowsill to stand on the roof outside.

"I thought you were supposed to be a genius, Shikamaru." He teased as he leaned his elbows against the frame of the window. "Weren't you paying attention to what Sasuke was saying the other day?"

Shikamaru frowned, irritated by Naruto's blatant provocation. "Of course I was." He replied defensively.

Naruto smiled, finally calming down in the familiar company. "Sasuke thinks that part of the possession process relies heavily on genjutsu," He continued. "Which basically means that anyone with a sharingan can see through it."

Neji was the first to recover from the shock of this sudden statement. "But, Kakashi-sensei -" He began.

"Only fought clones and substitutions, and neither of those jutsu are sensitive enough to reveal a genjutsu placed on the original body." Naruto said, cutting him off. "If you want anyone to help you with this investigation, Shikamaru, I suggest that you get a hold of Kakashi-sensei."

Having relayed all the information he had intended to, Naruto deemed it a fitting time to leave. He turned, waving over his shoulder.

"Well, goodnight then." He called to them before vanishing in a flash of yellow and red.

"Wait, Naruto!" Shikamaru called, reaching out to the place where the blond had been. "That bastard, I need more information than that!"

"Nara!" Tsunade said firmly, standing up behind her desk. "Let him go. This last mission really took its toll on him. He wouldn't even tell me all the details."

The Hokage put her hands on her hips as she turned to look out at the village. Neji and Shikamaru watched her reflection in the dark glass, trying to gage her mood from her expression. Her eyebrows were still knitted together in a frown, but her eyes were pinched with sadness.

"In one way, Naruto and Sasuke are exactly the same," She continued, her voice soft. "Neither of them are heartless enough to forget the dead."

The silence of the night was suddenly disturbed by a gust of wind. The naked, skeletal branches of the trees grated against one another, sending a rain of powdery snow drifting to the ground. The end of Naruto's cloak snapped sharply in the breeze as he glanced up and down the silent street. Seeing no one else on the road, his eyes strayed towards the coldly shining moon. The blond inhaled deeply before passing under the archway and up the garden path which led to the front door of his house.

"I'm home." He said softly as he shut the door, turning to glance down the quiet hall.

Naruto kicked off his sandals, padding down the hall in the direction of the living room, where a dim light was casting long shadows across the floor. He rounded the corner slowly, only to stop in a sudden jerk, his eyes widening. Sasuke was fast asleep on the long black couch, his bangs fluttering in the gentle breeze of his breath. But it wasn't the sight of Sasuke's sleeping form that caused a ball of heat to explode up from Naruto's chest, making its way onto his features in the form of a blushing smile.

It was the old, orange jacket which was draped across Sasuke's thin frame like a blanket.

On quick and silent feet, Naruto closed the space between them. He knelt down beside the couch, unable to keep the smile off his face as he brushed his slightly calloused fingers across Sasuke's pale cheek.

"Weren't you the one who told me not to sleep on the couch?" He whispered.

As carefully as he could, Naruto slipped one arm under Sasuke's shoulders and the other around the back of his thighs. With an ease that was almost embarrassing, he lifted the sleeping ninja into his arms. Sasuke's head lolled on his shoulder, his warm breath fanning softly across Naruto's neck. Leaning his cheek on the top of Sasuke's head, Naruto carried his sleeping cargo to his bedroom. He slid the door open with his foot, turning sideways to avoid hitting the doorframe.

Crossing the moonlit room, Naruto lay Sasuke down carefully in his mussed sheets. He sat down on the bed beside him, caressing his soft black bangs away from his face.

It was then that Sasuke awoke.

He was woken by the heat. Not by the shift of his body or by the gentle touch that glided over his cheekbone. He was woken by the warmth that was ever so slowly burning through his clothing. Even through the fuzziness of sleep which clouded his mind, Sasuke immediately recognized that warmth. He reached up the catch Naruto's hand in his own, pulling it away from his face to clasp it against his chest: his racing heart.

"Sorry," Naruto whispered, his husky voice rich in the darkness. "Did I wake you?"

Sasuke could smell the dirt and the blood on Naruto's clothes, but he didn't care. It chased away the cold scent of winter and the grey atmosphere that existed within these walls when they did not contain him. A clone was nothing compared to the real thing: a pale imitation that served no justice to the vibrancy of the original.

"I missed you so much."

Sasuke kept his eyes closed, feeling the shift of mattress and the rustle of sheets as the blond lay himself down. Naruto pressed his chest against Sasuke's back, ignoring the jutting shoulder blades and the coolness of his skin. Just from this simple contact, Sasuke could feel Naruto's power pulsating and raging just below the surface of his skin, barely contained by a cage of sinew and bone. It terrified him, but it was an addictive thrill. He felt slightly lightheaded in such close proximity to that power. He pulled Naruto's strong arm tighter around his thin chest, abandoning his pride just long enough to admit to himself that he wanted to belong there. Wanted to be shackled within the walls these arms created, claimed and held there. He desired it desperately.

Naruto obliged. Smoothly, he rolled Sasuke into his arms, pulling him on top of his broad chest. Sasuke met him eagerly, brushing their lips together in a slow and controlled motion that was completely at odds with the racing of his heart. He was almost certain that the frantic muscle would explode right out of his chest, but he no longer cared. Naruto could have his heart; he could rip it out of him with his bare hands.

Sasuke would offer it to him freely. He would offer him anything. Everything.

He cradled Naruto's head between his slender hands, weaving his fingers into hair as brightly gold as summer sunshine. He searched those endless blue eyes, knowing them so well and yet not at all. It's a strangely humbling feeling, to look upon the person within your arms and understand that you can never have them; to glance into their eyes and see something wild and proud and utterly free.

But Sasuke continued to peer into those vibrant eyes, searching for traces of an old pain. Searching for traces of the bright, carefree boy who he used to know. Sasuke hadn't realized how afraid he was of losing that boy until now.

As soon as a large, warm hand slipped to the back of his neck however, the image of the smiling boy disappeared immediately. Instead, Sasuke stared down at the Naruto he knew now; his eyes shuttered, his hair splayed out around him like a halo of molten gold. He was stunning.

Sasuke needed his skin, wanted to mark every moment of it with his mouth and feel the strong pulse of life beneath it. He trailed his lips and tongue and teeth over jawline and throat, exposing nerves and flushed skin hiding beneath the high collar of Naruto's green vest. Impatiently, he tore away the blood red cloak and the forest green vest and the charcoal black undershirt.

He sat up, one leg on either side of Naruto's torso, staring down at the body washed pale by the moonlight. Not for the first time, he was struck breathless as his gaze raked unsubtly over the rise and fall of muscle, small mountains and valleys that formed a landscape of strength. Naruto seemed crafted from marble, or perhaps from the moonlight itself. Sasuke traced his fingers over the coiling mark on Naruto's lean stomach. It was the symbol of his pain: the symbol of his power.

He leaned down to place a kiss on that symbol, a chill rising on his skin when he heard a soft rush of air slipping between Naruto's lips. Sasuke's eyes flicked upwards, catching those blue eyes with his own dark ones.

Even though his body was hot and sensitive beneath Sasuke's hands, Naruto's eyes were distant: distracted. Sasuke might have been mad, but he was reminded of the smell of blood on the blonds clothing as he watched the ghosts of last breaths chasing around Naruto's glazed eyes.

If you asked for Sasuke's opinion, he'd tell you that Naruto had saved the world enough already. He had put effort and pain into preserving lives that Sasuke considered meaningless. Sasuke almost wished he would stop, but that was just his selfishness speaking. Naruto was not a selfish being; he could never avert his eyes from the suffering of the world. It would go against his very nature.

So instead of being angry, Sasuke leaned down until they were chest-to-chest, engaging Naruto's tongue in a slow and sensual dance that eventually had them tearing apart in desperate need of oxygen. Just in case that wasn't enough to get his attention, Sasuke laced his fingers into Naruto's hair once more, holding him possessively within his thin arms.

"Hey, dobe." He said softly, the corners of his lips quirking upwards. "Be here, now."

He watched as the present chased the phantoms from Naruto's honest eyes. With an apologetic smile, Naruto pulled their lips together once more, adding fuel to the fire that was already burning between them. He tucked his nimble fingers beneath Sasuke's shirt, his warm and battle-calloused fingers chasing shivers up Sasuke's spine.

Sasuke felt suddenly self-conscious as his shirt was pulled over his head. In the absence of his chakra, his body had become thin and delicate – a far cry from the lithely muscular frame he had possessed a year ago. But his fears immediately evaporated at the look on Naruto's face: wide eyed and blushing. He brushed his hands over Sasuke's porcelain skin with an almost reverent delicacy, his eyes burning in the moonlight.

Sasuke grit his teeth, his body trembling expectantly. The strength of his desire, his need, was already making his breathing heavy. But just when he thought he couldn't be any more aroused than he already was, Naruto said his name.

"Sasuke."

There was fire attached to every syllable of Naruto's voice as it shattered the silence, chasing away whatever doubt may have existed between them. It hung around them like smoke, charging their limbs with burning need. Sasuke could hear the confession in Naruto's voice; in every moment of his breath and every sensitive nerve under his skin.

"I want you."

Naruto sat up, pulling their lips together roughly. Sasuke wrapped his legs around Naruto's waist, his hands clinging to broad shoulders as he pulled himself as close as possible to that intensely warm body. Naruto laughed softly against his lips, obviously pleased about Sasuke's enthusiasm. He ran his blunt nails down the pale skin of Sasuke's back, pulling away from the kiss as the raven-haired ninja arched his back with a shiver. Naruto's lips attacked his exposed throat, chasing a moan out of Sasuke's lungs as his teeth scraped across sensitive nerves.

Sasuke's body responded instinctively. His hips rolled forward, grinding them against each other in a rough, sensual motion. A growl rattled out of Naruto's throat, vibrating against the sensitive skin on Sasuke's neck.

In a heartbeat, Sasuke found himself on his back, staring into burning blue eyes. Sasuke often forgot that Naruto was a Jinchuuriki. After watching him carry out daily activities so normally, it was fairly easy to forget. However, as Sasuke gaped at Naruto's face, he found himself extremely aware that the blond had an animal, or to be more specific, a giant fiery demon inside of him. Normally, Naruto was quite adept at controlling the Nine-Tails' influence, but in this particular situation, it seemed like the instincts of the beast were fueling fire into Naruto's veins.

He attacked Sasuke's skin, exploring his torso with an intoxicating combination of gentle kisses and heated scrapes of his teeth. His mouth curved up in a smile at the sound of Sasuke's laboured breathing, his strong hands holding him firmly in place as he squirmed. Naruto traced his tongue along Sasuke's sharply exposed hip bone, stopping to mark the sensitive skin just above the waist of Sasuke's pants.

"Fuck." Sasuke gasped, the throaty moan escaping his chest as his hips bucked upwards reflexively.

Naruto held him down firmly, denying him the friction that his body obviously craved. Instead, the blond made a show of unbuttoning Sasuke's pants, never once breaking eye contact as he slowly slid them down his legs. With Sasuke now fully exposed, Naruto leaned down again, watching with amazement as his touches chased colour into Sasuke's normally pale skin.

Nerves fluttered in Naruto's stomach as Sasuke laced his fingers into his hair, tugging gently to guide their lips together once more. Naruto allowed his weight to sink down onto the dark-haired ninja, their hips pressed together heavily. For a few moments they simply lay in this intimate tangle of limbs and sheets, their gazes meshed.

Sasuke could see Naruto's exhaustion. It ran so deeply within him, that Sasuke wondered how his idiot-blond was even managing to stay awake. With fingers as pale and gentle as the shafts of moonlight streaming in through the window, Sasuke untied Naruto's headband. He smiled when blue eyes peered at him questioningly from behind the fall of messy blond bangs.

"You don't have to be a hero for me." He said in a low murmur as he brushed Naruto's bangs away from his face. Craning his neck upwards, he placed a kiss on the tip of Naruto's nose.

The tenderness of the gesture made Naruto blush. Sasuke tightened the grip of his thighs around Naruto's waist, grinding their hips hard enough to chase a gasp out of them both. He pressed his shoulder into Naruto's chest, smiling when the blond read the intent of the gesture and rolled them both, so that Sasuke was above him again.

Their torsos still pressed tightly together, Sasuke guided the rhythm of their grinding hips.

"You told me not to mistake your strength for my own," Sasuke managed to say between heavy breaths. "But that was never what I intended."

He reached down between their bodies, gripping Naruto's heated crotch through his pants. Despite the lustful heat in Naruto's eyes, his breath came out softly, his expression contently peaceful. He cradled Sasuke's flushed cheeks in his hands, watching him as if he were the post precious thing in the world.

That gaze rubbed against every single one of Sasuke's nerves, causing the burning tension in his stomach to double in intensity. He watched with gasping breaths as Naruto captured his free hand, kissing each of the slender digits before every so softly slipping the fore and index fingers between his lips. He bit down on them gently before running his tongue over the tips of the slender appendages, enjoying Sasuke's flustered reaction.

"What was your intention then?" Naruto asked. His voice was smoke and heat in the darkness, seeping into Sasuke's pores and intoxicating him like a drug.

Before Sasuke could answer, Naruto ground their hips together harder, the friction adding to the desperation of their need. Sasuke resisted the urge to throw his head back, though a throaty gasp escaped his lips. His arms shook with the effort of holding himself up as he met the rhythm of Naruto's slow grind, feeling the solid heat of the blonde's shaft against his own.

"Wind makes fire more powerful," Sasuke panted, a sheen of sweat breaking out across his skin. "You aren't the source of my power, but you are the reason for it."

Simultaneously, the pair stopped moving, their gazes and heavy breaths intricately tangled.

"I want to become strong again so that I can stand by your side, as an equal." Sasuke whispered.

Like warm sunlight breaking through thick clouds, a smile eased itself onto Naruto's lips. His beauty broke upon Sasuke like waves, washing over his sins and his faults to leave him raw and exposed. He returned the smile desperately, vulnerably.

Naruto's arms wrapped around him, pulling Sasuke down so that his head was resting on his muscular chest. "So basically," Naruto said, planting a kiss into Sasuke's feather-soft hair. "You're totally in love with me."

Sasuke laughed lightly, breathlessly. "You wish, dobe."

"I'll take that as a yes." Naruto said. His fingers traced Sasuke's gentle jawline, gripping his chin.

Sasuke glanced up, his swollen lips parted. Naruto held him in this way, between arms strong enough to hold the world, as they rocked one another into bliss. Sasuke's mind was blank as heat exploded between them, their release hitting them almost simultaneously. Even as he rode out the intoxicating waves of orgasm, Sasuke's mind was filled with only one thing.

Naruto's eyes. Those endlessly blue, benevolently beautiful eyes. Haunted and powerful, with a silent sadness dancing deep within them.

These were the eyes of Sasuke Uchiha's Guardian.

These were the eyes that chased him into dreams, as stillness settled over their still-tangled bodies. Outside the window, the moon continued to travel silently across the dark sky, its light causing the shadows of the trees to shift across the snow.

Wrapped tightly in the warmth of sheets, comfortably in each other's arms, the Moon and his Guardian slept on in peace.