Painted Masks

Epilogue

It was an almost peaceful ending, she thought, as she watched them settle into slumber last night. They weren't exactly in the best shape, well… she wasn't. Her sides ached and her whole body throbbed in pain still, but it was fading. Assured they had enough rest she leapt onto the bed, carefully walking towards their heads, eyes crinkled in a foxy smile.

Her master and his lover were curled into a tight ball together and had the most peaceful and relaxed expressions she had ever seen on a person. Faces of happiness and contentment. She wanted to wake them so she could be fed, however that relaxed air around them made her pause before gently licking Sasuke's cheek.

She was rewarded with a groan and a hand trying to bat her away. She nipped at his fingers, looking into dark orbs almost instantly as he woke up. She heard a faint growl come from Naruto as Sasuke shifted slightly in his arms, trying to organize his thoughts.

He looked at the nin-fox and rubbed her sides gently, eyes assessing her reaction and trying to decide what medical aid she needed. He moved again, sitting up and pushing at Naruto's arms. The blonde get up unsteadily, rubbing his eyes and blearily looking towards Sasuke.

"What's up… we have plenty of time before we have to get up…" He mumbled running a hand through his mussed hair and fighting back a massive yawn.

Sasuke fought a smile and pointed at Murasaki. "We need to take her to Hana… I think she may have a few broken ribs…"

Naruto blinked, mind still hazed with sleep as he looked at her. As the haze slowly lifted and memories were recalled the blonde jolted out of bed, scrambling for his clothes and trying to head to bathroom. "Then let's hurry before Hana gets busy with other animals… can you feed her real quick?" He asked, tripping over his legs as he fell into the bathroom.

Sasuke watched the antics with slight interest and chuckled when he believed the blonde to preoccupied to hear him. Murasaki herself was shaking her head and looked to Sasuke, whimpering for food. He ran a hand through his own messy hair, wincing when his fingers got caught in a knot.

He sighed, deciding to finally move towards the end of the bed, wincing at the pain that shot up his backside. He also felt stiff and sore all around, his mood darkened as each movement became a little painful.

"You better enjoy this meal…" He muttered darkly to the nervous Murasaki. She followed him closely, a little concerned for him as he made his way into the kitchen and grabbed her food. He had thrown on some shorts on the way there and he decided to relax against the counter, letting the cool stone soothe the aching muscles. He noticed that if he kept moving the pain began to lessen to more bearable levels.

The nin-fox ate slowly, experiencing her own muted pain. She did have a chance to savor the flavors of the homemade meals Naruto liked to make for her. She wasn't fazed in her current task when Sasuke left the kitchen to roam the apartment until Naruto was done showering.

Sasuke was impressed once more with this little home. It wasn't as messy or cluttered as everyone else believed. It felt cozy to him, a well lived in apartment despite the first feeling of emptiness from the lack of some furniture and decorations.

The bathroom door opened and a damp Naruto walked out in a puff of steam, clean and fully awake. He smiled as Sasuke looked over and started to head to the bathroom. He captured him in a hug, ignoring the sudden growls from Sasuke as he kissed his cheek, afraid of having his tongue bitten off. "Good morning… did you sleep well?" He asked.

Sasuke muttered, but softened under that bright attitude of his teammate and actually smiled in return. "Morning and I slept fine… though…" He rubbed the small of his back, "Sorer than I expected…" his brows narrowed.

Naruto grimaced and felt a sudden wave of guilt. "I filled the bath for you, go ahead and soak while I cook us breakfast" He smiled, crushing the slightly smaller man against him, before trotting off into the kitchen.

xXx

Naruto walked briskly towards the Inuzuka home, Murasaki cradled in his arms with Sasuke not so far behind. He felt lighter than air, the best he had felt in a long long time. He paused, waiting for Sasuke to catch up.

The Uchiha was still feeling some pain, but was adjusting quiet well to the discomfort. His mood wasn't as dark either since the breakfast Naruto cooked was practically a feast. He had expected instant ramen but was rewarded with pancakes an omelet and other breakfast items.

"Ne Sasuke… can you hold Murasaki for a bit…" The blonde was grinning, holding out the half-asleep nin-fox.

Without thought he took the fox and held her gently. He noticed they had arrived and the dogs were still asleep outside the house. He knew where this was going and let out a sigh as he saw the blonde near the dogs.

"Naruto… leave it…" He muttered and knocked on the door and went inside, smiling faintly at the whine the vessel made, followed by the sounds of the dogs jumping him. Murasaki herself snickered and looked back to the funny scene.

"Aww…" He whined again, leaping up and running inside as well just as Hana appeared from the back.

"Oh… why if it isn't our first nin-fox?" she queried and rushed over, taking her from Sasuke. "Hmmm…" She muttered as she checked the nervous kitsune. "So… what happened that she has these injuries?" she asked with a raised brow, looking at the pair.

"Well…" Naruto began, but Sasuke cut him off.

"Naruto was attacked and she fought to protect him until I showed up…" He spoke bluntly, giving her a cold glare.

Hana tilted her head and blinked. "I wasn't accusing you of this, but there isn't much I can do for broken ribs…" She set Murasaki on the counter and disappeared into the back, returning with bandages and a bottle of medicine. "This is all I can do, dull the pain and wrap her up… it will take about 4 weeks for her to be fully healed, until then no training and no vigorous activity."

She shoved the items into Naruto's hands and carefully returned Murasaki into Sasuke's hands. "I suggest a light diet for her as well, mainly liquid forms of food or something soft."

Naruto nodded, already forming a meal plan in his head for the fox until she was healed. "Anything else?" He asked, wondering just how much this might wind up costing him if he needed to get more things. She shook her head in reply.

"Just stick with what I told you and come back in four weeks or if anything seems off about her recovery…" She beamed a smile at them and excused herself as another group came in seeking her help.

"Let's go…" Sasuke muttered, looking at the relieved blonde. Naruto chuckled and followed him out.

~*~

The pair returned back to the apartment and were relaxing on the couch with Murasaki sprawled out on both of their laps. Naruto insisted on watching some ridiculous movie and Sasuke watched with little interest as he thought about the mask.

He had set it back up where Naruto first pulled it down from just a few days ago. It was still intact and beautiful and much more important to the both of them. Sasuke smiled and looked at Naruto, receiving the same look as well.

Both blushed faintly as they kissed each other in a light and short manner. Things were as they should be now; there was no longer a need for them to hide themselves from each other. They wrapped their arms around each other and settled peacefully on the couch.

"Ne Sasuke…"

"Hmm…?"

"Aishiteru" The blonde smiled, wanting to voice the words he had not expressed last night towards him.

Sasuke stuttered and blushed at the sudden declaration, but moved in closer to the blonde. "Aishiteru… baka…." He mumbled, not caring about anything as they both let an air of tranquility settled over them. It was a new beginning for them and it would take some time to adjust to it, but happiness was finally found.

A smile broke out across the face of an unknown ninja on a roof in front of the window as he took in the scene of the two ninjas resting themselves in peace. One eye crinkled in mirth as ideas were being formed to cause hell between the two.

He wasn't going to make them break up, just mess with them a little. He laughed as he pulled a perverted novel from his pouch and opened to his favorite spot. "Besides that… I think a sort of peace will now come to the village…" He chuckled as he looked more towards the blonde.

"After all he finally has someone he can be himself around… both of them do…" The silver haired genius ninja lay back and settled down to a good book.

~The End~