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Chapter 11: Our Bond

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Sasuke winced. He woke up and felt a throbbing pain on his back and the base of his neck. He cursed mentally. He shouldn't have slept in that odd position. But he stopped his growling when he felt a gentle petting on his hair.

With a hopeful feeling, he raised his head up and much to his relief, he found two playful and intense blue orbs gazing back at him.

"Good morning, Sasuke. What happened to my orange walls and blankets? Geez, you have no taste in designing at all!"

Sasuke just stared at him. Wait, so the dobe thinks that he is still in his room?

"Hey, Sasuke are you there?" Naruto poked him on his cheeks causing a faint blush to stain his porcelain face.

"Sasuke?"

By this time, Sasuke managed to recover from the shock and glared at his father.

"We're not at home, dobe."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Perhaps it was three days of bottling up negative energy. Or maybe the stress, or perhaps he was just impatient. But Sasuke snapped and has lost his patience. With anger and force, he grabbed his father by the neck.

"Did you not heard what I just said? We were in a shitty hospital and not at home! Apparently, your stupidity matches that of a mouse. You have to go out there and get yourself in a car accident. I mean, how stupid can you be?"

Then as if a light of remembrance flashed before Naruto's eyes, his curious and innocent look was replaced with that of a grim realization. He remembered the cause of the accident, too and that even worsen the injury.

"Sasuke..." He started to comfort his raging son. But Sasuke stopped him.

"No! Shut up! Don't you know how painful that is for me? Do you think it's just a joke? A game? Is life really like that for you? I was so worried! I WAS WORRIED! You..." Sasuke's voice cracked and he started sobbing.

Not knowing what to do, Naruto merely hugged his son and ran his hand in circles on Sasuke's back in act of comfort.

"Shh.. Sasu..." He whispered gently. "Papa's here. Shh.." And Sasuke was briefly comforted with how Naruto comforted him when he was still young.

"It was unfair.... They're already forgetting about you. It's so unfair."

Naruto just let out a sigh.

"It doesn't matter. You shouldn't worry yourself about it Sasuke."

"But.... They think you're dead! How can you remain calm about this?"

Naruto just grinned and cupped Sasuke's chin.

"I'll just come back out there and surprise them with the greatness that is ME!" And before Sasuke could reply, he was pressed in for a soft kiss.

"Don't worry about it, okay? You should focus on yourself. I mean, come on! You look like a walking ghost!"

Sasuke just scowled. "You idiot." He just leaned in before he pressed back against the soft lips that he missed so much.

Naruto's eyes widened for a bit in surprise before willingly responding and submitting to his son above him. Sasuke moved on top and kissed Naruto forcefully. He expressed all he could into the kiss. His love, his regrets... And most of all, how he missed his father. He didn't know why but just a few days have made him realize how important Naruto truly is to him and no amount of his delusional beliefs will overshadow his rationality this time.

So he embraced his father, kissing him as hard as he could, reassuring himself of his father's existence with great desperation, afraid that if he'd pull away, he would be separated from the man who sacrificed all just to see him happy.

But of course, they broke away from the kiss. Naruto grinned at him, panting slightly.

"Wow, Sasuke. That was awesome! Are you sure you wanted to do that?" Naruto asked, slightly curious as his vision gave him flashback of that fateful night when everything changed for the worse.

Sasuke's expression changed suddenly and guilt was written all over his face as he recognized what his father was referring to.

With a sigh, he buried his face into his father's neck.

"I'm sorry... Naruto...."

Naruto was shocked to say the least. He wasn't expecting this from Sasuke. Using his free arm, he lifted Sasuke's head and gazed straight at his black remorseful eyes.

"Sasuke... You don't have to worry about it. It's already done."

"No. You shouldn't put up with it at all, Naruto. I did everything to cause you misery. How can you still smile and accept me?"

Naruto smiled at him this time, but it was laced with sadness.

"You shouldn't think about it at all Sasuke. If there's anyone to blame, it should be me. I have the power to stop it. I can stop it. But I didn't. So if you regretted that night, I am to blame. And I should apologize."

Sasuke slapped his forehead.

"And you're still an idiot. Can't you see? I like it! I loved it! I've been craving for that night! I started it! You were just there – who take it all without complaining. See? It's my fault."

"Oh... So I guess we're both at fault then?"

Black eyes narrowed. He know his father would never blame him. But he guessed that this is the closest thing that he could have so he just nodded.

"Fine."

After he said it, he saw his father grinning at him and he found himself unable to believe the sudden change in mood. All traces of depression seemed to have left him.

But Sasuke scowled as he saw his father's grin turned to a smirk. That was never a good sign.

"So you say you liked it?"

"Hn." Sasuke felt a dread as he felt his father shifted beneath him. His legs felt something passed against him and he turned to see his father spread his legs, revealing a very interesting erection through the white hospital sheets.

"Really? Then if you liked it... And we're alone like this... We could..."

"Dobe!" He scowled at his father's smirk. But he bent down and gave him a kiss anyway, his hands already wandering around, touching the places they miss and craved for in the last few days.

Their relationship may not be what you could call a happy and romantic one. But the tension will vanish in time. The healing of their hearts has already started. And suffice to say, no more further words are needed. Recovery is in its way.

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Unknown to the two, the door slightly opened and outside it stands Kakashi. A small smile graced his face as he closed the door slowly and gently and happily went on his way as he pulls out a small blue book with Naruto's signature on it.

I know there's something going on between those two. But I think it's about time they'll find happiness in each other. They have had it rough and they deserve this.

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End of Chapter. Still to be continued....

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