Disclaimer: I own nothing

Warnings: Yaoi, Lemons (Later on though), Mpreg

Review Answers for Chapter 5:

Melyway: I was trying not to go too crazy in one chapter since their relationship is just starting. But I'm glad you thought it was!

Rosebunse: Thank you!

BFHwantsblood: your welcome, I defiantly will!

LouiseUchiha: Yup, I love him being more vulnerable. He was too cute as a kid to just turn into the arrogant person he was/is in the series. Annoys the crap out of me. I like this Sasuke better! He's too adorable! I'm defiantly waiting for them to have a child for a few years probably around five like you suggested.

Hannahnek: Tika is so flipping adorable! I want to take her home and cuddle her to death!

Random person: I had a fan girl moment when they confessed I admit it! I want a Tika so bad!

Ougley: Hmm, I think I'm going to wait a chapter or two, I want to give them some alone time with each other before Sasuke gets pregnant.

ZoeyExtreme: I take no offense at all, I like both happy and sad ending although I do like sad ones better. I've written both types of ending for Giving and I honestly like them equally. I'll probably see what happens in the story and pick then.

TKM: Thank you!

Guest: I've got something planned soon!

Batman01: Oooooh that is a fantastic idea! I may use something similar to it! Thank you for your idea~

The Crimson Lake That Is His Sanctuary

Naruto grunted turning his head to glare up at his boyfriend. The Uchiha smiled of so sweetly from where he was perched to sit on the blonde's back. Naruto way currently laying on his stomach searching for a nail that had rolled under the couch while he was hanging up a painting that Sasuke had brought from the market earlier that morning. Unfortunately for the blonde moments before he had laid down to search for the nail he had been joking around with the raven, apparently Sasuke thought it would be a grand idea to make him a chair as pay back. Naruto had called Sasuke girly, due to his now upper back length hair, he was growing is out in honor of Itachi's memories, after he had learned the truth behind the massacre the raven forgave everything the elder Uchiha had done but since Itachi was now dead there was no way to truly apologize so Sasuke decided to make it up in other ways.

"Sasu...What are you doing?" Naruto muttered letting his head rest against the freshly cleaned hard wood floor with a soft thud and a huff of annoyance. It was cleaning day for them, every Sunday the pair set to work making sure their apartment was clean, both of them hated the thought of a dirty home. Earlier that morning Naruto had helped, well he did most of the work not that he minded, Sasuke move his things into their shared room, which was once Naruto's room. Sasuke had made sure to arranged their clothes neatly in the drawers and closet to fit neatly and easily. Sasuke's old room had become the guest room since they had left the furniture and bed in there.

The smirking raven crossed his left leg over his right tilting his crossed legs slightly to the right side before folding his hands over the feathered duster that sat in his lap. The dark blue kimono that draped over his pale smooth legs made him look regal, much like royalty.

"You looked comfortable and warm so I decided to sit down for a bit." The smaller male smiled evilly. "I was right too."

"Whatever you say..." The blonde smirked, "Princess."

Sasuke growled smacking him in the face with the feather portion of the duster causing the poor blonde to go into a fit of sneezing from the dust he had breathed in. The raven, no matter how much he denied it, let out a giggle which only added to Naruto's teasing.

"I am Not a princess, dope." Sasuke huffed his lips pressing into a cute, on Naruto's opinion, pout. The door opened as Sakura who had volunteered to come over and help with the cleaning so the three of the them could hang out since she had been watching Himori all weekend. She looked like she needed a break from the child who loved to nosily state her option even though no one could understand. Neither of the pair who could not see the door and were too busy bickering and laughing to hear it open noticed her coming it.

"Yes, yes you are, Princess." Naruto teased chuckling softly.

"What are you two doing?" Sakura asked appearing over the side of the couch where she leaned against the back of the couch sinking slightly into the soft fluffy cushions.

"Apparently I've turned into a lovely couch that comes with heating and a conversion for the Princess here." Naruto chuckling softly as he watched Sasuke turn red with embarrassment and whack him over the head with a scowl.

"I am not a fucking princess!" The raven complained an annoyed look covering his pale, red tinted face.

"I'd hate to break it to you Sasuke, but you are sitting very proper...Plus your kimono is adding to the effect..." Sakura pointed out trying and failing to hold back her giggles of laughter.

"Also princesses shouldn't cuss, Sasuke, it is very improper." Naruto added holding back his smile and laughter.

"I hate you..." The raven growled punching the blonde in the head before standing and storming out of the room. Naruto let out a low whistle watching the raven disappear from his view.

"I pissed him off, I don't think I'll be sleeping in our bed tonight..." He mumbled watching Sakura who was doubled over in laughter from the corner of his eye.

"I think he'll get over it. I'm sure you'll come up with worse things to saw." She smiled after regaining her breath and wiping a few tears from her eyes.

"Worse? I was complimenting him...He looks good in kimonos..." The blonde sighed grabbing the nail from under the couch and standing.

"Okay, lover boy lets get cleaning before we both get attacked by a rogue duster." She grinned grabbing some cleaning supplies before setting to work on cleaning the kitchen. Naruto rolled his eye before finishing hanging up the painting and went to clean their bedroom having spotted Sasuke in the bathroom cleaning the tub.

Opening the window he stared outside for a bit in silence before setting to work. He was unusually silence despite his team mates who were joking around back and forth from the rooms they were in. The door to the bed room was closed so he could clean everywhere and not worry about missing anything, locking him in a silent world except for the sounds of his cleaning.

His eye traveled to the calender staring at the date on it, October ninth, tomorrow would be his birthday, the day he hated above all others.

"Naruto-sama, if you keep making that face you'll get stuck like that." A soft voice piped up and he slid his gaze to the fox sitting at the edge of the bed, he ignored the flinch that she gave as his dead, cold eye landed on her. His face was twisted into a scowl as he glared at everything in sight that wasn't human. He had been like this for the entire week but he slid on a mask to hide it around everyone not wanted to worry them.

"Sorry, Tika..." He mumbled even though his voice was devoted of emotion before returning to his task at hand. "Rough week is all."

The fox nodded jumping down from the bed and helping where she could like caring the bucket of water and moving smaller things away.

"You still don't talk to anyone about it...you need to...and not Kyuubi-sama either." She suggested firmly, he sighed ruffling her fur softly before letting her jump in his shoulder as he walked out having completed his work.

"It is something I need to deal with on my own." He replied before yanking open the door his eye instantly returning to it's normal shining color and a tiny content smile gracing his lips. The conversation over neither spoke as they went to finish the cleaning.

The next day found Naruto standing silently on the top of the Hokage Monument. Hands in pockets, emotionless eyes staring down at the bustle of the crowd, it was the Kyuubi festival, up until a few years ago it had been a hate filled festival where the villagers would chase and beat the holder of the Fox, knowing they could easily get away with it. Despite now it had a happier tone, it now celebrated the man who had given his life to protect them and his son who had become the container to hold the once beast who was now a member of Konoha after helping to save the town.

But Naruto no matter how hard he tried could not relax and have fun on this night and he doubted he ever would. He would forever hate his day of birth, he declined all attempts of parties for him and shook his head to gifts, he did not deserve them in his eye. He may have save many lives by become the holder but Kyuubi was still apart of him, he was still a monster.

Digging into his pouch he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit ones spinning on his heel as he turned away from the happy scene and went to his secret place. Humming a soft lullaby under his breath he let his body move on it's own. Stopping at a lake he smiled faintly to himself, this was his sanctuary, a place no one else knew of, he only came here once on his birthday. The lake was not huge in fact it was a smaller lake but he liked it. What was odd about it was the color of the water, crimson like blood, it had once been blue but over the years it turned red from the blood he had shed into it while cleaning his wounds. Walking softly out into the middle of the lake he closed his eye, despite the blood that filled the lake it did not smell like it, actually due to the seals he had made it smelt like the ocean.

Rolling up his sleeve silently he brought a kunai out of his pouch, pressing it to the tanned skin he reopened the faint, almost nonexistent scars that trailed up his arm. They were tally marks one for each year he had lived. His lips parted some as he quietly sang the lullaby he had made for himself under his breath, he had only been five when he made it but it was special to him.

Tick tock goes the clock

As time slips away

Hello, goodbye

They're just lies anyway

One cut another year

I'll survive one more day

They watch furious

Cruel Words slip their lips

The Fox and the Boy play

Bad and good

Night and Day

Locked inside

Never free

From the walls

Surrounding

Blood falls drop by drop

With every evening

Eyes will fail to see

The child waiting to be free

Inside the cage

Watching patiently

Tick tock goes the clock

The chimes ring away

Goodbye, Hello

They're just words anyway

That's a lie

My smiles fake

Please someone save me

hear my screams my weak pleas

Help me help me

I don't deserve this pain

But that's a lie anyway

Everything is

Just as they say

A demon, a monster

So one more cut.

Another year

Passes through again

But it's alright

I'm used to it

I can't feel their hate

What is real?

What is lies?

I'm not sure.

Are you surprised?

So watch me smile

Mask in place

Until time fades away

And death comes to take my place

Tick tock goes the clock

The chimes ring no more

Are you happy?

Are you sad?

For the Fox and the boy

Are now dead.

He watched fascinated as the red liquid slid down his arm dripping into the crimson dyed lake adding more to the red hue. A sad smile twisted to his lips as he stretched his arm in front of him turning it over so the cuts faced the rippling lake allowing the blood to run in a small stream.

"Huh...Interesting." He mumbled to himself blowing smoke letting it rise into the air. "One day this lake will be so red there will not be any water left, just blood because I will spill as much as Kyuubi did that day, I will atone for our sins. You for killing people and I for being born, together we will fall into hell and become the fire of hate that everyone wants us to be...Do you remember that promise Kuruma?"

'Of course, you were twelve, the day for found out about me.' The fox grumbled not happy that his container was cutting himself again.

"Yes, I plan on keeping it too. It is the least I can do..." The blonde mumbled staring that the deep slits that trailed half was up his left forearm. "The lake is already almost full of blood already, it's not quite dark enough yet...but it'll get there eventually..." He nodded to himself.

Sliding his hands into his pockets after he lit another cigarette, the other had gone out, he walked back to the shore, staring up at the clear sky mentally counting the stars but stopped since it was impossible. Shifting his gaze in front of him he expertly hid his shock of seeing not only Sasuke but their entire group of friends, raising his right hand in greeting knowing from the looking of shock and horror on their faces they had seen the whole thing. He acted like there wasn't a bloody lake behind him, filled with his blood, or that his arm wasn't still bleeding heavily dripping red onto the dark grass. He made no protest as the cigarette was ripped from his mouth nor did he wince as the pale hands of his boyfriend grasped his injured arm after dropping the cigarette on the ground. He stared blankly with a dead, cold expression right back into the black-blue pools that swam with fury and unshed tears.

"We followed you here, expected you just need a quiet place to go. We didn't expect to find a blood soaked lake and you cutting yourself!" The pale male screamed voice getting louder at every word. "What if you have hit a major vein Naruto! What is you had bleed out?! Don't even get me started on the damned cigarette!"

The blonde made no sound or indication that he had even heard. He just watched Sasuke calmly, he watched as the raven looked back up from inspecting the damage he had done to himself. The mismatched eyes widened at the vacant look.

"Naruto? Naru-" Tsunade touched the raven's arm gently.

"Back away slowly, Sasuke...I...I don't think he can hear us..." She whispered pulling the smaller male back before stepping forward. "Naruto? It's Tsunade. Can you hear me?"

"Of course I'm not stupid." The blonde replied words clipped and short, his Anbu voice, she winced.

"We are going to get ramen. Would you like to join us?" She asked slowly trying to pull Naruto away from the lake.

"No thank you, I'm not a huge fan." The male replied tonelessly.

"How about we go back to the festival then?" The Hokage suggested hopefully.

"The festival...No. Please leave I will return home later tonight." The blonde muttered turning to head back to the lake.

"I can't let you stay here, Naruto." The female reached out grabbing his arm that wasn't injured.

"Please leave." The male stiffened eye flashing red.

"No." The older blonde stated firmly.

"Please. Leave." Naruto growled obviously annoyed.

"I am not going to leave. None of us are." Tsunade growled back. The male growled inhuman and deep ripping his arm from her grasp before walking away disappearing into the wind. He landed lightly in the forest silently sitting in a tree before crossing his legs and letting his eye slide closed as he began to meditate. He knew they would find him quickly, he didn't care he really needed quiet. He ignored everything around him after that letting the world fade to black hearing only the sound of his heart beating firmly in his chest.

When hands suddenly grabbed his shoulders he jerked snapping his eye open and glaring at Neji. The male glared right back thus the staring contest began, neither moving, neither speaking.

"You are coming back with me and we are going to get your arm fixed up."

"You of all people know that I hate my birthday. I just want to be alone, Neji. One day just one day where I can think." The blonde snapped

"How long have you been doing this." The older male inspected the deep cuts.

"Count them." Silence, tense as it was slipped over them as Neji counted.

"Twenty-three. One for every year you have been in this world."

"Correct."

"So the lake..."

"Every drop of blood Kyuubi spilled I will shed. I will not stop until that lake is no long water but blood, I will atone for my sins."

"I can understand that but this," Neji held up Naruto's arm. "Is not the correct answer."

"Then what is?" The male muttered to himself watching at Neji began to clean the wounds.

"I can not answer that...But you'll figure it out..." The long haired male replied quietly as white bandages covered the cuts which were still cleaning. "I know your health is not well, I can tell from your chakra...I will not speak but just...tell Sasuke soon, you are the only person he has left to lean on. He needs to know, you helped him, who knows maybe he can help you..."

"I know...It's...just hard...how can you tell someone who has become your entire world that you are dying? I...just need to find the right time..." Naruto sighed softly sliding his fingers through his hair harshly.

"Time is not on your side..." Neji reminded him.

"I know my friend, I know." The blonde smiled sadly before standing. "Lets head back, I owe everyone an explanation about the lake...and why I did this..." He pointed to the bandaged arm before jumping from branch to branch Neji by his side. The two had had their ups and downs but in the end Neji was one of the few people he would trust with all of his secrets.

Landing in the clearing by the crimson lake he actually startled the group sitting there quietly talking.

"You actually thought I wasn't going to come back? When do I not come back?" He shook his head. "This lake is my sanctuary, I come here every year on my birthday. Yes, the lake is red with my blood, no I'm not suicidal, yes I am going to keep doing this..." He pointed to his arm. "Every drop of blood Kyuubi spilled I will drop into this lake until there is no water left, only blood, I must atone for my sin." He explained.

"But why, why do you do this?" Tsunade asked quietly.

"When I was five, I had already suffered the regular beatings of the villagers...My birthday was the worst...I didn't understand why they hated me so much...I found this lake while running away and cleaned my wounds. A thought came into my head, I remembered their words about me being a demon and how I should die. Well I knew I wanted to live so I did the next best thing. I cut myself one cut for every year I've been alive. Kyuubi refused to heal self inflicted injuries so I was left to bandage up. But I watched my blood dissolve into the lake and it was...calming...like I had done some good. Every year I came back and did the same thing. Seals have been put down by myself to prevent strangers from wondering here, I only disable them on my birthday so congratulations, you've found my Crimson Lake. Call it crazy or morbid, I really don't care, it's the only thing that helped me push threw. One more year, I told myself, one more year then the lake may be full and I won't be called a demon, just one more year. Well it's been eighteen and I am perfectly fine, just one more year." The blonde sighed softly tugging at the bandages in annoyance. "I just want to be free...Is that so wrong? This...for now...this will be my freedom.." The blue eye slid closed as he rose a hand to slid his fingers through his messy hair. "...All my life...I've been shunned and thrown away like some broken toy that no one wants...Now..there are people who actually like me...It doesn't feel real...Like a dream that I'll wake up from and everything will be hell all over again...If this is a dream...I hope I sleep forever." He refused to look up to move until his boyfriend cupping his cheeks forcing his staring match with the grass to end. Meeting the mismatched eyes he winced inwardly at the look in them, Sasuke looked so sad like someone had brutally destroyed his heart. His clothes wrinkled as the smaller male pulled him into a hug a cold nose pressing to his neck.

"Lets...go home, then we can relax and talk okay? Naru...?" The blonde melted if there was one thing that could break him from a depressed state in seconds it was defiantly Sasuke, the smaller male knew the right tones to use in order to help calm him down.

"...Yeah..." The blonde mumbled pulling away gently. His gaze turned to everyone and he managed a small smile. "I'll be fine, I always am."

"Shut up and go home you ass." Kiba grumbled punching the blonde lightly in the shoulder. The male rolled his eye before taking the pale hand and disappearing in a ripple of wind with Sasuke.

Landing lightly in their living room he wrapped his arms around the smaller male holding him close as he buried his face into the soft hair.

"Sorry..." He mumbled softly as Sasuke sniffled still trying to stop his gentle tears that had finally started to fall. The raven pulled away gently wiping away his tears softly.

"Can..you make some tea?...I'm going to get changed. Than we need to talk okay?" The blonde nodded walking Sasuke walk away before retreating to the kitchen where he put up the tea kettle staring at the clock as he watched the red hand tick around the seconds. After the tea was ready he poured it into their cups before preparing them and walking back to the living room where he set them on the coasters and laid on the couch draping an arm over his eye.

He didn't move as a cooler body settled next to his as a head pressed to his chest. He wrapped an arm around Sasuke's waist as a soft kiss pressed to his lips.

"When did you start smoking?" Letting his arm drop to his side he weaved their fingers together softly.

"...about four years ago I think..." He mumbled quietly.

"It's not healthy. You can get sick and die from it!" Sasuke sat up slightly scooting to he was on top of Naruto. Naruto had his right leg bend leaning against the couch, Sasuke's legs were in between his, hips pressing softly against the blonde's.

"No, my body is immune to all human diseases, Kuruma doesn't even have to try to heal it, my body does so immediately now..." Naruto explained, Sasuke nodded slowly before sighing tracing the bandages around the tanned arm.

"I know you aren't going to stop this...but promise that you'll never leave me...please?" Sasuke whispered.

"Forever. I'll be with you forever." Naruto tilted the pale chin up and pressed a loving kiss to the soft lips.

It's not going to be for a few chapters but...

Why gender should their baby be?

Boy or Girl?

Please, Please Review. Any and all flames, suggestions, and random comments of any kind are greatly appreciated.

(I strive to better my writing style, anything helps.)

Any ideas would be fantastic.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you liked it.