Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, hopefully some decent jokes, and (of course) beautiful SasuNaru love.

Chapter 17: Smells Like Home

"I'm going to kiss you now, and I don't know if I'll ever stop."

-Jamie McGuire

--

Sasuke kissed him, hard, forcing Naruto's jaw closed and his body as still as possible. He felt shame crawling up his neck. For holding him down like this, for not making it in time- despite his promise to Naruto that he would never have to go through this again. For putting his heart on display for his brother and all of the goddamn Akatsuki to see. He didn't want this to be some fucking circus. This was his life with the one he loves, and this was about saving his life- not entertaining a bunch of fucking monsters.

But, he would do anything to take away his pain. So, he swallowed his pride, deepened the kiss, and waited.

"Is anyone else seeing this..?" Deidara muttered.

Kisame rolled his eyes and punched him.

"Hey!"

"Can you just give it a freaking rest? I'm so fucking tired of hearing you talk."

Deidara mumbled something under his breath, but dipped out of Kisame's reach. He slid a predatory glare at the insolent blonde, but stayed where he was. Itachi came up to stand next to him. Kisame signaled to Itachi, and as inconspicuously as he could, the Uchiha activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and pulled his friend into his world of illusions. A place where they could speak freely. Without interruptions, and without fear of others listening in.

"What is it, Kisame?" Itachi asked, getting right to the point.

"You're planning on letting them go, aren't you?" he said, doing the same.

Itachi paused, then glanced over at him. "And if I did?"

Kisame considered this for a moment. "Can I kill Deidara?"

Itachi smirked. "I'll think about it."

Kisame smiled back, a razor-sharp toothy grin. "Then, I'm in. Zetsu might not like it though.."

"Leave him to me."

"Do you have a plan or are you just going to wing it?"

"I have a few ideas.." Itachi replied. "And I suppose if all else fails I could always just get my hands on a good weed wacker."

The two laughed, but as the illusion began to break they set their faces to neutral, before slipping seamlessly back into reality.

Sasuke still had his lips locked tightly onto Naruto's, his face strained as he desperately tried to bring life back to his blonde. It seemed hopeless at first, but then the convulsions slowed, the muffled screams stopped, the bleeding ceased. Sasuke slowly pulled away and looked down as Naruto opened his eyes, blinking through the red haze.

"Naruto.." Sasuke swallowed thickly as he rubbed his thumb under his eyes, wiping away the blood. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner" he whispered.

The blonde looked up into the raven's tormented face. He weakly lifted a hand, which Sasuke took carefully in his own. "S'ke.." Naruto choked out, his voice like gravel as it crawled past his torn throat. "Are-nnn- are you.. ok?"

A tear slipped down Sasuke's face. He leaned down and pressed his forehead gently against Naruto's. "Dobe.."

Sasuke opened his eyes in time to see precious blue ones roll back, and then Naruto went limp. He was unconscious. Sasuke looked up from the blonde in his arms to the Akatsuki waiting on the sidelines. He glanced at each of them in turn, his gaze hesitating as it met Itachi's, before looking back down at Naruto. "We're leaving. And it's in your best interest to not follow us."

Deidara laughed humorlessly. "You goddamn Uchihas are all the same. Think you're so high and mighty." He reached into his pouch, letting his hungry hands get at the modeling clay inside. "That jinchuriki is ours. You want to leave, leave. But he stays."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he stood with Naruto in his arms, keeping him close to his chest. "You think you can stop me?"

Deidara held out his hands, which had just started to form one of his "materpieces", when a thick blade suddenly slashed down in front of him, severing his arm from his body. Deidara shrieked in pain and horror at his missing limp, then turned to look at his assailant. "Kisame..? Are you fucking insane?! What're you doing??"

Shark-like teeth gleamed as Kisame smiled back at the fool. "What I have been wanting to do for a long time."

As more chaos ensued, Sasuke took the opportunity to silently slip away. He glanced over his shoulder before leaving the large room, and his eyes met Itachi's. They looked at each other for the briefest of moments, their eyes saying everything their voices couldn't, before Sasuke finally left the Akatsuki base, his blonde held safely in his arms.

Sasuke wanted to bring Naruto back to the hidden base he had first been brought to, where that asshole who started this whole thing could reverse this godforsaken curse, so Naruto could finally be free from this pain.

But.. he looked down at the listless blonde in his arms, he's in no shape for anything else. I need to get him to the Leaf. He needs medical attention. This time was worse- a lot worse..

He ground his teeth, rage unfurling in his gut. Sasuke wanted to go on a fucking rampage- to destroy anyone who had ever hurt Naruto, to leave behind some of the pain that Naruto had suffered through. But he knew now was not the time for revenge. You can be pissed later- right now, Naruto has to come first.

He needs you.

Sasuke collected himself, tightened his hold on the unconscious blonde in his arms, and channeled as much chakra to his feet as he could spare as he leapt through the trees, back to the village. He would let the Hokage know about their hidden prisoner. They could bring him to them. There's no reason to put Naruto through anything else.

When they made it back, Sasuke brought him directly to the Hokage- knowing that her medical staff would be better and that she could get them to act immediately. Which she did. Definitely pays off that the hag loves Naruto so much. Sasuke wasn't Tsunade's biggest fan, and he was sure that she was fully aware of it, but she looked after Naruto, and that mattered more to him.

The medic ninjas tried to send Sasuke away at first, but after two broken noses and a dislocated jaw, Tsunade's staff decided to see things his way.

Sasuke stayed by Naruto's side the entire time he was in the hospital. He pulled up a chair close to his hospital bed and just.. stayed with him. He smoothed back his hair, talked to him, kissed him, whispered secrets in his ear, made crude observations that would have made him laugh if he had been awake to hear them.

It was taking a long time for Naruto to wake up.

And that terrified Sasuke.

One night, a sound cut through Sasuke's sleep and he jolted awake, sharingan activated as he searched around the room. When he heard it again, he realized it wasn't some intruder, it was Naruto. Crimson eyes faded to black and he stood and moved closer to him. "Naruto?" Another sound, a high-pitched pained noise, one you might hear a terrified puppy make when it's kicked. It broke Sasuke's heart to hear it coming from Naruto.

A nightmare.. he's having a nightmare.

Sasuke looked around, but seeing no staff in the area, he decided to actually fix this. He carefully pulled himself onto the hospital bed, maneuvered himself around Naruto, and then pulled him in close. And as he cradled his blonde, he felt Naruto snuggle into his side, and the whimpers lessened until they were gone altogether. Sasuke leaned down and kissed the top of his head.

"It's ok, Naruto. You're ok."

"Umm, I don't think you're allowed to do things like this in a hospital."

Sasuke eyes slammed open, and he looked down, surprised to find Naruto laying on his chest, big blue eyes regarding him thoughtfully.

"Naruto", he breathed out.

"Sasuke", he mocked.

"You're awake.." Sasuke's eyes flitted across Naruto's face, looking for any sign of- well, anything. Is he ok? Is he hurt? Does he need my help? Does he want me to leave? Does he need me to stay? Is he feeling..

"I'm ok, Sasuke" Naruto whispered, reading his thoughts. "No thanks to you.."

Sasuke's face dropped and the blonde immediately barked a gravelly laugh. "I'm kidding, Sasuke! I'm kidding."

The Uchiha glared at him.

"Too soon? Owww! What the hell- I said I was kidding!"

"Fucking Baka.." he shook his head, but smiled despite himself. "I'm glad you're back." He leaned back and pulled the blonde in with him.

"Woahhh! Woah! Hey-!" Naruto struggled to pull away, but Sasuke only tightened his grip. He burrowed his head in unruly blonde hair, nuzzling his face into it. "Sasuke- for real! We're in a hospital! You can't just-"

Sasuke shifted and looked down, Naruto raised his head to meet him. "I am never letting you go again."

Blue eyes stared up at him, noting his heavy dark gaze, his disheveled hair, his pale, drawn face. How long have I been in here..? he wondered.

"Naruto, cursed or not- I will kiss you every day." He blushed. "And I promise you- it won't be twelve hours before the next one."

Then he leaned down and kissed him.

Slowly, just pressing his lips against Naruto's. At first. Then he found himself wanting more, craving more, needing more..

Sasuke moved his mouth sensuously against Naruto's, teasing his bottom lip with his tongue until he invited him into his warmth. Sasuke took his time tasting him, and when he felt Naruto wrap his arms around him he pushed his body close and went even further. Lust was consuming him, he could feel it, and he didn't want to stop it, but then Naruto winced and he was immediately thrown back into reality. You can't be this aggressive with him. Not yet. He needs time to recover- even with the nine tail's chakra back.

He pulled back and ran his fingers through messy golden locks. Naruto reached up to meet them, holding Sasuke's palms against his face, leaning into his touch. Sasuke leaned down and kissed his forehead, before gently pulling the blonde into his arms, pulling Naruto's head back onto his chest. He cuddled close and almost immediately fell asleep.

Sasuke smiled softly. Dobe.

He buried his face in unruly blonde hair again, and breathed in deeply all that was Naruto- honey and cedar.. and the comforting smell of home.

Author Note:

Yay!! They're back together again!! Finally! Were you getting antsy for it? I know I was! :)

Thank you so much for reading my little story so far, and Bearlikespie- you are seriously amazing. I am always so curious to see what you think of each chapter and I just love you for sharing. Xoxo~