AN: so late…. -.- but finally here! :D
The man ran at them full speed waving frantically.
"Don't kill her! Please!"
Naruto was torn between laughing at the situations obvious irony and killing nboth man and beast, if chance should prove so fortunate. As was, he straightened up a bit and eyed the newcomer with obvious distaste and disbelief.
"Were you just asking me not to kill that?" he had to be sure that was what the man meant, if so, he'd pull the man himself into the closest sanitarium under some heavy psychiatric care.
"yes" The silver haired man had finally reached them, putting himself between Naruto and the beast. He was out of breath, and had to bend over and wheeze a bit before he could get a word in.
"She's mine…"
Naruto's and Sasuke's eyes widened. Never had they heard a story as far fetched at the one they were living now.
The beast in question was still crouched on the other side of the clearing but as soon as the man came into view, she started inching her way towards him. Never once taking her eyes off Sasuke and the furballs.
"Look" the man held up a hand; "I know this looks a bit strange but…."
"Strange?" Naruto hollered into the night. "Sir, I believe this has gone beyond strange the moment you ran here screaming for me not to kill that monster."
"I can explain…."
"You better make sure this explanation is good enough." Sasuke added as he got up and picked up each kit. He held them now to his chest, the tiny orange balls not even caring that they were moved.
The mother however did, with a roar she ran up to the silver haired man and mewled up at him.
Naruto looked more confused than Sasuke. It looked like the beast was begging him to help her.
The man in turn crouched beside her and started stroking her huge head. A loud purr came from the massive animal and it almost looked like a great big cat.
"See?" he looked over at the gaping pair. "She's harmless."
Naruto ran both his hands through his hair and let out a barking laugh. "You've lost it man." He turned away from them and walked to the edge of the clearing as if trying to gather his wits about him. He turned back. "It tried to kill me! And almost succeeded…" he added as an afterthought as he took in his condition.
He hadn't felt any of the pain before, andrenaline rushing in had taken care of physical discomforts save for one, the freezing fear that something might have happened to the raven.
Now that things were beginning to slowly return to normal…Nay… this was far from normal, but calm; he began to acutely hurt all over. He could estimate by the pain that a couple of his ribs were broken, cracked at least, and his arms had scratches and puncture wounds where he held the jaws open wide. How had he not seen the blood running down before?
He felt woozy, the people before him becoming blurs and the sky spun out of control as he looked up. He didn't feel himself go down on one knee and gasped out a surprised breath as he realized where he was. He couldn't call out, he had no more breath in him. No matter what happened though, he had prevented Sasuke from being hurt. The last thing he managed to do right. He closed his eyes and let the lulling darkness pull him in.
XXxxXX
The next time he opened his eyes he was faced with a gilded ceiling. He could see carved angels and flowers surrounded by golden wreaths. His head still spun, but he knew he wasn't dead; the pain in his side and his arms was too great for that happy thought.
A groan escaped him and at once he heard hurried footsteps and incomprehensible shouts. Then there were shapes looming over him, prodding his eyes, his lips, trying to touch his hands and he finally grit out a muffled curse. Instead of the pain receeding, it seemed to increase with each breath he took.
Slowly, after what seemed like hours, the ceiling stopped spinning and he could better make out the sounds around him.
A gruff voice to his left was giving detailed instructions about care, hygiene, food and movement that he should and shouldn't partake in. he growled inside, cursing his utter stupidity for not shooting the animal outright, saving Sasuke and sparing himself this pain.
"Naruto?" A gentle call from his right. He turned his head slightly, wincing as the movement pulled at his muscles and tried to make out the shape that was talking to him.
He could make out by the voice that it was Sasuke, but it took a good minute for him to be able to see those piercing eyes. They were far from what he had seen at the sun filled clearing. It seemed so far away now, and the eyes looking at him now were rimmed with dark circles, slightly puffy and blood shot.
He tried to speak, but his throat was puffed and dry, he licked his lips to soothe his cracked lips. He tired again, but a glass with cool water drowned away anything he was going to say. A cool hand was supporting his head from the back. Both felt heavenly to his heated skin. The water was blissful running down his parched throat.
"go get some sleep." He rasped out finally; as he was gently being let down into the pillows again. He hissed at the pull but stayed quiet, glaring at Sasuke to make his point.
"Are you hungry?"
"Did you not hear what I just said?"
"The doctor said the worst is over."
"Are you deaf?"
"Ill have the nurse bring you something to eat and change your pillows."
"Did I let that thing rip your ears off?
"I would force you but I have specific orders not to."
"Sasuke are you crazed?" Naruto finally got enough of his voice back to raise it. Sasuke stiffened and looked away, not saying anything, but showing him that he wouldn't go anywhere either way.
"Were you stupid enough to sit here all this time?" Naruto couldn't get his head around why the noble would do that.
"You have no right…" Sasuke hissed at him, shaking.
Naruto assumed that he meant that he had no right to call him stupid.
"I do if you weary yourself out here like a commoner." He bit back. "It's not befitting to your station to sully yourself with this kind of work."
His words were not meant to be so harsh. He meant them, Sasuke should be resting, and most importantly, he was worried that the raven still wanted something more from him that a casual acquaintance. He was worried that the raven would become too attached and harm his reputation and status. Now that they were out though, as he sat there in the stunned silence, he deemed himself an idiot instead. That had probably hurt the Uchiha, more than the man would show.
And if his guess was correct, as was proven by the state the man was in, Sasuke had indeed spent most of his time with him. He should be grateful for the show of devotion. Instead, he was worried what that show might lead to.
"You had no right…" Sasuke went on; "to jump in my way like you did… I was perfectly capable in taking the situation and controlling it."
Naruto huffed at that and rolled his eyes. "Of course you did."
"You got hurt because of me and that," he added "will just increase the pile of shit that you keep rubbing me in."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean" Sasuke sighed, "that on top of you viewing me as prissy, stuck-up, better-than-thou, you will also now deem me a coward."
"It was my choice what I did," Naruto shook his head; "and I don't deem you anything… this whole fiasco is best left forgotten."
"I can't forget any of it." Sasuke whispered more to himself than to Naruto, ghosting his palm over Naruto's bandaged arm. I remember how you stood there and let Inana pierce you to protect me."
"Inana?" Naruto chimed, torn between the sweetness of Sasuke's speech and beating himself up over what a insufferable fool he was.
"that's her name" Sasuke smiled bitterly.
The door opened then, a small sliver of hall light streaming in. Naruto then realized that the room he was laying in was fairly dark, with one candle lit on the side table and the fireplace crackling away. Save those two sources, there was nothing else.
The silver man poked his head in, looking serious and apologetic. In his wake, a great orange head slipped through, followed by the rest of the beast that was responsible for rendering him bedridden.
"Oh hell no." Naruto whispered.
AN: ok… heres FINALLY another chappie… as mentioned in my other updates, I have been very very ery busy…. As in… no time to sleep busy…. LITERALLY, I get like 3 hours of sleep per day… coffee is the only thing keeping me going lol… Note: regular updates will resume in January :P thank you all for being so very patient with me and so sweet in responses.. you guys keep me goin' really! enjoy!