AN: Huzzah! I made it! Though I literally have carpal tunnel and my wrist is rubbed raw from the edge of my laptop, I have kept my promise and pushed out the following chapter! I think I can pass out now and let my hands rest before the catch fire. But without further adieu, please enjoy this next long awaited chapter! And come thanks giving day (though I will be busy cooking) I will try my best to push out another chapter! Enjoy!

Note: Suna Akurei, Hyūga Hisae © Anna Uzumaki

Pairing(s): Naruto/Sasuke With: Neji/Gaara, Shika/Kiba, Sakura/Lee, Kakashi/Iruka, Hinata/Shino, Ino/Choji, Kankuro/Hana, Temari/Tenten, Jiraiya/Tsunade, Itachi/Kimimaru, Suigetsu/Sasori.

Warning(s): Yaoi, lemon(s) in later chapters, sexual content (Duh!), slight nuggets of OOC-ness (bear with me), adult language, blood/gore, angst, drama & slight child abuse.

Disclaimer: Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

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Chapter Twelve

Close call!

"You may enter." Naruto quirked up and answered towards the door and was none too surprised to have Genma enter first.

"Young lord, Sir Itachi and Deidara are here… per your request." Genma announced, though the ending was a fair bit sour and full of suspicion, but none the less he stepped aside granting them entrance after a nod of agreement came from the tanned prince, "I'll be just outside these doors should you need any further assistance." He added in a warning as clear as day before he closed the door behind him.

"To what do I owe this interruption of my time with Itachi here, hm?" The long haired blonde crossed his arms in mild agitation.

"Oh me, oh my! I am ever so sorry my dear cousin Deidara, never did I mean to impede on your previous merriment." Naruto feigned an apology and cow-toed on the bed towards the long hair blonde.

"Oi! Ya little shrimp—" Deidara growled and would flown over to tackle the young one, if not for a halting hand on his shoulder.

"Peace be still, Dei…" The long haired raven spoke, "Now, what is the meaning of this call?" He continued and eyed each young prince, lingering longer on his young brother.

"That question rest solely on Naruto, Itachi." Sasuke tilted his head towards the boy in question, whom immediately snapped his head around to glare at the short haired raven, after-all he was the one who suggested that Itachi and Deidara could assist them.

"Is that so?" Itachi smirked, "What mischief are you getting into now Naruto? I am certain that Lord Minato has ordered you and Gaara to rest for the day." He mentioned and looked between the blonde and red head.

"True as that may be, I and Gaara have given our word that we are fine. Never the less, there are still matters at hand that require our attention," Naruto spoke and slid to the edge of the bed to where Sasuke still sat, "that of which is the reason I called for you guy's… after Sasuke mentioned it of course." He continued and jabbed the raven in the side as payback.

"Hn, and the suspicion rises…" Deidara stated and narrowed his eyes at the action.

"Indeed." Neji and Sasuke both agreed.

"So what are you planning?" Itachi questioned as he crossed the room, followed closely by the long haired blonde, to the pair of seats by the window.

"W-well… we need both yours and Deidara's assistance in sneaking out of the castle tonight." Gaara spoke up with determination, though there was an underling fear within him, partly due to the fact that Itachi was now staring at him as though he had just grown a second head. The look that came across his face was something between confusion, skepticism and humor, however the look, rather the sound that came from the long haired blonde was nothing short of flagrant entertainment.

"Ahahah! You must be joking!" Deidara snickered and looked at the young princes from behind his one visible eye.

"Deidara…" Itachi called with a smirk on his lips as he was trying his best not to laugh at the absurd request.

"Hn, hn, hn…." Deidara covered his mouth in an attempt to keep from laughing and looked over to his cousin with a questioning look.

"Though you find humor in this, what we ask is true and of great importance." Naruto narrowed his eyes in something akin to a pout at his still snickering cousin.

"Of great importance?" Itachi tilted his head in honest curiosity, "what could be so important to have you all sneaking out and risking your lives? Be mindful that there are people whom would take advantage of you should they get their hands on either of you." He continued and gave each of the young ones a stern look, but what was said next took him by surprise.

"It's because our lives are in danger that Gaara and I have to do this…." Naruto mention just loud enough for everyone to hear, though his expression wore that he'd rather jump from atop the castle tops than to go on speaking and with a quick glance to his red head counterpart, he knew he felt the same as well.

"What?" The rest, excluding Gaara, said in unison, "Naruto, Gaara…" Itachi began to call out to them, but the choice of words seemed to stick in his throat. What was he to say? He dare not tell them that they are surrounded by those who would give their lives to protect them, because years ago when those words had their chance to be proven truthful, they had fallen flat… and because of that both boys nearly lost their lives at the hands of someone whom pledged their life to them, that person being Gaara in particular. So at this point, saying such words would do more harm than good, which turn caused him to fall silent on continuing with what he was to say.

"You're making close to no sense at all my dear cousin, hn, the pair of you are safest within the castle walls." Deidara ceased all hints of laughter and gave both boys a serious look.

"It's obvious that from todays…. Episode, we are not as safe as you think…. No matter where we are…." Gaara mentioned with his gaze to the floor, barely noting the squeeze on his shoulder.

"But… what happened today was the first time in a long time that you or Naruto have collapsed, surely…" Neji mentioned, but whatever else he was going to say was halted as the teal eyed boy threw him a pained look.

"It's happened more times than just this once that you all know of…." Naruto admitted, "Grandmother assumes it to be a triggering from exertion, over activities… but that's not the case… that I know." He continued and looked at the others albeit sheepishly.

"What makes you so sure that your lives are still at such a risk?" Sasuke spoke up this time with his eyes glued to the blue eyed boy next to him, noticing at how he seemed to stiffen at his words.

"…..When… when it happens… Gaara and I are with each other in a really dark void… sometimes it's, other times there is nothing but darkness…. but, they are always there… always…." Naruto spoke in a voice that was a million miles away.

"They?" The others pressed, looking hesitantly between both distant looking boys.

"The foxes…" Gaara answered as a flashback from years ago clouded before his eyes for a brief second, but long enough to make his stomach turn slightly. Not wanting to risk saying right way, for fear he might lose what little he had eaten today, he remained silent and mentally took in the heavy silence that filled the room. At the mere mention of the animals Naruto folded his arms around his stomach as it seemed to be summersaulting within him, though the action he made was duly noted by the keen eyes of the eldest Uchiha, who was the one to break the silence.

"Naruto… nothing, bad, happened during such times, correct?" Itachi inquired and silently noting on how both boys looked as though they were seconds away from becoming sick, especially Gaara.

"…. No…. not necessarily…. But this time was different…. They were so huge…" Naruto mentioned as unconsciously thought back to the sheer size of the animals.

"… and there was someone there this time… I… I think she saved us…." Gaara piped and furrowed his nonexistent brows.

"Enough with the suspense, this person, what did they do, hn? Did they say anything to you? Did they do anything to you? And these foxes…" Deidara shot up out of his seat in agitation.

"Deidara!" Itachi hissed up at the boisterous blonde, remembering that they were still being monitored outside and he knew that given the slightest hint at a disturbance Genma would quickly order them to leave.

"No Itachi! I can't and won't sit idly by and watch my cousin and the Suna boy look racked with such discomfort, hn!" Deidara spun around to regard the eldest Uchiha, who looked as though he was going to argue, but the weight of what was just said rang too true for him to argue against.

"It's okay, Deidara, Itachi," Naruto spoke and slid off the bed, "we didn't see her, but this woman said that she would be able to help us… from the foxes… and…. the people who put them in us…" Naruto said as he walked over to the two older boys.

"And how do you know that this woman is not looking to harm you both as well?" Itachi stood and placed a hand on the young prince.

"Because she said we, our family and friends, were in danger as well…" Gaara recovered enough to speak and looked at each pair of eyes in the room, which were now unsurprisingly now focused on him.

"…. And how does this woman know this?" Neji question after another brief moment of silence.

"Hn, now I get it, you guys want to find this person and find out for yourselves." Sasuke noted and leapt from the bed.

"But even so, just how are you going to find her?" Neji added and looked at both Naruto and Gaara, who was silently watching the scene in front of him.

"'Through burlesque district, past the mason you shall find me….mirrors….'" Naruto repeated the exact words that the voice had mentioned, "Deidara, surely our kingdom has such places, right?" He looked up to his cousin, but gave a confusing look as a slight blush crossed his face, only to disappear behind the section of hair that hung over his left eye.

"Y-yeah… I believe so…" The older blonde stammered and glanced over to the long haired raven, who was biting his lower lip in an attempt to hide the smirk threatening to break out across his face.

"Hn, I'm positive Itachi knows where to find such a place." Sasuke mentioned with a sly smirk towards his now wide eyed brother.

"Sasuke!" Itachi hissed and quickly crossed the space between them to put him in a headlock, "Never you all mind Sasuke," He continued and placed a hand over his resisting brother, "none the less, I have no objection to assisting you both, what say you Dei?" He spoke and regarded the long haired blonde.

"Of course I do not object, hn. Anything goes for the young prince's." Deidara smirked and kneeled before the tanned boy, who only proceeded to tackle him with a tight hug.

"Thank you Dei!" Naruto wriggled atop of his cousin.

"So when would be best a time to head out?" Gaara spoke gaining everyone's attention, before they all turned to Deidara, who was the best at knowing what the castle operations were during the night.

"Well, it will be no problem getting past the guards, hn," Deidara mentioned and lifted himself off the floor with Naruto now perched on his back, "There is a reason that you're resigned to this room Naruto… now, keep what I'm about to show you in this room, hn." He warned as he walked over to the fireplace and ducked low enough to where Naruto wouldn't hit his head and pointed out an unseen lever.

"What's that?" Naruto questioned, his voices echoing within the mantle.

"You'll find out tonight, if I showed you now our plans would be nulled by Genma, hn." Deidara mentioned as he removed themselves from the fireplace.

"By what hour are we to meet back here then?" Neji asked and looked over to the grandfather clock on the other side of the room as it tolled 5 O'clock, leaving only an hour before dinner began.

"…. You and Sasuke should be able to talk your way in to staying with these two tonight, so Itachi and I will come when the guards begin their rounds." Deidara nodded and lowered his cousin to the ground just as a knock came to the door, which cause everyone to snap their heads towards the door, only to relax as they saw who was entering the room.

"Now, now," Minato tsk'd as he entered the room, "what a large gathering we have here, hmm if I'm not mistaken, I allowed only two visitors, did I not?" He continued and playfully eyed the eldest boys in the room, however before they could even think to answer more guest entered the room.

"Gaara?" Karura entered from behind Minato with worried eyes.

"Mother!" Gaara quickly stood as his mother quickly made her way over to pull him into a tight embrace.

"My goodness, I am so sorry I couldn't be here sooner! Though I am all too relieved to see you two are well!" Karura sighed and looked to Naruto as well before standing.

"Indeed mother, as we both mention earlier, we are fine…. Just a bit tired." Gaara soothed his anxious looking mother, but quickly tacked on the rest as he saw his father now standing beside Minato.

"Hm, with such a crowd it will be impossible for you to rest," Akurei held a look of slight humor, "wouldn't you agree, Minato?" He regarded the blonde king.

"Ahah, what you say rings true my friend," Minato chuckled and looked towards the occupants of the room, "come now everyone, dinner will begin shortly, Naruto, Gaara, I'll be taking a word with you two." He continued while stepping aside to let the others out of the room and halted the two bed rest boys.

"What is it father?" Naruto placed himself before him with Gaara right beside him.

"I will leave it to you both to decide whether or not you wish to join the rest of us for dinner, it has indeed been a long day after all." Minato mentioned with Akurei nodding slightly from beside him.

"I feel fine enough to join the others father." Naruto grinned widely.

"I as well, I wish to join my friends for dinner." Gaara second and looked up to his father and was inwardly pleased to see no hint of refusal in his eyes.

"So be it, I shall see you both later." Akurei place a hand on both boys' heads before exiting the room.

"Now that that's settled, I'll leave Ayame to assist you with preparing for dinner." Minato grinned down at the two seemingly in better spirited boys' and motioned for the young woman to enter the room, "Oh and Gaara, don't let my son cause you to be late." He finished with a comical wink at his son, who proceeded to stick his tongue out at the attempt to insult. Once he was out of the room, both boys' were ushered into the large bathroom by Ayame and quickly dressed down to bathe, though both boys' wanted to discuss the plans for tonight, they resisted the urge due to not only Ayame standing by the bathroom door, but Genma was standing just on the other side as well, so they dare not to risk even muttering about it. As they finished their ministrations in the bathroom, they were then ushered into Naruto's massive closet, where a few simple articles of Gaara's clothes had been placed, they went through the normal process of being dressed, Naruto having decided to go with something simple as well. Which left him to ponder something as the 6 o'clock bell tolled and they were being led down to the dining hall, if they were to be sneaking out and roaming about the kingdom, they would need to be as inconspicuous as possible and considering the fact that every article of clothing he wore was adorned with his family insignia on it, would make in next to impossible not to be noticed, and that was just factoring in getting through the family settlement that covered the front of the castle, not even taking into consideration of the outer kingdom. However, the blonde's pondering would have to be put on hold as the made their way into the dining room, where all eyes snapped towards the boys' entrance.

As dinner concluded without a hitch, too Naruto's inward surprise, seeing as how neither of his visiting friends questioned his nor Gaara's health, though he knew that the reason being must have been due to his father telling them that they were indeed fine and not to question them about it for whatever reasons why. Never the less, both Naruto and Gaara were actually relieved that they were not subjected to any further questioning about their health, seeing as how they had a hard enough time trying to convince their parents that they were indeed fine, however shocking the incident may have been…. But then again, they honestly couldn't fault them for being concerned. Even so, as they were now being led back to Naruto's room, he couldn't help but to continue thinking on how they could conceal their signs of royalty, even Gaara's clothing bore the Suna family crest, and seeing as how both Sasuke and Neji were to be accompanying them as well, they too had to figure out a way to conceal their family's insignia as well, which like all Naruto, was etched on every piece of clothing they owned. Though, once the two boys' were once again left to rest in the blondes' room, they were finally able to discuss the matter soon at hand.

"Gaara, I was wondering, when we set out… what will we wear?" Naruto questioned as the pair of them were situated in the middle of the huge bed.

"Heh, I had been thinking the same, though this is your kingdom, surely there are those who will recognize my family crest." Gaara nodded and poked at the crest on the arm of his blouse.

"Sheesh, who knew that sneaking out needed such preparation!" Naruto exasperated and fell back on his bed.

"I would guess it's because we are of royalty, I doubt if children in any village wanted to sneak out, they'd simply have to wait for their parents to retire for the night." Gaara snickered lightly and looked out the window to the twinkling lights of the kingdom.

"…. Say, Gaara… Have you ever wondered what it would be like to not be of nobility?" Naruto asked after a moment of silence and turned to look at his red head friend.

"When I was younger I never gave it much though… but, after what happened to us… I find myself thinking about it quite often these days." Gaara said solemnly and then looked down to his blonde counterpart, "after-all, if we weren't…. there would be no need in sneaking out tonight." He continued with apparent meaning, which Naruto knew was all too true. If they weren't of nobility, they wouldn't be targets as they were… but even so, Naruto couldn't help but to ponder further on that incident.

"Even though that's true… you think… maybe what happened to us, still would've happened? After all, they we after the youngest they knew…." Naruto mentioned quietly, which led to an even longer silence as Gaara took what he said in to chronic seriousness and after a few minutes of silence, finally spoke.

"…. You're right…. Who knows… maybe nobility means nothing and it was just fated." Gaara mentioned and pulled his knees to his chest and looked towards the crackling fireplace as the clocked tolled time of 9 O'clock.

"Hmph, then it seems as though we have to fight fate." Naruto grinned and yanked Gaara down, successfully breaking the clouding thoughts creeping into his mind.

"Heh, right," Gaara smiled at his blue eyed friend, "even so, I don't regret being born to nobility, because it has given me such great friends." He continued and as if on cue, there came a knock on the main door.

"Enter!" Naruto called to the door, already knowing who it was given the time.

"Young Lord, permission has been granted to allow you two company tonight." Genma stated as he stepped into the room followed closely by both Neji and Sasuke, whom were now in there nightly attire, "I'll be making my rounds now Young Lords, if you are in need of assistance, please use the calling system. I'll be taking my leave now." He continued with a bow before heading back out the room.

"Subtle much?" Sasuke glared at the now closed door before making his way over to the bed with Neji in tow.

"Heh, it's becoming a habit for him, I wonder why he always mentions it when you're in the vicinity." Neji smirked at the pale raven as they both mounted the bed, though all he received was a very Uchiha like glare, to which he was immune.

"So Sasuke, you hear anything from Itachi?" Naruto quirked and slid over the raven, with Gaara doing the same thing but towards Neji.

"Nothing more, he's been preoccupied with father ever since dinner. My best guess is that he's being dragged into the preparations for the winter ball." Sasuke shrugged and relaxed back onto his forearms.

"Sounds like fun." Gaara noted with a smirk, "Speaking of preparations, Naruto and I were just taking something into consideration… what are we going to wear when we sneak out?" He questioned the pair of them.

"I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whom thought of this hurdle," Neji nodded, "even the simplest of my clothing here have my families crest on it, I take it because I'm away from my Kingdom." He pointed out with good reason.

"Likewise, but this is indeed something we need to discuss with Itachi and Deidara once they get here." Sasuke agreed and looked towards the time, though it was still early into the guards rounds, it was time for them to retire for the night as well.

"Hmm, do you think we should try to get some sleep before we head out?" Naruto suggested.

"Hn, I think that's a good idea, they'll wake us once they get here." Sasuke nodded and added to it by yawning.

"Indeed it has been a long day, a few hours of sleep would do us all some good, especially Gaara and Naruto." Neji cosigned and slung an arm around the always sleep deprived red head.

"I'll agree with sleep this once…" Gaara rolled his eyes and yawned, followed by Naruto whom had been looking at him and caught the yawning as well.

"Then it is agreed," Naruto crawled to the head of the bed and slid under the thick comforter, closely followed by the raven as Neji and Gaara did the same. As they all settled in for the time being, neither of the boys thought nothing of it as they cuddled into each other, Naruto resting in Sasuke's arms and Gaara to Neji's, though to what they would use as a possible excuse later Naruto watched with heavy lids as the fire began to dim which in turn he knew would leave the room to cool down, and considering that it was now snowing heavily outside the room would cool much fast, so with that thought the blonde turned to bury his face in the soft fabric of the ravens shirt. However, as he drifted off to sleep from listening to Sasuke's heartbeat, he felt the same growing warmth in his stomach from the previous day when he and the raven were in the pool and their escapades, to which the sheer thought caused his heart to beat faster and the heat in his stomach to grow. Though as he felt himself drift into sleep, he was oddly aware that he was sleep, however, he felt as though he was seeing things from a third person point of view, as he was watching his hands pull up the ravens shirt slightly before quickly disappearing down his trousers, which caused the raven to softly jolt awake.

"Naruto?" Sasuke's voice sounded a bit muffled, to which the blonde wasn't concerned about at the current moment. No, what he was concerned about was why his body was acting on its own and touching Sasuke in such a way, and try as he might to stop, he was not in control of his body as he watched as though he was on the other side of a mirror.

"Shhh…" The sound sounded a bit odd as it passed through the blondes' lips, "you'll wake Neji and Kea—" He continued but stopped halfway on whatever else he was to say and this time Naruto knew that the voice was not his and only hoped that Sasuke would realize as well, however that was a crushed thought as soon as the view changed to where Naruto was now looking into the ravens once onyx eye, once being that they were now red and fixed.

"As you wish." Sasuke agreed to some unspoken command and before Naruto could see anything, he felt a hand reach into his trousers and wrap around his surprisingly hard member.

"Good boy…" The voice passed through his lips again and as quickly as the words were said, they quickly clamped onto the ravens lips in a forceful kiss, nothing like the ones they had played with before. No, this one was burning and from where Naruto was on the other side of the looking glass, he felt like he was losing a long awaited battle, it was as though a dream he once had was now coming true and he was powerless to stop it. His hands continued to stroke up and down on the ravens' hot muscle and the hot panting coming from him to the nape of his neck was enough to drive him insane as the raven continued his ministrations on his throbbing member as well, making the heat in his stomach grow even hotter. But before Naruto could even catch the motion, Sasuke had disappeared from the sight he was given, but a sight he saw now sent his jaw dropping to the floor, he was looking at Gaara… though he knew it wasn't Gaara as he looked into eyes from the past that were black with yellow irises, and Gaara was looking into eyes that were glowing a fiery red as Neji had dipped below the comforter just as the raven had, and seemingly at the same time both the raven and the brunette wrapped their lips around the two out of body boys. Inwardly they were both at a loss as of what to do, but the sensation from it left them in a state of euphoria that they'd never known, as both entranced boys' continued to lick and suck from the base to the tip of them, a rational part of Naruto and Gaara knew that this wasn't right, but try as they might the sensation filling them felt as though it was pinning them to the void they were in.

"Such good friends, don't you think?" The voice that spoke now came from Gaara, but the voice was past the point of odd and harsh to the ears.

"Indeed, it seems like sleep is these brats weakness." The voice that came from Naruto earlier spoke again, a deep and angry sounding voice. Both boys' were beside themselves with fear as they realized what was happening, somehow… the spirits inside of them had gained control and we acting out things they'd unknowingly dreamed.

"Haa, Neji is very skilled." The voice came from Gaara again, and from within the red head clamped his head in pain as heat engulfed his mind and willed himself to wake up or do whatever possible to regain control over himself.

"As is Sasuke…" The voice from Naruto hissed and gripped a handful of the raven hair and the burning in his stomach grew to the point of pain, and as Naruto mentally wrapped his arms around himself in pain, a silent scream passed his lips, "These brats are putting up a fight, how irritating…" The voice from Naruto hissed again.

"Heheheheh, don't you like Neji? You've dreamed for this so long." The irritating voice coming from Gaara spoke to him, inwardly Gaara squeezed his eye tighter as the heat in his head grew to greater heights, refusing to look at the brunette looking up at him from beneath the comforter with yellow piercing eyes, who was now slowly and purposefully dragging his tongue up the length of his weeping muscle.

"Hey brat, you to dream of Sasuke doing this, you two already kiss… he's just kissing other parts of you now. Heheh." The deep and menacing voice came from the blonde again, at which Naruto shook his head as the sight of Sasuke looking up at him pierced him to the core, even more so as he kissed the tip of his pulsing member, which cause him to fall onto his knees in the void. But before Naruto or Gaara could do anything else, the clock in the room tolled the hour of 12 O'clock, which shocked them both as they realized 3 hours had passed since they'd fallen into this nightmare.

"Dammit… so close!" The grating voice coming from Gaara cursed as the coil in his gut began loosening.

"We wasted our time teasing these brats…." The voice hissed from Naruto again, and to Naruto's relief, the burning in his stomach seemed to quickly dissipate and before he realized Neji was lying next to Gaara, and before he could note anything different about the two, Sasuke obstructed his view and to his great relief his eyes were back to their deep onyx as they slowly closed. It was just then as Naruto and Gaara both came back to themselves, the door to the room slowly creaked open before quietly closing again as two figures glided over to the bed and towered over the two numb boys.

AN: *cough cough* w-well... dont kill me, I beg of you! I had no intention on giving you all a cliffhanger after such a long time! But... eh-heheh. But seriously, I must thank those who PM'd me and those whom have stuck with this story, even after its hiatus! I love you all berry much! And hey, you may be mad, but no hurtful replies or I will getcha! *epic wink* Mata ne min'na!

Please note: Suna Akurei, Hyūga Hisae are mine, well my versions of Neji, Hinata and Gaara's parents names. But mine none the less.

- Anna Uzumaki