Passion and Tears
Naruto's POV
I watched Sasuke through the bars of his cell. Although he didn't consciously show it, Sasuke seemed somehow....defeated. I took in his haggard appearence: his hair looked flatter than it normally did and his skin was paler than usual. I could see small drops of blood seeping through his shirt. His bandages would need changing soon. He hadn't slept at all since he passed out yesterday.
I blushed for, what seemed like, the thousanth time today, as I thought of yesterday's main event. Then I proceeded to berate myself for the millionth time.
I freakin tried to KISS my rival/best friend/unrequited love. But it's not like I could really help it. I nodded in reassurance to myself. I was caught up in the heat of the moment. There was nothing but me, Sasuke, and that damn, LUCKY drop of soup. I thought angrily about the little morsel that was able to carress Sasuke's lips before being swept into his mouth by a pink tongue.
Oh what the heck is wrong with me? I'm trying to imagine the death of soup. A DROP of soup. I placed my face in my hands.
"Dobe, stop thinking. It looks painful," a soft voice nearly whispered.
I looked up and found Sasuke staring at me. Before I could reply, Sasuke curled over and let out a choked gasp. Harsh coughs shook his tired frame. Worriedly, I watched as the drops of blood on his shirt gew larger and connected, then darkened. I quickly poured a glass of water and stuffed the bandages in the crook of my arm. Opening the cell, I rushed over to Sasuke. He finished up his series of coughs and took in a deep shuddering breath. I gave him the glass and he downed it instantly. Sasuke wiped his lips with the back of his hand and handed me the empty glass. It was silent besides Sasuke's breathing, which was slowly returning to normal.
"Sasuke?" I asked quitely.
Said brunette glanced at me and the roll of bandages in my hand, then he turned away.
Cause that was obviously a clear indication of whether I can change your bandages
I was about to ask him outloud, when he said, "go ahead."
Kneeling behind him and placing the bandages on the floor, I tentatively placed my hands on his kimono and carefully pushed it down past his shoulders to his waist. Sasuke pulled his arms out of the sleeves of his shirt and straightened his back. There were several randomly sized spots of blood scattered across his back, staining his current bandages. I frowned.
His wounds could have been bleeding for hours and he didn't mention anything. Teme, you're so stubborn.
Sasuke made a small rip in the white medical tape and began unraveling it. I sat and watched feeling kind of useless, so I looked around and noticed that I forgot to get the water and the salve. I quickly stood and went for the bucket and the medicine outside of Sasuke's cell, while simultaneously keeping an eye on Sasuke. After all, he was still a prisioner. I quickly grabbed the items and returned to my previous position. By this time, Sasuke had removed all his bandages and had placed them neatly beside him.
Sasuke's back was almost like a unique painting with his marble slabbed back marred with angry scratches, which had a rivulet of blood flowing from each one. Tearing my eyes away from the strangely appealing sight, I methodically began washing Sasuke's back. After I finished, I pushed the bucket next to him, so he could wash his front and I began applying the salve to his scratches.
There was a peaceful silence that surrounded us and I felt comfortable. I looked at each wound Sasuke had on his back and unconsciencely began to trace them.
Why won't you just leave Itachi alone, Sasuke? You're only going to get yourself killed. You don't see me trying to kill all the people who shunned me as a child.
Although I didn't want to admit it, I knew it wasn't quite the same situation. A rasping cough snapped me out of my semi-trance, and I blushed a little as I placed the salve next to him. I waited patiently for him to finish and when he did, I unrolled the fresh bandages and began to wrap it around Sasuke. I was very aware of how I had to essentially hug him everytime I bandaged his chest. I attempted to ignore my quickening pulse everytime my fingers brushed against his pleasantly warm skin. I continued wrapping layer after layer until I finally covered everything that needed to be covered.
Sakura did a really good job regrowing Sasuke's skin on his shoulder. I know that must've taken a lot out of her. I'll have to call a medic to heal the rest of these later
Sasuke pulled up his shirt and then sat there.
"Are you hungry, Sasuke?"
"..."
"Are you thirsty?"
"..."
I was becoming very annoyed now. He could at least say something.
"Can you speak, Sasuke?"
"...Shut it, dobe," he said wearily.
"I'm just trying to help," I angrily replied.
Abruptly, Sasuke whirled around to face me and his eyes, heated with rage, met mine. "You'd help me by letting me go," he countered fiercely.
"No!"
I stood up, grabbed all the items I brought, and stalked out of the room, quickly slamming the gate behind me. After dropping off the supplies with the front desk and telling them to send someone to heal Sasuke, I exited the building in a huff.
That ungrateful, little ice princess!
As I continued walking, the anger dissipated and I suddenly felt really guilty. How would I feel if I was being locked up with no way out? I know I'd act a lot worse than he acts now.
....Should I let him go?
***
"Sasuke, you're just full of suprises," I said.
The figure who was sprawled on the ground gave me a cute frown and attempted to make some words. "...Shuddap," was the only thing that slurred out of his mouth.
I laughed. When I had walked up to the front desk today, the man on duty told me that Sasuke had attempted to attack a medic that had gone to heal him. Fortunately, Sasuke was still pretty weak, so the medic was able to sedate him. And it looked like he was just waking up.
I knelt down next him and smiled. He glared at me in return and then sluggishly began to sit up.
"I brought you something," I said.
I placed the sweet smelling bag in front of him. Sasuke glanced down at it, then back at me slowly as if he couldn't completely understand. I motioned for him to open it, and he did. Sasuke pulled out a stick that had three round balls on it.
"Dango.....Are you trying to come on to me?" he asked slightly tilting his head to the side.
Heat rushed to my face. "W-what?!?! No!"
Sasuke allowed a lazy smirk to grace his features before he began eating the dumplings. "Thanks, dobe," he said softly.
I smiled and fondly watched my former teammate slowly chew the Dango. Sasuke took another bite, and I noticed that there was a smidgen of powder on the side of his lips.
I finally felt I had the answer to the question I had asked myself yesterday.
"Sasuke," I said crawling over to him. He looked at me and the combination of the white powder still on his face, the stick hanging from his mouth, and the slight curious expression on his face just screamed cute. Ignoring his flinch, I wiped the white substance (not THAT white substance XD) from his face with my thumb and announced, "I'm breaking you out."
"You, the person who aspires to become Hokage is going to help me, one of the most wanted ninjas, escape?" he asked incredulous.
I flashed him a charming grin. "Not just you, Sasuke. Us. Believe it!"
A/N: A humble gift that did not want to be written correctly, so hopefully it's okay. Tell me what you think. This one was kind of slow, but the story picks up from here on out, so be happy and wait for the next installment!
Dango is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko (rice flour), related to mochi. It is often served with green tea. (definition is courteousy of wikipedia). It's also what Anko was eating all the time.