Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Yeah, I've sorta been... ignoring KWSC for this story XD but after this, I'll update it.
So far in the poll, Silo is the favorite:Hearts: Go Silo!
Prepare for heart ache.
"Don't shoot the boy, Kimimaro, he's harmless," the grey-haired Oto member brushed his bangs to the side and let his coal eyes rest on Naruto, the blond on the verge of falling to his knees. He watched as he stepped over to his son and enveloped him in his arms, his legs finally giving out as he collapsed to the ground with the boy.
Silo clutched at his father's shirt tightly, his wide eyes focused on Sasuke's bleeding body. He blinked rapidly, burying his head in Naruto's shirt, sobs finally wracking his thin frama. He broke down and cried, screams tearing themselves from his throat, making Naruto pull him tighter against him.
"You can kill me," Naruto growled shakily. "But don't lay a hand on my son."
"There would be no reason to. Kimimaro, get rid of Sasuke-kun's body while I take care of Naruto-kun," Kabuto kicked up gravel as he went to Naruto's side, raising his gun to the man's head. Silo only cried harder, the blood from his face wiping onto the blond's shirt.
"Don't kill Chichiue!" he screamed, his voice cracking.
"Silo, be quiet," Naruto shushed him, rubbing his shoulders. He was afraid, but he wouldn't show that to his son. If he was going to die, he was going to die protecting Silo. "I don't want them to hurt you... not like they hurt Sasuke..." his voice wavered as he looked at the raven's still body.
Kimimaro bent down and grabbed onto Sasuke's wrists, turning him over and dragging him toward the woods. It was faint, but Naruto caught a glimpse of his friend's eyes moving. He straightened up and his fingers dug into Silo's arms. "He's alive..."
A loud lurching sound came from the trees and two shadowered figures leaped from the branches, gunshots going off. Naruto covered Silo's ears and watched as Gaara and another man shot Kimimaro in the head. Kabuto sneered and ran behind the limo for cover, getting into the vehicle and slamming the door shut, starting the engine.
"Follow the car, Hyuuga, see where it turns," Gaara told the handsome brunette who was with him. Said man nodded and ran after the limo, his speed amazing. Gaara bent down by Sasuke's body and looked into his dimming eyes. "Orochimaru set up a distraction for the main Akatsuki group. You both are lucky I didn't fall for it," he ripped open Sasuke's shirt and applied pressure to the wounds with his palms.
Naruto quickly stood, bringing Silo with him to his friend's body, trying to comfort the sobbing child. "Silo, shhh, it's alright. Sasuke-teme's ok. Look," he loosened his grip on Silo, but the refused to look, his crying only getting louder, as if knowing that the raven wasn't going to live for much longer.
Blood spurted from the gunshot wounds, Gaara's hands not helping in stopping the heavy flow. His hands ands arms were covered in the incarnadine red liquid, Sasuke's stomach suddenly jerking as his back arched. Blood errupted from his mouth and slid down his neck and jaw, soaking into his already damp hair.
Naruto didn't even notice the hot tears that slid down his face as he grabbed at Sasuke's twitching hand. He held it tight, leaning forward with his son still in his arms, some of the blood gushing out and staining his pants. "Don't fuckin' die on me you asshole! If you do, I'll never forgive you, got it?.!" he threatened, looking into the slowly blinking dark eyes. "Sasuke--!"
"N-N-Naru...to..." Sasuke sputtered, more blood oozing out from between his pale lips. His fingers curled around the blond's, his body heat leaving him. He couldn't support his head any more and it lolled back, his chest heaving as he strained for breath, the blood continuing to spurt out of his wounds. Gaara pressed harder, but it did nothing. "I-I-I'm s-so sorry for... for being s-such a b-bastard to y-you..." he relished in the warmth of his friend's hand.
"You're dying and that's what you want to say?" Naruto's shoulder shook.
Sasuke spit up more blood and weakly chuckled. "N-no, I-I-I have s-something I... I need to tell y-you. P-please don't ha-hate me for saying th-this, but..." he blinked his dimming eyes and swallowed, only to cough up red liquid again. "I-I've never wanted to be j-just your friend... I-I-I," he forced himself to breath, gasping being the only thing he could accomplish. He tightened his grip on Naruto's hand, but found that he couldn't control his body any more and he started going into small seizures.
"S-Sasuke!" Naruto yanked Gaara's hands away, knowing what he was doing was useless. He handed Silo to the red-head and the boy didn't seem to notice, his body still shaking with horrible sobs. Naruto yanked Sasuke against him and wrapped his arms around the raven's thin frame. He didn't care about the metallic blood that stained the front of his shirt and pants. He felt the raven's head lull against his shoulder and panicked. "Don't close your eyes! D-Don't fall asleep!"
Sasuke's eyes were barely open, the dark orbs staring straight ahead at the tan neck presented to him. He could no longer control his functions and his limbs shook as if using up the rest of their strength before they would shut down for good. "I-I wanted to be more than j-just your fr-friend..." he whispered in a raspy voice.
Naruto lowered his head and could no longer hold back his tears, the salty water dripping from his red eyes and dripping into Sasuke's matted down hair. He pressed his warm palm to the back of his head and cradled him like a doll.
"I-I-I wanted t-to be so mu-much more..." Sasuke closed his eyes.
The blond felt the tremors lessen and his eyes snapped open. He pulled Sasuke back from him and watched as the raven's head just fell back, his eyes half open. "Stay awake! Sasuke, keep your eyes open!"
"I-I..." Sasuke threw up more blood and let his eyes drift shut, thick lashes caressing his deathly pale cheeks. His blue veins were visable under his sickly white skin. "...l-l-love you..."
Naruto clutched onto his friends shoulders and sobbed, shaking him. "F-fuck you, Uchiha! Y-you don't tell someone you love them then go and die!.!" Sasuke's body finally went limp and Naruto broke down. "I'll go on a date with you, I'll tell you I love you, I'll do whatever you want! Just don't die! What about Silo?.! You can't just leave him!.!"
Sasuke's cold body slipped from Naruto's grasp and he fell to the ground, his wounds no longer spurting blood. Naruto leaned over him and rested his forehead against the raven's, crying and begging for him to wake up, for him to just sit up and smirk at him like the bastard he was.
That was the scene the Akatsuki saw when they arrived at the scene. Itachi walked quickly through his group, speeding up his pace and falling to his knees in front of Naruto and Sasuke, placing his hand on Sasuke's cold cheek. He moved his fingers to his brother's neck, feeling for a pulse. He narrowed his eyes in pure anger, the orbs almost flashing red.
Hidan watched him with sad eyes, but turned to his fellow members. "Inject him with alcohol and give Itachi those blood pouches! Hurry up before the kid's dead!"
"He already is..." Naruto murmered against the skin of Sasuke's temple, his blue eyes unfocused.
He's already gone.
xXxXx
Majik and Haruka sat beside Silo outside of his home. The black and white-haired boy tried to coax his friend into talking, but it was useless. It had been for the past hour. Silo sat between them, slumped over, his eyes obscured by his messy black bangs. His pupils were small, focused on his hands as the fingers twitched. He looked almost dead.
"Little Miss..." Majik whispered, placing his hands over the boy's. "Ya look so broken..."
Silo lifted his head and looked into the other's violet eyes. His face was blank, his eyes the only thing expressing his pain and fear. He looked like a porcelain doll sitting there, so fragile and motionless.
Haruka moved Majik aside and took Silo's hands in his own, then ran his small fingers up the cold arms, up round shoulders and a smooth neck. Silo just stared at him, but his brows twitched slightly when the blind boy ran his thumbs over his jaw, cheek bones, and barely brushed under his eyes. Haruka used that information and looked right where he thought his friend's eyes were.
Silo stared into Haruka's dark orbs and felt as if the other could see into him. His lashes lowered and he let himself cry again, letting out all of his pain. Majik watched this with fascination, then moved in closer to them and both he and Haruka pulled him into their arms, doing their best to comfort him.
Naruto was quiet as he watched the ambulance leave with Sasuke's limp body. The sirens were loud and left his ears ringing, even after the vehicle had disappeared into the dark night. The Akatsuki were beside him, excluding Itachi who had gone with Sasuke to the hospital. Hidan touched the blond's arm and tilted his head toward the street where Ino and the others were finally arriving. The detour Kabuto and Kimimaro had set up sent them into a whirpool of traffic in the city.
"I'll explain everything to 'em," Hidan offered. "I know you're not in the mood. And as soon as we get things straightened out, we're going to send you all back to the U.S. It's not safe here right now and being back in the states will be better for you, Kinpatsu-cha. I don't know when we'll be able to contact you, but we eventually will," he then patted Naruto on the shoulder and wheeled himself toward the limo where Sakura and Ino were looking at the blood on the ground in shock.
Naruto just stared ahead, but glanced over at Silo who was crying his heart out. He heard the crunching of gravel and turned, only to be embraced by Sai's smaller arms. The scent of cologne attacked his senses and he let his best friend hold him.
"He said he loved me," he told Sai, his voice low.
Sai pressed his face into the blond's golden locks, keeping quiet so that Naruto could speak his mind.
"If he would've told me earlier... then maybe I could've given us a chance. I'm not in love with him, but I could've tried a relationship. I would've given anything to make that bastard happy..." his eyes were watering again and he wiped furiously at them, his sadness turning into anger.
Anything, I would've given anything.
xXxXx
Naruto held Silo in his arms as he walked into the plane terminal, his friends all behind him. He turned and gave them all a strained smile when they asked if he was ok. He nodded and tried to make a joke, but he trailed off after the next few words and just remained quiet after that as they boarded the airplane. Silo remained on his lap, the boy having been silent since the previous night.
He'd refused to talk, because when he did, he heard gunshots ringing in his ears. He was too frightened to even open his mouth except to eat. He was currently asleep against his father's firm chest, bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.
The blond looked out the plane window at all of the other planes taking off and idly played with Silo's tiny fingers, running his thumb over the golden bracelet Sasuke had given to Silo for his birthday.
We're going back to our old life. Our life before we met Sasuke...
After ten minutes, the plane took off and Naruto found himself staring off into clouds, deaf to the small conversations going on around him.
xXxXx
Silo leaned against the wall of the apartment, sliding down and burying his head between his folded arms over his knees. Since they'd arrived in the home Sasuke had gotten them so long ago, the small boy had been suffering from depression. Naruto knew it was unhealthy for someone so young, but he wouldn't try to cheer him up. After all, it's not like it was a puppy who died... It was a father-figure.
"What do you want for dinner?" Naruto asked his son, hoping for an answer.
But Silo didn't answer, his body stiff in the corner of the living room.
"I guess I'll make us some ramen. It's been forever since we've had the stuff," he tried to grin and pulled out two packages of chicken ramen from the bottom cupboard. He began cooking and found himself unconsciously singing a song, despite it being one of the songs he hated the most.
There are times when you hear a song that's so cheesy and sappy that you immediately say you dislike it, yet you continue to listen to it. You could go years without even thinking of the song, but then in a brief moment, the words and music come back to you. All because of one tiny event in your life.
"I've been dyin' inside," he sang, his lips twitching upward a bit. "little by little, nowhere to go. I'm goin' outta my mind. An endless circle...(1)" he died off when he heard Silo come into the kitchen. The small boy grabbed two bowls from the cupboard and sat them on the counter, remaining beside his father.
Naruto bent down and scooped Silo up into his arms. Smaller arms were wrapped around the blond's midsection and he smiled against ruffled black hair. He kissed the uncovered templed and sighed against his son's ear.
"We'll make it... It'll take time, but we'll make it through."
(1)- What's Left of Me by Nick Lachey XD It's true. It's one of those songs you don't really like, but can't help but listening to. God, he's so emo! J/k!
Eh, short, I know. But that was all of the stuff I needed to put in this chapter.
Next chapter: 2nd part to the Itachi and Hidan filler.
What to look forward to in the timeskip arc!: Silo's illness, a try at a relationship, Sunako's arrival, more of the Akatsuki, and much much more!