We're Losing Him - Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. Ownership goes to Masashi Kishimoto

Warning: characters may seem OOC, there is attempted suicide, acts of selfharm, yaoi, incest, inappropriate language

I hope you enjoy!

It had been a month since that fateful night when Sasuke had tried to take his own life. He hadn't spoken to anyone since then. Although they all tried their best to get through to him, to convince him to speak to them, he seemed completely unaware of his surroundings.

That wasn't it though. Sasuke was painfully aware of his life around him, how everyone felt, what they wanted and it was all so much pressure, exactly what he didn't need, exactly what was pushing him closer and closer to the edge again. Couldn't they see? Were they blind or did they not care? A sigh left Sasuke's lips. He didn't expect them to understand, he didn't think any of them would, but he still wished they could just leave him to do as he wished - no, it wasn't even a wish, it was a need. A need to end his miserable life.

Rising from his bed, his eyes rested on the closed door to his bathroom. He hadn't entered the room since he came home from the hospital. Sighing again, he exited his bedroom, completely lost in thought as he made his way downstairs and to the kitchen where his Uncle Izuna was making breakfast, as he always did. Today it was french toast, a favorite of Sasuke's, though he barely reacted to it, only giving a glance of slight interest that quickly flickered back to a look of emptiness.

As he seated himself at the table in his usual place, Itachi and Madara entered the kitchen together. Sasuke ignored them, his eyes locked on the glass of water and ice which sat on the other side of the table, watching as the ice within it melted. He imagined himself in the ice. It was his sanity and it was slowing melting away. He almost chuckled at that, darkly amused by his own thoughts, but didn't. If he even made the slightest noise, it would draw the attention of Itachi and Madara, who would then relentlessly hound him.

"Good morning, Sasuke." Madara's voice met his ears. Too late, Sasuke thought a flash of annoyance going through him, though he didn't show it outwardly. How could the man be so aware of every little thing when it came to he, yet be so utterly clueless at the same time?

"How did you sleep?" Itachi questioned, seating himself across from Sasuke, seeming to genuinely want an answer, but Sasuke did and said nothing, he just kept his eyes on the glass. There had been four cubes of ice when he'd began watching it, now there was none. The ice was gone. His sanity was gone. With that thought he made the mistake of letting a twisted little smile grace his features. Itachi caught it, but said nothing because Madara had as well and instantly reacted.

"Care to let us in on what's amusing you?" Sasuke ignored his urge to explain to the man that he was an ignorant fool to assume he was amused by the fact that he was insane. Of course, he couldn't blame Madara, how could the elder have any clue what was going on in the littlest Uchiha's head?

Izuna interrupted Itachi and Madara's scrutinizing of Sasuke by appearing beside the table, placing the french toast down in front of Sasuke. He didn't wait for a thank you, or say anything to the small raven haired boy, he just went off to finish his breakfast preparations. That was something Sasuke was thankful for. Izuna was one of the only two in his life who left him be and didn't expect him to respond. Without ever explaining it, Izuna had just understood, Sasuke wouldn't speak and bugging him about it would only make him less likely to speak again at all. This was why when Sasuke was feeling especially hopeless (even more than usual) he would find himself gravitating to whereever Izuna was and simply sitting there with him until he felt okay to be alone again.

What a life, Sasuke thought sadly as he lost himself again.

"Uncle?" Itachi called as he entered Madara and Izuna's bedroom.

"Itachi." Madara greeted, turning around to meet the eyes of his eldest nephew.

"Has Izuna gone to make breakfast already?" He questioned, glancing around the room, not seeing his other uncle in sight, though he guessed he could have been in the bathroom.

"Yes. Did you wish to speak about Sasuke?" Itachi glanced at his uncle in surprise, about to question him how he had known, but then realized, it was obvious. Izuna had an extremely different outlook on Sasuke and his behavior than Itachi and Madara did so it was often impossible to discuss without things ending in an argument, leading Izuna to often be left out of their little meetings about Sasuke. Itachi had said nothing so Madara spoke again, "It's his birthday at the end of the week."

"I know. Did you think I'd forget?" Itachi scoffed.

"No, but it was more of a question of, what are we doing than a statement to make you aware of it." Madara answered, his tone slightly harsher as he was slightly off put by the disrespectful air to Itachi's words. Things had been tense all around the Uchiha home since that night. Pitiful, Madara scolded himself, unamused with the fact that he couldn't even think directly about what had happened. Instead he always saw it as that night, or the Sasuke incident.

"I apologize, uncle." Itachi stated sincerely before continuing, "I think we should go ahead with the pary we originally had planned for Sasuke."

"Itachi, how can we be sure that's the best? He may not react well."

"I think he just needs some form of normalcy in his life. Things haven't been the same between I and him, him and his friends, him and anyone . This might be what could bring him back to reality. A night with him and his friends, a night to remind him of all the memories - the good ones." Itachi always had a way with words and made things seem so logical and reasonable that even Madara couldn't argue against him usually. In this case, he found himself swayed to agreeing with his nephew's thoughts.

"I hope you're right," Madara stated simply. "Now come, let's go eat breakfast."

Sasuke's morning had been relatively easy for once. Izuna had persuaded Itachi and Madara to join him in the pool so Sasuke had been left alone. The pressure he felt was eased for a while, but it was now later in the afternoon and Sasuke's peace was being interrupted.

"Sasuke!" The sound of Naruto's loud voice met Sasuke's ears and his eyes moved to the blonde boy who was bouncing excitedly towards him. "It's your birthday soon." Naruto told him, as if he'd have forgotten or something. When Sasuke didn't react to him the blonde gave up.

"Hello, Sasuke." This was from the one other person besides Izuna who would leave him to his silence. He would greet him of course, it was only polite, but other than that Gaara expected nothing. Sasuke glanced to Gaara, his obsidian eyes briefly meeting the seafoam green ones of his redheaded friend, before his attention returned to what he had been doing before he'd been interrupted - which was staring blankly at the wall across from where he was seated on the couch. He was sure there were others there along with Naruto and Gaara, he heard their greetings but he'd spared all the attention he could already so they didn't even register with him.

The Uchiha living room was filled with life and noise for a while. Gaara and Neji sat together on the couch Sasuke was on speaking to one another though about nothing of importance, just anything that came up, while Naruto and Kiba were running about, tackling and hitting at each other. It was annoying Sasuke greatly, but he did nothing.

Eventually, Kiba was tired out, Gaara and Neji were no longer speaking and Sasuke was fed up. He stood up, intending to leave without interruption, but his arm was grabbed and so he simply stopped.

"Guys, we should get going but you go on ahead, I'll catch up in a minute." Naruto said as a clear dismissal of them. Kiba shrugged and gave a wave to Sasuke as he left the Uchiha's home. Neji and Gaara both gave the exact same warning look to Naruto before exiting together, not bothering to say anything to the Uchiha, they knew their only response would be silence anyway.

Sasuke had intended to go up to his room, wanting to be alone again, but he knew if he continued with his plan Naruto would only follow him. And the blonde idiot had already proved his ability to get inside his room even when he wasn't wanted, so Sasuke made things easier for them both by shaking Naruto's grip off his arm then turning to retake his seat on the couch.

"Sasuke," Naruto began, seeming to have no clue what he was going to say but he intense and determined at the same time. Although he wouldn't respond, Sasuke figured the least he could do was let the blonde know he was listening, so he moved his gaze to Naruto, watching him struggle to find words. In a flash Naruto was standing directly in front of Sasuke, his hands resting on the raven's shoulders as he gazed intensely into his dark eyes. Conflict was clearly still waging within Naruto, but then there was a sudden aggression that appeared on the blonde's face and this time nothing else seemed to be fighting off that emotion. Sasuke closed his eyes just as Naruto began shaking him, his grip tight on his shoulders. Sasuke was sure there would be bruises - not that he even cared.

"Say something," Naruto demanded. "Don't just sit there! Look at me!" Sasuke ignored him, his eyes remaining shut and his body limp as he was shaken by his blonde friend. Naruto's aggression increased and his yelling got louder. Sasuke almost laughed in his face. It seemed Naruto had a breaking point too. "Say something!" Naruto screamed at him for a final time, though it was clear his demand was a beg at the same time.

Sasuke opened his mouth, making the attempt, but nothing came out. He just couldn't. Or maybe he just wouldn't? They had to realize what he was trying to tell them eventually, right? Even if he had to tell them through silence.

I'd love to see a review, even if you didn't like it, any sort of feedback is appreciated.

-MorganAnnUchiha