Pairing: SasukexKakashi (Yaoi, Don't like, don't read)

Rated: M (For obvious reasons)

Take between Naruto Shippuuden chapter 282 and 309 in the manga. In the anime, …..I don't remember…

Chapter 6: The 'C' word: Cured and Carnivals

Third's Person POV

"…tell me what happen?"

Kakashi woke up hearing those words, mentally pushing back his headache that was threatening to make his head explode, but went against his decision to open his eyes. Those words don't seem to be directed to him, rather at someone else in the room he was currently occupied in, judging by the person's humorous tone. The voice sounded familiar though… But he can't quite put his finger on it, due to the natives' tribe dancing and stomping in his head. And his body felt numb and cold, like he hasn't move an inch for a week. His ears felt like they were in liquid; it was a miracle he could hear anything at all.

A familiar growl echoed in the room. "None of your business." Ah, Sasuke. As cold as ever. Even when it's your fault the jounin is in this predicament.

"Ma, ma, is this how you thanked someone, Sasuke? It's no wonder you've got no girlfriend-"There was a movement of air, and the sound of something breaking as it hit a solid object. For a moment, there was a pregnant silence, and Kakashi wondered if Sasuke had killed the person he was talking to. The boy has uncontrollable temper sometimes… occasionally even more than Naruto does. A shuffling sound indicated that person is indeed, still alive. "Really, Sasuke, could you get any more childish? That was the fifth time you broke that vase this month alone."

Sasuke answered back with a snarl. "Do I look like I care? That vase was ugly anyway."

The person made a 'tch' sound. "But I do. That's the only thing Orochimaru-sama allowed to be used as a decoration. Even it is ugly, at least it'll bring a little more colour into the room."

The Uchiha snorted in indifference.

…

Kakashi wondered if he should open his eyes now. It felt weird hearing the Sound's- Orochimaru's minion- talking about fine décor when they are one of Konoha's greatest enemies. Hearing more of this will just add to his mind's insanity. The silver-haired man, however, was save from the trouble of thinking what he should do, when Sasuke said: "Anyway, how is his condition?" His voice was lowered into a low undertone, resembling something close to concern.

'Bastard,' Kakashi thought, biting his lips under his mask, 'Don't use that tone on me, you bastard. Don't act like you really care about me.'

The ex-ANBU member remembered there was a time that Kakashi really care about his former student, when he was under his wing, along with Naruto and Sakura. His childhood was nowhere near cloud nine, he'd lost his father after he took his genin test when he was five, he'd lost his best friend when he was thirteen, and he lost his closest friend and beloved mentor a year later when the Kyuubi attacked. Seeing his students ignorant about the painful ways of the shinobi's life (Naruto, with his shouting of being the greatest Hokage, Sakura, with her ways of getting Sasuke's love and affection to herself, and Sasuke, with his I-Am-More-Powerful-Than-You-So-You-Better-Not-Get-In-My-Way attidude), he was dead set on making his students' lives better than his.

Only that was not the case.

Sasuke was the complicated one, his once-looked up brother had betrayed him and massacred the whole Uchiha clan, leaving him crying alone in a compound full of bloodied bodies. The mind of an innocent child was turned into nothing but one full of revenge toward his aniki. Kakashi knew that when he met Naruto and Sakura, his mind was fade away from vengefulness, even if it's just a little bit. Sasuke was doing fine as his comrades lead him to the path of light again.

Until Orochimaru arrives with the curse-mark. Then, everything went downhill.

Sasuke went from a cool, calm kid into a raving lunatic obsessed with power, and he was jealous and envy with Naruto's growth in skills and strength. This then lead into the fight on the top of the hospital, with Kakashi himself has to interfere to stop the two from killing each other and their teammate. The jounin had lectured the Uchiha later, binding him to a tree so he would listen about the consequences of revenge, before leaving to a mission, naively believing that the brat would break himself out of his shell, realizing that revenge is nothing but emptiness.

Boy, was he wrong.

He remembered the way his heart had dropped into his stomach, and his stomach dropped onto his intestines, and his intestines slithered to his feet when he heard the news that Sasuke Uchiha had defected from the village, with a team full only of amateur genins going after him. He ignored Tsunade's order to go on an S-ranked mission, and went after them.

Kakashi felt weak as he arrived at the Valley of the End, with Sasuke nowhere in sight, only Naruto as he lay on the ground, looking lifeless. Dead.

But he wasn't dead. No, he was still alive, holding a scratched headband on his chest, which was clearly visible by the hole in his jacket. Kakashi picked him up, and carried him on his back as he ran to the village. The heavy rain poured heavily from the dark sky, as if the gods themselves were crying from the heavens above.

The silver-haired had felt crying himself. Sasuke…had almost killed Naruto. With Chidori. With HIS technique that he taught to the Uchiha so he could protect his comrades, his friends, his loved ones.

Not kill them.

He wondered if Sasuke even have a heart anymore.

The mystery person chuckled, snapping Kakashi out of his thoughts. "Well, why don't you just ask him yourself?" He could all eyes boring down on him. Damn, the bastard could sense him awaken.

Kakashi mentally sighed, and cracked his normal eye open, his pupil dilating and expanding to adjust to the light. He stared at the ceiling for a minute before he tried turning his head to the side. A jolt of pain swept over him at the action, and a moan of pain brushed past his lips.

"I'll take that as a no then." Sasuke muttered, turning his head so he could glare at the person across the room. "Well?"

A sigh. "What more do you want me to do? The poison is already out of his system. He need to rest."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, and red irises suddenly replaced the black orbs. "What else did you do to him, Kabuto?" It was more of a statement than a question. Killing intent suddenly filled the room, making it harder to breathe. Kakashi's breath hitched.

Kabuto merely pushed his glasses, looking as innocent as he could ever be. As if the killing intent has no effect at all. "Oh, whatever you could have meant, Sasuke?" He asked back, fluttering his eyelids. "I'm hurt of your accusation, I would never do anything to hurt your little…pet."

The teenager stared at him skeptically, weighing his options. Finally, the killing intent faded away, and Kakashi was relieved that he could breathe normally again. He didn't even mind when Sasuke slipped his arms under his body, lifting him close to his chest. Normally, he would have struggled, but he had no energy to do that, so he just snuggled against Sasuke's warm body, contented. A hand ran through his hair.

"Fine," Sasuke finally answered, "But if anything happens to him, you'll be the first to taste my sword." The words seem to have no effect, as the medic's smile only widen further. The Uchiha then walked out of the room, slamming the door.

"You have my word, Sasuke-kun." Kabuto began to clean and put the medical equipments away. "You have my word." He then laughed as if he was sharing a funny joke.

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Third's Person POV

*In Konohagakure*

"…"

"Oi."

"…"

"Oi."

"…"

"Oi, Dickless…"

A vein popped on the blond's forehead, and his left eye began to twitch rapidly. "Don't call me that, you fucking bastard!" He yelled at his squad member, and Sai had to plug his ears from going permanently deaf. A woman nearby glared at them, ushering his son inside their home, muttering about how teenagers using vulgar language these days. Making sure that the blond would not throw any more cursing words (or any other words) at him, Sai removed his fingers from his earlobes and said: "Where are we going now?"

Naruto gave him a weird look, as if Sai was from another planet. "What do you mean 'we'? I'm going home" He began to walk away as quickly as he could from the teenager. However, his hand was grabbed by a glove covered hand, and Sai pulled him backwards. Naruto glared at him hatefully. Sai figured he needed to find an excuse fast or he will get his ass kicked by a rasengan. He just wanted to spend more time with the jinchuuriki.

"There's a carnival in the village tonight." The painter said, as if that explained everything.

"So?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"I want you to go to the carnival with me."

Naruto pulled his hand away, rubbing his wrist where Sai had gripped him. "Why?" He asked, staring at the black-haired teenager with blue, azure eyes. Sai thinks those eyes are beautiful, they represent the beauty of the sky itself.

"Because I want to spend more time with you."

Naruto would've faceplamed himself at the subtle request, Sai is way too honest. But the look on ANBU member's face distracted him.

'He…He's serious about this,' Naruto thought, a blush adorning his whiskered cheeks. 'He's serious about spending time with me?"

When he was a child, all he got was hateful glares and rude comments, as at the time he was saw as the great Kyuubi No Kyoko itself. He has no family, and no friends, only a fox with nine-tails that was locked up inside of him. At the academy, no one wanted to play and befriended him; they were influenced by their parents' behavior towards the jinchuuriki. In all his life, he was alone.

And yet, here he was, gaping at his teammate, who had just asked him out. Naruto couldn't believe it; Sai wanted to spend time with him.

His chest throbbed with a strange feeling.

"S-Sure." Naruto stammered his reply, fidgeting under the painter's gaze. Sai stared at him with shock; he was sure he was gonna get punched for that, and yet the boy said yes.

His chest throbbed with a strange feeling.

Suddenly, Sai broke into a smile. He grabbed the blond's hand, ignoring the surprise yells, and broke into a run, dragging Naruto with him. "Come on," Sai panted, his usually emotionless onyx eyes shining with happiness, "The carnival is gonna start soon!"

Naruto stared at his back with awe. He was seeing Sai in a new light.

That smile wasn't even a fake.

It was real.

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Author's Note:

Hahahaha, that last line was so corny!

Please don't kill me! Blame my school and teachers for giving me a lot of homework, even during Chinese New Year!

Oh, Kabuto. You really need to work on your lying skills. And Sai, stop being OCC please?

Please R&R. They make me so happy. And preserve my sanity! :D