Vini Vidi Vici

Foolish Hearts Chapter 8

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:31:49 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Eight’

It had only been about an hour and Sasuke found himself waking up again.

Once more the red formed a ring around his eyes and he shook the sleep from his limbs and mind. Quietly he rolled himself out of bed, groping the ground for pants, slipping them on and shakily making his way down the hall.

His body groggy with sleep, his movement not as graceful as they normally were. He was heading to the kitchen for a drink when he passed Naruto's office, noticing the kit inside. He looked in, dark eyes taking in the sight of the worried fox who was shuffling through papers like he misplaced something.

His brow furrowed and he slowly pushed open the door, "Naruto?" He asked, his tone laced with sleep, running a hand through his messy hair as he leaned heavily against the door frame.

Naruto jumped at the voice, he hadn't heard or felt Sasuke coming. Looking, wide eyed over to Sasuke the fox stopped shuffling papers around, "You scared me." He looked back outside before he started towards Sasuke, and gently guided the man back into the hall way, and closing his office door. "Food?" He asked, grabbing his zip up jacket on the way so he wouldn't be completely shirtless in front of Sasuke and the Anbu. He would have added a smart aleck comment about always being hungry after sex, but he couldn't risk it, not with the Anbu out there.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked after a moment as Naruto raced from his office to the kitchen, all but shutting the door in his face. He frowned, lazily trailing after the fox to the kitchen, no longer afraid of losing his mind.

Naruto…

Naruto was his, all of his.

Both sides of his broken psyche wouldn't harm to fox, now he just needed to worry about himself when other players might be added.

...like the other day with Sakura.

He took a seat at the table, his dark eyes still following the kitsune in his quick movements.

The fox closed the blinds and the window as he started making up some food. "Don't worry about it." He smiled trying to figure out how he was going to sort everything out. "Everything's under control at the moment." He felt a sharp pain in his hand as he accidently set his free hand down on the open burner and cursed quietly under his breath, jerking his hand away before setting the tea pot down.

So much for a good start of his day.

"You like green tea, yea?" Naruto asked turning the water on, and acting as if he was just washing his hands, "I'll get some going."

Sasuke could feel something was off with the fox, and it had started from their romp in the morning. He looked down at the table, propping his head up with a free hand, feeling a little awkward. Something was bothering Naruto and he couldn't place what it was. He let out a sigh, "Tea is fine."

The fox nodded and continued moving about the kitchen in almost a skittish manner. His eyes landed on the pill bottle and he cursed once more; What if Sakura told someone about the pills? That Sasuke had taken too many and had almost died? What would they do? Would they re-admit him to the hospital? Or would they just take him away?

Reaching for the phone, his nimble fingers quickly started to dial the girl’s number. Walking out of the room to the formal dining room, the kit closed the door and listened as the phone rang.

Where was she?

Hearing the familiar sounds of the answering machine the fox growled and rubbed his eyes, "Hey, it's me. Give me a call when you get home. I have to ask you something really important." Hanging up the phone he rested it on the table, and sighed.

All these ideas and scenarios were going to make his head explode it was already giving him a headache…

"Damn it." Pushing the door back open, he walked into the kitchen and rested the phone on the carrier, before leaning against the counter, his arms crossing, his face set in a pout.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Sasuke asked evenly, his face a frown as his black-red eyes regarded the pouting fox. "Or just continue to ignore me?" Sasuke murmured, it was irritating him, everything was. He hated that Naruto knew something he didn't, he hated not knowing.

What if it was him?

What if Naruto was upset about him?

He had never felt this before; he had never cared like this before. Especially with his sharingan he would normally just fall into his mind when things got bad. But now he couldn't -- both pieces of himself were focused on the fox, his whole self feeling a little rejected and confused.

What was going on?

"Don't worry about it." He shook his head again, and let it rest against the cabinet, "You shouldn't be worrying about anything right now." Tossing the pill bottle over to Sasuke he gave the man a look, "Only one." His voice held a bit of a stern note in it, but he still seemed relaxed.

He pushed off the counter and gathered the tea, bringing the cup back to the table, he held his own and set Sasuke's down, "I've have some work I have to do, I'll be in my office if you need me.."

Sasuke's eyes were darker now, the cup of tea before him. He kept his frown, not responding to the fox anymore, looking to his cup but he didn't make a move towards it until the kitsune left the room again.

He ignored the pills.

He would let his eyes bleed, to mask a piece of him; he didn't feel like being here right now. He ran a hand through his hair, lifting the tea and taking a slow tentative sip.

The fox spent a majority of the day in his office, shuffling through Sasuke's file, trying for the life of him to find the security papers on his house.

He was tired, he was hungry, and he was angry.

Naruto growled and fell back in his chair, before he roughly kicked his desk. His headache still hadn't gone away, and he groaned pitifully, pressing his thumb to the side of his face, to try and alleviate the pain.

Sakura hadn't called him back, which worried him, and made him panic a bit. He couldn't leave the house either. There were no chakra bounds on him, but the fox leaving was a signal that Sasuke was out of control and needed to be taken from the house permanently, that much he remembered.

Looking at the mess he called his desk he let out a sigh and finally stood up. He was giving up for the day.

Shuffling out to the living room, he saw the sliding door to the back yard was open, and Sasuke was missing from the house. Letting out a sigh, the fox fell face first on to the couch, and buried his head beneath the pillow, trying to block out the light and think back to the meeting just before going to the hospital -- He had to remember every single detail.

Sasuke had been outside for a long while. His body was tense, his mind still trying to ignore the fact that Naruto knew something he didn't.

He had smashed the tea cup, a while back, and a few other things in the kitchen -- not that Naruto seemed to have noticed yet.

When the kit did, he could find porcelain shards everywhere.

Sasuke had cut his feet, not that he felt it, as he paced in and out of the kitchen and living room before he found himself outside. He tried to breathe in the fresh air, but his mind was still wavering. He growled in his throat, his blood colored eyes flashing as he picked up a rock and threw it as far as he could -- it smashed into a tree a few yards from the property. He stalked back into the house, slamming the screen shut, eyes taking notice of the blood stains on the floor as he wandered back inside trying to tame his mood.

Then he noticed the kit on the couch, his eyes calculating as he surveyed the kitsune.

Naruto jumped as the door slammed shut, the pillow falling off his head, his head snapping up at the noise. He caught sight of Sasuke, not exactly glaring at him, but not happy with him either. Lying his head back down, the fox sighed, "I'm sorry, I haven't been the best host lately...and it's only been two days."

Sasuke looked to him a moment before he left the room -- retreating into the kitchen. In his normally crazed mind, he could have demanded the fox tell him everything -- he hated not knowing anything.

He would have used force.

But, he couldn't now.

His damn fucking heart.

He kept his quiet frown, leaving the room before he decided to destroy something else. The porcelain bit at his feet as he shuffled into the kitchen, replacing himself back at the table, his fingers toying with a shard of the tea cup just sitting, watching the piece of debris twirl in his deft fingers.

Naruto blinked curiously as the sound of shards shuffling on the floor caught his attention. Pushing himself up from the couch he started to the kitchen and froze at what he saw...

There were porcelain shards everywhere, and blood.

Looking back on the floor, he followed the trail to Sasuke.

Perfect.

Grabbing the towel that was sitting on the counter, he carefully walked through the kitchen and to Sasuke. He froze at the sight of the porcelain pieces on the table, and being turned about in the deadly fingers, "Sasuke, put the shard down." Kneeling down next to the man he kept his eyes on the broken glass.

That could hurt if he wasn't careful...

Sasuke's lips twisted into a smirk at the kit's voice, his dark eyes holding that same fleeting madness. "Scared?" Sasuke murmured, tilting his head, hair favoring one-side of his face as he sat there continuing to play with the shards, the pieces big enough to throw -- could be substituted for shuriken given the situation.

"I don't need to listen to you." Sasuke lowered his eyes, his smirk slowly falling back into a frown, his mood once again changing. "Just leave." He said, a little quieter this time, his tone deep.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the words. "Put the fucking shard down." The fox's voice was serious leaving no room for jokes or fear. He wasn't going to leave the room. Hell Sasuke could throw the damn shard into him for all he cared; he just wanted to clean up the glass and the blood. "You're bleeding; I just want to clean it up."

Sasuke's eyes flashed to the fox and in an instant he threw the piece of porcelain at the fox -- not caring where it hit, it wasn't aimed but power was behind it, it was a blur as it flew through the air. He got to his feet, his body tense, dark eyes glaring at the fox, another piece in his hand.

"Ow!" The fox grabbed his shoulder and felt the trickle of blood over his hand. "What is your problem?!" He threw the towel down and pushed himself to stand up, looking down at Sasuke. "I'm just trying to help! Why are you freaking out?" He snapped, letting his shoulder go, the blood hardly seen through the black jacket.

"I don't want your help!" He growled, his eyes flashing. He tossed the remaining piece of the cup between them, his dark eyes in a glare. He stood there, just glaring at the fox a long while before he finally stalked out of the room -- trailing blood further in the house. His shoulders were tense, but he didn't turn, continuing on his path nowhere.

"Chicken shit!" Naruto yelled after the man, "You just going to run from everything when the going gets tough?" He glared at the man's back. "Fine, you know what, do what you want." Naruto took a step back ignoring the shards on the ground, but walking on them none the less, "You want out of here, just say so."

"Just don't come crawling back to me when they throw you in the fucking jail cell and Ibiki's tearing apart what's left of your mind!" Naruto growled at the Uchiha. He continued until he was outside, and by his pond. Pushing through the bushes he hid himself among the foliage, in the heart of his frogs' home. He glared at the house through the green leaves, and ignored the little ones that tried to comfort him.

Sasuke took Naruto's words, having replaced himself on the couch, holding his head trying desperately to keep himself together. He clenched his eyes shut, forcing himself to bite down the rage, forcing himself not to take Naruto's words to heart.

Damn it!

Sasuke growled deep in his throat, he wasn't a coward, he wasn't running! He was trying not to let his anger free, trying not to take a shard to the kit's throat and end all this torment that was going on inside of him.

He hated this.

He yelled at nothing, a feral yell as he stood from the couch, his blood colored eyes flashing. His red eyes looked to the windows, noticing each area of escape.

He could leave.

He could run and run until his heart stopped beating, hit the barrier and drop dead.

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself, biting down his suicidal thoughts -- his anger. Quietly he walked down the hall to the backyard, "Naruto." He knew the kitsune was somewhere, even if he couldn't see him. "I want out." He said evenly, taking a deep breath, checking all his emotions. "I don't fucking care what happens." He said, "I don't want to be stuck here with you." Talking from his previous rejection, from his fear of not knowing, from his uncertainty and his upset. His red eyes scanned the property just waiting.

The fox froze at the words.

He never should have suggested that...Not when Sasuke was angry.

Staying still in the foliage, he watched Sasuke carefully.

His heart clenched and he tried not to make a noise.

The frogs continued to croak, as if nothing were wrong.

He didn't want Sasuke to go...

"I know you're here." He said evenly, his previous anger ebbing away. He crossed his arms, his eyes locking on Naruto's hiding spot, having a feeling the kit was there -- there was no other spots to really hide out here. He took deliberate steps to the mess of greenery, stopping a few feet away, his red eyes piercing through the leaves seeing a flash of blue; Naruto's eyes. "Answer me."

The fox's eyes were wounded at the tone of Sasuke's voice, at his demand to be let go, to give up. He didn't move, only averted his eyes, gazing at the water. There was only one koi left now the other he had found dead that morning after he came to his retreat, that one had been his Sasuke; and the other, the one that was swimming alone, was Naruto.

Was this some sick twist of fate?

He gently stroked the almost dry scales of the dead fish that rested on the rock next to him.

He didn't want to let Sasuke go…

Sasuke kneeled before the kitsune, noticing his distant eyes, his own eyes surveying the kit's slack features. "What's wrong now?" He murmured, his tone firm, confusion underlying it. "I thought you wanted me to go." He said after a moment, his tone soft, his head tilting to survey the man in the bushes.

He trailed his eyes to the fish, then to Naruto as confused as ever. "What's wrong?"

Silence.

"God damn it!" He growled, his dark eyes glaring at the fox. He hated this, he hated not knowing! He hated this silence! "Tell me! Tell me what's wrong!" His tone was low, dangerous.

...he still cared.

No matter how deep he tried to originally bury his caring, it was still there. Bubbling to the surface from Naruto’s sad, sad eyes.

The fox flinched slightly; He hated it when people yelled, It threw his mind back to his childhood, people calling him 'monster', 'demon', 'murderer'...

"Sasuke died..." He murmured, his voice quiet. "He left Naruto alone just like the real Sasuke left." He continued to run his fingers along the scales. "Now he wants to run again, and leave me alone.” He still didn't look up at the angered Uchiha, he didn't want to see the red, flashing eyes.

"Naruto..." Sasuke was uncertain how to respond, how to venture forward. Naruto's eyes held something; something strange.

It was like…he was somewhere else.

"You want me to leave." He murmured, "You won't tell me anything." He said after a moment, "You don't want me here."

"Not true." He shook his head slightly, his eyes still on the koi. "Never wanted you to go in the first place."

"I hate being jerked around." He hated not knowing anything. He stood to his height, his red eyes regarding the property, looking to the boundary -- to the fence and beyond it. Without warning the man jumped to the fence, perching on top of it, looking to the bush Naruto was in, then to the world outside.

Anbu were in the trees, he could almost sense it.

His red eyes regarding the place around him, knowing eyes were on him, knowing they were waiting for him to do something. He grinned to himself, closing his eyes, tilting his head up to the sky, the sun feeling good on his cold skin. "I don't know what you want." He said softly, "But I know I want to be free."

Free from this cage, his mind once again tilting in the direction of insanity. Lowering his head, he turned, looking towards the expanse of fields. He wished he could just cut his heart out, cut Naruto's sunshine out of the void of himself. But…he couldn't.

He just sat there, precariously.

Naruto's eyes shot up to the fence, his body jerking out of the memories that his mind had thrown him in. "Don't, please, Sasuke." He stood up and backed away slightly, as if giving Sasuke space would help. "There's nothing out there for you."

Sasuke licked his lips, his eyes falling on the fox. "Nothing out there?" He murmured, letting out a deep breath a sort of sad smile on his face, "There's nothing in here for me either…Hokage-sama." He lowered his gaze, his red eyes not as sharp as before a hue of shadow settling in them.

"You had me didn’t you?" The fox blurted out, his mind forgetting the Anbu that would certainly hear him. "How can you say there's nothing in here for you, when I'm standing right in front of you?" He stayed still, watching the Uchiha on the fence; he could feel the Anbu moving, getting ready to move if necessary. "Just, come down? Please?"

Sasuke hopped down from the fence with a fluid grace. He landed in front of the fox, his dark eyes regarding the kit. He raised a hand, ghosting over Naruto's cheek, down his neck. "You want me too?" He asked after a moment, a gentle blush on his face, feeling like a child.

He was used to taking, controlling, dominating.

But…this was the first time he needed permission…he wanted permission. Naruto was something else, something special.

It took him forever to see it, to come to terms with it.

He was laying himself open, shields down, his red eyes looking at the kit with an unguarded expression.

"Yes." The fox reached up and copied Sasuke's movements mirroring them on the pale skin. "Yes, I want you." He stepped closer to the man and wrapped his arms around Sasuke. "I've always wanted you." He closed his eyes, and just held Sasuke against him.

Sasuke slowly wrapped his arms in turn around the fox, letting all his worries fall away. He closed his eyes, cheek against the fox's neck, forehead on his shoulder, a faint smile on his lips.

He didn't care about the watching eyes.

He had finally been accepted.

A/N:

Kinda fluffy, kinda mushy gushy but I liked it. The next one shows another glimpse into Sasuke’s crazy mind so I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. This story is going to get very angsty; so I do hope you all continue to read.

Me and Kareian were working on this RP the other night; we’re much further than these chapters, and we were both balling our eyes out! How lame are we? We know what happens next and yet we’re crying like babies!

I’m not going to give anything away; but thank you to everyone who has came this far. Please continue to support us and the next chapter should be coming up soon. Thanks.

Foolish Hearts Chapter 7

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:31:18 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Seven’

Sasuke had somehow found himself in Naruto's arms, the warmth all around him Naruto's strong arms keeping him safe. He unconsciously snuggled into the warmth, his head bumping under the kit's chin as he fought with a yawn. Slowly his black eyes opened, the sunlight bleeding in all around him, his eyes stinging from the fresh light.

...then he realized where he was, that Naruto was holding him. His breath caught as he blinked the sleep from his eyes, his body tensed as he fully woke up -- liking the feeling of Naruto around him, but unsure how the fox would react. He licked his lips, attempting to push himself away, trying to gain distance.

The fox let out a whiny groan as the warmth he was pillowed against moved around in his bed. He never woke up fast in the morning, with the exceptions being missions. For the last two years, he had many bedmates, not lovers, but bedmates. He hated sleeping alone, and for almost a year he hadn't had anyone to help keep his bed warm.

"Sleepy…" He grumbled, still not opening his eyes.

"Mm." Sasuke responded, unsure what he should say or do.

His cheeks were slightly flushed…he had…liked waking up, like that. Feeling... wanted. He swallowed thickly, his black eyes half-open, looking to the fox from the short distance he had put between them.

Naruto wiggled in the blankets so he could get closer to the warmth. He had missed the physical contact, and was enjoying the feeling once more, his heart feeling light. "Go back to sleep, love." He breathed out; still not awake enough to realize who he was talking to.

Sasuke's mind wasn't muddled with sleep, awake and aware as Naruto moved closer -- his arms once again pulling him to that warm chest, holding him there. He inhaled Naruto's scent, his cheek against his neck as he was pulled into this hug. Slowly his arms were around Naruto's waist, his heart skipping a beat to the name he was called.

He knew nothing happened last night; he was aware, yet distant in his own mind. He knew that he fell asleep angry yet he didn’t know why Naruto was loving this morning or why he called him that.

Naruto probably didn’t know who he was.

He closed his eyes, exhaling a long breath; who knows who Naruto thought he was right now in his sleep-clouded mind. "Naruto." He murmured, his breath against the kit's ear, "Don't call me that usrakontachi."

The fox shifted slightly, frowning at the words. "Sound like Sasuke..." He breathed out, loosening his arms. He wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, but having a little fun didn’t sound so bad either.

"Naruto." Sasuke murmured against the kit's ear, his lips absently brushing against the shell of it. He closed his eyes, inhaling Naruto's smell; so nice. Absently he tilted his head, smelling along his neck before he stopped himself growing a little tense in the kit's arms.

"Wake up." He said a little more sternly, knowing this charade would only further his bad mood.

The fox groaned as soft lips brushed against his ear, and he lightly arched his neck, at the feel of breath running down his tanned skin. He rolled over on to his back, only keeping one arm around his warmth. "No wake up, want sleep." He stretched his legs out in front of him, and lightly scratched his scared stomach. "Why're ya being so difficult..?"

Sasuke once again fell over the fox, Naruto's strong arm around his hip. He frowned down at the sleepy kitsune, his black eyes sweeping along Naruto's figure.

As the sleep fell from his brain red started bleeding back into his eyes. Silently he leaned down, his nose brushing along the kit's jugular, inhaling that thick earthy smell. He closed his eyes that light insane smirk on his lips as he continued to trail his lips along his jaw to his ear. He traced the shell of it with his tongue, his eyes opening, this time a dark ruby.

Naruto groaned in a sultry manner and arched his neck more. His hands trailed down the warm body on top of him, to rest on the lithe hips. He shifted in the bed, Naruto wanted to feel the reassuring weight of someone resting between his legs.

Sasuke rested himself between the kit's legs, his hands on either side of the man's skull. He closed his eyes, inhaling the scent, drinking in those lovely sounds he made the fox make. He licked down his neck to his collar bone and back again.

His breathing picked up, so did his heart, his senses heightened as the kit lay submissive under him. His teeth grazed along the skin, biting along the muscles, sucking the salty skin -- trying to make marks; trying to claim this man as his own.

Possessive.

Sasuke was getting possessive.

He growled into the kit's throat, biting a little harder than before, the slight pain he should be causing sent a wave of pleasure down his spine, and the instincts inside of him drove him into the madness of need.

The fox moaned and arched into the bite. He never minded a little rough play, he preferred it actually. He didn't like the crazy dominatrix stuff, that was too weird, but a little pain made him remember that he was alive.

"God, baby…" He breathed out, his hands moving up the warm body, one trailing up to the soft hair, the other resting in the middle of the strong back, his fingers flexing, nails slightly digging into the flesh. He tightened his legs around the warmth's waist, one leg wrapping around one of the warmth's legs keeping him close.

Sasuke pulled off the kit's shirt -- making him shirtless like he was, skin touching skin -- the feeling causing a groan to bury in the back of his throat. Smirk on his lips, he nuzzled into the kit's neck roughly, biting at his chest -- along his collarbone.

"Mm..." He purred into the skin, grinding their hips together, "...much better." He was referring to yesterday, when the damn fox made a fool of him. He liked it this way -- he loved being in control.

He would dominate the fox.

This man was his and his alone.

Naruto let out a long, pleasured sigh as he felt the warmth of another’s skin against his own.

Male.

But he wasn't picky.

The fox grinned slightly, letting the man do as he wanted.

A breathy moan escaped the fox, as the man ground his hip into his own. "God..." He felt his body heat up, his head falling back, tilting to the side. One hand fell out of the soft hair to grip the bed sheets tightly, his hand dragging down the man's warmed skin.

Sasuke's hands trailed along the kit's side, his eyes taking in the sight of the arching fox, drinking in the look of him.

"Do you know who I am?" Sasuke asked, noticing how the kit seemed a little -- detached, distant, still full of sleep. His voice was low, covered in silk, whispered right in his ear his tongue tracing the shell of it as his hands ghosted along the hip bones right under the waist band of the kit's pants.

He wanted the fox to know.

He wanted the kit to know who was dominant, who was stronger who was better than he was.

"I don't care..." The fox breathed out, he refused to open his eyes. He didn't want to destroy the dream he had in his mind. He arched his hips, trying to encourage the man to pull his pants down, and take him. He let out a small laugh, "You wouldn't like who I thought you were."

"Who?" He asked, tempted to know; wondering…wondering if there might be someone else in Naruto's heart. His voice was deep, seductive, though curiosity was a lacing undertone, his red eyes flashing to Naruto's flushed profile. Absently he pulled down the kit's pants exposing him, his hands ghosting over his thighs -- over his need, feeling the pulse of his cock, the heat of it. He nuzzled against the kit's cheek, his hips applying a pressure down on his own hands as he felt the fox's need.

"Ahh! Mmmmm." The fox bit his bottom lip and gently rocked back against the body. "God's...Sasu..." He breathed out, his voice barely audible. A needy moan escaped him, his hand gripping at the warm and slightly slick body. His own body had a sheen of sweat; a red hue had travelled down his body.

Sasuke smirked into the side of Naruto's face, his eyes closing as he continued his work with his deft hands. "Call my name." He whispered in his ear, "Yell for me Hokage-sama..." His voice deep, a purr in the back of his throat. He kicked out of his own pants now naked, their legs tangled together, his knees swooping under the fox, propping his hips up, setting him up into position.

Naruto moaned in anticipation, his excitement shot up; he could call for Sasuke.

"Sasuke…" He wiggled slightly, trying to get comfortable, he knew what was going to happen; but it had been so long.

Sasuke breathed in Naruto's ear, anticipation building. He swallowed thickly, laughing slightly, "Naruto…" He said gently in the kit's ear, his hands trailing along his thighs to his opening, his fingers probing the entrance -- thinking to get him a little prepared before he slammed the sleep out of his brain.

He licked his lips, his own self throbbing wanting to couple with the kitsune.

...Naruto would never believe and Sasuke wouldn't tell...

...but this was his first time, with anyone. His lips curved lightly, mainly to himself. Uchiha Sasuke; the most sought after bed partner at one time, had never even had a romp with anyone before.

Running on instinct, the Uchiha positioned himself at Naruto's opening, gently pushing himself against the fox the head sliding in, the tight heat causing his breath to hitch in his throat. His back arched, his fingers digging into the sheets at either side of the kit's head -- his eyes closed, his head back -- his ivory neck exposed as his lips parted in a silent moan as he slowly but surely slid his length inside the kitsune.

The fox let out a small cry, and arched into the body above him. "God, Mmm, Sasuke." He widened his legs, giving the man more room to move. "C'mon baby," he moaned, slowly moving against the length inside of him.

Sasuke's back was tense, his dark eyes half-lidded looking at the moaning fox, panting.

God…

This was…too good.

Mm…

He was having a hard time keeping himself under control, not ready to move, but Naruto kept rocking his hips even against his will.

God!

The tight heat was suffocating him, his heart racing as he arched, pushing himself deep inside the fox hitting something inside the kit, the feeling assaulting his senses further and causing him to moan deeply in his throat -- ending in a silken purr.

Naruto had half a mind to roll them over so he would be on top.

He wanted the man to move damn it!

"C'mon, Sasuke," He trailed blunt nails down the slick back, "Give it to me, babe." Naruto shifted his hips, trying to coax his partner into thrusting. "Sasuke..." Naruto breathed out, wrapping his arms around the man's neck so his lips were against the man's ear, "Fuck me."

Sasuke groaned, his muscles spasming as Naruto's nails ran down his back -- his hot voice was in his ear. His mind had fallen to pleasure; He pulled out and slid back in slowly creating a rhythm, slow at first and steadily getting faster and faster as Sasuke tried to capture that bright white light in his mind -- his orgasm that was just a few more thrusts away.

He panted, moaning, unable to control his sounds his movement becoming sparratic. "God..mm.." He had never felt anything like this before; his nerves were all on fire, his whole body full of sensation.

"Hokage-sama..." He purred deeply, pounding into the fox, slamming himself against that weird hard spot inside the kitsune, feeling himself close.

Naruto moved with Sasuke, loud gasps escaping him as the prostate was hit. "G-God! S-Sasuke!" He felt so close; he felt like he would explode, he couldn't reach that edge, just a few more thrusts!

Even though it was seconds, to the fox it felt like eternity, he felt his body tense up, his limbs clinging to the man above him. "Sasuke!" He cried out his neck arching back, his body tensing completely as his orgasm set in. He could feel the white, hot cum landing on his stomach and smearing on the man above him.

Sasuke thrusted deep, feeling his whole body spasm and tense. "God." He panted, moaning deeply, his red eyes taking in the sight of the fox’s orgasm. The sight sent him finally over the edge, his blood colored eyes sliding shut as his body jerked his back arched, shooting his seed deep inside the kitsune.

He fell to his elbows, trying to catch his breath, his eyes sliding shut -- sweat gathered on his skin as his body molded along the fox's. He gently rubbed his cheek along the kit's face, nipping his ear affectionately. The dark blockade finally fell, the release caused him to feel sleepy and…cuddly.

Hm.

The dark Uchiha snuggling like a kitten?

Unexpected.

Sasuke slowly pulled out of the fox, lying on his side, his arms lazily around the kit as he pulled himself close to the kitsune. His head on the man's shoulder, his eyes half-open, looking up at the kit's flushed face.

Naruto laid there trying to catch his breath, his eyes still closed. God, he had felt full for the first time in months…now it was gone. Feeling the warmth cling to him, he shifted a bit, trying to get comfortable. Slowly, he started to open his eyes; He saw the walls to his bedroom and two pairs of sweats at the end of his bed, they both belonged to him. His hazy eyes slowly traced their way up the pale body next to him, his eyes lingering on the strong muscles and lithe form.

Glancing down at the face, Naruto paused and blinked a few times, before his eyes slid shut, "This is a dream." He whispered, "Only in my dreams are you here."

Sasuke laughed a quiet laugh deep in his throat. Sharingan taking in the sight of the fox, licking his lips as he slowly traced his fingers down the man's marred cheek. "The Hokage-sama dreams about me?" Sasuke murmured, his tone taunting.

"Always..." The fox breathed out, his mind slowly starting to clear. “I always dream about Sasuke...when I do dream." He murmured, there was something off with the voice, and he couldn't place it exactly.

Sasuke trailed his fingers along the kit's jaw, to his neck where the soft purple blemishes resided. They'd be gone soon, if Naruto's healing abilities were still in tact, markings didn't stand a chance. He leaned in, brushing his lips gently against the kit's, his blood colored eyes staring intently into Naruto's own. "You're mine." He murmured, his voice still that seductive deep tone; sharingan staying active.

He was much tamer than before.

Both pieces of the Uchiha had locked onto the fox had accepted this weakness, this long lost piece of himself.

He had finally accepted his weak heart.

A compromise between light and dark.

The fox blinked, his eyes slowly starting to clear. The red Sharingan was really there -- Sasuke was really there.

"...Sasuke did you really just fuck me?" The fox asked, as if seeing the man for the first time. The words 'you're mine' were lingering in his ears, "Yours?" He blinked in confusion -- Why was his backside sore?

Sasuke quirked a brow, his cheek against the man's shoulder, his eyes sliding shut as he inhaled Naruto's intoxicating smell mixed with the heavy scent of sex. "Mm.." He murmured, "What's wrong?" He added, though his tone didn't seem interested in what was really bothering the fox. Whether the kit liked it or not Sasuke's possessive side had came out and the claim was made; protests would be ignored.

Naruto was fully awake now.

Oh. God.

He had slept with Sasuke.

Shit.

That wasn't supposed to happen!

Oh god, if the Anbu reported it back to the council? If they found out they would take the Uchiha from him and he couldn't lose Sasuke again.

"Oh shit." The fox slowly started to untangle himself from the Uchiha, "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He half fell out of the bed, and quickly grabbed at his pants. "Baka Naruto!" He cursed himself, he had to try and find the Anbu and see if they had heard! He couldn't let this get out.

...How loud had he been?

Blushing he stumbled into his pants and looked back at the Uchiha. He didn't know what he could say. He didn't feel it was a mistake, but at the same time, he didn't want the others guarding his place to know. Walking stiffly back to the bed the fox gently ran his fingers through the soft, sweaty hair and placed a kiss on Sasuke's lips. "I wanted you for so long." The fox whispered, "And now that you had me and I had you…" he stopped, he didn't know what to do." Just know that what I do from now on, I do to protect you."

Sasuke's brow furrowed, his fatigue-laced brain having trouble understanding. At first with Naruto's cursing he thought maybe the fox was mad, or regretting it or something.

But now...

What did that mean?

His dark colored eyes held confusion a moment before he banished it rolling on his side, sweeping the blankets up and all around him, only his head being seen. He frowned, looking like an upset caterpillar as Naruto left the room. "…whatever." He grumbled, not caring to argue or figure things out further -- a nap was in order.

A/N:

Okay, okay, okay… I’m not trying to be upset about it or anything, but it’s kind of getting annoying. The council is Naruto’s boss; of course they’re going to have more power than him. Sasuke will be mainly seme, but if he’s uke it’s a shame I’m going to loose readers over it – seems retarded to me, but whatever you’re preference right? I would enjoy it if you didn’t tell me how I should be writing the story; Kareian and I are doing a good job on our own…

Constructive criticism is appreciated, but blatant screaming’s of NaruSasu or SasuNaru will be ignored. Sasuke is mainly dominant, but he might become a bit more submissive in later chapters but it’s because of the way the plot becomes later.

Deal, or stop reading.

That said; I do adore everyone reading and reviewing this story and liking it. So, I do hope most of you are looking at plot and not just here for the sex; but whatever floats your boat I guess.

Okay, before I rant more, please leave a review and next chapter should be up soon. Thanks.

Foolish Hearts Chapter 6

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:28:12 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Six’

Sakura had let herself in, breathing heavily -- she had ran all the way there. "Naruto?" Her green eyes regarded the situation -- Naruto, Sasuke…

Pills.

Over dose.

She stood there just wondering what she could do really hoping she would be able to do anything at all.

"Sakura!" The fox gasped, almost laughing with relief. He adjusted his arms around Sasuke and looked down at the man, "He just slipped unconscious."

"Is he still breathing?" She pink haired girl asked kneeling down next to her two old teammates.

"Barley."

Nodding the medic-nin opened her bag, and fished through it. She didn't have the proper tools to actually pump Sasuke's stomach of the drugs, but she could get him to throw it back up, "Help me get him to the bathroom."

Naruto nodded and before Sakura could help him, the blonde lifted the Uchiha back in his arms and started to the bathroom, "Ipecac?"

"You told me to bring it." She snapped back, opening the bathroom door, "This is going to get gross..."

Naruto maneuvered Sasuke so the man was resting up against the fox's chest. "Ready?"

Nodding the girl opened the bottle and reached for Sasuke. She didn't have time to measure it out for his body weight; they needed the drugs out of his system now. She carefully opened his mouth and turned the bottle over, emptying almost half of it into Sasuke.

Naruto gasped, "He's going to be puking his guts out!"

"No he won't!" The girl set the bottle aside and reached for a wash cloth, getting ready to help Sasuke.

Naruto eyed the bottle warily, and looked back at Sasuke, who seemed to have swallowed the medicine without too many problems, "How long do we wait?"

“A few minutes..."

Silence passed for a short moment but then it was gone -- Sasuke's brow quivered, his eyes opening in one quick movement as the drug Sakura had poured in him stabbed his stomach.

He was purging the evil from his system, coughing from the effort.

His black eyes rimmed red his shoulders shaking as his weakened body protested from the assault his body was taking on itself.

Naruto kept one hand on Sasuke's hip, and the other on the man's back, gently rubbing, "It's ok." He looked over at Sakura and let out a sigh -- It smelled horrible. The food, along with the drugs and the medicine, it was going to make the kit sick if he wasn't careful. Breathing through his mouth, the fox continued to rub the Uchiha’s back, "This is so gross."

"Everyone throws up Naruto." Sakura leaned in and gently pressed the cool cloth to Sasuke's skin.

"That doesn't mean it’s pleasant." He whined, "It's still gross and smells."

"Would you shut up?" The girl gave her old team mate an exasperated look.

Making a face Naruto looked to Sasuke, "How you holding up? You done?"

"He won't be for a few hours at least." Sakura said, pressing the cloth to the back of Sasuke's neck, and flushing the toilet.

Time had passed.

Slow agonizing hours.

Sakura had kept her stomach under control, leaning against the bathroom wall, furthest from the Uchiha, Naruto right up in the action -- it was amazing he hadn't started throwing up along with the other man.

Sasuke was exhausted...

His throat burned, his head felt like it was going to explode and sweat was broken all over his skin; he was leaning heavily on the fox, his dark eyes clenched shut as he tried to ease the pain out of his system.

His stomach didn't feel up-side-down anymore but he couldn't shake the feeling of pain. "God..." He groaned his throat hot and itchy, feeling disgusting and fuzzy.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes at Sasuke's words. He was leaning against the bathtub, Sasuke resting against his chest. The kit's hands were resting on the Uchiha's stomach and hip.

"You going to throw up again?" He asked, he had been feeling queasy for the last two hours, and was trying his best to hold it back. He didn't know how much more he could take. He could feel Sasuke's sweat soaking into his shirt, mixing with his own. The small full bathroom was hot, and muggy, and the smell of vomit was giving the fox a bad headache, making him curse his overly sensitive nose.

"...no." He murmured after a moment, too weak to get up, to push himself away from the fox. He just laid limply against the fox, his head under the kit's chin, his dark eyes closed as he let his tired body rest.

Sakura watched the two men evenly, biting her lip, unsure what to do or say next. "We should probably get him in bed, lying down might keep his stomach stable."

Sasuke's black-red eyes opened, sweeping to the girl, causing Sakura's breath to hitch from that cold gaze. Sasuke's mouth was a thin line, an odd emotion on his face.

"...eh, c'mon Naruto, this bathroom stinks." She said, feigning courage -- Sasuke really frightened the hell out of her.

He wasn't the boy she had fallen in love with anymore.

. ..he was something dark, sinister -- an evil shell of something she had once known.

It hurt her heart, it scared her.

"Shower first." The fox grumbled, but he made no move to get up.

Letting out a tired sigh, the fox looked over to Sakura, "You think you can get him to my bedroom? I think I'm going to start throwing up..." He gave her a pleading look, his own breaths starting to pick up in the familiar fashion. He shifted Sasuke slightly, yet carefully, "Better hurry."

Sakura looked down at Sasuke unsure of what to do.

"Sakura." Naruto drew in a sharp breath, his eyes pinching shut and he held his breath, trying to regulate his body. "I'm going to hurl in about fifteen seconds, get him out of here."

God damn it.

She couldn't do that.

Sasuke kept staring at her, that unwavering look, something weird behind his eyes, something she couldn't place. She licked her lips, moving to take the weight off the fox, helping the Uchiha to his feet -- forgetting to breathe as she tried to limp him to the kit's room. Sasuke was a heavy burden for the smaller girl, but she managed, grateful the Uchiha was quiet as she hobbled all the way to the bedroom.

Sakura had finally made it in the room, placing the Uchiha on the bed awkwardly, trying to get him comfortable and casual on the mattress.

Work done, she stood there in the center of the room, not close to the bed, not too close to the door either.

She felt cornered, trapped, a weird feeling radiating off the Uchiha.

Sasuke smirked, his black eyes bleeding a little darker as he surveyed the girl -- he could practically smell her fear, and it smelled very sweet; intoxicating.

"Scared…Sakura-chan?" He asked after a moment, his voice deep -- husky, hearing the hiss of the shower in the background, knowing the girl was all alone with him.

It was okay, it was safe -- he was too weak to get up…to do anything…right?

Sakura turned to look back at Sasuke, her green eyes unsure, and on the brink of nervousness. She looked back at the opening to Naruto's room and bit her lip. Where was he? He didn't have to throw up that much right?

"Why should I be scared?" Sakura looked back at Sasuke, trying to school her features.

Where was Naruto?

He kept his taunting smirk, the Sasuke from before erased by his bloodline eyes -- erased now that his little orange sun was not blotting out his darkness. His eyes had gathered up all of Sasuke's life -- the last bit of Sasuke's energy to keep him alive long enough to be saved. They activated to keep him alive, but it also erased his previous consciousness, consumed by the power, by the smell of fear in the poor alone girl.

His body was still weak.

How he wanted to get up...

Spark a new pain in those big green eyes.

Sakura's instincts had always been good, she was typically the one to sense danger before Naruto or Kakashi, and they were screaming at her to leave, to get out.

"S-Sasuke?"

Naruto groaned as he stumbled out of the bathroom. He didn't know if he felt better or worse now that he had thrown up. He had started to think he was going to take a shower in that bathroom, but the over powering smell of sickness prevented him from stepping foot into the shower.

Keeping one hand on his stomach he steadied himself on the wall as he made his way to his room. Sasuke and he could fricken’ share the shower at this point the kitsune didn't care. He grumbled to himself about Sasuke's first day back and he was still a pain in the ass and made things difficult.

Looking up, he caught sight of Sakura's scared eyes. What was Sasuke doing?

Grabbing the girl’s arm he all but threw her out of the room, "Thanks for saving the dumb bastard." The fox slid the door part way closed. He could feel the dark energy coming off of the Uchiha, and he repressed a shiver, oh this wouldn't be good.

"Y-You're welcome." The girl turned and started to leave, but Naruto never saw, he closed the door and looked back at the man, whom was lying smugly in his bed.

"You know, she just saved your life, bastard." The kit narrowed his eyes and all but collapsed in his chair, leaning his head back against the wall, trying to keep his stomach level.

Sasuke's eyes had followed the girl as she was pushed from the room, the red eyes falling then on the kitsune. The intricate sharingan weighed the fox, licking his lips, a slight scowl replacing on his face as the kit began to speak.

Damn Naruto…

Always getting in his way.

That stupid damn fox in his heart, preventing him from being who he truly should be -- from extracting the revenge that was rightfully his.

Always in the way.

His stupid weak body upset him, he couldn't get up, he couldn't even jolt power into himself -- the chakra binds kept him pretty much average -- unable to gain his usual power level at all.

It was irritating.

"I never asked her." His tone was dark, almost seductive. "I could save myself." And his eyes had partially done the job, alone he might've been able to purge himself had the seals not been in place anyway.

Naruto let out a snort, "Right,"

He heard the seductive tone in the man's voice again, this wasn't the first time, he remembered it at the fight and vaguely in the hospital.

"I would have loved to see that." He slowly pushed himself up from the chair and moved over to his bathroom, sliding the door open fully, so he could keep and eye on Sasuke.

"Find a way to get your lazy ass up, you smell and need a shower." He would wait before he started toying with Sasuke's mind. The fox smirked; he had a nice plan for this dark, seductive Sasuke, one that he thought the Uchiha didn't expect.

Sasuke's red eyes calculated the fox, a little upset in the fact the kitsune didn't care -- he wasn't scared, intimidated…anything.

Sure, he wasn't in his usual fighting best…

But still...

How he missed the sweet smell of fear.

Growling in his throat he got up from the bed, on shaky legs he tried to keep himself stable.

Shower…together?

He smirked, a dark intent behind his eyes as he made his slow way to the bathroom, not in the least nervous or embarrassed, like his usual self would be.

Naruto waited until Sasuke was in the bathroom, before he shut the toilet lid and help ease the man down.

"What's that look for?" He asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. He had already hid all the sharp objects in the room, so he knew that Sasuke wasn't hiding any weapons. Giving the Uchiha a look the fox let out a sigh, "You going to get undressed or do I have to do that for you?"

Sasuke frowned, getting to his feet, ignoring Naruto's helping hands. Quietly, deliberately, he stripped himself -- leaving his figure exposed for the fox to see.

His body was thin, smooth muscle under his skin -- scars telling dark tales all over his body. His red eyes followed the fox that hint of a smirk on his lips, looking the kit up and down with an intent misplaced. He held the wall as he set himself in the shower, leaning against the wall for support as he placed himself under the warm spray of water.

Making sure he could be seen, the fox crossed his arms, so he hands could grab the hem of his shirt. Dragging the fabric slowly up over his body. The shirt ruffled his spikes, giving the fox a 'just woken up' look.

Pushing his pants down the fox turned his back to the Uchiha as he stepped into the shower, lightly bumping his shower companion out of the way so he could get under the spray. He had made sure their hips brushed against each other, two could play at the seducing game.

"Shower hog."

Sasuke licked his lips, his want for control shifting to a different outlet. He had felt the warm skin against his hip -- the kit's movement deliberate. Hm, he could step up to the occasion; he would win this dominance battle.

It gave him something to focus on, something to put all his extra energy in. He shifted his body, reaching for the shampoo -- purposely leaning in Naruto's line of sight, squeezing a generous blob of soap on his hands and scrubbing it through his hair, massaging his own scalp. He stayed near the fox, gaining the spray of water, washing his raven hair -- letting it fall in a tousled mess this way and that.

His blood colored eyes half-lidded, regarding the kit with eyes flashing with lust.

Naruto smirked at the devilish movements.

Sasuke seemed to move with a grace that Naruto could never posses, and the fox felt new life in him again. Reaching around for the shampoo himself, the fox left one hand on Sasuke's hip, pressing his chest against the pale, slick back. He lightly pressed his lips against Sasuke's ear as he stood back up, his breath ghosting over the shell, "If you keep playing like this I might have to jump you…”

A shiver went down Sasuke's spine, his body reacting to that whisper in his ear, all too aware of Naruto's frame all but spooned over his back, feeling that warm hand on his hip. He closed his eyes a moment that same light smirk on his lips, "You couldn't even if you tried." He murmured, his voice almost holding a purr.

He turned, face to face with the fox -- noticing now how he was just a few inches shorter than the fox, his back against the wall; not the best place to battle for the top spot. He licked his lips, slowly, dark eyes hooded as he regarded the kitsune, "Hokage-sama..." His body was just inches out of reach, no contact between them the water snaking down Sasuke's naked frame, his body exposed, relaxed and almost begging the fox to touch him.

His dark eyes had a hidden intent, tilting his head, exposing his alabaster neck his movement fluid, graceful.

Naruto let out a small growl as he smelt the sexual desire coming off of Sasuke.

Leaning in he let the shampoo bottle slip from his fingers. He let his fingers trail up Sasuke's side, the pads ghosting over the slick skin. Naruto was close to Sasuke's body, though still not touching, but close enough to feel the body heat pulsing between them. He gently trailed his nose up Sasuke's neck, breathing his scent. A deep purr like growl escaped the fox as his hands came to rest on either side of Sasuke's head.

"Yes?" The fox's was almost a feral growl, his eyes half lidded as they met the red orbs that were Sasuke's eyes, his lips just centimeters above the Uchiha's.

Control.

Who was in control?

As Naruto breathed up his neck, he bit back a moan his god awful neck his weakness, he breathed out heavily as the fox growled, the sound sending another chill down his spine. Naruto was perched in front of him now, hands on either side of his head -- making him feel trapped, controlled. His blood colored eyes were shadowed by lashes, looking to Naruto's bright blue eyes.

Sasuke knew his body was too weak to slam the fox into the wall like he wanted -- knew he was too weak to force the fox to take him…

He barely kept himself standing, laying against the wall for support; he didn't like being submissive in the least, he hated being dominated. But right now he might not have an option.

Naruto was egging him on and god damn it he wanted to be touched!

Sasuke leaned up to the fox, his lips ghosting over the kitsune's -- his dark eyes piercing into Naruto's. "Fuck me." He said his tone a silken purr.

Naruto tilted back, avoiding the Uchiha's lips, but he kept his composure, continuing to remain dominant. The fox gave Sasuke, what most would consider a sexy grin. Once again inhaling the scent of Sasuke, but not touching.

"Fuck you?" He asked, breathing the words over Sasuke's ear.

He brought one hand up so Sasuke could see, and acted as if he was going to trace the high cheek bone without touching him. "Are you offering? Or begging?"

Sasuke closed his eyes a moment, demanding himself to keep composure..

God damn him!

Sasuke bit back his wants, his needs. He would -not- beg the kitsune, it took all he had to even ask, he was not going to sink down and beg like a woman.

Opening his eyes again they flashed with a newfound vigor, his lips frowning as he tried to think of his options. He had leaned up again -- but Naruto kept out of reach, his body was itching -- skin crawling with the sensation of wanting to be touched by the kitsune's rough warm hands.

"Bastard." He growled deep in his throat, dark eyes flashing, trying to muster all the strength he had. Wanting nothing more right now than to punch that horridly sexy grin off the kit's face.

The fox laughed in a sultry manner, still avoiding Sasuke's touches. "What's wrong?" He asked breathing the words, once more against Sasuke's lips. "Not getting what you want?"

"Stop screwing with me." His tone was a dangerous growl, his red eyes narrow, glaring at the fox as his feral needs were trying to take control of his brain. He was still heavy against the tiles, he didn’t feel pain but he couldn't ignore the fatigue, assuming all the drugs he had just purged from his body there really was no energy left to pump into himself.

There was no way to take the upper hand.

Frowning, frustrated, Sasuke tried to ignore the feeling of Naruto's lips as they whispered against his own trying not to concentrate on the sultry fox.

He pushed off the wall, his hands on either side of the shower, his red eyes glaring at the fox as he tried to remain stable. He let out slow, even breaths, trying to gain himself trying not to give in to his urge and try to bite the fox's neck -- wanting so badly to cause this bastard pain.

Naruto let out another laugh, and leaned in to tease Sasuke once more. He blew cold air against the Uchiha's ear; before he let his lips connect with the pale skin of Sasuke's ear. He kept his touches light and soft as he gently traced up and down the shell of Sasuke's ear. With a flick of his tongue, he traced the delicate inside, before he slowly drew back, and gave the Uchiha a smirk.

"Who said I'm screwing with you?" He breathed out against the man's lips, before slowly drawing away.

Grabbing the shampoo bottle the fox stepped out of the shower to finish in the spare bathroom, the smell would be gone by now. "Have fun."

Sasuke was alone, the kitsune had left.

Left…

Just like that.

Sasuke picked up the nearest object -- a bottle of soap, and threw it as hard as he could against the wall -- the plastic near-shattering as the soap splattered everywhere.

Fucking fox!

Sasuke frowned, his eyes dangerous, caught up in his need caught up in the fact that he just been toyed with…

…denied, stepped on.

He growled deep in his throat, the water shut off, he got out of the shower toweling quickly with irritation, putting on only the pajama pants Naruto had provided before he went to sulk in the bedroom. He had only enough strength to use the walls for support, walking back to the room and laying on the bed.

His breathing was heavy from effort, and from need un-quenched. His dark eyes glared at the wall lying in bed angry with the smell of Naruto all around him.

Naruto let out a long breath as he hopped into the spare shower, his body trembled with anticipation. God, that was too close. Sasuke was making himself too seductive. The fox could almost not resist the dark voice, asking him to take him. If only Sasuke had asked that of him a few years ago…

Turning the knobs on the shower to cold water, the fox quickly finished his shower in peace.

Wrapping the towel around his waist he slowly walked out of the room and down the hall to his bedroom. The water still dripping off his skin, his flesh covered in goose bumps. Sliding the door to his room open, he moved around quietly, not making any noise as Sasuke laid on the bed.

Sasuke's dark eyes opened, looking to the kit's back, noticing as the fox was as quiet as the wind; had he not sensed him, he wouldn't have noticed he was even there.

He licked his lips, sharingan holding an irritated flame.

Bastard.

He rolled on his side, his back to the fox, facing the wall. What he wouldn't give to have his energy back, his power, so he could have taken Naruto right there in the shower…

…forced him, dominated him.

There he went again...

He growled, closing his eyes, willing his need down -- forcing it down, ignoring the shiver of want as it slithered down his spine.

The fox quickly changed as he moved around his bedroom. He was tired, all the excitement and chaos was starting to catch up to him. Sliding the black wife beater on, the fox walked over to the bed and laid down next to Sasuke.

Reaching behind him, he grabbed the drawstring on his shade and let it drop down. He shifted on the bed and rested an arm over his eyes; he let his breathing evening out, trying to ignore the feeling of Sasuke's warm body next to him.

Sasuke took even breaths, his eyes closed, ignoring the weight of the fox next to him.

He could feel the warmth from his body, could smell his scent, remembered how the fox looked in the shower. It was strange; he should only be wanting him for lust, for a desire, but for some reason…his heart skipped, and he felt…relaxed with the kitsune near him.

His red eyes half-open, staring at the wall; he was aware of himself, of Naruto of this strange intimacy that he felt that sharing this bed created. So strange…he had never cared like this before, never thought this much on the fox other than to avoid him.

Naruto was his sole weakness.

He had wanted so badly to kill Naruto, to destroy that piece of him despite his long heart’s wants. But now the urge to destroy, to kill, had never even spasmed into his brain. Sharingan still active, but the killing intent just wasn't there.

Naruto felt Sasuke shift slightly, and shifted himself.

Letting out a deep sigh, the fox let his arm dropped, and gently rolled onto his side. "Sleep...you've had a hard day." He murmured rolling to face Sasuke.

Sasuke closed his eyes, "...don't tell me what to do." His tone was soft, but firm, though sleep was already a welcomed escape from these weird feelings. He wouldn't protest he didn't want to stay awake; he didn't want to stay aware of the kitsune.

Naruto smiled gently, and reached out to pat Sasuke on the shoulder. "Just a strong suggestion." He withdrew his hand and let it fall between them. Closing his eyes he let out a sigh, "I'm sleeping; I don't know what you're doing."

Sasuke laid there quietly for a long moment -- waiting until Naruto's breathing evened out. The fox was asleep after a good fifteen minutes. Sasuke felt sleep tugging his mind but he kept himself awake, his red eyes looking to the kit's face.

Relaxed.

Vulnerable.

Sasuke was silent just watching him; slowly raising a hand, ghosting his fingers over the kit's scarred cheek, his red eyes actually looking soft, different than usual. Just as quickly as the affection was given, it was over, and Sasuke rested heavily against the mattress. His eyes sliding shut as he inhaled the thick comforting scent of the kit forcing himself to drift to sleep.

A/N:

Another chapter, I’m so happy. Thank you for all the reviews so far and please leave another if you liked this chapter. This one was just a little steamy, but next chapter actually has a full blown lemon. ^^ Please leave a review and the next chapter will get out soon. 3

Foolish Hearts Chapter 5

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:27:34 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Five’

Naruto ignored Sasuke's question and turned to grab a small plate full of mixed foods, vegetables, some meats, and fruits. He took it over to the table that sat easily in the middle of the kitchen and sat down, "The rice is ready," the fox leaned back in his chair, his hands lacing together and pillowing behind his head.

"I don't know what else you like to eat, so I just threw some stuff on the plate for you." He watched his new roommate carefully, Sasuke was stable for the moment, but Naruto would see how long it would last.

He smirked slightly, "I don't know if you've gone Ino on me and went vegan without telling me." He laughed slightly, remembering the memory of the woman giving Naruto a look of distain as the boy’s barbequed and she was served meat.

Sasuke ignored Naruto's chatter, quietly picking at his food, picking at everything on his plate evenly -- not hinting to a favorite.

Silently he chewed, dark eyes watching the fox, for the moment his eyes were still in check. Half from the drugs, half from the seals.

"You can't pretend around me." Sasuke murmured, lowering his eyes to his plate as he popped another glob of rice in his mouth.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to keep himself awake, ignoring the haze in the back of his brain. "How long am I here for?"

Naruto stopped and just looked at Sasuke, just staring at him. Letting out a sigh, the fox slowly dropped his hands and moved to sit up straight in his chair, "I don't honestly know." Leaning on his elbows once more, the fox scratched the back of his neck he tried to avoid the darkened eyes. "No one's given me a timeline; they just locked us in here for now." He paused, "I didn't realize I was pretending…"

"You're smile."

Sasuke was quiet after a moment, dark eyes flashing up to the kit. "I know that smile; you use it on everyone when you're hiding something." He chewed carefully, eyeing the fox evenly, "Doesn't work on me."

"Well..." He ventured, "We won't be here forever, because you are the Hokage-sama."

His plate was nearly cleaned, when had he eaten last? He wasn't too sure, he'd been running non-stop in one direction for so long -- he didn't have to listen to his body's needs, not with his sharingan.

But, deactivated...he was as weak as any other person, as strong as anyone, and retained all needs of a human.

"When they don't feel like having you cooped up, that's when they'll get rid of me." He smirked slightly, "Probably won't be too long, hm?"

Sasuke was acting braver than he really felt at the moment. "Not with these seals... if I went for a run outside, I'd drop dead, right?"

"That'd be quick..." He said, almost seriously contemplating it.

"That's not how it was supposed to be." Naruto snapped back, his eyes turning up to the black orbs. "I told them not to use that fucking jutsu!" He growled his thoughts going back to the conversation with the council just before he had been given permission to take Sasuke out of the hospital.

"It was just supposed to be basic chakra restraints -- not basic, basic, but you know what I mean." He sighed heavily once more, and sat back in the chair, rubbing his eyes. "This wasn't supposed to happen, and you have to believe me..." He looked up at the man, his eyes still guarded, but apologetic. "The council is pissed at me, so we might be here for a while."

"Mm."

Sasuke had finished his plate, setting the chopsticks down with a quiet clack. His dark eyes were still rimmed red, but the crimson wasn't bleeding any further than along the edge.

He let out a sigh, holding his head, his dark eyes sliding shut.

"...Naruto." He said after a moment, opening his mouth to speak then shutting it again.

What did he want to say? He didn't really know...

He was already developing cabin fever, knowing this was his final cage, this was the end of the line.

He failed in his revenge…

But, looking to Naruto's blue eyes, he would've failed caught or no -- he could…he could never kill the fox.

He growled in his throat, getting up from his seat and picking up the dishes, moving to replace them in the sink -- unsure what he wanted to do, unsure how long this sanity would last.

Closing his eyes slowly, the fox tried to keep the look of sadness off his face as Sasuke didn't react. What was he expecting? Sasuke very much kept to himself, even when they were younger.

"Hm?" Looking over his shoulder, he didn't look at the man, but turned his head enough so he could see the Uchiha out of his puerperal vision.

He pushed himself up off the chair and stretched his body slightly.

"I have some work to do in the office…" He started turning to look at the Uchiha. "I went out and marked the boundaries around the house...So you can go out in the garden if you want." He pointed over to a door which lead to the outside Zen garden, "My office, if you need me for some reason, is three doors down on the left."

Walking towards the hall way the kit started out of the room, leaving Sasuke to do as he pleased. Stopping he turned and looked back at the man, "Oh and that pill bottle is yours," He pointed passed Sasuke to the pill bottle, "Take one if you feel like you’re going psycho on me. I like my house in tact."

Sasuke was left alone in the kitchen, looking to the bottle of pills. Right now he seemed fine enough…

He took in a breath, picking up the bottle he stalked around the house, looking at everything. It wasn't a big place, but it looked very lived in, homely.

Unlike the Uchiha manor.

Which he hadn't seen in years now…who knows what it looked like now.

Everything smelled like Naruto.

His face was more relaxed as he paced around the house, slowly making his way to the garden -- intent on getting some fresh air.

Sasuke had found himself in the garden for some time -- enough time for his mind to finally clear and he was forced to pop a few of these pills Naruto had set up for him. He had watched the koi, sitting by the pond and just watching the fish enjoying the feeling of the warm breeze as it came through the trees and fluffed his hair.

It had been a long while since he actually sat by and watched the world.

He closed his eyes, inhaling nature -- the smell that always reminded him of the kitsune.

As the sun fell in the sky Sasuke came back into the home, walking through the halls noticing how quiet it was. His mind was a little fuzzier than before but he tried to ignore it -- maybe he took a few too many, what were they anyway?

Mm.

Didn't matter.

Sasuke rounded the corner on the kit's office, peering inside, noticing the fox asleep on the desk. He smirked a little, his dark eyes soft, "Working hard, hm?" He said loud enough to rouse the fox.

The fox slowly blinked his eyes open at the words. Slowly moving to rub his eyes, he looked over at Sasuke, a small look of confusion on his face. "What work?" he asked his voice groggy with sleep. "You didn't bring me any work Kiba." He had closed his eyes once more, trying to settle down to sleep once more.

"Kiba?" Sasuke quirked a brow, leaning in the door way, blinking his eyes awake…hm…those pills were making him drowsy.

Naruto thought about what was around his desk he remember any papers on the mahogany wood, so why was Kib--

Opening his eyes, the kit shot up, "Sasuke!"

Sasuke pushed off the wall, "Did you build the garden yourself?" He asked absently, standing a little ways inside the room.

Sasuke was trying to make conversation.

Why?

For some reason, he just wanted to. -- Maybe, get to know Naruto again. Naruto was the key to his lost self, and even if the fox didn't know that, or would ever know that, the kit's presence added a calm the Uchiha wanted to always have.

With his eyes black Sasuke could enjoy the fox…could enjoy himself.

Even knowing this arrangement was temporary, even knowing that this would all end in a matter of time; He would try his best to keep himself from falling into the darkness so he could try and make some nice memories for his last moments.

Failure.

Uchiha Sasuke was such a failure.

Naruto rubbed his eyes and moved around to wake himself up, "Sorry, Kiba usually brings me papers and reports." He yawned slowly waking himself up.

"The garden?" He looked outside once more, his eyes landing on the pond and smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I did." Turning his bright blue eyes back to Sasuke he smiled slightly. Reaching under his desk, the fox kicked the chair across from his desk out a bit, "Sit, sit." He encouraged, seeing the slight haze in the man's eyes.

Sasuke took a few more steps deeper into the room, sitting down in front of the fox, one leg up in the chair -- one leg down, an arm over his raised knee.

Casual.

The Uchiha's dark eyes turned to the window -- the red was all gone from his eyes, the drugs locking all his darkness away -- but he was feeling light-headed from it, a little woozy.

"It's…nice." Sasuke said after a moment, not looking to Naruto's eyes. He had enjoyed the little bit of outside, and somehow it just seemed peaceful, special almost. Like, an intimate little slice of the kitsune he had been invited to take part in.

Naruto nodded, his own eyes still focused on the garden, "It looks ton's better now than what it did three years ago, when Shikamaru and Kiba lived here." The fox started a small smile on his lips. "We couldn't keep Akamaru and Kiba out of the garden, they kept digging holes." He laughed slightly, "But once they moved out, Ino and Sakura started to help tidy it up."

He leaned back, setting his feet up on his desk, crossing his legs at his ankles, his hands resting lightly in his lap. "I took over and kept it going." He looked back at Sasuke, watching the Uchiha's eyes take in the world.

Sasuke…had missed Naruto's voice.

His face was slack, his eyes distant, past memories slinking into his consciousness. He banished those thoughts as quickly as they came, mask sliding into place as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to clear his fuzzy head.

"When were you going to let me read the letters?" He asked after a moment, black eyes sweeping back to the fox, drinking him in.

Naruto blinked owlishly for a moment, before he remembered the letters, "Ah, that's right."

Letting his feet fall off the desk he reached for the top drawer and pulled out the seven different letters. Each was written in an elegant kanji, which read, Uchiha Sasuke. Holding them delicately in his hand the fox sighed and tapped them gently in his hand before slowly handing them over.

"These are for you." He carefully set them down in front of the Uchiha.

Pushing himself up from his chair the fox moved out of the office to the small outside walkway that framed the garden, "I'll let you read them in peace." He gave the man a small smile before turning and stepping down on to the stone path that laid over the moss. Slipping his hands in his pockets the kit walked down the stone path, and over in the opposite corner to the pond, where his frogs and koi were.

He was nervous; he didn't know how Sasuke would react to the pure emotion in his letters.

Sitting down next to the pond, he let out a loud sigh and let his head bow. He could hear the soft croaking of the tiny frogs that lived there, and felt one hop up to his knee. Giving the little green and black toad a small smile the fox reached down and ran his finger down the back of the frog, as if he were petting it.

Sasuke watched Naruto's back as the fox left the room, letters now in his hands. He blinked down to them, keeping his mind focused as he opened the first letter and began to read.

The characters were so smooth, written with a care he didn't think the kitsune possessed. He licked his lips, his dark eyes sweeping over the smooth characters.

Sasuke-

It's been two months since you left the village.

I've been training with Ero-sennin since I got out of the hospital about a month ago, and it's been fun. He's teaching me so much more that Kakashi-sensei, but it gets annoying when he decides he wants to be a pervert and spy on women. It's just the two of us, traveling around the Fire County doing odd jobs, it keeps me busy, and I find that I barely have time to myself.

It's lonely out here. I find myself thinking about the times we had while we were on Team 7, and how you and I would bicker and talk while we traveled. I miss it, I keep turning as if to find you standing next to me, the same annoying scowl on your face, but... …you're not there, and it makes me sad. I train for hours on end, working until I can hardly move and Ero-sennin has to carry me back to the inn. I wait to hear you call me, 'Usurakontachi' and roll your eyes at me before helping me up, but you're hand isn't there anymore.

I keep dreaming, I never really dreamed, and if I did it was about something stupid like food, or the people in the vi-- Ahh, never mind about that! Heh, it's nothing important.

...Then there are the times that I dream about the mission back in the water country -- our first real mission. I dream about Haku and the bridge, and how you saved me. Actually now that I think about it, you saved me twice on that mission; II know I yelled at you, and told you, "I never asked you to do it.", but really, what I was trying to say was, "Thank you."

...Funny way of saying it, huh?

I dream about how you saved me, and how you gave your life for me, and I wake up still in the dream, screaming, like I was still on the bridge, holding you. I can almost feel the blood on my hands, and -- Ack! Point is, I wake up and you're not there to call me a dumb ass and tell me to go back to sleep.

Your best friend,

Naruto

Sasuke--

It just seems like everywhere I look, I see memories of us; Ero-sennin tells me to let it go and move on, that you're never coming back, but I can't help but feel different. I have to bring you back. I have to, not only because I promised Sakura-chan, but because I don't feel whole anymore. You were my first real friend, Sasuke. You saw me for me, and not as a monster. You believed -- or doubted, in your book -- in my abilities, you acknowledged me as a person. You and your friendship mean so much to me that, I feel completely lost without you. Everyone tells me that it'll fade, but, the ache in my chest tells me that it won't.

Which is why I can't give up on you!

There is no Sasuke without Naruto, and there is no Naruto without Sasuke.

I hope this letter finds you well, and that Snake-bastard isn't doing anything weird to you, because I'll have to kick his ass if he is!

...Come home and find me soon.

Your best friend,

Naruto

Sasuke-

I finally did it!

I finally achieved my life dream of becoming the Hokage.

The ceremony just ended not twenty minutes ago, and they've already locked me in my office for paperwork. I hate paperwork too. It's a miracle that I even made it this far, I was surprised that the village actually went with the idea of me being the Hokage, since most of them still hate me for holding the Kyuubi inside of me. I'm sorry I haven't written in a while-- and if you never got my other letters, there are six of them, and I have copies, so come visit me if you want to read them-- things have been rather hectic here. Everyone has been wound rather tightly the last few days, with the Tsunade-baa-chan stepping down and me taking over. Formalities are a joke, if I had to do this again, I don't think I would -- the ceremony part, not the position of Hokage.

Although…while we went through the ceremony, I was surprised at something.

I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be. It was so hard for me to smile as I got a remade version of my father’s robes, and turning to the village for the first time as their leader. I could barley do it. Sakura-san said that I looked like I was about to cry. I told her she was full of it, grown men never cry.

I'm crying right now though.

I always had this dream while I was searching for you, that when I was announced as Hokage, you were the Anbu Captain, and together you and I would protect Konoha from the Snake-bastard. I think that's why it was so hard for me to go through today, I really wanted you to be there, even if it was in the distance watching from a tree; but I kept searching for you and you never came.

Heh.

You'd think I'd be used to that by now.

It's been almost 5 years, you're eighteen now, I'm still seventeen. You'd think I would learn to grow up and let things go, but I can't. I miss hearing your voice, I miss seeing you, I miss feeling your presence around me during a fight, and knowing that my back is covered.

I'm sorry if that was a bit direct, I haven't been myself lately. Sakura-san keeps trying to put me on some weird experimental anti-depressant, but I just keep feeding it to Akamaru or Kiba when they aren't looking. She also took my Sake, so now I can't sleep. I know I'm suffering from depression, it's obvious to anyone who looks at me, but I already know the cause of it, and can't really do anything about it, since I don't know where you are.

I've given up trying to express how much I want you to come home and we can have things go back to normal, but...at this point I have to be realistic.

But, God, what I wouldn't give just to talk to you once more…to walk with you through the woods, or fight together and not against each other.

This'll be my last letter, I know I can't change your mind and force you to come back here anymore. I have to let it go...but, Sasuke, you have to understand that I don't want to do this; I want to hold on to that little bit of hope that's left in me, but I can't. I can't be selfish anymore; I have a village to guide. I just wish you were here to help me, I don't know what I'm doing…you were always the calm, political one, the brains and the brawn, and I was just the noisy distraction.

I hope this letter finds you well, and that somewhere inside you, you're a little proud of me.

If you ever decide to come home, find me, please.

Your best friend, and Hokage,

Uzumaki Naruto, Rokudaime

Sasuke had finished the letters, placing them on the desk and just sitting there in silence -- digesting the words.

There was a light smile on his face, his dark eyes softened…memories popping back in his head, urging away the shadows.

Naruto...

You dumb ass...

He ran a hand through his hair, smirking to the quiet room… Why couldn't the kitsune just forget? And why couldn't Sasuke let his heart die?

They were both fools.

He slowly got up out of his seat, walking out of the room and down the hall to the garden where the fox had retreated to. He stood in the doorway, just watching Naruto's back. He let out a sigh, glancing up to the sky, it was splashed pink, orange, and purple, the sun was setting.

He swallowed thickly, the medication was putting a cold sweat on his skin -- he should really lay down soon, he was barely awake right now, but he was forcing himself to be. "Naruto." He murmured, hoping he had the fox's attention, even though Naruto didn't turn.

His dark eyes watched the kit's back, silently shutting the screen and stepping further into the garden, but still keeping his distance. "I would never have thought you would make it to Hokage." He said after a moment, a soft smirk on his lips, his dark eyes a little hazy. "I'm…surprised." He paused, "...and proud."

"I know…I'm not what you were hoping to find." He said after a moment, "I know…I'm not the same person you remember. But you are everything I remember." Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep a hand on his thoughts but they were loose -- scattered, and the dozing drugs were making it harder and harder to keep focused. "..Naruto…you…kept the last piece of me alive, all these years."

"I'm not…good at talking like this. I haven't..." He laughed quietly to himself, the tone so silent it was barely heard -- more like a snort. "I hadn't thought… I would ever... really see you again. I thought I could take my revenge, take out Konoha…and never see you again and I could…finally let my heart die."

"God Naruto -- I don't even know what I'm saying…" He laughed again, a little louder, turning his head from the fox, hiding in his hair. "This is stupid..."

Naruto listened to Sasuke's words, his eyes still down on the frog that was resting in his lap, his fingers resting in the water, where the koi would brush up against them.

He felt his chest tighten and tears start to pool in his eyes.

Sasuke was proud of him.

Gently scooting the frog off of him, Naruto turned in his seat and looked up at Sasuke's back before he got up and walked over to the man. Without warning, or thinking, the fox wrapped his strong, tanned arms around the Uchiha's chest, and press his face to the back of Sasuke's neck, in an effort to hide his tears. Small hiccups escaped him as he held on to the dark man tightly.

Sasuke held on to him, he had kept Sasuke alive and going.

"God Sasuke..." The fox hiccupped, "I missed you too." He smiled slightly, trying to hold back the sob he felt in his chest.

Sasuke closed his eyes, limp in Naruto's arms -- feeling the heat and strength of the other man as he held him. He felt the kit's breath on his neck, the sensation almost... relaxing.

"Are you crying?" Sasuke asked, his voice soft, "How old are you again Hokage-sama?" But Sasuke's heart was constricted as well, enjoying the feeling of Naruto's arms around him -- enjoying the feeling of being human and not the dark monster he had become. Silently, Sasuke raised his hands, resting them on the kit's forearms, standing like that, just wrapped up in Naruto's essence.

"I'm not crying!" The fox buried his face more into Sasuke's neck, trying to hide the truth, but he knew he had been caught. He couldn't hide anything from Sasuke, but these weren't tears of sadness, they were tears of joy. Happiness because Sasuke had needed Naruto just as much as Naruto needed Sasuke.

The fox's heart seemed to grow wings as Sasuke rested his own hands against the fox's forearm, his own version of a hug. He was finally getting through to the Uchiha. Giving the man a gentle squeeze, Naruto sniffed slightly, and rested his chin on the strong shoulder. "..This isn't stupid, not anymore."

"Mm." Behind his eyes began to pulse, and the sweat on his forehead finally fell down his temple. It was hard to focus, he kept blinking but the world just wouldn't stop being fuzzy.

"Naruto…" He said after a long moment, his body feeling weak -- his muscles like mush; he felt like he was falling. "Something’s...wrong..."

The world began to swim..

How many pills had he taken?

What the hell were those?

"Naruto..."

He saw the bright colored spot…getting smaller and smaller.

Naruto felt Sasuke's body giving out on him before the words left the Uchiha's mouth.

"Sasu-Sasuke!" Naruto tightened his arms over the limp body and adjusted his arms so one looped under Sasuke's back, his fingers went to the man's throat, feeling for a pulse, and getting a sluggish beat in return.

"Shit!"

Looping one of Sasuke's limp arms around his own neck, the fox reached down and lifted Sasuke’s legs into his arm and started back to the house.

What was happening?

He was well within the 35 feet boundary, and the chakra seals didn't take that much chakra.

Being careful to stay off the moss covered ground, the fox walked briskly across the yard and up the stone stairs to the wooden porch. Pushing the sliding door open with his shoulder, the fox walked into the living room and gently knelt down next to the couch, and eased Sasuke onto it.

Jogging back into the kitchen he reached for the phone, and quickly dialed up Tsunade and Sakura, while grabbing a wash cloth, and a bowl of cold water. He was finished with the quick phone calls before leaving the room. Carefully setting the bowl down, he reached up and pulled the blanket, which rested on the back of the couch, down and spread it out over Sasuke's body, tucking the corners in to keep the man's body warm. Ringing the cloth out he folded it into halves before gently dabbing that the sweaty face.

"C'mon, wake up!"

Sasuke's mouth was dry, his eyes half-open, his heartbeat was a sluggish pulse in the back of his mind. He could hear the fox -- but at the same time, he couldn't. It sounded so distant; he felt so fuzzy.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

He was getting scared…

…scared of this weird whatever it was.

It had to be from the stupid pills -- he should have read the bottle before he downed them. He had been too scared of his eyes, he wanted so badly to keep the familiarity Naruto and he were creating -- to the point where he apparently poisoned himself.

Damn it…

God…

Everything felt heavy…

…everything was just a fuzzy bright smudge.

"..Naru...to..." He tried to keep himself conscious, but it was getting so damn hard. His black eyes were rimming with red the sharingan attempting to cut through the drug-induced barrier -- through the chakra shields, attempting to save the weakened body. The red swirled in the darkness of his eyes, control being fought over -- the numbing drugs were powerful, as were the shields but Sasuke's will was trying to win, to stay awake, to stay alive.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, wracking his brain with what could have caused this. Did the doctors lace the pills with something now?

The pills..

Looking back to the kitchen he caught sight of the pill bottle on the table, and not the counter.

"Sasuke." Naruto gave the man a gentle shake, "Look at me." The fox commanded, his voice serious, "How many pills did you take?"

He watched the beginnings of the sharingan start to bleed through the blackness of Sasuke's eyes and pursed his lips, "Sasuke, how many did you take?"

"I.." Sasuke's voice was weak, the red receded as the black fought for control -- fighting to keep a hold of his bright orange spot; his warm sun in the cold dark of his soul. "..I..a..few?"

He swallowed, his throat feeling on fire, his eyes so heavy…he couldn't move…he felt paralyzed. "…Four..? Maybe..." He trailed; sweat breaking on his skin, barely feeling Naruto's hands on his shoulders.

Naruto cursed once more, and rested the cloth on the Uchiha's forehead before he pushed himself up from the couch and moved back to the kitchen. Reading the label he saw that Sasuke was only supposed to take one, and there were thirty in the bottle. All but ripping the cap off, the fox spilled its contents over the table, and quickly counted twenty-four pills, which mean that six were missing.

His eyes widened, "Sasuke you idiot."

Reaching back for the phone he called Sakura once more, "I need Ipecac now!" He ordered moving back to the living room. He needed to get Sasuke into the bathroom, where the man would be spending most of the next day in.

"What? Naruto, are you crazy? I can't bri-"

"There are six pills missing, Sakura. He's starting to fall unconscious."

The fox felt his heart stop as Sakura paused, why was she hesitating?

"…I'll be there in 10 minutes."

Hanging up the phone, the fox looked back at Sasuke.

"C'mon, you need to get up. You can't sleep yet." Working the limp body up, the fox all but manhandled Sasuke into a precarious standing position. "You need to wake up more, c'mon."

Sasuke's dark eyes blinked over and over trying so hard to keep them open. He felt so weak…he couldn't feel his legs…he couldn't even hear his heart anymore.

This…was the end…wasn't it?

Sasuke smirked, licking his dry lips as Naruto tried his best to move him…feeling his attempts, his body not reacting at all…like a huge limp doll in Naruto's strong, comforting arms.

Uchiha Sasuke -- overdose, the end of the horrible monster.

How anti-climatic.

"Naruto..." He murmured, his eyes closing, his body falling against the kit's -- his breathing slow almost non-existent. "I'm...glad…you're here..." He said softly, feeling his mind slipping further and further from him -- consciousness nearly fading with each heavy breath.

"No!" Naruto cried out, his mind was frantic as Sasuke started to slip more and more from him.

The weight of Sasuke going almost completely limp in his arms forced the fox to lay the man down on the floor once more.

"Sasuke, don't quit on me, please! Don't do this!" He felt for the weak pulse and listened to the struggled breathing.

"Don't leave me, please." He rested one hand on Sasuke's cold cheek, his bright eyes frightened, tears, once more coming to his eyes.

To have come so far to get his best friend back, only to loose him once more.

"C'mon, bastard, fight this." He looked at the clock.

Eight more minutes until Sakura came.

"Please, please don't leave me." His voice was shaky at best, a single tear dripping out of his eyes and on to Sasuke's cheek.

Sasuke was on the floor, he could feel the cold wood under his body...he could feel Naruto's warmth near him...everything felt dream-like and far-away.

He could hear Naruto's words, like a voice calling to him from under water. He felt the tears, warm and thick land on his cheeks.. coming from above.. coming from Naruto.

Naruto was crying?

For him?

A soft.. distant smile was on Sasuke's lips.. actually looking serene. He couldn't open his eyes.. he had no strength left..

Darkness was sweeping through his mind, blacking out his bright orange spot..

Naruto...

He had wanted to say so much to him...

And.. it was all over now..

Sasuke fell to the unconsciousness, unable to hold himself above the current -- his breathing evening out.. his heart a slow uneven beat under Naruto's fingers.

A/N:

Sasuke goes unconscious quite a bit I noticed. Well, if you guys have came this far then you like the story yes? Please tell us what you think and the next chapter will be coming out soon. Next chapter gets a bit steamy; I hope you enjoy it!

Foolish Hearts Chapter 4

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:26:58 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Four’

It had been a long two weeks of recovery.

Naruto of course healed before Sasuke did, as Sasuke was mainly kept under watch because of his unstable mind. The drugs seemed like the only thing to keep his power at bay most of the time it worked, but when Naruto wasn't around even his drugged mind let the eyes leak through on occasion; There had been a lot of traumatized nurses.

At the moment however Sasuke was propped up on his pillows, not rigged to machines the bandages gone. -- He was just clad in a hospital gown, chained to the bed like a mental patient. His eyes were rimmed red, a scowl on his face as he flexed against his bindings. He didn't like being cooped up here, he felt like he was in a cage, he almost wanted to let his eyes loose, to allow himself to go nuts, forget where he was.

...then the door opened.

It was Naruto.

His scowl receded to a curious frown, his dark eyes calculating the kitsune as he came in with a smile, wearing his custom robes.

"What now?"

There had been debates thus far, where he was going to stay after they let him leave the hospital. People were concerned with letting him 'off the leash' as it were, they were even afraid to put him in a cell, just in case it might not be enough.

So where did they decide to put him?

"I just got out of the first of many trials." The fox answered sitting on Sasuke's bed, right next to the man's hip. "They were discussing on where you were supposed to be staying."

Sighing, he rubbed his eyes once more; he was tired, worn out by all the talking and reports, "They agreed to one thing and one thing only."

"Which was?" His dark eyes looked to the fox, his head tilting in curious fashion noticing how tired the kit really looked. He licked his lips a little nervous almost not wanting to know.

What if he was put in jail?

...he wouldn't like to be there.

"It's an insanely strict house arrest." The kit started, he had fought the council for hours about this. "You'll have seals put on you to keep you're chakra in check, you will have no access to it." He sighed, "The house you're staying at will have Anbu guards stationed around it, and a blood-binding jutsu that'll keep you in the house." He paused looking back at the man, trying to gauge how insane he was at the moment.

"They also insisted that someone stay with you at all times to monitor you and your behavior. They're to give weekly repots on your progress and after we get your mind to a more stable level, then we'll have a final court date."

He had fought the court for hours to get that much for the man. They wanted to throw him into the jail and leave him. Naruto had proposed that Sasuke could easily break out of the jail, and therefore deemed a house arrest more appropriate.

Sasuke's eyes bled a little more red at the news. A slight twisted scowl on his face, but he fought to control himself. "Rather elaborate." He murmured his voice a little deeper than usual but sanity was still in his eyes, the obsidian weighing out the red.

"So who is this ninja that gets to babysit me?" He almost scoffed at it, that powerful piece of him found all of it insulting -- Why should he put himself through this?

Once un-cuffed he should just finish Naruto off, leave, and regroup.

But Sasuke repressed that mind set, smashing it down into the void of himself with an angry frown, a light growl in his throat from his own thoughts almost fighting with himself a moment.

"See that’s where things got complicated."

Naruto paused a moment, almost trying to catch his thoughts.

"The council wanted some Anbu to do it. I said that it wouldn't work, you'd just find a way to kill them, they needed someone at a higher level." He shook his head looking away again.

"So the council turned around and appointed me your baby-sitter, as you put it."

His eyes flashed black in that moment; really hearing what Naruto just said.

His dark side had been smashed into the wall of his conscious, and suddenly he felt nervous again.

Naruto?

...around him all the time?

Every day?

Sasuke swallowed thickly… what if... what if he couldn't control himself? He looked away, "What about… your job?" He asked, a little quieter than usual.

"That's exactly what I said." The kit replied, a frustrated tone in his voice.

"They said they'd have an Anbu deliver the paperwork and meeting would take place through a kage bushin." The kit pouted and let out a long sigh.

Rubbing his eyes he looked back at Sasuke, "I'm sorry, I couldn't get out of it, I tried getting them to reconsider Kakashi, but he left the squad two years ago, they thought he wouldn't be sharp enough to handle you. Sakura is just a medic Nin, don't get me wrong she's brilliant, but they said she wouldn't be able to handle you mentally or physically. So they told me it was my responsibility and I was the only one who could do it."

Sasuke tried not to really react to it. Tried not to think about it, "You look tired."

...it was enough that Naruto had even put so much effort into getting him this special treatment. He didn't deserve any more of Naruto's kindness.

Naruto's weight was still on the bed, sagging at his hip. His hip against the fox, feeling the heat of the other man through the blankets. His black eyes distant as he stared off anywhere but at Naruto, "When are they going to move me?"

"This afternoon after the Anbu get the seals in place."

Naruto answered, ignoring the tired comment. He knew he looked tired, but he couldn't do anything about it.

He was unsure of how this would work out; his house was smaller than anything Sasuke was used to. It was a three bedroom house, Kiba and Shikamaru had lived with him before he became Hokage and the other two decided to move out and move in with Hinata and Ino. It would be enough for he and Sasuke, but the fox was unsure how Sasuke would handle it.

There weren't very many places to hide.

"Afternoon?" Sasuke repeated, not expecting a response. His dark eyes drifted to the windows, taking note of the light.

A few hours maybe then… or less.

Quietly his black eyes settled back on the fox, taking in the man before him, watching him silently for a long minute. "How do you feel about all this?" He asked, his dark eyes sincerely wondering.

"Hm?" The kitsune blinked and looked back at Sasuke, "How do I feel?" He tilted his head slightly thinking, it had been a while since someone asked him to convey his feelings on the matter, and not his political opinion. "I'm alright with it." He answered.

Naruto just observed Sasuke a long moment.

"In fact, I'm really glad they chose me. I missed my bastard." He gave the Uchiha a wink.

Sasuke's cheeks tinged pink; he kicked at Naruto with his knee -- since his leg was still bound by the ankle. "Stop it..." He grumbled, his black eyes still on the fox, trying to ignore how Naruto's playfulness made his stomach flutter.

...stupid fox.

He made him feel so different, always.

"Will you let me read the letters?" He asked after a moment, "When we get there?"

Naruto nodded a small, almost bashful smile on his face. "Yeah, when we get back to the house, I'll let you read the letters." He wasn't going to keep them from Sasuke, they belonged to him, and he wanted the Uchiha to read them.

Sasuke was curious about Naruto’s little smile.

It almost made him want to smile back.

Almost.

He swallowed thickly and turned his eyes away almost in a nervous fashion. The medication button was in his left hand, and he had pushed it... twice, to keep his mind stable, to let himself really see the emotion in Naruto's eyes..

...to keep the murderous intent at bay.

His eyes felt heavy, but he blinked the sleep away, leaning heavily into his pillows, "I'm glad it's you." He said, almost so soft Naruto would barely hear it, "...it's you that'll be with me."

Naruto shifted on the bed and moved so he was stretching slightly across the Uchiha, one hand on the other side of the man's hip. "So am I." The fox replied his voice soft once more. "The house has been rather lonely since the others left; I think it'll be happy to have a new guest." He watched the sanity come back to Sasuke's eyes completely and smiled, "One of these day's I'm going to have to take that away from you."

Sasuke smirked a little, "That day won't be today." He said evenly, having barely kept his mind sane even with the help of drugs. He shifted a little, aware of the kit over him, aware of how close Naruto seemed to him, and how strange it made him feel.

"You can.." He cleared his throat, "Lay down if you want… you do look tired." He said after a moment, avoiding the kit's eyes, looking once again out the window.

Naruto couldn't keep the shock out of his eyes at the invitation.

Did Sasuke just--?

He really shouldn't -- he had to go back to the office and get things ready to be sent out and--

...Bed sounded really good though.

Looking back at Sasuke, the fox sighed and nodded slowly, "Alright."

Slowly, Naruto drew himself up into the bed, and laid down on his side. He pillowed his head with his arm, and tried to keep himself as compact as he could without being awkward. Letting out a long sigh he closed his eyes, "...Thank you."

Sasuke turned his head, looking to the kitsune just watching as Naruto drifted off to sleep.

So vulnerable...so trusting.

His arms were still chained, as his legs, but if they weren't…

Sasuke had wanted to touch the fox, to feel his skin, to know he was really here right now and not just some dream. His dark eyes were determined, just watching for god knows how long until he too let himself fall to the drug induced fatigue. His head rolled limp, forehead to forehead with the fox, their breath mingling as they slept.

A few hours passed the two by no one had come in to bother them.

Naruto felt himself being shaken by a nurse as they started to get Sasuke ready to leave the hospital. Blinking his eyes open, he came face to face with the unconscious Sasuke. Naruto smiled a little; he could definitely get used to this.

Slowly pushing himself up, he slid off the bed and watched as chakra seals were written in black in around Sasuke's wrists, ankles, and neck. They looked more like exotic tattoos than seals. Naruto watched as a man opened up the Chinese style shirt, and dipped the calligraphy pen in ink once more before he started writing quickly. Naruto tilted his head, what was he doing? The words weren't sinking into the fox's mind, still too sleepy to comprehend them; he watched as the words started to form a form a spiral getting smaller and smaller as it neared Sasuke's heart.

Wait a minute…

They weren't suppose to be usi--

"Who ordered for that seal to be used?" Naruto grabbed the man's hand, holding him deathly still, "Who ordered this?" The fox's eyes blazed, he had not ordered for this, this had not been approved at the meetings!

"The council, Hokage-sama."

Naruto narrowed his eyes and let the man finish his work -- it couldn't be reversed, not yet. "Damn them!" He cursed, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyebrows pinching together in anger.

The seal was stronger than the blood-binding jutsu that was placed on Naruto's house. It was a fatal jutsu, one that would kill Sasuke instantly if he stepped outside the bounds of the concealment's range. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't reverse the jutsu, only the writer.

Watching the people finish up, he followed them as they started to move the unconscious Sasuke out of the room. He'd have to talk to the council later, he couldn't have them going behind his back and ordering things like this, it was dangerous.

A/N:

Next chapter they’re in Naruto’s home! Finally out of the hospital, so the story is progressing nicely. Thanks for all the lovely reviews so far, continue to support us and we’ll try and get another chapter soon. Thanks!

Foolish Hearts Chapter 3

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:26:24 GMT

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Three’

Kakashi had taken watch over the two men, checking their vitals through the night, making sure nothing dramatic happened. Naruto’s fever was going down, and Sasuke didn’t seem to be thrashing as much.

Kakashi was aware of the chakra signatures behind the door, not caring to turn around as he heard the door click open.

“Sakura. Tsunade.” The jounin murmured without even turning around.

Tsunade's arms were over her chest, her gold eyes taking in the sight before her. One side was Naruto, one side was Sasuke. She took in a deep breath, running a hand through her hair, "Kakashi… what's going on?"

She knew bits and pieces from Sakura, from the villagers, but truly... what was going on?

Sakura had been at the bridge when the battle took place, the girl had even helped take her two former comrades to the hospital. But, beyond that Tsunade was a little clueless on the whole matter.

Was Sasuke really nuts? Why did he come here? So many questions were behind her eyes.

Sakura had immediately run to Naruto's bed, looking at his face, then down his body at his wounds. Concern was in her green eyes for this man, and across the way -- confusion, curiosity and fear shone for the Uchiha who was coated in the darkness of the curtain.

She glanced up as Tsunade took a seat next to Naruto's hospital bed, her back to Sasuke. "Did Sasuke say anything? Why now? Why this?" Tsunade asked, nearly at her wits end. For a year now the path of death had been coming their way, and there was no hope of stopping it.

Sasuke had came upon them so soon.

"He wouldn't explain anything." He started; Sasuke would explain things when he felt it necessary, and not a moment sooner.

Looking back over to the boy Kakashi sighed, "He's lost his mind,"

Walking back over to the Uchiha he gently turned the man slightly, so he wasn't resting so much on his bad shoulder, "I think he wants to fix things, but there's something in his mind stopping him."

"Lost his mind?" Sakura repeated, her green eyes looking off towards the Uchiha -- her small hands finding Naruto's own, holding it -- comforting herself more than the unconscious man.

Tsunade glanced over her shoulder at the Uchiha, "Fix things?" She frowned, "How do you know this? Or is this just what you're hoping?"

Her gold eyes followed Kakashi's gentle movements, "Kakashi... he was your student, but he isn't any longer. He made his choices, and murder and torture will not be forgiven just because he has a change of heart after all these years." Her voice was hard, firm.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the words, "Maybe for you." He started, keeping a protective stance over the Uchiha. "Sasuke's never been mentally stable, I can mentally prove that." He took a step towards the Godaime, "We can save him."

"Save him?" Tsunade scoffed, though the unwavering look in Kakashi's eye stopped her from going any further. She turned from the man, resting a hand on her head, her gold eyes on the fox.

She paused, not looking directly at the other man. "Kakashi don't look for light in a void." She murmured, "You'll just lose your own mind in the process."

She let the silence fall a moment before she changed the subject, "Is Naruto stable, no lasting damage?"

"Mild poison, but he's going to be fine." He answered, not letting Tsunade move towards Sasuke. He watched as Sakura moved the sheet to examine the wound and looked back at Tsunade, reaching into his pocket he grabbed the recorder and held it out to the woman, "Just listen to this."

Moving to sit at the edge of Sasuke's bed, he tilted his head slightly, "He can and wants to be saved."

Tsunade let out a breath as the recording finished.

Up and down.

Sasuke's mood was swinging, his words were different one moment and another a next. She held her head in her hands, the last haunting words sauntering through her head. "…Kakashi…" She mumbled, "How do you propose we save him then?"

Sakura was quiet, Sasuke's dark voice hurting her conscious. She kept her eyes forward, on the unconscious Uchiha… what happened to him?

To her...Sasuke?

Tsunade got out of her seat, turning to the silver-haired man, keeping her distance -- Kakashi looked like he was a mother hen guarding her chick. Not a good thing; especially given Sasuke's mental state on top of his crimes.

"We need Naruto." Kakashi slowly turned his dark eye towards the unconscious fox, watching the gentle rise and fall of the fox's chest. "Until then, I'll keep watch and charge over Sasuke."

"That's for Naruto to decide." Tsunade narrowed her own, golden cat eyes.

Kakashi nodded his head and looked back to Naruto and Sakura.

Sasuke had opened his eyes; they were pure black, shining like obsidian.

He took in his surroundings, the light bleeding in through the windows, hinting at early morning. He took in the sight of Kakashi slumped in the chair between Naruto and him and finally he took in the sight of the sleeping fox, watching his chest rise and fall. The hint of numbing still an itch in his brain, allowing his dark eyes to have control for a fleeting moment.

Sasuke continued to stare at the fox, an unknown expression on his face, his black eyes soft. "Naruto…" He murmured to himself, raising a shackled hand, setting it on the bar, as if he were trying to touch the fox.

...he was in control, for this sparing moment.

The fox slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the bland ceiling. He was comfortably numb at the moment, the pain from the wound not bothering him for once.

Turning his head he found Kakashi slumped in the chair, his legs pillowed on the table in the middle of the room, his strong arms crossed over his chest. Looking further into the room, he caught sight of Sasuke's eyes on him.

"Sasuke..." He breathed out, his mind in a little more control than he had been the night before, his conscious not so much affected by the medication now.

Sasuke just watched the fox, unsure what he had wanted to say now that he caught Naruto's attention. After a moment his black eyes fell, he was still turned towards the fox, but silence settled in on him. He was holding on to that itch in his brain, keeping his mind straight, trying to ignore the biting pulse behind his eyes.

Naruto watched as the man turned away from him, his eyes now downcast. He seemed to be struggling, but it was hard to tell with what -- there had been a point in time where he could read and understand Sasuke, but now it seemed that he had a better chance at reading a rock instead of Sasuke.

Yesterday the Uchiha seemed so full of hatred, and anger...

"You didn't know I was the Hokage," Naruto murmured, his voice almost a whisper, "Did you?"

Sasuke's palms were sweating -- nervous, he was getting nervous.

It had been so long since he had really seen Naruto, been around him, remembered him.

Yesterday he had almost killed him.

"No." Sasuke said, equally soft, "I didn't."

The fox sighed, and closed his eyes, "I thought so..." He smiled gently, turning so he was looking back at the ceiling once more. "I tried my best to get a hold of you." He started, shifting on the mattress, "I went," He paused, "To the Hokage monument, and let the wind take the letters." He stopped, looking back to Sasuke, "I thought that maybe you'd get at least one."

Sasuke wasn't exactly insane, per say.

Power.

Power is what was coursing through him constantly, an unbidden power that was birthed from his blood line's eyes -- and furthered his destruction of his mind from its horrid power. Sasuke's mind was weak, he couldn't fathom or control the essence that his eyes gave him -- the blood lust, the need for constant movement, constant fighting. He could see, see everything -- feel no pain, and his energy was just immense.

It made him crazy with need -- with a desperate want for control, to try and expel all this energy and power to try and gain back what the eyes were taking from him.

There wasn't two beings inside of Sasuke.

Just Sasuke's hideous goals and Sasuke's misplaced dreams.

If he could control his eyes, he could control himself.

But, even right now he was losing that control. His dark eyes were rimmed with red, the itch of medication filtering out of his system and a raw power started crawling up his limbs, making his body begin to tense.

Sasuke tried to hold onto Naruto's words, sweeping his eyes back to the fox, trying hard to remain focused, to ignore the surging energy. "The wind?" Sasuke tried not to care that his heart flipped from Naruto's words. It was nice, knowing Naruto did miss him, or had missed him.

Sasuke was quiet a moment, feeling the dark eyes attempting to activate, the red trying to swallow the black. "…what did the letters say?" He asked after a moment, focusing on the fox with all the will he had.

Hearing a tense note in Sasuke's voice the fox opened is eyes and looked over to the man, catching the tint of red in the eyes. "I have copies." He stopped for a moment and let out a small laugh, "Truthfully, I went out to every important place between you and me and let a letter go." He said, "The Bridge, the Tea County..." He closed his eyes.

"I got each one back after a few years; but I still have them, each one was a bit different." He moved slightly, the medication starting to wear off on him as well.

Silence.

Naruto cleared his throat, "I have them hidden in my office if you want to read them."

Naruto…

Naruto's eyes were so bright blue, so kind.

Sasuke's body was tense, his head was starting to hurt, but he tried to ignore it. It was strange how Naruto could always be so calm, so accepting. He had almost killed him and he was talking of their past, of letters he shouldn't have cared to send to a mad man such as him.

Sasuke's breathing was uneven, his eyes a muddy color of red and black, niether in control. His hands clenched, nails biting into his palms -- good, he could still feel pain, he was still himself.

"Sure.." He said, his tone strained, his eyes swept over the room noticing the medication button in Kakashi's hand. More numbing could keep the power at bay but he couldn't reach it, Kakashi was too far from him, and Sasuke was a little tied up as it were. "I'd like to read them." He finished, a little breathless -- his mind really starting to pulse, to hurt.

Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion.

What was wrong with the Uchiha?

Why was he looking at Kakashi like that?

"Are you okay?" The fox asked concern in his voice and eyes.

Sasuke wanted to lie, say he was fine.

But…

God, his head felt like it was going to explode, he couldn't keep control of this energy. It was like trying to bottle a tornado. He leaned back heavily against his pillows, his eyes clenched shut, he could feel the burn in his eyes; the pain in his hands and head started to recede.

"No." Sasuke said softly, "I'm not… okay." He ended in a frustrated growl -- what the hell was so wrong with him? His stupid god damned eyes!

Naruto's eyes widened slightly, he needed to get Kakashi's attention. Forcing himself to sit up, he let out a sharp gasp, holding the wound. Reaching behind him, he groped for the pillow, and gripped it tightly. Drawing in a deep breath, he threw the pillow over at Kakashi, hitting the man in the chest. The momentum from the throw took the fox over the side of the bed, a yell escaping him, as the IV came out and he landed on his wounded side.

Kakashi jumped a kunai in his hand instantly. He blinked in confusion looking down to the curled up fox, and the pillow.

"What are you doi-"

"Help...him." Naruto slowly curled his hand, pointing to Sasuke.

Sasuke's blood colored eyes glared at Kakashi, his mouth a frown -- though his brow was furrowed, Sasuke was trying his hardest to be in control.

But...

It hurt so much, trying to push the power out of him -- it wouldn't hurt at all if he just let it happen.

...but he couldn't be weak.

Naruto had been talking to him, looking at him with those eyes…

Fuck!

His brain felt like it was spasming, he was having trouble breathing, he wanted so badly to just give in -- "P-push the button!" He growled, his voice deep, haggard.

Kakashi blinked unsure of what was really going on.

Naruto was on the floor and Sasuke was asking for pain medication.

Seeing the taut look on Sasuke's face, Kakashi quickly reached for the button and pressed it once, hoping it would be enough. Moving he knelt down next to the Hokage, he rested his hands on the man's shoulder, keeping him still.

"What is going on?"

Sasuke was still a good five minutes or more.

Just letting the numbing drug course through him before he actually took a good long breath. Slowly but surely his eyes turned black and his body lost it's tense pain. Slowly he rolled on his side, a mild pain still pulsing in his head as his dark eyes looked over to Kakashi and Naruto.

Kakashi had gotten Naruto back on the bed, but still looked confused.

At least the medication would help -- for now, until they shoved him in a cell. Leaning over the rail, Sasuke looked like a lazy cat, drunk from medication and pain. "…it's...hard to control." He admitted, finally hinting at his issue, his black eyes catching sight of bright blue a strange slack expression on the Uchiha's face not an impassive mask, allowing Naruto to really see him, for the first time in years.

The fox looked over to the man, really seeing him. Seeing the worn out emotion, and exhaustion from trying to control his blood line. The haggard look in his eyes that wanted to be done, but couldn't.

"Your eyes?" The fox asked, his head tilted slightly.

How could he control it? How could he help Sasuke control it?

"How did it get so out of control?"

“It…started with Orochimaru," But Naruto already knew that chapter of his life, knew of that chaos when Sasuke first turned on the kit.

Sasuke closed his eyes, his cheek against the cool metal of the rail, his arms lazily slack over the side the chains a faint sound in the background of blips and beeps. "But I just kept getting stronger, my eyes kept getting better and better."

"I…killed Itachi." He was scattered, his past bits and pieces of sanity. "I found out things I didn't know… It was like... like, my eyes are all the evils in me." His voice was quiet, strained.

He slowly opened his eyes, black as the cool night, letting the fox see into his broken soul. "…my mind is too weak, and their power is... too strong." He let out a sigh, closing his eyes again, hiding this time, turning his back on the fox not sure what he was feeling, not sure what he was really trying to say.

Reaching out?

Feeling that self-loathing.

...this was stupid.

They couldn't help him any more than he could help himself.

His eyes were just going to destroy him.

His eyes would fulfill the dark needs in his soul, while his body and mind paid the price.

"Then we help you strengthen your mind." Naruto's answered was quick and simple. His eyes narrowed in a determined manner. He had the look from when he was a kid, the look that said he would never give up. And he would never give up on Sasuke, ever. He'd give his own life before letting someone take Sasuke's.

"Orochimaru didn't care about you." He pointed out, "Itachi didn't care about how his twisted plans affected you." He snarled. "I'm going to fix this, Sasuke. We're going to strengthen your mind."

"What if I kill you Naruto?"

Sasuke's voice was quiet, his dark eyes staring at a point on the opposite wall, his broad back to the fox -- scars cut into the flesh, some fresh, some old. It had been a long road of death to get here.

"Would you still try to save me when I have a blade to your throat?" His voice was soft, haunted.

Naruto smirked, "As long as the blade is at my throat and not through it." He wanted to get up, but the look on Kakashi's face told him otherwise. "See, if it’s just at my throat, I can still get away." He continued as if he really needed to elaborate on the subject.

“God Naruto..." Sasuke closed his eyes, a rare faint smile on his lips -- not that the kitsune could see. "..I missed you."

Naruto smiled himself, his eyes sparkling. "I missed you too." The kit wanted to reach out and touch the other man, but knew he couldn't reach. "We'll get you through this."

Tsunade was at the door, she had been listening to most of the exchange between them. She sighed, feeling a headache coming on. Naruto's heart was just too damn soft. Sure, Sasuke had once belonged to this village; but that was years ago, and any ties now were broken, his slashed headband told the world that. Naruto was trying to save something that didn't want to be saved. Deep down Sasuke enjoyed his power, otherwise why didn't he stop his murders long before now?

She didn't buy it. She didn’t buy any of it.

Quietly she pushed the door open, gold eyes looking to Kakashi and Naruto, avoiding Sasuke.

Her heels clicked on the white tiles as she slammed the thick folder on the table next to the silver-haired man. "Crime reports." She said evenly, "All of Sasuke's crimes are listed right there, including the murders on the bridge, and the attempted murder of our Hokage-sama."

"When he's well," Her tone was hard, her eyes sweeping across all of them, "He's going to be put on trial, and from there we'll see what happens."

She'd be amazed if Sasuke didn't get sent to death.

She wasn't being cruel.

She took a seat by Naruto's bed, ignoring Kakashi's unwavering gaze. "Kakashi, its facts. You can't stand here and protect him; you can't just ignore what he's done." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, she had a protective side as well -- but her side fell to Naruto, to the bright child she helped and watched grow. Sasuke was just a loose cannon, a broken man with a mind for only killing. The reports she had read, typed up, were disturbing even to her as a high ranked ninja.

He used torture, had killed countless unarmed civilians, destroyed whole families and towns just to get here -- to get his misplaced revenge.

Tsunade did not pity that monster.

Sasuke was hearing everything, but he didn't respond to a word of it.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

He loved Tsunade, he did. She had helped him gain his childhood dream, but she didn't have the heart he possessed. "My word is the only word that court will be listening to." He growled.

Kakashi looked back and forth between the file and Naruto, before his gaze drifted over to Sasuke.

"My word is the one they'll have to listen to." The fox snapped. "I am the only one who can protect him Tsunade."

The blonde woman's eyes widened. She wasn't used to Naruto snapping at her, "You can't protect hi-"

"I can and I will!" The fox yelled, "I'll die before I see him behind bars!"

"Naruto!" It hurt, to see the fox so mad at her.

But...

He couldn't do this.

She had seen what happened when Sasuke left; how sad Naruto had become, his smiles had been rare, he usually just locked himself in his tower, away from everyone. Finally Naruto had started getting back to normal again, and then Sasuke shows up, and throws that thorn right back into Naruto's side.

"Naruto, you have to see this for what it is. You are the Hokage-sama, but will you risk your entire village on a chance?" She said softly, her gold eyes looking at Naruto's determined blue ones. "What if this is all a sham?" She didn't care that Sasuke was there, that he could hear her.

"You don't know him like I do." Naruto shook his head at her words. "You don't understand what we went through together." He glanced at Sasuke, doubt starting to enter his mind.

Was it as sham?

"The only thing I risk is myself."

Sasuke closed his eyes; his body had been so still he would have been mistaken for sleeping -- especially through all these words. Sasuke had logged Naruto's words into his lost heart and if he could help it, if he could control it, he would not hurt his kitsune again.

Tsunade was quiet, her head bowed, her gold eyes turning to Kakashi knowing she would get no support from him, and no other response out of Naruto. "…whatever you say Hokage-sama."

A/N:

Another chapter done! So happy for all the reviews we have so far, I’m glad you all like it. Please send us some more feed back!

Our Little Lights Chapter 4

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:25:35 GMT

AN: Well I have my own place now. Lives been crazy, classes are starting again, so now I have some time to be alone and work! Yeay!

~*~*~*

Five months later..

~*~*~*~

“Hil! Let’s go, they ain’t gonna hold the shuttle for ya!” Duo yelled back through the front door. He had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder, the keys for the SUV were looped in his fingers. His long braid was hanging over his opposite shoulder, and partly hidden by the leather jacket.

Heero looked up slightly, his cell phone pillowed between his ear and shoulder. His hands were full of a squirming Hikaru, who was determined to make his diaper change as difficult as he could. “Weren’t you leaving 10 minutes ago?” He asked, sounding as if he truly didn’t care.

“So did I, man.” The American replied in a grumbling tone. Pushing off the door frame, he stared back into the house, “Hil! C’mon, Babe. It’s time ta go!”

“Hold on! I’ll be right there!”

Her voice sounded rushed. Raising an eyebrow, Duo let out a frustrated sigh and let his duffle bag fall off his shoulder and dropped it to the floor, “Haaaahhggg….” The American grumbled, his naturally raspy voice making it sound like a bear growl than an exasperated sigh. Dropping his head in annoyance, he started up the stairs, “Ya do realize that you’re the one who wanted ta go on this trip, and now ya ain’t --”

“Stop your bitchin’, I’m ready!” The woman glared at her husband as she barreling around the corner and out of their bedroom, her rolling suitcase behind her. Her sharp eyes caught sight of her husbands empty hands, “I’m the one not ready?” She asked, a small smirk on her lips.

“Hey!”

Downstairs, Heero rolled his eyes and continued to change his son. The phone ringing in his ear…

“Hello?” Trowa’s familiar voice came through the receiver.

“Hey, it’s Heero.” The man started, adjusting in his seat to sit up a bit more, holding the phone with one hand, his other resting on Hikaru’s pudgy stomach attempting to keep him still. The boy’s arms were flailing slightly as he tried to wiggle out from under his father’s hand. He cooed softly, reaching for his naked foot, and trying to pull it up to his gummy mouth. Heero knew that it would only be a matter of time before Hikaru’s baby teeth, the primary teeth, as he learned from the internet, started to come in. He sighed slightly, already thinking about would happen when that occurred.

“…Heero?” Trowa’s voice pierce through Heero’s thoughts.

“I need…to ask a favor of you.” Heero started again, he was somewhat distracted from the conversation as his son tried to wiggle away from him and off the table. He watched those little wandering hands carefully.

“…Okay.” The Green eyed man almost sounded reluctant…but then again, Heero didn’t sound so sure himself. Was he hearing a giggling sound in the background?

“I need you to… Hold on.” Heero let go of the phone, pillowing it between his shoulder and his cheek, he needed his other hand.

Hikaru let out a laugh as gripped the paper that was now clenched between his hands, sticking the corner in his mouth, he gnawed on the edge, doing nothing more than drenching the paper with drool.

“Let it go..” Heero started, his voice soft, “don’t eat it.” Carefully getting the paper out of his sons hands, he set it behind him on the couch, so it was well outside the boy’s reach.

“Do I want to know?” Trowa asked, Heero could hear the amusement in the green eyed teen’s voice.

“Look, I need you to baby-sit for me.” Heero blurted out, grabbing the new dipper, already disposing of the old one.

“…Duo getting out of hand again?” Trowa asked, a snicker to his voice.

Heero paused, holding Hikaru’s ankles between his thumb and first finger, and first and second finger. “When did you develop a sense of humor?” He asked a small smile on his own lips. His only answer was a faint breath, that could have passed for a sigh. Heero could imagine Trowa shrugging on the other end, his eyes indifferent. “I was wondering, actually, if you could watch my son.”

“Since when did you have a son?” Trowa asked, genuine curiosity in his voice this time.

“About 6 months ago.” Heero answered, finishing slipping the diaper on to his son, fastening the adhesive strips down. “We found him in one of Dr.J’s abandoned labs. DNA showed he was actually my son.”

Trowa was quiet for a moment, letting the information process, “…Did you find the scientists?” Trowa knew that the original five scientists that had trained them were dead, and had died in the war in A.C. 195.

“No, they fell off the grid.” Heero answered, he started fishing Hikaru’s feet into the light blue onesie. “We’re still looking.”

Again, the 01 pilot could imagine Trowa nodding once in acknowledgement.

“..So when do you need me to come over?”

“Now?” Heero asked, easily picking Heero up, and shifting the boy on to his lap so he could slip his arms into the outfit.

“Now? You sure?”

“Yea, Duo and Hilde are going on vacation and Une scheduled a mission for me at the same time.” He sighed and he finished buttoning up the outfit. The boy would be ready to sleep within a half an hour now..

“Until when?”

“Saturday.” Heero answered, he was holding Hikaru with one arm, while his other gathered up the soiled diaper. He stood easily and started towards the garbage.

“Sure.” Trowa answered easily.

“Thanks,” Heero stepped on the small pedal at the bottom of the stainless steel garbage, and dropped the smelly thing in the garbage. “I owe you.”“It’s fine.” Trowa start, Heero could hear Trowa start to shift around, “Where are you?”“Duo’s house.”

“Give me 20 minutes.” Trowa replied.

“Copy that, 03.”

Sliding his phone shut, Heero set it one the counter and looked down at Hikaru. Easily shifting his son around, he held him up and stared down into the matching Prussian smiled gently, and rubbed the boy’s back, “You’ll be fine..” he started, almost reassuring himself that the boy would be alright.

Duo grumbled as he walked back into the kitchen, “I swear ta God, that women --” the American paused, and started up at Heero and Hikaru, “Ya find someone?” Hikaru let out a giggle and reached an arm out to smiled and reached for the boy, “Hey there!” He easily picked Hikaru out of Heero’s arms, and lifted the boy’s stomach to his lips. Blowing a raspberry against the clothed skin, he laughed as Hikaru let out a loud laugh, his arms and legs wiggling around. Heero smiled gently, “Trowa’s going to be here in 20 minutes.” Easily slipping passed Duo, the Japanese man moved back to the living room to finish cleaning up.

Duo laughed, and moved Hikaru to one arm, the baby propped up against his chest. Scrunching up his face, the American rubbed his nose against Hikaru’s, “Ya here that?” He wiggled his fingers against the boy’s stomach, making him laugh again, “Uncle Tro-Chan’s comin’ ta watch ya!”

Hilde sighed as she walked back into the kitchen, “You ready?”

Duo laughed and started towards the small play pen that they had set up in the living room. “Now,” kneeling down in front of his godson, he gave the boy a ridiculously large smile, “remember, no kegs, strippers, parties, alcoho-”

“DUO!”

Duo jumped and set the a hand on the Hikaru’s head, “Tear up the place, little man! Don’t give Trowa too hard of a time.” Leaning over he placed a kiss on the child’s forehead, “See ya later, little buddy.” Standing, Duo turned and started towards his wife.

Hilde waved over at the boy as Duo passed her.

~*~*~*~*

15 minutes later

~*~*~*~*

Heero looked up from his laptop as he heard a soft knock on the door. Looking over to the play pen, he saw that Hikaru was still fast asleep. Closing the computer lid, he stood and started towards the door.

Trowa easily slipped into the house, nodding over at Heero as he caught sight of the 01 pilot coming to the hallway, “Hey.”

“Thanks for doing this.” Heero started.

“It’s not a problem.” Trowa answered easily. He had filled out since the last time Heero had seen him. The Latin man wasn’t the lanky teen he had been back in the wars. He easily slid off his jacket, and hung it up on the hook.

“He just dropped off,” Heero started, he started to turn back towards the living room, Trowa following quietly behind him.

The 03 pilot easily rolled up the sleeves on his light blue, cotton button up. Sliding his hands into his dark jeans, he licked his dry lips. He had so many questions going through his mind. How had the scientists created Heero’s son? When - How..

He shook his head slightly… too many questions.

Heero had stopped walking, and had sat down in front of the play pin.

Trowa paused and gazed down at the sleeping boy. He was lying on his back, a thumb in his mouth. His dark hair was messy, and out of place, almost looking wind blow, like Heero’s. Crouching down next to the 01 pilot, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked like Heero..

Heero smiled gently as he reached out and brushed the dark hair out of his son’s eyes. Sighing gently he looked over to Trowa, studying the emerald eyes, which were focused on his son. Clearing his throat, he watched as those green orbs flickered over to him, “His name is Hikaru.” He smirked gently, “Your light?”Heero nodded, and returned the smile, “He is..” reaching over he grabbed the blanket and easily slid it over his baby boy.

“He was a month old when you found him?” Trowa asked, moving to sit on the floor next to Heero.

“Duo actually found him.” He admitted, “He and Hilde -”“Say no more.” Trowa laughed quietly. “I know all about Duo and Hilde’s interventions.”

Heero chuckled, and reached behind him for a piece of paper that was a still drying in the corner, “Sorry, ‘Ru got to it when I was talking to you.”Trowa smiled gently as he took the paper, his eyes going over the word. It was a schedule, for Hikaru. Looking down at his watch he found that Hikaru was taking his 3:30 nap.

“Everything’s all set up, you just need to-”“I can handle it.” Trowa interrupted, “I’ve been around Quatre’s sisters and their kids.”

Heero forced out a sigh and nodded. He was starting to have second thoughts about the mission, his eyes lingering on his son.

Trowa set a hand on Heero’s shoulder, “He’ll be fine.”

The Japanese man nodded slowly, “..Okay.” Reaching in for his son, Heero picked him up and easily cradled the boy to his chest. Trowa stood next to him, and followed Heero out of the room. He moved towards Hikaru’s room, and easily set the boy in the crib, lying him on his back. Looking back at Trowa he paused, “Oh, by the way, watched out for his little octopus arms.”

“Octopus arms?” Trowa asked an eyebrow raising.

“It’s what Duo calls them.” Heero answered, a small dusting of pink across his cheeks, “He likes to grab at things that are within reach, so just --”

“Make sure he doesn’t grab something breakable, or something he could put in his mouth, yea, I got it.”

Heero nodded and looked back at his son once more, before starting out of the room.

Trowa was trying to keep himself from laughing. Heero was rather funny to watch. It seemed Heero was having more separation anxiety than his son. Sliding his hands into his pockets, Trowa watched Heero start out of the room. He was a bit antsy, and fidgeting.

“Oh! And he-”

“I’ll call if I something happens.” Trowa reassured reaching out and putting a hand on Heero’s shoulder, “You’re going to be late for your mission.” He reminded.

Heero blinked and looked down at his watch and cursed. Trowa was right. Moving towards his bags, that were sitting in front of the door, he picked up his back pack and duffle bag, “Tro-”

“01,” Trowa started, “You have your mission, I have mine.” He sighed, “I can handle your kid.”

Nodding one last time, he looked down the hall at the open door and then back at Trowa, “Hold the fort.”

Trowa smiled and let out a small laugh, “Copy that..” He leaned against the door frame as Heero stepped out of the house and towards his own car. Trowa’s motorcycle was right next to it, the familiar red painting and black painting standing out against the sun light.

Heero paused as he looked at the bike for a moment, he hadn’t seen that one, looking over his shoulder he caught Trowa’s eye, “You actually got it?”

Trowa’s smile widened as his eyes gazed at his new baby, “Yep.” He answered smoothly, admiring his bike.

Heero shook his head as he opened the door to the car, “You’re going to kill yourself on that thing.” he commented as he tossed his backpack into the car.

“It’s well worth it.” He shrugged.

Heero laughed slightly as he slid into the car and closed the door.

Trowa pushed off the frame and gave Heero a small wave. Heero returned it as he started the car and put it in reverse and started out of the driveway, his mind now refocusing on the mission. Hikaru would be fine with Trowa..

~*~*~*~*~*

AN: Well that only took forever for me to write. Actually it took maybe an hour or so, with all the baby research I was doing on the side. *praises WebMD* awesome site. Anyways. Trowa’s motorcycle is hella sick. Here’s the link: http://media(dot)meta(dot)ua/files/pic/0/5/103/sIcSP7bLIo(dot)jpg

REVIEW!REVIEW!REVIEW!

Our Little Lights Chapter 3

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:25:02 GMT

Chapter 3:

AC 197

Maxwell Residence

Immediately after Heero had left Duo’s house, Hilde had stuffed her flustered husband into their SUV and started towards the nearest outlet store that had a large baby section. The two started bickering loudly, people passing them by would look over at the dark car curiously, wondering what was going on.

“I can’t believe ya threatened him!” Duo exclaimed as he reached to the radio, “And ya made me leave in the middle of the football game! What kind of wife are ya!?” He exclaimed loudly. He was growing increasingly annoyed as the AM channel that was suppose to be broadcasting the game refused to be pick up, only static continued to run through the speakers.

“The kind that will kick you out of the bedroom and make you sleep on the couch for the rest of our marriage if you don’t stop complaining.” Hilde snapped back, her cornflower blue eyes flashing dangerously. She turned her blinker on and merged over into the lane closest to the sidewalk, before she turned into the outlet store.

“B-But you - you - you!” He looked ahead at the stores in front of him, his whole core shivered as his eyes read the huge sign above the doors, ‘Babys-R-us’.

“Yes, me.” She grumbled and pulled her car into the nearest stall, “Now get out of my car and help me find some things for Heero’s kid!”

Hours of searching and buying had left a very large dent in Duo’s wallet. The two had driven from outlet mall to outlet mall in search of items Duo hadn’t known existed for babies. The young couple had received many strange looks as they wandered up and down the aisles, now whether it was because people recognized them as the Maxwells, or they thought the couple just looked too young to be in the store, Duo didn’t know, and nor did he care, he just wanted out.

As the two left the last store, the teenage kid in back of them pushing the cart carrying the baby crib, Duo stared at his empty wallet and looked over at his wife. Hilde, he noticed immediately, had a satisfying smirk on her lips, he didn’t like the looks of it, that look always meant trouble for him. In an attempt to distract his wife from anymore strange thoughts he held the empty piece of cloth that was his wallet, over to her, “Sweetie… I’m broke..” He put as much pout into his voice as he could muster, hoping to make her feel bad for his losses.

“Heero and his son appreciate it.” Hilde smiled and placed a soft kiss on his cheek before she got into her car, “Now hurry up, you two need to set this stuff up and I still need to get dinner ready!”

Grumbling, Duo closed his wallet, and the back hatch of the car. He walked like a man condemned to the passengers side of the car and slowly got in, “I really don’t like you at the moment.” His face was in a complete pout, his body slouching in the chair, arms crossed defiantly in front of his chest.

Hilde smirked as her husband started sulking in his seat, it reminded her out a little five year old being told ’No’, in a candy store. Turning her eyes back to the road she pulled out into traffic once more, “You know what I think?“ She started.

“How much ya don’t want kids because they’re too damn expensive?” Duo offered, his violet eyes still glaring out the window.

“No…I was thinking that we’ll have pizza tonight, it’s easy.”

Blinking, Duo turned and looked over at Hilde, who still had that same smirk on her lips, it reminded him of an old painting he had seen when the two had visited Paris for their honeymoon, ‘The Mono Lisa? No…Mona Lisa? Wait--did she say pizza?’. As the worlds settled into his mind, Duo smiled back at his wife, and sat up, “I love you right now.”

Heero was sitting cross legged on the floor, next to the couch. His arms were pillowed on the cushion, his chin resting on his muscled forearms. His eyes were transfixed on the little white bundle in front of him, the small baby inside asleep. The child had been asleep when he picked him up, and slept the entire drive back to Duo’s place.

He wanted Duo and Hilde to come back. He really did. The whole situation was awkward to him, he wasn’t trained to raise kids, he was barely able to survive off his own emotions let alone interrupt a child’s. Sighing, he slowly reached out with one hand and gently set it on the boys covered stomach. He could feel the boy breathing, tilting his head slightly, his Prussian blue orbs took in the small child.

The boys face was relaxed as he slept, completely burrowed in his blanket. The child shifted slightly, Heero could feel him tensing up as he moved, and the boy let out a soft almost squeak-like noise before he settled down. Slowly trailing his hand up the tiny body, Heero brushed his thumb over his sons smooth cheek.

His son…

A small smile graced Heero’s lips, it sounded nice. He had been petrified at first at the thought of having a child, but as he sat there, just observing him, he came closer to excepting the fact. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, after all he had Duo and Hilde to help him.

He had no sooner thought about the married couple, when he heard the car pull into the drive way. Looking up, he drew his hand away from the boy. He could hear Duo and Hilde talking as they walked to the front door. Hilde was the first to enter.

“Where is he? I wanna see him!” The girl dropped her purse on Heero’s reclining chair and moved over to the sofa, standing over next to Heero, she looked over his shoulder, “Ah, Heero, he’s adorable!” She smiled brightly, “Can I hold him?”

Heero nodded, watching how Hilde picked the boy up and cradled him in her arms. She moved around the room, baby talking to the unconscious bundle the entire time. Feeling another presence behind him, Heero turned his head and looked up to Duo. He almost laughed at Duo’s expression, it was somewhere between horror and wanting to throw up.

“I am not having kids.”

Heero smirked, and let out a small chuckle. He couldn’t help it really.

“It’s not funny man!” Duo exclaimed, as he collapsed into his couch, “Do ya know how much shit we just bought?”

Heero shook his head. Honestly, he had no idea how much stuff the two would buy, “Sounds like enough if you’re saying that.”

“More than enough!” Leaning back into the couch, the American grabbed on to the bottom of his braid, his fingers absently toying with it.

“Stop whining, Duo.” Hilde called out from the kitchen, “Heero, why don’t you go help him bring everything in. The guest room down the hall is empty, why don’t you set it up in there.”

“What do I look like, you’re pack mule!?” Duo exclaimed. He was getting hungry, and being told to haul things around on an empty stomach didn’t sound like fun to him.

“If you want food tonight you’ll do it.” Hilde said in a sing-song voice.

Pushing himself up off the couch, the American continued to grumble, “…Slave driver.”

Heero smiled to himself. He liked listening to the two bicker, made him feel sane. Getting up after the 02 pilot, he started towards the door after him. “If it makes you feel better I’m going to pa-”

“Heero, you’re not going to pay him back!” Hilde’s voice called out.

Both pilots froze and looked at the wall blocking them from her, how had she known?

“But it’s the least that I could do-”

“Forget it, just having you and your son here is enough. Besides, we both owe you for saving our lives in the war.” She poked her head around the wall and smiled, “And our marriage, I think it’s the least we could do.”

Sighing, Heero slowly slipped his shoes on once more.

….2-0 Hilde…..

Almost an hour later the two had everything in the now full spare bedroom. Heero looked over at Duo in sympathy, “I will pay you back for all of this.”

“Don’t bother, man. Hil’s right, it’s the least we can do. I’m just hungry.” The American pushed off the wall and started towards the hall way. He could hear slight giggles coming from the kitchen and poked his head around the corner, Heero next to two watched as Hilde gently tickled the boy’s sides, making him laugh, and squirm. His tiny arms and legs flailed around as Hilde continued playing with him.

Duo felt something inside him melt at the sight. Hilde looked so content playing with the baby. He noticed that her eyes sparkled a bit more than usual, and her smile was content. Tilting his head so it was resting against he wall, he crossed his arms and just allowed a smirk to escape as well. The boy was animated for being so young, and his bright, yet toothless smile almost seemed to warm him. Had he really thought of trying to get rid of the child?

Hilde had noticed the two enter the kitchen while she had been playing with the boy. She knew that they both had changed their minds about the arrangements, standing back up, she kept her one hand on the boys stomach and looked over at Heero, “Come play with him. He’s ticklish.” She smiled and moved aside so Heero could come over.

Shaking his head the Japanese man just sat down at the table, “You can keep playing with him.” Duo slid in next to him and watched as Hilde picked the boy up and walked over to the two.

“For Gundam pilots you two are sure skittish around children.” She laughed and moved the baby to Heero’s lap, “You’re going to have to get use to him sooner or later.” She walked over to the oven and pulled out the heated up pizza, “By the way, have you thought up a name for him?” She asked curiously.

Blinking, Heero looked down at the boy cradled in his arms, matching Prussian eyes were gazed up at Heero. The baby was still smiling brightly, his arms lightly moving about, before latching on to Heero’s sweatshirt, “No, not yet.”

“It’ll come to you.” She smiled and set the now cut pizza on the large hot pad on the table, “Eat up! We still have to get some things set up tonight!”

By 10 o’clock the crib had been set up, the sheets washed and dried and the tiny bed made. The baby boy had been changed, and placed into clean clothes, a soft baby green onesie, with little frogs on the feet, a matching fleece blanket covering his small body.

The other three had all but collapsed in the living room. The day had been busy right at the end, and they still had a lot of work that needed to be done the following day. Respectively, the three had fallen in their usual places. Heero in the reclining chair, Duo and Hilde on the couch.

Heero had been unsure of the noise that awoke him. Slowly blinking open, the 01 pilot gazed lazily ahead, trying to pin point the sound. Shifting in the chair, he tried to settle back down, he wished that the baby crying would sto--

“K’so..” Pushing his tired body out of the chair, the 01 pilot started moving down the hall to find the boy. The door was already open. Raising an eyebrow, he stepped inside and saw Hilde holding the baby, gently cooing and rocking him. Heero noticed that the crying almost seemed muffled, like the boys lungs weren’t strong enough to support how loud he really wanted to be.

Turning, Hilde spotted Heero, “I thought you’d be in here sooner.” She smiled mischievously to him. The baby boy caught sight of Heero and instantly calmed. He kept his gaze on the teen he knew was his father. Hilde smiled and walked over to Heero, and gently handed the baby over. “He’s already attached to you. It’s like he knows you’re his father.”

Heero nodded slowly, most of his attention on holding the baby.

“It’s going to be different having him in the house.” She sighed and sat down on one of the boxes, a small laugh escaped her, “Now I get to babysit Duo and your son.”

Heero smiled and moved to the crib to put the now sleeping boy back to bed, “He’s tiny..”

“He’ll get bigger, you were that small once, and now look at you.” Hilde smiled and looked through the wooden bars to the boy, “He’ll be fine. I wouldn’t worry so much about him. He has lots of people who already care about him.”

“I don’t know anything about raising kids, Hilde.” Heero tried, he rested his forearms on the crib, watching the boys snuggle around to get comfortable.

“No one does, people learn as they go.”

“…What if I screw up?”

Smiling, Hilde stood up and moved nextto Heero, she rested her hand against his shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze, “You can’t be perfect when it comes to raising kids. Sometimes you have to be the bad guy and tell them ‘no‘, or keep them in for a night when they really want to go out.” Reaching down, she slipped the small beanie that had fallen off back on to his head, “He’ll be a good kid, after all you’re his dad.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” Heero said all to bluntly.

Hilde laughed, “I wouldn’t. Duo on the other hand yes, he says he doesn’t want kids, but he will. Believe me, that kid’ll come out with a devious smirk and mischievous puppy eyes… That I don’t look forward too.”

Blinking Heero looked to her, “Then why do it? Sounds like it would be too much trouble.”

Hilde gave the Japanese pilot the most sincere smile he had ever seen, her eyes holding all the warmth in the world, “Children are lives greatest adventures, Heero. We learn just as much from them than they do from us. They are our lights in this sometimes dark world.”

Slowly, the words sank into his mind. Children were an adventure, and lights in a dark world. Sighing, he looked down at the boy, the boy who was already changing their lives and alternating the way they thought and gagged life.

“…Hikaru.”

“What?” Hilde blinked, she wasn’t sure if she actually heard him.

“His name, Hikaru.” Heero answered.

“Yuy Hikaru.” Hilde pursed her lips as if thinking, before smiling, “I like it!”

“..Hilde, do you mind if I ask you --”

“You can always ask me something.” She interrupted. She had been fighting Heero with that for almost a year now. He needed to learn she was safe ground, he could talk to her no matter what.

“…What was your fathers name?”

“My father? Everyone called his Skip, but his real name was Anthony, why?”

“Japanese typically don’t have middle names, but I want to give him one.” He answered, a slight hue to his cheeks.

Hilde wrapped her lithe arms around Heero’s shoulder and rested her chin on his shoulder, “I would be honored if you gave him my fathers name.” She whispered.

Smiling gently, Heero looked down at his baby boy. His light in the dark world.

“Hikaru Anthony Yuy…”

Ghost Chapter 2

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:20:02 GMT

Tifa let Cloud go, she'd go to his room later, she couldn't imagine what it would be like to see someone come back from the dead..

She kept her smile up as she showed the man around the bar/home.

She made something simple, just some soup and sandwiches for him.

He had asked her questions about where he was, how long she had been there, and she had asked her own questions.

He really had no idea who he was, or where he'd come from, or what he had done before he came to Edge.

Absolutely nothing…

They had talked for a few hours, before she had showed him up to the guest bedroom, "You can sleep here. It's not much, but hopefully it'll do."

"I'm sure it will. I can't be picky now, can I?" he smiled back at her.

She nodded back to him.

God, that smile.

No wonder Cloud had fallen in love with Zack.

"Sleep tight." She smiled as she started to close the door.

The smile faded though, as she turned to look at the closed door that belonged to Cloud. Walking over to the bathroom she grabbed the spare glass that was always there, for Denzel, and filled it up before she moved over to the bedroom. Walking in quietly, she sat down at Cloud's hip, and gently rubbed his leg, "Cloud?"

Cloud was preoccupied staring out the window. The sun had long since set, the darkness enveloping the city.

The stars blinked in the heavens.. a clear beautiful day that had been shattered by the misfortune of meeting a ghost.

"Mm?" Cloud grunted in an uninterested tone, his bright blue-green eyes avoiding hers. His whole body was tense and it was clear it would be a long while before he finally let himself relax and go to bed.

After all, sleep only brought that horrible day to life…even now, when he was awake, that memory would still be there, staring right at him, smiling that smile that sucked him right back into that horrible, sweet illusion.

..it wasn't fair.

He was dead.

His heart felt like someone was squeezing it, every muscle in his body strung taut. "Find out who he is?" He finally asked, hoping she found out something so the man didn't have reason to stay.

The woman shook her head sadly and moved the water in front of him, resting it on the nightstand opposite of him.

"No." She answered quietly, she continued to rub his leg, her small attempt at trying to calm him down.

He was so tense.

She knew that dark bags were already beginning to form under his eyes, she knew he hadn’t been sleeping.

"He has no memory besides waking up a day or so ago, and even then he had no idea where he was..he said," she paused trying to recall everything, "he said it looked like a medical facility, but different.."

Medical facility?

"He's staying then." It wasn't a question, he knew Tifa's kind heart wouldn't throw the poor confused doppelganger out.

..this was going to worsen Cloud's once, semi-normal life.

He was vaguely aware of her warm hand on his thigh, running up and down it and he tried to focus on it. Tried to pry his mind away from those dark memories..

God damn it!

He turned towards the wall, holding his head in his hands and clenching his eyes shut. He didn't know how much more he could take.. he didn't know if he could really take waking up day in and day out and seeing that face.

Hearing that voice..

This was..

This was beyond his comprehension..

He didn't know if he could handle it.

Tifa let out a sad sigh as she watched Cloud struggle with the reality that was before him.

She knew this would happen. Moving to lie down next to him, Tifa wrapped her arms gently around his chest, and rested her forehead to the back of his neck.

She wanted to tell him things would be fine, but, she knew they wouldn't be, not for him.

It had taken Cloud so long to try and get to a stable place, to find a semi-normal life away from the death and the war..

But now, that death had found him..

"...This isn't fair.." She whispered to herself.

Life wasn't fair.

It had never had been..

Why would now be an exception?

He had finally started to forget.. finally tried to move on.. and now Zack’s double decided to fall right on his doorstep.

But.. it wasn't Zack.

God..

His heart was going to break.. he wanted to just rip it out of his chest to stop the pain. He screwed his eyes shut, he was aware of Tifa's warm body in back of him, aware of her holding him but he didn't react.

He couldn't..

His whole body felt numb..

He was trying to accept this.. but.. he couldn't wrap his mind around it. It was too cruel.. too horrible..

Cloud wanted sleep to take him..

Wanted to forget all of it..

He wanted those old moving pictures that were ingrained into his head, they weren't as bad as the reality anymore.

Tifa closed her eyes tight as she felt Cloud almost tremble in her arms.

‘Why can't the world let you be..?’ She thought sadly.

Slowly trailing her hand up his side and towards his back, she rested the small palm at the base of his neck.

He wouldn't know. None of them had the answer to that question.

Cloud was so wrapped up in his anguish he'd never know..

Her fingers easily found the bundle of nerves at the base of his neck.

"I'm sorry.." She whispered, before she squeezed them as hard as she could.

At least it would give him at least a few hours of quiet, dreamless sleep..

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, kinda bummed only one review... so give me something to look forwards to and review for us! We really appreciate it!

Our Little Lights Prologue

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:19:04 GMT

AN: …I’m giving this a shot…this is my baby story that’s been in my head for years, and years. I have two versions of this in my head…one is yaoi one is non yaoi. I guess we’ll just find out which version it is as I write. There are going to be a few original characters. This story takes place further in the future.

Angst, shounan ai/possible yaoi?, OC’s…

Prologue

A.C. 197

Preventer Headquarters

Section 82 of Colony L1

It was a typical January day on L1, the artificial weather system keeping the colony cool and bright, despite the outer shields being closed due to a sun storm. The system would continue to match that of Earth‘s weather, just without the precipitation, which wasn‘t needed in the colonies as much as it was needed on Earth. People continued living their lives, there was peace in the colonies and earth, there was no reason for people to be afraid, there were no more battles to fight.

17 year-old, Heero Yuy sat at his Preventer desk, a mission report sitting in front of him but completely untouched. Instead, his gaze was out the window, to his right. His chin was resting in the palm of his right hand, his eyes unfocused and gazing at the giant layers of sheet metal that made up their small world.

He vaguely wished the weather control hadn’t closed the windows to the outside world, the flare wasn‘t due for a few more days. But, since people didn’t have a war to voice against, they started talking about upgrading the safety and environmental settings on colonies, and closing the windows early for solar flares, or sun storms was one of them.

Sighing, the Japanese man unconsciously continued to twirl a pen over the top of his thumb before he would catch it and twirl it once more. It was a natural motion that he did when he was lost in thought, usually he didn’t even realize that he was doing it until someone commented on it.

His office was quiet, not even the soft ticking from a clock could be heard, just the soft hum of his laptop and the main computer sitting on his desk. It was April 7, 197, exactly two years since he left the same colony he was sitting in, for earth to start a war against OZ and abandon Operation Meteor.

It had almost been one year since the last war as well, the war people called, “Endless Waltz.” When he had heard the name for the last war, he found the name to be ridiculous, yet fitting. He had heard the reasoning for it, and still grumbled about it. Wars repeated, but they never ended. He knew that eventually another war would break out, whether it would be in a few years, or after his lifetime, it would happen. They were waiting in-between movements…

Sitting up slightly, Heero stretched his back and leaned back in his chair. He was bored. He couldn’t properly focus on what he was suppose to be doing because of the lack of movement in the office. He wouldn’t outright admit that he missed the other pilots, but he did long for their presence.

Setting his pen down on the desk, Heero moved the chair back from the desk and leaned back, reclining ever so slightly. Before he could get the chance to move his feet up to his desk, his cell phone started to ring. He narrowed his Prussian eyes and grabbed the cell phone, checking the name of the screen he rolled his eyes slightly.

“Maxwell, what do you want?”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Heero, but it’s Hilde.” The feminine voice started, a small laugh in her tone, “But I am looking for him, have you seen him?”

Heero sat up in his chair and looked over at his laptop to see if he had received any new e-mails from anyone. “Haven’t heard from him.” Heero answered, his tone neutral. “Did you try calling Quatre?”

“Yes, but he just left for L3 to visit Trowa, and I couldn’t imagine Wufei putting up with him for more than a couple hours.” Hilde explained.

“Did you two fight again?” Heero asked, rubbing his forehead he closed his eyes.

“Kind of…last night.” Hearing Hilde sigh on the other end, Heero looked out the window, “Look, if you see him, could you try and send him home? Or at least call me?”

“I will.” Heero answered, “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Pulling the phone away from his ear, Heero closed it and let it drop to his desk. He had already known about the fight, Duo had shown up at his apartment the night before angry, and not saying much before crashing on the couch. When Heero had gotten up in the morning, Duo had been gone.

Duo and Hilde had gotten married just after the last war, the two seemed fine for over half of the year, but the last couple of months the couple had been fighting more and more. Just then the door to his office opened, “What?” His voice sounded like a sharp blade, crisp and dangerous.

“Dude, I was just gonna thank you for lettin’ me crash on your couch.” Duo close the door and moved to sit on the corner of Heero’s desk. “Who were ya talkin’ to?”

“Your wife.” Heero answered, turning his gaze towards Duo’s violet orbs, “Call her.”

“Ah, I think I’ll pass.” Duo dropped his typical over night duffle bag on the ground, “So! What’s for dinner?”

“Your wife-”

“Heero! I might have fought with her, but that’s no reason for you to eat my Hilde!” Duo smirked.

Growling, Heero grabbed his phone and Duo’s hand in the same motion and set the phone in the outstretched hand.

“You serious?” Duo asked, his delicate eyebrow raised.

“Call.” Sitting back Heero crossed his arms. He was tired of being the middle man with Hilde and Duo’s fights, they needed to work out their problems.

Letting out an exasperated sigh Duo opened the phone and started to press the first number for his home, but the phone started ringing before he could dial, blinking, he read the name and handed the phone back to Heero, “It’s the boss woman.”

Rolling his eyes, Heero grabbed the phone and pressed the ‘answer’ key, “Yuy.”

“You have a mission, Agent Yuy.” The once Lady Une started, “We’ve sending Agent Maxwell in to help you with this, but you’re not going to like it.”

Our Little Lights Chapter 2

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:15:54 GMT

Title: Our Little Lights
Chapter: 2
Rating: 16+
Summary: After the Endless Waltz war the pilots start to settle down and try to live normal lives. But one mission threatens to change everything. New terrorists are threatening to tear apart the peace, and the gundam pilots are forced, once again, to take action.

Chapter 2:

AC 197

Preventer Headquarters, Infirmary

Section 82 of Colony L1

“We can’t find any missing children’s reports fitting the child’s description, or any name from any of the files recovered at the Lab.” The once Lady Une started. “What’s even more baffling is the child you two brought in is significantly younger than the ones found in the tubes. He seems to be only a week or two old, but there are no signs of mistreatment, or malnourishment.” She rubbed her temples and continued, “And since the doctors here figured Dr. J was trying to recreate something, or someone, they requested that Agent Yuy give some blood for some DNA testing.”

“They think that kid is Heero’s?” Duo sat up quickly from his lounged position on the couch. Both of his feet hit the bottom of the floor, giving off a echo down the sterile hall.

“We think that the clones might have been a rendition of Heero, yes, but we won’t know until we confirm the DNA.” Une explained, “What are your thoughts?” She asked looking directly at Heero, she noticed that his eyes were hollow, almost numb with shock.

He sat with his hands folded tightly together, his left thumb rubbing the right thumb joint roughly. Looking down at his hands he slowly let the words sink in, he couldn’t help but wonder how there was even enough DNA for Dr. J to use. Were they still trying to create the perfect soldier? His shoulders tensed up, the muscles becoming rock hard under his Preventer jacket.

“Heero?”

Looking up, the Prussian eyes met the violet orbs of his partner. Duo was worried about him, he could read it off his friends body language, as the American shrugged his shoulders and gave an attempted smirk, a silent gesture in cheering Heero up. Nodding slowly Heero looked over at Lady Une.

“I’ll do the DNA test.” he answered finally.

Nodding slowly, the woman turned down the hall, her stilettos giving off a soft clack as she moved down the linoleum floor.

“You sure you wanna do this?” Duo asked quietly, “I mean, what if -”

“We’ll never find out if I don’t.” Heero interrupted, “For all we know that baby is just a clone, there’s nothing truly human about him. He’d be a genetic replica of myself.”

“But, what if he’s not?” Duo sat back down on the hard couch, his elbows resting on his knees, and his braid hanging over his shoulder. He unconsciously caught it in his hands and started fiddling with the end strands of hair.

Looking over at Duo, Heero raised an eyebrow, “What?”

“What if the kid is actually yours, not a clone.” Duo started, his voice slow and hesitant. “What would ya do then?”

Heero looked back at his hands, once more unsure. Taking in a deep breath he held it for a long moment before slowly releasing it, “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Agent Yuy, we’re ready for you.” A nurse had poked her head out of the sliding hospital door. As the words were comprehended into his fuzzy mind, Heero slowly dropped his hands, stood up and slowly started towards the door.

Without looking up at his friend, Duo reached out and grabbed Heero’s slim, but strong wrist, “If- if it -he- does end up being yours…ya know you can always get help from me and Hilde.”

“Hn.” Stepping forwards, Heero allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he felt Duo’s hand slip from his wrist.

Duo smiled as the door closed with Heero inside.

It was nearing late January, the colony had manipulated the weather system to produce colder air, and had even given snow to the citizens for a few nights. A week had passed since Duo and Heero infiltrated the seemingly abandoned laboratory. The child they had discovered in the back room of the warehouse had been placed in childcare at the Preventers headquarters.

Duo had begrudgingly gone back home to Hilde, and dragged Heero along with him. The American had insisted that the Japanese teen stay with him for reasons only known to Duo. Although, Heero knew it was so the American could keep a close eye on him, and use him as a buffer between himself and Hilde.

They usually didn’t work on Sundays, and this Sunday was no different. The two ex-Gundam pilots were on the couch, the TV on and the current Bowl game on. Duo was sitting back, lounged on the couch, his socked feet resting on the side of the coffee table, a bag of tortilla chips at his side and a bowl of salsa resting on his stomach. His eyes were narrowed, his face set in a pout as the team he had been mentally rooting for started loosing.

Heero on the other hand was half asleep in his reclining chair, the one he had claimed the day Hilde and Duo had moved in. The chair was in full recline, allowing him to relax as the game continued. Football had always bored him. He didn’t understand why Duo loved it so much. The Japanese teen preferred to watch Rugby when he did watch a sport. Letting his eyes close he let out a long breath, relaxing further into the black cushions. He slowly droned out the sounds of the game, the cheering crowds, the loud whistles, the announcers…the players talking… Duo’s cursing….

Hilde smile gently as she watched her boys from the kitchen. The window between the stove top and the ceiling allowed her to view the dining room, and the living room without hindrance. She knew Heero had been stressed with work and the last mission, she was glad to see that he was finally comfortable enough to just relax in their presence. Grabbing another salsa bowl for Duo she started out of the kitchen. Moving over to the couch she sat down next to her husband and switched bowls for him without his knowledge. Curling up next to him, she placed a kiss on his cheek, “They’ll come back, they always do.”

“Don’tchya dare jinx them, Hil.” Duo grumbled.

She had just enough time to smile before the phone rang. Looking over the top of the couch she sighed and pushed herself up. Walking over to the kitchen she grabbed the phone that was connected to the wall. “Hello?”

Duo’s childish pout softened as a commercial came on, “Hil! I need more salsa!”

“Its on your stomach!”

Blinking he looked down and let out a innocent giggle, “Thanks, Babe!” As he sat up a bit more he dropped his foot from the side of the coffee table and set the salsa down on the wood, “Mucho salsa for me, Oh! Mas-o salsa for wi, Oh!” Taking a chip out of the bag, he dunked it into the salsa, covering the chip completely before putting it in his mouth. Looking over his shoulder at Hilde, whom was walking towards the recliner he blinked, “Who is it?”

“The Doctors from HQ.” She answered. Standing at Heero’s head she reached down and gently ran her fingers though his bangs, before her fingers moved to a small ticklish spot behind the pilot’s ear, “Heero, you need to wake up..”

Slowly moving his head away from the probing fingers, Heero blinked his eyes open and semi-glared at Hilde, and before he could ask her what she needed, a phone was put in his face. Letting out a long sigh he grabbed the phone and sat back into the recliner, “Yuy.”

Hilde smiled and moved to sit down next to Duo, “They said they had the results from the DNA testing..” She had been told a little bit about the baby they had found, but since she wasn’t a current member of the Preventers, she wasn’t able to know the full details of the mission.

Heero sat up suddenly, his feet pushing the extension back under the chair, “You’re completely positive.”

“Uh oh..” Duo grabbed another chip from the bag and started nibbling on the end, letting the salt from the tortilla chunk soak into his lip.

“…I’ll be there in 10 minutes.” Hanging up the phone, Heero stood from the chair and grabbed his black, hoodie sweatshirt. Quickly slipping it over his head, he started towards the door, “I’ll be bac-”

“Wait! What did they say?” Duo vaulted over the back of the couch knocking over his bag at the same time, “What is he?” He started towards the door, ignoring Hilde’s protesting yell at the flying chips.

Heero grabbed his shoes and sat on the bottom stair. Resting his face in his open palms he let out a deep breath and shook his head. Duo had crouched down next to him, the violet eyes completely focused on the Japanese teen, “The kid is yours isn’t it..”

Nodding, Heero dropped his hands, “Yea..”

Duo could only stare at Heero, his eyes wide as his suspicions were confirmed, “Man..” Turning his body away from Heero, the American sat on the floor and stared at his own front door, “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know..” Came the quiet whisper, “I guess just put him up for adoption..” Heero started.

“But he’s yours! You can’t do that! What if J’s lunies find him?!” Duo exclaimed, he turned violently on the hardwood, his violet eyes flashing on Heero.

“I can’t raise a kid! I work 24/7! Besides not knowing how to raise a kid, when have you ever known me to have the time to even associate with kids!” Heero exclaimed his own eyes matching Duo’s, “Even if I wanted to I live in an apartment, I have no idea what he needs, it’s just a bad idea!”

“But you can’t jus-”

“Would you two just shut up!” Hilde bellowed over the two pilots. She stood between the couch and the recliner, a half full bag of chips clutched in one hand, while both of her hands rested on her hips, “You both have points about this kid, but Duo’s right Heero, you can’t just give him up the lunies will find him.”

“See I told yo-” Duo started but was instantly cut off by his wife’s curt voice.

“And Heero has a good point, he would be useless when it comes to raising a kid.” She continued, her narrowed eyes, “Therefore the only good solution would be for the kid to come live with Duo and me -”

“WHAT!”

“Or, Heero takes the kid and we help out.” Hilde finished, “You’re pick Heero, but you are not putting that child in any form of foster care, or so help me I will band you from the house for the rest of your existence!”

There was a long pregnant pause as the two teens stared at the woman standing in front of them. Duo gulped loudly and slowly turned his eyes towards Heero.

Heero narrowed his eyes to Hilde, but found that it didn’t affect her they way he thought it would. She only glared back. The woman crossed her arms defiantly, her body language daring Heero to defy her...No wonder Duo ran to him when he fought with Hilde..

“I’ll be back with the kid…”

1-0 Hilde...

Our Little Lights Chapter 1

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:13:21 GMT

Title: Our Little Lights
Chapter: 1
Rating: 16+
Summary: After the Endless Waltz war the pilots start to settle down and try to live normal lives. But one mission threatens to change everything. New terrorists are threatening to tear apart the peace, and the gundam pilots are forced, once again, to take action.

Chapter 1: The First Light

A.C. 197

Abandoned Laboratory

Section 47 of Colony L1

Duo typically knew how to handle the moody Japanese pilot. He knew on normal missions his inane blabbering was almost a comfort for the other teen, it was something familiar, but after receiving the phone call from Une, Duo had no idea how to handle Heero. Immediately, he noticed Heero’s demeanor become cold and distant, and absolutely refusing to give any specific details about the mission. Although, from the obvious display of emotion on his partners face, it wasn’t going to be a good mission.

Duo had called Hilde minutes before he and Hero went into hiding, letting her know that he was safe and he would be home after the mission, but what he didn‘t tell her was he would be home after he got Heero to talk to him. He couldn’t figure out what was going on in the Japanese teens head. There was something about the abandoned laboratory that seemed to upset him.

“So…what did Une want us ta find?” Duo asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

Heero didn’t answer, he continued to load the gun clip with more bullets. He sat stiffly on an old wooden crate, a small container filled with individually packed bullet casings resting next to him. His left leg was propped up on the diagonal piece of wood, while his right hung down in front of him. His shoulders were slouched as he focused on loading the gun.

“Ah, c’mon man!” Duo complained, he all but collapsed on the crate next to Heero, reaching out he covered the half full clip forcing Heero to stop, “What’s with you and this lab?”

Heero sighed, his hand tightening on the metal, “…I was trained here.” His voice was quiet, not as forceful as it had been earlier that day, almost lost in a bad memory. His eyes were blocked by the small cascade of auburn hair that moved in front of his eyes.

“…And what is it we’re tryin’ ta find?” Duo asked again, his voice equally quiet.

“..Whatever J left behind.” The teen was still quiet, his body still tense, “Whatever he left for the rest of the screwed up scientists to finish…”

Duo nodded, giving his leader a small smile, “Well, why the hell are we sitting around here for? Let’s get this one done an’ over with!”

Moving his hand from under Duo’s, Heero easily finished filling the clip. The two sat in silence while he worked. Duo’s violet eyes were watching his every move, he was amazed as he watched the once Perfect Soldier working in front of him. He was slowly becoming the pilot they had known, his eyes hardening, his muscles tuning to that of perfection, not too tense, but not too relaxed, his own euphoria.

As Heero finished, he quickly loaded the clip into the Beretta .07 mm, cocked the gun, and clicked the safety on. Looking over to Duo, Heero nodded before picking up his Preventer jacket and quickly putting it on.

“Let’s go.”

Duo jumped up from the crate, smiling, the same confident aura that surrounded 01 was back.

“Alright, 01 and Shinigami are back in town!”

The two moved further into the base, moving with as much stealth as each could muster. Heero immediately sensed that there was something wrong. There was dust gathering on objects, which all looked as if they hadn’t been used in some time…

The lab was completely abandoned.

There were no scientist walking the halls analyzing data or talking amongst each other. There was just…nothing and it was unnerving. He knew the secrets of the lab, he knew the hiding places better than anyone, and yet, there was still anyone in sight.

“Something’s wrong..” Duo started, he slowly lowered his gun, glancing over his shoulder to look back the way they came, “Heero.”

“Shh.” The 01 Pilot looked to the wall across from them, there had been a hidden door there. But it wasn’t a very big room if he remembered. Reaching out he slowly pushed against the wall, he almost jumped as it gave in. As the door slide open, he took a step forwards into the dark room.

Immediately he noticed that his footsteps were giving off an echo, small rooms didn’t echo like that. He could fell his heart beating against his chest. Breathing in he took another step forwards and the lights flickered on, the place was motion censored.

Blinking rapidly for a few seconds, Heero looked back at Duo, watching the American walk in behind him. Turning back to the room in front of him he froze at the sight before him. He remembered the place being like a storage closet, not an entire warehouse!

“Holy shit..” Duo murmured his gun lowered, “What the hell is this place..”

The room was filled with cylinder like tubes, four rows and seven tubes in each row. Each tube was large enough to hold a full grown man, but the liquid that would have went inside was all drained.

Duo stepped up to the closest tube and looked down to the bottom grate, only to find a deteriorating corpse on a infant. Immediately he jumped back, his violet eyes wide, “What the fuck!”

Heero walked over to the tube and looked in himself, his nose scrunched up a the sight of the black and dark red flesh eating away at it self, exposing color stained bones. Feeling his chest tighten at the sight of the dead baby, Heero looked to the tube next to it, walking over he peered inside and found the same thing.

“Shit..” Duo could only shake his head at the sight of the second body, the skull was against the glass.

“These were a couple weeks old..” Heero said, his voice quiet, but still sharp, slowly circling the tube he gazed at the corpse from all angles. It was difficult to tell what gender the baby was from the curled up fetal position it was in. As his eyes moved over the body he caught sight of something that didn’t fit with the back of the skull. Narrowing his eyes in confusion he knelt down to try and get a closer look, “They we’re branded..”

“Branded?” Duo asked, he looked over at Heero confusion in his violet orbs, “What, like, cattle branding?”

“No, bar code, like this.” Heero turned his back to Duo and moving the hair at the base of his neck out of the way as much as he could.

“No way..” Duo could faintly make out the markings of a bar code underneath the dark hair on the back of Heero’s neck. It was the same bar code on the babies, but Heero’s was hidden, placed higher up.

Turning back Heero looked at the tube, “They were clones.” Standing he looked to the top of the cylinder and found the same bar code from the babies skull on the top of the cylinder, “They were trying to make another soldier..”

“Weren’t you enough?” Duo exclaimed, his violet eyes wide. Heero had been nothing short of a tyrant on the battle field destroying everything and anything, and completing his missions down to the tiniest detail. He couldn’t comprehend why they would want to create another Heero.

“No…I hold emotions, which is something they didn’t want. They wanted an emotionless soldier-”

“They wanted ta steal your humanity! Christ, these guys were messed up..” Looking around the large warehouse Duo sighed. “J was a piece of work.” Shaking his head he turned to walked towards the hidden door, which was still open. Feeling his gut twist slightly he stopped, it was a natural instinct that he listened to. It was the subconscious part of his mind guiding him, keeping him alive ever since he was a child on L2. But this feeling was guided towards someone…

Resting a hand over his clothed abdomen he looked over to Heero, who looked and felt perfectly fine, a bit upset about the clones, but overall he was fine. Narrowing his eyes, he looked to the ground in front of him, concentrating on his wife, maybe she was in trouble…but the churning in his gut didn’t feel like Hilde, it was someone else…

“What’s wrong?” Heero asked as he passed Duo, “Corpses finally catching up to you?” He had noticed Duo’s face go a bit grey at the sight of the dead infants, and he was holding his stomach in a way that would suggest that he might be sick.

“N-no..” Looking around the room, Duo turned back towards the cylinders, “I just have a weird feeling in my gut is all..” Slowly he walked further into the warehouse.

“What are you doing?”

“Were there anymore hidden rooms in this place?” Holstering his gun, Duo continued to follow his gut, he looked back at Heero trying to get a bit more information about the lab, get a feel for its secrets.

“No, this was suppose to be a small room, not a warehouse.” Heero raised an eyebrow at the American, he couldn’t figure out why Duo was so curious about the room, “Why?”

“I just feel like there’s something we missed…check the tubes. See if there isn’t one alive.” Walking over to the nearest tube he peered in.

“They’re all dead, they’ve been dead for at least 10 months.” Heero opened his jacket and holstered his own gun. He watched as Duo moved from tube to tube examining the dead bodies, deciding Duo was somewhat right, he started with the first row, closest to him.

Duo felt the feeling grow as he moved from one tube to the next, it was getting stronger, he needed to find whatever it was leading him on. As he neared the last row he prayed for there to be signs of life.

Nothing...

Every tube was holding death, there were none alive.

“Damnit!” He cursed. Turning towards the back wall, he caught sight of another door. Running forward he threw his shoulder against the metal door, easily swinging door open.

“Duo! Wait!” Heero ran after the 02 pilot.

What was Duo looking for?!

Pushing the door open, Heero froze at what he saw. It was an empty room, except for one thing.. There was a cradle sitting off to the side of the room, plain and white. He watched as Duo moved towards it, he could feel his heart beating wildly against his chest. Was the child inside still alive?

Moving with all the stealth he could muster, Duo walked to the side of the cradle, turning his violet eyes down to the soft baby blue blanket he easily recognized the outline of a baby curled up underneath. The child had to be alive, there was no smell of rotting flesh, or deteriorating fat, holding his breath he reached down for the blanket and gently moved it aside.

“He’s alive!” Smiling Duo reached down and gently picked up the baby boy, “Heero, he’s alive!” Carefully cradling the baby, the American watched as the child’s eyes flickered open. “…He’s a spitting image of you…except small.”

Looking back up at the Japanese teen, he watched as relief and uncertainty flickered through Heero’s eyes, the same eyes the baby had. “How could they just abandon him?”

Narrowing his eyes, Heero looked around the room, the placed seemed to be well kept, no dust layers could be visibly seen and the rocking chair, which was blocked by the cradle, had been well used. Whomever was taking care of the child was coming in from a different direction than that of Duo and Heero’s route.

“Take him with us, we’re leaving..” Heero looked back at the baby, unsure of it. He had hardly been around children, but this….he was so tiny…

Duo looked over at Heero and smiled, “Can we keep him?”

AN: well there’s chapter 1...1 review is sad, but oh well…maybe you guys will like this chapter better…

Foolish Hearts Chapter 1

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:16:08 GMT

Title: Foolish Hearts
Chapter 1
Pairing: SasuNaruSasu
Rating: 16+
Disclaimer: We own none
Summary:Sasuke has finally returned to Konoha. His goal is to kill the Hokage and the entire village. He didn't expect for the Hokage to be Naruto. SasuNaru/lemons

~~~~~~

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter One’

By: Emo Fox & Kareian

Konoha.

That was the root of Sasuke’s suffering.

Rumor had it that Sasuke was insane, a fiend, a demon incarnate.

His eyes the color of blood, his rage worse than anyone could fathom. Sasuke was no longer the little leaf ninja of Konoha with the murdered family. Sasuke had turned face, Sasuke was now a killer, Uchiha Sasuke was now the name everyone feared instead of revered.

At this moment in time Sasuke was outside his most hated village. He had left a trail of death and destruction behind him. Delving in torture and murder, something that gave him a sort of fix, relief. It gave him power, kept him in control even when his mind and his efforts were a little misplaced.

His memories, his heart, his soul, he had lost them on the bloody trail to Konoha.

Sasuke perched in the trees, his blood colored eyes watching the village as it breathed with life. The main gates were shut tight, guards on the outer walls, but from his vantage point he could see beyond them – inside the village, where the chatter of the villagers and the streets of people could be heard and seen.

He licked his lips, face covered with a stolen Anbu mask – the ears of the wolf mold was broken, and blood stained on the muzzle and left eye. His clothes were a tight black body suit – looking like a second skin made of shadow. Loops of coils and belts were around his arms and legs. His headband was around his hips, the metal slouched on his hips, the leaf symbol scratched out viciously.

He flexed his hands, inhaling the sweet smell of the forest, the smell of dirt and humid air. At this moment he was alive, in this fleeting moment he was sane. A twisted horrible smile marred his porcelain face, his dark eyes taking calculation of everyone he could see.

Sasuke briefly wondered if they knew.

If they knew he was coming…

If they knew he was here.

The cause of all his pain…

Of all his suffering…

Was right before his eyes, right in his line of fire.

Sasuke let out a long breath, releasing his sane mind to the madness he so desperately wanted to escape in. It had been so long, so many years he had been lost. Killing Itachi had shown him his true mission, and now he was finally going to fulfill it.

In an instant Sasuke was airborne, hopping expertly from branch to branch in silent haste – leaping on his final step and landing on the village turrets. The guards, alarmed, screamed and scattered – trying to regain themselves, regain some sort of hand in this plot as Sasuke began his attack.

Who was this masked man?

The guards had no idea; there had been rumors of a renegade in a wolf mask attacking people, a few villages over. It had happened so fast, this serial killer coming upon the world in a wave of chaos.

But, never had they expected him here, in Konoha.

Sasuke cut the men down in a rage, blood staining the brick, his clothes, his mask. That sick twisted grin was on the face the men couldn’t see – in their dying moments Sasuke stood over them, watching, waiting to hear their last breath.

Then he saw it.

Movement, one had gotten away.

“I thought there were four.” Sasuke murmured, the man was shaking, turning to see the flash of blood between the slits of the mask.

“No, please!” The guard scooted away from the death, splattered in his own companions blood.

Sasuke in a flash was upon this man, picking him up by the front of his armor, kunai against his cheek, mask to mask with his prey. “Begging.” Sasuke spat, “How brave of a Konoha ninja.”

The guard shook, he knew who this was, he knew this was the demon Sasuke. He had tried to run; Sasuke’s level of power was beyond any of their own. They couldn’t run fast enough, let alone attack quick enough to catch the Uchiha off guard.

Everything was going according to Sasuke’s plan. Blood on his hands, heart beating from the kill. Hel licked his lips, enjoying the fear he could almost taste off this man. “Tell your Hokage-sama to meet me here.” Sasuke said evenly, his voice low, coated in a dark silk. “If he doesn’t, I will kill the entire village in less than ten minutes.”

“W-what?”

“Not much time.” He threw the man from the balcony, allowing him to slam upon the dirt ground – bystanders screamed and scattered, the blood-stained ninja on the turret had caught everyone’s attention. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

“Hokage-sama.”

Sasuke’s tone was even, laced with insanity – smooth, rich and dark.

Sasuke had no idea the man under than mask was his former friend, former comrade. To him he was just another village leader, just another man in his way of fulfilling his mission.

He tilted his head, katana already soaked in blood, tauntingly stretched out in the space between them. He licked his lips, cold calculating red eyes looking at this man before him. He twisted his blade in his hand, taking slow steps around the man that had landed on the gate.

In an instant, without warning Sasuke came upon this man. A flash of movement, a blur, blade a shimmering arc of silver and crimson in the sunlight. He attempted a blow at the man’s back, twisting his body mid-air and throwing a kunai at his knee.

Upon landing Sasuke would crouch out of the way of a defensive assault, his red eyes seeing everything before it happened Â– and in that movement he would slash at the man’s legs, hoping to literally cut him down.

The fox growled and spun out of the way of the kunai throw to the knee. He used the scabbard to the katana to block the down thrusting katana that Sasuke was using.

The blood splattering down to land on his mask.

The blood of his comrades.

The blood of his ninja...

He knew that Sasuke had an advantage over him, the damn Sharingan seeing a few seconds ahead, showing the Uchiha what his next move would be.

Kicking out, he attempted to knock the Uchiha off balance.

He knew that Sasuke would try and take his legs out, but the man would have to catch him first, especially since Naruto had mastered the Flash step, making him nearly untouchable.

“What do you want, murderer?” Naruto asked catching Sasuke’s katana briefly in the duel.

"To murder you."

Morbid humor in his tone as he easily avoided Naruto's attempt keeping one step ahead of the swift fox.

They were a match.

Move for move, blade to blade.

Sounds of metal hitting metal rang in the air, sounding like a chorus of cackling birds. One step after another they engaged in this heated dance.

"Upon your death, the village will fall." Sasuke said, his tone dark -- in that instant he made a bold slash at the fox's neck as the Hokage-sama jumped back.

The fox's eyes went wide at the swinging blade that was coming for his neck. He knew he wouldn't be able to get back in time, not enough to avoid serious damage from the blade.

"Hokage-Sama!" A new voice screamed, a woman's voice, one wearing a rabbit mask. Sakura moved quickly, reaching for a kunai and throwing it towards Naruto's moving back foot... if she could get him to slip and fall faster...

The fox felt the kunai slip under his foot, forcing him to throw up an arm, the blade slicing cleanly through the bandages around his arms, revealing black summoning lines on his arm. The tip of the blade caught the cheek on his mask, not enough to cut through the plaster, but enough to shatter some of it.

Naruto landed hard on the wood, he didn't care that some of his face was exposed; Sasuke would never know from a small glance that it was the Uzumaki.

He knew that voice.

Sakura?

His blood colored eyes looked down at the female at the base of the wall. She was looking up at them, standing at the ready.

Sasuke licked his lips, a smirk on his lips -- dark eyes falling then on the man who was now on his back.

"That your woman?"

Who was this man?

He scraped the blade against the ground, the hiss a grating sound. He slowly walked towards the man on the ground who was trying to regain himself, get on his feet.

"Lucky she saved your ass, hm?" His voice was deep, almost seductive in it's crazy undertone.

Sasuke dived for the man again -- blade at the ready, like a striking bird going for the kill.

Naruto rolled to the side, evading the stab downward. Rolling back slightly, he caught Sasuke's hands before the man could pull the blade from the wood. Quickly moving his feet he planted them into Sasuke's chest, launching the Uchiha backwards into a wooden pillar.

Getting to his feet the fox looked down to Sakura, his red eyes catching her ready orbs. He couldn't tell her to leave, this was Sasuke...

Hearing running feet the fox turned back to the Uchiha, awaiting the next attack that would come for him...

Sasuke had recovered his blade from the wood, his red eyes raged now that he was back on the attack.

He had let his guard down for a moment -- but it wouldn't happen again. Nothing as foolish as being kicked would happen again.

The pain, he didn't feel it.

His eyes coated over his brain, his body. His one goal was all he cared about, the wounds he may suffer, the pain he may have, he wouldn't feel or care about it.

His eyes made him a machine.

One built only for death.

He launched himself into the sky, hiding for a moment in the blinding light of the sun before he was upon the kitsune again -- blade once again hoping to bite flesh -- to draw blood.

He almost was an obsession.

Time had passed yet not a drop of the Hokage's blood had been shed, it was almost driving him insane, he wanted to see his life's energy -- he wanted to take the first wound, wanting to cut, to destroy him.

It was a carnal need.

Naruto cursed as he continued to dodge the damned blade.

How long could Sasuke go on for?

The man was going crazy...

He was getting faster, his move erratic, and dangerous…

Naruto was getting tired, having to try and out wit the Sharingan was getting difficult. It had been too long since he had been in a real fight against a real enemy.

Blocking the blade, the fox spun and ducked under another attack, reaching out to try and drag the edge of his own Katana across Sasuke's back.

Sasuke nearly dodged the attack, wheeling back on the fox in a blur of movement. However, the kitsune had caught the top of his shoulder as Sasuke had moved.

The cut mildly deep -- an arc of blood splashing across the Uchiha's vision in his turn. The copper smell of blood assaulted his senses -- but it wasn't the blood he wanted.

He was failing.

He couldn't fail.

Not now!

He was so fucking close!

Sasuke's mind was delving deeper and deeper in darkness, into madness. His obsession was causing him to be sparratic, like a tornado of attacks and movements.

He wanted blood, he wanted death, he wanted to kill this bastard so he could destroy everything that caused him pain!

With an animalistic cry he lunged at the fox, aiming a strike for his face -- wanting to cleave his had in two, wanting to end this so badly, wanting to just smell blood -- see death.

Naruto's eyes widened as the man --if he could still call Sasuke that-- rushed him.

Throwing his body to the side, the kit felt the tip of the blade cut into his skin, cleaving the mask in two.

The sharp edge dragged down the left side of the kits face, barley nicking his eyelid, as the blade dragged from the top of his head down over the three scars on his cheeks to the bottom of his jaw, where it dug in deepest.

Stumbling backwards, the blonde threw a hand to his face, covering the wound, his face bowed.

He was completely exposed now.

Hearing the blade on the move once more, Naruto looked up quickly, he threw his own katana in an arch across Sasuke's chest, creating a twin wound on the man's chest as he did his back.

It didn't help slow the blade that impaled itself in Naruto's side, breaking through the armor and piercing his flesh.

The kit's breathing caught in his throat, a gurgling gasp noise escaping him as Sasuke pushed the blade up to the hilt.

Naruto couldn't move...

All he knew was pain, the sharp, nauseating pain running from his stomach through his abdomen down into his legs and up into his chest, freezing his body. A cold sweat broke out over the kit's over heated body, his limbs slowly starting to shake as blood flowed too easily from the wound, soaking his clothes and forming a puddle underneath his foot.

He couldn't hear Sakura's shriek down below…

All he could see were the damned demon eyes of the man he once called his best friend..

Sasuke stood there, over this dying man.

…and then he saw...

Everything.

The mask was pieces at their feet, Sasuke's own wound deep, but he was unbothered. The blood was mixing together on the brick arc.

The madness flew from his eyes as he caught sight of the man's scarred face.

..Naruto.

It was...

Naruto!

His breath was in his throat and for a moment sanity graced his eyes. He knelt, momentarily caught in a memory, of a time long past.

…of a time when he still had a heart.

Naruto's eyes were closed, blood was on his mouth, face, and pooling under him from where the katana was lodged.

He swallowed thickly, the smell nauseating him. Why now, why did he care now? He had shut that piece of him away, locked it deep inside himself.

Why…

Why did he care?

Sasuke took off his mask, his face impassive as he looked at the immobile fox, his red eyes a little softer than before for a moment.

In that gracing moment of sanity...

Sasuke began to feel the pain of his own wounds.

His chest wound was deep, carved from his shoulder to his side. On his knees, he was bleeding like the fox, together in their pain.

He heard Sakura screaming... But it just didn't register.

He should get up.

Finish Naruto.

Finish the village that destroyed his life.

But…

His legs wouldn't work.

His body wouldn't respond like it had before.

It was like...

Like...

He just shut down.

"Naruto..." His voice was foreign, not mixed with madness, almost... almost remorseful as he reached for the fox's face, to brush his fingers on his cut cheek, feeling the hot thick blood.

Sasuke's head swam, memories, thoughts, everything just hurt his head -- demanded his sanity and it hurt.

He didn't want to think...

Didn't want to think of the man he had let into his heart long ago, of the man who was now dying from his own blade.

"Naruto..." Almost anguished, Sasuke's eyes flickered -- red to black, and back again.

Then…

Darkness claimed him.

A/N:

Okay the story is kind of in role-play structure, paragraphs being responded to by another but we tried to make it flow, as we normally do. I play Sasuke/Sakura/and Tsunade as well as random ninja. Kareian plays Naruto/Kakashi/Sakura/Tsunade and random ninja. Soo… yeah, hopefully the structure doesn’t bother you too much, I think it flows quite well anyway.

I tried to edit, I might have missed some things… but yeah.

Did you like it or hate it? This is still a role-play in progress, so chapters will come up as we finish/edit them. Please tell us what you think and we’ll see you next time!

Foolish Hearts Chapter 2

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:11:38 GMT

Title: Foolish Hearts
Chapter 2
Pairing: SasuNaruSasu
Rating: 16+
Disclaimer: We own none
Summary:Sasuke has finally returned to Konoha. His goal is to kill the Hokage and the entire village. He didn't expect for the Hokage to be Naruto. SasuNaru/lemons

Chapter 1 link:
community.livejournal.com/narutoyaoi/1409168.html#cutid1

“Foolish Hearts”

‘Chapter Two’

Kakashi stood in the middle of the ICU hospital room; Naruto on his left and Sasuke on his right. The hospital must have been full of idiots if they thought they could keep the two in the same room. Glancing at his Hokage, his former student, Kakashi caught sight of the bandaging on the left side of the kits face obscuring his view of the man. The patch covered almost all of the left side, and Kakashi could only hope that the fox didn't lose an eye. The real damage was lower, the hole in the kitsune's side, the one that had almost killed him.

Kakashi could only sigh as he gazed at the shirtless fox; the doctors wouldn't put a hospital shirt on him, not until the wound healed more. Until then, all the silver haired man could stare at was a slowly darkening bandage.

Looking to his right, he found Sasuke. It was ironic that the privacy shade between the two cast a shadow over the Uchiha, hiding him in darkness, while Naruto was in light. The Uchiha was turned on his side, facing Naruto, and like the fox he was also shirtless, only heavy bandaging being seen around his shoulder and on his chest. Doctors had told the sensei that when the back wound healed a bit more they would rest him on his back.

But, unlike Naruto, Sasuke was chained to the bed. Thick leather cuffs were bound around the man's wrists and ankles, even one was strapped over his waist.

..Sakura would have a fit if she saw this.

Sasuke was slowly waking up.

He was waking from a very odd and real dream -- remembering what had happened hours... maybe even a day previous, he couldn't really be sure. For a fleeting moment he had been sane, but now his mind was twisting, bending once again as he gained consciousness.

His eyes the color of blood blinked back the sleep, looking around the room as he slowly calculated his surroundings. He took note of the chains on him, of the bandages, of the wires and monitors all around him. He blinked up at the privacy shade, seeing a shadow on the other side -- a silhouette of someone in a similar place as he was.

Licking his lips, his heart began to beat erratically -- he wanted out, he needed to get out! The urge inside of him began to well up, like a caged animal Sasuke's mind began to work, forming plans and thoughts. He couldn't stay here, he couldn't be confined, he needed to get free -- he needed to kill.

Then he caught sight of Kakashi.

He took in the sight of the older man, his dark eyes calculating him, seeing him more as a threat than a fond memory. Kakashi was an obstacle -- he tested his bindings, the clinking of metal on metal as the chains clashed with the metal bed poles as he shifted his weight here and there, seeing his boundaries. He no longer felt pain, so as the blood began to soak his bandages from his movements, he didn't seem to notice or care in the least.

Kakashi narrowed his one eye slowly, the medication button for both men in his hands. His arms were crossed as he surveyed Sasuke…it was as if he felt no pain, he moved as if he weren't hindered by the injuries or the bindings.

"I'd keep still if I were you." He said pointedly holding up the medication button. Slowly walking over, he set Naruto's down on the small table, before stopping at Sasuke's eye level. "Those cuffs and bars are safer than what I am, so I'd stop planning."

Sasuke licked his lips, smirk on his porcelain face as his red eyes narrowed as he glared up at this man with an unwavering gaze. "Is that a threat Kakashi-sensei?" He asked, his tone mocking, taunting.

He knew these people.

The whole village.

But it was like everyone was just a passing dream, a memory, like nothing felt grounded or real.

No one mattered.

No one could take him from the edge he had leapt from.

No one…

…but Naruto.

The name slowly slithered through his consciousness, and his grin faded to a frown, his dark eyes filled with a silent inner rage.

Ever and always calculating Kakashi watched Sasuke's facial expressions.

Was there a mental battle going on?

"Call it a threat if you like." The man answered his tone passive and uncaring.

He leaned against the table, the button still in his hand. "..I can't imagine those wounds feeling very good." He started, trying to mentally throw Sasuke off balance, trying to get into the man's head.

"Wounds." He murmured as if trying to grab at the word.

His mind was split.

At the moment fighting for dominance over the other. Ever present frown on his face, his red eyes looking distant, almost occupied before they flashed back to insanity and glared right up to the tall man before him.

"I don't feel them." Sasuke flashed him a grin -- one side had won, for now. He licked his lips, flexing his fingers, testing his strength, mentally taking note of himself. "I don't feel pain." He said darkly, voice smooth.

"Oh really?" Kakashi asked, yet again his voice holding no emotion remaining completely impassive. He had been pressing the button every ten minutes for the last hour or so, when the Uchiha started twitching in his sleep. He kept the item hidden in his crossed arms, "Aren't you fortunate." He looked down at the glaring red eyes.

"Too bad for your suite mate," He paused moving so he could move the curtain, showing the unconscious Naruto to Sasuke. "He does feel pain." Pushing the curtain back he looked down at the Uchiha, his eyes hard, "You almost killed him."

"That was the point." Sasuke spat, but as his red eyes actually took in the sight of the kitsune his grin faded. His red eyes were hard, trying to hold onto that sparkle of madness, but it was getting harder and harder as he stared at that face; that marred bandaged face. His dark eyes narrowed, his movements sluggish until he stopped fighting his bonds completely.

As if mesmerized, transfixed in place as he took in the sight of the broken fox. His heart beat differently, and a pain he hadn't felt… since god knows how long caused his beating organ to ache unpleasantly. His breathing was uneven, his body swaying forward, towards the fox as if he tried to move closer he might actually touch him even though they were a good eight feet apart.

…then Kakashi pushed the curtain back.

In that moment the sanity died and insane eyes flashed back up to Kakashi. "I will kill him." He growled with a newfound vigor, with newfound malice, "He will die!" He thrashed, kicked, tried to force himself free -- panting from the effort as his crazy mind wanted to kill the creature that was causing his control to falter.

Kakashi let Sasuke throw his fit, pushing the button rapidly three times in a row.

...It would suffice for now; at least it would calm the dark haired man down.

It seemed there wasn't much left of Sasuke.

Darkness, insanity, demons...

"I highly doubt that." Kakashi answered as soon as the screams stopped.

Sasuke blinked rapidly.

No matter how demonic he seemed...how crazy he was...

He was still human, and he still had limits.

That numbing feeling began to coat his limbs, his brain, and it enraged him...but his body no longer could respond. He was sluggish, sedated and weak. "Bastard..." He growled, blinking his eyes rapidly, trying to keep them alive. “Fucking bastard. I will kill him." His eyelids were heavy, his red eyes holding rage even as sleep took him.

Kakashi watched the Uchiha fade to nothingness, taking his demons with him.

...Huh, maybe he pushed the button too many times.

Slowly reaching out, Kakashi brushed some of the wayward strands out of the Uchiha's eyes. "You won't kill him." He murmured, "You need him."

It was dark.

Sasuke had opened his eyes for the second time this day, and everything was black.

There was a light, a lamp lit on the other side of the curtain, where ... where Naruto was.

He could see it through the thin screen, the silhouette of the man who appeared to be... sitting up? Or was propped up? It was one of the two.

Sasuke's side had no light, the darkness outside crept all over him, the faint green light of the monitors giving off a weird glow across the Uchiha's figure. As the sedation slowly left his system control began to filter back over, his dark eyes flashing with more and more consciousness as the minutes passed. Obsessed with that light, with the screen and the man on the other side of it.

His dark half wanted Naruto dead.

No matter what, he wanted the fox dead.

...but then, the dim, faint sane piece of Sasuke was still holding Naruto's light deep inside his lost heart. Growling to himself with his own struggle, he fought his bounds again; making it known he was awake and irritated.

Naruto paused in his thinking; he was holding an ice pack against the heated wound. Turning his glazed eyes over to the curtain, he glanced back up at Kakashi. The doctors had removed part of the bandage along the side of his face, all except two pieces on his forehead, just above his eyebrow and the lower portion of his cheek to his jaw.

Was Sasuke next to him?

Kakashi sighed as he stood up, and walked over to the curtain, pushing it open he reached down and turned the lamp on next to Sasuke. "Must you make so much noise when you wake up?" He asked moving back over to Naruto's bed, helping the kit slip the shirt he now had on. "I thought you were a ninja."

Sasuke's red eyes blinked as he adjusted to his own light, looking past Kakashi and at Naruto. He frowned to himself, control being relinquished for a moment as he stared intently at the fox. No longer thrashing, he laid on his side, dark calculating blood colored eyes boring a hole into Naruto.

His mind was twisting this way and that, Sasuke was completely oblivious to Kakashi, merely staring -- almost seeming to be drinking in the sight of the kitsune, his usually sharp tongue dull and quiet as he just passively watched.

Naruto didn't know what to do…

Sasuke was back, strapped to a hospital bed, dirty bandages soaked with blood, and was staring at him.

Somehow, it unnerved him.

Shifting slightly, he winced, moving the ice pack back up to the wound, his head dropping back to rest against the wall, his eyes closing as a breath escaped him.

"..Stop staring."

Rejection.

Sasuke's mouth drew into a frown as he laid back, not leaning over the side as he was, once hoping for a closer view. Quietly he turned his eyes away, along Naruto's figure, down the bed, to the floor -- up to Kakashi and finally on the wall as he kept still.

His mind was tilting this way and that now that he lost his focus on the one object still holding the key to himself. "Lucky." He murmured, his voice dark, "You're lucky I missed." His tone wavered between being a solid dark even tone -- to being a whisper. Absently he flexed his hands, the clinking sound of metal a nice change of sound next to the monotonous beeping of the monitors.

"I didn't think the Uchiha murderer could miss with those demon eyes." Naruto commented, not moving from his place on the bed.

Kakashi gave the unknowing Naruto a look, before he looked over to Sasuke.

Maybe he should get someone to move one of them...

Sasuke growled in his throat.

He had missed.

He had failed in the kill.

Because of his damn fucking heart.

Because he was still weak.

His back was tense, his mouth a thin angry frown as his dark eyes narrowed. "I shouldn't have missed." He murmured, agreeing, but blaming his weaker stupid self.

He didn't think Naruto was the Hokage...

He had thought… he didn't know what he had thought, but he didn't think Naruto would have achieved that title in just the few years he had been gone. He thought he could swoop in, kill the Hokage and destroy the village without having to come to terms with ... with the weakness inside of him.

He cursed himself a million times over.

Revenge should have been his by now.

It wasn't fair!

"Well you did." The fox opened his glazed, blood shot eyes and turned them on Sasuke. His orbs were narrowed, the bright wound on the left side of his face standing out as a dark, black line in the lamp light. "Deal with it."

Sasuke turned his blood colored eyes on the fox, sadistic grin on his lips, "I won't miss..."

That damn fox.

His face... just, something about him clicked, turned on a switch he had long since tried to ignore. Memories, fleeting feelings and thoughts. He wanted to bury them, bury everything inside of him that caused him to lose his path, to make him weak.

But... it just wasn't happening.

Those blue eyes...

He growled to himself, "I won't miss next time." It took effort to keep control, to say those words, it was frustrating, it was maddening.

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

Kakashi caught the motion and kicked the medication button once...twice for safe measure.

"And what about being chained to a hospital bed makes you think there's going to be a next time?" The fox snapped back.

The ice pack be damned, he sat up straighter than what he should have, but he didn't feel the pain, the adrenaline getting to him first before the medication. "You honestly believe that you'll be able to kill me, when you've tried to kill me three times already and have failed to do so?" He pointed out rather harshly, "I seriously doubt you'll get a next time."

"Oh?" Sasuke's tone held in pitch, mocking were his dark eyes, but he fed on Naruto's anger.

He kept focusing on those angry blue eyes, that rejection, that rage keeping his weaker self from showing its face. He licked his lips, angling himself on the bed, looking to the fox. "You going to kill me then? Right here?" He felt the numbing from Kakashi, but he tried to ignore it, focusing all his efforts and attentions on the irritated fox.

"Get over yourself, Sasuke."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes; maybe he should have requested the room change earlier. "Naruto, don-"

"You aren’t worthy enough to be killed by me." The blonde started, "If I get my way, you'll rot in the lowest dungeon I can find."

"--Maybe you should rest, that run through wasn't the easiest to fix." Kakashi grabbed Naruto's clicker and pushed it two times, he should have stepped in earlier. "Sasuke, stop taunting Naruto. He's just upset you stabbed him." Despite the fact that Kakashi was also angry with the Uchiha, he didn't want any more fights.

"What? You're siding with him-"

Kakashi pushed Naruto's clicker two more times. "Shut up."

Naruto let out a long breath as the strong medication started to catch up to him. He felt dizzy, and moved a hand to his temple, before his eyes slid closed and his head fell limply to one side.

"Stop talking like we're children Kakashi." Sasuke murmured, licking his lips, finding Naruto's irritation... fun.

As Naruto fell to unconscious Sasuke frowned, glaring up at his former teacher, feeling no ties to this man whatsoever, "Why did you do that?" They were actually beginning to speak, to be on even ground, Sasuke was enjoying pushing Naruto's buttons... trying to force the kit to act, to respond.

Kakashi walked over to Sasuke's bed, and set the clicker down. "Having fun were we?" He asked, reaching out and grabbing one of Sasuke's bandages. Easily ripping it off he looked at the stitches before grabbing some cleaning supplies. "Because, neither of you are ready to have a full blow argument when you're this hurt." He answered pouring the hydrogen peroxide directly on the wound. No one said he had to be nice to his former student.

Sasuke laid there, feeling a light sting for a moment when Kakashi ripped off the bandage, and felt a sort of heat when the peroxide hit it. "Why do you care about me?" Sasuke murmured evenly, red eyes glaring up at his teacher, curious as to why he cared to clean and dress his wounds. Why he cared to put Naruto down, but leave him awake.

…what was his angle?

"Hm?" Kakashi looked down at his student, as if he didn't hear him.

Sasuke didn't need to know that Kakashi had taken a personal oath to help and protect Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke. The three who were essentially his own children, and despite the fact that Sasuke was an S-Ranked criminal, he would protect the boy for as long as he could.

"You want to lie here with dirty bandages?"

There was more to it than that.

Something in the way Kakashi responded, something in his eye.

Sasuke kept it to himself for now, his mouth his usual frown but he laid there, actually cooperative to his former teacher. Maybe subdued by the sedation, or perhaps he had let his sanity find its way back to the surface… it was unclear.

"Naruto would like me to rot." Something in Sasuke's tone wasn't as sharp as it had been, his dark eyes not shining with so much rage -- something else in them. "Why not in dirty bandages?"

"Naruto isn't all there right now." Kakashi started as he continued to now carefully peal the bandages off Sasuke's body. "He's overly doped up." The man went on explaining, "The dosage that it takes to keep him under is almost three times that of which yours is." He easily tossed the soiled linens to the garbage and reached over for some new ones. "..But he doesn't want you to rot," Kakashi's voice was quieter than before, holding more emotion than he had since coming into the room.

Sasuke’s blood colored eyes were duller, a little more sanity in them than before. He continued to look at Kakashi -- shifting slightly as the man worked on his chest. He took in the information, a twisted grin on his face as he attempted to shrug it off. Looking away, out the window, he scoffed, "Why are you explaining for him?"

"Do you actually think I care what he says?" Sasuke murmured, though his tone didn't hold conviction -- something underlying his words held them from being completely true.

"I hardly think Naruto can speak for himself at the moment." Kakashi answered, cleaning up the dried blood against the Uchiha's strong pectoral muscles. Gently setting the bandage over the wound, Kakashi held it with one hand while he reached for the medical tape, his hands were free from the fingerless gloves he wore, skillfully, and with one hand he tore the tape into strips before setting them on the patch. "You should care what he has to say, his word holds your fate, and no one will challenge it."

"Mm." Sasuke tucked that information away, but he didn't drift his eyes back to Kakashi. "I'm not going to beg him to spare me, if that's what you’re implying." Sasuke's grin returned, red eyes flashing as he turned them up to Kakashi. "I don't care."

"If I don't kill him, I can't finish what I need to do. If he kills me… well..." Sasuke shrugged, looking away again, "That's just that then."

He would not fall again to his weakness.

He would not become the weak child he had been... pining for someone who wouldn't...

..No.

He stopped those thoughts, his mouth a frown as his eyes turned distant, trying to keep control of his mind.

"You know," Kakashi took his hands from Sasuke's body and leaned to the side, his hip resting against the small table. "For someone who doesn't care about what Naruto thinks or says, you're making quite a big deal about it." Pushing off the table, he turned back towards the fox. He needed to get the blonde to lie back down, or the doctors would have his head. Carefully pealing the ice pack out from under the limp fingers he set it on the bed, "What is it you need to do anyways?"

Sasuke kept his frown.

He didn't care.

He didn't.

...he shouldn't care.

He had kept all those feelings locked away for so long he had hoped he would have forgotten them. But… seeing those anguished blue eyes, it just opened the box he had tried so desperately to keep closed.

"To destroy this village." He said evenly, red eyes sweeping across the room, looking at Kakashi's back. "To kill everyone."

...everyone.

But… the kitsune.

That had been the compromise from his sanity to his insanity -- until Naruto became the Hokage. Now there was no compromise… and now Sasuke's mind was in a chaotic state to try and gain control over the other -- both sides wanting two different things.

"Why?" Kakashi easily slid Naruto down in the bed and started towards the fox's own bandage. "What do you think you'll accomplish if you kill the whole village?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you." Sasuke said simply, keeping himself turned towards the window, laying on his wounded side but not caring.

Kakashi had just bandaged him...A shame he was already irritating the wounds.

He licked his lips, hiding in his darkness, ignoring the light -- just staring out at the night's sky, wanting to be out there and not chained to this hospital bed.

“You want to explain everything to Naruto after you two are healed then." Kakashi said, it wasn't a question just a statement. "That's fine." Easily pealing the bandages off the fox, he tossed them over to Sasuke’s bed, just in front of the man, almost to taunt him. "I'm sure he'll appreciate you wanting to talk to him willingly." Half sitting on the fox's bed he started to carefully clean the wound.

"...He's missed you."

Missed me?

Those words stabbed into the recess of Sasuke's mind -- like a bright light.

He narrowed his eyes, trying to fight against the flutter in his heart, but it just couldn't be done. He growled to himself, blood colored eyes glaring at the soiled bandages, his hands flexing in his bonds as he tried to keep control of himself -- trying to keep the goal of death in mind.

...but...

He had felt happy..

Happy that Naruto missed him, and such a feeling was hard to undo.

He clenched his eyes shut, keeping his breathing as even as possible, even when a past image of a young kitsune, smiling and offering his hand to him passed behind his eyes.

Naruto...

Naruto missed him.

Kakashi looked over his shoulder at Sasuke, noticing the closed eyes.

Sasuke's face was a bit more relaxed, despite the fact that his eyes were clenched shut.

"I'm sure he'll be happy to know you missed him too." Kakashi finished cleaning up Naruto's wound, before covering the kit with the blanket. Walking back over to the Uchiha he grabbed the bandages, "How long are you going to keep up the insanity act?"

Sasuke's eyes opened, dark eyes glaring up at the man.

He kept his frown, the fleeting bit of happiness gone at Kakashi's taunt.

Act?

Part of him wished.

His eyes were just too strong, too powerful, the energy just like acid to his susceptible brain. He gave nothing away as he kept glaring at Kakashi -- his mouth an angry frown.

Slowly but surely his face became relaxed, he twisted himself in his bonds, head tilted up towards his former teacher. "Act? Why don't you come a little closer and we'll see whose acting." He said, his tone even, grin on his lips -- blood red eyes shining in the dim lamplight -- half his face shadowed.

Kakashi closed his normal eye as he pushed the hiteate up, his own Sharingan blazing. "What are you going to do? Hm?" He leaned down slightly, narrowing his own eye.

"You have chakra bounds written down you're back, you couldn't make a simple kage bushin even if you tried." Kakashi leaned down his elbows on the mattress.

Silence, nothing but Sasuke’s silent rage between them.

"So I have to ask myself, again," he tilted his head, a smirk in his eye, "What are you going to do?"

Sasuke frowned, nose to nose with Kakashi.

He was glaring darkly into Kakashi's eyes, not afraid in the least of this man, his chains singing as he shifted in the bed, his mind processing the situation and figuring the best plan of action.

He stared him down for a good long minute before he leaned back into the bed, his irritated red eyes looking out the window.

Useless.

He couldn't attack Kakashi like he had wanted.

He couldn't even fucking kill Naruto when he tried.

Useless.

Stupid useless and weak...

"That's what I thought."

Pushing himself up, Kakashi opened his real eye once more and stared down at Sasuke, "What happened to you?"

"I don't need to tell you anything." His voice was low, deeper than it had been before, his dark eyes not looking to Kakashi but a madness was furrowing in them.

He didn't like being captive.

Didn't like being as weak as he was.

He thrashed in his bed, mad at himself, growling in his throat as he tried to throw the thoughts he didn't want out of his head. "Stop!" He flexed his arms, using all the effort he had to try and break the bonds -- the edges of the cuffs digging into his wrists. He growled, animalistic in his newfound rage, his dark eyes turning on Kakashi, the pinwheels spinning as his mind reeled.

"Stop fucking talking to me." He said, his tone low -- dangerous, "Leave me alone!" He didn't need his speeches, his questions; he didn't need the familiar voice sending light into his consciousness.

Kakashi leaned back more, and shook his head. "I'm ordered to stay here until Sakura and Tsunade comes back." He answered, crossing his arms. Reaching behind him he grabbed the medication button and clicked it once, "So until you decide to stop this little charade, you're stuck with me."

He heard a small moan in back of him and looked back at the fox. He always had his hands full when it came to the boys, walking back to the bed he reached for the ice pack and easily slid it down to the wound.

It was strange that the wound wasn't healing yet…

"What did you tip that sword with?"

Sasuke's dark eyes looked to Kakashi's back.

It took him a moment to stop his shaking, slowly moving back on his side, tired from his exertion -- the drugs numbing him in an unpleasant way. "…a type of poison." He admitted, "Though... there really shouldn't have been too much left, I cut down other ninja before Naruto got there." He explained a little more sober from the medication…his mind not as broken. He shifted, his dark eyes tired, the edges of his eyes bled black as he rested his head heavily on the pillow, looking to Kakashi's back.

"It's not complex." He murmured, "Just quick."

"But what is it?" Kakashi asked as he set the ice pack back on the heated wound. The poison wasn't doing too much to the fox just letting heat radiate from the wound and a low grade fever. He wouldn't be able to give Naruto another dose of pain medication for another thirty minutes.

"What does it do?"

“Attacks the nerves." Sasuke said, his voice weighed down with fatigue. "Naruto's immune system is better than most, it probably won't do much to him but irritate the surrounding area." Sasuke murmured his dark eyes heavy as he shifted in his bed, trying to stay awake -- focused, black swallowing up the large portion of red in his eyes; only a ring of ruby left.

Nodding slowly, Kakashi looked back at the fox, and rested a hand against the Hokage's forehead. Things were quiet for a moment, looking back at the Uchiha; Kakashi caught sight of black eyes. "If things work out," Kakashi started, "Maybe we can get this whole thing under control. Help you straighten things out."

"I'd... like that." His eyes, completely onyx were staring back at Kakashi.

Sasuke's vision was fading, it had only been one push of the button -- but no longer did his eyes give him a buffer zone. Pain was creeping into his limbs, his chest, his back... everything was hurting, he tried to hold onto the numb feeling... his black eyes slowly shutting, his breathing evening.

"Naruto...will be … okay." He said before the darkness of unconsciousness claimed him.

A/N:

Not much happening yet. Thanks for all the reviews so far! So exciting! I’m glad it was flowing well enough that not many of you noticed it to be an RP. Please leave us some more feed back and we'll try to update again soon. Thanks!

Ghost Chapter 1

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:57:18 GMT

It was a clear day.

A good day among few, it was getting pretty bad recently with the rain lately and going out had become troublesome. But today had brought fresh cornflower blue skies and a bright, twinkling sun.

Cloud knew this path well.

He maneuvered easily back up to Edge, following the lonely street back to the bar. The delivery had been a ways away, mundane to say the least but the ride had been long and lonely.

He liked working with Tifa though..

It was nice, the world finally had began to beat steadily again. All the sorrow of the past was behind him, mere bad dreams, and a reason as to why Cloud didn't sleep so much.

Besides the point..

He parked his bike on the side of the old building, buster sword on his back -- more out of habit than anything else, there weren’t many monsters to battle anymore.

He was walking towards the bar when he spotted someone. Someone, in an alleyway, down the road, gazing up at the sky.

Interesting..

Cloud's curiosity sparked and he found himself wandering towards this man. Something about him was familiar.. something.. he couldn't quite place at his distance.

The man's back was to him, and Cloud was merely curious of his odd behavior. He was wandering aimless, looking at the sky and Cloud didn't think someone could be so engrossed in the heavens.

Maybe he was just a little protective of his make-shift home..

"You there." He called in an even tone, his bright blue eyes narrowed to the man's back, he kept a few paces of distance between them. "What're you doing?"

The man blinked at the voice.

…Huh? Someone was talking to him?

Blinking, he turned and looked left then right before pointing to himself, "Me..?"

He had no idea who the man in front of him was. He was shorter than himself, but the big sword on his back…

'Buster Sword..'

He blinked in surprise, how did he know that? He gazed back at the blonde man in front of him, those blue-green eyes never wavering. It was like they were trying to pierce his soul..

Stepping back, he felt a bit intimidated by the steady, intense and stern expression. He scratched at his short, dark hair, nervously, before he bumped into a trash can and lost his balance.

The light blue cotton pants did little to break the fall, or keep the chill from the cement out. His palms scraped on the rough ground as he tried to break his fall.

Cloud was stunned.

His face was slack, but a moment of sheer surprise was in his eyes as he viewed the man.

That..voice..that face..

Cloud's brow's knitted together, he was simply at a loss. The stern facade he tried to get across completely fell to pieces on the sun kissed cement.

When the man bumped into a trash can and fell Cloud almost made a move to save him.. but faltered mid-step, caught in a dream.

What..?

No.

It wasn't..

It's just.. it's not him..

Cloud snapped himself out of his mind, out of that replaying movie of Zack dying.. of that pain that struck his heart and wouldn't let go.

Damn it..

He didn't..want to think about it.. he..

His throat was dry, it was hard to breathe for a brief moment, and he tried to regroup himself. Running a hand nervously through his hair, he took a deep breath and banished the foolish emotion from his face.

Zack was dead.

He took a few steps closer to this ghost, extending a hand to help him back to his feet -- his face once more an impassive, his mask back in place but his mind was racing.

..this was unreal.

"You didn't answer my question."

The man, who had bright blue eyes and didn't know it, gazed at the gloved hand almost uncertainly before he carefully reached out and took it. His own hand larger than the one offered to him. He hadn't seen the play of emotions rip through the blonde, and even if he had been looking at him, he wouldn't have seen it.

"Thanks." He smiled gently down to the blonde as he was pulled to his feet.

Question..?

What was he doing here..?

"I..don't really know.." He answered, his eyes down casted towards the cement, "I kinda stumbled into this place.."

He felt his hands fidgeting with his pants, they had no pockets..

He settled for crossing his arms over the white tee shirt he had been dressed in, before he glanced back up to the sky.

It was.. so strange.

But.. it wasn't Zack. It was just a cruel look-a-like that was causing Cloud to lose his mind.

He didn't like thinking about that day..

He liked working, he liked Tifa telling him what to do -- where to go, it helped him keep his mind steady, unthinking, just a tool like he had been so many years back.

Cloud tried not to focus on the details, tried not to follow the contour of the man's face, his shoulders, his build. It was uncanny..painful.

He turned his back on the unknown man, he didn't like looking at him. It hurt his heart too much, it was driving him insane. This was stupid.. it was just some.. some guy on their porch step, who cared?

He really needed to lay down..

He didn't want to get involved, he didn't want to keep looking at that face and thinking of that horrible day. The blonde was silent as he walked up the path back to the bar, unsure if he was obligated to try and help this lost person..

But hell..

He really didn't care about that right now. He wanted that face to go away -- he wanted that ghost to leave him alone. He couldn't handle it..

A note of panic ran through the stranger's chest as the blonde started to walk away.

His eyes widened.

…No, no he couldn't leave him.

Wait!" He called out, he stepped forwards in a quick step and reached out for the blonde, but stopped.

"Please, I..I don't know where I am..I don't.." He sighed, before he felt a headache start to come on.

He had been trying to wrack his brain for hours trying to find answers.

"Please...don't leave..?" He asked, his voice trailing off. His eyes unsure..

God..

Cloud stopped, his eyes closing tightly for a brief moment.

Why did the stranger have to sound like him too?

That rich tone.. it was all too cruel.

Cloud wanted to keep walking, wanted to ignore him, brush him off and go back to his old life. But.. for some reason he just couldn't completely turn away and forget about him..

..Zack.

God damn you.

"C'mon." He called over his shoulder, not glancing to him, keeping his gaze ahead. "..You can stay here until you figure out where to go." He said, hoping to push him on Tifa.. she could probably get to the bottom of his story and get him out of there.

He just wanted the man to go back to where he came from..

Bastard, stealing Zack's face..

The man smiled and jogged the short distance to catch up with the blonde, his bare feet making a quiet slapping sound against the cement.

"Thanks, man." he didn't know why but he had an urge to reach out and ruffle the spikes, but something, a hidden survival instinct, told him that would be a dangerous thing to do…

He stayed a few paces behind the blonde his eyes glancing here and there, trying to map everything out. He didn't want to get lost again, no. No the people in the city were not the nicest, most had just given him dark looks and refused to answer his questions. He had ended up wandering down some alley and managed to get lost before being found once more.

He had no idea how long he'd been outside now. He had no idea...about anything really.

He watched as the blonde opened the front door to…were they at a...bar? 7th Heaven…

..Whaaat..?

It was dark inside, the lights dimmed. There was a woman behind the counter wearing black leather, her head was down focusing on cleaning the glasses.

She had heard the sound of the door chimes and looked up. "Cloud!" She smiled.

...His name was, Cloud?

The dark haired man eyed the blonde carefully…

…Seriously? He looked more like a Chocobo than a Cloud... but he kept his mouth shut.

"I didn't know you were back already." The woman stepped out from behind the bar and caught sight of the stranger. "..Who's this?"

"I don't know." Cloud said easily, his unusual eyes focused solely on Tifa. The stranger was at his side but it was less painful to keep his eyes ahead.

"..he was outside. Doesn't know where to go."

That about summed it up..

He was a stray cat and Cloud only took pity because of how the man looked..

"That about sums it up." The man let out a small chuckle, not knowing he had echoed the blonde’s thoughts, and scratched the inside of his arm.

He held a hand out to the woman, "Hi." He smiled at her, eyes shining.

"I have no idea what my name is, or where I'm from, but nice to meet you."

Tifa just stared, before looking back at Cloud, "Are you serious?" She glanced down at the man's hand before she took it, "Hi." She smiled gently, "My name is Tifa." She introduced, "This is Cloud. The brooding one that doesn't like anything."

The man let out another chuckle, "I doubt that, he's gotta like somethin'."

Tifa smirked, he looked like someone she had met, so many years ago, then it hit her.

Neibelheim.

At the Reactor, where everything had started and had ended. He looked like Zackary Fair. She contained her gasp and eyed Cloud carefully. Was that the reason why the man was here? Because he resembled Cloud’s dead friend?

Tifa schooled her features, giving the man a gentle, welcoming smile and moved to loop her arm though the man's, "Here, why don't we get you some food. You look thin."

"Food sounds great." The man smiled gently, having no idea what kinds of food he liked.

This was too weird..

Tifa had caught on, Cloud's keen eyes and noticed the spark of recognition in her eyes… that brief moment told him everything.

Food..

He didn't feel like eating.

He didn't feel like being anywhere near the man..

He kept his gaze on them as Tifa guided him towards the kitchen, Cloud deciding to take his leave. Hopefully Tifa would let him go.. he really wasn't in the mood for this..

He slowly made his way to the stairs leading to his adopted room, the headache was pulsating in his temples and it was getting harder and harder to fend off those memories.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to my Mind

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:39:05 GMT

Ahh, that craziness that is my mind. Welcome.

I'll probably just put a lot of different stories up here. I stive to put something original up, something that hasn't been done before. Sometimes people like it. Sometimes they hate it. I don't care, it's mine and I love it....for the most part. Anyways. Welcome!