Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ In My Time of Dying ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 24: In My Time of Dying

Shikamaru panted, hardly able to hold his shadow jutsu. Sasori was strong, stronger than him. Stronger than probably both him and Kakashi together. They were out of options. Kakashi was having to use his sharingan far more than he should have due to the fact that Deidara had one of his own, something no one could have guessed at. Sasuke, screwing them over once again. He wiped at the blood at his mouth. The puppet master had got in a good blow. Well okay if he were being honest, he got in quite a few good blows. He ran into the trees, trying to get some good cover. He looked over to Kakashi, the other following Deidara's moves. They seemed to be in a state of copying jutsus, each trying to prove which was faster. Shikamaru exhaled in disgust.

“What's the matter?” Sasori asked him, edging closer. Shikamaru backed more into the shadows, knowing it wouldn't matter soon either way. His chakra was almost completely gone. “Do you not like their way of fighting? Uchiha eyes...they disgust me, but Deidara wanted one and who am I to deny him what he wants?” He asked mockingly, and Shikamaru scrambled as the puppet attacked out at him. He scrambled through the bushes to escape. He needed a plan. He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. “You don't seem to like Uchihas very much either. Not fond of our little Sasuke?”

Deidara laughed from the trees. “Sparky isn't very good at making friends, you know?” He called down to his partner. Shikamaru watched as he dolphin kicked, slamming his foot into Kakashi's chin before sending a splattering of birds to explode around his head. “Sasori-danna, do you think he's still mad at me?” He asked in amusement. “I mean...I gave him a new eye and all. He can't be too mad.”

“No.” Sasori said sarcastically, the puppet's voice scratchy and eerie. “I'm sure he's just fine with his missing eye.” He said, and Shikamaru saw how focused he seemed to be on the blond. “Watch your chakra.”

Deidara stuck his tongues out at him, all three of them. “Stop being such a worry wart...this is my first time using this eye, yeah?” He called down, and Shikamaru let out a breath. Deidara had no idea what he was doing with that eye. If they could just hold out long enough, then he would be out of chakra and they could over power them.

“Have you learned any special tricks with that eye yet?” Kakashi asked him, and Shikamaru knew he had realized the same thing. “Or are you nothing compared to Itachi?”

Deidara sneered at that, throwing a pocket full of bombs, using his sharingan to perform the jutsus he had seen Sasuke do on more than one occasion. Shikamaru watched chidori light up in Deidara's hand. The electricity licked at the mouths, seeming to come from his teeth as birds crackled all through the trees. Kakashi lit up his own, and he knew exactly what was coming. Unfortunately he wasn't allowed to watch because he had his own battle. Sasori came at him with such speed that he had to take off running to dodge, being chased into only shadows where his powers were useless.

Sasori watched him, arm outstretched with its poisonous sword. “You're the one that is screwing the kyuubi. I had to watch you for a few weeks. Your relationship is interesting. Such a happy creature...but he doesn't love you, does he?” He asked, and Shikamaru felt his heart clench in pain, because that sentence was what he had told himself for months. Every time Naruto had asked about Sasuke. Every time he had talked about him in his sleep. Every time he had kissed him out of obligation, never out of passion...or love. “No…” Sasori must have read his face. “You already know who he cares about, don't you?” He asked, getting closer. “I really hate to kill you. I know you won't believe me, but I feel almost sorry for you. Sasuke is my student. I care for him on a level I didn't realize, but he's poison. From the day Itachi allowed him to live he has been turning the ground underneath his feet sour. Before that even as I've come to learn. There are quite a few secrets the Uchihas have been keeping from us.” Sasori told him. “For instance, would you like to hear the truth behind the slaughter of the Uchiha clan?”

“Not really.” Shikamaru said boredly. “I could give a crap less about that clan. Seems it only produces duds.” Trees exploded above him, but he couldn't take his eyes away to look. “You seem pretty concerned about it though.”

“Know thy enemies.” Sasori said casually, glancing upwards and frowning. “I apologize, but I have to make this quick.” He told him. “The pain is unavoidable.” Is all he managed, and before Shikamaru could even raise his hands to block, Sasori had lunged forward. The thick poison dipped sword impaled him and pinned him to the tree behind him. Blood splattered out of his mouth and he looked down to see the damage. Figures...the sword in him was the only thing keeping his guts in. A death blow. ...It did hurt, but not as much as he thought it might. Blood gushed from the wound and his mouth as the puppet master detached the sword and left him there. “Excuse me. Normally I would be here with you for your death, but I have to go help my partner. Do you have any last requests?”

Pity from his murderer? Shikamaru watched him, knowing the ugly puppet wasn't this man's true face. “Nar..Nar…” He tried, fingertips stretching as he looked up, watching a cloud pass lazily by.

“Do not trouble yourself. I shall tell the Kyuubi that you love him, right before we rip the beast out of him.” Sasori said, and Shikamaru struggled to move at that, but he couldn't feel his legs. Sasori jumped up into the trees, and Shikamaru watched the rest of the battle as he bled out on the floor. A failure...why had he ever tried at all?

“What did I tell you?” Sasori bit out as he got up, grabbing onto Deidara's shoulder. The other held onto his arm where Kakashi had connected, the appendage burnt and bloody. “I told you you hadn't mastered that eye yet! I told you!”

Deidara shoved at him, anger lighting up his eyes. “Yeah yeah I heard you Sasori!” He turned to Kakashi. “That wasn't very fair. That was your speciality...would you like to see mine?” He asked between clenched teeth, reaching into his clay bag with his good hand. “No cheating eyes involved this time.”

Kakashi glanced at him, but his gaze was more focused on Shikamaru on the floor. “Did you kill him?” He asked, worry laced in his voice.

“He's dying.” Sasori assured him. “There's no antidote in the world to cure that poison, but it'll be a slow death. I've seen him play his fair share of games, I thought he might enjoy watching the fight.. Was that wrong? Should I have stabbed him through the neck instead?” He asked, and Shikamaru watched Kakashi's eyes narrow, the two coming together like blurs as he tried to focus, consciousness beginning to fade. The fighting between those three raged up in trees, and he watched the clouds, each one a different form of Naruto's face. Would he miss him? Would he even have the time to miss him? He had failed. He hadn't rescued his damsel in distress, not even close. How embarrassing.

All of his tactical planning, his lack of willpower, it had never prepared him for this feeling. He would have done anything to save Naruto. He would have stormed the Akatsuki by himself if it meant he could have him back. To get him out of this awful place. He had never had that before. A purpose...a reason to do anything. He had always been lazy and unmotivated, but that was before...before the sunshine came into his clouds. A giant explosion rang through the air, and he tried to focus on the fight, hearing screaming then...for who? He thought it was in anger. It was Sasori?

Sasori sliced at Kakashi as Deidara bowed over and coughed blood. The explosion backfired as his hand was black as cinders. The puppet master was clearly angry, Kakashi barely able to avoid the blows as they flew through the trees. Shikamaru's blurry vision was hardly able to keep up. Deidara was struggled to his feet, trying to drag himself up with his mangled hand. Another blur of black and red clouds appeared, and Shikamaru let out of breath, the sound bubbled and raspy in his chest as he struggled to breathe. If this kept up his lung would collapse. He couldn't die now though...not with him just showing up.

Deidara glanced up, sneer on his face. “What do you want Itachi? You know you're supposed to be at headquarters protecting our prizes.” He said, glaring as Itachi ripped him to his feet.

“It doesn't matter now. They're gone.” Itachi said lowly. “Sasuke's gone with the Kyuubi. He betrayed us.”

“What?” Deidara asked, eyes wide as he took it all in. “No. He wouldn't. Sparky isn't that dumb, and you're not the kind to just let him!”

“He killed Kisame.” Itachi continued. “He was supposed to be watching them while I checked up on you. I found them there, Sasuke had cut him clean in half.”

“You're lying.” Deidara hissed at him.

“Didn't know you had such a fondness for my brother.” Itachi said cooly, the hint of dark possession in his voice. “They're gone. Now get this over with so we can go drag them back here and kill them both.”

“You honestly expect me to believe that you're going to kill Spa-” He started, Itachi cooly cutting him off.

“He betrayed the Akatsuki. He signed his own death warrant.” Itachi murmured, glancing behind him. “Kakashi, long time no see.”

Kakashi and Sasori had been listening from above, and Kakashi glowered at the Uchiha. “Yes, not since you used Tsukuyomi on me. I hear you've been up to quite a few peculiar things Itachi. Wouldn't your parents be proud of you?” He asked. “Oh wait...they can't be proud, you stabbed them in their backs.”

Itachi's eyes seemed to narrow at that as he got closer to the Leaf-nin. “Did you come here to rescue Naruto?” He asked him, finger at his chin. “No...that's not it at all, is it? You never really cared about the Kyuubi. You cared about my brother.” He taunted, and Shikamaru saw Kakashi go stiff at the tone. “He's so pretty Kakashi, my brother, you should see him when he cums.” He taunted, and if Shikamaru had the ability he might be sick with the information. “Were you excited when you joined your group? Sasuke Uchiha who looks so much like me, but so much like him.” Itachi grinned cruelly. “How many times did you picture grabbing him, pulling down those shorts and fucking him into submission? That smart mouth being around your cock, forcing him to be quiet...to obey like he never would.” Itachi circled through the trees, watching Kakashi the entire time. “Sasuke would do it you know, that whore, he likes to be put in his place.” He said, and Shikamaru saw exactly what he was doing. Kakashi was stunned into silence, and Itachi was putting himself exactly where he meant to. “Trust me” Itachi said, poised for the blow. “I've had him in every way you could imagine. He cries like him too. Those gorgeous sharingan eyes are full of tears.”

“Kakashi!” He managed to scream, the sound bubbling broken in his chest, but it did the trick as the shadow clone distracting Kakashi looked his way, just as the real Itachi stabbed forward with his sword. Even then it probably would have gone through him, had someone not appeared to catch it.

“Enough!” Was the hissed out command as the sword was caught. Shikamaru's eyes were starting to blur, but he saw an orange and black mask. Who was this now...these Akatsuki were never ending. He tried to focus more, seeing that the man had not only caught the sword meant for Kakashi, but had Sakura with him. He held her throat with his other hand. “Are you done playing?”

Itachi nodded towards the man, resheathing his sword as he seemed almost...cowed. Who was this?

“Tobi!” Deidara shouted. “Naruto and Sasuke have gotten away! We have to go after him...kill the bitch and let's go. Why did you stop Itachi?” He asked him.

“Who are you?” Kakashi asked the man, obviously shocked that he had just saved his life.

Tobi laughed at that, and then without a single shred of remorse or hesitation, he tightened his hand and twisted. Sakura's neck snapped in an instant as her hand opened, and Itachi reached down to pick up the ring that had fallen out.

“Sasuke's.” Itachi said, and besides Kakashi's scream, the entire group of people above held no shred of remorse or sympathy for taking one of the most beloved Kunoichi away from their village. They had taken one of the only people who had believed in him enough to come. He had gotten them killed. He had gotten them all killed, and yet Sasuke had saved Naruto. He had taken him out of this place and left his brother. Had he really been with them all along? Was he really not a traitor?

“Kakashi.” Tobi said to the man. “What could have possessed you to come on this suicide mission?” He asked him softly, laughing once again...the stark personality difference made Shikamaru's head swim.

“To save my students.” Kakashi answered immediately. “Do I know you?” He asked suspiciously, trying to peer beyond the mask.

“Very well indeed I daresay.” Tobi said, voice high. “In another life.” He tossed Sakura down then, like she was trash. The body fell through the trees, about to hit and splatter on the floor. Kakashi lunged down, catching the girl just before she hit. It was almost as if Tobi was playing fetch with the body. “I give you your life. Take it. Take them out if you wish to bury them, if not…” He shrugged nonchalantly. “It makes no difference to me...the crows can always eat their bones.”

Shikamaru shivered at that, whether it be from the poison, the blood loss, or the fact that they were talking about him as if he was already dead, he wasn't sure. “So troublesome…” He managed as Kakashi landed by him. The older nin checked his wound, trying to find a solution...it wouldn't come. There was nothing to be done about it now, was there? He was already dead. That Tobi had said as much, Sasori had said as much, and now he couldn't feel anything from the neck down. It was all starting to go quiet. He always liked the quiet. As far as deaths go, he couldn't complain much. He had the sun on his face, clouds in the sky, and he wasn't alone. Kakashi and Sakura were with him, or rather, he'd be with Sakura soon. His only regret...his one true regret is that he had been too lazy...no...he had been too scared to ever tell Naruto the truth. He loved him...and wherever he was...at least he was with someone he loved back. How pathetic was that? What a dra….

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke was surrounded in darkness. The pain ebbed and faded here. His hands went to his stomach, only to find it completely healed. It looked like he had never been impaled at all. His fingertips felt over the soft flesh of his navel, remembering the hand being through him. He sighed as he felt a wave of content wash over him. He laid back in the darkness, ripples echoing around him from laying on the dark water. Where was he? Why did it feel so good to be in this abyss? Was he dead? He turned his head, face blank as he saw the other peering at him, lying opposite him on top of the dark pool.

“Hi…” He whispered to Itachi, reaching out slowly. The back of his fingers traced over Itachi's cheek, black hair spanning across the water. “Are you okay?” He asked, worried. “They didn't hurt you, did they?”

Itachi looked at him strangely, before reaching out to drag up Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke shivered as fingertips he could hardly feel traced down his stomach. “You were the one that was hurt.” He almost sounded worried, the tone of voice foreign to Sasuke's ears. “Are you still hurt?” Still hurt? That meant wherever this was...it wasn't real. It couldn't be.

“I don't know.” Sasuke said honestly. “I think so.” He shifted closer, their faces inches away as he stared into Itachi's very reflective eyes. “Am I dreaming?” He asked, laying on his own hands as he watched his brother. “Are you really here?”

“Who knows?” Itachi answered back, fingers absently tracing along Sasuke's stomach. “Can you feel that?” He asked, and Sasuke shook his head. Because he couldn't, not really. It was more like the whisper of a touch, like a feather on his skin.

“Did I die?” He asked. “Is this death?” He leaned into Itachi then, hardly feeling the hand against his stomach. “Are you my after life?”

“I hope not...a tragedy for you to have to endure me in both life and death.” Itachi said honestly. “You should get some peace.”

Sasuke knitted his eyebrows at that, never hearing Itachi talk like this. He spoke with almost constant pain in his voice. “I've never endured you Itachi, I've always wanted you. I'll be with you until the end, and then some.” He leaned in then, lips pressing to Itachi like a whisper. “Why can't I touch you?”

“Because I'm not really here.” Itachi said. “This...I know what this is.” Itachi kissed him again, even if they could hardly feel it. “You kept my necklace.” Itachi said, because it wasn't a question. “This is the world in between...in between our consciousness.” Leave it to Itachi to even be a genius here.

“I'm in your head?” He asked him, figuring it out.

“Crude...but not wrong.” Itachi approved of the assessment.

“Why's it so dark in your head niisan?” Sasuke asked breathlessly. “And cold…and alone…” He said, heart hurting for Itachi.

“Not alone.” Itachi assured him. “You're here…” He leaned over Sasuke then, hands tracing over his face and a faint light seemed to vibrate across Sasuke's skin. “Don't you know you're my light?” He asked him, and Sasuke went breathless.

“Wake up!” Naruto yelled at him, slamming him in the chest as Sasuke gasped and sprang up. “Sasuke!” The blond exclaimed as he gasped and sputtered. “Thought you were a goner, your heart stopped….gave you mouth to mouth and everything.” Naruto explained.

Sasuke took this all in, panting at the pain in his stomach. “Perv...probably just wanted an excuse to kiss me.” He managed, looking around as they were in some sort of shack. “Where are we?” He asked, hands coming to his stomach, only to shudder as it felt wet and squishy. “It isn't healing.”

“You used all your chakra...you have to replenish it before that weird eye of yours will work again.” Naruto said, as if it were obvious. “I'll find some way to wrap it, but I was more concerned with you not dying and all that.” Sasuke tried to give a lopsided grin, but he was in too much pain to manage anymore than that.

“The Akatsuki?” He asked, eyes bleary and half closed. “Are they on our trail? Were you careful?” He asked, voice sluggish and lifeless. The pain was all consuming. “How bad is it?” He asked, referring to both their situation and his injury.

“Wellllll….” Naruto hesitated, obviously not knowing where to start. “I don't think anyone is following us. I suspect that has a lot to do with Itachi, though I'll bite my own tongue off before you ever hear me thank him for that.” He said darkly. “As to that….” He eyed Sasuke's stomach. “I'm not good at med jutsu...we need Sakura for that. But I'll try to find some cloth to boil for bandages, and hopefully you heal a little better when you get your strength back.” He said, frowning. “You've lost a lot of blood Sasuke. Do you have any plasma pills?”

Sasuke shook his head slowly. “I don't think so, but I didn't dress myself.” He said, reaching down to try to grasp for his cloak. “Check my pockets.”

Naruto sneered. “Don't even dress yourself there, huh?” He mocked, grabbing for the cloak, murmuring that they should burn it under his breath. “Who the hell dressed you then?” He asked him absentmindedly as he scrounged around in the pockets. His hand came up with Itachi's necklace. “What's this?” The blond asked, and even with the little strength Sasuke possessed, he still managed to lung forward and grab it.

“Don't touch that!” He hissed venomously. “That's not yours. Don't touch it. He gave it to me.” He didn't understand where the protectiveness had come from. He hated this necklace. Itachi had used it over and over again to control him. He had made him a whore for him, he had made him kill for him. Why did he want it then? His mind flashed to that dark place, to Itachi's sad emotion filled eyes. That had really been his brother. Somehow he knew it. “I'm sorry Naruto...I just...did you find the plasma pills?” He asked, not even able to look at his friend out of shame.

“No.” Naruto whispered lowly as he watched Sasuke. “Didn't know you'd be so touchy over a necklace.” He grumbled. “What's your deal Sasuke?” He asked him, and Sasuke hissed as Naruto slowly drew away the blood soaked shirt pressed into his wound. He had no doubt that if he had any blood left he would have paled considerably. As it was, Naruto paled for him. The wound was jagged and bloody, half closed from his healing powers, but his guts were all but hanging out from the part that wasn't.

“I'm dying.” He said softly, realization sweeping through him. For some reason it didn't scare him. If anything, he deserved worse than a death like this. He scoffed bitterly. “Figures…”

“Shut up Sasuke!” Naruto snapped at him. “I didn't just get you back on my side to go and have you die on me! That eye of yours will save you. I don't know where you got it, but I thank whoever ripped that evil Uchiha one out of your face!” He yelled, and Sasuke could hear the worry in his voice. “I have to make sure you're not going to keel over so I can go back for Sakura! We just left her there, and I don't really trust your brother to keep her safe!”

“It wasn't just Sakura.” Sasuke said quietly, hand grasping weakly around the necklace. “Shikamaru came as well, and Kakashi.” He looked over at Naruto, surprise evident on his face. “You have people that really care about you Dobe, but if they were hoping to beat the Akatsuki they should have brought the whole village.” He groaned in pain as Naruto pressed clean bandages to his stomach. “Hopefully they knew when to run.”

“I have to go! I have to go help them!” Naruto said. “I didn't know...I didn't know he had come.” He said desperately, and Sasuke heard the worry in his tone.

“Kakashi? Of course he would.” Sasuke said, but was interrupted.

“No Shikamaru! Why would he? What an idiot.” Sasuke raised an eyebrow in surprise, the concern and worry palpable on Naruto's face.

“Did you replace me Dobe?” He asked softly. “He your new best friend? Should I be jealous?” He coughed then, and agony like he had never felt before coursed through his body. He wasn't even aware he was screaming.

“Sasuke!” Naruto said with worry, leaning down next to him. He was obviously trying to decide what to do. “Sasuke I want to help you, but I can't let them die.”

Sasuke's black and green eyes flickered over to Naruto. “If you go now whoever died,” And he was sure some of them died. “Would have died for nothing. They came here to free you, remember? It will all be wasted if you go running back to the Akatsuki and let them imprison you again.”

“Who said they would!?” Naruto denied.

“I do.” Sasuke said back immediately. “You may be strong enough for one, maybe two...but not all. They'll capture you and they'll kill Shikamaru, Sakura, and Kakashi in front of you just to teach you a lesson.” He said, because that's exactly what he would do. “And then they would rip the Kyuubi out of you and grind your bones to ash.” He shrugged. “I may have been exaggerating on that last part.”

Naruto shook his head in denial, but you could see the resignation on his face. “I can't let them die for me Sasuke. I'm not that kind of person.”

“You need to learn to be.” Sasuke said. “When I die...you head back to the Leaf Village and get help. That's your only option.” He pushed at him. “As a matter of fact you should go now. There's no point in you staying here and watching me decay. Use the head start we have, okay Dobe?”

“You're not dying!” Naruto exclaimed, and Sasuke knew how very wrong that statement was. He tightened his grip on the necklace, aching for his brother. He wanted to know he was safe. What had happened after Itachi had killed Kisame? Did they consider him a traitor? Were they hurting him as we speak?

“Your optimism is misplaced.” Sasuke said. “I held you prisoner, remember? I helped capture you. Just go...go back to the village.”

“Shut up Sasuke!” Naruto snapped. “I didn't just abandon my friends at that place only to let another friend die! That includes idiots like you!” He growled at him, and got up. “Now I'm going to do my best to make you medicine...and catch us dinner, and you're going to shut your face about all this dying crap and just cooperate for once!” He yelled. “And when you're well enough to walk we will go get our friends back!”

Sasuke smiled faintly at that, eyes heavy with sleep and fatigue. “Still so pushy Naruto...I missed that about you.” He managed to get out, before everything once more turned black.

,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke didn't know how long he lingered in the world of dying. He remembered Naruto coming back faintly and making him chew some sort of herb, forcing water down his throat. He remembered puking it up and the entire thing happening all over again. He remembered pain. That was before though...before the fever set in and his wound started to fester. His healing eye was working enough to keep him alive in this agonized state, but not enough to heal away the putrid rot. The smell of it was making him sick as he tossed and turned on the cot. It hurt so bad he just wanted to rip his guts out and be done with it. The itchy feeling of his flesh knitting slowly together was almost unbearable, as was the sickness and pain that was so constant he had almost forgotten that there was ever anything outside of it.

There were what felt like days where he would do nothing but scream in agony. Always batting away Naruto as the other tried to calm him, to wipe at his forehead. His brain burned, and his body was searing to the touch. The one time Naruto had dumped cold water all over him he had almost been relieved, but then he had punched him hard in the face. He passed out from the wasted energy. He had told Naruto to leave him, but the other refused to go. Not even when he begged him, not even when he told him how much he hated his fucking guts. The idiot had no self preservation. The worst wasn't begging Naruto to stay, however, the worst was begging for his brother. What Naruto must think he had no idea, but the way he had asked for Itachi, like his soul was burning for him, like he was his soul...he had no idea you could feel so deeply for one person. To burn for them even as you burned in death.

“Hellfire baby...it'll burn us both.” Sasuke whispered in his mind, sighing softly as he seemed to have drifted into almost a trance. The only time his fevered mind was his own. The only time it didn't hurt just to breathe.

“Baby?” Itachi asked, disgust plain in his voice. “Pet names Otouto? Aren't we beyond that?” Oh yeah...this...this was his heaven. This Itachi...being able to be with him like this before he died.

“Hi…” Sasuke whispered, exhausted even in his dreams as he smiled fondly at his brother. “Clearly we'd never be so crass as to use pet names Aniki.” He mockingly teased, biting his lip faintly as Itachi leaned in close, their noses barely touching.

“Are you going to finally tell me where you are?” No. Sasuke refused to let Itachi see him die like this. There's nothing he could do anyways. Naruto wasn't even showing optimism anymore, and he refused to lead the Akatsuki to his best friend. This had become a game of theirs, Itachi would always ask him the same question, and he would always ask one back.

“Are you finally going to tell me you love me?” Sasuke asked, heart clenching in his chest as he knew neither would ever give an answer.

Itachi sighed, fingers running through Sasuke's spikes. “You look exhausted. How can you be so exhausted in your dreams?”

Sasuke leaned into the touch. “There won't be any dreams soon.” He was….so...tired. He leaned forward then, forehead pressing against Itachi's heart. He'd always been surprised to feel it beating.

“What does that mean?” Itachi asked, sounding generally confused, and almost...worried? Sasuke didn't say anything, couldn't muster the will to lift his head from the warm chest...or was it cold? He couldn't really feel anything in this place. “Otouto?” Itachi asked yet again, and then grabbed his hair, yanking him back. “Sasuke!? What are you talking about?”

Sasuke fell forward, hugging Itachi then. The comfort was foreign, but everything he could ask for at this moment. “Aniki...take care of yourself, okay? It's what you're best at.” He was so tired. “And Naruto...please don't kill him.” He was so tired. “I love you...you know that, right?” He asked him. “I don't think I'll be coming back here...so I wanted you to know.” He smiled. “Even though you already know everything.” He teased him, fingers wrapped in Itachi's long hair. “You sure you won't tell me?” Sasuke asked, referring to his earlier question. “Just once?”

“Where are you Sasuke?” Itachi demanded, and Sasuke hissed as he was shaking him. “Sasuke tell me. Tell me now!” The worry in his voice was palpable. Sasuke wasn't surprised. He had been good at hiding his condition the past few weeks, but what did it matter now?

“Guess not.” Sasuke whispered. “Figures...my stubborn Niisan...never showing he cares about another human...especially not me.” He opened his eyes slowly then, wanting to shoot Itachi a smirk and poke his forehead, but he froze. His fingers lingered in the air and eyes widened. Because Itachi was...Itachi was….crying.

Sasuke was lurched out of that world, screaming and clawing as he was tossed back into the harsh reality of pain. He cried out for Itachi as his worthless body was thrown then, and cold water flooded his nostrils as needles bit into his overheated skin. He sputtered, using the strength he had left to wave his arms through the water. He managed to break through the surface, gasping for breath. He looked around with bleary eyes, swimming forward and crawling towards the shore. “W-w-what!?” He sputtered, staring with wide eyes at Naruto.

“I told you Sasuke!” Naruto said, stripped down to a t shirt and boxers as he splashed his way into the water. “I'm not going to just sit there and watch you die! You wanna croak that bad!? Well you're going to have to fight me to do it, and I promise I won't take it easy on you just because you look and smell like roadkill that's been sitting in the sun for 10 days!” He yelled at him. “This is pathetic! You're not dying with Itachi's name on your lips!”

“Naruto…” Sasuke tried, barely able to hold himself up with one hand, the other clutched around his stomach. “There's no point...Just go. Please go back to the Village.” Be begged him, coughing then as a dark red bile splashed into the water. “You have to go or all of this was pointless!” He said. “Me leaving with Itachi was pointless, because it was to protect you!” He yelled at him, only picturing Itachi's face in his mind, not realizing matching tears had begun to splash down his face. “I was just trying to help, to be good, but I'm not good…” He cried. “I'm bad...I'm bad for him.” He burned for him.

Naruto scoffed in disgust at that. “You're not bad you idiot...you're just brainwashed.” He splashed further into the water, grabbing Sasuke's arm and yanking him up easily out of the water. How much had he withered away? “You aren't their pawn Sasuke...you're not this weak person! You're a badass shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, second to none besides Naruto Uzumaki!” Naruto cried. “And you don't die this easily! You don't die from an infection, how lame is that?” He asked him, throttling him as he shook him in the water. “Now wake up and fight me!”

“I can't fight you….” Sasuke tried, attempting to shove Naruto away. “I can't even stand...I can't…” He was going to black out. He gasped as a fist smashed into his face then, knocking him back into the water. His body all but collapsed, landing hard on his knees and sending jolting pain to his stomach. The wound opened more, blood spilling into the water. “You hit me?” He asked, eyes betrayed as he looked at Naruto.

“Damn right I hit you! You're being a little bitch!” Naruto yelled. “How can you just roll over and die like this!? What happened to your life goal of revenge?” He mocked him. “Or has that all changed because you and the He-Devil are besties again?” He crooned, kicking out and connecting with Sasuke's chin, sending him skirting across the river.

Sasuke careened head over heels, bouncing across the water like a rock. He barely managed to get a hand under him then, managing to flip over and get to his feet. He reached down to stop himself, using chakra to float on the water. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” Sasuke hissed at him, holding onto his stomach.

Naruto smirked. “Knew you had chakra stored up.” He said. “You should have been healed by now, but you weren't. You just stopped! You stopped yourself Sasuke, and for what? Because you're punishing yourself? Because you think you deserve this? Stop being such a drama queen, you're not that special!”

Sasuke glowered at him, panting with the pain of it all...but the strange thing was...it was less. He saw a reflection in the water, and wasn't surprised to look down to see his eye glowing electric. “Maybe I should die!” He yelled. “The world would be a better place, and no matter where I go now they're going to kill me. I'm a traitor in both worlds.”

Naruto disappeared then, reappearing in front of Sasuke. He grabbed onto his stomach then, his nails digging into the flesh. “Boo friggin who Sasuke!” Naruto hissed at him. “You think your life is so hard, huh? You could be dead….you could be like Hinata, or all those people of your village, but you're not! You were spared! You fought for this life Sasuke, you always have fought for it!” The nails dug in harder, Naruto's hand lighting up. ...Was that...how had he learned med-jutsu?

“I don't want to fight anymore.” Sasuke hissed through clenched teeth, blood dripping down his mouth as Naruto's hands dug further.

“Of course you don't...because you're not Sasuke right now. You're what he made you into!” Naruto screamed at him. “You have always been the best Sasuke! Top shinobi in the academy, first in our class and our squad. A child friggin prodigy! You have always fought to be the best Sasuke, and you were...but then you left Konoha and became nothing but ordinary!” He growled. He made you adequate...not worth anyone's time. He made you ordinary Sasuke!” He yelled. “So man the fuck up and be extraordinary again!” Naruto screamed, red flecked in his eyes as he ripped his hand out. Sickness and rot dripped off his claws from where he had used his chakra, fusing with it, ripping it all out and throwing it into the river. The water around them turned a putrid black.

Sasuke's eyes were wide with disbelief as he slowly turned to look up at Naruto. Red chakra was surrounding him. “I was never the extraordinary one between us Naruto.” He said, meaning every word. His stomach wound slowly began to knit back together, closing almost entirely so there was just a jagged looking scar left behind. “Dobe…” He said in affection. “You shouldn't pick fights you know you'll lose.” He taunted, causing a wide grin to cover Naruto's face.

“As if I'd lose to someone like you! Why don't you just go cry about it some more?” He mocked him. “I'm Sasuke and I like to pout and throw fits constantly!” He said in a mock voice. Sasuke shoved him then, actually laughing, even with the background pain.

“I'm Naruto and I have to stick my nose constantly where it doesn't belong, even if it's too ugly to be on my face!” Sasuke mocked back at him, holding a hand out to stop Naruto as the other tried to attack him, pressing against his forehead. He was grinning slightly as Naruto went off into rants.

“You take that back Sasuke-teme! You're the ugly one!” He snapped at him. “With your stupid perfect face and your perfect hair and your stupid damn perfect lips!”

“Yeah.” Sasuke muttered sarcastically. “I seem hideous.” He let go of that forehead, expecting to get bowled over, but was shocked when strong arms wrapped around him then, pulling him into a hug. “Dobe…” He whispered, hands coming around the blond. “Hey...what happened to fighting?”

“You almost died you idiot.” Naruto said softly. “I almost lost you...I didn't know what to do…” Naruto's voice shook at that. “You were cold...like dead cold and I knew you weren't going to wake up this time. I gambled...because I couldn't let you die. Not you.” Sasuke held him then, letting the other cry as he rubbed those blond spikes.

“Hey...you saved me.” He said, kissing the top of his forehead. “You made me remember who I am...who I am to you.” He tilted Naruto's face up, thumbing across those tears. “Don't cry Dobe...it makes you look like a girl. I see leaving you with Sakura really got to…” He was interrupted then as Naruto lunged towards his mouth, and he sighed into the kiss, opening up for Naruto as he kissed shyly back. His tongue lapped softly at the blond's and his hands went to that wet hair, pulling back only when they were out of breath. “Looks like I won the fight...as per usual.” He taunted, eyes half lidded and glowing as Naruto kissed him again.

“Sasuke?” Naruto asked him, and Sasuke hummed a reply. “Your breath tastes like ass.”

Sasuke froze at that, the mood being broken as Naruto grinned wryly at him. “Well I haven't really been in the position to brush my teeth Dobe!” He said, smacking Naruto hard, the Kyuubi laughing so hard he had to grab his stomach, doubling over. Sasuke kicked at him then, smiling so hard his face hurt. “Don't make me laugh moron! My stomach hurts!” He said, gasping as he was tackled in the water. ...Maybe this whole `not dying' thing wasn't so bad after all, though he supposed it had a lot to do with the company.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke stared at the necklace, chin in his fingers as he examined it. Naruto had gone to get them breakfast in the stream, and he was once more at this point. Did he put it on? Did he let Itachi know he was alive? It had been a month since he had almost died in that river, and his wound was nothing but a scar. They had made this shack a fortress, marking up the walls with all sorts of sigils and jutsus to make it so they couldn't be tracked. He knew the Akatsuki wouldn't give up in a month, but maybe by the second month they could make their way back to Konoha. If they were careful. Whatever he did now he had to be careful. He had to be smart about it. They couldn't get Naruto. If they did than all of this would have been for nothing. Naruto saving his life would have been for nothing.

Naruto had been going stir crazy, he didn't know why he expected any different. He had been going a little nuts as well, but for very different reasons. When he had last seen his brother the other had thought he had been going to die, hell there had even been tears. That had been a month ago. What did Itachi think now? Was he going crazy? Did he even care that he was now the last remaining Uchiha? Sasuke scoffed, probably not. He was probably just happy he didn't have to deal with him anymore. Him and his annoying tantrums, well Naruto had knocked some sense into him about that. Itachi did make him weak, but it wasn't just that. Not having a purpose made him weak. Before it had been revenge, it had always been revenge, but then things had changed between them. He had been drawn into a world he was supposed to hate, and he hadn't. Hell he had even made a friend, and what could probably be considered more of a brother to him than Itachi had ever been. He wondered how Sasori and Deidara were now. Had they been killed? Not likely. Shikamaru and Kakashi were good, but they weren't Akatsuki level. He hadn't told Naruto that. He told him that Sakura, Kakashi, and Shikamaru had probably already gone back to the village. He just left out the fact that it was more than likely in a body bag.

He didn't know how he felt about that. Of course he mourned Kakashi, hell even Sakura. Kakashi-sensei was his first teacher, he had been the first to ever have confidence in him. He had taught him Chidori. He had been like a father in the village when he had no one. Sakura was his teammate, same as Naruto, though not at all the same as Naruto. He had given her his ring, if they caught her, well...he did feel beyond guilty about that. He traced his lips, feeling even more guilt as he thought of the kisses Naruto and he kept sharing. Wasn't that pathetic? He hated himself more for cheating than he did for letting his teammates and friends die. He didn't know why he kept doing it. Every time they kissed he thought about just what Itachi would do to him when he found out...and he would find out. If he ever found them.

This thought was what kept him from putting on the necklace, not matter how much he ached to see his brother. Itachi was scary possessive most of the time, and Sasuke had never even done anything...well...except with Naruto. He thought back to that night at Konoha. There really was something between them. Nothing like with Itachi, nothing all consuming down to your very soul, but there was something. He reached out then, fingertip ghosting over the red cursed stone. Could Itachi feel this? Was it like he was stroking his neck? Tracing over his lips? God how he missed those lips. This was a dangerous game he was playing. He didn't know of Itachi's control over the necklace. He didn't know if he could trace him through it, and if he could, that would defeat the purpose of all of this. He had to keep Naruto safe. His selfish desires didn't matter. Itachi knowing he was alive didn't matter. His fingers traced the jewels, longing for Itachi, calling for Itachi.

When he looked up he was no longer in the shack, but in the dark pool of Itachi's mind. “No…” He whispered, cursing his lack of control.

“No?” Itachi asked him, and Sasuke heard the anger then, barely suppressed under the surface. “You didn't want to come see me Otouto?” He asked then, sitting off in the distance.

“I wanted to.” Sasuke said softly, turning towards him. Itachi was clutching one knee, chin resting on it. He didn't look angry, not exactly...he almost looked...sad. “Aniki I wanted to more than anything. I'm sorry I worried you.”

“By dying?” Itachi asked. “Not a worry. You're better off, aren't you? Where I can't get to you anymore?” Sasuke knitted his eyebrows at that. Itachi had still yet to look up at him, staring forlornly into the water. He had forgotten how different this Itachi was compared to his Niisan.

“I'm not dead.” He tried, watching the reaction. Itachi's head just sunk deeper.

“You say that every night, and yet it's never true, is it?” He asked. “I let you die. I didn't push you to be strong enough. It's my fault.” Sasuke walked closer then, ripples spreading out along his feet as he crouched down in front of his brother. He had never seen him like this before, but then he supposed this wasn't really Itachi, was it? This was the deepest darkest part of his mind. The part he never let anyone see.

“Hey….” He tried, reaching out to touch his knee. “I'm not dead.” He repeated, leaning down to ghost kiss across Itachi's hand. “I'm okay...you saved me….you…” He gasped as his brother lashed out then, grabbing onto Sasuke and yanking him forward. The younger crashed awkwardly into Itachi's lap.

“You're not dead.” Itachi said, as if he had just let himself even believe it. Sasuke was about to reply when Itachi crashed their lips forward, and Sasuke sighed as they kissed. He was just barely able to feel a whisper of it, but it was enough...after all of this time it was enough. “Where are you Otouto?” Itachi asked. “I'll come for you.”

Sasuke's heart was pounding at that, kissing down along Itachi's chin, aching for him...for his real touch. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't be apart from him. It was too long, and he would give in. “Do you love me Itachi?” He asked, the same two familiar questions.

“Otouto, don't questions you already know the answers to.” Sasuke frowned at the familiar words, not being able to handle them from this Itachi.

“I don't want you to find me.” He bit out. “I want to stay here with Naruto, and away from you.” He hissed, pushing away from Itachi. “You hear that? He loves me! Unlike you!” This was pointless. He might as well be talking to air. He didn't even know if Itachi was really here or not. When he looked back up the forlorn brother he had walked in on was gone, in his place was the one he was very much used to.

Itachi's eyes were cold, calculating as he watched him. “Tell me where you are Otouto...I'll come find you...bring you back to the Akatsuki.” The words were similar, but said in such a different tone that they made him shiver. “You've been very bad Sasuke...Faking your death...stealing what belongs to us. What ever to do with you?”

“I don't know…” Sasuke said mockingly. “Don't think we've tried spanking yet...could be our new thing.” He murmured, standing his ground, feeling a vague sense of confidence in him.

Itachi smirked at that. “Could be...see you can't wait to get your pants down.” His brother mocked right back. “Or is that not really an issue for my sex addict of a little brother?” He asked challengingly, and Sasuke knew exactly what he was getting at.

“No Aniki...I've got that part all covered.” He said, not knowing why he was doing it. Not knowing why he would ever provoke his brother like this. “He knows exactly where I keep my pants.” He was so scared he was shaking, but tried to keep a calm voice and face for Itachi, trying to show him he wasn't scared of him. That the other couldn't treat him like dirt anymore. “Come find me Aniki...if you can, and in the meantime...Naruto will keep me warm.”

He ripped his fingers away from the necklace, swiping his hand across the table and throwing it onto the floor. He backed up as if burned. Why had he done that? Why had he provoked Itachi? Telling him about Naruto? Lying about Naruto? A sick sense of dread pooled in his stomach. He held his mouth, barely able to make it outside before hurling all over the ground. The bile burned its way up his esophagus. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, looking up to see Naruto standing there with a stick full of freshly caught fish. “Naruto…” He managed, picturing just what Itachi was going to do to him when he found him.

“What's wrong?” Naruto asked, concern filling his voice. “Is it your stomach again?” He set down the fish, rushing over to him, hand going to his stomach as he lifted his shirt and Sasuke blushed a deep crimson.

“Hey stop…” He said, shooing Naruto's hand out of his shirt, the other touching at his scar and sending a chill running down his spine. “Get off me, okay?” He bit out. “What gives you the right?” He hissed. “You can't anymore, alright? All these kisses...these touches...sleeping in the same bed!” He yelled at Naruto. “It stops!”

Naruto stared at him blankly as Sasuke screamed. “Who twisted your panties in a bunch today?” The blond asked him. “I haven't really heard you complaining about any of it. In fact...I remember you getting on my lap this morning and sucking my ne…”

Sasuke pressed his hands to his ears. “Shut up!” He yelled at him, wondering if Itachi could hear. What if he knew? “Don't say that! It won't happen again.” He was a slut. He was the fucking whore Itachi always accused him of being. He had been taking advantage of Naruto's comfort. There had been a point this morning where he had almost let Naruto throw him on the table, if only to have someone inside him again. ...He threw up again.

Naruto managed to get him somewhat calmed down. He sipped on some warm water, eating at the freshly made fish. He shouldn't have yelled at the Dobe that way, but he had no idea how to end things between them. He didn't really have a lot of practice.

“So?” Naruto asked, mouth half full of fish. “You going to tell me why you got so weird earlier?” He asked it so nicely, as if Sasuke hadn't just screamed at him for an hour about never wanting his touch again.

“Loving me is a very bad thing Naruto.” He told him. “I should have never kissed you. I'm cursed.”

Naruto laughed. “Sasuke come on...I told you to stop being such a drama queen.” He said, pointing a fish bone at him. “We discussed quite thoroughly that you're not the center of the universe, no matter how much you think you are.”

“Har har.” Sasuke sneered. “It's not that...I thought you had a boyfriend.” He bit out. “You and Shikamaru never struck me as being very good at being just friends.” He murmured, unsurprised at the stab of jealousy in his gut.

“That's none of your business. I'll tell Shikamaru all of this when we get home, but for your information he knows all about my feelings for you.” Naruto said, and Sasuke's eyes snapped up towards his, shocked at the blond's utter openness.

“You told him?” Sasuke asked, voice quivering a little. Why were they still together then? How could anyone be together after something like that.

“He understands.” Naruto said back. “Shikamaru is the smartest person I know, and if I didn't tell him he would have figured it out anyways. What we were doing was fun, and he's someone I really care about, but he always knew about you. I told him about before you left, what had happened between us. He understood.”

“He didn't understand.” Sasuke whispered. “Someone who is in love with somebody never understands when they don't love you back.” His eyes stung as his nails dug into his palms, trying not to make too many comparisons. “You should be with Shikamaru, Naruto, he's the one for you.” If he was still alive. “Everyone I care about dies...and I won't do that to you.”

“Liar!” Naruto snapped. “If you don't want to be with me then just say it, but don't use that cop out line! I'm not some girl you're dumping at a restaurant Sasuke!”

“I didn't say you were!” He snapped back, Naruto always able to raise his hackles.

“Then stop treating me like one! I've slept next to you for a month Sasuke...I think I pretty much know you want me. Why the hell are you suddenly acting like this?” Naruto pushed up, coming over to Sasuke and the other shot back, chair skirting across the floor in effort to get away from him. It got confusing when Naruto touched him.

“Don't, okay?” Sasuke said. “This is me dumping you Dobe. You can't touch me anymore. I don't want you to.” He hissed, lying. A lie was far better than the truth anyways. He wouldn't tell Naruto about Itachi, couldn't live with the shame of his friend knowing his deepest secret ...Even though he had stopped being ashamed about it a long time ago.

“You're an idiot Sasuke.” Naruto said to him. “But I won't beg for your stupid kisses. I do have some pride.” Sasuke flinched at the hurt in his voice, but held his ground. “You get the floor then if you don't want to share the moldy dumpy thing we call a bed!” Naruto yelled this time. “Ugh I hate this place! I want to go! I need to know that they're alright! That he's alright!”

“Seems to me like you do have plenty of feelings for him.” Sasuke said, watching Naruto carefully as the other was practically dripping chakra.

“Shut up Sasuke!” Naruto snapped at him before storming off and slamming the door behind him, the dilapidated wood shaking on his hinges to rival Naruto's anger. Great...now he had gotten them both pissed off.

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