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Losing Battles	By : tasukigirl Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1280 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
I know what you're all thinking. Losing Battles? Updated twice in one week? There world must be ending, right? >.> Actually it took me about two months to write that last chapter and about a few days to write this one. Don't ask me how that happened. Muses work in mysterious ways.

Rest assured, I do plan to finish this story. Honest! The hardest part is over. Here is the second to last chapter. Enjoy. :)

Losing Battles Ch. 11
The Next Fight

"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims."

~ Harriet Woods

Battle 26:
*Naruto Uzumaki*
There was something comforting about standing in front of the Hokage�s desk. Maybe it was because it signaled a return to duty or maybe, after a few weeks of forced vacation, Naruto simply missed bantering with his leader. Today he was all smiles, to the point that even Tsunade was getting suspicious. She began to pause after each statement to look at him questioningly. It was like she wanted him to protest her decisions. But Naruto kept smiling, and gladly listened.

�There are a few change ups this time,� Tsunade said, pulling out a number of scrolls. �This time you will each be serving on actual committees. There will be more demonstrations this time and each of you will have a lot more responsibilities. I expect you to support the Kazekage in any way necessary. I�ll be able to join the second half, but I expect to hear nothing but glowing reviews from all of you.�

�Ano,� Sakura spoke up, �will we be traveling light like we did last time?� She kept her eyes to the ground. Naruto caught the barest squinting of the eyes and a moment of calculation behind it.

�Two parties will be traveling this time. Some of you will go ahead of the others to help with preparations and some will travel slowly with the medical equipment I�m loaning to Suna. I haven�t yet decided the parties.�

Sakura nodded.

�These are of course, preliminary details. All of you must report back in a few weeks for final assignments. In the meantime, you will be carrying out your normal duties until the time of departure. Is that understood?� Tsunade was looking at him in particular. Naruto grinned from ear to ear.

�You betcha!� he shouted.

�Good,� Tsunade said hesitantly. She gave Naruto one more questioning glance �You�re all dismissed.�

Naruto bowed and turned on his heels. �Except you, Uzumaki. Come here for a minute.�

Naruto paused, wondering what he did wrong and waved to Sakura. He faced his Hokage sheepishly wondering if he didn�t greet her properly or if his fly was open, or if he did anything else inadvertently that had somehow managed to tick her off.

�Step a little closer, Uzumaki.� She beckoned with her finger. Naruto gulped, anxious about the very serious look on her face.

�I swear baa-san, I haven�t done any work these three weeks and I haven�t pulled a single prank. So if you�re trying to blame me for something, you�ve got the wrong guy!�

Tsunade smiled. Her face softened into an expression he was more comfortable with. She folded her hands on her desk.

�It�s about the Kazekage. Ibiki mentioned that there is a possibility you�ll strike up more than friendly relations this time around. Is that true?�

Naruto could feel his cheeks starting to burn. He tried to smile his way out of his sheepishness.

�I hope I don�t need to remind you that this conference is very delicate. We are working very hard to earn the Mizukage�s trust. Something like an intimate relationship between Suna�s top official and one of our own could cast doubt on us.�

Tsunade�s tone was worrying Naruto. �I know that,� he said too defensively. �But you can�t forbid me from being with him.� He met his Hokage�s eyes without apology for his insubordination.

Tsunade smirked. �I wasn�t going to, brat.� Her face rounded into a familiar smile. She looked at him the way he imagined a mother would at her stubborn, wayward son. �But be careful,� she admonished. �Just keep it under the radar for now.�

Naruto chuckled in relief and nodded. He bowed to dismiss himself.

�And Naruto?� her voiced stopped him at the door. He turned to look, resting his hand on the doorknob. Her blonde head was bent over a small stack of papers. She began stamping them busily. �Next time you want to save someone, let us help? We worry about you too, you know.� Her stamp slowed, pausing just above the paper.

�Ah,� he smiled. �I�ll try.� Her lips curved into a small smile as she brought her stamp down carefully. �Thanks, baa-san.�

Sakura was waiting for him just outside the office. She looked nervous and fidgety standing next to the guard stationed outside.

�You didn�t need to wait for me!� Naruto laughed. She was probably worried about him. Sakura attempted a smile. But her eyes said her heart wasn�t in it.

�I need to talk to you.� Naruto wondered if it was the light, but he could swear she looked paler than usual.

�Hey, Sakura-chan, what�s wrong? Your face doesn�t look so good.� She looked at him angrily and her face contorted into her ogre expression. She punched his shoulder hard. �I mean complexion!� Naruto shouted in panic. �Compleeexion!� he winced as another bruising blow landed on his shoulder. She huffed and crossed her arms. �But no, really, what�s up? Everything okay? Are you� still mad at me?� he whispered, shooting a wary glance at the watching guard. He started to walk down the hall, away from prying eyes. Sakura followed him.

�No, that�s not�� Sakura�s expression softened. Naruto waited. He seldom found Sakura so at a loss of words. Whatever was bothering her was major. �Can we talk?� she asked. She didn�t meet his eyes this time.

�Yeah, sure,� Naruto nodded. He put a hand on her shoulder and massaged it lightly. �Where would you like to go?�

�Anywhere is fine. Just make it some place private.� A slight wrinkle formed between her eyebrows.

Naruto dared to put his arm around her shoulder. �Yeah, sure. I know a good place.�

The Hokage monument was always peaceful. Ever since he was a kid, Naruto would find himself sitting atop the fourth hokage�s head, looking down at the village and enjoying the soft breezes that reached him. Naruto plopped down on the familiar spot, patting the bit of flat rock next to him for Sakura to join him.

�This is certainly � quiet,� Sakura commented. She eyed the ground carefully before eyeing her skirt.

Naruto unzipped his flak jacket. He spread it on the floor next to him. �It�s my favorite spot in Konoha. Whenever I need to think, I find my way over here. I can assure you, no one will bother us,� he smiled. Sakura�s smile was half hearted at best. She settled over his jacket carefully, spreading the material to cover the rocks beneath her bare legs. She picked at a loose thread on the pocket.

�Look, Sakura, I know I apologized once before, but I really am sorry about how I treated you. About how we treated you. I wanted to tell you. Really! But Sasuke didn�t want anyone to know, and at the time, I was afraid of anything that might make him run from me again.�

Sakura�s gaze swept over the village. She rested his palm over his. �I know that. And I forgave you the day you told me.� She looked up at him sympathetically, trying to smile. It was solely for his benefit. He could see it in her eyes. She looked away from him and her eyes saw something he couldn�t follow. �You were trying to help him. You were doing what you thought was right. You were trying to fulfill your promise to me�to bring him home.�

Naruto�s eyelids fell. He scratched his cheek uncomfortably. �I guess I made a real mess of things, didn�t I? I hurt you, I hurt Gaara, I made all our friends worry and in the end, I couldn�t do a thing for Sasuke.� Naruto sighed. �I just thought,� he paused. He leaned back, locking his elbows and pressing both palms flat against the rock. �I just thought that if I could love him, if he could see that he was loved, that he would come back to us.� Naruto harrumphed. �Instead I got him locked up with the loonies.�

He shot Sakura a sheepish look. She was looking up at him with concern.

�Naruto, don�t think that way. You did help Sasuke. More than any of us,� her face fell. �If I hadn�t been so caught up in my jealousy, in my stupid wounded pride, then maybe I would have seen it earlier. The best medic in Konoha next to Tsunade and I couldn�t even pick out the signs. You�re not the one who failed Sasuke. If anything, you�re the one who saved him.�

�A lot of good that did. He�s still locked up. An asylum is still a prison. Just under a different name.�

�Naruto,� Sakura looked at him confused, �he�s not locked up. Didn�t you hear? You did it. You got through to him. He checked himself in.�

Naruto took a deep breath. That was news.

So he realized it then? He finally admitted to having a problem? Naruto wondered how he had missed this important bit of information. He regretted throwing himself into training so thoroughly immediately after the interrogation. No wonder Tsunade made him go on vacation. He had been beating himself up for nothing.

Naruto smiled to himself. �He checked himself in,� he said with wonder.

�He volunteered to help with the Juugo project. He even openly forgave Hanabi for deceiving him, even though she was only following orders. I hear Juugo has made great strides since Sasuke joined the team.�

Naruto remembered the red headed giant vaguely. He thought of Sasuke actively working to help someone, to help himself, and he smiled. �Good for him.� He thought of another red head a country away and the smile diminished a little. He felt for the chain still hanging around his neck, remembering its missing pendant.

Sakura peered at him curiously.

�So! What did you want to talk about?� he shook off his frown. Sakura turned away abruptly. The worried look was back.

�We�ll be in Suna again in another three weeks,� she commented. Naruto nodded. He had been at the same meeting. He already knew this. �Crossing that desert is going to be pretty rough. I think I may request to help transport the equipment.�

�And leave days earlier? That trip will take forever!� Naruto sat up. He rested his hands in his lap and watched Sakura closely.

�I don�t think I�ll have a choice in the matter. If I�m right, then I won�t be able to use up all my chakra dashing across the border.� Her lip began to tremble. She blinked her eyes with exaggerated force.

�Sakura, what�s wrong?�

She frowned and shook her head. �Nothing. I hope. At least, I�m not sure anything is wrong, I just suspect.�

Naruto rubbed circles over her back. �Whatever it is, you know you can tell me. And if you need my help in any way, just ask.�

She smiled at him and blinked back a tear. Naruto�s face fell. He pulled her into a hug and squeezed her firmly. �Come on Sakura, what�s wrong? You never cry like this.�

She wrapped her arms around him awkwardly and held on. He felt her body jerk with the first heavy sniffles. �Naruto� I�m late.� Naruto frowned and wondered why that would make her cry. �Late for what?� He pulled away. �If we hurry now, maybe we can make it to your destination in time.�

She chuckled and shook her head. She smiled despite the tears. �You idiot. I�m not late for an appointment or a mission. I�m late,� she emphasized. Her green eyes were wide, willing him to understand.

Naruto filtered through his many understandings of that one word. He drew blanks until a certain conversation came to mind. One in which many of his male companions teased Nara mercilessly about Temari. The meaning slowly sank in.

His mouth fell open in utter surprise. Sakura looked relieved.

�Are� are you sure?�

�About being late? That�s a definite.� She pulled away. She looked at her hands, folded in her lap.

�But about � I mean� are you certain?� Sakura shook her head.

�I haven�t tested myself yet, but there have been � changes. And I think,� she paused. She took a deep breath. �I think it�s a very real possibility.�

�Then why don�t we get you tested? We can go right now. I don�t have any missions until Tuesday. It only takes a few hours right?�

Sakura nodded her head. Her pink lips turned downwards.

�You� don�t seem too excited about that idea.�

She attempted a smile, turning her head to look at him. �I didn�t go earlier because I was scared. I�m still scared.� Her green eyes glistened with unshed tears.

�But you�ll drive yourself crazy if you don�t find out, right? And even if you are � you know � you can start to plan for it right away and do what you need to do.�

�That�s not the scary part,� Sakura frowned. She picked up a small pebble and rolled it between her fingers.

�Then tell me what�s so scary and I�ll help you through it. We�ll take things down, one at a time, just like we always do.� Naruto grasped her free hand.

Sakura smiled again and this time it felt more real. �I wish it were that simple. But being pregnant and a kunoichi, is not easy. I�m okay putting my life in danger when I�m just taking care of myself. But thinking about the safety of another, of my own child is on an entirely different level. Suddenly I start to fear the many things that could go wrong. It makes me kind of understand how Sasuke must have felt.�

Naruto stayed quiet. It was something he couldn�t fathom, something he probably wouldn�t fathom for a very long time. Naruto frowned, remembering how thoroughly Sasuke had broken down. �I can�t say I understand, but I do know I�ll do anything I can to help protect you. You can count on uncle Naruto anytime.�

Sakura giggled. �Oh god, we�re going to be in Suna in three weeks.�

�Yeah, you mentioned that already. You�re really dreading that trip, aren�t you?� Sakura glared at him.

�If my body is changing the way I think it is, then yes. Not only that� I�ll have to face Kankuro.�

Naruto pulled his hand away just thinking of Kankuro would look at him right now if he saw them. �You think he�s going to go ape shit when he finds out someone knocked you up?� Sakura gave him a very pointed look. Naruto�s mouth slowly dropped. �Oh,� he said, looking away. Apparently he had been too drunk or too distracted at the conference to notice the obvious. �So uh, if you�re having the Kazekage�s nephew, then maybe I really will be uncle Naruto,� he chuckled. He kind of liked that idea.

Sakura shook her head and groaned. �That�s a disturbing thought. Can you imagine the Kazekage trying to babysit?�

Naruto pictured a grumpy looking Gaara chaining small children with links of sand and hanging them upside down by said chains. He burst into raucous laughter. �That would be a sight to behold.�

�By the way, this is completely none of my business, but� did something happen between you and the Kazekage?� Sakura averted her eyes. Naruto blushed, remembering his jealous spat in the hall outside Gaara�s bedroom. He should have realized Sakura would pick up on what was going on.

�You can say that,� Naruto replied. He felt for the chain once more.

�Does that mean you�re back together? Is that why you broke things off with Sasuke?�

Naruto smiled bitter sweetly. �I broke things off with Sasuke because I finally realized that we were hurting each other. As much as I wanted to believe that I was doing this for his own good and that he would eventually come around, being around Gaara again� I just knew. Things weren�t the way they should be.�

�And Gaara?�

�I told him to think about it. I hurt him, and I know that. I don�t deserve forgiveness, though I want it. I told him to give me his answer when I return, after he�s had time to think�time away from me.�

�Are you worried about his answer?�

�Scared shitless. But I can beat myself up worrying about what he�ll say or I can prepare for the worst and make sure I�m ready, should it come.�

Naruto got back onto his feet. He dusted off his butt before clapping his hands together to get off all the dust. Smiling at Sakura he offered her a hand.

�So how about we go get that test?�

"I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life."

~ Muhammad Ali

Battle 27:
*Juugo*

�How are you today?� Hanabi smiled. The cold flat end of her stethoscope flitted across his naked chest.

�I feel calm today,� he remarked. And he meant it. He couldn�t remember the last time he felt so peaceful. Not since he was outside these walls and with them, his former team� Hebi. �The new serum is much more effective I think. The rage spells are less gripping. I�m responding to provocation much more rationally now.�

�That�s wonderful news,� Hanabi jotted down his vitals. �I must admit, I was a little skeptical about this new one, but everyone has commented that there has been a noticeable difference. You�re one step closer to a normal life.�

Juugo smiled. A normal life, or as normal as was possible for someone like him.

�I must admit, I have a little secret concerning that new serum. We didn�t do it alone. We had very special help on this one.� Juugo�s ears perked up. �Normally we would have introduced him sooner, but there were some� special circumstances regarding the newest member of the team. We�re hoping he could help us out with the next phase of the testing.�

�The next phase?�

�Provocation. So far we�ve only aroused your temper to see how you react and you�ve passed the tests just fine. We decided it�s time you can move up to sparring.� Juugo winced. That was the easiest way for him to lose control. Still� if the serum could help him. �We need to work on limiting your chakra and not suppressing it entirely. If we can help you learn to control the transformations, we can increase your available chakra gradually. One of the research members has offered to be your partner.

Juugo looked up in shock. Hanabi�s pale face smiled at him. He didn�t want to hurt her. She had been so kind to him all this time and done so much. What if the next phase proved disastrous?

�Relax Juugo. I think you�ll be much more willing to test out this next plan once you meet him. He�s been looking forward to seeing you too.� Juugo tried to relax at her words, but his heart beat only quickened. She reached for the doorknob calmly, twisting it slightly. �Please come in,� she said to someone in the hall.

Juugo took a deep breath when familiar dark eyes glanced at him from the doorway. It was the same pale face, the same blue black hair spiking up in tufts in the back. It was his former comrade and leader, Uchiha Sasuke.

�Juugo,� he said, nodding in acknowledgement.

�Sasuke,� he said hesitantly, nodding cautiously. He wondered what his leader was doing here. Karin said they had him under tight surveillance and that he had been forbidden from meeting with his former rogue nin companions. What had changed?

It took him a minute to notice that Sasuke was wearing the same uniform he was and was labeled with the same plastic bracelet on his wrist. He tried to mask his surprise when he realized Sasuke was also a patient. Was this part of his punishment? Was this where rogue nin ended up once Konoha got their hands on them?

Hanabi stepped forward awkwardly. �Guess we don�t need to go through introductions. Juugo, could you put these on,� she pulled out a pile of workout gear from the cabinet and placed it next to him on the examination table, �and meet us in the rec area?�

Juugo nodded absently. He was still reeling from the fact that Uchiha Sasuke was standing in his medical room. Hanabi glanced from Juugo to Sasuke uncomfortably.

�Shall I give you two a minute?� She placed Sasuke�s clothes next to Juugo�s. I�ll be right outside if you need any help. She grabbed her clipboard and closed the door behind her.

Juugo turned to Sasuke as soon as the door clicked shut. He kept his eyes on Sasuke, waiting for the image to change. He worried that if he blinked the other man would disappear.

�I�m not an illusion. Blinking won�t make me go away,� Sasuke replied. Juugo startled.

�What are you doing here? Karin said they had you under lock and key.� Sasuke walked to the examination table. His fingers brushed over the workout top.

�Not they. Me. I put myself in here.� He pulled off the standard issue shirt. His body was still slim, still wiry and well muscled. Sasuke pulled on the plain black shirt.

�Why?�

Sasuke�s eyes were still sharp. �Does it matter?� Juugo turned away when Sasuke reached for the elastic waist of this cotton pants. He heard both indoor slippers being kicked to the floor.

�I�m surprised to see you.� Sasuke didn�t reply. Of course he wouldn�t want to talk about it. Juugo calmly listened to the rustling fabric of Sasuke�s clothes. He pulled his arms into his sleeves and wiggled out of his own standard issue shirt. He picked up the black cotton shirt Hanabi provided and pulled it over his head. He tugged the edges down slowly, trying to figure out what to say.

�Have you seen Karin?� he said. His heart rate quickened. Sasuke didn�t reply. Juugo chanced looking at him, but the other man wasn�t paying attention. Sasuke was pulling on his wrist bands before tying on his head protector with deliberate slowness. Juugo didn�t really expect him to reply anyways. He reached for his own accessories.

�Once.�

Juugo turned, wondering if he had heard correctly.

�I ran into her by accident on a mission. She was on her way to visit you.�

Juugo nodded. Karin had mentioned that now that he thought about it. Juugo had always wondered since then about their relationship. He knew Sasuke had taken other lovers, but somehow none of the other ones really mattered.

�Are you two��

�No,� Sasuke cut him off. �Not since Hebi,� he said more gently. Juugo nodded.

�Have you heard from Suigetsu?� he asked.

Sasuke shook his head. He attached the shuriken pouch and adjusted it to his liking. Juugo slipped on the wristbands. He hopped off the table and pulled his pants off the pile.

�That�s too bad,� he commented. �I hope he�s okay, wherever he is.� He dropped his loose fitting pants for the heavier workout sweats. They came up a little short, but he was used to that. He liked the feel of the cotton against his skin.

�Karin told me.�

Juugo looked up in surprise. His hand paused over the weapons pouch left on the table.

�She told me you were here. I would have tried to visit sooner if I knew.� He looked away. Juugo wasn�t sure how to accept this statement. He had never expected any of his teammates to come find him. He didn�t expect to see any of them after he placed himself in Konoha�s hands.

�Is that why you�re here? Is this the only way they�d let you see me? As a patient?� Juugo eyed the wrist tag identifying Sasuke, the one now partially hidden beneath a sweat band. He didn�t want his teammate going through unnecessary lengths to assuage his unnecessary guilt.

Sasuke shook his head. �This,� he raised the identification bracelet, �is for my own reasons.� He let his wrist fall. �I came here to learn.�

Juugo knit his eyebrows. �Learn? What could you possibly learn from this place?�

Sasuke fixed him with those familiar dark eyes. He noticed it then, the haunted look he hadn�t picked up on before.

�How to live damaged.�

Every muscle of Juugo�s body froze. He looked at the image of Uchiha Sasuke and wondered who this man really was. It couldn�t be the strong, proud leader he once followed, no matter how much he wanted to believe it was. Before he knew it he was closing what little distance there was between them. Sasuke didn�t resist when Juugo scooped him up into a hug and crushed their bodies together. The slighter body was limp in his arms, thinner than he remembered, but that didn�t stop Juugo from clinging to him any less gently.

�What did they do to you?� Juugo whispered harshly. He growled, feeling the rage start to bubble up inside him.

�Nothing Juugo, no one did anything.� Sasuke placed a fleeting hand on Juugo�s waist, pulling away so quickly Juugo wondered if he imagined it. �I need to learn how to live with myself.�

Juugo pulled away abruptly. �What do you mean?�

Sasuke cracked a wry smile. �I�ve finally admitted to my mistakes. I just don�t know if I can forgive myself for them.�

Juugo wanted to demand to know what. He wondered what sort of sick ideas the higher ups of Konoha had been feeding him. He wondered how badly he had been brainwashed. And then his gut sank when one very real possibility presented itself.

�Is this about the baby?� he blurted.

Sasuke�s surprise was clear on his face. He looked at Juugo as one does a stranger.

�How do you know about that?�

Juugo released Sasuke and shook his head. He rubbed his face with his hands. What had Karin done?

�How long has she made you suffer like this?�

Sasuke�s eyes narrowed. �Who?�

�Karin!� Juugo said too sharply. �How long have you been blaming yourself for her mistake?�

A knock sounded at the door. Juugo tried to calm himself as Hanabi�s pale eyes peered at them from behind the door.

�Is everything okay?� She glanced from face to face worriedly. Juugo gave a quick nod.

�We�re almost done. Could we have a few more minutes?� Juugo asked. Hanabi�s eyebrows furrowed. Her lips quirked to the side, but after a moment�s hesitation she nodded.

�I�m right here if you need me,� she looked at both of them with warning this time before closing the door.

Juugo let out a deep breath. He went back over to the table to pick up his remaining accessories. Fiddling with the weapons pouch more than necessary he thought about his next statement carefully.

�Tell me you�re not in here because of Karin�s petty attempt at revenge.�

�What do you mean?� Sasuke�s eyes narrowed. �What revenge?�

�For abandoning her. For leaving her behind once Konoha took you back. She really cared about you�� Juugo looked at him. Every suspicion was confirmed in that one look.

�But what did she do?� Sasuke pressed. His stone mask crumbled. Anxiety etched itself into his brow.

�She let you blame yourself for that day, didn�t she? That�s why you�re in here. You can�t forgive yourself for not saving the child, can you?�

Sasuke took a step back. He mouth parted, stunned. �How did you�� His hand reached out absently for the table.

Juugo dropped the object in his hands. He rushed up to Sasuke and grabbed him with both arms.

�Let it go Sasuke! Let it go.� He loosened his grip when he realized how tightly he�d been squeezing him. �It wasn�t your fault. None of it was.� Juugo let him go. He sighed and cursed under his breath. Damn Karin for making me the one to have to tell him, he thought.

�But I couldn�t save him. I wasn�t� strong enough to save him.�

Juugo steeled himself with a breath. �Karin didn�t want to be saved.� He turned to look at Sasuke. The other man looked up at him in disbelief. His eyes rejected Juugo�s words. �She meant to tell you after the battle. She didn�t want the child. She never did. Itachi was cornering her, not trying to hurt her. She had the chance to dodge that last blow.�

Sasuke shook his head. His hand missed the table while his knees gave out.

�She meant to tell you. She knew you would blame yourself. But then you left her behind and she wanted to hurt you. I just didn�t realize she let this go on for so long.� Juugo clenched his teeth. He fought the oncoming rage threatening to bubble up just thinking about Karin�s cruelty.

Sasuke�s legs were curled beneath him on the floor. His face was frozen in disbelief. Juugo�s heart clenched thinking of how long he must have suffered. He moved forward to try to help him up, to offer a hand, a shoulder, a word�anything that might help.

An eerie chuckle broke the silence. Juugo jumped back, startled. He frowned when Sasuke�s bent head was thrown back in laughter. He feared for a moment that Sasuke was mad.

�Hell hath no fury,� he muttered. Juugo couldn�t follow. �That bitch,� he muttered. �She told me. She actually told me. And she hid it behind barbed comments like she always does.� He shook his head, running one hand through his dark hair. �And I was too full of myself to notice. I couldn�t even see through *her*.� He pulled his knees up to his chest and covered his eyes with one hand. �I really am a mess.�

Juugo smiled sympathetically. The Sasuke he knew wouldn�t have broken down. The Sasuke he knew would have sought her out and delivered swift punishment or disregarded her entirely. He didn�t know how to react to this broken creature curled up on a clinic floor. But he could understand his pain.

�I know what it�s like.� Sasuke looked up and met Juugo�s eyes.

�Being backstabbed by Karin?� he tried to smile.

Juugo extended his hand. �Being a mess,� Juugo offered, watching the moment of understanding dawn behind black eyes. Juugo forgot how much he preferred those inky orbs over clouded red.

Sasuke accepted Juugo�s hand and allowed himself to be pulled onto his feet.

�Does it ever get easier?�

Juugo lowered his eyes. He had forgotten how much smaller Sasuke�s hands were in his. Juugo strengthened his grip.

�No. But I can teach you how to live with it.�

The slim, pale fingers in his held on a little tighter.

A/N: Thanks for reading folks. The last chapter is outlined, but not yet started. You can always check my profile page for status updates. And once again, thanks for reading.
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Losing Battles