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Of Sacrifices and Love - COMPLETE!!!	By : Tsukineko9 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1562 -:- 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
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Title: Of Sacrifices and Love

Author: Cecilia Tsukineko and Kirei Kitsue

Rating: NC-17

Genre and Pairing: yaoi, SasuNaru

Notes: For further reference here is a key to help you follow the story:

::this:: is a character's own personal thoughts

*this* is mindspeech

DISCLAIMER: We don't gain anything but amusement from these writings, so please give credit to Kishimoto Masashi-sama for the characters and all things canon!

Chapter Twenty-Two

----------That Evening----------
Sasuke slowly felt the blackness of Rest slip away from him much like the day slipped away from the world. Eventually he opened deep black eyes and stared at the ceiling knowing immediately where he was. Slowly, still a little sluggish yet, he turned his head and looked to the other bed.
�About time you woke up,� Naruto grumbled with a smirk. �I kept throwing things at you but you just kept sleeping.�
He smirked a little at that and sat up very slowly. He was at a loss of what to say, so he simply said nothing and sat there gathering the rest of his wits as the sun finished setting. ::He looks better...::
�Why didn't you kill him?� Naruto asked. The fact that Sasuke hadn't taken the chance to kill Itachi had plagued him all day.
Sasuke looked up from his feet where they hung over the edge of the bed and met wide, beautiful blue eyes. �I can deal with Itachi later. The only thing that mattered was getting you to safety,� he replied in soft tones, but his gaze never faltered.
�But... you knocked him out, didn't you? You could have killed him right then.� Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. �You could have finally avenged your family.�
�My family will be avenged soon enough. I wasn't going to see another person that I care about in pain or dead. Itachi can go to hell,� he grumbled and stood slowly. �Are you hungry?� he asked as he made his way to the door. He felt very relaxed, comfortable now that Naruto was near him and talking to him.
�Only if they don't insist on giving me the same disgusting crap they did at noon.� Naruto made a face.
Sasuke poked his head out of the room and saw that the coast was clear. �I could get you some ramen from the Ichiraku...� he offered absently as he stepped out a little further trying to see someone. He needed a little bit of blood and since he was in the hospital anyway he thought he might try it cold.
�Miso pork?� Naruto asked hopefully. Oh, how he missed ramen! He'd argued for a good hour with the nurse at lunch, refusing to eat the rice pudding while demanding ramen. She finally got the pudding into him by threatening to get Tsunade to feed him, and had said that his stomach wasn't ready for ramen yet. Well, he'd take his chances.
Sasuke nodded. He supposed he'd have to wait to try cold blood. It didn't sound appetizing but he could at least see if it would do in a pinch. He didn't want anything like what had happened a month ago to happen again. Truthfully though, he admitted to himself, this was all a distraction to keep him from pissing Naruto off again. If he let himself think and Feel over Naruto right now, he just might do that. He looked back at the blond. �I'll be back,� he said and vanished, teleporting. He returned shortly thereafter and shut the door firmly behind him before moving over to Naruto's bed. He had three bowls, two for Naruto if he could eat them - and they could always be reheated later - and one for himself. It wasn't his favorite food, but he just couldn't have onigiri any more so...
�Do you want my noodles?� he asked as he settled cross-legged at the foot of Naruto's bed.
�Yeah!� Naruto grinned as he sat up, scooting back a bit so he could lean on the headboard. He was very, very happy at the moment. He had ramen! Slowly he drank the broth of his first bowl, pausing often to let his stomach adjust to having food in it again. �Ne, Sasuke...?� he asked quietly, suddenly serious as he remembered something Tsunade had said that morning.
�Hmmm?� he asked lowering the bowl from his mouth. He'd been sipping the warm broth relatively happily, but Naruto's sudden seriousness made him frown a little. �What is it?� he has already dumped as many noodles as he could into Naruto's two bowls dividing it evenly so neither bowl overflowed, so it couldn't be over the ramen.
�Kuso-baba and Ero-Sennin were here this morning. When I told them about how you didn't kill Itachi the old hag looked at you and said 'I guess he really does'.� Naruto lifted his eyes from the bowl to look at Sasuke. �What did she mean?�
�Love you. They inquired about the reasons for my Going to Ground. I told them that you and I had had a fight.� Naruto already knew all of it, so he figured just coming right out and saying it now was a moot point.
�Oh...� Naruto looked down at his bowl again, not sure what to say. This whole ordeal certainly made him more willing to trust Sasuke, but he still wasn't sure if he wanted to risk anything more than companionship. His heart still ached.
::One good question deserves another...:: �Why were you looking for me that day, Naruto?� he asked and settled his bowl on his knee.
�I... wanted to apologize for yelling at you...� Naruto said quietly, still not looking up. �And to tell you that... I'm willing to try and be friends again... But if you don't want to I understand...�
Sasuke was quiet for a moment and then he was standing and walking towards the head of the bed. His bowl clattered a little on the nightstand as he set it there and then his arms were around Naruto's shoulders, simply hugging him. �That is exactly what I want.� ::There's more but I can't expect love right away... not after what I put him through....::
�Oi! Tsunade! You gotta see this!� Jiraiya called as he walked in, grinning as Naruto turned bright red. �Aren't you supposed to be sticking to bland foods?�
�Haven't you heard of KNOCKING?!� Naruto demanded, not realizing just how much of a hypocrite he was.
Sasuke let him go slowly and picked up his own bowl. It ended up in Jiraiya's face, the few noodles that were left and all. �Zaku...� he murmured and turned to go sit at the end of the bed again.
Tsunade entered the room and couldn't help but laugh outright at Jiraiya though she tried to stem it with her hand. �See... what?� and she giggled a little.
�Never mind...� Jiraiya muttered, wiping broth off his face and glaring at Sasuke. �Gaki...� His glare moved to Naruto, who was currently dying of laughter.
Sasuke smirked just a little bit at that, but settled without a peep at the end of Naruto's bed.
Tsunade finally got herself under control and pushed the door open all the way then stood aside. �Come on, Jiraiya. I'm done for the night... Let's go get you cleaned up.� She knew that she and Jiraiya were the only two picking up on the hidden meaning of that middle statement.
�Just a sec.� He walked over to Naruto and bonked him lightly on the head. �You are supposed to be keeping to bland foods.�
Naruto stopped laughing in favor of scowling at his mentor. �But the stuff they give me is disgusting. And I wanted ramen!�
�Naruto's lived on Ramen his entire life. His stomach is more unused to having regular and balanced foods... besides he isn't your normal human being...� Sasuke said evenly from where he sat waiting for Jiraiya and Tsunade to go so he and Naruto could be alone.
�What he s- Wait a minute!� Naruto scrunched his face at Sauske. �Jackass. At least I'm still human,� he taunted with a razz.
�You're still not normal,� Jiraiya teased, happy to see Naruto back to his usual self.
�Freak of nature. Look who's talking,� the fox-boy shot back.
�I have to agree with Naruto, Jiji... You're more of a freak than he is.� Sasuke put in. His voice and expression were bland, but his eyes held a tiny bit of amusement.
Tsunade laughed a little, �They've got you there, Jiraiya.�
�Three against one~!� Naruto sing-songed with a huge grin as Jiraiya scowled at everyone.
�Brats. You're all brats. I don't know why I put up with you lot,� the hermit grumbled as he left the room.
�Because otherwise you'd die of boredom!� Naruto called after him.
Tsunade cast Naruto a slit-eyed grin and then shut the door catching up to Jiraiya easily. They waked side by side in silence for a little bit and then, on impulse Tsunade reached over and caught up his hand in hers. The world was good and normal again for the time being. Her precious people were safe.
Smirking Sasuke looked at Naruto once more and contemplated reopening the topic of discussion they'd been carrying before they had been so rudely interrupted.
In a very good mood now that he'd gotten to torment Jiraiya, Naruto finished the broth in his first bowl of ramen and began to slowly eat the noodles. All the while there was a happy smile on his face.
Deciding it could wait for now Sasuke just leaned back on his hands, bracing them on the foot of the bed, and watched Naruto eat, simply enjoying the moment.
Naruto managed to eat half of the noodles in the first bowl before his stomach really began to protest at having something solid in it. Deciding to make the most of what he had he drank the broth in the second bowl. Feeling strangely full - normally it took seven or eight bowls before he was completely full - Naruto sighed and lay back down. �That was goooood... Thanks for the ramen, Sasuke.�
�Doitashimashite...� he murmured, welcoming Naruto for the meal, and smirked faintly still reclining back, braced on the footboard of the bed. It was definitely a moment he could enjoy... for a long, long time. His eyes traveled once over all of Naruto that he could see and then drifted back up to his whiskered cheeks, then his baby blue eyes.
�Thanks... for rescuing me too...� Naruto added quietly, eyes averted. �I was starting to think no one was going to come... I thought you were a dream the whole time.�
His mouth turned down a little. �I'm sorry it took so long... but you were hard to track,� he said softly. �All I care about is that you're safe and here now.� He scooted a little closer and lifted a hand as though he wanted to touch Naruto's arm, but he drew it back and settled it in his lap. He didn't want to push Naruto any more. He'd finally realized, at some point in his dreamless Rest, that he'd been going about this all wrong since the beginning.
�The important thing is that you did it... How did you even know that Itachi had taken me?� Naruto asked curiously. �They knocked me out so fast I didn't even realize what had happened until I woke up in that cell.�
�You were so close to my resting place that you could have breathed on me...� his mouth didn't tilt upwards though despite the slight joke. �I was due to wake up then anyway... and I could sense and Feel you... I felt your distress. And then I sensed Itachi. As soon as I was able I fed and set out after you...� he shrugged a little by lifting one shoulder.
�Oh, okay. How come you didn't want your noodles?�
Sasuke's eyebrow lifted. �I live off blood... anything more solid than that and it doesn't set well in my stomach. I told you that I live off blood now... didn't I?� ::I thought everyone knew by now...::
Of course, Naruto didn't know. For one, he'd never let Sasuke get around to telling him, and two, no one else had bothered to tell him because they all assumed that he already knew. �You live off blood? Weird... I'd hate it if I couldn't have ramen noodles.�
Sasuke shrugged a little. �I miss onigiri...� he muttered and looked off to the side. When team seven had first gotten together Sasuke had primly stated that he disliked lots and liked very little, but now it seemed he was more willing to share about himself.
Naruto laughed. It felt so wonderful to be open with Sasuke again... and the fact that Sasuke was willing to be so open with him made it all the better. Like a balm on a wound Naruto could feel his heart healing along with his body. Maybe - just maybe - this time around he and Sasuke could be true best friends. Not semi-friendly rivals that argued and fought all the time. Real friends.
Sasuke sighed but he smiled a little, almost shyly over having said something like that. Still, it was Naruto. �Maybe someday I'll be able to eat them again...� he shrugged a little again. �How are you feeling?� he asked suddenly.
�A lot better than this morning, especially after the ramen,� Naruto said with a grin. �I'm still a little tired though... but I have almost all my chakra back so I'll be all healed up soon. A few more days, I think.� He sighed. �And then I have to train and get back the weight I lost...� He made a face at his arms, which were clearly not quite as muscular as they had been a month ago. And he'd worked so hard to become strong so he could pass the Jounin exam and then become Hokage.
�If you need a sparring partner...� Sasuke offered, softly. His feet were on the floor right now and he leaned his arms on his thighs bending forward. He glanced at Naruto through one long black bang. �I could use the practice. I need to take the Chuunin exam soon...�
�And just how are you gonna pass when you sleep all day?� Naruto pointed out with a raised brow. �The finals are during the day.�
�I know....� he smirked a little and straightened folding his arms over his chest, looking a little smug. �I have my ways... It's not something that I can do easily but that's what the Exams are about right? Dealing with difficulty and overcoming it.... I can't go out in the sunlight... but there are ways around that...�
�Cheeky bastard,� Naruto scoffed with a smirk. �If you don't pass I'm gonna rub your face in it soooooooo much,� he teased.
�I'll pass. I'll just have to get some place dark afterward. And I'll need to Feed a lot before and a lot after... depending on how much power I end up using in the exam.� He still looked a little on the smug side.
�Cheeky bastard,� Naruto repeated, razzing him.
Sasuke opted to just flick him in the middle of the forehead, gently. �Baka....�
Naruto scrunched his face at him playfully. �I am not.�
Sasuke smirked. �No... You're actually not so much of a baka any more...� he smiled genuinely for the first time free with the expression.
Naruto blushed lightly at Sasuke's smile, finally seeing just how beautiful Sasuke was now. He'd never taken the time to really look before. And that open, honest smile made him... breathtaking. Realizing he was staring Naruto quickly looked away, blushing even brighter. �Thanks,� he said softly, a small happy smile on his face.
Sasuke's smile turned into a smirk. �It's the truth... and I should have realized it before now... You're worth more than this village gives you credit for.... even now. I just want you to know that's how I feel... all things in the past behind us...� It felt good to say it so boldly. Naruto didn't hear enough of it anyway.
Turning even redder from happy embarrassment Naruto muttered his thanks and fidgeted a bit.
Sasuke smirked again. �You look like a tomato...�
That got him a pillow in the face and a growl.
He caught the pillow and returned it instantly with a small, musical laugh... the first laugh he'd ever given in Naruto's presence that wasn't cynical or cruel.
Still bright red Naruto caught the pillow and put it back where he'd gotten it from and curled up, pretending to go to sleep� after, of course, razzing Sasuke loudly.
Sasuke chuckled again and then got off the foot of the bed. He took Naruto at his �word� assuming the fox-boy was tired again so he simply moved over to the side of Naruto's bed and leaned down, planting one soft peck to Naruto's temple. �Rest well.... I need to go find a donor...� he murmured and then turned, prepared to leave.
Naruto didn't move or say anything, even though the light kiss had left his skin feeling tingly. But just as Sasuke was going through the door he felt a sudden surge of panic and he whispered, �You'd better come back...�
Sasuke paused in the doorway and turned his head to look over his shoulder for just one second. Then slowly he turned back around and came back to kneel so that he and the blond were at eye-level. �I�ll be back as soon as I've fed. I promise...� he murmured and brushed aside blond bangs from Naruto's forehead. Without his hitai-ate the fox-boy looked more like a child than a ninja and Sasuke could sense the slight panic welling up in his teammate through his Empathy. �Ok?�
�'Kay,� Naruto murmured back, eyes still closed in feigned sleep.
Sasuke stood his fingers brushing Naruto's cheek and then he teleported vanishing from the room.
TBC...
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Of Sacrifices and Love - COMPLETE!!!