A/N I totally apologize for the hiatus. I am totally gonna dedicate once again this long awaited half chapter to Leeda Uchiha, yay for your repetitive reviewing :D total encouragement! Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Get your tissues ready.

Chapter 46

Part 1

Sasuke's POV

A gun. He pulled out a fucking gun. I could do nothing but stare at it as he held it up, pointed right at me, his finger caressing the trigger. I was frozen. Everything below my waist felt numb. I couldn't run. I couldn't shout. Nothing. It was a long time before I could even breathe again. Naruto's hand on my arm only grew tighter every second; his expression was far braver than mine.

"So you're Itachi Uchiha's little brother eh? You look a lot like him, we didn't even need conformation to know for sure it was you, the resemblance is very obvious," the man with the gun stated. I needed to find courage to talk, I knew I needed too. I was still silent. No words had crossed my mind yet; even then I wasn't even sure if they could get past my constricted throat that got drier every moment.

"Itachi's one weakness…so this little emo is what Itachi has been protecting this whole time? He is what our leader threatened him with?" One of the other members spoke, another male. The guy with the gun nodded. Itachi? This had to do with Itachi? I knew he was hiding something big but…this? What had he been doing and with who? These people had gunsfor crying out loud! And who was this leader? I didn't understand what was going on!

"What do you want?" I eventually managed to speak; my voice was different, quieter and wobblier. The stranger behind us sniggered and I bit my lip.

"Well we want nothing with you personally; it's Itachi that's screwed us over so we're dealing his punishment. It's pretty terrible of him when he knew we were coming for him to let his little brother out of his sight. After all that time he had spent making sure that you were always safe and were never harmed, how foolish of him. This will be the biggest mistake of his life," the man with the gun chuckled viciously. I felt the muscles in my legs freeze over until they went completely numb and I knew there was no way I could move them. I wasn't sure if it was a safety mechanism simply because part of my brain told me to run but the realistic part knew I could never outrun a bullet especially when it was only a trigger pull away from hitting me right in the chest.

"W-who are you?" I questioned trying to hide my stutter, I didn't ask for the knowledge because at that moment I didn't care, I didn't care about Itachi's past, everything he had done, I didn't care that he had pissed off some bad men. I just cared about my life…and more importantly, Naruto's and maybe if I could just keep him talking for long enough…I dunno. I didn't want to think everything was hopeless not when Naruto's hand clung so tightly to my arm.

"You don't know? It is so like Itachi to keep secrets from his own family. I am Kidomaru; I have been hired by the Akatsuki to do their dirty work," he answered, he seemed proud though really I was surprised he even answered such a question as the fact he was wearing a mask was now completely pointless as his identity had been breached…unless it was of course a fake name. That made more sense…but what with the Akatsuki business?

"The Akatsuki? What is that?" I questioned, just buy more time Sasuke and keep him talking. If he's talking then he wouldn't shoot.

"A terrorist organization – the best in the world, your brother was once a member until he abandoned his post and stole something very important. They want it back and are willing to do anything to get it back," Kidomaru explained. Itachi. A terrorist? No. Why was he even telling me this? Shouldn't it have been some kind of secret? It was a lie wasn't it? It had to be lie. I knew Itachi could be violent…but terrorism? That was a whole other accusation.

"I don't believe you!" I yelled finding some courage in defending my brother. I wasn't going to believe that he left me for four years just to destroy the lives of others. Not my Itachi. Not my brother that saved me from our own father. Not my Aniki who loved me so much. Kidomaru started to snigger, "are you really that blind to your own family? How can you call yourself his brother when you can't even see past the lie has a created!? Itachi is a murderer kid, not just one person but many."

"No! That's not Itachi!" I argued balling my hands into fists. Itachi was good! I knew he was!

"And do you know what the worst thing is? He did it…all because of you," he remarked as I could see the smirk through the mask covering half of his face. Something icy stabbed me in the heart as I choked on sharp air. Blaming me? What had I done? Naruto shook my arm and I gave him a skittish glance just to see his eyebrows turn up at his nose with an expression that told me how both frightened and saddened for me he was.

"So what do you even want?" I muttered unable to find any kind of tune or volume in my voice. I wasn't sure what possessed me to ask that question as soon as I had done so I realized how much of a mistake it actually was.

"I'm here to kill you, Uchiha Sasuke," he stated so plainly, he cocked the gun with his thumb. My eyes widened as my brain could barely process his words; for once the thought of dying petrified me. It felt as though I could nearly count seconds within that next moment. I closed my eyes out of sheer cowardly reflex.

BANG.

I flinched. My eardrums rung. Naruto had let go of me. Wait what? I didn't even have a breath to let out when I opened my eyes to see the flickering light making that familiar blonde hair glow golden right in front of me. The world crumbled…everything around me just vanished into this void and the pain I felt at the moment… was worse than the pain I had felt when Itachi had left me alone.

"Naruto!" I shrieked, reaching out for him on impulse when his legs gave out from beneath him. I almost collapsed to the floor with him as reality struck me as hard as one of my father's punches. I tore my gaze away for a moment just to see Kidomaru and his comrades back off as another voice broke out from the distance that appeared to get closer. I lowered Naruto to the floor, holding him tightly in my arms until he was looking right up at me biting his lip with such a pained expression. His hand was pressed against his chest; I could only fragment a glance at the blood that dyed his fingers red before it hit me at how serious this really was…the bleeding wasn't going to stop was it? No matter what I tried to do. A tear dripped down his cheek and it took me a few seconds to realize that it wasn't his…but mine.

"Hey…Sasuke…please don't -cough- cry right now…I can't watch you cry…" Naruto murmured, his breath becoming coarse as I trail of blood made a path down his chin. I could feel my own breath scald my throat, as the realization of every one I took, I had to watch Naruto's splinter as he struggled to cling onto it.

"Why Naruto!? WHY!?" I screamed biting back the tears for Naruto, "why did you do something so damn stupid?" He was going to be fine…he had to be fine…he is my best friend...somehow he managed to crack a chuckle awkwardly, "I'm sorry…Sasuke…it was…instinct…" His face contorted in pain as he let out a small hiss and shifted in my grip.

"BAKA!" I scolded refusing to blink away the clouds in my eyes, I didn't want him to disappear, if I closed my eyes he would disappear…I dug my fingers into his hoody feeling his radiating warmth. His other hand reached into his pockets as his weak movements eventually managed to pull out the two small boxes, one red and one blue. He nudged the red one forwards, "open…it…"

I reluctantly pulled a hand out from beneath him before picking up the box and using my thumb to flick open the lid. Naruto's eyes looked at me expectantly as I saw what was inside. My heart broke even further looking at the silver bracelets decorated with the black half of a yin yang charm where the first four letter of my name were carved into. Instead of a white dot however there was a small red gem. I didn't even think twice when I opened the second box with the white half saying Naru with a blue gem.

"Happy birthday…Sasuke…I'm sorry –cough– it's not much…but I saved my allowance…for three months to buy them both…" he smiled surprisingly brightly. I shook my head, "no…you can't give me this now, my birthday isn't for another three weeks!" No. No. No. I wasn't taking this now; I wanted him to give it to me on the day!

"Please…I want to give it to you…early," he muttered. I didn't deny him, taking out the pretty bracelet and slipping it on around my wrist wondering why despite being silver it felt so warm. Naruto looked pleased as his teeth broke out through his smile, I tried smiling back at him but it was so forced that it almost felt fake…I wanted to smile at least for the gift but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

"Can I wear mine…too?" He asked, before he had even finished his last word I had nodded at him in silence picking out the other half of the sign and slipping it onto his free wrist. His glee soon faded as his eyes darted away from mine, his lips quivering slightly. Still his hand brushed over mine almost so the charms of the bracelets were nearly interlocking as tightly as our fingers. I chewed on my lip noticing how unnaturally fragile his grip currently was.

"Sasuke…there's something…I want to tell you…" he mumbled almost inaudibly. I leant forwards to hear him better, "what?" I urged starting to feel my stomach knotting with violent spasms. Naruto coughed up some more blood which made me wince just as much as he did.

"I've…wanted to tell you…for a long time now…I know you don't feel the same but I…I've always…Sasuke I lo –" his voice broke off as his usual sparkling blue eyes clouded over and lost contact with mine. His fingers released from between mine before his arm slid to the side and onto the floor.

"N-Naruto!? W-what? I don't – please – please finish!" I cried as the movement in his chest stopped moving. His face blurred as the restraint of tears suddenly vanished entirely. My arms shook as I pulled him up into a tight hug. I couldn't stop crying, the shards of liquid ice were freefalling down my cheeks as I buried my face into his shoulder.

"P-please Naruto…hug me back…please!" I sobbed, "You said…you said that you'd always be my best friend, you promised! You promised you'd always be there if I stopped hurting myself! Y-y-you can't leave now! I need you!"

I felt my chest tear in two…it was worse than losing Itachi…he wasn't going to come back…my Naruto…wasn't going to come back…I got him killed…this was my entire fault. The stupidest thought then crossed my mind when I wished that Kidomaru had finished the job and shot me too…because…because…I didn't want to face a life without Naruto!

I wasn't sure how long I had been rocking back and forth holding on my last memory I would ever share with my second brother when I was tapped on the shoulder. Afraid of it being Kidomaru I jumped, flicking my gaze towards a fairly old man with ivory white spiky long hair.

"I heard the gunshot…I called the police and they ran off…I'm so sorry I didn't get here sooner."

It was only minutes later when the repetitive flash of red and blue lit up the alleyway as the colours themselves had me crying even harder. I hadn't let go of Naruto…I didn't think I ever could. How was I supposed to cope without him? He was there when Itachi wasn't…he was always the sole person I could ever count on. This wound would never heal. How was I supposed to tell his parents? How was I supposed to turn up to his funeral!? Another pair of hands rested on my shoulders and tugged gently, "I'm so sorry kid…but you're going to have to let go of your friend." The man in uniforms words broke me out of a trance as I ragged my shoulders out of his grasp and forced my teeth together, "NO!" I shouted, my eyes burning from the flood of sorrow, I wasn't letting Naruto go! Not for them, not for anyone! I clung to him tighter, I couldn't just leave him for them to take him some place unknown…I couldn't leave him not like this. The hands were replaced once more but with a firmer grip as he tried to pull me away. I struggled against his grasp with a hysterical mixture between growling and weeping even more.

"I'm sorry kid but you can't stay like this…don't worry we'll take him somewhere safe, I promise you see him again," he stated as I didn't have a choice in answering any further when he managed to drag me away from Naruto despite my physical protest. I couldn't breathe when a bunch of paramedics brought over that thick black body bag and I had to turn away. It was all too real…everything was all too real. My world was collapsing and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Why couldn't it have been me? It was supposed to be me. Naruto…I'm so sorry…I don't want to say goodbye. I never wanted to say goodbye.

Even after my tears had somehow managed to dry my eyes were still fogged over. The police had taken me for questioning in a small grey room. I felt trapped. The walls of the room were closing in on me so rapidly.

"My name is Officer Hagane Kotetsu and I will be the officer leading this questioning…mind telling me your name?" The officer on the seat in front of me asked. I fiddled with the small white plastic cup in front of myself filled up with water finding some comfort in the sound of it crinkling.

"Uchiha….Sasuke…" I murmured keeping my gaze locked on the distant ripples of the clear liquid.

"Alright Sasuke…you mind telling me what happened?" His voice was soft; close to sympathetic…the problem was I didn't want to answer. Half of me wasn't even sure how to answer, I couldn't tell them about what Kidomaru had said about my brother…the other half of me didn't want to relive that moment. I knew I should have said something for Naruto's sake, to just let his killer walk escape free wasn't fair – but if he was someone hired by terrorists then what were the chances of him getting caught anyway? Fuck! Everything was so complicated…why did this even have to happen? Naruto had done nothing to deserve this.

"I understand Sasuke…you don't feel like talking," Kotetsu said as I heard his chair scrape against the floor as he stood up and made his way over to the doorway, "we will get in contact with someone to come and pick you up," he then left before I had chance to react.

I let out a broken sigh as my mind began to wander into a drowning blindness as I thought about all the time I had spent with Naruto…I couldn't forget these memories, not ever. All the way back to when Naruto found me in the schools toilets with those razors. He was the one who made me feel ashamed of the path I was walking down…I hadn't picked up a razor since that time and he always looked so proud every day that I hadn't done anything reckless. He cared so much…I would do anything just to hear him talking to me right now. I started to mindless stroke the bracelet on my wrist thinking about the games we played together…all that Mortal Kombat and then that time where he dressed all Goth and looked so amazing or even when Itachi allowed him to stay over and he ate so much pizza. A sad smile crept across my face as I thought about the Murder ball tournament and how Naruto had taken a ball for me…why did he always save me? Why was it never the other way around? Why couldn't I save anyone!? I couldn't even save myself…

"Sasuke teme, don't be so down already! Cheer up! I want you to cheer up for me." I said out loud to myself trying to mimic Naruto's voice, wondering if this was what he would say to me right now. I looked down at my wrist only then noticing the inscribing on the back of the charm: stay strong!

Stay strong eh? I couldn't help but think at how much Naruto would yell at me if I decided to give up now…still I wasn't really sure if I did want to carry on…but I had to right? For Naruto's sake. But was it possible? Once again my eyes watered, threatening a cry.

There was a turn of the handle at the door as I turned around to be greeted by the sight of Kotetsu.

"Sasuke someone is here to pick you up…I'll give you a moment," he backed out of the door and disappeared before replaced by another figure. My blood ran cold. The lock clicked behind him.

"Hello brat…happy to see me?" My father smirked taking a few steps into the claustrophobic room, my eyes locked onto him as I stood up from the chair. I didn't need this right now! He came a little closer until he was only a few steps away, I was astounded by the fact I hadn't backed away but as it was I stood inflexibly on the spot.

"I always knew you would end up in a police station you worthless piece of shit, never thought it would be for getting your friend killed, it's his own fault for being friends with a waste like you, that moron," he started to laugh beyond sadistically and beyond mockingly. I tensed up, my jaw locked together and my shoulders went rigid. The focus in my eyes returned in a flash.

I punched him.

"How dare you talk about Naruto like that! I'm not afraid of you anymore you asshole!" I growled feeling the fury course through my veins like a forest fire, watching as he hand when to his jaw as he lost his footing and fell heavily against the wall. It was a lie…I would always be afraid of him – but goddammit I had nothing to lose anymore! He could hit me all he wanted but nothing would ever compare to the pain I was already feeling. He could say what he wanted about me but not Naruto. That was too far. I had never felt my heart beat so courageously yet so viciously in front of him before and I couldn't stop myself from grabbing hold of his collar in his state of shock and forcing him against the wall.

"I hate you! I fucking hate you!" I roared sending another fist into his nose listening to it crack under the pressure of my punch. It felt way too good to watch him wince and shudder in pain.

"Say and do what you want Sasuke…but you will always be that spineless coward. You can't ever run away from me," he snickered looking amused as his nose began to bleed.

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" I shouted hitting him again, remembering all the times he had hit me and how it felt. It wasn't fair! What did I ever do have to have such an agonizing life!? My happiness was always fleeting, why does nothing ever go right for me!? I hit him again.

"You ruined my life for years! Father!" I spat his title feeling the blood from his face glide down my pressed knuckles.

I was about to hit him again when my first was caught.

"Hey stop it!" Kotetsu instructed curling an arm around my waist, dragging me away from my father. Another officer was already seeing to Fugaku whose face was a mixture of red and purple, "get him away from me! I'm not going with him!" I shrieked wanting him away from me before I took the law into my own hands beat him to death. I had had enough. Enough of everything. The other officer nodded, doing just that, I could only watch as my father played off being the victim despite giving me a devilish smirk on his way out. When Fugaku was completely out of the way Kotetsu let go of me to step in front of me looking rather displeased.

"Sasuke…you do realize you just assaulted your father…if he presses charges you can be arrested you do realize that?" He sighed.

"I know. I don't care." I stated plainly before even thinking about what I was saying, he deserved ever punch and for once I was glad of doing something stupid because it really had lifted some of the intimidation away. Ever since moving in with Itachi my courage had definitely increased…Itachi…

Where was he? I started to feel angry that he still hadn't shown up…the time when I needed him most he had deserted me, what kind of brother is he after all?

Time kept passing so slowly but my mind kept wandering so that it almost seemed like a blur, I was fully informed that Fugaku wasn't planning on pressing charges; it wasn't for my sake of course because he knew getting into a court case would be a bother and I had a decent argument against him. Instead I was kept waiting for someone else to pick me up…Itachi was the only other family member I had but I doubted they had any records of him to even call him. I wondered myself why I hadn't tried to with my own cell…maybe I was just waiting for him to make the first move.

Soon after that I had another visitor.

"Hey Sasuke," Kakashi smiled warmly entering the plain room which I had been sitting in for the last three hours. I didn't even pick myself up from the position I was in with my head buried in my arms on the table.

"I'm here to get you out of here…I'm so sorry about Naruto, I really am…" his voice quickly trailed off into a mere whisper as the thought of what happened clearly sunk in with him as well, after all he was still a teacher at the school, he knew Naruto as well.

"Where's Itachi?" I questioned wanting to move along the subject.

"Sasuke…how about I take you back to my place first and then we can talk about Itachi…alright?"

A/N Feel free to hate me. Is anyone still reading this anyway? I'm really not sure anymore ;_;

Well if there are I will write the second half.