SnowKunoichi-chan: I plan for this to be a two-shot, but if anyone wants me to continue writing this one, please let me know and I'll see what I can come up with. Hopefully, this will turn out well, even though I haven't even finished the whole story, but I know where I want to go with it. Sorry if the Prologue seems too short, it's just supposed to give you an idea of what's going on.

Disclaimer: -sighs- Me no owney, you no suey. Plot mine, characters Kishimoto's...-,-' why you rub it in..?

Summary: Naruto is having trouble coping with being the Kyuubi's vessel. Sasuke begins to notice something a little off-color about the blonde. One day, Naruto goes too far, and it seems it could be too late to save him. SasuNaru Mild Sakura bashing Warning! Self-mutilation, yaoi, graphic lemon

.:Anatomize:.

-Prologue-

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To Anatomize - To expose underlying structure by separating into pieces.

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Another long slash.

Another hiss of pain.

A thick crimson line oozed freely in the kunai's wake, trailing down and dripping sluggishly off of his arm. The inflamed flesh bore faded tokens of the many time before this, the many time he had literally opened himself to the world. The porcelain bathroom sink was marred with little rivulets of red. His brain flared with emotions, dark ideas suggested to him by invisible presences. He pressed the sharp object to the tender skin once more, and let it slide. Those murmuring voices clawed at the back of his skull, scratching loose his most hurtful memories.

Stay away.

Don't touch him.

He's not safe.

He cursed under his breath. He hated them. All of them. He say every disgusted glance thrown his way...heard every not-so-quiet comment behind cupped hands...

The darting eyes...

The nervous hustling...

That thing...The demon sealed away inside his body, the root of it all. If it hadn't been him...if it had been someone else, he could have been normal.

That boy.

He's dangerous.

Don't talk to him, maybe he'll go away.

He growled in frustration, clutching his head and willing them to just shut up. But they kept persisting, whispering... His heart couldn't last like this, it was so weak now. He was being ripped apart from the inside out. Hollow aqua eyes gazed down at the wounds, figures flashing through his mind. His 'friends', the ones who were forced to be around him, and the few in Rookie Nine he had managed to make. Most of the transient images encompassed that one person. The one who tugged at his heart with every glance, and fogged his brain with every word.

He scoffed at himself. What was he thinking? Did he even deserve love? Could he even love at all?

Demons can't love.

He let the memories flood his body, carrying him away to a hidden sanctuary somewhere deep in his mind. Ebony hair like silk, the darkest onyx eyes, piercing...captivating... Swift, fluid movements... Pale, alabaster skin... His only distraction, the simple complexity of their rivalry.

Freak.

Demon.

Monster.

There you go, the prologue to Anatomize! - I'll update as soon as I finish the second chapter, so keep checking back. R&R, kudasai!

Everytime someone doesn't review, Sasuke 'trains' with Sakura. Please stop this blasphemy from happening! DX