A/N: So, I am ashamed of myself. I can't believe how long this took me to write. I even had some of you begging for updates, for which I am very sorry. Anyway, here is the next chapter for this story. It's very detailed and goes into Sasuke's inner turmoil in some depth. Very angsty so ye be warned...although, this is Sasuke we are talking about; he is the KING of angst. He might be a little bit OOC at one point but the poor guy has been locked up and practically starving for four days. How would you react? (you'll know what I'm talking about when you get there) I really did it because he is a little more human in this story. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! I will do my very best to get the next chapter out in a more reasonable time frame. Thank you for bearing with me *hugs you all* I really appreciate it!

Chapter 11: That Glittering Light…

The night that Sasuke spent in the jail watching Naruto's still form crumpled upon the floor, a mere shadow that blended in with all the rest as if he was nothing but another part of the darkness, was the longest of his life. Longer than the night after his family had been killed, longer than the ones he had spent contemplating leaving Konoha and betraying his home, longer than the one when Madara had told him the truth about his brother. He lived through every breath that moved the blonde's strong back, counted every drip that splashed from the rocky ceiling, drank in every second because each was one that Naruto lived through. The words that the woman in the dark hood had hissed at him right after she had left rang through his mind like a bell that refused to stop humming after it had been struck, reminding him over and over that Naruto was dying. His life was draining out of him even as he watched, invisible and unstoppable and Sasuke realized that he would not even get a chance to say all the things that should have been spoken because this might just be it.

Only the roar of the waterfall outside the prison kept vigil with him through that night of endless minutes, its presence thunderous and unrelenting. He had given up trying to call Naruto's name in the first half hour, his voice dying down to mere whispering threads, lost amid the growl and shake of the falls but though he could not wake the drugged blond, he could not tear his eyes away. If he looked away then he was sure that would be the moment his former teammate gave in and stopped breathing. Even though Arisa had claimed Naruto's life would linger until noon of the coming day, Sasuke still could not look away, daggers of gnawing fear ripping through his stomach with every breath both he and the other man took.

Sasuke had never been so reluctant to see the day.

It came slowly, in varying degrees of gray, ever lightening through the tiny barred window of his cell, throwing into relief the rock and metal he could not see during the dark hours of the night. Dull sunlight slowly colored the black stones with bright, silvery highlights and the rust on the bars turned orange instead of looking like another color of black. All of this he noticed in the days that came before as he hung loosely against his chains. But today he noticed none of that. No, today he watched the still, crumpled form of the blond boy that had once been his friend and rival and had somewhere along the way turned something so much more complicated. He took careful note of the way the uneven, crinkled mass became clothes, the color of them rich blues and creams, now ripped and dirty from rough handling. The hakama rode up one of the strong, golden calves, leaving it looking bare and vulnerable, the curve of Naruto's lower leg a perfect, graceful arch. His kimono had been half yanked free of the dark blue obi, puddled around the jut of slim hips. It was splotched with blood on the right side but because that was the side the blond had been dropped on, the dark haired man could not tell if it was Naruto that had been injured or if it was someone else's blood. It made Sasuke even more anxious and he moved restlessly in his bindings so that they clanked loudly in the mostly empty jail.

One bronze shoulder had slipped free of Naruto's clothing and as the light grew stronger, Sasuke could make out a fading bruise that looked roughly the size of someone's mouth. The thought had angry red mist flooding over his vision for long moments before he managed to get himself under control again. The very idea of someone else touching Naruto made him grit his teeth against the green wave of sharp jealously but to know that the blond had been so obviously marked made Sasuke choke on his own bitter bile. No matter how many times he had tried to calm himself by thinking about the warmth in the wide, sapphire gaze that had filled him with longing when his former teammate had looked at him over the past week, about the soft way he smiled, about how he was willing to show the Uchiha sides of himself that he didn't show anyone else, it didn't work. Instead, hazy images of Aoshi biting down on that very shoulder as he slid his hands down the strong hips and chest, up the curve of muscled thighs and around…

This was the only moment in which Sasuke forced himself to lower his gaze, tearing it away from Naruto, whom had yet to stir and he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. The tang and salty copper taste distracted him enough so that he could force his blood pressure down a few notches and he told himself that he couldn't do anything chained up the way he was anyway. Anger would not cut him free nor could it pull the blond from his forced sleep and he could not think clearly when the blaze of rage was pulsing under the relatively thin surface of his skin. It was then that he noticed blood was welling up around the metal that encircled his wrists, deep crimson droplets rolling down his arms and dripping off his elbows. There was no pain; at least, not at the moment and he frowned at the self inflicted injuries. Sasuke hadn't even been aware that he had been pulling at his bindings again.

Composing himself didn't take nearly enough time as he had hoped it would and when he glanced back into the cell across from his own, Naruto was still in the same position, crumpled in a helpless heap upon the ground and breathing shallowly. From his angle, the dark haired ninja could not see the blonde's face but the longish gold hair that shone in the dim light of the prison spread out upon the damp stone floor, looking like clumps of sunlight. His fingertips tingled as he recalled how all that spun gold had felt curling around his fingers. How he wanted to feel that again, as the shining blue gaze as deep as the ocean gazed at him, the full, smiling lips stained red from stolen kisses. Their lives and his own individual choices had taken so much time from them already and now that they had found each other again, finally beginning to understand the bond that continued to pull them together, they might not even get a chance to see if it could become even stronger still.

Why? He wondered, the question burning through his mind not for the first time, frustration beating dark wings against his rib cage. Why did this happen? He could almost understand Aoshi and the actions the Feudal Lord had taken. Naruto was beautiful and shining and strong and Sasuke would be the first person to admit, at least to himself, the blond was very easy to fall in love with. That Aoshi had done so was not by fault or design of anyone except perhaps Naruto himself and that was only in order to complete his mission (though the blond had assured him that he had only planned to befriend one of the ninja upon first arriving in the River country). If anything, the dark haired man would have thought Aoshi wanted to keep his conquered 'Daisuke' by his side, especially after how he reacted when he thought he might not get to keep the blond by his free will; he'd drugged and bound Naruto so that he could not fight and sent Sasuke away to rot under a waterfall. So how did it end up that Naruto was here, chained and drugged and his chakra being leeched out of him, waiting to die? How was it that a woman like Arisa could be permitted to do such a thing?

And here the frown that marred the space between Sasuke's dark eyebrows deepened as he began to draw the pieces together in his mind. She might seem like a lazy courtier that has too much money and time on her hands and has little interest in politics, but if that was the truth, why do this to 'Daisuke'? It didn't make much sense. What did she have against the blond that merited such a brutal response? He knew that she had not liked Sasuke as soon as he had come to the palace because he had refused her advances straight out, seeing her for what she was. But maybe he had not seen her as clearly as he had thought. There was something here that he was missing but the puzzle piece that would fit into the blank spot remained elusive. It had seemed to him that she had liked 'Daisuke' as much as everyone else in the palace and while Sasuke had indeed insulted her, it wasn't enough to provoke this.

The only name missing in that equation was Aoshi. Aoshi, who loved 'Daisuke' and who had something dark in his past that had twisted him; it turned what Sasuke could see was a strong, determined and fundamentally good man into something dark angry and confused. What all this had to do with Arisa, he didn't quite know yet but what he did know was that if 'Daisuke' was harmed or, in this case, killed, then the Feudal Lord was sure to take his loss hard.

But Daisuke is Naruto, Sasuke found himself thinking suddenly, and I'm losing my only friend, my only family, my heart because of something we unwittingly got caught in the middle of. The thought rattled through him, ringing against his soul and humming between his bones and when he looked at Naruto again, his Naruto, he understood. Sasuke was nothing without his former teammate; nothing but ash and ghostly smoke and the smoldering, empty dreams of vengeance. Nothing but a lonely seventeen year old boy without a home and a chest full of broken glass. He'd always known that, the knowledge lingering like a lonely shadow in the deepest parts of his heart but it was difficult to acknowledge it all the same. His very verification as a person—human being, ninja, man, Sasuke—hinged on the existence of one single person, who had bright blond hair, impossibly blue eyes and a heart bigger than the night sky. Once he might have been resentful of that, would have been furious that his life needed verification at all, besides darkness and revenge, but now he was just tired and sad and he just wanted Naruto to wake up and somehow be okay.

Sasuke couldn't tell how long he had been studying his former teammate in the hazy light trickling in through the windows. It might have been minutes or it might have been hours, the time plodding past, moving at once too slow and much too fast. Energy fizzed at the edges of his consciousness, as it did when he was waiting for something, like thousands of tiny snakes licking at his skin. It had him moving restlessly in his chains again, itching to be able to reach for his chakra so that he could use the buzzing energy to break free, to do something. But every time he reached, he fell pathetically short and the feeling built inside of him, like angry water caught behind a stubborn dam. His wrists stung and his body ached and he thought that his throat had been coated with iron shavings but he wouldn't, couldn't, take his gaze away from Naruto, as if it was the weight of his own dark gaze that kept the blond alive.

When Naruto finally began to stir, Sasuke was so intent he nearly missed it. It started with a slightly deeper indrawn breath and the strong, slender fingers on the hand that was in the dark haired man's line of vision twitched. The change shook him from his reverie, like a blunt object slamming into his elbow and he sucked the damp air of the cell through his teeth so that it sounded like a sharp hiss. It was lost amid the low rumble of the waterfall and he held his breath, the anxiety like pins pressing into his skin as he waited to see if it would happen again.

The groan that cut through the jail moments later lit the bubbling energy that had been rippling through Sasuke for the past few hours on fire and he dragged himself to the end of his chains, wanting to be closer to his former teammate.

"Naruto!" the sound of his voice was barely recognizable, its normal smooth baritone roughed from lack of use and then the abuse of having been yelling for too long in hopes it would cause his former teammate to stir. It broke on the last syllable and he swallowed thickly as the blonde's hand twitched again, turning over so the tips of the long fingers could press against the uneven ground. He tried calling again, wincing as his throat constricted, the iron shavings turning into daggers and he could almost swear he tasted blood on the back of his tongue. Yet even though he sounded terrible and his voice was reluctant to emerge, the slow, painful chant of the other man's name seemed to be helping, drawing Naruto from the unforgiving clutches of whatever drug he had been given. In a last desperate attempt, Sasuke drew himself up in his bindings and yelled, "Wake the fuck up, you moron!" the blond head turned slightly, a low rumble of confusion reaching the dark haired man's ears over the sound of falling water.

"S—Sasuke?" Naruto's voice sounded almost as bad as Sasuke's own but he sagged against his chained none the less, relief and urgency racing through him and making him feel dizzy. Well, at least the blond was awake, for now anyway, and he had to hope that Naruto could break whatever seal or jutsu that was draining his chakra before it was too late. The golden head lifted slowly, as if moving was almost impossible and for a few seconds the dark haired man thought his old teammate was just going to lay back and drift off again. But then one of the blonde's legs, the one that was exposed to the damp air, shifted upwards, towards the broad chest so that the other man could use it as leverage. It was clearly a struggle, making his body move when it was clearly still under the influence of the sedatives, "What…where…what happened…how…?" it seemed his brain couldn't settle on the question he wanted to ask first as he carefully pushed himself against the closest wall and sagged against it, eyes blinking so slowly, it was as if his eyelashes had been glued together by molasses.

Sasuke chewed on his bottom lip frantically. Naruto had yet to turn his head or to even attempt to look around at his surroundings, which was more worrisome than he cared to admit but what he really needed was to find out how his life was being drained away and stop it. The blond let out a slow breath, audible from across the cell and then he turned his head just enough so that his hair slid forward and hid the graceful curve of his cheekbone. But still Sasuke could see his eyes, a splash of vivid color upon the dreary backdrop.

"Naruto, listen to me," Sasuke tried to make his voice as commanding as he could, despite the iron daggers rending his throat and the golden head tilted in his direction, the cobalt eyes blinking once again, "You were brought in here by that bi—noblewoman, Arisa. She said that your chakra is being drained. Do you know what that means?" he held his breath as the words visibly seemed to sink into the blonde's mind and he did that slow blink again before some life flickered into his eyes, as if he was jolted by remembering.

"They…they came through the garden and…they were saying something about…about my…" and he lifted his arms as if he was going to touch his fingers to his upper arm but he only got halfway before he stopped, staring at his wrists. Which were bound in the same forbidding metal that held Sasuke captive. He gnashed his teeth in frustration as the blond studied the chains wrapped securely around his wrists, confusion written all over his too pale face. He mumbled something under his breath that the dark haired Uchiha didn't have a hope of catching and he jerked helplessly on his chains, hating to see the blond so abstracted.

"Hey! Pay attention!" he barked, hoping the roughness would drag Naruto back to the present and it finally had the hazy blue gaze swinging towards him, though it took a moment for the blond to focus. When he did, his eyes widened and he was suddenly struggling to get to his feet, as if he could tear through the bars to get to the dark haired man. It almost made Sasuke smile ruefully, that even still Naruto had that unbreakable drive when the Uchiha was involved. Yet whether it was from the tranquilizing drugs or from having his chakra continuously bleeding out, he barely made it to his knees before he stumbled and slid back down the wall, face dark with dread and defeat. He still leaned forward though, staring at Sasuke as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Sasuke…what happened? How did you…" he made a grasping motion with his hand, as if he wanted to touch the dark haired man and Sasuke found himself leaning into his chains again, like that could make him feel those long fingers upon his skin. A wry grin curled at the edges of his lips and he shook one of his hands so that the metal links rattled.

"Your Lord sent me here. He is unreasonable when he is jealous, isn't he?" it was supposed to come out sounding calm and indifferent but he could tell even in Naruto's state, the bitterness and anger in his voice had been detected. The blond made a soft noise in his throat, turning his head away for a moment and the Uchiha caught a glimpse of a livid red bite mark on the column of his neck before the golden hair fell into place, hiding it away again. He choked on his fury, like black sludge collecting in his lungs but he didn't remark upon it because Naruto was shuffling towards the bars in the front of his own cell, using the wall behind him as support, "Naruto…" but his concerned warning fell on deaf ears because the blond didn't stop until he was pressed against the rusty metal and was watching Sasuke intently from across the aisle.

"He's not mine," the way his former teammate said it, with a force and conviction that seemed to be born out of anger and Sasuke wondered. Then the sharp blue gaze softened and if he didn't know better, he would have thought Naruto would start crying, "I'm so sorry…" he whispered and the words were barely loud enough to be heard over the falls, "This wouldn't have happened if I…if…" Sasuke cursed his chains, wishing he could be closer, could touch…

"It's not your fault," he responded instead, voice adamant and for a moment a smile flickered across the blonde's scarred face, the sight of it almost familiar. He ached for it, ached to see it brighten the pale, drawn features and lighten the deep blue gaze, "We both know whose fault it is," Sasuke fairly spat and the fact that Naruto didn't respond only belied how far gone he already was. Fear tickled the back of his throat, aggravating the sandpaper feeling and he tried to clear it to no avail, "That doesn't matter now anyway. Your chakra is being drained and if you don't stop it, it's going to kill you," he tried to impress upon the other man just how important this was but the dull cobalt gaze was still eyeing him tiredly, tracing over the chains that kept the Uchiha practically suspended.

"Dr-drained…?" Naruto asked with some difficulty, as if he was having trouble trying to think around the clouds that had filled his head. Then he lifted his hands, trying to fit them through the bars without much success, "Sasuke, you're…you're bleeding…" this absolute inability to focus on the matter at hand scared the dark haired man so badly that for a second he thought he could reach his own chakra through the seals on his chains through sheer willpower. Yet when he remained trussed up and powerless, he took a deep breath and decided that if kind words weren't working, perhaps being forceful would.

"NARUTO!" the sound of his voice was a throaty bellow and it made the blond jump, his eyes widening in surprise, "Don't fucking worry about me! There is a seal on you that's draining you! If you don't get it off by noon, you're going to fucking die! So pay attention and do something about it!" Sasuke never had the occasion to yell at anyone before; it wasn't really his style but in this case, it seemed to work. Naruto stared at him for a moment in shock and then he nodded very slowly, licking his lips as he did. It made the blond seem unbearably vulnerable and not for the first time the dark haired man made a silent promise to himself that he would eviscerate the person who had done this. Then his former teammate seemed to think, the gears in his head visibly turning with some effort before he made a small noise and was lifting his hands so that he could pull the material of his top down so that his entire right upper arm was exposed.

Gold glinted in the dull light and Sasuke frowned at the band that curled around the strong bicep, enhancing the clean, powerful line of Naruto's upper arm. He'd seen it a few times before, even asked about it on one occasion when they were tangled together on the ground of a sheltered garden, his fingers running over the swirling pattern etched onto the metal. "Kakashi gave it to me, to suppress the Kyuubi," Naruto had supplied at the time, clearly not happy at being forced to such measures. It had made sense, though, for the Nine Tails' presence was one every shinobi in the immediate area would have picked up on. The seal of suppression had been elegant and simple, done with grace and skill. But now…

The seal had been twisted, altered and instead of the elegant lines that had been there when Sasuke had last seen it, there was a chunky array surrounding it, looking like leeches that had attached themselves to the original seal. It stilled his breath in his throat and he realized that indeed this had been turned into a seal of taking, draining, death. The blond looked at it like he was trying to figure it out and then his fingers were scrabbling at the metal, pulling at the catch that should have easily released the band from around his arm. But the clasp held, wouldn't budge and for a second, his former teammate looked frantic.

"I can't…can't get it off," he hissed, teeth biting down on his bottom lip and Sasuke thought it was too perfect, too neat. Of course the blond wouldn't be able to get it off; what would be the point if there was a chance that he could awaken and simply let the metal band off. It had been secured so that it could not spoil whatever plan Arisa had up her sleeve and the Uchiha cursed aloud, his voice furious and strident against the low rumbling that hummed through the stone around them. Still Naruto's fingertips slid uselessly over the band of gold and then he made another one of those small noises, sounding too much like a defeated sob for Sasuke's comfort, his hands falling once again into his lap, "It won't…I can't get it off…" the blond slumped against the wall then, shutting his eyes and terror ripped through the Uchiha, colored with despair and tasting like heartbreak. He surged against his bindings as if he could simply run through them and the metal cut deep into his wrists.

"What the fuck are you doing, Naruto! You just gave up! I thought you never gave up!" but the vivid blue eyes remained closed and the bronze skin looked more gray than tan, the strong chest rising and falling rapidly, as if the blond had been sprinting for miles. Panic clutched the Uchiha like an unforgiving fist around his heart and a prickling behind his eyes told of welling tears, "You promised never to give up. That was your 'ninja way' but this looks an awful lot like giving up to me—" he didn't really know what he was saying in that moment as he tried to goad Naruto through anger so that he would be driven to prove Sasuke wrong, like he had done so many times when they were younger. But then he was choking on his tongue when the blond parted his lips like he was dying of thirst and rolled his head in the dark haired man's direction. It was a weary motion, like Naruto couldn't work up the will to move more quickly and it took him a moment to get those pretty, shadowed eyes to flutter upon again.

"For you…" Naruto said, the words sounding forced out, breathless and Sasuke strained to hear them, "I never gave up…for you…" all the fight left the Uchiha then, leaving him sagging against the wall so that the rough stones scraped his already raw back and he had to look away because he couldn't look at the blond looking like that, so weak, so helpless and at the same time, that inner warmth still blazing around him like a second sun. And yet even that light was beginning to fade and Sasuke couldn't grasp that he just might lose his former teammate here after all. His chin hit his chest and he couldn't stop the shaky sob that escaped, nor the tears as they dripped down his cheeks.

"I know…" he managed, voice choked, "I know you didn't," the words seemed to make Naruto happy because the humming sound he made was contented, as if that was what he was waiting to hear. When he glanced up, the blond was looking at the far end of his cell, a tiny smile curled up at the corner of his full lips. He was leaning against the wall like he would melt into it, weak and pliant and Sasuke wished he could at least hold his former teammate, that he wasn't being cradled by damp stone and rusting metal as his life trickled away from him. And it wasn't fair, wasn't fair that such a strong, vibrant, beautiful person like Naruto would die like this, wasting away in a jail as the man who loved him watched on, shattered and helpless.

Then the blond turned to him again, registering Sasuke's anguish and he pressed a shaky kiss to his palm before making a gesture like he was offering it to the dark haired man.

"Talk to me…give me something to…concentrate…on…" the flood released within him then, like it had done when he found out that his brother had simply been doing what was right, wracking his body in great, gasping sobs, the sound of them echoing off the stones, horrible and raw with emotion. But, between the breathless gulps of air and pitiful weeping, he did as Naruto asked…

In those first couple of moments before Sasuke started to speak haltingly, Naruto was almost glad for the chains and the strange heaviness in his limbs for they kept him from forcing his way through the metal bars so he could get to the dark haired man's side. Never, in all of the time he had known the proud Uchiha, had he ever seen the man cry. Not once; not when they were very young and the blond saw him sitting by himself by a lake, not later, in the first few nerve wracking battles they fought in as newly made Genin nor after that, when everything had become darker and more confusing and Sasuke turned his back on everything to become an Avenger. Not one single tear had been shed, at least not in Naruto's presence and he wanted to catch every single crystalline tear that rolled over the elegant cheeks and the pale chin. Wanted to catch them with his fingertips and tongue and hold the dark haired man, drinking in the desperate sounds that were ripped from his throat.

But he could do none of that. He himself was caught behind a row of bars and tamed by a pair of chakra-suppressing manacles and a seal that was slowly draining away his life. And all he could think was, I think he is crying those tears for me…It felt strange to think like that, as if his mind couldn't quite wrap around it. Perhaps because he had been in a state of drugged indifference for more than three days that this barely felt any different. Except it was different. He could feel it, even through the heavy seals worked in the iron chains clasped around his wrists, felt the way his chakra was bleeding out of him like blood from a gaping wound. The thready voice of the demon fox had already faded from his consciousness where it had been calling for him even in his forced sleep and it felt as if the entire world was pressing down upon him, making him weak and helpless.

It made him wonder when he had stopped caring, that he felt nothing about dying. The only thing he decided he would regret was not being able to spend that one night with Sasuke, to show his former teammate the depths of his heart and know for sure that it would be returned.

Sasuke, it's fine…he wanted to say, don't cry, but all he managed was a soft… "Sasuke…" the Uchiha choked and the blond watched him visibly pull himself together. He didn't look like the man he had always known, pinned in place by unforgiving links of metal so that he could barely move, head hanging to his chest and eyes rimmed red as tears shimmered on the edges of his lashes. Even still, though he looked thinner than Naruto remembered and there was blood staining his arms, Sasuke was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

"I didn't…I didn't want to leave Konoha," he started, voice hoarse and a sob interjecting itself in the beginning but the words caught the blonde's attention, dragging him through the nagging fatigue that weighed upon him and he blinked slowly, trying to sort through that statement, "I don't think I…I realized it at the time, so bent on revenge as I was but…that was the only home I ever knew and even then I knew that I still had a family, even if they were not the ones that Itachi had taken…" he broke off, teeth sinking into his bottom lip and the blond realized there was blood there too, as if Sasuke had bit down too hard, staining his mouth a deep crimson. It shouldn't have looked so lovely but it did, wrenching at Naruto's heart, "You know that was the reason I had to leave, right?" the Uchiha was asking him, pleading with him, as if he was afraid the blond wouldn't understand, as if after all this time he was afraid that Naruto hadn't forgiven him.

"I know…" he breathed in response, shifting as he tried to draw himself up straighter against the stone to no avail. Though he had a rather incredible reserve of chakra, needing it to guard him from the menacing chakra of the demon inside of him, it was nearly completely depleted and because the seal of suppression was still in effect, the Kyuubi could not force his own into the blond. Unless the seal was broken on his arm, there was a great possibility that he would simply waste away here. Not a very fitting death for a ninja, he observed to himself as he gave up trying to sit up and slouched back down against the wall; not how he had imagined he would go at all. I was supposed to be Hokage and I was supposed to bring Sasuke back home and I was supposed to tell him…

"It was all for nothing," Sasuke had continued and now his voice was rough with anger and bitterness, "Itachi was not the one who deserved to die. He was the hero. He saved the entire village from the destruction that the Uchiha clan was planning and no one…no one knew. He killed…" the words stumbled, broke and Naruto curled a hand around the rusty bar beside him, wishing fiercely that he could touch his former teammate, "it must have been…a nightmare for him, to have to kill his f-family and then pretend that he had simply done it for no other reason but for power. I should have…I should have known; I thought I knew him but I didn't know him at all. He just wanted peace. He wanted to…he wanted to be happy. He wanted me to be happy and all I wanted was to kill him," Naruto sucked in a deep breath of air as if that would ease the heaviness resting upon his chest and saw that old consuming darkness hanging around the Uchiha's head, like a wreath of darkness plucked by the hand of regret and woven into a crown. If it was a crown, he thought, then he wished that Sasuke did not have to wear it.

"I thought that he…wanted you to kill him," he said softly, hoping the dark haired man had heard him over the ever present roar of what sounded like falling water, " I heard that..." Sasuke was looking at him, the tears banished now but the despair still there, deepening with every second that passed, with every ounce of life that trickled away from the blond.

"He did," his lips, still slightly stained with blood, twisted bitterly, "Did Madara tell you that?" he intoned and the very name seemed to cast the entire jail into shadow, as if the ghost of Madara still lingered around the two ninja that had a hand in his downfall. The blond licked his lips, imagining that he was using his own tongue to wipe away the scarlet streak marring Sasuke's skin and shook his head, feeling his hair catching on the rocks behind his head.

"No…no, not him. Kakashi told me but I don't know how he…how he found out," the words were starting to get a little bit more difficult to form, feeling thick and reluctant upon his tongue but he battled with them, forcing them into some kind of coherency. This was a conversation that he needed desperately to hear and he made his muddled mind focus. Sasuke shifted around so that he was sitting upon the cold floor, legs crossed in front of him and arms slightly elevated by the chains. There was a slow, meaningful silence that the blond had trouble interpreting before he dug up a question he had been meaning to ask for a long time, "Do you…miss him?" once, a question like that would have nearly gotten him killed because Sasuke's hate for his older brother was consuming in ways that were blinding and terrifying. But now the Uchiha huffed out a soft breath and frowned at the reddish trail on one of his arms.

"Sometimes…sometimes I wish that I had taken the time to talk to him instead of attacking him. I know that I could not have…not with…everything. But I wonder what he might have said to me," the dark eyes flickered back to the weakening blond and pain flashed through them, black and stark, making Naruto ache because he wanted to be able to wipe that look from Sasuke's face. It had been lingering there for much too long, "Naruto…are you…" the blond knew what he was going to ask and he couldn't bear to have the words spoken. No, he wasn't okay with dying this way and no, there wasn't any way to stop it. A remembered conversation from the night before with three worried friends that had come to rescue him flashed through his mind, remembering briefly a promise they had made but it flittered away as soon as it had come, tucking back into the haze.

"Keep talking…please," he begged, his voice a rasp and he thought it wouldn't be so horrible to die like this if it was Sasuke's voice that he was listening to. There was another pause and he could almost hear the other man fighting with himself before he started speaking again. Naruto told himself that he needed to watch the way the pale features changed, like sunlight over restless water, something he had never seen in the Uchiha's face before. When had he become so expressive? When had he stopped pretending he couldn't feel and realized he felt everything that much more fiercely because of his denial?

"When I…when I left Konoha for the first time, I thought I was invincible. I thought that nothing could touch me. After having…after our fight, I thought that I couldn't feel anything anymore except hate. I didn't have you anymore, to remind me that I was still…human," the admission seemed to catch in Sasuke's throat and the blond could not help but gaze at him in amazement. He knew that his former teammate had changed; he could see it even during their battle with Madara. But never before had the Uchiha been this willing or this open. It was as if he thought he needed to get everything off his chest before Naruto slipped away. The thought was far more comforting than the blond would have thought, "No one bothered me at the hide out. I think they were all too afraid, except for Orochimaru and Kabuto," a fine shudder went through the dark haired man's slender figure and when he thought of what it meant, he could hardly blame him, "It was…lonely there. I thought it might be better, for a while, all that quiet but…" but I missed you…the words remained unsaid but Naruto could hear them anyway, left hanging in the air between them, stark and blatantly truthful. The blond drew in a sharp breath and was momentarily distracted from his struggle just to remain conscious now. No, Sasuke hadn't said it but he may as well have.

"I still…don't know how you…spent time with those…freaks…" he rasped, giggling despite himself and the dark head lifted so that Sasuke could shoot him a shining look, the first one that was not so shadowed with doubt and grief. It might have been amusement or relief but a second later it was gone.

"They left me alone for the most part," Sasuke said quietly and the word alone echoed through the jail as if it had been shouted rather than murmured quietly between the swishing rumble of a waterfall. Naruto thought he could see that waterfall, tight behind his eyelids, clear mist filling his mind until he could barely see through it. The dark haired man didn't seem to notice for he was still talking and the blond forced himself back to the surface, hungry for the Uchiha's words, "They offered me power in ways that I hadn't thought existed and I didn't think about how disgusting it was, or how debasing. I just wanted it because there was nothing else left. It wasn't until later that I realized I had sold myself. Orochimaru wanted my body and I was willing to give it to him if that meant I could kill Itachi. Sometimes he would…" Sasuke choked off whatever he was going to say and tipped his head away, shame burning on his face. The blond watched him for a long moment, wondering what was happening to his emotions because he knew he should have been feeling furious, like he could bring back the snake-faced bastard and kill him all over again but instead there was nothing but faint, gray sadness. I'm never going to be able to make that pain and loneliness on his face go away, he thought, the falling water in his mind getting stronger, I'm never going to be able to show him what love really feels like.

"I don't…think you're dis—disgusting…you k-know…" he breathed, focused on filling his lungs with air, "I never did…I forgave you…even when…when…" it was too heavy now and he couldn't find the rest of the words he wanted to say. He could hear Sasuke say something but he didn't know what it was because the waterfall had dried up but there was still a roaring in his mind. The cell faded away until all he could see was Sasuke's face, at first wry with something biting he was no doubt saying and then, when the dark gaze flickered to him, the features suddenly became tight with anguish.

Don't look like that, Sasuke. Don't be so sad…but the last thing he saw was the dark haired man, leaping off the floor and struggling anew in his chains, as if he could break them by brute strength alone, mouth open as if he was screaming.

In the darkness there was nothing. Nothing at all…

Even from across the jail, sitting cross legged on the ground, he could see Naruto visibly fading. All the blood had drained from his face and his eyes, tried and heavy-lidded, had looked stark and vivid in his face. He leaned against the wall like it was the only thing keeping him anchored in this world, head tipped towards the dark haired man and he blinked ever so slowly as he listened to Sasuke spill his proverbial guts onto the unforgiving floor. Things that he had never even realized he knew about himself were spoken and the blond took them all in, patient and warm, like he always was, fighting a losing battle.

And then, at the very end, when his body looked heavy even from where Sasuke sat, he had spoken the words that he had been longing to hear, the desire curled up in the corners of his soul. I forgave you… and that desire had pulsed within the dark haired Uchiha, came alive until he couldn't face its shining brightness, filling him until he thought he would burst.

This.

This was what he had been looking for. It had been eating away at him, uncertainty and loneliness pressing in on him at all times and then…then. He had been so afraid that, after all he had done, that Naruto would not forgive him after all. Yes, he might be attached and he might need Sasuke but, deep in his heart, he had been terrified that in the end, the blond would hold that grudge and it would shadow them for the rest of their lives. Sasuke had turned his back but Naruto never did. How much goodness lay in the blonde's heart that he was able to do that? Such purity the dark haired man surely did not deserve.

All that lasted a single moment, though. Single and fleeting and divine. "The moron forgives the bastard," Sasuke had said wryly and looked up just in time to see the blonde's eyes finally slide shut and his body to slump, drained past the point of endurance. The world had come into sharp focus then, ragged around the edges as he tried to jump to his feet, tried to tear the very metal anchors for his chains from the solid walls, dread like blood-soaked sand filling his mouth.

"No! Naruto, no! Fuck! FUCK! NARUTO!" but he knew it would do no good and the strong chest labored, lifting and falling with hard, shallow breaths. The seal upon his arm had taken its toll and in only a matter of moments the blond wouldn't have enough chakra to come back. He would simply slip away, like a gentle sigh and only Sasuke would be there to see it. His voice rattled the walls and the guards that were posted at the entrance peered around, clearly terrified and he thought perhaps he could beg them, force them to come down and take the cursed band off of the blond. But they hurried away a moment later and he was left alone, alone with the welling grief and choking realization that he was losing everything that he loved.

"Naruto…Naruto…" his voice faded and he was finally brought to his knees, staring at the slumped form of the boy, the man that had come to mean everything, unable to believe that this really might be the very last time he saw the blond breathe. Such a vibrant person, shining like the sun, able to forgive anything for the sake of love and he was slipping away, so silently it was like he had never been.

Nothing that Sasuke could do would stop it. They had been so close, their hearts just beginning to touch as they came to realize, to understand that they needed each other as much as they needed the air to breathe. With each breath he watched Naruto take, it grew weaker, slower, father apart and he felt numb. Every second the blond slipped farther away and with each moment that passed, Sasuke felt his soul retreat a little bit farther into himself, cracking and shattering and crumbling away. Eventually, when Naruto ceased living, that would be the moment the dark haired man ceased being human.

And then…

There was a sound. A bitten off cry at the entrance to the jail, like someone had been grabbed from behind and their neck sliced. He knew that sound; he had helped create it before and yet…now it meant nothing. His eyes remained unwavering on the still figure, a faint sense of déjà vu tickling at his awareness but this time, Naruto's breath is slowing instead of remaining steady, now down to almost nothingness. The present was what he clung to, breathing when the blond did, riveted and desperate. Outside of that, beyond him and the blond, there was pain in his wrists where the metal had finally cut down to bone, there was an ache in his knees as the stone bit into the joints and someone…someone was calling his name. Yet how could any of that matter when Naruto wasn't moving and how was he going to live if he knew the blond was dead…

"…suke! Hey! Sasuke!" a scrape of metal against metal, squealing in protest and he blinked, unsure of what was going on. There was a man, with dark hair who was peering in at him from outside of his cell and the bars…the bars were open and…

Reality snapped back at him so hard he was nearly left reeling and by then the man that had opened the cell was rushing in, voice still calling Sasuke's name. At first he was confused because he was supposed to rot away in this cell; if he was lucky, three days without food or drink and he could follow his blond into the next plane, would only have to feel his engulfing grief for the time it took him to die. And then he realized, the man was talking to him in a soft voice, using words that didn't quite reach the Uchiha's understanding for it was still wrapped up entirely with Naruto's waning existence.

"…rescue you. I promised I would get you out of here," and he understood. Oh. Oh. He jerked at his chains, breath caught in his throat and the other man, a ninja he vaguely recognized in his time in the Lower Court, stepped back, eyes wide with surprise. Sasuke snarled at him, wondering what the fuck was taking him so long to get the Uchiha out of his chains before it was too late, no matter if the man didn't understand the urgency of the situation.

"Get me the fuck out of these chains! NOW!" his voice held so much demand, desperation, need that it was a wonder it didn't shatter and the thought kept running through his head, I might not be too late. It's not too late yet. The other man sprang to obey, though he still looked a little wary of the Uchiha and he parted the links of cold steel that had been holding Sasuke captive for the past four days with ease under the stroke of the man's knife. First his right leg, then his left, one arm and the other, falling stiffly to his sides after having been suspended for much too long. Blood rushed to his wounds and he heard the stranger exclaim over them, red splotches dripping to the stone at their feet.

"Naruto's going to be…" yes, yes, Naruto. The metal finally dropped free, away and Sasuke could feel his chakra come roaring back, flooding his veins and making him nearly dizzy with it. Flames burst behind his eyes, their depths filling in crimson and he could feel static, like little bars of mini lightning budding at his fingers. It filled him until he thought he would brim over and he had to take a breath to situate himself amid the swirling storm of power that once again thrummed within him.

Then he was moving, blindly, without a thought, out of his cell and across the aisle, legs barley able to keep up from being unused and cramped for much too long. That mattered little though. Nothing mattered but the way the rusty metal gave under his hands, strengthened with a flood of chakra, the way it groaned and resisted and then moved so that he had enough space to bolt through and drop to his knees beside the still figure of his former teammate.

Naruto looked even worse up close, all of the color gone from his skin and Sasuke thought for one horrible, gravity defying moment that he was too late after all; that the blond had already stopped breathing. But no, upon second look, it was there, the subtle movement of one breath then another and relief flooded him so hard he had to support himself with a hand against the floor. The man that had set him free breathed sharply upon seeing who was lying upon the floor but Sasuke could barely give thought to how this stranger knew the blond for his fingers, wet with his own blood, were lifting Naruto's arm and seeking the gold band upon his arm.

It was glowing faintly now, as if it couldn't contain all of the chakra it had stolen and he jolted when he touched it, fingers shaking almost too much to be able to work the clasp. But the blond was barely alive now and he could not afford to waste any more precious time. As it was, waking Naruto up from this was going to be difficult. It was no wonder the blond couldn't get it off himself; the clasp was welded closed with another seal, one easily broken but it required chakra to undo. So simple and yet so deadly.

Then the gold band was falling away, pinging uselessly against the stone floor, rolling away to be forgotten, just a scrap of metal once more. It had been on Naruto for much too long, though and he remained limp in Sasuke's arms, even after the dark haired man carefully lowered himself into a sitting position, cradling his former teammate on his lap, holding him carefully, gently, as if he would break with a breath. He reached up to push a long strand of golden hair from the still face, eyes roaming the familiar features, looking for any kind of sign that Naruto wasn't so far gone. But he remained still and pale, head falling back into the crook of the Uchiha's elbow. Under his skin, his pulse was almost non-existent, his chest alarmingly still.

"Naruto…he's not…" Sasuke ignored the man behind him and called forth some of his own chakra, pushing it into his eyes so that he could feel the faint, familiar burn behind his lids. Then he pushed forward with his consciousness, an action he had only done once before, invading a place that was not his own, dark and sinister and filled with hate. Down a long corridor where water lapped at his feet, stopping at another cell, made with golden bars and a seal.

"Bring him back," he demanded and in the darkness behind the bars, a huge presence stirred, sluggish and feeling much too weak. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited, not allowing the fear and the impatience to show on his face. If the Kyuubi had been drained as well, there was nothing left but to hope that Naruto's chakra might replenish itself naturally and over time. But he didn't think the blond had any time left and would remain in the void, unable to awaken. He grit his teeth and drew in a sharp breath of sour air, "Wake up and bring him back!" his bellow echoed through the cavernous world, striking against the walls and magnified by the water. Another rumbling stir from behind the bars and then a large, burning eye was regarding him, looking tired and much too tame.

"Who are you to be making such demands of me?" the rasping rumbling presence of the fox's voice sent thrills of unease through him, making him want to shiver. How Naruto could have lived so long with something so sinister within him and remain so pure he would never know. Sasuke just lifted his chin and met that eye, seeing how weak the Kyuubi had become.

"Who I am doesn't matter. Your host is dying. He needs your chakra and you will give it to him…now." The command in his voice was backed by the swirling power in his crimson eyes and the fox seemed to sigh regretfully, stretching within his cage. Slowly that eye blinked and then the great head turned so that both were focused on Sasuke, who felt so small and powerless standing before those giant bars.

"The Uchiha boy. How twisted fate is, that you are the one to become the boy's protector," he made a sound that might have been laughter but it was too dry and brittle to hold much humor. Then he flashed his sharp, massive teeth and Sasuke refused to take a involuntary step back, "I will not let him die. His is my host, after all. If he dies…" and all around him rippled a cocoon of warmth, flooding through the spaces of the bars and nearly suffocating him with power.

Sasuke blinked, sucking in a deep breath and found himself staring at familiar stone walls, the weight of an unconscious Naruto once more solid and comforting in his arms. At first he seemed to look no different but then the Uchiha realized that his breathing was easier and color had already begun to stain his lips. All at once his weakness came rushing over him and he slumped forward, clutching the blond to him as he reassured himself with his realness. Little puffs of warm air hit his cheek and he let his forehead rest upon the blonde's shoulder, throat tight and limbs shaky. Piece by piece his soul had been mending itself back together and he listened to the slow thump of his former teammate's heart with quiet joy. Alive, each beat said, alive, he's alive.

"Mm, 'suke…" it was such a tiny sound, no more than a whispered breath but he jerked and lifted his head, staring down into such blue eyes he thought the sky had come to settle within the wide gaze. The sun was hidden in there too, so warm he could feel it against his skin and the tremulous smile that curled at the edges of the blonde's lips was the most beautiful smile Sasuke had ever seen, "…wanted to tell you…love you…" his breath caught and he freed one hand so that he could press his palm to the side of Naruto's face, fingers snaring in his hair. He ran his thumb over that smile and his eyes drank in the sight and his heart broke over and over in his chest, unable to hold the words that had been spoken.

"Naruto…" he breathed, astonished, disbelieving, happy, so, so happy, and the blond made a soft noise, hand sliding up to cover Sasuke's before he was dragged back under again, too weak and exhausted to stay awake. The dark haired man sat there upon that cold stone floor, cradling the blond in his arms as he blinked in shock, unable to define the emotions that were bubbling within his chest. Naruto was breathing much easier now, his head turned into the Uchiha as if he was trying to memorizing his scent even in slumber and he clung to that, holding the blond so tight surely he was in danger of crushing him.

When he was able to compose himself again, he shifted Naruto's weight and used the aid of his chakra to lift himself to his feet, knowing he would be unable to do it with his own strength. The man with the dark hair and hazel eyes was standing just inside the broken door of the cell, arms folded and eyes watchful, assessing. The blonde's weight was comfortable in his arms and he tightened his grip when the other man's gaze flickered between the Uchiha and the blond in his arms.

"I have secured somewhere safe to bring you, until we can get you out of the country," he said after a long moment, voice subdued. Sasuke lifted his chin a little, unable to read the expression on this person's face but nodded sharply a second later, trying to ignore the way his wrists were protesting and his legs felt like jelly. The man tipped his head to the side and seemed to think something through, before taking a step forward. His eyes were a little softer and there was concern lurking at the tightened corners of his lips, "Would you like some hel—" Sasuke felt a little cold at the thought of handing Naruto off to someone else and clutched at the material of the blonde's clothes, knowing that he would go mad if this man took the limp form of his former teammate away.

"Just lead the way," he snapped and was grateful when the man listened, leading the way out of the cell, through the corridor and out into the sunlight…

The man had come to them in the early hours, right after the sun had risen and the night gave up its grip on the land. He and Sumie had given up on sleep not long after they had gotten back from their visit with Daisuke…who was, as it turned out, not Daisuke at all but Naruto, a great ninja in his own right, brave in and incredibly strong. It had taken hours for him to be able to wrap his mind around that, images from the past weeks swirling in his mind as he tried to reconcile the Daisuke he knew with the Naruto that he had heard stories about. Sweet, gentle Daisuke, who did not know how to hold a kunai or block a punch, who sang so beautifully it brought tears to his eyes sometimes, who laughed and joked and brimmed over with light. He was a powerful ninja, a Jinchuriki for the nine-tailed beast, the one that had brought an end to a war and was trying to stop another one. They seemed like two different people but in reality, it was the same person, in disguise this entire time. Ryouta had to hand it to the kid; he was an excellent actor.

He had found his way from his quarters just as the sky began to lighten and into one of the courtyards of the Lower Palace to find Sumie sitting on a bench, hunch forward in the seat, looking small in the cool morning air. They sat in silence, the air between them heavy with unsaid things, things that could not be voiced lest someone overhear. Not five minutes later, Jin slipped onto the bench beside him and curled into his warmth, breathing fine mist with every exhale. They sat and waited, though none of them were sure for what, keeping vigil as they thought of the brave blond boy that had put everything on the line for this and had the potential to lose it all.

The man was dressed in the livery of a servant from the Upper Palace and he appeared before them as if he had stepped from the air, startling Sumie so bad she nearly fell off the bench. He was very tall, taller than Naruto and his hair was as white as bone. But his face was smooth and calm and sharply handsome, in the way a noble's would be. When they all tensed, hands reaching for their weapons, he simply lifted his hands and smiled.

"I mean you no harm," he assured them in a voice so smooth it sounded like silk would if it could be heard, instantly calming them all, "I have come with news," it was Jin that had abandoned his watchful position first, straightening as he read between the lines of what had not been said.

"Is it Daisuke?" he'd asked, voice sharp and worried in the cool air and the man had tipped his head to the side, hair sliding into eyes that looked like clear pools of light. He was so serene, like nothing could shake him and he nodded thoughtfully, expression never changing.

"About the blond ninja posing as a singer, yes," they had all tensed again, sensing a trap but the man slipped his hands into his sleeves and regarded them calmly, "You should know, first, that the man you traveled with, the one named Soh, was almost killed this past night. His body was pulled from the river just in time," the news sent a shock through Ryouta but it was Sumie who had stifled a gasp behind her hand, eyes huge with horror and fear.

"Soh! Is he okay?" she breathed and the man smiled at her, the warmth in his eyes at once disconcerting and comforting.

"He will be, after extensive rest and careful medical attention. Any longer in the water and he would not have made it," Sumie seemed to sag with relief then and he let her lean on him for a moment, feeling the same weakening in his own limbs. He had not known Soh very well but they had traveled together and he had considered the man part of his company. He did not wish anything to happen to him.

"What happened?" Ryouta asked into the relieved lull and this time the clear gaze flickered away, shadowed and reluctant for the first time. It wasn't as though the man was hiding from them, though, but that he regretted not being able to reveal everything.

"There has been a conflict going on in this country, within the walls of the palace, that have dragged the rest of the world into its vortex. I cannot tell you much, only that your friend, the one who calls himself Daisuke, is not safe. Though the Feudal Lord intends to keep his promise to release both Daisuke and the Uchiha he has imprisoned, the matter has been taken forcefully out of his hands. I fear that neither will survive if they are not taken away from here," the words sent a chill down Ryouta's spine and he felt Jin curl anxious fingers into his sleeve.

"Where?" Sumie had breathed then, eyes burning, "Where should we take them?" the man inclined his head, the early morning sun gleaming off his pale hair and his smile faded away, leaving behind a devastatingly intimidating man.

"You can take them to my father's house, the Lord Councilor Inaba. He has agreed to help you on my request," the pronouncement left them all speechless because that would mean this man, dressed as a servant and speaking like a sage was actually a nobleman.

"Who are you?" Ryouta had blurted finally and the smile came back, slow and almost teasing.

"My role has not yet come into play, except to warn you of the impending danger. If you do not act quickly, it will be too late," and then he was gone again, disappearing back into the mist brought on by the sun touching the cool morning air, leaving the three standing beside the bench, staring after him in shock. It had taken them all a moment to regain their equilibrium, sharing a quick look before they were scurrying into action once again.

They went back up to the palace first, slipping between the guards, which was much harder now during the daylight hours than it had been in the dark. But Naruto was gone, his room empty and his night table tipped over, indicating a struggle. They had argued then, over what they should do next. They could not search the palace, like Sumie wanted to, because it would only get them caught. None of them were Soh, who was exceptional at sneaking into places without getting caught. As it was, they had a difficult time getting back out again. It was on Jin's suggestion that had them instead going to rescue Sasuke, even though the worry for their blond friend weighed like a bitter pall upon their shoulders. Still, the hope was that the Uchiha might know what happened to the blond, as unlikely as that might be.

By the time they had worked out where Sasuke was being kept and made their way to the huge, thundering waterfall, it was nearly midday and Ryouta's stomach was cramped with worry. The jail was behind the rushing water, the pathway slick and treacherous and it made him think of misplaced feet and plunging bodies, swept away into the maelstrom. But they made it without incident and it was almost easy beyond that, Sumie and Jin taking out the handful of guards as Ryouta slipped into the jail in search of the Uchiha.

What he found made his breath catch and he was scrabbling for the cell door before he even realized what he was doing. The dark haired man looked like he was in a trance and his skin was so pale, he could have been constructed from clouds. Blood had painted his arms and caked on his sleeves, pooling at his knees so that it stained his pants. It looked like he had struggled to get himself free and then had given up, simply hanging in his bindings. He didn't even react when Ryouta stepped into the cell, calling his name and telling him that Naruto had sent him.

"You look like you're half dead, Uchiha," he growled, "Naruto's going to be…" and just like that the man seemed to come alive, eyes frantic as he screamed at the older man to set him free. Ryouta, concerned, didn't understand until Sasuke was tearing from his cell and forcing his way into the one across from it, not even aware that he was almost too weak to move.

That was when he saw Naruto, sprawled on the floor and looking dead that he realized what had happened. All he could do was stand helplessly in the door of the cell and watch as the Uchiha bent over the blond, handling him with such care it made the older man's heart ache. He held his breath and prayed that he had made it on time and only released it when the blond finally stirred, murmuring something he couldn't hear. But Sasuke heard it. His touch to the other man's cheek was so at odds with what Ryouta knew of the man, it was surreal and breathtaking and beautiful all at once.

I understand now, he thought as he watched the Uchiha use his chakra to lift himself to his feet, holding onto Naruto like he needed to touch the blond to simply keep breathing. He knew what the blond had been thinking about that time when they were still traveling, how his devotion to Sasuke had burned so brightly, Ryouta had sensed it even though he had not even known his true name. So when Sasuke told him to show him the way to safety, he could do nothing but turn and heed his request because in his heart, he knew he would protect them both with his own life. He would protect that love, that bond until he drew his very last breath.

Once he had given up his home and his loyalty; now he had found something to believe in again and it was even more beautiful than he ever could have imagined.

The climb down the cliff side with the waterfall plunging and thundering directly to their left and the dead weight of another person in his arms had his heart leaping in his throat over and over again. Underfoot the stones were slippery from years and years of slime caused by the wild spray of the water. The path that led down from the prison behind the falls was narrow and winding and there was no place for him to rest or pause so that he could regain his bearings. With every moment that passed he felt the four days of near starvation and lack of mobilization in the weakness of his muscles and the way his arms shook as he tried to keep the unconscious Naruto aloft. Sometimes his foot would slip upon the wet rocks and he would list alarmingly, hating his lack of control over his body but he always managed to catch himself in time.

When they had stepped into the guards' station near the entrance of the jail, the man with the sharp eyes and dark hair met up with two others that were waiting anxiously above the still bodies of several men in guard's uniforms. The woman had exclaimed loudly, distress marking her face when she caught sight of Sasuke carrying Naruto but she had stilled in her rush to his side when she caught sight of whatever expression was on Sasuke's face. No matter how weak he might be, he wouldn't let the blond go even if that meant death. The second man that had been waiting with her looked to the one that had lead the Uchiha and he had frowned deeply.

"When did it get this dire?" his voice had been a soft murmur that carried through the entrance, "Is he...is he dead?" he asked in a quiet voice and Sasuke had involuntarily tightened his hold on his old teammate, thinking that it had been much too close to that question being answered with a yes. The other man had shaken his head but his face was as grave as it might have been if he nodded and the tension leaked from the room like a punctured balloon, their shoulders sagging in relief. It made him wonder how they had come to care so much for Naruto that they would worry so much over him. Then he remembered that everyone who knew the blond could do nothing but love him and he was grateful for it. If it had not been for them, Naruto would already be dead and that was a reality Sasuke couldn't bear to contemplate.

"Thank you for helping us," he had said then, voice nearly lost in the sound of the rushing waterfall and three pairs of eyes swiveled to him in surprise, as if they couldn't believe he was actually thanking them. It made him shift uncomfortably and Naruto sighed softly, his warm breath ghosting over the dark haired man's shoulder, "I can take it from here," it was as if he had slapped them. The dark skinned woman huffed and crossed her arms over his chest, giving him a rather intimidating stare-down.

"We promised Naruto that we would get you to safety and that is what we are going to do," she said, her voice as strong as the steel shining in her eyes and he was taken aback by how much she reminded him of someone he had known a long time ago and who he didn't think he would ever have the occasion to know again. At least, he reflected with a snide thought, this girl's hair wasn't pink. Then a hand gently touched his elbow and he found himself looking at the man that had rescued him from his cell, the hazel gaze serious but startlingly kind.

"Don't worry. We have somewhere secure to bring you both to, until it's…safer here," he made a face that clearly said he would never have come here if he had known and Sasuke couldn't really blame him. Except, he would never regret coming because he did not think he would have met up with the blond again had he not. Except, said a nasty voice in his head, Naruto also wouldn't be half-dead if it wasn't for you and the Uchiha couldn't really help but agree. After all, he was supposed to be faithful to Aoshi even if it was all for a mission and he couldn't with you in the way…

Because he loves you, insisted another part of him and he swallowed against the confusion thick in his throat.

That was how they ended up practically scaling the side of the cliff, the dark haired man in front of him, worry lines straining over his eyebrows and the girl, who had introduced herself as Sumie in a considerably more friendly manner when she realized how serious he was about protecting the blond still limp in his arms, hovering behind him as if she was half afraid he would slip and fall (which, when he thought about it, was entirely possible, seeing as he was moving merely by willpower alone). It made him feel slightly dizzy, the feeling of having companions at his back again and knowing they would aid him however possible no matter what. Even if it wasn't for his own sake, he still found it comforting. As it was, he already knew he could not do this himself.

And he kept looking down into Naruto's pale, still face, telling himself over and over the blond was still alive, despite how ghostly he looked clasped in the dark haired man's arms. The air was so clean outside of the jail and he breathed in as deeply as he could, using it to steady himself when his foot slipped or his arms wobbled. He refused to fall, refused to let the blond go, refused to be too weak and unable to bear his former teammate to safety.

A man stood waiting for them at the bottom of the trail, thick, leafy trees forming a dark canopy over his head, looking regal and remote, as if he belonged there. Sasuke was so tired at this point that he didn't recognize him at first, though he knew he had seen him countless times during his stay in the palace. Long white hair fell to his waist, pulled back with only a simple silver pin and his clothes flowed about him in rippling waves of blue, aqua and jade. It was his eyes, though, of the lightest, clearest blue that jolted the Uchiha into recognition. For a moment he faltered, unsure and wary, wondering if maybe they had walked into a trap. But none of his companions seemed in any way uneasy. Yet, why the Feudal Lord's chief Councilor would be waiting for them on the overgrown path leading from a secret prison was a puzzle that he could not begin to unravel with his tired mind.

The dark haired man that had led the uncertain way down the cliff side stepped forward then and fell into a neat, graceful bow, clearly having expected this all along. It made the Uchiha feel much too weary, trying to fit things in his brain that suddenly felt much too small and he dropped to one knee, unable to remain standing any longer. Everything hurt. The light was too bright. The weight of Naruto's unconscious form in his arms was much too heavy and he just couldn't keep his weakness at bay any longer. They all moved towards him, concern painted on their faces but he waved them off, just needing to rest, needing a moment to make the spinning in his mind ease just a little. Sumie kept a hand curled around his elbow anyway and the two men with the dark hair and who might be closer than just companions eyed him warily before turning to the white haired noble occupying the path in front of them.

"You have done well, young Ryouta," he intoned graciously. The ache of his body didn't help his state of confusion but he didn't have enough energy to remember how his voice worked and keep Naruto from tumbling to the rocky path, "You have all done very well. I regret that it has come to this but, alas, there is nothing we can now do to stop the events that have been set into motion," Sasuke eyed him for a moment, recalling this man's staunch loyalty to his Lord and couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Aoshi knew his Councilor was helping them.

"We are just grateful that you have offered to keep our friend safe," the dark haired man named Ryouta answered, his back straight and he looked like he was made from unbendable steel. The Uchiha wondered where such strength had come from. The older man bowed his head to them but his eyes were on Sasuke, laboring under the weight of another and wavering from blood loss, hunger and fatigue.

"I am truly sorry that you have gotten caught up in this; it is not a battle that any of you needed to fight and yet I fear that you seem to be woven into the very center of it all," his voice, wizened with age, was soft and full of sincerity and for the first time, Sasuke could almost let himself think that he and the blond just might be safe after all.

"Why…" he croaked, throat so sore that it hurt to talk, "Why…are you helping…" and he stopped, trying not to pull away when the dark skinned woman's grip on his elbow tightened. The clear gaze of the older Councilor met his own with serene ease and he thought he could see miles of calm, soothing waters behind the pale color. It was another kind of power, he realized, sharp and bright but subtle in ways that he had once not thought possible. It was humbling and left him feeling even more tired than before, his eyes so heavy he was sure he could fall asleep right there in the middle of the leafy path.

"Because the Aoshi that I used to know, the one that still hides behind the exterior of his cold shell would not have wanted this to happen. He had a great vision, once, and it was robbed from him the same way that it was this time. The least I could do was to help you both because I know that is what he would want, no matter how it may appear…" the older man seemed to hesitate then he bent his knees and was suddenly mirroring Sasuke's position, head bowed low, "Please, do not judge him too harshly. He has lost much over the years and he has a good, strong heart. Please, forgive him," the Uchiha sucked in a deep breath, the situation swirling around him in overwhelming waves of surrealism; he was still not very familiar with the action of forgiveness but he knew exactly how Naruto would answer. So he swallowed thickly and nodded, the motion jerky and stiff.

"Yes but…just…who are you, to…say such a thing?" he managed to ask, ignoring the way his limbs were beginning to tremble and now the girl at his shoulder was watching him in concern, no doubt waiting for the moment he keeled over. He refused to do such a thing, though, because he needed to be with Naruto, had to touch him, to look into his face when the overwhelming desire took over, as it seemed to do every few seconds. It was with relief that he had noticed color was ever so slowly beginning to work back into the blonde's bronze, scarred cheeks.

"I am…the one who will bring both you and your young man out to the other side of this and I will do so while remaining loyal to my Lord," the Councilor answered smoothly and finally the dark haired man just couldn't take any more. He bowed his head and used all of his remaining strength just to keep himself kneeling and Naruto clutched to his chest. The older man had risen to his feet then and in his eyes there was not measurement or hidden agendas but sympathy and warmth, "If you would, please stop his bleeding and help him along to where my carriage is waiting," his voice was easy and yet commanding and the next thing he knew, the dark haired man that had come with Ryouta knelt in front of Sasuke, gently bandaging his wrists where the chains had cut into them while making sure the Uchiha didn't lose his grip on the blond. Their eyes met for a brief moment and the man offered a small smile. Though he didn't return it, unable to even get his facial muscles to cooperate, the expression still gave him some strange level of comfort.

After being alone for so long, it was oddly gratifying to have other people showing him just a little bit of kindness.

They helped him stand and though he still refused to let Naruto go, Sumie and Ryouta walked with him, a silent reassurance that paced at his elbow just in case he could no longer put one foot in front of the other. The walk seemed to last for long, terrible, shaky hours, the older man floating along behind them and Sasuke's entire word narrowed down to the man draped limply over his arms. Only the slash of pale eyelashes upon the golden cheek, the full lips a very pale pink, the long wheat colored hair feathering over the straight forehead; these were the only things that he could see and he paced his footsteps and the beating of his heart to the rise and fall of Naruto's chest.

The walk might have lasted five minutes or five days and he would never have known the difference but by the time he was lifting his weary eyes, he had been settled upon the plush seat inside a luxurious carriage and Naruto was still huddled against him, breathing even, quiet and so wonderfully, blissfully existent. It was clear his companions, his saviors he supposed he should call them with a wry twist of his lips, wanted to give him some space and he moved slowly as the carriage lurched into a rolling, swinging motion, carefully laying the blond down upon the seat across from him. Naruto remained still but he sighed softly and his head turned toward the Uchiha, his beautiful lips that Sasuke had only tasted twice in his entire life and wanted to taste a million times more parting gently.

When the single tear hit his hand, he pretended it didn't exist and he slid back onto the seat behind him, finally allowing the darkness that had been hovering around his consciousness to sweep him away.

The worst part of it was over and they were both alive. Sasuke supposed that was more than he could ever have hoped for…even if he would have been broken if it had turned out differently.

When death comes around again, it will come for both of us or neither. That way, no one is left behind...

It was just for a moment, that he broke free of the cage of darkness around his mind, surfacing to the edges of sleep. It lasted for seven full breaths, during which he was able to open his eyes and find himself somehow still alive. Though he was much too tired to be shocked, he was still able to feel a rush of relief, grateful that he had been given another chance.

His surroundings where unfamiliar but that was not what he looked at in those single fleeting moments of time during his wakefulness. No, his eyes were immediately drawn to the futon beside him, illuminated by the full moon shining in through an unseen window; to the man that lay there, sleeping peacefully under the cocoon of his blankets.

Sasuke was there.

Finally, after all was said and done, they were together again. Naruto didn't know how it happened and he quite frankly didn't care. The fact remained that it was Sasuke sleeping right there, so close that the blond could reach out and touch him if he wanted to. By his fourth slow breath, he moved his hand, intent on sneaking it under the Uchiha's blankets to find his hand…only to realize that his fingers were already curled around the dark haired man's, whose grip was tight and unmistakable.

When Naruto slipped back into sleep, he dreamed of an older Sasuke, face beginning to get lined with age, watching him with a warm smile from where he sat in their shared kitchen, still with him, still in love…

To be continued...

Thank you all for your reviews! This story has reached over 200 and I am completely blown away by all of your support! Thankyouthankyouthankyou...!