The Cure

Chapter 6

Sasuke let out a deep breath as he opened his eyes slowly.

He looked around for a while as he tried to come to his senses again. The first thing he realized was that he was holding Naruto's hand tightly. The pink blanket was still around his shoulders, and as far as Sasuke could see through the crack of the curtains, it was still dark outside.

Naruto was breathing into his ear softly, but he didn't look like he was comfortable on the floor like that. Sasuke untangled their hands, and left the bed slowly. He first we bathroom, and then turned back silently.

Carefully, Sasuke picked up Naruto from the floor, and cradled him in his arms. Naruto shifted a little, and rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder, but didn't show any signs awakening. Sasuke smiled softly. He really was a heavy sleeper, but what surprised Sasuke most was that, he weighted nothing. He was like a little bird. A bird that was ca and had his wings cut.

Sasuke laid Naruto down on the bed slowly. He looked at his face as he considered to leave, but the sleeping baby face of his was enough to convince Sasuke to stay.

Softly, Sasuke lied down beside the sleeping beauty, and struggled to find a comfortable position in the single sized bed. Naruto solved the problem for Sasuke as he press himself against Sasuke's warmness, and buried his face in Sasuke's chest.

Smiling to himself, Sasuke propped himself up on his left arm, and caressed Naruto's back as he looked at his relaxed face.

Things were different. Sasuke wasn't the same man as he had been before.

Sasuke had come to Naruto. For the first time, he had wanted to be with someone in his darkest night. Before him, Sasuke would get lost in his own darkness. The darkness swallowed him after she died. But tonight was different. Yes, there was darkness, yet also, there was light. A new hope. Life was hard without any hope. Food and water w the only things that kept human beings alive. Sasuke smirked as he recalled the old saying. Hope is the bread of the poor.

Naruto was Sasuke's new hope now. A reason for him to keep on living. All of his thoughts were occupied by him. Is he well? Is he safe? Is he happy? He had filled a big g Sasuke's life. There was something that was flowing from Sasuke to Naruto. But, also, there was another thing that was making Sasuke restless.

Was he... Was he betraying her?

Was he trying to fill the emptiness of her absence with Naruto?

Sasuke stopped his musing as Naruto stirred. He looked at his face for a moment, and then thoughts filled his mind again. He didn't think that he was trying to replace Na with Sakura. They were so different.

While Sakura was demanding, and daring, Naruto had a giving nature with a pure soul. Not that he was criticizing Sakura, but Naruto was white and Sakura was black. And appearances were pretty different, too.

Sakura was taller than Naruto. She had long, pink hair, which was reaching into her little of back. She had sharp, green eyes, and pale skin.

And Naruto was opposite of her. He was shorter. Actually, Sasuke liked his height. It was like he had been created for Sasuke's arms. Not that Sasuke thought of that. Any Naruto's hair was much shorter, barely passing his shoulders, and its color was so lovely. Naruto had deep blue eyes, and he was deliciously tanned, with a creamy tone.

So... Yes. They couldn't replace each other.

But, betraying?

If she had been there, Sasuke would never think of any other person. But, she was gone. And, Sasuke had felt the pain too much. So much that he had stopped living. So that he had wanted to die as well. But, now he had found a new reason to live. A new haven for him to rest his weary heart.