Love In The Blood Prison | Sasunaru/Narusasu

My Love (1.5/2)

In the empty Hokage office, Sasuke and I sit next to each other for a long time. Sasuke's head is against my chest while I rock him back and forth soothingly. He's barely catching his breath, but he's able to speak better than earlier.

It feels like seconds have gone by with him by my side, but my heart aches for his pain; it's unfortunate that Itachi is going to die soon. His illness isn't able to be prolonged any further and it would be inhumane to try.

"Sasuke," I whisper to him once his breathing slowly goes back to normal, "I knew you disliked being all alone... Initially, when we were kids, I assumed that there was someone like me; someone who felt lonely, yet confident enough to take on the world. I felt relieved and content."

I pause for a few seconds, continuing to speak once more.

"The truth is... I wanted to speak to you about my dad, my mom, myself; even about you... I wanted to understand you more. But I couldn't... You were able to do anything. I was simply a kid who inherited my parents' genetics and not my own identity. I grew to dislike the village, becoming quiet and introverted."

Sasuke remains quiet for a moment, presumably thinking to himself.

After that moment passes, he speaks softly to me. "Is it my fault? Did I ruin your life?"

I shake my head. "No, it isn't your fault. But I suppose I was too young to understand myself properly. There are people who might call that a phase I went through, but I don't consider it as that. I like to think of that period of my life as an era where I finally put myself first and trained my mind to handle stress better."

"Are you sure I didn't make you hate everything?" Sasuke asks, his voice breaking my heart further.

"My love, my heart, my everything; my soulmate," I kiss his cheeks, smiling tenderly at him, "I promise you didn't do anything to me."

"But... I made Itachi..." Sasuke's voice trails off, his gaze shifting downward, almost as if his mind is showing him flashbacks of the past.

"Itachi doesn't blame you for the last, Sasuke. I promise." I say reassuringly.

"I killed people... I killed so many..." Sasuke murmurs, his voice cracking. "Maybe he wants to let his illness take over, so he can finally escape my presence."

"That's not true..." I say, gently grabbing his chin and tilting it up so he can meet my gaze. "Itachi knows why you did it... He remembers everything. He cherishes the fact you took on that burden. He doesn't regret anything that has happened in the past."

"Maybe―"

"I promise it's okay." I kiss his cheeks again, keeping my voice soft and reassuring.

He looks into my eyes, his gaze softening. "Why are you so nice to me? I... I broke up with you..."

"It's okay. I promise." I say, hiding the truth of my feelings.

It still hurts. It hurts that I can't hear him reciprocate my love, but I don't want to pressure him into reciprocating either.

"Maybe we should never get back together... You and Sakura look happier together... All I do is cause you pain and suffering." Sasuke says, sniffing as he tries to dry his face with his sleeve.

"No, that's not true." I say quickly, not wanting to leave any room for doubt.

"How isn't it true? You nearly died so many times because of me. I'm a terrible human being... I'm useless―"

"No, you're not. You've done so many memorable achievements in this world. Don't ever call yourself that. I don't give a utter damn what the world thinks. The world can hate you, but I'll love you without caring for their opinions." I say, grabbing his face so he can look me in the eyes.

"No, don't do that... I'll believe you..." He says, trying to look away from me.

But I don't let him look away.

I keep my hands on his face, forcing him to look me in the eyes while I speak.

"I love you through thick and thin. My life is yours. My heart is yours. I will give you every part of my soul, if it means you'll be the last person I see when I die. I don't care if I die because of you. I will happily take a sword to the back. I don't care. I love you, Sasuke." I say, kissing his lips repeatedly.

I don't want this moment to end. I love him too much to stop.

"Naruto, please... Please... I-I don't want to drag you down with me again. I'm already an emotional wreck. I'm not even a real man... I can't even give you what you're wanting from me." Sasuke tries to turn his head away from me, but I keep kissing him, not letting him give up hope in me.

"What about your reputation? You're a famous person in this world now... People will mock you for loving me so openly. You'll lose everything." Sasuke tries to think of anything to make me hate him.

"I told you, I don't care about what they think." I hold him closer to me, not daring to let go.

"But, remember what they said: I have committed serious crimes including the murder of my clan and participating in a killing spree. Although they chose to permit me to serve my imprisonment within the confines of the village, I know they only did it because you begged them to. They would've happily tossed me back to the Blood Prison. But... You can't keep defending me... I'm a monster." He says, relentlessly saying those words in between kisses.

My eyes don't look away from him, not daring to express my disappointment in the way he's trying to tear himself down.

"You're not a monster... You're the love of my life." I say, giving him another kiss on the lips. "You're the man I will forever chase down until I find you again."

Sasuke looks me in the eyes for a few seconds and then he averts his gaze. "...I can't believe you're doing this for me..."

"Believe it." I smile softly at him.

He shifts his gaze to me again, finally mustering a small smile. "You're so stubborn..."

"I will always be stubborn." I chuckle.

He rolls his eyes, still smiling at me. "Fine... But don't say I told you so..."

I smile wider. "Come on... Say it. Don't leave me guessing."

He playfully tries to push my face away. "No..."

I move his hand away, pouting at him. "Pretty please?"

He snorts, his eyes no longer crying. Though, his voice remains strained. "Fine... We can be together again..."

I immediately, and excitedly, kiss his lips again, savoring the moment a bit longer. "Thanks."

"Why are you obsessed with kissing me?" He purses his lips.

"Because I want to steal as many kisses as I can while you're still in front of me." I wink at him, despite my innermost fear trying to make me believe that he'll leave again.

"I won't leave you again. I promise." He says, grabbing my face this time to kiss my lips. "Cross my heart."

My heart nearly leaps out of my chest. This is one of the best memories I've ever experienced with him.

"Sasuke... I really, really love you."

He smiles back. "I love you more, Naruto."