Titanium (SasuNaru)

4. Koibito

"And so, all the night tide, I lay down by the side. Oh my darling, my darling, my life and my bride. In the sepulcher the sea. In her tomb by the sounding sea."

     -Edgar Allan Poe, Annabel Lee

~

But everyone were already grieving the loss of Naruto. The Naruto that they had befriended. The Naruto Sasuke loves. The Naruto that'll leave them soon. Fore ever. 

Yes, times seemed dark indeed. Not even Naruto's bright smile would lift their moods above the negative.

And at that night. Sasuke cried. 

~

Sasuke had been walking towards the kitchen, planning to cook something for the two of them. He had grabbed a pan and knives while listening the wind howl outside the walls. He had been planning to make some curry, which Naruto liked. Other than ramen, of course.

He had been washing the rice when he heard it. A strange sound emitting from upstairs. It had sounded like a screeching cat, or something that you'd run away from if confronted by in a dark forest at night. It was inhumane. Like a wounded animal. He dropped the knife he had been holding and sprinted upstairs, towards the sound. 

A shriek was heard from the room he was heading in hurry. Naruto's room. He yanked the door open with such force he heard it dislodge. Sasuke saw the ill blond trashing around on the bed, and a loud shrill sounded. Naruto was drenched in sweat, and his blue eyes were wide and unfocused. 

Sasuke rushed next to him, and tried to calm the blond while inquiring what was happening. Naruto gasped and his feverishly hot and sweaty hand grabbed Sasuke's in a tight hold. 

"'Suke..." He rasped and Sasuke encouraged him to continue. "Hurts..."

"Where does it hurt, dobe ? He demanded, a tight undertone in his voice.

"Every..where..." The blond answered. "My head..my stomach..legs...arms..." He whispered in pain and bit his lip so he wouldn't scream again. A trail of blood trickled down his lip, past his chin and on to the damp mattress.

"Just stay put, I'll.." Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and his breath was shaky. "I'll alert Tsunade-sama, she must be at Hokage tower." The blond felt the other pulling away. 

"No ! Don't leave me, Sasuke !" He cried while his breathing was labored. 

"I won't leave you, I'll summon one of my hawks, don't worry." He wasn't sure who he was encouraging but nonetheless he pried his hands free and summoned the most trusted hawk he had a contract with.

"Sasuke, what do you need ? Is he okay ?" A raspy voice sounded and Sasuke glanced at the summoning.

"Sasaki, get me the Hokage." He commanded with a shaky voice. The dark hawk flapped his wings and flew through the open window towards his destination. Sasuke glanced at the window, noticing it was still windy and cloudy. Naruto whimpered in pain and Sasuke moved back beside him.

"'Suke.." Said male hummed in a question while rubbing the blond's hand in comfort.

"Hurts.." "I know, I'm here with you, everything's gonna be okay. Don't worry. I love you." He chanted and Naruto made a sound of pain while clutching his head with the hands he pried away from his lover's hold. 

"Naruto ? Naruto, hey ! Talk to me ! Dobe !" Sasuke's eyes widened in a way one could call a shock as the blond emitted a cry. Naruto's arms had dark patterns on them, and the figures moved. They looked like wild vines growing on the blond's tan skin. Sasuke touched them and felt nothing out of the ordinary. He had to rub his eyes and wonder if he was dreaming but he was awake, and Naruto was in pain.