That Damned Raven Haired Boy (SasuNaru)

Part 13

Wearily, Naruto opened his eyes, trying to contain the unease that was welling within him. He was on his back it seemed, for his first sight was of a canopy of trees. Then he noticed a chin at the edge of his vision, red and blistered. He frowned, trying to keep from panicking as his eyes latched onto the damaged skin.

The blonde moved his lips and attempted to speak, but his voice caught in his throat, rough and scratchy, and he felt his already fast heartbeat quickening. He couldn't move, and his voice was failing him, and he was terrified because he had no idea whether the cough was wracking his body or not. He supposed it must have been.

"N-naruto?" Sasuke asked softly, his chin lowering to reveal his face. The blonde shinobi's eyes focused in on his teammate's concerned expression and he nearly grimaced.

Burns covered the other boy's cheeks, and forehead, and chin, and neck - mottled his once smooth skin with red and pink welts. His eyes showed no trace of pain though, only a heavily muted worry. A worry that was concealed behind the layers of apathy he always displayed for the world, for Naruto.

The blonde's stomach tightened anxiously and he somehow managed to whisper, "What happened?"

Blank eyes analyzed Naruto, staring at him with little expression, and the boy felt his gut twisting and wrenching within him. It was there again, that distance they had been slowly overcoming, and it was gaining strength. The Uchiha was closing himself off again; in spite of all that Naruto had done these passed few weeks to open him up, he was pushing him away.

Again and again and again and...

It was a waste of time to worry about this now.

Fighting to keep his eyes on Sasuke, Naruto realized that the brunette was looking to his left. He couldn't see Sasuke's expression anymore - he supposed that was for the better - only the direction of his chin, but he supposed Sasuke must have looked the same as he had a few seconds ago.

Naruto swallowed thickly and his breathing started picking up. He had no idea what had happened, and Sasuke wasn't saying anything, and he was somehow covered in burns, and... Naruto couldn't move. He tried to will his body to turn enough so he could see who Sasuke was looking at, but nothing happened.

And... He felt so tired; like he had been awake forever and had never once thought to close his eyes and sleep. The blonde yawned into Sasuke's chest and felt his eyes falling closed again.

"You should go back to sleep, Naruto," Sakura finally answered for Sasuke and the blonde wondered where she was before doing as she requested.

...You never understand...

The Kyuubi awoke in Naruto's body to find himself being contained by that damned Uchiha brat. The boy's arms were holding him tightly in a cradle lift and he was walking away from the clearing quickly.

The demon glared at the boy and shifted, trying to break the grasp upon him. When the hands on him tightened in response, the demon swiped at the Uchiha's face. Naruto's palm came in contact with Sasuke's flawless cheek and the Kyuubi heard a satisfying hissing sound as his demon chakra ate away at the brunette's skin.

"Fuck!" the Uchiha cursed, trying to pull his head back. "What the hell, Naruto?" he demanded as another hand viciously lashed out, slapping with a sizzle against his neck. The Kyuubi grinned, revealing two glittering canines, and aimed for the boy's chest with Naruto's clawed hands.

Beside them, the girl was getting anxious. He could taste her fear on his tongue when he drew in a breath and felt an exhilarating rush of bloodlust. His chakra spiked and the layer of bubbling orange surrounding the beast's human container intensified.