Log; Complete

[cursed-ninja.livejournal.com]

When; Feb.28th, evening.
Rating; PG13
Characters; Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke
Summary; After Sasuke comes back after disappearing in the morning. Naruto asks him about the upcoming fight with Akatsuki. Sasuke doesn't want him to go, but things don't go exactly as he plans.
Log;

A feeling of unease settled on his shoulders as Naruto headed back into the apartment. After everything that'd happened, all those promises, both broken and reformed, he was planning on jeopardising it all. And for what? He knew what he wanted to do. He knew that he'd already said he wouldn't. But at the same time, he couldn't just sit back and watch as everything unfolded in front of him.

It was for that feeling alone that he knew he needed to speak to Sasuke. The same person who'd disappeared that morning, leaving him to think over everything that'd happened. His trip to Hinata's had helped, clearing up his thoughts so he was able to focus on the main problem at hand. Or, in his eyes at least.

Stepping into the apartment, the door clicked soundlessly behind him, as he slipped off his coat and shoes, and made his way further inside.

Having just gotten back to the apartment just a few minutes ago, he immediately went and almost collapsed on his bed. With all these thoughts that were going through his head, he was almost glad Naruto wasn't back yet because he really didn't want to hear what other was going to say, especially since he could guess what it was Naruto wanted to ask him.

With a weak smile, Naruto headed toward the bedroom, following the familiar trail of chakra. Sasuke was already back, and his father was out. Perfect. It meant that he wouldn't have to worry about being overheard.

Pausing at the doorway to the room, Naruto pushed it open, before resting against the frame, eyes moving straight to its only occupant. "...how'd it go?"

Sasuke opening his eyes slightly to look at Naruto who was standing at the door, before forcing himself to sit up. He just shrugged in response to Naruto's question, remaining silent.

Sighing to himself, Naruto glanced away, his eyes instead fixing themselves on the other bed. "Sasuke, can we...talk?" A shake of his head and he made his way over to the very bed he stared at, keeping the gap between them for now. Until he's said anything, he didn't want to give Sasuke any reason to cloud his own judgement.

"Yeah, sure" Though Sasuke was pretty sure what Naruto wanted to talk about, he just nodded "What did you want to talk about?"

"It's about the stuff with Akatsuki." It was hardly suprising what the topic was, and he doubted Sasuke was completely clueless as to why he was bringing it up. Taking a seat on the edge of his own bed, Naruto sat forward, his eyes on his hands as they lay on his knees. "About...what's going to happen."

Yeah, and what about it?" Sasuke said, avoiding looking up towards Naruto.

He sighed, a frown appearing on his face. Sasuke wasn't making it any easier, at all. "...I want to fight too." Finally glancing back up, he looked over to Sasuke. "...and...if you want to as well...I wont stop you."

"Yeah, I already know that..." Sasuke sighed, refusing to look up. He knew he made Naruto promise him he wouldn't go, but like that idiot would even listen to him despite what he told him before. It wasn't even just that right now, he just really hated how Naruto was still making him feel so conflicted on what to do right now, just because he couldn't stop this feeling of worrying over him and his other stupid feelings "So why are you telling me this?"

"'cause..." Now why was he? He knew that, even if Sasuke said no, he'd probably still end up fighting. And he knew that he'd probably end up pissing him off for ignoring him if that happened. So why ask in the first place? "...I don't want to break that promise. Not again." He sighed, eyes dropping to the floor. When had it ever been this hard to talk to Sasuke? Well, since getting there. "And I don't want to stop you from doing whatever you decide to do about this either."

"But isn't that exactly what you're doing?" Sasuke shrugged, frowning slightly. Sometimes he really couldn't help but wonder why he bothered cared about Naruto this much. "Hn. Go ahead, I already knew you were going to fight, despite what I say to you. If end up getting hurt like last time or even worse, get killed, it's not my problem, not anymore"

"Sasuke..." He couldn't help it. This time, Naruto was up on his feet and closing the gap between them. Stopping beside the bed, an arm rose to brush carefully along the side of Sasuke's face. "That's why I wanted to ask you first. If I could fight him. And that you can come too, if that's what you wanted."

"...Don't" Sasuke shook his head, pushing Naruto away. No, he wasn't going to let Naruto do this. He won't. He was supposed to be in control of his emotions, not Naruto, just because he cares about him. Sasuke wanted to fight, he did, but after what his brother did, he wasn't really sure what he he could do anymore or that he even liked the fact everyone was wanting to fight his brother.

Sasuke shrugged again "Nothing. I know you can't leave it, I didn't say you couldn't go, you know..."

"...then what's wrong. Why're you..." He sighed, his hands closing into loose fists. "I thought you'd want this." A chance to face Itachi, even if it meant he wouldn't be alone in it all. ...ah. "Is it because we're facing him too?"

"...Yeah, that's part of it I mean, of course I want to fight him, but after all he's done me which I've been here, I...I'm not so sure anymore" Sasuke sighed, "I know all of you have every right to want to fight Akatsuki, but..."

"But what?" He knew, for more reason than he wanted to, why Sasuke felt so strongly about beating his brother. But after all of this, why couldn't he understand why he didn't have to be alone during it? "Sasuke? ...what do you want?"

"That he'll only end up being right about me, that's what" Sasuke said quietly,frowning slightly "I...don't know, Naruto"

"...what did he say to you?" His hand reached out again, this time trying to tilt Sasuke's head so he'd at least look at him. "What aren't you telling me?"

Sasuke sighed as Naruto's hand reached out to move his head slightly so that he'd look at him. Sasuke didn't push Naruto away though, "What does that matter? It won't mean anything, even if I do tell you"

That only served to worry the blond. Sighing to himself, Naruto crouched down to the same level as Sasuke, his concern clear on his face. "Sasuke, please. If something's wrong, you can tell me. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know that" Sasuke nodded, "Nothing is wrong. Just...what do you want me to say, Naruto?"

"I want you to tell me what you really think." He frowned, looking down to Sasuke's knees as he continued. "But at the same time, I want you to agree with me." Shaking his head, his voice grew quieter. It was impossible to have both, from his point of view. "...But I...I want you to be happy."

"You know that doesn't make sense, right?" Sasuke shook his head, "...What's the point? Would you even listen if I did tell you what I really think?"

"I know." Looking up seriously at Sasuke, he nodded to himself. He knew he wanted to fight. He knew that he should. But at the same time, if Sasuke really didn't want him to... "...I'll listen."

Sasuke paused, then shook his head "...Yeah. I just don't want to see you get hurt like last time, when you went after my brother because of me. But then...I know you want to, right?"

"...yeah, I do." His hand dropped to Sasuke's, taking a light grip. "I already promised dad I'd leave, if things got dangerous." Something that he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep to. Not if any of his friends were in danger. "...there's more than just me this time though."

Sasuke sighed, feeling Naruto's hand taking ahold of his. He really how Naruto could just do that to him. "Yeah I know that there's more than just you and that-- well, I know I shouldn't care anymore because I promised you...but I can't help it"

He didn't know what else to do. What could he do? Sasuke was still worried about him, and some poart of him cherished that fact. The rest of him however, needed to find a way around it. "Shouldn't care about what?"

"About going after my brother...and letting it get to me how pretty much everyone wants to go after him as well" Sasuke said, his voice getting lower as he talked, "If it wasn't for that, I'd probably want to fight with you too..."

"......." What was he meant to say to that? Sasuke was having second thoughts about fighting Itachi, all because there were others who wanted the exact same thing? It wasn't something that was ever going to change, both here and in their own times. "We're all facing him for different reasons though."

"Don't you think I know that?" Sasuke scowled, "But if I can't do fight him by myself and I need other people to help me, then that's why I said he'll just be right about me"

"...oh." Now it all seemed to make more sense. It wasn't a sense he was glad to understand though. "This isn't the Itachi from your time though. He's not even from mine." From what he'd been told, Itachi came from a time in both of their futures. "He's stronger than any of us, right now." Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. "...does it really matter to you...that much?" A question he didn't really want to know the answer to. Not after everything he'd seen for himself.

"Hn, easy for you to say." Sasuke mumbled, "I know he's from both our futures, but still...everyone else who he's fought has been able to do something to hurt him in some way or another. I haven't exactly been able to stop him or do anything close to that since he's been here. Of course it matters, you can kill of the rest of Akatsuki for all I care, but if my brother has to die, I'm the one who has to do it, otherwise he might as well have just killed me that night"

Sighing heavily, Naruto's hand dropped away as he moved onto his knees, looking up at Sasuke. "This isn't the Itachi you're meant to face. Not alone." Though, even he knew that that didn't make much of a difference. It hadn't so far. "...the Itachi that you have to fight is still back in your world."

"You don't get it" Sasuke shook his head, "I am supposed to do it alone, that'll only just show him that I was too weak to do it on my own, and despite the fact he's from the future, he's still him. It doesn't change that fact"

Sasuke..." His head hung forward, as he tried to work out a better way to explain himself. Why was this so difficult? "Not this one. The one from your world..." His shoulders slumped a little. "...I understand it now. Why you need to face him. Why you have to be the one...to kill him. ...just you." But that was the Itachi from the time Sasuke came from. "This Itachi's death belongs to the Sasuke from his time. Not you."

"I...guess you're right," Sasuke sighed, "But I can't help it...I mean, if one of the many people going after him and the rest of Akatsuki might just end up killing him, instead of the Sasuke from his time, then what am I supposed to do? Damnit. I hate feeling like this...like I just can't do anything because of what he's done to me while I've been here"

"It's only that Itachi though, isn't it?" He'd already had proof that there wasn't a way to change events of your own time. If that'd been the case, then Sasuke wouldn't have gone to Orochimaru in the first place. "They're all different versions. And once you get back to your time, you can..." He swallowed, his voice growing quieter. "...you can go after that Itachi..."

Sasuke just stared at Naruto, surprised at his words "I...yeah. Wait. I thought you didn't want me to?"

"I don't want you to." But there was a difference now. "...I know you have to though. I understand why...you're so set on beating him. I get that now." Glancing back up, he gave a weak smile. "...and I get why you have to do it on your own. Doesn't mean you have to be on your own before that though. You still don't need the snake bastard to get that far."

"I..." Sasuke paused. Why was it that from Naruto just saying that he felt like doing the complete opposite? He shook his head lightly, "Why do you always do this to me?"

Cocking his head to the side, Naruto's expression turned to confusion. "What d'you mean?" He was hoping for an obvious response, but sometimes, he just wasn't able to tell. Not with Sasuke. "What did I do?"

"You being you..." Sasuke smirked,"Making me worry about you as much as I now because of how much I love you, and making me think of doing the exact opposite about going after my brother just because you don't want me to, even though you were saying I could...that's what I mean, considering how it wasn't too long ago that I normally would have just ignored you"

A smile slowly made it's way onto his face, his body relaxing. He wasn't angry, and that in itself was a relief. Shifting forward, Naruto folded his arms, resting them on Sasuke's knees as he grinned up at him. "I just want you to be happy, you know. Even if that means you have to do things I'd prefer you didn't do. S'why I wanna at least know before you do."

"Me being happy? I really don't think those two go together, Naruto" Sasuke laughed,"...Damnit. Will you stop doing that already! The more you say it, the more it just makes me not want to"

"'course you can be happy. You deserve it, more than anyone I know." Glancing away briefly, Naruto took a deep breath. "I still want you to fight him though. If you want to. ...you need to make a choice. Just...this time, it's all of us together. When you go back to your time, then it's just you." Turning back, he shook his head a little. "Just you to fight him. But I still wanna be there." The other him...

"Hn. I can't...happiness is not something that lasts long, at least not with me" Sasuke shurgged, before he glaced towards Naruto, "...Well in that case, I guess I'll come with you then, and as for fighting my brother back in my time, if I do decide on still fighting him...if it's you, you can be there"

It took a moment for Naruto to be able to school his expression, not wanting to show Sasuke how much the simple comment...hurt. Instead, he took to looking down at his arms, waiting a moment before he spoke. "You're allowed to be happy. I...I'm gonna make sure of that." Taking a deep breath, he looked back up, an almost forced smile on his face. "I'm gonna be there whenever you need me. Even when you dont, yanno."

"Well...then maybe you're my exception to that," Sasuke smiled, probably for the first time that day "Hn. Like I'd want it any other way, idiot"

Moving back a little, Naruto released his arm, one hand lifting up to the side of Sasuke's face. Fingers sliding lightly over his cheek, Naruto smiled easily. "Then m'gonna make sure it stays that way too."

The sudden movement made Sasuke blush slightly,"Yeah, yeah. I know." He moved his hand over to Naruto's, taking ahold of Naruto's hand into his own, squeezing gently. "And with you going off to fight, I might as well go with you rather than just worry about you even more"

"You're coming then?" He paused for a moment, before nodding slightly. "In that case, I wanna fight with you. If...that's okay?" Of course, even if Sasuke said no, he wasn't going to let the other out of his sight.

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, I am, and that's fine with me if you want to do that"

Nodding his head once again, Naruto pushed himself up onto his feet, pausing briefly to place a short kiss on Sasuke's lips. "It's all gonna be alright." Because even if things went wrong, he'd be close enough to pull them both out of danger, as he'd already promised.

Sasuke laughed again, and pulled Naruto closer to him, "Hn. It better be..."

Sliding his arms around Sasuke's waist, Naruto hugged the other tightly, ignoring the akwardness of the position. All that mattered to him was being able to stay near to Sasuke. "M'not gonna let anything happen. Not again." More than just the impending fight.

Sasuke relaxed as Naruto hugged him tightly, "Yeah, I know and I won't let anything happen either"

Pulling back a little, he grinned down at Sasuke, forehead resting against the others'. "If something..." He cut himself off before the rest of the sentence could escape him. "Can we spend the day together tomorrow?"

"Hm. Sure, we can do that..." Sasuke smirked, "We can do whatever you want too, I did say I'd make it up to you for going off on my own earlier today, right?"

"In that case, you have to promise not to laugh." Smiling nervously, he shifted a little, eyes flicking away from Sasuke. It wasn't so much that he was afraid Sasuke would laugh, but more a case of him being embarrassed at the idea. It was something he'd expect one of the girls to suggest, afterall. "...can we go spend the day at the beach? Just us?"

Sasuke couldn't help but smile at Naruto, "Why would I laugh? If that's what you want to do, then of course we can do that"

"'cause it's the kind of thing Sakura-chan would say," he muttered, before looking back at Sasuke again. "You mean it though? The whole day. And we can ignore everything else, alright?" Namely trying to forget about everything that was about to happen, even if it was just for a single day.

"That's why you thought I'd laugh?" Sasuke shook his head, "There's one big difference though, it's because this is you asking me, not her, so I do mean it, we can spend the whole day there just like you want"

He was relieved. That much was clear. Smiling happily, Naruto nodded his head. "It'll be great. We can go swimming, and take lunch and everything." Standing back up properly, Naruto stretched his arms over his head, back popping back into place. "I wont tell anyone either, so no one follows us." Certain people trying to make sure they were okay, in particular.

Sasuke stood up shortly after Naruto did, this time he couldn't help but laugh slightly "Yeah, sure that sounds good"

He couldn't help but take the oppurtunity presented itself in from of him. Stepping forward, his arms wound around Sasuke tightly," Thank you"


Sasuke let out a sigh, but hugged Naruto back just as tightly, "Idiot. You don't have to thank me"

"Yes, I do," he muttered, his head ducking forward to rest against Sasuke's shoulder. There were many things that Naruto still felt he had to thank Sasuke for. But above all... "...for lettin' me stay near you, and for not being angry..." Even after everything that'd happened.

But that's all because I love you, you know" Sasuke smiled slightly "So you don't need to thank me for that"

His arms tightened at that, unable to help himself. "Still want to 'cause...you didn't...I mean..." A shake of his head and Naruto smiled once again. "M'just happy you're here too."

"Yeah, okay fine" Sasuke shook his head "...I'm glad you're here too, Naruto"

"And I'm not goin' anywhere. Promise! Not 'til..." No. Not talking about that. Not at all! Pulling back a little, he gave a nervous smile. Time to change the subject. "...are you hungry? Or did you just want to go to sleep?"

As Naruto pulled back, Sasuke stretched his arms, "Not hungry...but maybe I am a bit tired"

Nodding his head slightly, Naruto released his hold on Sasuke, opening the gap between them. "Do you want me to leave so you can sleep?"

Sasuke shrugged "Up to you. If you want to stay you can, it doesn't matter to me"

"I...uh..." Ducking his head, Naruto stared at the floor, trying to will away the blush that slowly started to form. "...can I...share with you? Just for tonight?"

Sasuke smirked at that, "Idiot. You don't have to ask, of course you can"

He looked up quickly, the surprise clear on his face. "Y'mean it? I thought that maybe..." Shaking his head, Naruto's grin returned easily, relieved at Sasuke's response. He'd half expected Sasuke to tell him to leave so he could sleep, or something similar. "Alright!"

Sasuke nodded, "Did you really think I'd say no and tell you to leave or something? I told you it was up to you, you know"

"Well, yeah." Though he was glad he'd been proven wrong in this case. "I thought you'd want some peace and quiet." A pause. "Not that I'm going to be loud or anything!"

Sasuke merely shook his head, "You're always loud, but I guess I'm just used to it for that to matter much anymore"

He tried to scowl, to show some kind of annoyance at Sasuke's words, but it just wouldn't come. His grin only seemed to break through each expression. In the end, he simply managed an almost indignant, "Hey!" before he stuck his tongue out in retalliation.

Sasuke couldn't help but laugh at that, and he just shrugged in response to Naruto's comment, as he sat back down on his bed, "It's true though, otherwise I really would have made you leave already"

Even though I'd just keep bugging you then?" Heading over to his own bed, Naruto pulled out his pyjama's, before glancing back at Sasuke again. "Don't have to be loud to do that!"

"I guess. Wait...so you'd do that?" Sasuke looked over towards Naruto, "Well it depends, really"

"If I had to." His expression went against his words. If Sasuke honestly wanted him to leave, he would've. But of course, he'd try to hide that for as long as he could. Turning his attention back to his pyjama's, Naruto slowly began to get changed, mindful of the bandages that were still wrapped around him.

"If you had to? What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked, just before he lay down to rest his head against the pillow.

Trousers already changed, Naruto pulled on his shirt, before making his way across toward Sasuke's bed again. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to himself, almost as though reaffirming his decision. Climbing in alongside Sasuke, Naruto snuggled up against his side, an arm reaching round his waist. "If it meant I could stay closer, then yeah. I'd bug you."

As Naruto climbed into his bed and snuggled closer to him, putting an arm around his waist, Sasuke just smiled at the other, before putting one arm around Naruto soon after. "Idiot. You don't have to bug me to me do that"

Looking up at Sasuke for a moment, Naruto simply grinned. As long as he was able to stay like this, he'd be happy. Which was exactly why he refused to let anything happen to any of them. Not again.