Darkness

A/N: Hey all.. Just me again.. *giggles* I’m here to state that I’m having a few other people helping me with the running of this chapter… Their names.. well.. they don’t need to be said.. cause well they’re my family. XD And for this particular chapter, I’m going to go back into my normal writing style with third person viewings just to keep it a bit easier.. XD

Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto, nor do I own “The Hell Song” by Sum 41… I just am using it in this chapter, cause well I feel like it. ^_^’ Now onto the damn story.

Chapter 13: Living in Hell (Sasuke’s Sorrow)

Both Sakura and Sasuke exited into the snow, ever knowing that they might not even make it back to Sakura's home, as it was all the way across the village. Yet, both didn't care, they still wanted to try at least, as at least Sasuke knew that Kakashi would know more about all of this.

“Sa-Sakura…Hurry…” Sasuke told Sakura as they walked slowly in the blinding wind. “We… we need to get there before the coldness gets to us.” Sakura only nodded as she trodded quicker through the snow. Sasuke continued to feel the guilt overwhelm his sense, and understood that what he had done to Naruto was rude, but felt as if he needed to do it. Needed to keep Naruto away from him so he could stop whoever was doing all of this.

(Why do things that matter the most)

‘But…What if Naruto tries to hurt himself, or gets himself hurt by running around alone?’ That one thought plagued his waking mind as he walked with Sakura towards her house. Those blinding winds continued to assault them in their small journey, trying to halt their progress. Yet that didn’t stop the two members of Team 7. ‘Come on Sakura… I know you can get us there safely.’ Sasuke felt as if all of his control and power was slipping through his hands. Each passing moment felt as if it was a minute, making him feel uneasy. Sasuke tried to use his Sharingan, but the weakness he felt along with the snow made it almost useless. “Sakura…” She continued to walk, but looked at him with questioning eyes. “Let me use… my fire jutsu. It might… help us.” Sakura could only blink at Sasuke for suggesting that idea.

“SASUKE!” She yelled at him, as she continued to walk. “Don’t be so stupid! If you use any jutsu in your current state, you could collapse.” His eyes flashed anger at her. “Don’t give me that look, Sasuke. I’m trying to keep you alive.” She hrmphed and pressed herself forward into the driving snow. She didn’t care anymore if she would die now; she just wanted to keep Sasuke safe. That was her motivation, her drive to continue forward. Her eyes will still sharp, even in the snow, she wouldn’t let herself down at this moment.

He sighed and continued to look forward, his thoughts still surrounding Naruto. “I’m sorry… Kitsune-kun” He whispered, hoping not to have Sakura hear him. The only thing that could help him now, was the ever present thought that Naruto would return, and still like him. Sasuke sighed sadly, as he walked with Sakura's steps.

"What was that?" She asked him, as she walked with more ferosity. "What did you say?" Sasuke blushed before shaking his head, not wanting to tell her.

"It was nothing, Sakura, just get me to your house." She nodded before she began to run. Her strength increased, as she let Sasuke's legs dangle while she ran. Sasuke blinked at her speed and at the way she just took off even with him connected, yet he couldn't supress a smile. She was finally matching speed with both him and Naruto.

A frown spread across her face as she concentrated on getting to her apartment as quickly as possible, the drive that had awakened her inner strength and speed was slowly increasing. "We're almost there." She said, as she finally saw the building inch closer. With her free hand, she clenched it tightly, wanting to punch the door open as she got there. Yet even as she neared the door, she felt the need to slow down and walk towards it. Something deep inside of Sakura was screaming to wait for the anger, wait for the grief, let Sasuke stay in the warmth for right now.

He stared off blankly as they neared, feeling the constant motion of running easing him, yet that comfort was short lasting, as she started to slow down until they finally stopped. "Sakura?" He asked her, though hw wasn't in the mood for an answer. His eyes shifted uneasily towards the door. Sakura's hand pushed it open with ease, and walked in, the snow dripping off of them immediately because of the fire that was going in the room.

(Never end up the way we chose?)

Sasuke was greeted with warmth, which had awoken him a bit more, since he felt like he was going to fall back asleep. It didn't matter though, because Sakura had put him in a chair. His eyes shifted towards the sleeping Kakashi. 'He...looks so peaceful in that sleep...' He thought to himself, as his eyes drooped in sadness. 'Naruto...' A frown was on his face, while Sakura rushed around to make the same concoction of herbs that had gotten Sasuke out of his illness. "I hope this works, cause if it doesn't then we're all screwed." She muttered to herself, without thinking of the Uchiha boy that had heard her. Though the thought never crossed his mind, since he was deep in thinking of his aikouka.

Sakura lifted Kakashi's head, and poured the paste down his throat, the same way she had done it to Sasuke earlier, though it went down Kakashi's throat a bit easier than it did to her once love. Kakashi started to cough a bit as he stirred from his endless sleep, opening his eyes slightly. "Sa-Sakura?" He muttered with a dry throat. Sakura smiled, before she spoke up.

"Yes, Kakashi..It's me." Her voice wavered slightly, but it didn't matter, she had the proper ingredients to wake up the rest of the town. Yet, even though the paste was strong, it only made Kakashi open his eyes. It seemed that his body was too weak to even move anymore.

"S-Sakura...Did...you bring... Sasuke and ... Naruto?" She frowned and shoke her head.

A sigh escaped her lips. "Naruto...ran away...bec--" She stopped before looking at Sasuke, his eyes squinted a bit, listening to part of the conversation. "...because of Sasuke." She didn't care right at this moment, since she felt that Kakashi should be aware of everything. He was their former sensei, so why shouldn't he know.

(Now that I've found a way to pay)

"Damn it, Sakura..." Sasuke muttered to her, as his body relaxed against the chair's back. "I...told you not... not to say anything..." His breath felt as if it escaped him, but even as it had disappeared, it reappeared.

Kakashi sighed and closed his eyes. "So..I was right to worry about Sasuke..." He coughed some more, before opening his eyes. "Sakura.. the snow... it causes this illness... I had seen it happen before my eyes, with...with Iruka... and Anko..." Sakura only nodded.

"I know..I know.. Naruto and myself... deduced that with Sasuke and yourself.

The silver haired ninja's eyes opened wide, "Sasuke... contracted the disease?" He asked Sakura, who only nodded. He frowned a bit. "What..what about you and Naruto?" She looked down for a moment.

"It seemed as though we are both somewhat immune to it." She looked back at Sasuke. "Though I don't know why I'm immune and Sasuke isn't."

Kakashi chuckled. "It's because of Tsunade's training." Sakura's head flung back towards Kakashi. "She taught you what you needed to know in the medical field, and you began to learn how to use your chakra to combat it. As for... Naruto... his...fox.. must've prevented it from happening."

"That may be true Kakashi," Sasuke spoke up. "But it seemed as though he contracted it once, but someehing weird happened." Sasuke closed his eyes, thinking back to before he had that dream with Naruto in it.

"And what was weird about it, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked the raven haired ninja.

Sasuke's eyes bolted open as he looked at the both of them. "His...his body changed into a real fox..."

Sakura's eyes opened as well, before she stumbled in speaking, "W-What?"

"Yes, it's true, his body morphed into a real fox, and began to hibernate a bit in the cold snow. Like it was building up an immunity to it." He replied to Sakura.

Kakashi just chuckled. "It seems that the seal has finally broken totally." He began to cough a bit, before looking at Sakura. "He's stronger than ever now, with the Kyuubi totally free in his body. I would watch him carefully, because he is still fragile..." His thought pattern drifted off, as Sakura and Sasuke stared at each other.

'The Kyuubi? But.. with what.. I did...' Sasuke thought. He jumped up from his chair, staring back at Sakura. "I.. must find Naruto." Though his strength wavered, it was his guilt that had helped push him to his boundaries. Bolting out the door, he ran into the snow, not caring at all of himself. "NARUTO!" He screamed, as he started for the forest. "I'm SORRY!" He continued, his own mind deceiving him with images of death and sorrow of Naruto.

(I don't think I knew what I had.)