Peace to the Void

Thank you to all who read and rated. To my reviewers:

Nivell: Thanks I’m glad you like the pairings. I was hoping they’d work out. I don’t see a lot of Kiba/Sai pairings but it’s actually one of my favorites. I feel bad for doing this to Sai but it must be done.

Runoutofaname: Thank you.

Msuzumaki: Thank you for the review, you’ll see why he thought to handle it that way.

Meow-ku: Thank you. I’m glad you like the story. Sasuke’s eating problems are because of the drugs and because he’s spent years without solid food.

Darling425: Thank you.

Lryn: Thank you for the kind words. You’ll see a different side of Sasuke in this chapter hope you like.

Otaku_Girl_22: Thanks!!

AlienX: You always leave the best reviews. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone review my stories so thoroughly. I love it. As for Sasuke’s Uchiha pride, yes it’s been all stripped from him. He really doesn’t have any sense of pride anymore. Orouchimaru stole a lot in those six years. I also hope you like Sasuke’s reaction to Sai. Because of all the things Sasuke has lived through he’s come to think of sex much like a lamp, it’s there it’s no big deal. He doesn’t think that his rape means anything; to him it’s just old nightmares. You’ll see about the people around him and Kimimaro too. I have plans…Spectacular plans indeed.

Chapter Five

He bit his lip as he felt his lover nip at his ear.

"Kiba-kun," he chuckled, his breath tickling his neck.

"Baby," it was a growl, "You're so sexy when you're like this."

He shivered arching into the body above him. He knew he was dreaming, but it was too good a dream to stop. Now he was looking down at his lover, his hands planted on his broad tan chest as he rode him. Heat swirled through his entire frame. Sai shook as his lover's member rubbed against his prostate. He gazed down at him longingly. Kiba's body was physical perfection to him. He ran his hand against the warm tan skin, delighted in the feel of his thick, brown hair. His fingers dove from his hair back down to the strong shoulders of Kiba's broad frame. Kiba growled in his throat as he flicked his thumbs over pert brown nipples.

"How do you stay tanned in space?" he asked aloud.

Kiba had grown use to Sai's abrupt questions even in the midst of this type of activity.

"We're in a station a lot and I get enough time off to visit my home planet." Kiba chuckled before groaning. He ran his hands up the pale thighs at his side before sitting up. He pushed up his hips moving deeper inside the other boy making him moan in delight. "I like your pale space skin."

He clutched his thighs, moving faster causing the other to tremble and fall into his chest. Sai shook his head slowly whimpering.

"Kiba-" He moaned, moving faster clutching his shoulders.

His hips jerked up sending another wave of pleasure through Sai's body. They both fell back to the bed.

"Why did you do it?" Kiba asked rolling them over, rocking into his body hard.

He shook his head confused, trying to focus on his question than the ecstasy running through him. "What?"

"Why did you do it? Don't I mean anything to you?" Kiba continued, now tears rolled down his cheeks, "I love you damn it. Why would you do this to yourself?"

Everything was fading away. Still he could hear Kiba speaking to him. He felt his hand being held. Everything felt fuzzy, and dimmed. He opened his eyes slowly and there he was.
"Kiba-kun," He whispered his throat feeling dry.

Kiba's hand tightened its grip. "Sai," He looked down his face stained with tears, "You're okay."

Then he was being held tight. "Don't you ever do that to me again! You're a real fucking jerk; I don't know why I love you."

Sai was confused. He'd read about love. He wasn't allowed to love, his master forbid it. But something inside him felt all warm when he'd heard Kiba say those words to him.

"I'm sorry." He replied returning his hold.

Kiba growled into his ear. "Don't just say it if you don't mean it."

Sai held him tighter, "It's what you say when you've hurt someone when you didn't want to, when you wish you hadn't. I read that. So what I'm feeling now is regret that I hurt you with my actions and to express that to you in a normal way I must apologize."

Kiba nodded, "Okay, fine I accept your apology but I don't forgive you yet. I don't know how you can do something so stupid. You could've died Sai."

"I had to get rid of it."

"What the fuck did you put in your system?" Kiba retorted pulling away to hit him with a steely gaze.

Sai frowned, "Why were you so angry if you did not know?"

"They told me was a lethal substance. They didn't go into detail. The fact that you knew it was deadly is enough for me to be pissed off." He continued, "Now what the fuck did you take?"

The look in Kiba's eyes made him afraid and flustered all at once; he let out a shuddering breath and answered, "Upgraded sphaX."

He flinched at the fist that slammed against the pillow beside his bed. He knew of Kiba's strength, how his canine genes made him stronger, faster, more capable. How easy it would be for Kiba to kill him, he could use but only a small fraction of his strength and snap Sai's spine.

"Why?" He growled his eyes wide and menacing.

Sai's vision began to blur, "I couldn't do it. The door buzzed and I had to get rid of it. I didn't want Uchiha Sasuke to see it."

Then Kiba's hands were gentle, his thumbs repeatedly wiping the wetness from his cheeks. He knew the sensation he'd done it once before when his brother had died. This feeling was sadness; he was crying because he'd hurt Kiba-kun, whom he couldn't live without. Kiba-kun was also crying, but Sai wasn't sure why. Kiba had said he was angry, he had growled in the way that didn't mean sex or annoyance.

"Why are you crying? I thought you were angry." Sai began his brows furrowed as he tried to focus his eyes on the man before him.

"I am angry, but I'm sad, scared, worried, and even happy." Kiba replied, "It's a lot right now doll, a whole lot."

His frown continued, "Happy?"

"You're alive, Sai." Kiba smiled down at him pressing a shaking kiss to his lips, "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't woken up. I don't know how I would've gone on."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm an idiot," He huffed annoyed. "I can't live without you because I love you so much."

"And I can't live without you," Sai remarked, suddenly realizing, "because I love you Kiba-kun. The books should've said that then it would have been easier to realize. It didn't describe it the right way. It's more like my heart stops than pounds. Perhaps I'm only afflicted with possessiveness…"

Kiba-kun only kissed him again, again, and again. He told him to shut up when Sai tried to speak, pinned his wrists against the hospital pillow, and kissed him.

"Inuzuka," It was the secretary, "You have to leave now."

Kiba pulled only a fraction away, "If you love me, you will tell them everything. If you don't, we'll have to learn to live without each other."

Sai only nodded as he stared into the other's eyes. Inuzuka released him slowly standing up; he bowed to the secretary before leaving the room. When the door closed his heart sank, he composed himself before walking down the corridor. He hoped, prayed that Sai wasn't just possessive.

Itachi looked to the boy that was his aide. Sai sat up in the bed and bowed.

"Will you cooperate?"

"There's a bug in my vocal chords if I try to speak about who I worked for it'll knock me out." Sai informed him. "It's so I can't cooperate before I'm killed."

Itachi nodded, "They will try to kill you?"

"I will be killed."

"Because you didn't follow orders?"

"Yes Mr. Secretary," Sai nodded.

Itachi paused in thought, "You're under house arrest. You will remain at the Uchiha compound until your official interrogation and trial."

Sai looked to his lap, "He doesn't know does he? No one told him."

"He was not told why you were hospitalized."

"Someone will try to tell him. He mustn't know." Sai remarked, "I took it so that he'd never see it."
Itachi sat on the edge of the bed beside him. Sai spoke before he could, "You're about to say something I will not like. I've read this, people get closer as a means to seem comforting, and in most scenarios it only causes the person to become more anxious."

Itachi faintly smiled, "Yes, you will have to tell Sasuke."

"I cannot."

"You're the only person he can hear it from." Itachi began, "If he hears it elsewhere he won't know why you took it and he won't care. You have to explain why you took it to him, so that he knows that you endangered your life so that he would not endanger his."

Sai shook his head, "No I cannot. If my reasoning is correct you've let Neji return to our normal duties which he will be more than happy with and you've given Haku direct control of Uchiha Sasuke's care, which will only delight him. Haku will kill me if I come anywhere near him. I was listening I heard Haku say he was an angel, I heard him say he'd die for him. My life would mean nothing to Haku, and that is if I am not already dead before I am sent back to the compound."

"Haku will not harm you and will be acting as your guard temporarily. His job includes taking care of you also." The secretary explained standing up to leave. "You will be escorted to the compound by Hoshigaki-san and I later this evening. Sai-kun?"

"Yes Mr. Secretary."

"Thank you for refusing those orders, and for protecting Sasuke. I'm very proud of you." With that remark he left.

Sai spent the next few hours thinking of how he would tell Uchiha Sasuke that he had been ordered to kill him, and refused thus nearly killing himself. He would tell him because so far Itachi-sama was proud of him. Only two people had ever said that to him before, the first was his brother and the other was Kakashi-sensei. He knew that they would be proud of his disobedience too, and would want him to talk to Uchiha Sasuke also.

When his door opened he expected it to be the secretary or Hoshigaki-san, but he was surprised with Neji.

"Hello Neji-kun, thank you for saving my life." He greeted.

Neji sat on the chair beside his table, "You are welcome."

There wasn't any conversation between them which from what he'd read was odd. "You are not speaking."

Neji only nodded, "Neither are you."

"I thought you'd come to say something to me."

Neji looked up at him and Sai noticed that his lenses were gone, "Don't ever do that again."

Sai smiled, "Yes, I will not."

"Good," Neji remarked, "Because I don't have the time to find someone for your position. Mr. Secretary is far too particular and of course they'd have to meet Haku's impossible standards and I'd have to train them. You know my opinions about training staff."

"Of course, I'm sorry. I should have thought of the consequences my actions would've had on you." Sai added.

"Tomorrow you should talk to ouji-sama," Neji began, "I know that you don't want to but it will help. I didn't want to talk to him a few days ago either but it really does help."

"A few days ago?"

"You were comatose for two days Sai-kun. They didn't know if you were going to wake up." Neji explained. "Inuzuka-san was at your bedside for it and Mr. Secretary put guards outside your door when they told him the substance."

Sai nodded.

Neji continued, "You won't have to start it when you talk to ouji-sama. He'll just know." He looked down, "It's like he sees into your heart to what's hurting you the most and kisses it better like a mother would."

"I never had a mother." Sai commented.

Neji smiled at him, "Neither did I."

There was a small more comfortable silence between them. Sai used this time to really look at him. He looked…just happier.

"You look better without your lenses Neji-kun." Sai began, "Nara-san must've had a nose bleed when he saw you."

Neji flushed but scowled, "Shut up. I swear you're becoming worse than Haku."

"Nara-san spends a lot of time around Kiba-kun and Naruto-kun who are both perverts, it's only natural that he would become a pervert too." He informed, "Besides Kiba-kun said that Nara-san bugs you and people around you to get sound bites of your voice and pictures of you, so that he can pleasure himself to it." Neji then covered his face in embarrassment. Sai looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think I was supposed to tell anyone that."

Neji stood quickly, "I should…I'm leaving now."

"I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable because I was too frank." Sai remarked, "I mean it. I know the symptoms of regret."

Neji sighed and sat again. "Sai-kun?"

"Yes Neji-kun,"

The Hyuuga placed his hand over his own. "I want you to know that I'm not happy with what you did, or how you did it but I understand why you did it and I'm proud of you."

Sai's smile widened, "I'm very glad Neji-kun."

Neji smiled standing, "I really do have to go finish up work. I'll see you when you get back."
Sai only nodded. Neji squeezed his hand reassuringly before leaving. Sai looked down at his hand. Neji was also proud of him which only made speaking to Uchiha Sasuke more important.

Sasuke had been scared until he got the news that Sai had woken up, that he would be fine. He hadn't been the only one. He knew that Haku had been just as scared. He'd tried his best to hide it from him and Sasuke did his best to pretend he didn't notice.

"Sai will be returning this evening," Haku told him.

"I'm glad," Sasuke replied, "I was afraid he wouldn't be okay."

"He's going to be fine."

"We're going to have to take care of him when he comes home." Sasuke added.

Haku removed the last needle. Sasuke relaxed under the touch, "We are?"

"Yes, Sai-kun is sick," He began, "You're good at taking care of people and I'll be there to help you. Your acupuncture helps me; it will probably help Sai-kun too."

Haku smiled, "Of course."

He knew he couldn't tell the Uchiha why he was reluctant, why he was afraid he'd have to hurt Sai rather than heal him. He only hoped that when he returned he was ready to give up any idea of hurting the prince.

Sasuke sat up slowly pulling his yukata back into place. He looked down before turning to Haku. Haku immediately feared the worse.

"My friend Kimimaro is sick. When he gets out of the hospital, do you think you could take care of him?"
Haku was relieved the question hadn't been about Sai. "I'm not really a trained medic but when he is in outpatient condition I will suggest this to the Secretary."

Sasuke knew that no one had mentioned to him why Sai was in the hospital. It could only mean that he was right, that Orouchimaru-sama was coming for him. He knew it was going to happen. He dreamed about it before crawling into Haku's or Neji's bed the nights before. Sometimes he'd drift off while awake. It hadn't become too noticeable yet. He prayed it stayed that way.

"What would you like to do now ouji-sama?" Haku asked.

Sasuke looked to him and answered, "I'd like to look at some old vids from my childhood."

"Those would be in the Uchiha personal archives," His face scrunched in displeasure, "I'm not sure I have access to those files." He pulled out his pen to open a note, "I'll contact the Secretary."

Sasuke activated his sharingan and quickly took control of Haku's note. His eyes began to project, "I'll do it."

Because he didn't know the password to the archive he had to hack into. However it had been surprisingly easy, he made a reminder to tighten the security.

Haku tried to stop him and regain control of the note. "You're not authorized to access a note." He supplied.

"But I've already found the vid I wanted," Sasuke responded, "Look." The vid projected from his eyes, "That's Naruto and I when we were six."

Haku looked on amazed, "How are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" Sasuke replied halfheartedly, his attention caught on the holovid before him.

"Your eyes," Haku whispered, "Your eyes are cyber, but this projection is three dimensional. That's impossible."

"Impossible? I'm doing it now, you're watching me." He smiled, "That's Naruto being a sore loser. I was better at everything."

Haku reached our hesitantly to touch the projection. He pulled his had back quickly, "This technology doesn't exist. Does Mr. Secretary know about this?"

Sasuke shook his head slowly, "We were at our lake home; this was just after Naruto moved to Konoha as a refugee from Bijuu. We were the only children around each other's age and my mother was one of the only people that allowed me to play with Naruto, because he's marked. I don't know how they could be so mean to him; look at how cute he was."

"Ouji-sama," Haku began slowly, "perhaps you should stop for now."

"No!" He glared, the holovid went red for a few seconds, "This is where he scared me with a toad. It was so gross. That's how we started fighting that day. We always fought. Naruto was lousy. You'd think because he's from Bijuu and he is a host he should've been better at physical things but he really wasn't. He didn't even notice either. He just kept trying. He never gave up. Look this is where he pouts. 'You used your weirdo eyes to cheat teme.'" He chuckled, "He always said that even though he knows my eyes only speed up brain function and I couldn't even activate my sharingan back then."
The vid began to flutter on and off, red and full spectrum. Sasuke's glowing eyes clouded over. Haku tried to shut off the note again and this time he was effective. He jolted to catch the prince as he fell unconscious.

"Ouji-sama," He quickly checked the boy's temperature. He was glad that he'd had that doctor prepare a kit for him. His brows furrowed, "Too high."

He contacted the doctor, "Haku-sa—"

"Ouji-sama has fallen ill. I need you here right away." He interrupted.

"Yes, I'm walking to the pad now."

"I'll have staff escort you to his room." Haku responded before closing the contact.

He notified the staff and had a hovbed brought in within a minute. Sasuke was moved to the hovbed and taken to his room. Everything a doctor could need had been stocked in the house. Haku had seen to it when the secretary had put him in charge of his brother's care. He sat beside the Uchiha's bed after thanking the staff.

The doctor had arrived in less than three minutes; Haku had counted.

"I used the emergency pad." She explained, "Have you taken his temperature?"

She was already scanning the sleeping prince. He nodded, "It was 38.3."

"It's just fever so far. Was he using his cyber link?" She asked.

"Yes," Haku began, "He hacked into my note with it and I couldn't get him to stop. He was projecting holovids with his eyes."

Her eyes widened, "Does the Secretary know about this?"

He shook his head, "I contacted you first to make sure he would be okay."

She nodded, looked through her bag and loaded a spray, "Yes, I'll administer a drug, it'll help his fever go down but he'll be asleep for a while. He'll be fine; he over exerted himself it seems. He just shouldn't use his sharingan while he's still sick."

"I'll contact the Secretary with this news. Thank you for coming."

She administered the spray before turning back to Haku. "Have you learned my name yet?"

Haku only smiled, "No."

"Dr. Haruno Sakura," She replied lowly.

"Yes, well Haruno-san thank you for your work, you may leave."

"I think I should stay to help care for Sasuke-kun h—"

"Prince Uchiha," He interrupted sending the woman a glare, "This is Prince Uchiha you are caring for and you will not call him out of his title within his own home."

She looked away, "I apologize Haku-san."

"You are not Naruto," Haku began, "You do not have the right to call him outside his title."

"I know," she muttered her shoulders slumped, "I know that he doesn't love me like he loves Naruto but I want to be useful to him."

Haku sighed, he took her arm and escorted her out of the room, "I apologize; I was rude."

He walked her to the pad, "I'll contact you if he needs you." Haku said quickly.

She nodded, "Thank you Haku-san."

"Also, he has a dear friend to him in the hospital." Haku added, "If you can send contact about him ouji-sama would appreciate it greatly."

She smiled, "Yes, thank you."

Sakura sighed as she arrived back on base. She felt a bit better being able to see and help Sasuke. Still just knowing that was all she was good for made her sad. He hadn't asked to see her. Not once. He'd had lunch with Naruto the day before she knew. He'd even sent for Kakashi-sensei but never her. She'd thought she'd meant something to him. She'd thought that there would be something he needed her for.

Sasuke knew he was dreaming because Itachi told him father was dead and he did not lie to him. Now he was in a cell with the man, with his father.

"Sasuke," His father patted his head, "I'm very proud of you son. Only a worthy Uchiha could survive that."

Sasuke hadn't known his father to be proud of him. It was always 'be more like Itachi' and 'you're too far behind Itachi'. It had made him bitter. When he had been kidnapped he'd thought his father would be happy he was gone.

"I'm sorry Sasuke," Fugaku continued, "It was my fault that they sold you to him."

Sasuke looked up at his father to see tears. He'd never seen his father cry. "Why did they sell me to him?"

"Mikoto didn't tell you." He began, "Well of course she wouldn't; I wouldn't want her to say something wrong."

"Wrong?"

His father only smiles, "A true man sacrifices for his children and his wife."

"Sacrifices?" He was confused. "Father I don't understand."

"I'm so happy," He replied, "That you are alive, that you are getting better. I'm so happy that you are home and safe where you belong."

Sasuke took his father's hand, "What sacrifices? Why won't you tell me?"

"Let's see your sharingan," He continued, "That snake didn't take it away did it?"

"Father—" Sasuke stopped himself, he looked down at his feet. "I want to know the truth."

His father lifted his chin, "I'll show you where it is. You have so many capabilities Sasuke but I didn't want them to know. I didn't want them to think they could use you. I pushed Itachi away so that they couldn't use him. I told them that you weren't special so they'd ignore you but I was wrong. They thought that you were useless and tried to throw you away."

"Father—"

Fugaku interrupted him, "Remember when you were young, you would call me Papa." Sasuke nodded. "Call me Papa."

"Papa, please tell me the truth."

Fugaku only smiled, "Activate your sharingan, and I'll show you where it is."

He hesitated but activated his sharingan. His father smiled at him when transparencies filled the room. "You're already here, just pick one. They might have something you're looking for."

"Mr. Secretary we've been hacked." Nara began as the Secretary walked into his office.

"Yes my aide informed me—"

"No, not the hacking into your family archives, that was easy to trace back to your aide's note." Nara pulled his custom viewer into place, "Choji please show the data stream currently being infiltrated."

A large transparency appeared. Itachi eyes widened. "Who's doing this?"

"That's the problem," Nara began, "I can't track it back to a note, a standalone system, nothing. It's as if it's all being done cybernetically but that is impossible. I've filtered the trace in 1.3 million ways and nothing. I can't stop who's in our system. I can't trace them to a location or identify them. The best I can do is see what they're doing."

"These data streams are from the maximum security prison." Itachi commented.

Shikamaru sighed, "They're the vids of your father. I assumed that the hacker was your brother but I contacted Haku. He said that he's unconscious, there's no way it could be him."

"You mean it would be impossible." Itachi added, "Shut down the entire archive. If you can't stop him kill the data. We have a copy."

Shikamaru nodded, "Yes Mr. Secretary." He climbed up to his massive system and began work.

Sasuke had only looked through four vids when someone tried to shut down the archive.

"Papa," He looked to him confused.

"You can take it with you." Fugaku added. "These are the ones you need most." His father pulled seven transparencies down handing him to his son. "It's time to go." Then he placed a kiss to his son's forehead, "I love you Sasuke. I should have said so before."

"They got away with some of the information." Shikamaru muttered, "I still can't get a trace on them. Choji please put a tag for a match to that type of method. If they strike the system again I want an immediate notification."

"Yes Shikamaru."

"If anything pops up contact me right away." Itachi began, "I'll contact the council and kage. Thank you for your service. Also stop illegally hacking into other fractions frequencies. Everyone knows that you're doing it."

He scoffed, "How troublesome."

"Nara."

"Yes sir, I'll be more discreet." He groaned.

Itachi straightened himself, "Of course, I need you to make a controlled note for Sasuke's trial tests. We don't know the capacity of his cyber link and we'll need you to monitor it."

He sighed, "No offense sir but that sounds boring."

"It is your duty." Itachi began turning away, "I'll send Neji-kun over with the specifics. He'll assist you in making sure the note can read Sasuke's emotional parameters. That's more than generous of me." Shikamaru blushed. The Uchiha only smirked as he walked towards the door, "Also stop planting bugs on my aides. I don't understand your obsessive need to stalk Neji-kun but I won't have you continuously spying on my brother."

Shikamaru blush darkened, "How do you know I wasn't spying on you?"

Itachi turned back at him, "You aren't that stupid Nara I know you've probably encoded a censor to block out voices."

He sighed, "Yes Mr. Secretary I'll be sure to do that."

The Uchiha left with that.

Shikamaru slumped in his chair. Choji laughed, "You're pathetic Shikamaru."

Shikamaru only smiled, "Thanks pal."

"I'm hungry."

He held back a sad chuckle, "Okay eat some chips and throw some clouds up on the screen. Let's relax a bit."

"Yes Shikamaru."

Sai knew he was afraid. They'd just arrived and Haku was at the pad waiting for him. Then Itachi-sama and Hoshigaki-san had left them alone. He knew he had to speak to Haku but he was afraid Haku would kill him.

"I am sorry," Sai began, "I want you to not be angry with me but I understand that betrayal causes the most intense forms of anger."

Haku simply pulled Sai into his arms, "I forgive you. If you ever do something like that again I'll kill you."

Sai exhaled a deep breath. He hadn't expected forgiveness so easily. "Yes I won't ever do it again. Did they tell you what I took or why I took it?" Haku withdrew from him and shook his head. Sai began slowly, "I took an upgraded form of sphaX because I had to get rid of it before...ouji-sama saw it."

Haku nodded but his lips pursed, "How did you get it?"

"It was given to me."

"Why?"

Sai looked into Haku's eyes. He'd read it was a good way to convey sincerity, "Someone and I can't tell you who right now wanted me to let Ouji-sama find it. I didn't want to do it he made you happy, he made Itachi-sama and Lady Mikoto happy. He made Naruto-kun happy which made Kiba happy that made me happy. I don't know why they wanted to get rid of him. He isn't a threat. He's fragile and kind. So I didn't do it. I panicked when Neji buzzed me and sprayed myself to make sure he never got it."

"Why can't you tell me who did this?"

"If I do the bug in my throat will knock me out." Sai replied, "However they're working out a way to find and get rid of the bug before I die."

Haku's eyes became icy, "Whoever they send won't get pass me. You are not going to die."

Sai smiled, "I don't want you to get hurt. I know you're strong I've read your dossier but they know your abilities too."

Haku returned the smile, "All of my abilities aren't in my dossier. Come along. Are you hungry? Did you have a meal at the hospital or are you joining Sasuke and I?"

Sai was uncertain of the feeling inside him but he nodded. "Yes I would like to join you."

"That's good then," He began. He took Sai's arm and led him down the corridor, "Ouji-sama was very worried about you. He had a fever earlier but his temperature is normal now. His cyber link can project in three dimensions, insane isn't it? I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I don't even think he realized he could do it until he did it."

Sai was amazed not by the feat the prince had done, but by how easily Haku spoke to him as though nothing had changed between them.

"Haku-kun, I was an enemy spy."

Haku stopped and turned towards him, "Yes, you were an enemy spy in the past. I was a kill for hire in the past. Our pasts are behind us, now we are servants of his highness." He started walking again, pulling Sai along with him, "Let's get there before the maids."

Sasuke wasn't confused as he woke and odder yet he wasn't afraid that he was alone. He realized now that he had been hacking in his sleep. He hadn't known he'd been able to do that. He'd never done it before. He'd never projected in three dimensions before either but he had also done that today. Now he was seven vids in his brain that would tell him very important things. The vids would tell him why his family threw him away, maybe what his father meant by sacrifices, and of course what his father didn't want the family to know about him.

He held Minato close and for a moment wished that Naruto was beside him. He knew that he would be busy helping at the academy today but he wanted to embrace him desperately. He looked up as his door opened.

When they entered the prince's room, Sai was nervous. The prince sat in bed fiddling with a stuffed red fox toy.

"You weren't here when I woke up but I didn't panic," the Uchiha commented.

Haku came to sit beside the bed, "I was retrieving Sai-kun. He would like to join us for dinner."

The boy frowned and held his fox close, "I'm not having dinner at the table?"

Haku smile fell, "With your fever earlier we didn't want to take the risk. You need bed rest."

"Sai-kun is sick too. He can sleep in by bed." Sasuke replied happily.

"Ouji-sama that is very nice of you," Sai offered, "but I don't think it would be proper."

Sasuke gave him a small smile, "You called me your prince and then refused my order. I must be a lousy prince."

Sai frowned he hadn't wanted to disappoint him. He shook his head, "I just don't want to be a nuisance."

His smile carried on, "It will be easier for Haku-kun this way. He will only have to check one room. Haku-kun, please send a maid to retrieve something suitable for him to sleep in. You could stay too it'd be like a sleep over."

"Yes ouji-sama," Haku remarked.

"I had a sleep over before. It was for my birthday. I was turning ten. We were going on break at the academy and I invited Naruto. Naruto then invited all these people." Sasuke explained, "Actually I think Neji-kun was there with his cousin. I was really angry with Naruto for inviting all those people. Naruto said that it would be more fun if we had more people to share our happiness with. Then he teased me because he knows I don't like to sleep all by myself."

"You've known Naruto-kun for a long time?" Haku inquired as their meal was brought.

Sasuke nodded, "We met when we were babies because our mothers were good friends but they moved back to Bijuu when they found out Naruto was marked. They wanted him to live without the prejudice. Then he came back as a refugee when the planet was destroyed...He was alone but a good man adopted him and we went to the same school. We were only six then and we hated each other but we were best friends." He paused looking down at the red fox, "When Itachi left to work under cover he'd sneak over some nights and climb into my bed. He gave me this fox as a best friend gift so even if he wasn't sleeping right beside me he was still there for me." He hugged the toy close, "He's cute just like my Naruto."

Haku smiled setting a tray before him. "Should I contact Naruto for you tomorrow?"

Sasuke shook his head, "He's busy working at the academy. They need him too. I can't be selfish."

"You could visit the academy?" Haku suggested pouring tea for them all.

The Uchiha brightened at the prospect, "Could I?"

Haku only chuckled and nodded, "Yes, I'll arrange it for you. Now we should all eat."

Sai couldn't sleep. He was in the prince's bed only inches from said prince. He had never been in the same bed as any man but Kiba-kun and his Master. He flinched when a pale hand touched his shoulder.

"Sai-kun, are you awake?"

Sai slowly turned to face him. "Yes ouji-sama."

Sasuke moved closer, "Haku-kun is sleeping." He paused, "Will you tell me why you were in the hospital?"

It was the moment he'd dreaded all day. "I was there because I did something very foolish but for a good reason."

"You can tell me the truth." The Uchiha commented, "You were trying to protect me, weren't you?"

Sai nodded, "Yes."

"From Orouchimaru-sama?"

He shook his head, "No."

Sasuke frowned he had been sure Sai was protecting him from Orouchimaru-sama. "Who?"

Sai took a deep breath. He could barely make out the prince's figure in the darkness, "From me."

He moved closer to Sai again, "But you are not a bad person Sai-kun."

Sai hesitated trying to explain, "I am like your friend Kimimaro. We both served masters who were kind to us but very bad to others. We both decided not to serve our masters to protect you. We do bad things because our masters ask us to but we are not bad people. But my master only does bad things for good reasons, to help people."

Sasuke nodded, "What did he want you to do?"

"He wanted me to hurt you but he shouldn't have. It was a mistake." Sai responded quickly. He prayed that it would go no further but knew that it would.

"How? How did he tell you to hurt me?" He asked.

Sai felt his throat grow thick and knew what was happening to his body, "He wanted me to give you something."

"Tell me."

"SphaX." Sai answered, "Upgraded sphaX."

Sasuke fell silent. He was torn; glad that Sai had not let him have it but craving it all the more. "You took it. How did it feel? Was it good?"

Sai was confused with the question but continued. "It was all very quick. At first I felt very hot, then it was like the entire station was shaking, and then it was black. Deep and dark, and I didn't think I would wake up. I thought I was dead."

He frowned, "You didn't like it?"

Sai shook his head. He touched the prince's shoulder, "I thought it would take me further from the people I treasure."

"Inuzuka-kun?"

"Yes, he's one of them but I have also met many people that I would like to call my friends."

Sasuke shifted closer still, "Thank you for protecting me." He paused, "Sai-kun are you still loyal to your old master?"

Sai frowned, "I have disobeyed him. I will be dead soon. I have no need to remain loyal." He shook his head, "No I am no longer loyal. He is no longer my master."

The prince took his hand, "So devote yourself to me."

Sai quickly looked up. His eyes now locked with eyes red as blood. "Ouji-sama?"

"Devote yourself to me Sai-kun."

He nodded more in fear than in faith, "Yes ouji-sama."

"Say it," Sasuke's hold tightened, "Please?"

Sai felt more at ease with the desperation and uncertainty in the prince's voice. He relaxed now that the red orbs had faded back to the original dark eyes. He thought he'd gone from a ferociously intimidating figure to a needy child. "I devote myself to you Prince Sasuke."

"Tell me your old master's name."

"I cannot," he told the prince, "There is a bug in my throat. If I try to speak of him it will knock me out."

Then his throat went tight as if he were chokeing on something and those menacing red eyes were back. He coughed repeatedly, loud enough that Haku sprung from sleep.

"Sai, what's wrong?" He asked turning on the lights.

Sai shook his head. Haku had quickly moved around the bed to the other side. Then it was a final gagging cough and he felt it on his tongue. He quickly took it from his mouth. It was the size of a small button. He gapped at the boy before him and slowly sat up.

Sasuke's eyes returned. He looked up at Sai with a small frown, "Why didn't you tell me that it was supposed to kill you when removed?"

He was speechless. He stumbled to answer him, "I never...Never knew."

Sasuke sat up also, "You're lying. But that's ok I understand now. Tell me why you injected yourself."

"I panicked."

"Tell me the truth."

He didn't like the over whelming feeling in his chest. "I didn't want you to see it."

"Look at me."

Sai looked to the boy only to be caught by his hypnotizing eyes, "I knew I would die. Either with the drug or by who they will send for me.I thought it would be less painful to die by the drug."

Sasuke pouted, "But you are devoted to me and I don't want Sai-kun to die. Promise me you won't die for at least eighty sets."

Sai frowned and opened his mouth to reply.

"Promise so you can stay close to me and Inuzuka-kun, and all the people you treasure."

He nodded a smile returning to his face, "Yes tenshi-chan."

Sasuke flushed and turned away from him. Sai only chuckled.

"Bloody, bloody," Haku groaned, "Can we all go to sleep now?"

"I'm not sleepy," the Uchiha added.

Haku smiled and rested his hand on the prince's shoulder. "Yes you are." There was a pinch and then he was lowering Sasuke's unconcious body to bed. He looked to Sai with the same smile.

He nervously commented, "I am actually very tired Haku-kun."

"Good," he held out his hand and Sai gave him the bug. "We'll talk about this in the morning. I'm going to get a glass of water."

Sai nodded and quickly laid in bed. Haku exited the room in no rush. He pulled a needle from the pack against his thigh and threw it quickly. He was satisfied with the resounding thud. He walked towards the body.

He smirked looking down at them, "I hadn't thought it would be you. This is quite interesting."

TBC


Hope you enjoyed the chapter and Happy Holidays everyone! Please let me know what you think.