Death is the only way to freedom

Chapter 6: Awakening part One:

Naruto snuggled closer into the Uchiha´s embrace, letting time pass slowly while enjoying the scent and heat of his lover for that last time.

“I know It´s just an illusion… but I´m happy to be with you Itachi.”

“Angel? Will you do me a huge favor when you wake up?”

“Anything!”

“I would like you to have the possessions I was carrying as I died… Especially my necklace and my hitai-ate… I want you to have it.”

“Itachi-sama… “Blue orbs melted into crimson ones. “I’ll wear the necklace together with the one I got from Baa-sama… and I’ll keep your headband close to my heart!”

“Thank you… You always managed to make me feel loved… like someone important, you know! Don´t ever lose your good heart and cheerful spirit… and don´t give up on Sasuke even if he’s a stupid sometimes… he loves you… just as much as I did… be patient with him… I wish I could tell him how sorry I was fore everything… you can save him from his inner darkness… like you saved me, Naruto!”

“Hnnn… “The blonde mumbled as he slowly drifted of into a slumber.

“Goodbye, my love… be happy and enjoy life… my angel…”

~ # ~

Gaara shifted his position in the chair he was occupying to straighten out his sore muscles. He had been sitting in the same position for two hours; just staring at the blonde while thinking about all the unfairness in the world.

“You’re not made for this, my friend. You are supposed to roam around and drive us all insane with your pranks and high spirit… this sterile white room don´t go well with your usual colorful appearance… this is all wrong… perhaps that’s the reason why you wont wake up?” The Kage decided to do something about it, rose to his feet and walked to the closet.

Gaara opened the door to the furniture and searched the shelves to find what he was looking for; Naruto´s orange jacket.

Sakura had picked a fresh set of clothes up at the blondes home so he would have something to wear when he woke up.

The red-head pressed the jacket close to his heart while sending a prayer to any god who would be listening; begging for his friend to regain consciousness. Still hugging the jacket, he turned around to face the blonde and with a deep sigh he walked towards the bed once more to place the clothing next to Naruto.

“There! That’s more suiting for you, Naruto-kun,” the Kage whispered as he ran his hand through his blonde hair. “Please wake up!”

“… Mmmmm…”

“NARUTO?” Gaara jumped as he heard a voice moan. He stared at the blonde. The red-head soon realized that it wasn’t the blonde who was regaining consciousness… but the figure in the bed behind him.

“… Uchiha…Sasuke… ” Gaara stared at the pale teen in the other bed who was struggle ling to sit up but lacked the strength to do so as he, just like Naruto, had been unconscious for more than a week by now.

The Kage rushed to the door and called for Sakura and Kakashi.
“Sakura-chan, Kakashi-san, come quickly! He’s awake!”

~ # ~

They almost stumbled over each other as they both tried to fit through the door at the same time to see which one of the young males were awake.

“Naruto-kun?” Sakura squeezed past her sensei as almost ran Gaara over in the process.

“No… It´s Uchiha Sasuke!” Gaara growled and rose to his feet after being knocked down by the raging girl.

“Oh!” She stated with a slightly disappointed look on her face. She walked to stand by Naruto bed and stroke his whiskered cheek before turning to meet Sasuke´s confused look.

“Sasuke-san!” She greeted with a neutral tone.

“Sakura? What?”

“How do you feel?” She cut him off and began to check his vital signs; beginning with his pulse.

“Fine!” He’s still a cold prick; she thought to herself angrily… what did I ever see in him?

“Tell me the last thing you remember!” She moved his head with a somewhat harsh grip and examined his eyes with a small flashlight.

“Um I …. Naruto fought…. that man (Itachi)… and then… Naruto launched at me… with red eyes… the Kyuubi… possessed the dobe…. Oh God… he… he tried to slice… my throat… and… everything went black! Is Naruto alright?”

The pink-haired medic-nin started at the Uchiha in disbelief… did he just put Naruto o-nii chan´s wellbeing in front of his brothers whereabouts?

“Tell me… please tell me he’s alive and well!” Sasuke grapped her wrists se he pleaded to her to answer him.

She broke free from his weak grip instantly, feeling uncomfortable at his touch. Her childhood crush on the mysterious Uchiha was definitely a thing of the past!

“We were able to bring Naruto back to life… he’s alive.”

“You have to let me see him!” Sasuke tried to get out of bed but was roughly pushed back in by his former teammate.

“I don´t have to do anything else that to make sure you’re kept here till sundae-sama returns from her meeting with the elders… Naruto-kun is not in the condition to see you or anyone else as he’s still in a coma…” Tears of anger and grieve ran down her cheeks, and she had the urge to smack the raven-haired teen very hard but restrained herself.

“What? Where is he?” He asked with frustration.

She turned her head towards the other bed where the blonde were laying. Sasuke´s eyes followed her movement and widened at the unmoving figure in the next bed.

“His physical condition is stabile…. But his mind…” The medic-nin whispered.

Sasuke struggled to get out off bed once more; this time the pink-haired girl didn’t try to stop him. He jumped off the mattress only to collapse on the floor with a cry as his legs were too weak to carry his weight.

Black treads blocked his view but she could her that he was sobbing.

“Why are you crying? Are you so upset that he’s still alive… do you want Naruto death so badly? Or are you running of to find Itachi?” She stared at him in disgust.

“… No… I don´t… want him dead… I… I… want to…” He tried desperately to get up but never got any further than to his knees. He gritted his teeth and crawled towards the other bed on his knees, Sakura right behind him at every step without offering him any help.

Sasuke didn’t care what she did or didn’t, all he wanted was to make sure that the dobe was really breathing… as long as he was still breathing there was still hope… there would still be a reason for the last Uchiha to survive.

Finally he reached the blonde’s bed and ordered his aching and burning muscles to obey his command to drag himself up to the unconscious figure. He somehow managed to drag himself into the bed before collapsing next to Naruto.

With a trembling limb he reached out to touch the teen’s whiskered cheek.
“Naruto… come back to me… I´m sorry… I’ll never leave you again… so please wake up…” and with that, the darkness claimed him as he fainted from fatigue, fear off losing his most important person and his reason for living.