The Hunt

Sasuke had the strange feeling of floating to the surface of a vast ocean as he slowly returned to consciousness. He was warm and comfortable and didn't particularly feel like waking up. His limbs were still heavy and eventually his mind presented the reason for his lack of energy. That woke him up and Sasuke sat bolt upright as vivid red eyes flashed through his mind. His head throbbed in protest and he held it in his hands running his fingers through his hair.

'What the hell happened?' he asked himself. Well actually it was pretty obvious what had happened; he had lost control. It had been a while since he'd had another relapse, he'd thought he had beaten it. Sasuke had been able to keep a firm lock on all strong emotions that might awaken his demonic urges.

There was a soft snore and Sasuke looked up, cursing himself for not sensing the intruder. At the end of his bed was Naruto. He was leaning over the back of the sofa, his blond head resting on his arms as he slept peacefully. Apparently Naruto hadn't recovered from his change in sleeping pattern yet.

Sasuke frowned slightly. This person was the reason for his relapse. Naruto was just so frustrating that he had managed to break the cage where Sasuke kept his emotions safely hidden away.

'Why is he here? Come to think of it... how did I get into bed? Please don't say he carried me... I really hope it was just Neji. But why would Naruto be here otherwise? He must have carried me... is there a dignified way to be carried? At least he didn't decide to undress me for bed.' Sasuke resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands again. This was awkward and embarrassing. 'Why did he have to stay here? Why couldn't he go and sleep in his own bed? Maybe he feels guilty for pissing me off...' Sasuke snorted softly at that idea. 'Not bloody likely, he probably just wants to grill me about what happened.'

"Y-your eyes...!"

Sasuke sighed softly. He would have to explain himself. It was going to be a difficult conversation. 'Maybe I'll take a shower first...'

With much more effort than it should have taken, Sasuke pulled himself out of bed cursing softly as his legs nearly gave way beneath him. He really hated feeling this weak but he always ended up like this after having a brush with the Hyuuga's.

Standing beneath the hot stream of water Sasuke had to cling to the wall just to stay standing. He cursed the Hyuuga's in the same breath as he cursed himself. He could blame Naruto all he wanted but the fact remained that it was his fault. He shouldn't have let himself get so wound up, he shouldn't have lost control.

Every time he closed his eyes his mind conjured haunting images from the past. Of burning buildings exhaling black smoke and... of burning bodies. A low satisfied chuckle rung in his ears and he saw the man responsible for the massacre. He ran his fingers along the silver chain around his neck as he saw red eyes sparking with sickening pleasure and a hint of madness. Sasuke shook his head attempting to rid himself of the images but he only succeeded in increasing the pounding in his skull.

Sasuke stumbled out of the shower and grasped the towel rail. He took a few moments to steady himself before drying off and leaving the bathroom to search for some clean clothes. He checked that Naruto was still snoring before changing into jogging bottoms and a clean t-shirt.

Then he stood over Naruto and poked him, hard. The blond grumbled as he took his time waking up. Whilst Naruto got his bearings Sasuke moved to lean against the post of his bed, not because he was as cool and collected as he appeared but because he needed something to lean on.

"Why exactly are you sleeping in my room?" asked Sasuke coldly.

Naruto reached a hand to the back of his neck and blushed at being caught, apparently he hadn't meant to fall asleep. "I was tired..." he said lamely.

"Well that much is obvious," replied Sasuke snidely.

"Teme! I didn't mean to! You could at least thank me for carrying your heavy ass back here after you went skits!" Naruto retorted, his voice already rising as he stood.

'Well that answers that question,' thought Sasuke trying not to picture Naruto carrying him.

"I'm not that heavy," he said flatly.

Naruto hesitated and Sasuke knew Naruto was agreeing with him. But even as he thought he'd won Naruto opened his mouth again. "Well actually that's true, what with that little girly figure of yours you were easy to carry since I'm so strong."

Sasuke spluttered and glared at him. "Since you're so strong perhaps you'd like to prove it some time?" he challenged.

"Hell yeah I would! Anytime, anywhere teme! I'll fight you right now dammit!" he put a fist up to demonstrate how ready he was.

"Bring it on!" Sasuke replied, pushing away from the bedpost without thinking.

It happened in a split second. As Sasuke pushed away from his support his head began to spin, a rushing sound filled his ears and his knees gave way.

*

Naruto stared in surprise as Sasuke's knees made contact with the hard stone. Sasuke managed to stop his face from hitting the floor with his arms. Naruto immediately dropped to his knees and put a hand on the Uchiha's back. Sasuke's arms shook as he shrugged Naruto's hand away and rolled over to lean against the bed. He was panting and his eyes were almost closed.

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked, fearing to touch the Uchiha again in case he was pushed away or worse, electrocuted.

Sasuke just looked away. Naruto could tell he didn't like to look weak and he had certainly been hiding it well a minute ago. Naruto, after seeing the strong and snappy Sasuke standing there looking so at ease, had completely forgotten about Neji saying he needed to rest. As soon as Sasuke had started insulting him he had assumed the Uchiha was okay.

'A damn good actor is what he is,' thought Naruto angrily.

"You need to stay in bed," said Naruto reaching to help Sasuke up. "Neji said you needed to rest."

Sasuke slapped Naruto's hands away as he glared in the opposite direction, "I'm fine," he hissed angrily.

"No you're not! You can barely stand!" protested Naruto.

Sasuke didn't reply. Instead he wrapped his hands firmly around the bedpost and started pulling himself up, his arms shaking from the effort. Naruto flitted around the stubborn Uchiha, ready to catch him should he fall. This seemed to annoy Sasuke hugely as the raven haired man seemed determined to prove how capable he was.

"Stop worrying like some bloody woman," grumbled Sasuke as he climbed into bed and leaned against the headboard.

"Teme! Why would I worry about your prissy ass?!" Naruto scowled in denial.

"Hn, whatever. You can leave now."

Naruto growled as Sasuke's dismissive tone. "I'm not leaving; you owe me a damn explanation!"

Sasuke didn't reply, he seemed to be battling with the urge to refuse. "I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Yeah you do! Neji said you'd have to!"

Sasuke frowned, looking away he muttered something that sounded like, "Damn Hyuuga." Then he sighed and turned to Naruto. "You may as well take a seat," he said, motioning towards his desk chair.

Naruto straddled the chair and waited for Sasuke to explain. The Uchiha took a moment to gather his thoughts.

"You remember I told you that the choice between demon and Hunter wasn't an easy one?" Naruto nodded. "Well I believe you got a first hand experience of just how hard it is," Sasuke said bitterly. "As I said before the magick in my blood is strong. I can usually control it but when I got angry at you I lost that control."

"You're blaming me?" asked Naruto incredulously.

Sasuke sighed heavily and lifted a hand to rub at his temple, "No, I'm not blaming you. It's just... I haven't a relapse for a while now so I guess... I thought it was sorted."

Naruto watched Sasuke carefully as the man spoke. He sounded regretful and the way he refused to look at Naruto showed he felt shame even if he wouldn't admit to it, but most of all there was a deep set anger... at himself.

"I suppose it's good for you to hear this since you're likely going to be in the same position soon."

Naruto looked away, that was not a pleasant thought. Sasuke had been really scary, Naruto was pretty sure if Neji and Hinata hadn't turned up when they did Sasuke would have had a good go at killing him.

*

Sasuke looked up find Naruto staring at the ground. The apprehension was obvious in the boys face.

"Were you scared?" asked Sasuke softly.

Naruto looked up at him in surprise and Sasuke forced himself to hold eye contact.

"Yeah, I was," said Naruto slowly. "You looked like you were going to kill me."

"I probably would have," agreed Sasuke.

He hated feeling this way, knowing what he would have done and feeling guilty for it. He was thankful Neji had turned up in time. Sasuke knew only too well what he was capable of; during the darkest period of his life he had cost several people their lives.

There was a long silence as Sasuke dwelled in memories.

"What does it feel like?" Naruto asked suddenly.

"What?" asked Sasuke startled, he had almost forgotten Naruto was still here.

"What does it feel like to be a demon?"

"I'm not a demon!" snapped Sasuke immediately. "Demons are people who sink so far into their powers that they can't return! I have never sunk that low!"

"No, no I didn't mean that. It's just... what did it feel like to lose control."

"Oh..." Sasuke paused, he wasn't sure if he could trust himself to talk about it. "It's... scary. Well, it's not scary at the time but afterwards it is... When I waver on that line between Hunter and demon I feel... elated. It's hard to explain really, but it's addictive. When I have that much power coursing through me I feel free. Because I have to constantly keep my power under control I'm always fighting it, so it's a relief to let it go."

"You feel free..." Naruto repeated slowly.

Sasuke nodded, "But it's different for everyone so it'll probably be different for you." He hesitated again, unsure of revealing so much to Naruto. "It may be that I associate power with freedom because I'm trapped here."

"Trapped? But you can leave whenever you like! You're always off to the surface to hunt," Naruto looked down, "I'm the one who's trapped," he muttered so low Sasuke wouldn't have heard it if he didn't have the hearing of a Hunter.

"I'm allowed to go hunting only because they know I wouldn't stay like this if I couldn't. If they didn't allow me that small piece of freedom I would most likely lose control and try to fight my way out of here." Naruto's eyes widened at that. "Even when I hunt, the Hyuuga's keep an eye on my magick levels," Sasuke said bitterly.

"Will I be forced to stay here forever too? You said most Hunters live on the surface."

"If you prove to be better at control than me then you may be permitted to live amongst normal people."

Naruto looked down at his hands clasped on the back of the chair. He seemed deep in thought but after a moment he looked up at Sasuke with a determined gaze.

"I'll do it."

Sasuke just stared at him. How could he be so sure? 'Because he hasn't experienced his powers yet, that's how,' he answered himself. But even as he doubted Naruto a small part of Sasuke sparked with hope. He wanted to believe it was possible to control this power. The unflinching confidence in Naruto's eyes was eroding his scepticism.

Sasuke had encouraged Naruto by telling the other that he could fight it. Didn't that make him a huge hypocrit when he didn't really believe that he, himself, could fight it and win? It either made him a hypocrit or a fool for placing his hopes on this boy. Why would Naruto be able to fight it when Sasuke couldn't? Naruto was surely going to fail.

"How can you be so confident?" Sasuke asked, ashamed of the slight tremble in his voice.

Naruto's eyes widened for a moment before he smiled. "Because you said I could do it."

Sasuke stared at him. 'Because I said he could? That's ridiculous!' But even as he threw away Naruto's words Sasuke couldn't help but feel a little bit flattered.

"I only said you could fight," Sasuke reminded him.

Naruto shook his head, "I don't care. I know I can beat it because I'm going to beat you!" Naruto declared standing up and pointing at Sasuke.

Sasuke just stared. What could he say to that? Naruto had just pointed out his weakness. Suddenly Sasuke felt so stupid. 'What have I been doing all these years? Barely hanging onto myself, caught between becoming a real Hunter and slipping into my demonic self? And then this guy comes along!'

Although Sasuke was almost certain that Naruto would be another borderline case, just like him, he hoped Naruto would be different.

"You think you can beat me?"

"Duh! I'm going to beat you and these stupid demon magicks and then I'm going to live up there," Naruto pointed at the ceiling, "With all those normal people and I'm going to kick demon butt every night!"

Sasuke felt the corners of his mouth twitch and resisted the urge to smile. This guy sure was animated, it made him annoying but also likeable and interesting. Sasuke looked into those blue eyes, glinting with determination, and made a decision.

"Come here Naruto."

Naruto cocked his head to the side and walked over. But as soon as Sasuke reached out his hand Naruto jumped back. "No way am I falling for that one again!" he said triumphantly, one hand coming up to rub at his forehead.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Baka, I'm not going to shock you." Sasuke couldn't actually use his powers at the moment but he wasn't going to tell Naruto that, he had already shown too much weakness for tonight.

Naruto looked sceptical but stepped forward anyway. Sasuke held out his hand again and this time Naruto took it.

"I'll help you beat it," promised Sasuke his expression deadly serious.

Naruto grinned and shook the Hunters hand. "Heh, I didn't know you could be so nice, teme," said Naruto, pulling away with a slightly wary look on his face.

"Hn. I have my own reasons for doing this, Dobe." 'I have to believe it's possible to beat this!'