Midnight Memories

I don’t own Naruto, nor do I make money from it.





Warnings: death, angst, drinking, cursing, violence



Midnight Memories



Chapter Eight



May 28, 2005



“Please stand. I present to you, the class of 2005.”



Naruto stood proudly. He was now a high school graduate. He was pretty sure his accomplishment surprised Itachi. He never said anything, though. He was always there, his dark eyes peering almost into his soul. Sometimes, he could almost swear there was a spark of affection; just the tiniest of glimmer.



Today was one of those day he was sure Itachi felt more for him than he showed. He’d trotted into the house after graduation practice to find the place not surprisingly empty. Itachi was rarely around during the day. However, sitting on the table was a card, printed on extra fine paper. Itachi’s elegant writing scrolled across the cream colored parchment.



‘You do yourself proud by your accomplishments.’ That was all that was written. A small blue box lay beside the note. Inside was a stone attached to a silver cord. The stone matched his eye color perfectly. He was stunned. If it had been another car or some emotionless gift, he was likely to have kept his opinion of his guardian. However, this necklace spoke of a more personal touch. Itachi had to have hand chosen this for it to match his eyes so perfectly. It was perhaps the most wonderful gift he could have imagined. It wasn’t the physicality of the gift but the meaning behind it. Itachi cared, if only a little. He cared.



“Hey, Naruto. What are your plans?” The question broke through his thoughts as he glanced towards the bleachers of the gym. He could have sworn he’d seen Itachi there. He was gone now but he was sure he’d seen him.



“College I guess.”



“You guess? Well you better get your ass in gear and apply.” Sakura walked up, poking him in his shoulder.



“Way ahead of you…I’ve already been accepted to the local University.” Naruto stuck his tongue out, only to earn a slap to the back of his head.



“Owww. What did you do that for?”



“You deserved it.”



“You better listen to her, Naruto. Or you will end up with a concussion.” Kiba grinned, throwing his arm around his best friend and partner in crime.



“Yeah, yeah.” Naruto grinned widely, linking his arms behind the necks of his two best friends. “I’m in a good mood. What should we do to celebrate?”



“Hey, we could hang out at your place. You know, I could bring the beer. My sister gave me a twelve pack for graduation.” Kiba answered.



“I don’t know…”



“Come on…you seriously have like the most awesome gaming set up. Must be nice growing up rich.”



“Well, it’s just Itachi…I’m not sure. I mean, I always okay guests before anyone comes over…”



“Please, Naruto.” Sakura poked out her lip. How in the world she could go from deadly to pitiful in a moments notice was beyond him.



“Well, I suppose it can’t hurt…”



“Fucking A. I’ve got the brews in an ice chest in my truck.”



Kiba was grinning wildly as the three guided their cars into the large driveway. Naruto parked his in the garage while the other two pulled off to the side, careful not to block the road.



The house was lit up brightly, making Naruto very nervous as he led his friends in through the kitchen. Kiba raided the pantry for snacks, while Sakura grabbed glasses and plates from the cupboard. Naruto’s eyes darted back and forth nervously.



“Dude, chill. He’s probably holed up in the study reading some book written two hundred years before any of us were born. He’s a freak. It’s a fucking waste for someone like him to be so loaded.” Kiba joked, juggling a few packages. He slammed the door shut, revealing Itachi leaning against the door frame. The open pantry had hidden his presence from the three teenagers.



“Oh, fuck! You scared the shit out of me!” Kiba shouted, dropping all the food to the floor.



Itachi simply arched a brow before turning to Naruto. “Planning a celebration?”



“Well…I mean…what’s it to you?”



“I was merely asking. I have guests coming shortly. Please keep your friends in your rooms. Miss Haruno may sleep in the guest room next to yours.” Itachi said, turning to exit.



“What about me?” asked Kiba.



“There’s always the floor.” A small smirk and he was gone.



“I swear to God, Naruto. That man creeps me out. He looks so young and pale…you don’t think he’s you know…”



“I know what?”



Kiba licked his lips before whispering, “A vampire.”



Sakura snorted, sending Kiba a very amused look. “What makes you think he’s a vampire?”



“Well, you know, he’s always skulking around. He looks like he’s barely twenty. He’s pale. He lives in a huge mansion and is filthy rich. It’s all the classic signs.” Kiba cringed at his own deduction.



“Itachi is not a vampire. I’ve seen him eat. I’ve even seen him in the sun. He has a disorder. It makes him ultra sensitive to the light but he can still go out in it.” Naruto rolled his eyes.



“I’m just saying, I wouldn’t want to be alone with him on a cold dark night.”



“I would.”



Both boys turned to stare at their friend. She only arched a brow. “What? He’s hot.”



“Let’s just go upstairs before his guests arrive. I’d rather not get in trouble tonight.”



The three made their way up the stairs, their pilfered goodies in hand. All talk of Itachi was dropped in favor of beer, snacks, and video games. Even Sakura joined in the Metal Gear Solid fun. Much laughter and merriment was to be found in the messy blue bedroom.



It was nearing four a.m. when Sakura excused herself to the next bedroom. Kiba was already passed out on the bed, having consumed the most of the alcohol. Naruto couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his snoring friend. The other was likely to sleep until noon.



Closing the door to his room, he made his way down the stairs. The lights still blazed as he entered the kitchen, tossing the soiled cups and plates in the sink. Muffled speaking drew his attention towards the study. He knew Itachi didn’t want him anywhere near it while his ‘guests’ where around but he could not resist the pull towards the gathering.



Curiosity was probably one of his biggest faults. He couldn’t resist not knowing what was being discussed so late at night. It was definitely not a normal time to be having a meeting unless one wanted to hide something.



Creeping towards the door, he found it partially ajar. From the crack, he could see several men and women. All were dressed expensively, a few sipped on glasses of red wine while others stood silently.



“My Lord, you need to destroy him. You are only delaying the inevitable by keeping him asleep.”



Sleep? Naruto furrowed his brows. What could that mean? Was it a literal sleep or maybe it implied something like being kept in the dark? The man’s heavy accent could mean English was his second or third language. Destroy wasn’t that hard to understand. Was Itachi a mob boss? Determined to continue his snooping, he crept closer.



“Do not even suggest it. He has suffered. I will give him a chance.” Itachi was on his feet, a very dangerous gleam in his eye.



Naruto shivered unconsciously. He hoped to never be the recipient of that look. It made him think he was capable of killing someone. He eluded danger and death. This Itachi was someone he didn’t know; someone he was afraid to know.



“My liege, please reconsider. He’s been in a steady decline for a thousand years or more. If your father was here…”



“I would not finish that statement if I were you. My father is not here. I am. My word is law.”



“You are still accountable to the elders!”



“Do you wish to challenge me for my place as your king? Is that why you are pushing this so hard? If you so wish it then I can do no other than accept the challenge.”



Naruto frowned, flabbergasted at the direction the argument was taking. Shifting to try and get a better look at the occupants of the room, the floor creaked beneath him. A woman, previously silent glanced towards the door. A delicate brow rose, her crimson colored eyes widening slightly. She smiled, sending him a wink before standing.



“Gentlemen. There is no need to fight. As long as he sleeps, Sasuke is no threat. Leave it be for now.” She closed the door to Naruto, leaving him staring at the polished wood.



As he made his way back towards his rooms, he pondered her words over all the others. Sasuke. She mentioned him. He’d always attributed his dreams to the painting hanging in the library, always believed it was the cause of the face haunting his dreams but tonight, she spoke the name. She gave life to what he thought of as only his over active imagination. Sasuke. Could he have heard Itachi or perhaps someone else mention it…no. That felt wrong. Sasuke was a living breathing part of him. He wasn’t just some imaginary part of his psyche. The red eyed woman’s words were proof, weren’t they?



Sasuke… Did he suffer from dreams as Naruto did? Did he feel the pull of the past as acutely? Sleep did not come to him this night as he lay staring at the ceiling of a random guest room. Sasuke, what did Itachi mean? How had he suffered?



~*~



January 12, 1778 Valley Forge



Sasuke crept silently through the encampment. It was a bleak sight. Men trudged through the snow, slush, and mud towards threadbare tents set up haphazardly around pitiful campfires. The small campfires offered little light and even less warmth. They dotted the area, men huddled close in search of the fleeting warmth. Coughs could be heard off and on through the night as more than a few suffered from cold related ailments. Frostbite, coughs, and fevers were the worst. The medical tents were packed beyond capacity with the ill as Washington’s army wintered in this frigid climate, volunteer surgeons having their hands full with the multitude of the sick.



General Washington was taking a great risk leaving his men to weather the winter on desolate field twenty miles outside of Philadelphia. It was a guarantee that lives would be lost due to exposure. With an army of over ten thousand men, such a thing was inevitable but the men were in no shape to continue marching. The winter months were bringing the war to a near standstill. In this detestable weather, one would wonder why one such as him wandered among these war weary soldiers.



He was here because he was lost. Geographically, he knew exactly where he was. So sure was he of his placement on the globe, he most likely could have drawn a map pinpointing his exact location to any who wished to use it. No, Sasuke was lost in the literal sense but more of a lost soul. He’d felt him, the moment he’d been struck down. He’d held him in his arms as the wound from the musket ball bled into the early snow. All he could think of was why?



He was an officer, a doctor. He should not have been at the front. He’d promised him he would be alright. Sasuke had trusted him not to do something foolish. Before the hatred between the colonies and England, his life with Naruto had been a soothing balm to his tattered soul. He was sane when the other was near. The madness was pushed back, though he feared Naruto’s presence was loosing its potency. His need for blood was almost constant. When he’d revealed himself to Naruto in New York, the other simply smiled. It was as if he was waiting for him.



It continued to amaze him at how understanding Naruto was. He accepted things that were far beyond what he should have been able to comprehend. He accepted Sasuke. His flaws. His nature. It was all taken in with a smile and not a few questions.



They were lovers almost from the first night. Sasuke’s never ending need for every part of his lover was met with an equally desperate need. It was as if they were feeding off of each other. The past melted away. It was Naruto. His last life had taught him not to love the past, but to take comfort in the present. He’d fallen in love with him almost instantly. No, it wasn’t love. What he felt transcended such a paltry human emotion. Each life brought something more. More incite. More depth. Each was different, yet the same.



This incarnation forced him to recall his past. Many conversations were had before a warm fire. He forced him to relive each life, and learn from it. It was here he realized how cursed he truly was. Each Naruto took a different part of his soul with him to their grave. Would there come a time when he had no soul left to give them? Would he then become a monster to be put down like a mad dog? He’d asked Naruto these very questions only to be given the answer. “God never gives us more than we can handle.” It offered little comfort to one such as Sasuke. Life went on, though.



When Naruto enlisted with Washington as a surgeon, they had argued. The first of many. Naruto felt the cold disdain of England more keenly than Sasuke. When it came to war, he had willingly given himself to them for the freedom of his home.



Sasuke had stormed away, seeking solace in his brother’s company. He’d ignored his own aching soul. Surprisingly, it was Itachi who encouraged him to return to his lover’s side. The sentiment came much too late. Sasuke arrived in time to once again drag his lover from the battlefield. He once again bathed in the warm blood as it spilled forth to nourish the soil.



War was a horrible thing. It robbed even the innocent of their lives while the generals and kings sat in safety. This war was to some, a necessary evil. It was a bid for freedom from the oppression of England. Sasuke didn’t care about the petty squabbles of humans. He almost wished they would destroy themselves with their canons and muskets; with their disease and strife.



War had transformed him into little more than a monster, feeding on the blood of the dying. He knew the stories that arose. He was an angel of death. He came for the souls of the dying, taking them to Heaven or Hell.



He could not say where the souls went as he drew their life force from them. What they saw as he drained them was anyone’s guess. All he knew was blood. All he cared for was blood. He was too tired to make any effort to do more than use the dying to feed his ever growing addiction.



“Naruto…” he whispered, stepping over logs and sleeping forms.



His feet moved silently, almost gliding as he approached the medical tent. He’d lost the will to even pretend to be human. His eyes remained perpetually red, a sign of his ever growing madness. Still, he held back. He would not allow himself to take that final step into madness. He would not give them an excuse to destroy him. He would simply exist until he felt that small trickle of life appear in his heart. That would be the sign he could start living again.



The tent was quiet as he silently passed the beds of those on the mend. He felt the eyes of a few soldiers on him, watching as he passed. His dark clothing and red eyes terrified the sick men. Breath was exhaled as he passed them by. He was tempted to take them, tempted to devour them with no thought of the consequences. He wondered what the man would think of tomorrow. Would it be just a dream to him? Or, would he perpetuate the legend growing among the weary troops. When the dark man was seen, a death was sure to follow.



Sasuke listened to the death rattle sounding through the back of the tent. This was the place of dying. These men offered up their bodies for the freedom of others, their reward…death. Their sacrifice evident. Not even the gangrenous smell circling through the air could deter him from his destination. The last cot revealed a boy, barely sixteen. Coughs wracked his body, flashing a memory through him of a similar sight.



Bloodshot eyes opened as he took a seat beside the ill young man. Fear shown bright in the fear plagued eyes as the boy shifted weakly away. Tears began to streak down a face too young to be facing imminent death.



“Shhh.” he whispered, calming the boy. His hand stroked the fever damp brow. “Do you want me to free you?”



“I…I don’t…want…to…d-die.”



“I’m afraid it is your fate. You body has taken all it can. I can ease you, make your last moments pleasurable. Know this though, if I leave you, you will not live to see the dawn. You fate is already written.”



Tears poured in increasing streams. “Are…you…an angel?”



“No. I am no such creature. The only angel I have ever known was taken from me. I will only take what is freely given. This is a promise I made to my angel. I ask again. Do you wish me to stop your suffering?” Sasuke stroked the still baby soft cheeks, crimson eyes boring deeply.



A tired sigh was released as dark eyes closed. “Will it hurt?”



“No.” Sasuke waited no longer. He lifted the boy from the bed, his fangs instantly puncturing deep into the pulsing artery.



The body beneath him went stiff before a shuddering moan was released. Arms lifted to clench in the silky material of his dark shirt. Warmth flooded his mouth as a wave of blood pulsed down his throat. The blood was weak, tasting of sickness boarding on death. It would do little more than keep him going for a day or two at the most. Fleeting guilt followed the flush warmth. It was shameful to take sustenance from one such as this but it was an act of mercy. He kept telling himself that as he felt the heart beneath him stuttering, its beat losing the stead rhythm.



The power behind each pulse of blood slowed, forcing Sasuke to suck with increasing force to draw the last dregs of life from the boy. The hands gripping his shirt loosened before falling limply to the straw mattress of the cot. A gasping breath later, he was gone. Sasuke’s own shuddering breath sounded loud in his ears as the warmth faded. He could feel the boy’s relief on his tongue.



He stumbled to his feet before lifting a shaking had to his tousled hair. His stomach tried to rebel against the nourishment. Even his body longed for only Naruto. Drawing in a shaky breath, he began to alter the scene or death before him. Things needed to be done before a surgeon found him.



Sasuke was meticulous in his clean up. The cold body was positioned, eyes closed so that he appeared almost to be sleeping. A small smile graced his lips. What he dreamed in his sleep of death, Sasuke could only imagine. A small push was all it had taken to send him to nirvana.



His tongue lapped at the telltale sign of his presence, hiding the mark. He couldn’t risk humans finding out what haunted the darkness. Some things were best left to the imagination. A person here or there was nothing, but as a group, humans were too easily panicked. The witch hunts plaguing the colonies upon his arrival a hundred years past were proof enough of how easily panicked they could become. Far too many innocents were destroyed in their search to purge the threat of witches from their midst.



Sending the body of the boy a final glance, he left with speed, his movements unseen by humans. He wished he could say he was sorry for taking the boy’s life, stealing the few precious hours of existence that remained. He wished he could feel just a little more regretful of what he’d done. If Naruto was alive, he might have felt more than the fleeting guilt. Now, all he felt was pity for the poor creatures fighting a battle they might lose.



“Foolish humans.” he muttered as he stepped into the nearby forest. Only one human mattered to him. The rest were food.



“You took another.”



He chuckled darkly as the voice rolled over him. The familiar voice of his brother intoned from the shadows. Weariness plagued them both. The centuries were long. Sasuke suffered, dragging Itachi with him.



“He was dying.”



“It is not your place to decide that.”



“And whose place is it? Yours? I have lost count of the numbers of humans you feasted on. I can remember the criminals and vagabonds who fed your bloodlust just as the dying feed mine.”



“I wanted to keep you from this. I thought, when you came to me…”



“You thought what, brother? That I was as I was before? I’m not. I will never be the same. Each day is a torture. The only thing keeping me going is that I will see him again. You could never understand what it feels like to have your soul to die. You’ve never felt that all encompassing lust to possess and be possessed. You heart remains still in your possession.” Sasuke spat the words, his eyes glaring as his brother stepped from the darkness.



The wind swirled his black cloak as Itachi stepped from the shadows, his pale skin stark in the moonlight. His own crimson eyes closed at the sight of his brother. Things were beginning to worry him, a small niggling feeling of doubt.



“Sasuke…”



“I don’t want to hear it, Itachi. I feel empty and the only way to fill it is with blood, no matter how vile I find the taste.”



“Have you thought that it is not Naruto’s blood that is special but your own perception of yourself when you are with him?”



“You wouldn’t understand.”



“Then educate me, brother. Tell me why you feel this way? I can let it slide, the killing of the dying, but have you any knowledge of how close you are to the point in which I can not save you?”



“I’m in control.”



“For how long? A year? A century? A millennia? We are long lived. You are barely a baby compared to me. I saw the crucifixion of Christ. I witnessed the Roman Empire at its peak. You should be relishing in each era that passes you by. Yet here you are, pining away for some human soul, praying he will return to you. It is a waste. I miss my brother.”



“Itachi…I can do no other than wait for him. I feel that if I’m not here, if he doesn’t know me, something will happen.”



“Then sleep until he lives again.”



“You know I can’t.”



“What do you want from me, Sasuke? I can only offer my council. I willingly do so and yet, you toss it back at me. You are standing at the edge of oblivion.”



“I will be more cautious, if that is what you wish.”



“Never have I seen trials such as these. Souls should not come back like this.”



“But he does. He comes back to me.”



“Then take comfort in the fact that he will return.”



“But there is always that doubt…”



“What doubt?”



Sasuke stared off into the distance, his eyes halfway dead as they gazed at nothing. “That this time is the last.”



Itachi placed a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder. “Then allow me to help you bear this burden. I offer you a place at my side until he returns.”



“You know the court would disapprove. The elders wish me destroyed.”



“I’m the king.”



Sasuke smiled. It was sad, full of pain still fresh in his heart but a smile, none the less. Itachi’s heart broke at the sight of his pain ridden brother.



“Why did he die?” Itachi asked.



“I heard he was the only surgeon who volunteered to patch up the soldiers on the front. The others wanted to wait for the injured to be brought to them.”



“He was brave.”



“He was an idiot…is always an idiot. He wanted to fight for these colonies. He desperately wanted freedom.”



Itachi stared at his brother before asking. “Is that such a bad thing?”



“It is when it leaves me alone.”



“Do you share his sentiment?”



“Of what?”



“This country. Do you wish it to have its freedom?”



“I don’t care what the humans do.”



“True, but don’t you think it would be something for him to appreciate when he returns?”



Sasuke frowned, his brow crinkling as the wheels turned rapidly. It was true he was born randomly but there was always the chance he would be born on this continent. If he was, he would want this freedom being dangled before them. He would want it because that was the type of person he was. He cared about others. He wanted help others. Always, his light shown brightest when faced with adversity.



“What are you thinking?” asked Itachi, curious to the growing determination in Sasuke’s eyes.



“Of Naruto.”



“No…you aren’t.”



“Brother, I must ask you turn your eyes away from this country and its war.”



Itachi stiffened, his gaze going cold. “Why?”



“Because I will be fighting in it.”



“Sasuke…”



“Please Itachi…I don’t want the elders to use what I might do against you.”



“You are as foolish as you claim your lover to be…but I will call the family back to our homeland. Many have already begun returning to Europe, fleeing this unpleasantness. Fates preserve me, this will be a nightmare. I advise you not to draw too much attention to yourself. Why are you fighting for those you hold in such disdain?”



“For him, to make a world he would want to live in.”



“As you wish. I’ll give you five years. Farewell, little brother.” Itachi turned and was gone in a whoosh of wind.



~*~



October 6, 1780 Kings Mountain, North Carolina



The bursting of cannons shook the earth as the Patriots and the Loyalists waged a war. The weary soldiers clashed desperately, each believing in their own cause. There was no right and wrong, only ideals.



Sasuke panted heavily against a tree. The scent of gunpowder hung heavily in the air. It tainted each breath with its harsh undertone. The screams of the dying brought forth the monster as he growled low in his throat, searching for his humanity.



He never ceased to find it humorous, referring to the good in him as humanity. He, who had never been human, possessing of humanity. Perhaps another day, he would create a new word, one that would better describe it.



Today, he held on by what seemed like the tiniest of threads. It was the blood. The smell was nearly as heavy as that of the gun powder. He could taste the metallic flavor in the air. It would be so easy to simply let go of his ‘humanity’. He wanted to relinquish his control and devour them all. He wanted it but was held back by thoughts of Naruto. In his darkest moments, he found the strength to go on. It felt almost as if Naruto was there with him, comforting him.



A canon ball shattered the tree nearest him, sending him lunging away. Pain rushed through him as tiny shards of wood pierced the skin of his back through his shirt. It was more of an annoyance than a true injury. It would heal by nightfall, anyway.



The battle would be ending soon. Sasuke smirked as he watched the Loyalists surprise at the tenacity of the Patriots. He watched the commanding officer of the Loyalists give the signal to charge. This was what he’d waited for.



The Patriots released a volley of shots, sending several charging horsemen to the ground. The major was amongst them. Sasuke grinned darkly, rushing into the fray. It appeared to be only a flesh wound as the captain of the Loyalists attempted to rise to his feet.



“Not so fast, Major Fergusson.” Sasuke purred, his hands grabbing the injured major, dragging him behind an overturned cart.



“Thank you.” hissed Fergusson, his hand going up to grasp at the bleeding shoulder wound. The wound was obviously non-lethal. Painful, yes, but he would survive.



“Don’t thank me, Major.” Sasuke smirked, his hand reaching up to clench in the wound. Fergusson screamed out in pain, his body going rigid as the clenching fingers dug deep. The ball had gone straight through. A pity, it would have hurt more had it lodged in a bone.



“You’re one of the upstart colonists.”



“In your eyes, perhaps. In truth, you all could destroy yourselves and I could care not one bit. No, I do this for another who wished for freedom from England.”



“A coward who has others fight his battles…ahhhh” Fergusson punctuated the sentence with a scream, unheard in the commotion of battle as Sasuke squeezed again.



“Never call him a coward. He died from a Loyalist musket ball. I fight because he can not. I do pity you though, your death will be the beginning of the end. The Patriots will claim this battle. The turning point of this filthy war is finally in sight. It really is a shame you must die. I know you do not fight out of hate, but of duty. Perhaps you will be reborn into a world where war is a thing of the past.” Sasuke bit deeply, ignoring the screaming and flailing of the man beneath him.



Hot, thick, healthy blood ran into him. It strengthened his body. He felt a twinge in doing such to a man who’s only crime was that he supported England. It was so small, he barely noticed it. The warmth heating him was much needed. It had been several weeks since he’d feasted on such strong blood. The foul taste was ignored in favor of the strength it provided.



The man’s struggles lessened until they stopped completely. He dropped the pale body to the already blood soaked ground. Pulling a pistol from his waist, he pointed the gun at the bite marks now adorning the major’s neck. The flintlock sparked as he pulled the trigger. Gunpowder clouded his vision, causing him to blink wildly to clear his eyes.



Before him lay the body of Patrick Fergusson. The bullet had torn apart his neck, hiding any sign of him having been bitten.



The battle didn’t last much longer. Sasuke was far away by the time the white flag was raised as the remaining seven hundred Loyalists surrendered their arms to the cheering Patriots. He wasn’t much for celebrations, choosing instead to disappear into the growing darkness.



The major’s blood continued to spread through him, providing him with much needed energy. His soul however, ached for the warmth that came from just a sip of Naruto’s essence.



He collapsed, miles from Kings Mountain. The animals of the forest stayed clear, sensing his darkness. He didn’t care. Silence was welcome after the loud booming of cannons and muskets.



Bringing his hands to his eyes, he cursed the burning that came from the now peacefulness. It was when he was alone, when his mind was allowed to wonder. These were the times when Naruto haunted him.



“I can’t keep this up…I’m sorry I’m weak.” he whispered into the night. “Naruto, forgive my weakness.”



‘Stop that!’ Sasuke’s head jerked up, his senses on high alert.



“Who’s there?” he growled, seeing nothing.



He extended out his senses, feeling nothing but wild animals. There was no human for miles. He was alone.



Slumping once more against the tree, he stared at the crimson staining his hands from the tears he’d thought to stop. “I’m alone.”



‘You are never alone.’ He knew there was no one there yet he heard Naruto’s voice clearly. The cool bark of the tree became his lover’s chest. The swirling wind became his breath.



“I hurt…Naruto.”



‘Just a little longer, then we can both rest.’



“You aren’t real.”



‘Why do you say that?’ It was just as if Naruto’s husky voice was being purred in his ears. This wasn’t real. It wasn’t…but he wanted it so bad and that scared him. If he allowed himself to create a Naruto where there was none, he would lose what little bit of sanity remained.



“Because I can’t feel you inside.” Sasuke stood, closing his eyes at the loss of the phantom touches.



He turned, knowing what he would see. Only the tree he’d just vacated. There was no Naruto in this world…not any longer. For now, he only remained in his thoughts and memories. No matter what he might wish, his future with the keeper of his heart was lost to the wheel of fate.



~*~



January 14, 1784 Annapolis, Maryland

Sasuke watched with dull eyes from the shadows as a cheer went throw the crowd gathered outside the building where the Congress of the Confederation was meeting to ratify the Treaty of Paris. The war was officially over.



Technically, it had ended months prior in Paris but the delay in the treaty reaching the governing body of the now United States of America delayed the reality of it for the people. Now it was official. This land was now free from England’s rule. Come hell or high water, they were free.



Sasuke snorted. He would miss the battles. It took his mind from his own growing darkness. Most likely, the blood and death perpetuated his decent. He wondered how long before Itachi showed up again?



At least he helped give this country a start, even if it was with death. He closed his eyes at the feel of a hand on his shoulder. He could never run from his ghost. Turning to snarl, he was shocked to see an actual person standing behind him. How had he gotten so close?



“Forgive me. I only wanted to see if you were alright. You looked a little distraught.” Thick red hair ruffled in the breeze. There was nothing special of the man. He was of average build, his gray eyes held nothing more than concern.



“Leave me be. Go celebrate with your people.” he growled, turning his back to the man.



“You are almost there. Just wait a little longer.”



Sasuke swirled around with eyes wide only to see no one there. He shouldn’t have been able to move that fast. Was this another hallucination brought on by the thinning in his sanity?



Sasuke turned from the celebrations, fading into the shadows. He was no longer needed by these humans. He was a ghost. The history books would ignore his existence, as they should. Drawing too much attention was a dangerous game. Towards the end, he’d skirted the edge of that blade. He was sure to hear an earful from Itachi when next they met.



Perhaps he would explore the wilderness of this new country. It was best he not dwell with the humans too much. It would be at least fifty years before Naruto returned to this world. Perhaps he could hold on a little longer.



~*~



May 29, 2005



“Oh, my head. Is beer supposed to give you a hang over?” Kiba pillowed his head in his arm, causing Naruto to grin at his friend’s suffering.



“Well, when you drink ten of them over the course of four hours, I’d say the answer is yes.” Sakura elbowed the other, earning another groan.



“Hey, Sakura. Is it possible for a person to have read eyes?” Naruto asked.



“Red? Like bloodshot?”



“No, like the iris is red.”



Kiba‘s head shot up from where it rested, his finger pointing accusingly at Naruto while Sakura laughed hysterically. “I fucking told you he was a vampire. Now you believe me.”



“Not that again. I swear, if you keep spouting that shit you are going to be committed.” Sakura laughed, accepting a plate from Naruto.



“It wasn’t Itachi.”



“Huh?”



“It was this woman. I just wanted to know if it was possible to have red eyes.”



Sakura stuffed a piece of pancake in her mouth as she internally debated the question. “Well, some types of albinos have pink eyes. I suppose you probably met one. They look red. Have you ever seen those white rabbits with the pink eyes?”



Naruto bit his lip, placing the remainder of the food on the breakfast bar. Kiba waved away the food, shooting to his feet as the smell of bacon reached his nose. The sound of gagging could be heard moments later from the nearby bathroom.



“That’s disgusting.” commented Sakura as she continued to eat. She would need that strong stomach if she was planning on going into the medical field.



“You don’t think we should check on him?” asked Naruto.



Sakura shot him a dead panned look. “He’s fine. Just get him home so he can sleep it off. By the way, what’s that door for? It was locked when I was looking for a broom. I thought it might be the supply closet.”



Naruto followed her gesturing fork towards the basement door. He shrugged. “It’s the basement but the steps are rotting. Itachi said he’ll get them fixed one of these days. He doesn’t like me going down there because it’s dangerous.”



Sakura shrugged before grinning. “I’m so happy we are going to the same college. It’s going to be so awesome. I’m getting an apartment with Ino. I swear, me and the pig are going to have so much fun.”



“Me too. Itachi wants me to live here but I’m sure I’ll still have fun. Just think of the hot sorority chicks and all the parties. It’s going to be paradise.” Naruto grinned, shaking away his confusing thoughts in favor of something a little more upbeat.



“You should really ask him if you can get an apartment. We have an extra room. I can talk to Ino if you want…”



“Naw. I’ll just stay here. It’s only like a ten minute drive to the university. I don’t mind it here. Unlike Kiba, I don’t believe in monsters that go bump in the night.” The two started laughing at the expense of their friend, not seeing the dark eyes watching them from the hallway.



Itachi turned, silently making his way away from the kitchen. The laughter of the two friends followed him. He wondered just how long Naruto would continue to feign his disbelief in what he knew was truth. He’d sensed the boy last night. He’d whispered thanks to Kurenai after the meeting adjourned. She successfully steered the conversation away from Sasuke and the eventually, Naruto.



He knew he should allow them to meet. Naruto was of age. True, he wasn’t old enough to drink in this era but that was a minor technicality Itachi ignored. He supposed deep in his heart, as much as he wanted to see his brother again, he didn’t want to hand Naruto over to him just yet. He wanted to keep Naruto to himself for just a little longer.



When he started this journey, time couldn’t pass fast enough. Now, it seemed to be flying by at the speed of light. He wanted it to stop, for a moment. He wanted it to allow him to enjoy the warming presence of Naruto. It was a bit selfish. He knew this, yet he could not bear the thought of losing either of them. Naruto thought of him as merely a guardian and he’d facilitated that belief. He didn’t want to become attached to him but in the end he had.



He’d hated Naruto. Despised what he made Sasuke into. He’d nearly destroyed the last of his family which his mere presence. There were so many times he considered destroying Naruto just for the spite of everything they had been through. The thoughts were dispelled as quickly as they came and not for Sasuke’s sake alone. Naruto’s carefree attitude, his warm nature called to Itachi. He ignored the call but not without considerable effort.



He would wait a little longer. Once Sasuke was awakened it was unlikely Naruto would even glance in his direction. He would give Naruto a little more time. He would allow him to enjoy the end of his childhood before waking Sasuke. This would be the last life for Sasuke. It hurt Itachi to think of his brother’s remaining years in the double digits. Sasuke would not last Naruto’s death even if it lasted for seventy years. This was the beginning of the end.



To be continued.