The Price We Pay

A few hours later the raven was carrying a tray with a meal and jug of ice-water up the stairs, knocking gently on the door to alert Kakashi of his presence.

The door opened wide to allow him entry, bringing the tray to the table beside the bed before putting it down as he spoke, "do you want to wake him, or should I?"

Kakashi shook his head "I will. I think it will be less of a shock."

Sasuke shrugged "not necessarily, but go ahead."

While his adopted 'father' figure moved over to gently shake his adopted brother awake, Sasuke opened the dishes, revealing the highly healthy; easily digestible but delicious meal.

He had always thought his uncle was a genius, regularly cooking incredibly healthy but appetizing meals, things you would normally see as unhealthy or even junk food. Yet it was not only low fat but good for you, full of vitamins and nutritients.

In this situation and in Naruto's state, that was just a bonus.

Sasuke turned in time to notice how the other boy was laying, curled in a ball on his right side, facing away from them and towards the door. His wings were stretched out behind him, laying limp on the mattress and over the side, shaking slightly with each deep rattling breathe.

But at least he was asleep, deep peaceful sleep.

Sasuke felt a bit bad about disturbing such a peaceful slumber but knew it was for the best, he needed food and liquids even more and so watched his adopted father gently ease the boy around.

Slowly the Blond stirred, squinting up at his other adopted father blearily until he spoke soothingly "Sasuke brought you more food, Naru. I want you to try and eat and drink as much as you can, all right? Do you want me to make it an order so you feel safer?"

After looking from Sasuke to Kakashi a few times he shook his head, struggling to sit up against the pillows comfortably with the wings on either side and accepting the tray placed on his lap.

Again he ate slowly, careful with his bad hand and when the meal was gone he found a glass of water pushed into his palm.

Frowning at it for a few long seconds as if trying to work it out he suddenly leaned over to give it a cautious but thorough sniff, like he was afraid they would put something in it, which lead then to believe it had been tampered with for him previously and probably more than once.

So they didn't let it worry them in the slightest.

After a thorough sniff and a few careful sips he seemed to deem it safe and swallowed it all down. When nothing more happened to him and Sasuke refilled the glass he drank it down much faster and then followed by another three glasses before he handed it back, let them move everything away and helped him lay out again.

Almost instantly he was deep asleep again, snoring softly.

For the next two days and nights they continued to feed the boy every few hours, allowing the boy to sleep between and even though they didn't see another single sign of Kyuubi they knew the spirit trusted them to do as planned.

On a side note, Sasuke had never been so glad of being Home Schooled in his life. He could stay with Naruto all day and even most of the night now, their uncle insisting on the method of teaching for two distinct reasons.

First, he was being 'suffocated' at a public school, being an genius like his brother and parents had been he had only been as well-behaved as he was because he didn't want to risk being separated any more than he already was from his 'brother' and loved one.

Without Naruto there any longer he had seen no reason to behave or repress his true genius.

The second was Sasuke had begun acting out, willingly fighting with other students, even starting some, using it and them as an excuse to let out his rage; anxiety and helplessness.

So uncle Madara had brought in teachers for his suspific intelligence, the same for Itachi who was studying to be a lawyer, in fact he was the youngest of his 'class' to get as far as he was so far.

His teachers predicted he might even graduate and pass his bar soon.

Sasuke had never understood what Itachi saw in law and why he had chosen it, except for one night not long ago that made him truly realize how much Naruto also meant to his brother, not just him.

"When you find this guy who took our brother away from us, you will get him back for us but I, I will make sure he pays for it. Every little thing he does to our brother is going to be another noose around his neck and legally I'm going to hang him so he NEVER hurts another person. I'm going to MAKE SURE he has no chance of legally getting away with it or out or off. There will be NO technicalities while I'm there. Believe it brother, the bastard's going to fry!"

Sasuke sighed.


It had been three days and nights since they got Naruto back when IT happened. Sasuke had left the room to get his brothers next meal and had encountered Kakashi on his way to the room also when they heard a loud metal crash.

Exchanging looks they rushed into the room, Sasuke in front.
Empty, the bed-and room was empty.
And the window was open, wide open.

“NO!” Sasuke screamed, throwing the tray on the bed and rushing to the window. Just in time to spy Naruto who had collapsed against the metal bins outside glancing back nervously as he struggled to rise. Sasuke saw his eyes flash red for a fraction of a second before he was moving away again.

“NO!” Sasuke screamed again “WE’RE NOT READY YET!” he looked helplessly to Kakashi beside him “Gaara was supposed to have an unmarked cop car follow them!”

“There’s nothing we can do now....” Kakashi started but Sasuke interrupted with determination “yes there is, I have an idea.” Seizing his mobile he climbed out the window after his brother, calling to Kakashi over his shoulder “Tell Uncle and Gaara I’ll call them on my mobile when we get there!”

“Wait Sasuke you can’t...Sasuke wait!”
But he just ignored him, tearing after his brother.

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