A/N: Okay, I must be crazy, because I completely forgot to make it known that this drabble is dedicated to mah wonderful lover Chrissy! This is to you, beta-ing all my Sasuke-centric drabbles, putting up with my ditziness, and just tolerating me in general! I LURVE JOO!

Sasuke was a magician. But instead of making others disappear, he was the one who vanished. He was quick and thorough, taking only the necessities, leaving no clues, speaking to no one.

The search for him would proceed with the utmost of care, with enough publicity to satisfy the villagers while giving nothing away. Sasuke would become little more than myth then, whispers about the mysterious stranger. Like chasing after vampires or werewolves or other mystical creatures. Like trying to hold smoke in your fist or keep water in your hands.

Impossible – the word echoed, looming, taunting, hiding under every face, swimming in their eyes, dancing on their breath, but no one dared say it.

It was nights like these, with Sasuke unbelievably close, but not close enough that Naruto avoided closing his eyes. For surely if he did close his eyes, Sasuke would disappear again, ever elusive, ever unreal. So Naruto pulled Sasuke closer, arms twining around him, even though he knew this meant an even grouchier Uchiha than usual would greet him in the morning.

He felt calm now, with Sasuke in his arms, assured he wouldn't, not that he couldn't, up and leave everything, everybody, Naruto. It was hard, so close to the Uchiha, so calm and sure of the morning to come, to resist the lull of the waves of sleep, making up for so many sleepless nights. His eyelids drooped and against the instinct to stay awake, he let them shut, unable to think that Sasuke would disappear again. Sasuke would not vanish with the moon and stars, he'd said so himself, in that subtle double meaning of his.

"There's nothing out there for me." Naruto had heard the silent 'anymore' that ended the sentence definitely and taken that as a good sign. When he awoke and opened his eyes, it had been to look around in alarm, before he noticed pale arms gripping him lightly, tentatively.

Sasuke's vanishing act was retired for good.