Naruto stood in the designated clump of trees, the misting rain accumulating in blond clumps creating a layer of goosebumps as drops swelled, dripped and slid down his neck into this shirt.

His whole body shook as the unknown hammered at him. After four years, Sasuke had sent word asking Naruto to meet him here, twenty miles from Konoha's gates, giving no further explanation.

What did it mean? Did Sasuke want to finish the job he started at the Valley of the End? Did he want to tell Naruto to quit trying to retrieve him once and for all? Did he…Naruto's head swam…want to come home?

No! Naruto quashed that thought. Hope was too painful. He'd rid his life of that particular coping mechanism long ago, focusing on training, preparing for the day his destiny as humanity's sacrifice, a parting gift from his fucking father, finally arrived.

So he steeled himself. It didn't matter what Sasuke wanted, he repeated to himself. No matter what it was, it revolved around this thing others called 'living.' Naruto had no time for, nor interest in, that deceitful concept.

Hunched over under a branch, the chill of his skin matching his outlook, he thought for several seconds about his particular life. Demon vessel, orphan, abused villain, scorned idiot. He had no friends and no lovers. He'd decided long ago that life actually sucked and most days wanted nothing more than for his to be over.

Sighing, he stomped his feet to warm them. He almost believed all that stuff. Truth was Naruto was terrified of living. He'd isolated himself, deciding that bonds were the source of all pain. Sure, some had tried to get close to him, but he'd shown them the door. What was the point in starting something that was doomed from the start?

But there was a rather conspicuous chink in this armor that Naruto had donned and it had a name; Uchiha Sasuke. Best friend, lonely orphan, worthy rival…senbon-riddled shield. This chink was the thing he meditated on more than anything else. He knew that if he could put this weakness in the appropriate box, the absolute numbness he craved would soon follow. It was his last tie to life, to hope, and it irritated the shit out of him that he couldn't get rid of it.

He rubbed at the pain in his chest that always appeared when he thought of Sasuke. Just then, a dark figure dropped out of the trees above.

"Naruto."

"Sasuke," Naruto barely had enough spit in his mouth to respond.

"Akatsuki is coming for you and is not far behind, so I'll get straight to the point," Sasuke said coming to stand directly in front of Naruto. "Itachi is dead."

"I'm so sorry…"

Sasuke interrupted Naruto by raising his hand. "I have missed you and want to come home."

Naruto slumped against the tree as blood pounded in his brain. This was his dearest hope and his most clawing fear wrapped in one sentence.

Sasuke bowed his head and continued, "My journey involving Itachi is not finished, but I can continue down that path from Konoha. In any event, it has taken a lower priority than returning to my home and repairing the bonds that have suffered due to my prior actions."

Naruto's heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it.

"It has taken a lower priority," Sasuke continued, "than protecting you."

Naruto couldn't respond as Sasuke just watched him.

"I don't know what the next minutes will bring," Sasuke finally spoke again. "Therefore it's important to me to get to the point and say my piece, lest I never get the chance to say it again."

With that he moved the rest of the way into Naruto's space, shoved his hands into the blond hair and pressed their lips together. Naruto's brain had already been derailed and when he felt Sasuke wrap his arm around his back, the rest of the world just fell away. He moaned and tears streamed down his face.

Sasuke showed Naruto his very first kiss. For several long moments, Naruto learned the actual mechanics and the brain melting pleasure that came from the slide of two tongues, the scrape of teeth on a sensitive lip, the passionate tangle of fingers in his hair.

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered and pulled back enough to look into his eyes. "I…Fuck!"

Sasuke whipped around and Naruto became aware of the approaching malevolent signature that comprised Akatsuki. He choked on a hysterical laugh. Destiny was one mean mother fucker. Did this moment have to arrive now? Seriously?

"We can't let them have Kyuubi or you" Sasuke said, pulling two swords off his back. Flames spread up his neck and face and the beginnings of wings poked out of slots in a shirt seemed designed for that very purpose. "Return to Konoha and I'll meet up with you soon."

Naruto's mouth fell open. "No fucking way, bastard." He filled his own hands with weapons. "This is my work to do. This is my purpose. You get out of here and I'll send word to you once it's over."

"No," Sasuke didn't mince words. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I yearn for a new purpose, something beyond avenger." He tilted his head. "Something that will give me peace."

"Can you even beat Akatsuki by yourself?" Naruto threw his arms wide in a hysterical gesture.

Sasuke sighed. "I don't know, but we can't make it to the gates before they arrive. I see few options, but I do know the priorities here are you and the demon."

"Well, I can beat them, so you…" he gasped as his seal exploded in pain.

"I was afraid of this," Sasuke said. "They are holding that hermit from Rock hostage, forcing him to devise a portable device for extracting demons."

Akatsuki was close enough now that Naruto could smell them. This was going to be difficult. He thought he could still beat the enemy band before they yanked the demon from him, but pain was clouding his concentration.

He and Sasuke studied each other for several moments, each becoming aware that the other was not leaving.

Finally, when Akatsuki was close enough that they could see swatches of red and white through the trees, the brunet came up to Naruto and cupped his cheek.

"Peace and happiness." He kissed Naruto once more and then he turned and ran toward the enemy, his wings extending fully.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled as he watched Sasuke fly over Akatsuki and dive into the middle of the group. A fraction of a second later, Naruto, his thoughts hazy with pain, threw himself into the fray as well.

Later, when a Leaf contingent, including Tsunade and Yamato, arrived, Akatsuki was little more than shredded unrecognizable clumps. Naruto, claws and teeth dripping with blood and bits flesh, was squeezing Sasuke to his chest and sniffing the newcomers. Six tails whipped sharply back and forth behind him and he growled and howled at them, no sign of Naruto's humanity anywhere to be found.

"Naruto?" Tsunade approached warily, her chakra reaching out and finding only one living ninja. Sasuke was dead.

He swiped at her with his free arm, and she just missed being shredded by claws forged in the earth's hottest fires. She looked meaningfully at Yamato.

Minutes later, Naruto's sense of self returned just as he fell over, his consciousness stolen by the arches over his body.

I learned my lesson with Constellations. If I want anyone to actually read this story, an author's note is needed, so… A/N: Is Sasuke really dead? Well, it's a time-travel story so, like daytime soap operas, anything is possible, ne?