Miracles made of sun
Sasuke snapped his head up. "Tell me!"
"You wish to renounce the Dark Gift, to be mortal again?" Orochimaru asked, a smirk on his lips, his slim brow rose in question.
Mortal again. Was it possible? Did he really want it? Would Naruto still love him if he was mortal? He knew the allure of his vampire blood, the underlying power that coloured everything he did and asked, "is it possible?"
"If you truly wish it." Orochimaru nodded his head, his eyes now soft, kind.
Sasuke thought of life without Naruto, and then let himself think what it would be like to share life, a whole life, each day, every day with Naruto. "How? How is it done?"
"It is dangerous, my friend, and often fatal."
"It is a risk I am willing to take."
"You truly wish to give up your immortality for this—this boy?" A slim black brow rose in question.
Sasuke nodded. "Please, Orochimaru, only tell me what I must do."
Orochimaru shook his head and lifted a slim finger. "First I would like to meet this young man."
"Orochimaru..."
"It cannot be done now, my friend. We have time." Orochimaru chuckled softly.
.
.
.
Naruto ran down the stairs to meet him.
Throwing himself into Sasuke’s arms, he held him close, oblivious to the presence of the other man. "Where did you go? Where have you been? I've been so worried."
"I am fine, my sweet," Sasuke assured the blond. He glanced over his shoulder at Orochimaru. "Please, make yourself comfortable while I dress."
"Forgive me," Naruto said, staring at the man standing in the shadows of the entryway. "I didn't see you there."
Orochimaru bowed in Naruto’s direction. "My lord."
"Naruto, this is Orochimaru. You remember I told you about him?"
Naruto nodded, a sudden shiver rippling down his spine. Orochimaru. Sasuke had told him he was a vampire, a very old, very powerful vampire.
A faint smile played over Orochimaru's lips. "Does my being here disturb you, my lord?"
"No," Naruto choked out. It was a lie, and they all knew it.
"Come with me, Naruto. Orochimaru, we won't be long."
Naruto followed his husband upstairs, a thousand questions chasing themselves through his mind. He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching Sasuke while he dressed. "Why is he here?"
"I need him." He dressed quickly, then knelt at Naruto’s feet and took his hands. "Naruto, would you love me as you do now if I were a mortal man?"
"What do you mean?"
"If I could be human again, would you still love me, still want to spend your life with me?"
"Of course." Naruto frowned at him. "Why wouldn't I?"
"There's a certain intangible power inherent in vampires. You may not be aware of it, but it's there. Some people are attracted by the power, but not the vampire themself."
"Sasuke, what are you trying to say?"
"Orochimaru told me there is a way for me to become mortal again."
Naruto stared at him a moment, then threw his arms around him and hugged him tight. "That's wonderful! How is it done?"
"I don't know." He cupped Naruto’s face in his hands and kissed him gently, felt the hunger stir to life. "Let's go find out."
"It is surprisingly simple, really," Orochimaru said. "A few words, the shedding of blood..." His dark brown eyes bored into Sasuke. "Faith that it will work."
"It sounds too easy," Sasuke replied with a frown.
"That's where faith comes in, my friend."
"We must do it now, tonight," Sasuke said. He couldn't wait any longer. He didn't know why the hunger was riding him so hard. It felt as if he was being plummeted by an ending of waves, and each time it was getting harder to fight back. Was it because he had given Naruto his blood? He had thought, after four hundred years, that he controlled the hunger, but he knew now it had never been true.
The hunger would always be his master. It might rest, it might be appeased, but it would never be conquered.
"It must be done in a church as close to the rising of the sun as possible," Orochimaru explained.
Sasuke nodded, though he could not help thinking a graveyard would be a more appropriate place to hold a ritual for the undead.
Orochimaru placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "There are preparations I must make. Meet me in the chapel an hour before sunrise." Не glanced at Naruto and then added, "and you must come alone."
"No," Naruto said, taking a step forward. "I want to be there."
"I'm sorry, my lord, but no mortal may be present," Orochimaru explained while shaking his head.
"But..."
"You might wish to spend these few hours together," Orochimaru mentioned, glancing at Sasuke knowingly.
"Last hours is what you mean, isn't it?" Naruto hissed.
"It is a possibility, my lord." Orochimaru put his hand on Naruto’s forearm in a gesture of sympathy and affection, then looked at Sasuke. "In the last hour before dawn, my friend. Do not be late." He then took his leave from the room.
"I'll be there," Sasuke called out, knowing the old vampire heard him.
Naruto waited until they were alone, then he took Sasuke's hand in his. "Don't do this." Blue eyes pleaded, his bottom lip trembled slightly.
"I must."
"No. Make me what you are. Do it now." Naruto squeezed Sasuke’s hand, trying to pull the dark lord closer. It was like moving a mountain.
"No, Naruto. You don't want it, and you would hate me for it."
"Then let us go on as we are. Please, Sasuke, I–I'm afraid I’ll lose you."
"We cannot go on as we are," Sasuke said, the certainty building within him. "I cannot control the hunger any longer," he whispered harshly. Even now he could feel it swelling, building, surging within him, urging him to take the blond in his dark embrace, to drink his sweetness until he was glutted with it. He felt the beast writhing deep inside, felt its claws as it struggled for freedom.
"I won't let you do it," Naruto said. "He said it was dangerous."
"You are the one in danger, Naruto." He gently placed his hand upon a tanned cheek, sadness enveloped him at the thought of Naruto dying in his arms.
Naruto stared up at him, at eyes that glowed with a hellish light. "I don't understand. What's done this to you?"
"This is what I am, Naruto, what I have always been. I cannot fight it any longer."
"Sasuke..."
Sasuke grasped Naruto’s hand, bringing it up and brushing his lips across his palm. He had hoped to make love to him, maybe one last time, but he dared not take the chance. The hunger was always aroused and heightened quickly by passion.
"Find Iruka," he said, his voice gruff. "Stay with him. He will keep you safe."
"No. No! Please let me stay with you until it's time."
"Go, Naruto. I beg of you, if you love me at all, leave me now."
"I do love you. I'll always love you," Naruto whimpered.
"Go then. Please, Naruto."
Hating himself for his cowardice, afraid of what might happen if he defied the dark lord, Naruto rushed out of the room.
.
.
.
Orochimaru was waiting for him inside the chapel. He wore a long hooded cloak of dark blue wool. He held a small wooden cup in his hands.
"You must trust me in this," Orochimaru said. "Any doubt on your part will be fatal."
Sasuke nodded his understanding.
"Drink this, all of it." He held out the small wooden cup before him.
"What is it?" Sasuke looked at the contents, curious about the dark liquid within.
"An ancient mixture composed of a little garlic, a little foxglove, a smidgen of mugwort, the dried petals of a white rose, yarrow and lavender, a sprinkling of wolfsbane. And just enough red wine to make it palatable."
"You expect me to drink that?" Sasuke’s lips curled up in abhorrence.
Orochimaru nodded, his expression solemn.
Sasuke took the cup, sniffed it, wrinkled his nose with distaste, and drank the contents down in one long swallow. "Is that it?" he asked, handing the cup back.
"It is only the beginning. The potion is to purify your blood. Now comes the hard part. Remove your shirt, then lie down on the altar."
Heart pounding, Sasuke did as bidden. The altar, of white marble, was cold beneath him. The words, as cold as the grave, hovered in the back of his mind.
With a blink of his eye, Orochimaru lit every candle within the church. A faint rosy glow filled the room. Moonlight streamed through the stained glass window over the altar, casting crimson highlights over Sasuke's naked arms and chest.
Orochimaru stood at the head of the altar. "You are sure this is what you wish to do?"
"Yes— No, wait!" Sasuke quickly sat up, his hands clutching Orochimaru's robe. "I must see Naruto, wipe my memory from his mind."
"If this succeeds, that will not be necessary. If it fails, I will see that he remembers nothing of you or this night." Orochimaru’s voice was gentle, if not kind.
With a nod, Sasuke stretched back out on the altar once more.
Reaching into the folds of his cloak, Orochimaru withdrew a slender dagger. The hilt was made of wood, the solid silver blade gleamed in the flickering light of the candles.
Sasuke stared at the dagger. "A blood sacrifice, old friend?"
"Of a sort. How do you feel?"
"Weak."
"It is the herbs. They are cleansing your blood."
Sasuke stared at the knife, unable to take his gaze from the shimmering silver blade. Silver. Deadly to vampires if struck in the correct location. A tremor of unease slithered down his spine. "You are going to cut me?"
"This is where your faith comes in. When the time is right, I am going to bleed you to the point of death, and then I am going to give your life, true life, back to you."
Sasuke shook his head. He tried to rise, but his limbs felt heavy, weighted. "No..."
"You must trust me, my friend. The herbs are the first step. They will neutralise the vampiric agent in your blood and allow you to withstand the coming of dawn."
"You… mentioned… faith..." His tongue was heavy, it was hard to form the words.
"Indeed. If, deep in your heart, you truly wish to give up your immortality, you will rise with the dawn, a mortal man in every way. If there is any doubt, the sun will destroy you.”
Questions flooded his mind, but he now lacked the power to voice them aloud. His body was numb; he couldn't keep his eyes open. His blood slowed, feeling hot and heavy in his veins.
"Relax."
Orochimaru's voice floated through the air. It seemed to come from a great distance.
He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his left wrist and knew that Orochimaru had slit a vein. He could feel his life's blood flowing out of him, could hear the beat of his heart, beating fast in fear, slowing as more and more blood was drained from his body.
Naruto...
Orochimaru held a wooden cup to Sasuke's lips, forcing him to drink once more. He knew it was blood, his own blood, but it tasted like cool clear water. He drained the cup again and again, until nothingness overwhelmed him, smothering him in cloud-like layers of brilliant white light. He had expected to feel the fires of Hell, to be lost in darkness. The light burned his eyes and seared his soul.
This is what it feels like to be reborn, he thought. Naruto....
.
.
.
Naruto paced the floor, his gaze going to the door again and again. Blue eyes looked to Iruka, but he only shook his head. And then he heard Sasuke's voice calling his name. His voice, growing faint until it was gone.
With a sob, he ran out of the castle, down the path toward the chapel.
Sunlight fell over the building, lining it with silver and gold, turning it into a faerie-like place.
Naruto came to an abrupt halt, fear making his heart pound and his mouth dry. He took a step forward, and then another. The door was open.
Sunlight filtered through the stained glass window, shining down on the body which lay, unmoving, on the altar. Streaks of red stained the white marble.
“Sasuke…” His name whispered past his lips. "Oh no…”
He didn't remember moving, but suddenly he was there, at Sasuke’s side. His gaze skimmed the body.
There was blood on the altar. It had to be his blood, but Naruto could find no wound.
Lifting a shaking hand, he placed it on Sasuke’s chest. His skin was smooth and cool. He could detect no heartbeat.
"Sasuke! You promised you wouldn't leave me. You promised!" He rested his head on Sasuke’s cold unmoving chest, tears burning his eyes. "You promised."
Naruto wept, his tears falling on Sasuke’s chest, mingling with the blood on the altar. "Please don't leave me."
"Naruto..."
Sasuke’s voice, echoing in his mind. But no, it was real. Slowly, he lifted his head, opened his eyes. "Sasuke? You're alive!"
"So it would seem." Sasuke knew instantly that his powers were gone. Colours were less bright. He could hear nothing beyond the walls of the chapel. He took a deep breath, and his nostrils filled with the scent of candle wax and dew damp chapel. No trace of blood stirred his senses. The beat of Naruto’s heart didn't thunder in his ears.
He sat up slowly. Sasuke felt strangely light, peaceful. And then he smiled. The hunger was gone. For the first time in over four hundred years, he was free... free of the darkness that had been his constant companion, free of the hunger that had plagued him. He looked at Naruto. He was beautiful, the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. For the first time since he had met the blond, his blood did not call to him.
Naruto was watching him carefully. "Are you all right?"
"I'm mortal again," Sasuke replied. "It seems I can't promise you forever anymore."
"I never wanted forever," Naruto said, happiness shining in his eyes. "Only a lifetime with the one I love.”
"You shall have it, my sweet Naruto." Sasuke glanced at the doorway, at the bright golden light beyond. The light beckoned him, tantalising in its warmth, its purity. The world he had shut himself away from waited beyond that door. A world he could share with the one he loved.
"Sasuke…”
He drew Naruto into his arms and kissed the tears from his eyes. "Ah, my sweet Naruto, Orochimaru will say it was the potion and my faith that worked the miracle, but I know better. It was your love that brought me through the darkness.”
Happiness bubbled up inside him, and he kissed Naruto again, exultantly, and then, rising to his feet, he took Naruto by the hand and walked out into the sunlight of a new day, a new life.
EPILOGUE
Castle Uchiha
~Three months later~
Sasuke dragged his tongue over tanned heated skin, savouring the taste of his beloved, his bride, his sweet Naruto. With each shift, each slow thrust, he swam in an ocean of passion, pleasure and the sounds of Naruto’s mewls while they made love.
As a vampire, he was always holding back, fearful of hurting the blond during their love making — but now, he could never get enough of bringing Naruto over the edge, crying out his name as he breached ecstasy again and again. The heat and scents of their continuous coupling filled the room, saturated the bedding and Sasuke felt of being in the heavens was just this.
“Sas—” Naruto whispered, arching his back and shivering when hit with yet another explosion of pleasure. His fingers clenched Sasuke’s shoulders as he rode the waves, colours flashing behind his eyelids as the dark lord shuddered above him, finding his own release.
They lay tangled in each other’s arms as their bodies cooled.
“You can do that to me forever if you like my lord,” Naruto hummed behind closed eyes, his cheek resting on Sasuke’s chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
Sasuke hummed in response, “you certain you won’t tire of me, my sweet? Find someone younger perhaps?”
A playful slap upon the dark lord's abdomen was heard with a feigned gasp. Sasuke couldn’t help but chuckle. He opened his eyes to see blue eyes glaring, playfully, at him and Sasuke couldn’t help but smile.
“You— of all — I would never—” pink plump lips sputtered out.
Sasuke quickly slipped himself until Naruto’s flushed glowing body was beneath him once more, his eyes gleaming with lust. Blue eyes widened in shock but softened swiftly, questioning, waiting. “Then I shall have to ensure that you never tire of my body, my touches and my manhood,” he whispered in a sultry voice before claiming those plump pink lips once more.
Naruto hummed into the kiss, moaned and shivered as he felt the dark lord’s cock penetrate him once more.
~Six months later~
Sasuke fell to his knees before Naruto’s feet, his mind suddenly blank yet chaotic at the same time. His arms lay limp beside him, his eyes wide open but he wasn’t seeing what was before him.
“Sasuke! My lord!” Naruto’s voice was panicking, as he too then fell to the floor on his knees, grasping Sasuke’s cheeks, blue eyes flickering at each dark orb. “My lord husband! What is wrong? Are you ill?” Naruto rubbed his thumbs up and down Sasuke’s cheek, but the dark lord did not answer.
“I’ll get him a drink!” Iruka called out, leaving the room quickly.
“Sasuke? You’re scaring me…” Naruto whispered, still staring at his husband who continued to stare through him, his face pale. He carded his fingers through Sasuke’s thick black locks. “My lord?” he whispered once more.
Sasuke heard the worried whisper of his love, and he blinked, once, twice, thrice and focused on those concerned blue eyes. Relief washed through Naruto’s face but Sasuke licked his lips to speak. “B-baby?” He managed to force his voice to work.
Naruto let out a long sigh of relief, hearing Sasuke’s voice and his eyes focused on him. He wiped a scared tear that fell from his eye, before laughing softly and nodding his head. “Yes my lord,” he whispered and cupped Sasuke’s face once more. “You’re going to be a father.” Naruto planted soft kisses upon Sasuke’s nose, cheek and lips before grasping Sasuke’s hands and placing them on his warm abdomen.
In all his lonely centuries upon the earth, being a father was something Sasuke had accepted that could never be. And when he became human once more, the thought had never occurred. He was infractured solely on just being able to be with Naruto, his beloved, he had never — a father!
Sasuke scooped up Naruto quickly, his heart beating happily and nuzzled his blond, inhaling his scent, planting kitten kisses on every piece of warm skin he could find. Naruto giggled and held him tight as the pair ascended to their room. Sasuke needed to indeed show Naruto, just how excited and proud he was of them. Iruka just smiled warmly at the pair, as he stood quietly with a wine goblet in hand as he let the two embrace their own little world.
~One year later~
Sasuke stood at the window, watching the sun come up. It was a sight he never tired of, a miracle he knew he would never take for granted.
In those first days after Sasuke had regained his humanity, he had spent hours basking in the sun, feeling its warmth upon his face as he walked through the gardens, or sat on the bench in the heart of the maze, reflecting on his past, looking forward to the future.
He watched the sky grow light as the sun chased away the night. The sun, so bright and beautiful.
Its welcome heat had banished the last of the darkness from his soul. Making love to his beautiful sweet Naruto in the sun’s rays was everything he had imagined and more.
Much had changed in the past year. Naruto's sister, Hinata, had given birth to twin boys. Neji Hyuuga had decided to take a trip around the world.
Iruka had married Kakashi and moved into his cottage.
A gentle cooing drew Sasuke's attention from the brightening sky. Turning away from the window, he crossed the floor.
"Shh, little one. Your mama needs his sleep." He smiled as he lifted his four day old daughter from her cradle. "How are you this morning, my beautiful Mikoto? Did you sleep well?"
She was another miracle, he thought, his heart swelling with love as he cuddled the baby in his arms. He still could not believe that she was his, that after four hundred years of darkness, he had sired a strong, healthy child with hair like sunlight and eyes as blue as a midsummer sky.
So many miracles in his life, he mused. Indeed, his life was perhaps the biggest miracle of all. He remembered lying on the altar, drowning in darkness, hearing Naruto's voice calling him back from the very edge of eternity, the feel of his tears like rain on his flesh.
The miracle of their love. It still amazed him that Naruto could love the man he had become. He did not miss the darkness, but he occasionally missed the ability to read Naruto's thoughts, to know what the blond was thinking. Naruto was a mystery to him now, as rightfully it should be, when a man loved another.
Naruto. The blond’s love for him was surely the greatest miracle of all.
With a smile, he placed his sleeping daughter back in her cradle, then picked up the book in which he had once recorded his dark thoughts. It was time for a new entry.
END