Smothered

[Uchiha Sasuke]

Dark...

It was dark here.

Silent...

The quiet rang loudly.

Still...

Movement ceased to be.

Something breathed...

His chest rose in fell in a steady meditative pattern.

A crackle of energy...

The taste was like ozone as it seared the senses: Chakra in the dark.

A flare of heated red...

Like evil in the purest form the sharingan flared a wicked bloody hue.

A snap of vibrant white...

The chakra suppressant bars hummed with life, flaring to subdue the rush of power.

A sharp inhalation...

He breathed through the pain as it teased at his senses, the sharingain died.

Silence...

The Uchiha shifted, his nerves still sang with the electrical burn of bars of his cell working to keep his powers suppressed. He'd almost managed it before... but now...

A soft rattle...

They'd bound his wrists with equally powered bindings. They'd thought he needed more suppressants after...

A dark smirk curled the side of his mouth, his head tilting forward, his chin touching the chilled flesh of his bared chest.

'That Hyuuga fool...'

He'd waited, like a snake in the brush. He'd waited, and waited, and gathered every ounce of chakra he could, pooling it together until he could strike. He'd almost had him, but the bars had subdued him.

They'd put the cuffs on his wrists after that.

They'd never let him go.

He was doing it again though, they could never hope to keep him. He'd never let them.

Never.

He was an Uchiha.

In answer to his flaring annoyance his chakra surged, and the suppressant spells littering his bindings crackled in response forcing a small intake of air to filter through his barely parted lips.

The burn was intense.

He wondered if that was what they felt when he unleashed his Chidori attacks on them. The thought amused him and he calmed once more.

Another minute shift in his posture occurred causing another soft rattle from his bindings.

Like grim wind chimes...

Suppressing the urge to sneer he kept his face emotionless, concentrating on the chill of the cold hard floor, and the walls behind him. He was propped in the corner of his cell, hidden in the darkest part of the shadows, which was saying something considering the current gloom in the area.

Closing his eyes he hid his dark brooding gaze behind his lashes, before opening them in a hooded gaze. He wondered which of the fools would come today.

They always came.

He didn't understand what they expected from them, always demanding he 'remember.'

What was there to remember? He knew what needed to be done, what he wanted to do. They were all deluded, keeping him here. He wondered who was the mad one here.

Was it him?

Was it them?

Did it matter?

He decided it didn't.

Tilting his head back, he felt his skull thump against the solid wall, felt a splinter of pain scorch for a millisecond.

It was nothing compared to the scorch of the chakra suppressors.

His sharingan flared, spinning with their wild power, pain ripped across his nerve endings, and he let it for several seconds his back arching forward slightly. Lips parting as he released a gasp.

It burned!

His eyes darkened again, and he slumped there panting softly to regain the use of his lungs.

Then slowly, the dark eyed Uchiha released a soft chilly chuckle.

He would overcome it.

[Uzumaki Naruto]

Oh how he had underestimated the utter boredom he would suffer through! When it wasn't filling out paperwork, it was telling everyone what to do. Sure he had DISPISED being told what to do when he was in their position, but this was just plain silly. Day in and out the same thing tumbled off his tongue over and over again. There was never anything different, never anything exciting anymore. Sure he enjoyed that Konohagakure wasn't a target just yet, but at the same time the beast within him [not speaking of course, literally] wanted to come out. He wanted to be something other then a glorified secretary. Which was exactly how he felt.

Both elbows were placed on either side of the paper, one arm stretched out to curve around the top, while the other arm was risen up, fingers curled into palm of his hand. On top of this he rested his head, cheek squished up into his eye. His blue eyes Lingered on a scroll sprawled across the tabletop in front of him, another report of problems in Sunagakure. Seemed Gaara had his hands full with the latest threats and questions. He had requested more backup, and because Naruto had more experience with Gaara then Tsunade [not to mention she said more then once he gave her the creeps] the decision was now placed in Naruto's hands. Lips parted to let a hiss of air escape, and with what felt like a broken numb movement let his body slumps back into the chair. Sure he'd help. He always helped his comrades. With another hiss of air he leaned forward and scrawled a reply onto another scroll, rolled it up, and called for a messenger.

"Its my turn today...."

He lets his inward thoughts escape out into the open. He had almost forgotten that today was his time with their high security risk prisoner. He had actually dreaded seeing him. It wasn't the same person he had remembered. It wasn't the same Sasuke. He wasn't sure if Orochimaru's time with him had done it, or if this was whom Sasuke had been destined to be. He liked to blame it all on that snake-faced son of a bitch, though. He still had high hopes for his old team mate. His old rival. His old.... well ...that didn't matter right now. Right now he just had to make him remember what Orochimaru had made him forget. Sasuke just had to remember that they weren't the ones he needed to fight.

The messenger arrived and broke the whisker-faced male's train of thought. Jumping back into his position he stood and handed the scroll out to the rather flimsy looking boy that stood in front of him. The markings that graced his cheeks made it clear that he was from the Taikoneko clan. Not that the bigger-than-usual cat standing at his side wouldn't have given it away anyways. Naruto never really paid much attention to them, but felt slightly biased towards the Inuzuka clan in which the Taikoneko's always feuded. He supposed the roots of friendship just ran that deep.

"Straight to the Kazekage. Do not stop to rest unless you must. Take two more people with you, you have my permission to choose anyone free and willing to accompany. Remember, this is dangerous. Sunagakure is in a high state of civil unrest right now."

Was that really him talking? He sounded like an uptight wiener! Still, he supposed he took his job seriously...for the most part. The boy nodded and bowed in front of him, mumbling only a thank you and I understand before rushing out with a crashing thud of the door. Naruto snorted and rose to his feet. How he wished he could have gone instead. It would be nice to get out and do something. Do something....he could go and see him.

"Sasuke...today you will remember. You have to. YOU HAVE TO!"

He slammed his fist against the wall, his eyes glowing for a moment in the passion of it all. He hated knowing that someone he felt so close to was being held in such a place. Hated being so useless and letting it happen. He'd make it up, even if it was with his own life. Sasuke had to be Sasuke again.

"I won't give up. Not on you."

He turned away, letting his knuckles slip from the wall. they were a twinge bloody. He hadn’t thought to protect his skin with his moment of rage. Still, the pain that barely flecked across his hand was nothing compared to what that cell was doing to Sasuke. It was decided then, he would go see him. Yes. Go see him now.

----few hours later----

He never thought he'd ever get down here! So much hassle was put on his protection that he had had a heated argument with Tsunade for...oh he didn't know how long, but it seemed like ages! Finally she had agreed he could see sasuke alone, only if a group of ANBU stood guard right around to corner. He had agreed to this, not that he wanted to, but because daylight was wasting. Not that he figured it mattered down there, it was said to always be dark.

"You stay here. No matter what you hear, you do not interfere. I will give the signal if i need your help."

With that he raced off down the step into the darkness, smugly smiling to himself. They wouldn't follow him to ask what the signal was. That meant he'd have all the time in the world. Unless he was killed. But that wouldn't happen.

THUMP

He hit the solid ground after the last step. Orbs of Chakra dimly lit the passages, not even well enough to really tell where you were going. Third cell; fourth cell...how many were down here? He thought that two tops, but not...six, seven...eight. Eight cells. There in the last one, dead in front of him was a figure lightly outlined, eyes glowing as they stared at him.

"Sasuke..."

He felt cold shivers run down his spine as he stepped forward and turned the bars off just long enough to step inside. He knew it wasn't smart to be inside with him. He knew what could happen. He knew that he had to do this. Even if no one else understood.

"Its not fair to have an advantage. Sasuke...you will remember. I'll make you remember. But first the cuffs come off. Sasuke...its just us and you will be forced to remember me, if no one else."

His voice was darker then he had wanted it to be, but at the same time longing. His swirled eyes stared right into those red ones. He knew all too well what those eyes alone could do, but he wasn't afraid. Oddly there was a sense of calm in his soul to their bloody shade. His eyes never left the Uchiha's as the cuffs clinked, and fell off.

"The next move, is yours. If you can take it, Teme."

[Uchiha Sasuke]

Machinery beeped and churned filling the world with ceaseless noise: drumming at the ears like a relentless ocean. He didn't like it. His eyes fluttered uselessly beneath their heavy lids.

He drifted. Drifted in that toneless reality of subconsciousness. Neither awake, nor asleep. Aware, but unable.

"... showing signs of full retrograde amnesia."

"Damn it, you old hag, say it plain!"

"Who're you.. Rrr."

A thump drifted to him after hushed conversation demoralized into irrational combative drivel. A pathetic whine was introduced to the air. He felt a fluctuation of annoyance.

But why?

"Is there anything we can do?" The second voice was back again.

"He isn't showing signs of ante retrograde amnesia, which is odd. They usually go hand in hand, but from what we've seen... It might just be a side effect." The first voice, female, sighed heavily. The person sounded drawn, world weary. Something told him it was a tone that was used to soften the blow of ill news. "Considering how he gained the amnesia, and the differences in comparison to normal cases we can only make assumptions to it's progression. For all we know, he could never fully regain cognition of the lost memories."

"Wh-what...?"

Another heavy sigh, a rustle of fabric as the person shifted. "He might never remember, Naruto."

"I won't believe it! I'll make him remember! You'll see. I can do anything, damn it!"

There was a sound of foot steps stomping away, the sound of more cursing floated back loud and clear; anger was entrenched in every syllable... But why? What was so important about the retention of something so ephemeral? A passing moment. Unimportant.

There was a pang in him somewhere, something in him protested. Disagreed with the cold clinical nature of those thoughts.

Hyper awareness bombarded his senses as the remaining person moved to his side causing the air to shift minutely. He balked at the idea of someone being so close to him when he was thusly incapacitated. Some stranger he had no recognition of.

He could feel the air drawing, flowing away as mass entered its vicinity. A hand extended toward him. The reaction was instantaneous. His eyes flew open the sharingan spinning wildly as his arm shot went to shoot up... Only the be stalled with a sharp jerk the caused the bones in his wrist to grind in complaint.

It was then that he realized he was tied down, his wrists attached with metal and leather bindings to the bed he was confined to. The whine of the machinery increased its pace as he leapt into the land of unconsciousness without warning, the fury of his sharingan eyes burning into slightly startled brown eyes.

The startled look on the face of the blond woman hovering over him morphed into a faint smirk, "Finally away, eh Sasuke?"

Sasuke? Was that him? Yes, that sounded right.

He didn't know how he knew, after all it wasn't exactly knowledge he was to aware of, but he did know on an instinctive level that it was correct knowledge.

Uchiha Sasuke.

Yes, that was who he was.

He decided not to answer the womans inane question, instead choosing to spear her with a potent stare.

Her smirk widened cattily as she observed him, "Whats the matter Uchiha?" She drawled.

Sasuke closed his eyes, ignoring the stupid fool. He didn't have time for her inanity. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, something was demanding his attention. He needed to leave. Get out, find something..

Someone, he realized, and the nagging sensation increased, pulsing at the base of his skull like a malformed headache. Behind his eyelids flashes burst like explosions, tearing across reality in bright sparks of crimson and darkness.

Blood. Death. Horror.

No. No. NO!

Why? Why would you?

Red eyes, red churning eyes.

Hate me!

Pain splintered through his veins as the IV sequestered into his arm was removed, splashing a small trail of blood across his pale forearm.

Sharingan eyes burst open again, the mirror wheel spinning crazily as chakra flooded along his veins to his hands, he pulled. Hard. More pain engulfed him as he felt metal tear raggedly at his flesh. It was a sickening sensation when it grated delicate at the bone, but he cared not. The glamorous hot flare of the Seal on the junction of neck and shoulder flared, pumping more power into his veins like a drug. The delicate hospital bindings screeched in protest as he ripped through them, his hand flashing out triumphantly.

His prey jerked away nimbly, and the Uchiha sat up slowly. He panted staring at her with wild eyes.

Alarm klaxons blared as the high security ward room he was in responded to his impending threat.

Reaching over he tugged at the remaining binding, he needed to get free so he could get out of here. He had no time for their petty futilities.

Blood dribbled, splashing the pristine clinical world with the color of his eyes. People were shouting. Familiar, yet unfamiliar. A world of colliding factions; things he did not, could not understand. There was a tug within, something that demanded he did know, but it was distant: A thing to be ignored.

His eyes flew to the side as the door was flung open, his attention stolen by the new figure: a bright figure with blazing blue eyes. Another hard tug, the screech of more tearing metal...

Then...

An electrical charge poured through his body from a point on his neck.

He'd forgotten.

He paid for it with darkness.

"Sasuke..."

The soft word, a breath in the stale air pulled him from the waters of the one memory he had of the outer world that was not fractured. The rest were made of this complete dim lit sanctuary. His cage. His prison.

He remembered a few faint other things. Olfactory, Textile, phonic things. Faint, and drifting. Illusory. Nothing lucid. He supposed he must have woken several times before, otherwise they'd not have been able to stamp him as amnesic. He didn't bother to wonder over those thoughts, it was unimportant at best.

Instead he brought his gaze upward to meet the approaching specter. His very existence brought a tumult of things to the fore within him: instinctual remembrances of the body to a memory suffused in extinction. He felt annoyance, exasperation, and a strange fondness. Though at the same time the fondness was hated, shoved away, stored in a dark corner. It was not something he could have. He felt faintly confused; why did he think that such a warm feeling should be dismissed? It obviously needed to, because he did dismiss it. He could not fathom his own reasoning though. There was no memory there to tell him the why.

Dragged once more from his own recollections by the clatter of his manacles against the cold hard floor, his sharingan span as the chakra flowed into his veins at an alarming rate.

He calmed his heart rate, ignoring the idiots drivel about remembering. What was the point? Why should this fool care?

"The next move, is yours. If you can take it, Teme."

The words broke through his silent bitterness, and slowly he shoved himself upward to gain his feet, his fingers flexing as he rotated his wrists, feeling the pleasure of having them free.

The words of retaliation spilled from his lips without thought, instinctual in their coming. A since of remembrance that traced a pathway along his cognition: it felt surreal like he had been here before.

For all he knew, maybe he had.

"As if you could take anything I could give you, Dobe."

[Uzumaki Naruto]

Blue eyes widened for a moment, then seemed to relax into a clam, almost non-caring state. Sure the dusty, abused man in front of him wasn't the boy he had once been so close to; but somewhere in this man's core that boy was still there. Naruto knew it. He could feel it. He slumped himself against the opposite wall, hands in pockets and back arched as if he didn’t' have a care in the world. Technically, he didn't feel like he did have one. "He's dangerous, Naruto. Unstable. He doesn't remember us; he'll kill if he has the chance. It won’t be the same, it can't be." He snorted, perhaps a little too loud as the ebony haired man stood, flexing his wrists to test out their new freedom. He wasn't any more dangerous then he had been. He could still take him. Yeah. He could totally take him. He watched with little, though determined interest as the Uchiha stood into his normal better-then-thou stance. Even if he forgot all the people, that alone proved Sasuke was still Sasuke somewhere in there. He hoped at any rate.

"As if you could take anything I could give you, Dobe."

The words caused the relaxed Naruto to tense up. Before he could stop his actions, he found himself falling into an old habit. Hunkering down he made a face similar to a cute kitten trying to snarl, but his blue eyes seemed to literally spark and light up. Sasuke did remember. He knew it now. All he had to do was feed that hunger. Pull on that burning thread, no matter how much it stung.

"SAY THAT LOUDER! I'LL MAKE YOU EAT YOUR WORDS!"

He yelled, maybe a little too loud as it echoed in the otherwise empty space. Though he had wanted things to go a bit calmer, he could feel the emotion, the driving desire to have Sasuke back fill him. It was like someone had stuffed his veins full of electric eels that were writhing just under the skin.

And that look...

That look of utter boredom...

Made them writhe more. Made them hiss into his ear, a sweet purr almost. Begging to show him who should be so thoughtless. Asking to be let loose with all their force.

"SASUKKKEEEEEEE! I'LL BEAT THE MEMORIES OUT OF YOU!"

[Uchiha Sasuke]

His lashes lowered over the charcoal depths of his eyes and the Uchiha shot a glance toward the spastic man in his cage from beneath his heavy lids. Tilting his head away, and up wards as though he felt the need to physically prove he was ignoring him. His only response to the blond's declaration was a noncommittal one: "Hn." It was less communication, and more a grunt. However, if one knew Sasuke they could read a million things into that grunt.

You're an idiot.

Don't waste my time.

Go away.

His posture said even more.

I'm tired.

It hurts.

But mostly...

Why do I know you?

There was an odd tilt to his stance, and the drift of his sloe eyes always traveled inexorably back to the loud mouthed visitor: Curiosity.

Everything that the man did brought out a tantalizing pang, it screamed of recognition. He knew he should know this being, and yet...

There was a void in his head.

Empty. Empty. Empty. The chant seemed to taunt him, laughing at his own weakness. Can't even remember! How laughable! So weak you can't even hold onto a memory!

Narrowing his eyes he allowed the sharingan to surge back to life, the bars of the cell snapping and popping at the sudden surge of chakra.

A thought tantalized the edges of his blank mind, tugging at his attention. He grasped it.

Sending the loud mouth a solid glare his voice dripped out in a commanding monotone, "Stay out of my way."

Contrary to what these fools might think he had no interest in slaughtering them in their beds: If they stayed out of his way, he wouldn't have to hurt them.

There was the barest sound of scuffed concrete as he drifted across the cell before the idiot had a chance to respond, his arms lifting; he reached out.

White hot agony surged through him as he wrapped his fingers around the thick metal bars, the smell of ozone filled his senses, and in a way that was his only comfort. His chakra surged around him, and instead of letting the suppressors leisurely eat it away he forced it to surge forward. His facial features shifted minutely, the skin around his eyes and mouth pinching slightly with pain.

White lightning bounced up his arms, lashing across them, and leaving behind red welts as he forced more and more of his own chakra into the bars. They would give, he knew they would. There was no way they could take all he had to give in such a short amount of time...

Just as the smell of burning flesh began to permeate the vicinity there was a tremendous crack, and them the power of the suppressors died down. The metal was scarred, and blackened as he pulled his hands away, the muscles twitching spastically.

He felt an oddly vindictive amount of amusement that he'd killed the damn thing, even if it wasn't much of a victory.

Flexing his fingers he surveyed his hands: Red, blistering slightly, and blackened in a few places. The pain was intense, but he ignored it.

The next step was to break out of the cell all together.

His eyes, once more dark, flickered back toward the idiot.

Maybe he could use him to do it for him. Something told him the fool was reckless with his power.

[Uzumaki Naruto]

Naruto tried not to show how shocked he was. He needed to keep his cool, act like he wasn't impressed or that he even really noticed. He growled under his breathe as he watched Sasuke walk over to the bars and practically ignore him. He had always beena real jerk, but someone knowing he'd forgotten made it a worse pain that he was such an ass.

The bars seemed to hold their own for a while. Naurto knew, though, that Sasuke wouldn't give up. He'd die before he let something like those bars defeat him. The blonde felt a small swell of joy when the crack of energy announced his friend was victorious. Still, Naruto felt his body holding its defensive posture as the Uchiha removed his hands to look at them.

"Sasuke! If you think you're going to get out of here that easy...YOU'RE WRONG! You have to get through ME first!"

He leaned over and placed an arm between Sasuke and the bars. It wouldn't stop him if he really wanted to get out, but it was enough to get his point across. His blue eye glared into Sasuke's red ones with the arrogant and foolish tone of "try me". Naruto had already made it up in his mind after seeing the bars crack that neither of them was getting out of here without being bloodied up. He could feel the surge of energy flow thought him. Kyuubi was excited. It wanted out. And it was feeling pretty lucky about today.

"I won't let you make it easy. You better remember me fast if you want to get out of here, otherwise this fight might be a little one sided, don't you think?"

Naruto vaguely remembered how Sasuke fought. Still, it was better then the shrivel of a fragment of a memory Sauske had.

He hoped it would be enough.