The next few weeks were somewhat calm. Lee’s meds had been upped, Haku had opened up a little to me, and I didn’t have another nightmare. Sasuke continues his tangibility training and now he could stay for five minutes a day. I live for those five minutes; just to be able to hold Sasuke for five minutes made life worth living. It was always late at night just in case; we didn’t want anyone walking in and seeing Sasuke. There were already enough mental patients here; we didn’t need a nurse to lose her mind or to set off another patient.

All the peace ended when they hired a new nurse. She wasn’t used to Lee’s little outbursts and ran away when he came out in only his Green Lantern boxers shouting that he had to defeat the rabid darkness with his epic youthfulness. After that, it was a hobby of Lee’s to wear a different pair of superhero themed boxers and run around in them shouting that his youthfulness would defeat them. Whom he was to defeat, we didn’t know. We just blamed it on his condition.

Apparently, I seemed to be getting ‘better’ to the doctors because I wasn’t talking to Kyuubi externally anymore so they let me have a few luxuries. I was allowed my mp3 player from back home, more access to the library, and a stack of manga that granny Tsunade would bring me every week. Granny Tsunade was my legal guardian after what happened to my parents. My mother died giving birth to me and my father soon followed her to the grave due to a broken heart. He left me with Tsunade and the pervy Jiraiya in his will. Before he died he told me that he would leave me with Kyuubi, a fox like spirit entity that had been passed through our family as a protector. My parents were always intrigued with the paranormal; maybe that’s why I could see Sasuke. Said ghost was currently trying to become visible. I had to stop him, Haku was in the room!

“Sasuke, stop it!” this caught Haku’s attention and he looked at me quizzically asking for an explanation to my outburst.

“Naruto…?”

“Oh uh…. Sasuke was trying to uh….”

“Trying what Naruto?”

“Trying to become visible” Sasuke’s deep voice spoke up from behind me, as I was currently facing my puzzled friend. I watched Haku’s face turn from confused to shock to freaked out. He ultimately fell off his bed and landed on the hard linoleum floor.

“Haku! Are you alright!”

“Oh my Kami! H-He is real! You weren’t hallucinating!”

“You can see me? Sweet!” Sasuke’s voice was dripping with pride and arrogance. Apparently he thought it was a good thing that others could see him.

“How is this sweet?” He came up to me and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me lightly.

“How is it not?! We can prove I’m real and get you out of here! Don’t you want out of this loony bin?”

No,…I don’t want anyone else to see you. Seeing you makes me feel special, like I’m not some ordinary piece of trash.

“Yeah, of course!” I plastered a fake smile on and did my best to sound happy.

“Good! Tomorrow after I build up my spirit energy we can show your doctor and get you the hell out of here” his grin seemed genuine, like he actually wanted to help me; I couldn’t say no to that face.

Haku was still on the floor staring at Sasuke with wide eyes. He continued staring until Sasuke began to fade; my mind jolted as he started becoming transparent. I shot forward and pressed my lips to Sasuke’s a second before lost all tangibility. The look of pure shock on his face haunted my mind as I watched him run towards the wall and slip right through.

Oh no…what have I done now?!

I wanted to run after him so bad but I couldn’t; I was fully solid and wouldn’t be able to pass through that wall. The wall seemed to taunt me with its pale color that reminded me so much of Sasuke’s skin. I slid to the floor and sobbed.

Why do I have to be so messed up in the head. Why do I have to be in love with a ghost? Most of all, why do I stay alive…?

Because I won’t let you die. I am sworn to your family and it’s my duty to protect you

Oh shut up, I know you don’t actually care; you just like to see me in pain

That may be so, but I still won’t let you die, kitsune-chan

I froze at Kyuubi’s words; that’s what Sasuke called me in that nightmare. I shook the thought and went over to Haku who was still on the floor. I helped my fallen friend off the floor and to his bed.

“I didn’t know you swung that way Naruto”

“What way?”

“Ghost-sexual”

He would pay for that little comment.