A/N: I, like most of the Narutards, classify Naruto as a purely action genre anime, perhaps with a hint of romance. Hehe... So I decided to do some experiment. This fanfic is a totally mystery and detective type. And this is AU. A lil innocent experiment but give it a chance! You may like it.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto.
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Intangible: CHAPTER I
It was around midnight of a particularly dark and stormy November evening. Distant howling of wolves could be heard amidst the fierce swirls of sand-laden wind, which obscured most of the narrow tree-lined country-road as they blew, leaving a creepy chill behind. The area, near Suna-Konoha border, seemed to be fairly deserted, save for one proud mansion that stood beside the darkest stretch of a road turn, as far as eye goes.
And it was near that mansion, that a car stood, by the side of the road, its front wheels stuck up in a sand ditch. After two or three vain attempts to accelerate out of the ditch, the driver of the car must have decided better of it than useless persevering, and the engine fell silent.
A minute or two passed before the driver, a well-built young man wearing a large overcoat, hat, and scarf, that concealed most of his features from the outside world, emerged from the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. He stood still in the sandstorm, torch shining in one pale hand, as if contemplating his way.
Securing his hat from the enraged winds with his other hand, the stranger trudged towards the mansion, across a decent lawn. Stopping midway, he regarded the building for a brief moment, it was a beautiful traditional-japanese mansion, but perhaps the backside of it, for there stood a large japanese backyard-window across him, before continuing his way.
Reaching the window, he cleared the sand off the glass and peered inside inquisitively. Unable to discern anything in the gloomy darkness, he knocked on the window and waited. When no reply came after a reasonable time, he knocked again, louder this time. Still no answer. Frustrated with the sand constantly prickling his eyes in the heavy winds, he tried for the handle impatiently. Immediately, the window opened and he stumbled into a dark room.
He paused, as though attempting to detect any sound or movement. Then, "Hello?" he called, voice muffled by his scarf, "Is anyone here?" No answer. As if suddenly remembering the torch in his hand, he flashed it around the room, which revealed itself to be a well-furnished study, its walls lined with books, and discovered a handsome young man sitting awkwardly on a wheelchair with a rug draped over his knees, in the centre of the room.
He appeared to have fallen asleep. "Umm... Hello?" the intruder, rubbing his eyes, tried again, "I didn't mean to break in. So sorry. Its this damn storm. I've just ran my car off the road into a ditch. And I don't have the faintest idea where I am. I'm so sorry." Pausing when no reaction came, he carefully approached the man, "Are you asleep?" He enquired. Receiving no answer, he shone the torch on the face of the chair's occupant and stopped abruptly. The man was indeed very handsome, peculiar spiky black hair framing his pale face and beautiful facial features, but he neither moved nor opened his eyes. Hesitatingly, the intruder bent over, cautiously prodding as though to awaken him, the man slumped down into a huddled position in the chair. "Oh Kami!" the invader exclaimed, dropping the torch, a 'thunk' echoed as it contacted with the wooden floor.
Brought out from his reverie by the sound, he paused momentarily, as though undecided what to do next, before picking up the fallen torch. Shining it across the room once again, he found a light switch nearby and clicked it on. Then taking a step forward to regard the room and the man in clear once again, he gave a start as he suddenly noticed, for the first time, an attractive young woman, with unique pink hair tied in a single braid and mesmerizing emerald eyes, wearing a red nightgown, standing by the bookshelves on the opposite side of the room. With her posture still, arms hanging limply by her sides, she neither moved or spoke, it seemed as though she was not even breathing.
An agonizing heartbeat passed while silently stared at each other. The man broke the ice exclaiming, "He.. is d-dead!"
The woman, totally inscrutable, answered with an undertone of hollow numbness, "Yes."
"You already knew?"
"Yes."
Painstakingly approaching the body in the wheelchair, the man observed horridly, "He's been shot. Through the head. Who-" He paused as he saw some activity in the corner of his eyes. Glancing up, his eyes widened and he inhaled sharply, in the hand of the woman... was a revolver.
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A/N: Cliffies! *evil laugh* So what do you all think. Please R and R!
