A/N: Heh, here I thought I wouldn't be starting out a new fic anymore this year. But then THIS idea got stuck into my head, and I just couldn't resist the temptation. So… (motions helplessly with hands)
Without any further babblings, let's go, shall we? I really hope you'll like this lil' start out!
(Title may change, btw.)
WARNINGS: YAOI, dark themes.
DISCLAIMER: Me, OWN something like Naruto?! Oh please…! (howls with laughter until someone shows up with medication)
Uzumaki Naruto had always hated doctors and being poked around. That was rather unfortunate, for as fate would have it, he was bound to meet his psychiatrist – Jiraiya – several times a week. Luckily enough he'd from quite early on decided that he liked the man – medication, prying questions and other unpleasant things notwithstanding.
Today, however, he found himself wishing from the bottom of his heart that he could've been anywhere else in the world but in the man's office.
He winced when the man's finger brushed the dark, very painful bruise decorating his left eye. " Hey, stop that!" he commanded in a whine like voice. " That frigging hurts, okay?"
" Sorry, Naruto." The man made some notes, then glanced at him with a sympathy filled expression. " So… Another tough day, I see."
He looked downwards, hoping that the lump in his throat couldn't be seen from his eyes. " Yeah", he muttered, finding his eyes narrowing uncharacteristically. " Kabuto and his worshippers are idiots."
Jiraiya smiled a little, ruffling his hair. " That much we can agree on." The man then got up from his chair, heading towards the door. " I'll go and talk to Iruka for a bit, okay?"
Hard as he tried, he couldn't be sure if the grin appearing to his face was faked or not. " Bring in some ramen when you come back, please?"
The man snorted, still smiling. " Don't push your luck, brat." The eyes looking into his were soft, though there seemed to be a storm hiding inside them. " I'll be back in a sec."
As soon as he was left alone, his expression faltered. He winced at the pain surging everywhere inside him, and fought the urge to sob.
' Freak', they'd called him.
He wrapped his arms tightly around himself and shuddered, feeling very cold.
He wasn't scared of pain and bruises, of being stared at – those, he'd grown well used to. But he was terrified by the fact that he was slowly starting to believe what they were calling him.
A soul tear slipped to his damaged cheek.
CHAPTER 1: Prologue
While sitting in a small waiting room outside Jiraiya's office, Iruka found his thoughts whirring around in a huge mess. He didn't even realize that he was pacing around constantly while waiting, heavy feeling sitting on top of his chest.
It was now seven years from when he'd adopted Naruto. Manager of the boy's orphanage had declared the schizophrenic child a lost cause, but he'd immediately known better. Naruto had been practically thrown into his arms, and for a while – with medication and therapy working their magic, and the boy bonding eagerly with both him and his wife Shizune – he'd been dead set he'd made the right decision. But then, problems had started. One of the kids from Naruto's school, such the boy had been naïve enough to trust with all his heart, had found out about the boy's illness, and word spread quickly. It was a matter of days before everyone knew, and Naruto's hell on earth had begun. Since then there'd been so many bruises and beatings that he hadn't even wanted to count them for the longest time.
A shuddering breath escaped him.
Naruto was strong – most likely the strongest kid he knew. But he was afraid the boy's limits were dangerously close to being crossed.
" Iruka?" He jumped a bit with startle, then turned around towards Jiraiya's voice. The man's expression told that the older knew exactly what he was going through. " I talked to him. He's pretty shaken."
He nodded, turning his gaze towards the window. His heart wrenched when he saw two teenagers, probably pretty close to Naruto's age, fooling around in a park spreading below, without a care in the world.
" What should I do?" he spoke before even registering the words coming. He rubbed his eyes to ease the itching that'd suddenly appeared into them. " Those kids… They'll rip him apart, he's already barely hanging in there. What can I do for him?"
Jiraiya mused for a while before speaking. " You know… There's this place – a ranch named Konoha. A lot of horses, nature and relaxation. It's done miracles to a lot of kids just like Naruto. If you want me to, I can enroll Naruto to a summer camp that lasts for two months."
Hope swelled in his chest while he met the man's gaze. He was speechless for a moment before faint voice came. " I'll have to talk to Naruto, but I think he'll have nothing against it." For the very first time that day he smiled, albeit feebly. " Thank you."
Jiraiya waved a hand. " No problem. I'll call Kakashi today and tell him you're coming."
He felt very cold all of a sudden, and a great deal of color escaped from his face. " Kakashi?" he sputtered, feeling as though he'd been choking on his breath. " As in… Kakashi Hatake?"
Jiraiya nodded. " That's right." The man frowned. " Are you okay?"
He nodded again, his mind drifting million miles away and the coldness inside intensifying still. " Yeah…"
Jiraiya returned the gesture slowly, approaching his office slowly. " I'll send Naruto out so you can go home."
He didn't even hear those words.
He swallowed thickly while his gaze found the window again, this time darting towards clouds.
I hope I'm not making a huge mistake…
Naruto had never been outside his home city before. That's why his insides were bristling with excitement when he sat in Iruka's car two weeks later, on his way towards Konoha. Even the five hours' drive hadn't managed to ruin his mood.
" I bet it's gonna be awesome!" he declared. " I've never even seen a horse before." His gaze then swept towards Iruka, whose eyes were firmly darted to the road ahead. " I'll miss you a lot, though."
For the first time in two weeks, his foster father gave him a genuine smile. " I know", the man stated in an unnaturally soft voice. " And I'll miss you, too." Something he would've in any other occasion recognized as startle and nervousness crossed by the brunette's face while the man braked. " Looks like we're finally there."
His heart jumping with excitement, he looked out of the car's window and gasped loudly. " Holy damn…!"
Right before them, behind a huge wooden gate that had name 'Konoha' on top of it, spread miles and miles of fencing, green grass, tiny paths and stables. In the middle of all else stood a huge, beautiful old mansion.
This place is a paradise!
" I should get going." Iruka's voice barely reached him. In his turmoil, he didn't manage to notice how fidgety the man was, clearly in a hurry to get away. " I've got a mountain of exams to go through before tomorrow."
" 'K." In the spur of a moment he hugged the man tightly, feeling something tickling his throat and eyes. " I'll call you as soon as they let me, 'k?"
" I know." Iruka's eyes were slightly firm when they parted a little. " Be good, and remember to take your pills, okay?"
He rolled his eyes. " Geez, I'm not a kid anymore!" A wide grin spreading, he waved his hand and crawled out of the car, then took his huge bag from the backseat. " I'll see you in two months!"
Iruka also waved a hand, trying to smile a bit.
For some moments he watched while the car sped off, then turned around and smirked once more, forgetting all fear and nervousness. This was the greatest adventure he'd ever been on, far away from reality. He'd definitely take all joy possible out of this.
With that determined thought he started to make his way towards the mansion, not even noticing how close he was to a particularly thick wooden fence that had barbwire strengthening it.
He made about ten steps before stopping with a frown, ears sharpening to an odd sound approaching. It was almost like… thunder.
What the…?!
He never managed to finish that thought before his gaze flew to side, towards the fence, and his heart jumped with startle and excitement. For there, storming towards him, was a huge, dark brown stallion. Just before it would've collided with the fence the horse stopped, emitting a deafeningly loud neigh and moving its head up and down.
He chuckled, then reached out a hand and stroked the horse's muzzle, not even realizing the potential danger. The animal shivered and gazed at him with distrusting eyes, but didn't run. " You're a lively one, aren't you?" he mused out loud. " I bet that fence is driving you crazy."
The horse neighed again, as though giving its accord.
" Holy shit!" Boy's bewildered voice managed to catch him so off guard that he jumped before his gaze whipped to side again. The horse was also startled and sprinted away, making sounds of fury. Stood about four steps away from him was a boy at about his age with dark eyes and brown hair on a messy ponytail. The teen had a wheelbarrow full of hey in his hold. " How the hell did you do that without getting your hand bitten off?!"
He blinked dubiously. " I just… stroked it. What's the big deal about it?"
" That animal is seriously disturbed – so far it's kicked and bitten everyone but one going closer than five steps away from it." The brunette nodded towards the mansion. " The only one who can handle it is Uchiha Sasuke, Kakashi's foster son."
He blinked owlishly again, feeling chills upon realizing just how much danger he'd been in. " Oh. I guess I'm a special case, then." Slowly overcoming mild shock, he grinned and outstretched a hand. " Uzumaki Naruto."
" Aa, the new guy! Welcome!" The boy wiped a hand to his green vest before taking his. " Shikamaru Nara. I'll be working here for the summer."
His eyes widened just a bit with near excitement. " Wow! I bet it's cool to spend the whole summer here."
Shikamaru snorted. " Depends on your definition of 'cool'."
He chuckled. They both then turned their heads upon hearing rapidly approaching set of canter steps. His heart had never moved quite the way it did when he noticed the arrival.
Sitting in perfect balance on a rather large, caramel shaded horse's back was a boy a distant part of him immediately found attractive with wildly cut black hair and dark eyes, hands moving quite casually to control the animal. The horse stopped obediently and with remarkable accuracy right beside them. " Nara, there's a new horse incoming after lunch. I want you to take a look at it with me." The boy's eccentric eyes then moved to him. " I assume you're the new arrival."
He nodded, unable to do anything else for a moment. " Yup."
" Kakashi wants to see you." No 'welcome' or introductions, no pleasantries whatsoever. The boy then kicked the horse's sides lightly, and it started to all but fly away. " I'm expecting you both to show up for the lunch in an hour."
He blinked, not sure if he wanted to stick his tongue out at the distancing back or laugh. " Who the heck was that guy?"
" That would be Sasuke", Shikamaru stated in a voice that was between dry and amused. " As charming and sociable as usual."
He snorted, although this strangest shudder appeared into his chest and his stomach felt funny. " What a bastard. I can see why that devil horse likes him."
Shikamaru chuckled. " Let's go – Kakashi's never gonna let me live it down if I'm done with morning choirs too late again. And you've got signing in to do."
He nodded somewhat numbly, starting to follow. After a couple of steps, however, he found himself stopping for a moment and peering over his shoulder towards Sasuke's rapidly retreating back. That shudder appeared again, stronger than ever, and he felt unnaturally hot.
Groaning inwardly, he forced himself into turning around and starting to walk away. At that moment, only thing was sure to him.
This would be very hectic two months.
TBC??
A/N: So, whadda ya say – should I give this a go?
Just to warn you before you make up your minds… I don't think I'll be able to start TRULY updating this until another project of mine is through, so the updates may turn out to be agonizingly slow. Do you find this worth taking that risk?
PLEASE, do review!
Hugs and chocolate for reading! Peace out!