"Don't forget, I want you in early tomorrow, Sasuke." An old man said to his teenage employee. He had tannish skin and muscular arms that had been formed only from years of hard work outside. He had spent most of his life working the same job that Sasuke was now laboring for. The man had an odd pride for his job, not because he was helping the weaker people out, but because he had built his life out of it. Stocking wasn't something anyone would take pride in, most labor jobs aren't. Still, the old man enjoyed it. Now, he had aged and was no longer able to do the work he had enjoyed so much, his bones weak and stamina low, he could only sit back and watch how he had started out when he was around 17.

Sasuke was new to the team, packing and unpacking all of the shipment had been hard for his scrawny arms and legs, but after only a few months of day in and day out work, you could begin to notice the smooth detail of muscle along his biceps, forearms and calves. His pale skin was rather sensitive to the sun that beat down on him daily, leaving a seemingly perminant sunburn along his shoulders. Wearing a hat to keep the sun off of his face, he had managed to cover up his burnt skin by simply wearing a longer sleeved shirt. His boss had taken a found liking to him when he began working, mainly because he did what he was told and harldy ever spoke. He never complained about the few shortages he had recieved in his pay check and was always there at work, and on time. For Sasuke, money was money. Doing whatever he could to scrounge around for some extra cash, he had stumbled upon this job. At first he wasn't sure about working, due to his frail appearnce, but when he found out he'd be making almost triple than what he was at his old job, he couldn't pass it up.

Sasuke nodded to his boss and stepped out of the shop. He let out a tired sigh and began walking back towards his home. The walk had always seemed further going back to him, mainly because he had nothing to keep him occupied. Not that he minded the walk though. He rather enjoyed walking through his village and seeing all of the old places he used to go to when he was younger. Lately, his mind had been fixed at a certain place in the village. He had barely caught it the last time he was walking home and was confident that he would at least get a glimpse at his recent obbsession. Sasuke stared upward at the high buildings, past towards the sky, eyeing the white clouds in the sky. He exhaled a small breath of air and watched as a group of birds had whisped by. Sasuke would normally be in a sea of people on his walk home if he had taken the shorter way home, but after being too annoyed by all of the anonymous voices, he decided he'd take the longer, quieter way home. It was about a week ago tht he did, and the peacefulness wasn't what kept him on this trail. It was that moment when he could get a glimpse at his only enjoyment that made him stay on this trail. Sasuke walked through the thick forest, knowing the trail better probably than the person that owned it. His eyes scanned forward, looking for the stranded house down by the crystal, blue water. The lake had already come into view, dissapearing behind the thick trees moments later. He ran his thumb against his fingers inside his pockets, hoping he'd be out.

Sasuke soon found himself standing just outside of the brown house he had been looking for. His eyes darted towards the lake behind the house, looking for him. His body came to a calm when his eyes met the tan body of a boy about his age. His blonde hair shined brightly in the sun. From where Sasuke was standing, he could see the detail in his smooth, round like face, his blue eyes complimenting all of his features. He was a little on the short side and seemed to enjoy just being outside, always throwing rocks into the lake whenever Sasuke caught sight of him.

Sasuke swallowed a lump in his throat, wishing he had it in him to walk up to the boy and ask him at least his name, but how would he explain himself? He thought that it would be hard to believe if he told him he had just went this way to get away from all of the people, let alone why he was always there everyday watching him. Although Sasuke was almost positive that the blonde hadn't asked noticed him yet. Sasuke was trying to tell himself to leave, he was pretty sure that if the blonde didn't notice, then someone inside the house must have, since he stood outside the window everyday. He didn't want to come off as a creep, but he didn't want to forget what the kid looked liked, afraid that one day he'd walk by and the boy wouldn't be out there.

The main thing that drew Sasuke to this boy so much, wasn't the way he looked, but the emotion his face held. Sasuke recognized it right away, knowing just by the down look the blue eyes had, that the kid was lonely. Sasuke knew the feeling way too well, losing his family so long ago, he had spent most of his life by himself. For some odd reason, Sasuke felt like he had to talk to this kid, he felt like it was up to him to take away that sad look plastered on the kids face. He stood longer, taking in the detail of the boy, before telling himself one more second.

The blonde seemed to feel the eyes on him and turned his gaze to the raeven haired boy watching him. Their eyes met and for a split moment they seemed to shout out to one another. Sasuke stepped back away from the trees and out of view, he barely found it in himself to keep from bolting out of there, but he knew that he'd only come off as even more suspicous if he did that. At least now he could tell them he'd just been walking by when he thought he saw someone down there and went to look, if he asked. Sasuke swallowed the lump in his throat and began walking back home. He already began to debate with himself whether or not to take this way in the morning. Sasuke wanted to look back towards the lake, but was afraid that he'd be met by those lonely eyes again. He began to turn his head, but quickly snapped it forward, deciding agianst it. His eyes darted down to the ground, focusing on the dirt beneath him. He just wanted to get home now.