Pairing: Naruto Uzumaki/ Sasuke Uchiha

Warning: M/M i.e. contains homosexual content.

Summary: Dragon scales fetch a high price nowadays. Killing one was an honor and honor could buy a man his dreams. Sasuke's dreams though, were a little different from the average man. He just wanted a bit of love with a splash of gold.

A/N: Welcome to my new story! This is a dragon NaruSasu story that I've been doodling on for a while and even though it probably won't be uploaded as quickly as TV this is still my monster baby. I've been meaning to write for as many supernatural creatures as I can but other than werewolves I'd have to do some serious research on anything else. I love research but you know, it's still research. Self inflicted homework. Am I cruel to myself...?

Anyways! This story is progressing as you see it. I have an end in sight but the middle needs a little work that being said let's see where it goes~

Solid Sunshine

Huffing and puffing in the cool afternoon winds Sasuke kept pace with his clan as they ran through the forest tracking a fallen dragon. There had been rumors of a beast living high up on the mountain where human men couldn't trespass that had been rampaging through fields. Recently it had been flying down more and more often to swipe away cattle and lamb to fly it back up to its nest.

There was talk that it was preparing for birth or that it was the dominant one of a large group of them.

Sasuke had never slayed a dragon before, now was his chance. If he could properly track it and get to it first he'd rise high in the ranks of his clan. His brother had already slain three beasts and far off to Sasuke's right he could see the dragon skin cloak glinting in the dark light.

A very select few of his clansmen have ever earned the honor of skinning their own dragon and donning its cloak. Impenetrable by steel and impervious to fire, it was a badge of honor to be proudly worn and respected. Gold, White and Black dragons were rare, since they didn't possess any camouflage capabilities there were a few of them, easily seen so easily hunted, but since there were only a few of them, they had evolved to be much more vicious. A fearsome black monster and ripped apart a whole town and slaughtered everyone in it just because it could.

With resolve in his heart to both protect his people and make a name for himself he slowed down, eyes darting about to pick up the trail that was rapidly cooling. His lantern burned hot in his palm but he kept with it, slowly and quietly moving along, his footstep deliberate and slow.

He spots a broken branch, a leaf splattered with blood and smirks to himself.

He'd found the trail again.

His first thought was to yell for his clansmen, alert them that they were going the wrong way but he felt selfish. This was and perhaps would ever be his only chance to slay a dragon and stand alongside his brother on the top tier of hunters. Biting his lip he turned and moved off, quietly parting ways with his people to chase the beast alone.

When his clan had gotten wind of the terror that had flown down on a small part of their lands they'd set a trap for it in their fields. Careless and hungry it must've not smelt the excess of humans in the area and when it had touched down, lanky as it was, they attacked, battle cries and weapon and a brave hunter had hurtled a spear at it. Sasuke could still here the blood chilling shriek it flew into the air, the spear must've pierced its soft underbelly but before they could descend upon it, it had flapped it massive wings and escaped into the sky. It had not flown far before it had rapidly started to descend. The hunt had begun.

Sasuke could feel the adrenaline pumping in his veins as he found thicker and thicker blood splatters closer and closer together. He quickly unclipped his spear from his back and readied his knife. A sound to his left has him veering and seeking cover behind trees when he caught a glimmer of light. So late in the afternoon and other than a precious jewel there could only be one thing in the bramble. Quietly he approached as a loud groan echoed off the trees. Sasuke outs his lamp and readies his spear. He keeps his breathing as steady as he could. Even injured the monster could still roast him alive.

He stayed behind the trees, avoiding branches and leaves the best he could while staying downwind so the dragon wouldn't catch his scent. He crept along in a wide arc until he spotted a thick golden tail, it smacked the ground hard, pebbles bouncing up and leaves floating up and away, Sasuke sucked in a breath and hefted his spear up over his shoulder. Another quick breath and he was darting from the bushes, his spear in a tight grip he readied himself and took aim only to skid to a stop as wide fearful blue eyes landed on him.

It was a man.

The most beautiful man Sasuke had ever seen. His heart stuttered in his chest for only a moment before he saw the man's mouth stretch in a yawn, his chest swelling, and flickers of light in the back of his throat and then he was spewing fire at Sasuke.

He dodged left, and then dodged again behind a tree.

It was a man, but not quite a man. He was tall, taller than the tallest man Sasuke had ever seen. His skin was dusty but not from the dirt that stuck to him as he fled. But more like a shimmer like a cloudy pearl Sasuke had seen in his mother's jewelry box. He had a thick spiky tail and the sides of his arms, legs and face were covered with scales.

Overall though, despite the mutation to his body Sasuke found him ethereal. He may be a beast but he was also the most beautiful man Sasuke had every caught glimpse of.

Sasuke couldn't believe his eyes. Could dragons manipulate the mind? Could this beast take the form of his deepest perversions? He'd only ever told his brother about whom he liked to spend his company with and he'd promised to never speak of it again. Fear and anger rose up in his chest and he repositioned his spear as he peeked out behind the tree.

The thick golden wings fluttered weakly as his tail swayed behind him, he staggered, pressing against a tree to steady himself but he'd lost too much blood. He couldn't keep himself up and the weight of it all had him crashing to his knees. He groaned loudly and Sasuke peeked out from behind the tree. He was prepared for the fire, he would be swayed by his beauty, but could he call himself a dragon hunter if he didn't actually slay the dragon… and if the dragon wasn't actually a dragon…?

Sasuke edged out from behind the tree, watching as he struggled to rise from his knees but ended up crumpling to ground, his labored breathing blowing up dust and his wound spewing even more blood. He didn't think a dragon, half dragon, rather, would give him any honor at all.

He approached once more his spear held firm in his sweaty grip. The man looked at him again, his face twisted in agony. "Go on then," he gasped spitting out blood and dirt, his hands pressed to his side in an effort stop the blood flow. Sasuke had never heard of dragons speaking before. He'd been taught they were mindless, instinct driven, bloodthirsty beasts and yet…

"You can speak?" Sasuke asked bewilder and the beast groaned in response. Cautiously Sasuke approached, wary of him but his curiosity outweighing his sense of danger. It seems so human, but not at the same time. Sasuke just could not get passed that point. Even his hair seem otherworldly, he'd before seen hair as bright as it was on this dragons head.

He moved closer to it and setting the alarm bells in his mind off to the side he hefted a thick arm over his shoulder, wondering briefly if the dragon could snap his neck if he was so inclined, and eased him in an upright position, leaning his against the tree. He groaned again, his wings stretching behind him before he leaned forward, dragging Sasuke with him and forcing the young man to support his weight as he tucked his wings close to his back. He clasped both hands tightly over his side and pressed as hard as he could, grit his teeth with the effort. Sasuke righted him once more and used a rag he had to wipe some of the blood and grime away.

"Why do you help me human? Your people did this to me." Sasuke was caught off guard yet again by the dragon's smooth baritone. He moved away, giving the man space as he settled more comfortably. He groaned out loud again and Sasuke handed him the rag, he snatched it from him and quickly pressed it to his body.

"We're dragon hunters and you were killing our livestock." The beast chuckled, his mouth cracking in a grin blood draining from a corner of his lips. He spat off to the side and Sasuke shuffled away to sit out of arm's length in case the dragon decided he'd had enough human companionship and wanted a light snack instead.

"Well I must eat as well."

"So you are human?" He chuckled again making Sasuke frowned. "You're dying… how can you be laughing?"

"Because I am dying… That is why I laugh." Not only was this man an abomination of nature but he also spoke in riddles. It was simultaneously annoying Sasuke and worrying him.

"If… if I help you… will you tell me what you are?" A golden brow rose at him, something twinkling in the ocean blues of the beast's eyes.

"I will, human boy," he grinned again and there was much more blood in his mouth this time.

"Stay here. I will get medicine from my clan and bring it back to you. Do not die beast." Another grin. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Busying himself he started to retrace his steps to cover the tracks that he'd followed, leaving indistinguishable marks as he retreated. "Naruto," the beast called out. Sasuke paused in his task.

"What?" he could no longer see the golden beast but he could still hear his labored breathing. "My name is not beast. It is Naruto." Sasuke nodded though the beast probably couldn't see him.

"Sasuke of the Uchiha clan, second born of Fugaku." He didn't wait for a response but instead went back to his task.

It had taken longer than he thought to cover Naruto's track but when he'd finally finished and returned home many of his clansmen were in the warmth of their homes and so hadn't seen him sneak into the medical building to take several vials of liquids, bottles of paste and bandages.

He'd briefly asked himself if he were doing the right thing but dismissed the thought as this was at the expense of gaining knowledge. That was why he'd help, if only to learn what this new species was and how best to get rid of them too. With his resolve cemented he quietly crept home with his bag of provisions to sleep before setting out early the next morning.

000

He found the half dragon unconscious, chilled and even paler than previously, his wings splayed out beneath him as he lay on his back. He rushed up to him mindful of his wings as he got close enough to lay his coat on him as he checked his pulse. It was faint, fluttering under his fingertips but still there. He quickly rummaged through his bag, pulling out ointments, vials and wraps and setting them aside before he uncovered the wound and started to tend to it. It had miraculously already started to heal. A thick scab had sealed the wound but after seeing the dirt and sticks in it, Sasuke decided to peel it off. It was as hard as the scales on the man though, and just using his fingernails were proving unfruitful. Frowning he reached for his knife and carefully he started to pick at the edges of it. Naruto groaned, a frown marking a v in his brows as he turned and blinked slowly.

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat a flush warming his cheeks. He'd never not be amazed at how beautiful the dragon's eyes were; like a clear lake in the summer. "It's me, Sasuke," he whispered, gently laying a hand on his chest and pushing him back down, his other hand stilling a wing that had bat against his leg. Naruto chuckled, lying back down and relaxing.

"You came back," he commented, disbelief in his tone. Sasuke scoffed at the unsaid accusation.

"Uchiha's keep their word, dragon." Naruto chuckled again and Sasuke couldn't decide whether to find it annoying or adorable. Naruto's teeth were much prettier without blood splattered all over them though and he found himself staring at Naruto's mouth much longer than socially acceptable. He cleared his throat and turned his eyes back to the wound. "I need to peel this scab off… but it's as hard as your scales," hesitantly he touched the back of Naruto's arm, lightly running his fingers over the golden scaled etched into his skin.

"Hmm… my natural healing abilities have already started to work, I don't require your assistance. I just need food and rest. Perhaps some water as well." He gave a pointed look at Sasuke's bag and he figured the dragon could smell the meat he had stored in it. Fishing it out he rolled his eyes before helping Naruto into a sitting position and dropping the food onto his loincloth which Sasuke had somehow not noticed till now. Looking at the cloth though, he could see the beast's impressive length beneath it; he looked away quickly a dark flush creeping up his neck again. Out of the side of his eye he checked to see if Naruto was disgusted with him instead he was looking at the piece of meat. He sniffed it and scowled disdainfully his wings shifting behind him momentarily before neatly tucking themselves back into place. His tail though swatted at the ground seemingly acting on its own accord.

"What's wrong with it? I didn't prepare it myself but my mother is an excellent cook. She uses the freshest herbs that she grows herself, I've seen."

"How long has this been dead?"

"Hmm… well perhaps a month," Naruto's face twisted with a nasty look and Sasuke felt offended on his mother's behalf.

"I'd rather something that has been killed within a day or two. I like to lick the blood from my fingers," Naruto was still twisting the meat between his fingers so he missed Sasuke's look of utter disgust but he definitely heard the boy's stomach gurgle, upset at the thought of eating raw meat. Naruto truly was a beast.

"Well too bad. I didn't bring anything like that!"

Naruto cocked his head to the side and regarded his companion. "You seem upset with me. It must be the adolescent hormones. You were just attracted to me…" He hummed, lips pursed with thought. A flush exploded on Sasuke. He stuttered pushing up from the ground he scoffed.

"I am not attracted to you! You're a beast! I'm not attracted a monster!" Sasuke denied. He scoffed again feeling flustered and embarrassed. "Fine, you animal, I'll hunt you something to eat. I'll make sure it's dripping and soggy and disgusting!" Naruto raised an eyebrow before slowly raising the meat to mouth and taking a bite of it.

"No need. Calm down boy." He chewed slowly, obviously not enjoying his meal but at the sake of riling Sasuke up he ate it quietly. Sasuke huffed again, patted down his clothes before he plopped down on the ground. He leaned against a tree and folded his arms across his chest, gaze firmly off to the side, his cheeks still dark and his heart hammering in his chest.

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to. I'm a hunter too I can hunt you something else. I just thought it would be faster if it was already cooked." Sasuke defended. Naruto nodded and hummed. "But… if I were attracted to you it wouldn't be you. It would be your wings. They're pretty." Naruto chuckled at that.

"Admiration and attraction have very different smells." Sasuke finally turned to look at him.

"Different smells?" He echoed. Naruto gave him a short nod, still munching on his meat and sipping water from a small bottle Sasuke had brought. "You can smell what I'm feeling?" Sasuke's interests were piqued. He'd heard that dragons could smell a human man from miles and miles away but he had no idea of the depths of their smell.

"Hmm something like that, your scent changes. It's as if you were making faces at me. It's harder to describe than I imagined." Naruto mused, tossing the last piece of meat into his mouth, "Then again I've never spoken to a human before."

Sasuke shuffled closer, handing bread over as he thought of what to ask next, "So… you yourself aren't a human?"

Naruto grinned at him, "I'm more beast than man. I don't classify myself as a human. I'm much more superior." Sasuke scoffed and sneered at him.

"If you're so superior then why did our traps catch you?"

"Good question." He replied a dark look on his face. "The youngling we sent to scout for food reported that the area was all cleared. His sense of smell is much more concise than my own. He can smell prey from leagues away…" Naruto looked angry all of a sudden.

"Was… someone trying to hurt you?" he tried to keep the worry from his voice but Naruto's softening features told him that he failed.

"Not intentionally. He has been courting a cute half breed from the north so I think he shirked his duties. He'll be severely punished when I return." He pushed up to his feet and dusted his skin off, stretching wings impressively wide and Sasuke couldn't help but marvel at him. In the moonlight his scales and golden hues glistened.

"What will you be doing now? You can't fly, not with those wounds and not while my clan knows you've been downed. They're still looking for you. Uchihas are relentless and your scales could make a man rich for life. You scales almost look like actual gold…" Sasuke admired them, stared at the ground where the moon was reflecting the glow of the scales on the ground.

"They are gold."

Sasuke looked up quickly, "What?" he couldn't resist stepping closer to investigate. He ran his fingers over Naruto's arm and ribs and gently stroked the skin of his wings.

"We used to dig up the gold ourselves from across the mountains but they were in such huge chunks that it was impractical to live off of. So we let the dwarfs have the caves of the mountain and in exchange for our protection from the elves they feed us with gems and minerals. My mother consumed more gold than any other mineral hence the color of my scales. When I shed them, I'll send them down to the dwarfs to be melted then I'll eat them again."

Sasuke eyes were wide with wonder, none of his people had information like that, they just assumed that dragons hatched from the middle of volcanoes and came to terrorize them when they were old enough. "I didn't know that," he was absentmindedly still stroking Naruto's scales but in a downward motion, they were too sharp to do that in the opposite direction. "Tell me more." Sasuke demanded.

"No human. I must return to my people. I have duties to tend to." He gently eased his arms away from Sasuke's probing fingers and stretched his wings again.

"You can't fly! Wait!" Naruto had already started to walk off. Sasuke quickly gathered up his bags and water bottle before he ran after the dragon, mindful of his sharp spiky tail when he ran up behind him. "I want to know more. I can lead you out of the forest if you promise to share your knowledge with me."

Naruto paused as he seemed to continue it, "No. I can't risk the lives of my people. I'll find my own way out."

"You could get lost! And if you do and you decide to fly you'll be shot down and I won't help you again…"

"I'll rely on my nose. Search for the scent of ice and water."

"Ice and water…?" Sasuke stumbled over an overgrown root and in his haste to steady himself he ripped the skin on his palms on the bark of a bramble bush. He hissed and snatched his arm to his chest. "Dammit!" He swore. He couldn't very well chase after the dragon if he couldn't even keep up. Naruto was taller and despite being injured his strides were long and confident and Sasuke was barely into adulthood. He was still awkward and trying to gain his confidence.

"Let me see…" Naruto murmured close to his side. Sasuke could feel his warmth from where he stood clutching his injured hand like a child.

"I don't need your help," his cheeks darkened with his shame. Naruto would sooner be sending him home than having him help him out of the forest. Naruto ignored him though and scooped him up into his arms.

"There's a stream a few paces that way. It won't take long."

Sasuke spluttered and wiggled. "Put me down beast!" he hissed wiggling harder when a row of scales nicked his leg. He stilled instantly. "You're more danger to me than the ground…" Sasuke mumbled trying to squeeze his hand shut to stop the blood flow.

As good natured as ever Naruto barked out a laugh and grinned down at him. "True my scales are dangerous but at least I'm male!" He laughed again as if there was a joke. Sasuke's heart was on the verge of jumping out of his throat though. The beast knew about his perversion. He'd abandon him at the pool like his parents would abandon him if they found it. Naruto set him down with much care near the bank of the stream and after filling up his small bottle he brought it back to the dark haired young man. "If only you had magic. You could heal a simple cut like that." Naruto watched him raptly as he applied some of the salve he brought to the gashes and then bound it tightly, with Naruto's help, with strips of cloth.

"Imagine I brought all this for you and you ended up not needing any of it… " he was trying to fill the silence. It was a bit awkward being with Naruto. He was tall, gorgeous and confident in himself. Sasuke was still trying to figure out who he was and where he was going. What would he do next. He didn't want to let the dragon go and lose his one opportunity at genuine companionship but at the same time he didn't want to bind the dragon to him just because he spared his life.

"What are you thinking human?" Naruto was crouched by the edge of the pool, the water rising all the way up to his knees. Sasuke looked away quickly, hoping the loincloth wouldn't shift anymore. "I was thinking that you need to put some damn clothes on!" He scowled at the dragon's passive face.

"You humans are too fickle and prideful. In fact, I suggest you take your clothes and bask in the glow of the moon with me."

Sasuke snorted, "You must be out of your mind. It's freezing out here." Without Naruto's high body heat near him he hadn't noticed the cold until now.

Naruto sighed as if he pitied the human race, "this is why you need magic. As a dragon I am always the perfect temperature. Within reason, of course."

"Within reason?" He didn't mean to pry, he blamed it on his natural human curiosity.

"You're a smart boy Sasuke," the young man frowned at the word boy, "why don't you travel the word for the answers you seek? There are more… well adapted people than you."

"What does that mean?"

Naruto stepped out of the water and after short spin he pointed beyond the trees, "Across the spine of this mountain there are lands and people more tolerant than what you know now. Your ways aren't set in stone." Naruto must've seen that Sasuke wasn't following. "There are men, and women, like you Sasuke," his breath caught in his chest, "people who prefer the company of their own sex. You do not have to live in fear. You can love and live a full life."

Sasuke shook his head. "That's a lie. There's nothing beyond the mountains but a wasteland."

Naruto laughed out loud, "Nonsense! Who told you that?"

"My father," he felt mocked so he switched from surprised to defensive.

"Then your father is a liar," the blonde shrugged easily.

Sasuke shot up from his chair, glaring at the beautiful man with as much fire in his eyes as he could muster, "how dare you…" Bigger or not if Naruto disrespected his people again he would punch him in the face.

Naruto didn't seem put off though, he just kept staring off into the distance, "it's true. To isolate you all he must have concocted a blatant lie."

Sasuke's body shook with anger, "he is not lying. No one who has crossed the spine has ever returned!" He was about to swing first when Naruto finally looked at him. His gaze was the most serious than Sasuke had ever seen.

"Perhaps they didn't come back not because they couldn't, but because they didn't want to." Sasuke felt like he was the one who got punched. This side of the mountain was all he knew and yet now he was being told there was whole other world out there? It seemed so far fetched but… whenever Sasuke had asked about what exactly lay across the spine he'd gotten a mix of 'nothing, death, plague, famine' or just darkness.

He'd always had inklings that there was something else out there but he'd never been brave enough to go. "This is just a lot to take in…" he sat down heavily on the ground, mindful of his injured hand.

"It's normal to fear the unknown. To not want to put yourself in danger. That is no fault of your own." So Naruto said but Sasuke was still having a hard time believing that his father would lie to him like that. He wanted to see this place.

"Take me there." A flush stained his cheeks. Of course this was a prime opportunity to stay with Naruto a little longer but also he wanted to meet other people like him. Not particularly to make Naruto jealous per se but after traveling together for months Naruto may be reluctant to part with him. Just the thought of Naruto begging him to stay with him had butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.

Naruto cocked his head at him, "I- Sasuke I don't think…"

He didn't want to use the guilt card so early but it looks like he didn't have a choice. "Please. As payment for saving your life."

Naruto raised a sleek blonde brow, "You were the one-"

Sasuke waved him off. "Yes, yes but that's besides the point. Will you help me to get there as payment for your life debt?"

Naruto sighed, "That doesn't even feel like a question. More like a demand." Sasuke stared. "Very well. Since you saved my life I shall escort you across the spine." A grin just started to creep across his face when Naruto raised a hand. "It will not be easy. It will also be very cold. Normally I would fly home then down to the other side of the spine but I'm not strong to carry you all the way."

"Yes. I understand. What do I need to bring?"

"Clothes. Warm clothes for both of us. My injury prevents me from flying home to get my own clothes so you'll need to provide those. You'll need the thickest you can find. If you ride me you might shred your skin to bits otherwise." Sasuke winced at the visual. "I can hunt us food but we'll need a pot to boil water."

"So basic hunting gear. Got it. I'll go get them and meet you back here. Okay?" he felt like he needed to ask or Naruto would fly off without him.

Naruto smiled at him in the dazzling way that only he could, "Okay." he echoed. "I'll wait here for you. We'll set out after dawn." Naruto pulled him into a one armed hug and shook him. "Say your goodbyes and think long and hard so that you don't regret this." A clawed hand cupped his cheek. "Okay?"

Too close! Naruto was too close! He shoved himself away from the blonde and stalked off into the woods his heart hammering in his chest and his uninjured palm sweating. He couldn't tell if he was frightened or excited but he did know that after tomorrow his life wouldn't be the same anymore.

A/N: Whoo! We're going on an adventure! Tune in next whenever for the next chapter. Remember to leave a review to tell me what you thought.