An Unlikely Fairy Tale

A story by Songstone

Songstone: My sister made me move all of my stories from out shared account to mine. It's a bit complicated, but in short, I will be losing all of you guys' wonderful reviews! I hate that most of all. If it isn't too much to ask of you, I would love to get you guys to tell me what you think all over again. So please, enjoy my story from the beginning.

Prologue: Questionable Actions

Konoha was a large, bustling village with many prosperous people. There were a few prostegious families that owned most of the land and property, such as the Uchiha clan or the Nara clan, but the most elite family that lived in Konoha was the Hyuuga clan. The Hyuuga's owned almost half of all the village and rented out most of the townhomes, thus leading to their vast wealth. Each member of this clan always carried themselves with dignity and pride as they strolled about Konoha with their heads held high.

But, while there were many wealthy people populating Konoha, there were also some very poor families as well. But even the most financially troubled family was doing consierably better than the orphans that roamed the dark and desolate allyways--while the rest of the people stayed in their homes, safe from any danger.

Rock Lee had promised himself that one day he would prove that he could amount to something besides being an orphan. He would work himself to the bone if he had to, just as long as he would succeed in his lifetime and make a name for himself. His life long friend, Naruto Uzumaki, had promised the same thing as well and they both worked hard for their goals.

It wasn't long before they were noticed and taken in to be slaves and farmhands. When Lee was eleven and Naruto was ten, the Uchiha's were the first to take them in. Lee and Naruto worked for the two younger brothers, Itachi and Sasuke, and helped the other workers clean and manage the farm. It was back-breaking work, serving the two brothers and also helping with the animals. Both boys usually collapsed on their cots at the end of the night out of pure exhaustion, though they never slept much, becuase either Itachi or his younger sibling would call on them in the middle of the night.

But even though they had a rough life, the two young boys held strong and knew that one day they would be more that simple farmhands. The promised each other that everynight before they went to bed and every morning as the got ready to work. But one day, after two years of staying with the Uchiha's, the head of the clan called Lee into his office. He told the large-browed boy that he was giving him to the Hyuuga clan. The two clan members had held a bargain on who's son would win in a sparring match; Sasuke Uchiha, or the genius of the Hyuuga's branch family, Neji Hyuuga. Lee's master was very distraught when his son failed to take down his pale-eyed competetor, and grugdenly agreed to handing over ten of his best workers. He was giving up Lee and a few others, but had decided to keep Naruto along with a few choice others for himself.

The young boy was heartbroken at the thought of having to leave his best friend behind, but decided not to brood over the situation, but rather to be happy that Naruto would be staying somewhere where he had made friends and knew their young masters. He knew that Naruto would be happy staying where he was.

So, two days later, the thirteen-year-old packed the few belongings that he had aquired over his two year stay at the Uchiha residence and left along with the other nine boys that had been given away. Lee tried his hardest not to cry as he said goodbye to Naruto, his best friend for over half his life, and pinkie promised that they would meet again later in their lives--when they were both rich and powerful men. He left the Uchiha home, and his best friend, with a smile and set off to the Hyuuga mansion.

---

And that is where Lee has been staying ever since. The servants quarters in the Hyuuga household were a lot bigger and had better beds than at the Uchiha residence, and he sometimes wished that Naruto had been given away as well so that he wouldn't have to sleep on the cold, hard cots that were in the slaves wing of the Uchiha mansion. But he knew that the blond-haired boy would be fine by himself. He had probably made friends with all of the other kids brought in to work for the elite family. It had already been four years since he left the Uchiha mansion . . . Naruto probably rarely thought of him these days.

Lee sighed to himself as he prepared the breakfast tray for his young master. He wished that he had someone to confide to. He missed the days when he and Naruto would sit under the lush trees in the backyard during lunchtime and talk until one of the older men called them inside to clean. Here in the Hyuuga house, he was worked day and night by the young branch member, Neji. Lee was given to the raven-haired boy as a congragulations gift for defeating the younger Uchiha prodogy.

The first week in the Hyuuga's home was a calm, fairly relaxing one. But not too long after that, the pale-eyed boy began to give Lee a list of chores to complete by a certain time of day, and demand that his new servant bring all of his meals to his room. Lee was busy almost all day, scurrying from one wing of the house to the other in a weak attempt to try and please his young master. He barely had time to himself, only to eat and at nightime to rest.

Lee sighed again.The Hyuuga mansion might have been bigger and more comfortable, but the Uchiha home was happier. Closer. Almost like a family. All of the servants helped one another and depended on each other, whereas in the Hyuuga residence, it was left to one boy to do a ton of chores alone. He felt his large, black eyes building up with tears and quickly swipped them away with the back of his hand. He hated to cry, especially out in the middle of the day, in the kitchen, where anyone might walk in and see him. He saved his tears for nightime, when all the other servants were alseep and he was alone.

He finished setting the tray and cautiously picked it up in his heavily bandaged hands, making his way slowly to the hallway. He nudged the door open with his foot and made his way down the long corridors to his master's room. Lee at last arrived to his destination and balanced the tray on one hand, a trick he had accuired from all of the multi-tasking he had been doing lately. He knocked twice on the door and once again held the tray in both hands. After a moment, shuffling could be heard behind the door, and then it swung open, revealing a proud, looming man with raven colored hair and pale opal eyes.

Lee bowed his head formally. "Neji-sama . . . Y-your food." He gesured slowly to the tray in his hands and held it out to his master. He heard a scoff and raised his black eyes to gaze up at his young master wearily. Neji stepped away from the door and returned to his position on his bed, showing Lee that he could enter, but othewise paying him no more attention that

necessary.

"Come place it here, Lee." Neji ordered, pointing toward a low standing table off to the side of the room.

Lee bowed his head again and kept his eyes on the floor as he crossed his master's bedroom to put the tray of food on the table. "Yes Neji-sama . . ." He muttered respectfully, and began to organize the dishes and silverwear on the small wooden table while his master looked on. He placed the tray against his chest and rose to his feet swiftly, his eyes still on the floor. He bowed in the direction of his elite and began to step away slowly, never turning his back to his superior, knowing that it was a stunt that enraged the Hyuuga genius.

"Lee." Lee stopped short when he heard his name called. He grudgenly raised his head to look up at the man who was now watching him.

"Y-y-yes, Neji-sama? Is there anything else t-t-th-that you want?" He silently cursed his tongue and the way his words tumbled akwardly out of his mouth. He hated his speech impediment and the way it made him sound. And he wished that his face would not heat up with a furious blush everytime he looked someone in the eye. It was embarrassing.

Lee saw a quick flash as he blinked his eyes, and then suddenly, Neji was standing next to him and he was dripping Lee's left wrist tightly. The servant gave a violent start and stared up at his master with wide eyes. "N-N-Neji-sama . . . w-what a-are you doing?" He felt his face heat up again when Neji's white eyes caught his own black ones and held his gaze. The Hyuuga smiled, which made Lee's body begin to quiver slightly. Why was he giving him such a strange look?

"Lee, what happened to your arm? Did you burn yourself again?" His voice was rich and silky as he spoke each word with careful inflection, his eyes never once leaving his servant's. When he finally looked away from the boy's charcoal colored eyes, it was to examine his hands, which were wrapped tightly with white bandages. He gently touched his finger to his lesser's palm and smirked. "You must be more careful. I don't want you getting seriously hurt."

Lee felt a shiver working its way up his spine, but supressed it and tried to get a grip on himself. But there was something unnerving about the way his master was watching him. There was a hidden meaning behind Neji's words and the way his eyes studied the large-browed boy's face . . . but Lee just couldn't see what it was. He nodded quickly and straightened his posture. He inclinded his head in a quick bow. "Y-y-yes Neji-sama. I promise to w-w-watch myself more o-often. I will be m-more careful."

The grip on his wrist loosened considerably when he spoke those words. Lee stayed in the same position until he realized that he had been released. He swiftly brought his hand back down to his side and bowed down all the way. Neji stood in front of him for a moment, but then Lee saw him move to the side and straightened his spine. Neji was making his way back to the corner of the room, taking his seat at the small table and breaking the chopsticks that Lee had brought for him. "You can go now, Lee. Thank you for the meal." He closed his eyes in thanks for a minute, and then began to eat.

Lee, body still shaking slightly and face still a bright crimson color, bowed again and backed away slowly from the Hyuuga, who's back was turned to him. "Y-y-yes Sir . . ." He stepped back until he was out of his master's bedroom and then slowly and silently shut the door after himself. After that was done, he calmly walked back down the hallyway and bolted into a sprint as soon as he reached the kitchen, hoping to make it to his shared bedroom before he was called back again for another request.

Songstone: I hate to beg, but please guys. Leave me some good reviews. Much love.