A/N: ahem, this is my first attempt at a Yaoi fic. This is between Naruto and Sasuke, if you don't like, then don't read further! Based on reviews and requests, it'll depend if I put in a lemon between these two 3. SO! For now it'll be rated T, but in the future, it might change. I also have two other fics, so if you want to, go check those out as well. Anywho's…Enjoy!

Prologue

He supposed it would do. Uchiha Sasuke sat down and began to fit the puzzle pieces together his father had just bought for him while he was away on business. His personal servant, Iruka, stood beside the study door, observing his young master quietly as he peacefully sorted the pieces. Sasuke's face was blank, and his obsidian eyes held mild interest at the bronze pieces he held in his tiny fists.

Uchiha Sasuke was only 7 years old, a young prince in the making. His father, Uchiha Fugaku was King of the land of Konoha. His mother, Uchiha Mikoto, passed away giving birth to him, so he didn't know much of her. Then again, he barely knew anything about his family. All he had any knowledge of was that his family was royalty. His father barely had time to spend with his youngest son, so he simply spent large amounts of money buying foreign toys and giving them to Sasuke to keep him preoccupied. Sasuke's elder brother, Itachi, had left Konoha on Sasuke's fifth birthday, claiming that Lord Fugaku was running Konoha the wrong way.

Last anyone heard Itachi was murdered barely two miles away from the kingdom's border by a gang of rebellious bandits that recognized him as the elder son. Itachi was only 15. So Sasuke had no family, basically. His father barely acknowledges him, his brother and mother were dead, what more could you expect from a lone 7 year old except a very mature and highly intelligent soul trapped within the boy's small body. The only person he had…

Sasuke glanced up at Iruka from his seat on the giant forest green armchair, and then quickly reverted his attention back to the complicated puzzle. Even so, Iruka had to pretend he was only in the palace to serve his young master Sasuke as a well-trained servant. Only on those rare occasion's, Iruka would be positive no one was near to hear and he would break out in to a playful grin, swoop down to pick up Sasuke, and begin to play the role of a surrogate father for an average ten blissful minutes.

"Gnh." Sasuke scowled and glared at a certain puzzle piece. With a dejected sigh, he looked up at Iruka. "Yes, my young master?" Iruka inquired, noticing Sasuke's frustrated movements. Sasuke held up the pieces, his scowl still in place. "It won't fit." He said. Iruka's lips twitched in a hidden smile, but his face remained impassive. He stepped from his standing place and walked to his young prince, his hands reaching for the pieces just as the fire from the fireplace across from Sasuke glinted off of them.

"Have you not considered that maybe they won't fit because they aren't made to fit together?" Iruka suggested, taking the puzzle pieces. Sasuke stared at him with his big black eyes, his equally black hair framing his pale face. "No, they belong together." Sasuke insisted. Iruka suppressed a sigh. "Then tell me, how come they won't fit?" He asked, still holding the pieces. Sasuke remained silent and looked down at the pieces in his servant's hands, calculating their intricate design in his mind. "They're supposed to fit." He insisted after a minute of silence.

Iruka grinned crookedly, the scar across his nose wrinkling up. "Well, why ask for my help? If anything, I think…" Iruka looked down at the pieces and his face fell, dumbfounded. "I need help with this." Sasuke, with his blank face, stared up at Iruka and placed his hands on his servant's outstretched ones. "You can't just look at it once; you've got to look at it deeply and carefully. See past the outer exterior." Iruka became silent at hearing his young masters' extended vocabulary. He listened intently, waiting to be amazed at his infamous intelligence.

Sasuke gently pulled Iruka's hands together and toyed with the puzzle pieces once more. "Just because they don't look like they won't fit, does not mean that they can't. All you have to do," Sasuke fit one end together and gripped the other before gently twisting them, the result being a small and barely audible click. "Is consider the possibilities, and let them connect." He held up the result, and let out one of his rare smiles, his eyes closing as he tilted his head.

Iruka was staring at him with wide eyes. "You-." Sasuke grinned, feeling proud that he had tricked his servant in to coming closer and sharing a small moment with him. Iruka slowly shook his head, chuckling at his young master's cleverness. Without another thought Iruka stood up straight, grabbed Sasuke from underneath his arms and flung him in the air, catching him before he fell.

Sasuke let out a small giggle, dropping his father's gift on the plush carpet of the study. "You always astound me, young master Sasuke." Praised Iruka as he spun Sasuke around. "Spin me once more! Once more, Iruka-san!" Iruka laughed and complied with Sasuke's demand, holding him tightly and spinning him around once more.

The fun was just about to begin when there was a knock on the door that startled the both of them out of their game. Iruka placed Sasuke back on the ground, straightened up his wrinkled white shirt and black slacks, brushed off his matching black vest and quickly walked to the double doors. Sasuke stepped backwards, his ruffled button up black shirt missing two buttons as it hung loosely from his black pants. His happy expression fell instantly and became expressionless once more as he watched the hurried exchange between the newcomer and Iruka that had so rudely interrupted his fun.

"What is it, Captain Teichou?" Iruka asked, his voice betraying surprise from his blank face. Sasuke perked up, wondering why the captain of the elite guards was here. "Iruka-sama," Teichou began his voice out of breath. Sasuke leaned a little to see him covered in sweat, a fresh cut on his cheek dripping blood. His leather hauberk, arm, shin, and wrist guards were tattered. A bloody dagger was hanging from his hip. "Fugaku-ou's orders. Shuuraku no Tenshi has just been attacked. He needs you and Kakashi-sama's services immediately." Panted Teichou. "The neighboring ally village of the north? But, how; why?" Iruka gasped.

Teichou shook his head and began stepping back. "No time to explain. The king needs you, now come!" with that, he turned around and ran down the hall, earning a bewildered expression from Iruka and Sasuke.

Sasuke took a step forward and looked at Iruka. He knew what services Teichou spoke of. Iruka's secret status of second right-hand bodyguard to the king. He was used only for the deepest of emergencies. This somewhat frightened Sasuke, even though he knew that Iruka was one of the best. "Iruka-san?" Iruka looked over his shoulder at Sasuke, his face set in a hardened expression.

"It is my duty, young lord." He clenched his fists and sighed as Sasuke fell back, his gaze turning to the unfinished puzzle. "I understand." Without another word, he walked back to the giant plush chair and began fiddling with the puzzle once more. Behind him, he missed the pained expression on his servant's face before he hurried out of the room. The clinking of the puzzle pieces being tapped against each other distracted Sasuke from seeing the determined gleam suddenly appear in Iruka's eyes.

With a thud announcing Iruka having left the room and shut the door behind him, Sasuke still kept on with the puzzle. The fire crackled in its hearth as it made the puzzle gleam. He was used to it by now; having no one to truly care about, that is. Sure, he cared about Iruka, but it wasn't like he was around all the time. Before five minutes had passed from when Iruka had left to fulfill his duty, Sasuke had finished the puzzle.

With a bored sigh, he held up the completed piece; a bronze pendant in the shape of a female angel with cascading curling hair that fell to her waist, full feathery wings, a somber expression, and a billowing robe; so detailed was the piece, Sasuke stared at it a minute longer. He supposed it would do. He was used to it. Of course…He supposed it would do.

-X-

The halls were barren; not a single maid or butler was to be found. Not even a stray guard here or there. This has been this way for two weeks now. Ever since the abrupt attack on Shuuraku no Tenshi, the palace halls have been eerily still and silent. Sasuke didn't mind it. Except the small ache he felt in his chest filled with worry for Iruka. Ever since that day, he hadn't seen his personal servant either.

He was used to it.

With a bored sigh, Sasuke kept walking down the hallway from his bedroom, absentmindedly heading for the kitchens to find something to eat. He passed portraits of his ancestral line and enclosed rooms as he made his way. He ignored them all, not caring for them. His bedroom quarters were located at the sixth floor of the palace. It took him an average of ten minutes to make his way from his room down to ground floor where the kitchens were located everyday.

When he reached his destination, Sasuke quietly entered through the back door. He dug his hands in to his pants pockets as he approached the bustling workers of the kitchen as they prepared the day's lunch. "Pardon, Gejo-san?" Sasuke politely called to one of the female workers. With a small squeak, the maid paused on her way from carrying a pot filled with stew to one of the beckoning cooks. "You're Uchiha-sama!" she gasped, practically dropping the giant pot.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to turn around and gawk at the young prince. Sasuke ignored them all and kept his attention on the one he had called out to. "Are there any fruits available? I would like to have a snack before lunch." He asked. The young maid trembled, possibly from the dark depths of Sasuke's eyes that seemed cold and uncaring. He may be seven, but he was tall for his age, making him seem ten or twelve. Not to mention; he had power over anyone in the kitchen.

The maid's trembling threatened to spill the contents of the pot in her arms as Sasuke kept looking at her with his big black eyes. "Oi, Keiko! Answer the boy, he won' do nuttin to ya!" barked a round burly butcher that emerged from behind a counter filled with freshly chopped beef. Sasuke remained silent, the maid Keiko still shaking.

With a growl, the butcher stomped the girl, snatched the pot away from her, and kicked her away mercilessly with a stubby foot. "Yer gunna cost us all in hur awr heads, ya stupid wench!" he bellowed. Turning to the rest of the workers with a fierce glare, he passed the pot over to the cook assigned to finish cooking the stew and roared, "Back ta work! Lunch'll be served 'sactly three! NOW!" With that, everyone returned to work.

The pot-bellied butcher turned back to Sasuke with crossed arms over his blood stained apron and grinned. "So, m'lord Sasuke? Fruits watcha wanted righ'?" Sasuke nodded. "Hai, Satsuka-san." Satsuka laughed a guttural laugh and reached behind a counter to his left and pulled out a basket filled with blackberries. "Freshly picked, m'lord. Thought you migh' like em on such a special 'casion." He grinned, revealing several missing teeth, the rest cracked and yellowed.

Sasuke had one hand outstretched to the basket when he stopped in the middle of moving to look curiously at the butcher. "Special occasion?" Sasuke asked, so caught off guard, his usual blank expression was contorted into confusion. Once again, everyone hushed and paused their business. Satsuka visibly paled underneath the grime and sweat on his face.

Sasuke's hand dropped to his side quickly and he glowered at Satsuka. "What special occasion?" he demanded. Satsuka nervously shuffled from one foot to another, trying to think up of an excuse for his slip up. "What special occasion?" Sasuke repeated his voice laced with rising impatience.

"Huh? Oh! Lord Sasuke, there you are. I've been searching for you everywhere." Said a female voice from behind the raven-haired child. Sasuke snatched the basket of blackberries from Satsuka and kept his glare on him while he walked backwards to his temporary replacement servant. A girl with brown hair pulled back into a bun that was capped with a cloth walked up to him. Her light blue yukata was a strong contrast to the dingy brown of the kitchen. "Come now Sasuke-sama. You have somewhere to be right now." Said Muzai making a grab for the basket of blackberries from Satsuka.

Everyone in the kitchen, trying to get Satsuka out of trouble, began to work double time. Seeing the opportunity, Satsuka slipped away and began chopping up more beef feverishly. Sasuke kept his gaze on him even after Muzai turned him around and ushered him out of the kitchens. "Come, come," Muzai ushered nervously, sensing Sasuke's tension. Sasuke wasted no time in getting right down to business.

"Satsuka-san said today was a special occasion? Why?" he demanded. Using his blunt tactics usually got him what he wanted, especially with this weak maid. But today everything was different. "Oh it is nothing, young lord. Satsuka-san just said that…even though we're still not sure…" she added in a furious hiss that Sasuke caught.

Muzai was steering them towards the dining hall when Sasuke forced her to stop. "You can not keep things from me. I heard what you just said; what is happening?" he said in a tone louder than he intended. Muzai's face paled and no hint of cheerfulness remained on her small face.

"Sasuke-sama, is that you?" Sasuke's glare melted away from his face when he heard the voice. He felt his stomach do an odd twist when he turned around, for the first time showing his uncertainty with the movement.

Iruka was leaning out of the doorway that led to the dining hall with a huge grin on his face, his hair out of its usual ponytail and framing his olive toned face. "Iruka-san?" Sasuke breathed. Iruka stepped out, "Watch it, it'll be fine." He whispered quickly to someone behind him. Muzai exhaled in relief behind Sasuke but he paid no heed.

"You're back!" Sasuke said, almost in surprise. He couldn't show his true happiness from how shocked he was still. Iruka rolled his eyes in a playful manner, his smile still in place. Sasuke took note of the scabbed wound above his left eyebrow that his bangs did not hide from view. There was also a large bruise on his neck the showed brightly with the contrast of his starch white shirt.

Despite his straight posture, his haphazardly worn clothes made him look as if he had just come back from the battle up in the north. His shirt was un-tucked, his vest unbuttoned. And with a closer inspection, Sasuke understood why Iruka hadn't put his hair up in its usual ponytail. His right side of his head was patched up with a fresh bandage.

Sasuke tried not to show any concern so as not to give away any of his emotions. He didn't want to look like a baby.

"Muzai-san, you are dismissed. Thank you for holding my place while I was on business." Muzai giggled her welcome and placed the basket on the floor before she left in a hurry down the opposite direction. Sasuke kept his eyes on Iruka, each second swelling up with pride at his servant's return. He opened his mouth to say something when he was interrupted by a loud, yet small voice.

"Wow, this place is pretty big, Iruka-san!" Sasuke watched with wide eyes as a boy with golden hair and a big grin stumbled out from behind Iruka. His big blue eyes gazed up at the ceiling and paintings until they found their way to Sasuke. "N-Naruto, manners!" Iruka stammered, embarrassed for the small boy's behavior. "Ah! Sumimasen." Naruto apologized, his chubby cheeks blushing with regret as he clamped his small hands over his mouth while staring with wide eyes up at Iruka.

Sasuke found it hard to swallow as he kept his gaze on the six year old boy in front of him. Iruka tried to gain his attention. "Sasuke-sama, this is the only survivor of Shuuraku no Tenshi. He will serve as young master's playmate as of today." Naruto whirled his head towards Sasuke and stepped forward, his grin back in place. Iruka hurriedly explained the reasoning for Naruto's sudden status as Sasuke's playmate. "Your father would like Kakashi-san and I to scout the remains of the village. This could take a while. We need to find evidence and-."

"I'm Naruto! Nice t'meetcha Sasuke!" Sasuke just stared at Naruto, his mind blank except with one thought. Golden hair…Sky-blue eyes… "Naruto! What kind of way of talking is that?" Iruka chastised, his hands clamping to his waist. This time Naruto scowled and looked away, still standing in front of Sasuke. He wore a brown yukata that was two sizes too big. He was a head shorter than Sasuke and had strange markings on his cheeks that looked like whiskers.

Sasuke grabbed a hem of one of Naruto's sleeves and tugged at it. "It's ok." He told Iruka, still looking at the bright blue of Naruto's eyes. Iruka blinked, "But-." Sasuke began pulling Naruto towards the staircase that led to the library. "Let's go." He commanded. Naruto's smile widened and he nodded. "Ok!"

Iruka watched them leave, shaking his head in wonder at Sasuke's behavior. It didn't matter though, just as long as Sasuke accepted Naruto and Naruto was able to stay within the confines of the palace without any trouble. Until Naruto came of age, being Sasuke's playmate would do. Iruka turned away, tearing off his clothes to reveal his hidden armor. He needed to get back to work.

-X-

Sasuke clutched tightly at Naruto's sleeve as if afraid he would leave. Something this precious was given to him, and he didn't want to lose sight of it- him. "Where are we goin'?" Naruto asked, quickening his steps to keep in stride side-by-side with Sasuke. It was almost impossible, Sasuke being physically bigger than Naruto and took longer strides than he did.

All Naruto got for a response was a smile that made him blush with his own smile. When they reached the library and Sasuke was pushing the doors open, he asked Naruto, "Tell me of your self?" Through all of this he still held on tightly to his precious gift. "Well, you know my name…um, I'm six and I'll be turnin' seven next in-." Naruto quickly counted on his fingers. "Three months!" He proudly held up four fingers as Sasuke led him towards a bookshelf. They paused midstride for Sasuke to gently put a hand on Naruto's and put down one finger so that he was holding up three. "That's three." Sasuke corrected with a smirk.

"Oh, ok. Uh, what else? Oh yeah, I've gots no brothers or sisters, and my parents are dead. Sasuke stopped searching for a book and whirled around to Naruto. "And you are still happy? Do you feel no remorse?" he demanded. Naruto put a finger to his lips and pondered the thought for a moment. "Well, yeah, I s'pose so. But why cry about it all the time?" he shrugged and stared at Sasuke with his big blue eyes. "They was good peoples; they're in heaven, I just know it! Besides," he grinned and showed his teeth while grabbing hold to Sasuke's hands and clasping them in his own. "I gots a new person to be with, and now it's my turn to keep someone happy. Iruka-san says it's you I'm s'posed to take care of…and now that I met you, I'm happy."

Sasuke stared at him blankly, feeling his stomach clench once more in that strange way. With just another blink towards Naruto, Sasuke turned back to the shelf and pulled out the book he wanted. Within seconds they were both sprawled on the floor admiring the pictures of dragons, monsters, and far-off places.

Whenever Naruto gasped at the cool pictures in the book, Sasuke couldn't help but smile; it was the most Sasuke had ever smiled in a year. Every time Naruto asked a question about something, Sasuke readily answered, diving deep in to detail about whatever subject Naruto came up. Naruto rested his head on his palms as he lay on his belly, looking up at Sasuke with wide eyes as he listened intently.

During this time, Sasuke couldn't help but realize that he didn't even feel this way with Iruka around. It was strange; as if Naruto, a person he had only just met, was the first person to make his feel interested in. At one point, during an explanation about the legend of the Ice dragon of the north-east, a lock of Naruto's hair fell over his eyes, hiding away the luminescent blue that captivated Sasuke. Without thinking, before Naruto could move, Sasuke reached a hand and gently pushed it back over away from Naruto's eyes.

Naruto only smiled, waiting for Sasuke to go on. It went like this for hours, and they both enjoyed it immensely. When they finished all of the children's books in the library, which took about two days, Sasuke showed the interior of the palace to Naruto. This took only a day, seeing as most of the palace was restricted even to Sasuke. When Naruto knew his way around the palace, in less than a week the two boys were rarely seen playing tag or hide-and-seek.

When the day ended and it was time for the boys to retire, Naruto always made Sasuke promise to meet him at the hallway near the kitchens so that the next day, they could start it off by sharing a good breakfast together. Sasuke always agreed, and watched as Naruto was escorted out of the palace back to the house he shared with Iruka.

This was the routine for a month; then three. They celebrated Naruto's birthday alone in Sasuke's room. Sasuke had requested new objects from his father, and these he had given Naruto personally as his own gifts. But oddly, Sasuke felt these items were not enough to show his joy for having Naruto as his first real best friend.

"Wow, Sasuke, thanks!" Naruto gasped as he unwrapped a necklace that had only one crystal hanging from it with two silver beads, one on each side. It was a rare crystal that had cost Sasuke's father almost a year's worth of taxes. Just as long as it kept Sasuke happy and out of the way, Fugaku did whatever.

Naruto held up his new necklace up in the light and gasped again as the light hit it with a beautiful gleam. Sasuke took it away from him and took the liberty of clasping it around his neck. By far, from what Sasuke could tell, the golden book of legendary demons, philosophers' tome of world legends, golden finch, sapphire pendant, and miniature steel katana with a silver dragon for a hilt were nothing compared to this simple accessory. Sasuke noticed that Naruto always went for the simpler things in life.

He stepped back when he finished clasping the necklace around Naruto's neck. Naruto once again held it up in the light and beamed up at Sasuke. "Arigatou, Sasuke." Sasuke only blushed in response.

After Naruto's birthday, their regular routine came back, but this time, with Naruto proudly wearing Sasuke's present. It went on, for a year, and then another. Time flew when the two were together. So fast, Sasuke forgot about his twelfth birthday and what it would mean for the both of them.

"Y-you have to what?" Naruto stuttered his post-pubescent voice squeaking as it cracked with emotion. "I have to leave for school. I'm going to learn abroad; to study for when I have to take over my father's place. I have no choice in the matter; I leave at dawn tomorrow." Sasuke responded in a monotone, his voice deep already from having already gone through his time of change.

Sasuke stared out of his window, his le drawn up in a lazy manner as he hung an arm around it while sitting on the sill. His other leg fell off the edge of the sill, his black slacks rising an inch more from their user's already tall and lanky leg. His whit starch shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a well toned torso already free from all baby fat.

Naruto stood in front of him, his hands clasped in front of him as he stared at his friend in sadness. He wore Sasuke's old clothes, as they were the only ones that had fit him and he would use no other clothes. His light blue shirt was fully buttoned, his tan slacks belted around his still small waist. "You'll be back though, right?" Naruto couldn't help but ask. The corner of Sasuke's mouth quirked and he faced Naruto.

Almost immediately he lost his flattery at Naruto's question to be replaced with a pang at Naruto's expression. He longed to touch him and comfort him, but those childish days were gone. They were almost men; what would people think of them still acting that way?

"Naruto."

The blonde kept his head low, but raised his eyes up at Sasuke. Sasuke grabbed the pendant that still hung around Naruto's neck and smiled. "I promise, that before your next birthday, I will be back." Naruto's face literally brightened at these words. "Would you?" he asked. Sasuke nodded. "Yes; it's only a year that I have to stay at that school anyway. The rest of my lessons I come back home to learn."

That was his promise. And he made sure he would keep it. The next day, Sasuke was boarding the vessel that would take him to his school away from Konoha. It was 5 in the morning, and there were barely any people roaming about. Barely, except for two men bidding their goodbyes to Sasuke in the chill morning. Iruka smiled warmly at Sasuke from behind Naruto. Naruto was fighting back tears as he kept asking if Sasuke really would keep his promise.

"One more time, Naruto, and I personally will make sure he doesn't come back." Growled Iruka. Sasuke suppressed a bark of laughter when Naruto squealed in fright. "He wouldn't let you, would you, Sasuke?!" Naruto demanded. Sasuke's face was blank as he looked away from Naruto's pleading face.

"Sasukeeee!" Naruto whined.

Sasuke grinned, turning on his heel to board the ship. "N- Sasuke!" Naruto called. Sasuke didn't respond, making his way still toward the ship."Sasuke!" He was already halfway up the boardwalk when he felt a tug at his cloak. He turned around just as Naruto clasped both his hands in his, tears streaming down his face. He furiously wiped them away as he glared at Sasuke.

"You better come back!" he growled. Sasuke felt a small amount of heat sting his cheeks as he stared at the determined fury in his friends' blue eyes. He remained silent for a while, just staring in to the oceanic depths of Naruto's eyes. Just for you, I fight the gods to come back. Sasuke slipped his hands out of Naruto's and placed one on his cheek to wipe away another tear.

"After my studies; I swear."

-X-

Sasuke remembered that day as if it were yesterday. The wind whipped at his face as he glared at the oncoming line of land that was his beloved kingdom of Konoha. He was thirteen now, and couldn't wait to fulfill his want- no, his need of having to see those blue eyes once again. Keeping that unusual color in his mind, alongside with the owner of that color, Sasuke made his way through his year-long studies. He had made it top of the class in everything.

But none of that mattered today as the shoreline became clearer and more recognizable. The blazing sun above him made his pale skin shine as he held on to a rope and leaned off the railing of the ship to get a better look. "Iruka-san…Naruto." Sasuke breathed just as the ship reached the docks.

Almost shoving the sailors before they finished assembling the boardwalk to dock off the ship, Sasuke made his way down to awaiting coach a few yards away. He held nothing but a purple sack filled with his awards, weaponry, and scrolls slung over his shoulder and the black cloak clasped around his neck. His other belongings would be transported up to the castle in a trunk later on.

Sasuke made his way to the coach almost hesitantly. However, his hesitancy melted away immediately when the driver leaped off the coach to greet him. "Sasuke-sama, you have grown much more than I had anticipated!" greeted Iruka. Sasuke smirked, speeding his steps to get closer to his surrogate father. After a brief hug from Iruka, Sasuke stepped back with a smile and said almost breathlessly, "Where is he?" The happiness on Iruka's face was instantly wiped away. Sasuke didn't understand why.

"I must get you home. Your father has prepared a welcome feast for you and he will be attending. Sasuke heard none of this. He clasped a firm hand on Iruka's forearm and narrowed his eyes, his lips pressing in to a thin line as he tilted his head threateningly. "Where is Naruto?" he asked once more, this time impatiently and a hint of anger.

Iruka said nothing and clambered back in to the driver's seat, earning a silent snarl from Sasuke. "It is best for you to find out on your own." Came Iruka's delayed response.

Wanting to find out what was going on so badly, Sasuke threw him self in to the carriage and slammed the door shut. "Go. Now." He said through clenched teeth. The carriage rumbled and shook as Iruka snapped the reigns of the horses and made his way to the palace.

A year. A year he has been gone and Sasuke is greeted like this? He seethed as he pondered Iruka's words. What had happened while he was gone? It couldn't be so bad, could it?

Sasuke didn't know it was worse than what he had thought.

Upon returning to the palace, Sasuke was greeted with a cheer from all of the maids and butlers, even the guards. But none of them held the set of blue eyes he had been itching to see for over a year. Nor did either of the hold the silky gold tresses that made him itch to touch.

Before he was able to look any farther, Sasuke was escorted by two gushing females to the dining hall, where he was greeted once more with a wondrous cheer. His father stood at the head of the long table, clapping in pride with all of the workers. Roasted pork, ham, and turkey was laid out on the table ceremoniously. Pastries and various other deserts accompanied stuffing, rice, and fish.

Wine and water were the only drinks.

Sasuke roved his eyes over the other workers in the room, but once again it was to his disappointment.

In silent fury, Sasuke caught Fugaku's plead for Sasuke to sit beside him so that he may enjoy a meal with him. It was as if his ears were stuffed with cotton; Sasuke heard nothing that was going on around him as he took his place next to his father. He saw his father's lips move as he spoke, but heard no sound come out of the king's mouth.

His mind was also being affected. He didn't think anything of how odd it was to be in this close proximity to his father. All he could think of were where the whereabouts of his friend were. Where was Naruto? Of all people, he would think Naruto would have been here to greet him. Why wasn't he here? He had kept his promise! He didn't forget anything; so where was the blonde twerp?

"May I refill your goblet with wine, sir?"

Sasuke tensed when he heard the voice. He clutched his eating utensils so tightly, his knuckles turned white and he could feel his nails digging in to the palms of his hands. He swallowed the last bit of meat he had been chewing for the past two minutes and slowly looked up. His stomach did a strange twist he hadn't felt in a year, but it was accompanied by a pain so intense in his chest, he bit on his tongue so as not to let it slip.

Beautiful golden hair. Mesmerizing eyes, a blue almost indescribable.

"Ah, thank you, Uzumaki-san. Sasuke, I don't believe you two have met." Boasted Fugaku, his eyes twinkling from the wine. "This is Uzumaki Naruto; he is a new addition to our line of servants in our home." He took a generous sip of his wine just as Naruto made his way to Sasuke and began to pour wine in to his goblet.

"Now, I must let you know, Iruka-san can not be yours anymore Sasuke. Some complications have arisen and I am in need of service from him. So," Fugaku waved a hand at Naruto and Sasuke's throat clenched as he watched Naruto's blank face lower, his hands clasped in front of him as he awaited another opportunity to serve. "Uzumaki-san will be Iruka's replacement; permanently. He will serve you in any way, more so than Iruka-san has, I'm sure. Isn't that right, Uzumaki?" Sasuke didn't let it slip that his father's tone held a bit of a threat at the end of his speech.

At the mention of his name, Naruto looked up, his face still blank, and turned his attention to Sasuke.

"I am pleased to serve you…young master." He said mechanically.

Sasuke abruptly shot up from his chair, causing his plate to clatter to the floor. His father looked up at him in shock, but found him self staring at Sasuke's face hidden behind his thick mane of hair. "Please excuse me, father. I am exhausted from my trip. I must retire to my room before I do something I may…" his hands clenched in to fists at his sides. "Regret." He finished.

Slowly, Fugaku nodded. "Of course, do as you-."

Sasuke was already out of the room before his father finished.

He calmly walked up towards his room, his subconscious remembering where it was since his mind was elsewhere. Once in the sanctuary of his room, Sasuke gently clicked his door shut, locking it before he took another step in.

Gazing out of his window towards the setting sun, Sasuke let the emptiness of his mind control him. Every now and then, his chest would give off a pain that made his eye twitch.

"I am pleased to serve you…young master."

At the moment those words were uttered, something within Sasuke broke. Naruto had turned in to his personal servant while he was gone. And it was until now that he realized what the meaning of his feelings meant.

It was as if an eraser had just whipped away the chalk from the chalkboard.

In less than five minutes, Sasuke was standing alone in his room in the growing darkness, feeling emotionless.

He had come home to find he had lost his friend.

No, never the friend.

He was never his friend, the teme.

Sasuke had come home, only to find he had lost the one he cared about the most…

The one he loved.

A/N: So, whatcha think? I'm still going on; I've got a few good ideas for this fic. Again, only reviews and requests will entice me to do anything farther than kissing in this story. ;P Hope to get enough! Next chapter: Danger in the South Wondering what the trouble is that Sasuke's father was talking about? Stay tuned!