Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. The word that determines everything in our world. If something has a flaw, then it's imperfect. Being imperfect is a sin. Being imperfect gets you thrown out; discarded like trash or garbage. Being imperfect gives you a life worse than death. When you're an imperfect you must watch the perfects, most of the time with envy, and bow when they walk by. 'You are lower than dirt', they say.

How can I be lower than dirt when I almost, almost, became one of them? One of the perfects. I have a small flaw. So small of a flaw that it's almost nonexistent. I look perfect. I act perfect. Everything about me is perfect. However, bring me to a doctor and see that I'm not perfect. Not in their eyes. I have A- blood; not A+. I needed a positive blood type and got a negative. I was called an imperfect right then and there.

It was so rare that a child born of two perfect parents to become an imperfect. However, it happens. Sometimes a perfect is born between two imperfects; it was all the matter of chance. However, there was one thing that never changes between perfects and imperfects. An imperfect and perfect never fall in love, they never have children; they never have any interactions together. It was the most important unspoken law; it just never happened.

However, it happened with me. I fell in love with a perfect and that perfect was actually the one who had fallen for me first. I didn't want to fall so badly. I didn't want any more trouble and hardships. I wanted to live a good and easy life. Or as much as I could get being an imperfect. However, that perfect wouldn't give up. That perfect couldn't give up. That perfect had fallen hard and refused to get back up.

He was so wonderful and amazing. Now I know why he was called a perfect because that was exactly what he was. I knew I had fallen hard as well, but I couldn't tell him that. He wouldn't give me up once he found out, but I knew he had to. After all, he's a perfect and I'm an imperfect; it would never work out.

*Imperfect Love*

"Oi! Wake up, teme! We have to be to work in a half hour!" A sixteen year old with spiky blond hair and dazzling blue eyes ripped a dirty and ripped blanket from a sixteen year old with jet black hair and porcelain white skin.

The raven growled and sat up in his old futon mattress. "You really are an idiot, dope! It's my day off!" Naruto really was one of the stupidest people he ever had the displeasure of knowing. However, it was his parents all those years ago that had found him abandoned next to the gates of the perfects. If Naruto's parents hadn't found him, he wouldn't be alive to this day; Sasuke owed Minato and Kushina for his life.

However, at the age of ten, Naruto's parents had met with a very unfortunate accident that killed them. Ever since then, Sasuke and Naruto had held each other up through thick and thin. They were closer than best friends. They were closer than brothers. They could practically read each other's mind now. The only thing they weren't was lovers. There was absolutely no romantic feelings between them and Sasuke wanted to keep it that way.

"Oh… it is?" Sasuke glared at the hardheaded blond. He reached up with his right hand and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Sasuke sighed and got up from his futon. He was already awake; there was no way he was going to fall back asleep now. "Sorry, Sasuke," Naruto muttered.

"It's fine, Naruto. Since I'm already up I'll help you with the morning work," Sasuke droned. There was nothing else to do; he might as well help the blond out.

"Really?!" Naruto's face lit up, "Thank you so much, Sasuke!" Sasuke's coal black eyes saw Naruto's signature smile light up his face, but he couldn't help but notice the scars lining Naruto's cheeks. There were three black scars on each of Naruto's cheeks and that was the only reason the blond wasn't a perfect himself. Naruto was actually at the gates, ready to become a perfect when an angry imperfect attacked them and damaged Naruto's perfection. The imperfect had been furious about an imperfect child becoming a perfect when he himself had been casted out when he was born from two perfect parents.

Of course Sasuke had been angry when he found out he had been so close to being one of the elite perfects, but he had gotten over it. Even though he wasn't going to be part of the mighty perfects; there was more freedom in becoming an imperfect. Sasuke was even thankful about becoming an imperfect. Sasuke wouldn't want his life to be any other way. Being a perfect would have been way too much work and stress.

"What's the morning work this time, Naruto?" Oh, god. Please don't let it be pit duty. Sasuke was in no mood to clean out the feces that had built up in the septic tank.

"Hmmm, let's see here," Naruto muttered as he shuffled around the room looking for the daily work sheets. Sasuke sighed; why had he ever let Naruto be in charge of their work sheet? "Here it is! I found it, Sasuke!" Naruto exclaimed as he held up the ruffled sheets in triumph. "Let's see here…" The blond scanned through list of jobs. "It looks like kitchen duty today." Sasuke let out a deep breath he didn't even know he was holding. Kitchen duty, he could handle that. It was a million times better than pit duty.

"Which kitchen is it this time?" Sasuke knew it was going to be the main kitchen. The big, hot and sweaty confines that made it hard to even breathe. Most of the food eaten by both the perfects and imperfects were cooked there. However, there were other cooking facilities that made the 'perfect' food for the perfects. This place was rarely seen by imperfects but sometimes the perfects needed help in there when one of them takes a vacation day.

"Main kitchen, just like always," Naruto confirmed Sasuke's suspicions. Great, I might have gotten out of the awful pit, but now I'm going to be hot and sweaty all day, Sasuke grumbled to himself. "Come on, teme. We have to get going."

"Just let me get dressed first, dope." Sasuke looked Naruto over and sighed. "You might want to change out of your sweater and jeans or else you'll get heat stroke in less than a minute."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "I guess you're right, teme."

"I'm always right, dope," Sasuke huffed. This was practically how the two of them operated. Their constant teasing and fighting with each other was something of legend. Naruto would do something stupid, Sasuke would correct him and the blond would throw a fit. Once all their steam was over, neither one of them would win the argument and the cycle would start all over again later on. And it always did.

"Shut up, teme!" Sasuke just shook his head and headed into the closet. Only three types of clothes were issued to the imperfects. Winter, summer and night clothing. Winter clothing was what Naruto was wearing; a black sweater, blue jeans and black boots. Night clothing was what Sasuke was wearing; a white t-shirt, black sweat pants and thick socks. Summer clothing was what Sasuke was currently looking for; a white tank top, black shorts and black sandals. Colored clothing was only meant for the perfects. The unspoken saying of the perfects on this matter was, 'Why would imperfects need beautiful clothing when they aren't?'

Winter was just ending and slush filled the streets. However, winter still wouldn't give up its icy grip on the world and light snow fell from the sky despite it being April. The main kitchen was quite a while away and Sasuke and Naruto would have to run all the way there to keep warm. Naruto and Sasuke dressed in silence and quickly headed out the door.

They rushed through the streets, slushing through the half melted snow. Other imperfects slid out of the way of the running duo and some waved to them as they ran along. "I bet I can beat you to the kitchens, teme!" Naruto gasped out halfway through their run.

"Hn, I can take you any time, any place, dope." Sasuke smirked and slid to a stop. Naruto stopped beside him and they both got into position. "Ready."

"Set," Naruto grinned.

"GO!" They both yell at the same time and take off twice as fast as they were going before. This time the other imperfects yelled at them as they ran past and got splashed with the unwanted slush of snow. The main kitchen soon came into view and both males cranked up their speed. They were neck and neck and they both slammed their hands on the entrance door. Naruto groaned and Sasuke grinned in triumph. Sasuke's pale hand was covered by Naruto's tan ones; making Sasuke the winner of the race.

"You totally cheated teme!" Naruto exclaimed and turned away from the raven.

"Hn, whatever makes you sleep at night, dope." Sasuke pulled the large wooden doorway towards him and was greeted with a large gust of hot air. "Come on, dope. We have to get to work." Naruto nodded and entered the kitchen with Sasuke at his heels. The large door slammed behind them and moments later Sasuke and Naruto are caked with sweat.

They suddenly stop and look around the kitchen. All the large ovens were on and a lot of imperfects ran around the kitchen, more than there should be. Why were there so many people here? What was going on?

"Hey! You two!" Both Naruto and Sasuke turned to their right and found a sweat caked perfect walking up to them. Personal imperfect fanners were at his heels and the perfect stopped in front of them with a pure look of authority. The two fanners took up their positions next to the perfect and start to fan him. The perfect huffed and looked both of them over before saying, "You'll do."

He nodded to the two guards at the doorway and they grab Sasuke and Naruto. Neither one of them makes so much as a peep of noise as they are carted back outside and thrown into a waiting carriage. Both of them knew better than to speak out against a perfect and get sent to the gallows. The perfect slid into the carriage and shouted for the driver to get going.

The horse drawn carriage tumbled down the snow filled streets and the perfect looked at the clip board in his grasp. He doesn't talk for a couple minutes and clears his throat. "You are Sasuke and Naruto Uzumaki, correct?" They both nod. Sasuke never knew his true name since he had been left outside the gates. Naruto's parents were the ones who had named him and he had taken their last name.

"We need new workers at the palace. Since you two were so close to becoming perfects yourselves you have been chosen to become workers there." He looked down at his sheet again. "Once we get to the palace each one of you will be taken to your chosen jobs. Do you understand me so far?"

"Yes, sir," they muttered out.

"Good, now, where was I? Oh, yes. Naruto, you will be stationed into the stables. Your job will be to look after the horses that come in and that live at the castle."

"Yes, sir," Naruto says once the perfect had finished.

"And Sasuke you will…" He looked closer at his clipboard. "No, this can't be right…" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. What was happening? Please don't let it be bad. Please let me stay in the palace with Naruto. What would I do without him? We've always been together! The dope… the dope wouldn't be able to function without me!

Naruto's hand finds his and he gives Sasuke an encouraging squeeze. Why are you encouraging me, dope? You're the one who needs it! Despite his line of thinking Sasuke felt fear pool in his stomach.

"Well, it says it right on the paper so it has to be true." Sasuke's eyes widened. "Sasuke, you're going to be the Uchiha's personal butler." The Uchihas? One of the most powerful perfect families in the entire country? He was going to be their butler. But, why? These people had so much power and money that they could have perfects as their butlers. So… why would they want him?

Naruto squeezed his hand again, but this time it was in a death grip. Sasuke suppressed a wince at the pain running through his hand and tried to concentrate on what the perfect was saying. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir," Sasuke muttered.

"Um…" Sasuke's eyes widened; did Naruto just speak out against the perfect? Did he have some kind of death wish?! "Is it possible for Sasuke and I to work together?" Sasuke held his breath; you never talked against a perfect, it would literally be the last thing you do.

The perfect furrowed his eyebrows together and Sasuke got ready for the worst. If possible, Naruto's grip on his hand tightened. Why did Naruto do that? Why would he talk against a perfect if it meant certain death? The perfect than sweat dropped and raised his clipboard. "Baka!" The perfect slammed his clipboard on the side of Naruto's head. The blond lets out a small yelp at the sudden attack and rubbed his hurt cranium. "You think I have any say in something like this?"

"Well, I just thought because-"

"Yes! You thought! If I had any say I would send you right back to the kitchens and let Sasuke here have your job. Being a servant to the Uchihas is an honor that shouldn't be given to an imperfect." The perfect huffed and grumbled when he saw that his clipboard was now in two halves from Naruto's hardhead. The perfect then cleared his throat and placed the clipboard next to him on carriage seat. "We will be at the palace in about fifteen minutes and there are some things you need to know before we get there…"

Sasuke let out the breath he was holding in. He had thought for sure that Naruto would get punished, but why didn't he? Were the perfects that desperate for more servants that they wouldn't punish Naruto? Was that why he was becoming the Uchiha's butler? Were even the Uchihas that much in need of servants that they would have an imperfect as their butler?

How could such normalcy of just an hour before suddenly turn so confusing? A perfect actually letting imperfects to speak to him as an equal. Imperfects riding in carriage that were only seen, not ridden by anyone, but the perfects. An imperfect being a butler for one of the most powerful families in the country. Hell, if was even unusual for imperfects to work in the palace. What was going on? Sasuke had no clue, but he knew that he would find out the answer even if it killed him.

*Imperfect Love*

The small horse drawn carriage stumbled through the slush of snow and slowly winded up to the palace presented in front of them. Sasuke had mentally prepared himself for the grand site of the giant castle, but he couldn't expect this. The palace was larger than all the main kitchens combined. Four towers were built on each corner of the palace and it was painted white with golden edgings.

Sasuke had long ago untwined his hand from Naruto's but he felt the blond reaching for his again. Sasuke placed his hand into his lap and out of Naruto's reach. He knew that it was just Naruto's way of saying he was here for him, but Sasuke couldn't help but feel embarrassed by these actions.

The gates of the palace opened for them and Sasuke gripped his blanket in fear. The perfect had handed both of them thick blankets after Naruto and Sasuke started to shiver uncontrollably during his little speech.

"Alright," Naruto and Sasuke turned to the perfect. "When we reach the castle, each of you will be taken by the respectful master for your jobs. Naruto, you will be given to the animal trainer, Kiba Inuzuka. Sasuke, you will be given to the head butler of the palace, Kakashi Hatake."

The carriage rode up to the entrance and two males stood at the doors. One was around Naruto and his age and he had a dog like appearance. He was obviously an imperfect and wore dirtied horse ridging gear. The most unusual thing about him was that a large white dog stood loyally at his side. The other was an older male with silver hair and he wore a black mask over half of his face. He wore a butler outfit and Sasuke focused on him as he would most likely be his mentor for quite a while.

The carriage stopped in front of the two males and Kakashi opened the door. The perfect ducked and exited the carriage. He motioned for Naruto and Sasuke to follow him and Kakashi stood to the perfect's side; completely ignoring the two imperfects exiting.

"How was the trip, Iruka?" Kakashi asked the perfect and guided him into the palace doorway. He opened the door and allowed the perfect, Iruka, to enter first and walked in after him. The three imperfects were than left alone outside, confused on what to do. They stood around the entrance for a couple minutes before Sasuke and Naruto started to shiver from the cold.

"Ah, you two should come with me than. Let's get you guys out of your summer clothes." Kiba nodded towards them and they reluctantly followed after the dog like boy. He took them away from the large palace and to a small cabin about a block away. Kiba opened the door and they enter the small cabin. Sasuke and Naruto sigh in relief when they finally get out of the cold and into a warm, fire heated house. They both quickly take a place next to the roaring fire and start to heat up their frozen muscles.

"Here you go," Kiba said and threw both of them new clothing. It consisted of a thick black sweater, black sweat pants, thick wool socks and black boots. "You guys might get hot in these clothes later on, but this was all I had on me."

"No, thanks for the clothes," Naruto replied and slipped on his new, thicker clothing. "I'm Naruto by the way and pretty boy over here is Sasuke." He pointed at the relaxing raven next to the fire pit.

"Wow," Sasuke's eyes widen as Kiba leaned in to him to get a better look. "Why aren't you a perfect? You would definitely be one in my book."

Sasuke huffed and pushed the dog like boy away. "I have a negative blood type."

Kiba left him alone and went into his small kitchen area. "Tough break, man. If you were a perfect all the other palace girls would be all over you." He opened his cabinets, "You guys mind having sandwiches?" They shake their heads no and Kiba takes out the required ingredients. "So, you guys are going be my new recruits, right?"

Naruto shook his head, "No, I am, but Sasuke is supposed to be a butler for the Uchiha family."

Kiba's eyes widened, "Really?" They nod their heads, "Then I think it would be best to wait until they come to pick you up." Kiba stopped his knife and looked Sasuke in the eye. "It's just so weird; an imperfect hasn't been a butler in nearly a century." He shook his head and continued placing the peanut butter on the pieces of bread.

"Yeah… weird." Just before handing Sasuke his sandwich, a shadowed figure quickly walked away from the window of the small cabin.

The shadowed figure walked towards the palace. "So he's supposed to be the new Uchiha butler, huh." He chuckled, "Things are about to get interesting." Sasuke didn't even know how weird his life was about to get.

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