Author: XxDreaming of RealityxX
Disclaimer, summary and warnings can be found in Chapter 1.
Comments: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter of Evanescent Serenity. I appreciate everyone's opinions and was ecstatic when I found that people had read my story! I hope you enjoy the next chapter and remember this is a work in progress so I'll make any necessary changes as the story progresses. I've finally decided to re-write each chapter accordingly, making changes, and that's what's been taking me so long. The process is tiring and I need plenty of motivation to keep me going. Thanks again, and enjoy!
Evanescent Serenity
Chapter 2
"Your hunting dogs have attacked this child." The man on the horse said, with long dark hair spiked around his head. His tone was menacing and he glared at the monks with the dogs through dark, emotionless eyes.
"Ah…that's the kid we're chasing after…" One of the monks replied sheepishly, clearly intimidated by the raven-haired strangers.
"Come on…let's bring back the prey…" Another monk muttered, cautiously stepping forward to take Naruto back.
"P-Please help me!" Naruto shouted, gripping the short-haired stranger's robes.
"Hm…so you can speak?" The raven spoke curiously, sitting beside Naruto with an interested expression.
"Sai, this isn't the time for that." The man on the horse shouted to the short-haired raven, who was currently being pulled by Naruto.
"Please help me! They'll take me back!" Naruto struggled, urging the currently flirting Sai to help him up. When Sai merely raised an eyebrow with lowered lashes, Naruto sweat-dropped.
"I'm Sai and that's Sasuke Uchiha."
This man's a loony. He thought to himself. I ask for help, so he states his name?!
Naruto was disturbed from his thoughts by a monk reaching out to grab him. "Hey! Come here!" The monk scolded Naruto, who was now trembling with anger and the need to escape. The boy closed his eyes, awaiting his capture, but before he could be taken, Sai pulled him away from the monk.
"I believe you said something about prey," Sasuke spoke collectively from his horse. "Were you referring to this child?"
"Yes, he's a chigo (1) that escaped from the temple. The temple asked us to bring him back." The monk lied capriciously.
"No! You're wrong! I'm not a chigo or a slave! Jiraiya gave me proof!" Naruto retorted, desperately clinging to Sai.
The monks chanted, "I didn't hear anything about proof! You tell lies! Anything you have to say goes back to the temple!"
"Who is the leader of your temple?" Sasuke inquired.
"Jiraiya-sama." A lecherous monk replied, his eyes focused on the blond tied around the grass, injured, yet struggling to get away. He was like a fly on a spider's web, desperately reaching for the thread of light, despite his wings being torn off.
"Ah, Jiraiya – the man well known for his calligraphy and strong sense of morality. Has he stooped so low as to hunt for people now?"
"Hunting for people? You make it sound so vulgar; we are merely returning this chigo to the temple. We just needed dogs to chase this…escapee."
"You let the dogs go, knowing that they could have killed someone?" Sasuke asked menacingly, a look of disgust in his features.
Sai shifted and stood up, letting Naruto slip from his grasp. "This is no longer a hunt, but a chase to kill. You may return to the temple, and tell them that this child is now temporarily under our custody. Since both parties claims do not match, there shall be further investigation."
Sasuke emotionlessly turned, clearly becoming bored. "Hey, Sai. Get a move on, we're leaving."
"Coming." Sai turned, hoisting Naruto up. A monk with a flaming torch leaned forward and attempted to grab Naruto while the ravens weren't paying attention. Sai noticed the monk's movement and quickly turned, raising his sword to the monk's head. Blood formed at the small point in his head where the blade met his skin. Sasuke smirked.
"Or could it be that you're a band of thieves, hm?" Sai purred, his eyes ominously lit in the moonlight. The monk backed away, quivering. He raised his hands in surrender.
"You're not from the temple, but a band of thieves that kidnap children." Sai accused, "Trading and selling people is a crime, suitable for the death penalty."
The monks' eyes widened and they took a few steps back.
"Oh? If that's true, then I can't let you pass." Sasuke glared at the grotesque men before him – they were all a waste of time. He rolled his eyes and the monks didn't fail to notice the tinge of red in his pupils.
"W-We're not like t-that! Fine! W-we'll leave, but you can deal with whatever the temple s-says!" A monk stuttered whimsically. With that, the monks left, running scared.
"You can tell them that the Danjoudai (2) is catching up to them!" Sai shouted, laughing quietly to himself at whatever he thought was funny. Naruto suspected that he wasn't quite right in the head.
"Hn." Was all that Sasuke said.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. He felt his eyelids become heavy and his eyes began to close. Slowly, he drifted to sleep.
"C'mon, dickless, we're goin-hold on, he's losing it."
"Hn." Sasuke climbed from his horse uncharacteristically; Sai raised an eyebrow – he had never seen Sasuke lose his cold demeanour before, his expression was always an emotionless façade. Sasuke quickly replaced Sai and held Naruto up, limp in his arms. Sai chuckled under his breath, hiding his smile with his sleeve.
"Is he dead?" Sai asked.
"Don't say such ill-boding things, he's still breathing." Sasuke answered. Sai was shocked, since when did the Sasuke Uchiha actually care for someone? Sai was sure that the emotion itself was beyond him.
"Are you going to bring him back, or leave him here?" Sai asked, flicking a small fly from his head.
Sasuke realised that he'd been acting slightly strangely, so let his features fall back into a state of seriousness. "It looks like we'll have to take the kid with us."
"Girl or boy?" Sai asked with keen interest.
Sasuke looked slightly disgusted at Sai's enthusiasm. "Boy, I guess."
"What a beautiful child, he looks so young. What could his age be? Ten or something? I've never seen a child like this."
"Indeed, he is young. But I don't think he would be much younger than myself." Sasuke stated, losing interest in the topic.
"If you don't hurry, we won't make it to the Court Council." Sai said.
Sasuke felt a vein pop on his forehead and he clenched his fists. "And whose fault would that be?" He replied dryly. Sai smirked and hit his horse to make it start running. "Wait a minute. You're the one who-" Sasuke glared at Sai's retreating back. But Sai had already gone.
"Damn bastard. Now I gotta take care of this…this…dobe." Sasuke inwardly smirked, that name fit Naruto all too well – especially since he stood out so much. His onyx eyes followed Naruto's body; he had shocking blond hair and a blue swirl marking his naval. Sasuke remembered those bright azul blue eyes and found himself wanting to help the kid. He hoisted Naruto up and sat him on his horse.
He's covered in blood, but not injured. Thank Kami, I wouldn't wanna clean up the mess. Sasuke sighed; he couldn't be bothered to deal with the boy anymore and was regretting his decision already. After contemplating whether or not to just leave Naruto here, he shuffled onto the horse and gripped the reins.
He turned to the horse. "Kuro, he's going to be heavy, but please return us to the Imperial Palace." The horse, Kuro, neighed in approval and began to gallop towards their destination.
Subconsciously, Sasuke thanked God that Naruto was still breathing.
"It may be a bumpy ride, but you gotta endure it, usuratonkachi."
Sasuke arrived at the temple, carrying Naruto in his arms. This was a simple task; since the boy was lithe, his body was very light.
"Sorry I'm late. Where's Sai?" The raven asked, his voice bored and laced with annoyance.
"Sai-dono arrived a while ago." The kind, fair monk asked.
"I was late 'cause I picked up this kid. Sai saw him being attacked by dogs and asked me to help him."
"Oh, is she a girl?" The monk straightened his hat.
"A boy." Sasuke sighed, his body hurt from over-exertion and he was becoming increasingly drowsy. "I will return when it is time to retire for bed. I can't take him to my mansion now, so keep him in the stable for me."
"I understand." The monk bowed, smiling. Sasuke merely nodded and left on his way, leaving Naruto in his care.
Sasuke strolled hastily. Damn, I never thought it would take that long. I have to hurry. He arrived at his room.
"Inuzuka Kiba! Prepare the Sokutai (3)." The raven ordered; Kiba rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, 'kay I'm coming!" Kiba came running energetically, towards Sasuke, a large and brightening grin on his face.
"Prepare a cup of tea before we leave." Sasuke commanded dully, didn't Kiba ever run out of energy?
"Yeah!" He ran off down the hall to get some tea. Sasuke placed his hand on his forehead, his brows creasing.
Knowing Kiba, I should have just asked for water…
The drumming began at the gates and Kiba came, holding tea, much later and out of breath. "I…hah…brought the tea!" He breathed.
"Forget the tea, just give me my shoes!" Sasuke answered, wiping sweat from his forehead; he was getting restless. Kiba passed him his shoes, placing them the wrong way round in front of Sasuke's feet. Sasuke felt like punching someone, but turned the shoes around and put them on anyway. He headed off towards his destination.
Kiba has been a servant for two years now and yet he's clumsier than Akamaru, his dog. If this doesn't improve then…
Sasuke let his thoughts invade his mind, trying to distract himself to keep himself awake. He entered the building and was greeted by his fellow monks.
"We'll be discussing the banquet today, right?" He heard someone ask lazily. He turned to see Shikamaru, leaning against the wall and muttering something about 'too much trouble'.
"Nara Shikamaru, what are we discussing?" Sasuke asked.
"We're discussing the Tango no Sekku banquet, boy's day celebration. The secretaries will be Akimichi Choji and…" Shikamaru trailed off.
"And me." Sai chided in.
"Sai?! You're late; you even arrived here before me." Sasuke moaned in distress, yet very discreetly.
"Yeah, but unlike you, I don't work so hard every hour of the day." He yawned.
"Hn." Sasuke felt rage boil in his blood, but shrugged, sighing. "I work hard in the afternoon, but I sleep properly at night."
"My, you're sullen and lewd."
"What are you saying?" Sasuke blushed, he hid his embarrassment flustered. He was still very young, despite his high status that stated his authority.
"Oh, it's fine Sasuke. Based on experience, flirting in the early afternoon is far more effective."
"What…?" Sasuke felt heat rise in his cheeks and brought his hands to his face.
It's unlike me to get so flustered, where is my pride as an Uchiha? Sai's getting to me. He thought to himself.
"Doing it in the morning is very risky, but occasionally you can catch a foxy partner and learn some new things." Sai smirked, knowing that Sasuke got easily embarrassed.
"What are you talking about?"
There was loud laughter that could be heard from far away and then shouting, most likely from Sasuke.
"Sai. Are you making fun of me?"
"Well, it's certainly lively in here." Kakashi laughed, carrying a small orange novel in his hand. His visible eye became an upturned 'u'.
"Everyone seems to be on time for the imperial council."
"Yes, Kakashi." They all bowed respectfully, despite that they weren't permitted to call him formally. Kakashi said that being called 'Hatake' made him feel old.
"Iruka could not attend the meeting because he is rather unwell."
"I wonder what's wrong this time. Maybe he is unable to stand again." Sai snickered. Sasuke glared at him – Kakashi and his dolphin's relationship was no secret.
"I apologise, Sasuke is constantly scolding me for my rudeness." Sai said, formally bowing.
"Now, now, let us continue with our main topic…"
They began the meeting, doing work and writing. Sasuke turned to the window.
Will that child be alright?
Naruto awoke in the stable, lying on a mountain of hay. He shuffled to get comfortable, his eyes still drooping slightly.
"Are you awake?" A voice said brightly.
"Where…am I?" Naruto asked, in a daze. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and yawned, sitting up. A sharp pain jolted up his body and he slumped back to the ground.
"Ah! You see, you were covered with bite wounds. I treated them, but they will hurt for four of five more days. You are very lucky indeed, ah the power of youth!" The man grinned from ear to ear, giving Naruto a wink and thumbs up.
"Forgive me, my name is Rock Lee and this is Gai-sensei! We run the stable and Sasuke-san asked us to tend to you!"
"Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, Uchiha Sasuke, the keeper of imperial archives! He is of high-status and found you on the ground. Gai-sensei and I treated your injuries and he will hopefully return to get you soon!"
Sasuke of the Uchiha clan, keeper of the imperial archives…I must remember that… Naruto thought to himself.
"Here, porridge! If you have enough energy to talk, you must eat! What is your name, dear youthful one?"
"Uzumaki Naruto, dattebayo! Nice to meet you." He held the bowl of porridge and clapped his hands together. "Thanks for your kindness. Itadakimasu."
Gai came from around the corner. He winked at Naruto, showing his pearly whites and giving a thumbs up – identical to Lee's. "You must rest and relax when you have finished eating!" Gai spoke in a deep, sing-song voice.
Naruto nodded, digging into the porridge. He thought for a moment and then froze, his eyes wide in shock. He put his hand into his clothing.
"The letter Jiraiya-sama gave me! It's gone!"
"You weren't holding anything like that…" Lee said.
After I dropped the pestle and money, I fell unconscious. I never thought I'd lose the proof as well… He felt tears well in his eyes and he sniffled, subconsciously wiping his nose on his sleeve.
"No, no, don't be sad! It will be fine! Did you put it in your shirt?!" Lee asked with optimistic enthusiasm.
"Yes…"
"Then let us ask Sasuke-kun, he may have put it away for you!"
Naruto nodded. Ero-sennin…I have lost everything important to me… He thought to himself.
"Thank you…" Naruto smiled shakily. He felt unusually safe and secure, unlike back at the temple.
"Who's this kid?!" A voice said.
"Yes, who?" A group of people came to see Naruto.
"What beautiful eyes…"
"Shoo, Sasuke-sama told me to take care of him."
Naruto laughed; he noticed the fact that Lee changed his honorifics a lot.
"Lee. Oi, Lee, are you there?"
"Yes!" Lee ran towards the entrance.
"Where is the child I asked you to take care of?"
"He's here! He woke up not long ago!"
Naruto sat up quickly, straightening out. He felt strangely anxious. He's back…
Sasuke walked into the room. Naruto drew back his breath, which hitched in his throat. Sasuke tilted his head to the side lazily and stared intently, making Naruto a little, but mentally slap himself for his insolence.
He bowed his head to the ground. "Thank you for saving me last night. I won't forget what you did." He remembered the monks teaching him etiquette, and how to properly thank someone. "Allow me to repay your kindness…"
"Yeah, whatever. But first give me your name, dobe."
Naruto flinched and shuffled back, stunned. He'd never met someone so informal. He shrugged and replied, wincing as his head pounded a little.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
"Do you remember what happened?"
"Yes, thank you…"
"Whatever, lift your head, dobe."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Don't call me that, teme!" He blurted. Quickly, he brought his hand to his mouth and bit his lip - Naruto was taught to never disrespect his elders.
"Usuratonkachi," Sasuke said. "Some people said that you are a chigo of Jiraiya-dono's temple."
"…Yes. I was a chigo." Naruto whispered, almost inaudibly. He looked at the ground and gulped.
Sai shifted from behind the entryway, seemingly materialising out of nowhere. "Hm…so you are a chigo…"
"Why are you here, Sai?"
Sai ignored him, evading the question. "He does have a beautiful face indeed, though he is very thin…"
"Hn."
Naruto gulped. This is the man on the horse from last night.
"And when those wounds heal," He pointed to the bandages on Naruto's forehead, "He'll shine like a pearl."
"And?" Sasuke said, annoyed.
"If he's a chigo, he should have proper etiquette in the morning and night. You could do anything you like with him."
N-Night? Is he the same as those monks?! Naruto panicked mentally. He gasped inaudibly and took a self-conscious step back, inching away with a sweat-drop forming at his head.
"He ran from the temple. So let me take him in." Sai reasoned.
"If he ran, then we must take him back. You can't keep something like that to yourself." Sasuke glared.
"To myself, hm? You don't have to speak like that. Could it be you want him for yourself?" Sai questioned, widening his eyes melodramatically, even though they only opened a few inches wider.
Naruto tilted his head like a fox as the two ravens conversed.
"What do you mean, asshole?"
"You've been staring at him for quite some time now. Could it be that you prefer young boys more than women?"
"What are you trying to say? Not everyone has the same inclinations as you."
"Speaking of young boys," Sai directed at Naruto, "How old are you?"
"Sixteen." Naruto answered instinctively.
"See, I did tell you he's not that much younger than me." Sasuke said.
"Yeah, but there's still over a three year difference."
Three years…that means Sasuke-sama is older than nineteen. Naruto mentally calculated. Anyways, if this continues, Jiraiya's efforts will go to waste. What should I do?
"Just let him stay with me." Sai continued.
"But he's a servant of the temple." Sasuke replied.
"That won't be a problem."
"…?" Sasuke looked slightly confused, though his features didn't give that away.
"Look at his face, do you really think he's a servant? How long have you been in this palace?" Sai said slyly.
Naruto felt his heart skip a beat; it felt as if it had dropped in his chest.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked.
"I'll explain the rest in my mansion. Anyway, we can't just leave him at the Imperial Palace. Naruto, was it? Come along. I've already prepared horses."
I have to think of something! Sai-sama wants to use me just like Orochimaru!
"I'm grateful that you've saved me, but I can't go with you immediately." He said.
"Oh? Is there something you have to do?" Sai asked, interested.
"Yes, last night I lost a letter that Jiraiya-sama gave to me. Once I find it, I'll come back with you." Naruto explained.
"What do you think, Sasuke?"
"Think about what?" Sasuke inquired, in a disinterested tone.
"Do you think he plans to escape?" The raven asked Sasuke.
"I can tell he doesn't trust me." Sai observed, "It looks like he knows why I want to take him in."
"Why?" Sasuke asked, obliviously. For an Uchiha, he felt slightly stupid. And he would find out what Sai intended to do with the brat.
"To let him serve me at night, of course." He whispered to Sasuke.
"Serve?! You have enough women as it is. And now it's the same gender?"
"Anything wrong with that?" Sai acted disheartened. "You're not interested in Naruto, right? There's only one reason a chigo would run from a temple. I'll treat him kindly and help him forget about the abuse he's taken from the monks. Right, Naruto?"
Naruto closed his eyes, about to answer.
"You can't do that!" Sasuke raised his voice slightly uncharacteristically. Naruto blinked in confusion, even Sai had to press his ears to check if he'd misheard - Sasuke never cared about something this much before.
"If those are your only intentions, then I will take care of Naruto. Do I make myself clear?" Sasuke continued.
Sai raised his hands in surrender and muttered 'okay, okay, I get it.'
He understood my feelings and…stood up for me? He is a nice person.
Suddenly, Naruto felt dizzy and flopped to the ground. Lee, who was watching from the sidelines spoke.
"It must be his fever coming back! He has to rest!"
"You knew he was sick, yet you made him talk for so long. How uncaring." Sai teased.
Sasuke pointed at him, his eyes narrowed with frustration. "You were the one who wouldn't shut up."
Two days later…
"How's the kid doing, Haruno-san, Hyuga-san?" Sasuke asked Sakura, and Hinata, who were currently watching over the blonde. Sakura blushed.
"Ah! Sasuke-sama!" The pink haired girl smiled welcomingly.
Hinata shyly looked at the ground through lavender eyes, "H-he has been here for two days, but h…his fever is not going down."
"Thank you. You may leave." He signalled for the two girls to leave the room and walked over to Naruto, who was flushed and sweating. There was a towel over his head, to lower his temperature.
"J…Jiraiya-sama…p-pestle…" Naruto reached out his hand shakily, in his sleep. He breathed heavily.
"I'm sorry, the night I found you…" Sasuke recalled the night he collected Naruto…
"P-pestle…" Naruto said in his sleep. He was covered in injuries and held onto Sasuke as they rode his horse.
"Pestle, you mean the ritual implement?" Sasuke inquired. Naruto didn't answer; he was clearly talking in his sleep.
Sasuke didn't turn, instead he kept on riding.
"I'm sorry." He said to the sleeping blonde. "I should have gone back for it. I was only thinking about being late to the council. And I ignored your words…" Sasuke spoke quietly, the words he would never admit if Naruto was awake.
He kept on repeating it last night as well…damn moron, it must have been something really important to him. That was pretty insensitive. After all, I know what it feels like to lose something you love. He thought.
"…Pestle…Jiraiya-sama…p…estle."
The cloth fell from Naruto's head and Sasuke picked it up, gently laying it on his forehead. "Dobe, wait for me. I'll find the pestle for you." He stood up and walked out of the room.
If that will ease your pain…
Key Terms
(1) Chigo = A term for youths that Buddhists often entered relationships with.
(2) Imperial prosecuting and investigating officer, or 'police' of the Heian period.
(3) Ceremonial court dress.
To be continued…
Please R&R! I'll try and reply to all of them! Today, I managed to update very quickly; I have school this week, so the next update might take a few days. Oh and here's a few questions:
Is the story too confusing? If so, I can clarify anything that doesn't quite make sense. And which days should I update on? If I make any mistakes to do with the character's personalities, please let me know. After all, it can get really confusing at times! If I miss any characters or pairings, please don't hesitate to tell me, I'll try and incorporate them into my story. And thank you so much to everyone who read, reviewed, favourite-d and followed, I really appreciate it. Chapter 3 will be up as soon as I've finished re-writing it! Please let me know what you think and if re-writing it has made it better. Thanks~!