Alrighty, here we are with the next chappie of, Cerise Tides. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. It's definitely going to grow more interesting, spicy, and angsty the further this progresses. Though that's to be expected of course. Hopefully I'm doing a decent enough job keeping everything in the story in present tense. I'm trying at least. Hehes

I hope you all enjoy. Please remember to favorite, follow, etc. along with leaving some nice reviews. I look forward to what y'all think about this.

Chapter 3: Lucidity

Kakashi

What I spoke to him about isn't a lie. I see no reason to give him false pretenses. All I say to him is the truth. There are some things I may not speak about, but that's common for it to be that way. What I hope is he agrees to my offer. Indeed there are things his parents never told him about. It's why I want to extend the chance for him to know. He's of age after all. It's about time he did discover it all without restraint. Swimming onwards, I keep an eye out, knowing to be wary in case any nefarious creatures may be about. Thankfully the current is tame right now. Most likely it's because of low tide.

What I am is a question that leads to many answers for a single inquiry. Most of the surface dwellers think of my kind as a mere myth or fairytale they speak to their young ones to help lull them to sleep. No, we are very much real. It's just that we prefer to rarely show ourselves to those outside of the kingdom. Finding the front gates, I step inside, glancing every which way to ensure I'm not caught. Father probably will be furious if and when he finds out I snuck out again to check the surface world. It's a place he forbids us strongly from. The reason why is because my mother died from venturing up there. It does give cause to worry at times. I try not to let it stop me, but I do falter from time to time. Moving carefully, I continue to check, going further on my way until I slip inside of the palace walls, hoping to make it to my room without being taken off to where father may give a scolding to me with finding out where I have been recently.

Hearing some movement, I curse under my breath, stilling for an instant before going to lie down, hoping I can fool whoever comes in, not wanting to be found out. The last time is when father had not let me leave the palace for two moons. Hearing the door open, I turn on my side, noticing someone approaches. There's a weight put on the edge of the bed that's a king size, having me flicker my eyes open. Well, it's only one, but still it has the same effect. Half of my face has a facial mask along with part of the lower portion and my forehead. What clothing I have on is a seaweed woven article to cover my waist along with a bit below to go down to where a human's knees are. Wild silver hair splays out, not having it in a tie to have it back a bit better than usual. Noticing who is there causes me to tense, seeing the stern yet warm gaze of Sakumo.

"Where have you been?" He asks me, keeping a level stare, not showing any judgment though there's a definite hardness in his gaze as if he knows I've done something against his rules, looking up to meet his gaze.

"Out," I reply, not averting away from him, knowing if I do then he'll know I've gone against his wishes, hating it when he throws shade about it because all I am trying to do is not feel too reclusive in these onyx and coral walls.

"I see…. You skipped your lessons again," points out my father, seeming to still be suspicious of where I have gone.

"You know I tend to wander from time to time. I'm careful," I reassure, not wanting him to worry too much about me when he has a kingdom to run.

"Very well…. Don't skip them again or you will not be able to leave the palace for a moon," warns Sakumo, nodding once in understanding, thinking this punishment is right if that happens again. "Your cousin will be coming to visit tomorrow."

"Oh," I grimace, not particularly fond of Obito even though he has grown on me a bit throughout the years thus far, guessing I can tolerate him for as long as he's staying here. "That will be fine then."

"Good, you will be the one set to show him around. In a sense, you will be guarding over him while he's here, hoping that you will be able to protect him if anything happens. You are able to take up this responsibility, right?" Asks the older silver haired male, staring down at me with a penetrating gaze as if he can almost see through me.

"Of course," I assure, wondering where this line of conversation is leading to, feeling a little weary of where I think it may be heading to.

"Good, you better. One day it will be your turn to take the reins. I need to know you are capable of handling responsibilities without fault. There are many things you still have yet to learn to become a great ruler, my son."

()()()()()()

Orochimaru

Hmmm, it seems that I have someone I must find. It pleases me greatly to know he accepts my offer. There's quite a bit that I can show and teach him. Yes, there will be a time for explanations on the way back to where the main hideout is. Otogakure has become overrun by certain individuals, causing my flock and I to take residence in the mountains. It suits us well enough; especially with there being more reptiles here. It's definitely a better environment for my current pets. At the outer gates, I wait in the shadows, knowing he'll come soon enough. When he does, I extend a hand to him, seeing he has all he'll need for the few years he'll be away from Konoha. Perhaps this situation can work fairly enough in my own favor. Well, that is something I can contemplate over later. Now, I have business to take care of.

"Well, well, well, I see you came to the correct decision," I murmur, lips twitching ever so slightly into a small smirk. "Are you sure about this?"

"Hn, I don't look back on the choices I make," replies Sasuke simply as if it's common sense, eyeing my hand suspiciously before accepting it in one of his own, feeling the mark given to him many years ago begin to react to my presence.

"Good, this is one you won't regret. Now, it's time to return home. There's much we need to discuss. In due time you'll come to realize the true path you must follow."

()()()()()

Naruto

What does he mean? There's things my parents haven't told me about? Confusion hit me quickly, unsure of whether or not to believe him. I mean he clearly isn't a human…. That much I can gather right now. What I saw of him did take my breath away. Sure, I have seen hot and sexy men before, but he's the most beautiful one I have come across in a long time. Yeah, I'm not bashful about my preference. I'm open about it because if others don't like how I am then they can piss off. Staying at the shoreline for some time further, I stare out until the sunset falls, watching it idly while my mind is a whirl with thoughts. There are so many questions I have except there's far too few answers to grasp. Maybe I can ask mom when I head inside. She probably might know something… At least that's what I hope. Getting up, I dust myself off, heading back the way home, heading inside to put my stuff up. The lights are on, meaning she probably is still up. What surprises me the most is when I see her in tears. Rushing over, I hold her hands in my own, consoling her gently.

"Is everything ok? What's wrong?" I ask her out of concern and worry.

"I-It's your father," replies Kushina, holding out a letter; envelope set aside. "H-He's….lost it seems on the current voyage."

Sighing in resignation, I know this is something I fear. Well, it's something I've feared about for quite some time. To hear it spoken aloud feels so surreal. Accepting the letter, I look through it closely, brows furrowing at what's written on the slightly damp pages. It seems that she's right. Hopefully he'll be able to find his way back soon. I know it can be hard on both of us, but for her especially with how close a bond they have. Handing it back to her, I collect my thoughts before I speak to her next.

"We both know this is likely to happen. I'm sure if we don't despair and hold onto hope we'll be ok. He'll be back soon, right?" I ask, searching her face a couple of times, anxious for how this will be taken by her.

"Yes, of course, you're right," she says after taking a few deep breaths, regaining her composure, knowing she needs to put on a brave face for me. "I agree with you that this is bound to happen. It's not easy to swallow, but we'll get through this, Naruto."

"Exactly," I smile gently at her, easing her worries about him, hoping dad will come back soon, hiding my own worry because I don't want her to stress out any further than she already has about this. "Um, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?" Kushina asks, attention full on me, having one brow quirking up ever so slightly.

"Is there anything that you and dad have been trying to hide from me? I know this must sound really silly, but…..well, I don't know," I scratch the bak of my neck, hoping I haven't overstep any boundaries.

"There is… But your father and I made an agreement. We wouldn't tell you until your nineteenth birthday," sighs Kushina, hoping that this might happen when he's here rather than when he's absent in all of this.

"That's in two days," I say quietly, a little unsure if I honestly want to find out or not.

"Yes, that's true… You'll know then, ok? I don't want to tell you all of it when your'e not ready for it yet. It's only two days after all. You can wait that long, can't you?" My mother asks softly, genuine emotion in her green eyes.

"Yeah, I think so."

Oks, that's the end of chappie three. It's a bit short, but I still want to build up the hype for what I have planned for further chappies of this. So far, I think it's been a great idea to focus only on one fanfiction story. Why? Because I can ensure it's a well thought out and progressive one for y'alls reading enjoyment. Hehes

Thank you all for your excellent feedback I've received for this. It means a lot. It helps me with having more motivation to continue on with this. Hopefully y'all like how it's going so far. I also hope that I'm doing well with the povs and staying in the present tense during the story.

Anyway, enough of me blathering on. The next chappie will be out shortly. I'm on spring break for two weeks more or less which gives me more time to work on stuff. Until next time, please remember to review, darlings!