Hi everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to do this, but when I started it, I was sorta busy batting around ideas for this, and then…life just plain got in the way. But thanks to everyone who's been reviewing and I promise I'll do my best to not go so long without an update.

It had been a few of weeks since Naruto's meeting the Prince, and he was happy as could be that he was right, although he dearly missed Iruka, things were far from unpleasant at the castle, no matter how scary it looked. It turned out that 'Lumier' was merely the candle stick's sir name, his first being Jiraiya, yet Naruto couldn't help but call him 'Pervert stick,' with how he would glance up the feather duster's plumage any chance he got to. The tea pot was actually a kindly old woman named Tsunade, yet though she claimed to be no older than twenty-seven, Jiraiya vouched she was actually fifty. The armoire's name was Sakura, and from how the wood was that of a cheery blossom tree, Naruto could see how it fit, the only thing Naruto had so far been forbidden to do in the castle, was glance into the West Wing, where the prince had many times stated his room resided.

Back in the village…to say things were going well would not be true in the least. Iruka had taken to bed, rather ill from searching after Naruto day and night, Kakashi would attempt to help him, yet no doctors wished to get on Neji's bad side, the man pestering everyone in the village for Naruto's whereabouts, and would not allow Iruka any help till he gave in…much to the Blonde trio's dismay. The three were Temari, a foreigner who often spoke German for some reason or another, Ino, who was absolutely, obsessed with Neji, and Deidara, the only beautiful male other than Naruto that was blonde. Kakashi was, at the moment, researching voodoo rituals to try and make Iruka well…maybe someone should tell him voodoo is torture, not medicine.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh at the moment…it was, for some reason, snowing at the old castle, and the grounds of it, which were bound by a gaping chasm, had become beyond white. He finally managed to convince the prince to exit with him, as he said, "C'mon Sasuke, let's go make a snow man." The childish manner, with which Naruto demanded that, was too adorable to resist. Naruto was wearing a bright orange coat, with white fur at the collar & cuffs, his pants were clearly blue beneath it, as he wandered around the beautifully snowing palace. Sasuke was…rather poorly, attempting to make the body as he rolled snow into a ball that just about made it up to Naruto's arm pits, the blonde having a difficult time trying to put the body on, yet that didn't stop him from trying. Soon enough he succeeded as he crafted the head, and with Sasuke's lifting, had the head in place and stood proudly before their work. Sasuke had never really known why people found such activities enjoyable, the snow would just melt soon anyway, so why bother using it for something as frivolous as this…yet standing next to Naruto's smiling face seemed to make Sasuke feel warm…and not just because he was wearing a blue jacket similar to Naruto's over his already thick fur.

"Sir, we have a matter that requires your attention right now," explained Jiraiya in that gentlemanly manner he so often used when speaking to Sasuke or Naruto. He had clearly seen better days as he shivered loudly whilst rubbing the ends of his candles together in order to try and start some form a flame.

"Sorry Naruto…but I must go, please stay here," the prince did apologize as he followed Jiraiya on all fours. Ever since that meeting he had slowly begun to soften his demeanor & now used manners befitting his title.

"It's been three weeks and I still can't find my own room," murmured Naruto as he tried to find his way around the lightly-lit halls before finding himself at a darkened area, unaware of how in this early morning the sun was at his back. Before him was the West Wing, the very area he had been forbidden to enter. However in his loss of a sense of direction he wondered the path, calling out for any of them whom he knew by name, or by form they held under this curse. He finally approached a large door with claw-marks and finally realized what he had done, "I found Sasuke's room," he gasped under his breath.

Both frightened out of his mind and curious in one instance, Naruto pushed the door open, waiting to find a suit of armor standing guard ready to spear him! However he saw none and entered unimpeded. For some reason, the darkened room seemed to try and drain all the joy from his heart as he casually sat down on Sasuke's bed to stare about himself. On the wall just across from the bed was a portrait of a young man whose skin was as fair as snow, yet had the piercing red eyes that might cause a hawk to fall from the sky and bow. The prince's bed was oddly soft for such a massive being, although what surprised Naruto more-so than that was the glass case set upon a table. Within it glowed a single green stem with a dark bud atop itself, adorned by but one single petal.

"I thought I told you to stay out of here," a loud bark emerged from the door as now standing there was Sasuke, looking between Naruto and the rose that marked his remaining time. As much as he wanted to be angry with Naruto he…he couldn't be, yet he was angry none the less as he screamed, "Get out!"

Naruto needed no second telling as he rushed off in total fear from the ferocious beast the prince knew he truly was. He smelled Naruto's tears and would have cried himself if not fro his pride and how his bestial form did not allow tears to fall. He was angry, that much was true, but the fact was he was angry with himself. Angry at not being able to blame Naruto for entering even under explicit instruction not to. There was something about him that seemed to drive out all fear that his life might end upon the end of this month…something that made the prince want to change and not allow his anger to get in the way.

"Iruka just won't break! Why won't he break," demanded Neji to his cousin loudly as he crash his fist through the thick bar, in utter rage!

"Well…maybe Iruka-sensei…maybe he…umm…" Hinata attempted to answer her raving cousin, yet found no words came to her. The ill-fitting attire would give a slight slip as she looked down at her over-sized boots and prodded her fore-fingers together. There was never any reasoning with Neji when he was like this, and there were only two ways, and she didn't like either one! She was really hoping he'd just settle for yelling and screaming, and maybe getting into a fight…because no matter how good he hunted, or how nobody else could drink as much rum as he could, her cousin just could not sing!

"Oh Neji," the blonde trio squealed aloud at their love's rage. They would marvel at everything the man did, and Hinata was quite frankly sick of it, yet would never voice her opinion….for doing such would be rude. Finally Neji seemed to visibly calm down as Deidara came forward and began to rub the pale-skinned man's shoulders lightly. Temari calmly set about doing the same for Hinata, earning a light blush from the weakling in clothes at least eight sizes too large everywhere.

"Maybe I can help," spoke up a low, hissing tone from the back of the room and everyone's gaze shifted there immediately…and they all wished they hadn't. Sitting there, wearing a large black suit, which seemed the outfit Death itself might wear to a formal gathering, was Orochimaru, the benefactor of the nearby "Institution for the rehabilitation of unfit for society people." Most everyone in there had done one of three things. Honestly be unfit for society, break the laws established by the town's charter, or cheese off the wrong influential person. His pale skin and long inky hair drove most people to avoid making deals with this devil, yet his sly viperous yellow eyes and violet eye make-up did not help his cause either.

Neji however, was one ready to sell his soul for his prize…a sick grin spread across his face as he said, "I'm all ears to your plan, my fine friend." Folding his fingers over each other, he did what none in town would have thought possible…he scared off all three of the blondes, Temari dragging Hinata away, clearly unaware of just who she was holding onto, and Deidara found himself being comforted by Sasori who had a long line of bad blood between him and Orochimaru, yet with his numerous prosthetics, he couldn't be proven as unfit for society. Ino had no refuge save behind the bar, and she was perfectly content to wait Neji's insanity out.

"Naruto's father, Iruka Umino, believes his son was taken captive of a gigantic wolf-like demon, which seems only something you'd see in nightmares or children's stories. His entire existence being according to a child and some old man who owns a bookstore….not very right in the head, wouldn't you say? However if you were to find it in your heart to vouch for him, I might be persuaded to write his hallucination off as due to his illness," suggested Orochimaru over the empty floor as he neared Neji, the self-proclaimed genius Hyuuga with his back arched over the edge of the bar with his eyes taking in everything of his partner in crime clearly. Both extended their hands in one haunting moment and shook.

Neji finally spoke up, "I don't believe a word of some monster taking Naruto," with such a hunter's grin that all felt like lamb's who only now realized one of their own was a wolf…and a very, very hungry wolf at that.