Sasuke's eyes flew open and he stared up at the ceiling, his sheets were soaked with sweat and his pillow was wet with his tears. He was breathing hard and his vision was blurred. Slowly, he reached up and wiped the perspiration off of his forehead. It was only then that he realized that he was shaking. "W-why?" he whispered.
A gentle hand brushed his bags out of his eyes and rested on his forehead, cooling his burning skin. "It was a dream Sasuke" a soft voice said quietly. Sasuke turned his head and saw Orochimaru sitting near his bed. "M-master Orochimaru?" he said. "You had a dream Sasuke." Orochimaru said "I heard you calling for your mother." Tears blurred Sasuke's vision and he turned his head away, sobbing silently.
Orochimaru sat silently as his heir wept, knowing any speech would send Sasuke back into his shell. Finally, Sasuke's tears slowed and his breathing deepened. Orochimaru stood and pulled Sasuke's comforter up under his chin and the curtains around the bed closed. "I'm sorry Sasuke" he whispered before turning and leaving.
*Meanwhile*
Naruto sat up suddenly, Shikamaru's snores drifted across the room but the room was otherwise silent. Naruto glanced around the room. If it was so quiet, what had woke him up so early in the morning? Quietly, he slipped out of his bed and pulled on his shoes. After he was done he crept down from the ladder that led form the loft to the main floor bellow. Silently, he tiptoed past the door of Shikamaru's parents' bedroom and out into the night. Once he was outside he began to run towards the mansion. He didn't understand what was drawing him there but he felt the urge to go.
When he reached the mansion he stood there, staring at the fourth floor balcony, the place where he had first seen the figure. On an impulse, he ran to the wall and began to climb. The climb was long and strenuous and Naruto was breathing hard by the time he reached the balcony. With a grunt, he heaved himself over the rail and rolled onto his back. He lay there for several minutes to catch his breath before he stood and walked over to the large French doors. Quietly he pushed the doors open, slipped inside the room and hid behind the velvet curtains, listening intently. From further in the room came the sound of labored breathing.
Naruto stood motionless against the wall listening for any other sound besides the labored breathing. When he was sure there was no one in the room besides the sleeper he slowly drew the curtains apart and peered inside the dark room. The room was practically empty except for a few pieces of furniture. There was a large stone fireplace to Naruto's left with a beautiful high-backed red velvet chair sitting in front of it. Beyond the fireplace was a corner standing bookshelf mad of dark cherry wood. On the opposite side of the room, imbedded in the wall were beautifully carved wooden panels that Naruto assumed where doors. Then, in the center of the room, headboard against the right wall was a magnificent four poster bed.
From his view point, Naruto could almost clearly see the figure that was lying on the bed, asleep. Slowly, as if drawn by some invisible force, Naruto left the cover of the curtains and walked towards the bed. As he drew closer, he saw that the boy was restlessly sleeping as if caught in a nightmare. He was about to take another step when he heard footsteps coming near. Quickly, he glanced at the boy once more and then dashed back to the curtains. He stood silent, listening for any noise ore movement.
"Mother…" he heard the whisper the second time. He froze, neither moving nor breathing. The whisper came again, filled with such longing that Naruto felt a lump well up in his throat. "Mother…" Naruto heard the door open and the close with a click. He heard footsteps go in the direction of the bed and then stop. He listened as the sleeping boy's breathing became shorter and shorter until… "W-why?" the whisper was almost sobbed. "It was a dream Sasuke" A soft silky voice said, a voice that Naruto recognized from the stable. "Master…Orochimaru?" the boy asked. "You had a dream Sasuke" Orochimaru said "I heard you calling for your mother." Naruto heard the soft sobbing of the boy. It was only then that he reached up to wipe the tears off of his own face. When all was quiet, he turned and walked out onto the balcony, climbed over the edge and began the long slide down, the words of Orochimaru echoing in his mind.
"I'm Sorry Sasuke"
*Several Days Later*
Naruto stood on the hill waiting and watching for Kiba and Shikamaru. He grinned as he spotted them coming round the bend. But, who was the third person with them? He squinted. It was a girl but it didn't look like Ino or Sakura. As they came closer he could see that it was a dark haired girl who was wearing a really nice dress. A dress that was nicer than any he had seen the other village girls wear, except maybe Ino.
"Kiba! Shikamaru!" he yelled, getting their attention and waving. They waved back and turned off the path towards the hill. As they reached the top Naruto ran over, smiling. "Hey Guys!" he called cheerfully. "Hey Naruto" Kiba replied "This is Hinata" he indicated the girls next to him. "Well, I'm Naruto Uzumaki" Naruto said ducking his head. Hinata smiled and curtsied. "She's the governor's daughter" Kiba went on "We met when Neji, her cousin, came to the forge to pick up some jewelry." "Oh" Naruto said "Is she in on this?" he added.
Hinata looked confused and Shikamaru covered his face. "Naruto!" Kiba exclaimed "you weren't supposed to mention it in front of other people" "What?" Hinata asked timidly. Naruto looked at Shikamaru "Should I?" he asked "Why not? She's trustable" Kiba put in "Besides," Shikamaru added "You already mentioned it" Naruto looked at them, at Hinata, and them again. He gulped "I was talking about the mansion on the hill" He said in a small voice.
Hinata's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. "What?" Kiba asked. "My Father…he was talking about that mansion to a strange man." Hinata explained. "What were they talking about?" Shikamaru asked. "I- didn't hear very much…only that the man was telling my father that a demon lived there and could be a threat." "I-don't think he's a threat" Shikamaru said quietly. "I don't either" Kiba agreed. "What are we gonna do then?" Naruto asked "Nothing" Kiba answered "There's no reason to as long as he's safe" "Who?" Hinata asked quietly "Good question" Shikamaru said "We don't even know who we are talking about. For all we know, he's not even human" "Don't you remember in the stable?" Naruto asked. "He is human" "We don't know that Naruto" Kiba said "Just because he looks human doesn't mean he really is. Demons take on human form all the time"
"But he felt real" Naruto protested "Feelings can be deceiving" kiba answered. "Look you two" Shikamaru cut in. "This argument is completely pointless. We don't even know if they are going to kill him. Just wait. Hinata will tell us if she discovers anything." "Alright" Naruto said reluctantly. "Hate to make it short but I have to go back to the forge" Kiba said. "I need to go home" Hinata said. "Me too" Shikamaru groaned "My mother is expecting me" "See you later then" Naruto said waving as they left. When they had disappeared from sight he turned and stared at the mansion. "Will we ever meet?" he wondered before turning and running down the hill.
