Chapter 30: Future Planning
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Plans are thought for the future.
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Start date, January 23
Once Moran left, Naruto slowly moved from the bed and walked around it. He looked around the larger room, seeing nothing new. He walked to the bathroom, wincing from the slight pain from his feet and his leg. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he passed the mirror. Scents came to him. It was not very strong, but to him, it smelt like human, multiple humans. He entered the bathroom, finding toiletries set out on the sink. He picked up the shirt and the pants, finding a pair of boxers underneath. He frowned, looking at the red color of the shirt and blue of the pants. He set them back down and moved to the tub/shower. He smiled slightly; glad to get his own bath. He turned on the water, getting the teampture he wanted. He strip down, frowning as he removed the wrap around his left leg. He grabbed the shampoo and step under the spray of water, letting the water run down his body. He sniffed the shampoo, frowning at the smell of roses. He quickly got cleaned.
He stepped out, having the urge to shake his body. He suppressed it and dried off. He quickly got dressed; frowning once he found everything was too big on him. He rolled up the pant legs and walked out, letting the sleeves cover his hands. He moved to the bed, setting down. He looked around the room, wishing to have a window, yet he would rather be home. He looked to the mirror, as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up again. He looked away, frowning.
"I don't like that mirror."
"Neither do I Kit. Have you ever heard of a two-way mirror?"
"Ah yah, Iruka-sensei took us to where they interrogate prisoners when we were little, a field trip. We got to see from one room to another. He said it was to observe the prisoner and the one who is interrogating him or her."
"Well, I think that is what it is."
"So I will have to be careful what I do now. I guess the space between the bed and wall will be a place where I can hide, and easily move under the bed, still showing off I am afraid. Are you sure it is okay to open up to the man more now?" he asked
"Yes. The man is our pawn for now. They believe you put up a front and it dropped, once you felt defeated. You are trying to find something to keep strength to, like a toy, in a way. Ninja rule of not showing your emotions is not an option now. They see a child who might have a troubled past and once they learn of it, will use it against you, changing your view of your home and in a way, deflect. I like it since they think of your claws and eyes show your fear and anger."
"So I guess we will come up with some plans. Also we need to make up a story to use."
"We will come up with something once the man asks questions. Keep your fear of the old man constant. I have an idea to use, but you won't like me."
"Not like you are going to make me have nightmares or something."
Naruto did not like the laughing in his mind.
"Don't worry; they will help with your poly. You fake being scared very well."
Naruto frowned deepened.
"I am afraid. I'm also uncomfortable with the attention."
"I know. It is good you admit that you are afraid, so you can conquer it. Now if he does ask some questions, I will tell you how to act or tell you what you need to say, or not to even at all. The man will not press, in a way. The old man might lose patience and I fear he will be hostile to get what he wants."
"They can torture me for the information they want. They can even brainwash me"
"Hmm, you are smarter then I thought you were."
Naruto would have curled his nose. He glanced to the door, putting a small smile on his face as Moran walked in. The man gave him a smile and set the three bags on the table he was carrying. He looked to the boy.
"Lets get the cream on you and you can eat."
Naruto nodded and moved towards the man. Moran frowned, watching him limp. He set out the medical supplies, looking out the corner of his eye to the window. He knew he was being watched and knew who was behind the mirror. He looked up and watched the boy stopped, fidgeting slightly. His head was bowed.
"Why are you being nice to me?" Naruto asked in a small voice
Moran frowned. He moved forward, but stopped as the boy moved back from him. He let out a sigh and sat in the chair. He pulled out the food for both him and the boy. He spoke up.
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I was mad at Lou, he disregarded rules. You see, we were gathering information. We are of a small country, not liked by many. Many others will do the same, even your village will spy on others. He was only to just gather information. You must be afraid, far from home, away from your family and friends. I'm surprised by what you done to try to escape and how you managed when you did. I'm still mad at you knocking me out the way you did. That was a powerful killer intent you had and I see you are skilled, but with still with many faults. You fell cornered. Now you come and set down and eat."
Naruto glanced up as the man open a container and set it where the other chair was. He walked forward, setting down. The man furled his eyebrows when the boy took a sniff of the food and watched him eat at a rapid pace. He ate his meal, a smirk crossing his face as the boy moved to another bowl. He finished his own meal and stood up. He frowned when the boy flinched. He walked into the bathroom, grabbing a bush. He came back, standing behind the boy. He caught him by the shoulder, before he bolted. He pushed him to set back down and started to brush his hair. Naruto curled his nose and started back on his meal. He winced when the man found any knots. The man frowned as the door was open and a womanwalked in. She gave a smile, which fell as the boy quit eating. Moran placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, not letting him move away.
"Good morning Moran-san, I did not expect you here." she said
"Good morning to you Kara-san. What brings you here?" he asked
Naruto started fidget, feeling the anger coming from the man. He watched the woman motion to someone outside the door and three men walked in, carrying packages. She frowned at Moran and walked forward, taking the brush.
"Knowing you, you're not too gentle and will pull hair out."
She pushed him away, bumping her hip into the man. Naruto crossing his arms, shaking slightly, as the woman brush his hair. She spoke up, joy in her voice.
"I brought the things the lord got for the boy, since I was heading this way. So you taking care of him, I thought kids were afraid of you."
"True, but I believe the boy is use to me by now. Is there something you need of me?" he asked
"No, not really, but the lord wants to talk to you later about what to do with Lou and some other things. I think one was taking the boy to the tailor and get clothes that fit him and another is taking him to the dentist about capping his teeth so he won't draw blood next time he bites."
Moran nodded, letting out a tired sigh. He sat back down, watching the woman brush the boy's hair and the three men put stuff up in the closet and dresser. She had a smile on her face. He looked to the boy, his body was stiffened.
"I thank you for doing the boy's hair." he said
She shrugged and reached into her pouch, felling around. She smiled and pulled out a hair band and quickly tied Naruto's hair in a ponytail. Moran frowned as she bent down, wrapping her arms around the boy. Naruto jerked to get free. She gave him a kind of hug and her eyes widen. She stepped back, holding her arm. Naruto got up, about to run under the bed or to the bathroom, but the three men and the woman blocked him. He stepped back, as Moran stood. He bolted, running through the open door. Moran cussed, chasseing down the boy. The woman scowled and walked out of the room, the three men following her. She walked off, letting Moran take care of the boy.
-captured-
Naruto had a grin on his face as he ran around, getting lost. He spat out the blood from his mouth. He had trouble forcing his grin down. He turned down another hall, finding himself in a dead end. He took off again, sniffing the air.
"Do I just run some more, or go down a hall with people? I don't like you again."
"Quit thinking about your stomach. The food will be there when your sorry ass is dragged back. Find people and run from them. Cornered foxes are not thing to mess with."
"I am starting to hate that analogy."
"Do you even know what that word means?"
"Ah, likeness?"
He heard a snort from the fox and stopped. He sniffed the air, smelling where some people were. He frowned, taking off towards them.
"That woman, I smelt her from behind that mirror. I think we will be seeing her more."
He got the sensation of the fox nodding. He ignored it, and turned down a corner, running into two men. He fell back, landing on his rear. He flipped his body over and took off, only getting a few feet from them. He was dogged piled by the two. Moran ran up to them, stopping when he heard hissing and growls from the boy. He yelled out, telling the two to get off. Naruto moved from the men, hitting a wall. Moran walked forward and grabbed him by the arm. He pulled the boy to his feet and pulled him down the hall, back to the room. Naruto huddled to himself.
"Sorry." Naruto said
Moran stopped. He almost did not hear Naruto. He knelt down, looking the boy in the face. He hooked a finger under the boy's chin, when he turned away. He made the boy look towards him. He looked the boy in the eyes. He saw the boy's eyes were slit and blue, but started to return to being round. He frowned when the boy would not look at him.
"Why were you afraid of her?" the man asked
Naruto glanced to him and pulled his chin free. He looked down.
"I did not like her. She, her happiness, it was fake. I don't like being touched."
The man frowned.
"You are not pulling away from me."
Naruto look to the man's hand that held on his wrist.
"It's different."
The man nodded, understanding. He stood up and led the boy back to his room. He let the boy finish eating. He quickly added the cream on the boy, wrapped his wounds in a thin layer of bandages and made him take his medicine. He left, taking the trash. He let out a sigh, seeing Kara standing there. He narrowed his eyes at the woman.
"He does not like being caress and I would think you know not to touch him, since all that has happen to him."
She rolled her eyes.
"I know, but I was testing something."
Both jumped from a throat being cleared was heard. They bowed their heads, seeing their lord.
"Kara, I will ask you to stay away from the boy for now. Once he calms down, he might be able to deal with a lot of people. As Moran said, he is a frighten boy, which we must gain his trust, before we can do much with him. Moran has the boy's trust to a degree. Moran, as I believe Kara might have told you, I need to speak with you."
The man nodded and threw the trash in a trashcan. He walked with the man, his smirk returning.
"I think I am foolish. I did not see it, but I kind of knew the boy's favorite food."
The man chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, we miss things that are subtle. I want you take him tomorrow to the dentist. Tell him it's for safety for him and us. After that, take him to get clothes for him."
Moran nodded and stopped. The lord turned around, seeing him thinking.
"Do you think it would be wiser if, say I was around the boy more, like in one of the two room residences in the keep? I could get him to open up more."
The man chuckled and walked off.
"This is why I like you Moran, you know many things. You were good to the old ruler and good to me. Yes, it is a good idea. I will do that after a few days. I want to observed the boy, unsupervised for a few day's. A lot can be told by what he does when unseen."
Moran nodded. His eyes open wide for a moment. He quickly followed the man.
"I just remembered something. The boy, before we arrived from Flours. His eyes were bandaged, but he grabbed my hand and sniffed it. He calmed down, I think figuring who I was. That could be another reason he is opening up to me."
"The recurring acquaintance." the lord said
Moran bowed his head slightly and took off. He decided to go take a nap, his headache was back. He let out a sigh, wondering what he could do to get the boy to trust him more.
End date, January 23
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