BIG HUGE THANKS TO: Kakashis-First-Kiss who is still my wonderful beta! I can't possibly thank her enough.
Thanks to: Odoori Kimura, Takai-taka, qwertyposty, JigokuShoujosRevenge, kyothefallenkit, RaitenKitsune, Syciara-Lynx, Dreamsofdragons, txgirl123, Lady Renyel of Arella, KitsuneyJenfner, geka0taitsume0taikaiyou, DarkRavie, Kakashis-First-Kiss, and Anonymous Sister of the Author who reviewed, I love you all!
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Tsunade sighed and turned away. Physically, there was nothing wrong with Naruto. He was thinner than he had been, but he wasn't unhealthy. In fact, he was healthier then he had ever been. It made sense if had Kabuto been the one taking care of him. Despite the condition of his body, his mind didn't seem to be there. He was forever staring towards the gates of Konoha as if trying to see beyond those woods.
The only physical imperfections were two perfectly straight scars over the top of Naruto's whisker marks. They brought up questions, but, like all questions asked of Naruto, they went unanswered. In fact, they had almost nothing to go on except for the letter from Kabuto, Kakashi's mission report, and Naruto's reaction to Sasuke's name. From the letter they had learned that Naruto was being kept prisoner by Orochimaru and that it would be advisable to save him as soon as possible. From Kakashi's mission report they had learned that Naruto thought himself in love with Kabuto and would rather have not been brought home. From Naruto's reaction they could assume that Sasuke had done something unforgivable. It was like trying to put together a puzzle that you'd never seen the picture of with some of the pieces missing.
Tsunade had sent Naruto home; there was no reason to keep him at the hospital when he had nothing more than two scars. Still, she worried about the part of the story they didn't know, and knowing Orochimaru only made her worry more. Just to make herself feel more secure, she ordered Team Kakashi to check on Naruto hourly and make sure he was alright.
Naruto had been sent home, but he didn't go there. Instead, went to stand at the gates to the village. He stood, watching the quiet forest, waiting for someone he knew would never come. He was vaguely aware of the gate guards watching him and he wondered how far he could run before they caught him. The thought didn't get very far: he had nowhere to run. Sadly, he turned from the gates and wandered to his house.
He entered the small building to find exactly as he had left it: a mess. He'd grown used to neatness. Orochimaru's servants kept his room spotless and Kabuto at least organized his lab. Staring at the mess was like walking in to find his old self sitting there. He walked into the bedroom and froze. There on the table cold black eyes stared up at him. Naruto lips drew back in a snarl and he knocked the picture against the wall. He heard glass shatter and the picture fell face down.
One of the larger pieces of glass at his feet and Naruto picked it up. Its sharp edge glittered in the light. Naruto pressed his finger to the edge and hissed as he drew it away bloody. Holding the stinging cut in his mouth, he placed the glass shard down by his bed. He supposed he should eat, but he wasn't really hungry. Still nursing his cut he fell into bed and quickly fell asleep.
The sun beat down warm on his back and he lay in the grass. Everything was warm and soft, and he felt at peace. Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't shy away. Instead he turned so the hand was placed on his bare chest and he could see the hand's owner.
The man's silver hair glittered in the sun and his pale skin looked out of place in this summery scene. The boy opened his mouth to say something, but the man silenced him with a kiss. The boy decided that whatever he had been about to say could wait and kissed back feverishly. The man moved so he was straddling the boy in the grass beneath him. The boy gasped as pale, cold fingers danced across his chest.
The boy threaded his fingers through the silver hair, discarding the hair tie that kept it all back. He decided it wasn't fair that he was the only one shirtless and began pulling off the man's layers of clothes. After removing the man's shirt he let his fingers trace the webbed scars lining his chest. He broke their kiss to bring his mouth to the scars, running his tongue along the lines, tickling the sensitive skin found around their puckered edges.
The man gasped in pleasure as the small, warm tongue danced across his chest. A humming escaped his lips that almost sounded like a name. His hands traced the smooth tan skin of the little blond beneath him. He brushed the black seal on the boy's stomach so lightly it was like butterfly wings.
The hand slowly pushed down the boys pants and the boy yanked at the man's. The boy's eager hands reached out, but the man above him changed. His hair grew longer and dark and hung like a dark curtain around the boy's face. The bed of warm grass died, wind grew cold, and the sun clouded over.
In horror the boy meet the glowing golden orbs above him. The dark purple paint stood out in sharp contrast against his almost transparent pale skin. He shoved at the monster that now towered above him. He tried to scream out in protest but found he had no voice.
He pushed and shoved till he wore himself down to a state of exhausted panting.
Pleaseā¦his lips formed the words, but no sound escaped his throat. The monster leered at the boy before slamming into him. The boy threw back his head and uttered a soundless scream bitter enough to shatter the dead trees surrounding them.
There was no sound save for the imagined breathing of monster. The monster moved up and down while silent tears streamed down the face of the boy beneath him. Finally, after a short eternity, it ended and as the world faded into darkness the monster leaned and breathed into the boy's ear,
"You belong to me, pet; you always will."
Naruto woke with the same soundly scream that had broken the trees in his dream on his lips. The monster's words echoed through his head.
"No, you're wrong! Kabuto said I was free!" Naruto shouted at the darkness.
'Yes, but where is Kabuto now?' A voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere whispered. "If he actually loved you, don't you think he'd be here now? Do you think he would have just walked away?"
Stupid voice! Naruto wanted it to be quite, he didn't want to hear his thoughts whispered to him by his walls.
"He didn't love you. No one ever has. You're alone; you've always been alone and you belong to me." Panic welled up in Naruto; the monster's voice was in his walls. Suddenly a thought occurred to him and he grabbed the large glass shard from the bedside table.
"I can't belong to you if I die!"
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AN: There you have it! Nearly a month after the first chapter, but at least its here. I'd like to thank Flightless Bird for giving me the idea about the dream. Huggles to her. Just so you all know my grades are coming out tomorrow I think, and when my parents see my calculus grade they will kill me. It may take me awhile to reincarnate myself and get my computer privileges back so if there's another long weight just know I'm busy being dead. -Morana
