A/N- Haha. I updated really fast! Mainly because all of my reviewers are amazing, and have been pressuring me into writing another chapter. I have also found the best method for me to actually get things written is to have a spiral notebook completely dedicated to writing, and whenever I see it write down a paragraph or 2. It makes things so much easier to write, and it helps you get inspired and write a lot at some times.

Warnings: cute 12 year old boy fluff!

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

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Chapter 4

A knock sounded through grandiose hardwood doors, startling the black-haired boy from his daydreaming.

"Little Brother, what are you doing in there that is so secretive that it requires locked doors?"

Sasuke's cheeks turned pink as he flung the door open.

"I'm not doing THAT! I'm just thinking, or am I not allowed to just think for a little while?"

"Thinking, hm? Might I inquire as to what has so caught your interest? Itachi internally smirked—he knew exactly what his brother was so thoughtful about.

"It's nothing… just… stuff."

"Stuff, eh? This couldn't b about a little boy wit bright blond hair, pretty blue eyes and a bloody messed up back, could it?"

Sasuke flinched. He HAD been thinking about Naruto, but how did his brother know?

"It's written all over your face, little brother." Itachi practically read his mind.

"Oh." Sasuke bowed his head ashamedly. Only his brother was able to make him feel so much like a child.

"Aw, does baby brother have a crush on Na-ru-to?" Itachi teased, flicking Sasuke's forehead.

"Of course I don't! I mean… it's just… he's the first person to treat me like a normal person."

"And you have a crush on him…"

"…maybe…"

"In that case, I wont kill him for any reason, ok little brother? But you mush be sixteen before you can use him as a bed slave."

Sasuke's head shot up. A bed slave? He wasn't naïve, and he knew all about sex, but having the stable boy as his partner?

"I wouldn't want to take him away from the horses." Sasuke whispered quietly.

Sasuke had felt guilty when those big blue eyes had stared at him accusingly while he hit Star. The boy obviously didn't understand that Star was just a stupid animal.

Itachi noticed that his brother had zoned out again and headed for the door.

"Uh… Itachi… wait…" Sasuke had a great idea to show the blond that he was sorry!

"Well, what do you think about getting Naruto his own horse? I mean… so that I could have a companion my age to ride with."

Itachi raised a delicate eyebrow. "You may give him one of this years fillys to train. Do no give him one of the valuable ones though."

Sasuke's dark eyes lit up. "Of course! Thank you so much big brother!"

The elder just shook his head and left the room. His little brother was forgetting the ordeal Naruto just went through—it was highly unlikely that the blond would be very happy to see Sasuke ever again.

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White-hot searing pain shot through Naruto's back as he awoke. He felt the cracking of newly formed scabs as he tried to get up. He still had to do his work today, or he wouldn't even get his meal for that day.

His arms gave out from the pain, and he landed face-first back onto his cot. He heard Satan walk over to him, and let out a scream when the soft horse nose prodded his wounded back.

He had to get up. It was already starting to get light outside, and Itachi would be down in less than two hours.

Naruto flinched as he thought of his employer. He had to get up, he had to be perfect from now on. He couldn't endure another 'punishment.'

He almost shot up at the sound of the bolt on Satan's stall coming undone. Insead he groaned from pain as he twitched his head as far as he could to face the door.

Sasuke entered Satan's stall, hoping that the stupid horse didn't try anything. Luckily, the horse just pinned its ears back and continued to nuzzle Naruto's cot, trying to make the boy feel better without actually touching him.

The Prince winced when he heard a groan come from the blond, and had to hold back a shudder at the sight of the blood-soaked bandages covering the boy's back.

"P…p…rince.. Sa..su..ke…" Naruto tried to say, his voice still hoarse from screaming. He tried to get up again—he couldn't.

"Don't try to get up Naruto, Itachi wont make you work until you have started to heal. Here, I brought you some food."

Naruto almost cried at the sight of oatmeal, glad to have something that would be easy on his throat. He twitched his hand towards the spoon but flinched as pain ran straight from his shoulder to his back.

"Don't try to move, stupid. I'll feed you." Sasuke lifted oatmeal to meet the blonde's cherry-red lips.

Naruto soon finished the whole bowl of oatmeal, and was grateful for the affect that it had on his throat.

"Thanks." Naruto blushed cutely at the dark haired boy, earning a blush and nod in return.

"Naruto… well… I'm… you see… I am.." Sasuke looked away. Why couldn't he just say it? He wanted to, but it went against every thing he had ever been taught.

"You don't have to apologize." Naruto cut off his train of thought. "but thank you anyway for trying to. It means a lot." The blond smiled. "I'm sure that I'll survive."

"I…I asked my brother to let you get your own horse." Sasuke blurted, embarrassed by his half-assed apology. "He said you could pick one of this years fillys and train it yourself."

Big sky-blue eyes looked delightfully astonished. "Thank you so much Sasuke!" The blond smiled through his pain, tears of joy welling up in his eyes.

Sasuke smiled back at somebody for the first time since his parents had died.

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A/N- See, that was kinda cute, right? I have never written fluff before, so uh… it could be crap.. but I hope that its not.

Sorry for this chapter being relatively short, but hey, I updated really fast, so no complaining

Review, review, review!!