A/N: Hey Everyone! Don't have much to say this time around so hope you all enjoy! On to the story.

Disclaimer: Don't Own.

Chapter 4

A Long Journey Indeed

…

"How much longer until we get to Lavonia?" Naruto grumbled out in resemblance of a child. Sasuke turned his head to see the blonde slugging behind after him. It had been like that all day.

"I didn't tell you to pack your whole house idiot; you could have just left everything but your sword." Sasuke countered back to the whining man. He'd tried to ignore the constant complaining at first but now it was just plain annoying.

"I'm sorry that I like to change clothes every once in a while," Naruto retorted back, trying to catch up with the fast paced man. He didn't get any more from Sasuke as they continued to walk in silence. Without the outgoing blonde trying to start conversation, the trip there would have been ever longer. If Naruto remembered correctly, it took about a week to get to Lavonia so he was going to make the best of it. The sounds of nature echoed powerfully through his mind, seeing there was no point in trying to start a discussion with the other male. Sasuke would most likely ignore him or banter back about his stupidity. Two of which didn't sound very pleasing and so Naruto kept to himself.

"One whole week of this huh?" Naruto mumbled mostly to himself. Sasuke glanced back at the blonde hearing some words but it was no use. The other appeared to be lost in deep thought so he didn't bother. Both travelers feel into a steady pace with each other, the raven not minding the quietness at all. If possible, he would love it to be that way the whole journey there.

"Oi, bastard?" Naruto began, after a millennia without speaking. "Do you think I can really lead my kingdom in the right direction?"

Sasuke was a bit taken back by the question but replied anyway. "I think you're well suited for the position."

At that, Naruto bit his lip feeling a bit shameful at receiving such optimistic praise. "I'm not so positive about it…I don't know if the people will accept me back? I did run away…what if they think I'm just a coward? I don't think I'd know what to do?"

The dark haired man didn't reply, instead he just kept walking on. Wasn't one reply enough, why did the moron feel the need to reassure himself so much? His duties didn't include babysitting nor positive encouragements. His object was to get a blonde idiot back to Lavonia and that was that.

"Oi bastard! Are you listening to me?" Naruto tried again. "What if the people of Lavonia call me weak and…don't accept me?"

Sasuke sighed out exasperated, the prince probably wasn't going to quit until he got an answer.

"You know what you'd do if they did all those things," Sasuke answered at last. "If they call you a coward and a runaway brat."

"What?" Naruto asked all too eagerly, hoping the raven could ease his mountain of guilt.

"Nothing." Sasuke stated simply, as if the answer were so obvious.

It took a second for Naruto to register that Sasuke had given him a useless one worded answer. "Nothing. Nothing? That is the lamest thing I've ever heard from anyone! Not very inspiring at all." he shouted angrily at the treading raven. Oh if he had a rock, Naruto would definitely throw it at the duck-butt hairstyle Sasuke was sporting. Alas he didn't so he stuck to fuming angrily in the back ground. Did the noble man surely not care about whether he could succeed or not?

"Look, I'm not here to give you motivational speeches about how you can overcome any obstacle, you moron. I'm just here to take you back." Sasuke explained. "Besides that fact, I'm being serious. If they accuse you of being a deserter, you admit to it."

"But-"

"No Naruto." Sasuke looked back with finality. "There are no excuses when you become King. You must admit your wrongs, earn their trust through honesty, and start over again. That is the only way you can gain your respect back. So stop running away and face the consequences."

Naruto listened intently, knowing all too well that it was true. Sasuke was right as much as he hated to admit it; the damage had already been done. There was nothing else to do now but simply ask for a second chance at redemption.

"Thanks." he said lowly out of gratitude. The blonde was glad that cold noble was a bastard. Honestly, he didn't need sugar coated lies of how awesome of a person he was. He needed the unforgiving truth of his mistakes and truly, only Sasuke would be so kind as to enlighten him with the harsh realities.

The raven merely grunted back at the thanks and moved ahead without any more talks. He was already on a time limit as it was and the blonde wasn't helping with the situation either.

"So, are we camping out in the wild tonight or are we staying at an inn?" Naruto began again, not quite liking the awkward silence.

"Can you not keep quiet even for a second?" Sasuke quipped back, vein popping at the constant jabber. "And no, we're staying at an inn."

"Jeez, that's all I wanted to know. No need to get so anal." Naruto murmured sheepishly.

The raven lord shook his head in disbelief. The blonde was certainly right at one thing, one whole week of this huh?

...

"You know if you're a lord and all that shebang, why do we have to share a room together?" Naruto asked the raven haired man. Again, Sasuke ignored the comment and went to taking off his jacket. He threw it carelessly on one of the armchairs and proceeded to take off his shoes.

"Hey, I know you like to ignore me and everything but this is a legitimate question!" Naruto persisted, voice rising in octaves.

"It's for reassurance that you won't run away, I need to keep an eye on you." Sasuke finally spoke out as he threw his boots to the side. Strangely, he didn't hear a peep out of the other afterwards. The raven turned to see what was wrong and was surprised to see a sour look on the blonde's face.

"What's the matter?" Sasuke questioned, not used to the odd stare.

"You still don't trust me?" Naruto began, feeling a bit dejected that he was being treated the same as six years ago. He wasn't a child anymore. "I don't understand why?"

"Look Naruto, it's nothing against you but I just have to be extra cautious. There's so much at stake upon your return that I can't afford to lose you." Again…

Even with that explanation Naruto turned away, a bit disappointed. "Yeah yeah. Still, that doesn't explain why there's only one bed."

"I'm going to tie your ankle to mine when we sleep." Sasuke commented, standing up to remove his shirt. The prince stared at him incredulously, not sure if it was Sasuke's way of joking or all seriousness.

"You're kidding right?" Naruto asked a bit hesitant about learning the answer. He turned to face the other for a reply but completely regretted it. There stood the raven in all his glory, shirtless and a confused look adorning his features. "Whoa! What are you doing?"

"I thought it was obvious, taking off my clothes." The raven replied back fumbling with his pants now.

"Wait hold on! Let me get out of the room first!" the blonde shouted, shielding his eyes away from the tempting sight.

Sasuke had the guts to chuckle at the blonde's virgin display of innocence. If he was sadistic enough he would have put a move on the blonde but he decided otherwise. They still had to endure each other for the next few days so he didn't want to make it uncomfortable for the man.

"Well what are you waiting for?" Sasuke chided in a sing song like voice. At that comment, he heard a loud ruckus and then the shutting of the door with a thud. The raven chuckled at Naruto's, dare he say, cute antics before grabbing a towel for a much needed bath.

…

Naruto panted softly when he reached a safe haven. He made it out of the inn into the streets and was glad that the cold night breeze was cooling him down.

"Stupid Sasuke," Naruto muttered to himself. The blonde could still feel his heart beating loudly, pounding rhythmically against his chest. He didn't know what came over his mind; the pale bastard wasn't even that good on the eye. Sure his creamy skin out matched any porcelain doll and his muscular arms were just the right size but…his stomach.

"Gyah!" Naruto hurled out into the night, slapping both hands over a red hot face. That stomach screamed to be nipped on, caressed, marked, licked, touched, and so much more. How was it possible for the raven to look so sexy and act so rudely?

"No no no, we are not going down that alley," Naruto commented out loud. Luckily there were no by passers or else he really would be deemed an idiot. The prince sucked in a breath of the frigid night air, instantly chilling his burning desires. "What's wrong with me? I ran because I didn't want to be the bride of some prince and now, I'm pining after a regent of the court."

He exhaled, the smoke of warm breath fanning against his face before dispersing into the night. There was no doubt he had an attraction for the other male but it didn't make a difference. Naruto was going to be King and a scandal with the lord wouldn't be good for his rocky future. The blonde finally took notice of the empty streets. Seeing that they had arrived close to dusk, it was most likely very late. His racing heart steadied at last and his body returned to normal. It was then his body realized the night's freezing temperature and so Naruto begrudging returned inside.

…

"What were you doing out there so long dobe?" Sasuke asked when the blonde returned from his quick escape.

"Dobe?" Naruto questioned, closing the door steadily behind him. He took noticed that Sasuke's clothes were somehow very clean, and even the jacket left on the chair wasn't torn anymore. "And what's up with the clean clothes?"

"Unlike you dobe, I do like to stay clean." Sasuke countered back, lying down on the bed. "Now hurry up and get into bed, it's still a long ways from Lavonia and we need to travel fast."

"Che, so eager to get me into bed huh?" Naruto grumbled out but walked towards the mattress regardless. "I haven't bathed yet but I guess you wouldn't care right. Since you want to get dirty with me anyway."

"On second thought, go get a bath," Sasuke retracted his statement. "I can smell your sweat from here and you can dream on dobe."

"Why do you keep calling me that?" Naruto stood up in irritation. "What is a dobe and it's not me who has wet dreams but you."

"You have wet dreams about me? I never would have guessed you felt that way." Sasuke teased back. It was so pleasurable to see the blonde turn red and squirm like a tadpole. Probably the only highlight he'd get from traveling with the idiot.

"You know what! Fuck you, I'm going to take a bath." Naruto surrendered, hands thrown up in the air. "Stupid jerk."

Sasuke laughed, literally laughed at the other. He didn't know why but he just found the situation so amusing. Naruto certainly had a way of drawing people in, maybe that was his kingdom adored him so much. Even after they heard news of his disappearance, no one dared to talk bad about the prince.

"Go take your bath then," Sasuke said after the blonde. He heard Naruto grumble something incoherent and turned over to see what all the fuss was about. The noble stilled completely when the blonde begin discarding his clothes. Sasuke couldn't lie to himself; he thought the prince was very attractive. The wild blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and cheeky grin would have anyone falling for the young man. He couldn't dare to look away when the other's shirt glided off smooth sun kissed skin. The raven felt his mouth salivate for a bit when the blonde bended over to take off his boots. Sasuke had such a clear view of two round globes that shrieked to be grabbed and molested.

"Oi, I'll be back." He heard the prince say before grabbing a towel and walking out clad in his pants. Naruto shut the door with a loud thud that reverberated through the small room.

"Damn," Sasuke said, a bit sadden that Naruto didn't fully undress in front of him. He stared at the empty spot where the man stood for a bit and then laid back onto the bed. The nobleman sighed contently at the day's accomplishment. Sasuke would never admit to Naruto that he was slightly enamored with the blonde even before the journey. The various portraits of the male back in Lavonia did Naruto no justice at all. His features far exceeded their imagination since the man ran away six years ago. A fifteen year old boy and a 21 year old man was a huge difference. Sasuke kept hunting for a boy during his first year search when he should have been looking for a well grown adult. He was on the verge of quitting the unprogressive search when fates brought him to notice the blonde stranger. Sasuke didn't think much of it at first. Honestly he just wanted to find shelter at the nearest town but upon seeing the other's face, there was no denying that he was the prince. The raven chuckled at his luck, maybe everything would turn out better this time around.

…

A/N: Yeah I don't think this was my best chapter but I really wanted to get it out. I hope you guys liked it though, and please review! Until Next time!