goimh
Chapter6
AN: I seem to be getting in the swing of this particular writing. Thanks for reviewing chapter 5! It makes me REALLY happy to see feedback on this story. (Liek U hav Nuuu Ider)
0o0o0o0o0o
After two hours of analyzing the plan with caution, the two finally had a solid idea of what they were going to do with the spare day.
When they were sure the entire set up was committed to memory, the whiskered pair sacked out. Good thing too, both of them had purple bags under their eyes and facial skin was serverly lacking in fluids, leaving them pale and slightly jittery.
It wasn't like Menma was just too terribly weirder out by the situation. Crazier things had happened on his past heists.
Like that one time. He had to act as a goat god in order for one of his fellow thieves to re-obtain one of his own trinkets.
That was weirder than acting like he was obeying like a self-centered noble.
The sleep was amazing. Especially after all those crazy issues of the previous day. Then again, sleep was always the most heavenly thing a person could have.
The following morning was early... Painfully. The bags under Menma's eyes hadn't fully deteriorated and drowsy sensations swamped his thinking. Now that Sasuke had seen his cuts, or. glimpsed them, it was pointless to make a small issue bigger then it already was.
Now that his mind was off track, it might as well be mentioned. It. was. COLD at night. Freezing. Even in his half-awake haze, he would wake up and see his breath come out as fog.
At this time of year, even the tropics were cold. The cold front moved south every year and chilled the entire region.
Not that he didn't mind the intense cold, he was just well adjusted to the heat. He withheld from face palming. He knew that the front came every year, he just wasn't planning for it.(1)
Grumbling, he moved over to the closet and tugged out a blue-stained jacket-like object. It had fur on the inside that was mismanaged and stuck out in tufts at the edge of his waist, wrists, and the hood.
Naruto was up and pulling on a dull orange and black object that was similar to a jacket as well.
"Sasuke did hire the best. These half-coats are actually useful." So that's what these were called. Nonetheless... "We are in luck." Naruto said and began X-threading the wires alongside the half-coats edge.
"What makes you say that?" Menma asked and walked over to the lowing fire.
"Heard some commotion about an hour ago. Apparently a dragon was spotted along the edge of the kingdom, northeast." Naruto grinned and grabbed a feather cleaner. "Sasuke wanted to go hunt it."
Dragons weren't... Common. However, everyone knew that they were alive and really did fly above the clouds. Some place where animals were the semi-dominate species.
"Will he kill it?" Menma didn't think so. There wasn't a possiblity that he would kill one of the most sought after creatures and put it's head on the wall?
"Eh. Probably not. He's more of a gloater." Naruto said before grabbing a huge brush. "Regardless, it'll make sneaking into Sasuke's room easier. I'll head to the stables, you try to find whatever Riku was talking about. If you do find something, hide it well in my room and go to the stables. If you don't find anything, I still need you to be there when I release the animals." Naruto opened the door and began to power-walk through the dimly lit halls.
"Alright, good luck."
For now, Menma was presuming that there were less guards, since Sasuke was out hunting and whatnot, and the expected amount of people...
It took 14 hounds to hold down a large boar, so 38 to hold down an average dragon. 60 men, so that's two troops of 30... He didn't know which area the troops came from.
Menma grumbled and continued to pace down the dim hallways, keeping his breathing absolutely low to hear anything, his footsteps in a sliding motion to cut the noise. So far, nothing. No guards around the 63rd vault of gold, and no dogs ready to rip out his liver. So far, so good.
He peaked around the next hallway and listened. He was waiting for the sound of breathing or footsteps.
He waited for a certain amount of time, standing still would offer him a higher chance of another guard walking in his area. He was lurking around a prince after all.
His thoughts were answered clear and true when he saw two huge dogs at the bottom of a extravagant door, it was laced in crimson velvet and pearls. The dogs were large. Greaust the mouth would take off more than his forearm and maybe beyond his elbow.
This was also inconvenient because the breed of e intelligent and monstrous. Animals were smart on occasion, but predators were smarter than your average animal. Now that he thought about it, these dogs probably didn't even have a close relationship with Sasuke. In fact, he probably used fear and pain to assert himself over them. Menma sighed and tried to think of a distraction method.
First, he had no clue how to make it work. And of he did, there would be a split second to make things work. Menma began fishing through his clothes for something, anything to catch the bulbous animal's attention. He thought about sacrificing his mask until he found a reasonable sized pebble under his sandal. He stared sat it, concern and uncertainty lacing over his face as he rolled the stone in his fingers. He couldn't mess up, not even now. As he tossed the stone, a flash of brief thoughts popped in his mind. A good story was with a hero, who always seemed to get out of a situation. A hero lived through and through. His thoughts were halted, as the rock made an audiable 'click' and bounced against the far wall.
The dogs instantly awoke from their snoozing, giant heads swiveling in complete unison at the sound. They rose up at the same time and walked like trained military men. Left and right at the exact same time. Menma had a feeling in his gut that maybe, just maybe, these dogs could find him via smell left on the rock. His blood ran cold as the dogs sniffed at the pebble in harmony, upper lips rolling back to show canines. He could run for it, the dogs would see him, he wasn't scared but... Wait a second. These dogs weren't galloping in his direction, no they were trotting. But for some odd reason, he didn't feel like they wanted his neck.
Menma readied his legs and poised for running, the stiff clench of muscle on muscle sharpening his feeling. Knees bent and ready to run, he hoped he wouldn't die here.
Instead of growling at him on sight, the dogs just looked at him. Menma contemplated. Dogs took offense if you looked at them for to long, if you looked away, it showed signs of being an omega. In a split decision, he held the stare. The dogs were looking at him, malicious intent and questioning reflecting in their twin colored eyes.
After a long glare, the dogs began to wag their tails in a friendly fashion. A smile seemed to show in the body movements and the large canines sat down in perfect unison. At first, he didn't understand. But it clicked after a few moments.
Slowly, Menma crouched down in an apologetic manner and began to stroke the canine heads.
Scars.
Scars everywhere. Now that he saw it, one of them was missing both tops of his ears. The other had what appeared to be a crack along his head, if the dent showed anything.(2)
The scars covered them. They flecked the sides and burns were engraved into the rumps. One had puncture wounds in his chest.
It wasn't just Naruto...
Menma dropped his head in disbelief. He ruled everything by how much people feared him. Even a dog. He wondered how many misbehaving it took for these animals to see who was the alpha. How many burns and whippings they could have withstood before they gave in?
They were just dogs!
Menma lifted eyelids and peaked at the nametags. "Hougen and Genba." Menma whispered. He felt muscles tense and release under his fingers as the two looked at him, fearful, expecting. "Good Boys." The dogs looked at him with curiosity and delight. Menma wondered how long it had been since Sasuke had praised them. Animals knew when you were happy with them. Menma rubbed their fur at little more and stood up. The dogs were expecting an order of some sort. He couldn't leave them like that...
"Follow." instantly, the dogs were at his sides. "good boys!" Menma began walking down the hall to the door. With animals like these at his side, he wouldn't fear anything.
When he reached the door, the dogs were looking at him in an expectant manner. He could understand why, but... Cautiously, he reached down and scratched their heads. The twin canines made a content whimpering sound and let Menma enter.
The layout almost mirrored Naruto's room.
This room was cloaked in rich crimson and dark colors. The heat being trapped in without any real ventilation, all came from the twice as large fireplace.
There wasn't anybody in here, he didn't expect anyone to enter the prince's quarters without an invitation.
His panic-and-do-things-quickly mode had begun to kick in, but Menma forced his nerves to relax. It was a dragon that they were searching for. With luck, they would take until evening, and go until the torches burned to charcoal stubs.
Calming himself, he started looking for a desk. If he even tried to do any political work, Sasuke would do things on a desk. Right? Right.
Menma walked slowly around the large bed, and was greeted with a lone, circular window at the top of the dark wall. The room made the white rays look gray and yellow in the darkened room.
A candle toward the far left of the room, where Naruto's closet would've been, was sitting on a large desk made of wood and blackened marble. Menma kicked up his pace and sped to it.
Careful not to bump anything out of it's place, Menma scanned the desk for any sign of the green scroll. Knowing his luck, it could be anywhere. Menma cautiously pulled back the drawers and peered inside.
The rough scrape of wood against wood is reassuring. Crazier people would make traps in drawers sometimes.
A package, wrapped in green paper, just under a foot in length and hight is lying on it's side.
Menma reached down without hesitation and pulled up the package.
First, before opening it, he ran his fingers over the covered parts, in case he was dealing with broken glass. Carefully, he reached for the sealed part and pulled.
The paper shreds at his fingers, as if it were made of dried moss. He made sure not to destroy it like a child at Christmas, else he leave paper pieces and evidence behind. His finger came into contact with smoothness, and he pulled out a fox statue.
'I like it.' are his first thoughts. It's a dark chocolate color. Smooth and sculpted by an expert. The fox' eyes are tiny emeralds. The vulpine is rearing up on it's hindlegs, a pose that suggests anger, but it's face is calm. Menma stares at this piece, it looks really familiar. He knows he's seen it before, maybe not a replica, but surely a lookalike...
Shrugging, he re-wrapped it in the paper and clutched it at his side. Now all he needed was that unidentified scroll. Menma opened two other drawers before stumbling on one that he hadn't seen before.
It was cleverly placed on the underside of the marble. Making it difficult to see the handle, it was obviously used to hide things. Menma pulled this one slowly, there was a higher chance of being bit by a snake this go around.
By luck, Sasuke must've not thought that anyone would look under his desk. Menma pulled it out and observed. He didn't touch anything, just to be safe. He was certain something would be here, why else would someone ask for a hidden drawer? There, in the corner of the drawer, was a tiny, seven inch scroll, nearly buried under the normal ones.
Gently, as to not make it obvious, Menma pulled away the scroll and hoped that no one saw his snooping. He couldn't understand it. The scroll was written in runic and hieroglyphic letters and meanings. It made no sense. Would Sasuke have understood it? If he had it that surely men't something. Menma considered having Sasuke by the throat and forcing him to read it out loud, but there was a huge chance that Sasuke didn't understand it. There was also a possibility that Sasuke didn't even have a translator, or even know how to translate it.
Sighing, Menma rolled the parchment back and held both items on one hand. He made certain that the rummaging hadn't been obvious, and dashed to the door. After closing the pearl-covered door, Menma took the chance to pet Hougen and Genba one more time before making his way out of the royalty halls. After three almost-encounters with the guards, he ran down the whitewash halls to Naruto's room.
It was an archaic way of going undetected but he didn't care at this point, he was running out of an unknown amount of time, and Naruto would be waiting in the stables.
Warily, he opened up the door and became silent, some maid or assistant might be inside. When silence greeted his ears, Menma relaxed. Scanning the room, he looked for something to hide the two objects in. Under the bed was too obvious, or anywhere on the bed.
The closet would have been safe until they parted the clothes. The bathtub was too visually striking. Menma didn't want anything to be obvious, he wanted extravagant and simplistic.
Spying a pot, he snickered and walked over to it. They wouldn't even begin to assume this. Sticking the scroll into the pot, he grinned in a snarky manner as the brownish color swamped the green. One of two issues solved.
Menma was gradually getting more ideas and more creative with hiding things as the years went by. The more absurd, the better. You couldn't drop any hints that there was anything out of the ordinary. If you did, you were done. And during his little self-confiding, Menma saw the next hiding spot; somewhere near the fireplace. Heat normally drove away intruders, especially if they were not able to handle it. Menma began shuffling around the top of the mantel in order to hide the fox.
Nothing.
It was too obvious, even if someone wasn't looking for it, they would still see it. It was in his irritation that Menma found that he couldn't feel any heat. The fire logs must've been replaced by a servant... By now, he would have backed away because the heat should have began singeing his knees. However, it felt as if the heat and ashes had become like large rocks and waves.
The heat rushed by him, split and rolled away behind him as waves of water would.
Confused, Menma crouched in front of the fireplace, his face practically touching the flame tips. He stole a glance at the fox in his hand. The statue had remained the same, except the eyes were amber colored, unlike the usual green.
Slowly, Menma extended the arm into the fire. Nothing. He didn't burn. The statue didn't melt. Menma gaped at the strange occurrence. It was like the gem eyes were looking straight at him now, a queer look, if statues could have faces.
Menma gulped and sat the fox behind the pile of coals and wood. Closing his eyes in fear of being burned, he let go. His eyes popped open when no heat came over his body. Like a connection had been forged and he could not get burned. Nobody would take a chance and stick their hand into fire, the statue was safe.
Menma wasn't sure his mind was safe, but he assumed it was ok...considering.
Dazed, he walked out of the room.
The way to the stables was short and narrow. Guards shot him suspicious looks but all in all, never said anything.
A spry fellow had the instinct to ask Menma what he was doing and where he was going. Menma silently commended the lad, answered his questions, and went on his way.
When he made it outside, he learned something about the palace setup. The direction he had gone was in the direction of the fields in order to make an exit for the forests. On the right of the building itself was a large sand pit that would hold over ten horses with enough room to train. Even farther right was gray stone wall.
It was large. Large enough to need a catapult to cross over to the other side. Menma had learned that on the other side, was a courtyard with a fountain and four pavilions.
'That's probably where he'll show off the dragon.' Menma affirmed to himself. Menma didn't really say that much when he saw the stables. They were huge and high quality.
On the outside, a thin layering of wooden sheets, polished and primed to a glossy finish. When he walked to the entry doors, he could also see underneath the wooden sheets were layers and mixtures of straw, mud, and rock to act as insulators. Smart.
Menma pulled down on the handle and opened the door. A rush of cold air and hot air mixing and pushing greeted him. More hurriedly than he would like to admit, he closed the door and shoved the pin in the lock. He leaned against the warmth and shivered at the sudden change.
The stables were warm. Warm like the tropics. Sighing in relief from the cold air, he pushed himself away from the gritty door and walked foreward. His fingers were going numb at the sudden change of temperature, fuzzy and tingly.
Chandelier-like torches hung at the ceiling, giving the stables an orange hue. Although dangerous, the effect was quite homely. A loud screech brought him out of his numb and thoughtful state. Menma watched as a bird-like animal smashed against the stable doors at his left. Alarm shot through his body at the sight of the door being half-closed, his vision went blurry at the edges and his arms went tingly, everytime the animals pounded against the door, the bolt loosened.
"Don't. Do. Anything!" Menma jumped at Naruto's sudden appearance. He saw Naruto jogging down the space between the stalls, half-coat discarded and necklace thrumming against his collarbones. He lowered his hands a few feet and braced himself as Naruto collided into the skittish boy. Naruto shoved Menma into the wall and held him there with an open palm.
"Just watch." His companion whispered and pointed at the trembling door. Menma held his breath and hoped that Naruto knew what he was doing, else they all be ripped to shreds. When the entire locking device shattered, it fell to the ground with a series of clinks. Three second passed before the door burst open and ripped off the top hinges.
A griffon burst out from behind the door, it roared and circled around the extra space. Its fur and feathers were a gray color, like a house cat. Blue and red flecked it's neck, like a western bluebird. Menma slapped Naruto's hand away and balled his hands into fists. Then it occured to him that the beast was rejoicing. It whooped and hovered in the air squaking to the other griffons that lay in wait. Menma's lips parted in sheer wonder, he'd never seen an animal so... Happy.
"See?" Naruto said and back away from Menma, and happy look crossing over his features. "I know what I'm doin'."
"...I see." Menma replied, dumbstruck. The animals were now chattering, bird and cat noises flecked the stables. He was brought out of his revere when the free griffon hovered and plopped beside Naruto.
"She's nice, s'why I wanted to let her out first." So it was a girl. The griffon made a low clicking noise and began fishing her beak through Naruto's hair. Eyes closed like a cat.
"No. Nothing in there." Naruto smiled and gentlly pushed the bird away from trying to find insect in his blond mop. Suddenly, she snapped her attention away from Naruto and became more bird-like.
"Uhh." Menma tried to figure out what to do. She came in closer and stuck her neck out, stretching back and forth, observing him. "What's her name?" Naruto began to laugh as the she-bird angled her face to where only one eye was visible. She brought her face in uncomfortablly close and looked at his face.
"Her name is Revide." Naruto said and attempt to stifle his laugh as the griffon poked her beak on Menma's head. Menma wasnt flustered, he just wasn't sure what to do! Suddenly, Revide began prodding through his hair. "She thinks you're ok." Naruto translated as the birdish part of the griffon dispersed and the purring returned.
"Uh... Ok." Menma said and followed his counter part down the empty space between the stables. The animals had quieted down, minus the bashing every now and again. Revide had her wing extended so that it would lightly brush against Menma's back when he stepped. He felt weird knowing that she was there and could eat him if she wanted to. However, she didn't and just kept on purring.
Naruto walked all the way to the other side of the building before stopping and pulling away the pin at a silent stall. Menma had at first been confused, why didn't Naruto go for one that wanted freedom? His question was answered when the door was shredded and clawed into countless numbers of wooden pieces and metal clanged to the floor. A larger griffon stalked out of it's pen, and Menma understood that this was a completely different animal.
"This is Alden." Naruto said before the animal screamed. He was a menacing creature, his freedom reeked of anger and vengeance. "He's aggressive, so far, I'm the only one who can touch him." Now Menma was convinced that Naruto was attempting to kill him and himself.
Alden snapped his larger head at the newcomer, he growled low, lips shivering at the low octaves. Before Naruto could hold him back, Alden began running at Menma, with intent to maim.
Menma had grabbed a nearby stall door and began to push himself up in order to gain a spectrum of distance between the beast and his neck. He didn't have to, though.
Revide darted under Alden and screeched, rearing her smaller form in front of the massive animal. Squeaking and mewling in an animal language Menma hadn't heard before. Alden roared at her. Menma commended the girl, he would have already ran away by now. T
he more she flapped her wings and bawed, the more he calmed down. Soon enough, he sat down on his feline haunches and snorted at her. She circled around him several times and made chirping and meowing sounds. Gradually, he quieted.
"I knew that would happen." Naruto grinned cheekily. Even with that triumphant grin, Menma could see the boy shiver with a rush of relief.
"I suppose my neck becoming a part of the equation men't something?" Menma grumbled loud enough for Naruto to hear.
"I think he only did that because your hair reminds him of Sasuke. He hates the prick." Naruto Walked over to the male griffon and dug his fingers into the animal's feathered neck and began scratching.
"I see." Menma grumbled. He knew what to do.
With an angry flair, he pulled his side bangs up and held them in place. Bravely, he walked over to Alden and tilted his head to the side, allowing the griffon to observe the differences and scan in the similarities.
Due to being proved wrong by an equal species and a lower species, Alden snorted and looked away. Now that Menma wasn't focused on the animal's raging form, he took the time to observe it a bit better. The Griffon looked like a crossover between a western mountain lion and a hawk. Now that he took the time to see it, he was small for a male. Only a few feet taller than Revide, who was curled up next to him and purring, even if she was shooting him rotten looks.
"So, what was the point of showing me the two birds?" Menma asked and walked over to Naruro, standing beside him.
"They want to escape just as much as we do. It took a few months, but I managed to communicate with them and... As soon as we got the chance, we'd be escaping." Naruto shrugged.
"Are they... A pair?" Menma asked quietly and Alden snapped his beak him for talking quietly.
"She adores him, and...I don't know why he thinks about her. Something on the verge of despise and enjoy." Naruto shrugged and continued scratching, leaning down and rubbing the male's head.
"How do you communicate with them?" Menma cautiously extended his hand and mimicked Naruto's actions the best he could.
"Trial and error." Naruto said cheekily.
"Oh..." Menma was imagining blood on the floor. "So, what do you need me for?"
"Lots of things." Naruto said "First, help me release all the griffons. Like we said, when we fly, they'll be scrambling to gain control over a ride."
"So we split from here?" Menma stood up and dusted his knees off.
"Yeah, I'll release them on that side, you take em' over there." Naruto guided and began moving from door to door, pulling away the locks. "It's a basic bolt and pin lock, nothing impossible." And with that, Menma began to shred every confinement item he could.
Fifteen minutes into the task, Joyous screeches were hurting his ears and Menma was considering walking outside. Heat built up incredibly fast when moving in the stalls, he had trouble thinking about how it must he for the animals. When he rounded the next sector, Menma was surprised to find that the griffons were understanding the 'some are escaping, it must be ok now' Some even looked like they were conversing.
It made Menma happy to see that most of them were not broken to Uchiha law. Unlike the hounds he met.
After releasing the last animal, Menma had a quick thought. 'Were the animals raised here or taken at an adolescent age?' He wondered about letting them go. He found Naruto sitting with Revide. The she-griffon jumped from her resting position and circling Menma in a friendly way.
"Did Sasuke take these birds as eggs?" Menma asked as Revide bumped her head under Menma's gloved hand, forcing him to pet her.
"No. Only a few were raised here. Most of em' obey with a grudge." Naruto replied and chuckled at the griffon as she purred under Menma's hand. "Oh and by the way," Naruto stepped over and grabbed the edge of her wing, and extended it as far as the tendons would allow.
"Do you have any idea how long a wing has to be to carry weight." Menma, for the third time that day, was awestruck, her wings were huge! Around twenty-four feet? Just to carry her small body?(3)
"It takes a lot to carry around that much weight and bulk." Naruto said and she retracted her wing. Menma made a smooth recovery from his shocked state and looked around.
"Where's Alden?"
"He's antisocial." Naruto said with a smirk. "In a way, reminds me of you." Naruto poked. "
You saying I like to attack things and are generally a moody figure?" Menma said and quirked an eyebrow. Naruto... Making fun of him?
"Ha!" Naruto laughed and closed his eyes. "No, he's just really quiet. Like you." So Naruto was talking about each other. "
You being a brighter version than me?" Menma grinned and rubbed his index and thumb together.
"Yeah. But we still get along well." Naruto then covered his mouth and nose with his arm. He became a serious figure and Revide starred at him with a scared expression. "I am Menma! I like masks and living in the underground market! Urgg!" Then Naruto burst into a bout of laughter.
"Two can play this game." Menma said as he pulled his bangs back and smiled big and bright. "I am Naruto! I am a prince with a silly and smart demeanor, watch me dutifully reject a bastard's requests to sleep with him!" Naruto just laughed even harder. Menma found himself cracking a grin also. After Naruto stopped laughing, he stood up shakily.
"Truce?" Menma laughed and held out his hand.
"Truce." Naruto took his hand and shook it. He wasn't really sure what Naruto was trying to get across, but it seemed to be ok. "Now that you're having a bit of fun," 'wait, what?' "I've gotta do something." Naruto winked and jumped on one of the nearby stall doors. Menma didn't say anything in reply, he just watched as Naruto swung his way onto a limb that held up bridals.
"AEEOAK!" Menma became startled and had half a mind to ask him what he was doing. He was glad that he didn't because the entire populous of griffons in the stables looked at him. As Naruto squaked. Menma began to understand, Naruto was communicating with them.
It must've been rough and loose, considering that he was only human. Naruto then screeched at such a loud decibel, Menma frowned. A long moment of silence blanketed the stables. Then, in the middle of the crowd of griffons, a few began to mimic the loud screech. After less than three minutes, all of them began to bellow. Menma wasn't sure if that was part of the plan or not because he was certain that it would alert someone. When the roaring finally died down, Naruto climbed down the large pole and dropped in front of his escortee.
"I had to get the agreement from them, else everything would've gone to shit within the moment we tried to escape." His voice was hoarse and crackly, wheezing at certain points.
"How did you learn?" Menma said with caution.
"Watched them over and over as they interacted with each other. Like how a dog learns how to cow at no, these animals are pretty expressive." Naruto said and beckoned for Menma to follow him.
"I've seen griffons trained and tamed, but never this many. It's more likely to find someone riding an Arctic Lion than a griffon..." Menma said and followed Naruto as he took a right.
"Sasuke isn't exactly a friend..." Naruto said with a straight face. Ah, that made sense.
"What else do you need me for?" Menma said quickly to divert the subject.
"Not too much." Naruto said and walked into a stable with the hinges clinging to fragments of wood. "There's just one thing I need you to assist me with." Inside the stall was Alden and Revide. Revide was leaning on her side, bird digestion(3). Alden sat on his haunches with that same alert and "atenTION" pose.
"We're gonna groom them." Naruto said and ruffled Alden's fur.
"What?" Menma knew that he was going to have to help Naruto with something like this, but not... He just wasn't prepared for it.
"Yeah. We're going to preen them." Naruto said and grabbed a brush that had been lying on it's side.
"How?"
"See this brush?" Naruto waved it around lightly to catch the vision. "It has two sides. One is for the feline fur, and the other is for nitpickng particles that the birds can't see in their feathers. If they don't groom, disease can rupture the flight and in infection." Naruto saw Menma's 'You serious' face. "They could do it themselves, but four eyes are better than two, it'll save both of us time."
"...Fine..." Menma sighed. A bit ridiculous, but understandable. Menma picked up a spare brush and moved to Revide.
"NO." Naruto said firmly and pushed Menma away. "You brush Alden, get familiar with him. Revide's flight pattern is hap hazardous and all over the place, like a blue bird. Alden flies in a pattern of up and down." Menma glared and his counterpart. Why would he place him with an animal that would hate him?
"Revide is too fast on her turns. Alden is a safer rider I promise." Menma sighed.
"Fine." Cautiously, he crouched in front of Alden, who glared at him and snapped his beak. Menma matched the stare, like he was gonna let a bird tell him what to do. With a growl in the back of his throat, he started brushing the back first. The fur side of the brush raked and held the stray fur into place. Dirt clods the size of his thumbnail were everywhere in the fur. Straw and dust particles were everywhere on the skin and pushing into the back was not prohibited.
"Say Menma." Naruto said after an hour of combing. "Where are we gonna go when we get out?"
"..." Menma pulled out a clod of fur "I have plans to head back to the tropics before the front reaches the coasts. Where do you plan to go?"
"I really miss mom and dad..." Naruto said quietly. "I want to head back to my main kingdom," Menma somewhat understood, he sort of wanted to go back to his parents and give them a portion of his wealth. "I really shouldn't, though."
"What! Why not?" Menma raised his voice a bit. "It's always been my life or the people of the kingdom. If I go back... As of what my few allies say, it would be demolished." Naruto flipped his brush over and pulled out the griffons wings. "Sasuke won't cow down at the thought of killing."
"Bastard." Menma gritted through his teeth. Killing... Wasn't really his thing... He hadn't taken a life yet... But the mere though of making something a 'never again' would always hold him back.
"So I think I'll go with you."
"Whoah! Hold on!" Menma looked away from his animal and yelled. "What, you didn't think I had a plan?" Menma furrowed his brows and listened to what the counterpart had to say.
"Some of the thieves follow the Minato Code like a priest in Asia prays to Amaterasu. I plan on scoping those people out and finding a few allies to assist my parents." (4) Ok, so that's better than what Menma thought it would be.
"I guess that'll be fine." Menma sighed.
"Pff. I'd have gone to the tropics anyway, regardless if you said yes or no." Naruto grinned while threading through the feathers.
"We get what we both want out of the deal." Menma couldn't deny it was a solid idea. He knew a few hardcore Codens who would be glad to serve the Prince of Thieves.
"Fair enough." Turns out, Alden had accumulated more dirt within his feathers than Menma had anticipated. He had to scratch out the parasites and dust every seventeen or so strokes. Threading through a huge wing, two of them no less, was taking a lot longer than anticipated. To make it worse, Alden wasn't purring. Revide was shaking rock fragments and Alden was as silent as could be. Menma raked his free hand through his hair in frustration and combed the feathers that caught wind.
Out of all the things he'd done, this so far was the least expected. He looked up when his feathered acquaintance made a irritated, clicking noise. Menma didn't know of he should be insulted or thankful that the large animal was preening the other wing with his beak, giving stiffer access to his underwing. As Menma finally began to Complete the first wing, last feather available, he pulled himself back and admired the handiwork.
The fur and one brushed wing were glossy and shimmering under the firelight above. Agents that dull the complexion were removed. Alden looked back at the serious boy and a look of acknowledgment mixed with relaxation crossed the bird face and quietly, he began to purr. Menma wiped the sweat off of his brow and, with more vigor, dove headfirst into the other wing. The sated animal assisting him with the beak.
"So Menma," Naruto broke the invisible silence. "What do you steal? How does it work?"
"Well," Menma thought of which question to answer first. "We don't steal things like food and real money. We often take treasures from nobles that don't have the slightest use of treasure other than for oogling, and we sell it to other bands, or trade it for whatever reason. I personally used my money to give my parents a better living environment." Menma took a breath and tried to think of a way to answer the other question. "The band that I belong to is a subordinate to another subordinate. Everything is split into several groups; the Foxes, Jackals, Coyotes, Cats, and Raccoons." Menma knew this was too much fun to talk about but that's ok, right? "Each group serves a purpose in the heist and every heist is organized around these groups. The Cats go in anywhere from sixes to threes and cause a disturbance elsewhere in the area. The Coyotes follow up in a more confusing manner, circling the crowds, if needed, beating any overinvolved guards. The Jackals are specialized in archery and beating the lights out of anyone. Raccoons are involved in the same area as the Foxes, who do the actual stealing with the Raccoons, shadowing them in case something goes wrong. After the heist, we all split in opposite directions and meet in a chosen area. The stolen object is sent to the council and sold for x amount of money. That money is our pay, while whatever else goes to the poor."
"Interesting set up!" Naruto exclaimed and crawled on his hands and knees next to Menma. "The fires happened before I could learn any of this. It's a really nice strategy. Who coined it?"
"Not sure. It isn't very new, but we'll use it until the aristocrats figure out what to do. Suppose it was coined over the last twenty years... What are you doing?" Naruto began brushing in fluent sync with his counterpart.
"Making this go quicker. I see you and Alden connected after awhile." Naruto said slyly.
"After he learned I'm good with a brush." Menma grumbled. Even if it was a triumph, it was well earned and he didn't think it would be a good idea to make fun with it.
"Pf, I'm jestin' with ya." Naruto lightly pushed Menma on the shoulder. "You do a good job, really." Menma wondered if he pulled strings to make it work like this.
"Good."
"Griffons are pretty easy to fly," Naruto said as he pulled away a bug and squished it under his fingers. "Unlike horses, all you have to do is lean in the direction you need to go. Plus, a griffon has the combination of a hunting bird and a hunting cat. Most of the time they know where to go, even without your guidance."
"And how will I know if he obeys me?" Menma said sarcastically.
"Well, for starters, he let him touch you." Ok yeah, maybe he had a point there.
"What do you expect when we're in the air?"
"Arrows to pierce and start fires. Even if it looks like rain tomorrow. If Sasuke can get his hands on a griffon he might follow."
"Persistent much?" Menma joked.
"It must be a self-esteem issue." Menma and Naruto chuckled. "We'll just have to find a way to get out of the situation." Now the whiskered pair was working simultaneously on the edge of the wing.
"What're we gonna do if Sasuke brings back a dragon after all?" Menma emptied the brushing mechanism.
"We'll sit back as he tells his sermon of how he could vanquish the Tropic Mountains, and silently laugh at his unpreparedness. Oh and that reminds me, did you find anything? From his room?"
"Yeah... I found two things worth mentioning." Menma said as he massaged the crook of the wing-thumb. "Naruto did you ever wonder how we got the scars?" Naruto didn't reply immediately.
"Sometimes. But I know who I am, and where I came from. It doesn't bother me too much."
"I see." Menma frowned. "I found a statuett about a foot high that looked like a copy of one back at the hideout. It's a clue, at least."
"Heh, if I do go with ya, I'll have no choice but to follow in your quest."
"Does that mean you loathe or take offense?"
"It's not particularly interesting, but I'll follow until I'm finished with my task in the south." Naruto sighed after talking. "I have a duty with my kingdom and making the people happy, and wether or not it shows, I want to see my parents again."
"Heh, you're reasoning is admirable. However, even if you didn't want to, you would still have to come with me."
"Never said I didn't want to, it's just not at the top of my priority list right now."
"So you won't up and leave the moment we reach the hideout?"
"Nope. I don't know anybody there, as of yet."
"Heh." Menma smirked at Naruto's laid-back approach to the situation. He could've gotten very defensive and said that he would leave Menma's side the moment he got there, however, he was going out of his way to assist Menma. At least that was how Menma saw it.
"We're done with prepping the wings." Naruto said and stood up after a quick moment of silence.
"Now what? Has the first bell already rung?" Timing would be everything, here and now.
"Yeah, we're already about an hour in to the next. I also need to do something else with our pair, wait here." Naruto said and exited the stall, leaving Menma with the two animals. Alden wasn't purring anymore. He was curled around on the floor, dozing. He was slightly poised for trouble, but his form showed signs of rest.
Revide was laying on her back and stretching like a cat, making sure to keep herself clean in the process. It made Menma smile at the two opposite personalties. Co-operation and slight resistance made these two fit as a duo. When Naruto returned, he was carrying what appeared to be, two oddly shaped saddles.
"I also wanna teach you how to use these." Naruto said with a huff. The saddles resembled a horses, but that's about it. There wasn't a horn, no stirrups, and a totally different set up. Two leather straps were Menma assumed the legs would go, were there in a circular shape on both sides. Two handles at the front of the seat, and no bridle.
"..." Menma attempted not to look surprised. His silence doing ok.
"Revide." All Naruto had to do was say her name and she popped up, ready to go. Naruto began looping the mechanism around her chest, straps crossing over each other in an x formation. Next came the strap that kept the seat from sliding, it ringed under her stomach to keep from slipping in fast decines. The speed that Naruto was putting this together was admirable. The set up was simple, but the finer threads make a large quilt.
Naruto motioned for Menma to stand closer. And spoke
"Call to him."
"Insanity is your best friend." Menma bit at the order.
"Try it. He'll come normally." Naruto reassured. Sighing in defeat, Menma clicked his tongue. Nothing. The griffon didn't even look at him.
"Alden." Menma made his voice audible and clear. The griffon just snorted in his relaxed form. Menma gave up and whistled, the animals head twitched, and he looked lazily at the serious boy. Grumpily, he got up and stalked next to his female companion.
"I know you were watching me." Naruto states and pushes the larger saddle into Menma's chest.
"How are your observation skills?"
"Ok in all seriousness. I think I could reassemble the equipment in the exact same manner." Menma ignored the touchy statement.
"Feh, I'll guide you anyway." Naruto crouched in front of the mount. "Get down here with me." Naruto motioned to his counterpart. Menma took the saddle away from Naruto and plopped the core on Alden's back. "You know what you need to do, I would hope?" Naruto jabbed.
"Cross the two like so." Menma reached in around the mount's neck, aware that Alden was watching him and he was exposing his neck to a menacing beak, and clutched the two straps. Menma pulled them back towards him and crossed right over left. With caution, he crouched on his knees and brought the straps on Alden's stomach. After buckling the two straps into place, Menma reached above and took the other straps, pulling them under like previously, and hooking them into the proper loops.
"Brilliant." Naruto complimented as Menma pulled away. Menma grinned at the compliment and stood, brushing the mount's neck. He respected Naruto to a degree and a compliment was nice, enjoyable if he stretched it. "Heh." Menma looked away from Alden and quirked an eyebrow.
"Practice in observation." Menma said and tapped his toe on the ground.
"Do you wanna ride?" Naruto asked.
"How?" Menma said with mild surprise. All in all, he was expecting it. With Naruto, he felt the need to be on his toes, like a play of wits. Or just the need to impress him at some point or another.
"I mentioned something about leaning earlier, no?" Naruto walked over and pulled himself on Revide. "If on ground, which is rare and uncomfortable for flying animals, we click or whistle to make them walk. Do such a thing again and flight or a canter will be the result. Get on." Menma stifled the irritant of being ordered, and cautiously climbed on his griffon.
Alden eyeing him with challenge and bite. It took a moment of fishing his legs through the holders, but eventually, he understood and locked his legs into place.
"Now. Call to him, he'll understand, he just wants to mess with you head." Naruto said before smirking slyly. Menma chuffed at the poke, and whistled at the grouchy bird. Alden made a sighing sound and walked very slowly foreward.
"Lean to right." Naruto spoke and motioned his own animal foreword. Menma tilted his weight right and Alden lazily turned in that direction. He made way for the open gate and stalked down the stables.
"I still say bridles." Menma grumbled when Naruto showed up next to him.
"These two won't take bridles. Leaning was how they learned." Naruto said as he rocked lightly from side to side.
"Meh." Menma replied and stared at the door. "Hey, what if someone finds out about the smashed doors and freed griffons?" Menma chanced a look at his ally.
"Just because you're a top notch thief doesn't mean I don't have my moments." Naruto said and pulled out a red key. "Lock the door behind me, no one has to know." Naruto winked.
"Smart." Menma glared at the poke of fun. Sometimes Naruto was cocky...
"Don't gimme that look!" Naruto said with cheer. "I like to be mischievous. But no one is here to talk with me about it." Naruto said with a shrug.
"Agree'd." Menma looked away and turned his griffon around, heading back for the stall. "I want to show you something I found. When you're ready." Menma said with a toss of his head, glancing at Naruto from behind.
"If you say so." Naruto said.
Naruto wrenched the key into the padlock and twisted, a satisfying click and pop was heard and he pulled the key out. Menma was trailing close behind, and something about Naruto was off. He must've been stewing over Sasuke.
"I presume the object you want to show me, can only be seen because walls have ears?" Naruto snarked.
"More like something it does." Menma said and discreetly pulled his halfcoat on tighter. Naruto opened the door to the inside of the palace and beckoned Menma foreword. Naruto bolted the door behind him as Menma waited for him to follow. The stride back to Naruto's room was silent. Though Menma welcomed it, he felt accustomed to a sort of noise from his counterpart. It was... Disappointing to see such a sudden change of attitude from his ally. When they entered the room, Menma noticed that even if he felt the heat, it wasn't a bother. It was like his body had flipped a switch and was gradually adjusting to... Whatever this was...
"What did you find?" Naruto said and discarded his halfcoat onto the bed. "Temperature is warm..." Naruto said and lightly fanned himself. Menma didn't say anything. He walked over and kneeled in front of the fire. Against Naruto's loud alarm, he stuck his hand into the flames.
The fox was smooth and untouched. The jewels were still glimmering orange, a reunited feeling in his fingers. It wasn't cold or hot, but like an in-between mix. Like the feeling you get when you walk into a warm room after being in a blizzard.
"What. Is. That." Naruto gritted out, arms raised high and feet at shoulder length.
"It's one of the things I've found in his majesty's room." Menma said with mock-respect. "Should you be used to a form of magic at some level?" Menma said with a huff.
"Yeah but not that...kind." Naruto said and stood up properly.
"You should touch it." Menma ordered.
"Whyyy?" Naruto said as he brought his head backwards. Menma won him over with a 'you better do it' look and Naruto cautiously walked toward his ally. Gingerly, he reached his hand out. And poked it before wrenching his hand back.
"Did it hurt you?" Menma exclaimed.
"No, I just don't like it." Naruto replied defensively and earned a glare from Menma. Slowly, he stroked the head of the fox like he was petting it and pulled it away from Menma's hand.
"Now go stick your hand in the fire." Menma said as he jabbed his finger at the smoldering fireplace.
"If you said that anywhere but here..."
"Yeah, yeah just do it." Naruto slowly began approaching the heat. Slower than Menma wanted to take the time for.
"While you do that, I'll get the other item." Menma turned his back and looked into the nearby pot and plucked out the small scroll. Maybe...
"Hey Menma, check it out!" Menma lazily looked over and jumped. Naruto was standing there with fire hovering on his skin. It was crispy and yellow, but it didn't pop, for it wasn't burning anything but air, yet it was still turbulent. (5)
"How?" Menma said and nearly dropped the scroll.
"I was wondering if I could hold it." Naruto said and waved his burning palm about. "It seems to survive solely on air."
"I wonder if I can..." Menma said and hustled over to the flames. Sticking his hand in fearlessly and clutching the flames. He pulled his hand out and yanked the flames with him. The fire turned a peculiar dark purple.
"How do we put it out?" Menma said and clutched his fist, the flames crumbled and vaporized at the lack of air.
"I will make sure to bring a torch every raid from here on out..." Menma stood up and unfurled the small scroll.
"Does this look familiar?" Naruto looked at the scroll.
"I only recognized the two characters Fox Lord... Everything else is done in all languages... It'd be easy to decode if you had a plethora of people from all over the world, anything I understand is written in code..." Naruto yanked himself away and clutched the scroll, guards were marching down the hall.
"Second hour of the first bell is ending. Time is passing quickly. Hide the fox, I'll talk if they decide to waltz in." Menma ducked on the bed and covered the fox under the sheets. Naruto busied himself by putting more wood on the fire. Several more groups of men and guards came and went for the next hour and forty five minutes.
"It would seem Sasuke took more men than we anticipated, there's over a hundred out there." Naruto said with a slight edge.
"How much longer?" Menma was getting sick of the pounding, and acting like he was sleeping was making him tired. A splash of liquid in the hall woke him up, along with a thud and a slap sound.
"Take em' out! We gotta faller." Menma winced at the sound of a body being lifted and hauled into the neighbor cringe halls. "Take him to the infirmary, seems the animal is poisinous! Men if you feel faint, take yourselves to the infirmary now!" The marching continued.
"Did he get something, or is that the sound of defeat?" Naruto whispered.
"Beats me." Menma said. Naruto moved away from the fireplace and bounded onto the bed.
"Oy have a messag! Iss frram Ze Majesy Imzelf!" Menma was imagining a gangly french man with a beard. "Ee vants yew tuu send out rehinforrrecments."
"You think that wasn't obvious? I know!" Naruto snickered at the yelling captian.
"I think that was DaiShee." Naruto whispered.
"He Neds plllenty morre! Almlost zeh exsuact amount!" Naruto was glad he could understand the french messenger, and translated to Menma.
"Almost the exact same amount."
"I've met frenchies, but.. not that thick." Menma muttered.
"I've already got the reinforcements, is Sasuke alone?"
"Noh, zeh vans who could stey, did."
"Good." A heavier thump and several skipping noises resounded in the hallway. 20 minutes later, sporadic groups of footsteps charged. Shadows danced under the edge of the door.
"I hate this sound." Naruto whispered. "It sounds like carnage." Naruto had an apathetic look, but his tone made Menma swear it was the way one would act before they snapped. What was Naruto seeing? "I see Sasuke bleeding and burning sometimes." Naruto said when the footsteps got louder. "That is what he did to me... To an extent." Naruto sighed after, and relaxed.
".." Menma was silent again... A roar blasted the sudden mood away.
It was close, exceptionally close. It was more of a raspy scream, the crinkle of wings followed after.
"They actually got it..." Menma said in he said that... He actually men't his men got it for him. So he COULD accomplish something with order... Menma hopped off the bed and peaked through the window, a black mass in the far fields was twisting and writhing. Sometimes it tried to extend, but it fell, lamed and limping.
"Here." Naruto said and Naruto threw the half-coat back to Menma.
"We have to go meet him."
TBC
Ok... I wanted this to be a bit longer, but if I continue to stew on it, I will just keep losing my focus and love for the story. So yeah, major procrastination because it was hard to enjoy this chapter. I worked on it as often as possible, but htis was just...mreh on my part.
I hope I didn't introduce too many characters and references.
(1) I personally live in the southern region of the U.S., to say that the weather is biopolar is a spot-on description. We are NEVER prepared for the next day.
(2) If You like gory anime, or an anime involving dogs, Ginga Denetsu Weed is for you.
(3) Griffons are combination of feline and Avian. Birds are lighter than cats overall, put the two together, you need huge wings to support the combinated weight.
(4) I had to involed ONE Okami reference... If you have not played this game, BUY IT NOW.
(5) in the original Naruto Manga, Naruto confirmed his chakra was yellow. Hence why on one of the manga covers, Naruto's rasengan is golden.