Laying on his right side and facing the warm rays of light that streamed through the gap between beige curtains, Naruto snuggled the comforter he was using closer and breathed deeply. The boy took note of the sweet smell of strawberry and cocoa in the air, and he furrowed his eyebrows, believing he was still dreaming with his half asleep mind. Taking another deep breath, Naruto smiled and made his self comfortable even more.
There were soft patting noise followed by metal scraping against metal that the young boy ignored, but heeded the sudden light hitting his face fully. With a frown morphing its way on his young face, Naruto cracked his right eye open and saw a vague silhoutte of a woman in dress hovering over him.
Mommy...? Naruto thought.
"Good morning, Young Master." the woman greeted gently. "I'm sorry to have disturbed your sleep, but I was ordered to bring you breakfast and to wake you up." she said.
Opening both eyes, Naruto realized the woman was not her mother, but one of the maids he had seen yesterday.
The woman smiled at Naruto as she helped the boy up while the said boy eyed the woman's dark hair in a bun with white frilly headband decorating her hair, and then the boy's gaze went down to her face. Naruto admired the woman's pinkish cheeks that complimented her healthy fair complexion, long and dark eyelashes that brought out the woman's beauty even more with dark brown eyes and kissable pink lips. The boy's eyes went down once again as he found the woman's uniform beautiful on her. He like the cobalt blue color with a matching white apron tied around the waist. He also like the white collar that had black ribbon on it, and the buns on either shoulders of the woman. Naruto's eyes trailed from the woman's shoulders to her wrists, liking the white frills, too, and the black doll shoes.
As Naruto was admiring the woman, the older of the two busied her self as she dressed the boy with plain olive green pants and yellow collared shirt.
"Come. Your breakfast's in the coffee table." the maid said once done dressing the boy, who was brought out of his admiration.
The maid gestured to her right where the miniature coffee table, and yellow couch and armchairs were as she escorted the blonde young lad toward it. Sitting on one of the armchairs, Naruto's eyes fell on a plate of pancakes with strawberry syrup on top, and a cup of hot cocoa that had five colorful marshmallows in it. "Dig in, Young Master." he heard the woman said happily, and he looked up at the smiling face of her. She's beautiful...she could be my mommy.
"I'll leave you to your breakfast, Young Master. I'll be back later." said the woman, and turned around to walk out, but was stopped by a hand gripping her skirt. Looking over her shoulder, she inquired, "Yes, Young Master?"
Naruto held the woman's dark eyes, and moved his mouth, trying in vain to convey his message that only brought a frown out from him. However, the maid seemed to catch the silent message, and so she answered the unspoken question. "Master Uchiha is in his office, working. So, he couldn't join you this morning." she said, earning a slow nod from the boy. Smiling down at Naruto, she excused her self and finally walked out of the room, closing the door.
Naruto was alone. Looking back on his breakfast, he smiled and picked up his fork to start eating.
After finishing his food, Naruto vacated his seat and went to the glass wall the separated him from the balcony. He wondered why there was a balcony outside if no one could get to it, and so he thought that maybe there was a way to open the glass wall. With determination in his eyes flaming, the boy felt the surface of the glass. He then kneeled down when he found nothing above, and searched from below. Still nothing, he inched closer to the corner until he reached it and stood up, and was disappointed when there was nothing that would tell him the lock. So, he walked to the other side, and pushed the curtain aside. He was rewarded by a black thing that seemed to be a lock. Naruto had no knowledge of locks, but it did not deterred him. He checked the black thing, touching and pulling at it until he heard a click and suddenly the glass slid open, startling the boy who fell on his buttocks.
A small smile formed, and it slowly became a wide grin after the shock left the boy, who then jumped back to his feet and run out. Naruto stopped by the white cement railing that reached up to his chin. He looked up at the clear blue sky with wonder, and then his eyes went to the trees. He had never noticed before how huge the trees were at a closer look. Some were small, some were wide. There were varieties of trees. And then, the boy squatted, placing his hands on his knees, and stared at the magnificent garden below. He recognizes red roses and tullips, blue irises, and many more that he did not know the name of. Nonetheless, they were all beautiful. However, something caught his attention at the corner of his left eye. Turning to that direction, the boy saw black flowers that resembled roses. He frowned, thinking how come black roses exist. It must be painted like the ones I saw at a flower shop. The woman painted the rose blue with spray. He thought.
The knocking against the door reminded Naruto of the maid that had told him to be back in a few. Straightening up, he walked over the door, and opened it as he allowed the woman in.
"Hello again, Young Master." the maid smiled. "I'm here to take the dishes." she said, and Naruto nodded.
The maid sauntered in and went to picked up the utensils Naruto had used only to placed it on a tray she had with her while the boy watched her. Upon standing to her height as she had the things with her, she noticed that the glass wall was open.
"Would you like to come out to the garden, Young Master?" she asked as she turned to Naruto, who nodded enthusiastically at her. "Alright! Come along then!"
In another room found Sasuke sitting behind his desk surrounded by darkness, but with only table lamp that was run by batteries as the source of light. The man wore his white button up shirt, and had taken off his dark sunglasses that now laid to his left side. He was currently working on papers, reading files about his company's status and progress.
Feeling the vibrations in his left pant pocket, Sasuke haltted his task to fish out his phone and to answer the call.
"Yes?" asked Sasuke when he placed his phone against his left ear. The man listened for a moment, and then he said, "Alright. I'll be expecting you tomorrow morning around nine." he paused. "...thank you." with that said, he deftly put the phone back in his pocket and resumed his task. But then again, after a minute or so, he suddenly stopped; his left hand that had a pen in its grasp hovered over a piece of paper that was about to be signed. Why he stopped, he did not know. He only felt a tugging sensation in his subconscious mind that he could not quite put his finger into. It was as though something from long ago was trying to resurface. What is it? The furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes as he concentrated on the particular feeling, but it was gone in an instant. Shaking his head, Sasuke went back to his task. But, he could not focus like before.
The sudden knocking against the door alerted Sasuke of another presence outside the door. Knowing who it would be, he said, "Enter." and watched as a brown haired maid came in with a tray of three mugs of drink.
"Master." said the maid in greetings as she courtsied, before placing the tray on the desk.
"You may leave." the man told the other.
"As you wish, m'lord." replied the woman with a bow, and left quietly.
Sasuke let out a sigh as he leaned back on his swivel chair. "I really need this." he said, and grabbed a mug, drinking from it.
Meanwhile, Naruto was entertaining his self with flowers he had picked up at the garden. He had found a white gazeebo and rested in its shed while looping the stem of flowers. The boy had seen little girls making flower crown before, and now he was trying his best to make his own, too. With his brows furrowed and his tongue almost sticking out, Naruto inserted a stem through the loop and pulled it out from the other side. But, the motion ruined his half finished crown. He made a mistake.
A pout adorned Naruto's young face. Despite it, the boy appeared more adorable that was couples by his stomping as he stood and folded his small arms against his puffed chest.
"You look like an angry puffer fish." a female voice commented, which surprised the young one who had spun around to see the maid from before with a tray of biscuits and a glass of lemon juice. Smiling brightly, the woman stepped closer and placed the tray on the cement seat Naruto had used. And then, she picked up the ruined flower crown. "Would you like it if I teach you how to make a crown, Young Master?". The woman inquired, earning some enthusiastic nods from Naruto.
The woman and Naruto sat side by side, and the latter watched the former making a new flower crown. The woman showed the boy slowly, giving instructions. And soon, the boy followed the woman's example.
Moments later, Naruto beamed as he held up his lopsided crown and gave it to the woman, who also gave hers to him.
"Than you for this wonderful crown, Young Master." said the maid with a smile as she tipped her head a little to the right. "I hope you like yours, too." she smiled and Naruto returned it twice. "As much as I enjoyed our little time, I have to go and do my duty."
Naruto frowned, making the other chuckle.
"Don't worry, Young Master. We'll have another fun time together. Ah! I know!" she exclaimed as she held up her index findex when an idea struck her. "Why don't you make one for Lord Uchiha? Hm?"
The boy loved the idea given by the maid to him, and so his frown was replaced by a bright smile, and he nodded his head.
"Alright! I'll see you later, Young Master." The maid said, and she stood to gather the now empty tray that had biscuit crumbs and the empty glass before turning to leave.
Determined to give Sasuke the most beautiful flower crown, Naruto run out of the gazeebo toward where flowers bloom. He had already plucked a handful of beautiful orange Holland lilies' buds when he turned to the direction of purple and blue irises. While plucking irises, something caught his attention and he looked up to see those black roses that he felt for it. It was surrounded by other beautiful flowers, but somehow, Naruto sympathized the black roses for some reason that was unfathomable for him. Shrugging his shoulders, the boy went back on his task of plucking irises.
It was quarter pass twelve when Sasuke finished the paperwork. He put down his pen, and leaned his back on his swivel chair's backrest as he closed his tired eyes. Just then, he heard a knock.
"What is it?" Sasuke inquired.
"M'lord." said the woman from the other side of the door. "It's lunch. Would you like to bring your meal here, or would you rather join Young Master in the dining?"
"I'll join him."
"As you wish, m'lord."
Sasuke waited until he was certain the maid had gone down before standing up from his seat and picked up his sunglasses as he made his way out of his dimly lit study room. The man passed by the room of his charge and other rooms, and then he reached the staircase in which he descended and headed to the dining area where his little charge was already seated waiting for him.
"Hello, Naruto." Sasuke greeted Naruto as the man passed by the boy, ruffling the said boy's blonde hair in the process.
Naruto shied away from Sasuke's touch, not liking his hair being messed with, but a wide smile bloomed from the attention he got. The boy then watched the man, who had his sunglasses on, sat down at the head of the table and started their lunch.
"How was your morning, Naruto?" asked Sasuke.
The boy paused his spoonful in mid air to grin at the man.
"I supposed we should hurry up and go to your doctor. Maybe they could start with your operation, so I can finally hear your stories."
What Sasuke had said filled Naruto's heart with warm sensation, hope, and excitement. Nodding his head with a smile, Naruto resumed eating in a fast pace that he choked after his third bite before Sasuke could warn him.
Naruto had gone back to his room right after lunch to continue his flower crown. Sasuke had told him they still had until around two in the afternoon before they had to go back to the doctor, and so Naruto had decided to continue his flower crown for Sasuke, who had no idea of it.
The boy was on his bed, looping the flowers together with a smile as he was proud of his self that his flower crown looked better than the one he gave to the maid. I'm sure Sasuke would love this! He thought, bringing out noiseless giggles. Naruto only needed two or three more flowers to complete the crown. Holding his work before him, the boy examined it with a critical eye as he thought of what color of flowers would finally fit. Naruto looked down on the flowers that scattered around him. There were red, white, pink, blue, yellow, and orange. Hmm...I think yellow and orange will do. He thought. I decided! Orange! He smiled and picked an orange Holland lily to loop it as a lock on the flower crown. Now it's complete!
Naruto stared at his perfectly made flower crown with pride. He had never thought he would make it that beautiful after his third try, but he did it. And he was so happy he felt his heart would burst with happiness and pride. However, his grin faded upon noticing something missing. He did not have time to wonder of it though as there were knocking against the door that startled him.
"Naruto?" it was Sasuke, and the boy hid the crown beneath the bed and the remaining flowers under the comforter.
Naruto then raced to the door and opened it just as Sasuke was about to grab the knock.
"You okay?" asked the man. "You look pale."
That is what happens when I panic. Naruto only grin at the man.
"Hn. Anyway, are you ready?"
Naruto nodded.
"Let's go."
Sasuke held out his left hand that Naruto immediately took hold of with his small right one. The man then lead the blonde boy out of his room, closing the door, and into the hallway where they passed by rooms. Once they were by the top of staircase, Sasuke picked his little charge by his armpits and up to his chest where he held the boy close to him before going down and out of the manor.
A black limousine awaited the two persons by the fountain, and Naruto noticed right then that the butler he had seen yesterday was absent. Wondering why, the boy tugged on his guardian's hair.
"Ow! Don't pull, Naruto." Sasuke scowled as he looked down on the boy, who smiled without remorse. Brat. The man growled mentally. Heaving a breath, he asked, "What?"
The boy looked at the limousine as he pointed at it, and turned back to man as he cocked his head a little to the right.
"...? You looking for our butler?" the man inquired, raising his right brow.
Naruto nodded.
Sasuke fixed his shades and said, "I gave him his day off. He has family to take care, too, so I gave him a day to spend it with them.
The boy nodded thoughtfully, and became quiet as he was buckled on his seat by the passenger's by Sasuke. Not that he could speak, but the man felt as though it became silent all of a sudden. The boy may have no voice, but with only his pressence everything screamed happiness.
Wonder what has gotten into him. Sasuke thought as he settled in the driver's seat.
After more or less thirty minutes of Sasuke driving and Naruto gaping at tall buildings, they had reached their destination; the hospital.
"There's thirty-forty five percent of chance to restore his vocal chords back to what it is supposed to be." Tsunade informed the man that had the blonde boy on his lap across from her as she sat behind her desk. Sasuke listened attentively to the doctor as she told of the factors affecting Naruto, who was busy staring at the x-rays that were on the lighting board. The boy had heard it was his throat and lungs in the pictures and was amazed at how a device can see through his skin and muscles. Suddenly, Naruto was brought out of his musings when Tsunade said, "Here." and slid a piece of paper toward Sasuke, who took it in his hands. "That's the address of my collegue who can help you in this. I am an expert in this field, but that man can do more than me as he specializes in human anatomy itself from head to toe. Also, he's a genius and with complete tools and utility, he can absolutely help you a lot."
"Thank you, Dr. Senju."
"Don't mention it Mr. Uchiha. I am being paid here, so it's my job."
"Very well... We're off."
"Hm."
Tsunade watched Sasuke stood up whilst carrying Naruto in his arms, and walked out. As the door closed, the doctor leaned back with a tired sigh escaping her lips as she closed her eyes briefly.
"You heard it, Naruto?" asked Sasuke, looking at the boy in his arms through his shades. The boy only tilted his head in confusion, making the man sigh. "You weren't listening, were you. Anyway..." he trailed off as he returned his gaze back to the path they were going and exited the building. "...the dictor said there's a chance, however small, that you will gain your voice. We have to see this doctor she recommended first though. What do you think?" he looked back at Naruto who was now grinning his face would have been cut into two halves. "Right. Let's go back home. Dinner will be served in an hour."
Home. Thought Naruto.
The ride home seemed to be short for Naruto and Sasuke as they were both thinking of the success of Naruto's operation. Soon, dinner arrived and they spent it with Naruto gesturing at Sasuke, trying to convey to the man how happy he was to finally hear his own voice even though it was not confirmed yet if he would undergo an operation. But, Sasuke did not break the child's dream, nonetheless.
Dinner ended, and now Sasuke was retiring to his room while Naruto had gone back to his room so fast the man would have missed him had it not because of his hightened senses.
Naruto sped through the crack of the door that he had managed to make, and shut it close. He leaned against the door whilst panting to catch his breath. And then, he dive under his bed to check on the flower crown he had made earlier. Crawling back out of under the bed, and sat on the floor with his legs under him, Naruto was saddened to see his crown limp. It was decaying.
The slumped forward, and looked up to see the moonlight streamed through the opened glass wall that lead to the balcony, giving his room a nightly glow. Standing up, Naruto walked toward the entryway, leaving his crown behind, and simply looked up at the shining full moon. It's yellow. He noted. The boy then stepped out and looked over the garden, mesmerized at how beautiful it looked with the moon shining on them. And then, once again, he was reminded of the black rose.
Naruto turned his gaze to where the black roses were, and his eyes widened at what he saw.
The black roses that appeared to be nothing special save for its rare color for a flower during the daytime now seemed to be ethereal. Naruto could not believe it with his eyes. He swore the black roses were shining and twinkling as though star dust was sprinkled on them. The boy even rubbed his eyes, but he was not daydreaming.
The black roses are alive.
I know! If I put those in my crown maybe it will become livelier! With that positive outlook, Naruto rushed out to the garden and plucked nine black roses. He then hurried back to his room and immediately set on his work.
Sasuke had only gotten in his fresh black sweats when he heard the small knocking against the door to his room. By it, he knew it was Naruto. The man went to open the door saw his blonde charge smiling up at him. "What?" he asked and the boy simply revealed what his hands were hiding behind. Sasuke was taken aback, but he accepted the flower crown Naruto had made specially for him. He smiled, but then he noticed the nine bkack roses that adorned the crown. It brought back unwanted memories that he had long ago burried in the deepest black abyss of his psych and had long since forgotten about it.
Sasuke's smile disappeared only to be replaced by anger that morphed on his face. He was so angry that he tore the flower crown into pieces. Naruto gasped at what his guardian did. The boy felt like crying, but instead he punched the man on his thighs repeatedly as he was upset. The boy's reaction only fueled the man's rage, and so Sasuke picked Naruto up by his colkar and brought him to his face. Naruto in the eyes, frightened at the man's now blazing red eyes that resembled a flower or star of some sort.
"Who told you to pick those?" Sasuke growled lowly. When he got no answer, but the boy's trembling, he got mad and shook the boy. "Tell me who!?" he yelled. This time, tears that welled up in Naruto's blue eyes finally escaped and streamed down his marred cheeks. The boy's crying did not ease the man's temper as he threw the boy on the floor. "Get out." he snarled yet Naruto was too afraid to even feel pain in his hurt body. "I SAID GET OUT!" Sasuke slammed the door on Naruto's face. The man went to his bed where a gray tee was and put in on before going toward the open window and jumping through it.
Meanwhile, Naruto remained on the floor. He was crying his heart out, not understanding why Sasuke was angry at him. Maybe he did not like me plucking flowers? The boy could only guess on a reason to the man's temper. What am I gonna do now? He said I get out. Did he mean out of his room or... ...then... I won't be able to hear my voice? Will he not pay the doctor to heal me? Does Sasuke hate me now? Naruto cried even more; he was so lost in his depression.