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Mizhou: traditional gruel-like thing in Chinese. Very common during breakfast meals.

Huang Jia: The royal family

It was another morning.

Naruto was waiting for Shikamaru to come with his breakfast. This is the fifth day. His mind is in a state of half-awake, thoughts floating and roaming around, trying to find a way back to reality. The early morning of mid-summer was warm, even in this isolated and shadowed place. His fever has cooled down quite a bit in the last two days. Shikamaru's medicine really worked well. He was staring at nothing, pupils blank. He feels like he was not here, but somewhere far, far away. Away from the palace, the prince, and even Sakura.

Few knocks on the door. Naruto felt as if awoken from a dream, eye's blinking a few times, and called out.

"Come in."

The door creaked opened, slowly. Shikamaru came in with a basket in his hand, a sweat dripping down his cheek.

"That was a test, Naruto, and you just failed it." Shikamaru said, his voice a little impatient. The hotness was getting to him.

"Huh?" Naruto seemed clueless.

"No one else is suppose to find this place. In other words, they can't find you. When I knocked the door you should've pretended that no one was there and hide, instead of answering 'Come in'. The worse possible answer."

"Well gee, how am I suppose to know it was a test?" Naruto pouted. Shikamaru had expression of tiredness and disbelief. The more he conversed with this guy, the more he realize Naruto might have serious brain damage. He almost reminded him of how smart Ino was. Are all blondes like this?

"Forget it." Shikamaru heaved sigh as he walked in and settled the basket on the wooden table, now wiped clean. Before Naruto moved in there was a layer of dust in this house everywhere, and Shikamaru had to clean them up, since this could not be told to anyone. He felt more and more like Yahuan. Though now his attitude towards them is much kinder with understanding, despite their uncharming intelligence. He wiped a sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. "It is boiling hot even early morning."

"Feels nice and cool to me." Naruto shrugged.

"Easy for someone that stayed in bed all day to say." Shikamaru side glared him. "I had wake up early to sneak food from the royal kitchen and run all the way over here without being noticed."

"Your hardwork will be much appreciated by my stomach." Naruto grinned widely and rubbed his belly.

Shikamaru shook his head.

Naruto was chomping on his food, seemingly very hungry. Shikamaru bought a book ahead for reading. He flipped through the pages somewhat hurriedly. He was a fast reader, but after he reads he will rethink about the contents bits by bits, chewing them down slowly. He had a bowl of Mizhou himself. The Mizhou had several fresh chopped up pork, giving the taste a whole new level.

In the middle of what seemed a quiet, normal morning, Naruto suddenly stopped eating.

"Shikamaru."

Shikamaru raised his head in question.

"It's been 5 days now since I came."

Shikamaru stared at him and nodded.

Naruto's eyes lingered.

"The wedding has already happened, right?"

"Yeah." Shikamaru nodded, feeling a bit unsure by the tense in the blue eyes.

"Is that so."

Naruto's gaze went down. A bitter smile remained on his face, so unmatching to his usual cheery mood and bright smile. Shikamaru watched all of this, he took a breath, and felt like this is the time for it.

"So... It's about time I ask." Shikamaru said, voice a little unnatural and flat.

"How did you get into the place?" Pause. "Why did you come here?"

How and why.. did you get hurt?

Unsaid questions left in the air, dispersing to oblivion by his kindness to let the boy have his last pride.

Naruto's eyes were blank. The color the lead gray sky, clouded and dark. He shut his eyes and bit his lips. His fist tight, wrinkling his clothes. At last he broke into a croaked laugh and a smile, and looked up Shikamaru.

"Well, it's quite a story to tell." He took a deep breath, and his expression relaxed. "Care to hear it?"

While it's story time in the in the palace, Kiba was making his way through the grass field, whistling under the sunshine. He can see the familiar little house now, just before the forest. He knows that Akamaru, who is only company, does not like walking through the tall grass very much. But it was a good morning-walk, also he thinks this trains Akamaru's ability to walk in obstacled roads. He can hear Akamaru growling every few seconds or so, Kiba was still in a good mood, expecting to see a depressed blond boy sleeping in bed and ready to cheer him up with his already speech about moving on and introducing him some girls he met in the palace.

He knew Iruka, merely from meeting him through constant asking Naruto to go and play when they were young. Not much was shared, except often Iruka wasn't the type of loose parents among kids, and that's considered bad. But even as much as Naruto complain about Iruka's worrying every so often, anyone can clearly see they're close and love each other a lot. Kiba knows that Naruto is just adoptive, but he doesn't care or needs to dig in anymore than that. Iruka is kind to him, polite perhaps only because his family has a status and works for the emperor, but still. Even when he was young he felt a warmth in Iruka's smile. He knew it wasn't just all for nothing.

Kiba knows that in that little house waking up early was a tradition. Usually it's just Iruka, working early in the morning. But it's about time Naruto get his butt to a healthier way of life, in both living habits and love life.

He felt strange as he got closer to the house. Something was wrong. He looked to Akamaru, whose's nose was wrinkling a little, making that noise of something was out of place.

This whole feel to the house. The windows were tightly shut, there was no footprints on the muddy ground anywhere, the usual smell of leftover cooking was gone. And the worse of all was, there was no scent of Naruto. He's sure that's why Akamaru's unhappy, and it's making him nervous too.

Did something happen to Naruto?

He felt for the first time a little nervous.

Gulping a little, he really didn't have the mental preparation to come here and recieve a death news. No. It couldn't be like that. Naruto had a life of an cockroach, even that one time when he almost drowned, and Kiba literally started crying, he made it back alive. Damn, Naruto isn't the depressing type, he knows that. If there's anyone that won't go suicido over this that would be Naruto. He was the light, something that will outshine anything.

So he has to be alright.

Kiba looked to Akamaru, who nodded jsut slightly, agreeing. He turned and feeling determined, knocked the door.

There was a long moment of dead silence. Kiba felt like he couldn't breath.

Slowly the door cracked open.

There was Iruka, a brown rag blanket on his shoulder. His thick, dark brown hair for the first time Kiba has seen was down to his shoulders. There was tired and dread look in his brown eyes, dark circles underneath. He looked unkempty, unwell, and as if the whole person's heart was soaked in sadness.

"Oh, good morning, Kiba."

The familiar voice was dry and cracked. It made Kiba's heart felt a slight shudder. Never had Iruka looked so horrible. He felt his heart sunk slowly by this, not wanting to hear the news anymore.

"E-eh, good morning to you." Kiba nodded slightly. "Sorry to intrude at such an early morning... Did I wake you up?"

"No, not at all." Iruka's lips curved into a saddened smile. "It's not as if I can get any sleep these days..." His voice diminished as the sentence went on, gaze down. Akamaru made a croaked sound.

"So, uh." Kiba gulped. "Where is Naruto...?" He looked to the one room house behind Iruka. Naruto's bed, which was on the left, was empty. No messy blankets or bed sheets. The table had one set of bowl and chopstick. Iruka's blanket was curled up, and the stove seemed unmoved for days. Kiba felt like he couldn't breath.

Iruka's gaze went down, bit his lips.

"He's gone. Hasn't been back for days. I tried to find him, I went to Faeries' Landing, the boss there, Tsunade, said she hasn't seen him ever since the day after the prince took Sakura to the palace." Iruka's voice shook as he talked. His body looked so weak, so thin. His arms wrapped around himself, as if asking for a last bit of comfort.

"W...What?" Kiba felt just a tiny bit of relief. At least Naruto was still alive. Or, to say, not confirmed that he was died. "Where could he have gone?"

"I don't know." Iruka shook his head. "He left nothing, not a letter, not a word." He sniffed a little. "I don't know what that child will do... He must been so heartbroken by the news... I thought he will eventually get over it, but he..." Iruka's faced down, drips of watermarks was made on the muddy ground. Kiba almost felt crying along, but that would been too embrassing for him. Akamaru rubbed his head on Iruka's leg, barking a little for comfort.

"Please do not worry." Kiba took a breath and said, putting his arm on Iruka's shoulder. "I will do to the best my ability to find Naruto. He maybe a little slow sometimes, but he's not dumb enough to do anything unsensible. I will look for him till I find him."

"T-hank you..." Iruka sniffed. "Thank you..." His shoulder shuddered. "T-here's only so much I could do... I just hope he is okay... If he isn't I..." He stopped talking, the tears was just coming.

"Don't worry." Kiba said, trying to be cheerful. "Naruto is Naruto, after all. That guy won't just be gone like that. There must be a reason. You will see, when I find him, he will be just as jumpy and loud." Kiba smiled a little. "And pout when someone ask him to eat vegetables. I bet he really misses your ramen. He will eventually come home just to eat that."

Iruka looked up to him, tear filled eyes looked almost shining. By that he coudln't help but crack a smile. Kiba thought Iruka looked very.. Beautiful then. Probably those motherly emotions that just make people glow.

"I bet he will." Iruka smiled. "And on that day, you should come along too."

"Great! I will tell you something, I like your ramen no less than he does." Kiba scratched his head and smiled. "I will come back to bring news if I have any. I will get him home."

"Thank you, Kiba." Iruka's voice was soft. "You're a good friend. Naruto's lucky."

[ . - Scenery Change - . ]

"Ah... Achoo!"

Within the palace wall, the blond boy sneezed loudly, making Shikamaru's nose wrinkle, eyebrow raised.

"Sorry about that." Naruto wiped his nose. "Someone must have been talking about me."

"You sure it's not just part of your cold?" Shikamaru asked.

"Very." Naruto said. "My fever's gotten a lot better these days. And I can get off of bed now, and taking a bath hasn't been a problem."

"Glad you're better."

"Thanks to you." Naruto smiled brightly.

"Nah. Just doin' what I'm told to do." Shikamaru waved it off, feeling a little embarassed. "Back to topic, please."

"Well, rest was simple. I was carried here, unconscious, and then you came. On the command of some mysterious person that you don't even know." Naruto shrugged. "That's about it."

"So you're very sure that on the night when you were in the cell room, Sakura said she will come and see you the next day, and that you be released." Shikamaru said it slowly.

"Yes. The guard told me that." Naruto nodded.

"He had no reason to lie or dare to..." Shikamaru seemed to be in thought.

"He was a nice guy, that guard was." Naruto said.

"But if what you said, or what the guard said was true," Shikamaru's voice turned serious. "then the person... That person can override the Fei Zi's command."

Naruto felt himself shudder a little.

Shikamaru said no more. His face was solemn.

One who could override the command of the Fei Zi. The one who was able to enter the grand cell freely at well. The one who could have the keys to the forbidden cells. Whoever it was, he had power. Great power. And just thinking of the only possible person of this made him shudder.

"Naruto, let me tell you something." Shikamaru looked to him straight in the eyes. "Whoever this person is, he is not someone to be messed around him. I can't dig my nose into this, and you mustn't either."

"I wouldn't." Naruto's hand made into a fist, gaze down. "I would never, ever want to see the face of that man."

Shikamaru was silent, not knowing quite what to say, and looked away. He cleaned up the dirty dishes, putting them into the basket, ready to be washed later.

"Shikamaru!"

Naruto suddenly yelled so loudly that Shikamaru almost dropped the bowl in his hand.

"What?" Shikamaru rose his eyebrows high and quickly ran over to the bed as he saw Naruto trying to get off from the bed. The blond boy's face was quickly in great pain as he tried to walk and fell back down again.

"Don't be stupid! You can't walk around yet! Calm yourself down!" Shikamaru helped him to the bed. "What's wrong? Don't just randomly scream like that!"

"The jade! The jade!" Naruto's words were fast and wrestled out of Shikamaru's arms. "My jade!"

"What jade? What jade?" Shikamaru seemed lost.

"It must be in the clothes I wore in the cell..." Naruto's face filled in fear. "Shikamaru! Where are the clothes!"

"I put them in the garbage rack. Hold on, hold on, don't move! It's still here, I haven't had a chance to take it out. Hold on a sec and let me find it, alright?" Shikamaru quickly scrambled and went out the door.

Naruto breathed heavely. That was Sakura's jade, and he took it. He must give it back to her, it must have been important. That jade, and Lee's letter... He needed them. How could he remember just right now? What if Shikamaru threw it out earlier? He was so used to feeling the pattern of the letter printing on the jade that sometimes his fingers felt a strange tingle, yet days before he couldn't remember about it. Stupid fever, messing up his head. Naruto punched bed in frustration. If Shikamaru doesn't find it...

"I got your clothes, here." Shikamaru handed him the rags. Naruto snatched it and start fondling around, searching. He felt the shape and that familar cold, smooth surface.

There it was in his hand, the bright light green shone under the sunlight. It was beautiful as he remembered, the letterings were the same. No breaks but a few scratches on the back. He sighed in relief, but did not see Shikamaru's eyebrow raise higher than ever when he saw the jade.

It was a fine piece, anyone with some knowledge of jade would know. Just by the fine carving, the very natural and green color and its large size. Also the see throughness. The more a jade is wear the more it is attached to the owner, and becomes see-through in term. But most of all it was the lettering. 助君桃缘.

"Naruto."

"Finally found it..." Naruto sighed again, holding the jade lovingly in his hands. "Finally..."

"Naruto." Shikamaru said again. This time Naruto looked up.

"Huh?"

"Where did you find this jade?"

Naruto felt a little nervous by the odd look on Shikamaru's face.

"It was under Sakura's bed. In the brothel. I used to visit her." He quickly added.

"Under the Fei Zi's bed..." Shikamaru thought. That's normal. The prince must have left it for her there, waiting to be found. No wonder these days no one has spoken of Sasuke's jade that Sakura was suppose to have. She never wore it. Yet Sasuke said nothing about it.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, a little scared. "Is this jade.. bad?"

"Eh. No, not at all. It isn't bad... Well I guess in some ways, it is, for you." Shikamaru said in a question to himself too. Affinity jades are given to a Huang Jia child around the age of 5. They will be carrying it ever since then, and the affinity will find its true owner, the wielding person's lover, by fate. However said he understood that Sasuke left it meant for Sakura. Yet Naruto has it... He felt a sudden chill and realize he expression right now must be very strange.

"So.. Am I suppose to throw it away..?" Naruto seemed lost, holding the jade, its red strings spread between his fingers.

"No, no..." Shikamaru shook his head immediately. He has no idea what it means if the jade is thrown away by the true owner, but he has a feeling it wouldn't be good. After all, this isn't just anyone's jade. It was the Huang Tai Zi's. "You shoud keep it."

"What? But it's Sakura's!"

"No." Shikamaru said. "Listen, Naruto, that jade is, eh, meant for you. I guess. In some ways..."

"Huh?" Naruto tilted his head in question. "But it was under Sakura's bed."

"But it found you." Shikamaru said slowly.

"Whaaat?" Naruto seemed lost as ever.

"You know what, never mind. But you cannot throw the jade away, you cannot give it way, or show it to anyone, got that?" Shikamaru said firmly.

"Why? It's Sakura's, I have to give it back to her." Naruto too said firmly.

"If it was meant for her, it will make its way back." Shikamaru said. "If it's not... Well, just keep it for now." He gulped a little, suddenly an odd image of prince and Naruto came into his head. What was odd was that the image did not seem strange or out of balance at all. He shook his head quickly in disbelief of himself. Sure, Duanxiu is a little common these days, and there are tons of boy prostitutes out there, but the prince is married.

But his jade was here.

"Shikamaru?" Naruto said worriedly by Shikamaru's action of throwing his head on the wood desk.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Shikamaru murmured. "Just give me some.. quiet time."

Damn. Why is it gotta be me to be meddled in these kind of troublesome things?

Shikamaru often thought that to himself.

Afternoon comes around.

Just another quiet moment, when Naruto is about to go to sleep, playing with his jade, and Shikamaru was reading.

"Hey, Shikamaru."

Just out of nowhere.

"Hmm?" Shikamaru didn't look up.

"Does Sasuke play the flute?"

Shikamaru looked up, seeing Naruto's face immediately became flustered.

"I meant, the prince! The prince!" He quickly said, feeling embarassed making the same mistake over and over again.

"Nah, I don't care what you call him." Shikamaru shrugged. "Besides, I think you're right. He must do get tired getting all highness highness all the time."

Naruto nodded quickly in agreement, glad to find someone that thought the same.

"But to answer your question, yes, he did play the flute. When he was young he performed to only special guests, and it was said that his playing was the sound from heaven. But he stopped some years ago, though the saying didn't die down much." Shikamaru said, pausing to see Naruto's amazed reaction and happy expression. "Why did you ask?" He said suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Naruto lay down and turned around, back facing Shikamaru. Almost too obvious. Shikamaru wasn't much too bothered by this, that is, he didn't see the reddened face of Naruto's, smiling secretly to himself, almost like a young girl in love.

I got to hear it. The flute. It was pretty. Really like the sound from heaven.

Secrets are sweet.

How's that for a little bit of SasuNaru? xD

I know very well all of you are eager for more of it. Dun worry, it's coming!

Thanks for reading and waiting for some reviews and some things you would like to see in this story x]