I am so sorry for the long wait!
To those of you who patiently waited, it's finally here. And the big event in the story is foreshadowed in this chapter. :) I have been very busy of late, but finally have sometime to write now...
Thank you all very much for the support and reviews!
Note: this chapter has not been edited by my beta.
The dream.
The dream has always been here. The dream is a beautiful thing. The images are blurred, there are falling blue feathers, color melting into the sky. The sounds are hazy, laughers ringing like a silverbell. Azure-blue, golden-yellow, jade-green; all these dazzling colors mixed together. It forms to a figure, vague but solid enough for him to feel it.
He will chase after it. Run, run, run, run after the glowing light, the freedom and love it holds for him.
But he will never reach it. No.
He will always be a second, a turn, a glance, a moment - away from it.
His fingertips are so close, so close to make a contact, so close that he feels the glowing warmth, the temperature so comforting.
He's rooted to the ground. Immobile.
It's calling for him. But what keeps him still?
And then it will be further and further away from him-
That's when he wakes up.
He doesn't know when the Dream started to hunt him.
Every night, it will be there as he fall to slumber, waiting. It was a beautiful thing, yet more cruel than anything.
It's something that will never be his.
* - * - * Cut * - * - *
The silk blanket is smooth and light against his skin. His dark eyes had no focus. He blankely stared up the walls. The morning has just begun, the sun moving into the sky slowly, dying the colors bright shades of orange and red. Luxuries surrounded him. The bed he slept in, the patterns of interwining dragons by the roof of his bed(for more refrence see a old styled Chinese bed), carved in by the best of artists. The gauze curtains that fell over the bed, hiding him from the view.
He, whose body worthed more than all the treasures to count in the country of Huo. Who is beloved and worshipped by his people, as the son of the Emperor, possibly the future one, who will continue to bring properity and wealth into this country. Like their first ancestor, Madara Uchia's legend. Sasuke and Itachi were the bright future of Huo. The brothers were brilliant, talented in every aspect, and handsome. Though the tradition was that the older sons are more likely to be picked for the next canadiate of the country. However much so, Itachi's lenient personality did not fit their father's views of a capable leader. All then, was still in the unknown. It all depends on their growth now. Which by now it seems, that him, the little brother, will be eternally shadowed by Itachi.
They were prized, loved, and treasured. He shuts his eyes. More than used to the constant flattery and praise given by everyone around him, he felt somewhat tired, especially after the Dream.
He will lay there for a while, eyes wide open, but not quite awake. He stays still, so still. The beating sound of his heart is loud and clear in the room.
"Sasuke Taizi, it is time to rise."
After a while, a Yanhuan's trembled voice reaches in. Then he will sit up, the Yanhuans comes in. They dress him in silk, he only stretch out his arms, they will put it on for him. One left with his blankets. It is changed everyday. Another washes him, the water used is fresh-petched from the well, cool and clean. The hands' movement were gentle, as if afraid to break him with too much force. He is then presented of breakfast, nutritions of the food carefully planned and pleasant to the palette. Again, no meal repeats itself. He does not want to be fed anymore, he was not a child, he said.
He will be chewing the food slowly. Many will never see such delicacy in their life time. The Yanhuans stood solemnly around him, taking finished plates away and wiping any stains on the table. He always hated eating alone. He wanted to share with someone, this tasty food, one who will happily agree and enjoy it with him. But who was there? Even Suigetsu was not allowed to see him first in the morning, because that is "improper". He's thinking about the Dream as he eats.
This is Sasuke Uchia's morning everyday of his life since age of ten.
He will wake up, struggle, each time the pain pierced in his heart when he wakes up from the Dream.
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"Suigetsu, are you ready?"
"Ugh," Suigetsu repiled impatiently as he struggled to put on his shoes. "Why are we leaving in such a hurry? And why must I carry your breakfast?"
"Correction, our breakfast."
Sasuke answered so with a grin. His dark eyes under the glazing sun shone.
Suigetsu didn't even have to think who the "our" referred to. It sure wasn't him. He sighed deeply.
Idiots in love.
* - * - * Cut * - * - *
Naruto woke up quite early today.
He rubbed his eyes, walked out yawning, expecting a whiny Shikamaru.
"Why are you waking me up so early..." His muffled voice said. But as soon as sight of the tall, lean prince came into view, he was wide awake.
"Sasuke Taizi long live thousand thousand thousand years(this is a greeting for the prince)." He got on his knees quickly, feeling a little panick. But the man's gaze remained on him, and his the smile hung on his face.
"Pingshen." Sasuke said softly, his voice quite pleasant. Suigetsu turned his head.
Naruto stood up clumisly.
"I do apologize for awaking you so early in the morning," Sasuke said, the sincerity of his voice made Naruto feel flustered.
"N-no! Not at all!" He waved both his hand to get his point across. "I do need to get into the habit of waking up earlier."
"I bought us breakfast." He pointed to the basket in Suigetsu's hand, who did not respond.
"You didn't have to..." Naruto said, blushing a bit more, but the smell of food aroused his hunger, though, he was properly fed last night by the food bought by Shikamaru. "Thank you, though."
He once again did not know what he said was not proper or good enough to express gratitude towards the prince. But alas. Who was to care, then?
They enjoy their breakfast prepared by the grand kitchen - the three of them, yes - as the sun rises into the sky, slowly with gentle warmth.
* - * - * Cut * - * - *
Later, Naruto was dressed in the robe Sasuke gave him a few days ago. The light blue one. The fabric still kept him cool in the humid weather, he liked it very much. He didn't want to wear it too much, though. After all, he's been washing his own clothes, and he wasn't doing a great job in keeping them in shape.
They went into the forest because Sasuke wanted to take a walk. Suigetsu left with the empty basket, complaining that he didn't eat enough, though he and Naruto wiped out almost all of the food. Sasuke of course, ate in a delicate and elegant way, which Naruto felt a little ashamed of, in comparison to his manners.
The bamboo forest was nice and cool. It had a calming beauty to it. Light and graceful stems, all of the bamboos were around the same height, shooting up towards the sky. They seemed as if almost touching the sun. This signifies their age, probably grown around the time of Madara Uchia. By the bottom, tall green grass surrouned them. Few wild flowers bloomed. The summer brought everything to life. Nature's beauty was overwhelming.
It was not much different from what Naruto had remembered. Though the walking path that Sasuke and he walked on right now, he did not recall. It was a small clearing-road in the forest.
A constant breeze blew. Naruto's blond hair, a little long now, flew along.
They walked slowly, occasionaly a short conversation will strike, but dies quickly. Sasuke did not seemed bother by this at all, while Naruto frantacally tried to think of something to say.
He looked down to his feet as he walked. His sometimes found his eyes on Sasuke's peaceful face, and catching himself, quickly looked back down again.
It was not a while ago that he tried to escape from this man's cold hands, in the same forest. Now they walk side by side. Their hands sometimes rubbed against each other's. Naruto find all of this very strange, and walking in this dream-like scenery, he did feel like living inside a dream. The thought came to him that he can run, right now, away, back Iruka-niang. Forget Sakura, forget everything. They will never find him in the little outskirts of the country. It will probably be the end then, if he were to run now, their paths probably would never intersect again.
"It's almost ironic where fate puts us sometimes."
Words that came almost out of nowhere. Naruto's thoughts were interrupted. He looked to Sasuke, who looked ahead.
"Don't you think?" Sasuke turned to him. He tilted his had, the breeze run through his locks of dark black hair.
"But I do appreciate it. However confusing or wrong it seemed. It all happens for a reason."
Naruto did not understood what was behind the man's words. However it wiped away his thoughts and reasonings.
Just a little longer. He thought. I came this far. I just can't turn back now.
In the back of his head a darkness lurked in. He gulped and shook it away. No. I can beat this.
And deeper into the forest they walked.
* - * - * Cut * - * - *
In the crimson garden held the two men's meeting.
It was around sunset now. Itachi sat inside the pavillion, his chin resting on his hand. He was not smiling, and a grave aura overtook him. This was not seen often from Itachi, not at all.
He was called for from Kakashi. The message was given, a small piece of paper, no codes to decipher but a simple message: Urgent. 十万火急. Obviously hurriedly written, this was not like Kakashi, the man who was even more "patient" than he was.
And here Itachi was, waiting anxiously as the sun goes under the horizon. The red chrysanthemums' colors looked the most ominous under such lighting.
A black figure appeared before him. Kakashi did not even walk up to the pavillion as usual, but appeared in a dark blur of lightning speed. Precisely on time.
"I have new information." Kakashi said. "The emperor of Earth is pronounced death sentence in less than three months. Classfied information only known by our spies. This means disater."
He needn't say that, Itachi thought as soon Kakashi spilled the words. Dread drenched his heart.
He heaved a deep sigh, holding the bench for support.
"Must the child take throne?" His voice was quiet.
"There are no other possible canadites." Kakashi said solemnly. "No ordinary assassin can finish him."
"We do not need anymore bloodshed." Itachi waved off such an idea. "I was at least expecting another year or so, a little more room, a little more time.. It seems that we not have such luxury."
"The other countries are in panic too. Now that country of Earth has became apart of their trade partners, this can be proven to be costly."
"Not just that, Kakashi. The people he will rule, they will surely suffer from his wrath and hate." Itachi seemed distressed. "He's still just a child. Chidlish cruelty are the most fearful. And the sadest of all is that he has a reason to do so..."
"What do we do now?" Kakashi said quietly, his eyes cold.
"We have to make a move." Itachi said, eyes still on the ground. He shook his head lightly. He must keep a clear head. "Take your leave now, I shall call for you when I have a plan."
"Understood."
In a blink of a second he is gone, and all that left was the whistling sound of the wind, through the peddles of the red chrysanthemum.
* - * - * Cut * - * - *
Naruto's shadow stretches long as he walked deeper into the bamboo forest. Now he is on a different path than the one Sasuke led him before. It was not a clearing, where people purposely made the route. It was just a little path, those ones that are made by people constantly walking upon it, so the plants know to grow around the place.
He was bored out of his mind after he ate the lunch bought by Haku. Once Sasuke left, there was nothing left to do. He was done with every work Shikamaru left for him, and after wandering as far as he did today, he hated to be locked in again.
Unable to control the urge, he quietly walked across the garden and pushed the door open. He thought, if Haku were to stop him right now, he would beg. He's Naruto. He cannot be restrained by anything.
To his surprise, no one jumped in front of him. He had to fundle with the locked door but wasn't able to push it through. In the end he carried out the table and chair and climbed over the wall.
And here is, out of the boundary wall and free!
Again the thought of running back home came to him. He omitted the thought quickly. He didn't want to think about why. Why he choose to stay. He can almost feel the darkness devouring him. But the bamboo forest was too calming to allow such things. It chased away all with bad aura. He liked it here, where he can feel clean.
He hummed lowly as he walked, taking big but slow steps. The bamboos had a warm shade of green to them. All the plants huddled together, and endless they seemed. He almost thought he could walk onward forever. Alone, forever alone.
On that thought the memory of Sasuke playing the bamboo flute by the giant tree jumps out again.
He would've never link a man like Sasuke to words such as solitude. Of late though, that's all he can think of, when thinking about the prince.
His eyes dimmers. He didn't quite understand what part of him Sasuke reminded him of solitude. The Taizi's attitude was certainly much better than he could've ever imagined. But something about Sasuke gave off the greyness, colorless and bland. His smiles are gentle but not warm. A coldness soaked from his persona, as if distanced himself away from the crowd, purposely.
Naruto sighed, stretching a bit. He didn't like to think about such things. After all, he and Sasuke shouldn't be on such friendly terms.
"...Huh?"
He stopped walking when he realized that he was not alone.