Fuck. Fuck. Sasuke sighed banging his fist against the wall. Memories of a smiling boy crept at the corners of his mind. Memories he tried to suppress.
"Sasuke-chan," a boy cried out reaching for his older brother, "there is a monster in the garden!"
Sasuke snickered lifting the boy off the ground, "Really? A monster?"
The younger boy nodded, holding tightly on to Sasuke. "Oniisan said so."
Sasuke smiled and scoffed, "Itachi is only trying to frighten you. There is no monster."
Sasuke put Sai back down on floor and took hold of his hand, "C'mon I'll show you."
Sai hesitatingly followed behind Sasuke. Sai was afraid of a lot of things but when he was with Sasuke, he didn't feel afraid anymore. Sasuke is the only one out of the whole Uchiha clan who accepted him, an illegitimate child. Sasuke took him around the whole garden and there was no sign of any monster. Sai smiled and laughed happily letting go of Sasuke's hand. He turned to his brother his smiling face turned into one of utter horror. Blood. Blood everywhere. The next thing Sasuke knew he was kneeling over Sai's dead body.
Sasuke cried out, holding his chest. He fell to his knees. Muttering Naruto's name. He could feel his strength fading and with the little power he had left he summoned a picture of Naruto into his head.
-At the Castle-
Naruto didn't know what to do when he walked out the bathroom and saw Sasuke crouched over on the floor. A part of him wanted to kill the arrogant prince and another part of him, a part he didn't even know existed, felt some sort of connection with the prince, which made him want to take care of him. Naruto, despite his petite size was pretty strong. He hoisted Sasuke on to his shoulders and on the bed. He ran to the bathroom and filled a basin up and grabbed a washcloth. He went to Sasuke's side and dipped the cloth into the water and ringed it out. He dapped it over Sasuke's burning face. The man beneath him released a groan and without realizing it, Naruto started to sing a song his mother use to sing to him to help him sleep.
Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
Naruto felt Sasuke relax; he gently ran his fingers through the prince's disheveled hair. He continued to sing softly …
Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me
Soon both of the boys were fast asleep wrapped in each other's bittersweet embrace.
-The Next Moring-
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered softly, "Sasuke-sama…" Naruto was surprised at himself; how could he be calling the man who threatened to kill his family so gently. Naruto hesitantly placed his palm against Sasuke's forehead; he still had a slight fever. Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, not fully aware of what was going on, "Naruto? What are you doing here?" Sasuke lifted himself up slowly. Naruto sighed, "You're at the castle. You suddenly appeared last night out of no where."
Sasuke rubbed his head, "I see…" Naruto sat there patiently waiting for an explanation. Sasuke only stared back, and Naruto figured he wasn't going to get one. Naruto just stood up annoyed. Sasuke reached for Naruto's hand; Naruto flinched a little, which caused Sasuke to frown deeply. Sasuke felt a pain in his chest. Right he hates me. He thought to himself. Sasuke grabbed Naruto's hand once more, forcefully this time. Sasuke pushed a curl behind the younger boy's ear and whispered, "Don't ever move away from me." Naruto shuttered, nodding his head.
"A-ahem…" an embarrassed maid stood, her face a bright red, "P-p-prince-sama."
"Yes?" Sasuke asked not all bothered by the fact that Hinata saw him and Naruto in a very suspicious position. Naruto was blushing fiercely and had a helpless look on his face.
"Itachi-sama and Orochimaru-sama wish to s-speak with you," she squeaked, "it's v-very important."
"We'll continue this later, Naruto," before he left, Sasuke squeezed Naruto and held him for a little while. Naruto just stood there surprised and happy at the same time. When Sasuke finally released him, Naruto sighed. Sasuke left the room and Hinata looked at the dumfounded blonde. She walked close to him and waved her tiny, white hand in front of his face. Naruto blinked a few times, holding his chest, "what the hell is he thinking…." He mumbled to himself blushing.
"Naruto-chan is in love," Hinata giggled out.
Naruto scowled, "With that jerk? No way!"
"Wait, Hinata I thought Sasuke wasn't to return till another few days," Naruto paused, "then how did Itachi and Orooeehhchmuro know he was here?"
Hinata's face sunk in, "Orochimaru knows everything, don't ever cross him," she looked around the room hesitantly and whispered to Naruto, "the king aloud him to experiment on jinchūriki. He killed them all, even children."
Naruto felt like something clawed at his insides and settled between his lungs. He took a few steps away from Hinata. His body felt like it was on fire and broken glass was pierced in his skin. He wrapped his hands around his stomach. He closed his eyes…
It was cold.
The thick, heavy smell of blood emitted from the crakes of the cell. Naruto yawned; his breath came out into a white fog. This reminded him of the coldness and made his little body shiver and the nakedness of skin left him vulnerable to the attacks of the harsh nips of cold air.
He rolled his body into a ball trying to use his body heat to warm himself. Hugging tighter and tighter, he rubbed his hands together trying to get the feeling back to his fingertips. His knees reached up to his chin, and his boney arms wrapped firmly against his legs pushing them deeper into his chest.
The strong ache in his stomach occupied his mind. He had been used to the feeling but it never lessened the pain. He slowly tried moving to the bucket of water, but his body wouldn't allow him. He was too cold. The ache slowly turned into numbness that deadened his body entirely.
He was in the furthest corner of a room whose walls were emaciated, and they released a draft from the outside. It was dark and the only sound that could be heard was the clattering of teeth.
He had been laying in that same position for more then an hour already. His lips had drawn in a straight purple line. His body looked like a perfectly ripe tomato. He had drifted off to sleep without even knowing it.
His body was on fire. His limps felt as if they were being crushed. Pain shot through his spine and spread throughout the rest of his little body. His throat was too dry to scream out. He looked terrified at the man with sickly yellow skin and eyes. The snake man. Naruto cried without tears and screamed without sound. The man came closer, running his hand along the boy's face. Naruto had no strength to fight; he just watched through cracked eyelids. "Na-ruuu-tooo," the man said gleefully, "my precious demon child. How are you feelininnng." The older man laughed madly, while doing so he brought his face closer to Naruto's.
"My beautiful pet, " he said licking Naruto's neck. He took the boy's chin and tilted it towards him, capturing Naruto's lips in a kiss. Naruto, with the little strength he had, bit down on the man's tongue. The man shot back in surprise, hissing, "You despicable child!" The snake picked up a knife, "I was ordered to brand you my child; I was going to be nice and do it where no one could see so easily," he grabbed Naruto's face, "but I think your pretty face will be a perfect place. Naruto felt his flesh being torn from his face. It burned.
The young child continued to scream without a sound and cry without tears.