AN: Its been ages ne? *dodges kunais* allright! I have nothing much to say so Ill let you read! ^_^
Naruto ran from all his worries… he Didn't know where the beloved beast he was on took him, but the horse ran fast, the wind and rain were in his eyes and all that unyielding force was being pummeled into his back, he loved it.
Not being able to think coherently was something that wasn't easy for the blonde. He relished the fact that he could close his eyes and let himself blank out.
They had kept a blazing pace for a good while now, the dogs howling at his sides, the wind singing the crazy tune right along with them.
He could barely see his hand in front of his eyes, and his body began to shiver involuntarily, he enjoyed this weather, but his body was a traitor to him at times, this was one of those.
The shivers that ran through him every couple of minutes he finally realized were not from the cold. The stress and fear as well as the responsibility that now rested on him had finally had its course.
He stopped his horse, they were in the heart of the forest, he looked around, his senses rarely failed him on the hunt. He had a feeling that there was something in that clearing with him, not seen not heard… Naruto closed his eyes, breathed in, listened unmoving, becoming one with nature.
He realized that his horse stopped moving also, he looked to the side, the animals' eyes were wide, it was staring at its master in fear, as if waiting for instructions.
Naruto patted the velvet nose, whispering soothing words over the rain howling. He also realized that the dogs stopped barking, they were now huddled close together, whimpering and trying to hide under the enormous bulk of the horse.
The rain stopped falling, it was so sudden that Naruto looked around, unbelieving the place was covered in a blanket of thick fog, but the switch from the loud howls and the eerily quiet within seconds left him on edge.
He walked forward, eyes closed, trying to feel out the intruder, all senses quivering in anticipation. There was something… A low growl could be heard from behind him, he turned, eyes wide snarling nothing….
Again the growl and again it was behind him, again he turned, pulling out his musket, and firing a shot into the air. He realized that the animal was circling him and he hoped that the sound of his firearm going off would scare it for long enough that it would flee, then he could give chase.
Sure enough a second after the shot was fired Naruto heard the heavy mass bounding away.
He whistled and his horse was on him in seconds, Naruto jumping onto the back with ease, dogs once again riled up and barking wildly.
He gave chase. They were right on the animals back, although Naruto had not seen it, he saw the huge massive body right ahead of them through the fog as it fled. The blonde smirked, he had never once lost a chase, and he never failed to bring down what he sighted himself for.
He raised his guns and fired a sure shot, a howl tore apart the air and the animal vanished.
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks, what the hell just happened? He looked around, noticing that his Dogs were just as confused as he was, they were snarling angrily and snapping at each other.
He slowed down as he reached the edge of the forest, on guard, still looking around warily for any sign of movement.
There were light moving toward him; voices that reverberated around the now silent expanse of trees and shrubs.
Naruto carefully made his way towards the light soon to be revealed as a group of men with torches, and various weapons that were obviously either handmade or found around their homes.
One man was holding a pic axe, the other, what seemed a big knife tied to a pole.
Their leader, a tall, well built man in his 40's walked up to Naruto and using his torch as a light raised it to see the young mans face.
"I'd be careful if I were you sir" he spoke clear and loud, "there is something in those trees that you would rather not meet at this time a night"
Noruto cocked his head to the side, he scanned the small crowd gathered, they all seamed weary andd tired, their somber faces gave away the anguish and fear that they were obviously going through. His eyes once more found the leader as he addressed him.
"What is troubling you?" he asked
"A Monster!" one of the men screamed from his ranks.
"It's huge!" Another wailed as he tried to show the size with his hands.
"Sir, where are you from?" Their leader questioned
Naruto thought about what they said. "I own these lands" he responded, a pang of sadness cursed through him, the answer was so natural, he had lived here for so long… He didn't fix himself in saying that he would soon be gone, that they'd soon have someone else watching over them.
"Help us my Lord!" They pleaded, ewyes wide and hopeful.
"this monster is killing away our livestock, hunger is setting in and last week a child disappeared." The man with the pick axe broke down crying, Naruto assumed he was the child's Father.
"have you not all heard the shot just fired? He asked raising his eyebrow in question;
They all nodded solemnly.
"that was me chasing it, it vanished before my eyes, but I managed to get a shot in, so its weakened" he stopped while they expressed their thanks. Naruto shook his head "Its not dead just weakened. That should give you a small break form it while it attempts to heal in the meantime Ill come up with a search team and personally scour the area."
He stopped again amid the shouts of happiness that broke out.
"I want you to gather whatever information you can get on it, ask around, write everything down and bring me the work as soon as you can."
They promised to get on it as soon as they returned frok their mission. Naruto, satisfied to be able to calm them down, turned and began his journey back home.
He stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the forest, he had gone quite far in the rain, farther than he expected to be sure.
But now, now he had something to do, an occupation that could provide a distraction from his miserable future, he took it and vowed that he would get rid of this last problem before he left.
At breakneck speed he raced home, grinning.
Sasuke walked through the tall archway of the mansion, the servants all lined up to greet him. He felt uncomfortable with these eyes on him, measuring him, testing and he was sure he was being compared to their current master.
His eyes locked with honey brown, the lady looked at him with contempt, he held her gaze as something thick rose in his throat, all the other servants kept their glances as secret as possible, but this one showed him her true feelings; no doubt what they were all thinking. It was visible in her glare, she along with the rest of them balmed him for unsettling their order and possibly pushing himself in place of the one they felt connected to.
He didn't blame them.
Tsunade stepped out, "this way sir" she snapped curtly as she led him through the hall to the guest room.
He stepped in looking around, the rooms were tastefully decorated, deep browns and golds permeated the atmosphere, a candle burning in the corner, the fireplace merrily going.
"make yourself comfortable and someone will be along shortly to look to your needs, is there anything specific you wish to have?"
"I would like a glass of port if possible and a change of clothes. That would be all"
Tsunade nodded as she closed the door behind her. She couldn't figure this man out, he was aloof, seemed cold and he carried himself with a pose that easily showed a dominant nature.
As soon as she was gone, Sasuke relaxed, his hands were shaking, no doubt no one realized, he was drilled in not showing emotion when not needed. Sasuke deemed a need for the show as extremely rare.
He now walked over to the candle and took a tentative sniff, it smelled like cinnamon. Sasuke was entranced, he had never seen such a thing, candles that actually smelled!
He walked over to the big arm chair that faced the fire and sat heavily, just staring into the burning embers. A servant had slipped in quietly and placed a silver tray with the Port beside him on the table.
He now took small sips of the excellent wine, and let his imagination roam freely in hopes that it would scatter the unease he felt for some time now. His thoughts wondered to the fathom rider passing them by on their way here. He caught a glimpse of blonde, that was all… he wished he was as free as that… to be able to run freely in such weather and not be worried about his duties or family… he wished he had that.
Sasuke was snapped out of his musings when he heard the sounds of barking, wild yelps and howls reverberated around the courtyard and a sound of hooves. Servants running around calling you to each other.
He walked out briskly and made his way down the hall to where the door was being rammed open. Tsunade running past him to see what the commotion was all about.
What he witnessed stopped him in his tracks. A huge burly blonde ran in and made his way straight towards the screeching Tsunade. He picked her up and twirled her around laughing, "Granny I found something to do! I have my one last mission before I leave before…"
His words were cut short when he noticed the raven standing before him with a look of contempt on his face. He knew right way who he was, he had seen the carriage, he had noticed the dark haired man looking out at him. He hadn't thought about it until now… He should have known. He was so sick of that look…
Putting down Tsunade, he took a step towards the cool and composed youth.
It took all Sasuke had in him not to turn and run away. The blonde wasn't much taller than him, but he had an air about him, an air of a predator. And those eyes… that electric blue that pierced him to his core, staring him down and stripping him of any false pretenses and leaving him feeling almost naked, bare….
He cocked his head, "cousin"
The blonde smirked, not a friendly smile, but a look of anger that he was trying to hide.
He bowed low before Sasuke and raise his head, eyes partly hidden by the mass of wet, dripping blonde locks, "cousin" he retorted, mocking him.
The blonde was closer now, invading Sasuke's private sphere on purpose.
His senses were trapped in a pool of muck and leather, smoke and fresh earth, rain… all these smells coming off of one person, it had Sasuke reeling in shock as much as in sensory overload. His hair was wet, dripping down his face, small rivulets running down his cheeks and down his neck, he was panting slightly, the ride had added to his adrenaline rush.
"Follow me" the blonde said curtly, not asking for permission but ordering him to do so before turning away and walking down the hall, not waiting for Sasuke; he followed eyes wider than usual.
"Granny, would you bring us some food? I'm starving…" He was obeyed at once, the staff scurrying to obey his every command. But tehn again, so was Sasuke.
Naruto entered into a room that was on the very end of the hallway, holding the door open for the raven, who entered slowly, feeling out his surroundings.
The door closed and he was eye to eye with electric blue…
AN: Yosh! I know I know.. Im so so so sorry I didn't update in forever! I was busy, had issues and finally when time came, I had no ideas translation: writers block.
But I promise to pick up my slack if you all comment? *blinks innocently*