Enigma

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Enigma

Standing Ground
Crouching down quietly, Cloud narrowed his blue eyes and grind his teeth at this thing, before doing something that was completely out of character for him, he pouted.

‘It’s wet and I’m hungry,’ was the first coherent thought that past through his muddled brain, not that it surprised him. He felt cold and lazy, like a lizard not wanting to sunbath but knew instinctively that it must. He wanted to stay right where he was and not worry about the consequences. But he was hungry and wet, it couldn’t be helped he had to get up and do something...

What was he going to do again? He couldn’t remember but it was so cold, like he had just sat in a tub full of ice water. Maybe he needed to get out of the bath before he froze to death. Could a person freeze to death sitting in their own bath water, he thought distantly.

God his head hurt now that he thought of it with the continuing beating against his brain. Hum could he get brain damage due to the headache hitting his mind. Or perhaps, wait no must focus on the present. Breathing out loud he tried to open an eye to see where the hell he was and if he really needed to move after all. He had to do something or else his mind would wonder again. For some reason it was hard to open his heavy eye lid, like the damn thing was glued to his skin. When he had partially exceeded he quickly snapped it shut groaning and wincing a little. To much light he decided if the throbbing in his head was any consolation. What was he even doing here, and where was he to begin with. He had only caught a little glimpse before he had to shut out the light. Maybe he got smashed? But he couldn’t remember.

It did look like a cave of some kind though, maybe he was playing, hiding away for his training. What training, he had know idea but it sounded good enough for him. Like the time when he had to take a survival test with a couple of his friends in a thick forest filled with trees larger than most of the building in his village. Wait village?

Startling he heard something shift to his left, well he assumed it was too his left or maybe right? Ah he didn’t know and it didn’t really matter right now. What mattered was opening his eyes and being able to move. Shifting ever so lightly, testing his hands and legs for usage. The boy attempted once again to open his eyes, this time taking it real slow. Dull blue eyes cracked open trying to look around. He really couldn’t make head nor tails at what he saw or was even looking for. He just knew on instinct that he had to assist where he was and if any enemies were near by.

Groaning a little more, as he tried to move. He established it was some kind of cave, due to the walls enclosed like they were, but the light glowing crystals said otherwise. He was a little puzzled by them with their gleaming small lights, like a firefly in a warm spring evening. They would be happily dancing through the air riding nothing but the current. While the cherry blooms would spring forward connecting and colliding in a dance all there own.

Shifting lightly he felt movement on top of him somewhat constricting his own. Frowning at this new development he turned ever so lightly, and there it was again. His mind shouted in joy and alarm.

It felt soft and light, like a cloud on a sunny warm day. No he had to think, where was he, what was he just doing. A cave, yes he was in some sort of glowing cave with a blanket on him not a cloud.

He slowly rolled on to his stomach, wincing in disgust at the sound of squelching from the water that had accumulated underneath him. Not paying any attention to anything else but the sole idea of getting up. The boy paused for a moment somewhat astonished he was already tired just from that little movement. Grunting he felt around a little with his hands, finding not but muddied water and small rocks. With his feet he kicked out a little, more like a jerk, to see if anything was in his way. Then he twisted his body back and forth, trying to test his mobility and where he was at his weakest.

While all this was happening Cloud himself just watched as this strange thing seemed to be withering like a snake or a fish out of water. And it seemed it had yet to figure out that someone else was in the cave along with it.

Meanwhile the after mentioned, “It” heard something along the lines of scraping rock against rock with the dull echoing of booted feet.

Snapping his head up as fast as he could, he saw a figure approach before the world seemed to spin wildly around him. Closing his eyes tightly against the vertigo and breathing deeply, he silently cursed, for he could still see spinning colors behind his bolted shut eyelids.

God his head hurt and his body was screaming in protest at the smallest movements.

He was in no danger right now he thought logically. If he was the person would have either killed him or knocked him out by now, which didn’t happen. Breathing through his nose he sat and cracked his crystal blue eyes only to come across another pair of blue eyes not but an inch from his face.

He screamed shrilly yelling out, “Alien” and “Pervert,” before he had tried to get up and run. It didn’t work that way though, for he had just sort of wiggled like a worm on a hook.

Cloud for his part had jumped up from the thing and had stepped back when the supposable boy had let out an ear piercing scream, that had echoed all over the cavern walls.

He had just wanted to get a better look at the necklace that had surrounded the long tanned neck. It had writing on it and was just curious not expecting the boy to go ballistic at seeing him. “Who are you calling a pervert.” Cloud muttered, somewhat disgruntled seeing as he had been called a pervert. But the other had ignored him and instead had started bringing his hands around to push up with his weight. Cloud would have helped but he didn’t really want the other one to start screaming again.

He noticed absentmindedly that the boy did in fact have blonde hair just like him, but it was spiked in layers all going up. While Cloud’s own hair was pulled back to make a small a pony tail. The shade of the hair was different too, where as Cloud’s was a dishwater blonde. The boys was a much shinier wheat color. Cloud was brought out of his thoughts abruptly when “It” had decided to reach up to his chest. Cloud watched intently as “It” picked up a small crystal necklace staring at it. The atmosphere all around them was so intense Cloud had troubles breathing correctly, until a small raspy voice spoke one word, “Naruto”.

And before Cloud could even think he said what had came to mind, “Fishcakes?

Cloud farrowed his brows, no that couldn’t be it.

The name, ‘Naruto’ must have either been the youths name or some kind of God that he had perhaps worshiped. Or maybe it was simply a name that was given to the crystal itself, but then again it could have been a friend, unless the guy was a fishcake lover or something.

Momentarily lost with his thoughts Cloud looked up slowly, making part of his blonde spikes dip into his blue eyes. He could see the kid shivering and shaking from the caves dampness, it was no wonder for he did not have any clothes on. Frowning even more Cloud slowly walked up to Naruto, for he had dubbed him, while the other was still unaware. Looking at the crystal with such intensity, like the thing was going to disappear at any moment.

“Is your name Naruto? Where did you come from, and why were you stuck in a crystal.” Cloud said in quick choppy words.

He hated to talk and when he had to it was usually in a low tone with halts in the middle of sentences, like he was thinking and reevaluating everything he said.

Naruto was apparently brought out of his musing because the blonde youth shifted and craned his neck to look at Cloud silently. The gaze was so potent Cloud had trouble breaking the stare and turn his head, letting his spikes shift and cover his eyes. Why was he not saying anything, did he not comprehend the questions.

Looking at the now covered boy, that still had drenched spiky blonde hair and dull sky blue eyes Cloud wondered if the youth even knew what he said. Cloud had introduced himself, and apparently the boy didn’t understand if the confused and slightly annoyed face had a say in it. But that couldn’t be right because the boy a minute ago had shouted and called him a pervert.

Maybe he was slow, or maybe living in a crystal damaged his mind.

The boy didn’t look like a monster either just a regular human that had come from a crystal.

‘Right Cloud Strife you have finally lost your mind’. This was going to be a pain if he could not understand Cloud or was incompetent of understanding.

Maybe another language, he only knew two really. The common Junnon and the slang from Nible, so if he didn’t know any of these two he was screwed and going home. This wasn’t his responsibility after all plus his mother was probably home now wondering where her errant son had ran off to this time.

“My name is Cloud.” He said loudly, using the Junnon dialect. Cloud had also over exaggerated with his hands, moving them around and pointing to him, like he was a king subjecting his underlings. Naruto smiling at the blonde, Cloud, and nodded his head. Indicating that he understood but Cloud had a weird feeling the boy next to him was laughing inside, for his eyes had lit up and sparkled of merriment due to his actions. Smiling Naruto did the exact same thing that Cloud did, hands and all telling him is name. Eyes silently laughing when he saw Clouds expression.

Cloud for his part was scowling, almost shooting daggers towards the one called Naruto. He knew the other boy was playing with him, it was frustrating but also nice. This was the first time Cloud had acted like an child his age. Since he had prided himself of being an adult and not playing silly games with the other children he had grown up while they had not. Turning his thoughts around he asked other questions from the blonde but he didn’t get to many answers.

Apparently Naruto was fourteen, due to the writing on the crystal stating the number fourteen, and that’s about it. That and he was hungry. He didn’t know where he was, where he was from, nor his last name. The crystal was the only thing the blonde had on him and so had taken the name Naruto.

“Great he has amnesia and knows next to nothing of where he lived, his family or friends and all he can think of is food.” Cloud muttered. What was he going to do know?

Still frowning Cloud looked over at Naruto, who was now eating some bread and meat from one of the tins. “Have you heard of Midgar before.” Cloud asked out of impulse.

Naruto looked up slightly and opened his mouth “What? Is it some kind of food.” When no replay was fourth coming Naruto went on oblivious. “Oi did I insult you, is Midgar a religion or something.” He finished before stuffing his face.

All the while Cloud had been looking at the other blonde like he had grown a second head, Midgar a religion. Yeah like that was going to happen, maybe in a thousand years when all of civilization disappeared. Alright so he had claimed he didn’t know anything of Midgar nor the Nible mountains. Everyone knew Midgar or had at least heard of it before, unless they had been sleeping under a rock for their entire lives. He was getting nothing but questions. When all he wanted was answers to his questions not blank stares. Like where did he live, if Cloud could find that out he could send a message to the kids parents. Why was he in the crystal, was he transported here by aliens, hey it could happen. He had to figure out what to do with him. He couldn’t live in the cave and hide out, though Cloud was surely tempted to just hide Naruto here. Would his mom let Naruto stay, what would the villagers think. So many questions he would just have to figure it out before night fell. He slid down the cave walls and had to look away once again because the blanket had slipped from Naruto. God he would also have to get clothes, that was a priority.

Nice and warm that’s what Naruto felt all over, that and a little sticky. Well that’s what you get when you go to sleep with slime on your skin. Wrinkling his nose a little he tried to get some more sleep, he was tired and hungry. Listening to the others breathing patterns Naruto guessed Cloud was still in deep thought about something. Moving slightly in the blanket Naruto was attempting to go back to his dreamless sleep when a sudden weight plopped right on top of him. Crying out loud Naruto jumped up, breathing fast through his nose and wildly looking around the whole cave, chasing shadows at every corner. Only stopping when he saw a small dark figure staring right back at him with it’s strangely glowing red slitted pupils. It was a fox, a small fox at that, with it’s reddish orange fluffy fur and white tipped tail. The only thing really strange about it besides the eyes were it’s ears. A piercing on the right side with a strange design of a spiral on it.

Narrowing his eyes Naruto, coming back from his little panic attack, looked over at Cloud widening his eyes. “Keep away from that thing.” Cloud had said. While tensing up looking around the small area in search of something. Was this little fox that dangerous Naruto mused silently. The fox astonishing headed towards Naruto completely disregarding Cloud. Naruto looked over at his companion to see that Cloud had indeed inched away from the fox and was now heading towards one of the crystals ready to break it and lash out. Bemused Naruto just watched as the little harmless creature kept coming in steady precise movements. The supposedly deadly monster sat right in front of Naruto rolling over to show it’s underside in surrender.

Ignoring Clouds tense movement Naruto bent down and cautiously touched the fox’s underbelly. Hearing a purr of some kind Naruto grinned and rubbed it’s belly in full. Laughing when the creature stretched out fully laying it’s head on his lap. “Nothing to worry about Cloud. This guy just wants some pets.” Naruto happily supplied.

Cloud meanwhile looked at the small display horribly confused. He knew what that thing was. It was a fiend, a monster, breed from the mountains. On top of that no animal nor monster had ever ventured into the cave, so why now. The beasts were supposed to attack humans not cuddle up with them.

Walking slowly over to the pair Cloud got about a foot from Naruto before the fox turned it’s red eyes on him and gave a small warning growl. “Well it doesn’t seem to like me every much,” Cloud grunted sarcastically, only to have Naruto state along the same lines. “Maybe animals don’t like you.” Cloud looked down towards the blonde and was about to tell him off when he noticed something. Naruto was yet again naked. “Lets go your coming with me. And could you please actually use the blanket.” Naruto for his part just sputtered and used the one salute finger at his new friend.

So now here they were exiting the jagged rough edged cave, his safe heaven that had now been disturbed by Naruto and the fox. He was seriously considering finding a new place for his things, maybe the old ShinRa Mansion. No one ever ventured near that dreary place that was supposed to be haunted.

But back to the present, what was his mom going to say. He could just see it now, ‘Hey mommy dearest, can we let Naruto who has no idea where he’s from or why he was in a crystal stay? Oh and the little fox fiend too.’ Oh yes that would go over swell. His mom was already stressed and sick as it was, but he couldn’t just walk away. Even though it had been a short amount of time having spent with the other blonde. He felt that he could relate to Naruto in some ways.

Chancing a glance to his right he saw out of the corner of his eye that Naruto was looking around the surrounding mountains and trees. The little fox right behind Naruto had not left his side once. The thing only reached to Naruto’s knees and seeing as how Naruto wasn’t all that tall, it looked funny. Closing his eyes for a moment Cloud breathed in deep the fresh mountain air. Another dirt path was coming towards them, one that would veer of towards the right and all the way up past the abrasive mountain. Where the reactor was, and a lot more dangerous monsters that seemed to lurk there including dragons. Cloud kept going down hill with Naruto right behind him still looking over the landscape. The wind had died down and the hot air was nonexistent. Leaving a pleasing feel on their bare arms. This was what Cloud cherished, the cool evening and the silent atmosphere, nothing but nature. He knew that once he left for the city he would have nothing like this. It would be crowded, nosy, and overwhelming. It would be a new experience.

Momentarily distracted Cloud tripped, blushing he glanced at his companion, already imagining a large snicker and smirk upon the face. But it didn’t come instead Naruto seemed to be rather quiet and lost in his own thoughts.

“So where are you going from here.” Not getting a response Cloud went on, “You might as well stay at the village for awhile. You know just until you can remember where your own home is. Maybe you could stay at the inn or...” Still no response.

Cloud supposed that Naruto just had a lot to take in, he didn’t know where he was or anything about himself. One thing that kept puzzling Cloud though was the spiral. When the blonde had been naked Cloud had caught sight of a rather large spiral right at his navel the same as the foxes earring. Was it a tattoo or a large birth mark maybe. Speaking of that why did the fox have an earring just like the spiral. Normal fiends sometimes had earring and other useless accessories upon their bulky bodies but why a spiral that matched Naruto’s Cloud looked at the fox and it’s reds eyes, he just wasn’t sure. Maybe they were both in the crystal and Cloud had just not noticed at the time.

Chancing a look back up to the right where the reactor was, Cloud frowned and looked ahead again. He did not like the reactor, not only was his father killed during an ‘accident’ there. But also because when he was a little younger Tifa and him had went up that very same hill and had an accident crossing the wooden bridge.

Looking up briefly Cloud could tell they were almost to the hamlet. All they had to do was get past the old mansion that ShinRa had built, but abandoned near the village. “That tall metal building up to the right is where the villages energy comes from.” Cloud supplied to Naruto when the youth had spotted the oppressive reactor building in the distance. But nothing was said in return so they collapsed in silence again.

Naruto slowly yawned, stretching out his arms. He was currently looking around the landscape in a lazy content way. Nothing felt right or similar, it was like an alien World to him. And for some reason he was extremely annoyed that the trees were not all that big and they were not bunched up together for a good climb.

“Nothing feels right.” Naruto uttered aloud, catching Cloud by surprise.

“No I guess not after living in a crystal.” Was the smart reply. Naruto shot Cloud a look over his shoulder.

“I did not live in a crystal baka and stop looking at me.” He had noticed that Cloud would look in his direction every so often then he would turn and look forward. Cloud straightened up his stance but said nothing in re bulk.

To Naruto Cloud was just plain weird, that and a little funny. For whenever he started to talk he would pause in the middle of a sentence for a brief moment then continue as if nothing had happened. When he would trip over a rock or a shrub the blonde would wave it off as if nothing had happened, even though he would blush in humiliation. For a guy like Cloud a person would assume he would know how to talk and walk..

Sighing he tipped his head back a little meeting the sun that was blazing down on them as they continued fourth. It was already getting darker with each passing moment, indicating night was approaching fast. Soon they had reached something resembling a village, a small one at that too.

The only thing that Naruto saw wrong with this picture was a large mansion up over a slope near the village. “What’s that.” Naruto said pointing towards the large shadowed building.

“That’s old ShinRa Mansion.” Cloud replied.

To him it seemed like the dark shadows covering the land around the area were like a plague. Festering and corroding the planet itself. “The ShinRa company that supplies everything with energy abandoned it awhile back when the reactor had stopped producing so much.” The tall building had several broken windows and indented chipped wood.

The vicinity surrounding the building had over grown dried grass and hollow trees that looked more like children sticks then anything. The whole place just had a forbidding aura, turning any soft heartened stomach in it’s wake. Naruto looked at the village nestled in the trees, then back at the small fox that was still right beside him. Cloud must have seen it too for he brought up an idea.

“Why don’t you grab him so he doesn’t go running off or get stepped on.” He was actually starting to warm up to the little fox fiend and didn’t want it to get chased out of the village. He was pleased when Naruto bent down and picked it up settling the fox in his clothed arms. So the blonde did understand him that was a start.

Tugging a little on the blanket that was wrapped around his body like a toga dress. The fox looked at him for a minute then it jumped on his shoulder and stayed silent. Constantly purring out soft sounds. Naruto turned his head to watch Could walk into the small village’s dirt path, shrugging Naruto followed. He could already see a small stone circle in the very heart of the village.

Standing proud, brilliant, with it’s bricks lined up straight and little plants growing and thriving from within the small fortress. The whole area was clean and well maintained like a happy little village.

But when he finally arrived he was feeling...angry... no maybe sorrow around the village.

It felt like it was hard to put into words. All around him he could feel the anger and sorrow of this small little village hidden in the trees. It felt like all the happiness was being swallowed up by the oppressive building that lay in the distance.

Trying to get his mind to sway somewhere else, he saw some people walking around. Be it washing the clothes or gardening. There weren’t to many houses but they looked in good shape. With there shutters painted and there windows intact. Better shape then the road, which was all grooved and in crusted. In the far back beyond the small towering homes Naruto could make out a large pound or lake. And still further beyond that there were farms and livestock grazing the wheat, that never seemed to end. To him it looked like a golden pathway to heaven, sweeping gently with the wind .

To the right after the entrance into the village there was a large windmill along with a stone well. ‘Windmill’ Naruto thought. Those were rare, they collected energy but why was it here.

“Cloud why do you have a windmill here when the reactor supplies all the energy for you.” Naruto asked.

Cloud stopped for a split second before he continued on and had yet to say anything.

Naruto was getting ready to repeat the question when Cloud spoke. “It doesn’t really work, it’s more of a landmark for Nibelheim.” Was the short reply.

It didn’t sound right what Cloud had said, it felt like there was something else to the statement but his head was starting to hurt not to mention he was hungry and dirty. So he thrust the questions in the back of his mind until further notice. Naruto walked a little faster when he realized that Cloud was already well into the small village and was heading towards his house. Naruto caught up still looking around the village curious. There were children running around and playing, while the adults from outside watched, indicating this village was a very tight nick group.

But he couldn’t help but hear the whispers and pointing. “Your village’s nice,” Naruto commented before he shook his head, letting the spikes dance around with the wind. He could see that some of the adults and kids had finally noticed the stranger walking around with a small fox draped over his shoulder. Or it could have been the way he was dressed, since Cloud didn’t have an clothes in the cave he had to make due with the blankets and well it looked like Naruto was ready to go to a toga party. That and he was pretty sure the slime and the greenish blue water in his hair that had dried was a sight to see. He did the only thing that was suitable at this point. He waved and shouted good evening to everyone with a big fat grin in place of his frown he had worn only a few seconds ago. People muttered and shook their heads while some waved awkwardly back and said good evening right back to him.

The house that Naruto saw in front of him had two stories, it was painted blue with a white trim surrounding it. The house also had a couple of shutters and a small garden right before entering the little white gate. Creating a warm welcome feeling that livened up the spirit. The actual garden had red and white roses growing in abundance with there leafy thorns pointing towards the blue expanse that was the sky.

To Naruto it felt safe and welcome, just like all the other houses in the village. But this one was different, he couldn’t explain it but it was, it was, “Beautiful.” Naruto muttered through his dry lips.

That's it for the second Chp. Hope everyone will read and review. Happy Halloween.