Enigma

Enigma

Rating R language, violence. The next chapters up

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.


Living

“This is where I live, come on in and be quiet my mother might be sleeping.” Cloud said, breaking Naruto’s train of thought.

Nodding they both went in quietly. It turned out they really didn’t have to because Cloud’s mom was in the kitchen, banging pots and the like that echoed all throughout the house. There were small wooden chairs by the warm hearth that contained a fire, making the whole building warm and cozy. The walls, which were a rich tan color, supported pictures and drooping curtains. While the living room had one single couch that was also in a tan color surrounded by small tables cluttered with books. The only chair that had padding on it sported knitting and yarn. Walking through a small cream colored hallway and stepping into the kitchen. Naruto and Cloud were both assaulted with a pleasant aroma. To Naruto it smelled of apple pies and seasoned stake. Right beside the kitchen must have been the up stairs, if the stairs were any indication.

“Mom I’m home” Cloud announced.

Walking directly into the kitchen before sitting down on one of the many chairs surrounding a hard wood table. Naruto leaned by the doorway just watching the conformation, looking around the counters and floors. He noticed flour was spread all over and utensils were cluttering up the free space.

Spinning around Mrs. Strife let out a large sigh, before engulfing Cloud in a large hug not letting go for several seconds.

“I thought you had gone up through the mountain pass again Cloudy. I was worried especially when I had heard rumors of the monsters gathering near the reactor. Oh I’m just so happy your alright.” She said in one breathless sentence not letting go of Cloud.

“And now that I know your safe you are in so much trouble mister. Do you know how much time has past and why were you out and about anyway. Didn’t I specifically tell you to stay inside and that you were grounded.” She said sternly, holding Cloud at arms length.

“No listen I’m sorry can we talk about this later.” Cloud whined.

Naruto smirked a little seeing as how Cloud was trying to tell her that they had a guest. A light blush was on Clouds cheeks from either embarrassment or anger Naruto could not tell. Turning his eyes away giving Cloud some privacy with his mom.

He frowned slightly when he thought, did he have a mom and or dad. He didn’t know but after looking at the small family embrace he hoped he did. Even if Cloud was currently getting a talking to it would have felt nice to know someone out there was worried about him. Worried for his safety and well being.

“Who’s this Cloudy, a friend of yours,” Mrs. Strife said happily.

She was glad that Cloud had gotten a friend finally, but she had never seen him before in the village. “Yeah that’s what I want to talk to you about.” Cloud started, but was cut off when She finally really got a good look at the boy and he was filthy.

“Oh no you go up the stairs and get washed up right now mister, you can borrow some clothes.” She finished looking at the toga getup. Naruto grinned and waved going to do just that. A nice hot shower was really staring to sound good right about now.

“Oh wait is that a fox.” She questioned as Naruto had turned.

Both Naruto and Cloud waited in tense silence wondering what she was going to say next. “Oh he’s adorable, I’ve never seen a fox this close up.” She said going on and on about how they were cute and soft. Well if Cloud had any doubts about the animal they had just shot there the window.When Cloud came up the stairs after talking to his mother he had went in search for Naruto, wanting to talk to him. He found the blonde youth in his room with a towel wrapped around his slim waist, looking out the window. The crystal necklace wrapped around a tan neck, sparkling dully in the light. His hair was spiked up with only a few drops of water running down his tan tight and lean chest not to mention his arms. That puzzled Cloud for Naruto was only fourteen, what had he been doing previously to warrant them. His face was also narrower than a fourteen year old should have. But maybe that was due to the three scratch birthmarks on either side of his cheeks.

Shaking his head to rid of the new development, he saw that the fox was now on the bed looking around but still staying close to Naruto, interesting. Monsters did not act like this at all, the fox was acting like Naruto was it’s master. Knocking on the door to get Naruto’s attention the blonde turned his head and gave Cloud a smile.

“Oi what’s up, do I get to stay here Cloudy.” Naruto said casually. But Cloud could tell that the youth was fidgety. He should be if he couldn’t stay here, then he would be on his own.

“Yes you can for a while, I connived my mom that your parents had to get out of town, your Uncle, who lived nearby a farm, didn’t want you to stay at his place ergo I had conveniently said you could stay with us for now.” Cloud said in one breath, proud of his fast thinking.

“You thought this up all on your own did you Cloudy.” Naruto said watching the other intently.

Cloud looked over towards the bed at Naruto but he paused when the words Naruto had uttered sunk in. NO, his mother had called him Cloudy and now Naruto was doing the exact same thing, he hated that nick name it was a stupid name.

“My names Not Cloudy it’s Cloud.” Naruto just looked at him for a while blankly.

“Alright Cloudy.” he said sighing.

Trying not to lose his cool over Cloud’s expression. “Don’t call me that.” He said harshly, already feeling a tick at his left eyebrow.

Holding his hand’s up in surrender Naruto walked over towards the closet and gestured for Cloud to get the clothes for him to wear. After all he couldn’t very well walk around in nothing but a short towel. He smirked as he watched Cloud walk over, all the while muttering about the stupidity of people.

“Here.” Cloud said thrusting a shirt at Naruto before he had gone back in. Naruto for his part wrinkled his nose at said item. It was a deep brown that reminded him of the water that had surrounded him in the cave. Needless to say he was not wearing it nor those green pants Cloud had been eyeing. After some fighting about the clothes and throwing said items around. Naruto finally agreed to wear an orange shirt with black strips around the sleeves, and some black loose pants. And surprising they had somewhat fit his body, thanks to Cloud’s small stature.

“Hey thank’s for being so small.” Naruto had commented, missing Cloud’s flushed angered face as he went to go change.

“Boy’s dinner is ready.” Came a shout downstairs.

Later that night the three of them and the fox, newly named Kyo, were siting around the dining room, eating and talking about the village in general. They were trying to teach Naruto more about the place he was going to be living in for some time.

“Everyone has a job here. Be it small or large. Everyone needs to chip in.” Mrs. Strife was lecturing.

“When one person needs help the village will try to and help them. That way everyone is happy and content,” She finished. But to Naruto it had sounded like a well rehearsed speech.

Hearing a snort at the end of the table Naruto caught the words “Yeah right,” and “Like they would help us”. But the blonde wasn’t too sure on account that Cloud was muttering and grunting so low his mom didn’t even hear.

“What was that Cloudy.” Mrs. Strife said looking at her son with narrowed eyes. Well maybe she had heard them after all.

So Naruto mused, it was like he had originally thought. The people here would help each other out when a crisis occurred. It made sense really, a small community all helping and all shunning. That reminded him about his other question.

“Oh the stone well has been here for ages.” Mrs. Strife said looking out the window from the kitchen. “It was actually a landmark from ShinRa themselves.” She finished getting up and putting the dirty dishes in a pile.

“What are the ShinRa exactly.” Naruto questioned, while he looked in Cloud’s general direction, when the youth had shifted at hearing ShinRa.

“Well I’m sure Cloudy would like to tell you.” Mrs. Strife said brightly, looking over at the after mentioned boy.

“Mom.” Cloud hissed at her.

“Yes Cloudy do tell.”Naruto asked innocently towards the brooding figure.

Cloud narrowed his eyes as he spoke, “ShinRa is a military unit but it’s more then that. They control the flow of energy the people receive.”

Here he paused and shifted before continuing, getting a glint in his eye. “They build reactors for the people to have, offering electricity and energy. Some say that ShinRa is hurting the Planet but I think their saving it. For ShinRa has Soldier, the hero’s of the World. They help restore order and are the ShinRa’s prized elite .” Cloud finished.

Naruto gazed at Cloud through his spiky wet hair. Cloud’s words were passionate and possessive towards ShinRa but more so at this Soldier. Heroes, that was indeed a strange word coming from Cloud, for the boy was cold and impersonal. Did this mean Cloud wanted to become a hero or was it for an entirely different reason.

They were almost done with dinner when Mrs. Strife announced she had something for Cloud. She left the two boys puzzled, one confused over all and the other curious. She came back with a vanilla envelop only two minutes later handing it to Cloud, “Go on Cloudy open it.”prompting him to open it even as she had spoken.

Naruto leaned back in his chair while Cloud opened it looking at the contents. He got interested though when he saw Cloud smiling, a authentic smile. For the first time he could tell that it was a real smile Cloud was sporting. Not the weak masked ones he usually saw. Interested even more now Naruto looked over to see paperwork and clippings. Frowning the blonde recognized the man from one of the many picture clipping in Cloud’s room. He had long sleek silver white hair next to his piercing sharp cat like green eyes and narrow face. He looked like someone of great importance, Naruto thought looking over the rest of the profile. His clothes indicated the man was in some kind of military with the black garb and the sword that looked ridiculously long. Naruto could not fathom how he could use the thing even with speed on his side.

He snapped out of his musing when he heard Cloud. “I can go. You’ll let me go when I’m fifteen.” Cloud said with an unknown choked emotion. Cloud’s hands were slightly trembling and he looked paler than usual. Naruto feared the blonde was going to be sick. Mrs. Strife smiled down at Cloud heartily, “You could go sooner to Midgar, get a job and see if you can enter there pre training.” She said softly. If Cloud wanted to go it was his decision and she would stick by it no matter what. Smiling at her only son, she hugged him close to her bosom and hummed softly. She was so proud of her little man.

Cloud looked up from where he held the paperwork tightly in his clenched hand smiling. His eyes stung of tears and face brightly red and glowing. Breathing deeply Cloud nodded his head firmly in acknowledgment. He was finally going to go somewhere to prove to the village what he was made of, that he could become something. To become a First Class Solider.

Naruto looked between them, slowly petting his fox. He wasn’t jealous of the interaction, he was just sad that he probably wouldn’t find his parents nor have that kind of experience. How could he when he couldn’t even remember his own name.

“Don’t think I had forgotten about you to mister.” Said a lightly teasing voice.

Suddenly Naruto was being engulfed by a hug. Startled he looked up not at all used to them to see Mrs. Strife smiling down at him. Naruto looked over at Cloud for some help but he just smiled and mouthed out ‘got you’. Loosening his tense muscles Naruto let the woman who he didn’t even know hug him. And you know it didn’t feel so bad.

Later that night when they were sent up to Cloud’s room after they had listened to some news about Midgar. Naruto was brimming with questions.

“So Midgar is a huge city.” He said getting into his warm bed, pulling over the green cover.

Nodding Cloud did the same with his blue cover, “It’s a capital city filled with people and cars.”

“A city.” Naruto murmured looking out across from Cloud’s bed.

That's it for this Chapter hoped you liked it and review if you have any questions or just in general. CloudyFire