Societal Gap

Societal gap

The Stag, The Folio and Sasuke

It had taken the three of them a full hour to clean up the bulk of the flour but when the floor was no longer completely white, Rei sent the two off to bed in her room, as she still hadn’t fixed the roof over Naruto’s. She couldn’t help but peek in a few hours later to look at her brother in the pale arms of the young Uchiha. She had never felt so conflicted. She wanted Naruto to be happy more than anything in the world but this situation had pain to come written all over it. She was starting to wonder if she had been erroneous in her decision to let Sasuke stay. She should have at least tried to find out why the knights were looking for him. Naruto emitted a small sigh, making her smile. No, it wasn’t wrong. Whatever the pain he would go through, Naruto would find it worth while…eventually at least. She closed the door soundlessly and went to bed thinking maybe life wasn’t so bad after all and even dared to dream that her little brother could have a happy ending too.

The boys woke up to chopping the next morning. Naruto groaned and snuggled in tighter to Sasuke’s pale chest.

“Jusfivemoreminutes.” He mumbled sleepily. Sasuke ran his hand along the bare skin on the back of the tanned neck and suddenly Naruto wasn’t so sleepy anymore. He opened his eyes to gaze into the endless dark of Sasuke’s, letting his fingers reach up and ghost over the pale cheeks and jaw line.

“God, you’re so beautiful.” Sasuke didn’t respond; didn’t even smile. He simply let his finger tips run along the tanned skin of Naruto’s face as if trying to commit every inch to memory. He traced one of the blonde eyebrows slowly, never looking away from the welcoming, pools of blue. He finally let his gaze drop when the same thumb moved to trace the soft, pink, bottom lip. He brought his lips to suck on it gently cupping the blonde’s face. The kiss was passionate, intimate, adoring; everything that a kiss should be. He didn’t even try to open his mouth. It would have cheapened what the kiss meant. He knew that his upbringing wouldn’t allow him to say what he so wanted to, but maybe the kiss could.

They simply look intently at each other for several minutes, caressing each other’s faces. They kissed several more times, all chaste, romantic kisses, before Naruto pressed his forehead and nose to Sasuke’s, sighing slightly. A small crash revived them from their reverie. Sasuke kissed the tanned nose before groaning and swinging out of bed making the blonde whimper at the loss of the warm body beside him. He watched as Sasuke removed the shirt he was sleeping in and began to dress, unable to keep from gaping at the pale, graceful form. He grumbled and forced himself from bed into the chilly morning air. He quickly threw on a light beige shirt that made his skin look even more bronzed. The two grabbed a chunk of fresh bread and an apple from the table and headed outside to see what the commotion was.

Rei was perched precariously on a branch, a rope tied securely to the tree trunk and to her waist; a pile of branches lay below her on the ground. She smiled and waved to the boys as they exited the cottage. She raised the axe in her hand an chopped the rest of the way through the branch she was standing on and inched her way back to the trunk of the oak to untie the rope. Climbing back down gracefully, she rolled her stiff shoulders and motioned the two over.

“Sorry to wake you but I’m glad you’re up. There’s a ton of work to do before the heavens open this afternoon.” She glanced upwards to the grey sky.

“I have to go hunt today so I’m afraid I’ll have to leave most of it with you. Now, I bought straw and twine. It shouldn’t take you to long to patch the roof and hopefully it will stay water tight this time. After that do the garden work and feed the horses, take the clothes off the line and if you have time chop up the rest of this wood and pile it beside the house. Make sure you bring some dry logs inside. We’ll need a fire all night tonight. Okay, I gotta go. Sorry to dump work on you and run.” She kissed Naruto on the temple and repeated the action on Sasuke, much to the boys’ surprise, before rushing off to saddle her black and grey stallion. She returned a few minutes later and Naruto handed the slim brunet her quiver and bow.

“Thanks Kit. Oh and if you have time try to train Kiku to come to a whistle. You can use oats and a little sugar if you need to. Okay have a good day boys.” And with that she was off.

It was probably just after noon and Rei was covered from head to toe in blood. She had stalked the stag for about an hour before she had finally gotten a good shot. She sighed and walked over to a rain barrel to wash off her hands. A voice behind her made her jump.

“Hi Rei! Wow you look awful! How’s Naruto?” She turned to see a pink haired girl grinning at her. She smiled weakly.

“Hi Sakura. He’s fine. Very busy though. How are you and your family?”

“We’re good. The crops are growing well and father says he might get me a pony of my very own next spring if the harvest goes well! Would you help me train it? I don’t know for sure if I’ll get one but if I…” She was interrupted as a woman called to her from down the street.

“Sakura, Sakura get over her please.”

“Okay! I have to go.” Rei smiled, somewhat relieved that most of the villagers didn’t want their children interacting with her.

“I’ll tell Naruto that you said hello and ask me about that pony when you know for certain.” Rei turned her attention back to cleaning her hands. When she had removed almost all of the red she was startled again by a voice from behind, a deep, steady voice.

“Are you alright?” She turned to see the silver haired knight standing very close to her.

“Sorry?” He gestured to the blood on her hide vest and white shirt.

“Are you injured?” She blanched, embarrassed of the handsome knight seeing her in such a state.

“No, no. I caught a stag today but the butcher was busy so I had to prepare it myself.” She turned back to the rain barrel checking her reflection before splashing a little water on her face and turning back to the man.

“I’ve seen you before, right? Not yesterday but the day before that. What are you doing out here?” Kakashi sighed and pulled a piece of parchment from a bag that was slung across his chest and rested on his hip.

“We’re looking for someone.” He handed her the folio and she opened it and laughed out loud.

“You lost an Uchiha! Oh Kami, I’m sorry that was rude.” She made a move to hand it back when the writing at the bottom of the page caught her eye. She could feel the blood draining from her face.

“Are you sure you’re alright, you look a little pale.” She shifted her gaze from the parchment back to the knight.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’ll be sure to let you know if I see him.” She made to leave when a strong hand caught her arm.

“You haven’t already seen him have you? It’s very important that we find him,” his eye searching her for a reaction. Rei focused on not letting any signs of fear show on her face, keeping her breathing calm and slow.

“Don’t you think I would have told you if I had?” She snarled, wrenching her arm from his grasp. A rain drop hit her forehead making her blink.

“I have to go if I want to make it home without getting soaked. Was there anything else?” Kakashi shook his head, backed away as she mounted her horse and headed back towards the center of the village. ‘She never really answered the question,’ he thought to himself.

“Kakashi! Kakashi get over here!” He looked up to see Iruka waving him over frantically. He was standing in front of a teenage girl with pink hair and a woman, presumably her mother.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes I’m certain! I wouldn’t forget a face like that. I saw him at the lake a couple of days ago with one of my friends, Naruto. He lives with his sister, Rei, outside the village. She’s right over…” Sakura raised her hand to gesture to where she had seen Rei moments before to find the spot empty.

“She’s gone!” Kakashi groaned at his inability to see that the huntress had been lying to him.

“Okay how do we get there?”

“Wait!” Sakura’s mother interjected brandishing the paper in her hand.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” The two knights sighed and rolled their eyes.

Sasuke and Naruto had finished their assigned work quickly and moved over to the paddock to train the young horse. Getting bored with their task quickly, they headed off for a walk, fingers laced together. They stopped here and there to pick berries and mushrooms, tackling each other every so often, planting their victim with sultry kisses. Suddenly a crack of lightening lit up the sky and heavy raindrops poured upon them. The pair jumped up and rushed back to the cottage. Noticing Sirus in the paddock as they passed, Naruto smiled.

“Rei’s home! I’m glad she didn’t get caught in this. It would have put her in a really foul mood.” His smile faded as he entered the cabin. Rei was sitting at the table across from the door dripping wet, face calm but clearly agitated. She glared from under her brow at the boys as they walked in, then returned her gaze to the piece of parchment in her hands.

“Rei? What’s going on?” She lifted her eyes to her Kit, gaze softening slightly. Then she turned to Sasuke and it was hard as steel again. The dark haired teen felt ice creeping through his veins.

“Sasuke, I think it’s time you told us a little story.” She turned the parchment so that the boys could read it.

There was a sketch of Sasuke and a few lines written underneath.

Missing, Sasuke Uchiha, son of Lord Fugaku Uchiha. Believed kidnapped.

Any viable information will receive a reward of ten pieces of silver.

Any information leading in his safe retrieval will receive a reward

Of thirty pieces of silver. The capture of one of his kidnappers will earn

Ten pieces of gold. Kidnappers must be able to speak in order to collect reward.

Sasuke swallowed hard. He tried to speak but was unable to get the lump out of his throat. His eyes darted to the blonde. Naruto was staring at the folio, his blue eyes wide in shock, mouth slightly agape. Words started tumbling from Sasuke’s mouth as he told them of his arranged marriage, of his previous failed escape attempts, of the knights that were searching for him.

“I’m…I should have told you sooner. I…I just wasn’t ready to go back. You’ve been so kind. I didn’t want you to treat me any differently than you have been.” He looked at Naruto but the blonde was starring at the table, his face drawn in a look of hurt and confusion.

“Does anyone know that you’re here?” Rei looked at Sasuke who shook his head.

“Yes.” They both looked at Naruto who was still focused on the table. He raised his blue eyes to his sister who winced at the hollowness that emanated from them.

“Sakura saw us down by the lake.” Rei growled in rage and overturned the table, sending it flying toward the cot against the wall.

“Do you have any idea the danger you’ve put us in? The danger you’ve put Naruto in? What if those knights come in swinging their swords first and asking questions later? Kidnappers must be able to speak. They want us alive so your father can behead us in front of a crowd!” Naruto flinched, thinking he had almost never seen Rei this angry before. She stormed to the door stopping and resting her hands on the frame. She took a shuddering breath and exhaled slowly trying to calm herself. When she spoke again her voice was strained but steady.

“Sasuke, you know I like you. Having you here has been wonderful, a blessing. But the situation has changed. I’m sorry, but as soon as the rain lets up I’m taking you into town.” Sasuke nodded and swallowed. Hooves hammering the ground could be heard from outside. Rei cursed loudly.

“That must be them. I’ll go and explain the situation. Get your things together and come out when you’re ready.” With that she walked back out into the rain, leaving the teens alone to say their goodbyes. Naruto moved to the bedroom and began gather Sasuke’s belongings, trying to fight the tears that were welling up in his eyes. Sasuke stood at the door attempting to find words that would convey everything he felt at that moment, everything he felt about Naruto. He fingered the clasp on his cloak nervously.

“Naruto?” The blonde didn’t look up, just continued cramming Clothes into Sasuke’s bag. He caught the blonde’s arm as he tried to push past him.

“Naruto, I…” his words faltering as he saw salty streams running down the scarred cheeks.

“Oh Naruto.” He lifted a hand to wipe them away when a shrill cry from outside made both heads jerk toward the sound.

“NARUTO! SAUSKE! SWORDS! QUICK!”

A/N: Okay pretty short I know. The next few chapters will be short but thrilling. Thanks to all who add me to their story/author alerts or favorite story/author lists. Thank you even more to everyone who has written a review. I continue solely to please you. That and I think I’ll go crazy if I don’t get this story out of my head! Hope you enjoyed and I’ll hopefully have another chapter up tonight. Hopefully, no promises.