The Demon Prince

Sasuke strolled calmly from the palace, ignoring the lower classes ducking and diving to get out of his way. He had a job to do, and he had no time to waste even on killing the worthless creatures that were too slow or too stupid to behave like proper servants. Usually Sasuke delighted in teaching his father's servants a lesson – when he was bored enough to taint his hands with their blood, that is. But today Sasuke had something more meaningful to do.
“Remember, our relationship with the Land of Desert must remain amicable. You absolutely may not harm anyone who answers to Lord Zetsou. Kill only the raiders who have infected their land and above all, attempt to be a diplomat!”
His father's stressed words resounded in his head even as a cruel smile played about his lips. Oh, he would be perfectly diplomatic to that slimy lord of the dessert... After all, where would his father be without his allies...?

*

Naruto barked in pain at another lash of the whip. His clothes had long since been shredded by the painful slash of the leather, his body was coated with blood and sweat. He heard the low laughs of the upper class demons as another lash sliced through his back. Even biting his lip hard enough to draw blood, he could not prevent a snarl of pain from escaping him. Naruto was used to being in pain. As a half demon of sorts, he was by far the weakest creature to grace the Land of the Desert. Humans were killed the moment they set food in this dusty, barren plane. The world of the demons were no place for creatures like them. And creatures like Naruto, for that matter.
If he had not been trained as a dutiful little slave, he might already have been dead. Even knowing this, Naruto found himself wishing he had not survived the years and years of brutal, sadistic training by the so-called slavers. Death would have been a welcome escape from this maddening, constant pain he had to face. Naruto deserved to die, that was all there was to it.
Even today he had messed up. He had not been able to protect his master, the cruel blacksmith, when the raiders had laid waste to the village. He stared now at the severed head of his master and embraced the horrifying pain of being whipped to death. He was a failure as a slave. He was a weakling, and a coward. No master would want a creature like him. This he knew.
“Beg, you worthless dog! Beg for your life, and we might kill you quickly,” the demon holding the whip sneered viciously. Naruto trembled at the savage note in the creature's guttural voice. It was a pig demon. The type of creature that valued only its own life. Naruto had no doubt that this creature would beat him to death in sheer blood lust. Naruto's whole village had been destroyed. The only living creatures were woman being rutted on and Naruto himself, being tortured to death. Naruto was exhausted and in pain. His body couldn't support him any more – he hanged limply from the wooden pole he'd been tied to. But something in Naruto refused to grovel before these demons. They were by far his superior. They were sadistic and bloodthirsty and dishonourable monsters, but he would not play submissive to them. He could not fall prey to his own nature this day.
“Go screw yourselves!” he spat at them, his inner submissive quivering in horrified fear. Slaves did not tell masters to go screw themselves. Slaves grovelled...
*Maybe I'm tired of being a slave.* Naruto thought privately.
The lash fell on his back so loudly Naruto swore the next village might have heard it. He arched his back and howled, abandoning any sense of bravery. The bite of leather into his already cruelly marked flesh was too much. It was too painful.
“Go screw yourselves, masters,” Naruto corrected with a taunting smirk. He flinched at his own tone. Naruto wasn't a rebellious slave. He never angered his master on purpose, but just then his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own. Naruto cringed when several slaves of the raiders gasped collectively.
*That's right, dogs, I have a tongue and I'm not afraid to use it.*
Naruto would have sneered at the pathetic slaves falling down in front of the masters' feet, if he hadn't also been scared to death that he was about to meet a very bloody demise. Naruto always managed to mess up. It was his one special talent, it seemed.
“Say you're prayers, dog,” the demon growled in a menacing voice. The creature's eyes flashed an ugly red when he drew back his arm, power rippling through his muscles.
“Prayers,” Naruto muttered under his breath, closing his eyes and surrendering to death. He would not survive the beating that was coming. He had only himself to blame.

*

Sasuke crouched quietly on a branch not far from where he'd discovered the raiders. The entire village had already been razed, but for a few woman and children. Sasuke had been about to interfere when he had heard a snarl of pain. He watched in fascination as the rebellious slave was whipped over and over again. With his heightened senses, Sasuke could pick up on what they were saying even from this distance. He narrowed his amber-coloured eyes dangerously, smirking at the slave's mirth. If that had been his slave, all of his defiance would have been crushed by now. The demon prince had no need to resort to medieval punishments like whipping to get his slaves to do what he wanted. But he thoroughly enjoyed a good whipping every now and again...
Watching the slave shot a lance of predatory excitement through his veins. It had been ages since Sasuke had had a defiant slave. The palace slaves, and indeed any other slaves he bought, were too afraid of cruel and unusual death by his demonic hands if they were to set a foot out of line. Sasuke had long since grown bored of the submissive servants in the palace. He would rather kill a few demons for amusement than toy with the lives of the insignificant.
“Go screw yourselves!” The slave shouted bitterly at the raiders. *Bad move, slave...* Sasuke thought, leaning closer to watch with amusement as the slave writhed in agony under the sting of the whip. Sasuke had to admit, the slave was handsome. Tied to the post as he was, Sasuke had a clear view of his well-defined muscles. The slave's hair was an unruly blonde.
Sasuke found stirrings of excitement and arousal in himself when the slave corrected himself.
“Go screw yourselves, masters,” he sneered. A grin played unconsciously around Sasuke's lips. This slave had a fire in him. It would not do for him to die by anyone's hand that isn't Sasuke's. He wanted to break the man's spirit on his own – he wanted that lean, athletic body writhing beneath his, whimpering and pleading for his master to take him.
“Prayers,” the slave murmured, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Sasuke suppressed his amusement, finally deciding to intervene. He had seen enough – that slave would belong to him.

*

“Enough!”
A powerful voice rippled through the air. Naruto peeked through his lashes, expecting a blow that did not come. He saw some of the slavers gape in shock and fear at something. He twisted painfully to lay eyes on the stranger who had saved him from being beaten to death, but the pain in his back made him gasp and hang limply again.
“Well, well, if it ain't the little prince,” the leader sneered from behind Naruto. There was an icy silence, before the cool voice floated over to him again. Naruto shivered as the words caressed his body, cooling the fiery hot of his wounds.
“Bow, pig. You should know how to address your prince,” the voice was laced with arrogance and cool fury. The raiders had ceased their raping and plundering, all of them watched the trade between their leader and the prince. Naruto found himself wishing for about the seventh time that day that he was somewhere else. Anywhere else.
“You ain't our prince, mate! What are you gonna do?” the raider taunted. Naruto shook his head in disbelief. Even he could feel the insane leashed power of the newcomer. The raiders didn't stand a chance. Like small dogs they were all bark and no bite. Not to this man, anyway.
“I. Said. Bow.” the prince bit off, his power crackled around them like electricity. The flash of demonic aura was so sudden Naruto nearly doubled over in pain. The demon's aura alone was piercing him, destroying what little magic he had. Naruto coughed blood, vaguely aware that several of the raiders had slumped to the ground, unconscious. He heard the leader drop painfully to his knees, bowing unwillingly in front of the prince.
“What a-are you?” the leader gasped. His aura was being devoured, torn apart by the sheer dark power of the prince. The man had not moved a muscle, but somehow his overwhelming presence was enough to bring everyone in the vicinity to their knees. Many of the lower class demons had also begun coughing up blood. Naruto found himself gasping for breath, his body was tearing itself apart painfully. He writhed and whimpered, unable to escape the clawing feeling of the demonic aura.
The raider howled in pain, before a sudden wet ripping sound cut his howl off in a gurgle. Naruto winced when the raider's head landed in front of him with a heavy thump. The aura slowly died away, giving the demons leave to breathe again. Naruto gulped air gratefully, overwhelmed with pain.
“Run. Run so I can chase you down before I take your miserable lives,” the prince threatened gleefully. The raiders hesitated for a heartbeat, then scrambled to their feet and started fleeing. Naruto counted the seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
There was a flash of black, then it was gone. Naruto tumbled painfully the floor, holding up the shredded ropes that had been keeping him tied to the pole. He heaved himself onto his feet, swaying slightly as he attempted to take a step. Cries of terror and agony came from the forest where the raiders had gone to hide. With a painful intake of breath Naruto limped over to the women of the village. He crouched in front of the blacksmith's wife, pain shot through his heart at the disgust in her eyes.
“You... you scum!” she panted in righteous fury. Naruto held still when she lunged forward, clawing and tearing furiously at his face.
“You worthless dog! This is all your fault! You're a monster!” she shrieked, kicking Naruto onto the bloodied ground. Naruto coughed in pain, vainly attempting to shield himself from her attack. She was his mistress now. She could do whatever she wanted with him. His life was hers...
Naruto gagged when her foot slammed into his gut. A razor sharp claw tore at his face, cutting his cheek. He bit back his pain, as well as the dull anger that surfaced in his gut. How was this his fault? He had not called the raiders. He had not killed her husband. He was merely a slave...
He hated being a slave.
A flash of power alerted him to the strange prince. The man appeared in front of him, smoothly cutting off the furious woman's attacks. Naruto whimpered when a piercing black gaze slid over his pained body. The stranger was glorious. He was tall, much taller than Naruto. He had long dark hair, a strong jaw covered in a light stubble, and a gaze that could kill. The blacksmith's wife stopped short, falling to her knees when she recognized the demon.
“Sire! Please, he is a worthless slave. He failed to protect his master, but instead tried to save his own life. Allow me my justice!” the anger in the woman's voice made Naruto shiver in fear. How did he manage to get into this mess, exactly?
“Dog, kneel.”
Naruto climbed into something resembling a respectful kneel, surprised to be addressed by the prince. He was but a slave, hardly worth noticing.
“Sire?” the woman asked hopefully, but the amber eyes were watching the slave narrowly. The man was trembling, his body wracked in pain, but he still obeyed the order silently. The prince watched him lower his forehead to the ground, gritting his teeth against a snarl of pain. Sasuke kept his face smoothly impassive, enjoying the sight of the slave kneeling to him. A pang of disconcert shot through him at the man's ragged breathing. It wouldn't do for him to die just yet.
“Is this true, dog? Did you place your life before your master's?” If the answer was yes, Sasuke wouldn't intervene with the woman's justice. If, however, there was the slightest doubt... Sasuke grinned inwardly. He really wanted this slave.
“No!” the slave gasped, accidentally raising his eyes to Sasuke's. Sasuke felt a rush of pure pleasure when those faded, wide blue eyes looked up at him.
“I mean, if my mistress says so, it must be true...” The slave amended bitterly, looking at the floor again. Sasuke watched the protest in his body that he could not utter with his mouth.
“It is a yes or no answer, slave,” Sasuke warned calmly. Both the woman and the slave stiffened at his tone. Sasuke watched the conflict in the pale blue eyes as the man looked up at him again.
“I tried to save him...” He looked so haunted that Sasuke had to resist the impulse to crouch down and placate the man. He glanced over the woman, disgruntled by the hatred shining in her eyes.
“I find myself in need of a slave, actually,” Sasuke said smoothly. The woman looked startled, glancing from the prince to the slave.
“Come again, Sire?”
“He will suffice. I'm sure you don't need such a worthless dog if he could not even keep his master from dying,” Sasuke smiled cruelly when the woman paled. She had walked right into that one.
“But Sire, I need a slave to help me...” she protested blindly. Sasuke watched her coldly, seriously considering backhanding her into a tree. He was not allowed to harm Zetsou's subjects, but this woman clearly wanted nothing more from the slave than his blood on her hands.
“I will pay handsomely. I'm sure you can buy a more useful slave elsewhere,” he bit out coldly. Avarice glittered in the lesser demon's eyes. She nodded fervently, taking the money he threw carelessly at her.
“Let your lord know that Prince Sasuke of the Land of Green won his battle for him,” he said coldly, dismissing the women with an imperial gesture. The women backed away, grateful to still be alive. Prince Sasuke had always had a temper that could destroy cities. No one wanted to be on his bad side.
“What is your name, dog?” Sasuke's lips curved into a dangerous smile. The faded blue eyes were watching him carefully, analysing their new master. Sasuke found himself wondering what those eyes would look like, staring up at him while the little slave sucked him off.
“N-Naruto, Master,” Naruto tripped dully over his own name. It was unfortunate that the prince had taken interest in him. Naruto knew masters, and this one was dangerous. This man could do far worse things to him than to whip him to death.
“Naruto,” Sasuke mused over the name. He liked the way it rolled off his tongue, and saw the corresponding shiver in the slave.
“Stand, Naruto,” he ordered. Naruto bit his lip and slowly rose, then pitched forward when his knees gave in. Sasuke caught him with a gloved hand, holding him up by gripping his hair. Naruto shifted and found his legs, just barely keeping himself from sinking to the floor again. Sasuke's grip on his hair was uncomfortable, but not painful when he held himself up.
“I'm sorry, Master,” he muttered through gritted teeth, hating that he had to apologize for being too injured to stand on his own. His master's answering grin was breathtaking. The aristocrat's face was alive with sadistic glee, somehow making him both charming and dangerously attractive. Naruto shuddered, surprised by the strength of his reaction to his new master. The man was hot.
“Good boy,” Sasuke murmured, leaning in so his lips were inches from Naruto's own bleeding mouth. Naruto was engulfed in a wave of heat as he stared into those simmering amber eyes, inches away from him. A pang of disappointment shot through him when Sasuke shoved him backwards. He only barely managed not to fall on his ass.
Sasuke wiped most of the blood from his ruined white glove and gave Naruto a critical once over. When the man didn't pitch forward again he turned and strode into the forest.
“Keep up, or the wolves will get you,” he grinned when the slave scrambled after him, keeping close. Sasuke was pleased with his new toy. He couldn't wait to get the half demon back to his palace. He was going to have so much fun once this slave was healed...


Naruto hated his new master. He already hated the powerful, arrogant, straight-backed man who had claimed him. The village Naruto came from was on the very border of the Land of Desert and the Land of Green, but that didn't make it any easier on Naruto's body to walk all the way to his master's palace. Sasuke strode leisurely on the road, completely ignoring the wounded man trailing after him. His steps were long and swift, making it hard for Naruto to keep up. Refusing to give his master the satisfaction of seeing him fall, though, Naruto gritted his teeth and dragged his body into action, nearly running to keep up with the relaxed prince.
Unbeknown by Naruto, Sasuke shot discreet glances over his shoulder to check on his new slave. He grinned to himself at the rebellious glare in Naruto's eyes, but didn't comment. He didn't want his slave wounded beyond repair, but he couldn't help him either. For a long time now the kingdom's few rebels had been plotting and planning, looking for weaknesses in the royal family's defences. The moment the prince was seen helping some lowly slave – and a half demon at that – tongues would start loosening. The rebels might believe that the icy prince was losing his touch, which would inadvertently put his kingdom in danger.
For that reason, Sasuke willed the slave to keep walking and bear with him. If Naruto could make it to the next town, he would be an acceptable slave for the young prince. If he couldn't... Sasuke preferred not to think about that.
Naruto knew nothing of this, though. He had been a slave all his life, and had never cared much for politics. He only knew that he had somehow managed to attract the attention of the cruellest master he could... Well, that wasn't entirely true. But at that moment Naruto didn't give a damn about what was true and what not.
“Master,” Naruto gasped, nearly tripping over a particularly well-disguised rock. The prince glanced backward with a look of utter annoyance on his face.
“What is it?” he asked coolly, impatiently. Naruto only barely managed to quench the spark of anger in his blue eyes.
“How much farther will we walk?” Naruto asked, struggling to keep from sounding like a whining child. Amusement glittered in the dark depths of his master's eyes, but Naruto could have been mistaken. The prince was impossible to read.
“Until I say otherwise,” Sasuke responded indifferently, lengthening his stride. Naruto growled under his breath and stumbled after his master. Before too long, they reached a small wooden village. People were milling about, calling to one another, stall owners were advertising their goods loudly and life was generally continuing as though nothing had happened. As though Naruto hadn't been beaten and then sold to a new owner. As though there were no other villages in the world that could possibly be facing total destruction.
Naruto followed his master a little more slowly, glancing around him. He wanted to take everything in about this village. It was so lively and happy that he could almost forget his pain. Somewhere to his right a bunch of kids were running in circles, squealing in delight. A band of street performers had decided to give life to the atmosphere with music and random villagers danced round them. Naruto grinned, unable to hide his quiet delight at the beautiful village.
Sasuke watched him linger behind, eyes sparkling as he stared at a ragged band of performers. Dislike engulfed Sasuke. His slave was transfixed by a mangy, filthy group of unseasoned musicians and noisy children.
“Come,” Sasuke barked, glaring darkly at the group. When the men noticed they stopped playing and fell to their knees, trembling in fear. Sasuke was taken aback by Naruto's undisguised look of fury.
“They were just playing,” Naruto dared, instantly hating Sasuke more. The arrogant prince sneered in the villagers' direction, ignoring the fact that they were all bowing with their noses to the ground.
“They should not be playing. Their music is stinted and out of tune,” the matter was settled in Sasuke's eyes. He began walking again, but stopped when he noticed that the slave wasn't following.
“I will not repeat myself. Come, slave,” Sasuke ordered sharply. The man was trembling, his hands clenched into fists by his side. Faded blue eyes filled with fear and anger, trained solely on his master.
“What's wrong with playing a little out of tune? They love what they're doing,” Naruto growled. Sasuke turned to face him fully, dark irritation crackling around him. The people were quiet, studiously ignoring the scene taking place in front of them. Cold anger made Sasuke itch to punish the slave then and there for disobeying him.
“Do not test my patience,” he warned in an arctic voice. Naruto shivered, but refused to lower his gaze. After a few moments of glaring defiantly at his master, though, the slave couldn't help but look down. Bitterness and anger swirled through him, taking a hold of him. He was not even a good slave. He was meant to be alone, despised, hated... But he couldn't control himself. He had no way of fighting the reluctance of submission within him.
He was just a bad slave by nature.
When Sasuke started walking again, he didn't bother to check if the slave was following. The entire village knew that Naruto was his, no one would help the slave.
The demonic prince sighed when Naruto suddenly took off, darting back to the forest. Sasuke briefly considered letting the man escape and get eaten by wolves, but shook his head at the thought. He was responsible for the defiant slave now. Letting him get eaten would be the trait of a bad master – and Sasuke Uchiha was not bad at anything.
With a cold order to one of the villagers to find a carriage, he simply vanished, easily tracking the blood splatters into the forest.
Naruto ran as quickly as possible, terror seized his heart. He had run away. He had deliberately disobeyed his master and fled. Naruto was in so much trouble it took everything for him not to turn back and go plead to Sasuke to forgive him.
Sasuke had killed an entire troupe of raiders single-handedly.
Sasuke was a demonic prince powerful enough to kill Naruto with his aura.
The slave didn't know what to do. Escape wasn't possible, he knew that much. If he could just stop running and return to his master his punishment might not be unbearable... But his legs wouldn't listen. He couldn't escape the sheer terror of what would happen when his master caught up with him. Surely, this time, he truly would be killed. No one forgave a slave for something like this. Not where Naruto was from.
Finally, he managed to stop. He was trembling all over, though that was from exertion as much as from fear. Whatever he had been thinking – or hadn't been thinking, for that matter – he wanted to kick himself for it. The forest was quiet around him. Leaves threw dapples of sunlight over the ground, birds chirped here and there in their scavenging quests, and Naruto stood rooted to the spot, heaving for breath.
*Sasuke is going to kill me.*
That much was sure.
Naruto leaned heavily against a tree, waiting for the prince to show. It was possible that Sasuke had just left him to die in the forest, in which case Naruto was waiting for the wolves to find him, but either way he was done running. He was a slave, he wasn't a coward. Naruto didn't want to always be running in fear.
He waited silently, ignoring his fear and exhaustion and hunger. It was a long time before he realized that there was a distinct possibility he would really be torn apart by wolves. More than an hour passed as he waited, quaking at the thought of what was coming his way. But he stayed, too tired to keep running.
When a leaf crackled close to him, Naruto jumped in fright. He slid to the ground on his knees, bowed his head and closed his eyes, waiting. Sasuke stepped into view, surprised to find the slave kneeling on the ground.
“Are you done running?” he asked contemptuously. He had caught up with the slave in minutes, but had taken satisfaction in making Naruto sweat. The slave deserved to worry if he decided to take off on his master. Sasuke had only decided to end the slave's suffering because he wanted to be back in the palace by nightfall. He wasn't going to give up his own luxury to teach some slave a lesson.
“I-I'm sorry, master. I wasn't thinking,” Naruto apologized in a subdued voice. His pride kept him from asking for punishment. He was a bad slave after all.
Sasuke didn't reply, but shot forward and threw Naruto against the tree. Naruto's head pounded painfully, his vision blurred, but he didn't defend himself. Sasuke's powerful hand gripped his throat, lifting him easily against the tree. Naruto whimpered, watching his master with fear and grudging admiration for his strength.
“Pet, if you ever run from me again... You will regret it,” Sasuke hissed furiously into the man's ear. Naruto made a soft sound somewhere between a mewl and a whimper, unable to answer with Sasuke's painful grip on his troat. Sasuke let go, watching impassively as Naruto gasped for air.
Before the slave could fall, though, Sasuke grabbed his wrists in one hand and pinned them above his head.
Naruto gazed up at him, blue eyes flickering with some emotion. The slave's cheeks dusted a shade of crimson. His pupils dilated and his breathing shortened. Sasuke fought the urge to smile. Even in these circumstances his slave was aware of his body.
Naruto tried to ignore arousal coursing through his veins when Sasuke leaned closer, the dark master's breath heating Naruto's neck. When Sasuke's hand snaked up to pinch Naruto's left nipple painfully he jerked, yelping in surprise. His master's fangs bit into his neck, not quite drawing blood. Naruto gasped with arousal, his body stirred with dark lust. He wanted to fight it, to refuse Sasuke this control over him, but his body wouldn't listen.
Sasuke rolled the nipple playfully in his fingers, enjoy the feel of the man squirming beneath him. He laved the bite on Naruto's throat with a hot tongue, turning the stinging pain into unbearable pleasure. He could feel Naruto's bulging arousal pressed up against his own, but he paid it no mind. The heady combination of defiance and submission in his slave had made him lose control. All he wanted was to take the man, then and there.
“Naruto,” he growled, taking his slave's mouth with brutal force the second Naruto tried to respond.
Naruto moaned into Sasuke's mouth, completely overwhelmed by his master's possessive kiss. Their tongues tangled in a furious, heated battle, but eventually Naruto submitted. He melted in Sasuke's hands, giving in to the pure pleasure of being touched by his master. Sasuke toyed with his nipples, sending random pinches of pain through Naruto's body even as he dominated the man. He explored his pet's mouth roughly. Naruto tasted of strawberries and sunshine, his scent was sweet and delectable. Sasuke growled his arousal, moulding his body to Naruto's. The slave matched his desire step by step. Naruto squirmed, wanting to touch his master, to rake his fingers through Sasuke's silky black hair. He wanted some measure of control, but Sasuke owned him entirely. The steely grip kept his arms from moving, held him helpless. He arched his back, rubbing seductively against Sasuke's arousal. The man smirked in his mouth, tugging gently on Naruto's lower lip.
When he finally pulled away, gasping heavily for breath, Naruto uttered a soft whimper of protest. Sasuke smirked, enjoying his new toy's fuckable look.
The man was flushed, with red, swollen lips and a bulging arousal that quickly drew Sasuke's attention.
“Enjoyed that, did we?” he smirked. Naruto's discomfort made it all the more fun to tease him. The man lowered his eyes, shuffling uneasily on his feet. Naruto didn't want to admit that he had loved being touched by his master. He wasn't a sex toy, dammit! He was a fully grown man, with some sense of self respect. Sasuke had turned him into a whore!
But Naruto found that he couldn't quite blame his new master. The man was insanely attractive, and Naruto wasn't exactly immune to the dark prince thing. He hated how much it had aroused him to be powerless under the man's touch. Pinned to the tree, hands above his head, Naruto had felt excited and lusty and desirable. He had craved his master's touch like no other. The thought was equally scary and seductive.
Sasuke tipped the blonde's chin up with a long, pale finger. The blue eyes met his own dark ones, shame, anger and desire warred in their depths. Shame seemed to be winning out.
“Well?” he asked, his sadistic side enjoying the confusion in Naruto. The man would hate that he loved being dominated by the dark prince. Sasuke had just known that this was going to be a fun slave.
“No,” Naruto muttered sulkily. The man winced when Sasuke tugged painfully on his arousal, a dangerous smile playing about his lips.
“It is not wise to lie to me, pet,” Sasuke whispered amusedly. Shock and desire filled the blue gaze when Naruto identified the humor in his master's eyes. *He's enjoying this?* thought Naruto incredulously. The prince was toying with him.
Naruto glared away, suddenly overcome with weariness and pain from the day.
“I'm sorry master,” he mumbled, no longer caring if he was submitting to the arrogant, annoying prince. He was tired, he wanted nothing more than to curl up somewhere and get some rest. Shameful tears prickled at his eyes when Sasuke stepped away from him. He felt miserable and weak.
“You have every right to punish me for disobeying, master,” Naruto spoke the hated words lifelessly. The quicker he was punished, the quicker it would be over with and he might get some rest. Unless, of course, if Sasuke wished to work him to death on the first day.
Sasuke watched his charge sharply, taken aback by the sudden submission in his slave. Naruto's eyes were dull, his voice sounded flat. His spirit had left him, and in that moment Sasuke remembered all his slave had been through that day. He had undoubtly added to the painful injuries on the slave's whipped back by his sudden assault.
*Baka, learn some self control.* he chastened himself coolly. He didn't want the man to die – who knew how easily these half-demons keeled over? He certainly had no experience with the damned things.
“Your punishment will be to walk back to the village by yourself. I will await you in my carriage. If you run again, slave, you will not be treated leniently,” Sasuke warned coldly, vanishing quickly from sight. He kept an eye on the blonde slave as the man treaded wearily back to the village. He couldn't let something happen to the slave before he had taken the man in proper. Naruto would learn to accept and enjoy his master's pleasure. The fatigued submission he had seen in the man worried him. It was true that Naruto was quite the little fighter on the surface, but was it possible that a life of slavery had taken its toll on the little half demon after all?
Sasuke shook away the worrying thought, leaving Naruto behind after all. He was a prince. He had better things to do than to keep watch over some slave...


By the time Naruto had found his way back to the village, Sasuke was seated impatiently in an imperial carriage, drawn by six horses. Naruto gulped at the sight of the dark prince beckoning him to the carriage. All the way back he had berated himself for being so weak in the face of his desires. He should have just remained still and unmoving. That was how Naruto had escaped countless of sexual encounters. But with Sasuke it was impossible not to respond. When his master's talented hands were on him, Naruto was unable to keep from reciprocating the lust thrown his way. There was only one possible solution for this problem. Naruto would have to stay as far away from his lusty master as possible.
That was made difficult when Sasuke ordered him to get into the carriage, though.
“Master, shouldn't I walk beside the carriage, or sit by the driver?” Naruto asked in shock. Sasuke's dark eyes glimmered at his pet's surprise. It was true that slaves normally weren't allowed inside their masters' carriages, but Sasuke could care less about protocol. He would be damned if his wounded slave had to ride out in the sun all day. The faster the poor blonde recuperated, the quicker Sasuke would be able to claim him entirely. Sasuke didn't like to be kept waiting by anything.
“Just get in, Naruto,” he ordered impatiently. Naruto scrambled quickly inside, ready to kneel on the floor. Sasuke pointed to the seat opposite him, though. Naruto felt his jaw drop. Was the prince being serious?
“M-master...”
“Lie down before you bleed to death,” Sasuke growled. “And close your mouth.”
Naruto's mouth snapped shut quickly. He lay cautiously down on the soft, padded seat, waiting for Sasuke to smirk and punish him for being on the furniture. When the dark prince stared broodingly out the window, Naruto felt himself begin to relax. The carriage took off, and Naruto lay gingerly on his back, ignoring the welts of the whipping he'd received. He could only assume his master wanted him in some pain – why else would he be allowed on the seat?
Sasuke didn't seem to notice his pet wincing whenever they drove over a bump in the rode. The prince felt moody and tired, wanting to return home after his insipid quest. Naruto tried to ease the pain in his back by turning slightly on his side, but the dark eyes suddenly snapped to his face, boring into his gaze.
“Lie still, pet,” Sasuke snapped, glaring darkly at the blonde. Naruto bit his already abused lip, uncertain how to react. He wanted to obey, but at the same time the pain kept him squirming in agony on the seat.
“Naruto, I said to lie still,” Sasuke warned in a low voice. Naruto cringed, watching the dark prince carefully through his long lashes. Sasuke shot him a furious look, before finally assessing the little pet's predicament. He was lying on his back. Sasuke sighed, unable to hide his annoyance from the man.
“Lie on your side if it hurts,” he growled. Naruto blinked in quiet surprise.
“Thank you, master...” Naruto murmured uncertainly, twisting into a more comfortable position. He was exhausted, and about ready to pass out, but the bumpy road kept him awake. If he fell asleep, he was afraid he'd tumble to the floor.
Sasuke watched him silently, impassively. After a while, Sasuke stretched his feet out and laid them gently against Naruto's stomach. The slave glanced at his master, but Sasuke was staring boredly out of the carriage window.
“Get some rest,” Sasuke ordered. Naruto obeyed without question, closing his eyes and slowly drifting into a slumber, rocked to sleep by the moving carriage. Sasuke's feet on the seat kept Naruto from falling to the floor. The slave's lips curled into a slight smile, glad for his master's attentive gesture of kindness. Naruto could sleep peacefully this way, resting his weary body.
Sasuke stared out of the window for a long while, enjoying the quiet ride back home. He glanced over his new slave when he felt a light touch to his feet. Naruto had shifted in his sleep, one hand accidentally falling to nudge his master's feet to the side. A silent smirk graced Sasuke's lips as he watched the peaceful slave curl sleeping around his feet. He liked watching the man sleep, but he liked knowing that the man was unconsciously acknowledging him as master even more...
Sasuke returned his dark gaze to the window, relaxed and contented with the beautiful slave he had come to own.