Getting settled
Naruto woke slowly, and even as he opened his eyes, he thought he must still be dreaming. He sat up, plumping the pillows behind him.
Last night, he had not given any heed to his surroundings. Now, he gazed around in breathless wonder. Blue and white striped wallpaper adorned the walls. Heavy blue damask drapes covered the windows; a matching counterpane was folded on the foot of the bed. There was a thick rug on the floor, woven in shades of blue.
He was about to get out of bed when he heard a knock at the door.
"Master Naruto?"
"Yes, come in." He drew the covers over his chest as the door opened and Iruka stepped into the room.
"Lord Sasuke instructed me to take you shopping this morning after breakfast."
Naruto nodded. "Yes, he told me."
"I've brought you something to wear," Iruka continued, placing a large parcel on top of the table beside the bed. "When you are dressed, please come down to breakfast."
"I will, thank you."
"Is there anything you prefer to eat?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Very well, young master. I shall expect you in, say, half an hour?"
"That will be fine."
"Unless you wish to have breakfast in bed."
Blue eyes widened in question. "In bed? I'm not sick."
A slight smile flickered over Iruka’s lips. "Half an hour then, young master," he said, and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
"Breakfast in bed," Naruto mused, smiling. "Imagine that."
Rising, he opened the box, marveling at the bounty within. A dress shirt of light blue and pressed new trousers. A small stitching design was on the left pocket of the trousers, Naruto ran his fingers over the threads. It was a small round fan, half red and white and he pinched his lips in thought at the design. He then dragged his fingers over brand new undergarments, unable to believe the finery of it all. Never had he owned anything so fine in all his life.
He dressed slowly, inspecting each item. He glanced around the room again, wishing for a mirror. At home, a looking glass was considered a luxury beyond their reach, but surely Lord Uchiha could afford a hundred mirrors.
Odd, he thought as he made his way down the narrow staircase. But then, rumors of strange doings at Uchiha Castle were rampant in town.
Some said the place was haunted; others said that they knew of boys and girls who had gone there and had never been seen or heard from again. But they were only rumors, and Naruto had never given much credence to idle gossip. After all, people said Chiyo was an awful old woman and that she killed her husband, hid the body, beat and starved the orphans and Naruto knew that wasn't true.
Old lady Chiyo might not be the kindest, most affectionate woman in the town, but she wasn't a monster, either.
When Naruto reached the main floor, he wandered from room to room. Vaulted ceilings. Dark wood. Heavy draperies at the windows. Costly paintings and tapestries on the walls. Numerous statues and figurines and carvings made of silver and pewter and wood. Crossed swords above a massive stone fireplace. Expensive rugs imported from exotic places. But not a single mirror. He frowned. There were no clocks in the house, either.
The dining room, like the other rooms in the house, was large and dark and expensively furnished.
A lace cloth covered the long trestle table. A pair of silver candelabra stood in the center of the table. Long white tapers filled the room with a soft glow. Dark green velvet draperies covered the windows. There was a painting of a hunting scene on one wall, a painting of a sunset done in bold shades of pink and crimson on another.
There was only one place setting on the table. The plate was china rimmed with gold, the water glass was of fine crystal, the flatware was gold. Stunned by such opulence, Naruto sat down at the one place setting.
Moments later, Iruka entered the room, a covered tray in his hands. As he uncovered it, a variety of rich aromas filled the room. There was sliced ham, poached eggs, fluffy biscuits, pats of butter, a jar of jam, a bowl of porridge, fresh strawberries and cream, sliced peaches, and a pot of tea.
"I hope this is satisfactory, young master," Iruka said.
"Oh, yes." The blond had never seen such a variety of find foods. Will Lord Sasuke be joining me for breakfast?"
"No, young master."
He should have been relieved. Instead, he felt a wave of disappointment.
"Will there be anything else, young master?"
"No, thank you." Naruto shook his head politely.
"Very well. I'll bring the coach round when you're ready to go."
Naruto nodded, overwhelmed by the richness of his surroundings, the bounty spread before him. Certain he couldn't eat it all, he sampled everything, and when he sat back twenty minutes later, he was amazed to see there was nothing left.
He spent the rest of the morning at Konoha Tailor shop. At a loss to know what fabrics and styles to pick for himself, Naruto let the tailor take his measurements, and then sent Naruto on his way with the promise of having new clothing within three days. Along with all the necessary undergarments, hats, shoes, gloves, and cloaks. Naruto's head was spinning by the time they returned to the castle.
Iruka prepared a lavish midday meal, then suggested Naruto take a nap.
Naruto smiled. A nap in the middle of the day! He had never had that luxury before. But, tempting as it sounded, he wasn't tired. "Would it be all right if I looked around?" he asked Iruka shyly.
"Of course, young master. This is your home now. You may explore at your leisure. All the rooms are at your disposal save those in the east tower."
"Thank you, Iruka."
"What time would you like supper, young master?"
"I don't know. What time does Lord Sasuke usually dine?"
"Lord Sasuke rarely dines at home."
"Oh." Naruto felt a wave of disappointment as he recalled that Lord Sasuke had said he would not see him again. Even though Sasuke frightened him, he also thought the dark haired man the most fascinating person he had ever met.
"Seven o'clock, young master?"
"What? Oh, yes, that will be fine. Thank you." Naruto spent the rest of the day exploring the castle, certain he would never find his way around. So many rooms and stairways and passages.
He bypassed the first story, where, in olden times, the granaries had been located, as well as the boxes and barrels and casks that had held household supplies. The second floor housed the dwelling and common rooms for the inhabitants of the castle. Iruka's kitchen was here, adjoining a large, well stocked pantry.
A passageway led to a dormitory where the castle's ladies-in-waiting had once slept. It occurred to Naruto that his own room, which was the largest room he had seen thus far, must have been the sleeping quarters for the lord and lady of the castle.
Knowing that made him wonder where Lord Sasuke's chamber was.
He turned down another corridor, glad he had thought to bring a lamp with him, for the hallways were dark. Naruto had never really believed in ghost stories, he wasn't about to start now, although, if one were going to believe in ghosts and goblins, he supposed the castle at Fire Mountain would be the perfect place to start.
Naruto paused now and then, admiring the paintings and rich tapestries that hung on the walls. The first room he came to was a library filled with more books than could be read in a lifetime. Naruto ran his fingers over the spines. He lifted a heavy volume from another shelf and opened it, staring in wonder at the fine spidery script. Gilt edged each page. He saw beautiful drawings of cherubs and winged horses.
Turning the pages, he found drawings of wolves and ravens and bats, a skeletal figure in a long black cloak, a dark angel who held a skull in one hand and a silver chalice in the other. Suddenly feeling disturbed by the images, he closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
He entered the great hall next. This room, where the family had once dined, was furnished with a long trestle table and a single high-backed chair made of black wood. Looking closely, he saw that the back of the chair was carved in the shape of a raven with its wings folded. Weapons of every kind imaginable decorated the walls.
A solarium located in the eastern corner of the house was filled with plants gone wild.
Caught up in exploring the wonders of the castle, an hour became two, then three.
He spent a few minutes in the music room, running his fingers over the yellowed keys of a small piano. Naruto had often wished he could play, but there had been no time to learn, and no one to teach him. He smiled as he remembered that Lord Sasuke had promised him lessons.
On the third floor, he counted twelve rooms that he assumed had once been bedrooms for the master's children and servants. All were empty, the floors covered with a thick layer of dust.
He climbed another flight of stairs and found himself in a round tower room that overlooked the river and the forest beyond.
He went down several narrow, twisting flights of stairs and found himself in a dungeon. Wrinkling his nose against the damp, musty smell, he held his lamp higher and took a few steps inside, his footsteps muffled on the hard-packed earthen floor. Long rows of iron-barred cells lined both sides of the corridor. Standing there, he felt a sudden sense of evil.
Men had died here. Naruto could almost hear their screams echoing off the gray stone walls, taste their fear as they met violent death....
He turned and ran out of the dungeon. Taking the stairs two at a time, his heart pounded when ghostly images rose up in his mind—grotesque images of blood and horror, of men being tortured, of terror and pain beyond bearing.
He was gasping for breath when he reached his room. He slammed the door, turned the key in the lock. He blew out the lone candle in the room, fell across the bed, and willed his heart to stop pounding.
There was nothing evil in the dungeon, nothing to fear. It was only the fact that he had never been away from home before coupled with a vivid imagination that had him running scared. Naruto knew he was lucky to be here, in this place. For the first time in his life, he had a room of his own, food enough to eat, and beautiful clothes. And, if Sasuke was to be believed, anything else he wanted was his simply for the asking.
Comforted by that thought, he fell asleep.
Sasuke sat in front of the huge fireplace that dominated his bedroom, his elbows braced on the arms of his chair, his chin resting on his folded hands. He stared into the flames, but it was the blonde's image that filled his vision. Vivid blue eyes deeper than any ocean. Beautiful blue eyes wide with fear. Pale pink lips. Skin sun kissed tanned. Golden blond hair that reminded him of the sunlight he had not seen in four centuries.
Naruto had cleaned up well, he mused. Perhaps too well. Never before had he brought home one so young or so innocent or so lovely. For a moment, he contemplated sending the boy away. But only for a moment.
He glanced out the window, judging the time.
Naruto would be asleep by now.
He licked his lips as he rose from the chair.
A thought took him to the blonde's bedside. For a moment, he stood gazing down at him, bewitched by his beauty, his innocence. The boy slept on his side, his cheek resting on one hand. His hair was spread across the pillow like a splash of sunlight, tempting his touch.
Moving slowly, he lifted a lock of Naruto’s hair. Soft, he mused, so soft. He let the fine strands trickle through his fingers and then, unable to help himself, he stroked a tan cheek, let his fingertips slide down the length of the boy’s slender neck to rest lightly on the pulse throbbing slow and steady in his throat. Heat rushed through his fingertips. Ah, yes, he would have to be extremely careful with this one. The boy aroused far more than his accursed hunger.
Muttering an oath, he withdrew his hand.
The blond stirred on the bed when he sat down next to him.
"Sleep, sweet Naruto; dream your young man dreams." He brushed a lock of hair away from the tanned skinned neck, placed his hands lightly on Naruto’s shoulders. "Rest well. You have nothing to fear."
Slowly, he bent his head, his tongue stroking the warmth of the tanned skin. Naruto moaned softly when Sasuke’s teeth grazed his throat. "Sleep, little one," he murmured. "You have nothing to fear. It's only a dream..."
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In the morning, Naruto woke feeling hungry and oddly lethargic after a good night's sleep. Recalling that he had missed supper, he decided that accounted for his hunger as well as his lack of energy.
Sitting up, he felt faintly dizzy. "Too much sleep and not enough food," he muttered as he slid his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.
He looked over at the bell pull, hesitant to summon Iruka, wondering if he would ever get used to the idea of having someone ready to fulfill his every desire. "No time like the present to start getting used to it," he reasoned to himself and tugged on the cord.
Minutes later, Iruka knocked on the door.
"Come in,” Naruto called out.
"Good morning, young master." His gaze looked him over and Naruto thought he saw a look of pity in his eyes, but it was quickly gone, and he decided he had been mistaken.
"Could I... that is, I'd like a bath, please,” Naruto whispered, pinching his lips.
"Right away, young master. The water is heating." He left the room, only to reappear a moment later, a tray in his hands. "I thought you might like to take breakfast in your room this morning.:
"Why, yes, I would, thank you."
"Is there anything else, young master?"
Naruto shook his head, wondering if Iruka was some kind of mind reader.
"Your bath will be ready shortly then."
"Thank you, Iruka." Naruto paused, frowning. “How did you get in here?"
"Through the door, of course."
"But I ... It was locked, wasn't it?" Naruto glanced at the door. "I'm certain I locked it last night."
"You must be mistaken."
Naruto shook his head. "No, I'm sure it was locked when I went to bed."
"Will there be anything else, young master?"
"No, thank you." Feeling somewhat dazed, Naruto carried the tray to bed. He had been tired last night and maybe he hadn't locked the door. With a shake of his head, he put the thought from his mind.
Making himself comfortable, he ate a leisurely breakfast, took a long soak in the tub, then spent an hour trying on his new clothes, wishing there was a mirror in the house so he could see how he looked.
Later that day, he asked Iruka if he would find one for him.
"'m sorry, young master," Iruka said, his expression impassive, "his lordship refuses to have them in the house.”
Naruto frowned. "But why?"
"I’m sorry, young master. I'm afraid that's something you must discuss with Lord Sasuke."
"How can I, when I never see him?"
"I am sorry. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Lord Sasuke said you would teach me to play the piano and to read."
"I should be pleased to help you, young master."
Naruto smiled at him. "Thank you, Iruka. I should like to begin this afternoon, if you don't mind."
"It will be my pleasure. Shall we meet in the library at three?"
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In the weeks that followed, Naruto's days fell into a pleasant routine.
He spent his mornings wandering about the grounds when the weather permitted; if it was raining, he wandered the solarium, checking out the ‘jungle’ of plants and learning about them. He ate a late dinner, took a nap, and then spent the rest of the afternoon under Iruka's tutelage.
Iruka taught him to play the piano; he taught him to read and write. Naruto whooped with delight the first time he wrote his name without any help. Naruto Uzumaki. Mr. Naruto Uzumaki. N. Uzumaki without any help. He wrote it over and over again, thinking how grand it looked, how wonderful it was to be able to write his own name.
After supper, he spent a quiet hour going over his lessons, and then he retired for the night.
One evening before going to bed, he told Iruka he wished he could plant a garden; the next day, he found a variety of seeds and seedlings on a bench in the side yard.
As the days passed, Naruto came to realize that Iruka was quite a remarkable man. There were no other servants in the castle. Iruka was the cook, butler, valet, and housekeeper, all rolled into one. In addition, he did the shopping and the laundry, looked after the grounds, and tended the horses.
Iruka never intruded on his privacy, yet he was always there when Naruto needed. Truly, a most amazing man, he mused.
Naruto had been at the castle several weeks when the nightmares began—dark dreams filled with a sense of impending doom, horrid dreams filled with death and hideous fangs stained with blood.
Other nights, he awoke feeling cherished and desired, his heart beating fast as he recalled a phantom hand gently stroking his cheek, the touch strangely erotic. And always, after such dreams, he woke up feeling tired and hungry.
Naruto did voice his concern to Iruka, wondering if he needed to see a doctor, but the kind brunette servant assured him that he was perfectly fine, that it was only the change in diet and atmosphere causing distress, and that he would eventually adapt. There was pity in Iruka’s eyes when he said this, and he refused to meet Naruto’s gaze.
"Is something wrong?" Naruto had asked. "Something you're not telling me?"
"I’m being as honest with you as I can, young master."
"Will I ever see Lord Sasuke again?"
"I don't know, young master. I hope not," Iruka had replied and left the room.