Tada...? Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things... Enjoy. -TLW

It was a shock to see time fly as fast as it did, yet everything seemed to stay the same, the rooms never changing, the flowers always seeming to always be in bloom. Though I later learned that it was due to the gardener's constant replanting of the garden, but most of all, Naruto always looking the same.

I learned over the months during my stay in the palace how to read Naruto, his eyes told you everything you needed to know, though I felt as if he was frustrated with my lack of understanding at times, and I knew there was no one to blame but myself. Still, I found myself looking forward to the mornings and learning to understand Naruto just the littlest more.

The king came to tolerate my presence more through out my time here and would even lower himself to talk to me, though I felt he only did it for Naruto's sake, I was happy all the same. Itachi, he continued to mystify me all the time, always appearing at the most random moments, and leaving just as suddenly as he appeared to me. But Naruto always knew, we could be in the middle of reading and his eyes would suddenly snap towards where Itachi was to be, I never did find out how he knew, though it could just be that Naruto had a better understanding of people then I did. He always knew when things were happening, though no one told him, but I felt because he did know, that was the reason no one ever bothered to say a word to him.

When I was around Naruto, he made me feel very old, because his body gave the appearance of youth, his eyes told me otherwise. He had seen many things in his handful years of life, and I had a feeling that I would never want to know just what things.

The worst thing to me though, was the fact that when Naruto wasn't in the presence of the King, he seemed so sad to me, as if he just wanted to fade into the world and never reappear, but I knew that the King would just search the world till he found him. Maybe that's why Naruto didn't just disappear, because the king needed him, or maybe Naruto did…

One day I woke to a morning with everyone seeming to be in a panic. I had gone down to the kitchen to fetch Naruto's meal, and was surprised to see the ruckus going on about. At first I feared that there was to be an attack, or even signs of war, yet it wasn't the hysterical panic that one would expect with war, more like the one would expect if someone important was to visit.

I made an inquiry to the cook, who looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

"Do you not know what today is?" he asked eyes wide at the shock of my foolish question no doubt.

"No" I replied, shaking my head.

"it's Naruto's birthday, his majesty always throws a ball in his honor, so we must prepare for the guest that will be arriving tonight!" and that was all he told before his presence was once more demand about the kitchen staff.

Eyes wide, I walked back slower with Naruto's meal, eyes retaking in the things I had seen before, the maids cleaning as if it was their only duty in life. The linens from beds changed just yesterday being pulled from beds, as if tainted with a deep filth; everything in the palace that could possible shine was being polished even brighter to what it shone before. I was impressed with the quickness and efficiency with which the palace staff worked, and knew before noon the nearly all the palace would be cleaner then the day it had be built. Though I believed it was also due to the fact that some feared what the King would do to them if they failed in their duties to clean for this particular day.

When I finally reached the room, I gently pushed the door opened with my shoulder and entered. Naruto sat where I had left him, looking out into the garden, he held an apple in his hand which he gazed it, as if not sure how it had gotten there, and for what purpose its existence was. Sometime I think Naruto wondered that about himself, what his purpose truly was, apart from that of a doll for a King.

His stare angry as he continued to look at the apple, as if angry at its mere presence in the world, if he could've, I knew he would have thrown the fruit.

"Naruto-sama, I have brought your meal. Today it is fruit, eggs, bacon, and cooked potato." Naruto never seemed to care what he ate and it made me pause and wonder if he had any favorite food at all, and if today's meal was anything special at all. With the indifference with which he always showed, I figured that to Naruto that this was just another meal with which one ate to survive out of necessity.

Naruto seemed very irritable today, be it when he was eating to when he was being dressed. Nothing I choose seemed to please till the only thing he would wear was a very simple kimono that looked to have been left behind for a servant or other, but that was all the he would wear, and I was not going to fight with him over the matter, especially today of all days.

Not even a visit from the King could dispel Naruto's mood. If anything it seemed to make it worse.

I had just set Naruto outside, leaning on a tree, looking out into the still water of the pond where only the surfacing of the koi fish disturbed the surface as the rose up in order to eat the bits of food which had been thrown into it. Otherwise, looking at it from afar, one would have thought it was a portrait, with which the stillness of everything was. I turned as I heard the sound of footsteps behind me and before I even had a chance to blink I was backhanded and I found myself on the ground, shocked and dazed but what had just transpired.

Above me stood the King, livid and as mad as I had ever seen him to be, he looked at me as if I had done him an atrocity with which no words could describe. Though he told me soon enough my errors.

"Fool you are to dress him in clothing that would better to be used as rags! How dare you put him in such things, and most especially on today of all days!" he roared at me as he kicked me in the stomach, forcing me to bite my lip from crying out in pain as I forced my body to bow before him.

"Forgive me!" I gasped in a break of his yelling, "He would wear nothing else, even when I begged him to wear something more suited to him, he would not have it, and who would I be to deny him what he would want!?" I kept my head lowered and my body still as it trembled from the pain my body seemed to pulse with. To my eyes, the ground seemed to look particularly soft, and I fought the urge to just lie down and sleep on it.

I inhaled sharply as the King grabbed my hair and used it to pull me up to my feet; his eyes seemed to be glowing with a deep red, which had an inner fire burning in them. I feared the fire leaping into my eyes.

"You brave much to even dare to say such things to me…" he hissed as his eyes burned with that fire. He dropped me as if I was nothing, and I barely caught myself before my head hit the ground.

Then without a word he walked to where Naruto was and sat beside him, pulling him into his arms and kissing him softly on the forehead before leaning back against the tree, staring into the pond that was a calm and smooth as glass.

As I took a chance a look, I saw Naruto's eyes turn and meet mine.

Till this day I will never know what emotion was in them, and I don't think I ever will, for fear it would push me to question everything in this world.

His eyes at the moment seemed to hold the answers to all the questions I had never asked, and all the ones I ever would.

Maybe this was the reason the King loved him as he did, because Naruto, as imperfect as he was, was the most perfect thing in this tainted and dark world.

Minutes or hours later, found me still on the ground, before Itachi seemed to take pity on me and demanded my assistance, seeing as how his brother was 'busy' with Naruto.

I practically flew to Itachi's side, I felt, rather then saw the Kings eyes follow my every move as I hurried, and ungracefully followed Itachi inside.

The feeling and words that I felt fill me as I saw the ice on the table tumbled from my mouth crudely as I also saw medicine that would help my pains and headache. My tongue felt thick as I tried to express my thanks, but I fear it only came out as grunts, but Itachi just chuckled and shook his head, as if it were none needed at all.

"You have not been the first to face the fist of my brother, and I greatly doubt you would be the last, especially if the cause is Naruto. I also must say, that I was shocked when I saw how Naruto was dressed, that was very daring." He said as he bit into the apple he held in his hand.

I cough as I quickly drank down the medicines that would ease me of my pain, but I quickly had to gasp at the foul taste the accompanied it down.

"I didn't lie" I gasped, as I seemed to wheeze for each breath. I didn't think a rib was broken, but I must say, it was very close to it.

"He really didn't want to wear anything else but that." I gently prodded my face as I felt the swelling already begun. I also a tooth or two was rattled loose by the blow.

Itachi just chuckled and took another bite of the apple, "of that I have no doubt" he said as he chewed the fruit, "but you should have put something nice on him. Have you not noticed that everything, and I mean everything that is Naruto's has gold, sliver, gems, or something of value on it?" he chuckled as if I had said something amusing to him, then turned to look outside, his half eaten apple lay on the table, waiting to be devoured.

"you know" he said, breaking the silence that had settled between us, "Naruto once told me something very interesting, which might be the reason for which he wanted to be dressed the way he was. He once said…."

Flashback

Naruto and Itachi sat outside, enjoying the coolness of the day as they sat on the grass, enjoying the beauty of the forest. Naruto always did love the forest, once telling Sasuke that it reminded him of his home.

Itachi watched as a bird landed on Naruto's hand, and he slowly brought it to his face, before whispering something to it before it flew away. Naruto seemed to watch it go with longing, as if he too, wanted to just fly away, but was an angel long broken and doomed to stay on this world, grounded.

"When I was born, I was wrapped in rags and handed to my mother. At heart, I am a simple child with simple desires, I was born into this world with nothing, and when my time comes and I die, I shall leave the same way, dressed in rags and at peace with the world and my pockets just as empty as when I arrived." He plucked at the outfit he wore, his face scrunching up with distaste.

"I have never been one for gowns spun of gold, and outfits made with moonbeams, I feel like I am lying when I where theses outfits. I never did think I was liar." He said with a chuckle, turning towards Itachi, "but maybe I will prove them wrong yet." He said with a sad smile towards the sky, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of that bird that was long gone and flown away.

Itachi never was quite sure what to make of this young child, and figured till the day he died he never would.

End flashback

Neji didn't look at Itachi after he had finished telling the story, it made him wonder how long he had know this, and wonder why he hadn't told anyone else this, or anyone that he knew of at least.

"Does his Majesty know?" he asked, and only realized when he heard his voice, that instead of thinking the thought, he had asked it instead.

Itachi didn't say anything for a long time, before sighing wearily in response, before finally saying, "Who really knows?"

I didn't ask him any more questions after that.

It seemed a long time before his majesty came back, this time much calmer and in more control of his emotions, or at least from what I could tell at least.

He never said sorry, and I never expected him to, he just handed me Naruto and left.

Two young boys sat in a room in the palace, one was reading while the other looked at the windows.

"Sasuke, I don't like it here…" the boy in the window said softly.

The boy with the book looked up, "what's wrong Naruto? Don't you like your new home?" he asked as he sat the book down and approached Naruto.

"No…there's no trees and all the animals are far away." He said sadly, looking out the window.

Sasuke stood there looking lost, not at all sure what to say to Naruto's comment. He wanted to reassure the boy that he could change everything and that his friends would come back, but he knew the truth, Naruto's friends were far away and he doubted he would ever see them again.

"b-but what about me then?" he started to ask, not sure what he was saying at all. "Aren't I your friend?" he asked, trying his best no to look like the question would affect him at all, but deep down he knew otherwise. He really did like Naruto, he was different from anyone he knew and he at least wanted to be Naruto's friend.

"I don't know, are you?" Naruto asked, not turning away from the window, but Sasuke could tell from his voice that he was very serious in his question.

Instead of just saying yes and having Naruto's friendship, Sasuke actual paused to think about the question. He knew deep down that this wasn't just a quick answer and a friend ship that could be formed as easily as it could be broken, this was something serious and wasn't to be taken lightly at all.

When he looked up he saw that Naruto was looking at him, waiting for is response, so Sasuke took a deep breath and decided to be as honest possible.

"How could you be anything else to me?" he gasped, shocked at how deep and heartfelt the words seemed to be, as if pulled from somewhere deep inside him.

Naruto smiled at the words, as if they were the most perfect thing in the world, which Sasuke knew that they weren't all, he knew they could be so much more, yet he felt frustrated at his lack of words and inability to express what he was feeling.

Yet Naruto didn't mind at all, he continued to smile before saying, "I guess I'm not so unhappy after all, seeing as I have a dear friend of mine here."

Later on, I really wasn't surprised when an outfit was delivered to Naruto's room. I didn't need to ask where it came from or who had sent it. I just went about my duties without a word, and even though I could see the protest in his eyes, the outrage at my lack of compassion for his pleas against this outfit, I continued to dress him in it.

I was a coward.

I didn't want to risk being attacked again, so rather then do what I felt was right, I did what I knew in my soul was wrong.

I would say though that his majesty never did spare anything at all with Naruto, I couldn't help but feel that this was an outfit that truly was worthy of him. It wasn't gold or sliver, it was pure white, and seemed to radiate with a light of its own, a faint blue thread had been used to sew it together, and I could tell just by looking at it that this was an outfit that would have taken weeks to complete, maybe even months. It was a delicate as butterfly wings, and the slightest movement on my part could tear it, so with each breath held, I dressed Naruto in it. A sash etched with the design of foxes was wrapped around his waist, before setting to work on brushing his hair.

I avoided looking into his eyes, just focusing on the gold in my hands that showed brighter with each brush I gave it. I knew that if I looked at his eyes, they would trap me and never let me go.

I saw that there was another box that had come with the clothing, I had left it be, thinking that it was shoes or something of that nature, though I had found that to be odd, seeing as how in all my time here his Majesty had never bothered to give Naruto shoes. So it was with a great shock that I discovered a sliver crown made of leaves in side, it looked as if it would weigh nothing at all when held, and it made the kimono that Naruto wore seem sturdy, for how delicate it was, a strong breath would send it into shatters and send the leaves flying about, or so I thought, all the same, I dared not breathe on it, fearing such a thing would occur, as I placed it upon Naruto's head.

I was right in thinking that Naruto was an angel, and also thinking right that for an angel, it was such a shame that he was a fallen one.

A demon.

Yet he seemed to be saddest person in the world at that moment to me.

I was told that I was not to take the path I normally took when I as to take Naruto to his majesty, so I found myself walking through the garden. It was different at night, the world seemed to hold its breath here, and I figured that this was why Naruto loved it so much, this was a completely different world here, as if nothing could touch you, and time stood still. Or maybe it just reminded him of his home.

I stood outside at the entrance to the ball room waiting for the order that would let me enter, after what seemed like years to me, the door opened, and a dead silence followed as I walked in carrying the item that everyone was here to see, and I'm sure that saw what I had always seen.

What I though his majesty refused to look at, the saddest doll in the world.

I tried to block out the sounds of whispers that followed me as I carried Naruto up to the dais's where the King sat waiting, the spot to his left always open, always waiting for this doll to fill it.

"He doesn't even look real…"

"I don't think he's even human at all…"

"Is that what an angel looks like momma?"

Try as I might the words seemed to follow my every movement.

As I looked up, I was startled to say the least, to see the King smiling, his gaze never leaving the doll. Naruto always made him happy, so even though he seemed to hurt Naruto, what he truly wanted was him to be happy, despite the ways he went about, and whether Naruto was truly smiling at the end.

Then his eyes seemed to get a far away look in them as he gazed at Naruto, it made me wonder what he was thinking at that moment.

Flashback

"Naruto…"Sasuke asked softly, "were going to be together forever right? You won't leave me like everyone else?"

"Yeah Sasuke, were gonna be together forever, I promise, and you know I don't break my promises" was the soft reply.

"I really do love you Naruto." Was the response.

"I know."

End flash back

"I would like to thank everyone for joining me this evening, the celebration of Naruto is an event that I consider of the utmost importance, so your appearance here will be noted and remembered." Sasuke said as he started to make his speech, aware of Neji's movements as he say Naruto down on his seat.

"I would like for you now to take your seats and enjoy the show, dinner will be served in but a moment." With saying that he sat down and with a wave of his hand, the maids and servants came in, carrying trays loaded with food.

I would like to say that I remember every moment of that night, but really, I don't. The food was good, the wine a complement to the meal, I'm sure that it was old and expensive. The show was something that few ever see, yet I really can't remember any more of it. Though I do recall that Sasuke would not let anyone else handle Naruto that night, feeding him, talking to him alone, and watching his face for any changes.

Yet with each act, his face seemed to develop a frown and his scowl would deepen. I figured that he was displeased with the indifference that was in Naruto's eyes, no matter how wondrous the show.

I caught a view of Itachi; he was watching his brother as he stood in the background, before directing the next act out from a gesture of his brother. Even the performers seemed to notice the Kings displeasure, and I'm sure they started to worry that they would be sent away, or worse. I tried not to think too deeply about it.

Then when all the shows were over with, a cake that looked as if it could feed thousands was rolled out into the middle of the room, it seemed to be covered with candles and I knew it wasn't because Naruto was old, quite the opposite actual, it was to impress the boy, and make a dazzling appearance, which it did. Sasuke's eyes held a small hope in them as they rolled the cake closer toward their king and his doll.

Sasuke turned towards Naruto with a smile, and with a gesture of his hand, waved towards the cake, saying, "Make a wish Naruto."

I told you that there really wasn't anything that stood out to me about that night, from the food to the show, or even the cake for that matter. There's only one thing that would really stand out to me that I'm sure I would remember to the day I died,

Naruto speaking.

This was the first time I had ever heard him talk, and the silence was such that his words seemed to carry across it.

"I wish to die."

Nothing more.