A/N: Yaaay! I'm updating!! It's only the third chapter, but it seems like a lot...But, oh well. Um, I'm kinda wingin' it with this; I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on medieval times, but I read a lot of fiction/fantasy about knights and castles and royalty and stuff, so...Let's get started, shall we?

- How do I do that?! Everytime it happens it's an accident, dangit!!

P.S.--THIS IS NOT YAOI, BL, SHOUNEN-AI, GUYxGUY, BOY ON BOY. Jeeezis. I've nothing against the aforementioned, but that's not what this story is. So XP to all of you who thought so.

Castle

Chapter 2:

Reunited

I packed my things slowly, having been told to bring enough for a few days' time. Normally visits to the village were only meant to be for a day, thus eliminating any need to bring sleeping gear, but apparently we'd be staying longer because of the whole trip we were skipping out on. I tied up the canvas bag, throwing my rolled up blanket on top of it. Frowning and glancing about, with the ominous feeling of leaving something forgotten, I started when there was a loud rap on the door and turned around in time to watch the door swing open to admit a silver-haired, masked man. "Prince," he said in a formal acknowledgement, before he was suddenly striding across the room and drawing me into a firm embrace. "Be careful out there," the man muttered softly in my ear. "I don't want to have to avenge anything that happens to you, understand? You know your father has enemies."

I was rattled, to say the least. He held me for a few more seconds, before pulling away and ruffling my hair; I could respond with more than a blank stare. He smiled (I could tell because his eyes closed and curled into crescents) and he turned and swept out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. I only stared at the door in a daze; the only thought running through my mind was a simple one: I didn't know he cared so much.

To keep my hands busy, I unrolled my sleeping gear, rolled it back up again and strapped it tightly to my bag. I was shouldering it when there was another loud knock on the door. I turned warily, but the knocker seemed content to wait for me to open the door. I did so, sighing with relief to see Chouji. He smiled hugely at me, brimming with excitement.

"Are you ready, Prince?" he asked, glancing over my shoulder into my room. "Hurry up and get your stuff, Shino and Neji are waiting with the horses." He beamed again, and rushed off down the hall, leaving a suddenly very tired me standing in the doorway. I never knew he was so energetic, I grumbled to myself, racing back to grab the bag I'd dropped, before tumbling out the door and shutting it firmly behind me and locking it. Why's he so excited anyway, goddammit.

I trotted down the hall, vaguely remembering which way it was to the yards where I'd sparred with Chouji. When I finally made my way out, I could see from where I stood in the doorway my companions mounted on their horses. Shino was holding the reins of another from his superior height on the saddle, and as he passed them to me, I felt my mouth drop open in awe.

The beast whose reins Shino offered me was magnificent. Its coat was a glossy white, its mane the same magnificent color; liquid brown eyes penetrated my own dark gaze, and it bumped its head against my chest when I approached. "Snow's happy to see you," Chouji said, stroking his own mount affectionately. "You haven't ridden her for a long time." I couldn't find any words to say, only stroked Snow with a gentle hand. ...She's beautiful. I threw my bag up, attaching it to the saddle, and then swung myself into place.

"Okay," Neji said when it was appropriate, "let's go."

The ride to the village was uneventful; it took a few hours, and we stopped to rest our horses frequently. Neji had to berate me a few times for spoiling Snow with sugar and apples; Snow didn't seem to mind, but apparently Neji knows best, so...

We made good time, arriving a little after noon. Prance, Chouji's horse, lived up to its name, trotting through the gates jauntily; Shino's Crest and Neji's Song followed in a more dignified manner, and I steered Snow after them. The village was teeming with life, reminding me so much of the Konoha I once knew. The gates opened into the market, and we slowed to a stop. There were people everywhere; food vendors on the street-side, shopkeepers throwing bread to stray cats, children playing together, veering effortlessly around the stalls.

"Where'd they say they'd meet us?" Neji called to Chouji over the noise. Chouji stood in his stirrups, shading his eyes as he peered over the heads of the villagers.

"They said near the--Oh! There they are!" Prance reared back eagerly, picking up his master's excitement, and Chouji stroked his neck to calm him. He swung himself down from the saddle, keeping a firm grip on the reins, and began leading the horse through the crowd. Shino and Neji followed suit, and I was left to mimic them, rushing Snow forward in the path they'd created through the people.

When I'd finally made it through to where they stood by a huge fountain, I saw that Shino was holding both Crest's and Prance's reins; frowning to myself, I glanced around for Chouji. A sudden cry of "Shikamaru!" drw my gaze to where Chouji was tackling a tall, pony-tailed youth with a swaggering frame, bored expression, intelligent gaze and, when those eyes lit upon Chouji, endlessly patient smile. Shikamaru brought up his arms in time to catch Chouji's hug, chuckling, "What a welcome," and that's when my eyes strayed to the people standing beside him.

I kind of numbed a little bit, seeing them all standing there; Neji and Shino strode forward and were instantly attacked. Neji, by a black-haired youth with innocent round eyes who launched himself at him enthusiastically, and Shino by a grinning, sharp-eyed brunet youth with a white puppy at his feet.

After being so scared, this kind of calmed me; and, as odd as it sounds, it also gave me absolute faith in my friends that I ashamedly kept from them until now. Because, no matter where I am, they're with me. Looking back, I see that now. I've never really been alone; like, ever. And I never once thanked them for being there with me.

"Oh!" Chouji exclaimed suddenly from where he was hanging off Shikamaru. He trotted over--Does he ever rest?--and dragged me to them. "This is Sa--Prince Sasuke," he informed them, gesturing at me. "But he's not worth the formality."

I was not, I am proud to report, too far gone to scowl. The three boys grinned at me;

"Hi!"

"Hey."

"Yo."

"Such disrespect for your betters," I heard Shino say quietly, fiddling with his glasses.

"Now, Shino," Neji said with a small smile. "Is 'better' the right word for Sasuke? Consider your words."

My mouth hung open. "I'm standing right here!"

"Oh...sorry, we didn't see you," Chouji said, looking mildly surprised. I threw one of Snow's apples at him.

"Hey, where's--" Neji asked suddenly, glancing around.

"He told us he'd catch up," Shikamaru said dubiously, dark eyes unsure. "I don't like him wandering around on his own, but you know how he gets."

"Did he say where he was going?" Chouji asked, frowning now.

"Who're we talking about?" I asked dryly, a little sick at being kept out of the loop. It's like their doing it on purpose, too...

But I should've kept my mouth shut. I shouldn't have said anything at all; because at that moment, everyone's heads turned to the side, all of them seeking out the same thing. At that moment, I frowned in confusion, and looked as well.

And it was in that moment that I saw Naruto.

I hadn't been expecting it; I hadn't let myself dare to hope that I'd ever see him again. Once he'd died back in the world I know, I thought he'd be dead everywhere, in every world, in every dimension. I thought his soul was lost to me forever. After all that misery and torment--thinking that if I'd been there, if I'd been at his side like a true comrade, he might not've been snuck up on--here he was...

Running towards us, because he was always running, with that goofy, happy-go-lucky expression and that radiantly cheerful smile. I felt myself go a little weak at the sight of him; I tried to berate myself on my lack of poise, but this was...this was like a resurrection. My comrade...my best friend, back from the dead.

"Naruto! We were worried!" Lee chided him as soon as he'd joined them. "Don't go off without telling us where you'll be!" When Naruto made a face, Kiba thunked him on the head. Chouji smiled, relieved, and Neji ruffled his sunshine-blond hair. Shino, as was expected, did nothing, but still earned a smile from the blue-eyed menace. Then those eyes lit on me and I froze.

"Oh! Naruto, this is Prince Sasuke, minus the 'prince'," Lee said, gesturing at me. I twitched--Can't they respect my higher status?!...Well, it is them...I waited for Naruto's loud, enthusiastic voice to ring out, but was disappointed. Blinking, I saw him only gazing at me curiously, before tilting his head with a smile and stretching out his hand.

I shook it slowly. "Um...Hi?"

"Oh," Kiba looked at me, a little put-out. "He doesn't talk much."

... "Eh?"

"I fear for our village's safety if our future ruler's intelligence remains at this low," Shikamaru muttered. I dug around for another apple and I swear Snow glared at me.

"He's mute," Neji said quietly. "Or, at least, he never talks. To anyone."

--

I watched him play with Akamaru and Kiba as the others went to buy lunch, my throat dry. He didn't speak? And no one knew why; it's not like they could ask (expecting an answer). He just stopped talking one day and never spoke again.

I won't ever hear him...?

Akamaru licked his face, and he smiled, stroking the dog's head; apparently, the place they were going to get food from was run by a guy who strongly disliked (read: hated with the burning passion of a thousand suns) animals, dogs especially. And, since Kiba was loathe to part with his beloved puppy, he stayed behind with us. I wasn't allowed to go because, although I was the prince, I didn't know my way around my village, and would probably get stolen by some random weirdo. Nice, I know.

He'll...He'll never call me "teme", ever again?

Those bright, blue eyes fixated on me; the blond stared at me directly from where he sat on the ground. My own eyes widened--his gaze was so expressive. I could practically hear what they were telling me. Eyes like sapphires, with an oceanic depth of perception; adventurous and playful, serious and determined when he needed to be.

...Have they always been that way?

"Oi! Princely!" Kiba was shaking me by the shoulders; I blinked. "You okay in there?" Before I could word my response, Chouji's voice rang out: "We got the food!" Immediately, Kiba released me and I, caught off-guard, fell over backward. Snow wickered from where she and the other horses stood by the fountain. I glared at her. Kiba was chewing on some kind of meat, sitting on the fountain's edge, giving a hunk to Akamaru. Naruto's eyes brightened on a bowl in one of Neji's hands, and he lept for it. Neji surrendered it unto him, giving him a pair of chopsticks as well. Naruto sat cross-legged with his back to the fountain's foundation, slurping up noodles.

I had to smile; that was one thing that would never change. I heard Kiba mutter, "He seems wacko. I think we might have to hire a healer." Then Kiba grinned at Neji. "Like your cuz!"

Hinata.

Neji blinked, then smiled smally. "Well, she is a practiced healer--one of the best."

"Can we see her?" I asked without thinking. Everyone stared at me. "Er...I mean, it'd be interesting to meet a healer, and she's your cousin, so..."

Shino fiddled with his glasses, saying quietly, "It's a long ride from here, and we only have three horses."

"Aww, let's go!" Chouji said, warming to the idea. "We've got almost four days to spend with you guys, and we never get to see Hinata! Our horses are strong, they can carry two people each. 'Sides, Princely--" apparently that nickname was catching on, goddammit "--wants to meet her."

"I just don't know," Shikamaru said, crossing his arms and closing his eyes in irritation. His food (consisting mostly of some cheap fruit) lay untouched on the fountain's edge.

"Well..." I raised one eyebrow at them. "What if I were to issue a royal command?" I'm the prince...I can do that, right? Their silence wasn't reassuring.

"Then our hands would be tied!" Chouji cheered, throwing his arms up. "Huzzah!"

After finishing lunch--some kind of kebabs--we saddled up; Shikamaru rode on Prance with Chouji, Kiba and Akamaru on Crest with Shino, Neji and Lee (who was forced) on Song. I situated Naruto in front of me so he could hold the reins, and clicked to get Snow moving.

Maybe Hinata can heal his voice.

Or maybe...maybe his spirit.

Act 3:

End

(I'm sorry it was so short!)