Burning Castle

Rating R, Language, violence. Note; rating’s may vary in chapters.

Author: brighttears

Pairing: Pending

Summery; Cloud is like any other moody teen, he has a mom and friends only he fights his battles with a sword. He had also discovered a secrete that will change his life. He meets a new friend but will destiny intervene? (Crossover with Naruto.)


Last Time

Naruto watched the man go before heading out to find Cloud. He was half way towards the hill when he saw spiky blonde hair. Laughing Naruto ran the rest of the way ignoring some shouts about not running, like it was school or something. “Man I’m going to strangle you Cloud, I had to sit and keep an old guy company until you returned.” Naruto remarked loudly, swinging his hand around Clouds shoulder steering him towards home. Cloud snorted trying not to laugh at his friends antics.

Trap

On the way home Naruto told him about the guards and scientists, wanting a second opinion from Cloud. “No this has not happened before, but neither has the monsters been this bold before.” Was the soft reply. Naruto looked at Cloud under his blonde fringe, trying to see what was wrong, “Oi what’s with you Spiky,” Naruto said loudly waiting for Cloud’s retort and he wasn’t disappointed either. “Your one to talk, why don’t you go look in a mirror sometime. You know one of those things that reflect your image.” Cloud said sarcastically walking ahead of the now silently fuming blonde.

Huffing Naruto flipped Cloud off before treading after his odd friend. Absently glancing around Naruto caught sight of Kyo still by the house. Turning his head he met with Clouds back, subconscious letting his eyes drift to the lower back. The only thought that filtered through his brain was, ‘those are some tight jeans’, he could practically see all the curves in Cloud’s posture. Shaking off the odd thought Naruto caught up to the silent blonde.

When they got into the house Cloud sighed dropping onto the couch, stretching. “Nothing I’m just going to miss this place a little that’s all.” He admitted. Naruto sat down beside him not fully aware what he meant by this statement.

Looking blankly for a moment he mussed over what Cloud had said, only just realizing what he had meant. “Hey Cloud we don’t leave for another two days relax and enjoy what is left of it. You’ll be back here just wait and see.” Naruto finished getting ready for bed. All the while trying to tell himself the exact same thing. He rally would miss this place, it had become home for him. A real home where he could be proud to say it out loud. Signing softly Naruto stretched into the nice warm bed with Kyo right on top of him.

Cloud stared at the dark ceiling, memorizing the spider web cracks tossing and turning. He just could not seem to fall asleep, to say he was getting irritated would be an understatement. He kept thinking over the small conversation they had before bed. The ShinRa military was here but they were scheduled to leave tomorrow or the next day. That left Cloud to get into the mansion and get the rest of his possessions. Naruto just did not understand that his possession was basically his childhood and that he would go to extreme lengths to protect it. That was the only reason why Cloud had hidden them away in the mansion and not in the cave anymore or his room, where his mom would most likely spot them. He would just have to wait until the soldiers left and hoped they did before it was time to go to Midgar. Turning his head slightly he caught sight of Naruto next to his bed. The blonde was out cold with his mouth half open. Cloud smiled glad he had met Naruto when he had. He absently watched as his friends chest rose and dropped, the way his hair was covering half of his tanned face. He wondered if Naruto was a real blonde.

Cloud stopped his thinking right there. He did not want to know nor care. Frowning he twisted and turned his back to Naruto. He had been having strange thoughts lately about his friend. Wondering if he was tan everywhere or if he tasted sweet with all the chocolate Naruto always consumed. It was disturbing to say the least, thinking about all this now. He was a male for God sakes, and Naruto was his friend, male friend at that. Besides he liked Tifa, which was a female. Shaking his head, Cloud stiffly shifted the blankets. This was going to be one long night.


The next day was just as peaceful for Naruto as any other day, nothing could be better. Stifling a yawn he looked around the place. It was still early morning. The sun had just barley risen over an hour ago through the high topped mountains. Some of the villagers were out, walking around the village dirt streets while others were working on various things. Be it gardening or shopping. The only thing knew was that the local kids were bragging about going into the old mansion now that the scientists had left earlier that day.

The crazy freaks had left even before dawn, they only had one or two stragglers around the mansion grounds guarding it for some reason. Maybe not all the military personal had left yet. Cloud had gotten up even earlier then he did so Naruto didn’t know where Spiky was and he was glad for once. He was all alone with Kyo by his side. Mrs. Strife was out and he had the whole house all to himself. Which was good because he seriously needed to sort through his messed up mind. The dream he had was almost to real for his own liking, it wasn’t an nightmare or even a real dream, if that made any sense. No it was more like picture shots in time, be it the past present or future. A large looming mountain towering over a village surrounded by tress.

Nameless faces walking around waving or smiling ghostly disfigured smiles. But the one that got to Naruto the most was a man, no it was more like a boy. He had dark short hair with equally dark eyes. All he was really doing was just sitting by the pier with Naruto just smirking. That was all but for that split second Naruto had felt like he was home, welcomed. Then he just had to wake up back here in Nibelmiem with Clouds bed already made for the day. But the sad part was, he couldn’t even remember most of the strangers face. Grunting Naruto shoved his cold hands inside his black sweat pants, he really did miss Cloud.

Cloud looked around the village in the early morning, walking around and sidestepping the muddy puddles when needed. Naruto had been asleep when he had gotten up, thank God. He did not want to explain to his friend why he had strong morning wood. He really couldn’t help it, his damn mind had a mind of it’s own last night. Oh don’t get him wrong he had a very nice dream last night, or it would have been.

Like any normal young male he had a secret stash of porn right under his old history book. Who would even look there. His dream had been another faceless pretty woman, touching and stroking him. The skin was soft and silky just like the lush hair spreading all over the silk covered bed, it was heaven. But then things started to change. The skin tone was off, instead of white, it was tan. The hair, still soft had become short, and the curves had changed. The chest once fluffed up was now hard along with the stomach. Hands grabbed at his shoulders dragging him down towards the body with blue eyes locking into his own sweaty face. Just as the bodies had moved and glided up Cloud had woken with a start.

Needless to say he was a little freaked so he was left to walk around. He did not want to try and wake up Naruto, last time he nearly got his head knocked off and he still had scars where Kyo had bite him. But he was pretty sure he wouldn’t have woken Naruto up anyway just to discus his erotic dream. Sighing Cloud ran a hand through his spiked hair, maybe he shouldn’t have eaten those chips before bed. They were probably the damn cause of his dreams, that and reading porn before going to bed. Turning the corner he spotted the group of local kids all surrounding one of the main mansion entrance. Puzzled he walked up casually, not wanting to start a fight so early in the morning.

“...Went in there, don’t know for how long.” One of them were saying, Cloud noted that he had black hair. “He should have come out.” Another said sounding scared. Cloud frowned not liking this one bit, what were they talking about? “I don’t know lets get out of here.” Their leader Cloud supposed said, turning around only to be met with Cloud.

“What do you want shorty.” He said smiling. Cloud narrowed his eyes, “Can you come up with anything better then that.” He said not really interested in the answer.

“Hey lets go man I don’t want to get caught.” The black haired one said again. “Quiet it’s not our fault he went into the mansion. He was stupid enough to take the dare, not my fault.” The leader said right back at the dark haired man. Cloud was now extremely annoyed and curious, who was stupid enough to have gone into the mansion. Cloud stopped dead, his breath hitched for a moment.

His most valued possessions were in there, what if this guy had found... Cloud didn’t even bother hearing what else the local kids were saying and raced home.

What if this kid had found them, or what if the stupid kid had gone in there without any weapons. He could be dead right now for all Cloud knew. But one thing he did know for a fact was that he needed to grab his possession before he left for Midgar, before anyone else grabbed it. He would need his sword, there were monsters all around that mansion, even if the little group of guards had cleared most of them out of the mansion there were always more.

He briefly considered taking Tifa with him but he didn’t have time, he needed to find the idiot fast. Bursting through the house Cloud charged up the stairs and into his and Naruto’s room. Naruto sat up puzzled as he watched Cloud run up the stairs muttering something under his breath.

Naruto frowned, Cloud was acting like a madman. “Cloud what the fuck, it’s too early for your weird shit.” Naruto shouted eyeing the ceiling for a response. Kyo just laid on the couch bearing his narrowed little head between the cushions also thinking that it was to early for this.

“Get up now Naruto, we need to go into the mansion.” Cloud yelled back down the stairs while grabbing his sword. Instantly awake Naruto quickly got up, grabbing his knife weapons. He did not know what was going on but Cloud sounded urgent, so the blonde probably had a good reason. Looking up when he heard Clouds footsteps, he saw the young man practically charge back through the front door. Growling Naruto quickly put on his boots before racing out the door. Mrs. Strife wasn’t there, she had gone to the market to make a big feast for her boys before they left tomorrow for Midgar. What was Cloud thinking, they were supposed to go into the mansion tomorrow to grab his precious possessions. Naruto thought moodily. Heaving Naruto and Kyo ran down the dirt path kicking up dust as they went. Trying to find Cloud, before he really did anything stupid like what he was right now.


Running a little faster Naruto raced towards the old mansion already seeing Cloud up ahead. Cloud was probably panicking over nothing, like he tended to do quite often. When he finally reached the mansion Naruto slowed down to a dead walk, just looking at the towering building before him. The thing was so huge it was blocking out the sun, casting a dark shadow over the land. He could honestly say that he had never seen anything like this.

The roof even looked like it was going to cave in at some areas around the house. The windows were all bordered up or extremely dirty and around the house itself there was dead grass and skeleton like trees. The door to the mansion was half open, creaking on it’s hinges. Naruto breathed out looking at the other blonde to his right wearily. Kyo was up ahead, looking like he was ready to go into the old mansion. Shaking his head Naruto was about to say something when Cloud raised his hand up before slowly walking up the rest of the way, his sword at the ready. ‘This is insane,’ Naruto commented in his head before following. But he figured he was even more insane for even following.

Cloud looked over his shoulder a little to see if Naruto had actually followed and when he saw the blonde move up he turned slowly towards the old house breathing deeply. When they both stepped into the house they could see a mass of spider webs. Some even looked like they had been disturbed. The floor was filled with dust and dry dead leaves along with foot prints on the old wooden floors. The power was on surprisingly but it kept flickering on and off every so often. It was just them in this huge mansion it seemed. Naruto walked a little up ahead along with the fox, just checking out some pictures randomly or looking at a certain furniture that had caught his eye. Cloud on the other hand had his sword out, chasing away any weak monsters while looking into rooms and seeing if they were locked or inhabited. They had yet to encounter any strong monsters through their searching. But they hadn’t seen anybody else either. “Oi lets check up stairs.” Naruto whispered loudly, curious about this place now that he was actually in the mansion.


There was a lot of things that had caught his eye. The only thing Naruto didn’t like though were the mirrors. There was at least two in each room along with faded rug designs and no foot prints. Cloud nodded his head briefly after hearing Naruto’s suggestion, wanting to find his father’s materia as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling about this place and he didn’t like it one bit. Sighing Cloud had to snicker on that last thought, he was beginning to sound like his mother, the horror. But enough of that, they were supposed to be leaving tomorrow for Midgar not trespassing in some ShinRa mansion. The guards and the scientists had already left supposedly, with the helicopter that had came through the mountains earlier. So it was just him Naruto and the fox, oh and the bet taking idiot. They continued up the stairs trying to not make a sound throughout the mansion.

Dust was everywhere they turned in big plums and when they had finally reached the top floor they had to continually stop from sneezing out loud. The second floor was just like the first, more rooms with old furniture and paintings. Cloud had decided to go left while Naruto and Kyo had opted to go right. Each looking into rooms and trying to spot Cloud’s tattered box or the idiot. Cloud had just reached the last room, when he had bumped, literally, into a small safe. Thinking that he had got it he started to try different combinations on it with his sweat palms. Naruto on the other hand had come to a room that had more foot prints then usual and they were apparently leading all around the room. Some were going in circles, while others were going horizontal. Puzzled and a little amused Naruto tried to pick one pair of prints and see were it would lead him.

Turning around and facing a cream colored wall with no pictures on it, he continued his little game. Smiling when he had finally found that it led right back out the door Naruto lifted his head up only to jump and yelp with indignation, pointing his finger at the smiling blonde on the other side.

“Asshole don’t scare me like that.” Naruto muttered a little peeved that Cloud had been there for awhile now. Watching him looking like an idiot, following foot prints. Straightening Naruto leaned against the white wall, “So did you get it.” Naruto said casually, inwardly though he just wanted to get out of this house as soon as possible. He didn’t like this room because it was different, there were no mirrors nor rugs like every other room just prints.

Cloud grinned, bringing up a small tattered box into view. “Yeah I got it after I remembered where it was.” Cloud said, already heading towards the stairs. Trying to leave before Naruto questioned why he would forget where he left his possession. The truth was he had forgotten the damn code to the safe. Naruto sighed before he pushed off the wall, only to fall right on his ass a second later with a dull thud.

“What the fuck.” Naruto cursed rubbing his backside. Turning around to see what had happened. Perplexed he noticed that the wall was slightly tilted inward.

Frowning Naruto got up and turned a little to see actual light coming from behind the wall. ‘A secret passage’ He thought. Turning his head Naruto stalked the length of the small room to pull on Cloud’s shirt in the small hallway. Cloud whipped around ready to demand what had gotten into Naruto but he was silenced by a hand covering his mouth. Naruto shook his head before quietly telling him to follow. Cloud did although stiffly only wanting to go back home. Naruto walked back into the room quietly as possible, while Cloud just marched in with his hands crossed.

“Come here and look.” Naruto said sighing, he had wanted to be stealthy but Cloud had to go and wreak it with his big ass feet. Cloud came over and examined the door critically, ‘yeah it’s a passage alright,’ he thought silently.Nodding his head outwardly Cloud turned to leave.

“What are you doing, don’t you want to know what’s done there. Think of the possibilities.” Naruto stressed.

“No I don’t because I just know we are going to get in trouble.” Cloud said, seeing as Naruto was not convinced he went on. “We are supposed to leave tomorrow and we got what we came here for.” Cloud finished.

“Come on just one peek and then we’ll leave, I know your curious to Strife.” Naruto taunted, already beginning to open the hidden door a little more.

Cloud shook his head and cursed as he too helped Naruto with the door. When they had slipped through, there was nothing but darkness. Blinking away they had to wait for some clarity to come back. When it did they both saw a long stair way leading down into some kind of basement. Going slow and trying not to make a sound, the two traveled down the cold stairs.

There were no pictures on the brick walls, there was hardly any light either until they were about half way down. Cloud stopped and tugged on Naruto’s shoulder, listening for any noise that might give someone else’s presence to them. When nothing was heard but a dull mechanical noise they proceeded down again. More then ever Naruto wanted to know what was making that sound and by the looks of it so did Cloud.

They reached the bottom that was filled with dirt as they slowly started to creep around the cold stone corners. Naruto did this more then Cloud just making a game out of it more then anything. Imagining himself as a secret ninja on a mission. Naruto suddenly pulled to an halt, while Cloud continued on ahead. Naruto was puzzled as he turned a little to the right to see a small room like area. It was filled with glass bottles of different sizes, there were also some tables scattered here and there. Walking in he absently noticed that there were wooden flooring instead of dirt.

He turned ready to get Cloud when something caught his eye. In a far corner there was some sort of box like crate. Writing was on it that Naruto couldn’t decipher and there were strange carvings on it. What looked like a sun or moon and maybe trees with a cross. The coloring was warped so he couldn’t tell but it could have been black, gold, and maybe red. He also caught a glimpse of silver on the side of the box. It looked like a lock of some sort with numbers on it. Shrugging his shoulder not that interested in the box anymore Naruto headed out to find Cloud. Maybe when they left this place he could come back with Cloud. Rounding the last corner he found the other blonde and Kyo who was next to another door. This time instead of a wooden door like all the others, this one was solid steel.

“Oi looks like you found something.” Naruto said, walking up to the door, examining it. Grinning Naruto started to pull and soon Cloud silently joined in not wanting to argue a losing battle. The door itself was a lot heavier than it had first looked. It had taken a lot of their strength to just open the damn thing.

Grunting Naruto pulled again, slipping through the small indent they had just created. Looking around in awe Naruto went over to some glass bottles near the door, while Cloud and Kyo had opted to walk around. The fox went towards the right where some crates were stacked and Cloud had headed over to a large computer that was right in the middle of the room. To Cloud it looked like there were four different computers including the larger one and they all seemed to be connected. Picking up his hand, before turning to Naruto, who was still messing with some of the clear colored beakers.

He was going to warn Naruto to not break anything when he dropped his hand on the system board computer on accident losing his footing. Cursing Cloud whipped around frantically but nothing seemed to have changed.

Breathing out loud he smiled towards Naruto, “Don’t drop that...” However a high pitched sound started to go off cutting into Clouds statement, along with flashing red and orange lights.

Cloud backed up as far away from the computer as he could while Naruto who had been holding said glass breaker until it fell from his hand in fright started to yell and curse out loud. Slapping his hands over his ears and glaring at Cloud as he flipped the blonde off. Which looked ridiculous to Cloud since Naruto’s hands were by his ears. Kyo had also been frightened now had his hair standing on end, slightly snarling at nothing in particular and jumping all around like a jack rabbit.

“God dammit Cloud. What did you do.” Naruto shouted over the noise, heading for the metal door. Cloud narrowed his eyes right back at Naruto. “It was all your fault in the first place. Let’s go down and have some fun.” Cloud mimicked Naruto flying his hands about and all. At the same time trying to get to the metal door and away from the high pitched sound.

Giving the evil eye to Cloud, Naruto reached towards the door trying to open it. Frowning, he was trying to figure out who had shut it closed.

‘It was probably Cloud’. Naruto thought brightly. That or they were screwed.