The Prince and the Serpent

Boruto and Mitsuki

Boruto didn't know how long he was asleep but when the darkness lifted, he woke to much the same scene as the first time. The only real difference was that this time, Mitsuki was awake. Once again, the Serpent Prince tended to his needs but towards evening, he was starting to get cabin fever.

"Boruto, I don't think it's a good idea for you to move so much." Mitsuki protested as Boruto attempted to get out of bed.

"I'm fine, Mitsuki. I just want to look around a bit." He put both feet on the smooth hardwood floor and stood; then he promptly collapsed. Mitsuki stepped in immediately so Boruto's body slumped against his instead of crumpling to the floor. Mitsuki gave him a knowing look but Boruto just grinned back.

"Thanks, Mitsuki!" He said cheerfully, "Help me through the door, will you?" Mitsuki looked like he wanted to refuse but Boruto widened his smile, knowing Mitsuki couldn't resist. He savored his triumph internally as Mitsuki remained silent but wrapped his arms more firmly around the blonde to better aid his movement. Leaning heavily on Mitsuki, Boruto was able to navigate the room and through the squeaky door.

There, he found himself in a short hallway. To the right was a large, well-lit room with a polished wooden table positioned in the center. A sizable floral area rug adorned the clean wooden floor beneath the table. The walls were made of wood and stone and a huge stone fireplace took up the majority of the left wall. Cooking pots and pans hung neatly from the mantle and wood stood stacked to the right of the hearth. A fire was crackling merrily in the fireplace and a pot hung low over the tall red tongues. The smell of cooking food mingled pleasantly with the scent of fresh air from the open windows in the right wall. Shelves filled with well-dusted jars, flowers, blankets and other knickknacks dotted the walls. Everything about the home screamed comfort and peace.

An elderly man on the opposite side of the table, facing Boruto. The man, Boruto thought, could only be described as 'gruff'. He was bald but his shiny head was somehow balanced by his heavy salt-and-pepper handlebar mustache. His eyes were all but hidden behind a pair of overlarge and bushy eyebrows that perfectly matched his mustache. His face was square and his skin not covered by facial hair was worn to leather by the sun. His elbow was resting on the table as he leaned on it casually. His large hand, gnarled from hard work, was resting on the handle of a metal mug, which lazily wafted white steam into the air. He was dressed in overalls that were worn but clean and a pair of heavy boots was just visible under the table.

Sarada sat next to the old farmer with her hat sitting on the table while she spoke with him. They were so deeply engrossed in their conversation, neither of them noticed the Princes' entrance. The old woman Boruto had already met was flitting around the room, cleaning what was already clean and preparing vegetables for dinner. When she spotted Boruto, she stopped her work immediately.

"Your majesty!" She cried as she shuffled forward, wiping her hands dry on her apron, "Are you sure you should be up so soon?"

"I'm okay, really. And please call me Boruto." He said, feeling a little embarrassed about being addressed so formally. Their exchange quickly drew the attention of Sarada and the woman's husband. The old man studied Boruto from head to toe. He looked like he wanted to say something but Sarada got there first.

"Boruto, you idiot! Just what do you think you're doing?!" Sarada scolded as she rose to her feet.

"Relax, Sarada! I just got bored and wanted to look around." He said with a roll of his eyes. Truthfully, he was glad she was back to yelling at him. Seeing her cry had been way too weird.

"Don't you feel the least bit bad about using poor Mitsuki as your personal crutch?" Sarada pressed, determined to argue as usual. What Boruto was going to retort with, he didn't know but he was cut off before the thought formed by Mitsuki's arm tightening around his waist. Boruto looked at Mitsuki in time to see the angry look he was giving Sarada. Without a word, he maneuvered Boruto to the door on the right side of the room and out into the twilight.