Chapter Text
A sharp cold wind suddenly blew through his nape and Sasuke shivered. He looked around, trying to perceive any threat around him. Around him, the long grass and the yellow wildflowers swayed because of the gentle breeze. Sasuke looked ahead to see the pleasant view of the sunset in front of him.
This nook was a smooth cliff that was hidden from the mountain trail. The long grass and wildflowers made it very comfortable to lay down and sleep. Sasuke came here to draw and to enjoy sunsets. Today, because he was so engrossed in the sketch, he almost missed it.
As the sun went to sleep behind the mountains, he sighed and started gathering his things. It probably took him a few seconds, but the sound of thunder startled him. Looking at the sky, his heart suddenly felt empty. From where the sun had set, black clouds emerged slowly filling the blue sky.
Sasuke felt restless. As he tried to leave lest he got soaked in the rain, his feet won’t move. A sense of foreboding clouded his sense just like the sky. Yet, he had no choice but to leave. Tonight the monthly ration would arrive from the nearby village.
He quickly ran down the mountain towards his home. The Akatsuki lived in a scattered settlement of Nouka Minka right at the bottom of Kageyama, hidden behind the thick forest. The nearest village, Tsukigawa, was a whole day’s walk.
Sasuke went to the village twice a year, one was for the summer festival, again to visit the shrine for the new year. Otherwise he would roam around the forest but close to the settlement. Itachi didn’t like him going far away without at least one alpha with him.
The thunder rumbled above him and he entered the settlement. He entered his house and saw Obito and Itachi talking in Obito’s study. As he crossed the room through the corridor he heard some of the conversation.
“This month’s tribute selection didn’t happen.” Obito said, “I didn’t receive any letter from the capital.
Sasuke quickly went to his room and took the ration notebook and brush. Then he walked back to the study. Obito and Itachi were still talking.
“I think there might be some issue.” Itachi said, “We will wait a few weeks then I will send someone to the capital.”
“Nii-San.” Sasuke said, “We have to go and receive the ration.”
Itachi saw him and nodded, “We will talk at night.” He said to Obito and the other nodded.
“Sasuke, cover your head.” Itachi urged him. “Last time that beta was ogling at you too much.”
Sasuke sighed, “She was looking at you too.” He countered but didn’t disobey Itachi.
He had arrived here since he was merely five years old, even though he knew they were originally from the capital he doesn’t recall the life back then. All of his memories were of the mountain and this settlement.
The sky rumbled again as it became dark. Itachi turned on the oil lamp and Sasuke followed him.
It was almost half an hour of walking when they reached the horse cart in the designated clearance. The other party also had their own oil lamps but all three of them were clad in black attire with their faces obscured.
“Where are the usual ones?” Itachi asked.
“There is a banquet at the Village Chief’s house.” One of them said, “Everybody is busy. We were given extra money for this delivery.”
As Itachi considered it a plausible explanation, they started unloading the jute sacks full of rice, lentils and other things. Sasuke was observing and crossing it off from the list. He didn’t realise how long the unloading and counting continued, but suddenly there was a sound coming from deep in the mountain. It was loud and long, like a war cry. The birds nearby woke up and started flying around, the animals started running.
Sasuke was startled; he had never heard such a sound in his life.
“What’s happening?” He turned to ask when he saw Itachi standing frozen. The two suppliers’ postures relaxed visibly.
Before he could understand the situation, suddenly Itachi pushed him hard, “Run!” He screamed. Yet, before he could grab Sasuke one of them grabbed Itachi at the speed of lightning by his neck and slammed on the ground.
“Nii-San!” Sasuke screamed.
“Sasuke, run!” Itachi yelled, “Don’t look back!”
Sasuke saw the other man was slowly walking towards him and he didn’t waste any time and started running.
He took the familiar mountain trail, hoping to lose the man following him and hide at the nook of the cliff. He ran and ran, even when his feet hurt, he didn’t stop, his kimono caught in the bush and tore but he didn’t stop.
Eventually the rain started falling and to his horror the scent blocker he had been using was starting to be worn off. Behind him the man was effortlessly keeping up with him, as if he was not breaking a single sweat. Perhaps to him it was a game.
Sasuke took the hidden trail and hoped the man didn’t see him. Yet just as he was about to enter the nook his feet fell on a stray rock and his ankle snapped. Sasuke fell on the grass and dragged himself forward.
Behind him, the man, no, the alpha entered. To his horror, the rain also had completely washed off his scent blocker as well. A suffocating scent of blood surrounded them, choking him. Sasuke dragged himself backwards, his eyes on the looming figure as his shoes crushed the wildflowers under his feet.
“Please stop.” He pleaded.
Sasuke grew up in the mountains, but he knew what happened when an alpha chased an omega in a secluded place. The rain fell relentlessly and the thunder rumbled loudly, in that light the alpha took off the cloth he wore on his face, and Sasuke saw blue eyes glinting in the dark.
The alpha kneeled in front of him and Sasuke closed his eyes, his whole body went rigid out of sheer terror. Yet, he felt nothing that he was hoping for except a cold touch on his ankle.
“Your ankle is swollen.” The alpha said. Then he took off his outer robe and threw it on him, before he could realise what was happening, he was being picked up like he weighed nothing.
“W-What are you doing?” Sasuke asked.
“You shouldn’t have run like this.” The alpha said, “Now a lot of time is wasted, I need to change the plan.”
“What are you talking about?” Sasuke was bewildered.
Then he realised they were not going towards the Akatsuki settlement but towards a horse tied to a tree. The alpha hoisted him on the animal and hoisted himself.
“No!” Sasuke protested, he pushed on his chest, “Where? What are you doing? I want to go home!”
The alpha showed no reaction; Sasuke’s scream didn’t bother him at all. As the horse started running, Sasuke peeked from the alpha’s shoulder and his breath caught in his throat.
Amidst rain, there was an orange glow in the sky. His home, the Akatsuki settlement, was burning.
“No!” He struggled. His home was burning, his room, the kitchen, the people, Obito, Itachi. “Please! Let me go! No!” He pleaded, “My home!”
“It is no longer your home.” The alpha said, his voice was like a blade, “We will arrive at your home soon.”