The Deception (chapter 8, part 3)
Aoshi had asked about the pendant in his navel one night, when the moon was gleaming on their skin and the man’s beautiful hair was tangled around the blonde’s limbs. For a long time Daisuke had not said anything, staring up at the high beams of the ceiling as if they would spare him having to answer, fingers reaching down to touch the small, jeweled fan. The brunette had touched it a few times in passing but every time the blond had gently removed his fingers with a sad, regretful smile. It was one thing he couldn’t let himself permit because the little pendant was sacred to him. It was the brand he had chosen to wear that announced he belonged to another, even if no one recognized it. He was surprised Aoshi hadn’t but then he realized he would have no reason to. The Uchiha crest had all but disappeared from the shinobi world and Sasuke, for some reason, no longer wore them on his clothes. Finally he had breathed out a soft breath and looked away, out into the gleaming garden. He had noticed that no matter how hard it poured here during the day, it was nearly always clear at night.
“It was…left behind by a friend…from my village. Everyone was taken away…by a sickness. The only reason I never caught it was because I was away for the summer helping my uncle with his farm. I was still really young but he didn’t have any kids so my mother sent me there to help with whatever I could. When I came back they…” he had choked at that point, feeling the shallow ache of Daisuke’s pain while the deep current of Naruto’s barbed lie throbbed within his heart. A slender hand had reached out and stroked gently along his shoulder and the touch had freed the block from his throat, “He was my friend since we were very small. We did everything together and usually he would come with me during the summer because we could never bear to be apart. But that summer…that summer he didn’t come with me…and he died with everyone else,” he glanced down at the shining pendant and ran a fingertip along its edge, “It was the symbol of his house, the only thing that was left behind,” silvery tears clung to his eyelashes and he was thankful for them because there was a strange look in Aoshi’s gaze that he couldn’t read. Daisuke’s obvious pain swept that away, though, and the man had not asked about it again.
Later that night, though, he learned the source of that look and it had made the hairs on his arms stand on end. The older man had thought the blond asleep already and he had reached out one finger to touch the red and white fan of the Uchiha crest. The question he whispered aloud was terrifying.
“You say all that but then why does it feel like I should have seen this before?” the words Sasuke had spoke to him in his rooms those many weeks ago had come back to him like a premonition and he realized all Aoshi had to do was give the description of the pendant to whoever was his source of information and he would know the truth. But as the days passed, nothing seemed to change and Naruto was able to breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed the Feudal Lord was so taken with Daisuke, he was overriding his very nature and giving the blond a benefit of the doubt. He had to wonder, though, how long that would last.
Soft rain began to hiss outside the sliding doors and he turned his head that way as if that would let him hear it better. The only reason he was in his own rooms and not with Aoshi was because the man had left the palace for a few days, traveling to one of his senior counselor’s estates where he claimed he had a bit of state business to take care of. When he had told Daisuke this two days ago in the darkness of his bedroom, the blond had pretended to be dismayed while he masked his suspicion and surge of excited hope.
“Can’t you take me with you?” he had asked, pressed small kisses along the nape of the older man’s neck while pressing the length of his body against Aoshi’s back. The brunette had laughed, shifting slightly so Daisuke could just make out the gleam of his eyes in the darkness.
“Don’t be so dismayed. It will be really quiet boring but I’m not taking anyone with me save a few guards. The faster this goes, the better,” then he sucked in a small breath of surprise as the blond danced his fingers down the line of his spine, slipping them over the bump of his tailbone and into the soft heat of his crack. Daisuke made a sound of disappointment, making sure the older man heard his pout in the sound. Inside he was battling with himself. He knew Aoshi was not going away on state business; all of that was done in the palace or in the Lower Courts and all of his councilors where here. The only reason for him to leave the palace to conduct his “business” would be if he was trying to hide something. But Naruto had been unsure if he should push the noble into taking him or not. It could convince the man into taking him along and then potentially revealing something of his plans but he was more inclined to think it would make the brunette suspicious.
“But I’ll be so lonely here if you go,” he had breathed, now working his fingers lower, made easier when the man dropped his head to the pillows with a low groan and spread his legs, circling the small pucker of Aoshi’s entrance, “No one to keep me company or to save me from Arisa’s teasing,” the older man had been gasping softly by then and had nearly clawed his way over the headboard when the blond suddenly slid down and swiped his tongue over the place his fingers had been teasing. It had fluttered and pulsed wantonly under his tongue. But still it did not seem to sway the man. When they were both a little more coherent, Aoshi had kissed him deeply before pulling back with a smile.
“I won’t be gone more than five days and you won’t be lonely. You have all those friends down in the Lower Court to entertain you. I have also decided to leave Sasuke in charge,” the last part had been stated absently, as if the man had forgotten how the Uchiha hated Daisuke. It had been all he could do not to tense at the suggestion, wondering just when Sasuke had managed to work his way into Aoshi’s confidences, “I had been leery of him at first but he seems to be more reliable than I had first thought. Not the greatest personality, I’ll grant you but he has more than proved himself,” it was all said in casual confidence but Naruto had felt sick with the words. Just what had Aoshi made Sasuke do that he was so sure of the Uchiha now? But Daisuke had just let out a gusty sigh and curled around the smaller man’s back, burying his nose in damp, burnished curls.
“Alright…”
I can only hope that Sasuke has made more progress than me, he thought now as the strange feeling of languid fatigue stole over him. His mind was still sharp but his eyelids felt heavy, as if he hadn’t slept in days, and they wanted to keep sliding shut. He knew he shouldn’t fall asleep just yet or he would miss dinner but he just couldn’t bring himself to move. It was strange how, in a place that probably housed about the same amount of people was half of Konoha, he could feel so isolated. Oh, he could smile at them and laugh and carry on but not one of them knew him, knew the person behind his mask. The one who did had been studiously ignoring him like he was nothing more than a shadow. He had promised himself that he wouldn’t lose himself over Sasuke, over wanting him, missing him, wishing things could have been different between them but there was a heaviness in his chest that made it hard to breathe and he knew it was because of the Uchiha.
Slowly, he slid his arms out so that they reached in opposite directions, spanning the width of the bed so that his fingertips nearly touched both edges and he drew his legs up, wondering why it felt like he was moving through a sluggish fog. It was the first time he had let Daisuke fade completely and the Naruto underneath was not faring as well as he had hoped. All of his edges felt worried, faded and frayed and when he took a breath, it felt as if someone had reduced his heart to a fine powder. This was what desolation felt like. He had been familiar with it once but he had not felt such a pervasive, heavy emotion like this in some years. Not since Iruka…not since Sasuke.
He didn’t feel the hot tears as they slid from under his eyelids, darkening his honey colored lashes and spotting the pillow. He just turned his head into the soft silk and drifted.
Just a few minutes couldn’t hurt…
~~~
Naruto was beautiful when he slept.
The room was silent and dark save for the few candles he had lit when he had realized the blond was fast asleep, their light weak and strangely still in the night air. All the doors were open to whoever might wish to intrude, letting in the soft sounds of falling rain and he stood in one such doorway, arms crossed over his chest and his hip leaning against sturdy wood. He couldn’t remember how long he had been standing there but it didn’t really matter. He just kept his gaze steady on the still figure upon the wide bed.
Sasuke hadn’t meant to come here. He was going to go hunt through Aoshi’s rooms while he was out of the palace for a few days even though he had already searched them, hoping for more information. It had been difficult getting into the man’s good graces but he had put on a brilliant show, even of he said so himself, and the Feudal Lord had finally come around, letting the Uchiha stand in on most of his meetings now and even referring him a couple times when he wanted his opinion on something. The dark haired ninja was well aware it was a test; Aoshi was not the kind of man to ask someone’s opinion about anything but he must have approved of Sasuke’s answers because he had left him in charge of the growing group of ninja while he was away. Not only that but the Uchiha seemed to have more power over the Guard as well and was not denied anything by the servants.
And then, right before Aoshi had left, he had given something away that had shocked the Uchiha to the very core.
“…there will be one of your leaders there and as much as I prefer to have a ninja at my side, I think with your reputation, it is best you stay here…” one of their leaders. A shinobi leader, he had said, and from the sounds of it, that could only mean that Aoshi was meeting with one of the Kages. The information had rocked him speechless and he had been left scrambling for a moment. Luckily the Feudal Lord hadn’t noticed but Sasuke had nearly laughed out loud at the slip. So not only was the man using ninja that had shunned their allegiances but now he was soliciting a shinobi nation. He couldn’t think of who it could be, though. He knew it wasn’t Kakashi, considering Naruto’s presence and he couldn’t see the Kazekage allying himself to such a cause. Nor did he think the Raikage would do such a thing. That left only two possibilities and he couldn’t think of which it could be.
Naruto sighed softly, dragging Sasuke back to the present. He had turned his head slightly and now the dark haired man could see his full face. It looked odd without the marks along the tan cheeks and the line of the blonde’s face was strong and fine. The Uchiha frowned, thinking he should leave before Naruto woke up but he couldn’t make his feet move from his spot by the door. He hated the influence the other shinobi had over him, (though not as much as he once had) making him think confusing thoughts, filled with light and warmth; all things he had denied himself.
The blond had not shown up to dinner that night, his presence much remarked upon since everyone seemed rather disappointed he was not there to sing for them. Sasuke had hid a sneer but here he was, as if he had been worried and was checking up on the idiot. As much as he hated to admit it, though, he had missed Naruto’s voice and had found himself slipping into the dark rooms once supper was finished before his conscious mind could catch up with him. He hadn’t meant to and nearly turned away when he realized where it was he had found himself. But then he had caught sight of the blond sleeping upon the giant bed and he had been there ever since. It really wasn’t fair he thought, as he turned his gaze back to Naruto’s face, how much he couldn’t control himself when it came to his former teammate.
And then he nearly choked on a startled breath when he realized the blue eyes were open and staring right at him.
He barely dared to breathe as they stared at each other for long, weighted moments, their eyes caught in each other’s gazes, still and searching. He could hear the steady beat of his pulse as it rushed through him and felt the way his hands turned clammy. Words welled up within him but he stopped them, afraid to break the silence. What good would words do here, anyway? They were trapped in each other, black and blue, ebony and gold, and the bond that wrapped around them felt like solid steel around his wrists. Sasuke never wanted to break himself free. Then the blond blinked, a slow, lazy gesture that seemed to break the spell before he did something that stole the Uchiha’s breath away.
Naruto moved, still wordless, lifting one hand and reaching out towards Sasuke.
It was a plea, a silent invitation, the strong hand looking vulnerable as it was held out to him, waiting to see what his answer would be. The blue eyes held steady, the question in them faint but fierce, as if the blond refused to take no for an answer this time, no matter how many times the dark haired man had turned away from him.
This time, however, Sasuke could find only acceptance in his heart.
As if pulled by an invisible line, he straightened from his slouch in the doorway and closed the distance to the edge of the bed where he stopped, looking down at Naruto as if he had never seen the blond before. Perhaps he hadn’t, not like this, with his face quiet but peaceful and his eyes full of hidden things and veiled emotions. That was when he realized just how complicated of a person Naruto was. Sasuke had always believed in his strength because who could he deny that, and he had always known about the steel that drove his old teammate’s determination. But there was so many things that he didn’t know or understand about the blond and he wanted to; he wanted to be the one to peel away the layers until he was laid out, completely open to the Uchiha’s gaze. And Sasuke realized then that Naruto would allow it, too, if he but asked.
So he reached out and took the blonde’s hand, feeling a jolt when their palms met. Such color and warmth swirled in his eyes and Sasuke thought he could get lost in them forever and be content to stay there. After everything, after all the pain, sorrow, fear, betrayal, there was still such a promise of peace and love in that gaze that he couldn’t bring himself to turn away from it anymore. He had always known it was there but what would an Avenger do with such emotions? Now, though…
The hand tugged at him and he followed the pull, crawling onto the bed that was half-buried in pillows and soft blankets. There was enough room, though, for Naruto to slide backwards a bit, giving Sasuke a place to lie down, a small space separating them. Quiet settled around them again but now it was full of so much that it was hard to breathe again. That was okay; he didn’t need air. He didn’t need anything but to lie on his side, facing the man he needed more than anything else in the entire world while that man looked back, eyes serious and bright.
They didn’t speak and they didn’t move. They lay facing one another, surrounded by silk and wool and the finest cottons, hands clasped in the space between them as if their fingers had been fused together. Heat radiated from their single connection but for now, that was enough. For the first time in a very, very long time, Sasuke felt full, mended, like he had been stitched back together and been made whole.
In that single moment, everything changed.
They looked into each other’s eyes and they understood.
When Naruto finally drifted off again, Sasuke moved closer and pressed his knees to the blonde’s and bowed his head so he could feel the other’s warm breath ghosting over his forehead. Never once did he think about pulling his hand away and inky strands of hair mingled with the purest gold upon the shared pillow. Nothing had been spoken aloud but so much had been said.
As he fell asleep, the tiny spark within his chest was happiness.
~~~
The morning sun was stark and grey, filtered out by thin, wispy clouds and it glittered on the row of jewels upon Arisa’s hands as she moved to take a sip of her morning tea. But she wasn’t thinking of the sun or the soft babble of the stream that cavorted happily past her window or the fine young red-headed ninja still asleep in her bed. Something much more interesting had happened and found herself pondering the meaning of it.
Arisa had hoped, when she had first laid eyes on the young blond singer named Daisuke that she would be able to lure him into her bed. After all, a man of that kind of beauty only came around once in a lifetime and the only other one who matched up to him was that Uchiha who scared the shit out of her. Unfortunately, it seemed that was not to be and she had conquered her disappointment when she saw how smitten he was with Aoshi. It stung more than usual because her hatred for the Feudal Lord ran swift and deep but she had swallowed it down because she already had her plan in place to destroy Aoshi. It would just be a shame that Daisuke would be going with him.
Last night, though, she had come across something interesting.
The blond singer had not shown up for dinner and she had wandered to his rooms in an effort to show some concern, the small possibility that she might yet work the young man away from her Lord like a sweet temptation curling on the back of her tongue. Unfortunately, someone was already there before her. Just as she was about to slip from the shadows and move to the door, that Uchiha that Aoshi had been keeping around like a pet guard dog stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. She had waited, frozen, thinking that perhaps he had the wrong rooms but she never heard anything else and he didn’t come back out. What she couldn’t figure out was how the two men were acquainted that the dark haired ninja was permitted to just waltz into the blonde’s rooms without even knocking. It had puzzled her, the questions nagging at her as she made her way back to her own wing. As far as she knew, which she made sure she did because she always knew everything going on in the palace, down to which servants were involved with who, Sasuke despised the singer.
And yet…
So she had, in a familiar fit of curiosity, set a servant on the doors, ordering him to watch them and to let her know if anyone went in or out of them at any point during the night. The servant had left her not moments ago after having informed her that Sasuke had left shortly after sunrise. Apparently he had stayed the entire night.
She sat back in her chair and narrowed her eyes in thought. Well. It seemed there was more going on here than she had originally thought, though what it could possibly kept evading her. Of a surety, little Daisuke was having an affair while his Lord was away but it was strange that she had never seen the blond and the Uchiha even once exchange any kind of look or gesture. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure if this could mess up her plans. The last time Aoshi’s heart had been broken, he had become…ruthless. Daisuke had tempered that somewhat but a second betrayal might just break the man entirely.
Slowly, she grinned, excitement thrumming through her. When Aoshi was broken, he was weak, weaker than he was when he left his heart unguarded. Plus, there was always that added pleasure in seeing the man’s heart shatter for a second time. Foolish, my Lord, to have allowed someone in after what happened last time.
Feeling positively giddy, she slipped back into her bedchambers and shook the pretty young red head awake for a quick, morning romp.
And then it would only be duty that would make her sit down afterwards and write a letter to be sent to Aoshi by a trusted white-feathered dove breaking the news of his beloved’s betrayal. Fortunately for her, it was a duty she took great pleasure in…
~~~
next part
“It was…left behind by a friend…from my village. Everyone was taken away…by a sickness. The only reason I never caught it was because I was away for the summer helping my uncle with his farm. I was still really young but he didn’t have any kids so my mother sent me there to help with whatever I could. When I came back they…” he had choked at that point, feeling the shallow ache of Daisuke’s pain while the deep current of Naruto’s barbed lie throbbed within his heart. A slender hand had reached out and stroked gently along his shoulder and the touch had freed the block from his throat, “He was my friend since we were very small. We did everything together and usually he would come with me during the summer because we could never bear to be apart. But that summer…that summer he didn’t come with me…and he died with everyone else,” he glanced down at the shining pendant and ran a fingertip along its edge, “It was the symbol of his house, the only thing that was left behind,” silvery tears clung to his eyelashes and he was thankful for them because there was a strange look in Aoshi’s gaze that he couldn’t read. Daisuke’s obvious pain swept that away, though, and the man had not asked about it again.
Later that night, though, he learned the source of that look and it had made the hairs on his arms stand on end. The older man had thought the blond asleep already and he had reached out one finger to touch the red and white fan of the Uchiha crest. The question he whispered aloud was terrifying.
“You say all that but then why does it feel like I should have seen this before?” the words Sasuke had spoke to him in his rooms those many weeks ago had come back to him like a premonition and he realized all Aoshi had to do was give the description of the pendant to whoever was his source of information and he would know the truth. But as the days passed, nothing seemed to change and Naruto was able to breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed the Feudal Lord was so taken with Daisuke, he was overriding his very nature and giving the blond a benefit of the doubt. He had to wonder, though, how long that would last.
Soft rain began to hiss outside the sliding doors and he turned his head that way as if that would let him hear it better. The only reason he was in his own rooms and not with Aoshi was because the man had left the palace for a few days, traveling to one of his senior counselor’s estates where he claimed he had a bit of state business to take care of. When he had told Daisuke this two days ago in the darkness of his bedroom, the blond had pretended to be dismayed while he masked his suspicion and surge of excited hope.
“Can’t you take me with you?” he had asked, pressed small kisses along the nape of the older man’s neck while pressing the length of his body against Aoshi’s back. The brunette had laughed, shifting slightly so Daisuke could just make out the gleam of his eyes in the darkness.
“Don’t be so dismayed. It will be really quiet boring but I’m not taking anyone with me save a few guards. The faster this goes, the better,” then he sucked in a small breath of surprise as the blond danced his fingers down the line of his spine, slipping them over the bump of his tailbone and into the soft heat of his crack. Daisuke made a sound of disappointment, making sure the older man heard his pout in the sound. Inside he was battling with himself. He knew Aoshi was not going away on state business; all of that was done in the palace or in the Lower Courts and all of his councilors where here. The only reason for him to leave the palace to conduct his “business” would be if he was trying to hide something. But Naruto had been unsure if he should push the noble into taking him or not. It could convince the man into taking him along and then potentially revealing something of his plans but he was more inclined to think it would make the brunette suspicious.
“But I’ll be so lonely here if you go,” he had breathed, now working his fingers lower, made easier when the man dropped his head to the pillows with a low groan and spread his legs, circling the small pucker of Aoshi’s entrance, “No one to keep me company or to save me from Arisa’s teasing,” the older man had been gasping softly by then and had nearly clawed his way over the headboard when the blond suddenly slid down and swiped his tongue over the place his fingers had been teasing. It had fluttered and pulsed wantonly under his tongue. But still it did not seem to sway the man. When they were both a little more coherent, Aoshi had kissed him deeply before pulling back with a smile.
“I won’t be gone more than five days and you won’t be lonely. You have all those friends down in the Lower Court to entertain you. I have also decided to leave Sasuke in charge,” the last part had been stated absently, as if the man had forgotten how the Uchiha hated Daisuke. It had been all he could do not to tense at the suggestion, wondering just when Sasuke had managed to work his way into Aoshi’s confidences, “I had been leery of him at first but he seems to be more reliable than I had first thought. Not the greatest personality, I’ll grant you but he has more than proved himself,” it was all said in casual confidence but Naruto had felt sick with the words. Just what had Aoshi made Sasuke do that he was so sure of the Uchiha now? But Daisuke had just let out a gusty sigh and curled around the smaller man’s back, burying his nose in damp, burnished curls.
“Alright…”
I can only hope that Sasuke has made more progress than me, he thought now as the strange feeling of languid fatigue stole over him. His mind was still sharp but his eyelids felt heavy, as if he hadn’t slept in days, and they wanted to keep sliding shut. He knew he shouldn’t fall asleep just yet or he would miss dinner but he just couldn’t bring himself to move. It was strange how, in a place that probably housed about the same amount of people was half of Konoha, he could feel so isolated. Oh, he could smile at them and laugh and carry on but not one of them knew him, knew the person behind his mask. The one who did had been studiously ignoring him like he was nothing more than a shadow. He had promised himself that he wouldn’t lose himself over Sasuke, over wanting him, missing him, wishing things could have been different between them but there was a heaviness in his chest that made it hard to breathe and he knew it was because of the Uchiha.
Slowly, he slid his arms out so that they reached in opposite directions, spanning the width of the bed so that his fingertips nearly touched both edges and he drew his legs up, wondering why it felt like he was moving through a sluggish fog. It was the first time he had let Daisuke fade completely and the Naruto underneath was not faring as well as he had hoped. All of his edges felt worried, faded and frayed and when he took a breath, it felt as if someone had reduced his heart to a fine powder. This was what desolation felt like. He had been familiar with it once but he had not felt such a pervasive, heavy emotion like this in some years. Not since Iruka…not since Sasuke.
He didn’t feel the hot tears as they slid from under his eyelids, darkening his honey colored lashes and spotting the pillow. He just turned his head into the soft silk and drifted.
Just a few minutes couldn’t hurt…
~~~
Naruto was beautiful when he slept.
The room was silent and dark save for the few candles he had lit when he had realized the blond was fast asleep, their light weak and strangely still in the night air. All the doors were open to whoever might wish to intrude, letting in the soft sounds of falling rain and he stood in one such doorway, arms crossed over his chest and his hip leaning against sturdy wood. He couldn’t remember how long he had been standing there but it didn’t really matter. He just kept his gaze steady on the still figure upon the wide bed.
Sasuke hadn’t meant to come here. He was going to go hunt through Aoshi’s rooms while he was out of the palace for a few days even though he had already searched them, hoping for more information. It had been difficult getting into the man’s good graces but he had put on a brilliant show, even of he said so himself, and the Feudal Lord had finally come around, letting the Uchiha stand in on most of his meetings now and even referring him a couple times when he wanted his opinion on something. The dark haired ninja was well aware it was a test; Aoshi was not the kind of man to ask someone’s opinion about anything but he must have approved of Sasuke’s answers because he had left him in charge of the growing group of ninja while he was away. Not only that but the Uchiha seemed to have more power over the Guard as well and was not denied anything by the servants.
And then, right before Aoshi had left, he had given something away that had shocked the Uchiha to the very core.
“…there will be one of your leaders there and as much as I prefer to have a ninja at my side, I think with your reputation, it is best you stay here…” one of their leaders. A shinobi leader, he had said, and from the sounds of it, that could only mean that Aoshi was meeting with one of the Kages. The information had rocked him speechless and he had been left scrambling for a moment. Luckily the Feudal Lord hadn’t noticed but Sasuke had nearly laughed out loud at the slip. So not only was the man using ninja that had shunned their allegiances but now he was soliciting a shinobi nation. He couldn’t think of who it could be, though. He knew it wasn’t Kakashi, considering Naruto’s presence and he couldn’t see the Kazekage allying himself to such a cause. Nor did he think the Raikage would do such a thing. That left only two possibilities and he couldn’t think of which it could be.
Naruto sighed softly, dragging Sasuke back to the present. He had turned his head slightly and now the dark haired man could see his full face. It looked odd without the marks along the tan cheeks and the line of the blonde’s face was strong and fine. The Uchiha frowned, thinking he should leave before Naruto woke up but he couldn’t make his feet move from his spot by the door. He hated the influence the other shinobi had over him, (though not as much as he once had) making him think confusing thoughts, filled with light and warmth; all things he had denied himself.
The blond had not shown up to dinner that night, his presence much remarked upon since everyone seemed rather disappointed he was not there to sing for them. Sasuke had hid a sneer but here he was, as if he had been worried and was checking up on the idiot. As much as he hated to admit it, though, he had missed Naruto’s voice and had found himself slipping into the dark rooms once supper was finished before his conscious mind could catch up with him. He hadn’t meant to and nearly turned away when he realized where it was he had found himself. But then he had caught sight of the blond sleeping upon the giant bed and he had been there ever since. It really wasn’t fair he thought, as he turned his gaze back to Naruto’s face, how much he couldn’t control himself when it came to his former teammate.
And then he nearly choked on a startled breath when he realized the blue eyes were open and staring right at him.
He barely dared to breathe as they stared at each other for long, weighted moments, their eyes caught in each other’s gazes, still and searching. He could hear the steady beat of his pulse as it rushed through him and felt the way his hands turned clammy. Words welled up within him but he stopped them, afraid to break the silence. What good would words do here, anyway? They were trapped in each other, black and blue, ebony and gold, and the bond that wrapped around them felt like solid steel around his wrists. Sasuke never wanted to break himself free. Then the blond blinked, a slow, lazy gesture that seemed to break the spell before he did something that stole the Uchiha’s breath away.
Naruto moved, still wordless, lifting one hand and reaching out towards Sasuke.
It was a plea, a silent invitation, the strong hand looking vulnerable as it was held out to him, waiting to see what his answer would be. The blue eyes held steady, the question in them faint but fierce, as if the blond refused to take no for an answer this time, no matter how many times the dark haired man had turned away from him.
This time, however, Sasuke could find only acceptance in his heart.
As if pulled by an invisible line, he straightened from his slouch in the doorway and closed the distance to the edge of the bed where he stopped, looking down at Naruto as if he had never seen the blond before. Perhaps he hadn’t, not like this, with his face quiet but peaceful and his eyes full of hidden things and veiled emotions. That was when he realized just how complicated of a person Naruto was. Sasuke had always believed in his strength because who could he deny that, and he had always known about the steel that drove his old teammate’s determination. But there was so many things that he didn’t know or understand about the blond and he wanted to; he wanted to be the one to peel away the layers until he was laid out, completely open to the Uchiha’s gaze. And Sasuke realized then that Naruto would allow it, too, if he but asked.
So he reached out and took the blonde’s hand, feeling a jolt when their palms met. Such color and warmth swirled in his eyes and Sasuke thought he could get lost in them forever and be content to stay there. After everything, after all the pain, sorrow, fear, betrayal, there was still such a promise of peace and love in that gaze that he couldn’t bring himself to turn away from it anymore. He had always known it was there but what would an Avenger do with such emotions? Now, though…
The hand tugged at him and he followed the pull, crawling onto the bed that was half-buried in pillows and soft blankets. There was enough room, though, for Naruto to slide backwards a bit, giving Sasuke a place to lie down, a small space separating them. Quiet settled around them again but now it was full of so much that it was hard to breathe again. That was okay; he didn’t need air. He didn’t need anything but to lie on his side, facing the man he needed more than anything else in the entire world while that man looked back, eyes serious and bright.
They didn’t speak and they didn’t move. They lay facing one another, surrounded by silk and wool and the finest cottons, hands clasped in the space between them as if their fingers had been fused together. Heat radiated from their single connection but for now, that was enough. For the first time in a very, very long time, Sasuke felt full, mended, like he had been stitched back together and been made whole.
In that single moment, everything changed.
They looked into each other’s eyes and they understood.
When Naruto finally drifted off again, Sasuke moved closer and pressed his knees to the blonde’s and bowed his head so he could feel the other’s warm breath ghosting over his forehead. Never once did he think about pulling his hand away and inky strands of hair mingled with the purest gold upon the shared pillow. Nothing had been spoken aloud but so much had been said.
As he fell asleep, the tiny spark within his chest was happiness.
~~~
The morning sun was stark and grey, filtered out by thin, wispy clouds and it glittered on the row of jewels upon Arisa’s hands as she moved to take a sip of her morning tea. But she wasn’t thinking of the sun or the soft babble of the stream that cavorted happily past her window or the fine young red-headed ninja still asleep in her bed. Something much more interesting had happened and found herself pondering the meaning of it.
Arisa had hoped, when she had first laid eyes on the young blond singer named Daisuke that she would be able to lure him into her bed. After all, a man of that kind of beauty only came around once in a lifetime and the only other one who matched up to him was that Uchiha who scared the shit out of her. Unfortunately, it seemed that was not to be and she had conquered her disappointment when she saw how smitten he was with Aoshi. It stung more than usual because her hatred for the Feudal Lord ran swift and deep but she had swallowed it down because she already had her plan in place to destroy Aoshi. It would just be a shame that Daisuke would be going with him.
Last night, though, she had come across something interesting.
The blond singer had not shown up for dinner and she had wandered to his rooms in an effort to show some concern, the small possibility that she might yet work the young man away from her Lord like a sweet temptation curling on the back of her tongue. Unfortunately, someone was already there before her. Just as she was about to slip from the shadows and move to the door, that Uchiha that Aoshi had been keeping around like a pet guard dog stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. She had waited, frozen, thinking that perhaps he had the wrong rooms but she never heard anything else and he didn’t come back out. What she couldn’t figure out was how the two men were acquainted that the dark haired ninja was permitted to just waltz into the blonde’s rooms without even knocking. It had puzzled her, the questions nagging at her as she made her way back to her own wing. As far as she knew, which she made sure she did because she always knew everything going on in the palace, down to which servants were involved with who, Sasuke despised the singer.
And yet…
So she had, in a familiar fit of curiosity, set a servant on the doors, ordering him to watch them and to let her know if anyone went in or out of them at any point during the night. The servant had left her not moments ago after having informed her that Sasuke had left shortly after sunrise. Apparently he had stayed the entire night.
She sat back in her chair and narrowed her eyes in thought. Well. It seemed there was more going on here than she had originally thought, though what it could possibly kept evading her. Of a surety, little Daisuke was having an affair while his Lord was away but it was strange that she had never seen the blond and the Uchiha even once exchange any kind of look or gesture. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure if this could mess up her plans. The last time Aoshi’s heart had been broken, he had become…ruthless. Daisuke had tempered that somewhat but a second betrayal might just break the man entirely.
Slowly, she grinned, excitement thrumming through her. When Aoshi was broken, he was weak, weaker than he was when he left his heart unguarded. Plus, there was always that added pleasure in seeing the man’s heart shatter for a second time. Foolish, my Lord, to have allowed someone in after what happened last time.
Feeling positively giddy, she slipped back into her bedchambers and shook the pretty young red head awake for a quick, morning romp.
And then it would only be duty that would make her sit down afterwards and write a letter to be sent to Aoshi by a trusted white-feathered dove breaking the news of his beloved’s betrayal. Fortunately for her, it was a duty she took great pleasure in…
~~~
next part