Something About Country Boys
Author's Note: This is a YAOI story. In this case, that means there will be at least two male x male romantic pairings. It will also take place in modern setting. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit off of any of my stories.
Chapter 1
Until about five minutes ago, Sasuke had thought that he had everything figured out. The young Uchiha had more or less mapped out his life plan. The young man had just graduated from an Ivy League University and he would join his brother and his father at their family business. Sharingan Corp.
"And you're saying this is all ours?" Itachi blinks.
So had Itachi as far as Sasuke knew. His older brother had likewise gone to an Ivy League School and was now a very well respected Economist, despite his young age.
Kakashi nods. "That's right. It seems that Madara Uchiha left you and your brother as the beneficiaries of his will." The silver haired man definitely didn't look like he belonged in a suit.
His hair was so casual and eccentric. He also wore a blue mask over the bottom of his face for some reason. Why, Sasuke didn't know. The man didn't seem to have any obvious deformities. Did he have fishlips or bucked teeth perhaps?
It was a silly thought, but Sasuke was very tempted to yank that mask off. His curiosity was definitely getting the better of him. He needed to focus, but that mask was just taunting him!
"I don't see why." Itachi frowns. "I don't believe either of us ever actually met the man." That was true.
Sasuke had seen a few pictures of Madara, but he'd never met their Great Uncle. He was something of the black sheep in their family. Though the sheep had a mane like a lion. (Seriously, he must have spent half of his days just caring for that enormous mass of hair)!
Sadly, that was really all that he had known about the other Uchiha. The Uchiha who had just left a vineyard and winery to them. One that was worth at least millions, if not tens of millions of dollars as far as he could see at first glance.
Kakashi smiles in what was likely designed to be a reassuring way. "Well he does leave a reason." The silver haired man sighs. It was obvious that he felt bad for their late Great Uncle.
"Can we read the reason?" Itachi reaches for the documents.
The masked lawyer nods. "Of course." And with that, he hands the papers to Itachi for him to read.
To Whom It May Concern,
I, Madara Uchiha, being of sound mind and body do leave my estate and any other assets that I have acquired at the time of my death to my Great Nephews Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha.
This amongst other things includes the vineyard itself, all knowledge of Mangekyo Wines, my home on the property, and several thoroughbred horses.
Should they choose to keep everything, they will have approximately fifty employees that help to keep the vineyard operational. Should they sell it, I've already drawn up their severance packages and the money will be wired to them. This money is not listed as an asset. So this will not reduce the inheritance amount, if you decide to keep it.
I do hope that you do. My brother and I, found ourselves at odds with most of our family. Neither of us were cut out to be lawyers or investment bankers. We preferred being outdoors and Mangekyo Wines did bring us great joy.
Sadly, he died when he was young. I kept it all these years because it reminded me of him. I've chosen to give it to Itachi and Sasuke because they are the last family I have left that I didn't burn bridges with. (That and Sasuke does bare a disturbing resemblance to Izuna and Itachi as an Economist should be able to make the most of this inheritance).
I regret that I never got the chance to know either of you, but do not shed a tear for me. I am presumably now with Izuna again and no longer have to worry about any of my past mistakes.
You've both been given a chance to chart a different path. Naturally, I will understand, if you choose to stay on the path that has likely been laid out for you since birth. I hold no ill will if you both decide to sell it, but you should know that both of you have inherited 50% of the estate. You own it collectively. Any decision you make, will have to be one you make together.
The bond of brotherhood was a powerful one for Izuna and I. I hope that is in the case for both of you and wish you both long and happy lives. Now, speaking of happy lives…I've rambled on too much. I'm got a trip to France planned.
P.S: French beaches and wines are magnificent. So are the women! I do highly recommend you go there sometime on a vacation. ;) Just my personal opinion, of course. I've also included instructions for my funeral.
Love, Your Great Uncle Madara!
Sasuke blinks. Well that was one man who had made peace with his own mortality, he guessed. Though he was moderately disturbed by a man Madara's age using a winky face in his Will.
Whatever. He supposed that didn't really matter. It was his Will to right as he liked. Madara Uchiha had apparently been one of a kind.
For once, Itachi looked just as confused as Sasuke did. "Well I suppose that the least we can do before making a decision is to have a look at the place." That was true.
"Are you seriously considering keeping it?" Sasuke tilts his head curiously.
Itachi shrugs. "I honestly don't know." He pauses. "The man obviously wanted it to stay in family hands and it is a brilliant business opportunity. What about you?"
Sasuke didn't really know what to say. He was mostly in shock. Though as childish as it might sound, like almost every other child…he supposed that he had always wanted a pony.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to check it out." Sasuke smiles. "Father isn't expecting me to start working for Sharingan Corp. until fall anyway and it's not as though you don't have the vacation days stored up to take the time off."
Itachi nods in agreement. "Then it's settled. We'll have a look and then see." He glances at Kakashi. "Though I am going to need copies of all those documents. We wouldn't want one of the employees to think that we're trying to pull a fast one on them."
Upon hearing this, Kakashi chuckles and hands Itachi some copies. Apparently, the man had expected this reaction. Though that wasn't surprising. He was dealing with a newly trained lawyer and an economist. Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha were not novices when it came to legal matters!
Meanwhile Gaara was brushing the fur of a black Arabian. The red head owned a horse ranch. So this wasn't an unusual activity for him to do.
"Do you think that his nephews are really going to take over the place?" Naruto looks at him as he feeds said horse some carrots.
Hmm. That was a good question. Gaara honestly didn't know. It was more likely than not, that the Uchiha Brothers were about to be blindsided in a major way.
Gaara smiles at Kage. It was Japanese for shadow and with his pure black fur, he lived up to his name. "Hard to say really, but it's his Great Nephews, not his nephews." Kage was his favorite of all his horses.
His best friend tilts his head at that. Gaara could practically see the gears turning inside his mind. Uh oh. This probably wasn't a good sign. Naruto was anything, but predictable.
"So that's like on the level of grandchildren age wise." Yes, Gaara supposed that was accurate. "So they're probably around our age."
The ranch owner pauses as he considers that. Yes, more or less. His best guess was that the brothers would be somewhere around twenty to thirty years in age.
He nods. Though to be honest, he wasn't really sure where Naruto was going with this. "Yes, that seems an accurate estimate." Gaara shrugs. "I imagine that they'd have to be at least eighteen or else they wouldn't be inheriting anything yet."
Minors couldn't really inherit things. Most likely, their parents would have gotten the vineyard…if they were under the age of eighteen. Something that Madara probably wouldn't have let happened because he'd had some sort of horrible row with Fugaku Uchiha years back.
Gaara had never asked for details. It was none of his business and frankly, he didn't want to make the man relive painful memories for no reason.
"Awesome!" He grins. "This could be fun!"
Gaara shakes his head. "We have no way of knowing what they plan to do with the vineyard." More likely than not, the red head assumed that they would sell it. "From what little I know about them, they're city boys. Neither of them probably know a damn thing about running a place like that. They're probably going to sell it."
Naruto deflates a bit at this, causing Gaara to shake his head. His best friend was extremely social and considering how big the various properties around here tended to be, they had few neighbors. He probably wanted to make friends with the City Slickers.
Which was sweet and everything, but the red head had a hard time imagining how that was going to work. Naruto was a force of nature. He was like a tornado and the Uchiha Brothers were likely to be very traditional Japanese American Businessmen. Serious and very proper. (After all, what happened when an unstoppable force met an immovable object)?
"That kinda sucks." Naruto sighs and pets Kage. "I know that Madara really wanted them to have the place." Gaara nods in agreement.
He did feel some pity for Madara. It was obvious in his later years, that his lack of familial bonds had weighed heavily on him. That was probably why he had struck up an unlikely friendship with the two of them. He was lonely.
Well as lonely as you could be when you were someone like Madara. That man was such a skirt chaser. He had never married and even during his twilight years, he had been a major flirt.
The ranch owner could only nod his head again. "Well I imagine that they'll probably come out to at least look at it." It's what any smart person would do and somehow, he doubted that Madara's relatives were simpletons. "The least we can do is greet them properly, when they arrive." After all, that was what their friend would have wanted.
A few hours later, Itachi was on the phone with Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha as he watches his foolish little brother pack. Most people would think that he was being lazy and trying to get out of packing, but in reality…Itachi had taken on the harder task.
"You're not seriously going to go out there to look at this place, are you?" His father's tone was anything, but approving.
Of course, they were going to look. Whether they sold it or not, looking would help them make a decision. And at 26, Itachi didn't feel the need to justify his decisions to his father anymore.
He was a grown man. Both he and Sasuke already had graduate degrees for goodness sakes. That was thanks to them both taking more classes than required and summer courses, but that was semi irrelevant. It was the principle of the thing.
He hears his mother sigh on the other end as Sasuke stuffs far more clothes into a single suitcase than should be physically possible. "Fugaku, it doesn't hurt to look." That was his mother. Always the voice of reason in the family.
"If they look there is a crazy chance they might keep it." His father sighs.
Sasuke gives the phone a dirty look and it wasn't a mystery why. Itachi knew exactly what was going on in his brother's mind.
The younger Uchiha resented the implication that they weren't capable of running the vineyard. It was a mater of pride really. At that moment, Itachi was almost ready to keep it. Just to prove Fugaku wrong, but he knew better.
He could almost see Mikoto shrugging on the other line. "If they decide to keep it, I'm sure that Madara had plenty of employees." Well that was a little better than his father's reaction.
At least Mikoto would respect their decision and had faith in their ability to manage the place. Well at least to a degree. The Japanese American woman seemed confident in their ability to have their employees keep the things running smoothly and that was an indirect vote of confidence as far as Itachi Uchiha was concerned.
"Most likely, but they'll try to take advantage of them." Yep. "You know how people are." Keeping it out of spite was looking more and more tempting.
Frankly, Itachi had never particularly wanted to be an Economist. Oh he was good at his job and there was a certain amount of pride that came with that, but it wasn't his passion. While he enjoyed predicting trends and such, it just seemed such a dry occupation.
There was very little excitement in it and the hours at Sharingan were horrible. That was why he had called things off with Kisame. Kisame was more of a free spirit and well, Itachi's job just didn't lend itself to that type of thing.
"Have some faith in the boys." Again, Itachi pictures Mikoto Uchiha shaking her head. "They're smart. They can handle it!"" Damn straight! (Pun intended).
"Sasuke, how is the packing coming along?" He glances at his brother.
Sasuke smiles. "Good enough that we can be on the first flight out in the morning." Itachi nods approvingly at this. "Excellent."
He smiles. They'd be on their way to Mangekyo Wines in no time. And there wasn't a damn thing that their father could do to stop them.
"Goodnight, mother. Goodnight, father." His smile grows more with every passing word. "We'll speak to you later. We've still got a bit of packing to do." And with that, Itachi hangs up.
Sasuke laughs. "You know that father is going to want to kill you now, right?" That was true, but Itachi honestly didn't give a fuck at the moment.
Itachi wasn't sure what his brother's opinion on the matter was, but he had made up his mind. Whether or not, he kept his half of the vineyard was completely up to him. He wasn't going to let someone else make his decision for him.
He could only hope that Sasuke felt the same way. His adorably foolish little brother had always been eager for their father's approval. That was why he was now a lawyer. Itachi had tried to talk him out of going to law school because it obviously wasn't Sasuke's passion, but in the end that had been futile endeavor.
"Oh believe me, I know." Itachi smiles. "But it would be wrong ignore our Great Uncle's final wishes." He smirks at the irony. "Do we not have a moral obligation to at least look at Mangekyo?" Their dead Great Uncle may have just given them a new lease on life!
Sasuke chuckles and finishes throwing his clothes into a suitcase. It was obvious that his brother knew exactly what he was thinking. Though he was too kind to say it.
He simply nods. "I guess there's no harm in looking." Exactly!
"Precisely." Itachi smiles and pokes Sasuke's forehead. "Besides, who knows? Maybe we'll like what we see and one can't deny that there is certainly something about country boys." He shakes his head at Sasuke. "I think that it's time we both started living more for ourselves and less for our father."
Sasuke raises an eyebrow. "You have a thing for country boys?" Itachi chuckles.
"Well somewhat, I suppose." Itachi shrugs. "Opposites attract and all that. Besides, who can resist a nice pair of blue jeans that are attached to an even nicer posterior?"
Upon hearing that, Sasuke bursts out laughing and Itachi couldn't help, but join him. He rarely spoke of such things and that was probably why his brother found it so amusing.
Sasuke shakes his head. Though mirth was still dancing in his eyes. "Well in that case, I guess you can lasso yourself up a cowboy to play with while we're there."
Itachi shakes his head. "Eh I can do without the hats, but it'll be a nice change of pace. It's a winery. I imagine people are far more relaxed there."
The younger Uchiha rolls his eyes. Oh boy. Itachi was almost afraid to hear what was going to come out of Sasuke's mouth next. Whenever he did an eye roll, something unconventional was about to be said.
"You mean they'll be highly intoxicated and you figure that'll be more entertaining than listening to accountants and investors all day." Well that was true, but almost anything would have been more entertaining than that.
Itachi didn't have anything against accountants and investors, but would it kill them to speak about something outside of work occasionally? He was someone who craved intellectual stimulation and talking about the same thing, day after day…was exhausting.
He pokes Sasuke's forehead again. "Foolish little brother, don't be so stereotypical. Just because they work at a winery, doesn't mean they are drinking it on the clock." Itachi chuckles.
The next day, Naruto wakes up early and heads to the border of his property, which bordered the Mangekyo Winery! He was dying of curiosity and he knew that Gaara was too.
"Coffee." Gaara looks at his friend expectantly. "Please tell me that you have coffee."
The blonde chuckles and hands his friend some coffee. The red head was definitely not a morning person, but Naruto was. He rose when the Sun did on most days, but he was getting off track here.
He smiles. "Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you hanging like that!" Naruto grins. "Look! They're here!"
Sure enough, a rather expensive looking red convertible was pulling up the long driveway that would eventually lead to Madara's house. There were two men inside it. So it had to be them. The Uchiha Brothers.
It took a moment for them to park and get out of the car, but once they did, Naruto couldn't help but whistle. Damn. Forget being businessmen. Those two should have been models.
The eldest, well at least Naruto assumed the longer haired one was the older brother, had either the darkest shade of gray hair imaginable or the lightest shade of black. It swayed lightly in the wind and it looked like it should be featured in some hair product commercial!
How he had gotten that lightly sun kissed tan in the big city was a mystery to Naruto, but it suited him. So did the rugged and classical facial features and he definitely filled out that suit nicely.
He was a bit too composed for Naruto's tastes though. "Damn." Naruto was fond of comparing people to drinks since he owned a brewery. If that was the older brother than his name was Itachi. Itachi was like a fine wine.
"Can't say that I disagree." Gaara joins Naruto in observing the newcomers.
Even Gaara couldn't help, but ogle the new guys. Right. Where was he? Oh yeah. Itachi reminded him of a wine. Very refined and sophisticated. He was a guy that was probably used to being in control and all about the rules.
Definitely not Naruto's type. Though it looked like a certain red head was more than willing to give it a go. Naruto had never seen anyone perk Gaara's interest that question before.
He nods energetically. "We should go make nice with our new neighbors." But back to the mission at hand. There was still the younger brother to examine.
If Itachi was wine, Sasuke was vodka. There was something very old world about him with those classical Japanese features and that ivory pale skin. There was also something kinda wild too! Probably because of the way his hair was sticking up the back. Naruto knew a lot of girls who would have killed to have those raven spiky locks. Actually, what was it with this family and their perfect hair?
Sasuke had some other charming ASSets too. Mostly the way he filled out those expensive business pants and his ruby red eyes. Those two really could have been models.
"You want wine and I'll take vodka?" Naruto grins mischievously at his friend.
Gaara had known Naruto since they were both in middle school. By now, he knew exactly what the blonde meant by that. He snorts quietly in response.
"You just saw them two minutes ago." Gaara shrugs and obviously was going to be throw cold water on Naruto's fun. "We don't even know, if they're into men and even if they are, they might already have someone."
Naruto frowns at that. That was true. Though he was pretty damn sure that they were. He had good instincts about this sort of thing and he was willing to literally bet the farm (well brewery) on the fact that these two were not interested in women!
He wasn't going to be discouraged that easily though! "Well yeah, we don't." If Gaara wasn't going to try, Naruto definitely was. "Though we don't not know it either!"
"I suppose that's true." Gaara stretches lazily as he gets off the back of the truck that they had been sitting on together. "Either way, we should probably at least go and introduce ourselves."
Ah ha! That was Gaaraese for "I'm totally into him." Gaaraese was a hard language to master, Naruto thinks to himself.
One had to really read between the lines, but it was worth it. He doubted that there was a better friend in the world than Gaara. The ranch owner was extremely loyal and very funny in a dry way.
He was also totally checking out Itachi in that expensive business suit of his. Not that he could blame him. He was probably doing the same thing for Sasuke.
"Hello!" Naruto smiles cheerfully as they make their way over to the brothers. "I'm Naruto and this is Gaara." Best just to be blunt. No use beating around the bush. "We're your neighbors. Gaara owns the horse ranch and I own the brewery next door!"
Sasuke blinks. Right. City Slicker. He probably wasn't used to someone greeting him so perkily. Naruto wasn't really sure, if that was a strike against him or not.
Itachi smiles. "Ah I see. Well we're not sure if we're neighbors yet, but I'm Itachi and this is my foolish little brother, Sasuke."
Yep! He had totally called which was which. Sasuke. He liked the way that it sounded. It'd probably roll off his tongue nicely! Names were really important, after all.
Sasuke twitches at being called foolish. "Itachi." There was a warning growl to his voice that Naruto was finding disturbingly hot. Oh yeah. These were definitely Madara's relatives. They had the whole growling thing down. Though Madara had been an old man and Naruto hadn't really appreciated the growl coming from him as much as he did when it came from Sasuke, but he was getting off track again.
"Awe, come on." Naruto grins. "I'm sure he's not foolish." Sasuke shoots him a grateful look at that.
Gaara smiles. "It's just how siblings talk to each other." He sneakily checks Itachi out. "You'd know that, if you weren't an only child."
Sasuke mutters something that sounded, "Lucky." Which earns him dirty look from Itachi, but Naruto could tell there was no real malice in it. It was just playful teasing.
"That's true, I guess." Sasuke smiles. "Well we inherited the vineyard, winery, or whatever you wanna call it." He glances back at the expansive property. "Though I guess technically, it's both. We just aren't sure what we want to do with it yet."
Gaara nods. "So you came to have a look around, then?" He smiles.
Judging by the way that Itachi was looking at Gaara, the elder Uchiha might be interested in doing a lot of looking around. Specifically, at the red head! Ha! Naruto knew they were into men!
"You could say that." Itachi nods as he glances around. "One certainly can't argue with the view."
Naruto nods in agreement. Though he was pretty sure Itachi hadn't just meant the landscape. This was going to be great! Believe it!
Now, they just had to convince the hot city slickers to stick around for awhile and maybe, he could get Sasuke out of that suit. Maybe, the younger Uchiha would be interested in a roll in the hay with him (or several, Naruto had always prided himself on his stamina)!