Ill Met by Moonlight
A Naruto Fanfiction
Disclaimers: All Naruto names, places, and related indicia are copyrighted to Masashi Kishimoto. The plot, writing style, and Alternate Universe (AU) elements are the intellectual properties of the authoress.
Warnings: Rated T for mild language and a smidgen of violence. Also, this story is aptly classified an AU fic, since although Naruto characters were used, the story revolves around a universe entirely created by the authoress.
Surprisingly enough, no pairings. Those will come later, in the trilogy (please refer to notes below). Maybe there are hints if you squint enough?
This is a one-shot divided into two parts. Why? It was more than thirty pages long in Word format.
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"Your highness, the First Prince asks for your presence in the library."
Sasuke Uchiha, exiled prince of the Sound Kingdom, looked up from gazing at the fireplace, to see Mistress Chenley at the door, her weathered old face slightly frowning when her eyes landed on the untouched breakfast tray near Sasuke. Mistress Chenley had not changed a whit since Sasuke first saw her at the Uchiha Palace, always wearing a simple cotton dress of dark blue it was almost black under a crisp, white apron, the Uchiha crest stitched neatly on the left breast. The deep red sash that hung on her right shoulder distinguished her as the First Servant, who oversees all the activities necessary to ensure that everything in the palace went smoothly.
But they were not in the Uchiha Palace anymore, and Mistress Chenley was only one of five servants in the house. But she still insists on wearing the sash, saying it was her duty. Neither Sasuke nor the First Prince had the heart to tell her otherwise. Telling her to stop wearing the sash meant they had given up, and both princes had sworn over their parents' corpses they would never give up until the throne was in Itachi's hands, or they would die in the attempt.
"Your highness?"
Mistress Chenley's frown was more pronounced now. Sasuke shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts. "Tell my brother I am coming." He stood from the comfortable arm chair and waited for Mistress Chenley's nod before following her out the door.
The thud of Sasuke's boots was dulled by the strip of threadbare blue carpet on the wood paneled floor as he walked down the hallway and turned a corridor, to a pair of oak double doors flanked by two soldiers in lacquered black breastplates and helmets rimmed in red. There was nothing different in their uniforms to distinguish them from other soldiers, except for their long, slender swords sheathed in black lacquered wood and tasseled with red and white rope. These were members of the Sonata of Swords, the royal family's personal army, loyal only to those born of the Uchiha clan. Seeing them brought another pang of loss to Sasuke; originally there were five hundred of the Sonata. After the conquest of Sound kingdom, barely fifty were left, and those in hiding here, along with Sasuke and his older brother.
The thought made anger surge white hot through the young prince. He would never give up. They will take the throne back, or die.
Both soldiers stood to attention upon Sasuke's approach, their eyes hard as steel and faces hewn from rock. Mistress Chenley opened the doors and held it open for Sasuke.
Long before the Uchiha clan ruled Sound kingdom their family had already been prosperous. Scattered all over Sound and the surrounding territories, even minor branches managed to live prosperous lives away from political circles. Sasuke's mother was no different. Before she had been married to Fugaku, firstborn of the 12th generation of the main family, she was the sole daughter of a prosperous wine merchant, distinctly related to the Uchihas by her great grandmother's marriage. The summer house they were currently staying in had been her marriage dowry before becoming Queen.
Although called a summer house, Sasuke reckoned it would be more appropriate to call it an estate. It sat on a low hill overlooking acres of vineyards and pasture for sheep. Not discreet enough for the endangered princes to stay in, true, but it was located on the fringes of the northern borders of the Dukedom of Lightning, at the foot of the Blackteeth mountain range. Add the fact that the Uchiha clan owned hundreds of vineyards across Sound, Lightning, and Water, and it was near impossible for the princes to be found. If anyone was even looking, that is.
Since the estate was Uchiha property, the house crest was visible everywhere, even in the library. The Uchiha white-and-red fan was carved on the door, the corners of tables, and sculpted into the marble mantel over the fireplace. Sasuke's dark eyes scanned through the room, noting the crests, wondering if his mother or grandfather had ever thought he and Itachi would be here, hiding for their lives. He almost snorted. Maybe not.
Out of the corner of Sasuke's eye, Mistress Chenley hurried to a wooden sideboard carved in grapevines and bustled about; Sasuke supposed she was making tea. Or maybe preparing wine, given the people already in the room.
The library was the second-largest room in the house, seventy paces long and fifty across, the walls covered from top to bottom in books, except for the far end where a large marble fireplace had a roaring fire in the hearth. The walls were dark varnished wood, and the floor was covered in a rich burgundy carpet from Earth country. The center space was covered by a large, heavy oval table and fifteen high-backed chairs, five of which were already occupied.
At the head of the table sat Itachi Uchiha, First Prince of the Sound kingdom, rumored to have been killed when the Snake lord Orochimaru attacked the capital and took the throne. A smile crossed his pale face at Sasuke's arrival, and he gestured to the empty seat on his right. "Sasuke, we were just about to start."
"Hn." Sasuke gave his brother a nod and walked to his seat, his eyes scanning the other attendees. Kakashi Hatake, Captain of the Sonata of Swords was there, his distinct crown of gray-silver hair and black face mask marking him out instantly. Kakashi was Itachi and Sasuke's tutor in swordsmanship, and Itachi's closest confidant. When Orochimaru attacked and murdered the entire clan, it was Kakashi who had helped the brothers escape by faking their deaths and hiding them away here, although how Kakashi knew of this estate was beyond Sasuke. The man hid a great many secrets behind his mask, though he hardly made his perverse love of erotic novels one of them. Sasuke disliked that about the man, but his skills with a blade was unmatched by any save Itachi.
Kakashi looked up, his one visible eye crinkling into what Sasuke thought of as a smile, raising one hand in greeting. Sasuke only nodded in response.
Beside Kakashi sat his lieutenant, Tenzo Yamato, who prefers to be called simply as Yamato. He was a lean man in his late twenties, with a sickly pale complexion and a face that hardly ever changes expression. Sasuke often has difficulty reading Yamato's emotion, since the man rarely speaks or is rarely seen around the estate. Kakashi often tells him that Yamato prefers working alone, which would explain why Sasuke never sees him anywhere except with his captain.
On the seat next to Sasuke's was Kurenai Yuhi, a beautiful woman with long, dark hair and remarkably red eyes. Rumors have sprung because of them, the most prominent being that she was a bastard child of the Uchiha clan, though in truth she was born from a farming family. Her eyes were a result of a minor accident during her mage training. She was one of the youngest mages to be elected on the roster of mages directly under the authority of the king, noted for her mastery of illusions. The conquest of Sound made her the sole survivor of that roster. She smiled gently at Sasuke, but after a few moments the smile was gone, replaced by a cool, stone-faced look.
The last occupied chair stood at the other end of the table, apart from the rest. Sasuke studied the man carefully. An average merchant, by the looks of him, slightly pudgy, with watery brown eyes and a clean-shaven face. He was clearly nervous; his eyes flitted this way and that, and his tongue darted out to wet his lips several times. At Sasuke's arrival his eyes grew wide. So the man probably believed he and Itachi were dead all these years, eh? So why would Itachi let the man see them? A cool look from Kurenai made the man return his attention towards Itachi, who seemed amused.
Sasuke held back a snort. Likely his brother wanted to tease the poor man some more. As Sasuke took his seat he turned to his brother. "Who is this?"
It was Kakashi who answered, confirming what Sasuke had already suspected. "One of our spies in Earth country, your highness. A trade merchant by the name of Shin Tavelor. Isn't that right, Master Tavelor?"
Sasuke's eyes turned to the merchant, who bobbed his head eagerly, a nervous smile on his face. Both of his hands were tugging on the edge of his soft gray woolen coat, still slightly dusty from travel. "That I am, my lord."
Itachi shared a look with Sasuke, then gestured expansively with his hands. "Well, go on then, man. What have you to report?"
The man seemed startled to have been addressed by the First Prince—a man thought to have been dead for eight years, but the unmistakable scarlet eyes with swirling black and the aristocratic features and pale skin marked him as an Uchiha—and rummaged almost frantically through his pockets. "Your er—your highness—I came here to deliver this."
On the table, he laid a yellow envelope sealed with red wax.
Yamato stood and took the envelope in his hands, turning it this way and that. Finding nothing suspicious, he placed the letter on the table and pushed it in Kurenai's direction. "What do you think, Lady Kurenai?"
Everyone watched as the mage placed a hand above the envelope, a soft blue glow surrounding both her hand and the envelope in question. Sasuke saw Tavelor swallow nervously, one hand wiping sweat from his forehead.
After a few minutes Kurenai stirred, taking the envelope in her hand and passing it onto Kakashi. "I could sense no trapped spell or illusion in it," she said, her voice as cool as her composure. She shot a hard glance at the merchant, making him squeak.
"Well, let's have a look then." Kakashi twisted his wrist, and a small knife appeared in his hand. Sasuke frowned; he had tried to make Kakashi teach him that several times before, but the man insisted that knife-handling was not meant to be taught to princes. When Kakashi saw Sasuke's scowl, his eyes crinkled into a smile. Sasuke's only response was to scowl even further.
Itachi raised an eyebrow at the silent exchange. "Something wrong, Sasuke?" he asked in a mild, almost bored tone. But Sasuke could see in Itachi's Sharingan-activated eyes that he was actually curious. Sasuke shook his head shallowly.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Itachi." Sasuke looked at his brother in the eye, then shot a quick glance at Kakashi. Itachi's eyes widened a crack before his face resumed its normal, blank look. He understood. "Very well." He turned to Kakashi. "What does the letter contain?"
Kakashi had already flipped open the envelope with his knife, the wax seal intact. "It is a letter from the king, your highness." Kakashi's tone was bland, but Sasuke could see that his one visible eye was hard and shining. Everyone, excluding Sasuke and Itachi, straightened in their seats, all attention on the letter.
There was only one sheet of creamy white parchment. Sasuke could not see the contents, and Kakashi's face was carefully kept blank, so he could not even guess what was inside. It must be important though; for several years they have tried to make Earth rally to their side, to usurp the Snake lord. Each and every time they got a polite, firm refusal. They had tried everything short of coercion; Kakashi was already tempted to do just that, but Itachi was having none of it. Earth was an ally of Sound; their refusal to help only meant that they were wary of drawing the Snake lord's attention, and with good reason. Sound was a powerful nation, its army famed for great exploits in battle. To be so utterly defeated by a man with an army barely a fraction of Sound's own…it was unthinkable. But it had happened, and now the other kingdoms grow wary and fearful. Oh, Sound has made no more movement to conquer more lands, and trade has become more or less stable again, but the underlying threat was there. If Sound could be beaten, then so can the others…
A gasp from Kakashi pulled Sasuke abruptly from his thoughts. The Sonata captain turned to look at the merchant, his face hard. "Is this true?"
Tavelor bit back a whimper of fear at Kakashi's hard, piercing gaze, and nodded. "Y-yes, my lord."
"When did this happen?"
"About a m-month ago. No one knows what happened. Rumors—rumors say he was p-poisoned in his sleep."
Kakashi did not say anymore, only handed the letter to Itachi, who began to read the letter in earnest, his face showing no expression. Sasuke looked to Kakashi. "What did the letter say?"
Kakashi did not stray his eyes from the merchant as he replied. "The Earth king is dead. Killed in his sleep."
"What?" Sasuke's dark eyes widened a fraction. "Who?"
"We will discuss this more carefully later," Itachi said to the room, cutting short Sasuke's interrogation of Kakashi. The tomoe in his eyes spun slowly as he regarded Tavelor, who had leaned back into his chair in fear. Itachi smiled softly, falsely. "Do not be afraid, Master Tavelor. You have done well to deliver the letter. But tell me…how did you manage to get a hold of it?"
Sasuke saw Tavelor's eyes grew unfocused as he looked at Itachi's spinning Sharingan. The others were looking down on the table's surface, even Kurenai. Sasuke, being an Uchiha himself, was immune to the Sharingan's hypnotizing effect.
"A m-man gave it to me your h-highness. Found me in m-my rooms, he did. Gave me the letter and told me to d-deliver this letter. Personally."
Sasuke sat back, startled. As if reading his thoughts, Itachi asked Tavelor, "Did he know you were working for…us?"
The merchant trembled in his seat, his eyes unable to drift away from Itachi's. "I d-don't know, your highness. I think so. He never asked, just gave me the letter."
"Hmm." Itachi seemed to think about it for a moment. "And he told you to give the letter to me?"
Sasuke tensed. No one in Kakashi's spy network knew that he and Itachi were alive; for all they know Kakashi and the rest of the Sonatas were planning a rebellion all on their own. Only a handful of people knew they had faked their deaths, and almost all of them were in the library. If Tavelor answered yes, that meant a spy was in their midst.
Sasuke almost let out a sigh of relief when the merchant shook his head no. "The m-man told me to give the letter to wh-whoever I was supposed to report to." Tavelor swallowed audibly, wiping sweat from his brow with his hand again. "I t-told him I didn't know what h-he was talking about. And he just smiled and gave me the letter before disappearing from my sight. Like an apparition, he was."
Sasuke turned this over in his head. Kakashi's network of spies knew no one else in the chain except Kakashi himself, who took their reports by bird carrier, or by visiting the spy himself. It was only natural that the merchant would come looking for Kakashi, but… "Kakashi, did Master Tavelor come here?"
Kakashi shook his head. "We met where we usually do, and that was when he showed me the letter. When I saw the Earth crest, I thought it would be wise to bring him here. Not that he knows where we are, of course."
Sasuke nodded, satisfied. He trusted Kakashi to be careful about keeping their location hidden. He glanced back at Itachi, whose Sharingan was still activated and trained on the merchant. Sasuke held back a slight smirk. Not that the merchant would have any memories of this meeting after tonight.
"Can you tell me what he looked like?" Itachi asked.
The man shook his head again. "He w-was hidden by shadows, and his face was b-behind a mask, your highness. His voice sounded y-young though, maybe no more than twenty years. And—" He wrung his hands. "And he h-had tails, your highness."
Eyebrows rose, even Itachi's and Sasuke's. Kurenai leaned slightly towards the merchant, careful not to even glance at Itachi's eyes. "Tails?"
The merchant bobbed his head up and down. "I—I'm not lying, your ladyship. I s-saw them! F-four tails, they were. Like a fox's."
"A fox…" murmured Kakashi, his eyebrows furrowed. Sasuke stared incredulously at him.
"Don't tell me you believe this nonsense, Kakashi. It's obviously an illusion meant to deceive Tavelor."
Kakashi ignored the prince for the moment and looked at Tavelor. "Did you see his hands? Was he carrying a sword?" Sasuke looked oddly at Kakashi, but wisely chose not to comment. For now.
"I d-didn't see, my lord. But I am certain he was not w-wearing a sword."
Kakashi lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. Sasuke glanced from Tavelor to his brother, frowning. "Itachi?"
"Later, Sasuke," Itachi admonished softly. Sasuke's cheeks tinged slightly pink as he settled back on his seat, fists clenching. "Master Tavelor, look at me."
The poor merchant looked at Itachi, gasping when the tomoe began swirling faster. His eyes widened, he let out a gasp, and his body slumped against the chair, unconscious. Itachi signaled with a hand, and two more Sonata members who had stood half-hidden in the shadows behind Itachi hauled the merchant to his feet with little difficulty.
"Take him back. I'm sure Kakashi has told you where." The soldiers nodded, faces hard and blank, their white-and-red tasseled blades obvious against the black armor. The unconscious merchant's head bobbed between them, his muddy boots dragging on the floor.
Mistress Chenley suddenly appeared by Sasuke's side, tsking. "I will set someone to clean the floors later," she mused almost to herself, then laid a tray filled with tea, a plate of bread, cheese, and butter, and a bowl of honeyed apples in front of Sasuke. "Your highness, it seems in your haste you had forgotten to break your fast this morning."
Sasuke stiffened, glowering at the woman, who seemed unaffected. Only now did Sasuke notice that everyone else had a goblet of wine at their side. But he was given tea—tea! With breakfast!—as if he had been a petulant child intent on skipping his meals. He wanted to tell Mistress Chenley that he was not hungry in the slightest, but he knew the woman would not budge. Servant she may be, but she had attended to Itachi and Sasuke since they were babes. Not even reminding her of his position as prince would make her take back the tray. With a resigned sigh Sasuke speared an apple with a fork.
Itachi's eyes had already returned to its usual onyx black, and he was smiling at Sasuke. "Give in, little brother. Even I cannot make Mistress Chenley change her mind."
"Hn." Sasuke sat straight in his seat, chewing on the apple. He winced at the generous helping of honey, but forced himself to swallow. He would not sulk—princes do not sulk—and washed away the sweet taste with the tea. At least Mistress Chenley did not add too much sugar into the brew.
Mistress Chenley was suddenly there again, this time bearing another breakfast tray and setting it in front of Itachi, taking his goblet of wine in the process. "I'm flattered that his highness thinks highly of me," she murmured loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear. "I would be happier if he does not deliberately avoid eating as well."
Kakashi coughed into his hand, suspiciously sounding like a laugh, and Kurenai smiled, sharing a look with Mistress Chenley, who smiled back before leaving the room. Even Sasuke smirked into his tea, careful not to meet Itachi's eyes. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his brother frowning, a slight tinge of pink on his face.
As Itachi took up a slice of bread and began to spread butter thinly on it, Kakashi straightened in his chair. "So. What do we do now?"
Sasuke put down his tea cup. "I think it's about time we make contact with Earth again."
Kurenai turned to him. "That is all well and good your highness, but how? If the king is dead, Earth kingdom would most probably be uneasy right now, especially since the threat of occupation still exists for as long as the Snake lord remains."
Yamato leaned closer to the table, one hand swirling his wine cup that was still full. "Maybe we should send a letter back. What do you think, Prince Itachi?"
Itachi took a bite of the bread and swallowed before answering. "A letter might fall into the wrong hands. Not that I am undermining your spies, Kakashi," he added. "But this mysterious person delivering Gaara's letter tells us that there are those who know the existence of spies working for Sound. At the very worst, we can assume that this person—perhaps others as well—know that I and my brother are still alive and in hiding."
Everyone paused to think it over, knowing what Itachi said rang true. Kakashi frowned, tapping a finger on the table. "So sending a letter back is out of the question…any ideas?"
"What if we went to see prince Gaara personally?" Sasuke suggested, his tone mild, although inside he hoped his brother would agree. He hated being cooped up inside the house—and he had been cooped up in different estates for seven years—knowing there was something he could do. "Although now I think we should call him king. Gaara is the heir to Earth's throne, isn't he?"
"Yes," Kurenai confirmed. "Although it is rather peculiar—I believe the prince has two older siblings, princess Temari and prince Kankuro."
"Peculiar, but not unheard of. Doubtless their father had reasons," Itachi said. He turned to Sasuke. "I agree with you, little brother. I believe meeting Gaara would be the only way."
"Thank you. Although I would appreciate it if you stopped calling me 'little', Itachi. I am hardly a child," Sasuke replied, frowning slightly. He was already eighteen, after all.
Itachi smiled at him, a true smile, and ruffled Sasuke's hair, much to the younger brother's irritation. "Until you stop pouting like a sulking child, I will continue calling you 'little brother'…little brother."
"Itachi!"
Kakashi sighed. "Anyway, going to Earth will be difficult. We cannot be sure where that snake bastard's put his own spies—we can be assured he has at least a handful inside Earth's borders. Plenty more inside the capital."
"Here." Itachi handed the letter back to Kakashi. "Read it again."
Kakashi obeyed, reading the letter more slowly. His eyebrows shot up. "King Gaara wishes to talk…and he is willing to send someone as a guide?"
Itachi nodded. He took a sip of the tea. Kurenai's face bore a relieved expression. "This is a good sign, your highness."
Sasuke nodded. "But how are we going to tell him that we agree?"
"Give the letter to Sasuke."
Kakashi handed Sasuke the letter. Upon touching the parchment Sasuke his eyebrows rose. "There is a spell in it."
Itachi smiled, pleased that his brother detected it quickly. "Yes. Gaara says that if we agree to meet, we should burn the letter."
"Hn." As he read the letter, Sasuke extended his magic senses, trying to figure out the spell. It was simple magic that forged a bond between the parchment and another object. If the parchment was burned, the thing it was bonded to would burn as well. Ingeniously simple. "It's a simple bond spell, but the making of it is unfamiliar to me."
"May I?" Kurenai asked, extending her hand. Sasuke passed the letter to her. She handled it in both hands, her brow furrowing in concentration. "Yes, I see what you mean. The bond spell we know is different from this one. For one thing, this is untraceable, and used so little magic that it's a wonder you were able to sense it, your highness."
"I don't think I would have detected it if I was not so intent on reading the letter," Sasuke admitted. He looked at his brother. "So we are going to Earth?"
"Yes," the First Prince replied.
Kakashi nodded. "I'll arrange for twenty of the Sonatas to accompany us."
"No," Itachi said, firmly. "No guards. I will allow only you and Yamato to come with us, Kakashi."
Kakashi frowned, not liking the idea of his kingdom's last living Uchiha descendants to travel with so little protection. "Your highness, the roads are dangerous, especially for you. Orochimaru might—"
"He would more easily spot a large party traveling than a small one," Itachi cut in, his dark eyes unyielding as he looked at Kakashi. "A small group is easier to hide."
"But—"
"Kakashi, I am well aware this is a risk, but you said so yourself that Orochimaru has spies set inside Earth country. We will have an easier time avoiding their notice if there are few of us." Itachi drank some tea before continuing. "If it makes you happier, Kurenai shall be coming with us as well."
Kakashi frowned, thinking about it. He looked at Kurenai, who shrugged. "I shall go where my duty takes me," she said simply. When Kakashi remained frowning, she sighed. "Of course that means I shall weave a constant shield around the princes. Even if it means I end up dead tired every night," she added with a grumble.
Kakashi's face eased. Having a mage with the princes is worth more than a hundred soldiers, and not just because there are so very few of them. Kurenai's magic-lore ensured that both Itachi and Sasuke would survive the journey. Although Sasuke could cast spells himself, he was still in training under Kurenai. Having the royal mage in the party made Kakashi rest easier.
"Very well," he relented. "When will we leave?"
Itachi smiled. "After we burn the letter…within three hours."
Sasuke looked at him. "That fast?"
"I am assuming whoever Gaara will send is an accomplished mage—I can only think that a Translocation spell would be able to send a person from Earth to this location in so short a time."
Kurenai hummed thoughtfully. "Perhaps he is sending along the person who had given the letter to Kakashi's spy."
Itachi inclined his head. "Possibly."
Speaking of that person…Sasuke looked at Kakashi. "Why did you ask your spy those unusual questions?"
Kakashi blinked as if taken aback. He scratched at the back of his head. "Well… it was just an idea."
"What idea?"
"Oh, nothing," Kakashi replied. "It was just a passing thought."
Sasuke frowned, knowing it was a lie. "Kakashi…" he warned in a low tone.
Itachi was also watching Kakashi. "You thought whoever it was might have been from Hidden Leaf, didn't you?"
Kakashi shot a glance at Itachi, frowning. Sasuke turned from Kakashi to Itachi, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You have heard something of Kakashi's past, haven't you?" Itachi began, turning to Sasuke, who nodded. "Then you've heard that Kakashi did not train his swordsmanship in Sound, but in Fire." Sasuke nodded again.
"That is partly correct. The majority of his training took place in Hidden Leaf."
Sasuke, Kurenai, and even Yamato stared at Kakashi as if he had grown another head. The Sonata captain grinned sheepishly, despite the mask covering most of his face. "Don't look at me like that."
"But in Hidden Leaf—! Kakashi, how in the name of the spirits did you get in?!" Kurenai asked with wide eyes. "The entire island is covered in a storm of violent spells that only those born in Hidden Leaf could safely pass through!"
"I was only a child when I first got there, so I couldn't even remember what he did when he took me as an apprentice," Kakashi answered, a bit irritated. He did not like people prodding into his past; he valued his privacy, thank you very much. "I was seven then. He taught me how to handle a sword for five years before he sent me to my sword master in Fire. And I only stayed in the outlying village on the island, so I didn't get to see much."
"But to have stepped inside Hidden Leaf!" Kurenai gasped, half awed, half envious.
"Who took you in?" Sasuke asked.
"He never gave me his name," Kakashi replied. "He only wanted me to call him 'Teacher'. He was human, I suppose—"
"Then it's true that there are still elves?" Kurenai asked, eyes shining. "And dwarves and elementals in the island?"
Kakashi frowned at her. "Look. Do you want me to tell you the story or not?" When Kurenai blushed and returned to her seat without saying another word, Kakashi continued. "Yes, there are elves, dwarves, and elementals—Teacher called them fae and nature spirits—in Hidden Leaf. I don't know why, but they only leave the island to trade with the Fire nation and no one else, so I guess that's why most people in the mainland don't believe they exist anymore. And they do that very rarely. I can remember seeing a merchant caravan leaving the island only twice during my entire stay there.
"Like I said, Teacher looked human enough. There were humans in Hidden Leaf, of course, but Teacher was a bit different. For one, his hands had sharp nails, and he has six fox tails. And he was the only one among them who wore a sword. When I asked, he said that very select people are taught and allowed to use a sword—everyone else used other weapons." He looked at Sasuke. "That's why I asked Tavelor those questions. I thought that maybe Gaara had some sort of connection with Hidden Leaf."
Sasuke studied Kakashi for a moment. "You were hoping to contact this Teacher of yours again, right?"
Kakashi sighed. "Yes. It's too much to hope for, though. There's not even a rumor about any Hidden Leaf citizen going farther than Fire country's port city."
Sasuke considered Kakashi's words. Hidden Leaf kingdom was completely isolated from the mainland, not only because it was located on an island, but because it was covered in a powerful and violent storm of unchecked spells the casting of which had been lost for thousands of years. Hidden Leaf was cloaked in a thousand year-old mystery; several legends and myths have sprung from this—about dangerous beasts and bloodthirsty savages living inside, and countless treasure waiting to be picked. But there was always one thing the myths and the legends agree on: three hundred years ago, people of the Hidden Leaf crossed the narrow strip of sea to the mainland, and taught the people magic. After that they went back into seclusion, only leaving the island to trade with Fire, and that they do extremely rarely. No one knows anything about them. No one dared ask, even.
"Well," came Itachi's voice, disrupting Sasuke's thoughts, "Hidden Leaf citizen or not, our guide will appear three hours after I burn the letter. Which means we have little time left to pack and get ready, because I intend to throw this parchment straight into the fireplace after I finish eating my breakfast."
0 0 0 0 0
Gaara's guide might be a talented mage, but he was ridiculously late.
They were all there, in the library again, their packs ready and placed in a jumble on the table. Mistress Chenley had placed a tray of cool, spiced wine nearby before bowing before Itachi and Sasuke, saying that she would await for news of them here. She also assured both princes that the estate will be well taken care of, along with the rest of the Sonata soldiers, to Kakashi's relief. No one doubted she would do her duties. She was First Servant through and through, palace or not.
The clock above the mantel chimed sweet tones. Sasuke frowned at it. "Our guide is late," he snapped. "He should have been here half an hour ago."
"Patience, little brother," Itachi commented from his seat, reading a book on Earth kingdom's history.
"Maybe something went…wrong," Kurenai muttered. She was standing near one end of the table, her hands folded beneath her breast, a worried frown on her smooth, pretty face. Dark red eyes were trying to bore a hole in the fireplace where Gaara's letter had burned to ashes more than three hours ago.
Yamato made a noncommittal noise as he checked all his weapons again, making sure nothing was missing. "If there was, at least it happened before the guide met with their highnesses."
"Cold, aren't you, Yamato?" Kakashi asked dryly from his own seat, the one he had taken earlier that morning.
"Just being practical, captain. Prince Itachi and Prince Sasuke's safety comes first, after all."
Kakashi nodded, his face serious. The Sonata of Swords pledged loyalty not to the kingdom, but to the entire line of the Uchiha clan. All Sonatas had been chosen by birth, and taught all throughout their lives that the safety of the Uchiha clan—the main family most of all—was more important than their own lives. Except Kakashi, all members were children of previous Sonata soldiers, but all of them were loyal. To the last man.
Which is why, Kakashi thought bitterly, only a handful of them were left after Orochimaru wrenched the crown off Fugaku Uchiha's lifeless body. Jerking himself from such gloomy thoughts, he forced a smile on his face, his eyes crinkling. "Nevertheless, let's just wait for the guide a while longer. It's still early."
Sasuke snorted. "Considering this is you talking Kakashi, I would have to agree, don't I?"
"I'm hurt, your highness. When have I ever been late?"
Sasuke scowled at him. "Continue being cheek with me and I'll assure you that you will never be late again. Or be alive to even attempt being tardy."
Itachi sighed. Kurenai shook her head. Yamato glanced at his captain, then the younger prince, before resuming counting the number of knives he had hidden in his person.
Sasuke continued glaring at Kakashi who only shrugged and grinned cheekily at the prince. True, Kakashi was Itachi's childhood friend and had seen both princes during their worst—especially during their seven-year self-imposed exile—but Sasuke was still the prince! Granted, without Kakashi the Sonatas would be like headless chickens left squawking in the coop, but his impertinence was too much!
Suddenly the fire in the hearth, which was crackling a good foot in the air, snuffed out like a candle wick. Everyone stopped, staring at the fireplace, which now had only embers.
A fizzle of magic. Both Sasuke and Kurenai took in sharp breaths, but only Kurenai spoke. "I think our guide is here."
Sasuke swallowed whatever it was he meant to say and watched the fireplace. The embers were quickly cooling into dark charcoal, the magic he sensed working quickly. He held his breath.
A single, yellow-brown maple leaf dropped gracefully from the chimney and floated into the room, twirling in nonexistent air, before settling on the table nearest where Sasuke stood. Everyone's eyes turned to him.
With a slight frown Sasuke took the leaf in his hands. Something was written on one side, the letters curling gracefully. It seemed to have been burned into the leaf, although how that was managed Sasuke could not say. Probably magic, but if it was, it would need extreme control for the spell not to have burned the leaf through.
I will meet you near the border. For now my little friend will guide you; she is waiting outside.
Sasuke looked up to four eyes watching him. "Our guide will meet us when we get to the border of Lightning."
Itachi raised his eyebrow. Sasuke added, "He sent his friend to accompany us in the meantime." He glanced at the leaf again. Little friend?
Itachi glanced at the leaf as well. Sasuke handed it to him, but the moment it touched Itachi's fingers the leaf curled in on itself, withering so quickly it crumbled into tiny pieces before Itachi could grab it entirely. Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction, though his lips thinned. "Hn."
Kurenai peered at the tiny pieces fluttering to the floor. "Maybe it was spelled?" she asked, almost to herself.
"Perhaps," Itachi said. "Let us go."
The command, however softly it was given, had an immediate effect. Kakashi and Yamato stood up abruptly, grabbing most of the bags on the table, leaving Sasuke and Itachi to carry nothing, and Kurenai to sling her personal bag over her shoulder. It contained most of her personal items, as well as a spell book or two. Sasuke suspected it would carry rolls of parchment, ink bottle, and quill, too. Kurenai never let anyone else touch those.
Kakashi turned down the servants' attempts to carry the bags for him, saying he did not need to be mollycoddled. The servants took it all in good stride, knowing Kakashi, but Mistress Chenley frowned disapprovingly at him. Perhaps because he said they were mollycoddling him. Sasuke was not sure.
Outside, in the front courtyard, two Sonatas and three groomsmen were holding the reins for their horses. All were purebred geldings, in either reddish brown or black—the best warhorse stock in Sound kingdom—except for Kurenai's gray mare. Sasuke saw that only his horse and Kurenai's frisked and whinnied, excited after being cooped in the stable for too long. Kakashi and Yamato's horses were still, perfectly disciplined, their tall necks straight. Even at a distance anyone could see these horses were more than just well-trained mounts. Itachi's horse, a black gelding, threw back its head and whickered at the sight of its owner. Itachi smiled, patting the horse on the nose. The horse calmed down immediately.
In no time at all Kakashi and Yamato had strapped the bags onto the saddles, and everyone was ready to leave. After Itachi left a few more instructions for Mistress Chenley—If you must send a note, Mistress Chenley, tell one of the Sonatas; they will know how to contact Kakashi—and Kakashi left a few instructions of his own to the remaining Sonatas, they trotted off, circling the wide courtyard and cantering through the large, wrought-iron gates.
The…note…said outside. Did he mean outside the estate? Kakashi was in the lead, beside Itachi, while Yamato brought up the rear. Both Sasuke and Kurenai were in the middle. The day was clear and cloudless, but slightly chilly because it was still the middle of Autumn. The hard-packed dirt road wound lazily in a north westerly direction, rows of vineyards stretching on both sides. The road was littered with shed leaves in various shades of yellow and brown, crunching underneath the horses' hooves as they passed.
It took a while for them to reach the border of the estate; by the time the stone markers were visible—a pair of tall posts carved with the Uchiha crest on one side—Kurenai had finished casting a mild warming spell around the princes. It took no effort for a mage of Kurenai's caliber, but when she casts a physical barrier around their group later on, it will need a constant feed of magic, which would leave her drained by evening.
Kakashi raised a hand as they rode in line with the stone markers, signaling a stop. He looked around, his one visible eye narrowing slightly, one hand casually lying over the sword hilt by his hip. Yamato did the same, only he was watching behind them. Kurenai tried to stand, craning her neck to see better.
"Do you see anything?" she asked Kakashi.
A shake of the head. "Not yet."
Silence followed his words, broken only by the stamping of hooves and the occasional breeze that rustled what little foliage remained on the trees lining the road. A few moments later Kakashi stirred, pulling on the reins so that his horse was facing the stone marker to their left. "Something's there. Stand back, Itachi."
Kakashi only ever called Itachi by his first name when he was truly serious, or when there was danger. Itachi wordlessly led his horse back a few paces until he was almost in line with Sasuke and Kurenai.
Something did move, rustling the bushes growing near the pillar of stone. When it came into view Kurenai gasped, her eyes going wide. Even Sasuke could not help staring.
It was a tiny human-like creature as tall as a forearm, with two translucent insect wings streaked with green protruding from its back, fluttering rapidly to keep it aloft. It was wearing a pale yellow dress edged with brown that covered it from the neck to the tip of its small bare feet, and pale green hair almost as long as she was. The creature was definitely female, Sasuke observed. It—she—had skin as green as summer grass, and slanted black eyes that glittered. As she flew closer, Sasuke saw that her dress was actually made of leaves stitched finely together. Her ears were pointed, the tips showing through her streaming hair.
The creature, whatever she was, smiled as she flitted closer, until she was level with Kakashi's face. She was close enough that Kakashi could grab her in one hand. "Cesly is here for the humans, yes?" Her lilting voice was musical and whispery at the same time, almost like the whoosh of a breeze blowing in your ear. "Cesly will help take the humans to the Earth king, she will." She spun once in the air, giggling, her wings shimmering in the daylight. Kakashi only stared at her.
Kurenai had ridden up to Kakashi's side, her eyes not leaving the winged creature. "What…what is it, Kakashi?"
Kakashi shook his head, as if to rid himself of muddy thoughts, a puzzled frown on his face. "She is a fae. An asparas, I think." He tugged on his mask. "I have never heard or seen one outside of Hidden Leaf before."
"Human knows something of Cesly, yes?" The asparas smiled wider. "But the human only scratched the surface, he did. Many things about Cesly he knows not." She flew closer, until she was near Kurenai, too. Tilting her head, she said in her lilting tone, "Human knows Cesly's name, but Cesly knows not theirs. What is your name, human?"
Kurenai seemed startled to have the fae speak to her, but she replied quickly. "I—er, my name is Kurenai Yuhi." She gestured to Kakashi. "This is Kakashi Hatake. That is First Prince Itachi Uchiha and his younger brother Prince Sasuke Uchiha. The one behind us is Yamato."
The asparan turned her curious face, listening and watching as Kurenai introduced everyone in the party. When Kurenai was done, the fae flew to Itachi, her small head tilted again. "Cesly did not know she was helping royalty of Sound, oh no. Pardon Cesly if she did not pay proper respects," she said, then promptly spread her skirts and made a graceful bow, her wings folding behind her.
Like a true prince Itachi acknowledged her bow with a dip of his head, a smile on his face. "No apology is needed, little one. We are, after all, traveling in secret. My title—as well as my brother's—must be kept hidden."
The asparan smiled back, straightening. Her black, pupil-less eyes glittered even more. "Then Cesly shall call you Itachi-human, and Itachi-human can call Cesly by her name."
"Alright. Cesly it is, then."
Cesly giggled, twirling in the air, seemingly pleased. She flew to Sasuke next. "Hello, Sasuke-human," she half sang, half whispered. A smile was still on her face.
Sasuke leaned back slightly, blinking. Recovering quickly from his surprise at finding the winged creature hovering in his face, he said, "A pleasure…Cesly."
Cesly's smile faded, and she frowned. "Sasuke-human, is something wrong?"
Sasuke almost raised his eyebrow at that. "No. Please forgive me, but this is the first time I have seen one of your kind. I am just…astounded."
The fae nodded, almost as if in agreement. "Cesly understands, Sasuke-human. Cesly was astounded too when she first saw the Outside—so many humans all in one place, and not a fae in sight! Cesly would have been very frightened, if master was not there." She looked at Sasuke. "Tell me, Sasuke-human, are you afraid of me?"
Sasuke blinked. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his brother, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Yamato watching the conversation. "No, I'm not," he answered truthfully.
Cesly smiled, her wings fluttering. "That is good, then. Cesly does not think she can be friends with Sasuke-human if he was afraid of her," she said, then giggled before flying off to Yamato.
Yamato frowned as the asparan drew near, his hand ready to snatch one of the knives hidden inside his sleeves. Cesly seemed to have sensed his wariness, because she stopped a good two paces from Yamato's face. Her smile turned soft. "Don't worry, Yamato-human, Cesly cannot hurt you. Cesly promised master she would help, she did."
The Sonata lieutenant stared hard at her, unblinking. At last he relaxed his stance, the frown on his face dissipating, but not gone entirely. He nodded, once. "Alright."
Cesly twirled in the air again, smiling. She seemed satisfied with his response. Flying off to Kakashi again, she turned to him, her black eyes trained onto his face. "Follow Cesly, Kakashi-human. Cesly will take you to her master." She pointed with one little hand. Not down the road. Towards the trees.
Kakashi's eyebrows rose. "Your master?"
"Yes. Cesly will take you to master. Master will lead you to the Earth king."
Itachi had ridden up his horse until he was beside Kakashi again. "That way leads northeast, Cesly. The border of Lightning lies to the west."
Cesly smiled a mysterious smile. "This is the safest way, Itachi-human. Do not worry. Master knows what he is doing."
Kurenai frowned. She looked to Kakashi and the prince. "What now, your highness?"
Itachi looked silently at the fae, wings flittering rapidly, her face still smiling. "We go where she leads us." Cesly beamed, twirling several times in the air. A soft, cool breeze blew past them.
"A good decision, a good decision. Cesly will lead you to master in no time at all!"
"Are you sure this is wise, Itachi?" Sasuke asked softly as he rode up his horse to get near his brother, a slight frown on his face. "It could be a trap."
"Maybe. But if Orochimaru had known where we were, I do not think he would lead us to a useless chase through the woods before killing us both, little brother." He glanced beside him. "And Kakashi said this little one is from Hidden Leaf. An…asparan?" At Kakashi's nod he continued. "That means whoever Cesly's master is, must have some connection with Hidden Leaf, and that makes it nigh impossible he is connected with Orochimaru."
Sasuke's brow furrowed deeper. "How would he be connected to Gaara?" They had both known Gaara since childhood, a royal child as much as they were. Sasuke was sure Gaara had never set foot outside of Earth kingdom, let alone go to Hidden Leaf as impossible as that may sound.
Itachi flicked the reins, and his horse started to walk. He looked at Sasuke. "That is something we must ask Gaara when he see him."
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