The meeting that was the direct cause of Colonel Uchiha Sasuke's loss of his heritage, and Sir Uzumaki Naruto to run away from home happened at a ball the 6th of June.
It was a magnificent and splendid party. All according to the hostess plans, and the plan did not only succeed to mark that the summer and season was coming to an end, but also made all of the other balls that had been previously to seem pale and outright boring compared to this one.
Naruto walked to the line that led to the entrance as elegant that he could and at the same time make sure to stop and watch his steps occasionally and make sure he was not incidentally stepped on or pushed by the other guest's. Next to him his mother, Lady Uzumaki Kushina walked the famous staircase that led up to the ballroom with the same patience.
The mother and son had many opportunities to exchange smiles and polite sentences to friends and people they knew as they were caught in the slow walk up the stairs.
As usual, the mothers of less successful debutants looked upon Naruto, and they said in low voices to their children to observe his perfect stands, perfect walk and just the charming way he enchanted everyone in. If Naruto had not combined these qualities of his with a natural warmth and kindness, the other debutants would since long ago hated him for it. And as it were, they forgave him for being perfect while their mothers comforted each other that he was not engaged yet. And this was actually the end his second season.
This was one of the things that disturbed his mother greatly.
No one could have hoped to get a more loyal, charming and handy son than Naruto. But still, no more than seven suitable persons had greeted Mr. Uzumaki, and got the permission to wait upon Naruto and then sent away after being kindly, but definitely dumped by him.
In every case, Naruto had been unsure or unwilling to tell his upset parents an excuse, except that he didn't think that the girl, or man, wouldn't fit for his happiness.
But this same morning Naruto had refused to greet the son to one of his mothers dearest childhood friend's son, a most handsome and wealthy gentleman of good heritage. Naruto's father had quickly gone from astonishment to anger when Naruto at last succeeded to step over the line of his parent's patience.
"How could you say that you don't want to meet with Sai?" His mother asked him.
"What should I tell his mother when she gets to know that you dumped her son without even meeting him?"
"I barely know him!" Naruto told his mother. "And besides, YOU barely know him. You yourself said to me that you haven't met his mother in at least ten years!"
"You met Sai when you were six years old."
"Yeah, he stole my ball and pulled my hair."
"When he was ten years old, yes! But to say no to the earl because of some childish thing he pulled of at a young age, that's madness!"
Naruto bit his lip and lowered his eyes while he thought of an expectable excuse. He could not tell his mother why he said no to all of those who had asked for his hand, but he did not want to hurt his mother by telling the truth of why Sai didn't have a chance.
"So?"
"I don't like him. I really don't. There is something with his eyes when he look at me..." His voice died away. The piercing dark eyes was the only clue that something was burning behind sir Sai's polite and elegant surface, and this filled him with a deep mistrust. "It feels like I don't have any clothes on when he looks at me." he finally heaved out.
"Naruto! Of all the improper things... I can only hope that it is your virginity that have made you miss presume the fire of a young man in love that I feel that I can trust and that you don't know anything about!" Mrs. Uzumaki stopped for a moment to calm herself, while Naruto blushed a little bit on the virgin comment. "Has he ever said something that made you blush? No. Has he ever behaved improperly? No, I didn't think so. This is yet one of your ideas. Your father and I are starting to lose our patience."
While they did another pause in the stairs Naruto closed his eyes at the brief memory of his mothers voice.
"You could not hope for a more flattering offer. If you believe that your father has afford to pay for a endless line of dances and parties with new clothes, you're terribly wrong."
"I'm not playing with sir Sai's feelings!" He had protested. " I barely know him, he can't possibly love me! I haven't even seen him since we were kids."
But his mother had swept out of the room with the last comment that sounded like "Thank god that the earl isn't going to be present at the ball tonight! That way you will have the time to put yourself together and realize that it is a good deal to accept his proposal."
Both Naruto and Kushina walked yet two steps in the stairs and stopped yet again. Kushina bowed her head to the hostess of the party and exchanged a couple of words with her as she the same time looked at her son's calm profile.
`What a spouse he would be for the earl if he just took reason!´
His almost shoulder length hair was lying perfectly around his face in different lengths and layers. The light in the room made his hair go in the different tones of the whitest of silver to the warmest of gold. His eyebrows was perfectly fit in his face, and gave it a soft and feminine streak over it all with the big aquamarine blue eye's that were framed with darker lashes that surely could capture any woman, or man's soul.
She really couldn't figure out what it was that pleased his cloth maker more, his lithe shoulders or the fine curve that made his waistline. She herself could say she was proud of both of them.
Madame Ayame, as the cloth maker's name was had surpassed herself with tonight's clothing. He had wine red trousers that fitted his legs perfectly with long black boots, a Granite grey button shirt underneath a dark grey jacket, almost black, with Wine red linings and some golden buttons. The obscure grey in Naruto's shirt made his eyes stand out and shine even more. To make everything perfect, he'd even had a simple necklace with a blue crystal on it, that have been given to him from his father some years ago.
It was no wonder that Sai, the Earl, who would certainly be attractive in the eyes of most people, was so captivated by the son of his mothers friend. He had seen him for the first time in his adulthood after he had returned from a trip on the continent, where he had bought classic statues for his own collection. Naruto would maybe not be the perfect person for him, but he was mannerly raised, had a good family with contacts, and had a reasonable dowry. And he was also beautiful enough to enchant about every man or woman!
Naruto at the time were busy with searching throughout the crowd in both ends of the staircase in search of a certain man. He had no idea if he would show up tonight, or if he even were in the country, but he hoped for it, as he'd done at every possible event he had been to after his debut two years earlier.
The man Naruto were looking for was his future husband, Colonel Uchiha Sasuke, and it was for his sake that he had spent nearly three years to prepare himself to be the idealistic husband of a professional soldier, which one day would become general, rise high above his father's famous baronetcy, and certainly become a respected diplomat and statesman.
He'd fallen in love with Uchiha Sasuke when he was only seventeen years old, and just finished his education. He'd got his already anxious mother to fear that he would be too flirtatious and full of mischief when he made his debut. Unlike his quiet and obedient sister, who got engaged in her first season, Naruto showed major trends that, without any thoughts or reflection throw himself into every situation that appeared.
Then their beloved cousin TenTen arrived back from Malta to maintain the family with her incredible (and therefore, unlikely) romance with Hyuuga Neji. Since the Earl carried grief and just had inherited his high title and goods, but even so still insisted that Sara would marry him in three weeks, preparations were accelerated and unconventional. As the Marshal and Hyuuga Neji's best friend, Major Uchiha Sasuke helped the family of Uzumaki while they other dealt with the preparations for the wedding.
He spent much of the time by entertaining Uzumaki Kyuubi so that his mother had at least one concern less in her and everyone else's haste. Kyuubi, who were very fascinated and interested about the military, had afflicted the Major to tell him stories, and nobody seemed to notice his older brother Naruto, who used to sneak quietly into the room after his loud brother and sit in a corner to listen as well.
Naruto took another few steps up and rested his eyes on the backs of black-clad gentleman in front of him, while in his mind he returned to the quiet room where he used to sit and listen. The room had been filled with exciting images when Sasuke enchanted Kyuubi with his stories.
Soon Naruto had realized that the Major almost never spoke about himself, but about his brave comrades or friends. Qualities which meant that his men would follow the major to hell and back only made Naruto fall even deeper in love with the man.
But he also understood that he was too young for him, and that Sasuke would probably not even consider the possibility to marry the clumsy schoolboy he once was. He saw him only as a little brother.
But during the same season, he would start his debut, and during that time, he would learn.
And there was plenty to learn if he wanted to be the perfect husband Sasuke deserved, a spouse Naruto in blind belief knew Sasuke would recognize as perfect at the same time as he saw him again.
Almost overnight, Mrs. Uzumaki's most worrisome son became obedient, attentive and well-mannered. Naruto tried his hardest, from trying to comb and brush his messy hair more often, to speak a lot more politely and bow gracefully to a duchess or a more simple person. His parents were much too overjoyed over their son's transformation to even wonder about the reason behind the miracle, and therefore didn't ask him any awkward questions.
Month after month Colonel Uchiha Sasuke was stationed abroad. Naruto never gave up his calm and quiet hopes that he would return soon. Every day, as soon as his father had finished reading The Times, he snatched the newspaper and anxiously looked trough the whole thing in search for something that could break his world apart. It never went up for him that Sasuke could have been injured, or even killed, because he didn't believe that anything could get in the way of Sasuke's path onwards greatness.
But, there was another danger that were constantly lurking inside of Naruto's heart, and every morning, when Naruto had read the paper and could once again breath, it was a sign that Colonel Uchiha Sasuke hadn't gotten engaged yet.
At last they reached up so they weren't standing in the stairs anymore and Naruto thought about something appropriate he could say to the duchess. If you were married to a successful man in the military, it were to outmost importance that he could say the right things to all kinds of people. The duchess of Bridlington, Naruto recalled, liked to advance in fashion instead of following it. He thoughtfully examined the strange flower decorations that they were surrounded of.
"Mrs Uzumaki, mr Uzumaki!" The duchess were kind. She liked beautiful persons that had fun, were flirting around and made the events into a success, and Naruto was a charismatic beautiful man who were constantly polite.
"Isn't it terribly crowded?" She smiled at Naruto.
"Not at all, your grace," Naruto returned the smile and gave a perfect bow. "It was nice to have the opportunity to admire the floral decorations on the way up the stairs. So beautiful the palm trees and pineapples looked together, and they are so original. I have never seen anything like it."
"Oh, dear child!" the duchess answered and gave him a approving clap on his shoulder.
Naruto and his mother went into the ballroom, with its high pillars and mirrors. The room were met by the sound of conversation, laughter and the calming sound of the orchestra that were warming up before dances.
As always, Naruto let his gaze wander around the room, and his heart almost stopped every time he saw a red coat before he continued his search. He could not show his anxiety. As a future officer spouse to be, he had to remain calm and not show unnecessary emotions, no matter the circumstances.
A small group of officers were examined and leaved, bud suddenly he saw a man with dark hair that were at least a half head longer than they people he talked and were surrounded with. A man whose red coat sat across his broad, muscular shoulders and a band crossed his breast, decorated with several medals on the left side of his coat.
"Sasuke!" Naruto didn't know that he had spoken his name out loud, but it only came out as a whisper.
It was him, and three years of waiting, of love, of hard work and faith had reached it's end.
Sasuke walked slowly along the opposite side of the dance floor, stopped here and there to talk to friends, greet the young ladies, and occasionally ask someone for a dance. Naruto closed his hand over his empty dance card that were strapped to his wrist in a black ribbon. At the same time a voice could be heard next to him.
"Mr Uzumaki! May I have the honor to dance the first waltz with you?"
It was a round cheeked young man with swirl-like things on his cheeks. Naruto smiled but shaked on his head.
"I'm sorry, lord Akimichi, but I will not dance waltz this evening. If you excuse me I have to speak with someone at the other side of the room."
Slowly but purposeful he started to make his way throughout the crowd, with his gaze set on Sasuke's black hair. In the light of the room his hair gave out streaks of blue, which fascinated Naruto to no end. Naruto tried to see a glimpse of his face. `Why is he in London?´ He hadn't read anything about it. He anxiously roamed the tall man with his eyes. His heart jumped hard in his chest and he knew that all color had left his tanned face.
He didn't doubt for a second that this were his destiny.
This was Sasuke's destiny.
Sasuke had almost gotten all the way over to the other side of the room. Naruto turned down three more persons who tried to lure him out on a dance. His card had to be empty if Sasuke wanted to dance with him. Or would they just sit down and talk? Would he recognize him instantly or would he have to introduce himself?
He was almost there and tried to breath normally, since it was important that his first impression on him had to be faultless.
Now he could see Sasuke's face clearly. His fringe had gotten a bit longer since the last time he had seen him, but the back was still kind of wild. He looked more toughened, more well trained, dangerous and exciting than the last time he had seen him. Just another ten steps…
Uchiha Sasuke turned his head as if someone had spoken to him, hesitated and took a step backwards. Naruto saw him go trough a small door that were well hidden behind a curtain and all the decorations.
It was so crowded that Naruto wanted to scream, but he kept everything to himself and kept on going, which took several minutes for him to get to that door, minutes that felt like hours to him.
When he finally pushed the door open and entered, he was in a small hall and looked around in confusion. He then heard His voice, which he could never forget. He had a deep, husky voice that played with his senses. When he continued forward, Naruto now saw that Sasuke smiled down to a breath taking, beautiful young lady that he held in his arms. He felt a cold needle make its way in his heart.
"So you will talk to my father about this, Sasuke? You promise?" she said with her green eyes set on his face.
"Yes, Sakura, I promise that I will talk to him the first thing in the morning."
Sasuke's voice was thoughtful, warm and loving. Naruto grabbed the curtains without knowing it, all of his senses were now pointed at the couple he saw in the other chamber.
"Oh, Sasuke, I love you!" the young beauty suddenly laughed up to Sasuke, and Naruto's distressed brain just realized who she was.
Lady Haruno Sakura was the most charming and wealthy girl of this season. She was the duchess of Bridlington's niece, the oldest and most spoiled dotter of the marquis of Olney, short and slender, bubblegum pink hair and flirty emerald green eyes. Even if she wouldn't be wealthy the men would still be flocking around her.
'Why is she after Sasuke?' Naruto thought disturbed in mind. 'He should be mine!'
"Ohh, it was such a long time since last time I saw you, do you really love me, Sasuke?" Lady Sakura said with her arms around his neck while his hands rested on her thin waist.
"You know that very well, Sakura" he answered and smiled at her. " You were my first, my only and special love." Then he lowered his head and kissed her.
Everything went dark, but Naruto finds himself standing still with a deathly hold on the curtains. His vision narrowed down until he could only see the couple in front of him. As if the were moving further and further away from him.
Blindly, Naruto turned around and left. It was miracle that he was still standing. It felt like he had fainted but still had all his senses left, except the vision. Outside the doorway there had been chairs, Naruto recalled. He reached out and found one that was free. He managed to sit down, put his hands on his knees and then smile widely as if nothing had happened. Would anyone notice?
Gradually, he vision came back, even if his head were still a mess. No one sat beside him, and no one had noticed. Hopefully. He tried to figure out what just had happened.
Sasuke was here, and he was in love with lady Sakura.
Naruto became aware of the whirling skirts at his shoulders and Lady Sakura appeared, hesitated for a moment and then disappeared around all the guests. Her voice could be heard clearly.
"Shino! I would love to dance the waltz with you, but I don't have a single dance left. No, I'm not joking, look here! My dance card is full!"
Naruto noticed that he couldn't keep the smile on his face any longer, his hand started shaking so he tried to hold them firmly in his lap. Any second, someone would see him trembling and start to wonder what was going on. He tried to regain his control as he fumbled with his necklace.
"Excuse me, are you alright?" A deep voice could be heard next beside him.
Naruto whirled around and felt his necklace drop at the action, and immediately Colonel Sasuke Uchiha stood on his knee in front of him.
"Here, I don't think its broken."
Naruto tried to stutter out a thank you. Then their eyes met and Sasuke's eyes widened up in recognition.
"Isn't it Mr. Uzumaki Naruto?" Naruto nodded his head, still not able to talk, received his necklace from Sasuke's outstretched arm as he tried to avoid his touch.
"Can I have a seat?" He translated Naruto's silence as a yes and seated himself in the chair next to him.
"Thank you." Naruto managed to blurt out, but it didn't convince Sasuke that he was okay. Naruto locked his eyes on his lap, but were still strongly aware of Sasuke's body next to him, Sasuke that had his attention on him, with his eyes on the blonde's face.
"It seems that you're not feeling well, Mr. Uzumaki. Can I bring anyone for you? Is your mother here?"
"Thanks, but I'm fine." Naruto managed to whisper. Everything seemed so surreal.
"I can't agree on that, you're as white as a sheet."
"I… I had a unexpected meeting that wasn't pleasant, that's all." His voice had gotten a little bit stronger, so he continued. "It came as a chock. I assure you I will feel better in just a moment."
`And for god's sake leave before I break down and cry in front of everybody!´
Sasuke slowly stood up, but not to answer Naruto's secret prayer.
"Has anyone insulted you? Assaulted you?" He asked with a low voice as he tried to shelter him with his body from everyone else in the room.
"Oh, no, nothing like that." Naruto assured. He forced himself to look up. The onyx eye's with the interesting blue hues examined him seriously with some distrust.
"I'll go and get something for you to drink, it won't take long. Stay here."
Naruto leaned back in the chair and wished that he was strong enough to raise himself and go hiding, but his legs were mad of jelly. His brain didn't want him to think about the disaster that just happened to him. He tried to understand what just had happened, but were unable to concentrate further than that.
"Here, smut on this and try not to say anything." He was already back with two drink's in his hands.
`How had he managed to get past among the guests?´ he wondered. `He's fast!´
He got the glass and started drinking. The drink bubbled down in his throat and made him cough. He had expected lemonade and taken a too large sip of the alcohol.
"I wanted to give you some cognac instead, but I didn't find any. Drink it up, Mr. Uzumaki, you have obviously been stunned with a chock, even if you don't want to talk about it. The wine will help to calm down your nerves."
Once again he seated himself in front of Naruto as if to hide him from everyone else that could see him in this condition. Sasuke studied Naruto's face and seemed pleased with what he came to see.
"That's better. Now let's talk about something else. How are your parents? Feeling well, I hope. And your sister must be married by now, right?" It seemed as if he didn't mind Naruto's silent nods and continued. "And Kyuubi, how old is he now? Twelve, I would assume. Is he still interested of the army?"
"No." Naruto managed to force out a weak smile. "Not anymore. He have decided and now wants to become a scientist."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows but didn't seemed disappointed over that Kyuubi had abandoned his faschination about the military.
"Really? Now I seem to recall that he always had a poor little frog or snail in his pockets."
"That's nothing compared to what lurks behind his bedroom doors." Naruto started to relax. It was like the old Sasuke were back again. He simply couldn't feel uncomfortable in Sasuke's company and the last few minutes seemed increasingly unreal. Naruto took another sip of the champagne. "He also do some experiments at home,, which is causing mother to worry that the house will burn down. But dad actually takes with him to lectures sometimes if it's not too late at night."
"And your father isn't concerned over his choice in career…?" The colonel muttered to himself.
"I belive he has resigned." Reluctantly Naruto smiled as he remembered his father's face when he saw the kitchen after the cook indignantly called him down to see the results of Kyuubi's experiments with a tea-kettle, a few meters tubes and a heavyweight. Naruto took another sip from his glass only to find it empty.
Sasuke took Naruto's finished glass and handed him another one.
"very small glass of champagne, Mr Uzumaki." He said in a low tone.
"Have you heard anything from lord Neji recently?" Naruto asked. It must still be the shock, for he felt even more dizzy, despite the terrible anesthetic condition he was in before, he felt it being replaced by a feeling of unreality. He spoke with Sasuke as if the three years haven't evern occurred and as if she hadn't just seen him kiss lady Sakura and declare his love for her a little while ago.
"Not for about a week, I suppose. My correspondence is probably chasing me around the entire continent." He lokked sharply at Naruto. "Why do you ask? Is Tenten allright?"
"Oh yes," Naruto ressured him. "She is in a ... a…"
"An interesting condition?" Sasuke finished for him. "Yes, I knew that. I got a letter from Neji about a month ago. He was unbearably pleased with himself at the prospect of a small baby that can keep him company in the nursery. I hope I can visit them during this week."
Naruto drank more champagne to hide his emotions about the whole thing. His mother always managed to completely ignore the ladies of her acquaintance if they were pregnant. Naruto had wondered if someone like him, secretly felt the same, that it was silly to pretend about growing stomachs and that nothing special was going on.
Apparently Sasuke shared his opinion with him.
"So, you're home for some time now?"
"Yes." He frowned. "It was a while ago I visited England."
"Almost a year ago, and that was just about a week or two, right?" Naruto shot up and then realized by Sasuke's expression that he'd revealed a too remarkable knowledge of his doings. "I think lord Neji said something like that a while ago." Naruto added and crossed his fingers behind his back.
"I'm a bit concerned over my father. My mother wrote to me and express her worry over his health, so when I got a opportunity to come home I took it." He seemed to hesitate for a moment. " I have many decisions to make now under my vacation, and at least one of them will make a big change to my life."
`Yeah, your marriage!´ Naruto thought darkly. It would indeed be a big change for a man who had lived as a single for almost thirty years, and traveled all around the continent with only himself to take responsibility for.
"Shall I take your glass?"
Naruto looked down and discovered much to his surprise that the second champagne glass was empty. Strange that it made people so excited! Earlier, he had just taken a sip or two before his mother started to warn him of the dangers, but now he had drunk two glasses and felt so much better. He gave Sasuke his glass, fully aware that he examined his face closely.
"You seem to have recovered, Mr. Uzumaki. Would you like to dance? The next dance is the waltz, if I am not mistaken."
Naruto took a deep breath. His mother did not like that he danced on the big rolling party's and balls, and allowed only grudgingly in lesser events.
But the temptation to rest in Sasuke's arms, perhaps for the first and only time, was way too big.
"Why yes, Colonel Uchiha. I would love to dance with you."
SASUKEANDNARUTOSASUKEANDNARUTOSASUKEANDNARUTOSASUKEANDNARUTO
Well, watch'ya think? :D this is something that me and my sis came up with together. And it have taken a while, and unfortunatly messing up my time with my other fic's :/ but hopefully I will be spending some more time on it from now.
But you know, Review's are always a loved thing XD especially constructive critisism!