Chapter 1 Re-Done


Chapter 1: The Golden Rule


Naruto waited anxiously as Haku finished smearing make-up on Gaara to hide the tattoo of love on his forehead. Naruto counted the coins in his bag for what seemed like the 15th time to Gaara, so he promptly told him to stop.

"I can't help it! I'm nervous. What if we get caught? Do you know what happens to servants who act as if though they are above their station? Fifty wires!" he cried out answer his own answer.

"I can't get wired again." He said pointing to his face, where six scars lay.


"Back in those days, servants were punished not like slaves, with a whip, but rather taking a hot metal wire, to the point of it turning the color red, and scraping it against their skin. Depending on the crime the servant committed against a man or woman above them in the society's hierarchy.

Naruto had six scars on his face, three on each cheek, which resembled whiskers. He received them when he twelve years of age, when he cut off the young mistress', Sakura's, hair off. He was to receive ten, but when the sixth was finished, Gaara stepped in and gave up his title so he wouldn't have to see his stepbrother suffer any longer. In return for not seeing his precious person suffer, he became a servant for his mother, the baroness, and hasn't regretted his decision yet." Suki explained.


Haku finished hiding Gaara's mark, so he wouldn't be recognized as a servant; for all servants have a tattoo, just to identify them more. Naruto has his around his belly button, which was covered with make-up by Haku, even though Naruto didn't know why he would if no one would see, and Haku's is on his left shoulder.

Haku was the one to address Naruto.

"No one will know you are a servant, if you do not act as if you are one." He said in a calming voice, trying to soothe Naruto, but Naruto and Gaara both knew Haku was anything but calm on the inside.

As a matter of fact, Haku had been hysterical for three days and even more upset when the three went to the robe shop at the market and were only able to find women and bi men robes. He wouldn't be able to go get Iruka and Zabuza back.


"Now you may be wondering why Haku couldn't just dress up as a bi man? Well, all bisexual men have bight hair and eyes. Naruto had wild, short, golden hair that glistened in the sun, while Gaara had fiery short red hair. His eyes were sea green, and Naruto's eyes were the brightest blue eyes anyone could ever have. So blue, it rivaled the sky on a clear day.

Haku however, had long brown hair and brown eyes, so he couldn't pretend to be a bi man. Naruto suggested that Haku pretend to be a girl. Indeed Haku looked so much like a girl, but his voice was too manly for a girl and they'd figure him out. So Haku had to wait at home, while Naruto and Gaara went to try and buy back Iruka and Haku's lover, Zabuza.

The men were sold when the mistress couldn't pay her taxes.

Why couldn't the mistress pay her taxes?

Well, it's because she spent all her money spoiling her two daughters, but the eldest even more, because, well, it will be revealed later." said Suki.


"Yes Naruto. We have to make the court believe we are nobility. As long as we don't run into any gay royals, we will be fine." Gaara said, which caused Naruto to look confused.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because then they'd want to bed us." Gaara said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Huh? They can't do that!" Naruto screamed.

Gaara was astounded. Naruto didn't know.

"Yes. They can. Naruto, we have no right to deny a royal what they want. I don't mean to sound vane, but we are beautiful men. I'd be surprise if no one lusted after us. We can deny anyone, but the royals." Gaara explained.

While Naruto processed all the information he'd just received, Haku asked the big question.

"Are you a virgin Naruto?"

Naruto looked bewildered.

"Of course I am!" he shouted, which caused Haku's and Gaara's eyes to widen.

"You mean, you and Orochimaru never…" but Haku trailed off, when Naruto started choking on air at the accusation.

"No! I may be forced to spend my time with that snake obsessed bastard, but we never—eww!"

Naruto shuddered thinking about the man, who was like three times his age.

"Well, it doesn't matter now." Haku said, putting a hand on Naruto's shoulder trying to calm him down.

"Just go to the emperor's court, pay the taxes against the two and hopefully, they haven't been shipped off to the Americas." Haku instructed the boys, in which they promptly gave a nod.

"The mistresses are gone for the day and won't be back till noon tomorrow, so you will have plenty of time." Haku reminded them and Naruto and Gaara gave yet another nod.

"And please, get them back." Haku said pleadingly, and received two last nods, before Naruto and Gaara set off to the palace.


"We are the luckiest bastards alive." Said Prince Neji, after the two royals turned the corner from the meeting room.

"Hn." Said Prince Sasuke, but the wide smirk on his face indicated that he too believed they were the luckiest bastards alive.

The two princes, who were best friends, as well as cousins, had just come from a meeting with their parents, Their Royal Highnesses, Emperors and Empresses of Konoha and Amegakure.

-------

Flashback

-------

This would have been a very boring, because all they discussed in the beginning was the royal ball to be held on Sasuke's 18th birthday. How it was to me a masked ball, the nobles would be invited, and the food to be served there.

Then after the two princes were told they must attend, it was announced that Neji's betrothed, Lady TenTen of China, has eloped with a common peasant name Rock Lee and ran away after they did marry.

Neji didn't care really. It was an arranged marriage and he didn't love the girl, but only accepted the engagement, because his parents told him the Lady's dowry included land rich in gold, silver and other minerals, that would be quite an asset to them in the future. Not wanting to enrage his parents, he courted the woman and were to be married in two years when he turned 21. Oh well.

Sasuke held in his snort during the meeting, for he knew Neji was probably having a party in his head because he didn't have to marry the girl, but no one will know with his mask of indifference. Well, no one but Sasuke of course.

"We all have been discussing this matter for a while and we have come up with an idea. We want you two to explore this concept of love." Empress Mikoto said as if the word was a foreign object, which it probably was, since the emperors and empresses were all forced into their marriages.

The princes looked at one another, then back at their parents. They were intrigued.

"We will give you until the ball, for each of you to find to find a bride." She said.

Sasuke and Neji were weary of what they have been told.

They get to choose whom they wanted to marry. It was too good to be true.

"So you are saying mother, we are allowed to marry whomever we choose?" Sasuke said, just to make sure he heard right.

"Yes, dear." She said with a smile.

Sasuke's mind was buzzing with excitement.

"What are the conditions?" asked Neji, who was still skeptical.

Mikoto took a breath and to Sasuke he took this as a sign for something horrible that was about to be explained.

"Well, the one you choose must be able to produce an heir." Mikoto paused and received two curt nods, so she continued.

"And that's it." She finished.

"That's it?" Sasuke asked, hoping that was all.

"Yes. But I do suppose you may want to love the person." She added.

"Okay. What if we do not find a bride of our liking by Sasuke's ball?" asked Neji.

Emperor Fugaku was the one to speak this time.

"Then we will choose for you." He said, not leaving any room for questions, though his answer was self-explanatory.

"Yes, father." Said Sasuke.

"Yes, uncle." Said Neji at the same time.

The princes got up to leave, but were stopped when Emperor Fugaku spoke.

"Sasuke, we will be busy with this contract all day. You will be expected to do today's royal court. You too, Neji." He said.

The two princes turned around and bowed to their parents and left the room.

-------

End of Flashback

-------

The two made their way down the halls of the large palace to the royal court, where they were to grant or deny requests. Basically, it would be a lot of kiss ups trying to get some more money, land, or trying to move up the hierarchy.

A bore really.

A bore that could only be made up with some beautiful lady or man in bed later on.


Naruto felt very uncomfortable with the looks he was given.

Looks of lust.

He looked at Gaara to see if the red head how Gaara was dealing with the looks, and was shocked to find an impassive look on his face.

The two were currently waiting for the royal court to be back in session after the mid-day meal break. The two arrived about ten minutes ago, which was quite well since they left a little over an hour and a half ago. No one hasn't noticed how they haven't been seen in court once, especially Gaara, but then again it was a good thing, since no one knew they were but simply servants.

Servants whom have sometimes been starved, over-worked, or faltered.

Naruto was amazed by the elegance, poise and beauty of the nobles he was surrounded by. They were quiet, clean, and arrogant, but it seemed as if they worked too hard to look so simple. Also, Naruto was in awe of the palace's beauty; The gold, paintings and the extraordinary wealth that surrounded everyone. Yet, Naruto didn't realize that him and Gaara were actually what the nobles considered the most beautiful in the room.

Naruto's robes were blue that went well with his tanned skin, which seemed to glow. While Gaara wore an identical robe but of a deep burgundy color.

The two had no problems getting into the gate, for the guards were too awe stroke to stop them. They simply just let them past, which made them breath in a sigh of relief. It took a while to get past the many men, and women there, because they all were leaving to find a nice little restaurant for lunch and tea by the time they got there. Surprisingly, there were few bi-men.

"Naruto stop fidgeting." Gaara said in an icy tone, which made him stop completely.

He could tell Gaara was annoyed, and an annoyed Gaara, was a highly unpleasant one.

"Sorry." He said with a small pout and widen eyes.

"Damn him." Gaara thought, as Naruto gave him his infamous Uzumaki sorry, which made the person who was mad feel guilty.

"It's okay. Just stop moving. Nobility don't move unnecessarily." He said.

"Okay." The blond said as he sat still.

The two had about five minutes of silence when the doors reopened, and an announcer came out.

"Court is back in session."

"Let's go Naruto." Gaara said getting up, heading towards the door.

"Yes. Okay." And the two went through the doors.


Sasuke and Neji were slouching in their chairs when they returned back from their mid-day meal. Well it was more like a tea party, which had only sweets and neither one of them were very fond of sweets, so they didn't eat anything. Now they were stuck hungry until supper.

Damn.

"Baronettes (1) Gaara and Naruto." Said an announcer.

Sasuke and Neji immediately straightened when the bi-men entered the court.

Pale skin, fiery hair and cool teal eyes captured Neji's attention. The bi-man was extraordinary in Neji's eyes, but the blond was who caught Sasuke's attention.

Bright blue eyes, short golden blond hair, skin kissed by the sun in a perfect tan and small full lips. The bi-man was a picture of salaciousness, but he had this innocent quality and air around him, that just made him seem so much more desirable.

But after many years of experience, Sasuke had learned that even the most beautiful rose had its thorns. There must be something wrong with the beauty.

"Your highnesses." The two said at the same, as they bowed.

Sasuke couldn't speak, for he was too intrigued with soaking up the man's beauty that he didn't hear them, but luckily for them, Neji hadn't lost his voice.

"What brings you to our court?" he said in a surprisingly clear voice, which Sasuke would have to commend him on later.

"Here it comes." Thought Sasuke.

These men were going to be just like everyone else; asking for money or anything else to benefit them.

The thorns to a rose.

Gaara was the one to speak.

"We have traveled here to come pay a tax debt against a baroness, and hopefully be able to return to her the two servants she sold to pay her taxes." He said in a clear voice.

"That's it?" Sasuke thought.

No asking for money.

No land.

No asking to be raised in the hierarchy.

Just coming to pay someone else's debt.

This was too good to be true.

And apparently Neji had Sasuke's view and wished to confirm his suspicions.

"That's all you wanted?" Neji asked skeptically.

The blond and red head looked at each other and then back at the princes.

"Yes. We just want to pay the debt against two servants we want back. Nothing else." The red head said.

"Wow." Thought Sasuke.

The boys were truly noble indeed.

"Very well. Request granted, if you have the ryo to pay for them. What was the debt?" Sasuke said finally.

"It was two-hundred and eighty ryo for the both of them together your highnesses." Gaara again once said, gesturing to the blond, who pulled out a sack and handed it to a guard.

"What were their names?" Neji asked.

"Iruka and Zabuza." Gaara again spoke, for it was the plan.

Naruto would remain silent, unless he was directly spoken to.

"Iruka? Kakashi's new infatuation. Though I don't see why he's so intrigued with a common servant." Sasuke said mostly to himself, but Naruto heard and tighten his fist in anger. Prince Neji saw this and questioned him.

"My lordette, Naruto. What is wrong? I saw you ball your hands into fist as if you were angry. What has upset you?"

Naruto's eyes widen and Gaara looked at Naruto, as if trying to telepathically tell him not to say anything. Not wanting to get the prince mad, or worse, Gaara, he lied.

"No, I wasn't upset. It's just a way to relieve stress." He said.

"Liar." Neji sad.

"You were clearly upset. What was wrong and I want the truth." Neji declared.

Naruto could feel Gaara burning imaginary holes into the side of his face.

"Well your majesty, I believe Prince Sasuke is a truculent, supercilious bastard because of his remark regarding the servant Iruka, which by the way he said his rude comment, made it seem as if he applied the statement to all servants." He said, leaving everyone in the court, including Sasuke, shocked.

Did Naruto just tell off the prince?


"Well my dears, yes he did."


This intrigued the prince.

"Hn. Why would you think so highly of a servant?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes. Enlighten us." Neji followed.

Naruto took a deep breath and tried to ignore the death glare that Gaara was omitting.

"Your highness, you speak as if a servant is just a pebble in your shoe. You make servants slave around to wait on you on hand and foot, feed you, dress you, and probably do your hair." Naruto started and received a snort and smirk from Neji, but he ignored this to finish what he was saying.

"You make them work to please you, but yet you show them no respect."

"They're servants." Sasuke interjected, but Naruto interrupted the prince back.

"But they show you respect. As the Christian's savior says, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Your grace, if you were but a servant, would you like to serve someone who acted and treated servants like you do?" Naruto finished and and took a breath.

Sasuke sat in silence as he heard the explanation from the lordette, who spoke with so much fiery passion in his eyes.

"No." came the answer after the silence that fell upon the court.

The ladies and men of the court fell into whispers as Sasuke looked at the blue eyed blond staring at him.

"Naruto, my lordette, stay for the evening." Sasuke said, but jab by his cousin told him he needed to correct his request.

"You too, Gaara." He added.

Naruto's eyes widen and he hurriedly turned to the red head.


Naruto regretted the moment he turned around and saw the look his stepbrother was giving him. Naruto gave Gaara a sheepish smile, while scratching his head. Then he shrugged his shoulders. Gaara just glared deeper.

"Your answer." Said a voice, which sounded like prince Sasuke.

Gaara was the one to answer.

"Of course, your majesty.


Reviews are not required, but are appreciated.

(1) Well, since there are Bimen, they needed a title. I would like to say baron, but bi-men are submissive, so they can't have a man's title. So I added ette to the males' title to show their nobility.