The Prince Saga, Book 1

- Princely Trouble -

(A Naruto Fanfiction by Moiraine Lendreth)

Disclaimer: All Naruto names, places, and related indicia are copyrighted to Masashi Kishimoto.

Warnings: This story is rated T for language, violence, and mild sexual content. This story also contains yaoi. If you are uncomfortable reading such, please click on the back button.

The author's notes, her replies to unsigned reviews, and her announcements will be placed at the end of every chapter.

~ princely trouble ~

Before the World was born,

Before Time had awoken,

To the Nine he gave power

To guide both Fae and Men.

But woe betide us!

For evil had stained our Fate black,

The Nine doomed to eternal Sleep,

Our Lives to wrack.

From The Prophecies of the Silver Mirror

~ princely trouble ~

Chapter 2

Inside the Desert Keep

Sasuke silently wondered at how menacing the Earth princess could seem even from behind as she led the way to what he presumed was the king's private chambers. Servants scurried out of her way, some giving out frightened squeaks before casting their eyes down, their feet hurrying them away to safety. The few courtiers they passed saw the princess, froze in their half-made bows, and practically scampered. Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"She seems to be in quite a foul disposition." This from Itachi, who was walking beside him, his face carefully blank.

Foul disposition was a misleading understatement, in Sasuke's opinion, but he wisely kept this thought to himself. They were only twenty paces behind the princess after all, and her entourage of guards and servants not far beyond them. "After that fool stunt our guide pulled off, I am actually not surprised," he replied dryly instead. For a moment he wondered where the half-witted mage had run off to, then shook his head at the thought. Probably nursing his poor stomach. He smirked at the idea, hoping it would leave him bruised and limping come morning. It would serve him right, after risking both his and Itachi's lives so recklessly.

"Something amusing, little brother?"

Sasuke shrugged noncommittally. "Just a passing thought." He would have said more, but the carvings that had begun to appear on the walls caught his attention. They were abstract designs carved into the rich brown-red stone, swirls and curves that hinted at clouds and ocean waves and winds all jumbled and fused together. And they seemed to be glowing.

Itachi looked to where Sasuke was practically staring. "I recall reading in a book that the original Desert Keep was carved out of a solid mountain by magic, and that some residue of the spells used in the original structure still remains today." He looked at the walls, seeing only smooth red walls engraved with drawings, no lines of light shimmering. "Perhaps that is what you are seeing."

Sasuke nodded, barely listening. The carvings seemed alive, with the thin lines of blue and green light running in them, almost pulsating. He wanted to touch them, to feel the ancient magic under his fingers and try to see what their purpose was. No sooner had he entertained this thought that Kurenai had walked up to the nearest section of wall and placed a palm reverently on the stone, her face a look of amazement.

Both princes paused as they watched their only surviving royal mage look up at them, astonished. She was grinning, her red eyes sparkling with delight. "They are wards," she said, her voice child-like in its wonder. "Wards of safe-keeping and warmth, and...good spirits, they are so old." She removed her palm from the wall, staring at her hand as if it had grown another finger. "I would have found it impossible to believe that spells could endure after such a long time."

Sasuke looked at the wall again. The carvings—and the thin lines of light—covered the whole length of the hall, disappearing as it stretched out in other directions. He suspected they would be present there, too. "Well-crafted, a spell could last for years. Even centuries."

Kurenai shook her head. "No, your Highness. The wards—these spells," she stroked a hand against the wall lovingly, "they have been here for over three millenia." She looked up at them again. "They have survived more than three thousand years of war and generations of Earth royalty. They survived the Scourging War!" She seemed shocked even by her own revelation.

Sasuke blinked, almost gaping in shock. Almost. He settled for looking at the wall, then at Kurenai, then back at the wall again. It was simply impossible; nothing had survived the Scourging, as people liked to call the near-apocalyptic war that had almost completely destroyed civilization in the Continent. A large part of their history and culture lost, burned and destroyed in battles that cost them their lands and their knowledge, even their lore of magic. Now only the weakened vestiges of the four most powerful kingdoms had remained, and Hidden Leaf the only surviving proof of the glorious days of old, separated from the Continent with spells that nobody could touch without being destroyed in the process.

Kakashi was there suddenly, peering at the wall even though he could not see the glowing lines of magic. "That's all the wards do, Kurenai?" Yamato was on the other side of Sasuke and Itachi, eyes scanning everything, a tense spring ready to let loose at any moment.

Kurenai eyed him askance. "Yes, I am sure of it."

"No hidden traps? No gouts of violent fire if we stepped wrongly?" He raised an eyebrow as he asked this.

Kurenai's cheeks flushed, her eyes turning into sharp daggers she flung at the Sonata captain. "I can assure you, Kakashi, that I am well-versed in reading the nuances of ancient magic," she began heatedly. "I would have given word the moment I sensed any sort of danger to our Highnesses, and—"

"But there are traps. No gouts of flame, though."

Everyone turned to see Princess Temari standing nearby, an amused smile curving her lips. It seemed her anger had cooled somewhat, although Sasuke could still see it dancing across her eyes. She walked up to the wall and placed her hand on it. The lines of light glowed marginally brighter at her touch, as if recognizing who she was. Which the magic probably did, Sasuke thought. "The illusion and misdirection spells are hidden underneath the wards you can sense, suffused so thoroughly into the stone that it cannot be picked out at all." She patted the wall. "The spells are there, however. Of that I am sure. And before you can ask, I have no idea how they work at all, only that they do."

Kurenai looked disappointed, clearly intent on studying the carvings. The princess gave her a sympathetic smile. "Believe me, I tried. The handful of mages we have here did, too. But nobody knows the make of the spells, or how they are triggered. If the spells were not mentioned in the history books I studied, I would not know they existed," she admitted.

Itachi seemed thoughtful. "And they have never been triggered by accident?"

Princess Temari shook her head. "Never. It's hard to believe, but the spells seem to be reading each person's intent as they walk these halls."

Sasuke blinked at her words. It was as if she was saying the spells were somewhat sentient. Unnerving, that. "It's ancient magic. Nobody really knows how they work anymore," he commented.

The Earth princess nodded, giving Sasuke an appraising look, and for a moment he felt like he had passed some sort of test. "Yes. It is fruitless to try and understand it." A look passed across her face. "Naruto, on the other hand, enjoys studying it."

"Naruto?" Kurenai repeated, disbelief coloring her voice.

Temari laughed. "Yes. Sometimes we find him walking up and down one of the halls, tracing the carvings and scribbling down whatever he finds on a notebook he keeps about his person. He doesn't tell us what he learns, though." She shrugged at this. "There is a running bet among the mages that he is only pretending, that he is only trying to bait them."

"Bait them." Kakashi looked curious. "Why?"

The princess rolled her eyes. "The desert-brained idiot loves to play pranks. He is notorious in the Keep for them." She turned around and gestured impatiently with a jerk of her finger. "Come. We can talk of this later. The king is waiting." Her silent guards and obeisant servants followed closely behind her.

The rest of the party from Sound looked to Itachi, who wordlessly followed behind the princess. Sasuke did not lag far behind him, as did the rest. Sasuke saw Kakashi and Yamato put their heads together, murmuring about something. Kurenai went to stare at the reddish brown wall as they passed, eyeing the glowing lines of magic with barely hidden curiosity.

He could not imagine Naruto kneeling before the wall carvings and studying the spells ingrained in them, focused and attentive. His idiotic grin and bright blue eyes flashed in his mind, and he shook his head. The princess is right; the moron is probably playing a prank. I wouldn't put it past him.

"You truly despise this Naruto, don't you?" Itachi asked suddenly, and only then did Sasuke realize he had voiced this thought aloud.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation, a scowl already on his face. At Itachi's raised eyebrow he added, "I have no reason to feel otherwise, and every right to hate him." His glare turned dark. "He should never have led us to Whisper Woods."

Itachi remained quiet for a while. "But you must admit his reasoning made sense."

Sasuke almost did a double-take. Was his brother actually defending Naruto? "What?"

"It is safe to assume that Orochimaru still searches earnestly for us—the reports from Kakashi's spies have told as much. The route the Snake tyrant least expects would be the most preferable path to take. Whisper Woods would be the last place he would go looking for us," Itachi explained at length. "Risky, yes, but the need was great."

"Great enough to risk our lives for?" Sasuke asked, incredulously.

Itachi stared at him. "Have we not been risking our lives ever since the kingdom was taken and our parents murdered?" He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "Does not the very thought of fighting against Orochimaru mean we are halfway to our graves, little brother?"

Sasuke stayed silent, chastised by his brother's argument. Although spoken in a calm, soft voice, Itachi's words struck keenly at Sasuke. It made him feel foolish, immature. Yes, Naruto had been wrong to take them somewhere so dangerous that no one dared to even go near the place, but if Sasuke had been given the choice—if he had known all the risks—would he have chosen differently?

The answer became strikingly clear. No, he would not have chosen differently. Knowing their need to talk with the Earth king was great, and that no room for error could be made, he would have risked Whisper Woods himself if it meant escaping Orochimaru's clutches.

Sasuke cursed inwardly. Now he needed to apologize.

As if sensing his distress, Itachi placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "You can ponder on Naruto later, brother. I believe we are here."

Sasuke looked up to see that his brother was right. Princess Temari was now standing before a pair of tall doors made of the darkest, blackest marble thinly veined in white and pale green, a handsome set of silver knobs its only adornment. It stood out starkly against the red-brown stone of the hall. The Earth princess looked over her shoulder at them and asked, "Are you ready?"

Sasuke could see both Kakashi and Yamato take their places at either side of the Sound princes, Kurenai taking up the rear with her head held high. The Sonata captain and his lieutenant carried no visible weapon, but their very presence seemed dangerous all of a sudden, faces hard and unreadable. Itachi, who stood beside and a half step in front of Sasuke, looked regal despite his travel-worn cloak still clinging to his shoulder. Sasuke felt a pang of jealousy, wishing he could exude such nobility without looking like he was trying. That which came naturally to Itachi had taken Sasuke many years to master, and only when he was fully focused.

At the slight inclination of Itachi's head the princess touched the silver knob with the index and middle finger of her left hand. The giant doors swung inward silently, and they were led inside without further ado.

The room beyond the door had a high ceiling, raised by marble columns on either side, open to a secluded garden on the left and a rectangular pool on the right. Its floor was made of marble the color of dawn, streaks of yellows and browns softening it, the light from the gilded lamps making it glow. A team of veiled servants, men and women, knelt on the floor near the door, their foreheads on the ground. In the center of the room was a large, thick round carpet covered in several layers of silks, throw pillows, and cushions, and near the edge of it facing them sat the Earth king, his teal eyes sharp and unwavering.

Princess Temari bowed to her brother, right palm over her heart. "May I present to you the delegation from Sound: First Prince Itachi Uchiha, rightful Heir to the crown of Sound Kingdom. His younger brother, Second Prince Sasuke Uchiha. Also, Captain Kakashi Hatake of the Sonata of Swords and Lieutenant Tenzo Yamato, and Royal Mage Kurenai Yuhi." She stepped aside and gestured with a hand to the people she had introduced.

While she had been talking, Sasuke was busy observing. The room was opulent without being gaudy; bright red and orange fabric was draped and hanging on the ceiling in an artful manner, softening the rigidity of an otherwise cold and bare marble room. The carpet and the pillows on the floor occupied barely half of the room; the rest was clean, white space accentuated by a potted palm here and there, creating the illusion of greenery in the middle of the desert. He had been so busy noting everything around the room through discreet glances that he almost did not see it when the princess stepped aside and Itachi bowed at the waist, prompting him and the rest of the party to do the same.

When next he stood straight his eyes went to the circle of pillows and cushions. King Gaara, he realized, was not alone. On his left lounged another, a young man about three years the king's senior, and Sasuke realized this must be Prince Kankuro. He wore almost the same outfit as the king—baggy silk trousers and sleeves in dark purple—although his sash was silver and not gold. He also wore a thin gold coronet on his brow similar to that of the princess's, nestled in his head of brown, soft-spiked hair. His face held a look of interest mingled with guarded wariness, and he did not smile.

Neither did the king, for that matter. His face was as carefully blank as Itachi's, though certainly not as pale. His hair was a reddish brown color a few shades deeper than the walls outside his room, and he had eyebrows so thin it was barely visible at this distance. He sat still on his gilded cushion, a jewel encrusted dagger hanging off his waist, several rings on his fingers. He wore no crown or coronet, but a curious tattoo in red dye was drawn onto the left side of his forehead.

What made him powerful though was not his bearing or his adornments, but his eyes. They were teal, ruthlessly unwavering, and they seem to hold Sasuke in place as if daring him to move, to speak. The youngest prince of Sound could imagine just how commanding a presence Gaara would be if he was sitting on his throne.

Movement to the right of the king tore Sasuke's gaze away from him, and his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when he saw Naruto sitting cross-legged there, chin resting on one open-gloved hand, an amused smile on his face. He still wore his black shirt and pants, the pouches hanging down both his legs and on his waist now visible, although his long dark cloak was nowhere to be seen. He was also barefoot, as the king and the prince were. "Good to see you guys so soon," he said cheerfully by way of greeting, one hand waving at them.

Everyone was startled to see him there, even Itachi, who concealed his surprise with a blink. Only the short pause in his movement—one that only Sasuke had seen—gave him away. Kurenai was making a strange strangled noise in her throat.

If Naruto saw just how flabbergasted they were at finding him there, he did not show it. Instead he grinned and beckoned at them to come. "What took you guys so long? I thought you'd get here before I did."

Princess Temari was already at the edge of the circle of cushions, and was taking off her pointed slippers. One of her maid servants dutifully took the slippers and placed them on a gilded rack on the wall. The princess sat beside Prince Kankuro. "They were interested in the spells around the Keep."

"Really?" Naruto turned to the group slowly approaching. "Pretty neat, weren't they?"

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, but a look from Itachi gave him pause. He inclined his head slightly instead. "Yes, they were." Sasuke was inwardly proud that he had kept the heat from his voice. He sounded polite, even.

Naruto looked at him funny for a moment, but the smile returned to his face quickly. "The spells you saw down the halls are just a few of the things swarming all over this place." His grin turned mischievous. "I've been trying to get Gaara to allow me into a few of the other rooms in the Keep, but so far I haven't been making much progress."

The Earth king shifted in his seat and turned to Naruto with a dry stare. "And since when has anything I said ever stopped you from doing what you want?"

Naruto grinned cheekily at the king. "You're right," he replied brightly. "I'll just go nip down into the Royal Vaults and take a peek inside tonight, yeah? Just giving you a heads up."

Kankuro's wary study of the Sound guests turned into a roll of the eyes and an amused smirk at Naruto. "You're a dumbass, you know that? Nobody who's not a Sabaku could go inside the vaults."

"You're the bigger dumbass if you seriously think that." Naruto was smirking right back at him.

"Get real, Naruto. You're handy with spells, but you're not that good."

"Wanna bet?"

"You're on!"

"Shut up!" Temari barked, glaring daggers. Both Kankuro and Naruto jumped. "Stop this fooling around—you're both idiots in my book." When Naruto opened his mouth to say something her eyes snapped to him, her glare turning even sharper. Naruto uttered an undignified 'eep!' and looked contrite.

When she was satisfied that neither Naruto or Kankuro was going to speak, she nodded. "On to business, then." She looked to the king. "Gaara?"

Everyone's eyes turned to the red-haired Earth king, who did not even flinch at the sudden attention. Instead he looked at Itachi. "Before anything else, I believe you have questions for me."

Itachi gracefully nodded his head, and glanced at Naruto. Gaara turned to look at Naruto for a moment, then looked at Itachi again. "Naruto has our full trust and confidence. You may speak freely in his presence."

"But—"

"I vouch for him," added Gaara when Kakashi spoke. "As do my brother and my sister." He looked at the Sonata captain, teal eyes unwavering. Kakashi looked at the prince and the princess, both wearing the same, unmoving expression. Finally he relented with a bow of his head.

The king continued on as if he had not been interrupted. "As to the manner by which we found your whereabouts, only Naruto and Cesly know the spell, but your spy had been rooted out only through weeks of relentless searching." He gestured with a hand. "Kankuro has his own network of eyes and ears as widespread and discreet as yours, Captain Hatake."

If Kakashi was surprised to find out that the king knew of his spy network, he did not show it. Instead he inclined his head in acknowledgement. "I am honored of the compliment, your Majesty."

Gaara dipped his head an inch. "That aside, I believe it is clear to you why I extended an invitation to the Keep." He turned to Itachi again. "We have the same enemy."

Itachi's face remained smooth, unreadable. "Your father did not believe so."

The Earth king closed his eyes a moment. "My father was a prudent man, and an even more prudent leader. He dared not risk the kingdom when Orochimaru was quickly gaining power and support."

"And you are not as prudent?" ventured Sasuke.

Gaara's eyes focused on him. "I am not my father," was all he said.

Itachi placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder; a quiet, seemingly innocent gesture, but Sasuke's face flushed a slight tinge of pink as he shifted on his cushion, and he did not speak again. Itachi spoke up. "I believe we have yet to give you our condolences on the death of the king," he said, his voice turning grave. "He was a good man."

Gaara inclined his head, deeper this time. "Thank you," he answered solemnly.

"You said in your letter that he was...killed."

"There is no need for censure, First Prince," Kankuro said as he regarded Itachi for the first time. His voice was deeper than Gaara's, and lined with tightly controlled anger. "Father was not merely killed. He was murdered."

The room became silent save for the tinkle of wind chimes somewhere as a cool desert breeze passed through. The servants were all far enough that they could not hear anything, but even they noticed the tense atmosphere when everyone on the cushions did not stir, only looked at each other. Finally Kankuro spoke up again. "As your parents were slain by the Snake tyrant, so was our father murdered by the filthy bastard." He shook with the visible effort of containing his rage.

Temari frowned. "Brother," she chided in a surprisingly gentle manner. Kankuro appeared not to have heard.

Itachi stayed quiet for a while. The princess took the opportunity to gesture for several servants to come forth with goblets of wine. They went in a controlled, hurried manner, bearing drinks on silver trays, placing them beside each guest. Naruto wordlessly took one with a quick grin, and snatched another off the tray and offered it to Gaara, who took the goblet with a nod of the head.

When the servants had gone, Itachi prompted, "What happened?"

It was the king who answered. "A spell was used to trap him in an illusion that warped reality. He was tortured and killed in his bed."

Sasuke winced internally, and he heard Kurenai inhale sharply. They knew first-hand just how powerful Orochimaru's illusion spells were, and hearing the king's words put no doubt in their minds that the Snake tyrant was responsible for the previous king's untimely death.

"The spell was inverted and had not been released until it lay hidden in our father's chambers, so the wards were not triggered," added the princess.

"But how did it end up in the king's room in the first place?" asked Kakashi.

"Another spell was used to transport it. A familiar," answered Kankuro. "To be more precise, a snake familiar."

Sasuke nodded. He had heard that Orochimaru could summon magical familiars, but he had never actually seen it done. But now that it had been mentioned, Sasuke could recall seeing Orochimaru at court years ago, his pet "snake" always coiled loosely around his neck, its scales so dark a green it was almost black, bright red forked tongue slithering out occasionally. Seeing it always gave him the shivers. He looked at Itachi, who had been watching him.

As if reading his thoughts, Itachi nodded. "Orochimaru was always seen at the palace with a snake about his person. A small snake, greenish-black, one that I am not familiar with."

The Sabaku siblings and Naruto exchanged meaningful looks. "We know the snake that you speak of," Temari said, her face darkening into a scowl. "So. That proves it beyond doubt then. Orochimaru murdered the king."

Itachi lowered his eyes to the goblet in his hand. "He means to take Earth kingdom next."

"He can try," Gaara said, eyes hardening. "But he will never succeed. That I can promise you." Both the prince and princess nodded in firm agreement.

"And you can find that we are steadfast allies, to ride under your banner." Itachi replied at length.

"The gesture is well appreciated, Itachi, but that is not the favor we would ask of you."

The princess's answer was not something Sasuke expected. He blinked several times and looked at her, barely keeping the incredulity from showing on his face. "I'm afraid I do not understand, princess," he heard his older brother say.

It was Gaara who replied. "We ask not for your assistance in a war that could very well happen in the future," he began. "At the moment, you have barely enough men to form even a small army, and the only two mages left in support of the Uchiha bloodline is here in this room, one of them the Second Prince himself. No, we do not ask for your help in war." He looked at both Itachi and Sasuke this time. "It is in a more discreet enterprise we want your cooperation."

"You shall have it," Itachi answered without hesitation.

A cold smile crept up Gaara's lips, and he looked menacing. "Good. We need your help to successfully assassinate Orochimaru."

Sasuke paused, considering. Assassination would need lesser men than engaging him in outright war, the casualties far smaller. Kakashi and Yamato were enough; with their intimate knowledge of the Uchiha Palace's lay-out they could even slip into the castle undetected. All it would take was a dagger to the heart or a steady hand and firm grip, and Orochimaru would be dead before the next moon.

That is, if he was not a ruthless tactician and accomplished warlock with an army twice the size of Sound's own before his takeover.

Then it came to him. "You plan on us to use the Sharingan."

Gaara turned to the younger Sound prince. "Yes. The unique ability passed down in your clan will allow us to see through Orochimaru's illusions and spells."

Sasuke frowned. "The Sharingan cannot see through inverted spells."

"That's where I come in, your Highness."

Sasuke could not stop the glare he directed at Naruto, nor did he wish to do so. The tone with which the blonde half-wit dared address him by did not sit well with him. He knew Naruto was mocking him. Of all the... "Really? Do enlighten us," he answered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. Damn manners and etiquette, the bastard was really getting on his nerves!

Naruto grinned at Sasuke, and the Sound prince had an odd suspicion that he was doing it deliberately just to spite him. "Cesly is a creature of magic. She can easily sense the presence of spells, inverted or not."

Kurenai tilted her head. "Speaking of which, where is your little fae now?"

"In my room," Naruto replied. "Anyway, you can leave the inverted spells to us." He looked at Itachi. "The only way we can beat the snake lord though, is if you use your Sharingan."

Itachi seemed to be thinking about something. "How much do you know about the Sharingan?"

The blond shrugged. "Only what Gaara told me. It's an ability unique to your family, one that lets you 'see' spells, mage or not. It also allows you to see through mirages and illusions."

Itachi nodded. "Yes. Generally speaking, the Sharingan gives us these skills."

"Generally speaking? You mean, it does more than that?"

Sasuke gave his older brother a warning look, but Itachi only looked at him and continued. "There is a legend about the Sharingan, that it was a gift given by the Nine Holy Beasts to our clan, as a mark of our destiny to rule Sound. The Sharingan is magic bound to our blood."

Everyone was listening attentively, now; even Kurenai, Kakashi, and Yamato. Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, hesitating whether he should continue. He could practically feel the wariness Sasuke was exuding from beside him, and with good reason. What he was about to say was something that had remained secret for generations, known only to members of the Uchiha clan. He was practically breaking their family's precepts by talking about the Sharingan. "It not only allows us to see, but it gives us the ability to re-create any spell we 'see' with it."

Itachi could hear the near-silent hiss from Sasuke, the sharp intake of breath from Kurenai behind him. The Earth king did not look at all surprised, but his siblings were an entirely different matter. Kankuro looked puzzled, while Temari looked incredulous. "You mean...you can copy any spell you see? Without using incantations or rites?"

"Knowledge of the rites and incantations, if they are used in the spell-casting, comes to us when the Sharingan is used. But this takes a heavy toll on the user, so we utilize the Sharingan only in dire situations."

"But if what you say is true," Kankuro spoke up, "then that means you are the worst enemy for any mage." He paused. "No wonder Orochimaru wants you dead."

Temari was watching them closely, now. "Why are you telling us this?"

Itachi stared at his half-full goblet, swirling it slowly with one hand. "If there is any way at all we can assure the success of this...venture...then I shall not hesitate to exploit it. Even if it means breaking a code of secrecy kept intact for generations." He looked at Sasuke then, hoping his younger brother would understand. Sasuke was proud—like all Uchihas, he took pride in being a member of the prestigious clan, and with good reason. Their family ruled Sound since before the Scourging; generations of monarchy left something in their blood, a measure of privileged honor maybe, that made it right to be proud of being an Uchiha. Pride was part of who they were, pride and nobility.

Itachi's pride, however, took a heavy beating after the death of their parents and the takeover of the kingdom. Their exile, too, had tempered it; Itachi did not want to admit it, but the years after fleeing from Orochimaru's grasp had changed him. But Sasuke, who had inherited their mother's tenacity as well as their father's trademark Uchiha pride, had not been deterred in the slightest.

Sasuke's face was unreadable, but Itachi knew where to look. His younger brother's dark eyes shimmered with confusion, wariness...but underneath that was a steadfast trust in him that warmed Itachi's heart. He saw Sasuke close his eyes for a brief moment, lowering his head in the barest of nods. Relief flooded through Itachi, though he did not show it. Sasuke did not understand, but for the moment he would trust in Itachi's judgment.

Gaara was watching both princes intently. "Thank you for telling us this. The knowledge will be most helpful when we plan our strike. Be confident in the fact that your secret will not spread further than the people in this circle." He gestured with a hand towards his siblings and Naruto. Itachi acknowledged his words with a bow of his head; Sasuke did the same. "Come, I know you are all tired from your journey. Your apartments are ready, as well as your dinner. Naruto tells me your travel has been eventful."

Sasuke could not help the snort that punctuated the air, nor the disdain in his voice. "He greatly undermines the danger of it."

Gaara glanced at Sasuke before turning to Naruto. "You did not tell them the plan?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Cesly might have forgotten to mention it to them."

Sasuke was too angry to come up with an acerbic response. He glared at Naruto instead, who pointedly ignored meeting his eyes. With a mental growl and a silent oath to make sure the blond will pay for his insolence, Sasuke grudgingly let the subject drop. For now.

At a gesture from the king several servants hurried towards them, and the guests from Sound took this as their cue. They stood up and bowed to the king, who stood up also and nodded at the gesture. Temari spoke as the servants helped the princes and other guests back into their boots and travel-worn shoes. "Your rooms are all in the same wing, and there is a library there you can use, if you like. I'll lead you to them."

"Thank you, princess," Itachi replied.

Temari cracked a smile. "You can drop the formalities, Itachi. You calling me 'princess' all the time makes me feel like I'm older than you." She turned to Sasuke. "You too, Sasuke."

Sasuke blinked. "Of course," he replied, though inside he was wondering at the princess's inclination to be so informal. And why does it bother her to be called by her proper title? It was an honorific befitting her position as royalty (and, more importantly, their hostess) so why would she want them not to use it? Perhaps it was a culture of sorts here in Earth; Sasuke did not know a lot about the social aspects of the country, since his studies more often focused on trade, politics, and history.

When they began to leave Sasuke noticed that although prince Kankuro joined them, King Gaara and Naruto did not. Instead they began to talk in low tones, Naruto saying something that the king seemed to be listening to intently. Sasuke felt a strong urge to turn around and listen, but the Earth prince had blocked his vision. He was wearing a half-smirk.

"I wouldn't bother trying to listen if I were you. Naruto always sets up wards whenever he and Gaara put their heads together."

Sasuke looked past the older prince and realized that, at this distance, he should be able to catch a few snatches of the conversation. But all he could hear was the sound of his own breathing and the muffled footsteps of the people in front of him, as well as the swish of fabrics and the murmured voices of the servants fluttering about them. He frowned. "The king does this often?"

Kankuro glanced behind him for a moment. "What, you mean talking with Naruto?" When Sasuke nodded, he said, "He may not be of royal blood, but Naruto is a friend. A trusted one, and much as I hate to admit it, he's pretty reliable when it comes to these sort of things."

"What things?" They were already nearing the tall double doors at the end of the room. Kankuro was walking beside Sasuke, and together they fell last in line. Sasuke did not seem to notice.

"Planning stuff," Kankuro answered with a shrug of his shoulder, making the short cape hanging down one shoulder shake. "Gaara is a brilliant tactician, but Naruto's the one who comes up with the original ideas." He grinned. "He was the one who suggested we find one of your spies in order to make contact with you and Itachi."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "He knew we had eyes and ears inside Earth?"

The prince shrugged again. "Everyone has spies everywhere. Even you should realize that." He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Don't you?"

Sasuke looked away, his posture turning rigid. "I would never stoop so low as to spy on people," he replied thinly.

Kankuro chuckled. "You're just as arrogant as I remembered."

"What?"

"Peace, Sasuke. I'm not trying to insult you," Kankuro patted his shoulder genially with a full-fledged grin. "You're exactly the same as the first time you visited us, all those years ago. Remember? Your mother had introduced you to us, and all you did was jut your chin and look away." His grin widened. "Just like now."

Sasuke refused to look at Kankuro, embarrassment again flooding his cheeks. Fortunately for him his innately pale face had colored only slightly, though inside he burned with mortification. He was not arrogant! Out of the corner of his eye he saw King Gaara standing before Naruto, one hand taking a hold of Naruto's forearm, his lips moving. Naruto was smiling...gently? Sasuke blinked, all anger forgotten. There was a tenderness to Naruto's face that Sasuke had not seen before, and his smile was not condescending or taunting.

Kankuro noticed Sasuke's silence, and looked to where the Sound prince's eyes had strayed. With a gentle push he steered Sasuke away. "Let's go, Sasuke. There is nothing more for us to see here."

Sasuke could spot an implied dismissal a mile away. He was not offended; whatever business between the king and the sun-haired idiot, he could care less about. He let Kankuro half-pull him out of the room, until they were out in the hall and the thin lines of blue and green light were again racing down the engraved walls, humming with magic. "Naruto seems to be closest to the king."

Kankuro snorted. "Naruto is the only one close to the king. Yes, even considering us," he added when he saw the look on Sasuke's face. "His Majesty—Gaara—had always been distant to everyone since we were children. And he was always quiet."

Sasuke frowned slightly. "He did not seem so quiet earlier."

"I know. Naruto should be given credit for that."

"Naruto?" Sasuke repeated, disbelievingly.

Kankuro only smiled. "It's a long story. You should ask him sometime."

"The king?"

"I meant Naruto," Kankuro corrected. He threw Sasuke a sideways smile. "Gaara would never tell you."

Sasuke remembered the Earth king's cool and steady gaze, the way his unruffled demeanor did not seem controlled, but genuine, as if nothing Itachi or he had told everyone affected him at all. "Yes, I see what you mean."

The Earth prince nodded. "I have to warn you though; Naruto might not give you straight answers."

Sasuke scowled at that. "I know what you mean by that, too. His little winged creature is no different." He had not really thought a fae could try his patience almost to the edge, but Cesly had come close.

Kankuro laughed aloud at that. "Yes. Amusing pair, aren't they?"

Sasuke looked back, at the doors black as night, now closed firmly behind them. "More like annoying," he said under his breath.

~ princely trouble ~

When the guests had gone Naruto brought down his wards without being asked, and Gaara raised one closed fist. "Leave us."

All the servants in the room knelt to him in response, and one by one they trickled out of the room, walking through the garden and disappearing out of sight. When they were well and truly alone, Naruto set up the wards again and flopped down on the carpet and the silk pillows once more, stretching out like a languid cat. "Well?"

Gaara sat more slowly, arranging the cape hanging off his shoulders as he did so. "I was skeptical at first, but now I know for sure it is true. Itachi and Sasuke survived the murder of their entire clan."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I think we already established the fact that they're alive well before those two got here." He rolled over until he was lying on his stomach, chin propped on one hand. "I wasn't talking about that, Gaara."

Gaara sighed. "Yes. You were right," he conceded. "Apparently, they want Orochimaru dead more than I thought."

"I told you," Naruto crowed, eyes shining in triumph. "It will be easy for you to convince them to go through with our plan."

Gaara watched Naruto for a moment, before speaking up again. "And what if they bargain with us?"

"What do you mean?"

Gaara silently thanked the gods he had been gifted with long patience; Naruto had no idea about the higher subtleties of ruling and politics, of which Gaara had no choice but to explain. "Now that they know we need something that only they can provide, they will most certainly agree to cooperate with us. For a price."

"Huh." Naruto picked at a spot on his chin. "Never thought about that. Do you think it will make things difficult for us?"

Us. Gaara was glad Naruto had thrown in his lot with them, even if it was not his father who had been murdered. When Gaara had raised this point to him during one of their late-night conversations, Naruto only said that the Earth king had been like a favorite uncle, a part of his family. And he would never desert Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro during their time of need.

We're family, Gaara. Not just friends. Family.

Before it could bring a smile to his face Gaara stowed the memory away and focused on the present. Naruto did not seem to notice Gaara's moment of weakness. "Yes, in a way. I think they will try to negotiate the terms of their cooperation."

"How?"

Gaara shrugged. "Most likely, they will ask our help in crowning Itachi as the new Sound king."

Naruto looked confused. "But I thought killing Orochimaru would make Itachi king? I mean, he is the First Prince, isn't he?"

"Think, Naruto. The Uchiha's hold on the kingdom has loosened exponentially after Orochimaru took the throne. Not all the noble families will rally to their cause once the Snake tyrant is dead."

Naruto thought of it for a few moments before understanding dawned on his face. "Oh. You mean...they'll try to take the crown for themselves?"

"Yes." Gaara closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming. "It will be civil war. The Sound princes and their small band of surviving Sonatas would not be able to contain the chaos. They might not even be able to take the palace before the nobles make their move."

"Not without help." Naruto added, and he groaned. "This is actually more complicated than I thought at first."

Gaara blinked at him. "You never even considered the possibility?" he asked, incredulity lining his voice.

"I did!" Naruto replied, slightly put-upon. "I just didn't think they'd be sly enough to think of it."

"They're Uchiha, Naruto. It's in their blood."

Naruto pulled out a tongue. "My bad. Never met an Uchiha before in my life. They had all been apparently wiped out when I first got to Sound."

"In any case, we have to expect that the Sound princes will ask for recompense." Gaara shifted slightly on his cushion, mulling the matter over in his head. "We cannot afford to march all of our soldiers to a foreign country's civil war. With Orochimaru dead, his mercenary armies will scatter like ravens searching for carrion. The borders must be patrolled, and traffic into Earth must be monitored." He paused, looking up at Naruto. "That means we can only send a third of our men to Sound."

Naruto frowned slightly. "That gives us a pretty good number, but not enough to stop all the trouble brewing. Can't they talk to their allies to rally to their banner?"

"They can," Gaara admitted, "but it will be a risky gamble. Before Orochimaru all the nobles bowed to the Uchiha clan. I am not so sure the same holds true today."

"And the Mages? Isn't Sound famous for producing top-notch magi?"

Gaara stared out at the garden as he spoke, watching the dark velvet of night consume the manicured lawns and pruned bushes. "After the invasion the Snake tyrant tried to control the Atelier of Echoes. The magi in the school refused to bow down to his rule. Orochimaru slaughtered them all."

Naruto gaped like a fish. "All of them?"

"So the reports say. At the very least, no mage has been spotted in Sound for the past few years." He recalled the faces of both Itachi and Sasuke earlier. "I think Itachi and Sasuke believe this is true as well."

Naruto made no comment. Gaara turned back to him and saw Naruto staring at the pair of black marble doors at the end of the room, a frown on his face. Gaara tensed. "What is it?"

Naruto did not answer immediately; he looked like he was straining to see something that Gaara could not sense, and for a moment he thought he heard Naruto grunt. Finally Naruto blinked several times and looked at Gaara. "Somebody tried to listen in on our conversation."

Gaara raised an eyebrow. Naruto sighed before answering the silent question. "The woman with the red eyes. Kurenai, I think." Naruto frowned again and turned to the door. "She's still trying to get through the wards I set up." He raised a hand and waived it once, before his face. His expression cleared into a knowing smile.

"You got rid of her?"

"Didn't need to," Naruto replied with a chuckle. "I know the man who taught me this ward, and believe me nobody could get past it once it's cast. It is how he had survived even considering how much of a pervert he is." When Gaara raised an eyebrow in silent question Naruto waived a hand as if to move the conversation along. "Anyway. I'm still dead set on going back to Sound. And maybe head to Water; I might be able to hear something useful there."

"When?" Gaara could see no point in urging Naruto to change his mind, even though he had warned him about the dangers. Naruto could not be budged once he set his mind to it; Gaara had taken a long time (and several occasions) to realize this fact about him.

"Tonight." Naruto was now looking at Gaara, his face set. "We need all the advantage we can get at this point. The more we know, the better we can plan."

Naruto mad a valid point, and for once Gaara could say nothing in opposition. He sighed, hating the rare but uncannily accurate moments of sharp perception Naruto sometimes had. "Very well. If you need anything, call for any one of the servants," he said, knowing Naruto never did—and never will—ask for something, not even food. He had always made it a point that he was self-sufficient, although to Gaara it was a pointless thing to do when the Keep had plenty of everything to spare.

Naruto grinned, as if reading Gaara's thoughts. "Thanks, Gaara. But you know me."

Gaara grunted, a behavior ill-befitting of a king, and one only Naruto ever saw. "It never hurt to try."

Naruto laughed. "If you say so," he replied, lightly teasing. "Well then, I should be off. Cesly will start to wonder where I went off to, and I need to pack my things."

Gaara raised an eyebrow again. "You are not joining us for dinner?"

Naruto made a face. "You know I hate parties."

"This is only a dinner affair, Naruto."

"It's all the same to me," Naruto shrugged. He looked at Gaara. "Is there anything else?"

For a moment Gaara did not speak, only stare at Naruto's face, as if searching for something there. "You're a thief aren't you, Naruto?"

Naruto looked slightly puzzled, but he nodded all the same. "Considering the fact that you've hired me for my deft fingers before, I don't see why you should raise that question." When Gaara did not reply and only stared at him Naruto sighed. "I prefer the title 'professional liberator of goods' but yeah. I am."

"Can you steal peace?"

Naruto blinked at him for a few moments, silent. Then his tanned face broke into a wide grin as he snapped his fingers, releasing the wards. "Why don't I give it a shot? I already stole two princes for you, haven't I?"

princely trouble

Kurenai yelped as she jumped in the air, nursing her right hand as if burned. Everyone in the room looked at her. She grimaced. "Ouch."

"What happened?" Kakashi had not stirred from where he seemed to sit casually near the door, opening his one visible eye to watch as Kurenai raised her hand and tentatively wriggled her fingers. She hissed and stopped when the movement proved to be too painful, and brought her hand down again.

Kurenai shook her head. "I don't know," she answered, annoyed. "I think I triggered a trap."

Sasuke, who had been in one of the armchairs closest to the fire, frowned. "You're not sure?"

"No, your Highness," Kurenai replied, disappointed and red-faced with shame. "It's just...well, I'm not really sure it was even a trap." When Sasuke did not reply, Kurenai continued. "I think Naruto may have...may have found me out and pushed me into triggering a trap to kick me out."

Both of Sasuke's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. Kurenai was by no means the most powerful of magi, but she had impeccable control of her magic, and something as delicate as poking around wards and slipping past them was one of her strongest abilities. He had never heard of a ward Kurenai could not get past through or dissemble. Until now, that is.

"That's impossible. I don't think that can even be done."

"Neither did I," admitted Kurenai, "but he just did. And I don't even know how." The not knowing was proving to be more vexing to her than the stinging pain in her hand, which had become slightly red, as if lightly singed.

Sasuke eyed Kurenai's hand and considered the royal mage a lucky woman. Most traps set around wards were intended to maim and inflict unimaginable pain, some even proving to be fatal. The Sound prince had a niggling doubt Naruto had been expecting them to do something of this sort, but he shook the thought out of his head the moment it came. Someone that dumb and obnoxious could not be cunning or perceptive.

Itachi, sitting next to Sasuke, turned to Kurenai then. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, your Highness." Kurenai gave them both a reassuring smile and began to heal herself, her uninjured hand glowing bright green and hovering over her right one. "Nothing a quick healing can't fix."

Itachi nodded. "Did you find out anything?"

Kurenai's shoulder's drooped dejectedly even as she frowned. "No. I could not slip past the wards. Not even for a few moments." She sighed, bowing her head. "I am sorry."

"There's no need for apologies, Kurenai. This just means that we lose an advantage we had not even expected."

The group from Sound had been led into one of several wings of Desert Keep, and according to Princess Temari this was one of the wings reserved for honored guests and visiting dignitaries. The walls here were the same red-brown stone as the hallways they had passed through upon their arrival, the same carvings and lines of light shimmering along its length.

The library they were in was slightly narrow in width—only twenty five paces across—but it was two levels high on both sides as evidenced by the double columns of shelving on all four walls accessible by winding stairs, and it ran the whole length of the wing, taking up the floor space of the entire second and third floors. They could talk loudly with each other at one end, and occupants at the other end would not be able to hear them, or even see their faces properly.

The library was also tastefully furnished; the red stone walls, at least the parts not covered by tapestries or shelves or glass cases, were smooth and patterned with mosaics, and the floor was covered in polished and waxed dark wood. Trees were few and far between in Earth country, and wood a precious commodity that had to be imported from neighboring countries, brought in planks by merchant caravans that traversed the long and often dangerous path cutting through the Blackteeth Mountains. The tables here were made of wood and topped with thick, sturdy glass, which lent an elegant touch to the room, as well as the deep red carpet bordered with a geometric design in blue and black. Sasuke realized at once that it had come from Sound. There were large chandeliers like delicate stars hanging on metal strings lit strategically with spell-crafted fires hanging from the ceiling, four of them in all, diffusing pale, yellow light down the entire length of the room, and large open-fire hearths at both ends to provide warmth. Spells ingrained into the floor helped to spread the warmth evenly in the library.

But what made the library breathtaking, at least to Sasuke, was not the expensive carpets and tapestries and polished wooden floor, but the books. Mountains of them, all cataloged and arranged neatly into stacks, their spines as colorful and varied as the topics they contain. After a few minutes of silent perusal he had found that the books were not actually arranged according to some logical order, which was all very well and good; Sasuke always loved a challenge.

He had a mind to climb the stairs off to one side of the room and look at more books when Itachi spoke, his voice clear and audible in the empty library. "We need to talk."

Under normal circumstances, and had they been in the Uchiha Palace, a meeting with the First Prince required days of careful planning and meticulous arrangements. Certain ceremonies had to be observed, and everything executed with a measured amount of pomp and severity. After the fall of the kingdom, several of these ceremonies had been overlooked in favor of convenience and secrecy. Nowadays, when Itachi or Sasuke wanted to discuss something, all they really needed to do was ask.

The other three occupants of the room immediately flocked around the First Prince, silently making room for Sasuke, who took pride of place on his brother's right hand. Kurenai flicked her wrist, and two armchairs came gliding across the library, settling before the fireplace. Itachi took one and Sasuke the other while Kurenai, Kakashi, and Yamato pulled wood-backed chairs around them in a loose semi-circle.

When everyone was settled Kurenai wordlessly raised both arms and muttered a spell. Sasuke could see and feel the magic bloom into a sphere around them, the ward descending into place without a sound. When it was done Kurenai lowered her hand and nodded for Itachi to begin.

"After hearing what the king has planned, and in light of recent revelations, I have come to a decision." Itachi's voice was calm, and he looked at each of those present with his steady, dark gaze. He held Sasuke's eyes the longest, before continuing. "I plan on cooperating fully with Earth to assassinate Orochimaru."

Nobody said anything, but everyone nodded their heads. They knew perfectly well that in order for the Snake Lord's tyranny to end, he had to be destroyed.

"But," Itachi began again, "I also plan to ask Earth for sufficient...recompense." He paused for a moment again. "I will ask their cooperation, in turn, for subduing any and all resistance while I stake my claim for the Crown."

Sasuke blinked at his older brother's words, shocked. "There's no need to stake your claim, Itachi," he answered in a measured voice, careful to keep his voice level. "You are the First Prince, and one of the only two surviving members of the Uchiha. There is no question that you should be king!"

Kurenai voiced out her sound agreement to Sasuke's words, even Yamato. But Kakashi was silent, his uncovered eye narrowed in thought. Itachi turned to him. "Kakashi?"

The Sonata captain looked up. He rolled his shoulders, saying, "May I speak honestly, your Highness?"

"Of course. I would not have you speak any other way, my friend."

Kakashi nodded, and turned to Sasuke. "Prince Sasuke," he spoke with a firm and serious tone, "I believe what you said, but what Prince Itachi has planned makes sense."

Sasuke frowned; of course it did not make sense. The Crown had always been worn by an Uchiha, and Sound had been under Uchiha rule since before Sound had ever been a kingdom of its own. Itachi did not need to stake his claim; it would be like a woman declaring she would take care of her child because she gave birth to him. It did not need to be declared, because everyone knew that only an Uchiha could be Crowned king of Sound. "I don't understand," he said, finally.

Kakashi sighed, scratching the back of his head. "How many noble families are there in the kingdom, Your Highness?"

Sasuke answered without hesitation. "Excluding the Uchiha clan, only six families have been granted the status of nobility from the time that Sound had been declared an autonomous kingdom. All of them firmly allied with the Uchiha."

"Yes. And has there been record of any of these families staking a claim on the Crown?"

"None." Sasuke's frown deepened. "Though I have no idea why—"

"Sasuke," Itachi broke in softly, "how far have you gone in your History study?"

Sasuke turned to his older brother, blinked. "I have gone as far back as eight hundred years," he replied, reluctantly. He had been meaning to study further, but he had been keener to study magic with Kurenai.

Itachi nodded to himself, as if in understanding. "Then you have never read The Journals of Silence?"

Sasuke shook his head.

"That book is an unabridged version of a compilation of journals kept by previous kings, handed down from one generation to the next, growing thicker as it does." He smiled wryly. "Tradition dictates that the ruling king must add his own journal into the book. It has become such that it has turned into a considerable collection spanning almost a hundred volumes."

Sasuke pondered on Itachi's words for a moment. "You say 'unabridged'..."

"Yes," Itachi nodded once again. "It is a book—or books, I should say—written by kings to be read by kings, in the hopes that by recording their lives, their descendants would gain knowledge. It contains everything, Sasuke. Wars, declared or waged in secret, assassinations, rulings at court, laws passed and laws left rotting in scrolls, marriages...even rebellions."

Sasuke stared at him in shock. "Rebellions?"

Itachi nodded, seeing incredulity not only on Sasuke's face, but on the others' as well. "That is correct. More to the truth, these rebellions were more frequent after the failed attempt of a Water queen to conquer Sound. There was civil war, and two of the noble families had stood up against our clan and put forward their claims to the Crown."

"Who were the families?"

"It doesn't matter now. The important thing you should realize is that someone not of our clan had declared themselves rightful claimants to the Crown before, and the same thing could happen again."

Silence followed his words. Then Sasuke said, "They maybe able to declare themselves, but it will be next to impossible for them to successfully be Crowned."

Itachi smirked then. "That time when our clan's right to the Crown had been contested, the king was almost ousted from the throne if not for the intervention of a small group of loyal, able-bodied knights. They were the first Sonatas."

Kakashi and Yamato seemed pleased by this. Although they did not smile, they sat up straighter in their chairs, their eyes speaking volumes. Yamato even went so far as to nod.

Sasuke seemed at a loss. Itachi pitied his brother; there were so many things Sasuke still needed to learn, and many more he needed to unlearn. Like this almost god-like reverence for their clan which had been ingrained into them since childhood. "Sasuke, you must understand. After Orochimaru took control of the kingdom, he allowed our allies to survive, but only if they were loyal to him. He needed them to acknowledge his rule as king in order for the rest of the kingdom to follow suit."

Sasuke nodded after a while. "Yes, I see what you mean."

"It has been a long time, Sasuke. Even if they were only pretending to follow him, our allies would most likely have lost hope that either of us survived. It is highly possible that they believe we are dead, and are making plans of their own. Securing their allegiance to us will be difficult and risky."

Sasuke nodded again, this time with eyes closed. "I agree."

They talked well into the night, only stopping when a servant informed them that they were invited to dine with the king and his siblings. Dinner was a quiet, relaxing affair; none of the Sabaku siblings ever brought up the subject of Orochimaru, instead talking about Earth and its more interesting places (Temari and Kankuro talked; Gaara seemed content only to nod or shake his head when needed). They knew not to ask Itachi or Sasuke about Sound, knowing it could bring up memories neither would like to relive at the moment. It was only as Sasuke was climbing to bed did he realize that Naruto had not been there during dinner. None of the Sabaku siblings had even mentioned him at the table, which Sasuke found odd.

Realizing that there was still something he had to do before going to bed, Sasuke grudgingly stood up and left his room, intent on finding a servant who can direct him to the idiot's chambers.#

princely trouble

End of Chapter 2.

(03-01-2011)A/N: Surprisingly, it was not all that hard to stretch this chapter well into the ten-thousand word count. All I really had to do was let the characters do the scene in my head, and everything just sort of flowed from thought to paper. It felt like I was transcribing what happened, which was kind of fun. It was also my first time putting Gaara into a more centralized character; hopefully I did him justice, although I must admit he is a bit out of character for this story. I don't think canon-Gaara would ever talk this much, or act this carefree, even around Naruto. If you're wondering where's the lemony goodness, have faith; those will come in good time (so I'm sticking with the M rating, since it's there not just for the smex).