Burning Passion

Chapter 2

"Sir! Sir! Prince Itachi," one of them bowed. "I have important news,"

Itachi continued to gaze at him, giving him the cue to continue.

"Your father is dying."

Itachi's eyes darkened upon hearing the news. "Show him to me"

"Uh, y-yes sir! I mean Prince Itachi…"

Itachi shook his head, fool, he thought.

Itachi let himself be led by the guard, only to be face to face with the big grand door, the door that led to the King and Queen's bedroom. Nobody was allowed to enter their room, unless given permission. Itachi lightly knocked.

"Come in," It was his mother's voice; it didn't sound so cheery like it did this morning.

"Mother," Itachi responded softly once entering upon the room. "I have been told that—"

"Your father is dying"

Itachi cleared his throat, "Yes,"

"It is true. His temperature is raising and we have called about every doctor in the village for some kind of cure. He is suffering with diarrhea, constant vomiting…of blood…, dizziness, and stomach pain."

"Mother, surely there are other doctors outside the village, am I right."

Mikoto sighed deeply, "Yes, but surely there are doctors outside the village that hate your father"

Ah, that is true. Itachi would just have to think up of another plan then. First, figure out exactly what disease he is suffering from.

"If you'll please excuse me, I still have some paper work to do,"

Itachi left his parent's chamber quietly, deep in thought. "Well, isn't it the soon to be wedded son of the Uchiha Kingdom," chuckled Orochimaru.

Despite people thinking how cold Itachi was, Itachi wasn't the one to hate. But if it was one thing he hated, it was Orochimaru. Itachi hated Orochimaru. In fact, Itachi will make sure once he is King to fire Orochimaru on the spot. The last thing he wanted was to look at the one thing that reminded him of his horrid childhood, deciding not to think about the past, while he had other things now to worry about; Itachi responded. "What do you want Orochimaru,"

Orochimaru shrugged, "Nothing, just to give you my congratulations," Orochimaru continued to chuckle, his disgusting laughter still lingering in the large empty halls.

Well that was weird. Since when did Orochimaru ever give a damn about his life? Orochimaru was his father's advisor. Itachi knew him since he was five. Itachi practically, as much as he hates to admit it, grew up knowing him and not one day in his life did Orochimaru ever give him the time of day. He didn't even wish Itachi happy birthday when he turned six, seven, eight, and so on. It was when Sasuke was born that Orochimaru had got an apprentice, Kabuto, Orochimaru's lapdog. Kabuto and Orochimaru together were an odd team, a dangerous team.

It seems that even within the walls of his own home, safety was never an option.

Brightness blinded Naruto as he woke up. Sleep was only a temporary medicine, where you could escape your problems for the night; only to wake up with reality thrust in your face, hurting ten times worse.

"Good morning prince Naruto," the maid greeted, as she pulled open the curtains. "Sorry, that you couldn't sleep in late, I know how you love to, but your mother requested that I wake you up,"

Naruto didn't reply and groggily got out of his bed and dragged himself to the bathroom. After washing up, Naruto went to the palace garden, where his mom usually was in the morning.

"Have a cup of tea, sweetie" his mom smiled gently, almost as if she forgot all about the events that happened last night. Yeah right. If his mom thinks she can play that action him like she does with his father, she is surely mistaken.

"Don't play naïve." Naruto said, getting ready to get up.

"I had the cook make an extra cup of tea, so drink and chat with me for a bit. It has been a while since we had a good mother-son time,"

Naruto took a couple sips, "So, what decided you to wake me up early this morning and I know it is not for drinking tea,"

"We are spending the day at the Uchiha Kingdom. I want you to be on your best behavior Naruto and tend not to stare or hang around Sasuke too much please. The last thing we want is Itachi calling off the wedding, because we all know he can get somebody else in the blink of an eye,"

Naruto stood up this time. "What? Is father coming too?"

"No, you know that. Just yesterday I got news that your father, Minato, has arrived in the Ame Kingdom and is currently doing business,"

"About what?"

"How should I know," Kushina took another sip.

"I'll pack my things now then,"

Kushina stared intently at the birds; it seems almost as if Naruto was anxious. She thought Naruto would have something to say or fight against this somehow. Oh, how could she forget, Sasuke lives in the Uchiha palace. She smiled.

Itachi has been sitting in his office for hours, having so much paper work and treaties to sign. Since he was become king, his paper work almost doubled and since he is the oldest and his father is sick, Itachi has to cover his father's work too, making it triple.

There was a hard knock on the door.

"Come in,"

"Sasuke," Itachi stated, rather uneasy. Sasuke normally didn't interrupt Itachi in his office and he only saw Sasuke once a day, which was dinner; besides that, Sasuke normally didn't bother Itachi much.

"That's me,"

Itachi shook his head, "Can't you see I'm busy,"

"Sorry to interrupt brother, but as you can see, Naruto and his mother are waiting in the hall way entrance,"

Now the hall way, wasn't a small narrow hallway. The hallway entrance was very wide and had plush, cushiony chairs so, the guests can wait. It was polite and common curtsey, for whoever invited a certain guest into the palace, it was important to be the first one to greet them and show them out of the hallway entrance. It was also rude to leave the entrance without being ushered out by the one who invited you.

Itachi pushed his chair back, using his weight and strength and stood up. Itachi neatened his papers, put them in the draw below his desk and left the room, leaving Sasuke stunned.

Who does Itachi think he is, inviting my boyfriend and his mother, without consulting me, Sasuke thought.

Once arriving, Itachi bent on one knee, never touching the ground though and laid a kiss on Kushina and Naruto's hand.

"Greetings Mrs. Senju and Naruto,"

"Greetings to you too Itachi," Kushina offered a gentle smile.

With a nod of his head, Itachi responded, "Let me show you to my mother, one of your messengers told me prior, you wanted to meet with her".

"Mm, yes, your father is very sick and I just want to give her my condolences,"

Itachi led Kushina out of the hallway, Naruto followed behind quietly. In all honesty, Naruto was very nervous, when Naruto was quiet, he was nervous. Naruto is normally loud and obnoxious. His mother sensed this and squeezed his hand gently, giving him a soft smile.

The reason Naruto was nervous was because this was the closest to Itachi he has ever been and being even this close, even though he was barely in arms reach (only three feet away), he was more intimidating being this near. The only time he saw Itachi was him sitting in the high chair, head of the Uchiha royal court, he sat high and above everybody else.

After walking and making countless turns, Itachi stopped, "If you make a right, you'll see a big door, be sure to knock,"

"Thank you Itachi, you're such a sweetheart,"

No! Naruto thought, his mom had just left him with Itachi, alone.

Sensing his fear and nervousness, Itachi's voice softened…a bit. "Naruto, follow me, I have something to show you,"

Naruto followed Itachi silently until he came into an abrupt stop. "Itachi,"

"hn."

Building up his courage, "May I ask you a question,"

"You just did," Itachi responded, trying to lighten the mood.

Naruto's eye twitched in annoyance, "Do you…Do you…."

"Do I what,"

Naruto took a deep breath, "Do you love me?"

"No, No I don't love you,"

Naruto clenched his eyes shut and swiftly turned around and ran as fast as he could, leaving Itachi standing, not surprised in the slightest.

"Mikoto," Kushina exclaimed!

Mikoto was aging well, besides a few wrinkles, which probably from the stress.

"Kushina! It has been so long,"

"Yes, yes, it has. I remembered we use to play all the time when we were young and foolish teenagers,"

"Ah, yes, it was only when my parents figured out your parents were going to marry you off to the Senju heir that they demanded I stop hanging out with you,"

Uchiha's tended to marry within the family, never immediate though, they were a big family and it wasn't uncommon for them to marry far apart cousins. Uchiha's probably having the strongest blood in all of Europe.

"Yes, I was fourteen when my parents married me off to Minato, and I had Naruto when I was 25, best years of my life,"

"Ha-ha and we would complain together about our suitors all the time!"

"Ha-ha, Indeed! I remember I didn't even want to marry Minato in the first place, saying he was too old, being six years older than me,"

"Oh hush! Six years was better than ten! Fugaku was 25 when I married him and me 15, the council would always complain about me not giving birth to any children. I was so happy when I got pregnant at 20 with Itachi, I went five years without giving birth to any children, and then Sasuke came along at 26 Ha-ha-ha,"

"At least you got pregnant twice!"

"Ah, look at us now, me 38, and you 37, we sure have grown up"

Kushina smiled along with Mikoto, she looked over and saw a doctor. He has been in and out throughout their conversation. She automatically frowned, being reminded of the suffering that her best friend is growing through. Mikoto noticed Kushina's change of attitude.

"Can I see him, Fugaku…Mikoto?"

Mikoto shook her head, "I'm afraid not, things are getting worse, he can barely talk and it is hard enough getting him to eat without throwing it up,"

Her red hair shaking, "I'm so sorry! If there is anything I can do—"

"There is one thing…"

Naruto kept on running. Why? Why? He thought. Yes, Naruto loved Sasuke, but he thought he could at least give Itachi a chance! He wanted at the very least for this marriage to work, but if Itachi doesn't love him …How were they ever going to be happy.

Naruto's face bumped into something warm, he looked up.

"Naruto?"

"Sasuke?'

"What are you doing out here in these part of the hallways, you know the knights like to hang around here, it can be dangerous for you," Sasuke stated, while using his hands to push Naruto in the other direction.

Naruto hated when Sasuke treated him incapable, why did everyone seem to do that to him. "I'm just really upset right now,"

"What did he do?"

"I'd rather not talk about it Sasuke," Naruto replied. He knew if he told Sasuke, Sasuke would be upset at him for asking Itachi the damn question in the first place

Sasuke grumbled; it didn't matter now; Naruto was with him…not Itachi. He grabbed Naruto's hand, leading him into his wing. Once arriving in his chamber's Sasuke pushed Naruto on his king sized bed and they started passionately making out.

Sasuke was feeling Naruto up all over, putting his hand up Naruto's shirt, slowly teasing his nipples. Naruto moaned, breaking free from the kiss. Sasuke leaned in to capture Naruto's lips in another searing kiss, letting his tongue explore Naruto's moist, wet, cavern. They pulled apart, saliva still connecting, and they were panting hard from being out of breath. Sasuke and Naruto normally didn't go far; they still kept their clothes on and didn't go past making out. They were hoping to wait till marriage until they did that, but Itachi just had to come into the picture and ruin their plan.

"Sasuke,"

"What?"

"We need to talk,"

Sasuke did a long sigh, "Did I do anything wrong?"

"You? No! Never you! It is Itachi, Itachi and the stupid marriage,"

"About that," Sasuke started, "I've got a plan, and you don't have to worry,"

"What? You do? I knew I could count on you Sasuke! Now do share,"

Taking a deep breath, "We'll run away,"

A.N: And that is where I will end it! Yes, I know Naruto being twelve and marrying Itachi who is eighteen is a big age gap, but in the anime/manga Naruto really is six years older than Itachi and is the same age as Sasuke. Also, in the 1800s, it was common for you to get married at the age of twelve. Anyway, I want to say thank you so much for the reviews, alerts, and favs. These all really mean a lot to me. I also did at least 7 pages! See, I do keep my promises… ^_^ Next chapter will be at least 10 pages long :)