Un Bel Dei
-(Act One, Part One)-
Ed è bella
la sposa?
Una ghirlanda
di fiori freschi. Una stella
dai raggi d'oro.
E per nulla: sol cento
yen.
-
Is the bride very
pretty?
Fair as a garland
of fragrant flowers. Brighter than a
star in the heavens.
And for nothing: one hundred
yen!
-
"Hey, Naruto."
How beautiful the harbour side looked today. The water was sparkling, its reflective aquamarine surface almost completely smooth, barely tainted by the faint wakes of the pulsating shoreline. A lazy prod to his side tore him from his thoughts.
Naruto turned to face the boy, who he had been deep in conversation with moments before his mind trailed off and out the window.
"Yes, Shikamaru?"
The boy sighed and muttered, "troublesome."
Naruto smiled sweetly. "Have you noticed?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. Naruto grinned and pointed down at the harbour side, to which Shikamaru diverted his attention towards. The other eyebrow raised itself.
"Isn't it an odd sight for little Nagasaki?" Naruto asked, his head propped up with a half-closed palm. "I've never seen a ship that big in my life."
Shikamaru nodded once slowly, turning back to the boy in front of him. "You weren't listening to a word I said."
"Hn?" Naruto turned back to him and smiled his twinkling smile again.
"Ah, so troublesome."
It was true, though. This was the first time Naruto could remember seeing a ship like that. It was huge, built with dedicated craftsmanship. The huge white sails were perfect, and they fluttered in the wind as if there was nothing to it. A proud American flag flapped defiantly in the gusty harbour breezes. Emblazoned in gold on the side of the bow read 'USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN' in staunch, bold letters. The waves lapped quietly around the hull, surrendered into docility by its fierceness.
"It's an amazing ship," Shikamaru tried to get Naruto's attention back to his previous conversation, immediately failing as Naruto's gaze remained impertinently out the window.
"Naruto, listen to me," the boy said, lazily grabbing his cheeks and turning him so their noses were almost touching.
The blonde boy blinked a few times and smiled at him, "what is it, Shika?"
"Gah," he said, releasing his hold on Naruto's face.
"Something even more amazing than the ship has recently come into Nagasaki, Naruto."
Naruto's smile faltered ever so slightly into a look of awe. "Even more amazing than the ship?"
Shikamaru's lips twitched upwards. Finally. He nodded curtly.
Naruto's cheeky grin flew across his face, "what's more amazing than the ship, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru's slight smile grew a little. "The people on the ship, of course."
-
Fighting through the crowds, Shikamaru and Naruto tried to get a decent view of the foreign visitors which had stopped in the small town of Nagasaki. It interested Naruto to no end to see these people. He heard they looked totally different. Alien, even.
But it seemed that everybody had heard about the visitor's arrival. Naruto cursed himself, wishing he had tried to get a better view of the newcomers before.
"Ah, watch your elbows!" Naruto blurted out at a short man, who was ploughing through the crowds with his stocky brute force. "How rude…"
"Crowds are so troublesome…"
Naruto rolled his eyes, before running headfirst into somebody else. He scrambled up from the floor and tried to mutter an apology.
"I'm sorry… I was looking that way and…"
But Naruto stopped, dumbstruck.
"No, no, sorry Miss… it's quite my fault…"
"Heh," Shikamaru butt in, "he's a guy."
The man turned to Shikamaru with a disbelieving look, then back to Naruto.
He was tall and handsome. Dark hair floated around his eyes, which sparkled like the cool Nagasaki seaside. His hair was fashioned into a style which was foreign to Naruto, and his clothes were very different to that of any Naruto had ever seen.
The man bowed deeply, a gracious smile dancing across his perfect lips.
"I am Lieutenant Sasuke Uchiha of the US Navy," he returned to his upright position. "Who may you be?"
Naruto's mind and mouth refused to co-operate.
"I- I- I- I-…"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "He's Naruto Uzumaki."
Sasuke acknowledged it with a brief nod.
"Hatake!" Sasuke yelled.
A silver haired man wearing a similar, but not as elaborate uniform appeared behind him. "Yes, Sir."
"See to it that this evening is reserved for Mr Uzumaki here."
The man's brow creased, "but Sir, I.."
Sasuke turned on the man, "thank you, Kakashi, that will be all."
The tall lieutenant marched off, leaving this new man in his stead.
"Hello," the man bowed, "I am US Consul Kakashi Hatake."
Naruto stood rapt. Shikamaru sighed and took over for Naruto's inability to talk.
It was a while before Naruto's senses could be brought back around.
"Naruto!!" Shikamaru clicked his fingers loudly before his eyes, breaking the stupor he had found himself in. The crowds had cleared away and it was merely he and Shikamaru left standing on the hard-pressed dirt road.
"Shikamaru…?"
"Naruto, you dumbass. Here…" he thrust a note with neatly scrawled details.
"What is it?" Naruto said, still half-dazed.
"Well," Shikamaru said idly, "from a genius's point of view, I'd say it would be a date."
-
Naruto had spent hours getting dressed. He didn't know how, or why, but it seemed that he had fallen in love at first sight with this Lieutenant Uchiha.
So of course, first appearances were crucial. But what to wear?
"I don't think he'd really mind what you wear," Ino Yamanaka, his lifelong friend and maid, quipped.
Naruto stuck his tongue out at her, "of course it matters, Ino! First impressions can last a lifetime, you know!!"
Eventually, he did find something to wear, and was shipped promptly outside by his friend.
"Now move it!" Ino ordered, a kind smile on her face. Naruto's heart warmed for her. She was truly his very best friend. "And don't come back until you've won that Uchiha guy over!"
"Thanks, Ino," Naruto grinned and waved his goodbye, rushing for the place Kakashi had written on the paper. He was already five minutes late.
-
"Hatake!" Sasuke hollered from his private room. The stealthy man appeared quickly.
"Where is he, Kakashi? Is this not the time you gave him?" he asked.
Kakashi frowned slightly. "Yes, Sir. However, Mr Uzumaki was free to come here of his own accord. It is very likely that he won't come at all, Sir."
"No." Sasuke said bluntly.
Kakashi's frown deepened. "No, Sir?"
"He'll come. He was speechless, didn't you see? I took his breath away," he paused, but for a moment, "… and he mine."
Kakashi sighed. "Perhaps this isn't the wisest of plans, Sir."
Rapping was heard from the somewhere down the front of the house, echoing along the empty walls. Sasuke smiled.
"I believe your guest has arrived, Sir," Kakashi said with a bow, leaving the room.
Sasuke leaned his chair backwards, a steady thumb pressed to his lips.
-
Naruto had been shocked at the sight of the large mansion perched high on a hill overlooking the town. It had perfect views in all directions, and although it was night, he could clearly see the harbour he so adored. It even sparkled in the moonlight.
He was bathed in light as the door before him opened. A butler with worn eyes and thinning hair answered the door, bowing deeply before taking the outer shells of Naruto's clothing. It wasn't long before the man who had previously introduced himself as Kakashi greeted him in the hall.
"Lieutenant Uchiha has been looking forward to this evening with much fascination," Kakashi said, eyes unwavering from the path ahead.
"So have I," Naruto blurted out, a slight blush tainting his cheeks after realizing the weight of what he said. Kakashi looked at the boy with soft but calculating eyes.
"I see," was all he said, before ushering him into a dimly lit dining hall.
A waiter showed him to a seat. Naruto had never seen so many different types of cutlery in his life.
"Sir Uchiha will be with you shortly," the waiter bowed.
Naruto stared around the room in awe. Deep crimson curtains and elaborate Western artworks adorned the walls in heavy, worn gold frames. A delicate chandelier hung brilliantly from the ceiling, its intricate crystals cascading downwards. The long table was set for at least twelve people, but plates sat in front of only two of the far chairs, which were, in themselves, masterpieces.
He picked up one of the silver forks which surrounded his plate, feeling a little confused and nervous as to which one he would use for what. He was so used to using chopsticks. Would Sasuke be offended if he couldn't use the right one? He held the instrument closer to his face, examining its detail.
"It's a fork."
The voice came so suddenly that Naruto jumped. He had been paying so much attention to the utensil that he hadn't notice Sasuke come in at all.
"I- I know," Naruto managed to get out.
Sasuke smiled and took his seat opposite Naruto.
"So, tell me about yourself, Naruto."
Naruto smiled sweetly. "There's not much to tell, really."
"Of course there is," Sasuke said. "Tell me about your life. Your family."
"Well," Naruto said, hoping his conversational skills were polite enough for the Lieutenant, "my mother lives not to far from here. She's a very nice woman, writes to me quite often."
Sasuke nodded, "and your father?"
Naruto's face fell ever so slightly, "he's dead."
Sasuke immediately realized this mistake and managed an, "ah."
"He died before I was born, so no loss," Naruto smiled.
Sasuke tried to return the warm expression. What a beautiful young boy this was, he was lucky to have stumbled upon him, to have his heart taken away. Even luckier still, to take the boy's heart back.
"Enough chatter," he said, "bring in the food."
Waiter's flooded in from the furthest doors, bringing a plethora of amazing foods Naruto had never laid eyes on before. He ate hungrily. It had been a while since he had tasted something so good.
"This is tasty," Naruto said, forgetting to swallow before speaking. Sasuke just smiled.
"Only the finest chefs the US Navy has to offer," Sasuke jibed.
Naruto grinned. Tonight had to be one of the best nights of his life.
-
The meal had them stuffed to the brim, neither could fit another morsel into their mouths, and every bite had been delicious.
Sasuke had ordered the waiters away with brief thanks, and offered to take Naruto to see the best view from the house. Naruto could only but agree with delight, loving the breathtaking views of his little village.
So here they came to sit, high up on a terrace overlooking not only the quiet slumbering town, but the neighbouring plains and forests. It was so totally overwhelming. Naruto stood with his mouth open, until his legs decided they would stop working, forcing him to sit down on the marble bench conveniently behind him.
"Sasuke…" Naruto could almost feel tears coming to his eyes. "It's so beautiful."
Sasuke sat down next to him.
"Not as beautiful as you."
Naruto turned towards him, unsure of what he just heard.
"A- A-…" Naruto tried, but no words came out. Sasuke put a gentle finger on his lips.
"Naruto Uzumaki," he said softly, leaning forward a little, "I think I've fallen in love with you."
Naruto chuckled awkwardly, blushing from the close proximity, but not denying that he was enjoying every minute of it, he leant into Sasuke, closing off the short distance and pressing his mouth against those gorgeous lips, which were all too happy to receive.
Nothing could be more perfect than this moment.
Naruto was in love.