The Monarchy
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry this one is "late." If I ever lag in posting an update, it's likely because I'm updating other stories. So feel free to check them out, if you are so inclined. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chpater.
Chapter Six
Danzo heads back to his Kingdom with a smirk. Yes, HIS Kingdom. He had ruled it for ten long years. It might not be his by birthright, but it was his by right. Besides, he was a much better ruler than King Fugaku and Queen Mikoto had ever been.
The Queen in his opinion, had made Fugaku grow soft. He had once been a fierce warrior. The King had done whatever needed to be done without hesitation. His Queen though had taught him the "value" of mercy. It was utterly disgusting.
"If you are not willing to dirty your hands for the throne, you do not deserve it." He mutters to himself as he remembers when it all changed.
Danzo had been King Fugaku's most trusted advisor. Finally, here was a King he could serve proudly. A man who understood what needed to be done and didn't hesitate to do it.
He lacked the weak stomach that so many Monarchs had. He was far more at home on the battlefield than at the finery of court. He was known as the Lion Lord. His strength was only surpassed by his knowledge of battle tactics. The Sharingan Kingdom had greatly expanded under his rule, due to his many conquests.
"What is her name?" Fugaku had asked Danzo, as he glanced at a woman wearing a midnight blue gown.
"Princess Mikoto. She hails from the Land of Tea, a place many days sails from here." He replied automatically.
Danzo glanced at the woman. He couldn't deny that she was beautiful. She was tall for a woman. Her hair was black as night and came to the middle of her back in silky straight strands. Her skin was beautiful shade of ivory cream. Her eyes darker than coal and framed by long lashes. She elegant aristocratic facial features. While he certainly didn't spend much time pondering fashion, he idly noted that her womanly figure was complimented in a tasteful way by her blue gown.
"Is she wed or promised to anyone?" The King asked.
"She is unwed and as far as I know, she is not promised to anyone." Danzo answered.
It didn't bother him at the time. Sooner or later, Fugaku would need to wed and have an heir (or preferably several.) If he wanted the foreign princess, well she was as good as any other royal woman, in his mind.
"Thank you." He answered and strode over to Mikoto.
Danzo spent the rest of the night talking to other royals, nobles, or influential men. Occasionally, he would glance at his King. Fugaku was apparently smitten. Mikoto was the only woman he danced with for the rest of the night and he could hear them laughing about something.
A few months pass. If Fugaku wasn't on the battlefield or conducting other affairs of state, he was often with the Princess. They did seem to enjoy flying the royal falcons and horseback riding together in particular. It became clear that the two were completely enchanted by each other.
All that would have been fine, if it had stopped there. Danzo was happy for his King, truly. That was until the bitch decided that it was morally wrong to torture information out of prisoners and that it was better to give conquered armies quick deaths or the chance to swear allegiance than to crush their foes. Fugaku relented and did as she asked.
"Damn her." He muttered.
Years later, he had killed them both. It was such a shame. The once mighty warrior King, dead because he had gone soft. His only regret was he hadn't been able to kill off the brats.
"How did the meeting with King Hiashi go, My Liege?" One of the members of ROOT asks.
"Well. He has agreed to provide men, armor, and weapons. I do believe that we will have everything we need to defeat these rebels." He replies with a smirk.
"Excellent. We shall stamp out this rebellion and put them down like the mangy dogs that they are." Came his companion's response and Danzo nods.
He had to snuff out this rebellion was quickly. Already fires were spreading everywhere. Sooner or later, the other Kingdoms would notice. They might view him as weak and he'd end up fighting a war on two fronts. That would be unacceptable.
The other Kingdoms could see this as chance to extend their lands. They would be foolish not to. He had to act quickly. The aid form the Byakugan Kingdom would be critical in squashing this revolt.
"Truly, it is amazing. Even a decade after their deaths, they continue to haunt me." Danzo murmurs.
He had no illusions. Until Danzo saw the bodies of Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha, he assumed them to be very much alive. They were out there somewhere. They were waiting, biding their time. Sooner or later they would strike. He wouldn't give them the opportunity.
"A decade after whose death, My King?" The ROOT guard inquires.
"Oh nothing. I just was reliving in an old battle. Forgive an old man. My mind wanders at times." He says and the guard nods, heading off.
He cursed the day that Mikoto ever set foot in this castle. This was all indirect her fault. If only, he had lied to Fugaku. Perhaps if he had told him that the woman was promised to someone else, this all could have been avoided.
"Well there is no point in pondering the past too long. I need to focus on the present and the future." He mutters to himself and decides the future would have to include laying eyes on the corpses of the two princes.
Meanwhile Izumi enters Suna. She had received a coded letter a few days before. She couldn't believe it. If the rebel had read it correctly, Shisui was saying that the Princes were ALIVE and that Itachi was asking for her to come to see him. She clutches the letter to her chest and reads it again.
Dearest sister,
I have excellent news. Our good friend Tao has agreed to help us with the harvest. Would you please come to Suna? We could really use your help.
Tao says that he thinks of you often. He remembers how you would play as children. He particularly thinks fondly of that time you retrieved his mother's sweets for you and him to enjoy, without getting caught.
We both hope you are well. Truly, it should be quite the eventful summer. You wouldn't believe what I found one day while out walking, two rubies. Perfectly intact! Come and join us and I shall show you them to you.
Love, the Shepherd
Shisui always called her his sister in letters. Only one man would know about her stealing sweets as a child, that was Itachi. The rubies were clearly a reference to the Princes. They were alive and healthy! It was a miracle!
She knocks on the door of the monastery. Soon a priest opens the door and smiles at her in a kindly way. He leads her inside.
"What brings you to our humble abode?" He asks.
"I am here to speak with Tao." Izumi answers.
"Oh of course. You must be his friend's sister. Come with me. They are in the library." He states and escorts here there.
"Your sister has arrived. She seems to have appeared to us safe and sound. I shall leave the three of you alone to enjoy your reunion." He states and heads off.
"I'm surprised he would allow a woman to be alone with two men." Izumi says with a sly smile.
"Well one of them is your "brother." He probably thinks you are suitably chaperoned. It does my heart such good to see you." Shisui says as he embraces his fellow rebel.
"And mine as well." Itachi says smoothly and Izumi looks at him.
He was older. Itachi was taller. He was no longer an adorable boy, but a grown man. A very handsome one. She smiles to herself. He would have no trouble finding a suitable Queen, Izumi was certain.
"My Prince!" She says and forgets about being proper as she lunges at him and embraces him tightly.
"I have missed you as well." He says with a chuckle and returns her embrace, albeit in a more subtle fashion.
Izumi had so many questions. She didn't know where to begin. How was this possible? Where had he been all these years? Where was Sasuke?
"I can tell you have many questions. I will do my best to answer them all to your satisfaction. I have been here for ten years. It was far enough away from the Sharingan Kingdom, that I believed it to be safe. Sasuke was sent to live with another family, while we waited until we were old enough to take back our Kingdom." He explains.
"So Sasuke is alive and well?" She asks hopefully, daring herself to believe that might indeed be the case.
Itachi nods. It was a fact that he would be eternally grateful for. He didn't know what he would have done if Kakashi hadn't taken Sasuke in. Perhaps he would have sent him to another monastery. Sasuke would have hated it though. He was always such a free spirit and the strict rules at a holy place would have driven him to madness long before now.
"He is. Sasuke will be joining us as we fight to take back the Sharingan Kingdom." Itachi replies.
"Good. I'm glad. How are we going to accomplish such a feat though? I have been having the other rebels set fire to ROOT members homes. We've stolen armor and weapons. But it's not enough. There are so many of them." She whispers.
"Well…we haven't exactly figured out the finer details of the plan yet. But first, I will need to meet with the rebels. Once they know that I'm alive, word will spread. More will rally to our cause." Itachi says with a serene smile and Izumi blinks.
He had to be kidding. Had Itachi just said that they were essentially going to wing it? They didn't have a concrete plan?! Was he mad?!
"I can see that you are skeptical My Lady, but trust our Prince. He has never steered us wrong before." Shisui offers.
"I suppose you are correct." She relents.
Itachi smiles. That was the Izumi he knew. She was so fiery and full of life. She was like a wild mare. Even as a girl, she had refused to be tamed. Still, he couldn't allow her to continue to put herself at risk, as she had been doing in his absence. That was simply unacceptable.
"I understand that you have been fighting alongside the men. Shisui tells me that we need every able bodied person we can find. Still, I can not help but feel uneasy. I'm certain you are aware of the risks that being a woman on a battlefield carries." He says softly.
Izumi blinks. He couldn't be serious. Her prince wasn't seriously telling her to stand down? How could Itachi say such a thing? Had she not proven herself as capable as any man when it came to fighting?
"It is not because of concerns for your lack of skill. Shisui tells me you are particularly formidable with daggers. I don't doubt your courage or ability. I doubt my own. If you are on the battlefield, while I am…I will be distracted. I will worry for you. That will make me vulnerable. You could serve our cause better in other ways." He adds, trying to reason with her.
"My Prince, I adore you. You are the rightful ruler of the Sharingan Ruler. But in this matter, we will not find agreement. I will not stand idly by while Danzo attacks you." She insists.
Shisui watches the debate with amusement. Izumi was quite possibly the most stubborn woman that he had ever met. But he doubted that Itachi would give up easily either. This could prove most entertaining.
Back in the Byakugan Kingdom, Sasuke watches curiously from a distance. Her Ladies in Waiting had surrounded her. There was a lot of giggling going on. If he strained, he might be able to make out what they were saying without getting caught spying.
"Princess Hinata! The whole castle is talking about it!" Sakura says.
"What are they speaking about?" Hinata asks in confusion, at a loss for why her ladies were so excited.
Honestly, she had no idea what had gotten into them. She glances back at Sasuke. Just seeing him nearby, offered her the reassurance she was going to need to deal with whatever petty gossip her ladies were now taking part in.
"You and Lord Eli! Everyone saw you kiss at the ball! It's quite the scandal." Ino says.
Sakura glares at her friend. You didn't say that to the Princess. It was their job to help her, not to make Hinata feel worse.
She had been just as stunned by everyone else. Hinata had always been the model of humility and properness. She was everything that a princess was supposed to be. She was kind, humble, beautiful, and always conducted herself properly. No one could ever question her reputation. Well no one could until now.
"Not that anyone can really blame you. Lord Eli is very handsome. Anyone would have gotten caught up in the moment." Tenten says, trying to offer Hinata solace.
The Byakugan Princess blinks. So that's what they were giggling about. She had nearly forgotten that everyone had seen her and Sasuke at the ball together. Of course it was going to be the talk of the castle.
That was why Hiashi had requested a private audience with them in the first place. He had wanted them to marry to protect her reputation. But she had completely forgotten about it, after finding out that Lord Eli was really Prince Sasuke.
"Yes, we did forget ourselves." She admits with a blush.
She still couldn't believe that she had kissed him like that. Hinata had been so wanton. That was the opposite of how a princess was supposed to behave in public.
It would have been acceptable to behave in such a way in private, while conceiving heirs. But to do so in public, well that was a very quick way for a woman to damage her reputation. A woman could easily have an impeccable reputation one day and throw it all the way the next. It was a fate that had befallen far too many. Your reputation was everything when you were a member of a royal family or a noble.
"Has he expressed any intentions of marriage?" Sakura asks in concern for her Princess.
"Yes, he has. Lord Eli isn't a rogue. He doesn't just seduce women and ruin them!" Hinata protests.
The three women seem to be considering that. It was true. None of them had ever seen Lord Eli express an interest in anyone. He was hardly a cad that freely sowed his wild oats everywhere. But still, this could end disastrously, if their engagement wasn't announced soon and they all knew it.
"He does have a good reputation. But you know that we are only worried for your well being, My Lady." Ino says.
"You need not worry. Lord Eli has never been anything other than a perfect gentleman towards me. We merely forgot ourselves briefly. And if any of you should accuse him of being otherwise again, I will dismiss you from my service." Hinata says as she strides over to Sasuke, leaving her ladies in stunned silence.
"Is all well?" Sasuke asks in concern.
"They were worried for my reputation. With everything else that is going on, I forgot that we were seeing kissing at the ball." She whispers.
Sasuke blinks. He had completely forgotten as well. Which was odd because it had been a soul shattering kiss. He sighs and wraps his arms around her tenderly.
"I wish that he hadn't taken what was ours. If he didn't betray my parents, we might already be wed. I am so sorry to have put you through this. I'll speak with King Hiashi about it. Perhaps we can announce the engagement. The truth will come out eventually. I don't want you to suffer in the meantime." He suggests.
"You would do that?" The bluenette inquires.
"I would do anything for you. I want you as my wife. I just want to give you my real name and not this one that I am borrowing from Kakashi. Kakashi has been a good second father to me. I could not ask for better. But I still want to marry you as me and not as Eli." He whispers lowly in her ear, so that only his princess could hear him.
He certainly did not want to be overheard by her Ladies in Waiting. There were few people who gossiped more than women in that occupation. Sasuke was well aware of that fact. They already had plenty to talk about. He wasn't going to give them more to discuss.
"I feel the same way and yes, Kakashi is a good man." Hinata agrees.
"Shall we go and see if your father has time to speak with us on this matter?" Sasuke asks as he offers her his hand.
Hinata nods. She takes his head. Sasuke leads her towards the Royal Throne Room. As they were leaving, she overhears Ino, Sakura, and Tenten gasp. Her attendants were well aware of where they were going and there could be only one reason why.
Sasuke knocks on the door. After a moment, he hears the King's voice. Hiashi had just told them to come in. He walks in with Hinata, hand in hand.
"Lord Eli, what brings you here at this hour?" Hiashi inquires as he dismisses the guards so that they could speak privately without fear of being overheard.
"It's about Hinata. Her ladies are already gossiping about her. They are concerned for her reputation. Their concerns are valid, as much as I am loathed to admit that. I would not see her suffer because of me." Sasuke says.
Hiashi nods. That is why he wanted to arrange a wedding promptly. But finding out his true identity had distracted the Byakugan King from that task.
"And what are you suggesting that we do to resolve this issue?" He inquires.
"I would like to announce and engagement. A royal wedding can take months, even years to plan. That way her reputation is safe. We can tell them all the truth, after I take back my Kingdom with Itachi." Sasuke says.
"And you have every intention of marrying her, even after you become a Prince of the Sharingan Kingdom again? I will not sanction such an announcement if there is a chance, that Itachi will desire to wed you off to someone else later on." Hiashi says firmly.
Sasuke nods. He wouldn't allow that to happen. Itachi would never force him to marry someone he didn't want. His brother had never been that cruel. Arranged marriages were the standard for royal families and nobles, but there were exceptions. Itachi would make an exception for him. He knew that.
Who else would possibly be a better match for him than the woman that he loved with all his heart? Hinata was also a Princess of a powerful neighboring kingdom. Nothing could be a more strategic match.
"Very well. Tonight at dinner, we shall make the announcement. Does that please you, daughter?" The King asks.
"It pleases me very much, father. Nothing would please me more." Hinata says with a shy smile.
"Excellent. Well if you have no further concerns to address, I am about to have an audience with a Baron." He informs them.
"No. That is everything. We shall take our leave, then." Sasuke says and heads off with Hinata.
Later that night, they head to the dining hall. Everyone that lived in the castle would be there. All the way from the King to the lowest of servants. It was the perfect time to make the announcement.
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Hiashi bellows.
Suddenly, all the chatter that had been going on, came to a screeching halt. The silence was deafening. No one wanted to be caught speaking, after their King had demanded silence of them.
"Tonight is a very special night. Lord Eli and my daughter have a special announcement to make. Lord Eli, perhaps you would care to do the honors." The King of the Byakugan Kingdom suggests.
Sasuke nods. He stands up with Hinata. The young prince took a deep breath. It was a little intimidating to address hundreds of people at once. But he was a royal. This was in his blood. He was born to lead. He could do this.
He smiles when he felt Hinata squeezes his hand reassuringly. He would do this. He would do anything for the princess who had captured his heart years ago.
"I have proposed to Princess Hinata. She has done me the extreme honor of accepting. We are to be wed. Our most kind King has approved of the match." Sasuke says.
"That was why we kissed at the ball. I was so happy when he proposed to me. We both were. We forgot ourselves. Please forgive us for being so improper." Hinata says, the picture of shy happiness.
Everyone blinks. For about 10 seconds you could have heard a pin drop. Princess Hinata was getting married?! Lord Eli was getting married?! This was unbelievable!
Suddenly, the hall erupts into shouts of congratulations, well wishes, objections, gasps, and more than a few whispers.
"SILENCE! This is a most happy day. I will not see anyone sully it. If you have any objections to this match, you may speak with me privately. We shall speak on the matter. For now, enjoy your meal. Let's eat, drink, and be merry." Their King states.
Sasuke was impressed. He had no idea how King Hiashi managed it. He could calm a crowd of hundreds instantly. It was truly a gift.
He wondered if the other man had been born with it. Perhaps he had simply acquired the skill over time? Sasuke supposed it didn't matter. He was just grateful that Hiashi had this ability at the moment. Otherwise, the night might have ended in disaster.
"We did it." Hinata whispers to him.
"Yes, we did." Sasuke agrees with a smile.
"I love you." The Byakugan Princess says to her intended.
"I love you to. More than you will ever know. You are my Sun, my Moon, and my stars. When this is all over, we will be wed and everything will be as it should be. You will see." He promises her.