Amaterasu
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 9
A few days later, Sasuke was back on Amaterasu. The beautiful red planet that had been the place of his birth. Not only that, but he was in the palace. More specifically, he was in the royal baths.
"This is the life, Sassy." A fact that his Arashi best friend was enjoying greatly. "Come on, join me." Not that Sasuke could really blame him.
The bath was more like an Olympic Sized swimming pool than anything else. There was apparently some sort of mechanical device somewhere that automatically adjusted the water around you to what your body perceived as the perfect temperature. The floor surrounding the bath shimmered under the chandelier lights. A beautiful coppery and golden color.
There were also some trees dotting the inside of the bathroom. They were like mini palm trees and their leaves came in pretty much any color you could think of. They were obviously designed for shade on hot summer days.
"Alright." A bath might not be the worst idea. "Coming!" He strips down to his boxers and joins his friend.
The walls were made of some sort of glass material or at least the southern wall was. They could see outside, but people outside couldn't see inside. So he had spectacular view navy blue sky with pink clouds.
Sasuke could have almost fooled himself into thinking he was back on Earth, if it wasn't the view of the nearby planet. It looked like Earth, but it was lighter in tone and had more white clouds. That and it's rings were even more vivid than Saturn's. Beautiful.
It was all just so beautiful. Just like his Mate actually. And as soon as he had that thought, Sasuke mentally smacks himself.
"I know that look." Suigetsu looks at him in concern. "What's eating ya?" He gestures around to the glorious baths and the fantastic view. "I mean we're basically in paradise here. So what could possibly be bugging you that much?"
Sasuke sighs as he tries to figure out the way to articulate his situation. "Itachi." He might as well be blunt.
Suigetsu knew. There was no need to hide it from him. Besides, if he couldn't trust his best friend with this knowledge, who could he trust?
"Well the guy is pretty grumpy." Suigetsu shrugs. "But I mean, if I was into guys, I'd have to say that he's pretty hot." That was true.
Though that wasn't the issue. Everyone knew that Itachi was attractive. What was the issue was how close they were on the family tree.
He shakes his head. "You know that isn't the problem. It's wrong." Sasuke sighs as he looks down at his reflection in the water.
He looked so human. Well save for his ruby red eyes. Yet, Sasuke knew that he wasn't. He was a Prince from an alien planet and apparently, his Mate was Itachi.
Sasuke was overjoyed to have found his family again. It was thrilling to be home, but he really missed the days when his biggest worry was Suigetsu destroying Orochimaru's mailbox.
"Sasuke, I told you that it's normal for aliens." Suigetsu shrugs. "He'll stop being a dick, when he gets some of that mythical Sassy Loving!"
This causes the Sharingan Prince to stare rather incredulously at his friend. There were times when Sasuke truly couldn't believe half the things that came out of the Samehada's mouth. This was one of those times!
He rolls his eyes. "Do me a favor. Never say the phrase Sassy Loving again." It was just stupid.
"Whatever." Suigetsu laughs as he splashes him. "It was pure genius and you know it!" Genius? Right.
"You're delusional." Sasuke splashes right back. "The trip here must have given you jet lag or something." There was no way that the phrase Sassy Loving was genius. Suigetsu was obviously out of his mind.
Though that didn't solve his immediate problem. The raven haired alien knew to a certain extent that his violet eyed friend was right. Itachi would most likely settle down, if Sasuke let the other Prince Claim him.
Could he really do that though? What would their parents think? And that was before he even factored in the Hyugas. While it might be normal for aliens, it certainly wasn't for humans. His family would flip in a very big and bad way.
Sugietsu swats him. "Stop overanalyzing it." He rolls his eyes. "I mean, I'm not gay, but if I was I'd love to be in your shoes. You got a hot Prince after your ass who apparently wants to spoil you. What are you complaining about?"
When Suigetsu put it that way, it all sounded so simple. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation was anything but. Nothing was simple when you were dealing with Itachi Uchiha!
Meanwhile Itachi paces. He was in his room with Shisui. His second cousin and his best friend. Maybe, he would be able to help.
"Well he seems polite." Shisui chuckles. "Jealous, but he was able to contain it a certain extent." He laughs again. "Though, I'm quite certain that he wanted to kill me."
That wouldn't surprise Itachi. A Sharingan's Mating Instincts were strong and didn't respond well to potential competition. Shisui certainly would make someone a fine Mate or husband one day, but just not Itachi's.
At least not, anymore. He might have briefly considered marrying Shisui, if neither of them found their Mate after a decade or two. Those days were now gone though. Nothing could compare to a Mating Bond. Not even him.
Itachi smirks though. "Good." As much as Sasuke liked to run away from him, it was good to get some reassurance that it really wasn't a one-sided Bond.
He didn't know what he would have done, if that indeed turned out to be the case. Itachi probably would have gone mad. One-sided Bonds were almost unheard of, but they did happen and they were so tragic. Even just hearing about them was enough to bring tears to the eyes of even the most fearsome Sharingan Warrior!
"Mmm. It probably doesn't help that he's so young." Shisui was trying to make him feel better about the situation. "So are we, but he's even younger than us." That much was obvious.
Itachi appreciated it, but he didn't think that Sasuke's age factored much into it. Maybe, that was a small sliver of the problem though. That would change with time.
The High Sharingan Prince nods. "I know, but it's mostly the cultural barrier that is the issue." Itachi sighs. "And I suspect that Neji will have already spoken to Sasuke about the situation." That would only further complicate things.
At the moment, Neji was more of a brother to Sasuke than he was. Sasuke had only just been reunited with his family. He had grown up with the Hyuga Boy. That mean that the lavender eyed human had far more sway over Sauske than Itachi did!
That fact made his lips curl in distaste. He knew that it was unlikely that Neji actually harbored desires for his Mate. Still, it was hard to accept the present situation. His Mate was almost a stranger to him.
"True enough." Shisui smiles mischievously. "You'll just have to win him over the old fashioned way." He winks at his Prince. "With your good looks and showing that you can care for him. You did mention you were thinking about getting him a Rinnegan."
Yes. That might help. A Rinnegan would be perfect. Sasuke clearly enjoyed flying. At the very least, it would give him an excuse to spend more time with Sasuke! Perfect!
With that thought in mind, he heads off to the watchtower with Shisui. The Watchtower was where some of the best crafts were sold. It only made sense really.
The large stony gray tower sat in the middle of the planet and one could easily see for miles in any direction when you were on top of it. The sky of Amaterasu was unique in that that it could change color based on your location on the planet. While the sky by the palace was usually blue, it was golden here with stormy gray clouds. Thus the view was beautiful and only enhanced by the lazy river flowing past the tower by the radiant green grass.
"Obito, I'd like to have a look at some of the Rinnegans." Itachi smiles at his relative as he and Shisui walk over to him.
They were now inside the tower. To say the least, it was rather majestic with its stone walls and all the beautiful hover crafts lined up inside it. There were also a lot of weapons and scouting materials.
If Amaterasu was ever attacked, the Watchtower's job was to warn the rest of the planet and serve as its first line of defense. In its many years of existence, Itachi had never known the tower to let their people down. This was particularly true, since Obito was put in charge of it.
Obito smiles at Itachi. "Of course, anything for." He smirks and heads over gesturing to the best crafts they had available. "Take a look at these!"
Itachi notes with amusement, that even Shisui was impressed. Shisui was a pilot in the Royal Navy. It took a lot to impress him. So that could only mean one thing.
Sasuke was absolutely going to love his Rinnegan. "I quite like this one." He points to a lavender craft with spiral patterns and even some black tomoe on it. A mixture of the Sharingan and the Rinnegan designs.
"Oh yeah." Obito beams. "That's the newest model. Tries to combine the agility of Sharingans with the more advanced features of the Rinnegan."
Itachi nods approvingly. "I'll take it." Maybe, this would be the first step to winning over his Mate's approval.
Meanwhile back on Earth, Neji sighs as he has tea with his uncle. Sasuke was already back on Amaterasu and there wasn't anything that they could do about it. That thought was maddening.
"I won't lie." Hiashi sips his tea. "I also have my concerns."
That was damn right. Sasuke had just traveled to some far off galaxy and was living on a planet that he knew almost nothing about. With people who were strangers in all, but blood! (Again)!
Was his adopted cousin out of his mind?! "I won't lie either. Though some of my concerns are less obvious than others." Like Itachi.
The way that Itachi had spoke of Sasuke so possessively had sent chills down his spine. Neji Hyuga wasn't a fool. He knew what that tone meant. Itachi had far more than just a brotherly affection for the younger Sharingan.
Did Sasuke know though? What if he had wandered back to Amaterasu and had no idea that the High Prince was apparently lusting after him? Or even worse, what if he did know….and Sasuke went anyway? Didn't he realize how dangerous that was?!
"Sadly, we can't really do anything." Hiashi sighs. "The boy is of age and they are his family." That was true. "Not only that, they are royalty." And so was that.
That thought left a bitter taste in Neji's mouth. Their hands were somewhat tied by that fact. If they pressed, they might actually be flirting with war.
"So what are we to do about this situation?" Neji glances at his uncle warily. "You saw how Itachi looks at him. It's unnatural."
That was putting it mildly. It was sick. It was wrong and God help him, he wanted to help his adoptive cousin. If it was up to Neji Hyuga, Itachi wouldn't get within a thousand feet of the other Sharingan!
Hiashi sighs as he gulps down some more of his tea. "All we can do is wait and offer counsel to Sasuke." He pauses. "As much as it pains me to admit it, there is very little that we can do at the moment."
That thought irritated Neji. Tragically, his uncle was right though. It would be a lot easier, if Itachi didn't happen to be the High Sharingan Prince. He could apparently get away with a lot of deviancy.
"Then that's exactly what we'll do." They would support Sasuke in whatever limited ways they could.
A short while later, Mikoto smiles as she was giving Sasuke a tour of the Palace. Fugaku was off helping to arrange a proper homecoming for the youngest Hatchling. So that meant that she had some time to bond with their son one on one and apparently, the time was very much necessary.
"Tell me what you think." She smiles at him. "And you can speak frankly. I know that this is all new to you in a way."
Sasuke sighs. "It's a beautiful planet. It's just a lot to take in." Uh huh. Mikoto didn't doubt that for a second.
The Queen wasn't completely oblivious. It was rather obvious what Sasuke's current source of discomfort was. An incomplete Mating Bond. She was going to have to step in.
"I know and our customs are different here." She hugs Sasuke. "I'm sure that you will catch on quickly enough." The Queen offers him another smile when he returns her hug and continues.
Sasuke blinks and Mikoto sighs. Her sons were very perceptive. He was already reading between the lines, it seemed. She would just have to be blunt.
He looks at her anxiously. "You know, don't you?" It was phrased as a question, but the dark beauty doubted that her hatchling was actually unsure of the answer.
"Yes, I know." She shakes her head. "There is a certain look that Mates give each other. You know it, when you see it."
Sasuke felt as though he was going to be sick. His mother knew. Did that mean that his father did?
It would only make sense. Clearly, Mikoto and Fugaku worshiped the ground that their Mate walked on. He'd be shocked, if his father didn't know. But still, there was a slight chance that he didn't and maybe, Sasuke would get lucky.
He takes a deep breath and presses on. "Does father know?" The Prince could only hope, that somehow he didn't.
"Yes, he knows." Mikoto sighs. "Sasuke, things are different here. Blood ties are not a disqualification. A Mate is a Mate and there have been wondrous advances in technology that allow two males to reproduce, even if they share the same heritage."
His mother was not only condoning this, she was supporting it?! Sasuke didn't know what to say? He felt like running away. He needed time to think about all of this!
"What does father think about this?" And he also needed an answer to that question.
Mikoto smiles at him as they pass a rather luxurious bedroom. "He knows. Fugaku was just as surprised as I was, but we're both happy for the two of you." The Queen pauses. "Or at least we will be when you stop fighting your instincts."
Wonderful. She was making it sound as though he was being a difficult child. Did she really not understand why this was wrong on so many levels?!
"What happens, if I don't follow my instincts?" Sasuke was almost afraid to ask, but he knew that he needed to. "What happens to Itachi and I, if the Bond isn't acted on?"
Mikoto wraps her arms over her chest and appears to be bracing herself. "A Broken Bond is one of the most horrific things that can happen to our people." Damn it. "Odds are you would both go insane."
So he was supposed to take Itachi as his Mate or he'd probably go insane. Lovely. Either way, he was a freak!
"There is something seriously wrong with me." Sasuke sighs.
His mother shakes his head and hugs him. "There's nothing wrong with you. These things happen." She smiles at him. "These types of Bonds do happen and it's not unusual for one Mate to be more Mating Shy than the others. Though usually, most Mates would have already Bonded by now." She frowns.
Great. If that was the usual way things worked, that only meant Itachi would be more determined. Still, it was a weight off his shoulders. "You really don't mind?" Sasuke couldn't fathom it. His mother was encouraging him to Mate with Itachi.
"Of course, I don't mind." Mikoto smiles at him more. "I do want grand hatchlings someday, but what I want most is for the two of you to be happy."
Grand hatchlings. Right. He definitely wasn't on Earth anymore. This was going to take some getting used to.
At that same time, Itachi heads back to the palace. He quickly bounds off to find Sasuke. Shisui tactfully decides to go help Fugaku with more preparations.
Fortunately, it didn't take him long to find his foolish little brother. He smiles when he notices that he was with their mother. Good. Sasuke should have a chance to bond with their parents.
"It seems as though your brother has something very important to tell you." Mikoto chuckles as she ruffles Sasuke's hair affectionately. "I leave you to it." She smiles and walks over to Itachi and briefly kisses his cheek, before heading off.
Itachi nods approvingly. "Thank you, mother." His future Mate looked a little dazed and that meant that his mother had tried to talk to him.
Oh boy. Itachi wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. It might be helpful or detrimental. Truly, it was hard to tell.
The way that Sasuke had been raised meant that his reactions were at best unpredictable. What was worse though was that unpredictability rarely fell in Itachi's favor. He hoped to fix that soon though.
"What do you want?" Sasuke watches him warily.
Sheesh. You would think that Itachi was some sort of Bullusa that might have a go at Sasuke. He really wished that his Mate wouldn't look at him that way.
He had been curled up so nicely in his arms and purring for him not that long ago. Sasuke had the most seductive and innocent purr all at once. He was eager to hear more of it and Itachi figured the Rinnegan was his best bet to make that happen!
Itachi shakes his head at the question though. "I want many things, but for now I just want to give you what I promised." Sasuke raises an eyebrow at that.
"And what did you promise?" It hurt Itachi, but he had given his brother every reason to be suspicious of him. "Refresh my memory." That was about to change though.
He smiles and takes his hand, leading Sasuke off. This should make his Mate happy. What Sharingan wouldn't love a shiny, new Rinnegan?
Itachi chuckles. "I promised you a Rinnegan." He drags Sasuke off outside.
After all, it wasn't a good idea to bring a Hovercraft inside the Palace. Though it was a rather amusing thought, Itachi knew better. His parents would definitely kill him.
"You're not serious." Sasuke blinks.
"Oh I'm very serious." Itachi smiles. "I told you that there was nothing that I wouldn't do for you." He gestures towards the craft that he had landed outside in the royal gardens. "Of course, I'll have to register your prints in its system."
Sasuke nods dumbly. "Yeah. That makes sense." They both knew why.
Rinnegans were top of the line. That craft was probably worth more than most people would make in at least a decade, probably more. One had to be very careful when flying something that expensive.
Someone might steal it. Thus there were security features. One of which was that you couldn't pilot it, unless your prints were in the system. If you tried, it would immediately be reported and in extreme cases, the ship would self destruct.
"Do you like it?" Itachi smiles at him.
All Rinnegans and most expensive crafts were insured though. If they self-destructed because someone tried to steal them, you'd get a new one automatically. It was jus the way that such things worked.
The people of Amaterasu were excellent planners and they loved their ships. So it made sense that they would go to extreme lengths to protect them! Well at least it did, in Itachi's mind!
Sasuke beams. "I love it!" Ah. Sweet progress.
His Mate was smiling and it was because something he had done! While Itachi knew that it was a bit of a bribe, he didn't care. Besides, a Prince of Amaterasu was certainly entitled to such a craft anyway!
The fact that it would endear Sasuke to him, well that was just a very lovely bonus. He wasn't doing anything that was too underhanded. Maybe, moderately underhanded.
"Good." Itachi smiles. "I'm glad." The way that Sasuke's eyes were lighting up and he was beaming was absolutely breathtaking.
Finally, they were making progress. Maybe, he could push his luck a little further. After all, Sasuke was in a good mood and it was likely that his mother had already broached the subject.
Sasuke nods as he gestures for Itachi put his prints in the system. Itachi chuckles as he does so. His foolish little brother was certainly eager. Not that he could blame him, Itachi had been the same way when he was given his first Rinnegan.
The other Sharingan glances at him a bit warily, after Itachi puts in his prints. "Thank you." Well it was a start.
"Of course, you know that I would do anything for you." Itachi smiles.
Deep down, the elder Sharingan knew that Sasuke felt the same way about him. This truly was a case of Nature Vs Nurture as humans would say. That didn't matter though. At least, not really.
Itachi was confident that eventually Nature would win out and if it didn't, well they could use some Nurture to help tip the scales. He just knew that sooner or later, Sasuke would realize his proper place and that was at his side. Not running away from him and hiding!
Sasuke sighs. "I know." He looks at Itachi again. "Mother knows that we're supposed to be, that you think that we should be…well you know."
Itachi nods in understanding. Well he had expected that. It was only natural that Mikoto Uchiha would do her best to ensure that her Hatchlings were happy and she knew that a Broken Bond would not accomplish that.
"I figured as much." Itachi kisses his forehead. "Did it help?" He smiles at Sasuke encouragingly. "Knowing that our parents won't hold it against us?"
