Hi! I'm sorry for the delay, that darn External Affairs has me wrapped up! I'm so sorry! I love you! Forgive me!

"You look so beautiful in your dress, I love your hair like that. The way it falls on the side of our neck, down your shoulders and back."

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

AU

The Blind Prince

Chapter 21: Faith

Tenten tried to keep herself from blushing furiously, her eyes averted elsewhere for a moment while Itachi climbed into the water and settled in. She could hear a quiet sigh escape his lips as the hot water engulfed the majority of his muscular body and the tension within those muscles melted away.

She could almost feel a burning sensation upon her bare skin, like his eyes though they could see nothing, were roaming her body, but she knew better. Though she was going to try her absolute hardest to change that, no matter the cost. She wasn't sure how she would go about it, how does one show another their self worth. Just how valuable, strong, intelligent, and important he really was. How magnificent the creature that her eyes were suddenly drinking up in a moment of sweet indulgence.

"Are you planning on standing there all night or do you plan on joining me, Tenten?" He inquired, raising his dark head slightly as if to question her location. The water felt nice on his skin, but his heart felt a sharp ache that could only be soothed by that woman, the stubborn girl who held that delicate thumping thing in her hands. He heard her bare feet shuffle across the cool floors and the water slightly rippled, tiny waves reaching his chest. She was dabbing her toes in, on one foot.

Tenten lowered one slender leg into the tub, finding her footing beside one of Itachi's legs on the opposite end that he sat. Soon, her foot was tingling at the warmness of the water, it was a little hot but it would cool, it only meant they could stay there longer. Her other foot entered into the water and she lowered herself in, making room for her body to sit by moving his legs. The water covered her body, the tub being rather large, all the way up to her shoulderblades. Her chocolate tresses floating behind her. It was nervracking and exciting being in his presence like that.

Small beads of perspiration caused the skin of his forehead to glisten a bit and he leaned his head back, resting it on the edge of the tub and letting out a low groan coming from deep within the back of his throat. The skin of his neck exposed and glistening as well. His masculine features illuminated by the dim light in the bathroom, bouncing off the water and reflecting onto his fair and defined skin.

His chest rose and fell as a sigh escaped his lips and his dark eyes fluttered closed, relaxing his body further into the water. He brought both arms up and rested them on the edge of the tub.

Tenten was completely entranced by his mesmerizing beauty. Yes, beauty. The creature before her was nothing less than magnificent and absoutely breath taking. His silky black hair that snaked down his neck and shoulders, the ends floating in the clear, hot water around him. The features of his glorious face were so well defined, he was certainly worthy of his royal title. As she admired him from the opposite end of the tub, she felt a distinct pulling feeling in the pit of her stomach that gradually created a hot feeling between her thighs, and she gulpped. Blushing furiously, she quickly turned her head away from him. Her eyes averting elsewhere, studying the different fixtures in the bathroom and its decor.

And that's the same moment that she felt his finger tips trail up the smooth, bare skin of her legs on both of her shins. They lingered there for a painfully slow amount of time, drawing tiny and intricate circles there as he continued to sit poised in his relaxed position. Then, out of the blue his hands gripped onto both of her shins tightly, and he yanked her legs downward, causing her bum to slide across the porcelain tub until the poor girl was nearly in his lap. She had to bend her knees a bit to prevent from stopping the fluid movement.

It was like he sensed the way she was feeling, and she was not the only one. He was resisting the urge to touch her. Wanting to share a moment of silence, and relaxation with her, but he couldn't. He could hear her breathing, feel her tiny feet tickling the tops of his elbows and he could only imagine how beautiful she must've looked. Naked and vulnerable, but just the thought of it sent his mind reeling. So he had to have her, he pulled her body to him and moved his own toward the middle of the tub to give her slender legs room to comfortably stretch out a bit. Her curvaceous derrière rested comfortably atop both of his muscular thighs, and her hands both sat delicately on the inside of his arms, her fingertips trailing along his skin that was slowly raising at her touch.

Her heart began to flutter in her chest, and excitment bubbled up within her abdomen as she inched her body closer to his, craning her neck until her lips were close enough to brush the skin of his neck. Her soft pink lips collided with his neck in a feather-like brush. She felt him shudder under her touch as the palms of his hands ran down her bare back and trailed downward until they rested at the small of her back. She felt him push on her back with enough pressure to cause her to scoot further into his lap and her eyes widened significantly when her body brushed against his.

But she didn't want to give in just yet. This man desperately needed to know how she felt about him, so he could learn to love himself. Her hands snaked up his chest, lips still kissing his neck, and found their way to his thick tresses, sender fingers combing through it and his head tilted backward.

He could feel her voluptuous bosom pressed firmly against his chest, and her hot breath coiling up in his ear before her teeth bit down gently upon his ear lobe and her hips ground against his quite gently. This caused him to bite his lower lips and flicker his eyes open, disappointed he could not see her beautiful form.

"I love you," She husked in his ear before gently whisking his hair away from his neck further, continuing her handiwork there with her succulent lips until she felt his firm hands cup her face, yanking her away from his neck and they were face to face. His thumbs gently grazed those lips surface before he affirmed his love for her by pressing his firmly against hers with furious passion that could never be quenched.

Her lips parted slightly, as the kiss slowly intensified, his hands sliding down from her face to her neck and the tops of her shoulders and she couldn't help but tilt her head back a little. His kiss was dizzying, intoxicating. The way he made her feel sent her mind and body into oblivion and extacy, like she'd spent too much time at the tavern. Her hands found his hair once more, and they entangled into it, tugging it gently as a moan escaped his throat and eccoed into hers.

Itachi's hands slowly snaked from her shoulders, down her chest as they delicately grazed her aching breasts, only lingering there a moment berofe they gripped her waist, using the muscles in his arms to raise her up slightly, moving her body slightly to position her correctly.

Her lips separated from his and she sucked in a deep breath of air and her earthen eyes flung open as she felt their bodies connect, and instinctually she tugged his hair as he lowered her down. Her heart rate accelerated and she crashed her upper body into his into a tight embrace as his fingers delicately ran through the length of her hair until the water had engulfed the ends of it. She wanted to assure him of her love, desperate to show him she pulled back and captured his lips with hers, gently running the tip of her tongue along his lower lip until she felt him buck his hips slightly. This caused her to pull away, as her back arched involuntarily and a deep groan escaped her lips.

His fingertips traced the curve of her hips, up her rib cage causing her to shudder, until they found her breasts and he generously fondled them before he yanked her close to him again, forcing those succulent lips to his.

'All of these voices surrounding us here, just fade out when you take a breath...'

Once they had dried off, the pair of lovers had snuggled up into their bed together, both still completely naked and vulnerable together. Tenten scooted close to her husband, her heart beat finally slowing as her body recovered from what had just occurred between them in the bathtub. Her head nuzzled into his chest softly, and she felt his hand rest upon the back of it as she did so.

"Itachi," She whispered quietly, feeling his other arm hook around her waist and draw her closer to his body for warmth.

"Hm?" Was his low response, he was already close to drifting to sleep, his head was cradled so comfortably into the plush pillow, the comfortor had been so warm and her dainty body next to his was all he needed at the moment. All he wanted.

"I love you," She said softly, her face now nuzzling the crook of his neck. "You know that?"

"Mhm." He responded as he gently stroked her damp curls. His dark eyes fluttered closed, nothing changing. Still engulfed in darkness as he desperately searched for a picture of her in his mind. He feared that her memory, the memory of her beauty was slipping away from him. His heart suddenly sank, low within his chest and a lump grew in his chest. Aside from that, if Tenten was to be the one to defeat the Dark Lord, would she be okay? He knew he may never actually see her physically, but to never be with her again would be worse. Tenten belonged to him. He could not stomach anything happening to her, not even a scratch. He'd lost her once, he couldn't stand to loose her again. Certainly there had to be an alternative. She could not be the one to defeat Orochimaru. She simply couldn't. Perhaps they didn't have to defeat him, perhaps his pride was the only thing urging him to reclaim the Kingdom?

Tenten felt his body tense, he wasn't relaxed anylonger, he seemed to be in thought. Obviously whatever he was thinking of, was troubling him greatly. "Is something bothering you, Itachi?" She asked as her fingertips delicately danced upon the bare skin of his chest.

His eyes opened and he frowned deeply, his arm around her retreating and tucked itself behind his head as he contemplated. "What if we just stayed here, Tenten?" He asked lowly, "Forgot about the Kingdom, and lived out our days here together?"

Tenten propped her body up upon her elbow that dug into the comfortable and plush matress and she looked at him with a wasted inquisitive look. "What are you talking about, Itachi?" She asked, trying not to sound as concerned and confused as she felt. This was odd for him to say, he was to be king. Had he really felt that terrible about himself? Was he afraid to take the throne? He didn't even know he was the one to defeat the Dark Lord yet.

"Tenten, I can't let you go against that man. Not when I know what he's capable of. He's harmed you once before, I can't let that happen again. We are staying here." He finally said, resolving the issues in his mind and heart. This seemed like the best solution. Of course his younger brother was not going to be pleased in the least, but eventually he could live with it.

"Itachi, don't talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to me." Tenten assured as she gently placed a hand upon his cheek.

Now it was his turn to sit up, his face turned in the direction of her voice and his expression was stern and unmoving. "Tenten, he killed you once what makes you think he won't do that again?!" His voice started to raise, anger becoming more and more evident. Simply because his love for her was so deep, he couldn't lose her again. Should Tenten face the Dark Lord, Itachi just knew she wouldn't make it out alive, magic or not.

"Don't be selfish," Tenten started, frowning deeply and recalling Tsunade's warning for her not to tell him the truth just yet. "All the people still living in Konoha are suffering under his reign, we have to stop him!"

"I will not allow you to!" His voice boomed deep within his chest, echoing and shattering the peace that had once blanketed the room.

Her chocolate eyes widened and quaked with fear, she hadn't really heard him speak so firmly, or yell at her like that. Only once when he told her to leave his palace after bringing up a sore subject. What was she to do? She herself was growing angry with his behavior, and desperate to put a stop to it.

"I don't care what I have to do to stop you, Tenten! But I will, whatever it takes. I'll tie you up, I'll lock you in a tower! I cannot lose you!" He said as he gripped her arm tightly.

Tenten yanked her arm away from his painful grip and pushed hard on his chest, causing him to lay back on the bed and she straddled him in an angry rage. She glared down at him, not caring that he coldn't see her. She'd been pushed over the edge. She wasn't a woman who was so easilly pushed over, and she'd had enough of his moping. He was about t learn the truth, like it or not. Her hands gripped his shoulders firmly, her dark hair tickling the skin of his chest as she stared intensely down at him and his bewildered form. "It's not me! It's not me who has to defeat Orochimaru, Itachi! It's you!" She huffed, chest rising and falling rapidly in a pant.

He blinked his dark eyes in confusion, his hardened expression softened in perplexity. He wanted to raise a question, but hadn't the words just yet. He could feel the anger pouring from her body and directly into his. She was hot, fuming and her grip on his shoulders only intensified.

"It's been you all this time! You just aren't able to look past what you think is holding you back! Your weakness can be your greatest strength, but only if you let it Itachi!" She exclaimed, now unable to control the angry and passionate tears that flowed from her eyes. "I don't understand how you can't come to grips with it, how wonderful and amazing you actually are!"

His heart clenched tightly inside of his chest, his breathing stopped as he felt hot droplets of water hit his neck, and roll down. She was crying. Passionate about him and how she felt about him. She meant it, the things she was spewing on about. "A-amazing?"

"Magnificent." She said lowly, trying not to choke. "You have to look within yourself, I can't convince you! I can only tell you how much I love you!" She grew weak, her body growing limp, she rested her forehead against his, tears still falling from her chocolate eyes.

He felt his face grow damp from the tears that would't stop falling, and his heart continued to turn inside of his chest. He blinked, her salty tears filling his own eyes after rolling down his cheeks and over the tops of his bottom eyelid and catching in his long lashes. "Tenten I.." He choked out, his body beginning to tremble lightly as something blurred in front of his eyes.

He continued to blink, catching the slight glimps of a silhouette slumped over him.

He blinked once more, chocolate and auburn curls engulfing his peripheral vision.

He blinked again, a fagile, broken face hovering over his own. There she was, she was there, in his sights. Had she done it yet again? Was this a dream, was it a recollection of her? The curse had been been broken, and he had to sacrifice that for her life. It had been sealed, his fate had it not? He had come to terms with never seeing her face again, yet here she was. Sobbing over top of him. Her face just as beautiful as ever, though it was painfully contorted and tears rushed down from her eyes so full of life and passion.

"Tenten.."

"Why can't you see it?" She whispered quietly in a broken and sorrowful voice that cut straight to his heart.

Itachi placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and pushed her upward until she was sitting up and he sat up with her. "I can."

"You can what!?"

"I can see, Tenten! I can see it, I can see you." His excited voice leapt.

Her eyes widened and scanned his face frightfully, excitedly and for that moment she swore that her heart was not beating inside of her chest. "What?" She mumbled through parted and bewildered lips that shook.

"You are so beautiul." He whispered in response as his hands cupped her face, encircling it softly and his eyes drank her every detail in. Her dark, thin brows that framed her large and wonder-filled eyes. Her round cheeks, reddened from her emotions and her adorable nose. Her body was trembling, and unclothed, her hair acting as a covering for her. Curls cascaded down her bare skin, beautifully contrasting against one another. "I don't know how you do it.." He whispered against her lips.

Tenten was in shock, she couldn't believe it. Surely she hadn't been that convincing? She had only thrown a small tantrum, it was an angry outburst. An outburst that caused him to see yet again? Was her anger her super-power? She felt his lips brush against hers so softly, it melted her. "It worked?"

"You always manage to bring me back, Tenten. I should put more faith in you." He said before capturing her lips with his once more...

'You look so beautiful in this light, your sihouette over me...'