A/N- Hey everyone and great to meet you again!
I cannot believe that this story is drawing to a closer. When I first started it, back in 2008 (OMG) never had I known it would turn out to be such a monstrosity!
I've always pride myself to finish all that I have started, but god help me; sometimes I thought that this story would kill me first.
But here we are, almost eight (!) years after, and I am not the same person, and Pein and Itachi are nothing but distant memories in a manga that also had come to an end this year. I also bet that even the readers of this story are not the ones I have started with, lol… Oh well, whoever you are, know that I am grateful for your commitment to read my never-ending humble novel, in this ADHD era it is not a triviality. I really hope you drew some enjoyment out of it.
Happy holidays!
Floating worlds
The elder laid eyes on the warlord and studied him for a while, and then he lifted up his skinny hand and pointed out. ""It is truly him, that Kumori boy… I choose you as my heir." He stated with a trembling voice.
A night's promise to turn a day
Dawn would always follow the night, whether it was welcomed or not, it could be gentle like a loving embrace or cruel as cold blade, and as hard as Deidara tried, wishing it away, the persistent rays of light found a way to enter the tent, and glow behind his shut eyelids, demanding his attention, forcing him to wake up to a world where Hidan was no more.
He groaned as he set up, as if every bone in his body ached while he set up, but it was only his heart that was in anguish.
This was not fair, the world was unjust, horrible and full of mockery, or else how would it take this man from him, the man that saved his wretched life and gave it meaning, the man that was so young and vibrant and so much more deserving than this sad, lonely, quiet ending.
Deidara sent his hand to caress the cold, handsome face, the soft silver hair, the still strong torso. He tried shaking him, senseless as it was. "Wake up, un…" he whispered "Wake up, Hidan, I think we've won."
Outside there were soldiers returning to camp with shouts of joy, drunk on victory and survival, outside there were birds chirping and children happily shrieking, but inside was silence and stillness and there was no answer.
"I love you so…" Deidara fell on the man's cold body and started crying, without shame or a way to stop.
He did not register how much time had passed, but the light had gotten brighter, and the day heated up, and it was getting ever noisier outside.
Two men had entered the tent and lingered at the entrance, hesitating to intrude any further, but after they had realized they were ignored, the older man walked forwards and leaned over the bedroll where his best friend had laid motionless.
Deidara turned to him, bewailed, and tried to push him away, but Kakuzu gently removed the youth from his way and placed his fingers on the cold neck.
"Well?" the younger one asked, with a smooth, calm voice.
Deidara turned to look at the coldhearted redhead through his tears, vaguely recalling his name as Sasori.
"Hidan has left us to the land of the dead." Kakuzu announced wearily.
"Very well, thank you, Kakuzu-san." Sasori sighed. "I'll take it from here, there are wounded in need of your attention."
Kakuzu nodded, Sasori Sama was to attend the dead so he could care for the living. He turned to look at the young blonde. "You should leave; it is unwise to linger here."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Deidara insisted.
"It is bad luck to hold on to the dead, son." Kakuzu explained.
"Bad luck or not, I'm not leaving him!" Deidara hated the fact that he started crying again, and in front of those strangers.
""Well, he's not staying either." Sasori said, smiling coldly.
"Where are you taking him?" Deidara demanded.
"Where do you think? To the pyre, where all carcass must go."
Kakuzu shrunk on his seat, more than anything he would like to give Hidan a proper burial but there were so many bodies everywhere, and he feared a plague so he would not risk it, not even for the honor of the dead.
Deidara gazed into the cold eyes of the young lord, his own eyes sparkling fire, and then, without further warning, he got up on his feet and smacked the redhead so hard, almost knocking him out and then he marched out of the tent like a storm.
"What a rude little brat." Sasori said, wiping blood from his split lip.
"A rude brat indeed." Kakuzu hummed, referring to someone else, though. "You'd better go after him." He said, in a commanding voice.
"What? Why?"
"Because he walked into the woods and there's a steep glen in his direction, I would have no more deaths today, Sasori, go!"
"As you wish." The young warlord blurted his resentment and left the tent as well.
"My old friend…" Kakuzu moaned, as he was left alone, placing his hand on the man's silver locks, and letting memories wash over him, remembering his days of joy and sorrow with the man he viewed as his young brother, they have seen victories and defeats together, they had been through trials and tribulations, celebrations and happy tidings, and never in his most dreaded dreams did he imagine outliving him.
"Sir, Sasori sent us." A man peaked at the tent's entrance, carrying a gurney.
"He said there's another one here for the fire." Another man stepped in.
Kakuzu nodded and got up on his feet, he didn't want to watch the removal of the body, it was too much for his old heart, so he left the tent and went into the woods, and it was time for him to replenish his herbs collection, so he might as well do it now.
There was a nice patch in the woods, full of healing herbs and useful fungi, and Kakuzu has already visited there twice to collect. But as he walked there, with his cloth gloves and straw baskets, he seemed like a moon stroke dog, unable to focus on the task ahead.
He was overwhelmed with sorrow, in few hours he had lost two who were so dear to him; he could not chase their faces out of his mind. He could not believe his adopted young brother was gone, that fouled mouth crooked smile, those bright mischievous eyes, all lost forever.
And his dear, beautiful Kurenai, how he had rejoice at finding her alive, and how horrified he felt, losing her all over again, bleeding to death in his arms, that lovely baby girl, his precious flower, dying in his arms, leaving the world, just as she entered it, in his arms, as he aided the late lady Kumori delivering her.
His arms! His useless arms!
Kakuzu dropped the baskets to the ground and found a rest against a tree, weeping into his gloved hands.
He knew it was indulging, to weep like this when there were so many who needed his attention, but he was weary, and hurting and alone, and he wanted just this little moment for himself.
He almost did not notice that someone else came into the patch, a woman, his age, weary almost as he was.
"Are you alright, sir?" she asked, voicing her concern without shame.
He looked at her sever face, and wondered if this beautiful woman was a spirit of the forest.
"Are you in any pain?" she asked again and he tried his best to calm himself down.
"Who are you?" he asked, shivering.
"I am Minami, lady's Kumori's maid." She answered. "May I help you in any way?"
He shook his head; his bleeding heart was beyond any healing. "No need, thank you, I just took a moment's rest. I'm Kakuzu, lord Kumori's physician, honored to meet you, Minami-san." He answered. "I've came here to collect herbs."
The woman smiled gently. "So did I, it is a rich patch."
"It is, indeed." He agreed and got up on his feet, to pick up his baskets.
"Let me show you where I found some Maitake mushrooms."
"Maitake mushrooms you say? That's wonderful, Show me, please."
oOOo
There were wounded to tend to, and dead to burn or bury, there were scattered horses to gather and ruined land to restore, there were investigations and trials to conduct, there were negotiations with the clan leaders and new alliances to establish.
Order was always a fragile thing, and was established in slow excruciating small steps, so unlike chaos that could be so easy cast upon the land and might rein it mercilessly forever.
It was a true unpleasant surprise to realize the measurement of Danzo's destruction, it was astounding to reveal the fortitude of his ambition, for all he craved for was to be the emperor of the land, and he did not care if there were only ashes left to rule over, when he was done achieving his goal.
The summer was coming to a closer, so did Itachi realized as the servants came in with diner and closed the wooden windows for the first time this season so that the food would not grow cold.
He had spent the last five weeks at the imperial castle, recovering from his wounds and the illness that followed them. He was almost all by himself, with almost no one but Sasuke and Kakuzu to share his company. He accepted his isolation with understanding and did not succumb to gloom.
Madara was gone, with the rest of the Uchiha, back to their village, taking the body of his father with him. He hoped to claim his place as a leader of the clan, and restore the order which was lost due to Danzo's meddling. He had promised to be back before the end of summer, bearing good news and taking both Sasuke and himself back as fully fledged members of the clan, should they decide it was their wish to do so.
Deidara was gone too, leaving soon after Hidan's death without a trace, not to be heard of again, Itachi could only hope that he found his place in the world and did not find himself in the clutch of the white dragon again, Sasori had promised to look for him, after the end of the mourning period.
The royal family had grieved after the loss of their beloved Kurenai, and they enclosed themselves as tradition dictated at her former dwelling room in the palace, spending their days in prayers in the company of monks and leaving only to perform rituals at her grave.
This was one of the reasons Nagato was yet to visit him, and another, Itachi suspected was that being a man of honor, he wished to settle his affairs with his wife before he does anything else, Itachi just hoped that Nagato would not deny his heart again and relinquish his love for Itachi. They were both men, that was true, but why would their love be inferior to that of a man and woman?
If Nagato gives him up, he'll take his breaking heart and go with Madara back to the Uchiha, Madara would probably have his own shards to pick, if Konan chooses to deny him,
All this was remained to be seen, and there was no point in dwelling on it, Itachi was used to take whatever life had handed him, as cruel as it might be, he had always managed to survive it, and if needed, he'll do that again.
For now, he had his diner with Sasuke and his band of friends, he could not deny it; he enjoyed their company. They were a happy bunch, cheerful noisy and mischievous, a perfect diversion for his worried mind.
He could not recall all the names, but there was this annoying Naruto, Sai was there as well, and that clever lazy kid, Shikamaru, and also Shino, Kiba, and some others.
Itachi drank his Miso soup as Naruto babbled about their recent adventure, trying as hard as he could to keep his face impassive, not an easy task.
This time the children had ventured into an unknown pond, just outside the city, and found it infested with a legion of toads of all color, shapes and sizes. They wanted to trap some of them to take back to the palace as pets, but then some crazy hermit came out of his shabby hut and screamed at them to 'bugger off'.
"It was troublesome." Shikamaru summed it up after Naruto finished describing their narrow escape.
"Was that the guards refused to let you in when you came?" Itachi asked his brother with unhidden amusement.
"Yes, Aniki, they sent to an Onsen instead." Sasuke nodded.
"The Mama-chan there said she knew that toad hermit." Naruto added "She said he was a pervert always came to the baths to peek at the girls."
"That's rude." Itachi agreed and lowered his bowl, surveying the plates before him, there was so little food left to choose from, after the hungry children had raid it like a swarm of locust, but there still some salmon rolls remained to be pick up with his chop sticks.
"Tomorrow we're going to the old graveyard, on the high hills." Naruto announced, he was the undeclared leader of the group. "We think we could see some ghosts there."
"That would be so awesome." Kiba agreed. "They say that the late wife of the emperor is hunting for little babies there."
"That's stupid." Shikamaru answered. "There are no babies in a graveyard."
"There are." Shino objected quietly. "Dead babies."
Itachi nearly choked on his roll.
"I say you are all cowards." Sasuke smirked. "We could go to the south; they say that there are some real dead bodies there, because they did not finish cleaning up the forest, it is way batter than some lame ghosts."
"Sasuke, that's a horrible idea!" Itachi almost shouted. "I forbid it!"
"Listen to your big brother." Naruto agreed with a slow, gloomy nod. "Actual dead people are smelly and gross, ghosts are way better."
"As I said- cowards." Sasuke concluded, crossing his hands on his chest.
"If I catch any of you anywhere near that place, you'll join the dead." Itachi concluded in his coldest voice and that was it, no one was brave enough to protest.
After the dinner was over, the servants came in to clear the room, and when everything was tidy again and the children have all left for their dormitory, his room got a bit too quiet all of a sudden.
Yet Itachi noted that Sasuke chose to linger with him still, his little face darkened with concern.
"What is it?" he asked the boy, which followed to the cupboard him from which he fetched the bedding for the night and walked back to the center of the room where he had spread the futons on the wooden floor, and arranged the pillows and blankets.
After he finished, Sasuke set on top one of the futons, as he lay on the other, and Sasuke whispered with a hiss of discontent. "They forgot all about us again."
"Who did?"
"Madara, and that annoying carrot head."
Itachi smiled and bettered the pillow under his head "Why do you care? You don't even like them."
"I don't like it when they forget about me either. They always leave … Mom, Dad, Madara, Pein-sama…" Sasuke said and drew his futon as near to his brother's as he could before tucking himself into it.
"But not me." Itachi said softly and laid his hand on his brother's head, enjoying the way his little face lit up and smiled at him. "I'll never leave you alone."
"But you almost did, stupid ass, remember?" Sasuke ranted in a low voice, cuddling near. "You almost died."
"But I didn't."
"I'd kill you if you did."
"Hey! What's with all this death talk? We are alive and we won the war and all is over. So stop it, would you?"
"Did we win? Really?'
"Sure we did, Pein-sama will bring peace to our land and there will be no more wars."
"That's good, I think."
"And I know." Itachi petted Sasuke's soft hair and kissed his temple. "It's late, go to sleep."
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Sasuke nearly jumped up with excitement.
"I just made bed for two, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did, thank you."
"You welcome, sleep now."
"Hey, Aniki…"
"What is it?"
"You never finished the story."
"What story?"
"The story, don't you remember, about Mikoto and her Dragon friend and the king of the eels?"
"Oh, that story…" Itachi gazed at the ceiling, where patches of moonlight moved with the wind. "I thought you forgot all about it. Do you still remember it?"
"What happened after Mikoto broke free from her cage and the eels chased her?"
"Sasuke, you are a grown up, you don't need children's stories anymore." Itachi teased and with some sadistic pleasure he watched as Sasuke got more and more annoyed.
"Aniki!"
"Sorry, Sasuke, but this story is for little boys only"
"But Aniki! Can't we pretend that I'm still a kid? Just for tonight? Can we?"
Itachi gave it some considering in silence "I guess we can…" he reconciled and Sasuke's face lit up once again.
"Yosh! Please finish the story!"
Itachi turned his body towards his little brother and covered them both with the same blanket, and the world suddenly contained them both and none other.
"The princess ran away from the king eel, but the bell tied to her ankle betrayed her, and before she knew it, Anagoru and his army of eels were after her, chasing her and closing in. She was desperate, surrounded and lost, everywhere she turned, and there were eels with their slick bodies and sharp teeth and electrifying touch. She knew that she would rather die before returning to that cage, so she fought them as hard as she could, but there were too many."
Sasuke held his breath. "No! This is not how it ends!" he protested.
"No it isn't" Itachi agreed. "Because just when she thought all was lost, there came a little water dragon to help her… and another, and another, and before she know it, there was an army of little water dragons coming to her rescue."
"Mizukun?"
"Yes. Mizukun did not die, he just got badly injured and needed time to heal. But now he was back, and he came rushing in, straight towards Anagoru and they had battled for a day and a night, and at the end…"
"Mizukun won!"
"Yes, he and Mikoto and the army of water dragons had defeated Anagoru and his evil minions, and forced them to retreat into the dark pits of the ocean, to hide their ugly faces and never to be seen again."
"Good! That's how the story should end." Sasuke breathed. "I like better like this, brother."
"Thank you." Itachi smiled. "After the battle and the defeat of the King eel, Mizukun took Mikoto back to her home and her family, and they were so happy because they all thought that she was dead."
"But she wasn't." Sasuke said. "She came back home and lived there until the end of days."
"That's right, Sasuke, she was alive and well."
"And she married Mizukun."
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
"Because she was a princess and he was a dragon."
"So?"
"So this is not how it goes."
"It is." Sasuke insisted.
"It's my story, so no, there was no marriage."
"Yes there was! Every happy ending has a marriage in it."
"If you say so…"
"I say so- The end." The boy announced with a commanding voice that gave no room for an argument.
Itachi chuckled softly "good night, Sasuke." he leaned and kissed the boy's cheek.
"Good night." Sasuke answered and burrowed under the covers, soon to fall asleep.
oOOo
The night that had ended the mourning period was the coldest one yet, as the hot season was drawing to an end. The air was fresh and free from the summer's suffocating humidity, and the waxing moon took the orange color of a ripe persimmon and hung low, bathing the roofs of the capital city and its walls with a soft glow.
When they came back from the graveyard, their rooms were already clean and burnished without the smallest sign of grief left. The servants swept away the salt that visitors threw on the floor, to chase away evil spirits, cleaned the ashes of incenses that were burned during prays and removed all the holy scrolls and sculptures to be placed back in the temple. The sorrow would only dwell in the heart from now on.
Pein went through the past few weeks as if sleep walking, overwhelmed by the turn of events. He remembered only small fractures, random segments of time.
He remembered placing the rag doll he found in Kuroyama on his sister's pyre, bagging her forgiveness for coming too late, as he did back then in that wretched dark room of the fortress, where he found the toy at the first place.
He recalled holding on to Hiroki, as the child wept in his arms, yet unable to express his love with words, he just kissed the boy's red hair and let him linger even when it was past the proper time to let go.
He smiled at the memory of Kakuzu, sneaking in one night with a bottle of sake, which they emptied together for the sake of the dead, soldiers and civilians, strangers or friends, foes and family. They raised a cup for Asuma, Kurenai and their children, Kakashi, Hidan, and so many more. The land was drenched in blood, filled with bones and covered in ashes, now the upcoming winter will adorn it with its purifying snowy blanket.
He carved into his mind the way Konan sang the children to sleep with her Koto and sweet voice, tears rolling down her eyes, it was a moment where he realized how lucky he was to have his family alive and together, and he knew he would give his life gladly again and again if needed to keep their wellbeing.
But the most vivid memories he had were of his nightmares, filed with war and death, and hungry ghosts, they were so hunting that he found himself fighting against sleep every night, avoiding it for as long as he could, until his body gave in, usually somewhere outside of his bed.
"Your room is ready, my lord." An old servant had found his hiding place at the edge of the balcony, pulling Pein back from his wondering thoughts. "Please come inside, this night promises to be a bit chilly."
"Thank you, I'll be right in." Pein said, finishing his smoke slowly, until the red glowing charcoal in the pipe surrendered to the cold and withered away to ashes.
The servant was a persistent one and would not move from the door, as Pein hoped he would, so he sighed and put the pipe on the small table and got up from his seat, to follow the man in.
"Good night, Pein-sama." The servant bowed as they entered his bedroom, and soon he was gone, closing the screens behind him.
The room was warm, as a small fireplace at its center gave a steady flow of heat and the cinders within it glowed like rubies; there was a fresh scent of pine oil, which was probably used by the servants to refresh the tatami, and the futon near the fireplace looked fluffy and inviting, everything seemed perfect, if not for one small flaw- he was not alone in the room.
Underneath the blankets, Pein could detect the shape of a woman; she was probably waiting there for a while now, and gave into slumber while he lingered outside.
He could not help smiling, while considering his move. Is this the way things were going to be from now on? Who had sent that woman in? An ambitious minister trying to win his favor? A rival hoping to gain some leverage over the future emperor? Or maybe that woman herself was a cunning one, wishing to warm her way into a better position in the court? Yet the interesting question of all was- when will they start sending boys to his bed?
He walked silently towards the bedding and knelt by the slumbering beauty, sending a hand to wake her up, yet even his most gentle touch had managed to startled her and she rose up to her elbows gasping.
"Konan?" he recognized her familiar features with no small amount of surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Is a wife not allowed into her husband's bed?" she asked, covering herself up with her silken robe against the chill of the air or his cold greeting.
"Of course she is." He answered softly, a bit embarrassed, for all of the possibilities he entertained in his mind this most obvious one had eluded him. "I just thought you'd prefer sleeping in the nursery with the children."
"Minami's there." Konan whispered. "And even the most devoted mother sometimes longs for her husband's company." There was sadness in her voice and Pein could not ignore it. "We are very lucky to be alive and the mourning period is over, so I have thought…Was I wrong?"
"Wrong? I'm sorry." Pein breathed deeply, trying to conquer the feel of rage washing that had washed all over him, but he only mad at himself, for he was a coward and this talk which he had promised his wife was sorely overdue.
"Konan, dear…" he whispered, grasping for a way to start, and the tears that shone in her eyes did not make this any easier."You have known me since we both were little children. Since the time our fathers have decided that we must marry. Our marriage was decided for us before we have even learned to speak and certainly before we knew how our hearts beat."
"My heart beats for you, husband, just as it has always been!" Konan said with a tremble and got on her knees, reaching out to hold Pein and pressed him to her chest, placing her palms on his nape and then she kissed him.
He let her kiss him, but remained impassive against her passion and after a while she let go, slamming her fist into his chest. "Damn you!" she started crying "Cold hearted monster!"
"Konan." He moved to hold her shaking, almost naked body, wrapping the blanket around her shivering shoulders. "Please, calm down."
"Why should I? Why should I calm down? This was supposed to be our victory! The pinnacle of our life! Where you are to be the emperor and I- the emperor's wife! So why is my world falling apart? All because of that boy! That whore!" she said, voice full of agony and loathing. "You prefer that beautiful boy who could only give you filthy earthly pleasures over me, the woman that gave you heirs!"
"That boy's name is Itachi, and he is no longer a courtesan, but a free, fearless warrior. Please remember that we both owe our lives and our children's lives to him."
"How can you prefer him over me? How could you choose lusting over a boy when you could have the love of a woman?" She insisted fiercely still.
His was a simple answer. "My heart beats for him."
Konan nearly laughed in bitter mockery "Is that so? A man loves another man? That's a first."
He gave her a thoughtful gaze before he continued "I know society doesn't acknowledge this, but a love of two men can be as deep and profound as a love of a man and a woman."
Her eyes widen in disbelieve "They will mock you, despise you, conspire behind your back." She spat out in agony "They already ogle your position with hungry eyes and will not hesitate to use this weakness to hunt you down! Do you think that you are so secured as the emperor's heir? There are still warlords out there, like Danzo, that will use every excuse to try and overthrown you!"
"Let them try." Pein answered with a cold inviting smile. "And they will only taste blood and dirt in their mouths as did Danzo, before losing their heads."
"You are so sure of yourself!"
"I intend to be a strong and just emperor for this land and for its people, and be judged by my deeds only. If the land flourishes and grows powerful, if the people are well fed and their children safe, no one would care who warms my bed."
But I would, she wanted to say but didn't, she lowered her head in defeat instead.
"So you believe you need no wife…" She concluded in a whisper, painfully "What would become of me then? Would you send me away to some remote place to dwell in loneliness? Or would you have me killed in some discreet way?"
An accident, maybe? An unknown illness? It had all happened before, so she had heard the stories circulating the court, tales of unwanted wives, who fell from grace and were forsaken, or worse, forced to commit suicide or killed as soon as they finished their duty of producing heirs. This was a world of men, and women were destined to live and die by their whim.
"I would never do such a thing!" Pein stated with horror. "I am not a monster, Konan, I care for you dearly and only wish for your happiness, please, make no enemy of me!"
"But how could I? When you have no place for me in your heart?"
"But I do." Pein took her into his embrace, patting her hair, stroking her shivering body. "I will always have a place for you in my heart." He promised, whispering to her ear, tears started forming in his eyes as well and he wiped them away before facing her and searching for her gaze. "Konan, dear, please listen to me …"
She leaned into him, into his strong arms and hard chest, making her best effort not to give into crying again.
"Listen to me…" he pleaded again."I have tried, Konan, my dear. I have tried the best I could to hold on to our agreement and only take earthly pleasure from boys. But it made me a cruel man, it made me rude and impatient and easy to rage. I was slowly dying inside, Itachi saved me, he truly did."
"That boy again." She whispered against his chest. "He's an Uchiha demon, Nagato, a spell-caster, you mustn't trust him. Find another, a beautiful pliant boy that wouldn't cut your throat while you're sleeping."
He could only chuckle at this, for there was no other that showed his loyalty to him better than Itachi, time and again risking his life without a falter.
"I'd be lucky if Itachi wishes to stay by my side, Konan. Know that I've treated him badly, without any respect; I had thought that since I could buy his body I also could own his soul. He may choose not to stay with the man who knew him as a whore."
She looked up to him with puzzlement and saw the tears shine in his eyes. "Are you prepared to give me up and not gain Itachi in turn? To be left all alone?"
"If necessary." He admitted with sorrow.
"You'd rather us both be alone." She concluded, removing herself from his arms. "I'd better join a monastery if that's the case." She said settling near the fire.
It took his quite a while to answer this, but he mastered all his courage to let the words be spoken "If you wish to love another I would not object." He announced but it only made her laugh. "I mean it, Konan, you are a red blooded woman, and you deserve the love of a man."
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying that you are entitled of perusing your own happiness with a man that would love you with depths I cannot reach. Discretion is all I demand."
There was no way for her to hide her surprise, and she tried to conquer it and give the idea a real though before dismissing it completely, but then she shook her head with a bitter smile. "Even if I take you as true to your word, and that you will not back down from it- who would be mad enough to risk his life and committing adultery with the emperor's wife?"
"I might know one." Pein suggested gently.
Konan snarled at his implication. "He is the leader of his clan, he'd require heirs."
"That could be arranged regardlessly."
Konan shook her head again and bettered her gown around her, preparing to leave. "You speak nonsense, husband, due to lack of sleep, I assume."
"Let the Uchiha be the judge of that, dear wife, he may surprise you."
She got on her knees and bowed slightly "Good night, my lord."
"Good night, my lady." He returned the gesture and watched as she left the room.
oOOo
He shed the cloak of shadows and let his presence be shown as soon as Lady Konan left the room, Pein smiled helplessly at the revelation. "Get in." he said.
The Uchiha glided over the balcony's railing and through the window like a graceful cat and let himself into the room.
"How much of it did you hear?" Pein asked, he brought his hand to his temple, nursing his developing headache
"That's a rude question, Pein-sama." Madara answered, taking a great pleasure in it. "A ninja would never reveal the extent of his knowledge. However, you may rely on my discretion" he added the last bit with a small smirk.
"I should have known this would be your answer." Pein mumbled then straightened his posture. "Shall I order some tea in? You seem a bit cold."
"No thank you, I'll be brief." Madara answered "I've traveled the whole day long and wish for its end, you also look like you could use some sleep."
"What news do you bring from your traveling?"
"Many."
Pein breathed in and tried to be patient but Madara refused to elaborate without further encouragement. "Please, I wish to hear of it."
"Well…" Madara smiled again and set down in front of the fire, effortlessly taking a lotus position. "The Uchiha had accepted me as their master." He said with unhidden pride. "The few who objected had left the village and pose little threat."
"That's good news."
"Indeed. I also sent word to all other clans as you instructed, to have a meeting with you this time next summer. I delivered the massage personally to the Hatake clan, as I returned Kakashi's body to them. They have already accepted the invitation."
"I hope all clans would, Toujou included, it is time for a revolution in the Shinobi world. No more assassinations and murders for the money of petty clients, those acts only undermine the stability of our nations. The clans will work together for the sake of the empire or perish from this world."
"I agree." Madara bowed lightly. "A time for unity has come; our real enemies lurk beyond the sea with their cannons, and firearms, and giant metal warships."
Pein nodded his agreement letting some of his worry to be shown on his face. "This concern I share with Danzo, the only thing we both had ever agreed upon, there is a gap to close between us and the rest of the world."
"I am sure that we will succeed doing so under your guidance."
"Peace is the key." Pein nodded slowly in appreciation and continued. "If peace reins our lands, there is no foreigner threat that we could not overcome."
"Again, I agree."
"We have to study them, gain their technologies and adapt some of their ideas and culture, I believe that we may even surpass them eventually and take our place as a proud member among the enlightened nations, but in order to do so we must unite and stop acting like savages. Peace and unity are essential to our survival."
"And they could only be achieved under strong leadership."
"I know." Pein breathed out. "I'll do my best. What other news you have?"
"It seems like Hanzo had fled the country to the main land, taking with him a few loyal soldiers. My men tracked him down to a small port town southeast of here, but his traces had vanished as he had taken a passage in a ship there."
"Kakuzu told me that he had poisoned the old emperor with lead and mercury for at least five years, that vile man. Now that he's gone, the emperor has a much clearer mind. Kakuzu believes that stopping that poisoning had bought him at least three more years to live."
"Does he wish to remain an emperor to his last day?"
Pein shook his head slowly. "When we last spoke he told me he'd pass the crown to me in the upcoming spring. I suspect that he has little strength left, and no will to continue his rein. The betrayal of his most trusted men had worn him out completely. I wonder if the Toujou were behind that poisoning as well."
"The Toujou are not the only ones who know their way around poisons, my lord."
"I guess that's true."
"I will try to contact the Toujou and negotiate with them, as soon as I place Sasuke and Itachi in our village. I also have some members of the clan here, people I put my trust in." Madara informed him. "They will keep an eye on you and the emperor while I'm away."
Pein frowned at the idea. "I need no shadows looming over me."
"Yes you do." Madara insisted "Get used to it; you'll always have powerful enemies awaiting their opportunity to strike." He echoed Konan's words. "So you should have powerful protectors against them; besides, Itachi will kill me if something happens to you while he's away."
"I'd approve of it, for time being." Pein mumbled reluctantly.
"Should I send men to the main land to track Hanzo down and kill him?" Madara wisely changed the subject and gave Pein a new thing to consider.
"Track down, yes, killing no." the warlord answered after a short while "We would benefit from spying on him, should he expose more traitors still operating within the palace."
"Yes, that's a better idea." Madara said in irritation, finding himself in agreement once more, he was not used to agree with others to such extant. "I'll send two men at sunrise."
Pein nodded and turned to stare at the glowing embers of the fireplace, he needed some time to collect the courage to ask. "Have you talked to the seer on my behalf? Does she have a vision for me?"
Madara just nodded and reached for an inner pocket of his cloak, fetching a sealed scroll. "Consider yourself lucky, Uruchi-sama's visions do not come by order, however…" he placed the scroll in Pein's awaiting hand."For your eyes only, read it in solitude and share this knowledge with no other."
Pein nodded and checked the scroll, apart from its Uchiha seal, there seemed to be nothing special about it. "Thank you." He said and placed it besides him. "Have you read it?"
"No." Madara said, appalled. "Nor have I talked about it with her, visions are a private matter, Pein-sama. All I know is what Uruchi-sama told me while handing the scroll. She said that you'd find it useful."
"I hope so." Pein admitted honestly. He could use all the help he could get. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that his journey to avenge his sister's death would have him end up as the royal heir. But if it was his fate, he would do everything within his power to serve his country well.
"Would that be all, my lord?" Madara asked after this long moment of silence between them.
Pein smiled at the sight of the worn out ninja. "That would be all, you should go and rest."
"Thank you, Pein-sama." Madara bowed lightly and as he stirred in his effort to get up, Pein stopped him with a raise of hand. "Sir?"
"We have been taken a great responsibility upon us, Uchiha-sama." Pein said with gravity. "To take this wounded land and lead it to prosperity. I would be relying on you."
"This land has a great potential, and we must cultivate it to its fullest."
"She is not as strong as she lets it show." Pein added with care, looking into Madara's black eyes.
Madara held his gaze for a moment. "I know." He answered, bowing again. "Good night, Pein-sama."
He was answered with a slight bow from the emperor's heir and left the room as quietly as a mouse.
oOOo
Madara had pride himself for walking into the boys' sleeping chamber without being detected. He slipped under the covers and crawled slowly near Itachi to cuddle him from behind. He knew he was too soon to be smug as he felt the cold blade pressing against his neck.
"It is me, pretty boy, no need to fret."
"Call me 'pretty boy' one more time." Itachi whispered in annoyance.
Madara chuckled removed his hands in surrender, Itachi then lifted the dagger from his tender flesh and put it back to its hiding place under a pillow.
"Why are you here?"
"You knew I'd come for you."
"Why are you here in my bed?"
"Huh? I did not want to bother the servants to prepare me a room. Besides this one is already warm and Sasuke is here too."
"Sasuke is not a grown man."
"Pein-sama is a grown man and is allowed in your bed. I am your blood."
Itachi blinked in the dark and decided to ignore Madara's tone of hurt. "Would the Uchiha accept us to the village?"
"They will. Would you go?"
"Would they teach us to use our powers? And the power of our eyes?"
"Of course they will." Madara drew near again and cuddled the youth, enjoying his resentment. "We leave next week, before the first snow, if you both wish it so."
"We do." Itachi admitted, for years he had yearned to meet the Uchiha clan and take his place among them. "I only need to visit a fishermen's village before we start the journey, I've made a promise to some ghost children that I would."
"Where is that village?" Madara asked, puzzled at the strange statement, but he knew better than to pry, the gift of sight was a holly and a private thing.
"Two or three days to the northwest."
"That's in our general direction; I see no reason to object. Good night, Itachi-kun."
"Good night, Madara-sensei."
oOOo
A/N- I promise that the next chapter would have Pein and Itachi alone time, and would be definitely, absolutely and without a fault- the last chapter.
Reviews are most welcomed, if you want to indulge me (but it's also ok if you don't)
Take care :-)