Secrets of Avalon

Authors' Note: Thanks for the reviews. We hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 37

All of the secrecy was beginning to wear on Kurenai. There were attempted assassinations threatening CHILDREN, and an orc king who wasn't content to keep his armies well away from the elven kingdoms and out of their affairs. She knew that it was only a matter of time before the orcs discovered the deception, and mounted an attack in their fury. There were not known as the most logical or patient of the races of Avalon, and it was just the kind of move their conniving king would make.

Still, it was difficult to feel all that worried snuggled up in the sheets of Itachi's bed, with her very warm-blooded lover by her side. She brushes aside Itachi's long hair, leaning over him slightly to rest on his bare chest. "As much as it pains me to ask, shouldn't you be busy plotting how to outwit a king, rather than lounging in bed with me?"

He smiles and holds her closely. "What makes you think that I can not do both at once?" Itachi kisses her forehead. "You are as always, my inspiration in all manner of things."

Kurenai chuckles softly. "Is that so? Then pray tell, what have I inspired you to conspire? I do look forward to hearing this."

"Well we could always tie the orc king up in those vines of yours." He nods sagely as if this was simply a brilliant idea. "And drop him off into the midst of one of the wild tribe's territories, preferably Naruto's." And let nature take its course.

"Oh, now that is cruel." Kurenai knew of the Uzumaki tribe, and they were usually such a jovial lot. Touch one of their friends, however, and that joyous band of elves quickly became vicious and unforgiving. "Though I must admit that the idea has merit. However did you come up with such a punishment?"

"Well as I said, you're my inspiration and you do love to use your vines." He chuckles at the thought as he runs his fingers through her hair.

As she smiles, vines begin crawling from the bracelet around Kurenai's wrist, encircling and ensnaring Itachi playfully. "Yes, you're right, I do quite like to use my vines." Though that did bring a few questions to mind. They had three children from another world, and two of the three showed particularly strong magical talents. Perhaps the third might as well. If so, then perhaps Kurenai's services as a teacher might be a benefit after all.

Itachi nods and leans over, kissing her. "As much as it pains me to say it, I suppose that you should at least check on the newest addition." Who knew what this Seeker might be capable of?

Despite herself, Kurenai sighs. "Yes, I was just thinking much the same thing. You have simply allowed me to grow spoiled here." There was not much for her to do, save to play music so that the entire palace might hear, and to tend to the plants in the gardens. "You are intent on making me take things easy."

"You say that as if it is a bad thing." He chuckles and nips her ear playfully. "If you prefer, I imagine that I could make at least something very hard for you again."

"I'm sure you could." Kurenai swats the prince lightly behind the ears. "However, you have plotting to do, and I have children to teach. Whether they wish to learn or not."

He pouts slightly. "Alright." Itachi stretches out lazily. "In that case, I shall get on with the plotting."

"Very good, Love." Kurenai presses a kiss to his forehead as she rises from the bed, gliding to the wardrobe to remove some of the clothes Itachi had insisted the tailors make for her. They were light and airy, but practical and strong when the time called for them. And most importantly, the royal crest adorned the back, marking her as Itachi's intended as much as the jewels entwined in the night sky around her neck.

"I do like those clothes on you." He smiles slyly. "Of course, I like you better out of them. But one can't have everything." He pauses and adds. "I think I'll go and consult my father about this matter. I wish you good luck with our Seekers."

"Yes…if only we knew precisely what that meant…" It was frustrating really. She considered herself to be quite knowledgeable on many topics, however that of the Seekers eluded her. Why were there no records concerning them? Just what were they?

"From what I gather it describes an incredibly foolish, but brave young person with great magical gifts." Itachi nods sagely. "And they seem to all hail from Tokyo." He chuckles.

Kurenai resists the urge to throw a boot at her lover, choosing to pull it onto her foot instead. "I very much doubt that such is the definition. However, that both Sasuke and Hinata should be targeted, both Seekers, and a new one appearing so suddenly, I can't help but to think that this mystery is something our enemies are privy to. At least to some degree." The targeting just seemed too suspicious.

"That's true." He nods. "I'll have a look in the library." There might be something useful there.

"And I will be sure to teach the children whatever it is they need to learn in order to protect themselves." Kurenai saunters back to the bed, sitting by Itachi and smiling mischievously. "Teaching is, after all, my specialty." She smirks as she kisses him, a seductive, teasing gesture.

He kisses back. "Yes, it is. Though I doubt they will be anywhere near as attentive in their lessons as I am." The prince smirks up at his lover.

"One can only hope." Aiming carefully, Kurenai swats Itachi's backside, causing a familiar jolt, hitching of the breath, wry smirk, and look of lust in her lover's eyes. "Now go on, you have work to do!" Honestly, that man…despite his intellect, even he could be led around by his cock. "I will see you tonight." She shakes her head as she makes for the door. Men...some things never changed.

"Yes, tonight." He nods in agreement and sighs as he heads off to the library. "Shame that it's only for reading this time."

"Hinata, come on!" Ino jumps on the bed, waking the prince and his princess. "Show me around the castle, since Prince Lazybones won't do it!"

Sasuke grumbles and pulls a pillow over his head, further ruffling up his hair. "I told you…I can't leave my room, otherwise I'll be seen. I'm supposed to be dead!"

Hinata raises an eyebrow. "Trust me, Ino... Sasuke is many things, but lazy isn't one of them." She shakes her head as she gets up and stretches. "Alright. I'll show you around though. Sasuke can't come." She gives him a dirty look. "Because he's supposed to be dead, again."

Irritable this early in the morning, onyx eyes glare out from under the pillow. "Not my fault. It was Sai's brilliant plan, and I had to go along with it. And it's not my fault that your dad's scouts are so…prompt."

"You should be grateful that they are, it might save someone's life one day." She shakes her head. "We'll be back later."

"Yeah, yeah…" Sasuke turns over, laying his head back on top of the pillow as he tangles himself in the sheets. "Wake me up for lunch…" In seconds, he's out like a light again.

Ino rolls her eyes as she tosses clothes to Hinata. "Looks like someone isn't a morning person." Good to know for the future, though. That could be something funny to take advantage of.

"He's more of a night owl." Hinata smiles at him fondly. "I hope that you two can eventually get beyond the traumatic meeting."

"I doubt the 'meeting' is going to be the problem." Ino smirks at the sleeping prince. "I just wonder if he'll get over the fact that I used to be one of his fangirls. You know, before he up and disappeared, and we all thought he'd died or something."

Hinata shakes her head and laughs. "I doubt he'd hold that against you." She smiles. "That was years ago."

"Yeah…" Ino waits until Hinata is properly dressed before dragging Hinata out into the palace gardens. "So you guys have been here the whole time you were missing?"

"Well it's complicated, but we've both been here in Avalon." How could she explain this? "Avalon is a very big place though. Saying you're in Avalon is kinda like saying you're on another Earth, I guess." She nods. "There are a lot of countries in it."

Well, shit. "So…you're saying that we're in an entirely different world?" That explained the elves and the pegasus. "Are we talking like…another planet, or an entirely dimension." Not that either would help Ino figure out how to get back to Japan.

"A different dimension." Hinata sighs and shake sher head. "From what little I know, it seems there are a lot of dimensions and that book can suck certain people into other dimensions."

"So…sucked into a magical book, got it." Yeah that was one of the things that Ino was having a hard time wrapping her head around. "So how do the three of us get home?"

Hinata shakes her head. "The three of us don't." Oh boy. This wasn't going to end well. "Sasuke and I are staying here and whether or not you do as well, well that's up to you."

"You're not…" Ino blinks at her friend. "What do you mean you're not going back? You two went missing…there are people wondering where you went, police searches, dogs, they've been looking for you."

"If it's really been a year back there, they probably think we're dead." Hinata looks at her apologetically. "We're both happy here and I would love it if you could stay, but we have families here. We aren't leaving."

They were staying because they had families? Ino could understand Sasuke staying for that, but Hinata? Maybe the upgrade from heiress to princess played a part in it? Or was her new family just so nice that she'd forgotten Ino entirely? "You're really not coming back?" Ino shakes her head, eyes growing soft with sadness. "Is this world really that precious to you…?"

"It is." Hinata sighs and hugs Ino. "I've missed you horribly, but I had been gone for so long by the time, I realized I was stuck here...that I assumed everyone figured I was dead. I assumed you had grieved and were moving on with your life." She hadn't expected Ino to come after her!

"No body, no death." Ino squeezes Hinata tightly. "There were whispers, but I never believed them. The police never found a body, so I figured that whoever took you was some dirty asshole who was keeping you locked up in a basement or something. I kept wanting to go and find you, but it was like you'd just vanished into thin air." Ino chokes back a soft sob. "Hinata…I missed you so much…"

She holds her tightly. "I've missed you as well." Hinata felt guilty, she had no idea Ino would still be suffering this much this far after her disappearance. "Though if you do stay, you can be my maid of honor in about thirty years. Elves live a lot longer than humans." She rubs the back of her head sheepishly. "So we're considered too young to marry here and it's going to be a very long engagement."

Tempting, really it was, and it makes Ino pout. "And why exactly are we considered too young? You're not much younger than me, just a few months. Are they crazy or something?"

"Well you see elves, live a lot longer than humans." Hinata nods at her. "Most elves will live to be at least four or five centuries, though some can live for a thousand years."

Ino pauses, taking that in and doing the math. "So…I guess eighteen or nineteen years isn't much to them, then?" In that case, it made sense that they would be considered a couple of kids. "But you're sleeping with him, right?"

Hinata blushes, but nods. There wasn't really much of a point in denying that. "Yes, well normally most elves wouldn't be engaging in intimacy this early on. It's just we grew up human." So like it or not, whatever their family members thought of it, there was no point in keeping them apart anymore. "So...certain exceptions were made. As long as we're careful and agree to a long engagement, our parents are willing to look the other way."

Snickering behind her hand, Ino's face lights up with glee. "How scandalous. The prince and princess getting it on three decades before they're allowed to get married. What would the courts say if they knew…?"

"The courts already now." Her face grows redder by the minute. "It's a very long story, but for the moment most people thing he's dead." Another long story. "Actually, it's several long stories. The orc king tried to kill Sasuke. He thinks that his assassin managed it, but the assassin had a change of heart. We have to make it look convincing." She pauses. "So as far as you know, I'm in mourning and Sasuke is dead! Remember that!"

Ino sobers up and wags her finger. "Actually, as far as I know, I'm a foreigner here, who knows nothing of court politics, and has no idea the ups and downs of this place, let alone time to keep track of who is who, and who is or isn't dead." She knew nothing, as far as anyone else was concerned. "It's not like I know anything that someone else would want to know. And as far as anyone else knows, that's the truth."

"Yes, I know." She shakes her head. "But just to be on the safe side, it'd be good if you were thoroughly briefed." Well at least they were no longer talking about her sex life. That was progress!

"Yes, a thorough briefing would be good. Secretly, of course, because again, I know nothing. Why would anyone be interested in me?" Ino winks, smiling slyly. "Now…speaking of a thorough briefing…how is that prince of yours in the sack? Has he learned some elfy tricks to make you sigh and swoon for him? He must have, considering how many hearts you have in your eyes whenever you look at him."

She was never going to stop blushing. "Yes, a thorough briefing." Damn it. Ino wasn't going to let that go. "Ino!"

The blond prods her friend mischievously. "Oh come on…he's a hottie. You can't tell me that he's really no good in bed, right?"

As Hinata blushes furiously, Kurenai walks into the gardens, chuckling at the sight. "Hello Hinata. It's good to see that you and your friend are getting along." She glances to her left. "Thank you for helping me to find them, Sai."

Hinata looks gratefully at Sai. Maybe, Ino would forget about her Sexual Inquisition now. "You're welcome, Lady Kurenai." Sai smiles as he nods at the princess and a blond female elf that he hadn't seen before. He would have remembered someone that beautiful.

Ino's eyes widen at the sight of the tall, dark-haired elf. She elbows Hinata and drops her voice to a whisper. "Who's that hottie!?"

"Another long story." She rubs the back of her head sheepishly and whispers. "That's Sai. He's the assassin that spared Sasuke and well, I guess he's also taken up painting."

A merciful assassin with an eye for beauty, and the hand to paint it with? That sounded…rather nice. "I see…" Ino's eyes stayed fixed on Sai's for a moment, before turning to the equally dark-haired woman next to him, the one with startlingly red eyes. She was quite beautiful, clad in red and white, and with… Ino tilts her head. "What's that around your neck?" It looked like jewels tied there with dark, braided silk threads.

Kurenai raises an eyebrow, before smiling and touching the braids. "A token from my intended." Her eyes find her student. "Hinata wears one as well."

Ino's eyes widen, shooting from Kurenai to Hinata, and falling to Hinata's throat. "…Is that…HIS?" Was that HAIR!? It looked like it!

Hinata nods. "Yes, it's my token." She pauses trying to explain the custom simply. "It's their version of an engagement or wedding ring."

Sai smiles and chuckles. "The elves of Thiral are known to be a sentimental lot, amongst other things." He smiles more at Ino. "They have a tradition of giving their intended a piece of the night sky to wear. Some of them get rather creative about it." He glances at Kurenai's and Hinata's tokens.

"A piece of the night sky…" Well, Ino could see that the hair was definitely as dark as the sky, and Kurenai's token had gems woven throughout the strands like stars. "How romantic…"

The bluenette smiles and nods. "There is a lot to like about this world, we just have to make sure that Danzo and Kaguya don't ruin it." Which unfortunately, was far easier said than done.

"Right…they're the big bad, then?" It sounded like your typical adventure story to Ino. "Beat the bad guys, save the world, everyone lives happily ever after?"

"Mmm something like that." Hinata nods. "I'm so glad you're caught up."

"Sucked into a book equals adventure story. No biggie." Ino takes a deep breath and shakes her head. "All we have to do is make sure none of the good guys die, right?"

"Yes, quite right." Though the girl's manner of speech was odd, even more so than Hinata's, Kurenai had gotten the gist of it. "And in the interest of preventing any untimely deaths, I thought it wise to begin a new series of magic lessons."

The princess smiles. "Thank you, Kurenai Sensei." She looks at Ino. "Kurenai has been teaching me magic. So has Sasuke's mother, but her lessons are more...exotic."

"Exotic?" Ino smirks in an instant. "Maybe I should get some lessons from Sasuke's mom, then. They sound like they could be…useful."

Kurenai shakes her head at the girl's antics. "Yes…well, for now, I believe that it would be wise to discover what your innate talents are. Sasuke has a natural control over lightning, and Hinata seems to do better with light-based spells, and incantative ones." She glances at her student. "Have you been practicing them, Hinata?"

Hinata blushes and nods. "Yes, I have been practicing." A lot. Particularly the spell to ward off pregnancy. She soon turns her attention back to Ino though. "Well if you want Queen Mikoto to help you, um…you'll have to be nicer to Sasuke. The queen is very close to her sons."

"Hm…noted." Ino could be nice to Sasuke if it meant snagging lessons from the queen. Then, she turns her eyes onto the silent assassin. "Will you be staying for lessons?" He was about their age, wasn't he?

"Well, I don't see why not." He smiles at Kurenai. "If the Lady Kurenai allows it. I currently don't have any other matters that I can attend to."

The teacher smiles, shaking her head. "I see no reason why not. Perhaps you might contribute something to the lessons. Perhaps you might learn something as well." Even if she was fairly sure the man was older even than her. A decade, perhaps, not much.

He continues smiling. "Very well. Though I would imagine you are more well versed than I in this regard." Sai glances at Ino. "But I would be glad to assist you in any way that I can."

Ino beams, and Kurenai sits herself next to the girl, smiling kindly. "Now, my dear tell me…of anything and everything in nature, whether it be the earth or the sky, the water, or fire, any part of the natural world…what do you feel most connected to?"

The blond blinks, opening her mouth instantly. "Flowers."

Hinata smiles and nods at that. "Well then you definitely are in luck." The bluenette smiles more. "That's something of a specialty for Kurenai."

"Really?" Ino's eyes brighten as the teacher nods. "Cool! Back in my world, I work in a flower shop, it's where I always feel most alive. And here too, everything just feels so…alive, like the trees could just pick themselves up and start walking around." It was all so vibrant and full of life…not that that helped Ino figure out what berries were safe to eat in this world or not. Many of the plants were familiar but just as many were quite exotic.

"Good." Kurenai nods encouragingly. "Then I believe we shall start from there with your lessons. Singing to plants."

"Singing…to plants?" Ino tilts her head to the side. "I don't get it."

The lady chuckles softly, before cupping a flower bud with her hand, singing softly to it, weaving notes up and down through the air as she coaxes it into full bloom. "Song makes it easy for those with a moderate aptitude for the craft to sing plants to life. Those with a more natural aptitude, however, will be able to influence them simply by pouring out their magic, and willing them to grow."

"I see." Ino stares at the blooming flower in amazement. Then she smiles at Sai. "Do you sing to plants too?"

He tilts his head. "I've never tried it." Sai pauses searching for a tactful way to say this. "Thiral is not the land of my birth, where I come from...well not many would think to sing to flowers. Though I'm certain you will be quite gifted in the art."

"I think so too." Ino snickers a little. "Though maybe you should give it a try, you might like it." Turning towards some wild roses,she cups a number of buds in her hands, being careful not to prick herself on any of the thorns. The tune that comes out of her mouth is a Japanese one, high and clear, a joyful melody that she picked up off one of her many pop cds. A familiar energy wells up inside her, that same energy she always feels around her flowers. One by one, the little buds begin to bloom into bright red blossoms.

"Mm I doubt I could be as gifted as you are in this particular endeavor." He chuckles as he watches the flowers. "You're a natural."

"Indeed she is…" Kurenai watches in astonishment. "You haven't yet learned any of the songs of growing, let alone our language, yet your voice was enough to coax them into blooming all on its own."

"Really?" Ino had thought that she needed to sing to them to make them grow. "There's special songs meant for this?" Was she actually going to learn a whole other language?

Kurenai nods. "Yes, they are written as songs, but in reality, they are simply very long incantations. For you to be able to sing any song and coax them into growing is…well, it's a sure sign of a natural talent for the discipline."

Hinata nods at that. "I didn't get it on my first try." She smiles. "Though Kurenai Sensei said I did well."

"Really?" Ino beams with pride at being able to do something with such proficiency right off the bat. "Great! What's next?"

A chuckle rises from Kurenai's throat. "Next? Next…is growing vines." She glances at Hinata. "Would you like to learn these as well? I'm sure that there are many…practical applications that might appeal to you."

"W-Well I guess it couldn't hurt. " Hinata blushes deep red at the suggestion. "Alright." Ino was never going to forget about the Sexual Inquisition now.

Oh…Ino could totally see where this was going. "Fire away, Kurenai-Sensei! Let's learn how to tie up some men!" Her grin brightens as she laughs at Hinata. "Just imagine what Sasuke will say when you whip this out on him!"

Sai rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Well I don't think you will need to tie up men in order to find companionship." So this was what women got up to when left alone to their own devices.

"Oh hush, bondage can be fun if you do it right!" Ino's smirk widens. "Or are you still innocent? That's okay, I'm sure that there's plenty of women out there who would be willing to teach you! Tying a guy up could be a riot! Tease them…make them beg…frustrate them a little, and then let them loose again. Right Hinata?"

Hinata squeaks. "Ino!" It was one thing to do that to Sasuke in private, but she wasn't sure she could actually discuss the details without fainting.

"You seem to favor the technique?" Sai asks with a pleasant smile. He had heard of such things, but never done them himself.

Ino shoots Sai a coy smile. "I've had a few boyfriends, and we've gotten…creative in the past. Kurenai-Sensei, what about you?"

The dark-haired teacher laughs. "Yes, I can certainly see the merit in such an approach. Vines in particular are quite effective tools when getting a young man to do as you ask."

Boyfriends was a strange term, but Sai believed that he got the gist of it. Clearly, the girl had had lovers before, despite her seemingly tender age. These Seekers were quite strange, quite precocious. Perhaps that was simply a general trait, or perhaps just shared between the three young ones.

"Um yes, right." Hinata blushes more her cheeks turning a bright pink at the insinuation. Goodness, Sasuke was going to have a field day with her if she never stopped blushing!

Ino laughs loudly at the sight of Hinata's flushed cheeks. Maybe she could get used to Avalon, at least for a little while. She definitely like seeing sights like this. Her shy friend was finally getting some action!