Another week, another chapter. This one has a lot of notes, so be prepared!
Disclaimer: don't own (never have, never will, so sad...)
Warnings: unbeta'd, lots of notes/translations
It was another day, and he went through his normal routine as always. He was in a good mood, so everything had a rosy glow as he wandered through the streets toward his most favorite book store and his beloved ramen shop.
Snow was drifting down slowly, in small flakes, covering the street lightly with white. He walked along carefully, knowing full well if he wasn't careful he'd slip and fall (he'd already fallen twice this morning). But he was content as he walked, and he tugged his scarf closer around his neck and proceeded, soon finding himself in front of the bookstore.
A quick trip in and he had a new book in hand, and he made his way to the ramen shop, ready for a quick, delicious meal of miso ramen. He'd stay longer, normally, but he knew Jiraiya and Kakashi were planning on making a re-appearance today- Sasuke had informed him of that.
He pulled out his phone and glanced at his four contacts. Ichiraku Ramen, Sasuke, Kakashi and Jiraiya. It was a little bit sad, actually, and he quickly decided to ask Temari-san and some others at the bookstore for their numbers and email tomorrow. Maybe he'd try to contact Kiba, who had been his best friend but had been ignored after his father died.
Soon he had arrived at Ichiraku's, ate six bowls, and was making his way back down the street, happily full, to his apartment. He'd make himself comfortable on the couch and read, waiting for Sasuke to get home and for their guests to arrive for the second day in a row.
Yesterday he had been frantic, terrified about the impending visit. Today was completely different. After last night's... bedtime, and with Sasuke's reassurance, he was no longer worried. The first meeting was over with, so now he could be happy, content with how things were going. Not everything was as he wished, but at the moment, he couldn't imagine himself happier.
He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that they, meaning Kakashi, Jiraiya and Sasuke, had every intention of not letting things go as they were. The peace they would break, pushing forward to satisfy Naruto, to make the Namikazes pay (and in Sasuke's case, at least, suffer) for all that they had done to him. They didn't really understand, or didn't want to understand, that he was satisfied with the way his life was. Thanks to Sasuke, he was happy.
Still, he knew they wouldn't let it go.
He stopped at the apartment front door, reached for his key and opened it, stepping in to the warm apartment. He shrugged off his scarf and jacket, tugged off his shoes, and meandered inside, enjoying the peace and comfort as he made his way to the couch, collapsing contentedly. He stretched, then pulled out his new book, opening it and allowing his mind to be filled with the created world.
Before he knew it the door opened and Sasuke wandered in. He dropped his suitcase and pulled off his shoes, taking the rest of his burdens into the room. He dropped a long package on Naruto's lap, then turned and made his way into the bedroom.
Naruto frowned at his back. "Okaeri, Asshole," he called after the brunet.
Sasuke grunted.
The blond placed the book aside, careful to keep his place, and fingered the long package, wondering what it could be, vaguely also wondering what Sasuke's problem was. Just before he could open the item, Sasuke reappeared at the doorway.
"Tadaima," he sighed, before making his way slowly to the couch and collapsing beside the blond, eyes sliding shut.
"Long day?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke grunted again. "Damn Itachi."
"What happened?" Naruto inquired, fingering the box again.
"Nothing worth mentioning. He's a bastard every day, no need to burden you with the details."
Naruto nodded. The blond pursed his lips and eyed the package. "What's this?" he asked.
Sasuke sat up. It was a (self-satisfying mostly) part of his plan, but Naruto didn't need to know that. He smirked instead. "Open it."
Naruto tilted his head to the side curiously, his brows furrowing. Then he relaxed his features and began opening the long box. It wasn't difficult to do, it wasn't wrapped up like a present, just packaged enough to keep the contents from spilling out. But when he did open it, his eyes shot open wide.
"What is this?" Naruto murmured, fingering the long, thin object.
"What does it look like? It's a katana."
Naruto swallowed. "But why..."
Sasuke sighed and leaned back again. "It's mine, actually."
Naruto looked up at his lover curiously, his mouth set in a surprised "O". "Yours?"
"Aa. A gift, from my parents when I turned sixteen." Sasuke opened his eyes and looked sideways at the blond, his dark eyes boring into beautiful blue.
"From your parents," Naruto murmured. He still didn't know anything about them, but Sasuke had never mentioned them before. He had a few questions on the matter, but even now, he wasn't sure this was the right time to voice them.
Sasuke nodded and looked away again, his eyes slipping closed once more. "I was a master with it. Actually," and he smirked, "I'm better with a katana than my brother is."
"Really?" Naruto asked. He did know that Itachi-san did seem to be superior in pretty much everything, so hearing about something Sasuke was better at was a little exciting.
"I met Mariko so she could give it to me. I want to display it here."
Naruto nodded, smiling happily. He liked that idea. He wanted to see Sasuke use it, like a demonstration. Maybe he could ask him later...
He looked back at the sword. At first glance, it was a plain looking sword. The tsuka(1) and saya(2) were both uniformly black, the tsuka-ito(3) a soft, luscious black silk, the samehada(4) shark-skin so black, it almost shone blue in the light, with a silver uchiwa serving as the menuki(5). The same uchiwa was also on the tsuba(6), on each side of the katana, and Naruto was really starting to wonder at the significance. It was just a plain fan, but it was so elegantly done in finely polished silver.
He pulled the saya free just enough to reveal the habaki(7), and saw yet another uchiwa engraved in the silver. The sageo(8) was silk, and the saya itself was all solid black save for the long, ornamental silver dragon sprawled along its length, in its claw that same polished uchiwa.
It was absolutely breath-taking. It matched its owner well.
Naruto fingered it gently, affectionately almost.
"I have a tanto(9) also, but I didn't feel like bringing it. I've never had need of it," Sasuke said, leaning back on the sofa.
"Then why do you have it?" Naruto asked, eyes still admiring the katana, fingers still sweeping down it gently.
"My parents felt it completed the set," Sasuke shrugged, indifferent.
Naruto smiled as he studied the kashira(10), adorned with yet another polished silver uchiwa.
"So what's with the uchiwa?" Naruto finally asked as he finished his inspection, looking up at Sasuke with big, curious blue eyes.
"Uchiwa, Uchiha. It's my family crest. Idiot."
Naruto's eyes widened. He hadn't thought of that. "Your family has a family crest? A real family crest?" He had never met anyone who really could claim to have one, but really, Sasuke was from a rich family, so it wasn't that much of a surprise. But it was still really cool.
"Old samurai family," was all Sasuke said in reply. It was really all the explanation needed.
Naruto sat amazed. His lover really was far more amazing than he had realized. But then, there was still a lot about him Naruto didn't know. It made him a little sad, actually.
He looked back at the beautiful katana. "So uh, where do you want to display it?"
"Wherever," Sasuke replied.
Naruto frowned. "Are you really that tired?"
Sasuke sighed heavily, nearly grunting. "I've had a long day." He lifted his arm and glanced at his watch. "And it still isn't over," he added.
"Hmm?" Naruto tilted his head curiously, eyes focused on his handsome lover's face.
"Your... whatever they are. They're supposed to come back today, remember?"
Naruto's mouth fell open slightly. He couldn't believe he had completely forgotten about that. "R-right. Jiraiya and Kakashi. I wonder where they are," he muttered, scratching nervously at his nose.
Sasuke sighed and stood up. "I'm sure they'll be making an appearance soon. Wouldn't want me to get comfortable. Just like Itachi..." Sasuke muttered as he wandered back into the bedroom. Naruto sat there, frowning at him, before turning his attention back on the beautiful katana. He glanced around the room, trying to picture the best place for it.
"Hmm," he mused, blue eyes sweeping the room. His eyes landed on the overflowing bookshelf, and he grinned. Jumping up, he carried his burden with him, pulling out the stand underneath the sword and set it up on the table, like a beautiful, deadly centerpiece. He had to admit, he was a little curious to pull the blade from its scabbard, but he didn't want to cut himself. He knew it must be incredibly sharp.
He stood back and admired it. It wouldn't stay on the table permanently, but for now, at least, it was the best place in the apartment. Eventually he would need to get another bookshelf (or three), and he'd make a point to get a smaller one so he could display the beautiful katana on top. The beautiful masterpiece would look perfect adorning his books.
He smiled to himself and made his way back to the couch. He cast one quick glance at the door to the bedroom before picking up his book and resuming his reading. He'd give Sasuke some room for the moment, to relax and unwind a bit. Hopefully Kakashi and Jiraiya would take their time getting here.
I used a whole lot of Japanese terms in this chapter, and I had to look all this stuff up about katanas, since I myself am really not all that knowledgeable about them (you know, I have never done so much research for a story before as this one…). But here you go! Translations:
(1) tsuka – handle
(2) saya – scabbard
(3) tsuka-ito – the braid on the handle
(4) samehada – sharkskin or rayskin under the tsuka-ito
(5) menuki – the ornament on the handle just underneath the tsuka-ito
(6) tsuba – guard
(7) habaki – blade collar (the part just over the top of the blade where it connects with the tsuba
(8) sageo – the cord around the saya close to the tsuba
(9) tanto – short sword, usually paired with a full length katana
(10) kashira – pommel
If I forgot to note something, let me know. ^_^
