/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

Naru's eyes widened at the sight of her brother-in-law; if she thought she was going to get it for keeping a wild animal, then she was so going to get it.

Itachi, most probably guessing what was going through her head shook his head and said: 'No need to get into a fix, I am merely curious, little one.'

Kurama Jr began growling when he approached, but not for long, after a few deciding sniffs, he turned back around and started yipping nonsensically at Naru. Naruto said, after thinking at how stupidly spoilt the cub was: 'Surely you are not angered?'

'No. I'm just very much intrigued, I have never met Jiraiya, and now I meet someone he perhaps passed his legacy to.' Itachi leaned against a tree and regarded her with veiled curiosity. 'By the by, how did you know I was there?'

'Oh, that?' said Naru. 'I am sorry to disappoint, very, but I fancied someone was present because of Kurama.'

She could be telling a lie, Itachi thought. Lord Jiraiya's skills were said to be legendary. He was quite not ready to let the thought of him leaving a legacy go. But he would relent, for now, she could be telling the truth, after all. 'Ah, pity... I take it you haven't got an escort?'

'For - about that,' Naru faltered. '... no, I haven't got an escort... I do not wish to discommode Sasuke.'

'I shall escort you, in stead, then.'

'I thank you, Itachi,' she said with a short curtsey. 'I erred, earlier, I need an escort for Monday, in fact.'

'That is no great deal,' he said handsomely. 'In return, I wish to meet your sibling, the Viscount.'

'Kyū? I am not positive I can assure you that, pardon.'

'Is that so?'

Naru flushed, cussing Kurama in her thoughts, quite embarrassed with her brother. 'He is, unfortunately, not reliably or easily found.. unless I message him.'

I also need to warn him about the tale I told Sasuke considering the night of the masquerade. Naru watched idly as Itachi bowed and excused himself, an imperceptible gleam in his eyes (not that she even payed attention, her thoughts drifting glumly back to Sasuke).

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

After her very brief meeting with Itachi, Naru hastened to write a letter to her brother. It would not do for him to recount another sort if tale to Sasuke if Sasuke asked him about the Chiswick Exploit. She ended her message, his sincerely loving sister and sent it to him. Hoping he would receive it, she was about to turn back into the house when a carriage came slapping across the broad pathway.

Handed down delicately, Sakura stood on the route, regarding her cousin with a tragic smile. Naru skipped down the steps and welcomed her accordingly, pressing a worried kiss to her pale cheek.

'Naru,' she murmured with recognition.

'Oh, dear, the most mortifying thing has happened,' she said, pulling her into the house and up to her quarters.

'Knowing you, it's something positively prosy,' she said, her voice still in a murmur.

'Sasuke knows about Kurama's exploit the night of the masquerade, I - I was obliged to tell him that it was result of a wager, and - and-'

'So Sasuke has come home!' Sakura remarked, slowly pulling off her gloves, her mood lifting considerably. 'I am positively glad of it!'

'Oh, yes! He has, of course! I mean-'

But Sakura hadn't heard her. 'Because,' she pursued, with a martial light in her eye. 'My affairs have now reached a Crisis!'

Despite her worries, Naru couldn't help the alarm that arose in her. 'What in the world, love-?'

'In six weeks! Actually. In less than six weeks! Pierre sails for South America!' announced the damsel, in a voice filled with doom.

'That soon? I am so very sorry!'

'Well you need not be,' said Sakura, a thoughtful shine yo her eyes. 'I am going to get married.'

'Oh, dear,' Naru soothed. 'I don't think Uchiha shall permit so.'

'Neither he nor you,' flashed Sakura. 'Can suppose that I will permit my adored Pierre to leave England without me!'

She scurried to the door and paused. 'Unless he has a heart of stone, Sasuke cannot now refuse.'

Sasuke isn't made of unfeeling stone, Naru thought, it's simply how the main Uchihas are... But: 'I am unable to perceive how Mr Lee's imminent departure should be supposed to melt Sasuke's heart of "stone," my dear.'

Her words were ill-received, Sakura muttered a few incoherent phrases before strutting out of the rooms. As soon as she was gone, Naru's visage sunk into negativity for a brief moment before she rung for her dresser. She didn't want to go down unpresentably fir a meal, especially now that it wasn't just Sakura and she.

Miss Sutton took her time; artfully arranging her mistress' hair after having chosen a demure gown of soft blues and whites for her and dusting her rosy nose with a light peppering of powder. They conversed idly, the polite lady entertaining her dejected ladyship with news on how the artist downstairs was in a frenzy over the fact that the Earl and Viscount were back from Merion so suddenly.

'He is now legging around the kitchens, trying to get a satisfactory meal ready for the Earl Uchiha.'

Naru giggled slightly at that, her eyes brightening at the amusing image of their elegant chef running around his offices with a panicked look in his eye. Her dresser smiled warmly at her and tied a dark blue ribbon on one of the low braided pigtails, saying: 'Now, I say you look presentable, milady.'

The smile was instantaneous and unchecked. 'I thank you.'

'Pleasure was mine,' this comment was delivered with a curtsey before she exited Naru's chambers.

Naru stood, peering into the looking-glass and self-consciously frowning at her features. If one was to compare her to the elegant Lady Orsett, they would find a great many differences, Naru thought depressively. They were both young, but Lady Orsett was Sasuke's age, her foe only a couple years older. Naru looked at her long hair hanging in two heavy fastened patterns, her thoughts flitted to the dark-coloured lady's hair, which was coiffed to the latest modes; should she perhaps change her hair? But that would be fruitless if Sasuke thought her face to be prettier than mine is, a sly voice whispered in her head.

Naru was pretty sure that Lady Orsett was also more pretty-behaved than she was, by heavens, she sure didn't plant her companies' hair with objects when she was bored, nor did she ever slouch. Naru had a bad habit of doing so when something made her uncomfortable and pranking people when she bored.

Her features weren't marred by unbecoming lines, and she was quite known for her literature compositions... Naruto on the other hand couldn't compose anything to make her younger brother Tenshi proud and had three disfiguring lines on each cheek.

Naru scowled at her reflection, such futile thoughts wouldn't get her anywhere. She straightened and left for the book-room.

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

Sasuke's face was set in a frown when Sakura entered, but his features immediately softened when he perceived his cousin. Dry amusement dominated his thoughts when he beheld her fit (a greatly demure half-dress of French muslin and a lace fichu around her shoulders) and he said dryly: 'Doing it rather too brown, Sakura.'

Sakura's previous saintly expression melted into a mischievous one. She twinkled roguishly, and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. 'Dear Sasuke! You're back! What an agreeable surprise, to be sure!'

'Turning me up sweet, my pet?'

She giggled. 'No, no, it is the luckiest chance that you have come home, because Naru and I were in desperate need for an escort to accompany us to a play later!'

'What an abominable girl you are!' he remarked positively. 'Thinking you were really gladdened to see dear old me.'

Naru had just entered to hear him laugh at the end of his remark, her face flushing as Sakura shot her a knowing grin. She was saved from an awkward moment when a butler announced that their next meal was ready. Sakura, who was bent on charming the Earl into an acquiescent mood, drew his arm into hers and tugged him along.

Sakura bade Itachi a familiar welcome when she viewed him waiting for them before immediately turning back to Sasuke and keeping him amused with a great deal of nonsensical raillery.

Itachi, who had seated himself in the remaining free seat, at Naru's side said: 'Scheming something, that she is.'

Naru offered a mechanical smile, her spirits were opressed; and she felt as though she was on tenterhooks lest Sakura think it an opportune time to broach the subject of her marriage. As the meal drew on, Naru felt like it was interminable, even though it was shorter than usual (since their lordships were not being expected). The second course of soup, some chicken breast, poulard à la Duchesse, and the morels of the first course was a grilled breast of lamb with cucumber, prawns in a wax-basket and several cheese-cakes (which Itachi brightened imperceptibly at).

Belowstairs, this very commonplace repast had not escaped censure from the steward; and Farley (who maintained a guerrilla warfare with the Gallic ruler of the kitchens) prophecied that their lordships would send a sharp message downstairs.

The meal hadn't been ill-recieved by anyone; exept for Naru, who rejected several dishes and ate sparingly from others. Even though this was a cause of Naru's depressing lack of appetite rather than any particular distaste; Farley delivered to the kitchen wizard a message that made him fear his position as chef. Especially when the elegant butler informed him of the 'narrow looks the Earl was gazing at her ladyship with' several times.

'You cast his girl into lack of appetite over the hasty meal you slapped together, my friend.' Farley had told him solemnly. 'His lordship should be after your hide soon.'

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

Naru was shocked when Sakura informed her that Sasuke was to escort them to the play, which they left halfway through, the Earl quite irritated at the dull drama put on stage. He had once asked her if she was feeling quite the thing, for her mood hadn't escaped his sharp eyes even at the glassy smiles she put on.

And as Naru prepared for bed that night, she expressed her fervent hope that providencemight see fit to strike her down with influenza or something worse, so that she would be obliged to keep to her room for several days' time (in which [she had no doubts] her tall brother would have saved her from this fix). She sighed, knowing that it was a cowardly thing to wish for, but when it came to Sasuke she couldn't seem to gather any of that Uzumaki courage.

There was, of course, no intervention from the part of providence, but Naru put no appearance at the breakfast-table. Since it was Sunday, breakfast was held earlier than usual so as to allow them to prepare for the Morning Service, she hadn't risen early enough for it.

Not that she minded, Naru thought to her reflection, from where she was seated before her dressing-table, dreading another meeting with Sasuke. Suddenly the door was opened with a bang, on the threshold stood Sakura, her chest heaving with pants from having run all the way to Naru's quarters.

'Naru!' she uttered explosively.

Miss Sutton, excused herself immediately, not wanting to be in the hairs of the two ladies. She had hardly left the room when the storm broke. Pacing about the room, Sakura favoured her cousin with a graphic and embittered account of what had taken place in the breakfast-parlour, in fine rage. Her recital was freely interspersed with animadversions on Sasuke and Itachi's character, cruel, callous, tyrannical, and odious were the mildest epithets she used to describe it.

Naru, gave up on calming her pretty cousin, and sat listening with half an ear, she was wondering instead if they should be in time for the Morning Service, and at how energetic her fellow lady was at this hour of the morning. Surely? Sakura couldn't have expected Sasuke to accept to anything at this time of the morning, did she?

Naru snapped out of it when Sakura's diatribe turned into a flood of tears, tears violent enough to make Naru fear tjat she was about to fly into a hysterical fit. Immediately jumping up and setting to soothing her cousin's wrought state of nerves, she had just succeeded in getting Sakura to lay down and allow her to bathe her brow with a calming mixture.

A brief knock was all that alerted Naru, when Sasuke strode in, looking like he wanted to blow something apart. At the sight of Sakura languishing with mild tears on the sofa, he stopped advancing and said in a flat voice, cuttingly: 'An affecting spectacle!'

'Oh, Sasuke, pray, hush!' begged Naru.

The stricken maiden on the sofa bounced up, and promised, in a husky voice thick with loathing , to go into a series of strong convulsions if he didn't immediately leave.

Sasuke wasn't pleased. 'By all means do so if you fancy to be well slapped!' he retorted, his eyes telling Naru that he would be considerably satisfied to carry out his threat.

'If you have not,' he pursued, his grey eyes flashing with irritation. 'Stop enacting Cheltenham tragedies, amd go to your own room!'

Naru flinched, fearing that another full-scale argument would break out, Sasuke was his worse when his mood was foul.

'Do you think,' gasped Sakura, 'that you can order me around as though I were a child?'

'Yes,' his voice was a red flag. 'And carry you there, if you don't instantly obey me!'

Sasuke turned around briefly and pulled the door open, his calm voice threatening. 'Out!'

Naru, eyeing her gasping cousin with a beating heart, and lively dread, expostulated. 'For, heaven's sake, Sasuke!'

She was fearing Sakura would relapse into hysterics. 'Do, pray, go away, and leave Sakura to me! This is my room, anyway, you have no right to order her out of it!'

She immediately regretted her words, Sakura far from her thoughts, what got into her attic!?

'You have an odd notion of my rights,' he said grimly. His next words were bitter. 'I don't question that she is more welcome in your room than I am.. but you should own that I at least have the right to be private with you!'

Naru whitened, saying quietly: 'Most certainly, and if it's the case that you wished ti speak to me, shall we go to my dressing-room?'

'Don't put yourself into so much trouble!' declared Sakura, trembling with anger. 'Never would I, not for the world, love, expose you to the sort of ill-usage I am compelled to suffer. To spare you, I will go!'

Naru was a great deal touched by her noble speech, but tjis had the opposite effect on Sasuke; wiping off hus thunderous look, the Earl burst out laughing. The disappearance of his dark mood relieved Naru, but exacerbated Sakura.

'Your manners are as disgusting as your disposition is malevolent,' Sakura informed him, before sweeping out of the room.

Sasuke shut the door, muttering: 'Little termagant! I shall be sorry for Lee, if she ever does marry him.'

'She is simply overset by th the news that he is leaving so soon,' Naru replied, excusingly, her insides dancing. 'I cannot but feel for her, and for my part-'

She stopped. 'But I don't wish to tease you any more over it.'

'Thank God for that! I've had enough for the day! At breakfast, too! Silly chit attacking even Brother!'

'I must say it is a very foolish time to have chosen,' admitted Naru.

'Very! Not that she would have found a better time to persuade me!'

At Naru's sigh, he added: 'I am aware of what you think, but I didn't come here to argue with you, Naru, over this lamentable affair, least of all.'

Naru nearly gulped, both dreading and anticipating his next words, had he found out about her bills? Or had Madame Lavalle made an appearance?

He looked at her for a breath before continuing: 'What I came for was to discuss with you what the wisest course to pursue will be, now? I consulted Brother, he and I are both considering to pack her off to Bath with Lady Honoria.'

Naru, quite disappointed, not knowing why she had been expecting him to perhaps say something else, or why she wasn't happy that it was something other than her problems. 'No, no, don't think of it! It would be dreadful to not at least let Sakura enjoy her last moments with Mr Lee before he sails for Brazil! I think that if you do she would run away, too!'

'If you know my Aunt Honoria, she would be given not the slimmest of chances to run away,' he said with a wry smile. 'Don't imagine that I wish to send her there, however. She's a tiresome little wretch, and when she starts brangling and brawling I could willingly wring her neck. But I don't wish to wear you down, because I am pursuaded that she's going to grant you the exhausting rôle of confidante.'

Naru couldn't help the slight smile that flitted on her features when she heard that; who knew Sasuke was so sweet?

'Lee's inability to support a wife must put this disaster beyond range of possibility!'

Quite reproached, she said: 'Yes, but that's not quite just, Uchiha! He may be an ineligible match for poor Sakura, but his principles are high! and his sense if propriety surpass several of high class, whatever might be his current fortune!'

'His principles and propriety may be as high as the moon, for all I care!' Sasuke replied. 'But I have no great opinion of his resolution! Sakura has him led by a ring through his nose, like a performing bear, and shall she ever choose to elope, he would go along with it!'

Naru, gaping by the slightest couldn't find the words to say, she was quite exhausted with her own matters and feelings, adding Sakura's problems was not helping by the slightest. But Naru couldn't help but feel, she knew the pains of love, after all.

'We will keep Sakura in London, then,' he said, turning to open the door. 'But don't you blame me if she drives you to distraction.'

Miss Sutton returned briefly to arrange her hair, but Naru thought that it was already too late to attend Chapel Royal. So she set out on foot for Grosvenor Chapel, which was hardly worthy of the efforts of Miss Sutton. She met a stiff Sakura on the way there, and was glad that they could be seated together.

Unfortunately the officiating cleric chose a text from the Epistle to the Philippians as his text for the sermon.

'Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory,' he pronounced sonorously, 'but in loveliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.'

Naru felt Sakura stiffen, and she (far from being edified) fought very hard to stifle her shocking fit of giggles; and Sakura, swelling with wrath couldn't be pursuaded (after the Service) that Sasuke had not suborned the blameless cleric into choosing a text aimed directly at her.

Other than receiving a letter from Kurama, Naruto spent a rather stupid day until Lady Cowper came calling. The pretty creature had come to rudely inquire after Sakura and Lee's affairs whilst also hinting that Naru had better take care of her marriage.

No sooner had she left that Naruto and Sakura gathered in the painting gallery to discuss her. They spent an agreeable hour abusing her, not being able to decide what her worst faults were; from her lack of manners to spreading rumours and paying visits in dresses trimmed with "positively dirty lace."

The evening was livened when Sakura provoked Sasuke on the matters of fortune, and Naru, an involuntary attendant dreaded when their fight will be over, for she knew that they would then turn to her. Their fight was reaching end, rather horribly, too.

'You wouldn't talk so if you had ever loved anyone as I love Pierre! You cannot know what it is to form a lasting passion!'

'You are mistaken,' Sasuke said, in an even tone, and turned away from her, his eyes drifting to Naru's face.

Sakura flushed vividly, angered further at his dismissal. 'I am not mistaken! You may think you have a heart, but you haven't! You don't like to be told that, but it's the truth!'

He said, over his shoulder: 'Sakura, not only are you becoming a dead bore, but you want manner as well as sense! Let me tell you that until you learn to behave with propriety, you will make the worst wife imaginable for a diplomat such as Lee!'

'Pierre,' said Sakura, her bosom heaving, 'thinks me perfect!'

'Which,' remarked Sasuke, as she stomped herself out of the room, 'gives me low opinion of hus understanding.'

Naru, fearing to be left alone with Sasuke for long, smiled shakily and stood up from her chair: 'I think I should follow her. When she is happy she is mounted so high, but she can be dashed down in a minute, and then she knocks herself up with one of her fits of crying. You know how it is, I do not wish to leave her alone.'

'I have no patience to watse on distempered chippers,' he replied, stalling Naru's escape. 'Truth is she has bee spoilt to death, and cannot endure to have her will crossed!'

Feeling compelled to answer Naru said: 'But you would not wish her to cry herself into a fever.'

'Nonsense!' he said irritably. Adding, after frowning for a few breaths. 'I don't wish her to wear your spirits down, at all events! I'm pretty certain she's going yo make us endure weeks of sulks. That's why I think we should send her off somewhere that would divert her until Lee sails. Perhaps a house in Brighton?'

Naru didn't allow her eyes to meet his half turned form.

'It might divert her a little,' she answered. After hesitating, she raised her eyes and added: 'I don't mean to vex you, Uchiha, but I think you would perfectly understand. You hope that Sakura will forget Mr Lee, but she won't. You see, she loves him!'

'But she's so young! What does she even know of the matter?'

Naruto coloured faintly, and managed to say (though not easily): 'I am - was not much old either - when you offered for me, some while back.'

She immediately cursed herself, why did she always feel compelled to defend people?

He turned to face her, his eyes landing upon her, an arrested expression in them. He did not answer her immediately, and when he did, it was with certain deliberation.

'No. You are not, are you?'

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/ /Our New Lady/

CUT CRAZY SCENE (that I didn't know where yo insert, maybe coz it's too short [and I was too lazy to make it super boringly formal])

'Little Brother.'

'Hn?'

'They do say talking about it helps.'

'What are you expecting me to say?' Sasuke snapped.

'I haven't the faintest of notions,' Itachi replied, faintly amused. 'Just let it all out..'

'If you insist.. have you ever noticed how much letters she writes?'

'No, of course I don't, that it why you are supposed to tell me, little one.'

'She writes letters every single day, it would have all been fine, but!'

'But?'

'She sends them all to one person!'

Sasuke sounded quite frustrated and jealous, Itachi smirked. 'Who may that be?'

'Bloody Kurama!'

'Oh, your friend.'

'He is not my friend,' Sasuke spat.

'I thought you two had signed a treaty a couple years back, am I right?'

'What? Have you swallowed one of your own solutions?'

'No. I have not, and I remember it all clearly; you boys even had your portrait painted.'

'He's still my rival!'

Wow, Itachi thought, he positively hissed. 'Ok, go on, you were saying something about letters and young Kurama.'

'Yes. She writes so many letters to him! Sending them all off with enthusiasm!'

'I fail to see how a younger sibling messaging their elder brother should vex you, little brother.'

'She never even sent me a letter! I'm her man, I deserve those letters more than that blonde-headed Kurama.'

'I see.'

'Every day! And even if she doesn't get a reply, she's very soon staining her fingers to send him another letter! That ungrateful loser, who wouldn't be grateful for a letter from the Naruto?'

'Wouldn't you?'

'I'd be more than grateful! You have no idea how many days I spent wishing for a letter! Now that I'm back, even, I'd dream longer, for she has never considered messaging me whilst I'm at work! Never! And Kurama gets a whole bunch should he not greet her that morning!'

I think he's beginning to exaggerate. 'That is very sad, I suppose.'

'Very?' he gasped. 'It is leagues more than sad! It's heartbreaking! Do you know how many times I see her sending someone off with a letter to that clumsy giraffe? Letters that belong rightfully to me, and me foremost?'

'Are you suggesting something?' Itachi knew he wasn't, but ut was so fun to watch his younger sibling get so worked up over a girl.

'You're a genius, Brother.'

Of course I am, he thought with a smirk. Sasuke world never admit this, normally.

'I shall intercept all of her letters, that rightfully belong to me.'

He could nearly feel a drop of sweat rolling down his head.. for a genius, his brother could be pitifully idiotic sometimes. 'Is there anything else?'

'Plenty! Have you noticed how many hugs he receives? And kisses?'

'It is quite a common greeting when one is close to another.'

'Yes, but he gloats in them! Beaming at the affection like an idiot (which he is), and demanding more! I saw him the other day pouting when Naru-babe hugged their youngest sibling! Pouting!' Sasuke emphasised, in case his brother hadn't heard. 'As if he doesn't get plenty enough already! And do you know what Naru did?!'

'No.'

'She gave him a hug too! And three kisses! I counted! Then that little devil they call baby brother began pouting too! Those Namikaze rascals didn't even consider me! And Naru! She forgot all about me!'

'Where were you?'

'In the carriage.'

'I see.'

'They fight over their fair sister's attention like starved children! I never even get it!'

'Anything else?'

'Have you noticed how Sakura hogs her?'

'I haven't been here long, I am afraid.'

'As if Kurama isn't enough! I have to deal with my cousin, too!' Sasuke sulked. 'They are always together, they once even had a sleepover in Naru's room! Served breakfast together in bed at they talked! I was forced to have breakfast alone!'

'You didn't eavesdrop?' Itachi was surprised.

'Of course I did,' he sounded offended. 'What type of husband do you think I am? What if there was a fire?'

'How did you do it?'

'Our balconies are connected.'

Itachi smirked at the thought, this was a very good idea, after all.

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

/Our New Lady/

/Uchiha/

Ok, next chapter will be dedicated to the men! I am sorta nervous about writing from Sasuke's view. And! You guys shall get the promised Sickleham event!

About! Sasuke's position as Earl shall also be explained, if you wish. Also, I know my history quite well, this is a fiction, so I'm going to twist it as little as I can (hihihi). And, about honorifics, I find it strange that English barely has or uses honorifics any longer. I'm sorry if it's strange reading honorifics such as Little one/Brother or something, I am used to using them, in several languages, actually, and I find it strange to not use them.

Next chapter: A new problem arises! Sasuke get angry when he finds that Naru couldn't trust him (over what? You shall see)! And Miss Sutton is a Confidante to a perilous problem!

I, like seriously, need to stop that, heh, I barely even keep the "Next Chapter" thingy true. But I try to. Bye-bye!