Chapter Forty-Six: A New Guest
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Naruto drank down a mouthful of sake, grinning, his cheeks and forehead red. Sasuke was surprised that someone could look quite happy and quite drunk at the same time. He looked out the window: it was night, and he had been sitting here, entertaining Naruto, for the past six hours.
Naruto shakily grabbed the bottle from the table and positioned it over a tiny glass. His jittery hands could barely hold the glass he was pouring sake into from the bottle. His shoulders shook, and he blinked several times to focus on the glass. It looked as if he was holding four of them. He slopped sake all over the table and gave an apologetic laugh.
"All right, you have had enough," Sasuke said, taking the bottle and glass from his hands. Naruto made an irritated face in protest and pressed his cheek into the wooden table, his blue eyes bulging out of his sockets. Sasuke gazed at the waitress and gestured her to come over. She toddled to their table, a cloth held tightly in her hand. "Clean this up and take these away."
The young waitress, a little pink around the cheeks, sat down and wiped the table clean. She took the bottle and glass from his hands. "Do you need anything else, Sasuke-Sama?" she asked shyly and lowered her lashes.
"No," he said tersely and saw her lips turn down in disappointment. Then she picked herself up, holding that glass and bottle high, and waded her way through the customers. The place was packed tonight; the fumes from the spices, thick and heavy. They made him cough and his eyes water.
"She wanted to sleep with you," Naruto said, making a gurgling sound deep in his throat, and moved his head a little to look up at him. "How can you be so cold, Sasuke?" Then he smacked his face down on the table again.
"She isn't free," he said, folded his arms, and looked about again and watched Suigetsu emerge with a pink-looking Neji from behind the crowd.
"He filled 'imself up like a nice fat bottle," Suigetsu said with a rough chuckle, and his mouth twisted mundanely to create a wicked smile. He sat down next to Sasuke and gave Naruto a heavy slap on the back. The blond jerked up to a sitting position, his eyes wide, and stared to the left and then to the right as if he did not know where he was. Finally, he buried his hand in his sweaty hair and pulled his lips back into a big smile.
Sasuke bent his head a little to the left and broke out into a chuckle. Naruto was always a hilarious drunk. "Are you all right, Naruto?" Neji asked and squeezed his eyes tight. He stiffened his hand and pressed it against his upper lip: he was about to sneeze. "It's a little difficult to breathe in here." He gave a sharp shake of his head. His eyes were watering badly.
"Did ya pick up a bird, ya fuckin' goof?" Suigetsu asked, bending forward and thrusting his face in front of Naruto.
Naruto blinked several times in response and made a bizarre, horrified face that was a stuff of absurdities to say, "no!"
"Naruto is a hopeless romantic," Neji spoke and wiped sweat from his face with the back of his hand. Several sunken fireplaces were burning brightly in the restaurant; it was hot in here. He was glad that he was not wearing his flak jacket tonight.
"What's that supposed ta mean?" Suigetsu asked, pulling a really surprised face as though he did not know that such a concept could even exist.
"It means that he's content with a peck on the cheek and an endless wait for the familiar stiffness to cool down on its own. It's like magic—every night," Sasuke said and watched in amusement as a deep colour rose up from Naruto's neck to the last visible part of his forehead. At that moment, the effects of alcohol were gone for sure. He was livid. Neji and Suigetsu had burst out laughing.
"You grouch, that's a lie!" Naruto shouted angrily, and to his astonishment, Sasuke burst out laughing again. "Laugh all you want, Sasuke, but I'm a one-woman man—not like you who climbs onto more women than a rooster does in the entire barn-house!" He clenched his jaws and turned his red face away in a huff.
"Accusing me of something so grave when Neji's around?" Sasuke said and looked at Neji who bent his head down and put his hand upon his eyes in embarrassment.
"Hah, stories!" Naruto retorted and grabbed a cup of water from the table and downed the water in one gulp.
"No, it's the truth," Sasuke said, with child-like amusement, his eyes red and streaming out tears. "He's sampled more women in one year than I have in more than five years of my life. How many did you pay for last time in Mist? Five?" Neji's eyes popped out, and his face turned deep red. The sparse freckles scattered around his nose had vanished in the bright blush of shame. He looked away to the door as though he was distracted by the blue lanterns there.
"I don't believe you!" Naruto gasped sharply and hugged Neji's head to his breast and started stroking his head the way a mother might hug a sad child. "You've spoilt this innocent man. Look at him! One could mistake him for a monk. How could you?" He still looked a little drunk.
"The only monk around this table is you," Sasuke said, his eye squinting against the sharp light of the lantern overhead. He moved his hand up and wiped away the tears. Suigetsu had his hand pressed to his lips, and he was laughing.
"Sasuke, you—" Naruto began, shaking his finger in the air. He was about to launch into another one of his boring lectures. Neji was wretched out of his hold by the laughing Suigetsu. His hair was disheveled as if he had been rolling around in a bed full of women.
"Get up," Sasuke spoke before Naruto could say any more and slapped his hand on the table. "Let's go home. You had had enough fun for today."
"So soon—why?" he complained like a child and grabbed hold of Sasuke's arm. His grip was firm and strong, and he had that pleading look in his eyes and face.
"What do you mean why? You've been drinking for six hours now. Look at the time," he said and pointed his hand at the clock hanging way up on the wooden wall. "It's four a.m. You know how you get when you're drunk. Last time, you nearly broke your neck when you danced and jumped off the roof of that woman's house."
"I don't remember," he said dismissively and firmed his hold on Sasuke's arm. "Don't leave so soon, you mean grouch! You promised that you'll treat me to drinks if my Jōnin application got accepted, so now you're staying."
Sasuke placed his arm on the table and twisted his neck to look back at Naruto's happy face. He was about to speak when Suigetsu forestalled him: "come now, Sasuke. It's just one night. It's not like Itachi-Sama's home. Kai's drinkin' and eatin' way over there. All's clear." He slapped his hands together and rubbed them eagerly.
"Fine," he sighed out and Naruto clapped once excitedly, "you can control him when he turns into a court-jester."
"Come on, how bad could it be?" Suigetsu asked and eyed Naruto with a playful glint in his eyes. He ordered the waitress to bring the strongest sake she could find . . . and then it was mayhem!
Ten cups of that stuff later, Naruto climbed onto the table and swayed his arms wildly and suggestively, singing: "my body was light like the Futon—I knew she had nothing on! Her tits made the affair dire. They set my cock on fire!"
The crowd sitting around the table jeered and roared. One lantern was still lit right above Naruto's head—it was like a performance in a court full of fat aristocrats. Suigetsu slammed his fist down on the table and barked with laughter. Neji was shaking with suppressed laughter beside him. He had tears in his eyes. Kai sat next to Suigetsu. His mouth was hanging open, and the dumpling wedged between his perfect teeth fell out and rolled under the table.
"I gave her a slap on the rump and told her it was time for me to hump," he warbled shrilly and noises rose from the crowd. He swayed a little to the left and then to the right, his head lolling lifelessly.
"Look at this thirsty mum-fucker—what an inspiration!" Suigetsu exclaimed and slapped his hand on the table again. Sasuke was not amused . . .
"I told her that it was not about love and I swooped down on her from above," he sang more loudly and suddenly leapt off the table, in a manner that he was swooping down on something, and started running towards the door.
"Naruto, wait!" Sasuke called out from behind him and hastily got to his feet. The crowd sitting around the table dispersed, and not a moment later, a loud whacking sound resounded in the restaurant: Naruto had bumped into a pillar and was running straight to the wall now; and before Sasuke could stop him, he smacked into the wall and knocked himself out senseless.
The crowd laughed, and, in a flash of several colourful lights, Naruto's world went as dark as the deepest corner of his empty Gama-Chan wallet. He fell back into a crumpled heap on the floor—almost lifeless.
Sasuke rushed to him and knelt down. "Naruto, are you all right?" he asked, clamping his hand on his very still shoulder, and watched as a slow smile touched his face. He was out-cold. "I hope you're happy, Suigetsu." He frowned, irritated.
"He looks fine. Nothin' important broken fer the swoopin' down, eh?" he joked and sat down to grab Naruto's arm. Neji was quiet and red in the face. Even he looked a little drunk.
Sasuke twisted his head to look at the time. It was well past six a.m.; sun was rising, and he had not slept a wink. His brother would be furious . . .
Sun had gone half-way below the horizon, showing like a dull-red ball of fire. Shadows were starting to stretch before the trees, behind the pillars, and about men, too. The wind was cool, but the water on the ground had evaporated. Sun was strong for Konoha today.
He made his way to Tsunade's office. It was quiet today. The Squads' Exercises had ended, and the halls were empty save few guards. He opened the door, and his eyes fell upon Shizune. She was standing next to Tsunade, with a large stack of scroll-files in her hands.
"You may leave and attend to another business. I need to speak to the Hokage," he commanded. She gave a quick nod, nervously left the office, closed the door behind her.
"Back so soon?" she asked, and she was smiling the same smile of mischievous triumph.
"The outposts were empty," he spoke a little coldly. "I did not think it was wise to take my leave again without informing you first of the situation."
"You can leave, Itachi. You have my full consent in this matter," Tsunade said, and her red lips quivered with a strange smile that was starting to test his patience.
He looked at her coolly. His face had a blank expression, and he watched her with a meaningless gaze. He liked his trickster's tricks. "She is simply playing a game," Itachi began and saw that smile plastered over her fair face widen tantalizingly, "there were never any bandits there. It seems as though she wants more from you. Assimilation into Konoha, perhaps—a reward for these children's games?"
"Are you certain that she wants something from me?" she asked, and his eyes shrank with a bit of temper.
"An alliance with the Uchiha Clan is out of the question. The Elders would never approve. I am not gifting her a Sharingan for her pitiful sycophancy, either," he spoke, and his voice had an undercurrent of indifference.
"I wanted Sasuke for this mission," she said and indifference flashed to slight surprise in his eyes. "He blows hot and cold at the right moments. I remember sending him off to gather information about those bamboo sellers' activities last year. The mistress of the clan still weeps that he ruined her." She eyed him; a hot blush burnt in her white cheeks.
Itachi was silent. An odd fragrance from the sake bottle permeated the room. Her office smelt like a restaurant. She gave forth a controlled laugh and pressed two of her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "But you would've been against it," Tsunade said and leant back into the chair to look into his eyes without fear, "and his Genjutsu isn't powerful enough to complete the task. This new seat's given you much power to control him, hasn't it? What's her opinion of you? Tell me—I want to hear it." She squinted her left eye against the sunlight that poured in through the window on the left. It was a bright morning.
Itachi remained silent for a span of three heartbeats, meeting her eyes with an unfriendly look in his. His Sharingan could not rise up to thaw his demeanor. "She simpers and has a rather . . . obscene obsession with my throat," he spoke with the greatest indifference.
Shock and mischievousness pulled her brow high, widening her eyes. Her expression grew soft with wonder; then her face turned red and she started laughing. The trickiness was back. "That's wonderful," she said, after laughing some more. "Your frigidness has merit, it seems. I didn't think she'd be interested in a man as cold as you."
"At least, you are enjoying the seat of a wistful spectator," he spoke and there was a light smile on his lips now.
A little anger and challenge drifted over to her face, but she smiled through it with ease. "This isn't something you haven't done before. Why do you run away from it this time? Is it Sasuke's wild demeanour that worries you? You're being parted from him for a few weeks. You won't be able to see him, watch over him. It must make you unhappy, afraid. After all, you love him so dearly. Who knows what other troubles he might create in your absence? What has he done that causes you so much distress . . . really?" she asked, and Sharingan finally came up like hounds unleashed to protect the sturdy gates of his heart.
Itachi smiled and it was such an unkind smile that Tsunade's spine tingled. "I hope you remember your promises about pink moths. They are easily burnt—easily seduced, as you suggested. It worries me," he spoke and let out a pleasant sigh as though he was already lamenting her fate.
Tsunade's heart shivered at his morbid sense of humour, but her smile did not falter. "Take your leave as soon as you can," she said and looked down to the scrolls on the table. "I'll summon you when it's necessary. Get this done."
She heard him leave, and finally, the expression on her face crumbled so completely. She pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes and breathed in and out loudly. She needed that scroll and she needed it soon . . .
Shadows lay thick in every corner—evening was only hours away. Silence and sleep had fallen heavily upon the forest. It would be dark soon. He took quick steps towards his manor. Uchiha children still played in front of their homes. One of the little girls smiled and blushed behind her hands as he passed her by.
Two red lanterns hanging at the gates were lit. Tanaka was old, but he knew his duties. He had been in his family for two generations. He was thinking of relieving him of these responsibilities that were terrible in old age. His thoughts were broken by the wind. It was still soft and mild. The morning sun had robbed this autumn day of its cold. He looked to the ground at the far right of the garden and found purple lilies just beginning to poke out of the soft dirt. They knew how to hide from the harsh sun.
Itachi opened the heavy main door and took off his sandals by the rack on the right. The manor was redolent of the sweet smell of meat and the briny scent of seaweed. It smelt like the sea-breeze at night. He closed the door and took in a heavy breath and stepped on the wooden floor.
Tanaka came rushing to him from the right. He seemed a little anxious. "Itachi-Sama, you are home early?" he said breathlessly and took the sword from his hand. His old fingers trembled with age and exertion.
"Did you prepare the dinner?" he asked, tracking the swollen veins, unable to drag his eyes away from the weary hands: he truly was too frail and old for his duties.
"Sage, no, Itachi-Sama," he said and created a sad smile on his heavily wrinkled face, his small eyes sparkling with emotion. "I'm too weary for such duties now. I asked my grandson and granddaughter to prepare them for you. They are good children. They will please you." He was looking up at him, his smile vanishing, his face growing long as he tightly held the sword to his breast that had no firmness of youth.
"You should rest for the night," he spoke and took the sword from his hand to place it upon the rack on the left. "I hope you told Sasuke that Obā-San is coming over with a guest. He likes to forget things on purpose."
"I—well—" he broke off and rubbed his aged hands together in distress. The deep lines in his forehead deepened, and a nervous smile came to his lips.
"Tanaka, I instructed you last time not to hide his mistakes from me," he spoke a little harshly and the old man fell silent. "Where is he? I instructed Kai to watch him and he cannot even perform such a simple task." He looked at the door, and the Mangekyō in his right eye pulsed to life. It vanished and he took in a slow breath. The crow was sitting outside . . .
"He's just tired, Itachi-Sama," he rasped and put his hands to his breast. "I was going to wake him up in a few minutes—"
"Have you seen the sky? It is black. Why is he still asleep?" he asked, and a hint of irritation crossed his face. He walked to Sasuke's room, and Tanaka scampered in his wake, huffing and puffing.
"Please, Itachi-Sama, don't punish him!" he pleaded and stopped when Itachi cast him a cold glare and turned his back to him.
Itachi slid open the door and found Sasuke sleeping on his stomach on the futon. His face was pressed into the makura and half his right leg was on the cold floor: he had pulled the kakebuton over himself a bit haphazardly. A faint light from the lantern outside was filtering in through the paper-screen window on the right. It was just enough to limn his white arms, nape, and the rosy underside of his foot. The red lantern sitting next to the futon was out. His Jōnin jacket lay abandoned right beside it . . .
"Sasuke, wake up," Itachi spoke and bent down to pull the kakebuton off his body. Sasuke's hand shot out and he dragged it back over himself.
"Leave me alone, Tanaka," Sasuke groaned into his makura. "Lock the door from inside . . . and tell me before . . . before . . . " and he fell asleep again.
"It is past six p.m.," Itachi spoke heavily, a note of irritation in his voice. "Shame on you." He grabbed the corner of the kakebuton and jerked it off his body.
When the cold air in the room and Itachi's voice hit him, Sasuke scrambled to his feet. He breathed a little heavily and tried to focus his sleepy eyes on his brother's hazy face. His cheeks were pink from shame.
"Why are you still in your uniform? You had no missions today," Itachi spoke and threw the light kakebuton on the futon. "And what is this strange smell . . . ?" He looked around with a little confusion and sniffed at the air.
Itachi bent forward and took a whiff of Sasuke's breath and skin. He backed away after he caught a whiff of Sasuke's alcohol-laden breath, and this time, he looked furious. "Have you been drinking?" Itachi asked and his eyes turned red. Sasuke smelt as though he had been soaking himself up in sake. "What did I tell you last time? Has something gone terribly wrong with your memory?"
Sasuke bent his head and looked down at his feet. "Naruto's application got accepted," he said and gulped down the big lump in his throat. "He insisted that I should celebrate with him. I couldn't refuse him . . . "
"Will you leap off a cliff if he insisted?" he asked in a mocking tone. "Of course you will not. You only accept the requests which you love. Well, did you enjoy your time? I can only hope that my sweet child was not left behind after emptying out his wallet for that fool."
Sasuke pressed his lips together. He did not say anything. His eyes were still roaming around his toes. "When did you come home? I hope all of the good families did not see you limping home, with a sake bottle in hand," he spoke more icily, and Sasuke's cheeks grew hotter—he was ashamed beyond belief.
"Nine a.m.," he said in an even smaller voice, and Itachi let out a breath of disappointment, his features set in irritation. "I got cornered by three women in the restaurant. They wouldn't let me leave, and I—"
"Three women? I am proud of you. I am anticipating the day when you will conquer and vanquish many more common street-women. What shall we call that grand day when you will bury and roll yourself in bathhouse playmates, like Karin, and discarded housewives to boost your ego?" Itachi asked and Sasuke's raised his eyes up to look back at him.
"They wanted a tip. I didn't sleep with them," he said, his face showing anger.
"Unfortunate," he breathed out, feigning great disappointment. "There is always next time."
Sasuke remained silent for a moment, and then he spoke as coldly as Itachi: "sometimes, you're so cruel to me over small matters. I wonder if you take pleasure in this mockery, knowing that I can't say anything to you in return . . . " His face worked into an expression of bitter anger, and then it was blank again.
"I told you last time," Itachi paused and moved closer, his face completely expressionless, "that I will spoil you no longer—that I will change the way I behave with you. If only you had listened to me then. You did not, yet now you protest? You are a strange boy."
The younger one, whose face was enveloped by the room's shadows, stared up with a firm smile on his lips. "You've always been this way after our parents' died—as long as I can remember. Maybe you should be colder."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. He had an urge to stroke Sasuke's head kindly, but he did not. "Go and take a bath. I want you in the garden before the hour is up. Obā-San will be here, and I do not want you shaming me in front of her, smelling like a pig dragged out of a sty." He turned around and left the room without looking back at him . . .
When Sasuke stepped into the garden, mist had settled itself upon the leaves and ground. Night advanced, and the horizon to the west was left wearing but a single red streak over its dark cloth. His brother was standing silently by the old well. It had been in his family for several generations. When he was young, he had asked his mother how old it was, and she told him that it was as old as Konoha.
He stopped next to Itachi and turned his face away. Itachi was wearing his Anbu uniform. His arms were bare and his tattoo was visible for all to see. It was a serious business. He could never understand why the Hokage asked of his older brother to bare it for certain missions: it was not like his stature was a secret to anyone.
Sasuke inhaled and smelt the scent of Purple Lilies. They had burrowed their way out of the ground, and autumn moths fluttered above their mouths. It brought an innocent smile on his face. He used to chase and catch them when he was young. It was child's play, and he had grown out of that phase a long time ago . . .
"I will be gone for two weeks," Itachi spoke suddenly and Sasuke's smile vanished. "I may come by to visit a few times, but I cannot be certain of that."
Sasuke was silent. Wind bells clinked together at the gate in the breeze. It was silence again. He could hear the quiet sound of water rise up from the mouth of the well. Sasuke looked at his brother from the corner of his eyes: he was gazing up at the full moon, and his face looked so . . . expressionless, so white; it was as though he had not been in the sun for days.
Sasuke did not say anything and looked ahead at the lilies again. The sudden puff of wind had swept the moths away from them. He saw them flutter back to the lilies—relentless in their quest.
"I hope you will be on your best behavior whilst I am gone. Do not argue with Obā-San and do not say anything to her that might wound her feelings," Itachi spoke, his eyes still fixed on the moon as though it mesmerised him. "You have a sharp tongue, but she is an old woman. Her heart is fragile. I do not wish to hear it from her that I failed to instill even this much respect in you. Do not quarrel with Izumi. She will stay in her guest-room. She will not trouble you in any manner, and I do not want you to bother her without a reason. The sooner this ends, the sooner she leaves here."
Shock passed over Sasuke's face. "She won't be staying here?" he asked with a faint note of triumph in his voice; Itachi pretended that he did not hear it. (He never liked her; she never liked him; they were akin to two quarrelling step-children.)
"No," he spoke and finally dragged his eyes away from the moon, only to settle them upon the ground by the aged walls, abloom in lilies, "I cannot manage two quarrelling children in my house."
A frown creased Sasuke's face at his remark, but that smile returned soon after. He bent his head down and pretended to be indifferent. "Obey Kai's rules and do not cross the boundaries I have set for you. Do not disappoint me," he spoke and turned his head a little to look at his younger brother: Sasuke's face was turned away from him, and he was looking at the wind chimes hanging on the door. A smile threatened to creep over Itachi's lips as he gazed at the pink hue that tinged his younger brother's cheek, slowly. It was cold outside, and he looked just like a child bothered by cold.
Sounds of steps and voices came to them, and Sasuke turned his head to look at the gate with a child's curiosity upon his face. Few moments passed and two servant girls appeared with Izumi and Rao. She was holding the old woman's hand. The look disappeared from Sasuke's face when his eyes fell upon Izumi. That child-like expression, which was lovely, changed to that of ire, but he stayed quiet.
Izumi pressed her knuckle to her pink lips. Her cheeks were blushing from cold and happiness. She was wearing an expensive kimono, and her eyes were moving between the two brothers. Rao pulled her hand from her grasp and moved towards Itachi.
"You are already leaving?" Rao asked and took Itachi's warm hand in her cold one and brought it to her lips. She planted kisses on his white fingers with hungry fondness, love glinting in her old eyes like something new, powerful, warm.
"I am," he spoke with a smile, placing his hand upon hers, feeling her fingers tremble beneath his. "Sasuke, take her inside and show the servant girls where she will be staying." Sasuke did not protest. He went inside the manor, with a reluctant Izumi and the servant girls.
"A little soon, is it not? How long will you be gone?" she asked and lowered herself down on the stair that led to the garden. He, too, sat down on one knee.
"A few weeks—possibly more," he spoke and turned his head slightly to gaze upon Serizawa standing at the gate.
"That long? I will miss you," she spoke in a sepulchral tone and placed her hands on his cheeks, a defeated look in her eyes and face.
Itachi smiled in response, his cheeks becoming pinker with cold. "I have asked Sasuke to mind his manners. I hope you have instructed Izumi to do the same. If she starts a quarrel, he will not back down, and I will not be here to discipline him. I have faith that he will not do something rash, but he is still so young and young blood makes one do unthinkable things," he spoke, still smiling at her.
"Still making excuses for that wild child, are you?" she spoke with suppressed laughter and pinched his right cheek.
He was about to say something when Sasuke appeared with the maid from the manor. He looked irritated. Itachi gestured the maid to take Rao inside, and he spoke kindly as she walked by him: "take care of yourself." She blinked once and warmly smiled in acknowledgment.
"Come with me, Sasuke," he spoke and started walking. He opened the gate and Sasuke walked behind him, with Serizawa walking a few steps behind. At last, he stopped by a tree that stood tall over the sacred rocks in the ground and turned around. It cast an eerie shadow upon them all. In the moon's white light, this time, Itachi's eyes were kind. Sasuke did not care for their kindness, for he remembered their cruelties well . . .
"Come closer," Itachi spoke softly and Sasuke obeyed. He stepped closer and waited for him to say something harsh to him again. The breeze was freezing around him, and he wanted to be inside the warm comfort of his own chamber, not out here.
A smile's ghost visited upon Itachi's lips, and it stayed there this time. He put his hand on Sasuke's head and spoke: "Sasuke, you are a good boy. Do not create any trouble whilst I am gone. If something happens, I will not be here to protect you. I know you are quick to anger, but I will not ever wish for you to get hurt. Do not cause me any more distress."
With nervous fingers, Sasuke touched and rubbed the side of his neck as if something bit him there. He averted Itachi's gaze and looked away. Itachi brushed the hair from Sasuke's forehead and stroked his head once. "I will see you soon," Ihachi spoke and left with Serizawa. With bitter ferocity, wind drove at Sasuke from behind and he smiled and his smile was not warm in this uncaring night . . .
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