Another reincarnation story
16.
Was is just him or was the room really that hot?
Itachi shifted on his knees, trying to hide his discomfort to the best of his ability. He was seated on his father's right side, with Shisui flanking his other side. Every ever so small move he made could be noticed either by his lord or his watcher. Every time he lifted his eyes towards the guest on the other side of the table, Itachi felt the observing gaze of his cousin on him.
Why was Shisui looking at him so closely?
On second thought, he wouldn't put it past his father to have given Shisui some instructions to keep an eye on Itachi as well. He could imagine it to be something like "Itachi is doing very well as a proud shinobi, but he is young and still has a lot to learn. I am concerned about the rumors regarding his conflict with the Kiri-nins, a habit he no doubt learned from you. I expect you two to cease your animosity at once. You will behave like an Uchiha tonight and keep an eye on Itachi. I allowed your friendship so far because I expected you to be a good example to him, but you have been a disappointment regularly. This is your final chance. Consider tonight as the final test if you want be in his life from this point forward."
Shisui would probably have said yes, because Shisui was a good Uchiha and mostly listened to his clan leader. Shisui probably also listened to the rumors and was suspicious of Itachi. He did catch Itachi whispering Kisame's name after all. Even if Shisui hadn't mentioned the Monster ever since, Itachi would be a fool to believe that his cousin didn't think on this matter. He was probably still gathering evidence and waiting for the right moment to confront Itachi. At the end of the day, Shisui was a highly dangerous and capable operative in the arts of observation and evaluation.
That didn't help with Itachi's nervousness at all. Knowing that every move he made and every word he said tonight would have consequences, Itachi had no choice but to regard this as a mission.
He was but a pawn in this game. A beautiful maiko, brought along to show off the prestige of the negotiating party. He was eye-candy, placed in full sight to distract their opponent. His presence was a blessing, something to be grateful for. No, that wasn't completely right. He was the heir to this legendary clan. His elegant appearance tonight was as much strategy as natural grace. It was carefully designed to confuse their opponents, making them doubt their actions and thoughts. Of course, Itachi's real strength and power would only be clarified at the right moment for effect, to make clear that even the youngest, most delicate shinobi of the Uchiha Clan had the ability to inflame the sky.
It was all a game.
And playing a game of disguise was what Itachi did best.
Having found his place in this scene, Itachi rested a slightly easier. He kept his gaze impassive, his posture relaxing. He regarded the guests with distant appreciation and listened to the small talk his mother was exchanging with the Lady of Mist. They talked about non essential things like the different cuisine of Konoha and Mist. She once asked if Terumi Mei had been the to Konoha before and expected no other answer than the one she received.
After a while, Itachi actually found this civilized environment entertaining. His mother was a master in rhetoric and so was the Mizukage. His father was noble and very respect commanding. All in all, Itachi was for a moment very proud of his parents. Thinking back, they weren't the first family of the Uchiha for nothing.
As much reassured about his parents Itachi was, he was more than a little concerned about his cousin, who despite previous lecture was glaring daggers at Ao, Mizukage's right hand man. Their eyes met in the middle and even if Itachi was a civilian, he would have been able to see the blaring hatred between them.
Thank the Kami for small mercies, the food and drink arrived just as Shisui was about to open his mouth, no doubt to insult Ao. Itachi quickly caught his cousin's attention by pouring wine for him in the best of the maiko manner. It might have been a small breach in protocol for the heir to serve his subordinate, but Itachi saw nothing in it.
"It is only right that I pay respect to my sempai," he smiled gently at his father's stare. "Despite my status and achievements, I am very young and have much to learn." He smoothed the situation over by asking his father with a gesture of respect. "Will you allow me to pour your wine, Dou-sama?"
His father nodded with a tight nod. It wasn't his manner that impressed the clan leader. Those were of course a given with an Uchiha. It was Itachi's tone of respect his father had not heard from him in years.
Mizukage laughed at the display, promptly praising his mother for her excellent upbringing of such a son. Itachi sighed out of relief on the inside. He set the porcelain jug down and turned towards his own tea.
"Aren't you drinking with us, Itachi-san?" It was Kisame who asked.
Itachi almost winced. In the life past, he and Kisame sometimes indulged in a bottle of warm Sake together. Though those days were short and far between, it was always something special to be nothing but two men in love, sharing their cups in peace.
"Oh no, Hoshigaki-san," Itachi replied politely. For his affront to work tonight, he needed to interact with Kisame as little as possible. Not looking up at the man sitting directly across from him, Itachi carried on. "I'm far too young for it."
"Such a pity!" Mizukage exclaimed and pouted in acted disappointment. "I was hoping I would have the privilege of sharing wine with such a fine young man as Itachi-kun."
"Do not worry, Mizukage-sama," Fugaku said as if announcing a great event. "If you wish for my humble son to drink, then I as father cannot deny."
Itachi was surprised for a moment. He wouldn't have thought that his father would willingly allow him to drink any wine of any kind after what happened at Shisui's birthday party. It said a lot about what was going on here. Apparently, the Uchiha clan was really eager to gain the Mizukage's favor.
"Then I will happily oblige." Itachi said. He was about to pour his own wine when Kisame stopped him. "Allow me, Itachi-san."
He rose from his own seat and walked around the table, knowing that every pair of eyes were on him. He strode with the confidence Itachi was so used to and knelt down next to the heir with a grin. He took the jug from Itachi's hand, his callous fingers brushing Itachi's pale ones. He smiled at the raven with a glint in his eyes that spoke of hidden desires. Then, he lifted the cup filled to the brim towards the young ANBU and nodded in playful respect.
"Itachi-san?"
Itachi could only stare. The room was unbearably hot again. It wasn't just the nature of this interaction that left so much to interpretation, it was also the first time they touched since the disastrous private meeting at the river. Were Itachi not Itachi, his hands would have trembled. But he was one of the most skilled shinobi in Konoha history, thus he took the wine from Kisame's hand without so much as touching him. He lifted the cup towards the Mizukage and toasted her.
He downed the wine in one large gulp, then presented the the inner side of his empty cup to her, showing that he was not afraid. Neither of her demands, nor the possible poison in his wine. As if Kisame would ever put poison in his wine.
"Delightful!" She applauded. "I should have known better than to challenge the Master of Illusion."
On that front, Itachi agreed with her.
"Impressive, Itachi-san," Kisame said next to him. "I didn't know how well a boy your age could hold his liquor."
Shisui snickered next to him, clearly remembering the last time. It was an embarrassment they did not talk about. Itachi payed his cousin no mind. His focus was on Kisame, who was so close to him, who was smirking at him. Now Itachi tried very hard not to stare at his lips or the skin his loose yukata revealed.
"You're too kind, Hoshigaki-san," Itachi said with the aloofness born to an Uchiha. "Allow me to return to the favor." Itachi lifted his sleeve to pour for Kisame. He knew that every inch of skin he showed was a gift to Kisame whose intention was more than clear to Itachi. If Kisame wanted to distract the genius with his inviting looks, two could play this game.
Kisame swallowed when Itachi presented him with the cup. He took it wordlessly and poured everything down without breaking eye-contact. Itachi wouldn't have expected any less from his former partner. Kisame turned his cup towards Itachi in the same manner Itachi showed it to Terumi Mei and challenged him with his chin.
"It will be many years before you can faze me with some sake." Kisame put the cup back down on the table with a loud clank and stood up with new found strength. He jostled Shisui on his way back, but otherwise said nothing.
"What a swine," Shisui murmured towards Itachi when Kisame was out of earshot. "This isn't a drinking contest for peasants!"
"Shisui," Itachi warned. "Please tune down a bit. And if you glare at Ao any harder, he'll burst into flames." Shisui snickered and downed another cup. "And please watch it. We both know that you and Sake do not have a mutual beneficial relationship."
"Same goes for you."
Dinner returned to a pleasant affair. For the most of the time, the topics of conversation remained in the range of non alarming. They spoke about the politics outside of the shinobi villages and then returned to the matter of the chu-nin exams. Since none of the Uchiha youth was participating this years, Fugaku was more relaxed than eager to prove himself.
But it was the non spoken part that worried the ANBU captain. He couldn't be sure if he was just imagining things or if Kisame was really openly flirting with him. How stupid could he be? Was that just his tongue lingering on his chopsticks longer than it should be? Like Itachi didn't know what Kisame was capable of with his tongue.
Shisui though seemed to take the silent exchange completely differently. Whenever Kisame did something that set flames to Itachi's loins, he could feel Shisui tense beside him. When Kisame eventually devoured a piece of large fish and skillfully removed all the bones with nothing but his tongue and teeth, Itachi blushed. He watched Kisame push the bones dangerously through his sharp teeth and held them between his kissable blue lips. He was so engrossed by the act he didn't even notice Shisui's hand digging into the hardwood table.
"Disgusting!" Shisui cursed under his breath. He caught Itachi's arm and turned them face to face. "Don't let him provoke you. Just ignore that Monster!"
"What?" was everything Itachi could reply. He looked at Kisame, who was now grinning at them openly, the collar of his yukata even looser than before. Also, the wine had driven some color into his cheeks, reminding Itachi of how Kisame looked just after their passionate love making.
"He looks at you like he wants to devour you!"
Yes, please!
"It's not like that." Itachi managed to reply calmly.
"Of course it is! You crossed blades, now he wants to beat you. He's been messing with you the whole time. Be careful."
"I am." Itachi sank his voice further. "Shisui, please calm down. There's no need to antagonize them. Don't think I didn't see you challenging Ao. Please do us the favor and be civil."
"You calling me uncivilized?" Shisui hissed. "Have you seen him! Coming in here, brandishing that stolen eye. And that Monster, urg, if I have to look at him one more moment, I might need to puke."
"Perhaps you really should distant yourself from the Sake."
"Says the one who's been finding courage in wine the whole night."
"What are you talking about?" Itachi chuckled and waved dismissively at him. "I didn't drink that much."
"Excuse me?" Shisui gasped, looking past Itachi to his father just to make sure their conversation was still unnoticed. "You've been matching that Monster cup for cup. I don't know what challenge this is, but I guarantee you that you will loose."
Itachi was just about to say that he would never dream of matching Kisame in liquor when he was interrupted by his mother's soft voice.
"Itachi, the Mizukage has a question for you, please pay attention." She announced from the other side of her husband.
"It's not that important," Terumi Mei laughed. She too had a little bit of color in her cheeks. Itachi wasn't sure if it was the Sake or the rouge she had been using. "I just heard that Itachi-kun is to be engaged. And I was then wondering how that was going."
Seriously? How tactless was this woman? How could she expect him to talk about his arranged marriage? With stranger in sight and the object of his affection sitting just a huge table away.
"It is going well, Mizukage-sama." Itachi answered dutifully. What else could he have said?
"Oh?" Kisame wondered aloud, spitting the bones of his fish onto his own plate. "I haven't heard."
"You haven't?" Terumi Mei turned towards the sharkman, her cheeks reddening with heat. "It is most exciting! It hasn't happened in nearly a century, right Fugaku-san?"
"Your information is correct, Mizukage-sama." Itachi's father nodded.
"No engagement in a century?" Ao asked. His tone told Itachi that he misunderstood the situation on purpose to antagonize the Uchihas. "How uncultivated. Looks like things in Konoha is pretty loose if clansmen can get together without being engaged first. In the old days, we in Mist keep very strict to tradition on how things were done."
"Yeah, we all know about those traditions!" Shisui shouted from his place across the entire table. "It's called thievery!"
"What did you say?" Ao almost jump from his seat.
"We in Konoha don't steal other poeple's things and then parading them around without shame! Here in Konoha..."
"Enough, Shisui!" Itachi demanded. If he wanted, his voice could be anything but soft. For a moment, Itachi caught Shisui in a stare down. He gestured to Shisui to return to his seat and that they would have words later. Then, recovering his posture of an arrogant genius, Itachi turned towards Ao. "Ao-san, you misunderstood. Engagement is an essential element in the long and proud history of my clan and this village. We are not barbarians."
For a moment Ao looked like he wanted to argue, but Terumi Mei whispered something to him that made him sweat and tremble. He also regained his seat, his face alarmingly pale.
"What my Dou-sama and your Mizukaga-sama have heard is a most progressive change in the arrangement of my upcoming marriage." Itachi explained. He dared everyone in the room to disagree. Luckily no one spoke up.
"After careful consideration, my noble father and mother have decided that I shall be allowed to wed a person of my own choice." Itachi inclined his head politely at the gathered guests. "It is of course my honor to hold such trust from my noble father and mother."
"What?" Kisame gasped. "What does that mean?"
"Oh, you're so dense, Kisame!" Terumi Mei laughed an high-pitched laugh and slapped Kisame's arm. "Itachi-kun means that he can marry whoever he chooses."
"Anyone?"
Itachi gave Kisame a glare that said "could you be more obvious?"
"Indeed," Mikoto said, smiling her smoothing smile. "We thought that arranged marriage is a little too old fashioned for our son. He is a very forward-thinking boy and we trust his judgment."
All sweet words, Itachi thought. Of course they wouldn't be saying that they wanted to use Itachi as a pawn to call all the suitors to their door. Of course it went without saying that anyone who wanted ties with the Uchiha would come knocking, thus showing the village and the world what importance they held.
"How wonderful!" Mizukage applauded again. "Itachi-kun, anyone caught your eyes yet? I believe a man of your talent and taste wouldn't be satisfied by the variety of just one village, no? How about Kirrigakure? We have many fine young men to offer!"
Many things happened at once. Mikoto gasped "Oh my!". Fugaku and Shisui both grunted with disgust. Itachi froze because Terumi just offered him an husband and Kisame was winking at him. He was winking at him with his bare chest and smug grin for everyone present to see.
"Oh my bad!" Terumi quickly apologized. "I had too much Sake and wasn't thinking straight! I mean we have many very beautiful kunoichi, of course! You would forgive the babble of a woman, wouldn't you Itachi-kun?"
"Of course, Mizukage-sama," Itachi swallowed. "It is only natural for your lady to think of the fine warriors of Kirigakure if she is accompanied by such fine specimen."
Kisame laughed and lifted his cup towards Itachi. The genius returned it politely, but stiffly.
"Well spoken, Itachi-kun." Terumi nodded in acknowledgment. "Your tongue is as sharp as your mind. What do you say, Fugaku-sama? Should we arrange a wider spectrum for your first born to choose from? It would be a shame if Itachi-kun couldn't get what he deserves."
Oh, now Itachi understood the purpose of this meeting. They wanted to form an alliance. Of course both parties knew about the engagement arrangement. They were just here to test the water. It was probably spoken about last time Mizukage visited the Uchiha house. Now he regretted not eavesdropping on that conversation. But he was very occupied on that day.
"Itachi," Shisui whispered next to him. "Are you alright?"
"Fine."
"Don't worry," his cousin put a gentle hand on his forearm. "It's just politics. Fugaku-san won't let you marry someone from another village."
"I know." Itachi nodded solemnly. It was all a game. There was no way Fugaku would marry his first son, his heir off to another village. He but wanted the prestige of receiving gifts and suitors from the Mizukage. And what the Mizukage wanted was more than obvious. She knew perfectly well that Itachi will never set a foot in Kiri. She wanted him to marry a pretty kunoichi and then have her own spy here in the heart of Konoha.
Itachi was suddenly tired of politics. It appeared he would always be a victim of the games of those above him. No matter which life he had, he was always just an indispensable pawn to be moved around. People would never cease to use him, be it as an assassin, or a spy or in today's case a piece of meat to be dangled in front of others.
Itachi knew that all what was said today were but empty words. Nothing coming out of his father's or mother's mouth was the truth. They promised him that he was allowed to choose, but in the end they would force him to subside to their decision. He would marry the girl they approved of or keep on searching. He would be married to one they could control. He would birth children in the Uchiha name. And who cared if he loved his future wife? Wasn't it just another sacrifice expected of a dutiful shinobi as himself?
He was sick of this. He had enough of allowing others to use him. It wasn't as if he wanted to renounce his duty as a shinobi, he just wanted to be free, to serve as he saw fit. And it didn't include his parent's games. In this moment, Itachi decided he would no longer allow his parents to play him. He was not a bargain chip, because that was what Itachi was to them.
He lifted his head, noticing that the conversation around them had prolonged down the road. They were already talking about the number of girls the Uchihas could be expecting. They spoke of the requirements these girls would have to fulfill, all described as an outcome of Itachi's exquisite and demanding taste. Nothing of it was how Itachi would have wanted. It was disgusting to listen to and Itachi felt bile rose in his mouth.
He leaned towards his father. "Dou-sama," Itachi said softly. "May I be excused for a moment? I drank quite some wine."
Fugaku didn't pay his son much mind but only nodded. Shisui was about to rise with him, but Itachi would rather be alone. He bowed towards the guests and walked out of the door, his mind already a million miles away. He found a unoccupied room one level above and quickly closed the door behind him. He leaned against the open panel to the balcony and looked out towards the home he scarified so much for.
The night air was cleansing. He breathed it in and felt his lungs tighten. It wasn't a good sign, but Itachi had no time for it. Right now, he wished he could just jump down there never to return.
"You shouldn't stand in the cold, it's not good for you."
"I knew you would come." Itachi said, not turning to see his former partner.
"Are you alright?"
For one moment Itachi wanted to assure him that everything was fine. But he turned around and found himself too tired to try. He was too tired to even be proud and lie. He waved Kisame closer to himself and pressed his face to the warm skin of Kisame's chest.
"No," Itachi whispered feebly. "Nothing is alright, Kisame. After everything I did, everything that happened, I find myself again pushed against a wall with no route to escape but the one they offer me."
"Itachi-san..."
"Don't," Itachi silenced him with a finger on his lips. "Leave me to my sorrow. It was my doing all along."
Kisame caught Itachi's wrist and pulled it up to his lips. He bid down on it and then pressed a hard kiss to the wounded skin. His other hand wrapped around Itachi's chin and lifted it up to face the Monster.
"Have you learned nothing, Itachi-san?" Kisame said almost tenderly. "I'm your partner and always will be. You are not alone in this world."
Itachi didn't think. He just rose to his toes and pressed his lips against Kisame's, not caring for a moment if the world crumbled around him.