Diamonds and Pearls

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Hmm still not sure what I'm going to do with the "older generation," but I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Perhaps I'll make up my mind soon.

Chapter 15

At some point, Sasuke must have fallen asleep. He was vaguely aware of the sensation of being moved. Something or someone was carrying him. When he felt the warmth of that "something" and a heartbeat, he knew that it was someone.

Cautiously, he opens his eyes. It was Naruto. Sasuke relaxed once he realized this. Naruto was like a living warship in some ways. Nothing was going to happen to him while the blonde Captain was holding him like this.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. We are heading out. Tenten says she saw fires in the distance. Campfires. We aren't the only ones on this island. No telling if they are friendly or not. So we are getting out of here fast." He explains.

"Oh. Probably a good idea then." Sasuke murmurs and snuggles against Naruto's wonderfully warm chest.

Itachi watches Sasuke and Naruto as he starts herding the other pirates onto their respective ships. If nothing else, he knew that Sasuke would be completely safe with Naruto. The other pirate wouldn't allow one hair to be harmed on his brother's head.

Physically, Sasuke would be fine. Mentally would likely be another story though. He knew exactly what his brother was planning to do. He was going to try to control Naruto by pretending to be more injured than he was. He was going to feign complete submissiveness. That sort of thing would likely drive his brother to insanity before long.

"Yeah. Don't worry about anything. We'll be gone long before they notice." Naruto assures him as he carries Sasuke to their cabin, Bridal Style.

The blonde frowns. Sasuke wasn't even protesting being carried like a woman. His pearl had to be in a lot of pain.

He quickly gets them inside the cabin and gently lays him on he bed. Naruto kisses him and pulls the blanket over his lover. He quickly grabs a bottle of ale and holds it to his lips.

"You should drink. It will dull the pain." Naruto says.

Sasuke normally would have told the blonde to fuck off. He didn't need to be fussed over in this fashion. He'd surely had worse injuries than a broken rib. He was a pirate, not some helpless maiden.

He shakes his head though and sips on the ale. It was better to humor him. Besides, why argue when someone was providing you liquor for free? Yeah. That's what he thought.

"Thanks. Naruto, I'm fine. You should help the rest of the crews. We aren't alone on this island. You're a Captain. The men and women need you. I'll be fine." He tries to assure him.

"Itachi and Gaara can handle it. Are you angry with me?" The blue eyed pirate asks.

Sasuke sighs. He wasn't going to be able to wiggle out of answering that question. Damn. He needed to come up with something good and fast.

"I'm angry that you attacked Kisame. It wasn't his fault. He's our friend, Naruto. You can't seriously blame him for rescuing one of our comrades. He only looked away for a moment. It wasn't like he wanted me to drown. Besides, I'm fine. Healthy as a horse." The younger Uchiha reasons.

Naruto blinks. He couldn't for the life of him understand why Sasuke was defending the other pirate! It was Kisame's fault he had almost been killed.

"I told him to cover you. He didn't. It's a miracle that you are alive. You aren't healthy as a horse. You almost drowned and you have a broken rib." He argues.

Sasuke bit his lower lip. Naruto was going to be really difficult it seemed. Fine. He'd just have to pull his trump card.

"I might have a broken rib, but that doesn't matter. I have you to take care of me. If you insist on staying, come lay with me. Your kisses make me forget the pain." He murmurs at him.

Yes, this called for desperate measures. Sasuke knew that his eyelashes were longer than most men. It was a trait that Itachi both had. While a bit embarrassing, it could be useful.

He lowers his eyelashes and pours on his best bedroom eyes. His ruby red orbs were practically saying, "Come ravish me." He knew this was fighting dirty, but he didn't care about that at the moment.

"Always, my pearl. Always." He promises and captures Sasuke's lips in a heated kiss.

Maybe the eyelashes weren't so bad. Sasuke soon found himself moaning into the kiss. He runs his fingers through his blonde's hair. Naruto was soon completely plundering his mouth and caressing his lover's entire body.

Naruto groans into the kiss. He'd never get tired of kissing the other man or slamming into his tight arse. God, he loved him. He loved his utterly infuriating, feisty First Mate.Half the time he wanted to strangle Sasuke. The other half he wanted to ravish him so thoroughly, that Sasuke wouldn't be able to leave his bed. Ever again.

"I love you." Sasuke whispers once he breaks the kiss.

"I love you too. That's why I'm not going to let anything like that happen to you again." He promises.

Sasuke simply nods his head. He didn't have the heart to point out the reality of the world to him. They were pirates. Odds are he was going to get hurt again. Hell the odds of him hitting thirty, seemed relatively low. Most pirates didn't.

Meanwhile Guy's people were preparing a plan an attack on the pirates. The sailor blinks. Uh oh. No! This couldn't be!

"Their getting ready to leave!" Guy says in a panic.

The sailors look at their Captain nervously. Damn it. None of them were particularly eager to chase after this many pirates, but the money had been good. They had hoped that eventually the pirates would lose them.

"What are your orders, Captain?" One of them inquires.

"Prepare the ship! We are going after them. We can't just leave Kakashi alone to face those dogs!" He exclaims.

Everyone quickly starts preparing their ship. Unfortunately, the Sharingan and Konoha were already taking off. They had a head start. The most that Guy could hope for was that they wouldn't lose sight of the other ship.

This couldn't' be happening. He had to find a way to save Kakashi. Kakashi might be a cutthroat pirate, but he was still his best friend. He wouldn't allow him to be cut down in his youth!

"HURRY MEN! HURRY! WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM! It looks like the seas have calm. We should be able to keep pace!" The eccentric man calls out.

The men quickly set about their tasks. Preparing a ship to sail was not an easy feat. It couldn't be done instantly. Still they scurried about in determination. All of them knew that letting their strange Captain down wouldn't end well.

Guy assists them. They knew he was a bizarre individual, but no one would fault him for carrying his weight. He was one of the few Captains any of them had ever known that didn't mind getting down and dirty with the crews.

"I never thought that him sailing for the Queen would end up with him getting kidnapped by pirates." He murmurs to himself as he remembered the day that Kakashi told him the Queen had just seen fit to employ his "services."

"You're telling me, that you are going to be sailing for the Queen of England?" Guy asks in disbelief.

"Yes. She noticed my skills. She's willing to overlook my humble origins, if it means more treasure for the royal coffers. Mei is a very practical woman that way." His friend replied.

Guy blinked. Kakashi had just addressed the Queen by only her first name. He could get his tongue cut out for that or at least lashing.

"Kakashi, that's wonderful news! But don't be going around calling her just Mei with anyone else in earshot. It'll get you punished." He exclaimed.

"The Queen said that I could just call her Mei. I am only following her Majesty's wishes." The CopyCat Pirate replied.

Guy couldn't believe it. The Queen wanted the silver haired devil to be that familiar with her. Ah well. The power of youth must clearly be on his side!

"I should have known that something was up. No Monarch is going to allow a peasant to call them that, without a reason. Now his position as her lover has went and got him in big trouble." He mutters to himself.

Thankfully, the crew was too busy setting sail to hear him. That was the last thing Guy needed. He didn't need them to be starting no rumors! It could end with Kakashi getting beheaded!

Elsewhere Haku and Obito had just left the Inn. The weather had calmed. They had to be off. If they could travel, it was possible the Sharingan could travel. They didn't want to be too far behind them.

If they actually found the lost treasure, then they would be smart to take the loot and leave quickly. Both men understood that they had precious little time to waste. That was why they set sail almost immediately.

"This man is precious to you. It's rare to see a shipyard owner embark on a voyage like this." Haku muses.

"He is very precious to me. One of my dearest friends. I had two childhood friends that I was close to. We were inseparable. He was one of them. I have not heard from the other in years. I assume she is dead. She just went missing one day." Obito replies.

Haku nods sympathetically. He didn't know Obito's exact age, but he could make a good guess. It was likely the man had grown up in an era when child slavery was even more common than it was now. His friend had probably been kidnapped. The mild mannered man doubted that the girl had just gotten lost.

Of course it would be cruel to say that. It would only pour salt into a very old wound. Haku didn't have the heart to say that. Obito was helping him avenge his dead lover. He should treat him with some consideration.

"I am sorry for your loss. So he is just your friend then? This is quite a lot of trouble to put yourself through and he is an attractive man. I would not judge you. The Captain was my lover." Haku assures him.

Obito felt himself twitch. Was the other man implying that he believed that Kakashi and Obito were lovers?! Obito had heard many mad theories in his day, but that had to be the maddest.

"He is not my lover. Nor do I want him to be. I have no interest in Kakahsi in that way. He is my friend and that is all. Women are the only people that I find desirable. I cast no judgment on those that prefer men to warm there beds, but I do not share this inclination!" Obito protests.

"I was merely asking. There is no need to get defensive about it. My apologies. I truly did not intend to offend you." Haku whispers.

Obito felt himself twitch again. He didn't intend to offend him?! By God, he was suggesting that he wanted to bed Kakashi. It was practically blasphemy. Still he cooled his ire. Fighting with Haku was not gong to accomplish his goals.

"I accept your apology. Come. We need to head out. We do not wish to be left behind. I doubt that crew will stay in place for long." He states and Haku nods.

He quickly follows Obito. The younger man still didn't understand why he was so upset. It had only been a question. An innocent question.

They quickly set sail. Obito was confident that he knew where those pirates were heading. They just had to get there before they left. With any luck, Kakashi would be back in England soon. Safe and sound.

He knew that the Queen would be quite happy about that. She might even give them medals. That would be nice. He certainly didn't need any monetary award. His shipyard had made him richer than he had ever dared to imagine he would ever be.

Back on the Sharingan, Gaara leans over the edge of the ship and looks down at the water below. They were sailing now. Thankfully, it looked like they had left their neighbors behind for the moment.

"Beautiful." He murmurs to himself.

One would never imagine that only the day before, the seas had been determined to sink any ship that dared to sail on it. Now the waters were clear and calm. He could see some fish swimming just below the surface and even a dolphin or two.

"Yes, you are." Itachi says with a smile.

Somehow the other pirate had snuck up behind him. Gaara would have been disturbed by this fact, if it had been anyone other than Itachi. The red head prided himself on being aware of his surroundings. Apparently, he hadn't been today.

"You are a flatterer." He whispers and leans back into the elder Uchiha's loving embrace.

Itachi had wrapped his arms around Gaara's waist at some point. The younger Captain didn't mind this though. He liked being held by his lover. It was soothing.

"Mmm I speak only the truth." Itachi says and kisses his cheek.

"Of course you do. Though I should really be cross with you, after what you did." He mutters.

His lover tries his best to look innocent. Gaara merely raises an eyebrow. Itachi Uchiha was many things. Innocent was not one of those things though.

"Why ever should you be vexed with me?" He inquires smoothly, as if he didn't already know the reason.

"It seems like all of the crews overheard our lovemaking in that cave. Everyone has been giving me strange looks." He mutters.

Itachi shrugs. He didn't see the problem. Quite honestly, he was rather pleased with the whole situation himself. Now everyone knew that Gaara belonged to him and ONLY him.

"Well I don't see why that would upset you. Now they merely know that we enjoy each other greatly." The dark haired pirate says smugly.

"Sometimes you are worse than a child." Gaara notes with amusement.

"Would a child kiss you like this?" Itachi inquires and captures his lover's lips with his own in a heated kiss.

Gaara obediently opens his mouth. He knew what was coming and felt a shiver of anticipation at that knowledge. He moans when he felt Itachi thoroughly seduce him with his wonderfully wicked tongue.

Itachi smiles into the kiss. Gaara still tasted so sweet. He loved the way that his lover would moan for him and never resisted his advances.

"A child would most certainly not kiss me like that." The red head whispers after breaking the kiss.

"Mmm I thought as much." His lover agrees.

Kisame watches in amusement. Thankfully, the Captains had seen reason. Kisame was going to travel on the Sharingan instead of Konoha. No one really wanted to risk seeing Naruto explode at the blue skinned man again in a fiery rage.

"Well perhaps if Naruto was getting as much attention as you are, he wouldn't be so homicidal." Kisame muses.

"Oh I'm certain that he and Sasuke are quite enamored of each other. I doubt that the blonde would act that way, if they were not already lovers." Itachi notes with amusement.

"That's true. Kisame, if I were you…I would stay out of Naruto's sight. Just to be on the safe side. He is extremely protective of Sasuke. He wrongly blames you for him almost drowning. It wouldn't take much to unwittingly provoke him." The Captain of Suna warns him.

The giant man sighs and nods. He knew that the brat was right. It was good to see the Sabaku Siblings again though. In a way, the brats were the closest thing to children that he had.

That fact was slightly disturbing because he considered Itachi to almost be a brother. So it felt a little weird to see him in the other Captain's arms. Still he digressed. It wasn't any of his business. He was happy that they had found each other.

"I know. Believe me. I know. The kid has a major temper. I don't know how you put up with him for so long Gaara." He teases.

"I put up with him because he's my best friend. He's loyal and brave. Honest too. Well honest for a pirate." The red head adds as an afterthought.

"Should I be jealous? That was quite a few compliments that you just directed at my brother's lover. Is there something that you wish to tell me?" Itachi asks.

Gaara shakes his head. He wouldn't even think about being unfaithful to Itachi. He had been in love with the man for years. Why would he ever stray?

"Never, my love. Never." He assures him and Itachi smiles, seeming to accept that answer.

"Well it looks like left our friends behind for now. If you two lovebirds want to have some alone time, I can watch the ship." Kisame offers.

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you." Itachi says as he leads his favorite red head off.

Meanwhile things were far from serene on Konoha. Currently the women were chasing after Hidan. The foul mouthed pirate had stolen their undergarments. To say the least, they were not pleased.

"GIVE US BACK OUR UNMENTIONABLES, YOU PERVERT!" Sakura growls at him.

"Oh I don't know. I think most of them were quite pretty. So which one of you was the red lace wearer?" He asks conversationally.

The woman all lunge at him. Suigetsu shakes his head in amusement. He decides to step in and stop his friend from getting killed. He quickly grabs the lingerie and hands it back to the women.

Well he did it quickly, but not too quickly. He as only human after all. Of course he was going to look. Oh Hidan was right. That little red number was quite nice.

"Thank you." Hinata mumbles and quickly grabs that one.

"So red lace? I like it. Maybe you can model it for me sometime, Angel." He says.

SMACK! Konan smacks Suigetsu for that one. Honestly, you would think the man was raised in a barn.

"Show some respect. I doubt Hinata wants to deal with your deviancy!" She thunders at him.

Rin just watches the show. If nothing else, being on this ship was never boring. She knew that it would be a relatively short sail until they reached the island. In the meantime, well she had lots of entertainment to look forward to.

A few weeks later, an island comes into view. Deidara was the first to spot it. The eccentric blonde loved being the one to make the first sighting of land.

"LAND, HO!" He cries out triumphantly.

That woke everyone up. It was still very early in the morning. Only a few pirates were up and about, making sure that the ship was still sailing on course.

"Sasuke, wake up." Naruto calls out gently inside their cabin.

"Mmm?" He replies sleepily as his lover tries to rouse him from his deep slumber.

This was not a fact that Sasuke appreciated by the way. He was having such a good dream too! Why did Naruto have to be annoying and wake him up.

"Deidara spotted land. We found the island. Now we just have to get past the reefs. Time to break out the rowboats." He says.

"Ohhh. Do you really think the treasure is here?" Sasuke asks with childlike wonder.

"I don't know, but we are about to find out! Come on!' Naruto says excitedly.

Sasuke nods. His rib was still tender, but he could walk around without pain now. Naruto was still fussing over him, but not as badly as before.

"Alright. Let's go get that treasure." He says as he heads off.

It was a damn good thing that they had brought the rowboats. Sasuke could see the wicked looking reef just underneath the water's surface. No wonder no one had found Kurama's treasure before. This reef was a man killer.

Thanks to the boats, they were able to make it ashore though. Sasuke sighs in relief. Some of the men had stayed behind to man the ships. The ships just couldn't dock. They'd never get by that reef.

"Remember your promise!" Naruto says cheerfully and Sasuke feels his face heat up at the reminder.

Honestly, Kisame owed him big time. He couldn't believe he had basically agreed to be Naruto's submissive little love slave while the blonde took him against a fucking treasure chest. (Well probably lots of treasure chests, but still.)

"You are such a pervert. Is that all that you ever think about?" Sasuke asks.

"Damn right, I am. Who could blame me though? Have you looked in a mirror recently? In all seriousness though, do you think you are well enough for this?" He asks in concern.

Sasuke felt himself twitch. He was not some weak maiden. He didn't need fussed after that much. He was a fucking pirate. He had certainly fought with far worse injuries than a broken rib. Naruto needed to be reminded of that.

"Yes, I'm sure. I am not a china doll, Naruto!" Sasuke growls at him.

"I know you aren't, but you are as beautiful as one. Besides, you didn't seem to mind taking it easy a few moments ago. You always curl up so sweetly in my arms. Just like a kitten." He muses.

That was it. Sasuke's pride couldn't take it anymore. He lunged at Naruto and tackled him to the ground.

"I am not a fucking kitten. Take that back right now!" He demands.

"Yes, you are. An adorable, cuddly kitten. A very sexy one, if it makes you feel any better." He says laughing.

Naruto blinks. Oh shit! Sasuke had just started throwing punches. Serious ones too. Maybe he had gone a bit too far. The poor man had been cooped up for awhile.

"Pearl, relax. I was only teasing you. I didn't mean anything serious by it. You know that I love you. I know that you are strong. Settle down. You don't want to hurt yourself. You are still recovering from your injury." Naruto protests.

"Sasuke, do you always have to be so dramatic?" Itachi asks in amusement.

He and Gaara had just arrived on the shore. What was the first thing he saw? He saw Sasuke lunging at his lover and now trying to beat the devoted blonde. Honestly, could those two ever do anything without bickering? He bet they fought even during sex.

"This arse just called me a kitten. I was merely proving him wrong." Sasuke says sweetly.

"Uh huh. Well we kinda need his arse, if we are going to haul the treasure back to the ships. Come on. Let's make certain everyone made it safely and begin looking!" Itachi says.

Sasuke nods in agreement. It had taken awhile, but they had finally made it to the island. It was possible that they were all about to become richer than they had ever dreamed and famous! They just had to find that treasure. If it was here, they were going to find it.