Chapter Four: First Session (Itachi)
"Good morning, my king. Breakfast will be served in a moment," the head kitchen servant told me with a bow as I walked into the dining room.
"Don't bother. I never eat what you serve for breakfast anyway." I sat next to my brother and took one of the cups of coffee from in front of him. Half the foods my kitchen is able to cook for breakfast screws up my heart. The other half my intestines. Therefore, I don't eat breakfast here anymore.
"You ate the Cherry Kingdom's breakfast." I grunted and took a sip from the coffee. "Then again, they didn't have such a limit on ingredients as we do."
"Hn." My eyes raised to the door to the kitchen as it swung open.
"Good morning, Itachi-sama and Sasuke-sama," Hanae greeted as she and Sakura walked in carrying a plate each. They set our food down in front of us. "Eat up; you'll need the energy for today."
"I can't eat the breakfast foods we have in the kitchen. They'll only make my illnesses worse," I told her.
"I noticed. But I also know herb mixtures that will neutralize the dangers of any food. We'll stick with this until my guy finishes shopping in the Cherry Kingdom to replenish the produce here."
"You sent a slave back to that kingdom?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her.
"You gave me five slaves, five maids, and five ladies-in-waiting along with tutors, butlers, and hairdressers. I sent him with a few guards because I have no other use for him."
"If he doesn't return…" I warned.
"He will. Now eat up. By the way…." She switched my brother's and my cups of coffee. "That one's yours. It has healing herbs in it."
"Are you going to control everything I eat and drink from now on?" I asked, glaring at the coffee suspiciously. I heard a soft giggle, and her hand pushed the cup closer to mine.
"The right foods and beverages will help the healing process. So yes, I will be."
"I like my coffee black." I pushed it away from me.
"The herbs are tasteless." She pushed it back to me. "Now drink it." I glared up at her. But then my eyes widened when I saw her expression.
"I told you he'll look," Sakura whispered to Sasuke.
"Itachi-sama. Please," she pled, her eyes becoming more watery and her lip pouting even more. My eyes were drawn to her lips as she bit the lower one. Kami-sama, what is this girl doing to me?
"Hn." I looked away and picked up the cup, taking an experimental sip. Deeming it drinkable, I took another, more confident sip.
"Wimp," Sasuke muttered around his own coffee. I glared at him as Hanae smiled.
"Itachi-sama and Sasuke-sama, your royal duties for the day have all been cancelled." We choked at Sakura's announcement. "We must study your physical health," she went on to explain.
"I'm not sick," he protested. Traitor.
"What good is it to have one brother healthy but not the other? Itachi-sama and I will be spending the first half of the day on relaxation. Sakura will take Sasuke-sama out for a walk in the village."
"During that time, I will get a few things for Ino-san and you will give me a lesson on weaponry," Sakura added in.
"That is not a lesson for a princess," Sasuke grumbled.
"It will be today because it's something you are a master at. After lunch, we will meet up at the castle stables for a good ole fashioned horse ride. On mares for the gentleness of the beauties," Hanae continued.
"Once we get back, it will be time for supper then two hours of meditation. Then it's bedtime."
"Do we have any say in this schedule?" I sighed, starting on my surprisingly good breakfast. The sisters giggled.
"None at all. You both have twenty minutes before we begin."
The princesses curtseyed before exiting the room. I cannot believe I'm allowing such a small girl tell me what to do. But I guess I kind of did sign up for this when I agreed to her terms.
Half an hour later, I followed the healer into a candle lit room. She closed and locked the door, surrounding us in dim light.
"So what's first on the agenda?" She gestured to a single bed with a candle at its head.
"I'm going to give you a massage. I noticed…. Please remove your shirt and robes." I raised an eyebrow as I did so, but her back was facing me. "I noticed before you are way too tense. First step is to change that."
I lay down on the bed on my stomach and crossed my arms under my head. I soon felt her hands beginning to knead at my tense muscles. My eyes closed at the heavenly feel of it.
"Itachi-sama, may I ask you something?" she asked hesitantly.
"Hn?" I raised a lazy eyebrow.
"What did you mean last night, exactly? I mean, I do not understand why I would make anyone lose their restraint."
"You have a very rare natural beauty. That coupled with your unrestrained innocence can drive any male insane," I answered simply. Along with those goddess like hands that can untense a muscle at a single touch.
"Is that why Kisame-san looked at me that way?"
"Stay away from him." Her hands moved away as I turned around and sat up to look her in the eye. "Even if you're with Sakura. He's nothing but trouble."
"H… hai." Reassured by her understanding, I laid back down on the bed to continue the massage.