A/N: I know I know. Twenty years later and an update. Well...things are starting to heat up in the story...and I had to split the chapter again. But I'm sure you all will eat it right up- so I've already dived head first to get the rest out a lot quicker than this one. There are quite a few developments here....and then we are off to the main event.
Song this time is Roxanne. I'm using the version from the Moulin Rouge movie. LOVE IT!
Warnings: Boy on boy. And...errr...no cursing this time around. Not that I remember.
Enjoy guys. Tell me what you think so far. Your reviews reminded me to get this out~
~~~A~~~
It was the day before their debut- the young charges would soon become what they had trained so long to be. Companions.
Now all that was left was to get each in their custom outfits. Kisame sighed as he waited on the boys to dress.
"I should be use to this……." He sighed again. Another few minutes went by- with various sounds being heard from within the room. He knocked impatiently. "Seriously… do all Companions take this long?"
A muffled thump could be heard in response- then all was silent. The door slowly opened to show the boys fully dressed and shifting about in slight embarrassment. Naruto sported a two pieced outfit- one side half black and the other white. The short-cut top revealed his flat stomach- which sported a unique tribal tattoo from his childhood. The high riding shorts were connected to the leg guards by string laced between the two- offering only a glimpse of his tanned thighs.
Neji wore a thin grey one piece shirt that was long in the front and back- yet still allowed the sides of his legs to appear to the observer. Under that he wore skin tight black leggings that stopped just short of the boots that came up to his knees. A grey band was wrapped around his head to hold his hair back- so as not to be in the way during his performance.
As for the furiously blushing Sasuke- his shirt/dress (no one could really tell) was blue and white. It was cut much like Neji's but shorter- showing off much more of his pale legs. His dark blue boots were made of a shiny material- and he too wore a band that caused his hair to stand out attractively. The top sported a strange design- three red dots moving in a circle. Apparently this was to be his symbol- much as Itachi had the clouds on his outfit. Kisame nodded. All three were attractive enough to melt any clients desires instantly. Perfect.
"Alright boys. Let's go show Pein then cart them off to be cleaned one more time. Geez…why does it always take so long to get you all in new clothes?" The man continued to talk as he lead them to the inner rooms of the compound. " I mean….every one of you has different personalities…. But you all have one thing in common….You take too freakin' long to dress." The boys said nothing- only concentrating on moving in the unfamiliar clothes.
Kisame eyed them steadily. "Dear god…I hope Itachi doesn't notice you three…you all are moving like sick ducks….C'mon, aren't you suppose to be graceful or something?"
Naruto glared up at him. "And aren't you suppose to be quiet or helpful or something?"
Kisame laughed- shrugging off the boy's cold stare. "Nah, that's only for my particular charge. Which is Itachi. Sorry kid."
Naruto huffed and resumed his march- choosing not to press the issue. They finally arrived in front of Pein's office. Kisame knocked then stuck his head through the door- murmuring something. Then he was back out and opening the door wide for the three boys. As they entered they saw that Hinata was already there with Sakura. She was wearing a light purple dress that was cut up the front all the way to her navel. A simple leotard that was darker than the dress was all the showed. Her long nimble legs where covered in a light colored stockings. A pink-ish flower sat gracefully on her head- her dark hair flowing out behind her beautifully.
Kisame rolled his eyes. "The boys took longer than Hinata? Now that really is sad."
Naruto was about to say something when Pein held his hand up for silence. He eyed each of them critically in turn. He nodded after a few moments. "Very good Kisame. That will do."
Kisame and Sakura both bowed- the charges following their lead. Then all left. Kisame had the boys strip so he could take the clothes where they needed to go. That left them the rest of the afternoon to themselves- time to think about the upcoming events.
Naruto and Sasuke choose to wander through the garden- silent in each other's company. Several times- one of them would start to say something- but would quickly stop and keep the silence going. An hour passed then they parted ways- the deep sadness still lingering behind them.
Sasuke was confused. Why were they so sad? This is what will start the beginning of their lives. This was a big moment for them…..but it felt so heavy. Perhaps Itachi would know…
"You want to know why it feels wrong?" Itachi turned to look at the young charge perched on the end of his bed. Sasuke was avoiding his gaze- instead eyeing the slightly mussed blanket on which he sat. His cheeks burned with the memories of the night before. But he was really bothered by that feeling…
Itachi raised an eyebrow at the boy's reclusion- but decided not to point it out.
"Sasuke…did you ever learn what life as a normal person proceeds?"
Itachi knew this was not taught at the school, but perhaps the boy had learned before then. He had never spoken of his life before entering the Companion world…so perhaps he knew what a normal life was.
Sasuke was silent for a moment- watching the fading light from under the door. "No. I do not. I only know of life here."
Itachi nodded. When he had gained this knowledge…it lead to one of the most tiresome struggles of his life. Knowing of that other life- that life of happiness, yet never being able to touch it and keep it as your own. That was one of the greatest struggles as a Companion.
He stood slowly and turned away from the boy- looking no where in particular. "Life as a Companion is closed and predictable. But life outside these walls…outside of a Chosen or Client…is so unexpected….but peaceful at the same time."
The boy looked up at the sudden softness in his mentor's voice. He seemed….as if he was speaking of something he had wanted for a very long time. Something that he could not obtain- but yet still longed for.
"There is no one to judge you on if you prepared yourself that day…no one that demands for you to perform on their every whim. You aren't chained away for weeks on end- devoted to someone you could care less about." Itachi sighed- his eyes growing more and more distant. "But to say that that devotion is bad…." He shook his head. "No it isn't…just the fact that it is someone you don't care about….that is what is wrong."
Sasuke took every word in. He had never heard Itachi talk so passionately about something…and the subject was one that everyone before now had avoided.
You don't have to put on that red light….
"They don't have everything provided for them….people must work for what they need…but not like us. They have so many different jobs open to them…." Itachi leaned forward. "Everything you can think of really. There is so much that needs to be done- and those people make a life out of doing whatever they have the skill for."
"But…isn't that like us? This is out skill right?"
Itachi's gaze hardened once more. "True…this is something we excel at. But who's to say it's our best?"
You don't have to wear that dress tonight..
Roxanne….
Sasuke smiled at this suddenly- an image forming in his mind. "Yeah…you could be really good at cooking and just haven't told anyone!"
"C-cooking? What nonsense are you talking about now?"
Sasuke stood up- hands clutched behind his back- a wide grin plastered on his face. "You look the type you know? Wearing an apron and what not…I bet you sneak off to the kitchens and make our meals…."
Itachi was to baffled to even smile- he opted instead to stare at the boy. When Itachi didn't give a response Sasuke laughed and skipped forward- using his fingers to push up the sides of Itachi's mouth. "Come on…that was suppose to make you smile…"
Itachi swayed slightly with the boy's movements- his eyebrows coming together in concentration. "Cooking? I just can't say that is my particular….hidden interest."
"I wasn't being serious…"
Now he looked at the young charge. "Really now? Because I think you used that to cover you own secret interest…."
Sasuke smirked. "Did I? And what would that be almighty teacher?"
Itachi took both of Sasuke's hands in his own gently- causing the boy to blush predictably. He couldn't stop himself from grinning however- ruining the seriousness he had wanted. "A housewife. A little busy thing that bustles around for her beloved."
"A h-housewife?" Sasuke could now only stare at the older man. Was he being serious or just picking on him again?
"Yes. With one of those…..oh what did you call it? Aprons? Yes- one of those." Itachi smiled softly- his gaze unfocused as he imagined such a scene. Sasuke watched him for a moment- before deciding that he should milk this for what it's worth- if it got the older man to smile like this.
He leaned forward- towering over the man due to the man's sitting position. He nudged his forehead, not unlike how the older man did him when he was correcting him for some mistake or such. "I guess then I would have to cook and clean all the time instead huh?" He smiled. "While you sat on your butt and did something boring….like reading."
"Reading is boring?" Itachi focused now on the boy.
"Yes, at least for one so busy as a housewife." Sasuke turned to prance about the room- pretending to clean various objects. "I would just be so focused on my chores. It must be clean!"
Itachi shook his head at the boy's antics. Was there nothing this boy wouldn't do?
Sasuke stopped and looked thoughtfully into the space if front of him before glancing over to Itachi. "Of course then you'd be lonely because I would never pay any attention to my dear little husband." He said the last part in a mock female voice- his hand dramatically resting over his heart.
Itachi finally caught the boy's drift- another rare blush playing out on the older man's features. "Who said anything about me being your husband?"
Sasuke took that as a cue to change tactics. His expression fell and he looked crushed. "You mean you wouldn't marry me? Is it because I'm so short?"
Itachi held back the laugh that wanted to burst out at the boy's comment- but it was fairly obvious he was having a hard time. "Y-yes….that's it exactly."
Sasuke grew dramatic once again. "I knew it! Naruto always points it out! I'm flawed!" He threw himself on the ground in front of Itachi's sitting form. "So flawed! It's tragic!"
Itachi leaned forward resting his arms on his lap. "Oh yes. They should write stories about you. Epic songs too."
Sasuke looked up at him. "You're right! Then you would have no choice but to marry me!"
"And them making up songs about you automatically means we're married how?"
Sasuke clapped his hands and smiled- resting them on top of Itachi's. "Because those songs would be stuck in your head and you would think about me nonstop all day long!"
Before Itachi could stop himself he chuckled. "I already do…."
There was a sudden tense silence between the two. Sasuke's mouth barely dropped open- his gaze locked to Itachi's equally shocked expression. The boy decided not to let this drag out like before. He wanted to understand what the older man was feeling…
"You do?"
Itachi was surprised that the boy had actually worked up the courage to confront him about his words. He never thought he would have come into this situation…he was at a loss at what to do. It was wrong- and would only bring both of them suffering…Itachi knew that…but he couldn't help himself. There was such hope shining in those dark eyes…
He nodded slowly- trying desperately to find a way to explain himself. "Yes. All the time. Even when I try not too…."
Sasuke was silent as Itachi stumbled to a halt. Then a small smiled cracked through the boy's neutral expression. His voice was low and heavy with a foreign emotion. "Then…I'm good…at what I should be…"
Itachi reached around to gently cup the back of the boy's neck. "I wish you weren't….they…will rip that from you in the cruelest ways…." His grip tightened. "They know nothing of what this innocence means to us…"
Sasuke surprisingly understood what his mentor was saying. It brought him some satisfaction in knowing that Itachi worried so much about him. He adverted his gaze downward. "You know….Itachi…." He looked up- his gaze filled with something that Itachi was not used to being on the receiving end of…seduction.
"I don't really want….those people to be the first thing I experience… they are so…." He shifted himself- bringing the two closer. "Uncouth…"
Itachi quirked an eyebrow- pointedly ignoring the boy's advances…at least as best as he could. "Uncouth? Such a heavy word little one…"
The boy's expression did not change at the light jab. "All that matters is that it is appropriate." It went without saying that Itachi was immensely surprised at the boy's sudden change in demeanor. He seemed to have all the skill and experience of a pro- and so suddenly. Much like himself.
"Sasuke. Do you know what you are saying?"
"Yes. That is one thing I have not had any trouble learning around here." He reached up and rested his hand on that of his mentor's.
"Sad." Was all Itachi said to that as he wrapped his other arm around Sasuke and pulled him up onto the bed. "It's sad that you all have been pulled into something like this."
Sasuke rolled over onto his back- his gaze never leaving that of Itachi's. "I don't think so."
"Really now?"
"Yes." The boy reached up and gently cupped the elder's face. "I wouldn't have met you. My mother used to tell me that there would be someone in my life that would make me feel safe. Someone I would be embarrassed and easily shy around….but someone I wanted to be near…."
Itachi's heart raced at the boy's words. He was sharing something so intimate about his past….and it had to do with him?
"And that is you. I know that. I know what will happen to me tomorrow…" The boy grew silent a moment- then pressed on- near the verge of tears. "I know what will happen…and it makes me sick that it can't be you. That is isn't you that will pick me tomorrow…"
Itachi couldn't hold himself back any longer. He leaned forward- clutching the boy to him- burying his face in his raven hair.
"Sasuke hush now. I won't let them be the first. Not if you don't want that. I won't make you suffer like I did when I debuted."
You don't have to wear that dress tonight.
Roxanne..
You don't have to sell your body to the night.
He gently grabbed the boy's hand- lacing their fingers together as he pressed them into the bed next to the boy's head. He looked down into the boy's dark searching eyes from his position above him.
"I won't let them take what is yours to give. Only if you don't want them too."
Sasuke did not hesitate. "No. They won't have it. I am yours."
Roxanne
Itachi leaned down- pressing his lips once again into the soft yielding ones of the boy. His taste was just as sweet as he remembered- with the foreign hint of his tears mixed in. He pulled away and did not give the boy to breath as he once again claimed his mouth. He wanted to watch just as much as he wanted to kiss….it was actually rather frustrating.
He expertly moved his attention to the pale neck offered below him. The little sounds the boy made were some of the most erotic noises the older man had ever heard….and that's saying something for a Companion of his caliber. He would make the most of this night…he would give Sasuke something to remember.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today was the day they had trained for. Everything till now was pale in comparison to what lay before them. The four charges nervously prepared them selves hours before hand…under the careful tutelage of their mentors.
When all were dressed and ready they were lead out to the courtyard to wait out the remainder time. Everything was silent.
Everything was still.
Night fell fast- faster than any other night before. Sasuke had practically clung to Itachi the whole day- the two having dressed separately from the others. Somehow it felt as all the others knew what had taken place between the two- but none protested to it. In fact- when they did immerge to be with the others, Tenten had smiled and Ino gave them a thumbs up. Neji and Naruto simply nodded.
The time was drawing close- they could hear the sound of various people entering the hall- many voices filled the night air around them. Servants and escorts rushed around leading and settling the visitors in.
Hinata looked around at the stern faces around her. Everyone was so tense. She was too. This was the night she had feared for so long. Even now she was trembling. What if she got a bad horrible client? One that hit her or said terrible things about her position in life?
She could feel the hot sting of tears threatening to pour forth- but she struggled to keep them at bay. She closed her eyes- shaking her head slowly as the noise within the hall grew louder with the growing crowd. Then suddenly there was a soft touch of another hand resting on hers- she looked up to meet the gaze that matched her own.
Neji looked at his cousin with his normally steady gaze softened with concern. "It's fine Hinata. We'll be fine."
Naruto looked on- equally concerned. He was filled with confidence. But he knew he would be able to do this. But Hinata….
She couldn't bring herself to say anything- she just leaned forward and fell into Neji- silent sobs wracking her body. The others looked on in silence. Nothing they could say would make this easier.
Suddenly Kisame and the others were there.
"It's time guys. Let's go."
Everyone stood and filed out with their Caretakers. Haku, Neji and Naruto first followed by Tenten Ino and Hinata. When the others had turned the corner, Itachi nodded to Kisame. He smiled but said nothing as he turned away and followed the others.
Itachi wasted no time in bending down to give one last kiss to the surprised boy. He cupped his face gently- his red eyes burning into the other's. "Remember… I… love you."
Sasuke was left in even greater surprise as he watch the other man turn and saunter off after the others. His eyes remained wide and his mouth gaped open- a blush spreading rapidly across his face. That was the first time Itachi had said that to him directly. Even during the events of last night…
And now so suddenly…
The boy smiled and followed his mentor and the others.
No not his mentor.
His lover.
A/N: Horrible part to leave off. But it's the only break I've got till the end that isn't a horrible cliff hanger.
Let's hear it dearies. I love your responses. And thank you to all those who are following along. I haven't forgotten you!
~Twilight
