Notes: Please remember this is an AU with a decidedly non-ninja setting! It is highly influenced by an unhealthy obsession with Turkish divan poetry, countless history books on the Ottoman Empire, and the brilliant Ferzan Özpetek's Harem Suare.

Clothing Notes: Google entari to see some beautiful examples. They are robe/caftan-like overcoats worn by the Ottomans and were often gorgeous flights of textile fantasy. Selwar are simply loose-fit or baggy pants worn underneath other layers of clothing. The site at geocities(dot) com (slash) anahita(underscore)whitehorse shows beautiful examples of Ottoman clothing. Sorry for the mangled ip info!

At one glance I love you with a thousand hearts.
 Mihri Hatun

05: repent, as I, of forswearing wine

It was early in the day, just before lunch when Hayate came back from the infirmary. He came immediately to Iruka's room. He came to stand in front of Iruka and bowed his head.

"I heard what happened to you. I'm sorry. I only looked up because someone said my name. I knew we weren't supposed to, but… that voice, it was so, I mean, I had to answer. Iruka, I didn't know what would happen or that it would happen to you. I'm so sorry."

Iruka stared at Hayate thoughtfully. Hayate began coughing mid-way through the scrutiny.

"What did the voice sound life?"

Hayate sniffed, recovering from the fit. "Sort of… cold. But, he was enticing, like I just had to answer, you know? And it was soft, sort of, like it was tickling my ear. Commanding."

"Have you ever heard Ita-I mean, the Sultan speak?" Iruka was suddenly suspicious.

"No."

"Hm. Its ok, Hayate." Iruka shrugged. "I'm glad you didn't have to go to the soldiers. There's no sense now in wishing it were different. But I don't blame you, so, don't worry."

Hayate nodded. "Thank you. If you ever want me to… do anything for you, or help you dress, just tell me. I will." He coughed again.

Iruka smiled and nodded. "Go take a hot bath, it'll help your chest."

Hayate left and Kotetsu came in. "You're being called for again." He gave Iruka a shrewd look. "Twice in a week. That's more than the harem gets called."

Iruka made a face. "It's that damn traveller, I bet. I don't want to see him."

"He's your best chance," said Kotetsu in a hard voice. "Take it. Give the rest of us something to hope for." He grabbed a comb and yanked it through Iruka's ponytail. Iruka flinched but didn't say anything, just let Kotetsu comb his hair.

He thought of what Kotetsu had said as he stood in the chamber before the Sultan. He tried to keep his gaze averted, but something in him longed to see the eyes again. He dreamt of a single eye spinning, drawing him in…

Iruka jumped when Itachi spoke.

"You'll be entertaining tonight, Iruka. I have business elsewhere to attend. I'm leaving you to make a good impression in my absence. I trust you'll take care of my guest and cater to his whims, perhaps that of his guards, whatever he asks."

Iruka nodded gravely.

"Kisame!"

The horrible man eyed Iruka as he walked by. He bowed briefly toward the Sultan and turned to face Iruka.

"I'm rewarding you. Something nice to wear. Something new. Something easy to get out of," he added with a rare smirk. "Do your best to please me." Itachi stared at Iruka, eyes spinning, leaving him with a faint drowsy light-headedness though there was a promise of pain in the gaze that made Iruka shiver.

Itachi left and Kisame handed Iruka a vibrant blue striped entari to wear. The alternating stripes were a pale patterned colour and the edges were seamed with red silk embroidery, the arms splitting and opening at the elbows down into neat points. Next he was handed dark green silk trousers. The cuffs had brilliant yellow embroidery.

"There you go, pretty boy. Work hard, but don't let him wear you out. And don't miss curfew," he added maliciously.

Then Kisame was gone and Iruka was left alone. He stood still for a moment, the soft, new bundle in his hands confusing him.

He knew what new clothes meant in the harem, he just wasn't certain it applied here.

Am I special now?

He swallowed and held the entari out again. He'd never in his life had new clothes. It was always hand downs for the orphan. Sometimes boy's clothes, sometimes girl's clothes, never new, never his size. He wore whatever was reluctantly given to him.

It was ridiculous to feel so moved here, in this place, over new clothes, but he couldn't help it. They were so nice, beyond anything anyone would have ever given him, even if they'd been able. His thumb rubbed over the embroidery, the fresh stitches soft on his flesh. They even smelled new, like the outside that he'd almost forgotten.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he quickly stripped down and pulled the new robe on. He left the thin undershirt off. He knew the Sultan by now, and if Itachi had wanted him wearing an undershirt, he would have given him one. The entari barely met in the center, but it did meet—it fit him perfectly, like the cast-offs never had—nevertheless he tugged it to make certain it stayed that way.

He'd barely finished straightening himself and dressing when a sharp rap came at the door. He sank to the floor beside a small serving table while a servant brought Kakashi in.

Iruka looked up as Kakashi approached. The servant met Iruka's eyes, blinking twice and nodding at Iruka's reply.

Kakashi gave Iruka a confused gaze as Iruka motioned him to sit. He waited.

"My apologies, sir. The Sultan had an emergency to attend. He hopes you find favour with me and will accept this dinner and myself as apology for his poor behaviour." Iruka ducked his head as he finished speaking.

Kakashi tapped his shoulder and when Iruka looked up, beckoned him rise. He took one of Iruka's hands and guided him to stand, drawing him close.

Iruka bit his lip, suddenly terrified that Kakashi would turn him away; he already had once, no, twice even. Itachi would be furious. No doubt he'd take it out on Iruka.

Will he send me to the soldiers again? Iruka's heart pounded and he began to panic, gulping deep breaths of air.

When Kakashi's hand cupped his cheek, he startled, looking directly into the eye of the man who stood beside of him.

"Calm down, please." Kakashi brushed his hair back, hands holding onto Iruka's face. "Iruka." Kakashi's thumbs rubbed gently at the curve under Iruka's eyes. "What happened?"

Iruka tried to ignore the fact that Kakashi sounded so moved, so concerned. "The-Itach-I, I mean the Sultan, he had, oh, if I don't please you, someone else will, can, I should call for—" Iruka took a step toward the door, but Kakashi pulled him back.

"No, you're fine, I mean, what happened with your uncle? Why did you run?"

Iruka's nervousness seemed to slide away, replaced with confusion, and a burgeoning anger. "Run? I didn't run! You were supposed to come back for me." Iruka poked Kakashi in the chest hard. "You! You lied. You lied to me, why? Why did you lie? Why didn't you come back?" Iruka's burst of anger was short lived. He shook his head, pushing Kakashi's hands away and looked down, hands on his forehead.

The door opened and the servant came in with food. Iruka sank beside the table immediately. He began pouring Kakashi's tea. Ah—and wine, he noted. The Sultan really did regret not attending this meeting. He rarely served wine.

Kakashi still stood, Iruka saw, staring at him in confusion. Iruka nodded to the servant. A quick tilt of his head let the servant know that he was done for the evening. It was all up to Iruka at this point.

He reached up, his fingers tangling with Kakashi's and pulled him down toward the pillow to sit. He held up a rice ball and fed it to Kakashi. The blush he was rewarded with was an honest surprise and Iruka couldn't help but smile.

"Don't you want to eat?" Kakashi asked, seemingly embarrassed at the attention.

Iruka shook his head.

Kakashi grabbed his hand. "You're doing nothing but feeding me and pouring my drinks. What is this? Can we talk? Why are you here?"

Iruka shivered at the warmth in Kakashi's hand. "We can do whatever you like. Do you wish to bathe, sir? These quarters have a private bath. I can assist you—"

"Iruka! I am not here to let you prostitute yourself to me. What is going on?"

Iruka blanched at the word and pulled his hand from Kakashi's and busied himself pouring wine.

"He sold me. That's why I'm here. You defaulted on your purchase and he sold me to the Sultan for his seraglio. I've been here since two days after you left."

Kakashi had promised Iruka he would come back for him. He'd said that he had to get his guards and belongings since they were changing course. He had paid a down payment. Even though his uncle was willing to sell Iruka cheaply, he'd insisted since Kakashi was leaving, to make sure he'd follow through.

When his uncle told him Kakashi hadn't returned on the appointed date, Iruka had nearly cried. So close to freedom, and the dreams that Kakashi promised, he'd literally felt them dissipate before him. He went to bed hungry, his last night of freedom, little of that though it were. When his uncle told him that morning that the Sultan's guards were coming for him, he'd shrugged.

How could it get any worse? He'd asked himself that question on the way to the Sultan's palace. Foolish. All because of Kakashi.

"Do you know what they've made me do?"

Kakashi shook his head carefully, a pained look on his face. He rubbed at the eyepatch.

Iruka didn't care. The pained look infuriated him. I'm the one in pain, not you!

"I didn't abandon you, Iruka, I swear."

"You were my last hope," Iruka whispered. "Do you know what he did? He had his entire family assassinated. Murdered. They say he did it himself. Killed every last member of his own family. He left his younger brother just so he'd have someone who could contest the throne. Ita—the Sultan, he just wants someone to provoke him. An excuse to…" Iruka trailed off, shivering.

Kakashi's hands found Iruka's and held tightly. "I know what he did. His younger brother is my student. I'm searching for him. He ran off to the Pasha Orochimaru. He thinks the Pasha will help him overthrow the Sultan. But he doesn't know…" Kakashi shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he continued. "I will get you out of here."

Iruka just nodded in polite agreement. He couldn't afford to be hopeful. He'd just go with whatever happened.

"There is something I have to tell you first. I don't want it to frighten you, but I think it will. I just want you to try to trust me this time, ok, Iruka?"

His hands were tight on Iruka's shoulders as he turned Iruka to face him. They tightened as if that was the only proof he needed give for Iruka's trust. Iruka shrugged. All he could do was nod.

It doesn't really matter now anyway.

Kakashi reached up with one hand and removed the eye patch.

Iruka stared, his face slack with shock, for a single moment before yelling hysterically and scrambling away.

Kakashi grabbed him, pulling him close to his chest, an arm draped around Iruka holding tight. "No, no, Iruka, stop, it isn't hurting you, you're just confusing it with his. Shh," He pet Iruka's hair, rocking slowly back and forth. "Shh, it's ok. I'm not him. I'm not related to him. It's a long story, but I knew his uncle. We were good friends. When his uncle died, he gave me this eye."

Iruka shook his head and tried to pull away. It was insane. How do you give someone an eye? And that eye? Those eyes? They're terrifying, horrible, and wrong.

Kakashi slowly twisted Iruka around holding his face and looked at him. Iruka panicked only a small bit, panting when he looked up, but after a moment he realised that Kakashi was right. There was only a faint spinning sensation, no pain and no tears. It reminded him of his dream of running through the trees. Kakashi smelled like that same leaf green scent of freedom, he realised.

"I came here for my student's sake, Iruka. But now that I know you're here, I'm here for your sake as well. I'll do whatever I can."

A bell sounded in the distance and Iruka knew he had only minutes to leave. Had that many hours passed already? "You can get me out of here. Itachi—the Sultan grants favours, often. It's rare that the women of the harem are given away, but there are so many in the seraglio, he gives us away freely. Usually only for a night, but sometimes forever. Bargain for me. I have to go."

Kakashi caught his hand as he reached the door and Iruka turned to look back. Kakashi looked grave and fervent. "I promise, Iruka. Please believe me." He squeezed Iruka's hand tightly, pulling close as he opened his mouth to say something else.

Iruka jumped as the second bell sounded. He pulled away from Kakashi. "I believe you. Thank you."

He turned on the last word hurrying out the door and ran so hard and fast his chest hurt by the time he made it inside the gates of the seraglio. He went straight to his bed ignoring the curious and jealous stares.

He didn't dare get his hopes up, but they already were and there was little he could do to dissuade the hopeful, day-dreaming smile from his face.

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