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.

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

06: drink no wine, love no beauty

Days later Iruka sat outside soaking in a shallow pool scented with oils and enjoying the slow transformation of the sky from afternoon to evening. A sliver of moon arched far above him set in a dull blue sky highlighted with an orangey glow from the slowly sinking sun.

Cypress trees shaded the area behind him and he was nearly surrounded by a patch of Apricot trees, their petals flitting down like snow. The water was fragrant with oils and he felt more relaxed than he had in some time. He did little more than sink into the water and stare at the sky. He heard sudden peels of laughter from the seraglio and realised suddenly that tonight was the night they were supposed to dance and entertain the Pasha of Sound.

That's who Kakashi said his student went to. Why on earth would he be coming here, unless the Sultan knows, or maybe he doesn't know at all and that's why the Pasha is coming? Confused, Iruka sat up to get out of the water. He was rubbing the evening chill from his wet shoulders when Kotetsu and Izumo came through the trees.

"We've been looking for you," Kotetsu said. Izumo stayed silent, watching Iruka through his dark hair.

"I'm right here," Iruka said with a weak laugh. Ever since the day the Sultan had called him, Izumo had been aloof toward Iruka. He hoped this was a chance to apologise, but he also dreaded the idea. I didn't do anything wrong. "I'm about to get out. We could—"

"No, we'll join you." Kotetsu was already half naked, ready to slide into the pool, when Izumo began undressing, still watching Iruka. Kotetsu waited and they slipped into the water at the same time, on either side of Iruka.

Well, this is rare, he thought, as Kotetsu manoeuvred around him to lean against the corner of the pool. He settled Iruka against his chest.

Kotetsu was generally far less touchy than Izumo. But since Izumo hadn't spoken to him in nearly two weeks, Iruka had no idea what to make out of this.

"Let me braid your hair," said Izumo as he leaned close to Iruka, settling between his legs.

"We-we might get in trouble, you know, being alone out here, and so… so close," Iruka stuttered.

"Oh? You think?" asked Izumo and though his voice was light, Iruka was certain his was being flippant. That's not like him at all.

"It's getting late, the servants will be coming back in, and so will the children. The medic said tonight was a special event so we'd be on lockdown. We should go and get ready…Ah!" He trailed off before gasping in surprise as Kotetsu's hands slid down his sides and into his lap.

Izumo smiled. He reached out wet, oily hands and wound them through Iruka's hair.

"Don't worry. We've got plenty of time," he whispered, his slick chest sliding against Iruka's as he leaned close.

Iruka didn't like his tone or his sudden friendliness.

"Hayate said you'd been seen with Kakashi twice," said Kotetsu. It was a statement, but he made it seem like a question.

"He was meeting the Sultan, that's all. He said he didn't want me." Iruka found it hard to keep Izumo's gaze, especially while his hair was getting soaked and oily from Izumo's continued petting. The sound of water breaking against their skin surrounded him and the hum of night-time creatures punctuated the stillness.

Izumo studied Iruka's face as he replied to Kotetsu. When he stopped, Izumo let one hand trail to Iruka's neck and down his chest where he joined Kotetsu's still hands. Iruka tried to relax but he couldn't. Izumo quirked an eyebrow at him as he tilted his head.

Kotetsu brought a hand up to Iruka's shoulder and began rubbing gently. "We heard from Hayate that his guards said he'd been pining for you." It was suddenly still, the trickling of water the only sound from their slight movement. "For months," he added and for some reason it seemed ominous.

"Ever since he bought you," continued Izumo, whispering against Iruka's cheek.

Iruka jumped, twisting to look back at Kotetsu then to Izumo. "Please don't tell."

"Shhh," said Kotetsu, behind him. Iruka tensed and Kotetsu snaked his arm back around Iruka's stomach. Iruka watched the seraglio, but no one paid them attention. As hidden as they were, no one probably even knew they were at the pool. Kotetsu held him close as Izumo leaned forward.

Izumo opened his mouth by Iruka's, moving so close they almost touched lips and just as Iruka opened his mouth in response, Izumo leaned beyond him, reaching for Kotetsu.

They kissed right there, Iruka between them. Iruka shivered as Kotetsu's hands moved, touching him intimately. One of Izumo's knees bumped against him.

"We want out, Iruka," one of them whispered between kisses. He couldn't tell who it was. It was difficult to concentrate with all the slick, warm skin slipping against his, arms around his neck and his body, touching him, so gently and intimately.

"I don't know… I mean, what do I do, what can I do?"

Kotetsu's hand slid up to his throat, lifting his chin as fingers wrapped in place, gentle but precise. Izumo spoke, nosing Iruka's neck and Kotetsu's hand. "Figure it out or we go to Kisame."

He raised his arms and reached around Iruka for Kotetsu.

Iruka could feel their oily, slick bodies sliding against his, but they ignored him, focused only on each other.

As usual, he was in the thick of things, but completely, utterly alone. What he'd thought of as a friendship formed under pressure, turned out to be little more than a blade against him.

Only this one was infinitely more deadly than any regular blade.

Izumo stood suddenly and shifted back against the smooth marble edge around the pool and nudged Iruka's leg with his foot, pulling him close. He smiled as he held a hand out to Iruka. Kotetsu rose to his knees behind him and eased him closer.

The sun was gone, only a hint of fire remaining on the horizon and the shadows cast by the walls gave them even more cover. Until the late hours of the night, when the Sultan called for entertainment, no one would notice their absence.

Izumo smiled again and he leaned back, stroking himself in front of Iruka.

"Come on Iruka, we'll take care of you tonight," whispered Izumo as he lifted a hand to Iruka's face. Izumo tugged as Kotetsu's hands pushed on Iruka's shoulders. Iruka relaxed against Izumo as he pulled Iruka's face close to his lap.

Iruka stared as he realised—I'm an idiot, aren't I?—just what they were doing with him.

Kotetsu's hands rubbed up and down Iruka's back before sliding to his hips and pulling him back gently. The water nearly covered Iruka's shoulders, but Izumo pulled him up by his arms, draping them around his hips. He nodded to Iruka and nudged Iruka's face toward his cock. He leaned back, both arms behind him and tilted his face up to the sky.

Iruka licked his lips and gave in as Kotetsu moved behind him. Kotetsu kneaded Iruka's ass and slowly, slowly pushed against him sliding against his thighs. He smoothed his hands up and down Iruka's back and over his legs before letting his hands settle at Iruka's waist.

Iruka whimpered at the slow, tantalising pace and felt Izumo twitching beneath him, hips pushing up while he sighed deeply, the sound verging on a moan. Kotetsu gripped Iruka and sped up his movements. Iruka could feel his hardness, like it was impatient, but he didn't enter Iruka, just moved, grinding and slipping against him. It was sweet torture and Iruka wasn't sure if he wasn't it to stop immediately, or never stop.

I feel dizzy.

They moved as the same time, it seemed, and Iruka squeezed between them as they kissed. He felt like a conduit connecting them, little more. He let go of Izumo's cock and felt Kotetsu's warmth move away from him. Weak, he sank into the water, hands flat on the bottom of the pool. Suddenly the water felt too warm, even against the burgeoning chill of the evening.

When he looked up, they were locked together; Izumo sprawled on the ground while Kotetsu stood in the water. Iruka watched them, watched Izumo, arched and writhing, his whimpering cries barely kept in as Kotetsu moved rapidly against him, holding one of Izumo's legs by the ankle, one hand flat on his belly. Kotetsu's eyes were closed and he was completely silent where Izumo could barely hold it in.

"Iruka!"

Iruka moaned when he heard the servant calling him. The Sultan wanted him for tonight's performance. He clambered out of the small pool and grabbed his clothes.

"Iruka…"

Iruka looked down. Izumo was whispering his name. He waved Iruka close. Iruka knelt down beside him and Izumo rose up and grabbed his face. Izumo kissed him hard and fast before whispering, "Don't forget."

Iruka nodded and with a quick glimpse to Kotetsu, stood. He pulled his clothing on as he made his way through the garden.

He hadn't even got to come.

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